I am always amazed by Sarah Eden's ability to weave together stories of mystery and intrigue. I feel like this was a twist on a second-chance romance, where Barnabus and Gemma had already been married for three years, but separated for most of it. When they are reunited through a bit of a miscommunication, they end up working together to try to stop the Mastiff and those who work for him. This book is filled with danger and intrigue - again, I'm always amazed at how Sarah Eden can plot some of the mysteries. She is also creative in how her characters solve problems.
Read this book. You won't be disappointed. It has romance, mystery, danger, and several big revelations within the Dread Penny universe.
This is a book in a series. It could be considered standalone, but you would definitely enjoy it more if you've read the other books first.

A really beautiful historic read that'll capture your heart and something a bit different from the norm. This novel has plenty of layers and kept me interested throughout. There's a few points within the book that didn't just quite gel for me however I am looking to reading more books from this author!

REVIEW: This is the fourth book of a mystery series but I only read this one. You can read this as a standalone because at the end is a mystery, but in this case I think it would be better to read the previous ones.
I liked the book, the author writes really nice, and I liked the connections between the characters. The relationship Baz-Gemma was very good, fake marriage, complicated childhood, and helping each other, a good mix.
I didn´t like to much the stories in between, didn´t get why are there either, I mean yes, they write stories, but why? Maybe I need to read the other books to understand this part. But the principal story I liked it.
I enjoyed the book and that´s always a good sign.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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RESEÑA: Este es el cuarto libro de una serie de misterios, pero yo solo he leído este. Se pueden leer por separado al ser de misterio, pero en este caso creo que hubiera sido mejor haber leído los anteriores.
Me ha gustado el libro, y la escritora escribe muy bien. Me gustó las conexiones entre los personajes. La relación entre Baz-Gemma es muy buena, falso matrimonio, complicada infancia y ayudarse el uno al otro, buen combo.
No he pillado mucho las historias entremedio, sí, entiendo que escriben historias, pero no tengo claro por qué, a lo mejor se necesita leer los libros anteriores para entender esa parte. Pero la historia principal me ha gustado.
He disfrutado el libro y eso siempre es buena señal.
Gracias a Netgalley y a la editorial por dejarme leerlo a cambio de una honesta reseña.

There is nothing better than a good period romance novel. I didn’t even know that this was part of a series and that the first book has been in my TBR for months. If I am ever in the mood for a period romance (which honestly when am I not) I know exactly what book series to read.

First sentence: London was no place for the faint of heart. Fortunately for Barnabus Milligan, he'd stopped listening to that organ long ago.

Premise/plot: The Bachelor and the Bride is the fourth book in the Dread Penny Society series by Sarah M. Eden. Each book in the series features characters who are also authors of penny dreadfuls. Readers are treated to two penny dreadfuls in addition to the actual romance/story. This formula also proves true for this latest novel. The two penny dreadful serials we are following are "The Bachelor and the Bride" by Mr. King and "Bodies of Light" by Dr. Barnabus Milligan. (The two serials could not be more different!)

So throughout the series--previous three books--the Dread Penny Society have been on the case--or on the chase, if you prefer, to bringing down (unmasking) the Mastiff who has been terrorizing parts of London. In particular the weakest, most vulnerable communities of London. Each novel--four now--has been working towards this goal...the mystery element of his identity and his ultimate goal have been slow to reveal. (As has the identity of the Dread Penny Master, by the way). But the "big" reveal in this fourth book, is, well, I will never be the one to spoil a novel before it's even released. But let's just say that there is more than one villain in London.

The heroine of The Bachelor and The Bride is Gemma Kincaid, a woman with a shady family history. She's incredibly ashamed of her family--with good reason--and wants NOTHING at all to do with their evil schemes and fortunes. The man who rescued her is Dr. Barnabus Milligan; and that rescue involved saying I do. But though "rescued" in one sense, Gemma is still very lost...and her husband is in part to blame.

My thoughts: If I had the time, I would love to read the series back to back. All four novels over the course of a month, let's say, I think my overall reaction would change. It is just plain hard to wait a year for each book and then be able to jump straight back into the action and remember WHO all the characters are and their relationships to one another. Each novel features a new romance--which is always a bonus. But still there is an interconnected story that progresses with each book.

I definitely enjoyed the serial "The Bachelor and the Bride" by "Mr." King. I don't always love, love, love these penny dreadfuls that are bonus stories essentially. Sometimes I do.

