As the headmistress of a girls' school, Elizabeth Black needs to be all this is prim and proper in order to maintain support for her school. Her job as a "silver-fork" author, writing for the upper classes in Victorian society--is acceptable. Her secret career as the author Penny Dreadfuls--cheap, sensational stories--is not and must remain a secret or it will threaten everything she has worked for. When Fletcher Walker, another successful Penny Dreadful author, starts sniffing around, trying to find out who the mysterious author "Mr. King" is, Elizabeth figures "helping" him with his search will enable her to guarantee he never finds out that she is Mr. King. She quickly becomes interested in more than just keeping her secret, however; rumor has it that Fletcher belongs to a secret group of penny dreadful authors, the Dread Penny Society, who work to fight for the poor and working-class and whose ideals seem in line with Elizabeth's own, and Elizabeth is intrigued by the possibility that such a society exists. More than that, though, she's intrigued by Fletcher himself--and he seems equally interested in her.

I read an ARC of this novel in July; just over halfway through the year, I'm going to say not only is this one of my picks for the Best Books of 2019, but it's my personal favorite out of everything I've read this year. I have read a lot of terrific books this year, but there is something about this one that just captured my heart beyond what any other book has done.

So, what did I love about it?
Fletcher, for starters. Oh, how I love a good romantic hero, and I've got a special spot in my heart for a rough-around-the-edges-with-a-heart-of-gold hero, which Fletcher totally is. Having risen from the gutters, he doesn't try to be something he's not, and I love it. He's genuine and gritty while also being compassionate and smart and frankly, pretty stinking sexy!

What else? Elizabeth, of course! I love that she's smart and strong and capable. I love that she doesn't shy away from danger but follows her heart and her conscience and helps those around her. I also really liked that she's confident. And I love that she holds her own with Fletcher and that, despite being "higher class" than he is, never, ever treats him that way but genuinely sees him and his worth.

I also love the secondary characters--Elizabeth's fellow teacher Ana and various members of the Dread Penny Society were great characters and I really, really hope that this book is the first in the series and we'll get to know these characters on a deeper level in future books.

What else did I love? The writing! I am NOT one for long (especially flowery) descriptions. I love snappy dialogue (particularly if it makes me laugh!) and Sarah Eden is a master of that style. The dialogue was terrific and moved the story along well. There were many times when I laughed--I'm smiling now as I write this just thinking about some of those great moments! (Ah! I loved the flirting between Fletcher and Elizabeth! So much fun!) The plot was fun and moved along well and kept my interest the entire time.

I also really liked the setting. I don't read many Victorian novels, but I'll definitely read more if Sarah Eden is the author! I liked seeing more about the society, how it was still very, very divided but there were some pushes toward more equality and educating the poor and things like that.

Something else that was neat was that included in the book were two Penny Dreadfuls--one written by "Mr. King" and one written by Fletcher. It was cool having two extra stories worked into the larger story and was a clever way of showing aspects of Victorian society.

So, basically, I loved the entire thing. With several months left in the year, there is the possibility that another book could steal the "favorite book of the year" title from this one, but it's going to take one heck of a book to be able to do that because I absolutely adored this book.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah Eden was a great, quick read. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it, and it had everything I was looking for in a read.

Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girl’s school and also the author of well-respected “silver fork” novels but she has a secret she can’t share with anyone or risk the fate of her school. Her big secret is that she also happens to be Mr. King, the newly famous author of the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men.

Fletcher Walker has worked his way up out of the gutters of London and has been the most successful Penny Dreadful author for a while but when Mr. King unseats him and starts taking his readers…and his profits, he has to find out who this man is. Even the men in the Dread Penny Society, a secret group of authors, don’t know who Mr. King is and it could impact their mission of fighting for the rights of the less fortunate.

By doing his own digging, Fletcher determines that Mr. King must be from higher up on the social chain based on the language he uses and because of this, he approaches Elizabeth hoping she can make some inquiries to find out where he is. Elizabeth decides to help Fletcher so she can keep him off her scent and by doing this, she is drawn into something bigger than protecting her identity.

