The Merchant and the Rogue

This is the third book in the series.   I have read the other 2 books and loved them too.    This one does have cameos of the characters from the earlier books and that was fun.    This can be read as a standalone though.  

Overall, this is a fun and romantic book with a bit of mystery/suspense..    The characters are charming and likable.    A fun read!

The Merchant and the Rogue is the third installment in Eden's Dread Penny Society series. This story features Brogan Donnelly, an immigrant from Ireland who now writes penny dreadful novels for a living. He also happens to be a member of the Dread Penny Society which focuses on helping the poor and marginalized people living in the area. When Brogan is given an assignment that sends him to investigate a print shop, he ends up taking a job there and befriending Vera, the daughter of the owner who helps to run the shop. As Brogan struggles to maintain his distance as he completes his assignment, he and Vera are thrown together more and more as it becomes clear that her neighborhood is being targeted by someone seeking to oppress the already struggling area. 

This was a fun story to read! I really enjoyed Brogan and Vera, and it's fun to see cameo appearances by characters from the previous books. I also appreciate that there's an underlying villain who connects the series together. It keeps me hooked and looking forward to next book in the series. 

I like how there are stories within the story, and it's fun to read the penny dreadful novels that the characters are writing. I enjoyed Brogan's story more than the other story, but both are fun to read. 

This is fun, light-hearted read. It's not particularly suspenseful, but the plot is well-paced and the characters are charming. There's also enough mystery to keep me wondering where the plot will go next. It's a good read for someone looking for a sweet cozy romance with a bit of mystery!

A big thank you to Sarah M. Eden, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

Sarah Eden does it again. Fantastic!
Another wonderful Dreadpenny Society tale.  So very good.   Plus, of course, two short Dreadpenny stories included in the book.  Such a great read.  Brogan is a Dreadpenny author and member of the Dreadpenny Society that works for the good of the world around them, working in the background unseen but potent.  Brogan is assigned to investigate the rumors of problems with the Russian ambassador.  To do so he takes a job at the print shop of Vera Sorokina and her father, Russian immigrant, and hopefully a way to obtain information about the ambassador.  As he works at his task, he finds that the problem he has been assigned has many arms reaching across the city.  But investigating may actually place others in harms way especially Vera and her father.  Mix in not one but two Pennydreadful stories and putting the book down becomes a hard thing to do.  Although this is the third in the Pennydreadful books it easily could be read as a standalone.   I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely love this series by Sarah Eden! The Merchant and the Rogue is intriguing and has plenty of Victorian London flair that makes these books so fantastic!  The pace of this book moved a bit slower than the previous novels in this series, but the writing is as great as always.  Once again the inclusion of two Penny Dreadful stories adds a unique aspect to the book and I was intrigued and guessing as those stories developed! While I enjoyed this story, I would have loved to see more interaction from the members of the Society. For me, the magic of this series is the camaraderie between the Dread members and I missed that.  It seems like we will be getting more books in this series and I’m so excited!

This was absolutely fantastic! The plot was completely captivating and engaging to the very end with superb pacing. The characters were delightful and charming with great dialogue. This book kept me on the edge of my seat to the end! I can’t wait for more from Sarah Eden!

Vera Sorokina loves reading the Penny Dreadfuls and immersing herself in tales of adventure, mystery, and romance. Her own days are filled with the often mundane work of running the book and print shop she owns with her father. The shop offers her the freedom and income to employ and protect the poverty-stricken Londoners she's come to care about, and it gives her father something to do other than long for their hometown of St. Petersburg. She is grateful for the stability in their lives, but she often feels lonely.

Brogan Donnelly was born and raised in Ireland, but has lived in London for several years, where he's built a career as a Penny Dreadful writer. He has dedicated himself to the plight of the poor with the help of his sister. His membership in the secretive Dread Penny Society allows him to feel he isn't entirely wasting his life, yet he feels dissatisfied. With no one to share his life with but his sister, he fears London will never truly feel like home.

Brogan and Vera's paths cross, and the attraction is both immediate and ill-advised. Vera knows from past experience that writers are never to be trusted, and Brogan has reason to suspect not everything at her print shop is aboveboard. When the growing criminal enterprise run by the elusive and violent Mastiff begins targeting their area of London, Brogan and Vera must work together to protect the community they've both grown to love. But that means they'll need to learn to trust each other with dangerous secrets that have followed both of them from their home countries.

