This was a sweet and fun story with loveable characters and a fascinating backstory. I loved the secret, ragtag team of short story writers who went around saving street rats and keeping the street safe. Ana and Hollis were so sweet and refreshing to read about. It is so common to find books where the main characters immediately fall in love with each other and only admire their significant others' bodies through vulgar descriptions until about 60% into the book they actually start loving each other for their personality. And while I am not berating those sorts of books or characters, it was so refreshing to read characters who genuinely respected each other and their morals and boundaries and started to fall in love with each other's personalities as they encounter each other more and more as the book progresses.

I was elated at the fact that I got three stories in one. I got to follow the penny dreadfuls written by 'Mr. King' and 'Lafeyette Jones' and also got to follow along with Ana and Hollis's story. I found myself on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what happens next for all of the stories.

The only reason I am docking a little bit more than a star of the book was how slow it was. The book doesn't really get interesting/pick up until around 60% of the book. Also, Ana being exposed as a thief comes at the 50% mark of the book and wasn't the angsty dividing factor of the romance as the description of the book made it seem, it was brushed off pretty easily by Hollis.

Overall enjoyable read

3.75 stars

The Gentleman and the Thief showcases Sarah Eden's masterful writing skills. With unique dialects, an immersive world, and well-written characters, this story is a great sequel to The Lady and the Highwayman. From the beginning, Hollis Darby and Ana Newport have romantic inclinations but their differences in situations create barriers that they have to circumvent as suspense, adventure, and danger threaten the world they hold dear.

Sarah Eden's books are always a favorite of mine and this one is no different. I loved how it went from the pure romance genre to adding adventure and mystery. These additions made this book page-turning (in a digital way). The skillful writing of dialogue and character perspectives added to the genre to make this one of Eden's best works. I loved reading this advanced reader's copy and can't wait for it to come out in November to share with friends and family.

Superb novel. The character development is spot on, the story arc is believable and easy to follow, and the story line engaging.

I loved Eden's The Lady and the Highwayman, but The Gentleman and the Thief did not deliver. On the chaste to steamy scale, it's a 1. Like, I would give it to a 12 year old to read, that's how romantic it is. I expected more romance, but the main story, while between the male and female protagonists, is centered on the mystery of who/what is going on in the house next door to Ana's father's house. I didn't come to this book for that story-- I wanted sweeping romance! And promoting reading for enjoyment! And helping the underdogs! Two of these things were included. And because the emphasis is not on the romance, it drags horrifically. The two protagonists don't start to show affection to one another until 60% of the way through. It was not because of slow burn. There was no burn. None. Whatsoever. *snore*

This book left me wanting. I wanted something more from it. I felt a bit underwhelmed by the writing and the main characters themselves. The idea behind the book (a book within a book) and the story itself is what pulled me in.

The characters felt flat but were likable enough. The main characters, Hollis and Ana, were interesting but I didn’t feel the chemistry I wanted to from them. What I did like were the characters from Lafayette Jones Higglebottoms School For The Dead, the Penny Dreadful within the story and Hollis Darby’s nom de plume. Hollis is a gentleman whose family fell on low times and has given up gambling and started writing Penny Dreadfuls. Ana is a music teacher whose family lost, not only their fortune, but their standing within society with a secret life as a thief The two are attracted to each other and that attraction deepens throughout the book.

The jumping around between the book and the two different Penny Dreadfuls within the book pulled me from the story. Right as I would start the get comfortable and enjoy the story I would be pulled from that world into one of the other ones.

In all it wasn’t a terrible read but I won’t be shouting about it to my neighbors either.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.

I love the Robin Hood type story that Sarah has woven. Such a fun and interesting cast of characters. I really liked Hollis. He had such a good heart and an important role to play in the Dread Penny society. Very entertaining. Sometimes the swapping back and forth between the DP stories and the main story is a distraction/confusing, but still enjoyable overall.

Victorian London, a secret society, bold women, nefarious plots, urchins in need of rescuing: This promised to be a thumping good read. Ultimately it fell short for me, though. For one thing, it read more like a YA novel, and not an especially sophisticated one, with lots of telling instead of showing and descriptions of love that could have come from a 14-year-old's diary. Plus the whole "informal union of penny-dreadful writers who save the unfortunate" just wasn't believable to me (and when they're executed well, I'm more than happy to go with far-fetched scenarios; for instance, I love the historical novels of Judith Merkle Riley). The interspersed installments of two of the in-universe penny dreadfuls added nothing and interrupted the narrative flow. Finally, the characters never felt real to me, and though we're told that the titular thief, Ana, is admirable and lovable, I didn't see it. All that said, if you're looking for an undemanding read to pass the time, this'll do fine.

