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

The excellent first line drew me right in!

Fletcher Walker has crawled his way up from the gutter with just his swagger. He goes wherever he wants, acting like he belongs, and no one questions him. Fletcher is a different kind of a hero who is very vulnerable. Now that he is successful writing Penny Dreadfuls, he hasn’t forgotten where he came from, and he gives back to those who need it.

Elizabeth Black is all prim and proper in order to keep people interested in her school. However, that is just a facade for her adventurous spirit.

Fletcher and Elizabeth both write Penny Dreadfuls and the chapters switch between their points of view as well as the Penny Dreadful stories themselves.

I’ve never been in to over the top, exaggerated novels, but Elizabeth’s story was fun and interesting. Fletcher’s was interesting as well, but it was sad, and real, and raw. Especially because it came from a place he knew from growing up in the slums. I liked how the Penny Dreadfuls intertwined with the overall story.

Even with their success, Fletcher and Elizabeth are drawn together with their desire to educate those who are often overlooked like females and the poor.

Historical fiction is my favorite, and I love learning new and interesting things during different time periods. I love that Eden drew inspiration from real life author Elizabeth Caroline Grey who was rumored to write Penny Dreadfuls and Silver Fork novels.

There was an overall mystery throughout the book that I really enjoyed. The ending is very cute, but I still wish I had answers to some questions.

I have read almost all of Sarah M. Eden’s books, and she is one of my favorite authors. This book seemed a different style than others I have read from her, but I really liked it and completely recommend it.

4 stars

You get three stories for the price of one with this tale. Fletcher and Elizabeth's meeting and gradual romance. Fletcher's penny dreadful story and Mr. Kings penny dreadful story. I assume that in the actual book there may be pictures interleafed as my kindle just had blank pages but it didn't distract from my enjoyment of the book. I'll certainly look for other books by Ms Eden and recommend this story.

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

Fletcher Walker is the undisputed king of popular penny dreadfuls. In Victorian England, dreadfusl were usually written by the lower class and read by the lower class. They were cheap, highly dramatic, and sensationalized serial stories. Another author, by the name of Mr. King, has begun to publish penny dreadfuls, and they are beginning to surpass the sales of Fletchers stories. Fletcher, who had grown up in poverty, now is the champion of the poor. He is the head of the “Penny Dreadful Society” whose mission is to help the poor, and to rescue women and children from violent masters and unsavory characters. Fletcher’s writing supports the endeavors of the Society. Fletcher desires to know the true identity of Mr. King, as his sales have begun to fall, and he is dependent on the sales to help the Society.

Elizabeth Black is headmistress of Thurloe Collegiate School, which is a school for the privileged females of society. Elizabeth is also the author of several novels appealing to the well-healed in society; they are called “silver-fork” novels. In secret, she also writes penny dreadfuls which have become very popular. She meets Fletcher Walker at a political salon, and she immediately feels that he would make a “perfect model for a penny dreadful novel – or villain.” Writing as Mr. King, she even incorporates some of her interactions with Fletcher as part of her penny dreadful writing. Fletcher Walker turns to Elizabeth for help in finding the true identify of Mr. King, as he believes that the author writes for high society, as well as writing penny dreadfuls; he also turns to Elizabeth to help in his rescue of women and children.

The Lady and the Highwayman is very cleverly written. Sarah Eden has written three stories in one! The main story is about Elizabeth and Fletcher and the work of Fletcher’s Penny Dreadful Society. We are also treated to the penny dreadful writing of both Elizabeth and Fletcher. This story contains a lot of adventure and action as Fletcher and other members of the Penny Dreadful Society, identified as those tossing pennies in their hands as they walk on the street, rescue children and women from terrible situations --- truly fighting a grave evil in Victorian London. The members of the Penny Dreadful Society were also a real treat! Such fun; get ready for a fun ride as you get pulled into Victorian England!

Let me just say that I absolutely love the hero/heroine writing under a pseudonym. And if it's something as horrid as a Gothic novel or a Penny Dreadful, I love it even more!

“A lady in her position could be respected or she could be adventurous. What she could not be was both.”