I loved the first two books of this series and I loved this one too. Sarah Eden is a master at characters; she always delivers on making me feel like I know the characters and showing progression through the story. Brog and Vera are both so well written along with the rest of them. I love the growth of their friendship throughout the story and the chance to learn more about their pasts.

I love the penny dreadfuls as we get 3 unique stories in one book. The talent it takes to write in 3 different styles is amazing. If anyone wants a fun read, choose this book! I couldn't put it down. I think it might be my favorite of the series so far. The action has really heated it up and I can't wait to read the next one. 
#netgalley #themerchantandtherogue

A great addition to this series! I am a big fan of the embedded penny dreadful tales in each book. As usual with Sarah M. Eden, the romance was great. Vera and Brogan were great characters individually and together. I also really liked Brogan's sister. 

My one complaint is slightly spoilerly. I wanted a bit more resolution with Vera's condition at the end. I hate being left in suspense. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next! 

Many thanks to Sarah M. Eden, Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for letting me review an early copy of this book!

Dread Penny Society series by Sarah Eden is great - The Merchant and the Rogue is the third book and continues with a great story about two immigrants to London who work together.  Vera is from Russia and works in her father's store while Brogan is from Ireland and is a Penny Dreadful author.  The book is very well written and I particularly like the protagonist couple's interactions.   Its not absolutely necessary to read the series in order but do think it contributes to the book overall.  Eden is a strong author and I follow her social media for future books.

I came across the Dread Penny Society series and zoomed through the first two novels, so it was to my delight that I was able to receive an advanced copy of The Merchant and The Rogue thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing! 

I loved Vera and Brogan! Individually, they were likable characters, so it was essentially the cherry on top when you add the romance element. Their relationship seemed very natural from the start, even though (I won't spoil anything) there were reasons for mistrust and suspicion that could have changed that. I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first two, perhaps even more.

Also, I'm always going to be a fan of characters from previous books making cameos as they did here, so thank you, Sarah M. Eden, for that!

LIKED OVERALL, BUT LEFT ME WANTING

This is my 2nd installment with this author. While I cannot say I was as enthralled as the last story, I definitely liked the 2 main characters Vera & Brogan. Brogan, an Irishman, was kind & loveable. Moirin, Brogan’s sister, is a strong supporting character I liked. They grew up in the streets of Ireland, clawing their way to adulthood and eventually to England. They have a strong bond. The villain continues to terrorize in this book, and I was not at all happy with just how much and to what depth, and the fact there was no resolution with him left me wanting. There are two dread penny stories taking place simultaneously throughout the book. One is otherworldly, but I recognized a strong parallel to the main story I found interesting. The second one, like the main story, has no resolution, so I was disappointed in that again. But, overall 3 Stars = Liked It / Good.

“A grin blossomed on the man’s face, and blimey if it didn’t fully upend her. Ginger men were often dismissed as less, handsome, less striking, but bless him if he didn’t prove that utterly and entirely false with his mouth.”-Vera

“I’m not a leader of uprisings, Ganor. I’m not a general strategizing in battle. I’m nothing but a shop girl.” - Vera

I was gifted an eBook from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own without compensation or further expectation.

Sarah M. Eden's The Dread Penny Society Series continues with this third installment! And this series continues to be amazing!

This story focuses on Brogan Donnelly, an Irish penny dreadful author, and Vera Sorokina, an avid penny dreadful reader who helps her father run a book and print shop. 

This can be read as a standalone, but in order to get the full picture of the "big bads" it might be helpful to read this series in order. Additionally, this book has the two penny dreadful tales (Brogan's The Dead Zoo and Mr. King's The Merchant and the Rogue) as well as the main story. I really love how this series incorporates penny dreadfuls into the tale! 

All in all, this is a solid installment in the series and I can't wait to see what troubles befall the Dread Penny Society next! 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this e-ARC. I really appreciated the opportunity to read this delightful novel!

#themerchantabdtherogue #netgalley
I feel like these books are just getting better and better! I mean having 3 incredible story lines within 1 book is mind blowing!! I feel like I’m on the edge of my seat with each story!! Loved it so much!!

