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Pale Moon Rider
He lived by night--the dark, dangerous highwayman who stole her heart....
"It was a fine night for treachery, dark with a pale moon rising...."
Like a wraith he appeared in the Coventry night, the notorious highwayman called Captain Starlight. Renée d'Anton watched, breathless, as the cloaked figure commanded, "Stand and deliver!" and her coach shuddered to a halt. Little did he know Renée had come in desperation to meet him. For the dark, seductive highwayman was her only hope in a perilous game of chance....
She was pure temptation, challenging Tyrone Hart to steal a set of heirloom rubies and name his price. He couldn't resist her. So he agreed to risk his life for the fiery beauty--to recover the jewels that would free her from an arranged marriage and an unspeakable threat. But first Renée had to win his trust--even as she ignited passions that seduced him out of the shadows to sweep her into his arms....
Bestselling, award-winning author Marsha Canham once again delivers dangerous intrigue, sensuous romance, and two unforgettable characters whose love story will touch your heart as it takes your breath away.
"It was a fine night for treachery, dark with a pale moon rising...."
Like a wraith he appeared in the Coventry night, the notorious highwayman called Captain Starlight. Renée d'Anton watched, breathless, as the cloaked figure commanded, "Stand and deliver!" and her coach shuddered to a halt. Little did he know Renée had come in desperation to meet him. For the dark, seductive highwayman was her only hope in a perilous game of chance....
She was pure temptation, challenging Tyrone Hart to steal a set of heirloom rubies and name his price. He couldn't resist her. So he agreed to risk his life for the fiery beauty--to recover the jewels that would free her from an arranged marriage and an unspeakable threat. But first Renée had to win his trust--even as she ignited passions that seduced him out of the shadows to sweep her into his arms....
Bestselling, award-winning author Marsha Canham once again delivers dangerous intrigue, sensuous romance, and two unforgettable characters whose love story will touch your heart as it takes your breath away.
432 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 30, 2012
Not many historical romances can take me up to the 96% mark and still have me wondering if I'm going to get my HEA. Renee Anton has fled Robespierre's France with her younger brother to stay with her English uncle who plans to marry her off to a creep. She concocts a plan with the local super-stealthy, super-sexy highwayman to get her out of this arrangement and onto a ship to anywhere, like New Orleans, for instance. The highwayman is Tyrone Hart and he likes how she says his name with her French accent. Tyroone. Ty!-roone. Renee is beautiful, and it's such a trial because of the all the unwanted attention that results. I like a heroine I can relate to. Stop with the snorts of laughter, friends! Anyway, I'm being too snarky here because the fact of the matter is, I did like the story.
February 25, 2011
Yet another great story by MC. This one starts off really strong and kind of fizzles a bit at the end, but that doesn't mean I could put it down either. Marsha is such a wonderful writer I tend to take it for granted that all of her books cannot be my favorite. The characters in this story were wonderful and colorful. I could hear Renee's accent throughout the story and I could see the relationship build. A scene in this one that I thought was exceptional is when Tyrone realizes he is trapped within his own emotions and battles with himself fighting for logic to win over emotion even though he knows it won't. And it all unravels in front of his partner in crime and dearest friend, who sits with a knowing smirk while Tyrone comes completely undone. Very enjoyable book. Not one of my favorites but well done just the same. MC can create heroes you absolutely love and villains you completely hate. Very talented author.
June 9, 2017
Boring, with an underdeveloped romance and characters.
The to-catch-a-thief subplot overshadowed the romance between Renee and Tyrone. In the end, I didn't care what happened either way because the characters were so one-dimensional and, therefore, uninteresting. There wasn't much angst and romantic tension either. In all, I'm not sure why, how or even when the protagonists fell for each other. They were at odds with each other one minute and then, bam(!), in the next they were in love.
The to-catch-a-thief subplot overshadowed the romance between Renee and Tyrone. In the end, I didn't care what happened either way because the characters were so one-dimensional and, therefore, uninteresting. There wasn't much angst and romantic tension either. In all, I'm not sure why, how or even when the protagonists fell for each other. They were at odds with each other one minute and then, bam(!), in the next they were in love.
August 4, 2011
I can't believe anyone could rate a book by Marsha Canham any lower than a 5. She is an amazing writer! I am at 20% and I am already totally into this book!
Loved it! The way it started, I thought it was one of the Robin Hood Trilogy's she wrote. This is a stand alone book and like all I have read of Marsha's book it was great!
Loved it! The way it started, I thought it was one of the Robin Hood Trilogy's she wrote. This is a stand alone book and like all I have read of Marsha's book it was great!
April 15, 2012
I'm not gonna lie. I really liked this little smutty tale of the roguish highwayman Captain Starlight and the displaced French aristo Renee. The backstory and fleshing out of each character along with the nod to the Scarlet Pimpernel went a long way in helping me overlook some obvious annoyances. In a lesser story or from a lesser author, those would have been mock-worthy. It didn't hurt that the hero was witty and not over the top alpha male. His final admission of love was funny and understated which made it totally endearing.