I loved how the relationship developed between Fletcher and Elizabeth. The banter between them was one of my favorite parts of the story. Yes, they are from different levels of society, but it doesn’t bother Elizabeth one bit that Fletcher had to claw his way up. They are both smart and witty and they make each other feel things they haven’t ever felt before. They also have a lot in common and could relate to each other regardless of social standing.

There is plenty of action and danger in this book because as I mentioned, the Dread Penny Society looks to protect the less fortunate children and that’s where things take a bit of a twist for Elizabeth. As she learns more about the children who are in danger, she jumps right in to help protect them however she can which leads to her students and school being put in dangerous situation.

One of the things I loved about this book was that it included two Penny Dreadfuls. One written by Fletcher and one by Mr. King. Both were enjoyable and added to the overall story. If you are looking for a historical romance that will keep you turning the pages, add this one to your TBR shelf right now. It was such a good read and I will definitely be adding Eden to my author watchlist.

I had a blast reading this book, 4.5 amazing stars! I just loved the fresh new take on a historical romance set in Victorian times. For a change, we are not reading about the aristocracy, even though Elizabeth, our heroine, was born into gentility. She's not yet 30, runs a girls' school for middle class daughters who otherwise wouldn't get an education, writes "silver fork" novels for the upper class and, thrillingly and unexpectedly, penny dreadful novels for the lower classes under a secret nom de plume. She is smart, witty, and brave and so it's no wonder our hero, Fletcher Walker, soon grows utterly fascinated with her. Himself a well-known author of the penny dreadfuls, he is also a member of a secret gentlemen's club who put their efforts into rescuing street urchins and young girls from exploitation and worse.
Soon the two are up to their ears in adventure, spy games, and a battle of wills, trying to keep their own secrets while discovering what the other one is hiding. On top of that, we are treated to two more stories within the story, namely the wildly popular penny dreadfuls our heroes are writing.
The focus of this story is less on the romance and more on the action which made for an addictive read I could hardly put down. I loved the Dread Penny society with the various colorful members who all have their own motivations to put themselves in danger and save the children. I loved how the female characters were treated as smart, resourceful, and competent by Fletcher and the others, and adored the various social issues brought up and discussed within the greater story.
Lastly, the fact that some secrets remained unresolved in the end makes me hopeful for a sequel. I'd read it in a heartbeat.

During Victorian England, there were essentially two types of books available. Of course, one was considered literature; well written tales that both middle and upper classes found worthy of reading, known as "silver-fork" novels. The other was what they called “penny dreadfuls” which were cheap (costing only a penny), serialized novels of high adventure and lowbrow content. Fletcher Walker was one of the favorite authors of the latter kind, but lately he’s lost his standing to an unknown newcomer called Mr. King. Elizabeth Black is also an author, but known for the former kind of novels, since writing anything less would put the school for girls that she runs in disrepute. That’s why she has to hide her identity with those penny dreadful stories she's been writing on the side. When these two come together under unlikely circumstance, they both have secrets, but they find they also have some mutual goals. [Read more…]

From the title of this review, I think you can already see that you’ll be getting more than you bargained for if you decide to read this novel. What I mean by this is that Eden not only tells us the story of Walker and Black, but she also gives us two penny dreadful novels – one by Walker (about street urchins and vampires), and the other being the eponymous story by Mr. King, aka Elizabeth Black. This makes for a rollicking story where some of the interactions between Walker and Black end up in Mr. King’s story.

The other parallel for these two protagonists is that they’re also involved in education. As noted, Black has her school, which caters to the middle classes, or girls whose higher birth no longer matches their family’s level of financial resources. Giving this education to these types of girls means that they’ll have a chance at making their own way in life, since their marriage prospects are less than stellar. Walker’s involvement in education is through his support of what they call a “ragged school” which offers street urchins and homeless children just enough of an education to keep them from turning to crime or being abused by criminals. The problem is, getting those kids off the streets. That’s where Walker’s “Dread Penny Society” comes in. This is a group of penny dreadful authors who are willing to do some unsavory, and sometimes less than legal things, for the sole purpose of rescuing these youngsters.

