Kit and Percy are pretty much the definition of navigating the grey. Neither one of them is all good - or all bad. Neither has had an easy life - even though Percy has had pretty much every possible privilege. That divide between the haves and have nots is explored pretty extensively on this end. Who is worse or better? The rich Duke who treats people as disposable and beneath his notice or the Highwayman who robs people. Both Kit and Percy are trying to figure out how they fit into their own lives after things change. For Percy, even his name keeps changing - so everything is very unsettled. For Kit, his identity as a person is up in the air again due to his injuries and the loss of a good friend.

I'll admit - despite my deep love of all things Cat Sebastian - I had a hard time getting in to this story. I guess at first I really didn't like Percy. I also really wasn't sure how I felt about Kit. I also, at times, got a little confused about the relationship between some of the characters. Also, sadly (and in the interest of full disclosure) I am not a huge fan of Georgian romances.

I give this one a very solid 3.5 stars - I loved how it ended and the character development along the way. This book is definitely a journey and the characters are fascinating. The central mystery is hidden in plain sight - and isn't much of a mystery - but that is ok because it really isn't the focus of the book. The focus is on the way the characters grow into themselves and find their footing in the murky waters of right and wrong and personal identities.

Overall - I definitely recommend and fans of Cat Sebastian won't be disappointed. As a writer, Cat Sebastian has a unique way of challenging our own principles - but in a way that makes it so interesting and enaging.

I was extremely lucky to receive and ARC of this book from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

This is one of those books where I just go: sigh. Its so good that I just want to sit in the awe of its wonderfulness. It’s well written, sweet, sexy with unexpected surprises and a saisfying ending. Is it completely without fault? No but its pros far outweigh its weaknesses. Kit Webb is an infamous highwayman who, having been permanently injured in a failed robbery, now owns a coffeehouse. Into his life comes Percy, an aristocratic dandy who is in need of Kit’s robbing skills and a complicated relationship full of sexual tension is born. The two main characters are fully realized and their every interaction crackles with chemistry and tension. The slow burn romance is exquisitely done. It just builds and builds, the details, the dialogue until all just explodes, literally and figuratively. The plot is a bit half baked, it makes sense until it doesn’t and the side characters, while entertaining and fulfilling a purpose get short shrift. Sebastian brings in the historical reality of their situation but they also seem to be a world unto themselves - which is not that uncommon in romances. While the ending is fully satisfying on the romantic front - plot wise it does feel rushed and a little unrealistic and there’s definitely a plot hole or two. However, the simplistic beauty of the writing and the romance between the two main characters make this a real winner!

This was an utter delight. I read it from start to finish in one sitting and don't regret it in the slightest. I've been reading a lot of (very good) epic fantasy lately, and this was such a refreshing break from the heavy seriousness of it all. It doesn't take itself too seriously, but is also very sweet (and funny).

Kit is grumpy and charming, Percy and his valet remind me rather a lot of Bertie Wooster and Jeeves, though Percy is rather cleverer than Wooster. I find myself very curious what mischief Marian was getting up to throughout it all, and hope her book will follow soon.

I also have to hand it to Cat Sebastian for her rendition of Kit's injury that causes him chronic pain. It was thoughtful and integrated into the story and felt real and honest.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing an e-arc to review.

Cat Sebastian was the first author I ever read when I started my foray into romance novels, and gosh, she still is my favorite! I can always rely on her stories for several things:

1) Two adorable main characters, both extremely different but who ultimately make sense together.

2) Historical accuracy - and a range of historical settings!

3) Heart fluttering romance & spicy delightful sex scenes.

4) An HEA (or at least an HFN).

This book is definitely one of my favorite of Sebastian’s works! I loved the time period of the book (silk stockings, velvet beauty patches, powdered wigs? Yes, please!) and the intrigue, mystery and drama of the plot was engaging and believable. Kit & Percy have wonderful chemistry, and I especially loved Percy’s blatant attempts at flirting. All in all, a cute, romantic, totally enjoyable romance - can there be a sequel, please?

I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Publishing June 8, 2021.

Highwaymen, family secrets, and tangled motives make this romance as exciting as it is sweet. When Percy, a soon-to-be-deposed nobleman tries to hire a highwayman to rob his father, he ends up with a tutor in crime instead. Lessons, intrigue, and (of course) feelings ensue. Cat Sebastian has so much fun drawing a vivid 18th century setting that readers won't be able to help enjoying the powdered wigs and fencing bouts just as much as she does.

