A fun, charming book, well researched and well written. A secret society of Penny Dreadful writers is being threatened by a new writer the elusive Mr. King who might be disrupting their good deeds to save the street urchins of London. Elizabeth Black runs a girls school for middle class young women and writes more conventional novels on the side, so what is her connection to Mr. King? So not only do you get the main story but there are two penny dreadful so within the story also. Well done!

Thank you, thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for allowing me to read this uncorrected proof e-ARC. All opinions expressed in the review are my own.

I absolutely adored this story! It starts off a little slow and episodic but it picks up after a time and I couldn't put it down. I waffled between 4 and 5 stars until the very end. I thought it largely implausible that Elizabeth would out herself in her story and that Fletcher wouldn't catch on. The clues were staring him right in the face and still he didn't realize Mr. King WAS Elizabeth. However, by the end, I decided I liked the story that way because it leads to a more charming conclusion. The ending of the story was not completely satisfying and I would love to see this turned into a series. The romance is adorable! I love the banter between Fletcher and Elizabeth and every time I finished a chapter I found myself grinning from ear to ear. These two are so perfect for each other. The romance develops nicely over a shared interest in helping the wretched (think Les Misérables type people) and their writing careers. At first I didn't like the penny dreadful stories. Having three stories in one book is a bit much and I wanted to skip ahead to the main storyline. However, DO read the stories within the story because as Fletcher and Elizabeth's relationship grows, art begins to imitate life and we get to know our hero and heroine a lot better.

The writing style is great. This is only my second full-length novel by this author but I've read some of her short stories and this one is better written. I love the way she conveys the diversity of Victorian London without resorting to outdated descriptors or stereotypes. She does briefly mention "tight, curly hair" but that's the only indicator the character does not resemble the typical person of the British Isles. That could mean anything until it's clarified. People in this story have ancestors from all over the world, which makes sense given the British Empire was quickly becoming the largest empire in the world. Authors, THIS is the way you do diversity in a period piece. It's there because it belongs. The descriptions of life in the London slums and the plight of the poor really conveyed the darker side of the time period (it really did remind me of Les Mis, same time period). The problems still persist and we need the Dread Penny Society in modern times.

The Penny Dreadful novels are not supposed to be well-written but more for entertainment purposes. I really didn't like Fletcher's. Vampires creep me out! I did like the plucky heroes, Morris and Joe. They give the reader a glimpse of what Fletcher was like as a boy. Elizabeth's made me roll my eyes a lot at the silliness of it all. I figured out the secrets pretty quickly. I thought perhaps something different was going to happen but when it didn't, I knew my first guess was correct. I don't like how patently obvious Elizabeth makes her authorship. Really, as clever as Fletcher is, he ought to have figured it out. How typical of a man, even an unconventional one, not to think a respectable lady could pen trashy novels. Honestly!

The characters are all so well-written I feel like I know them. Elizabeth is my Victorian alter ego. I'm a rebel at heart but unlike Elizabeth, I lack the courage to do some of the things she did. Her school is exactly the type I would support and send my daughter to (if I had one) at that time regardless of class. I would be a champion of female education like Elizabeth. I love how strong, kind-hearted and brave she is. Elizabeth wants to help children because she's compassionate and empathetic not for any particular religious motivation. I really appreciate the lack of preaching in this novel. Fletcher is motivated because he was once on the streets doing whatever it took to survive and he wants other children to have the same opportunities he did. I admire him for that but I confess to being taken in by his witty banter. If I had one complaint, it would be that he doesn't yet open up to Elizabeth and tell her the story of his childhood even his friends don't know.

Elizabeth's friend Ana, a music teacher, is very sweet and good. When push comes to shove, she can be strong and brave to help her students. There's potential for a secondary romance here. Mr. Headley, the closest thing Elizabeth has to a suitor, like Edward Yardley in Venetia, he likes to mansplain things to Elizabeth. The depth of his character surprised me and the story ended too soon. I need to know more.