So, what we have here is an historical fiction novel that many might consider a romance novel as well. And yes, there is some romance there between our protagonists. However, once again I find that what keeps this from being overly romantic is that Eden gives both of her protagonists’ goals that have nothing to do with falling in love. Furthermore, the obstacles that they both face in their separate lives, as well as together, are highly consuming of their time and energy. Their attraction for each other just happens along the way, and there are no small number of obstacles for them ever becoming a recognized couple.

Aside from the addition of the two penny dreadful stories, what I liked the most about this novel was Eden’s portrayal of Elizabeth Black. Here’s a woman who herself might have had to make an unhappy marriage, if she could even find a husband willing to take her, who instead becomes a teacher and later starts her own school for girls like herself. Eden gives Elizabeth not only a strong will, but quite a wonderful sense of humor, together with a lovely level of humility. When we read her penny dreadful, we know that she’s often drawing on her own life, while adding bits of horror and fantasy to keep her target audience’s attention. In addition, Elizabeth’s concern for those less fortunate than herself is admirable, and something I totally identify with. Yes, Elizabeth is one of those characters you’d like to sit down with a cup of tea or coffee with, and you know you’d have lots to talk about.

However, I must admit that I wasn’t as thrilled with how Eden developed Fletcher Walker. While I can’t say I disliked him (I actually liked him very much), I didn’t find him as sympathetically drawn as Elizabeth, and I also felt he was a bit inconsistent. There were times when his colloquial use of language felt strained or even over the top, rather than natural. Yes, we understand that he started out just like the urchins he’s trying to help, but now that he’s been able to rise above that, and he’s now mixing with some people who were always on a higher social rung than him, surely he has learned better grammar and sentence structure by now. Interestingly enough, I found that his penny dreadful story was told using less slang and better syntax than he spoke with himself. That’s why I thought that at a minimum, he could have used less idiomatic language when speaking to Elizabeth and others of her ilk, even if he reverted to his old habits around those from his own background.

I should also note that although the ending had no special twist, it was quite cleverly done, even though Eden leaves us with a serious unresolved conflict. Mind you, I have a feeling that had Eden tried to resolve this, the only resolutions I can think of are either trite or essentially unbelievable, so I guess she decided to get out while the going was good. Smart choice, if you ask me. In short, while I didn’t find this book to be perfect, it was quite a fun read, with a very witty and special female protagonist, and some resounding action scenes. That the penny dreadful stories had some horror, fantasy, and thriller/adventure aspects, while the main plot included nice dollops of romance (as did one of the penny dreadful stories), and some humorous turns as well, means that Eden ticks so many boxes for historical fiction, I can’t see anyone being be put off. Therefore, I’ll recommend this with a healthy four out of five stars.

"Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls’ school in 1830s Victorian London. She is also a well-respected author of "silver-fork" novels, stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories - the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men. Under the pseudonym Charles King, Elizabeth has written about dashing heroes fighting supernatural threats, intelligent detectives solving grisly murders, and dangerous outlaws romancing helpless women. They contain all the adventure and mystery that her real life lacks.

Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Charles King started taking all of his readers. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher’s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the social and political causes of their working-class readers. The group knows King could be an asset with his obvious monetary success, or he could be the group’s undoing as King’s readership continues to cut into their profits.

Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King’s whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to insure her secret identity is never discovered. What neither author anticipated was the instant attraction, even though their social positions dictate the impossibility of a relationship.

For the first time Elizabeth experiences the thrill of a cat-and-mouse adventure reminiscent of one of her own novels as she tries to throw Fletcher off her scent. But the more time they spend together, the more she loses her heart. Its upper-class against working-class, author against author where readers, reputations, and romance are all on the line."

This book had me at writer of Penny Dreadfuls...

This novel provides three stories for the price of one. Fletcher Walker and Elizabeth Black write “penny dreadfuls.” And their latest stories are interwoven into the story in alternating chapters. The main story was interesting enough, with Oliver Twist-like orphans being maltreated and rescued by a secret society dedicated to social improvement. . Along with the distraction of the anachronistic use of the word “ask” as a noun (as in “this is a big ask”), I kept pulled away from the main story by the two penny dreadfuls and their separate plot lines.

