Barnabus and Gemma entered a secret marriage of convenience three and a half years earlier to save her from her murderous, resurrectionist family - then she left six months later when she, having fallen in love with him, gave up on him ever loving her. But as the Mastiff's terrorisation of London worsens, to the point where he's having bodies 'resurrected' as an additional horror, the DPS needs an expert on resurrection men, and Barnabus asks Gemma to return. At first, she thinks he's learned to love her after all, but she soon learns that he wanted her help in fighting the Mastiff and agrees to help for a few weeks before leaving again. Meanwhile, though, the Mastiff's depredations continue, and now signs are being left warning that 'The Tempest is Coming'. Worse, Gemma's family need her back as the trade expands, and they'll go to any lengths to find her and either take or kill her. Can the DPS work out who or what the Tempest is, while trying to keep Gemma and others safe? And amidst all this, can Barnabus work out his true feelings towards Gemma before she dies or disappears again?

Romance, mystery, a secret society and instalments of penny dreadfuls - it's an amazing combination, at least with an author like this who has the skill to weave it all together so that they add to rather than detract from each other. I enjoyed watching Gemma and Barnabus gradually grow closer as they spent more time together, and I particularly loved the unique 'wedding ceremony'. Note that in terms of the romance, this is a standalone story, but the mystery the DPS is trying to solve continues through the series, so it's best read as part of the series (though still enjoyable on its own). All in all, a unique series with interesting characters, a massive problem to solve together, secrets, romance, and bonus stories interleaved through. This is a great addition to the series and I look forward to the next book. Highly recommended.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

A second chance romance set in the streets of London in 1866. For fans of murder mysteries, period romance, and rags to riches. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat, so be careful with your swooning. Scores of likable characters can be found and misdirects abound.

I enjoyed the main storyline immensely. There are two side stories scattered throughout the chapters. And though I appreciate the morals and purpose of the side plots, I feel they make the overall story a little clunky. But if that's really my only complaint, I think that speaks favorably about the book :) I was never quite sure where we were going and how it would all wrap up. I am very pleased with the ending twist and eagerly await the next story!

Each time I think I find my favorite book of this series Sarah blows me away with the next. That was definitely the case here my friends. The Bachelor and the Bride was fantastic! That ending… 🤯 soooo good you all. Didn’t see it coming and that thrilled me. This is Doc’s & Gemma’s second chance at love. Their backstory, chemistry, and putting the others ones needs first was lovely.
No worries though, friends, you will see plenty from our fellow DPS writers. Fletcher makes plenty of appearances. I fact I know we all love.
This story was sweet, entertaining, exciting, and had me antsy to find out if they’ll finally catch up with the Mastiff.
Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for sending me a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Bachelor and the Bride is another thrilling adventure in the historical romance series The Dread Penny Society. I love the format switching between the penny dreadful stories and the exciting romance between Gemma and Barnabus. Both the serialized stories and the main plot are captivating and will engage the readers from the first to he last page. Highly recommended.

This was a great addition to the Dread Penny series. Set in London during the Victorian era there was plenty of mystery, mayhem, and murder without being too graphic. A secret society who rescues the less unfortunate. “For the poor and infirm, the hopeless and the voiceless, we do not relent. We do not forget. We are the Dread Penny Society. And on top of that, several of the characters are authors of the Penny dreadfuls and we get two of those stories mixed in with the main story. It wasn’t too hard to keep the stories separate. They were a lot of twists and gripping parts but I did struggle with a couple things. However the ending was epic and now I need the next one.

"They were finding their way. They were finding reason to hope. They were finding love."

London, 1866

Gemma and Barnabus have been married for the past three years and haven't seen each other in almost as long. After wandering and hiding from her criminal family, Gemma receives a letter from Barnabus, asking her to return home. Unfortunately, Barnabus only wants Gemma's help—not her heart—and the intrigue that follows them could find them both heartbroken . . . or killed.

