I already adored the #dreadpennysociety series and this book just sealed them as a Permanent Favorite™.

On the romance side, Barnabus and Gemma are both perfect for each other--if only they can figure out how to actually TALK. Don't worry--this isn't one of those obnoxious "why don't you just tell each other" romances. They're both aware that they need to say the words "I love you," but there's a whole world of hurt and insecurity that is getting in their way. They're trying so hard to let each other know, but words are hard. 😆 And Barnabus is also kinda slow on the uptake in this particular situation.

On the mystery side, HOLY COW does this thing move! The tension, which is already decently high thanks to the events in The Merchant and the Rogue, just keeps ramping up.

The last few chapters in particular are going to keep you up, so be warned.

I was trying to finish before bed a few weeks ago and literally grabbed my husband's arm and shook him awake while I shrieked because I COULD. NOT. HANDLE. THE. PLOT TWISTS.

And then I laid in bed for the rest of the night thinking about the whole book. 😆🙃

Sarah M. Eden had such a thrilling romance book. This was my first time reading a book by Eden and I absolutely loved the Dread Penny Society.

The weaving of the author's story along with that of the Dread Penny Society’s members was so masterful and I truly enjoyed it. Barnabus and Gemma were so much fun to read and learn about how they wanted to make this a second chance at love was so good.

I think because I read this book out of order from the others I did get a few treats in not having to wait for surprises. I promise no spoilers! I do think that I was able to follow along with what happened prior to this book.

Thank you to Net galley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am so in love with this series!

I knew once I finished the Lady and the Highwayman and learned who book 4 would be about I would be in for a treat. What I didn't know is how wrapped up and drawn into this story I would be. Once I started this, it was so hard to put down.

I am fan of second chance romances and unrequited love, even if both parties are so in love they can't see straight but just don't know how to admit it, *waves to Barnabus*. The journey to find love and a happily ever after is why I have been reading romance for over 35 years.

There is so much that happens in this book that blew my mind. Blew. My. Mind. Ms. Eden is a master at her craft and if you don't know, this story and the rest of the series are actually 3 stories in one as we not only get the main story of each couple but we get two Penny Dreadful stories that support and enhance the stories to another level. I've come to look forward to the Penny Dreadfuls as much as our main story and fall in love with everyone involved.

But this, our beloved bachelor Doc and his bride that he misses, that makes his house a home, that makes him smile... how could I not love this story. How could I not fall in love with Baz and his beloved Gemma. This was so romantic. But along with that romance, we still have a mystery going on. We still have those who are out causing trouble and this book ramps up EVERYTHING we know about The Mastiff, about the Tempest and about the Dread Master!

OH MY!

I have typed and deleted and typed and deleted what I want to say about this book because I want to say it all and I just want everyone to read this series for themselves. I want readers to get to this book, ready for some information, for some masks to be removed and then have to sit down because they weren't ready for all that we get! It's a lot. It's amazing. It wasn't what I thought AT ALL! I seriously screamed at the end with shock and excitement.

Okay, I need to stop rambling.

This again was such a great book. I adore this series. I do hope our resident Irish lass and a certain copper find their way to one another in their own book or even within someone's book. They were so much fun in this one I can't see their relationship staying simply as two individuals who banter like the best of them.

But mostly, I just want more from this series

When Dr. Barnabus Milligan secretly married Gemma Kincaid, he did it to protect her from her family of notorious grave robbers. As part of his involvement with the Dread Penny Society, a group that helps impoverished women of London from their desperate lives, he had seen the marriage, as his responsibility. Yet after six months of marriage, Gemma had needed to leave Barnabus, aware that her unrequited love for him, would destroy her. Three years afterwards, Barnabus sends a letter to Gemma inviting her to return home, which she initially hopes might signal his need for her. However, he only wants her help to foil the Kincaids, who have been terrorizing the boroughs of London. Whilst Gemma agrees to help, she warns Barnabus that she will soon leave and that when she goes, he'll never see her again.

