After hearing about how good Sarah M. Eden books were for years and years I finally picked up one of her books! I started with The Lady and the Highwayman and loved it so much that I immediately requested this one for review and it was just as good!
Pretty much from the first sentence I fell in love and it just kept getting better! The author is extremely talented at immediately drawing a reader in and fully immersing them in the story in the most organic way. One second you are in your house reading and the next you are walking the streets of London tossing a penny in the air.
I was charmed by Hollis Darby in the first book and was so excited to dive into his story. He cared deeply for those close to him and making sacrifices or putting himself in danger for them didn’t even give him pause. And Ana was kind and gracious but also had a spark in her that was fun to watch come out! I loved the relationship between the two of them, it built sweetly at the perfect pace and they were just adorable together! Their banter was also spot on, as was the banter with all of the other characters which is one of my favorite things about how the author wrote this series! I also completely adored the brotherhood of the Dread Penny Society, they were from all different walks of life but they shared a profession and a goal to help the less fortunate and it created a bond like no other. I loved the camaraderie between them that was truly like brothers and I am so hoping we get more and more stories about them! Since the big bad guy still hasn’t been caught I’m crossing my fingers that that means more books are coming!
Also the little Penny Dreadful chapters thrown in between the book’s chapters were fun and entertaining and a unique little addition!
In short this book was everything I wanted and more than I could have imagined and I am off to find more of this author’s books to read!

Ah, good old Fletcher. I know he’s not the main character of this story, but he’s still one of my favorite characters, and he stole the scene just about every time he was in one. That being said, I really enjoyed getting to know Hollis and Ana’s story this time around. It was fun to see them figure out each other’s deep, dark secrets.

Just like with the first book in this series, I really enjoyed the Penny Dreadful stories. I’m looking forward to getting to know more of the Dread Penny Society, and highly recommend this series.

As the second book in this series this book was well written. I absolutely loved it. I hope we get a book for every member of the Penny Dreadful Society!

#TheGentlemanAndTheThief #NetGalley

This is the second book in the Penny Dreadful Series. This book is like reading three books in one. There's a main story, and two Penny Dreadful Stories. Hollis Darby and Ana Newport, are both on the outskirts of society. Ana longs to help her father, feel like himself again, losing everything but his home has a way of changing her father. Hollis Darby has a secret, he is a Penny Dreadful author, trying to find his place. In society. I loved both Hollis and Ana and their adventures. This book has a little bit of mystery and romance. I really enjoyed it, this is my favorite, in the series so far.

3.5 -

This was difficult to get into and enjoy. Once you do, it's a little predictable but otherwise entertaining. It's not bad if you're looking for a historical fiction/romance/mystery book, though!

I found I really liked the previous book in the series, but this one wasn't quite as good. Eden's my favorite author so I've read nearly every one of her books. It is similar to her other works both in the plot and with the characters. I have to say, Ana was the only new/fresh character with the whole cast. Elliot was alright but he just blended in a little too well with the rest of her male characters.

As always, her pacing is quite well done. I really liked the climax. I don't think I've read a historical fiction that had a climax similar to this one ever before.

I wish she had put a specific date or even time period into her book. It would have helped me picture and put the whole story in the correct setting. From what I can tell we are past the French Revolution (1799) and sometime around the second Industrial Revolution (1870) but I'm not sure.

I did have to skip the stories included that she has her characters write. They're charming, of course, but they confused me from the main plot. I'm planning on going back and reading those eventually though. I do like the concept and idea of it. It must have been difficult to write 3 stories just for one book.

**Thank you Netgalley and the publisher Shadow Mt. for the ARC!!**

The hero and heroine have secrets in this well-developed Victorian mystery romance.. Eden has a sure hand at creating likable characters and tangled plots.

If you read the first book in the “Penny Dreadful” series and enjoyed it then chances are you will love this one as well.
I personally thoroughly enjoyed them both. I wasn’t expecting a sweeping sappy romance when I read the description I expected a mystery..... so when other people say there was very little romance I’m wondering why they were surprised. I love having the penny dreadful stories mixed in- it’s like reading 3 books at once. I was entertained and that’s the whole reason I read books so I give this book a thumbs up. Now I can’t wait for the next in the series.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Expected release date November 3, 2020.***

🌟🌟🌟🌟
4 - 4.5 stars

Shortly after receiving this ARC, I found out that this was actually the 2nd book in the Proper Romance Victorian series by Sarah M. Eden, so I went back and read The Lady and the Highwayman first. I loved the setting and the characters, so I was excited to move on to the second book.

The Gentleman and the Thief did not disappoint. I loved Hollis and Ana, and the mischief that they got into.

Can't wait for the next installment to learn more about other characters in the Dread Penny Society!! 🥰🥰🥰

I didn't realize this was the second book! But nonetheless, I really enjoyed it! loved the mystery, the characters, and the sense of the regal culture within the book! this was a fun one!

Book two of "Proper Romance Victorian" by Sarah Eden. I just listened to the first book a week ago, so I had all the characters fresh in my mind and was ready to hear the next round of adventures. I liked this one even more than the first. I did enjoy reading more than listening, as it was easier to keep some of the characters straight. In this book we get to follow Hollis Darby and Ana Newport as they uncover a gambling ring, discover their less-than-proper hobbies, and see their relationship build. Hollis comes from a wealthy family that was almost ruined by his father's gambling. Ana was once a part of high society, but after her father was swindled, their family fell fast and hard. There is family intrigue, rescuing of abused children, the Dread Penny Society, and of course a sweet romance in the mix.

I loved that we are following a different set of characters each time, but still have the underlying story. I am really enjoying the Penny Dreadful books as well. Very clever stories that interweave with the story we are reading. And I especially love that it's clean!

I enjoyed this very much and look forward to the next installment!

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This is the 2nd novel in the Penny Dreadful series by Sarah M. Eden. The first one was slow to get into and the incerpts of the penny dreadful serials thrown in threw me off but I loved how it tied together with the main story in the end. So knowing what I knew of the first book plus plot and characters- I was so excited to read this book!

We meet Ana and Hollis in the first book. Ana is quiet and it was great getting to know her and see her become more confident. Hollis, one to normally follow Fletcher, got to lead in a DPS mission.

Four Finger Mike eluded capture one the first book and something is going awry next door to Ana’s home. Could it be a new kingpin? Thefts have been happening to the upper crusts and in plain sight. Hollis’ brother hounds on him to uphold their family name but what about Hollis’s brother being seen with Headley? A known acquaintance of Four Fingers.

I really loved this book - all 3 stories that were told. The fantasy of the dreadfuls was fun and engaging, the returning cast of characters and meeting some new ones - I love Very Merry! Eden writes it well, so thoroughly researched that you’re transported and in Victoria England. Great suspense and romance.

The third book in the series was just announced and its Brogan’s story! Thank you to Net Galley for letting me read it. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

Hollis Darby secretly writes penny farthing novels. He is a member of the gentry, but his father impoverished the family by his gambling. Hollis secretly supports himself from his writing. Ana Newport, music teacher, has her own secrets. A few years back, Ana's family suffered financial setbacks, and society was not kind to them, and many of their treasures were stolen. Ana, has kept track of which items were stolen, and who took them, and she is slowly recovering the items. With their secrets, both Ana and Hollis are "one foot in each world, never truly part of either." Yes, this is a love story, but also a satisfying story of taking down evil men cheating others at gambling.

Sarah Eden continues the story of the Dread Penny Society members in this delightful novel, brimming with engaging characters and delightful dialogue. The two parallel stories written by the Dread Penny society are such a fun touch. In this novel, I especially enjoyed the story "Higglebottom's School for the Dead," written by Hollis Darby, under the pen name of Lafayette Jones.

Favorite line by Hollis, "My dear Miss Newport....I would wait a lifetime for you." Sigh!

This is a great addition to her Penny Dreadful series! In the first book, you get a peek at Hollis and Ana, so I was really excited to learn more about them in this book. Eden does an excellent job of balancing mystery and romance with character development. I loved this book and can't wait for the next one!