HOWEVER:
What the fuck was up with the "accents"? Mam'selle? M'sier? Dudley's cockney? Utterly ridiculous. It is as bad as when novels set in the Old South try to capture the dialect of the slaves phonetically. Sorry--it's the one part I must mock. I can't let that one go; it irritated me the entire way through.
HOWEVER:
What the fuck was up with the "accents"? Mam'selle? M'sier? Dudley's cockney? Utterly ridiculous. It is as bad as when novels set in the Old South try to capture the dialect of the slaves phonetically. Sorry--it's the one part I must mock. I can't let that one go; it irritated me the entire way through.
September 29, 2019
5 stars for fun. Sure there’s some head-hopping, but this book is nothing but tropey goodness if you like a story full of greatcoats, flintlock pistols, highwaymen, and Scarlet Pimpernel type disguises. And the adventure/suspense plot keeps going right to the end. I loved this book so much, I think I had a big, loopy grin on my face the entire time I was reading it.
November 13, 2010
This was such a great adventure story for me! Marsha Canham has been recommended many times to me for some of her series (and I've read one of the Robin Hood books and enjoyed it but wasn't overwhelmed). But this book I loved! The hero, the heroine and the action - all were on point.
August 5, 2013
A delighful, ridiculously addictive swashbuckler.
December 9, 2015
WHEW! So steamy! I was really impressed with how well Marsha Canham walks the line between cheesy and full-blown erotica. Pale Moon Rider has both a well-developed story with fully defined characters, and plenty of sexy time.
Considering when this book was written, I was also very impressed with how much agency Renee had as a character. She does go to Tyrone to help her, but I also had the sense that she could've figured things out on her own even if she'd never come across him. Although he's an intimidating man who could easily overpower her, she still has a lot of control in their relationship, which I feel I don't often see in many romance novels (and even some of Canham's other ones!). I don't want to read scenes where the man is literally forcing himself on the woman; I don't care if she ends up being into it at the end. She didn't want it in the first place!
Fortunately, that's not the case at all in Pale Moon Rider. In Tyrone and Renee's dynamic, they both have an equal amount of control. Renee is beautiful and relatively innocent, but she's also extremely strong, and not in an annoying, "I have to argue with everyone," sort of way. There's a lot of nuance and layers to both of their characters, which made the romance between them all the more enjoyable to read. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the weird conspiracy with Renee's uncle felt kind of forced, and Canham spent way too much time detailing the genealogy and financial history of Rene's family. That part just wasn't very compelling, in my opinion.
Overall, though, it's a terrific read!
Considering when this book was written, I was also very impressed with how much agency Renee had as a character. She does go to Tyrone to help her, but I also had the sense that she could've figured things out on her own even if she'd never come across him. Although he's an intimidating man who could easily overpower her, she still has a lot of control in their relationship, which I feel I don't often see in many romance novels (and even some of Canham's other ones!). I don't want to read scenes where the man is literally forcing himself on the woman; I don't care if she ends up being into it at the end. She didn't want it in the first place!
Fortunately, that's not the case at all in Pale Moon Rider. In Tyrone and Renee's dynamic, they both have an equal amount of control. Renee is beautiful and relatively innocent, but she's also extremely strong, and not in an annoying, "I have to argue with everyone," sort of way. There's a lot of nuance and layers to both of their characters, which made the romance between them all the more enjoyable to read. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the weird conspiracy with Renee's uncle felt kind of forced, and Canham spent way too much time detailing the genealogy and financial history of Rene's family. That part just wasn't very compelling, in my opinion.
Overall, though, it's a terrific read!
February 14, 2019
Excellent story! If you enjoy highwaymen romance or haven’t ever read one yet this one is great 👍! Lots of well written characters with a really well crafted storyline and some pretty fancy jewels make up a really great read! I highly recommend you give it a try. Marsha Canham is an excellent author.
May 30, 2008
Wow. I was riveted from page 1.
Want to read
April 7, 2009One word: Zorro
April 15, 2013
I love Marsha Canham, what can I say?! Another great book with a highwayman hero to die for, a spirited French emigre heroine and a plot that keeps you turning the pages!
June 24, 2012
One dimensional and very silly
August 9, 2022
Four stars because overall the book is fun, but the heroine had a few...interesting...comments about the French Revolution. As an aristocrat that managed to escape (though most of her family did not), it isn't a great look to bemoan the fact that you don't have a ton of clothes and shoes because of the revolutionaries. Like, I get that what she experienced was horrible, but like the revolutionaries had no money or food, let alone a hundred pairs of shoes and a room full of fancy clothing, lol. I say this realizing the goal of the novel is not a socio-economic commentary on the Revolution, but it was a point that bugged me.