As the couple attempt to make the connection between the Kincaids and the Mastiff, the leader of London's criminal network, they realise they might make a good match and that marriage will also save Barnabus and his lonely heart. Yet their fledgling romance, will need to survive the dangerous forces around them.
An interesting premise for the story and I enjoyed the interaction between the characters. There was some great twists to the story but not having read the previous books in the series, had me feeling that I was missing some integral point to it all. I must admit that I liked the Dread Penny Society stories in between, but I was always trying to figure out the connection between the stories and the main characters, that I got a bit distracted. I must admit to liking them so much, that I wanted some to be a story on their own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The detail, suspense and a shocking cliffhanger had me spellbound. I have read all of the previous books in this series. I believe that is a plus, in understanding the circumstances of the DPS. “For the poor and infirm, the hopeless and voiceless, we do not relent. We do not forget. We are the Dread Penny Society.” A secret society of men and women from every walk of life, with each being a penny dreadful author.
These stories are so creative and entertaining. They may not be for the faint of heart. Monsters, fairies, murder and resurrectionists are all part of this story, yet in a mystical and adventurous way. There are secondary stories within the main story. The characters are appealing and engaging with wonderful friendships and sweet romance. The ending is compelling and intriguing, leaving you excited for the next adventure for the DPS
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Dr. Barnabas "Baz" Milligan is a member of the Dread Penny Society and has always felt a calling to help ever since he was a young child and watched what his mother was forced to go through. He has always been called a bachelor among his friends because he hid the fact that he had secretly been married for the last 3 1/2 years after rescuing a woman from her family.

Gemma Kincaid grew up in an awful situation, and she didn't follow after her family. I love that she is strong, yet she is vulnerable with Baz. She has never had anyone love her, and Baz's distance and lack of reassuring words breaks her heart. She is not sure how much she can let him back in when she suddenly hears from him three years after she left.

I always loved this series, but this book was one of my favorites. It was so hard to put down! I love all the characters in the Dread Penny Society, and Gemma was a great new character.

I adore Moirin, and she and Parkington would make the best couple. I loved their scenes. There were so many characters from previous books I loved seeing again.

As with the other books in this series, this book has the main story, and 2 penny dreadfuls weaved throughout it. I love how unique this is, and Sarah Eden is so incredibly talented in her writing. I highly suggest reading the others in the series before reading this one.

The ending of the book is so good! It is going to be brutal to wait for the next in the series.

*I really can’t decide on a rating for this book. I’m somewhere around a 3. I wish it wasn’t advertised in the proper romance line, this series is not a romance and I know Shadow Mountain has an amazing historical fiction side. Sarah Eden has really taken a turn from romance and most of her new books fall flat on that deliverance. I think this would receive better reviews if people knew coming in that it isn’t a romance, but it’s advertised as one and it’s part of the Proper ROMANCE line. I love Sarah’s writing, but it needs to be marketed correctly.

Now onto the mystery of this book!

I had to know who the dread master was! And this book FINALLY reveals it. Book 4, my friends. Book 4! It’s been the person behind the scenes calling the shots and making the final say. Annnnnnd I won’t tell you all my thoughts because I will spoil it for others. But! It was perfect! Loved the reveal b

This series makes me think of a historical mystery. There’s a lot of crime, adventure, thieving, arson, strong heroines, MURDER!!! (I don’t know why it’s in caps…) and if you’re thinking you might want to pick up a series like that, this is well written. I have friends who read it with their husbands, so it appeals to all the people.

I love a good romance and I think Sarah Eden did a better job at applying some of it in this book than the first couple, but it’s still on the low side. So don’t go in expecting a romance, I stand firm in my belief that it’s a mystery.

It just released earlier this week, it’s on audiobook (good narrator!), and I personally love the cover. The color compliments the other ones in the series perfectly.

Oh my gosh!!!! I can't even express to you how blown away I am. This story is immediately captivating and thrilling. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! And the ending!!! Wow 😳 I'm just in shock. Truly well done! Read this book because every new book in the series is brilliant and I honestly don't know how Sarah does it!

