The Highway Trilogy Series by Deborah Swift

Abigail Chaplin has always been unable to find a position as a maidservant like other girls, because she is deaf. So why do the rich Fanshawes of Markyate Manor seem so anxious to employ her? And where exactly does her mistress, Lady Katherine, ride out to at night? SHADOW ON THE HIGHWAY is based on the life and legend of Lady Katherine Fanshawe, the highwaywoman, sometimes known as The Wicked Lady... moreAbigail Chaplin has always been unable to find a position as a maidservant like other girls, because she is deaf. So why do the rich Fanshawes of Markyate Manor seem so anxious to employ her? And where exactly does her mistress, Lady Katherine, ride out to at night? SHADOW ON THE HIGHWAY is based on the life and legend of Lady Katherine Fanshawe, the highwaywoman, sometimes known as The Wicked Lady. A tale of adventure and budding romance set in the turbulent English Civil War, this is a novel to delight teens and adults alike. Includes historical notes from the author. SHADOW ON THE HIGHWAY is the stand-alone first part of The Highway Trilogy. less

England, 1651  England has been engaged in a bitter Civil War for nearly ten years. Ralph Chaplin, a farmer's son, has fallen for beautiful copper-haired Kate. There is only one problem - he is a Roundhead soldier and she is a Royalist Lady. Tired of bloodshed, Ralph volunteers to fight, sensing that the Battle at Worcester will be a chance to finish the fighting for good... moreEngland, 1651  England has been engaged in a bitter Civil War for nearly ten years. Ralph Chaplin, a farmer's son, has fallen for beautiful copper-haired Kate. There is only one problem - he is a Roundhead soldier and she is a Royalist Lady. Tired of bloodshed, Ralph volunteers to fight, sensing that the Battle at Worcester will be a chance to finish the fighting for good. He longs for peace, so he can forge a secure future and find a different, more equal way of life for himself and Kate. But war is not what he imagined, and soon he has made a deadly enemy; one who will pursue Ralph and those he loves, to wreak vengeance. What's more, Ralph finds he has as many enemies at home, as on the battlefield... Can Ralph protect his family - and Kate? Or do they stand to lose it all to his avenger? 'Spirit of the Highway' is the stand-alone second part of the Highway Trilogy based on the real life and legend of Lady Katherine Fanshawe, highwaywoman.  The first part of the trilogy, 'Shadow of the Highway' is also available. PRAISE FOR DEBORAH SWIFT 'There is no greater compliment than "Give me more!"' - Susanna Gregory 'realistic dialogue, an author's obvious love for history, and characters that leap off the pages' - Romance Reviews Today 'genuinely engrossing... with characters you can get interested in' - The Mum Website Deborah Swift lives in a stunning part of the world, the English Lake District. She used to work as a costume designer for film and TV, and loves researching the background to her novels. She has an MA in Creative Writing, and is the author of three longer historical novels for adults: 'The Lady's Slipper', (shortlisted for the Impress Prize) 'The Gilded Lily' 'A Divided Inheritance' You can find out more about her on her website, deborahswift.com. Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via on.fb.me/1HweQV7 . We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now. less

‘anyone, regardless of age, would love this. . . great story and great storytelling’ - Book Nerd Blog England 1651 The English Civil War is over, but the wounds of the conflict are still raw. Young Lady Katherine Fanshawe is determined to save her inheritance from the grasping hands of the authorities, and build a brighter future for herself. Although Kate knows it is dangerous, she invites her rebel friends to live and work at Markyate Manor... more‘anyone, regardless of age, would love this. . . great story and great storytelling’ - Book Nerd Blog England 1651 The English Civil War is over, but the wounds of the conflict are still raw. Young Lady Katherine Fanshawe is determined to save her inheritance from the grasping hands of the authorities, and build a brighter future for herself. Although Kate knows it is dangerous, she invites her rebel friends to live and work at Markyate Manor. But her plans are quickly blown apart when, after months of hard work, her stepfather returns unexpectedly, and evicts them all without pay. Kate’s friends are bitter and turn against her, accusing her of being cursed and a bringer of misfortune. Desperate to regain their sympathy and trust, she turns to highway robbery to pay them back. But Kate is not the only highway thief on the road, and her rival is intent on bloodshed and murder. Soon the local constable is hot on her trail for crimes she did not commit. Just when Kate thinks things can’t get worse, another secret begins to reveal itself – a secret that threatens her very life. In this struggle against her loveless family, militant authorities and an unforgiving winter, will Lady Katherine’s birth right turn out to be a blessing or a curse? Lady of the Highway is the final book of Deborah Swift’s Highway Trilogy. Shadow on the Highway and Spirit of the Highway are out now. Praise for Deborah Swift ‘There is no greater compliment than, give me more’ – Susanna Gregory , bestselling author of historical crime fiction ‘Characters so real they linger in the mind long after the book is back on the shelf’ – The Historical Novels Review ‘The past comes alive through impeccable research, layers of intriguing plotline, an understanding of the complexities of seventeenth century politics and the sheer power of descriptive prose’ – Lancashire Evening Post Deborah Swift lives in a stunning part of the world, the English Lake District. She used to work as a costume designer for film and TV, and loves researching the background to her novels. She has an MA in Creative Writing, and is the author of a number of historical novels, including The Gilded Lily , A Divided Inheritance , Spirit of the Highway , Shadow on the Highway and The Lady’s Slipper , which was shortlisted for the Impress Prize. You can find out more about her on her website: www.deborahswift.com Or follow her on Twitter: @swiftstory Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent digital publisher. For more information on our titles please sign up to our newsletter at endeavourpress.com. Each week you will receive updates on free and discounted ebooks. Follow us on Twitter: @EndeavourPress and on Facebook via on.fb.me/1HweQV7. We are always interested in hearing from our readers. Endeavour Press believes that the future is now. less