Wow! I thought the last book got crazy, but this one cranked up the stakes even higher! The story delves into the Victorian era practice of “resurrecting” dead bodies by stealing them from cemeteries and selling them to medical schools so students could practice on cadavers. Also, BIG secrets are revealed in this book. Brace yourself!

On a lighter note, Gemma is an absolute gem, and it was fun to see a new side of Doc Milligan, or Baz as Gemma calls him.

Just like the earlier books in the series, this novel contains two Penny Dreadfuls that are woven into the main storyline. This time around they are The Bachelor and the Bride by Mr. King and Bodies of Light by Dr. Barnabus Milligan, physician.

This is the fourth installment of the Dread Penny Society series. Although each story centers on a different member of the DPS, the books work together to tell an overarching story and should be read in order.

This is my first in the Dread Penny Society Series, and I loved it! I actually wish I read the others first, but I'll be adding them to my TBR pronto.

A marriage of convenience story, Dr. Barnabus saves Gemma from her family through marriage.

I absolutely loved Gemma, and while I was less enthused by Barnabus for much of the story, he was still a great character (one who definitely deserved to grovel a little more than he did).

It was a fun read and I'm looking forward to reading the others.

#TheBachelorandtheBride #NetGalley

This fourth installment, of the Penny Dreadful Series, was a page turner for sure. Barnabas Milligan, finds himself, in the middle of a plot, that the Mastiff has stirred up. His friends are surprised, when Barnabas, reveals, that he is married and his wife's name is Gemma. Gemma has her secrets as well. When Gemma's family is trying to get her to join in their life of crime, Gemma refuses and her life is in danger. I can't wait for the next installment in this series.

This series is one of my favorites! I loved learning more about Doc and his background and his relationship with Gemma was so sweet. This story kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending was a complete surprise in multiple ways!

The Dread Penny Society series by Sarah M. Eden maintains and excels each previous book. Getting to look into the lives of Gemma and Baz was at times heart wrenching. The author captures the unspeakable desperation of Victorian London, and yet inspires hope in the reader. The surprises in ending of 'The Bachelor and the Bride' won't leave me. I am anxiously awaiting more! I highly recommend this entire series.

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

*I received a copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Based on the end of this book, there will be another, which makes me quite happy. I’ve enjoyed this series, reading the stories of each set of protagonists and the challenges they faced set within the overarching story of the criminal mastermind terrorizing London. I must confess that I was surprised by the identities of two opposing characters—I had no suspicions of either of them—and am looking forward to the continuation of the story.

With previous books, I’ve had guesses about which member of the DPS would be the focus of the next book. This time, my best guess is Stone. Or perhaps things will get shaken up a bit and the next book will follow Móirín.

Of the four books so far, this one was possibly my least favorite—but that’s not to say I didn’t like it. I can’t recall how old Gemma and Barnabas are, but I believe I pieced together that she’s 21-23 and he’s 25-27. I just didn’t feel as drawn to them as I had to some of the other characters. Their story felt somewhat awkward, but I suppose that was kind of the point. Aside from that, I had more difficulty picturing them outside of the book, if that makes sense. Still, I enjoyed the writing, the story, and the characters. I will gladly continue the series.

Note: Nothing bad.

I loved every suspenseful minute of this book. I loved both the bachelor and his bride, Their story was delightful as were the interspersed penny dreadful stories.

The bigger story that has been happening throughout this series, really came to life in this one. And one of the biggest questions I have had was answered marvelously. I can't say more or it would spoil everything.

Back to the Bachelor, Doc is fabulously written and a good soul, the bride, Gemma just wants to be loved. She is spunky and resourceful and fits right in with the dread penny society members. The chemistry is palpable and the tension in the story never stops.

This book takes the stakes previously set and raises them with a twist I didn't see coming even though the clues were there. Sarah M Eden has created a masterpiece that refuses to be put down. I loved every second with the final secrets revealing themselves at the very end. I am truly hoping for more from the Dread Penny Society. I would give more than five stars if they were available.

I received an early copy through netgalley and this is my honest review.

Really wanted to love this book but I had to DNF around 20%.

The characters seemed to have next to no chemistry and as a result I did not feel compelled enough to continue reading their story. I didn't feel like Barnabus liked Gemma romantically and he was not a character I felt I could connect to not even a little bit. Gemma would have been better off finding a different man to obsess over.

The Dread Penny Society series continues with the fourth installment. The DPS is a collection of serial story authors who help the poor in London. They try to and provide safe houses and jobs to women and street children so they don’t end up in undesirable situations. This adventure focuses on Dr. Barnabus Milligan. Three years earlier he married Gemma Kincaid to rescue her from her family. He enjoyed their compatibility but told her he would never love her so she left. Now the DPS can use her knowledge of grave digging, which is her family business, so he contacts her. She happily returns and together they try to puzzle out who is the powerful leader of the criminal world in London. This has been the over arching storyline through out the series.

