Falling For The Highwayman

‘Falling In Love Again’ by Marie Higgins is a clean historical romance that takes place during the American Revolutionary War in 1766. This is the second of three books in the Heroic Rogues Series. You can read one, but if you want to read two or more, they should be read in order. There is a particular character that is introduced in the first book, goes on to the second book, and then finally is the main character in the third book.

Isabelle Stanhope has recently arrived from England and is headed to New York to take care of her father’s estate. Mrs. Winters, Isabelle’s older companion, is with her when their stagecoach is pulled over by the notorious pirate, now highwayman Captain Hawk and his men.  Hawk killed her father, and fearing he would recognize her last name, gave him the name Belle Stanley, when he asked for it. He has everyone tied up and taken to his hideout, except for her. She is made to ride with him and placed inside the house rather than the cellar with the rest of the prisoners.

Marcus Thorne, the current Captain Hawk, knows who Isabelle truly is. Among her father’s things was a picture of her. He was fascinated by her picture, but never thought that he would get to meet her! In order to protect her from his men, at least that’s what he tells himself. He puts her in the house in a small room and locks her in, and then goes to clean his room and hide her father’s things away. Afterward he has her come to dinner in his room, just the two of them. Only Isabelle stabs him when he kisses her!

She never meant to kill Hawk, she was afraid that he would force her into his bed! She spent three lonely days locked up in her tiny room while waiting for her punishment. Finally she is summoned to Hawk’s room to find that he’s alive, but to ensure that there is mutiny among his crew and to show that no one can kill Hawk without consequences he has to punish her. Her punishment to play cabin boy/nursemaid to the recovering Hawk!

Marcus is the one being punished, having Isabelle so close to him, but unable to touch her as he wants to. What’s worse is that she starts falling for him too! Hawk had stopped that stagecoach because his spies said that there was to be a secret message on board that was to be delivered to the Royal Navy. The coach, its passengers, and all their possessions had been searched and no secret message was found. The problem comes when the message is found inside the dagger Isabelle used to stab him! How can he trust Isabelle if she is a spy?

There is action, intrigue, spies, and suspense in this wonderful tale. I would say it’s good for ages 14+. It comes in e-book format.