I would say that the pace was so-so and the story was just okay for me....until I reached a certain part in the story where the intensity was cranked up. THE LAST FEW CHAPTERS, oh my!!!!! It's like the climaxes of all four books come together in this one novel...and without warning...we've got the mystery finally beginning to pay off. Not that there is resolution...there is absolutely NO RESOLUTION. It ends on a big cliff hanger.

This is another fun addition to Sarah M. Eden's Dread Penny Society collection. I admit I struggle with characters who speak in a... I think she says is a Southern London dialect, so it takes me a little time to warm to them - but as I get into it, I find them fun and engaging. Anyway - if you want an entertaining read, you can never go wrong with Eden and this book holds true to that.

After finishing this book, all I can say is that my mind is blown. Straight up blown. How does Sarah Eden do it?!

This book seemed to have it all, just like the rest of the books in the Dread Penny Society series - action, adventure, mystery, intrigue, daring rescues, secret hideaways, awesome penny dreadfuls, the sweetest love story, and plot twists you didn't even see coming. And let me just tell you friends. That ending especially was mind blowing. I can already tell book 5 is going to be epic.

Barnabus and Gemma were the cutest (I think I say that about every couple I read about, but this time it's really true, I promise). They are the sort of couple you just want to cheer for, the ones you immediately want to give their happy ending to. Gemma and Barnabus aren't your typical couple, given that they had already been married for three and a half years when the book started. BUT they'd been separated for three years after Gemma left, believing that Barnabus didn't lover her, six months into their marriage. I loved watching Barnabus realize he actually did love Gemma and fight for her and their marriage.

Technically this could be read as a stand alone, but I suggest you read them in order. Several things will make a whole lot more sense if you do.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the early copy!

HOLY CRAP WAS THIS BOOK GOOD. 🤯

The shortest way to describe this book is that things escalate SO quickly but in the best way possible.

I've loved all of the books in the Dread Penny Society series (I think it may be Sarah Eden's best series yet which is saying a lot because her other series are incredible), but this book is one of the best so far. There were a few plot twists I absolutely did not see coming and I'm definitely still freaking out over it. 😂

I started this book wanting to learn more about the identity of the Dread Master and how the Dread Penny Society was ever going to take down the Mastiff and his complex web of organized crime. So questions were answered and some weren't, but I was very surprised by the answers I did get from this book.

"The Bachelor and the Bride" is the fourth book in the Dread Penny Society series. This series is about a group of Penny Dreadful Authors (short stories written for the working class during the Victorian era) who have formed a secret society devoted to improving the lives of the working class in London, usually by fighting against the most hardened criminals in the city.

If you love action, mystery, organized crime, vigilante secret societies trying to makes the streets of London safer, all while still being a romance novel, this book is for you.

Nothing but good things to say about this book. It's definitely worth investing the time to read the entire series. You won't be disappointed.

I’m a big Sarah M. Eden fan but the Dread Penny Society Series just hasn’t gripped me the way the rest of her books do, so I came into reading this one with lower expectations. Much to my surprise, The Bachelor and the Bride hooked me almost from the start and is easily my favorite of this series (and makes me look forward to book 5).

In this book, we’re focused on Dr. Barnabus Milligan (aka Baz) and Gemma, the woman he secretly married years ago to help her escape the nefarious family business. Out of all the MCs in this series, I think these two are my favorite. Baz is such a good-hearted man and Gemma is a happy, strong heroine that you can’t help but root for them to succeed in their marriage.

This series has an overarching mystery to it and four books in, it feels like we’re actually making some progress. We get a couple significant reveals toward the end of this one and I’m excited to see where this goes from here.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC.

I’ve enjoyed the three previous books in the Penny Dreadful Society series. The Bachelor and the Bride is fun and entertaining but the story seemed to be more about advancing the series narrative rather than concentrating on the main characters. The arc of the Penny Dreadful series is intriguing and this book had a pivotal reveal plus some additional information about characters (mostly bad people) from previous books. For that information alone, and if you enjoy the series, you must read this book.
London 1850’s.. The two main characters are Dr. Barnabus “Doc” “Baz” Milligan and his heretofore unknown wife, Gemma née Kincaid…(the infamous resurrection family. Three years ago Baz married Gemma so that she could escape her criminal family but she left Baz when she said that she loved him and to contact her if and when he could say that he loved her. As crimes against ordinary Londoners escalate, the PDS needs Gemma help to find out who is directing the terror and intimidation and what’s the motivation.

This book is mainly a mystery but I was so bored. I don't understand how the two small stories fit into the bigger picture of the book but maybe I'm just stupid. I don't think that either of the two main characters voiced their feelings super well which left me feeling like part of their relationship was missing.