This was an easy, enjoyable comfort-read, very much in keeping with what I look for from Cat Sebastian's books. I loved the growth of the relationship between the characters, the care-taking, and the gentle humor.

In addition to the romance, there's a revenge/planning a highway robbery plot. It was was easy enough to follow (if a bit implausible) and served to put the two MCs into various enjoyable scenes of sparring with each other as they prepared their attack. That being said, enough crucial details are kept back about *why* both characters are invested in the heist that it was hard for me to be very invested in it myself. I would have preferred the book be a bit more heavily weighted towards the romance: but that's also a matter of personal preference. I think readers looking for a heist story that's more on the "cozy" end of the scale than the "scary/suspenseful" end will find this hits the spot.

Really enjoyed this one. It’s fantastic I’d you’re looking for historical romance. Can read a bit slow on some of the writing. The characters are both well fleshed out and fun to read.

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

A story about a queer highwayman named Gladhand Jack?? Yes please!!

*plays Adam Ant Stand_and_Deliver.mp4*


[What I liked:]

•There is great fashion taste described in exquisite detail!

•This story is hilarious! Percy & Kit have wonderful banter.

•Great characters—a gruff ex-highwayman who gets very annoyed when people sing ballads about his exploits + a foppish & flirty noble who’s a devil with a short sword & but faints on sight of blood.

•There are lots of mysteries & secrets teased from the start, most of which twist into exciting plot developments.

•Some delicious family drama

•This is slow burn—and I love slow burn. Such a sweet & fiery build up of tension & emotion!


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•The mysteries about Marian and Rob, and their motives, weren’t totally cleared up by the end. Which I’m okay with if there is going to be a sequel! But if not I’m disappointed not to get full resolution in this book. Not to mention some of their choices don’t make sense without any explanation.

This was adorable! Don't look too closely at the "mystery" otherwise, you'll get lost, because it's not a very strong one. But the romance was sweet!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb is a dream of a concept. Retired highwayman given a last hurrah in the form of revenge against a count who also happens to be the father of the gentleman (who is perhaps a little to handsome for this to end well) that hires him for the task. It also doubles as the gay historical fiction equivalent of a coffee shop AU which is amazing on it’s own.
The relationship is done about as well as Cat Sebastian’s others; not too shallow, not too slow, perhaps a tad fast to be realistic but it mostly works. The plot is where this one falls through for me. It’s simple, taken a little too seriously, and becomes overcomplicated and convoluted in the end. One two many threads were attempted to be woven in but it didn’t quite all come together and significant loose ends were more or less ignored. I was left utterly perplexed as to why those elements/characters needed to be added if nothing certain came of it. There is also one part where the two main characters ignore the fact someone probably broke into the house and have sexy time before investigating. Umm, no?
Overall it’s a fun, sorta campy read and what you’d expect from Cat Sebastian.

I’m a fan of Cat Sebastian’s work, so I was delighted to get an ARC. With the plot features a forcibly retired highwayman and an aristocrat who wants to hire him for one last job? Definitely delighted.

I enjoyed the snarky banter between former highwayman Kit and aristocrat with a major problem Percy. Both are softies at heart, but their pasts have made both of them hide that fact from just about everyone. Kit actually likes Percy being a bit rude, and Percy is shocked at the idea of anyone just liking him.

The heist at the center of the plot is mainly an excuse for Kit and Percy to be together to plot and train (as well as some other stuff that would also get them arrested), and doesn’t take up many actual pages, but does include a twist. Also lots of hurt/comfort, which is always a favorite trope of mine, as well as some recognition of exactly where the wealth was coming from, which is refreshing to see in a historical.

I did notice there is a setup for a sequel, with at least two major threads left hanging regarding a secret heir. I’m assuming the two characters involved will be featured in future books (perhaps together?), but it did leave me feeling the plot was a bit off without knowing more about why they were plotting and/or disappearing. There were also quite a few supporting characters that weren’t quite developed, including the villain of the piece; we’re told about his evil doing, but we don’t really get to see it on the page. Again, I think some of his misdeeds will be explored in future books, but it felt strange to not get much in the way of details within this book.

An enjoyable read that looks to be the first in a series that I look forward to reading.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for my honest review.

Just like Cat Sebastian's other novels, this book has impeccable characterization, steamy sex scenes, funny dialogue and a happily ever after. Readers will root for both Kit and Percy and enjoy their romantic journey.

This was endlessly fun. The writing has a great pace and the characters are amusing and complicated. You never quite know what's going to happen next and it keeps you reading until you lose track of time.

Kit is a former (rather famous) roadside bandit. Percy is the (potentially illegitimate) son of the Duke of Clare. Percy hires Kit to rob his father of a book that had belonged to Percy’s (now deceased) mother, but due to Kit’s chronically painful hip, he doesn’t have the stamina or strength to pull off a robbery. So, he teaches Percy how to execute the thieving. As the two spend more and more time together, they start to fall for one another.

These two men are THE gentlest men I’ve ever come across in a romance. Seriously, please give us more puppy-dog male characters! Honestly, I couldn’t tell you about the verisimilitude of the time period or the banditry; I continued reading this story because of how soft and gentle Kit and Percy are with one another (and Kit is with babies). It will make your ovaries explode!

LGBTQIA:
- Percy is a gay man.
- Kit is either bi or pan—neither term is used, but it is established that Kit is “broad” in his sexual and romantic attractions.

At first I assumed this would be a "grumpy one is soft for the sunshine one" set up, with the sweet aristocrat hiring a highwayman. Then I quickly reversed my thoughts on the roles. Then I realized 'no, they're both sketchy
bastards'(another enjoyable trope) only to decide later that actually they are both precious idiots.

This book is high on sweet/grumpy coffee house banter with less intrigue and adventure than you might expect from the setup. Similar to Sebastian's other romances the relationship and characters drive the story. I most enjoyed the sweet and witty dialog and the cozy atmosphere.

I highly recommend this as a relatively low angst m/m romance with just the right amount of skulduggery.

I always love reading Cat Sebastian, and this book was no exception. It did take me a while to get into the stories and characters though. By the end, I was really rooting for Kit and Percy - they have a really interesting and endearing dynamic. They were very understanding of each other and willing to listen to the others' perspective.

I wish there would have been more scenes of action or angst as although they used the time to get ready for the heist, the stakes didn't feel as high to me as they could have and everything seemed to fall together very quickly at the end. All that being said, I did enjoy it, and can't wait to have a print copy in the library for fans of regency and historical romance.

I'll start by saying that I love Cat Sebastian! In The Queer Principles of Kit Webb she brings to life a quirky bunch of characters that I kind of hope turn into a series! If you're a fan of historical romance then I would definitely recommend this or any of Cat Sebastian's books.

I could not wait to read this book, and I loved it! This is more exciting than past Cat Sebastian novels I have read, but just as great. This has a good mixture of romance and plot. I loved the character development of both heroes, and the secondary cast are interesting. Most of the novel takes place in Kit's coffee house, which was a nice break from the typical London ballrooms.

Kit is an excellent wounded hero, as he is the most caring highwayman you could find, and his match, Percy, has complexity that does not show at first. I was worried it was going to get too angsty, but I liked the way the romance developed overall and the heroes get a good ending.

The mystery is interesting, and I am betting there will be a sequel to fill in the gaps, which I definitely want to read.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Net Galley in return for a fair review.

This book was just okay. I've previously read one of Cat Sebastian's books (Hither Page) and really enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, I wasn't super impressed.

It took me two weeks to read because it just didn't hold my interest. Maybe if you're more interested in recency books than I am you might enjoy this. The book is supposedly about a heist, but the heist doesn't happen until like 77% into the book and is over so quickly. The whole book was largely spent trying to establish an affection for the two main characters, but I wasn't convinced by their relationship at all. The ending, while predictable, was boring and felt rushed.

If you are a longtime fan of Sebastian's work, you may enjoy this. If nothing else it is generally easy to read in terms of writing style. it just didn't interest me content wise.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was going to save my ARC until closer to publication, but I really needed a comfort book the other day as an escape from real life, and this book did not disappoint. I have not read many of Cat Sebastian’s work but have enjoyed the other books that I have read. I enjoyed the amount of plot even if some of it was predictable. The ending seemed a bit abrupt, but I am in support for a second in the series and also more Collins. I enjoyed the description of the time period and how Kit dealt with his leg. The romance was sweet, and the plotting fun. The usual amount of making out at random moments as in most historical romances, but the characters were at least somewhat aware that they really should be doing something else. All in all, it was exactly what I needed as an escape for a few hours.


(I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.)