Fletcher's friends are more diverse and interesting than Elizabeth's narrow society. Mr. Hogg runs the ragged school like the one that gave Fletcher his chance. This is an incredible story I didn't know about. Hollis Darby, Fletcher's closest friend, is from an aristocratic family fallen on hard times. He has incredible sympathy for the poor, unusual in one of his class. He's a very nice man who helps Fletcher navigate the tricky waters of courting a Society lady, even if the courtship is ostensibly fake. Stone, a former American slave, is the muscle of the society. He's the silent type but obviously against slavery of all kinds and will do whatever it takes to be free and ensure no human is enslaved. Brogan, Fletcher's other close friend but not confidante, is an Irish charmer. He's tough and rough and ready but also kind. I love his sister.

The plight of Daniel, the climbing boy is shocking and despicable. It's hard to believe that kind of abuse was legal. Mrs. George and her thugs are to be expected in this time and place. It is the oldest profession after all. They're very nasty sorts. Four-Fingered Mike is also a nasty villain but the nastiest of them all eludes everyone. One known only as "The Mastiff" frightens even the police. We never learn who it is but my guess is someone from the upper class controlling the police and the government from within. Did they have mafia types in Victorian Britain?

I can't say too much more without spoiling the story for others but if you like Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, Victor Hugo, watched "Victorian Slum House" on TV, you might like this novel. If you like gothic novels you might like the stories within the story. If you love a good proper romance in the vein of a traditional Regency Romance you will LOVE this! Jane Austen x Charles Dickens x Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley.

Sarah M Eden can just go ahead and take all of my money because I will forever buy every single one of her books and never be disappointed! That being said, this book is definitely a new favorite!! Everything about it was fantastic and I enjoyed every second of reading.

Just like her previous books, Eden created characters that just came alive for me as the reader. Fletcher was truly a hero in every sense of the word with his clandestine work (and good looks and charm, of course). He was believable but endearing in his initial interest in, and later love for, Elizabeth. Elizabeth had tenacity and passion. I loved that she was stepping into a man's world, and thriving in it, without those around her even knowing. One of the marks of a great book for me is that it makes me want to be a better person, and Elizabeth and Fletcher together did this for me tenfold.

The plot dealt with some serious, hard elements of Victorian England and I appreciated that aspect of reality. I feel I was not only entertained through reading but also educated. Sarah Eden's research is both impeccable and phenomenal. One side note to readers is that a basic grasp of "cant" (or slang) would be helpful for a better understanding of both the plot and exchanges between characters. The dialogue was witty, playful, and easy to follow and I often felt like I was listening to conversations rather than reading about them. As the book centered around two authors, hearing about their own stories was incredibly enjoyable and brilliantly done.

Overall, the love story was incredible, the plot line thrilling, and the ending anticipated but highly gratifying. I'll be preordering this one so I can have a copy on my bookshelf as soon as possible! And preorder is on sale for under $12 so you should grab one too!

*thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader's copy of this book!

The Lady and the Highwayman ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By Sarah M. Eden

In the 19th century the Penny Dreadful chapter story were quite the hit. The sales supported by both the rich and poor, of course, the affluent would deny it.

Elizabeth Black was unusual being a headmistress and a published author of “silver-fork”novels. Ms Bank,howeve, harbors a Secret she too secretly writes Penny Dreadfuls. She writes under the pseudonym of Mr.King.

Fletcher Walker is a well know Dreadful writer and he an his fellow Dreadful writers donate most of there profits to educate poor children. When Mr.King begins to drain their pot of novel buyers they mean to learn who he is.

This book also had two Dreadful novel chapters by the two authors mentioned. So it was like three stories in one. For me I found this a problem. It kept tearing me from the original novel. If you like reading indirect characters you may find this more enjoyable than I did.

This book by Sarah Eden was incredible! I loved the vision and the organization! So fun! Sarah never disappoints! I loved the characters and enjoyed learning more about them throughout the story! I can’t wait to buy the actual book! Yay!

(4 stars) – once it warms up, it’s excellent

The premise was intriguing, and the fulfillment of it was exciting & fun. I loved the witty exchanges between Fletcher and Elizabeth. Even the secondary characters were well done. The suspense was enough to keep you engaged without being exhausting.