Thank you, NetGalley and Shadow Mountain, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hollis Darby may have paid his way through college with gambling, but now he makes a living by secretly writing penny dreadfuls. Gambling ruined his family and he is suspicious when his brother seems to be taking the vice up. The last thing he wants to see is his family ruined all over again. Meanwhile, he is courting Ana Newport, a music teacher who has sworn to get back what was once wrongfully taken by her family. When news of a thief leads Hollis to investigate, he is surprised to discover the sneaky thief is Ana. Together they work to bring down the illicit gambling den next door to Ana's family home.

This was a great addition to the series. Like the previous title, The Lady and the Highwayman, this also included excerpts of penny dreadfuls, one from Hollis and one from Elizabeth whose story mirrors Hollis and Ana's romance. I was happy to see those excerpts included since they were one of my favorite bits from the first book. The gambling and thief investigations also added some mystery and excitement to the romance. If you enjoyed The Lady and the Highwayman, you'll like this one.

I'm loving the Penny dreadful proper romances! This was equally as fun as The Lady and the Highwayman! I was so glad to revisit the Dread Penny Society and all of the fun characters from the first book. I enjoyed having Ana and Hollis as main characters in this book. And I especially loved the ghost school story that was told in between chapters! I hope we get at least one more book out of this series!

Another fabulous 3-stories-in-one novel by Sarah Eden, "The Gentleman and the Thief" features Hollis Darby and Ana Newport's charming romance. They were secondary characters in the first installment, although I don't think this series has a name.

Once again, Sarah Eden successfully incorporates three stories in one tome, using three distinct writing styles. Darby's nom de plume is Lafayette Jones and his story "Higglebottom's School for the Dead" is clever and so funny. The thief of King's story is a charming surprise. Both stories have satisfying resolutions.

Fletcher Walker and Elizabeth Black are secondary characters in this novel, and "Charles King" pens the story for which this book is named. Again, I love reading about 19th Century SJWs.

Eden's prose is up to its usual high standards. The content is clean and the editing is crisp. I greatly look forward to more offerings in this wonderful series. There must be, as we are left none the wiser on a certain point. This is not a cliffhanger.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this wonderful novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'll be upfront I struggled to read this book and ultimately DNF at 60%. I did not read the first book in the series. There are three other short stories running concurrently at the same time as the main story that brings the reader out of the story. I think with only one story it would have been smoother.

At this point in my reading I still have no understanding of the motivations of the main characters or why they are attracted to each other. All I know is that they like each other and that they are dancing around their feelings. The world is well drawn and the idea is very original, but it is not connecting the dots and I cannot stay interested as much as the concept and the historical fiction aspects draw me in.

I may try reading again when it gets closer to the publish date.

Sarah Eden has done it again! This book is pure delight. The characters are charming and witty. The plot has twists and turns that will leave you on the end of your seat! I highly recommend this fun and quick read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the ARC. The Gentleman and the Thief was a fun read. I did not read the first book in the series, but I felt this novel was fine as a stand alone. I love the idea of the Dreadfuls. The book within a book idea was interesting, but I found it very confusing to follow, and hard to jump back and forth. I enjoyed the writing style, and look forward to seeing more from Sarah Eden in the future.

I read the first book and enjoyed it. It was cute seeing a book about two people hiding their affinities for writing gothics and falling in love. With a slice of Scarlet Pimpernel thrown in.

While this book was the same, featured the same world building and the same characters (plus some new ones), I was not as impressed.

For one, there were the two penny dreadfuls. The stories were a weak imitation of penny dreadfuls, in my opinion. They were not gothic, creepy, or macabre enough. One had to do with a group of young boys who were ghosts and befriend a boy who is human. The other featured a surviving Lord to a family whose heirlooms at being taken by pixies on the moor.

The love interests weren't as strong and they didn't grab me or radiate the same chemistry. The story was a lot more interesting than the romance and the penny dreadfuls, but still, I was just bogged down by how it was just a weak-retelling of the same beats and hits from the first book.

If you enjoy the world building and the characters, then you'll enjoy this story. If you're looking for more build and a tighter romance, then you might be a bit upset.

Between 3 1/2 and 4.

This is the second book in the Penny Dreadful Society. We already know Hollis and Ana as they were secondary characters in the first story, and now it's their turn.

Hollis is a gentleman of low means and writes penny dreadful stories under a nom-de-plume. He likes Ana, likes to spend time with her, and he's the one to recommend her as a music teacher to his brother's daughter.
Ana's family used to be in society but that all changed when her father's company was bankrupt, and she's been teaching at Elizabeth's school.

They both keep secrets from each other, but when the situation arises, they help each other too, and their relationship deepens.