Things I liked: First I love Sarah Eden’s writing. She brings characters to life, they use accents for and colloquial slang. Second, this is an exciting adventure and progress is made toward getting to the villain. Third, I like learning new things of the time period, especially for lower classes. And lastly, the ending was a jaw dropping cliff hanger.

But on the other hand I am ready for this series to be finished. There are a lot of characters now to keep up with from the previous books. Some have progressed to marriage but you don’t get a lot of details or catching up with anyone. I enjoyed the serial stories in the first few books and while these ones are good I now skip those chapters and go back and read them when I finish because they interrupt the flow of the story. I’m sure they are fun to write but for example I don’t enjoy reading fantasy stories but if the serial story is a fantasy I feel compelled to read it even though it isn’t something I would choose to on my own.

I will read the next adventure and will continue to watch for Eden’s other romances. As always this author and publisher produce clean books suitable for any romance reader. Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an eARC in exchange for a review.

tl;dr
A sweetly written romance that takes a bit of a backseat to a bigger adventure plot. Lots of fun plot twists and tender moments that should please fans of the ongoing series.

About
Everyone thinks Dr. Barnabus Milligan is a bachelor for life, so it's quite a shock when his wife arrives to help him and the Dread Penny Society in a battle against the shadowy villain known as the Mastiff. It's been three years since they last saw each other. Three years since he married her to save her from her family, and she left after realizing he didn't truly love her. But maybe this time will be different. If the Mastiff doesn't kill them first.

Thoughts
As a fan of the first three books in this series, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read the fourth. Like the first three installments, this book had a gentle romance, mystery, and intrigue, dotted with two "penny dreadful" stories that are meant to reflect the events of the book. Unlike the first three installments, the plot takes center stage with romance being secondary. I'm not too surprised - the previous books definitely implied that it was going to get more plot-heavy, and the featured couple in this one already know each other, leaving us more time to follow the underhanded dealings of the mysterious Mastiff who has been plaguing our cast since the first book. Armed with these expectations, I found I enjoyed every second of this. Like its predecessors, the writing was easy to follow, with the narrative voice shifting very naturally to match the POV character. The central couple were charming, with a good dose of pining, along with some very tender moments. Gemma's romantic heart was endearing, and Baz's bumbling nature about his own feelings didn't stretch as far as frustration. Their ceremony at the end is one of the sweetest things I've ever read. The main plot was well-paced and exciting, although the solution at the end felt out of place considering what we know about the villains. Overall, a great read with a startling ending that has me impatient for the next installment!

To would-be readers, I heartily recommend reading at least the third book in the series, if not all three, before jumping into this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for a historical romance with mystery, intrigue, danger, plot twists, and villains, purchase t-h-i-s book. Sarah M. Eden does it again with her marvelous, masterful story telling of the Dread Penny Society. She not only has this amazing story about the members trying to thwart the Mastiff, a criminal mastermind, his network, and a family of nasty resurrectionists, but she also tells Baranbus Milligan’s story of his unusual marriage. But, wait, there’s more! There are not one, but two penny dreadful stories included throughout the book as well.

This is the fourth book in this series and I wasn’t sure if I would love this as much as the others. Well, I should not have even given it a thought because Ms. Eden has certainly outdone the others and has a cliff hanger that left me shouting, “Nooo! What happens next?!” I can’t recommend this amazing book enough and the rest in the series.

This is my favorite quote that is the motto of the Dread Penny Society. “For the poor and infirm, the hopeless and the voiceless, we do not relent.” I can’t wait to read the next book!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The ending of this book gave me the chills! Wonderfully written which is no surprise from Sarah Eden. I have really enjoyed how different this series is with the penny dreadful tales woven into the main story. Gemma and Baz have a beautiful story of overcoming their past and motivating them to make a difference in the world around them. So many questions answered in this book I’ve had since the first novel in the series and I can’t wait for the next!

For the poor and infirm,
the hopeless and voiceless,
we do not relent.
We do not forget.
We are the Dread Penny Society."
If you have read the previous installments you will be familiar with this creed and the group.
Fantastical twisting story that kept my brain trying to keep up with all that was happening. Very much enjoyed this installment with a delicious cliffhanger!

I received an eVersion for no compensation or expectation. All opinions are mine alone.

London is getting more dangerous. The Mastiff is sowing fear all through the city. People are killed and then their bodies go missing. Dr. Barnabus Milligan and the Dread Penny Society need help understanding why resurrectionists would steal the bodies. Dr. Milligan calls in some help. The wife no one knew he had.

Gemma is a gem! She’s tough, funny, and vulnerable. I loved seeing her and Baz rebuild their relationship. The resurrectionist aspect was equally unnerving and intriguing.

