Severely injured army officer Jonathan Berry has nothing to live for until he takes charge of a bunch of incompetent thieves clearly heading for the gallows. Unfortunately, greater success brings greater attention, and after a daring raid on Lady Grandison’s country house party, the Bow Street Runners are in hot pursuit.
Sick and injured, Jonathan scatters his men and hides out in a barn where he is discovered by Miss Chloe Barclay. Desperate for adventure, Chloe hides him and nurses him back to health. Her company enchants him, and although he knows she can never be his, he begins to make fresh plans to extricate himself from his nefarious crew.
However, the Law won’t give up and Chloe, hopelessly in love, faces the choice of losing her reputation or letting Jonathan hang.
Mary Lancaster is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction and historical romance. She lives in Scotland with her husband, one of three grown-up kids, and a small dog with a big personality.
Her first literary love was historical fiction, a genre which she relishes mixing up with romance and adventure in her own writing. Several of her novels feature actual historical characters as diverse as Hungarian revolutionaries, medieval English outlaws, and a family of eternally rebellious royal Scots. To say nothing of Vlad the Impaler. Her most recent books are light fun Regency romances, with occasional forays into Victorian mystery.
Captain Jonathan Berry a retired injured army officer is struggling to cope with civilian life & takes charge of a bunch of incompetent thieves clearly heading for the gallows. Unfortunately, greater success brings greater attention, and after a daring raid on Lady Grandison’s country house party, the Bow Street Runners are in hot pursuit. Jonathan scatters his men and then he comes to Miss Chloe Barclay aid is freeing some birds at a market, then Jon is shot & hides out in a barn where he is discovered by Chloe, who hides him and nurses him back to health. The third book in the series & a lovely addition. I loved both Jon & Chloe, he’s struggling after losing part of his leg, she’s an absolute delight, certainly not your conventional debutante. I loved the chemistry between the couple & how she helped him heal both physically & mentally. There are also a couple of budding secondary romances too. There is also the problem of a dogged Bow Street Runner & I loved how everything was resolved. A very well written engrossing romance which I read straight through I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
This was another entertaining read in this series. I did like the main character of Miss Chloe Barclay, she was not the usual young Miss but went her own way. Captain Jonathan Berry, was coming to terms with his injuries due to his active service in the army. He was also concerned with his comrades who were also struggling with their injuries and lack of help from the government. Chloe’s parents are anxious for her to marry someone with money as their estate is losing money. However, Chloe isn’t one to just fall in line with her parents’ wishes. There are a number of possible romances. I did think things came together quite quickly towards the end. I did read it in an afternoon and it was a lovely way to spend a dull day. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Jon helps Chloe rescue birds from a seller at the market. When he is chased by a Bow Street runner who thinks he is a highwayman, and injured, he seeks refuge at a barn which just happens to be at Chloe's home. She nurses him back to health, and he leaves to go home. The story line is fun and interesting with so many highwaymen and twists and turns, great secondary characters and lots of action. There is great chemistry between Chloe and Jon from the beginning of the story. I received this book as an ARC, and these are my opinions.
The third story in the Escape series. Severely injured army officer Jonathan Berry meets Miss Chloe Barclay when she finds him in a barn and nurses back to health, but he is a wanted man. They will have so much to overcome in this engrossing story. The story grabbed my interest from the start and didn't let go until I was finished. I found the story to be well worth reading. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Here’s another of Mary Lancaster’s. This is the newest release of the Escape series. Which, as per usual for Mary, is wonderful. I’m trying to stay caught up on this and the Silver and Grey series. It’s difficult because she can write and release faster than I can read. 😂 Anyway she seems to be a master of the novella. She can build and resolve an in depth plot in 13 chapters. Same with her characters. They are fully human with 3- dimensional characteristics. Bravo and congratulations AGAIN Mary
"Escape of the Highwayman" is the third book in the Escape series by Mary Lancaster. I've read the entire series, and each book stands out with its unique charm and entertaining storyline.
In this latest adventure, we meet Jonathan Berry, a recently injured army officer struggling to adjust to civilian life. He finds himself entangled with a group of inept thieves, hoping to help them avoid capture. Unfortunately, a daring raid at a house party goes wrong, putting the Bow Street Runners hot on their trail—Jon included.
Jon crosses paths with Chloe Barclay while helping her rescue birds from a market seller. A sudden encounter with a Bow Street Runner forces Jon to flee, aided by his trusty horse, Cavalo. Chloe is left in awe, thrilled by his daring escape.
But that’s not the last time Chloe sees her highwayman. Wounded and on the run, Jon hides in a barn where Chloe discovers him. Craving adventure, she decides to hide and nurse him back to health. Their time together sparks a connection—Jon is enchanted by her spirit, though he knows he can never truly have her. Still, Chloe’s presence inspires him to reconsider his path and distance himself from his criminal associates.
Chloe isn’t your typical society lady. She’s passionate about animals and helping others, much to her parents dismay as they pressure her to marry someone wealthy to restore the family estate. Alongside Chloe and Jon’s growing relationship, there’s matchmaking involving Mr. Blake, Chloe’s sister, her friend Laura, and Jon’s brother Robert, who’s searching for Jon.
