Oh my, what a great story! Sarah Eden has long been one of my favorite authors; I recommend her to everyone looking for an entrancing romance. This latest offering is par-for-the-course wonderful. Set in Victorian England, we follow rags-to-riches Fletcher Walker and genteel Elizabeth Black as they each strive to serve humanity in their own way. Because they are both penny dreadful writers, we have the added fun of two short stories intermingled with chapters of intrigue, some danger, and some mystery. I know there will be more books in this series (can I beg for one featuring Hollis?), and I can’t wait! And if I had my way, the Dread Master would in some way be attached to the Jonquil family (I know, I know, lots of years separate the two series, but they could be a Jonquil descendant, right?). Seriously, read this book!

Rated PG-13 for some elements of mild danger and tactful mention of prostitution.
—no sex
—no language
—some violence (non-graphic)

This ebook was given to me free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I should know better than to start a Sarah Eden book at bedtime! By the time 3:30 am rolled around I finished the book with a happy sigh :) This one is unputdownable. (That should totally be a word). Sometimes I find novels set in Victorian times to be a bit stuffy, but this book is the exact opposite of that- the characters find liberation and freedom in their unconventional work and their vibrant personalities jump off the page. I loved that we got to know Fletcher first- he is so compelling with his confidence despite his tragic childhood circumstances. He's the best sort of person- using the pain of his experiences to improve the lives of others. He's a bit sassy and flirty which is tempered by his depth of compassion and willingness to sacrifice. Elizabeth has those same qualities, but because of her position as a headmistress, must be above reproach and begins to resent that she must stifle herself so much. The secrets and hidden identities are a fun plot device and the pace of the book is steady as Fletcher and Elizabeth get to know each other and grow in affection, all while rescuing the children of London's slums one at a time. Their banter and chemistry is entertaining and I loved their dynamic! Highly recommend!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

I enjoyed this story, although aspects seem familiar. Perhaps it's the woman writer with a male nom de plume that had caught me.
Elizabeth Black, respectable headmistress of a gentile girl's school is that and a literary writer by day and the Penny Dreadful writer Charles King by night.
Fletcher Walker is the top Penny Dreadful writer by day and rescuer of downtrodden children and others, generally women, by night. His rescue operations, carried out with assistance from the illusive Penny Dreadful Society, with their own secret calling card, a penny, are funded in part by his successful writings.
The main story of Fletcher's publications being overtaken by King's thus putting in danger the wherewithal for the rescue activities for mistreated women and children of the lowest strata of London life is an inspired basis for the novel. We follow the rescue of Daniel, a chimney sweep and two sisters down from the country who were sold to a notorious Madame, Mrs George. Of course the determined Elizabeth becomes involved here.
I admired Eden's use of the artifice of Elizabeth's current Penny Dreadful and Fletcher's forming part of the tale, giving us somewhat of a commentary on the main story, on King's part at least.
Indeed I found myself hanging on every word of these Penny Dreadfuls
Here's the thing though, it seems that revolving through these three stories took an inordinate amount of time for me. In fact the story spread over four days rather than the couple of hours I normally take. I think that interruption allowed me to wander off to other tasks. Most unusual!
Don't get me wrong. I loved the way the story worked, I loved the gutsiness of our Victorian heroine, Elizabeth Black. Alarmingly however Fletcher sort of petered out for me.
I was disappointed that Alistair Headley, who looked like being a somewhat doubtful character faded into the background without resolution and I was left wondering what his purpose was.There are certainly characters aplenty to give their own story to, and perhaps that's what will happen.
An interesting and refreshingly clean Victorian romance, particularly with the included Penny Dreadfuls.

A Shadow Mountain ARC via NetGalley

I loved this book which is a book about authors but is also so much more!
I loved getting to learn about "penny dreadfuls" -stories for the lower classes. I loved that Sarah included the two main characters stories within this story.
I love everything about Fletcher Walker! Having, himself, come from the "gutter" and his helping get other street urchins away from horrible situations with the Dread Penny Society. I loved that it was his reason of writing these stories- to help fund his cause.
Elizabeth Black was a fun, witty, and driven female lead. I loved that she wrote penny dreadfuls as Mr. King, it being her true passion, all the while still writing her more accepted silver fork novels. All this to be able to help her girls school to educate those girls that may not have had a chance elsewhere.
I liked the dynamic of Fletcher and Elizabeth's slow but beautifully growing love story.