“Mr. Walker dabbles in the . . . less refined areas of, well, I dare not say ‘literature.’”“Why?” Mr. Walker asked. “Is it too difficult for you to pronounce?”

Miss Elizabeth Black is the prim and proper headmistress of Thurloe Collegiate School which caters to middle class girls and a writer of silver folk novels. However she is also Mr.King, author of the best selling Penny Dreadful, The Lady and the Highwayman. Mr. Fletcher Walker is a member of the Dreadful Penny Society which helps street children like him lead a better life. All the members of said society write penny dreadfuls which help fund their various causes. Walker’s Penny Dreadful, Urchins of London Adventure, was the best seller until Mr. King appeared with The Lady and the Highwayman….

To protect herself and money she earns from her penny dreadful (which goes to fund the school), Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher uncover Mr. King. I loved the banter between them but what really progresses their relationship is the cause of saving children. I also liked a few of the other secondary characters such Mr. Darby, an aristocratic and also a member of the society and Miss Newton, a music teacher at Thurloe. There was also Stone, a slave who escaped from America; he’s another character who connects with the street children on a personal level.

“You swear? Frequently and fluently.”

“There’s plenty here who’d likely declare I can’t write.” Miss Black looked around as if shocked. “Are there a great many illiterate people in attendance?”

“Those with many options in life certainly enjoyed taking choices away from those who had few.”

My favorite thing about historical fiction is the mixture of fact and fiction. Mr. Hogg’s ragged school which our hero and heroine bond together to save actually existed to provide education to poor children. It’s sad to read that times like these actually existed and even worse are the excuses some of the wealthy made against them.

Having read four previous books by Sarah M Eden I have to say this is my favorite so far. She has written not one, but three stories and all three are diverse as they are entertaining. Don’t skip any! And if you read a lot of Gothic novels the beginning of Mr.King's The Lady and the Highwayman will definitely bring a smile to your face.


Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC>

I love it when authors write about authors. It is interesting to see the insights they have and how they portray another writer. Not only does this book give you the background stories of two authors, it also gives you the installments of the stories they were creating- a delightful twist. Sarah M. Eden is a brilliant writer! LOVED IT!

Do you like secret societies and hidden identities? Stories within stories? Love triangles with two people? Characters who want to make the world a better place? Falling in love unexpectedly? Then "The Lady and the Highwayman" is for you!

Fletcher Walker was born in the gutters, but raised himself up through education and is now a bestselling Penny Dreadful author who writes "Hardy Boys" style paranormal mysteries featuring two orphan boys. In addition, he is a prominent member of the Dread Penny Society, a group of Penny Dreadful authors who work to provide better education and care for the urchins of London. However, he is currently vexed by the mysterious unknown identity of Mr. King, who is currently out-selling his own works. Could Mr. King be a valuable asset for the Dread Penny Society? And why so secretive?

Elizabeth Black is a well-known Silver Fork novelist, headmistress of a school for middle-class girls.... and the illusive Mr. King, author of the Penny Dreadfuls such as "The Lady and the Highwayman". While writing Penny Dreadfuls supplements her own income and the school's, no one can ever know her secret. For if it was to be known that she wrote "low-brow" literature, her reputation--and, more importantly, that of her school's--would be put into question. So when Mr. Walker begins asking questions about Mr. King's identity, she knows she must do everything to throw him off course.

However, Fletcher and Elizabeth soon find themselves involved in a mystery, and have to protect all that is dear to them. And, perhaps, fall in love along the way.

A fantastic work of historical fiction, with an evident amount of research done by the author, "The Lady and the Highwayman" is a wonderful addition to the "Proper Romance" imprint, that will leave readers alternatively laughing, swooning, or in suspense. And, perhaps most impressive, contains not one but three stories within, as readers also get to enjoy the Penny Dreadfuls written by Fletcher Walker and the illusive Mr. King. (And see just how much their stories reflect their real lives.)

My only complaint is that there are two unresolved plot points, minor as they may be, but perhaps a future sequel novel will tie those up into dainty bows. (And return us to this wonderful slice of Victorian London.)