The chemistry between Chloe and Jon is undeniable from the start. I appreciated how Lancaster portrays Jon’s internal conflict—struggling with his injury, feeling unworthy of Chloe’s affection. Yet, Chloe knows her heart and is willing to risk her reputation to stand by Jon and clear his name.
Lancaster delivers another captivating, action-packed story filled with unexpected twists, vibrant secondary characters, mystery, friendship, and the journey of rediscovering one’s purpose while falling in love. This delightful highwayman tale checks all the right boxes and kept me thoroughly engaged.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts—opinions are completely my own.
Escape of the Highway Man (Escape Series Book 3) by Mary Lancaster
I was so excited to see that Book 3 of the Escape series was coming out!
I’ve loved all the couples from this series and finding out that this couple is a returned Army Officer, Captian Jonathan Berry back from the Peninsula War and a sweet Miss Chloe Barclay whose is loved by so many people in Greater Lessing. Chloe is also the second daughter of Lord Lessing. Hmmmmm
I haven’t read a book with a Highwaymen story for a bit, so when I found out there was one in this Escape book I couldn’t wait to meet him. After the war and the soldiers were arriving back home..life in the UK was different for so many. The men had to find jobs, which were scare in many places in Jon Berry’s case he came home but he wasn’t a whole man. Loss of a limb, so many things to over come and most likely suffering from what we now call PTSD, found many men taking up the job of highwaymen. In Jon’s case though it was to try to help people as well as to come to grips how his life has changed. So helping out men who has fought beside him. In Jon’s case maybe being a group of highwaymen wasn’t the right answer!
Chloe who met Jon and not knowing who he was found him a second time in her family’s loft, shot and sick. She didn’t think twice she was going to help Jon. As the story begins to unfold and Jon and Chloe spend evenings and mornings in the loft, their stories come out and it’s easy to see that there is something that brings them together. But can a Highwayman expect to win over a sweet miss who is hiding him?
There is so much more to this story and Author Mary Lancaster does a wonderful job building the storyline and the characters story and it’s all done in Thirteen Chapters. I’ve become a bit addicted to reading this author she has wonderful characters, great stories and always gives her readers a bit of suspense and an ending that is perfect!
I noticed there are a few more Escape stories being added to this series..well I’ll be there to read them!
Captain Jonathan Berry was having trouble adjusting to the injuries that saw his military career end. When he comes across a group of soldiers who are trying to solve the same kinds of problems by being highwaymen (and not very good ones), he takes charge, hoping to keep them from the gallows. When Jon plays knight in shining armor to Chloe Barclay, a group of village children, and some caged birds at the market, he is spotted, pursued, and injured by the law. His hiding place just happens to be the loft above the stable at Chloe’s home. She finds him and nurses him back to health. This is another entertaining addition to the series. Chloe is adorable. She is feisty, chatty, and torn between duty and independence. Jon is a bit brooding, but he cares about others suffering from the neglect of the government. He is totally taken with Chloe. The story is full of fun, adventure, highwaymen, and romantic possibilities. There are some twists and turns, a prisoner swap of sorts, and unexpected betrothal, and a path to happily ever after. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.
Fate drew Chloe and Jon together in this entertaining novel. From the first moment he laid his eyes on Chloe, he was attracted to her, and when he saw that she needed a champion, Jon intervened, almost resulting in his immediate capture. Chloe hears all about the highway man with a limp and a grey horse, and while grateful to him for his intervention, she does not expect to see him again. That is, until he appears in the family's stables holding a pistol on her. Realizing that he has been severely wounded, Chloe loses no time in tending to his wounds, but keeping him hidden keeps her on her toes. When Jon's brother arrives, following a trail of information, Jon knows he can no longer burden Chloe with his presence. As witnesses prove to be unreliable, the Bow Street Runners and the local Magistrate find it difficult to pin the deeds of a highwayman on Jon, bringing the novel to an entertaining conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
In Love with a Highwayman When Chloe discovers an injured highwayman hiding in her barn, she seizes the adventure she’s always longed for. Nursing Jonathan back to health, she finds herself drawn to a man who should be nothing but trouble. Yet beneath his outlaw’s reputation lies a wounded soul searching for a way out of the life he never truly wanted. As the law closes in, Chloe risks her heart—and her future—for a man torn between his past mistakes and the chance at redemption. Is her faith in him misplaced, or could love be the key to his salvation? This romantic adventure brims with danger, secrets, and the intoxicating pull of second chances. A story where love isn’t just a risk—it’s destiny.
Third book in the escape series which has unique storylines. Jon lost his leg in the war and now coming home he is determined to help those men affected by the war. Perhaps leading them as highwaymen is not the best idea. Chloe loves animals and nurtures them back to health when injured. Jon meets Chloe when he helps her free some captive birds. When Jon is injured, Chloe needs to nurse him back to health. An adventurous romance with some twists and characters from previous books that enhance the storyline but still can be read as a standalone. I received an ARC but the honest opinion is my own.
Loved reading Jonathan and Chloe's story of an injured highwayman and the lady who nurses him back to health, where their enforced proximity brings forth attraction, love and a sense of adventure. Can Jonathan escape the clutches of bow street and sever his ties with his nefarious crew and once again become the upstanding gentleman Chloe deserves.