Lots of people will like a “clean” romance novel with no more than hand-holding and a rather chaste kiss.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book, the author wrote a very accurate period romance, that wasn't all love and mush. I thought that the setting was so vividly described that it felt as if I was there with Fletcher and Elizabeth. I liked how the author wrote the penny dreadfuls into the story, it gave it a interesting look into the characters. Of course, I enjoyed Elizabeth and Fletcher's romance. The characters in this novel were different and intriguing, and the two points of view gave great insight into how they think and feel. Elizabeth and Fletcher's story and their fall was adorable, and the setting and backstory of these characters are one of a kind. Overall, it was a great read that included real issues like social justice, and a love story.

The Lady and the Highwayman
By: Sarah M. Eden
This adventure was literally a 3 in one deal. The two main characters were both authors and shared their tales throughout each chapter. I enjoyed the plot and the multiple storylines however the beginning of the book was challenging. There was much to remember with so many different stories being told. Once everything was set straight however I simply enjoyed the book. I wish there was more to come to be honest. I enjoyed the characters a great deal but also the stories they themselves were writing. Finishing the book left me with the mystery of who the Dread Master is and what was to become of other characters fates. I look forward to reading more from Sarah M. Eden.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

this is my first book by this author and i really enjoyed it. it was sweet, fun and fresh. really enjoyed the penny dreadfuls!

Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls’ school in 1830s Victorian London. She is also a well-respected author of ”silver-fork” novels, stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories--the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men, under the pseudonym of Charles King.
Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Charles King started taking all of his readers. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher’s fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the social and political causes of their working-class readers & rescuing oppressed children. Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King’s whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher.
A very well written book that started slowly but the pace gradually increased throughout the book until the climax, which was a page turner. The chemistry between Fletcher & Elizabeth was one of the highlights of the book & I loved how their relationship developed. I also loved the instalments from the Penny Dreadfuls. I only hope that this is going to be a series starter as there were unanswered questions as to the identities of the Dread Master & the Mastiff
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

“Penny for your thoughts, gentlemen?”

This book was not what I expected, but it sure was fun! Sarah M Eden brings her humor and thoughtfulness to the Victorian era.

Elizabeth Black is a very proper headmistress to an all girls school. Only, she has a secret - the writes novel for the shamed penny dreadfuls. And maybe as dangerous as ruining her reputation is bringing up the competition of one Fletcher Walker as her books become more popular than his.

“Rumor had it, Fletcher Walker wasn’t born but had simply appeared one day, swaggering down the streets of London”

I love this quote and how it describes Fletcher, his confidence and coquiness. People might think they have him figured out based on rumours, but, in truth, they don’t know half the story. And how intrigued will this not só fine gentleman be as he meets a woman capable of meeting his snark with some spark of her own.

I loved exploring the world of Victorian publishing. And the characters were endearing themselves. Very much enjoyed this one.

Sarah Eden has written a charming Victorian romance. I found this a very entertaining read and not your typical historical romance. Eden has woven such a fun cast of characters and really paints a vivid picture of what life was like for London’s street urchins during this time period.
You get three stories in one book.
Our two main characters are both authors of Penny Dreadfuls (one being a woman writing under a pen name). You not only get Fletcher and Elizabeth’s tale but you also get to read their Penny Dreadfuls as well.
Fletcher and Elizabeth are both from different social worlds, yet they fit one another perfectly. They come to one another’s aid to help solve a mystery and fall in love during the process. It is a story full mystery, suspense and just the right amount of romance.
Thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden is set in Victorian London and focuses on a group of authors who write Penny Dreadful novels and use their earnings to help out street children. When Fletcher Walker, who has always been the best-selling author, is knocked off his first place by a new and unknown writer in town, Mr. King, the search begins to find out who he is and make sure that they still earn enough money to do their good work.

Along the way Fletcher meets Elizabeth Black. She is the headmistress of an all-girls school for middle class girls. She is also very inclined to help. As the story progresses, Fletcher and Elizabeth seem to have more in common than they thought.