The hero and the heroine both write "penny dreadfuls", the mass-produced and cheap serials of the time, devoured by the poorer population and also read by so-called "respectable" people (not that they'd admit it). Both Fletcher's and Elizabeth's stories are woven into the novel, and their writing styles are completely different. Elizabeth Black writes hers under a pseudonym; she is headmistress of a girls' school and this writing is unacceptable. However, she also writes "silver-fork" novels, a term totally new to me.

As a former street urchin who made something of himself, Fletcher has made it his mission to rescue street children from terrible situations, something unfathomable now but a sad reality back then. His fellow authors are dedicated to this cause, as well. The fearless Elizabeth helps him in this quest. Both see the importance of educating the poor, which was frowned upon by so many. They are Victorian SJWs, and it's so refreshing! The street urchins are clever and savvy, forming a communication network of sorts.

Fletcher Walker is determined to find the elusive Mr. King, his rival and unknown to him, Elizabeth's nom de plume. Of course he doesn't know that "King" has been under his nose the entire time. King's unveiling is worth the wait. It's funny how some of his real-life actions were incorporated into Miss Black's story ("The Lady and the Highwayman") and he STILL doesn't figure it out.

As always, Eden's prose is crisp, clear and descriptive. She quite successfully tackled three different styles of writing in one book. Fletcher and Elizabeth's banter is intelligent and witty, and their "voices" unique. Secondary characters are also well-drawn.

Sarah Eden is one of my favorite authors. There are many characters in this novel who need their own stories, so hopefully this is the start of a series. There is one loose end I'd like to see tied up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this wonderful novel.

This was my first book by Ms. Eden and I didn't know what to expect when I was starting it. I ended really liking, if not loving <i>The Lady and the Highwayman</i>. I liked that it was set in Victorian England and that it didn't center on the ton but on the people of lower class. It was a fresh take on historical romance and I enjoyed it very much. I also liked the 3 different stories interwoven in the book. I enjoyed the main story about Miss Black and Fletcher Walker immensly and I was very satisfied how their story played out even if some of the things didn't get wrapped up properly (like who the mysterious main player behind the PDS is) . The Lady and the Highwayman, the penny dreadful Mr. King writes, was very nice too even if a bit predictable. Walker's penny dreadful about London's urchins was ok but it didn't draw me in as much as the other two stories. But I still enjoyed it.
Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. It pulled at my heart strings more than once and I'm looking forward to reading more books by Ms. Eden.

I am not a fan of Victorian era stories. For me it was a dark time with serious social and economic issues that don't produce much opportunity for positive stories. That being said, 'The Lady and the Highwayman' transcended the time period with a blend of humor, love and hope. The stories within the story were expertly accomplished and the ongoing mystery of child rescue (hauntingly current) was well handled. I am thinking there might be more to come as we explore Hollis and Ann, as well as the Dread Master. I certainly hope so.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions express in this review are entirely my own.

The Lady and the Highwayman is really three adventures in one. The main characters are themselves authors (of penny dreadfuls -- popular, serialized stories sold for a penny) and their stories are sampled along the main plot. It provides interesting context, although, at first it is confusing to have so many characters introduced and can be jarring as the story goes along as the reader jumps from narrative to narrative. The romance is sweet and builds slowly and from a friendship. The adventure and secret society storyline requires a bit of suspension of belief, but overall The Lady and the Highwayman is an adventure story with a heart.

4.5*

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I picked this one up. I knew that I love pretty much anything/everything that I read from this author but this one was her first Victorian and a historical fiction. I found myself loving the style, especially the interspersed, "Penny Dreadfuls."

Now you're asking what are "Penny Dreadfuls?" Well, let me enlighten you. They were serial stories written for the lower classes and cost a penny. A way for many to be able to enjoy reading a story affordably. They were also not considered quite proper for the upper class, so possibly a little bit of a taboo subject for high society.

Elizabeth and Fletcher are both authors. She is a proper and influential author while he authors the dreaded "penny dreadfuls." They both have their secrets from each other but which are pretty easy for the reader to pick up on right at the beginning of the story.