Where to begin.

The book was “meh” for me. Not terrible, but not awesome either. This was another book in which I was branching out. After reading the synopsis I thought it sounded interesting and would be a good mix to throw into my typical thriller/suspense rotation.

My co-creator, Kim, from our podcast Books Don’t Review Themselves, and I both agreed the book was a little long for the story. It could have been brought down to maybe 200ish pages and quite frankly, that could very well have added a star in both our opinions.

The story itself was enjoyable but quite repetitive in the sense that Elizabeth is from a higher class and the fact she writes Penny Dreadfuls needs to remain a secret and how Fletcher began life amongst the impoverished lower class.

The author intertwined Penny Dreadfuls into the story which I know many people enjoyed, but for me was a little confusing at times. I would have preferred to read the Penny Dreadfuls on their own or even reading them intertwined, but still having them as a stand-alone at the end of the book so you could read them uninterrupted.

I would recommend this book if this type of story plot excites you or you are a previous fan of the author. This is my first Sarah M. Eden book and this story plot is not something that typically excites me so overall “meh” is the best I could give the book.

This was a comfortable read, with a great mix of action, relationships, and character development. It kept me engaged, despite it being somewhat predictable. Enjoyable, especially for those who enjoy Victorian-era history and action. Great details from a well-researched period.

Publication date September 3, 2019, from Shadow Mountain Publishing. Thanks to both Shadow Mountain and NetGalley for advance access.

I love Sarah M. Eden's Regency Novels and anything else she cares to write for that matter. This one was different. I mean that in the best of ways. I loved the approach with Fletcher and Elizabeth, with chapters of their own Penny Dreadful's mixed in. The adventure and the mystery took center stage and it left it open with more mysteries. Who is the Dread Master? What nefarious activity is Mr Headley up to? With other members in the society to explore, I can see this being a series of wonderful serials.

The writing was fresh and the story moved beautifully. The author's way with words never ceases to delight me. The mystery felt new and not tired and the hero was nontraditional as only a writer and member of a secret society can be.

I loved all the supporting characters and hope to meet them in more vivid detail at a later time. I found myself captivated by the story and only forced myself to put it down for sleep and to go to work.

4 out of 5 stars

This was a fun, faced paced and character driven book - perfect for anyone who enjoys books with loads of character development, strong female characters and historical fiction.

Reading just like one of the Penny dreadful's at the heart of the story this is a Victorian romance with an unlikely pairing of a well-educated schoolmistress and Fletcher a self-made man who dragged himself out of the gutter to become a philanthropist. Confusing in parts as there are several storylines running alongside each other, nevertheless its gritty enough to appeal to historical fiction fans and light-hearted enough to appeal to fans of regency romance.

Cleverly written and full of intrigue. Eden explores English lit in the 1830s. This is the first I have ever know of Penny Dreadfuls. I was quite captivated by the story and the characters. I love how Eden uses chapters of the Penny Dreadful stories to reflect what is going on in the lives of the authors of those stories. A fight between good and evil. I love that rather than having a heroine reaching to be elevated in society instead she looks for the adventure of helping those that are less fortunate than herself. Fletcher and Elizabeth are perfect for one another. I saw supporting characters who might also merit stories of their own. This could easily grow into a new series. I look forward to more!

A tale of good intentions, deception, undercover humanitarian efforts, danger, monsters… oh, and romance! There's a lot going on in this story, but she wraps it up so well at the end that you won't mind!

The main characters are Fletcher Walker: "overgrown [street] urchin" and popular author of penny dreadfuls, and Elizabeth Black: a silver-fork novelist who also publishes penny dreadfuls under the name "Mr. King". As their paths cross and they come to trust each other, Elizabeth becomes involved in Fletcher's attempts to improve life for a few of the many children living on the streets of London. In the process, they earn the wrath of villains like Mrs. George, Four-Finger Mike and Mr. Allen, the chimney sweep thief.