The story started out very slowly for me. All that happened for the first 150 to 200 pages or so was focused on Fletcher and Elizabeth constantly skirting around each other. It is made clear very early on that Elizabeth is actually the elusive Mr. King, but Fletcher doesn’t know this yet. It reminded me very much of Oliver Twist, and I have to admit that I didn’t enjoy that much either.

I had nearly given up reading on, but decided for continue anyway because it got such good ratings on Goodreads. In the end I’m happy that I did. It did get better towards the ending. There was more action and the story became much more interesting when several street children ended up in danger and a major rescue effort was started to make sure they were all safe.

Elizabeth was a bad-ass character that slowly but surely tried to put feminism on the map in the 1800s, which I loved a lot about this story. She was quite fearless and very supportive and caring as well. I would have to say that she was my favourite part of this book.

Eizabeth is the headmistress of a girls school in mid 1800's London she also writes "silver fork" books, considered appropriate for her to write. But she makes her money writing Penny Dreadfuls secretly under the name of Mr. King. These provide her with the money to keep her school going. Fletcher used to be the best selling Penny Dreadful author, but his success is being usurped by the mysterious Mr. King. And this is threatening the future of a "ragged school" for the street urchins that he supports so he and the other Penny Dreadful writers are desperate to unmask him.
The story unfolds as a sweet romance between Fletcher and Elizabeth but takes a dangerous turn when they are forced to confront the local thugs that are trying to hurt the children.
Running parallel to the main story are excerpts of Penny Dreadfuls that Fletcher and Elizabeth are writing.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

What made me request an ARC for this book was the cover (obviously) and the synopsis. Then I read the first sentence -
"Rumour had it, Fletcher Walker wasn't born but had simply appeared one day, swaggering down the streets of London." - and my mind immediately went "Kaz, is that you?" (Pshh, after reading about Fletcher he's more likely Kaz's goody-two-shoes cousin.)

I love historical fiction that is placed in Victorian England. Those times really intrigue me; all those ghost stories, devilish gentlemen and headstrong ladies, morally questionable characters, the division between propriety and debauchery. And, of course, romance.

Fletcher Walker and Elizabeth Black didn't disappoint. Besides being a self-accomplished gentleman, Fletcher is a famous writer of penny dreadfuls, the "king" of the Dread Penny Society, and on a mission to uncover the identity of the notorious Mr. King, who is slowly climbing up the ladder with his story The Lady and the Highwayman and thus pocketing all the coins for becoming the most read writer of penny dreadfuls. Fletcher soon meets the lovely headmistress of a girls' school, Elizabeth, who is also a writer, but her profession is deemed more respectful since she's a well-known "silver-fork" novelist. She is also known to be familiar with the penny dreadfuls, so Fletcher confronts her on the matter of Mr. King's identity. Elizabeth agrees to work with him, to provide him with hints, and unbeknownst to Fletcher, keeping her secret identity, well, a secret.

They soon find themselves thrown together to save a young boy's life from a wanton master, going on adventures that are deemed highly scandalous by society. And during hours spent together, sparks fly through their repartees, making them very fond of each other. Not to mention, when Flethcer played indifferent towards her in public, she called him out in her next instalment of The Lady and the Highwayman. You got to love them!

"One did not treat and author poorly without consequences."

When I finished it, all I could think about was how cute this story was! And I mean CUTE! Fletcher was a cinnamon roll, helping helpless urchins and protecting them with his friends in the DPS. Elizabeth was a delight to read! She was a strong and independent woman who didn't take well to be talked with a condescending tone. And the chemistry between them was spectacular! There was no shaming, no sexism, there was mutual respect between them, genuine interest for their professions, and Fletcher protected Elizabeth without diminishing her independence. And their banter was beyond entertaining! It was cute and it made me swoon.

"It does not do to ignore success in one's chosen field, even if that success occurs in slightly different incarnations than one is accustomed to."

The book is actually three stories in one - there is the main story starring Fletcher and Elizabeth, then there are the two celebrated penny dreadfuls; Fletcher's The Vampire's Tower and Elizabeth's The Lady and the Highwayman. I immensely enjoyed both of the penny dreadfuls!

