"Life is often a struggle. There’s something beautiful about having someone who is willing to walk with you through it.”

So this is a marriage of convenience if sorts where Dr. Barnabus saves Gemma and helps her get away from her family of notorious criminals by marrying her. Unfortunately they keep this marriage a secret and no one knows that they're married and live separately for three years, untill a serious situation arises and Barnabus has to write to Gemma to return back to his estate because she's the only person who could know something about the situation. While I could connect with Gemma because she was just a ray of sunshine as everyone around her called her, I couldn't connect much with Barnabus. I mean he was strong and kind but his lack of emotions towards Gemma in the beginning put me off and I didn't quite buy his declaration of love in the end. I feel like he should've grovelled a bit more for keeping Gemma with him. Overall, the romance was okay. It was slow and the plot was interesting but I felt that it wasn't leading anywhere. The twist at 73% came out of nowhere and the ending was abrupt. So many questions were left unsaid but I guess they will be answered in the next book of the series. Still, I wasn't a very big fan of the ending tbh.

Thank you Netgalley & Shadow Mountain for providing me the ARC

It took me a bit to get into this one but once I got hooked, I was hooked! I enjoyed these two a lot and their chemistry and friendship. I wish there was a flashback included about why she had to marry him exactly and the events leading up to it. Was a bit ominous. Overall the pacing was great and the tension phenomenal. I think I missed a book before this so I will have to read that one too. Cannot wait for the next one!! The reveal was great.

I made a mistake when requesting this book, I admit. I usually do so much research on books that I'm planning to read, but with this one, I let myself be lulled into reading it by it's beautiful description, that title and cover, and the marketing that promised that this book was mostly a romance. And dno't get me wrong, it is a romance, but it also has so much plot. Plot I didn't get, because in my excitement, I completely missed the fact that this was the fourth book in a series. I had never heard of this author or this series before, so I was completely blindsided when I started reading and was expected to know all of these characters already.

Anyway, this has all the things I like: set in the past, romance, politics, crime families, marriage of convenience. I was able to understand the plot, it wasn't very complex, but I am sure I must have missed so many subtleties and important things because I simply didn't read the other ones.

However, I was very charmed by the characters.
Gemma, our heroine, is described as charming, and she actually IS charming. Most of the time, when characters are described as likeable, they usually have the personality of wet cardboard, but not Gemma. She was genuinely perfect and I loved her so much. Baz, her counterpart, seemed a little less fleshed out than Gemma, but still nice and polite. Just saying, I would totally also marry him.

I also adored the writing. It was fluid and light and not at all exhausting, and I devoured the book in much less time than it should've taken me because the writing was just so engaging. However, one thing that bothered me a lot was the penny dreadful chapters interrupting the story. I assume that those are just a feature of this series, and while I do understand the intention behind them, I found myself skipping them.

I loved the way the characters talked. While I usually dislike it when an accent is spelled out all the time, this time it actually helped flesh the characters out a bit more. Sure, I am not English myself, but I do know a bit about linguistics, and so I know how important accents are in the UK, but especially in London. It also helped that the accents never felt ridiculous or overdone, and that they never hindered the flow of reading. They were just ... charming.

Long story short: I enjoyed this book, but I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read the others in the series. However, based on this entry alone, I think this series would be a very good read, and I might pick the other books up in the future.

The historical fiction “The Bachelor and the Bride” by Sarah M. Eden does something I haven’t seen anywhere else before. That is too include mini stories throughout the book that enrich the main storyline. Our main characters Gemma and Barnabus are brought together under untraditional circumstances which only torn them apart. However what they say is true, opposites attract and it applies here. This story was a little long and could have ended sooner by better communication.

My least favorite of the series. Doc and Gemma didn't grab my interest as a couple, and overall the plot felt repetitive and tired. There is a plot twist toward the end involving their need to escape danger that I felt was wholly unrealistic and illogical. I'm very tired of the Mastiff, and at least there was (finally) some movement in that plot line. Some of the quirks of the Dreadfuls who were happily paired off in previous books are getting on my nerves.