There are two penny dreadful stories going on throughout the main storyline and I have to say that I enjoyed how the two connected with what was happening in Elizabeth and Fletcher's lives.

This book looks at the different levels of society, from the street urchins and other poverty stricken people to the wealthy. I thought it was well written and I really enjoyed all the historical aspects that you can see the author really did her research on. I think that's one reason why I really enjoy her writing so much is because of the rich history that she includes in her stories. Not only am I reading and enjoying myself being immersed in a story, but I'm learning as well. Definitely a win/win for me with reading!

If you're a Sarah M. Eden fan, I hope you grab this one and enjoy the many aspects of it. Suspense, a little romance and great characterization. If you've never read books by this author before and enjoy Victorian then this would be a good one to start with.

Content: Clean. Some moments of peril and suspense. Descriptions of life for street urchins, some talk about the children being beaten and mistreated but nothing graphic. I felt it was well done for showing but not overly showing the horrific circumstances experienced by many of the lower class, especially the children.

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

#TheLadyAndTheHighwayman #NetGalley

I've read nearly all of Sarah M. Eden's books, and love them. Thisnnovel is quite different, but not in a bad way. The book is based around penny dreadful novels and two authors who wrote them. Elizabeth Black is headmistress of a girls' school and writes a penny dreadful novel, under the name Mr King.There are three different stories in this novel, its not hard to keep each storyline straight., there is the main story about Elzabeth Black and Fletcher Walker, who grew up in the slums of England, but has found a way to help others in dire situations.Mr. King's novel and the novel by Fletcher Walker are entertwined in this book. A very unique way to write, but one that I loved, The characters were a delight.

I have read many of Sarah M Eden's book. She has brought something new to the table with this release. She wove a very intricate tale with all the details helping this story come alive!

Reading and learning about Penny Dreadfuls and how they played a part in that period of time was very interesting to me. I loved the Penny Dreadful stories placed perfectly into the book. Admittedly I may have liked the Higwayman story more than Fletcher & Elizabeth's.

At times the amount of characters felt overwhelming since three different stories are being told. I found myself glazing over their names instead of becoming invested into each of their story lines.

I appreciated Elizabeth's spunk and courage throughout the book. I found it unlikely that Fletcher didn't discover her secret sooner. He claims to be able to solve mysteries, yet misses the true time and time again.

Even though at times the plot was predictable, I found them both to be entertaining. It was a good read if you're patient. The real plot twists and excitements come halfway through.

I thought that I loved Sarah M. Edens books, but now I KNOW I do!! Oh my gosh, this was the funnest book to read. I absolutely loved the intermingling of the penny dreadful books with the storyline, I was in suspense for all the different plot lines. I adored the concept and now I wish all books had this fun twist! Highly recommend to anyone and everyone!

Set in London in the 1830's. Fletcher Walker rose from the rags to prominent position. He is the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market. His earnings help fund the efforts of the Dread Penny Society: feeding poor families and saving those in abusive situations.

All would be fine, if not for the Charles King pseudonym whose sales of the Penny Dreadful are starting to surpass his.

Now, he is on a mission finding who is writing under the pseudonym of Charles king.

Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girl’s school and a well-respected author of “silver-fork” novels. “Writing books for the fine ladies of the upper class was considered an acceptable endeavor for the headmistress of a girl’s school.” But she also has a secret project, writing something considered not so acceptable for a woman of her station. If it ever to come out, the disapproval would result in students being withdrawn or new students not applying.

At an educational evening, she meets her match, Fletcher Walker. But the topic of the interest happens to be elusive Mr. King and Mr. Walker chasing him. He needs help and Elizabeth agrees to help only to insure her secret identity is never discovered.

As the stories of both main characters are being revealed, the stories they write at the same time are integrated as well. As a result a lot is happening.

The characters are likeable and the premise of the story is interesting, but at the same time the focus seems to be scattered. And at some points, I was losing interest in the story.