Although I am one of the biggest fans of Sarah M. Eden's series 'The Jonquil Brothers" and "The Lancasters", I enjoy her series about the Penny Dreadfuls a lot less. I found the previous book in the series ("The Gentleman and the Thief") to be ok, so I wanted to give this series a second chance and try "The Merchant and the Rogue", but my opinion of the series didn't change: it's fine, but not quite to the level of the Regency romances Sarah M. Eden usually writes.

What I did like about "The Merchant and the Rogue" was discovering life among the popular classes in the late 19th century London, especially at this book involved characters with an immigrant background, which added some originality. I liked the protagonists without being overly fond of them - they were nice and had some depth but were not overly attaching. It was also nice to discover a bit more about life in a print shop, but a little more description about what it could look like would have been appreciated.

What I liked less were the penny dreadful novels (although I liked them better than in the previous book) — they don't add anything to the story itself but it's always interesting to see what penny dreadfuls could look like.
I personally am not a fan of the mystery going on throughout the series — that's my personal taste but I wasn't too interested in that whole fraud/child labour/forced prostitution/arson/blackmail/forgeries/extortion stuff that the DPS society is trying to solve, especially as I found it a bit rushed towards the end.

Overall, the story was ok, but I might not read the next installments, even though the mystery and danger have not been solved yet.

This is my first book by this author, and for the most part I really enjoyed the main story. While this isn't a stand-alone read, I caught up pretty quickly to the overall plot and as the story progressed I was drawn deeper into the mystery. However, I will say this story started very slowly for me, partly because of the Dread Penny stories (Brogan's "The Dead Zoo: and Mr. King's "The Merchant and the Rogue") that were interspersed throughout the novel. While the stories on their own would have been very interesting and fun to read, I REALLY did not like having to read them in the middle of the main story when all I wanted to do was find out what happened next with Vera and Brogan. I would have preferred if the Penny Dreadfuls were at the end as an extra additive to read rather than in spread out, especially since I found myself skimming through them and didn't think they really added anything to the main plot other than something else for the characters to discuss in general.

For me, the best part of this story was the personalities of all the characters, from Vera and her dad, Brogan and his sister, and the orphan kids. All of them have uniqueness and quirks that I loved seeing come out in the dialog between them. I also really liked how the mystery was built up and how complex it got over time - I was able to figure some things out, but other things surprised me and kept me guessing. 

I may check out another book or two in the series to see what happens with the main plot, but I know I'm going to have a hard time again if the additional Penny Dreadfuls stories and mixed in. 

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review this advanced reading copy!

The one where our hero must realize he’s a hero!  (Trying my hand at writing a penny dreadful there.)

Sarah M. Eden is one of my favorite authors; I’m always so excited when she has a new book out, so when I was given an advance reader’s copy of The Merchant and the Rogue, I was beyond excited! For those that aren’t aware, this is the third in a series and I highly recommend reading the first two before picking up this one. The style of these books is unique- some chapters are Brogan/Vera, and other chapters are stories from penny dreadfuls the authors are writing. 

I loved both Brogan and Vera’s characters. Brogan views himself as a follower and when he is asked to strike out on his own by the Dread Master, he is pretty sure he’s not the man for the job. But, like a good “foot soldier,” he follows orders. This leads him to Vera’s family shop, and he gets a job there under an assumed name. There is a web of danger and mystery there, and the two have to work together to save the neighborhood and the whole of London from a criminal mastermind called the “Mastiff.”

I particularly liked Brogan as a character. I identified with his feelings of being the “supporting character” and not the leader of any operation; I enjoyed watching him realize that heroes come in all forms and that his particular brand of heroism is exactly what was needed in Vera’s life. Because he had difficulty viewing himself as a hero, he didn’t trample on Vera when she was rallying her neighbors, but rather supported her through the steps and allowed her to take the lead. We need more feminist main men in love stories! 

I’ll be honest, the Penny Dreadful series is not my favorite of Sarah M. Eden’s. I love the characters and the storylines, I just often find myself skimming the penny dreadful sections that are the written stories by the characters. I think what she’s set up is a great idea, it’s just not my favorite style. But do I grab one as soon as a new one’s out? You bet! Skimming over the penny dreadfuls doesn’t take away from the rest of the story, in my opinion. 