I received an arc through netgalley.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.

I think I love Sarah M. Eden books because she has such interesting characters with so many layers, depth and grittiness, and you get to see the inner workings of the minds of both the hero and heroines. There is no heat or steam excitement, but I love the characters for the interesting workings of their minds.

The story of the Dread Penny Society and their challenges to help the unfortunates in Victorian Society continue. The Mastiff is continuing to terrorize Victorian London, and the DPS is trying to figure out how to foil him, and help his victims. Dr. Barnabus Milligan is one of their members. He was born of a woman who ended up working in a brothel, and his father unknown. He was tossed onto the streets by the abbess as a young child, but managed to overcome his upbringing to become a doctor, with his goal being to help as many woman and children as possible escape the life that his mother was forced to lead. His doctoring funds the many safe houses he runs.

Gemma Kinkaid is one woman he helped three years previously. She is from a family of famed and dreaded resurrectionists, and forced to the trade by them. To help her escape, Barnabus married her 3 years prior. But she left not long after, because she loved him, but he did not love her in return. She vowed that she would return to live with him as his wife only if he requested her to. He kept their marriage a secret from his friends, the other members of DPS. However, their recent activities involve the resurrection of dead bodies related to the Mastiff, and they need more information. So Barnabus contacts Gemma, and she returns, mistaking the message as his request for her to return to him.

Despite her disappointment, she does care for Barnabus and wants to help him. Her family turns out to be involved with the Mastiff, and it also turns out they are looking for Gemma as well, to help them as business is too good and too much for the Kinkaids remaining in the trade. They are just as relentless as the Mastiff in trying to get their hands on Gemma, and she does not want Barnabus or any of her new friends in the DPS to be hurt by them in their search for her.

This was a fascinating read about the continued adventures of the DPS, and pushes forward the story of the criminal actions of the Mastiff. The added element of resurrection/body snatching was quite interesting. The stories of other members of the DPS, told in preceding books in the series, are carried forward as well, and there is quite a twist (well, two) and cliffhanger in the end. This is not a story with a traditional HEA. But, while I usually don't like cliffhangers, this was done well, with a good resolution to the story of Barnabus and Gemma - the cliffhanger is more the story of the criminal dealings the DPS is fighting against.

Also, there is the added elements of the little Penny Dreadful stories intermixed in the novel as well. I quite enjoyed the gothic paranormal story by Barnabus, and the more mythic fairy tale styled one by "Mr. King".

Sometimes it got a bit heavy and dragged a bit, but overall, I quite enjoyed the story of Dr. Milligan and his erstwhile wife, Gemma, as well as the rest of the DPS.

4.75 stars out of 5.

Three years ago, Dr Barnabus Milligan helped rescue Gemma Kincaid by marrying her in secret to protect her from her resurrectionists family intent on keeping her working in the trade.

But when Gemma realized her love for Barnabus was unrequited she left him, telling him to contact her if his feelings ever changed. When Gemma finally receives a letter from Barnabus, she learns that he only wants her help to foil the Kincaids. Gemma agrees, but she warns him that she won’t stay.

This is the 4th Dread Penny Society book. I read the first one but I think you need to read the series to enjoy the overarching mystery. I’m indifferent to the mini story mixed in with the main plot. I end up skimming them.

The DPS aspect was interesting and that part is progressing nicely, but the romance was a miss for me. I figured out who the Dread Master might be, because I had been wondering how that character could be involved and I think fans of the series will be intrigued.

But it was never explained why the Kincaids needed Gemma. What exactly was her skill in body snatching? Her uncle even says she’s only as good as the shovel in her hands. That’s not exactly a specialized skill, so why do they need her to steal bodies?

This is both a second chance/marriage of convenience romance, and for that to work I think you need a slow burn with some chemistry, and I felt that was missing. Their history was a vague info dump and we never saw why Gemma wanted to be with Baz and he never showed much interest in her before suddenly saying he decided he loved her after all. We don’t even know why marriage was the only way to save Gemma.

I didn’t understand why Baz didn’t try with Gemma when he had her or why he wouldn’t put in the effort when she first came back. I wanted Baz to put in real work to earn her trust after all of Gemma‘s attempts and her subsequent hopelessness, but we never see that from
him.

The bachelor and the Bride, by Sarah M. Eden, is a classic historical romance with a twist of mystery solving.
I really enjoyed this one! It was well-written, cute, romantic, and had just enough mystery solving to keep things really interesting.
I would easily recommend to all historical romance readers.
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Soooo good. As always. Hold on to your hat because this is one Penny Dreadful Society story you're going to adore!

