The Highwayman of Tanglewood

by Marcia Lynn McClure

Faris gasped as a gloved hand of a sudden covered her mouth from behind. Be still. The Highwayman of Tanglewood owns ya now. Faris smiled...as he whispered, Do not struggle. Ill not harm ya, lass Come away with me, sweet Faris, the highwayman whispered. What say ye?

I say, who are you, highwayman? Faris breathed...All romantic thoughts of knights riding to win the fair lady were driven from her mind. A rogue's manner was vastly more delightful!

Aye! But that ye should know, sweet Faris, the highwayman whispered.

I know you not, sir, Faris said in a whisper. Surely I would remember such a shape of a man.

"Indeed, would ya, lass? he asked.

I would, sir, she answered.

Tis well ya know who I am, fair Faris, he whispered, kissing her neck again. I am the Highwayman of Tanglewood.

A chambermaid in the house of Tremeshton, Faris Shayhan well knew torment, despair and trepidation. To Faris it seemed the future stretched long and desolate before her -- bleak and as dark as a lonesome midnight path. Still, the moon oft casts hopeful luminosity to light ones way. So it was that Lady Maranda Rockrimmon cast hope upon Farisset Faris upon a different path -- a path of happiness, serenity and love.

Faris abandoned the tainted air of Tremeshton in favor of the amethyst sunsets of Loch Loland Castle and her new mistress Lady Rockrimmon. Further, it was on the very night of her emancipation that Faris first met the man of her dreams -- the man of every woman's dreams -- the rogue Highwayman of Tanglewood.

Dressed in black and astride his mighty steed, the brave, heroic and dashing rogue Highwayman of Tanglewood stole Faris's heart as easily as he stole her kiss. Yet the Highwayman of Tanglewood was encircled in mystery -- mystery as thick and as secretive as time itself. Could Faris truly own the heart of a man so entirely enveloped in twilight shadows and dangerous secrets?

Genres: Romance, Clean Romance, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Regency

293 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

About the author

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Marcia Lynn McClure grew up influenced by the reminiscent stories of rugged, rural Colorado farm life fascinatingly recounted to her by her parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts…tales of runaway buckboards, mule-drawn plows and dust pneumonia; verbalized images of stream-flooded meadows, frozen over in winter, where a child could peer through the crystal clear ice in wonder at the small fish, snakes and mice sealed in the meadow grasses beneath; stories of hardship and tragedy, love and loss. But always the stories, and the people telling them, bore evidence of the wonder and worthiness of simpler, yet sometimes brutal, times.

These influential people and the family legends they detailed, coupled with her own life experiences and utterly romantic nature, led Marcia to begin writing novels as Christmas gifts for her closest friends…friends who long for a breath of the past and miss the romance of bygone eras; friends searching for moments of distraction from the stressful, demanding times we live in.

And so, knowing that it is the breath of the past and the "take me in you arms and kiss me" kind of moments that so many women long to relive, Marcia spins her tales of love, life and laughter…adventures woven around those compelling, romantic instances that most appeal to a woman's loving heart. Marcia feels that if her readers close one of her books with a contented sigh and a delighted smile, feeling rejuvenated, cheerful and edified, then she has achieved what she set out to do…shower refreshment and happiness on anyone having experienced the story.

Marcia lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. There she writes her stories surrounded by her beloved friends and family...and the beautiful desert landscape of New Mexico!

Reviews

[Nickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. This author is my favorite. I have read the majority of her books and I love them all. They are "clean romance". The kind you can read and still feel like you can chat with the bishop. This one is now my favorite of hers and- I hate to say it - The Highwayman has given Edward a run for his money. It's one of those "take me in your arms and kiss me" type of ones. So if your not in the mood for that - don't read this one. It was fabulous!!!

[Kelly Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whyyyyy do women swoon over Christian Grey, when you can have an amazing man like the Highwayman of Tanglewood (that is his name until the end of course)? I mean it. I dare women to read this book and then say, no I like the S&M guy who has issues with committment more.

Standards. They need to be raised!

[Beccie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Marcia Lynn McClure book, and it could very possibly be my last. It wasn't all bad, and don't get me wrong, sometimes I'm in the mood for cheesiness and fluff, but for an author dubbed "The Queen of Kissing", I was seriously disappointed. Why? Because it was the kissing scenes (and there are many of them!) that were so ridiculous. By about the 40% mark of the book I had started either laughing, groaning, or rolling my eyes every time the word "moist" was used. Really? Does she do that in every one of her books? All the moisture going on in this book was pretty repulsive. It made me think of the way Pen Creed described her cousin Freddy in Georgette Heyer's The Corinthian . I believe she said he had a mouth like a fish, and that is what I thought of every time there was "moist" kissing in this book. Blech. So while I liked parts of the story (although some of the plot points were pretty ludicrous), and I liked the characters, all the salivation put it down to 2 stars. Someone needs to let me know if it is worth it to even start any of the author's other books.