As usual the book seemed well researched. I found myself looking forward to the chapters from the Penny Dreadfuls and dreading the return to the actual plot of the book. Not sure whether I will read future installments.

Another great addition to the Dread Penny Society Series!

When I first started this novel, I was a little worried about how Barnabus and Gemma's relationship would play out, but it was all for naught. I ended up getting really invested in these two. I liked how they had a mixture of the slowburn trope with a dash of idiots to lovers. It was really sweet seeing their relationship develop.

I also enjoyed seeing the characters from the past few books, again! I really love this series's cast of characters!

The one thing that I did not love about this installment was the two Penny Novels. I've found that with each installment, I lose interest in them. I think this may be how they were placed. It seems like every penny novel chapter was placed after a cliffhanger chapter in the main plotline. I really do love the idea of their inclusion, but this time, I ended up skimming more than I typically do to get back to the main plot. (However, I did like how the last penny novel chapter inclusion tied in to the book).

All in all, The Bachelor and the Bride is an exciting adventure that thickens the overarching plot of the series. And I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for the eARC! I really appreciate it!

A thoroughly wonderful romance that is perfect for any adult collection. I was completely invested in it from start to finish, and can see it circulating well!

So many twists and turns in this novel! I have loved this series but this installment may be my new favorite! I was engaged in the story so much so that I stayed up to finish it! I had to know how it was going to end!

- Series best enjoyed when read in order!

I received an ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

This one was super fun! I am enjoying this series quite a bit, and this one is just perfect! Barnabus is reserved but sweet and very steady. Gemma is sunshine and personality. They make such a great pair!

I enjoyed the premise of the book too, as Resurrection Men are from such a strange time in history. Very well played. There were twists that I knew would happen, but also several that caught me by surprise! The best part was finally learning who the Dread Master was—this person was one of my guesses, but it still surprised me a bit! :)

Very well done!

Rated PG-13
—some violence (none graphic)
—no gore
—mildly intense situations
—clean romance
—little to no language

I received this ebook free from NetGalley. My opinions are voluntary and my own.

I always enjoy Sarah Eden’s writing, and this latest in the Dread Penny Society did not disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest installment; each volume focuses on a different set of characters, but because they’re all linked you get to catch up with favorites from earlier books each time. This time it is Barnabus and Gemma’s story, and their history adds some emotional weight to this book.

You will get a lot more out of this if you have read at least some of the previous books in the series, particularly for the broader plot about the DPS and their enemies in London. On this front, there’s a very nice twist at the end of this story.

5 stars

I've now read 3 of the 4 book series and I think it's getting even better.

Baz is a doctor and a member of the Dread Penny Society. In victorian times penny dreadfuls circulated and were read by all members of socirty. The group as well as being authors help impoverished and tyrannised people.. Unknown to the others Barnabus is actually married to Gemma. It has to be kept a secret as her family are resurectionists and are looking to recruit her back into the work. She loved Baz but left him as he wouldn't commit to loving her.

Interspered in the main story are two penny dreadfuls, one writting by Baz and one by Mr King who we've met in previous books.

The society are desperate to stop The Mastiff but then realise he isn't the brains behind the operation. It was a big surprise at the end when we find out whois the malevolent influence.

I highling recommend this book and this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First, this was my favorite one in the series so far. Gemma and Barnabus have been married for a few years... Not that anyone knew he was married! Gemma longs for love and feeling like "absence makes the heart grow fonder" took herself off until Barnabus could love her and want her back. Of course, he (really, the DPS) needs her back to impart some of her knowledge from prior to the marriage. Thus begins their journey ...

I really enjoyed the penny dreadfuls that are mixed in with the book. I didn't feel like they interrupted the flow of the story like I had with some of the others in the series. I also really felt for the characters. It most definitely was a favorite because of the twists and turns! (Why did I picture the great Sarah Eden cackling with glee because of my angst when I was finished?!) I guessed one part but did not see that other coming. (How did I not see that?!) Fans are not going to want to miss this installment!!