The Bachelor and the Bride was very well written. A most interesting story line! I’ve never read a story like it before! Loved the details of London life and how the characters played out. It kept me entertained the whole way through even though at about 80 percent into it I figured the story was over and it would just be dragged out to the finish. NO! That was not the case! It kept going to the last page and kept my full attention! Loved it! Great job Sarah Eden!

Hello! I really enjoy Sarah M. Eden's writing. It is fun, descriptive, engaging and consistent. This series, of which Bachelor.and the Bride is now a part, definitely does not disappoint in its story of Barnabas and Gemma. To see how Barnabas begins to realize dormant feelings for Gemma, translating into a real romance, was super fun to experience and so sweet. I liked Gemma, but Barnabas was the one to watch and one to follow, it seems, in terms of an evolution of a hero and partner. Sarah M. Eden does a fabulous job of building clearly to a crescendo, and the reader does not even realize the climb until just about there. I always feel like I am literally walking alongside her characters and, that I am interacting with them in real time. I have always been fascinated by penny dreadfuls, and this series gets better and better. I might suggest that all the penny dreadful installments be contained at the end of the book or even at the outset, altogether. That way, I can focus on all of these at once...and focus on the hero-heroine story all at once. But otherwise, this book is stellar. I was furnished.an ARC by NetGalley, and this is my honest review. Thank you!! :)

Reading the novel was a joy and I was taken aback by its sheer complexity. I wasn't really expecting to be enamored by it because it sounded a bit cliché at first but then once you started the lines, it just went on and smoothly prepares you for the finale. But, of course, the end will just make you want to read the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my freak!!!! I feel like each novel from the Dread Penny Society series are all so different and yet so similar. They all include the members of the DPS who find love and save others from the terrors of the Mastiff. I was NOT expecting that ending though. It took me completely by surprise and now I’m dying to read the next one.

I can’t even believe it. The storyline for this one was pretty different and one that took a bit of brain effort to follow. The ending made everything worth it. This was one of my favorites in the series. That’s for sure.

Favorite parts:
The wedding scene. Fletcher was hilarious!
Everything about the ending, if you couldn’t tell.
Baz’s declaration. 😍

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
This is the 4th book of a series but I only read this book. After reading the book, I feel like you can read this as a standalone but you have a better idea of the whole story if you read the previous books. There were clearly several characters from past books who played a significant part in this book and it would be interesting to know their stories. Overall, this was a really interesting, mysterious, and a bit of a scary book.
Spoilers ahead:***********
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<spoiler> First thing since I just finished the book: DANG THAT REVEAL ON WHO THE TEMPTEST WAS AND WHO THE DREAD MASTER WAS!!!??? I have to admit, I didn't see that coming at all. It's pretty cool that the main villain and main hero are both women. I'm especially pleased that Moirin is the Dread Master. I really could not see that coming at all until I read the last sentence and as shocked. Moirin is so cool. I haven't read the previous books so Idk if Stone's girlfriend is mentioned or if Moirin has a lover or anything but I kinda ship those 2. I barely figured our Serena was bad until Doc said that her voice was familiar when they were in the graveyard. She is one manipulative person, I tell you. Very clever, and very evil.
One thing I'm confused about is so do the dreadfuls know who the Mastiff was? Cuz the impression I got was that they didn't know who he was and he was totally mysterious but then somehow they all recognize him when they see him and I'm like so they know his appearance? So they already know something about him? They just don't know his real name?
Also, I think my favorite character was Fletcher lol. I think I need to read his book.
Throughout the book, the urgency and danger in present in the story is always there. I was pretty worried in the scenes where Gemma's family appear.
I have to admit, I skipped past all the penny dreadful story entries. Idk, I read the first one and didn't like it that much so I just skipped the rest because I wanted to go back to the main story and felt that these mini side stories were distracting.
Last thing in this disorganized mess of my thoughts, I think the dragging of the romance and pacing of the first half could be improved. The relationship between Doc and Gemma really dragged on the first like 60% of the book and the annoying part was they both already loved each other or at the very least, felt fond of each other and liked each other so the angst of 'does he love her' dragging on was a bit of a put off. And then, again the pacing was a bit weird when they do get together because suddenly, Gemma and Doc are just too affectionate and lovey dovey when just chapters before, it was more subtle? Basically, romance in first half: too long and dragged out; romance in last half: too rushed. </spoiler> *****************8
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Final thoughts: a really interesting and intriguing book about a mystery and secret society.