[NAT.orious reads ☾]

It's so rare that I find horses on book covers I literally cannot remove anything from my to-read shelf that has one on it.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh I love this girl's books! This is another fabulous clean read that oozes romance. I loved Faris and her torn but too good heart. I don't just fall in love with her main characters, but all her secondary characters are amazing too. I wish they each had their own story! I loved where it was going from the start and I couldn't put it down. I have trouble wiping the smile off my face while I'm reading Marcia's books! Tomorrow I'm going shopping for a mask and cape and will only answer to Fair Lady or Lass......

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I started this book last night, and had it done by tonight, for I simply had to see if I were right about the true identity of the Highwayman. The author made me second guess myself, which I enjoyed! I was thankfully oh so right, and very much relieved to have it end just the way I had been hoping... I love books like this! :) Most especially since Robin Hood is my all time favorite Disney movie, so no wonder it appealed to me so. How utterly romantic, my goodness, no wonder I adore Marcia's stories...
This book I'd only recommended to those who truly love the romance, like myself. This book got a big happy sigh out of me at the end...
It was a library copy, but I think I want my own to read when the men in real life fail to live up to the standard of men such as the Highwayman of Tanglewood! That's where Mel loves having books such as this one to fall back upon... :)

[Serewyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

The teletubbies of Loch Loland

I love to ENDEAVOR into the world of mindless, fluffy romance once and again. But even I have my limits. The writing in this one is overall poor, the story uneventful.

In the very beginning our charming highwayman jokes about rape (...) to a girl he just met 2 minutes ago and then forces himself on her. Ofcourse this was her lifelong dream and a life changing experience for her, in the positive sense! . . . Then she dreams, trembles, endeavors, kiss, longs, imagines, eats pie, dreams, trembles, imagines, endeavors, kiss. The end.

What really killed this book for me was the excessive use of giggles, chuckles and smiling. I felt I was reading about the Teletubbies!

It's NOT cute! It makes the females even more dim-witted then they already are. (There are limits to how much dim-witting one can take, even in fluff) It makes the men unsophisticated and unattractive!

Here are 2 short examples of the writing and the annoying overuse (no spoilers):

___________________

Lillias smiled and giggled. Sighing, she glanced about the room for a moment.
"Faris! Honestly! Fresh flowers?" she giggled, smiling (...)
___________________

"But what of your dress, my love?" Lord Kendrick asked. He smiled at his intented bride as she smiled at him. "Do you wish to see it finished?"
"Indeed, I do!" Lillias said, smiling.
Faris giggled, delighted in Lillias's sudden renewal of spirit
___________________


About 65% in I could not take one more giggle and closed the book forever.
My hats of for keeping it CLEAN, which I do admire. And some of the romance was well done.

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something comforting about re-reading a book. This is one of my favorite McClure books, a retelling of sorts of Robin Hood/Zorro.

House maid Faris is escaping from a dangerous situation when she encounters the Highwayman of Tanglewood, a Robin Hood like character that has been trying to right the wrongs for the people in their area. Fast forward a year, Faris is now working Rockrimmon family and is torn between her love for the Highwayman and the charms of Lochlan Rockrimmon.

Normally, the love at first sight trope usually isn't a favorite of mine, but I thought it was handled well here. While Faris is falling for the Highwayman, there are still a couple other men vying for her attention, particularly the handsome Lochlan. Overall, I thought this was a fun, lighthearted story. It feels like it has a bit more meat to it than some of McClures other books and that's probably why I've read it so many times.

Content Rated PG
Romance: Lots of kissing
Language: None that I remember
Violence: Mild - some fighting, unwanted advances

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have FINALLY found it. THE BEST MARCIA BOOK EVER. I thought it would be a three way tie between Shackles of Honor, Light of the Lover's Moon, and Crimson Frost, until I read The Highwayman of Tanglewood.

Now THIS is Marcia at her very, very, utmost best. I read it in one sitting and turned around and read it again the next day. The Queen of Clean really delivers in this one. Ladies, prepare to SWOON!

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read this for awhile and I was totally guessing who he was again!! Loved it!

(11/08) A very romantic twist on Robin Hood. I was guessing who the masked man was until the end. Who doesn't love a mystery man?