Of all Sarah Eden's books, the Dread Penny Society series hasn't been my favorite. That being said, I always find myself coming back for more, and I always find myself enjoying the books as I read them. This latest installment in the series was absolutely my favorite.

There were so many twists and turns and bumps and excitement that I had a hard time putting this book down. I wanted to keep reading as long as humanly possible so I could find out how everyone was going to get out of this massive tangle that seems to be getting more and more tangled the further we go on.

I loved Gemma and Baz. I loved their romance and their interactions. Baz is incredibly sweet, and he and Gemma together were darling.

Fletcher is fantastic, as always.

I'm not a huge fan of the penny dreadfuls that come in between the overarching story, but I must say, I am impressed with how well the Sarah adopts the mien and writing style of another—it's so neat.

What a ride this book is. I cannot wait until the next book comes out. I can't believe we will have to wait so long until we can see things be resolved. I'm hoping the series will come to a close with the next book, simply because I don't think I can handle being left on tenterhooks one more time. I thoroughly recommend the Dread Penny Society series—especially this last one.

Thank you to the publisher for the complimentary ebook! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#BookRevew: THE BACHELOR AND THE BRIDE by Sarah M. Eden

I have only read book three. Though I felt like I missed out on some good stories, I didn’t have a problem understanding the whole thing. I have been waiting for this book to come out and The Bachelor and the Bride didn’t disappoint. I like this better than the previous one. I think this series is best read in order.

The clean romance was sweet but the underlying mystery and danger created the momentum of the story. It was fast paced enough. The resurrectionists element was scary and bone chilling for me. I just can’t imagine people doing that for a living. The underworld in general during those times sounded like a place you wanted to avoid.

The second half of the book was more engaging and things got more interesting. There’s a lot of twists and surprises. I like how the dreadfuls look out for each other. The book also gave us two stories written by the dreadfuls. I always wondered who the Dread Master was. Fletcher was the voice and the face of the master but the revelation was shocking. I need book five asap!

Rating: 4 stars
Series: The Dread Penny Society Book 4
Pub date: 06 Sep 2022

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Something I love about this series is that while each book has a sweet love story woven throughout, there’s elements of danger and mystery and hope mixed together. The Penny Dreadful stories included are also a testament to the writing genius of Sarah M. Eden. The main story and the two Penny Dreadfuls have their own unique voice, individual to her characters. Though wildly different they also all relate to each other! I will admit to staying up WAY too late to finish this book. It’s THAT good. So much that we’ve been waiting for happens, more answers are found, but more questions left me wanting more immediately! I may just have to go back and binge the series again to see if I can piece together more clues.

If you enjoy found family, suspense, riddles, marriage of convenience, and folklore, you’ll love The Bachelor and the Bride!

The Bachelor and the Bride is a fun regency hybrid book - a blend between mystery and romance. I was a little surprised to discover the focus on the mystery since I definitely got a strong "romance" vibe from the blurb, but it was entertaining on both fronts.

This book was just amazing! Loveable characters, plot twists and the BEST ending!

Barnabus married Gemma to save her from her family, but she refused to stay in a marriage without reciprocated love. Knowing her past had been controlled by evil her evil family, he refused to do anything that would take away Gemma's voice. He wanted her to have a future of her own choosing. So much of this love story was just so sweet and charming, but the undercurrent of mystery and danger keep the story moving forward.

As with the entire series, Fletcher Walker is the acting head of the Dread Penny Society, and is the voice of the Dread Master. At the end of this book, you just might have an inkling as to who the Dread Master really is! But I refuse to share spoilers!

I have loved this entire series! Now I'm eagerly anticipating the next one

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a DNF for me before 10% which I admit is very early, but I did flip ahead to see how it ends. So why did it turn me off so soon? I just felt like the "show, don't tell" rule was completely thrown out the window. I just felt like I wasn't allowed to figure anything out for myself, which is kind of ironic, since this book has a mystery component.