Also, I recently re-read one of Eden’s earliest works and was blown away by how much more complex and developed her storylines and characters have become over the years. I loved her early work, and I’m impressed with how she’s developed and grown as an author in her particular style of literature. You can tell she loves her characters, stories, and history!

I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was another fun tale involving the Penny Society.  I really like seeing Brogan's character grow, and develop. He had a lot to sacrifice in the beginning, and wasn't sure that it would be worth it. He took a leap of faith! And I admire that bravery. 
I like how the story had different tangents: Brogan's unique mission, to the Penny Stories.  They all tie in together at the end, but it kept me on my toes! I wish we currently had penny stories in our day!

This is a sweet (clean) historical romance with not a duke, earl or lady in it.  Vera runs a printer shop with her father and Brogan is the author of a popular penny dreadful series that is sold in the shop.  Brogan also works undercover for a secret “do-folder” society and goes to work at Vera’s shop for a case.  Included are excerpt from the fictional penny dreadful (which I didn’t actually read and I’m not sure if that makes a difference).  I really enjoyed this book a may check out the rest in the series.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah M. Eden is an excellent historical fiction novel that is the third book in the amazing series: The Dread Penny Society. 

This book has it all: historical context, wonderful cast of complex characters, mystery, suspense, romance, and an excellent overarching storyline.

I have to admit that I am a personal fan of Ms. Eden as well as of this series. I have enjoyed the previous two books and really feel that each builds onto the next quite nicely. The overarching mystery of evil vs good, right vs wrong and getting to meet a new focal member (or two) of the secret society with each book makes for excellent reading. 

This book focusses on the Dublin, Ireland siblings: Brogan and Moirin Donnelly (mainly Brogran of course) in London 1865. We get to learn more about their difficult circumstances that brought them to London, and why they are as they are. I loved learning about why Brogan places himself last, why Moirin is constantly on the defensive, and the character development was just beyond impressive. 

I loved his investigation involving Vera Sorokina and her father, Mr. Sorokin. Vera is an intelligent, fiery, loyal, selfless, and beautiful person inside and out. The relationship that naturally developed between the two was a wonderful and perfect addition to the series. I loved the mystery, high-stakes problems, and the resolutions. I really look forward to seeing more of Vera and Moirin maybe in the sister organization???? It would be great to add in Ana Newport (soon to be Mrs. Darby) and Elizabeth could be part of both groups? So many options!!!!

I also loved the inclusion of two perfectly-fitted Penny Dreadfuls. At first they seem random, but I have found they often parallel or add a similar conundrum to the main story at hand with each book. They are crafted specifically for each narrative (I feel), and they only add a wonderful extra layer to the books. 

I look forward to the next book in this series (crossing fingers it is Doc next...and his issues with bachelorhood). 

Perfect in every way! 5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this excellent arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately (as of 2/22/21 no BB listing has been created) and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 8/17/21.

Vera and Brogan in The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah Eden
I’m sure my patrons will enjoy this book- the latest in the Dread Penny Society series. However the book could easily be read as a standalone: if so I bet patrons will be searching for the first of the series. Brogan is asked to investigate in Vera’s area but to do so he must pretend to leave the DPS and find a job under an assumed name at Vera’s shop. As the action heats up he feel more and more despondent about keeping Vera in the dark. There are two dread penny books going on throughout the book that sensationalize much of the heart of the action for Vera and Brogan and they are scary and delightful. And delightful is the word that best describes The Merchant and the Rogue. I would be happy to recommend this book to my patrons.

This is book 3 in the Dread Penny Society and I really like how each character is getting their own story.

The social and political atmosphere of London in the 1860s was really prominent in this one. Of course, the Penny Dreadful authors are always involved and invested in doing what they can for those less fortunate, especially children.

Vera and Brogan begin with a friendship when he's hired to work at her father's print store, but because of his secret, the reader knows there will be a blow out sometime.

I liked seeing characters from the other books and how they all help each other.

As per usual of the series, the main story was flanked by penny dreadful stories that supplement the narrative.