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In McClure's book An Old Fashioned Romance there is a fun scene with The Highwayman of Tanglewood. At the time there was no such book but McClure ended up writing a book about him. A great mix of Robin Hood & Zorro make this a fun, clean romance.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! This book! I loved the storyline and the characters...but...the language, at times was almost so ridiculously overdone it made me laugh. She used phrases like, 'euphoric', 'utter bliss', and 'complete rapture' over and over again. I was hooked immediately, though, trying to figure out who the highwayman was. Every option was believable. I wanted Faris to fall in love with all of them (except her friends fiancé, of course). It unfolded perfectly and wasn't weird at all when she discovers the truth and she doesn't freak out for too long and make me want to slap her! I will read this one again.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously, this is one of my most favorite books ever. I love love loved this book. Great romance and suspence the entire book. Read another book of hers as well. Love this author. Great romance, totally clean. I was totally sucked in from the beginning and couldn't put it down. Loved the characters and good story line. Seriously, if you want to read something totally hot and steamy with passionate kisses, this is your book. Love it, love it, love it! I can't get enough Marcia Lynn McClure. Wow! Great read.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo flippin good! Wow! I enjoyed every single second of it!

I spent the whole book deciding I knew who the Highwayman was just to second guess myself on the next page. "Yes, it's him...well, maybe not..."

Thoroughly enjoyable, delicious kissing scenes, without getting dirty. I am going to just have to break down and start buying her books since my library doesn't carry them.

Moral Note: 3 "dangs", a small amount of violence, and some very passionate kisses. For a more mature reader.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Marcia Lynn McClure. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Essentially, it's a clean romance novel. Not my style. I gave it 2 stars not because it was a bad book, just because I didn't like it. I found it too mushy (LOTS of kissing, giggling, and swooning...silly!), completely predictable, and overly repetitive.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I just re-read it. I forgot how much I loved it, even though I read it a few months ago. It makes me want my own highwayman! :)

[Southern Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Marcia's books. This is my absolute favorite and most reread romance book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

This was a sweet and clean read with a dash of mystery. However, there wasn’t much of a plot and the heroine was a bit of a ninny.

Safe, non-manho H, refreshing for that alone.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

?? 2.50 ?? stars so far - pg? - did not yet finish

I rarely write reviews of books and generally only make very brief notations to myself as to whether a book is clean, fun, engaging, romantic, etc. Usually the only time I jot LOTS of notes to myself as I read is when I'm having a hard time enjoying a book that I had thought would be wonderful (usually based on reviews/opinions of friends & people I tend to agree with). Here are the disjointed scribblings I made to myself on many little scraps of paper as I tried to get through this particular book (I really hope I don't lose all my friends and have my Goodreads romance card revoked!!):

~~ Very slow getting through prologue & first chapters. Writing isn't absolutely horrible, but the style seems somewhat juvenile and doesn't "flow".
~~ Lots of unnecessary repetitive words/phrases.
~~ Uses full names almost all the time instead of occasionally injecting a simple he/she/his/hers/etc. The phrase "the Highwayman of Tanglewood" is used in every other sentence where a simple "he" would have sufficed.
~~ Way too much "giggling", "gasping" and "sighing" by the female characters!!
~~ Way too much moistness!
~~ His black cape is always blown back or flung back over his shoulder. Seriously?!?!
~~ Everything was some shade of purple, lavender, amethyst, lilac, violet, orchid, mauve, heather blah blah blagh!!
~~ So overly descriptive and wordy that I started to skip/skim and thus lost out by not getting any descriptive feel for scenery, etc.
~~ Here's a sample of the writing style (paraphrased!): "The Highwayman of Tanglewood astride his black horse with his black cape flung back behind him came charging, as if straight out of the amethyst violet sunset, across the mauve heather moors and up to the castle ruins where Faris waited with moist lips. The Highwayman of Tanglewood flung his black cape over his shoulder and jumped off his black horse and then the Highwayman of Tanglewood took Faris's hand and then the Highwayman of Tanglewood touched Faris's cheek and then the Highwayman of Tanglewood kissed Faris's forehead with his own moistened lips. Faris gasped, giggled and sighed as she gazed at the lavender, lilac, purple sky and then the Highwayman of Tanglewood rode off on his black horse with his black cape blown back over his shoulder." UGH!!!!!!!
~~ I'm about 40% through and as yet I've no strong feelings for the character of the Highwayman but I sort of like Lochlan, Graybeau and Lady Rockrimmon.
~~ This book (and this author) gets very high ratings --- 4.6stars at Amazon and 4.2stars at Goodreads. Some of Georgette Heyer's books don't get rated this highly and neither do Jane Austen's!! I'd really like to ditch this book, but because it gets such high ratings from friends and other readers whose reviews I usually agree with I am refusing to give up completely and will try to continue to slog my way through this cheesiness at a later date. For now I need to stop and take a break before I vomit from all the sappiness. (Hope it's not shades of purple & amethyst!)