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thank you to the author!

Sarah Eden is one of my favorite Regency era romance authors. So I was surprised to find that this story was set in the 19th century, rather than in the Regency era! The story is based around 2 authors who write Penny Dreadfuls- which are considered "low-literature serials" with stories of action and crime. Fletcher Walker and Elizabeth Black come from very different backgrounds. Walker came from the lower tier of society, while Elizabeth is considered all that is proper and right. But if anyone knew Elizabeth was writing under the name "Mr. King"- the top Penny Dreadful author- her life could come tumbling down. I loved the quote, "A lady in her position could be respected or she could be adventurous. What she could not be was both."
l found this to be a fun historical romance. I enjoyed the Penny Dreadful stories weaved in to the main story throughout the book.

Such a delightful, charming read! The book gives you not one, but three stories. One is the story of Elizabeth and Fletcher, penny dreadful novelists who are both set on helping children. While Fletcher is a well-known penny dreadful author, Elizabeth is the headmistress of a respectable school and must keep her penny dreadful author identity, Mr. King., a secret lest it turn away her patrons. When Fletcher sets out to discover the identity of Mr. King, he and Elizabeth get swept up in the same mystery surrounding some ne'er-do-wells who are a threat not only to the local children, but the students at Elizabeth's school. The blossoming romance between them also risks revealing Mr. King's identity.

The other two stories are short penny dreadful stories, one by Fletcher and one by Elizabeth. While I enjoyed Elizabeth's more, I enjoyed seeing the contrasting style and focus between them since it played into Mr. King unseating Fletcher's previous spot as the bestseller of penny dreadfuls.

Overall, I enjoyed the exploration of the era of penny dreadfuls as well as the way the romance progressed. I loved Elizabeth's character and her plight of being a well-known silver-fork writer and the way her position as headmistress forces her to keep her Mr. King identity a secret. Having three stories in one also felt unique, including the way Elizabeth's mirrored her own experiences. I highly recommend this story to historical fiction fans.

The Lady and the Highwayman is a really fun and dare I say it, fresh take on a historical romance. The main characters attraction to each other is based on a mutual respect for the other work, it is not just a physical attraction. It is also nice to see a HR that doesn't rely upon the well trodden "landed-gentry MC" trope. Our main characters both work for a living! The dialogue is well written and the chemistry between the characters and the way their relationship develops feels very natural. The social justice themes are also well written and feel authentic. If you are looking for something that is just a bit different than the usual Victorian romance fare, give this a go. I will be reading more by this author for sure.

I love Sarah Eden's books, particularly those regarding the Jonquil and Lancaster families. Because this one has a slightly different flavour to those books, I felt a little distant from the characters for the first half of the story.

First impressions; as Fletcher Walker was introduced, I found myself picturing Flynn Rider from Tangled.
As the streets of London were described, scenes from My Fair Lady and Oliver Twist came to mind.

Ms. Eden's use of British slang fit perfectly. Although I had to look up the term "costermonger"!

I felt there were a few contradictions in the attributes and behaviours of her characters that I would have liked more explanation for; e.g. Fletcher is described as being able to avoid notice, and yet when he meets a female character he is described as so handsome that no woman could not notice him. How do these opposites reconcile?

A definite strength of this book is the inclusion of two of the Penny Dreadful serials. I loved how they were sprinkled throughout the main story and that we got closure with both.

Without giving anything away, I did feel that there were a few loose ends at the end of the book. Hopefully we'll see Fletcher and Elizabeth and their friends in another book and these will be resolved!

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is everything I’ve come to expect from Sarah M. Eden, and SO MUCH MORE! She brings all the feels in this proper romance. I love that the MCs are not from the top tier of society, that they’re a bit rough and tumble. And I love how strong and honorable they are. Sigh.

This story takes place in Victorian London, in the literary world of penny dreadful writers. A very clever device that Eden used was to weave in the penny dreadful serials written by our two main characters. It was risky and different and, again, clever, and I thought it worked to enhance the main plot.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.