I love the penny dreadfuls woven into the tale. Mr. King’s really are the best!

This book should be read as part of the series, in order. It has a satisfying conclusion, but builds more conflict and suspense for the rest of the series.

I don’t love these as much as Sarah Eden’s regencys, but the mystery pulls me in every time!

This is my first book by Sarah, clearly I didn't realise this was the FOURTH book in a series 🤦‍♀️
(I will be reading books 1-3 asap)

I'm sure I've missed alot with the workings and the members of DPS, which most likely would have helped me with the plot of TBATB but I didn't struggle or feel lost starting with the 4th book.

I loved Baz and Gemma, watching them grow as individuals and a couple was so beautiful, especially Baz.

The DPS have my full attention, it's like an early day Kingsmen and I love it.
I really enjoyed how the pieces of the puzzle all fit together, I didn't see that ending coming!!

The two other stories/books that popped up through TBATB, were interesting, I'm not sure the reason behind them, (one being TDPS books), they may be better suited to read after your finish the main story.

POSSIBLE SPOILER

Also I'm not sure why Baz, Gemma and the DPS didn't plan that the Kincaid family, being resurrectionist, would do their job, for the main event.
END.

Special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review

Great story, great romance, great mystery. Love the addition of the penny dreadfuls. This is my first book in the series but I now want to go back and read the others. Must suspend disbelief a lot, but it’s still enjoyable in all the ways.

I enjoyed this book a lot, which surprised me because I thought it started out slow. Eden really amped up the intensity as the book progressed, which I loved. The romance between the two main characters was nice, but personally I think the romance took a backseat to the plot. Again, for me, that was great. This is a really fun series with Eden's own installments of Penny Dreadfuls inserted into the the book. These side stories parallel the characters, which is fun. I'm really looking forward to the next one in the series, because it isn't over yet.

Wow! Where do I begin? What an exhilarating reading experience! Sarah M. Eden continues to showcase her talent for writing suspenseful, romantic tales.

This is the fourth book in the Dread Penny Society series. The Dread Penny Society comprises of ordinary individuals who protect the vulnerable from being exploited or harmed. They are also penny dreadful authors. If you are new to this series, then, I strongly suggest reading them in order. You have a treat in store for you! The unique thing about this series is that you get three stories in one book! Seriously, you get the main story and two bonus short stories in the form of penny dreadfuls, written by the characters. These penny dreadfuls are brimming with gothic atmosphere.

For those of us familiar with this series and invested in the philanthropic efforts of DPS, this book adds another layer of depth to the series. In addition to mystery, action, adventure, there is also a tender marriage of convenience/second chance romance. Fyi, second chance romance is totally my jam. And who doesn’t love a good marriage of convenience? So, this is a win-win for all!

The Bachelor and the Bride features the penny dreadful author and doctor, Barnabus Milligan, and his estranged wife, Gemma. Gemma Milligan, formerly Gemma Kincaid, is the daughter of a notorious resurrection man. They are a family of violent criminals. Three and a half years ago, Baz, as Gemma affectionately calls him, married Gemma to help her escape her violent family. However, Gemma left Baz six months into their marriage, fearing Baz can’t love her. Now, after three years, Gemma returns to offer assistance to DPS in neutralizing the threat posed by her family and the ruthless Mastiff. While fighting evil, Gemma and Baz get a chance to work on their relationship, and maybe fall in love?

I can’t wait for the next one. These books are so immersing, so entertaining! The wild ending was fitting, too.

I’m grateful to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read an advance copy.

#thebachelorandthebride #netgalley

This was a great story to read. I loved the storyline and the characters, definitely recommend this book!

The Bachelor and the Bride is book four in Sarah M. Eden’s Dread Penny Society Series.
It has mystery, action, intrigue and a fantastic marriage of convenience/second chance romance trope!

I loved this addition to the DPS series! I had a lot of questions from previous books answered and yet I have so many more I need answered! I loved seeing more of the inner workings of both the DPS and the crime boss they’re fighting, The Tempest. I was constantly on the edge of my seat anxious to see what was going to happen next and how everything was going to work out.

I loved Baz and Gemma! I loved seeing them overcome their insecurities and learn to trust each other completely. I loved see them become partners and realize just how much better they are together than apart. I loved seeing them learn from each other and reassure each other. And I loved seeing them make sacrifices to prove to the other how much they love them. Baz and Gemma are just great! They fit together so well, it just took them forever to realize it! I really enjoyed this sweet, slow burn romance!

I refuse to spoil this fantastic book for anyone, but I will say this is one that should not be missed! If you’ve read and enjoyed the first three DPS books you absolutely MUST read the Bachelor and the Bride! I myself I am anxiously waiting for the fifth and final book!