Abby Gilbert is finally leaving her hateful stepmother, cruel stepsisters, and henpecked father to marry the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, she must travel across England to get to his manor house, and with bad weather, bad luck, and highwaymen on the horizon, it’s anyone’s guess if she’ll make it to her own wedding in one piece.
Samuel Thatcher is looking forward to retiring from the Bow Street Runners, buying a piece of land, and living out his days as a quiet farmer. He needs a few more pounds to feather his nest egg, however, and when Miss Gilbert asks to retain his services as a guardian for the journey, he can’t refuse. Thrown together by the intimacy of the road, Abby and Thatcher begin to develop feelings for each other. But when Thatcher becomes the object of pursuit by a relentless killer, he wonders if he should get as far away from Abby as possible before she is hurt too.
This book was a charming romance that takes place in the gritty taprooms of wayside inns and includes every kind of travel misfortune known to man. Abby’s ebullient spirits and positive attitude in the midst of hardship amaze the cynical Thatcher. As a soldier and a lawman, he has grappled with the worst kinds of evil, and Abby’s trust in his own goodness surprises him. Thrown together by circumstances, they grow closer by learning about each other’s past hardships and learn to cast their cares upon Christ. But how can anything honorable come of their feelings when Abby is already promised to another?
If you dislike books with a highly contrived plot that are heavy on romantic tropes, this one will not be for you. But if you enjoy a clean romance with lots of adventure and derring-do, you’ll adore this conclusion to The Bow Street Runners trilogy (See also Brentwood’s Ward and The Innkeeper’s Daughter.)
Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Rosanne E. Lortz 