I really liked the romance though, and now need to read more highway-men romances, haha.
I also really liked the heroine wasn't a virgin and the hero had zero issues with that. Definitely nice to see in an older historical. It's pretty steamy (they have sex while she is sitting on piano keys, for one), but there isn't any dubious consent between the 2 main characters.
TW: for scenes of assault by another character.
I really liked the romance though, and now need to read more highway-men romances, haha.
I also really liked the heroine wasn't a virgin and the hero had zero issues with that. Definitely nice to see in an older historical. It's pretty steamy (they have sex while she is sitting on piano keys, for one), but there isn't any dubious consent between the 2 main characters.
TW: for scenes of assault by another character.
September 17, 2018
Reminds me of Scarlet Pimpernel- Lord Percy.
Anachroinism: Tyrone plays Chopin in 1796.Frederic Chopin wasn't born till 1810. to England.
I loved Antoine (13) who has stopped talking after seeing his English mother beaten to death in Paris.Only seeing his sister Renee threatened and attacked by her "fiance" he strarts talking again.
I also liked the old and faithful servant ,Finn (in his 60s) who has saved Antoine and Renee and brought rhem to England.
Renee thinks she is a coward.Others see her as a brave 20-years old.She has guts, knows her likes and dislikes.Captain Starlight is her key to freedom from her uncle and "fiance".
We know Tyrone has changed his name 7 years ago, but never know his old one.He wants revenge on Colonel Roth, who knows his previous identity.
Betrayal, greed, French revolution, roibbery, famous jewels,life of emigrees- all in this book.
Anachroinism: Tyrone plays Chopin in 1796.Frederic Chopin wasn't born till 1810. to England.
I loved Antoine (13) who has stopped talking after seeing his English mother beaten to death in Paris.Only seeing his sister Renee threatened and attacked by her "fiance" he strarts talking again.
I also liked the old and faithful servant ,Finn (in his 60s) who has saved Antoine and Renee and brought rhem to England.
Renee thinks she is a coward.Others see her as a brave 20-years old.She has guts, knows her likes and dislikes.Captain Starlight is her key to freedom from her uncle and "fiance".
We know Tyrone has changed his name 7 years ago, but never know his old one.He wants revenge on Colonel Roth, who knows his previous identity.
Betrayal, greed, French revolution, roibbery, famous jewels,life of emigrees- all in this book.
January 4, 2019
Renee muss aus ihrer Heimat fliehen, da fängt der Trubel aber erst so richtig an. Um ihren Bruder zu schützen, muss sie sich mit einem grauenhaften Mann verbünden, um den tollkühnsten Räuber in die Falle zu locken. Die Dinge nehmen unverhofft ihren Lauf...
Gut geschriebener Roman. Von allem etwas dabei. Spannung, Erotik, Humor ...
Gut geschriebener Roman. Von allem etwas dabei. Spannung, Erotik, Humor ...
February 19, 2024
6 stars. A reworking of the Scarlet Pimpernel dynamic, brilliantly reimagined and retold, with charismatic characters (both heroine AND hero), meaningful character development, intricate but not plot-heavy plot, historical details, and page-turning writing from the first sentence to the last. Classic c.2000 writing.
March 10, 2024
Lady Marsha best author in this genre
I absolutely loved this story. Characters as usual are exciting, complex, full of piss and vinegar. Romance abounds with drama and wonderful descriptions.
I absolutely loved this story. Characters as usual are exciting, complex, full of piss and vinegar. Romance abounds with drama and wonderful descriptions.
October 27, 2018
I normally love Marsha Canham but I just could not get into this one.
April 17, 2019
I enjoyed reading.
January 10, 2020
I am reading simple bodice rippers to alleviate shittiness going on in real life, but I guess there is no such a thing as good, believable writing when it comes to romance genre. Pale Moon Rider could have been decent if the book was edited. Canham will introduce a fast paced scene where the hero is bleeding to death, only to jolt you into a snail crawl so that unimportant characters can laboriously explain to each other something that has been already established, or give you a lecture on history of a town. And never mind the whiny, self-pitying heroine and her slender legs and large silver tears.
April 15, 2020
Not bad at all. Enjoyable. But for some reason I had trouble finishing it.
May 20, 2021
Great Book.It Kept Me On The Edge Of My Seat.
June 13, 2021
Riveting
Well written, exciting and enthralling read with great story line and several great characters. Definitely worth your time and money
Well written, exciting and enthralling read with great story line and several great characters. Definitely worth your time and money
August 20, 2021
Un poco fantasioso pero Marsha nunca defrauda!
October 6, 2021
I might have given this a five but the ending felt rushed and cut off. Well developed characters and plot.
January 1, 2022
Good book. Didn’t think the ending was as good as the rest of the book. Seemed very hurried and just ended. But the story is good and characters are very appealing. Will read more of her books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews