My friend read a few years ago a book, but cannot for the life of her remember what it was called or who wrote it! It would be appreciated if anyone can help us out!

Here is the premise:

A brother and sister (disquised as a boy) are out riding horses, as they are heading home they are attacked and to be held for ransom. The sister is found out to be a girl when someone walks in on her getting dressed. She scales down the castle walls to escape and her hat falls off showing her hair, the Lord of the story is schocked to discover that she is a woman. She rides off on her horse, that comes when she whistles, to be chased by the Lord.

She stops because her horse has become hurt, the Lord is suprised that she cares that much for her horse, but takes her back to keep her (willingly) untill her ransom is paid off... and of course they fall in love......

Can anyone help her out?

Alex

I can see this book cover in my head, but can't find it.  It is mostly white, with a circular inset of a woman (red head?) riding horseback.  Really narrows the field, eh? 

I believe it is a historical Scottish romance, part of a series, and by an author that writes a lot of them, like Amanda Scott, Arnette Lamb or May McGoldrick.  

Does that sound right?  I'll keep wracking my brain.

Found it -- Firebrand Bride by Janet Lynnford is the one I was thinking of.  Hope that's it.

It sounds like it could be the Conquest by Jude Devereaux.

Nope. Unfortuantely it's neither of these! In this book she only disguises herself as a boy so they can travel easier on horseback. They both are kidnapped for ransom and someone walks in on her changing to find out she is a female. She decides to escape and while she is scaling the wall outside her window her hat comes off to show her long beautiful hair which the man of the mannor sees. He chases after her and proposes a deal that if she stays willingly for a while that he will let her go after the ransom is paid. Which he doesn't actually follow through with, (imagine that), and eventually they fall in love!

Alex

Hi. I don't know what the book is that you're looking for, but I have a suggestion. Go to Abebooks.com and check in their community tab for the Book Sleuth. This is a very active community of book lovers who help people solve mysteries such as yours. If you post there what you posted here, I can almost guarantee that someone will recognize it very soon. I have used Book Sleuth to find incredibly rare and obscure books that I remember from my childhoond, they're really incredible. One time I was only trying to find a short story, and didn't even know if it was in a book or not, and sure enough, someone recognized the story and knew what book it was in. If you haven't figured out yet what it is, I would definitely give Book Sleuth a try. Pretty sure you have to have an account with Abebooks to use it, but it doesn't cost anything. Please post when you solve the mystery!

Kate

Good idea Katekat,  BTW  Welcome to PBS and the Historical Fiction Forum!

Hi Kate, great idea. I'd never heard of that before. If it's romances you are hunting down there's also the Smart Bitches Trashy Books website and the Bodice Rippers Anonymous group at Goodreads. Someone must know.