This 4th book in the Dread Penny Society Series really blew me away. As always, I enjoy that we get snippets of the Penny Dreadfuls the members write in between the action. Doc’s dreadful was probably my least favorite of the bunch, but Mr. King’s foray into a more fantastical story was really fun and fairytale-esque.!
As for the main plot of the story, I felt like we were given more information on the overarching mystery of the series while also tying in how it relates with our main couple, Baz and Gemma. After Elizabeth and Fletcher (book one’s couple), I think they are my favorite. Though Vera and Brogan are also very cute. I think the author does a great job of weaving all the character’s lives together so that when a twist or betrayal arises, the reader feels as shocked as the characters. The end of this book was a wild ride, and I very much need the next book immediately. Móirín is still one of my favorite characters and it’s possible we will have her story next!! If not her, then probably Stone? Though I would love if their stories were the same tbh. I’ve shipped them together for a bit now lol
Truly a wonderful installment of the Dread Penny Society Series! Very excited for the next one! Again, I highly recommend that if you pick these up, you read them in order or you’ll end up very confused as the mysteries connect and continue from book 1 through the whole series.

I loved this book by Sarah M. Eden! I have loved the other books in the series but I loved the twist and surprises that we had in this book. I also loved the characters. Doc and Gemma had such a fun relationship. I loved how it took them so long to be honest with each other about how they felt instead of denying those feelings. I also loved the Penny Dreadful stories that were included. I thought this was a great book and can’t wait to read the next one.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Oooo....oooooo!!! There's so much I want to say about the last few chapters of this book, but that would totally spoil the story, so I won't. You just need to read it to find out. And then you can sit there and say "oooooo!!!" as well. Just maybe not out in public, because people might give you weird looks.
All the familiar characters are present. Fletcher, Stone, Brogan, etc. I also got to enjoy the two included Penny Dreadfuls, which kept my attention just as much as the main story. Just when I thought I had things all figured out, the author threw some HUGE twists into the story, completely chasing the course of the next few stories in this series. I can't wait to read them.

Dr. Barnabas Milligan is a member of the Dread Penny Society and felt a calling to help people since his childhood. His friends always thought he was unmarried, but he hid the fact he married a woman 3.5 years ago to rescue her from her thieving family. Gemma Kincaid has never known love from anyone, so she is surprised to hear from Baz three years after she left him. Their romance is slow to build, but an enjoyable story.

I just reviewed The Bachelor and the Bride by Sarah M. Eden. #TheBachelorandtheBride #NetGalley

The Bacherlor and the Bride is the 4th book in this series (I did not know that this was part of a series when I started - so I did have some difficulty catching up). This book was a different read for me. While I did like it, I couldn't finish it at one sitting. I probably would have liked it better if had read the previous books in the series.

Overall, 3.5 stars for a good read.

I love Sarah M. Eden's writing, and this has been a unique and imaginative and intriguing series at times, but... This story really fell flat for me. And my goodness, I really badly wanted to love it and have so looked forward to reading it. I have always easily suspended any disbelief because her books are so well-researched and authentic, which this story clearly was as well. Unfortunately, there were some incredibly implausible and, to me, blatantly obvious elements in this story that otherwise intelligent and observant characters were conveniently overlooking or not questioning. I'm avoiding spoilers, but for example, some events happened that characters were not expecting but they most definitely should have anticipated. There are a few big reveals, one of which I did not see coming and the other I suspected and hoped might be true. Four stars because I'm still excited about the possibilities forthcoming in the fifth and final book of the series as a result of the cliffhanger.

An interesting concept and well written. The medical/resurrectionist part of the story is not really my type of story.

Barnabus and wife Gemma have been separated for three years. When he contacts her needing help, will she take the chance to win his heart?

This is an atmospheric historical romantic suspense with a magical “penny dreadful” type story woven through it. It’s part of a series with an overarching story that’s left unresolved at the end, so the books are best read in order.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The Dead Penny Society is back and just in time because the Tempost is coming and it looks like it will be the biggest and scariest villain yet!