This book is definitely setting up a series, though I have no interest in continuing it.

HOLY COW! I'll get to my real review soon, but WOW!!! I need the next book in the series to come out ASAP because I don't think I can handle waiting!! I NEED TO KNOW what happens next!!!!!

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and I of course jumped at the chance to read an ARC of this book. While normally the characters are what I enjoy best about pretty much any book, the plot sort of stole the show in this one. That's not a criticism of the characters--I liked Doc and Gemma and felt like they were well-developed, with believable motivations and very interesting backstories--but rather an indication that there a LOT going on in the plot, with twists and turns and danger that kept me guessing what was going to happen next! By the time you reach the last quarter of the book, you should definitely make sure you have time to just read straight through to the end because it's pretty much impossible to put it down at that point! There are some BIG twists, and maybe other readers saw them all coming but for me, there were a couple of jaw-dropping moments because I DIDN'T expect something to turn out the way that it did, and when I initially finished, I just had no words beyond "WOW!" So, yeah, the plot blew my mind a few times, the characters were great, and the setting was fantastic. Sarah Eden does such a fabulous job weaving details into the story and making Victorian England come alive. I seriously can't wait for the next book in this series!

5 stars.

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

The story is captivating and intriguing!
I really loved Gemma, she's so sweet and loveable. She has humor and is also a mix between vulnerable and strong.
I really liked the development of her relationship with Barnabus. There could have a little more spark but still it was great to read about it.
The two novels in the middle felt a little out of place, to be honest. It slowed down the pace of the book a bit.
I had a little trouble getting through the beginning of the story but the second half made it up. A really strong ending and some plottwists held me captive :)
I also did like the descriptive style of writing!
It wasn't my favourite book of the author, but I still enjoyed it!

Oh boy. What do you say about a book that left you absolutely BUZZING! I won't give any sort of spoilers, because that just would not be fair, but the ending of the book had my jaw on the floor.

Sarah M. Eden has created something truly special with this series. The addition of the penny dreadfuls interweaved in the main story make you anticipate the rest of the book as you see ties from one chapter to the next. But the intricate design of the people in the series just makes it worth it all.

Baz and Gemma are a great pair. I love how he is able to let his more polished self down with her. She is able to find comfort and peace in him. I enjoy watching love come on so slowly sometimes that it surprises someone. I think that love can definitely do that. I have seen that before.

I have read each of these books in the series. Most of Sarah's books you can read individually and let it be. But this is not one of those series in my opinion. The three books before you could possibly get away with that, but not this one. I would suggest this series gets read in order. And I would add this: Hold on to your seats. The ride gets more intense as you go.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely adored this book from beginning to end. It has great Sherlock Holmes vibes combined with romance and in-world documents. The penny dreadful portion is wonderful and entertaining.

The romantic relationship is unique from its starting point, and overcoming their obstacles is truly challenging. I loved both of them. And their friends are supportive and interesting. The addition of the gravediggers—resurrectionists—and the mystery of the coming Tempest kept me intrigued. The plot wove together in a wonderful way. And I loved the reveal at the end.

Anyone who likes Sherlock mysteries, Victorian settings, stories with in-world documents, street urchins, mastermind criminals, intrigue, and romance will love this story.

This is the fourth book in the series, but it's the first I've read and picked up everything just fine. And now, I get to go back and read the other three. All around a win.

I hope you love this book as much as I did. It's a proper romance and anyone can read it. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

The Bachelor and the Bride is highly recommended.