[Jacqueline · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but I felt like,throughout the novel, I was just waiting for it to get better, but that never really happened. There was almost no character development of the heroine, Faris. You knew she was beautiful and in love with the highwayman, and that was the extent of it. Seriously, I think 90-95% of her thoughts were mooning over the highwayman and her employer's son. Lochlan was better developed, but rather contradictory. at the beginning it was mentioned he was rather tame, and that the ladies often wished he was more wild, but once he actually appears he is constantly flirting rather obviously with Faris.

Another thing that really bothered me was the historical accuracy. If she was the chambermaid, there was no way she would be allowed to address the children of the house by their first name, let alone befriend them. It simply wasn't done, and felt strange and way out of place.

And everything just seemed to convenient. WARNING SPOILER AHEAD----> the two men she's in love with just happen to be the same person, and oh, yeah he's also the lord of the castle. SPOILER OVER

And if I had to read another Fair Faris of Loch Loland i was going to break something.

[rcrockett · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a disappointment. I read it because I was in the mood for a brainless chick flick, and this book had such great reviews. I found myself rolling my eyes through the entirety of it. I kept hoping that it would get better, but it did not. Nearly every time the main character opened her mouth, she would start her sentence with a sputter. It was to the point that you actually start thinking that she had a speech impediment. And it was sickening how many times it used the words moist, giggle, and purple (if you've read the book, you know what I'm talking about). Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good romance, but this one was painfully too predictable, shallow, and dimwitted for anybody over the age of 14.

[Rachel W · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars for the Highwayman of Tanglewood! This man had me fan-girling like a teenage girl at a Justin Bieber concert. There was so much sap and cheese, and I loved every minute of it! 😁

*Update: Read this book again four months later and dropped my review to 3.5 stars. Nothing changed, except the fact that since I knew the ending I was able to notice other things like the lack of information on background/setting, the story seemed a bit choppy at times, and the fact that it’s not historically accurate at all. Don’t get me wrong, I still love the Highwayman of Tanglewood, but the writing isn’t exceptionally well done.

[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

*blinks in stunned silence* Umm...wow. Wow. Like...just wow!

If books were treasure, McClure's The Highwayman of Tanglewood would certainly be a diamond among diamonds. A story that is truly gripping, tantalising, magical and beautifully woven in every way, it rekindles a reader's love for historical fiction - presenting a clean, yet intense romance novel that is sure to have you swooning over The Highwayman every bit as much as Faris does!

[JaNeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really thought that I was not going to like the ending of this book but the author did a wonderful job of surprising the reader and making it believable. This book kept me on the edge until the very end!!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read this book. I love everything by this author. Im a pathetic hopeless romantic so anything she writes cures my itch for the day.....

[Karina · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this! Lovely romance, some adventure, and a bit of mystery! I will always fall for a masked man! hehe

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite. It wasn't well written.

[Richelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading this author, but I trusted the reviews. They weren't wrong. It took me a little bit to become fully engrossed in the story, but once I did, I couldn't put it down until I had finished the book.

I had a couple of different ideas as to the identity of our Highwayman, but I had it pretty well figured out correctly early on.

I will admit, I have a hard time when the main characters declare their love and devotion after one or two meetings, especially when they know nothing about each other. I get that you can feel a particular connection with someone, but when all you've shared are stolen kisses, it speaks more of lust than love.

Faris and Lord Lochlan, these are the 2 that I love together. Their relationship builds and becomes entirely believable (while i still think her relationship with her Highwayman is hormonal more than substance).

When she has to choose between Lochlan and her Highwayman, I'm team Lochlan all the way.

This was a fun story that dealt with some big issues (the stalker Kade for instance). I highly recommend reading this one.

CONTENT
Romance - Mostly Clean
Language - Mild
Violence - Mild

[Skye Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.(: I loved this. A romantic story made of fluffy, cotton candy sweetness. In this book you’ve got a heroine that is made of sugar, spice, and everything nice, and a hero that is made of the very thread of every young girl’s dreams. This book is a great one for when you just want a happy, romantic story to take your heart away. The bonus is that this is one that keeps you guessing the whole way through... who is the Highwayman of Tanglewood?! You’ll have to read to find out!✨

[Tabitha Sumsion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it in all its cheesy, cliched, unrealistic glory. I can rarely guess the endings of books, so I was a little astonished at the reveal, but I’m sure it is quite predictable for many others. Again…very cheesy and a lot of cliche tropes, so know that before going in.