In this tale, Dr. Barnabus Milligan, the Dread Penny society’s consummate bachelor gets his time to shine in the solving of the mystery… the occurrence of their arch nemesis, The Mastiff new tactic of intimidation of killing it’s foes and hiring the resurrectionist (body snatchers) to steal the remains. Talk about insult upon injury!

Thankfully Barnabus has a secret in on the trade… his estranged wife!

Gemma rushes back to the husband she left, and though she expected a reconciliation between her and her husband, she is still willing to thwart the resurrectionist and help Barnabus with his mission.

But soon this mission gets them both in too deep and Barnabus must choose between his practice and the Society and Gemma!

This one starts pretty slow, but once it hits it’s stride, the story more than makes up for it’s slow start. I was shocked at all the big revels we get in this instalment and the emotional roller coaster this story put me on! .

As alway, Sarah M. Eden delivers a truly captivating romantic mystery!

Like the other books of the series, there are 3 penny dreadful stories woven into the book that mirror/ add to the plot! Included in the this book was The Bachelor and the Bride by a penny dreadful favourite, Mr. King, and Bodies of Light by character Dr. Barnabus Milligan himself. I adored these extra tales just as much as the central story!

This was another great addition to the series that I can easily recommend, but I would suggest the newcomers to the cannon, start on the earlier works, as they build upon each other.

The Bachelor and the Bride by Sarah M. Eden is due to release September 6th, 2022.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Shadow Mountain Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Blog link: https://pinkcowlandreads.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-bachelor-and-bride.html

#TheBachelorandtheBride #SarahMEden #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

3.5 stars, rounded up.
I've really enjoyed the precious books in the Dread Penny Society series so I was quite looking forward to this one. I didn't get quite the thrill and excitement out of Book 4 like I was hoping for until the last 20% or so. Gemma is a darling. She's spunky, sweet, determined, and just wants to be a good person. Doc is so mellow that at times he felt pretty boring to me. Some of the conversations were repetitive or redundant and I ended up skimming parts. The romance was also lacking. BUT the last 20% of this gets wild. I loved all the stuff with the coffins. And we get Big reveals at the end that we've been waiting all series for. Overall, not my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions here are my own.

The Mastiff has control of the lower ends of London. Kidnappings, murders and arson to those who don't follow his rules. Dr. Barnabus Milligan belongs to the Dread Penny Society, a group of authors who write penny dreadfuls. Only that's not their true purpose. Saving individuals who need help especially escaping the clutches of the Mastiff and give hope and charity to those in need. Barnabus did a selfless act by marrying Gemma Kincaid to save her from her family who work in resurrection. She left him three years ago, but came back when her asks her to return. Was it for the reason she wants? Two penny dreadfuls run parallel within the story of the complexities of outsmarting the Mastiff. Only the Tempest is coming promising a bloody bath. Ingenious plans, betrayal and unexpected surprises follow the DPS with the Dread Master as their only hope. Something different for an engaging read. Some descriptive violence. Kissing only.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Another great instalment in this series! The danger became even higher, with dark events bound to happen in the next book. There were big shake-ups, twists I definitely did not see coming, and identity reveals of big players in the series. One event at the end of the book needs to have better explanations in the next story though...

Barnabus and Gemma's story was more plot-driven than character-focused compared to the previous three books due to the nature of the events that unfolded, but their backstories (both their childhoods and history together) and personal growth were worked into the story really well. I enjoyed getting to know them and seeing how well they fit into the group of the Dreadfuls and their loved ones. This entire group of characters is wonderful. I really liked seeing the previous couples and other supporting characters pop up throughout the book. Stone is a favourite of mine, and I am definitely looking forward to Móirín and Parkington's story - I'm assuming their book is next!

Watching characters grow & evolve to the point where they realize their true feelings is one of my favourite things in romance books. Baz took some extra time to figure out how he felt about Gemma, and it sure was sweet once he did! Those two were really cute together and complimented each other's strengths. It will be interesting to see how they factor into the next story as everything continues to boil over in the streets of London!