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

The Merchant and the Rogue by Sarah M. Eden
The Penny Dreadful Society #3
Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery
Publication Date: August 17, 2021

Kind and empathetic Vera spends her day working with her father in his print shop in London. Much to her father’s dismay, the shop has started to sell Penny Dreadfuls (cheap serial literature). Brogan is the writer of a Penny Dreadful series sold in Vera’s shop and a transplant from Ireland. His author friends have banded together and formed a Penny Dreadful Society. The leader of the society has sent Brogan on a top-secret mission where his path crosses with Vera’s. 

I have never read the first two books in the series and the beginning of the book did not provide a recap of previous events. How did a group of authors become vigilantes? Why did they care about a Russian Ambassador? Luckily, the plot points that I never really grasped weren’t entirely necessary in order for me to enjoy the story but I definitely think it would have helped. 

I also felt like sometimes there were elements of the story that didn’t feel like they were taking place in 1865. For instance, Vera fears for her life and Brogan offers both her and her father to spend the night at his residence. Vera’s father declines but allows her to go by herself. Would a woman in 1865 be allowed to spend a night at a male’s residence unaccompanied by family? 

I like the overall mystery element of the plot but could have done without the inclusion of the penny dreadful stories after most chapters. Whenever I felt I was connecting with characters or excited about a plot unraveling I was pulled into a completely different story that had nothing to do with Vera or Brogan. 

The romance was quite sweet and wholesome. I’m usually a fan of spicier romances however this did make for a nice change. The two main characters were just two really good people at their core and you couldn’t help but root for them. 

I think I’m intrigued enough to add the previous books in the series to my TBR.

My thanks to #Netgalley, #ShadowMountainPublishing and #SarahMEden for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A great continuation of this series. More players come into this. We learn about Brogan and his sister. And we meet Vera. These are some compassionate, do good characters. Eden excels at characters you want to love. This series is different in that there are 3 stories going. This is not my favorite thing. There is a penny dreadful story in each of these books written by King, the main member of the story and the story about the main players in this book. It pulls me out of the main story every time these other two stories pop up. I ended up skipping them and going back and reading them after I read the main story. This was much better for my brain. I hate starting a story until I am finished with the last.  I enjoyed this story and am waiting for the next!

The Merchant and the Rouge is a very interesting book. I haven't read the first two, but I had no problem understanding this one. I also had no familiarity with the penny dreadful before this book and Sarah writes in a way that makes it fascinating. I loved that she shows the penny dreadful stories parallel with the book story,. So well written! I will certainly read the other books.

Thank you Sarah for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I do not know how to adequately express how much I loved this book!  It is everything I needed and wanted in this series! I absolutely love how this series in multiple stories in one.  I throughly enjoy reading the penny dreadfuls and I love that at least one of the penny dreadfuls follows the main storyline. I cannot wait to read more in this series! 

Vera is the daughter of a Russian immigrant who owns a print shop in Southern London. While her father despises  writers, Vera is drawn to the Penny Dreadfuls. Borgan hates to lie. He feels like he has lied to everyone and it is getting especially hard to lie to his sister. However, Borgan is given a secret mission from the Dread Master and is therefore, required to leave the dreadfuls, lie even more to his family and those he is close to, and leave the only family he had besides is sister. At the request of the Dread Master, Borgan goes the South London to investigate Vera's father and finds himself employed at their print shop.  Forced to use an alias and pretend he is not a writer, Borgan quickly becomes involved with the problems that are occurring in that area of London.

I was really looking forward to reading Brogan's story. From the bits we get of him in the first 2 books I was excited for this one. Brogan was just as I thought he'd be, sweet, honorable and charming in his quiet way. Vera on the other hand, it's not that she isn't a good character, I just felt she was a little bland. However, I felt the romance was spot on, not too quick or frustrating, just very real and natural. The story revolves around trying to solve a couple of smaller mysteries in Vera's neighborhood while still continuing the other storyline from the previous books. This book definitely sets up some plot for future books.

Overall it was a good story, yet it is not my favorite of the series. You just can't beat Fletcher! I feel like some things were teased at we are left hanging with multiple plot points, so I am looking forward to the next in this series. It better answer some questions I have. I also hope that Moirin gets her own book, I would LOVE more background on her.

