Laura's Reviews: The Gentleman and the Thief by Sarah M. Eden (Blog Tour)

The Dread Penny Society is a secret society in Victorian London that helps people that are trapped in the underworld of society. This includes poor children who are used as thieves and are not able to have a decent upbringing. Many of the members are also authors of “penny dreadfuls.” Penny dreadfuls were cheap serialized sensational stories that were sold for a penny during Victorian times. They were entertainment for the masses but were generally looked down upon by the upper crust.

The “Gentleman” of this story is Hollis Darby. His grandfather lost their family fortune by gambling and he and his brother are trying to use their respectable name to put the family back on solid footing again. Hollis makes money by writing penny dreadfuls secretly at night. He meets and falls in love with Ana Newport. Ana is a music teacher at a school for girls. Her family lost their fortune when her father’s business partner stole from their company. She also has a secret. At night she is the “phantom fox” and steals the items back that were stolen from her family. As Hollis and Ana get to know one another, they start to investigate the strange activities at her neighbor’s home. Why are there gentleman visiting the home at all times of day and night? Why has her old neighbor suddenly moved away? Who is behind all of the robberies that are taken place across London?

I loved The Gentleman and the Thief. The plot was very exciting and suspenseful. I really liked the mysteries and trying to determine what was going on. I also really liked that the overall goal of the characters was to help out those in trouble. I enjoyed the characters, especially the main characters of Hollis and Ana. I especially liked that interspersed throughout the novel were chapters from penny dreadfuls. One was the story of a school for ghosts and the other was the story of a gentleman that keeps finding items missing from his him. He enlists the help of his childhood friend, the steward’s daughter, and together they tackle the mystery. I especially loved this second story.

The Gentleman and the Thief is the second novel in the Dread Penny Society books. I read this as a standalone and it worked. I would love to read the first book in the series, The Lady and the Highwayman. I’m adding it to my “to read” list. I also enjoyed that this story was a clean romance.

Overall, The Gentleman and the Thief is a riveting story of love and danger in Victorian London. I highly recommend it!

Book Source: Review Copy from Shadow Mountain Publishing for being a part of the Blog Tour. Thank-you!

QUICK FACTS:

· Title: The Gentleman and the Thief: Proper Romance Victorian

· Author: Sarah M. Eden

· Series: Book 2 in The Dread Penny Society

· Genre: Historical Mystery/Suspense, Victorian Romance, Inspirational Fiction

Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing (November 3, 2020)
Length: (368) pages
Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1629727905
eBook ASIN: B08KFLFV6S
Audiobook ASIN: B0872F3399
Tour Dates: November 2 – 29, 2020

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A standalone novel in The Dread Penny Society set in 1865 London brimming with secrets, scandal, suspense, and romance.

From the moment Hollis Darby meets Ana Newport, he's smitten. Even though he's from a wealthy, established family and she isn't, he wishes he could have a life with her by his side. But Hollis has a secret: the deep coffers that have kept his family afloat for generations are bare, so he supports himself by writing penny dreadfuls under a pseudonym. If not for the income from his novels, he would be broke.

Ana Newport also has a secret. Though she once had a place in society thanks to her father's successful business, bankruptcy and scandal reduced his fortune to nothing more than a crumbling town house. So Ana teaches music during the day, and at night she assumes the identity of the "Phantom Fox." She breaks into the homes of the wealthy to reclaim trinkets and treasures she feels were unjustly stolen from her family when they were struggling.

When Hollis's brother needs to hire a music tutor for his daughter, Hollis recommends Ana, giving him a chance to spend time with her. Ana needs the income and is eager for the opportunity to get to know the enigmatic gentleman. What neither of them expects is how difficult it will be to keep their respective secrets from each other.

When a spree of robberies rocks the city, Ana and Hollis join forces to solve the crimes, discovering that working together deepens the affection between them. After all, who better to save the day than a gentleman and a thief?

ADVANCE PRAISE

· ""The real joy in Eden's follow-up to The Lady and the Highwayman (2019) is the furthering of the overarching crime story and the work of the Dread Penny Society as Hollis and Ana pursue a chaste romance. Eden excels at exploring the realities of Victorian life and class differences. Once again, chapters of penny dreadfuls written by the characters are interspersed throughout, with Hollis' story about a school for ghosts offering particular delight. Fans of Eden's smart series will be thrilled and impatient for the next installment."— Booklist, starred review

· “Every time I thought my racing heart just couldn’t take the suspense anymore, I'd turn the page and smile.”— Bookconfessions

· “Eden writes it well, so thoroughly researched that you’re transported and in Victoria England. Great suspense and romance.”— Leslie, Books and Socks Rock

· “Undeniably clever, suspenseful, well-researched, and deftly written…”— Katie Jackson, RegencyProofreading.com

· "Charming, suggestive, and featuring rich historical details, The Gentleman and the Thief has the elements of a gritty, juicy penny dreadful."— Foreword Reviews

AUTHOR BIO:

Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of witty and charming historical romances, including 2019’s Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, The Lady and the Highwayman, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, Healing Hearts. She is a two-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner. Combining her obsession with history and her affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting deep characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

THE BLOG TOUR:

Join the virtual online blog tour of THE GENTLEMAN AND THE THIEF, Sarah M. Eden’s highly acclaimed second novel in The Dread Penny Society Series, November 2 through November 29, 2020. Forty popular blogs specializing in historical mystery/suspense, historical romance, and inspirational fiction will join in the celebration of its release with exclusive excerpts, spotlights, or reviews of this new Victorian-era novel set in London, England.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:

Nov 02 Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog (Review)

Nov 02 The Lit Bitch (Excerpt)

Nov 03 Getting Your Read On (Review)

Nov 03 Literary Time Out (Review)

Nov 03 Storybook Reviews (Review)

Nov 04 Heidi Reads (Review)

Nov 04 Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen (Spotlight)

Nov 05 Library of Clean Reads (Review)

Nov 06 Relz Reviewz (Review)

Nov 07 Probably at the Library (Spotlight)

Nov 08 The Christian Fiction Girl (Review)