As for the penny dreadful stories by Mr. King and Mr. Jones—I understand their purpose, and I liked them, but not sure the jumping around the three stories was effective. It created a lot of interruptions. It would work a lot better to have the main story and then the other two stories at the end.

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

Undeniably clever, suspenseful, well-researched, and deftly written, but the romance was practically nonexistent, taking third place after the action sequences and the two penny dreadful stories. I enjoyed the hero and heroine when they were secondary characters in the previous book and feel like they deserved a better happily-ever-after than they got in this one. I also expected more resolution for the primary characters from the previous book, but nothing seemed to have changed for them. Perhaps that's more realistic and I was simply feeling more fanciful about their relationship. There are many unresolved threads hanging, although that may be because this is going to be an ongoing series. I was disappointed in the relative lack of witty dialogue that I usually so enjoy in books by this author. My expectations and excitement for this book were perhaps a bit too high, but it was still without question an interesting read.

Another win for Sarah Eden! I was desperately hoping that this second book would feature Hollis Darby--and I got my wish! Hollis Darby has sworn off his not-insignificant gambling skills after seeing the damage the vice did to his family. Instead, he makes a living secretly writing Penny Dreadful stories and spends his time rescuing people as a member of the Dread Penny Society. Ana has sworn to right the wrongs done to her family after her father lost his fortune and London Society shunned them. She has a very specific set of skills to assist her in this. When trouble finds them, it will take both their skill sets to save the day.

I absolutely love Hollis and Ana. Hollis is genial and kind and ready to be the hero when needed. Ana is smart and sweet and effective in reaching her goals. Both characters are well-developed and likeable. The plot is well-paced and intriguing, with some danger and mystery involved. The Penny Dreadful stories peppered in throughout the chapters are again entertaining and unique, much as they were in the first book of this series. And as always, I'm on pins and needles about who the Dread Master could be (please, oh please, let it be someone related to the Jonquils, lol!).

I can't wait for the next installment!

Rated PG for mild violence
--no cursing
--some mild violence
--clean romance

I was provided this ebook free from NetGalley in return for an honest opinion

3.5 stars

This was a very enjoyable read for me. It was fast, entertaining, simple, and I didn't hate the characters. The rating is based on my personal enjoyment.

Hollis gambled his way through school and has been made all the better for it. He comes from a rich yet poor family (due to his father and grandfathers before gambling away their money) and his brother is trying to bring them back to a respectable financial standing. Hollis stays out of trouble and keeps appearances up for his brother's sake, but has two secret lives: one bing a writer, and one being a part of a secret organization that tries to help people and make London a better place. He is also infatuated with a teacher named Ana.

Ana is a music teacher and also secret thief. She was once a lady of high social standing, but times grew rough and she now fears society after their harsh reactions and behaviour towards her family. Hollis helps her regain some confidence in that aspect.

This was an entertaining read about catching thieves and attempting to stop a gambling ring while also trying to save a family member and children. The act of finding out more details and gaining proof was well written and never left me bored. There was always something to keep my interest.

The romance was not as focused on as I thought it would be, but I won't complain. I like their banter and the characters themselves, but I will say that I preferred the mystery and adventure of the story.

If I look at it with a more critical eye, there are quite a few things that didn't work well for this book. One being the two povs and how they were randomly switched back and forth, and how this technically had three stories in one book. The short reads are very enjoyable and I actually wish we got more of them throughout the book with more details and solutions, however they also took away from the tension and seriousness of the main story's conflicts.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this, but I do see why some have given it low ratings.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC

Though it took me a while to get into it, “The Gentleman and the Thief” ended up being a pleasant read.

This was apparently the second book in a series, and I suspect that it would be better to read the prior book. I hadn’t, so it was confusing at first to figure out what was going on, because the premise is a bit complicated, there are several POVs, and it switches back and forth between two different concurrent stories, I wasn’t a fan of the concurrent stories as they didn’t excite me and kind of detracted from the main story, so I skimmed them to get back to the main story.

I enjoyed the main story once it got going. The plot was unique, with witty banter and some interesting elements. It was a quick and pleasant read that kept me interested in how things played out. Just to be aware, this was classified as a Romance, but I would call it more of a “Historical Fiction” or Romance Light.” The Romance was just a small part of the several storylines going on, and was more of an afterthought. Also, there was no steam, so this book would be okay for teen readers.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for review. All opinions are my own. #TheGentlemanandtheThief #NetGalley

Not long before picking up this book I read the first book in this series and was a little nervous that this second book would not live up to the first. I couldn't have been more wrong! I really enjoyed getting a closer look at Hollis and Ana's story. This book definitely was as good if not better than the first! Would highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a lighter fun read that also has some substance.

*I received an ARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for review. All opinions are my own.*