The Lady and the Highwayman

By: Sarah M. Eden

Narrated by: Justine Eyre

Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls' school in 1830s Victorian London. She is also a well-respected author of stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories - the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men. Under the pseudonym Charles King, Elizabeth has written about dashing heroes fighting supernatural threats, intelligent detectives solving grisly murders, and dangerous outlaws romancing helpless women. They contain all the adventure and mystery that her real life lacks.

Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Charles King started taking all of his readers. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher's fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the social and political causes of their working-class readers. The group knows King could be an asset with his obvious monetary success, or he could be the group's undoing as King's readership continues to cut into their profits.

Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow author, she is well known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King's whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to insure her secret identity is never discovered. What neither author anticipated was the instant attraction, even though their social positions dictate the impossibility of a relationship.

For the first time, Elizabeth experiences the thrill of a cat-and-mouse adventure reminiscent of one of her own novels as she tries to throw Fletcher off her scent. But the more time they spend together, the more she loses her heart. Its upper-class against working-class, author against author, where readers, reputations, and romance are all on the line.

©2019 Sarah M. Eden (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

Charming and Unexpected

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Sarah Eden’s books but this one was quite unexpected. It is a charming romance as well as a mystery and romance within the romance. Do yourself a favor and take the time to enjoy this one. The narration is also incredible and spot on.

Something a little different

I really liked this book because it was familiar but different. I love historical books and listen to a lot of them but this one was different, in a good way. I am used to listening to historical books where the speech is proper, a Title is important, and the Tons opinion is everything. Not this time I don't think there was a titled Lord or a Lady any where in this one. Not one that was important anyways. And there were no Balls to attend. I strongly suggest this book to anyone.

Bravo! Encore!

Loved it! Enjoyed every second! It is like three stories in one! Bravo! Encore! Brilliant!

An earlier Sound of Freedom

Listened to this delightful big-hearted book about saving abducted children after seeing Sound of Freedom. Those moved by that movie will welcome this story of Victorian exploitation and rescue. Lovely performance too. Thanks.

Cozy + History of Women Writers

Lots of authors begin with an old adage: Write what you know. They write about a writer(s) and the vissitutes of writing.

Here the heroine is a middleclass headmistress who writes 'silverspoon' books for educated readers. Secretly she writes 'penny dreadfuls' for the masses to great success. Women of course shouldn't write these. She uses a male nom de plume.

The hero, a man of great kindness, writes penny dreadfuls under his own name. As we begin the story her sales are rapidly approaching his.

The romance that begins is suitable for modest readers who abhor racy bits. IMHO.