The initial setup seemed a bit slow, and I was well into the story before it fully engaged me – it was mainly for that reason I subtracted a star.

Ironically, as much as I liked the concept of the Dread Penny stories woven inbetween the main story’s chapters, I found myself skimming them to get back to the main one, then I went back & read each of them after I finished the book. (I’ve been sick, and it may just be that my fatigued concentration was at fault, so I didn’t subtract anything for it)

I didn’t see how Fletcher & Elizabeth could possibly resolve their differences enough to be together by the end, but the finale to the story successfully managed to pull it off - while leaving the door open for the hope of a continuation of the story!.

Clean romance level: sweet kisses

Religion: Christian beliefs motivate many of the characters, but it’s not even remotely preachy

What a fun and original read! Set in Victorian England, this story follows two penny dreadful authors; Fletcher, a made good street urchin and Elizabeth, an all girls’ headmistress who writes under a nom de plume in order to protect her standing with the wealthy class. Full of adventure and mystery, the reader actually gets two stories; that of Fletcher and Elizabeth and their tender romance interwoven with the penny dreadful novels each author was penning. Strong, unique characters. I did have a little difficulty with the slang but it did not detract from the reading. My copy did have some formatting issues that were distracting but that may be because it needed a final edit. Something different from a typical romance set in any period!

I really enjoyed the format of this book - switching back and forth between the main story and the penny dreadful written by the main characters.

The title is a bit misleading. This isn't about a lady or a highwayman, but about a pair of Victorian writers. Fletcher Walker is reasonably affluent, but he's dragged himself up from the gutter by his bootstraps. His mission now (along with friends in the Dread Penny Society) is to support a 'ragged' school for the poorest children, and also to rescue some of the badly treated ones and send them to that school. He finances this from the proceeds of writing 'penny dreadfuls' but just lately a new author, a Mr King, has become popular enough to threaten Fletcher's sales. What he doesn't know is that respectable Elizabeth Black, headmistress of Thurloe School and renowned author of silver fork novels, also writes pulp fiction under the name of Mr. King. Interspersed with the main story are the penny dreadfuls the two authors are writing. The Lady and the Highwayman is one of those novels.

Apart from a few research blips concerning pre-decimal English coinage, the naming of English streets, and the location of Windsor Castle, this is a very readable story. It's a gentle romance. The characters are engaging and the story fairly rattles along. It's not due out until September 2019, so there may be time to make corrections before the final printing.

I wish Goodreads allowed me the option to give more than 5 stars because oh my gosh I loved this novel! This may be some of Sarah Eden's best work! The characters were fun, but with real life problems. The romance was a slow burn full of witty remarks while facing real danger. I learned more about the Victorian time period and so appreciated the language nuances from that time. Wow this was such a joy to read and I can't wait to recommend it to everyone I know!

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the eARC!

Sarah Eden has created something something refreshingly different in the world of Proper Romance storytelling. Set in Victorian England you meet Fletcher Walker, author of a series of popular penny dreadful novels and Miss Elizabeth Black, headmistress of Thurloe Collegiate School and author of silver-forked novel. Each carries a secret that, should they come out, would destroy their hard won reputations and accomplishments. Eden weaves the tales of these two authors into the end of each chapter, creating two more stories set in between the pages of the main novel. Highly entertaining for the beginning, this is a story you will want to read again and again.

For about the first half of this book, I was ALL in. I loved the opening chapters, I loved the main characters, I loooooved the writing angle. I even enjoyed the parts where we jumped into the stories both authors were working on. I worried at first that those pieces might feel like they were taking me away from the main story, but I ended up enjoying them. Toward the latter half of the book, I became a little less enthralled with the main storyline...I think I wanted to spend more time on the romance and on the authors, well, authoring...rather than sleuthing. :) Not that I didn't enjoy it. Probably just personal taste.

Anyway, I love that I can always count on Sarah M. Eden for a fun read and a unique storyline, and I look forward to whatever she has for us next!

I was excited to receive this book from Netgalley. This was a very enjoyable read. The characters had depth and I enjoyed reading their story.