*i received an arc in exchange for an honest review.*
This book was interesting. You not only have your standard story but you also have two “books” within the book. This was interesting but in some places it was distracting.
A historian story that looks at the issues with orphans, the penny dreadful novels, and a woman in non traditional roles.
I liked how the hero and heroine met and the back and forth between them. I liked that he was the one outside societies “approval” and she didn’t care. They both wanted to help kids and they worked together well. Her little secret was great and I’m glad it didn’t spin everything else on its head.
It’s well written and entertaining.

A FRESH NEW TAKE ON HISTORICAL ROMANCE!

When I started this book I was expecting just another run-of-the-mill historical romance novel. I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that this one actually stood out in numerous ways.

"Rumour had it, Fletcher Walker wasn't born but had simply appeared one day, swaggering down the streets of London."

THE THINGS I LIKED

Chemistry: Historical romance has a tendency to be more about lust and physical attraction than actual romance. Sure, it can be amazing and hot. But romances that start with lust are a little outplayed if you ask me. Luckily, Eden steered clear of that cliché. The chemistry between Fletcher and Elizabeth was rooted in mutual interests and respect and that made for a great chemistry between them.

Banter: Part of Elizabeth and Fletcher's chemistry played out in the amazing banter they shared! It was so well done, so humorous, witty, flirtatious and delicious! I loved it!

"Do you find ambition in a lady intimidating?"
"On the contrary, I find it irresistible"
"How very un-British of you."

Victorian: Usually, historical romance is set in Regency England or sometimes in Medieval England. This book, however, took place in Victorian England which gave the story a completely different vibe and which separated it even further from other historical romances.

No aristocrats: Again, historical romance usually features at least one aristocratic MC. But yet again, Eden stepped outside the usual genre because neither Elizabeth nor Fletcher were aristocrats. Elizabeth is a working woman, a writer and a headmistress of an all-girls school. Fletcher is a former street urchin turned successful penny dreadful writer.

WHAT I DISLIKED

The Vampire's Tower: This book is actually three stories in one - the main story of Elizabeth and Fletcher, Elizabeth's penny dreadful novel 'The Lady and the Highwayman' and Fletcher's penny dreadful novel 'The Vampire's Tower'. The main story was my favourite and I quite enjoyed Elizabeth's story as well. However, Fletcher's story was a weak spot in my opinion. The writing as well as the plot of the story was weak and really dragged down the overall story.

This book is set in Victorian London and the ‘Penny Dreadfuls’ are incredibly popular, cheap stories of adventure and romance. These stories play a huge part in this book, which is really sort of three stories in one.
The two main characters both write these stories but in very different ways. Fletcher is a street urchin turned successful writer who uses his success to shelter children still on the streets. His counterpart, the ‘Lady’ is Elizabeth Black the Headmistress of a school who also leads a secret life writing these Penny Dreadfuls. She writes under the name Mr King, a man Fletcher asks her to find,
Which is of course where things get complicated,
The characters here are well drawn and believable but the real star is, in my opinion, the PennyDreadfuls themselves of which there are 2 that intertwine with the main story. They bring Victorian London to life in a quite remarkable way and make you feel a shame if you were there. The detail included is quite astounding.
If I have one complaint it would be that the romance element is a little to neat for my taste, and although clean it lacked depth of feeling.
All in all I enjoyed this though and would be interested in reading any sequel.

I was given an ARC by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was so different from others by Sarah M. Eden, but still so much fun to read! Fletcher and Elizabeth are wonderful characters, the story line is fun, and the romance is sweet. The added stories each character is writing in the background are just a fun bonus. All in all, another great book by Ms. Eden. Keep them coming!

**I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review. The opinions expressed are my own.**

This book was different from other of Eden's books. The main story, about Elizabeth and Fletcher, is woven in with serial stories that each of them writes. At times I did wish the serial stories weren't there, but at other times I was as entertained by them as I was by the main story being told.

The storyline was interesting, not at all what I was expecting. Eden often historical issues and this book is no different. You can tell she has done her research, finds an interesting tidbit of history, and fashions a story around that event or issue. In this case she focuses a the strictures of class structure in 19th century England and the difficulty people (particulary children) had in breaking free of those classes.

This was not my favorite of Eden's books but it was still an entertaining read. If you enjoy her other stories you will enjoy this one!