Because Ms. Eden scattered penny dreadful installments from both of the fictional authors throughout the main story, this book actually includes three separate (but related) stories: "The Lady and the Highwayman" by Sarah M. Eden, "The Lady and the Highwayman" by Mr. King, and "The Vampire's Tower" by Fletcher Walker. King's and Walker's penny dreadfuls could be read as stand-alone short stories, but they add even more excitement and suspense to the main plot!

I personally struggled to keep track of all three stories at once, especially during the longer breaks between the dreadful installments. If I'd had time to read the whole book in one sitting, though, it wouldn't have been a problem!

#TheLadyAndTheHighwayman
#NetGalley

I loved this book. It was so cleverly written. You really get three stories in one, but I won't spoil it. This is a delightful read. The characters are strong, witty, noble and brave. Each character has depth and purpose. I could hardly put the book down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

This book grabbed my attention the from the very first. It is different from what I expected from Sarah Eden. The story takes place in the mid 1800s in London. The two main characters come from different societal groups and yet they converge to save the urchins in London. In addition to being a nice, clean romance, I felt like Eden channeled her inner Charles Dickens. I loved it.

In addition, Eden inserted "installments" of the penny dreadful novels each of her characters were writing. And yes, both silver-fork and penny dreadfuls were a real thing (every hear of Sweeney Todd--the original was a penny dreadful). The historical context of this book was fascinating.

Well done Ms. Eden! I hope you write more in this "universe." I would love to hear the story of some of the other "Dreadful Members." Thank you to Shadow Mountain and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Netgalley provided me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely, untraditional blend of a sedate regency and an expose on the popularity of penny dreadfuls in the late 19th century.

Elizabeth is the headmistress of a school for well-heeled daughters of the aristocracy. These same scions of society would cut her to the quick and withdraw their approval if they knew she penned salacious novels about London's underbelly.

Fletcher is trying to unearth the identity of the upstart author who has usurped him as the most successful author of penny dreadfuls. There is more at stake than his livelihood - the fortunes of all of the children trapped in untenable situations, who are desperately in need of rescue.

As they work on their next literary release, the fates and hearts of Elizabeth and Fletcher become irrevocably entwined.

This book was written with painstaking attention to detail, phenomenal historical accuracy, and wonderful dialogue from the era.

3.5 Stars.

As a headmistress of an all girls school, Elizabeth Black wrote in her spare time. She’s know for her “silver fork” novels. And being a woman, this was acceptable. But what they didn’t know was that she also wrote “penny dreadfuls” under the name of Mr. King. If people knew she wrote those, her school would be ruined and so would she. So she kept it secret and used all the funds to help out her school.

Now the men who normally write those were part of a secret society who used their wages to help those in need. So when Mr. King starts to worm his way into their earnings, they take it upon themselves to discover who it is. They can’t risk not having the funds when they need to plan rescues and such. So their leader, Fletcher Walker asks Elizabeth for help. As a fellow author he hopes that she’ll know things he doesn’t.

I enjoyed watching these two. They both were doing things for the right reasons, but neither one could let their secrets be known. And while working together they grew closer. Amid all the mysteries and suspense, romance was blooming. And it was sweet.

This is another Proper Romance that I adore. I can’t get enough of these. They’re a nice breath of fresh air in the midst of the stress of life.

The Lady and the Highwayman is a delight! Elizabeth Black finds herself in the middle of a mystery, such as those she pens. The twist of it, is that she's the end target. The cat and mouse game she plays with Fletcher Walker is entertainment at it's finest! I enjoyed every single page of this story and will be adding it to my bookshelf for repeated reading in the future.

This is my first foray into the writing of Sarah M. Eden. When I heard it was actually three stories in one, I wasn't sure about the premise. But, oh, how delightfully different this story turned out to be. I was totally charmed!