Romance, clean; period
This was a gorgeous read. I loved the setting, the two stories within the stories, the romance between Fletcher and Elizabeth. The children (urchins) and the society along with the stories behind it all (including Fletcher's back story). Varied and interesting characters, and the tension, the wishing and wanting on both Elizabeth and Fletcher's parts, made this a interesting and fun, unique read.
Elizabeth and Fletcher's story and their fall was lovely, they were both honest hearts, my favorite kind of romance, with some hurts and needs that made their story fun, unique, and so compelling. The setting and backstory of these characters is unique and made this for me as a reader. S.E. does a great job varying her settings, and I love she chose the penny dreadfuls, the school, and the street children for this one. Social justice, a lovely romance, and pulling together to overcome the obstacles and criminals.

This was really fun, not life changing, not hyper-engaging, but a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Sarah Eden has created a truly original novel with 'The Lady and the Highwayman'. Intriguing Victorian mystery interlaced with two penny dreadful novels. Elizabeth Black, well bred headmistress, of a girls school meets Fletcher Walker, street urchin, who has risen from the gutters to better himself. In Elizabeth, Eden creates a witty and courageous character, who falls for Fletcher, although he is not your typical well bred gentleman. Creative twist on a Victorian mystery romance. Well worth the read!

Set in Victorian England, this story is really 3 in one. Both our main characters are writers who write penny dreadful stories-stories that are written in installments and sold for a penny so all can enjoy. While the Victorian period is not my normal reading choice, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The way Eden is able to interweave the penny dreadfuls with the main story was well done.
I was amazed at how well the book came together. It was a mystery, romance and 3 compelling stories woven together by a master writer. The characters were diverse and unique, while real enough to pull on the reader's heartstrings. The back stories of both our main characters were well developed so their actions were believable. This is definitely a book I will recommend to my friends!

An interesting premise for a Victorian novel.

What stood out to me the most was the setting and the characters. The setting is very realistic in the way it depicts the social issues, especially those of children.

Both Elizabeth and Fletcher try to do what they can to alleviate the conditions of children; she with the school for girls and he with saving street urchins. For Fletcher, it's more personal since he was one of those children. but he's moved past that and uses the money from the sales of the penny dreadful novels he writes to save those in bad conditions.

Elizabeth too is a writer and writes both high-class novels and penny dreadful stories under a pen name, and she too uses money from her sales to fund her school.

As ill-suited to each other Elizabeth and Fletcher may look, they are actually perfect for each other. I liked the way they developed a friendship first and then fell in love as they discovered more about the other.

I also liked the stories they write and it was fun to see my name in an historical.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

What a couple of charming characters! Independently, Fletcher and Elizabeth are a delight. As a team they're unbeatable! Fletcher is clever, scrappy, and aggressively compassionate. Elizabeth is intrepid in the inestimable interests within her heart. She's no slouch in the brain box department either. Together these two brilliantly find ways to save urchins off the streets of Victorian London and discover a few things about each other in the process.
I hope the story of these characters will continue in installments not unlike the Penny Dreadfuls that feature prominently in the book.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book, in exchange for my honest opinion. This will be available to purchase on September third.

This book is a mixed bag for me. There were things that I thought were done well, but others just didn’t work. I was at a bit of a disadvantage with this book anyway, because I don’t read romance. I was hoping it’d be more historical swashbuckling adventure and slightly less on the heaving bosoms and fluttering hearts. Alas, if I had anything remotely resembling a heart, I might have enjoyed this more.

I thought Fletcher and his Dread Penny Society misfits were interesting. That he used his success as a penny-dreadful author to fund endeavors to improve the life of poverty-stricken children made him a multilayered character. Elizabeth, though, was boring. I hated reading the parts written from her perspective.

I did like the cat-and-mouse aspect of the book. It added some fun and made the story move along nicely. What I didn’t like were the random chapters of each character’s separate penny dreadful that were interspersed throughout the book. It kept grinding the story to a halt, taking me out of what was happening to the characters at the time.

All in all, this book wasn’t for me, but if you’re into romance with some other stuff thrown in for good measure, you might really enjoy it. I just needed more buckling of swash, and less of the syrupy sweet romance.