So sweet and witty! I have been loving historical romances and this was excellent! Just what I needed to refresh my slump. 10/10 would recommend!!! Perhaps a bit dry at times, but it was definitely unique and just so amusing.

First off, thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing, Shadow Mountain and two NetGalley for allowing to read this digital ARC of The Bachelor and the Bride.

The cover alone caught my attention (reminding me of Bridgerton LOL). I enjoyed this book even though I had not read the previous three books in this series. The plot was well paced and the characters were well developed. It was completely captivating from start to finish with plenty of twists, turns, and surprises! I highly recommend this fun read

This is the fourth book in The Dread Penny Society series, and I recommend starting from the beginning instead of with this book as I did. There's a lot more to this book than just the romance, and the overarching plot has most likely been playing out across the other books. You can read this on its own, but I'm sure it's more rewarding to read them in order.

I always love it when a romance book is blended with a different genre, and this was no exception. While I can't say the plot is airtight, I did overall really enjoy the mystery and the exploration of London's dark underbelly. The ending kind of dragged it down a bit; the way the story gets tied up doesn't make much sense, and it's like the characters suddenly forgot the basics of how resurrectionists function.

We also miss a bit of backstory when it comes to our main characters. Baz and Gemma married three years ago to help her escape her family, but we're never told exactly how their marriage helped her accomplish that, or what was happening three years ago to suddenly make her need a way out.

That said, I did really like Gemma and Baz. Gemma has been nursing unrequited feelings towards Baz for a while, but Baz thinks himself unable to love anyone. They're forced back together, and their relationship deepens from there. I do think the book is rather sparse with romantic moments; what we get instead is a friendship deepening into something more tender, and most of the romance happens when one of them is in some kind of danger, which understandably scares the other party.

The series focuses on Penny Dreadful authors, and the book includes two of these stories as well, scattered in between regular chapters. I enjoyed the one by Mr. King quite a bit, but was less interested in the one written by Baz himself.

I loved it! Drags the reader right into the plot from day one. Delightful and charming… I absolutely adored the storytelling.

I found this to be a very excellent cozy mystery - the subject matter was a little creepy, making this a little more nervewracking than your average cozy mystery, but overall I really, really enjoyed this. The setting is 19th century London, and this is the 4th book in a series that also works nicely as a standalone [this was the first of the series I read and I'll be going back to catch up!]. I really enjoyed Gemma and Baz as main characters, found the Dread Penny Society to be awfully interesting, and completely did not see that ending coming! Check it out if you like historical fiction with a splash of whodunnit. This featured the extremely fascinating Resurrectionists, who were essentially grave robbers, so avoid if that makes you queasy. Thanks to NetGalley for an e-copy of this book in advance of its publication, in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars and I'll be returning for whatever comes next off this cliffhanger!

Sarah M. Eden has been my favorite author for a long time. She is who has introduced me to Regency Romance and Proper Romance books. The Bachelor and the Bride is by far my favorite of the Penny Dreadful series.

We learn so many new things and start to figure out who people are that we have wondered the whole time. It is so hard to put into words how incredible this book is and how wonderful this story is without giving things away.

I love how Barnabus and Gemma really come to rely on each other. Gemma has always loved Barnabus but he now comes to realize that he has loved Gemma all a long. He is willing to do anything for Gemma.

This book is a great reminder that despite your past, you don't have to let it be a control of your life now. You are the author of your own life.

If you haven't read any of Sarah M. Eden's books they are a must. This book is number four in the Dread Penny series.

I have loved this series since the very beginning and this book falls perfectly inline. I loved reading Barnabus’ story and the continuation of the Dread Penny Society. It is full of mystery and suspense that you won’t want to put it down!

I really enjoyed this book! It was a welcomed and pleasant surprise. I loved the characters and the story, and look forward to adding a physical copy to my home library soon!