This book isn't what I expected nor what I like.
Dr. Barnabus Milligan has always felt called to help people, whether that means setting a broken bone or rescuing the impoverished women of London from their desperate lives on the streets as part of his work with the Dread Penny Society.
Three years ago, he helped rescue Gemma Kincaid by marrying her in secret to protect her from her family, notorious grave robbers who were intent on keeping her working in the trade.
But their unconventional relationship is nearly over before it begins when, six months after they exchange vows, Gemma realizes her love for Barnabus is unrequited. To protect her heart, she leaves, telling Barnabus to contact her if his feelings for her ever grow beyond a sense of duty.
When Gemma finally receives a letter from Barnabus, inviting her to return home, she hopes to find a true connection between them. But she quickly learns that he only wants her help to foil the Kincaids, who have been terrorizing the boroughs of London, eager to gain both money and power.
Heartbroken once more, Gemma agrees to help, but she warns Barnabus that she will not stay for long, and once she goes, he’ll never see her again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.
This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

You have likely already twigged that The Mastiff and his lot will be up to their old tricks for sure and for certain and that there will be a sweet love story for one of our Heros and you would be right. What you may not be expecting is that this wonderful book has more twists than a Hitchcock Movie and more turns than the Indy 500. I have been a fan of the DPS since book one but I think this is my favorite to date!  It is a suspense thriller and romantic love story all in one great read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Pulidhing for an advanced copy of this WONDEFUL book!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4594170213

Still reeling a little bit from the epic twist the end of this book took but this is a spoiler free review so I’m going to move on from that and try to formulate thoughts about the rest of the story.
I’ll admit that Barnabas “Doc” wasn’t a character that super intrigued me when he made appearances in the previous books but as we got to know him more in this one I found him to be deserving of the title “hero” (even if he was a bit dunderheaded in matters of the heart). The way he used the pain and trauma he’d witnessed and endured as fuel for a passion to save as many others from a similar fate was beyond admirable. Especially since he did it without worries for his own safety or expecting anything in return.
Gemma was a bit rough around the edges but had a heart of gold which was something of a miracle considering her family and how she was raised.
The two of them were sweet together and definitely complemented each other well-I do wish, though, that we’d had just a bit more romantic tension throughout. There was still romance though and I loved watching them finally be on the same page.
The ongoing hunt for the criminal mastermind the Mastiff, the continued puzzling out of what the coming Tempest was, and the new threat from Gemma’s family all made for some intriguing events to keep you fully invested in the story. And I’m not overstating the ending guys-it’s truly masterfully surprising!

Well, well, well. The DPS (The Dread Penny Society) is back and better than ever! I didn't even bother reading the synopsis of this book because I've been so invested in this series. I think it was the way to go because my jaw was dropping after chapter one!

The suspense was PERFECT! It held my attention from start to finish and I happily procrastinated everything I should have been doing with this sleep stealing read! The romance was an amazing second chance/friends to more/marriage of convenience (yes, it has it all-this is Sarah M Eden, you know!). I again, loved the dual timeline-esque story with the inserted penny dreadful novella as with the previous books in this series. If you're looking for a perfect welcome to fall read, I highly suggest THIS ONE!

One word: resurrectionists.

Creepy and perfectly spooky for a fall read. There is mild violence in this book, and darker tones, but nothing I wouldn't let my teen read.

I hesitate to share much more because this book has BIG SPOILERS in it that are mind blowingly awesome! If you have enjoyed any of the previous books in this series you are sure to enjoy this one! If you haven't read this series I highly recommend going back and reading from the beginning.

My mind is officially blown. Well done, Sarah M Eden...well done!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Ladies and gents... I am shell shocked cause Sarah M. Eden just dropped a bomb of a book.

I don't know what else to say, I am contemplating sitting in a corner, looking out into nothing, and pretending I knew it all along. I mean geeezzzzz! It was right there the whole time but yet it wasn't. I just keep going back and forth on the little bits of clues and processing the whole sound of *mind blown* gifs sounding off in my head.

As a reader, my recommendation is to read the series in order. These characters are willing to shine. This is book 4 and I have loved each of them.

Doc and Gemma! They're adorable like little kittens but are fierce like hungry tigers.

Seriously a top read for me this year! If I say more I will probably spoil the book but this is so well done.