Reynard Morton is the impoverished heir to his family’s estates, or rather, what’s left of them. His clothes are sadly out of fashion, he lives in the ramshackle gatekeeper’s house on his ancestral estate and he earns what money he can by highway robbery. He is a thief; he steals out of necessity to support his younger sister Emilia. One night, on one of his masked forays, he robs the wrong man...or is it the right one?

Geoffrey Larkin is a man alone; he’s wealthy and has just moved into Grey Manor, an estate near the Morton property. When he’s accosted on the local roadway, something about the thief is familiar to him.

The Highwayman by Emily Veinglory is a historical buffet of high danger, intrigue, and machinations. Passions run high in this delectable tale of M/M eroticism, but this is much more than just a bedroom romp (although that locale is well-used, as well as creative employment of the stables and a sitting room to boot). Reynard is a good guy; he’s deliciously conflicted about his sexuality and his duty. Watching him come to grips with his lot in life is entertaining. Geoffrey is a jaded, complex and sensual character, and I really liked getting to know him. The sidebar characters were well-drawn and added layers on plot to the tale, and I especially liked the way Ms. Veinglory brought the social and political elements into play. Five Angels!

Reviewed by: Michelle