Overall I found the book in a slow pace in some parts,but I enjoyed it. I did like that we saw the penny dreadfuls. I found myself looking forward into reading it . Ana and Hollis together are cute . Overall I loved that Ana is getting back every thing she lost even though is by stealing. Hollis overall is wonderful on the way he is how he is a spy on the penny dreadfuls. The reasons they fell in Love was with valid reasons. I was happy that I could review the book . I recommend if you want to read If you want a cute romance novel that includes a side story in between. So you get two view points and the penny dreadful story, which I really was happy 😃 to read.

Sick of being their contact in the upper reach of society, Hollis would love nothing more than to show the Dread Penny Society (DPS) that he can be trusted more. Working to gain their trust, Hollis investigates a string of thefts that are making the young urchins of the streets more vulnerable. Which busy trying to catch this thief, Hollis becomes more acquainted with Ana Newport, the music teacher at Thurloe Collegiate.

Ana has her own wishes and secrets. She is the thief Hollis is looking for. Only stealing what was previously stolen from her and her family, Ana's foray into the world of the DPS comes at the perfect time. Working with Hollis, they come together to solve crimes and to save the streets urchins.

I loved Hollis in the first of the Dread Penny Society series, (The Lady and the Highwayman,) and couldn't wait for his story to be told! I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint! Another win for Sarah M. Eden! The Gentleman and the Theif is a fun story set in the victorian era, in the world of author's turned crusaders. Eden does a fantastic job of making these characters come to life and providing two penny novels in the middle of the story. that works well to make the plot flow.

What a charming read! A very sweet slow burn romance.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars I enjoyed this sequel featuring Hollis and Ana, whose romantic potential were hinted at in the The Lady and the Highwayman. Eden does an excellent job developing her characters and making them believable, and I enjoyed everything about the main storyline. As in her first installment, Eden includes the penny dreadful stories, namely Hollis’s work and Mr. King’s (Elizabeth’s). I found these sections, while decent stories in and of themselves, ultimately distracting from the main plot. Because they weren’t as integral to the narrative, like they were in The Lady and The Highwayman, transitioning between the stories and the main action felt much more disjointed.

I would certainly recommend this book if you enjoyed the first one!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Ana is an impoverished music teacher by day and the Phantom Fox by night, stealing back mementos stolen from her family when they went bankrupt. Hollis is a member of the Dread Penny Society and a nominal member of the aristocracy. But what does he, and the rest of the Dread Penny Society, do during his nights? And how will Ana and Hollis come together?
This is an sweet read made more fun by the two ‘penny dreadful’ novels that pop up through the book. It has an intriguing plot and the characters are interesting and entertaining.
I would recommend this book to my patrons and others. Still, I am unlikely to purchase for my library as it does not rank high enough on my scale to fit within my budget.

'The Gentleman and the Thief' is a delightful addition to Sarah M. Eden's Penny Dreadful Society series. For me a hallmark of this book is how completely likable the main characters are with each other and those with whom they associate. It is a joy to read a story without being assaulted by bad behavior or language. I especially appreciate the Penny Dreadful stories within the book. I can't recommend this highly enough, and would give it more stars if I could.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I have not read the previous book in this series, so I am reviewing this book as a stand alone. Hollis - a gentleman of slender means - is part of the Dread Penny Society, who are hunting down a thief known as the Phantom Fox. Meanwhile, he is falling for Ana - a music teacher, and also the Phantom Fox. Shenanigans occur!

This story was entertaining and amusing, a nice departure from the usual Victorian mysteries. It managed to nicely mix crime and romance, with neither losing out. It wasn’t as funny as I had been hoping for, but there were still a number of humorous moments to lighten the mood.

The penny dreadful books within a book were an entertaining diversion.

It felt rather unsatisfying to me that most of the villains escaped. I suppose this is so they can continue to wreak havoc for the next book in the series, but it leaves an unfinished feeling.

If you’re looking for a historical mix of crime and romance, with a dollop of humour, this could be the book for you.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.