Fletcher Walker grew up on the streets of London as a homeless urchin. He fought to become educated and eventually became a successful writer of penny dreadfuls, the cheap serial stories so popular in Victorian London. Fletcher was also a member of the Dread Penny Society, a secret philanthropic group of penny dreadful writers who try to help the poor children of the streets. When a new penny dreadful series by "Mr. King" becomes so popular that Fletcher begins to lose money he uses to help the children, he believes Elizabeth Black, a headmistress and a writer of so-called silver-fork novels, can help him discover who Mr. King is so he can be invited to join the DPS. Little does he know that Mr. King is the nom de plume of Elizabeth!

As stated above, this story was so charming! The developing romance between Fletcher and Elizabeth was sweet, different and so witty. The difference between their social standings just added to the magic. What made this book so special, though, is the inclusion of both Elizabeth's and Fletcher's penny dreadful stories, which ran parallel to their own story. It was simply blown away by the cleverness of the blending of three stories. I hope this isn't the last we've heard from the Dread Penny Society!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

I had no idea about Penny Dreadfuls before I started reading this book. It was part of that interest in crime mysteries during Victorian England. A story is divided up into parts and published as a serial story over a period of time. It was apparently quite popular then. Despite having no back ground in these type of stories, I was hooked into the stories from the start. Yes, I said stories. There are 3 stories in 1. There is the main story with Fletcher and Elizabeth and then there are two penny dreadful stories that they are writing. The two stories are interwoven into the main storyline as little bits throughout the book.
There is mystery and adventure oozing from the story. Elizabeth, who for all know her, is a prim and proper miss running a school for girls. However her real joie de vie comes from scandalously writing these “low literary” novels under a pen name. I loved seeing her choose to become more bold in her real life and choose adventure rather than just sitting back and writing about it.
Fletcher was a great character. I could just picture him and all his penny tossing. He had a lot to overcome due to his street urchin background. Unfortunately his past still colored how much value he saw in himself now. But it was a great story to see him fall in love.
The ending was just perfect and how I had imagined and hoped it would be. The story wasn’t overly romantic but it did have it’s flirtatious moments. I felt like I was on a grand adventure about rescuing children in need and I loved everything about Elizabeth and Fletcher’s story.
One of the Penny Dreadful stories that is added in the book, the one that Fletcher wrote, has a little talk about a Vampire if anyone is sensitive to topic.
I received this book from NetGallery as an ARC. However this review is voluntary and my own opinion.
Rating PG

This was an interesting read. The story is about two authors but we also get to read throughout the book the two stories they each are writing so it’s basically 3 stories in one. :-)

Fletcher Walker was a street urchin in London but through a chance of education, he grew up to be a famous Penny Dreadful author. His goal in life is to now save other street urchins like himself.

Miss Elizabeth Black is a famous author of more “proper” books and also runs a school for middle class girls. She secretly writes Penny Dreadfuls under a pseudo name of Mr. King and has quickly become Fletcher Walker’s number one competition.

Both characters are very likable and have lots of fun banter between them. There is also some mystery and adventure both in their story, as well as in their written stories.

There was one character who seemed to be around a lot in the beginning and then sort of fizzled out in the end. Not really sure what his purpose was unless the author is thinking of making this a series.

Anyway, it was a unique and clever book by an author that has always been a favorite of mine.

Review will be on my blog end of September.

I really love the concept and story this book gave the reader, it's a very intriguing cat-and-mouse game between two very clever and kind people. I really enjoyed how much the relationship between the two main characters, Fletcher Walker and Elizabeth Black. How they become closer and romance blooms because they get to know someone they really get along with and shares a lot of the same views and principles. The story really engaged me in what was happening and since the main characters were such easy persons to like I couldn't help to get sucked into this story and every page was an excitement to see what was happening next.

A fun little feature this book had was the fact that throughout the book there were these chapters from these two characters "books" which showed each other as well as the reader how they processes the event that had just happen to them. These chapters also works as breadcrumbs for Fletcher to trying to solve who this mysterious Mr. Black is, how could this man know these things that just happens and taunt them over his head?

It's clear that the author put time and effort into researching and building such a authentic world and atmosphere as possible. The Victorian slang, the description of the city around them and the general feel of the story made me, as history nerd, very happy.