I find the other stories a little distracting throughout the book as I did in the others, but I feel like they do add to the story in their own way. And kudos to Sarah for coming up with 3 tales at once. The funny thing is I was so intrigued by The Dead Zoo, that I felt the ending was a bit of let down, it just kind of ended without a clear resolution, or maybe I missed it. I found myself more interested in Mr. King's story, no wonder "he" is the more popular author ;)

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

This book is a great addition to the Penny Dreadful series! It had a great balance of mystery, suspense, and romance. I couldn't put it down! I also love the fun and unique cast of characters. Can't wait for the next one!

Once again, the talented Sarah Eden delivers a three-in-one tale, employing three distinct writing styles. The third novel in The Dread Penny Society series, penny dreadful author Brogan Donnelly undertakes a secret mission to discover people behind a plot to undermine the Russian Ambassador and a Peer of the Realm. Using an assumed name, he is hired on at Sorokin Print Shop, where he meets the lovely Vera Sorokina.

Filled with mystery, secrets, danger, romance, and especially in "The Dead Zoo", humor, Eden tackles these three stories with finesse. As in the previous installments, King's penny dreadful bears the title of the actual book and serves as a rough parallel to the main story. Characters from the two earlier novels make an appearance. This is not a stand-alone book.

Eden's attention to details show, from her knowledge of Victorian London and the Irish fear dearg to the particulars of the Petrashevsky Circle. My Russian vocabulary has now expanded beyond "babushka" "da" and "nyet", so there's that as well.  Sarah Eden is one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to the next installment of this wonderful series.

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

Fighting for justice, entangling threats and falling in love made a compelling storyline for this exquisite London victorian romance by Sarah M. Eden.

This is the third book in the Dread Penny Society but my first read of Eden’s romances. I was straight away attracted to the victorian London crime setting – such a strong favorite – and the two heroes. It’s not often that we get the chance to have a gentle outlaw irish man falling for a strong and generous russian lady. Their romance was slow-paced (as they do have to solve crimes and misfits) but extremely exciting. Every time they share a touch, when she puts her hand in the crook of his elbow, when he puts his hand on her back, when they hold each other hand tightly was beautifully written. It’s a very sweet romance (as opposed to a sexy bodice ripping one) but it’s not without passion or sparkles. Goran Donnelly will leave you exquisitely undone without taking off your petticoat and chemise… one kiss of his in the palm of your hand will be enough. And did i mention that he has an irish accent?!

This very man makes gentleness and generosity so hot and sexy. His care for Vera, his willingness to give her everything and to be there for her with trust and support made me fall for him. Often, gentle heroes tend to be “too gentle”, they lack that delicious spark of life, of danger but somehow Goran was written perfectly as his own character and as a romantic lead.

Vera also held her own. She is a daughter, a strong compassionate neighbour, a woman with a kind heart and a sweet romantic heroine. I really enjoyed how her struggles were shown and how they helped her grow instead of burdening her. I have such love to give to inspirational ladies and Vera truly deserves all the love. I liked that she was russian, that her and her father russian backstory was part of the storyline and not merely just a way to include diversity in the story. The little russian words also seemed well thought and chosen with care.

Vera and Goran share secrets and a kind heart and they seduce each other as much as got seduced by each other. They truly were written as equals, both in resolving the crimes (with a strong echo to another couple but more on that in a few lines) and in the romance… Some of the lines of their romance or about them simply were perfect to me.

Side characters were also lovely and lively. Moirin, Brogan’s sister really stole some scenes by being so intriguing and fierce and i am guessing she will have her own romance stroy at some point. I also really enjoyed the penny dreadfuls stories in the story, especially “the merchant and the rogue”, which echoed the adventure of our main heroes (i do have to admit that “the dead zoo” was maybe a bit too good as it scared me quite a bit).

The crime and mystery story was well paced and compelling with street crimes, political blackmail and the threat of a tempest rumbling. All the pieces of the puzzle were well put into place and the knowledge missing from not having read the previous books did not prevent me from understanding what was at stake and what was happening. However, the ending does leave you to wait for the next installment and the next romance… my bet is that Moirin might fall for a certain american (yes, the romance excitement is high)!

Despite the lack of passionate sexy times, this romance delivered glorious sparkles of love and the thrill of a good crime and mystery storyline! I cannot wait to read the first and second book in this serie while waiting for the fourth one! The merchant and the rogue will be out on August, 17th.

I have received a e-ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest opinion. Thanks so much!

Book 3 from the “Dread Penny Society” starts in London in the 1860s. 

This is a great historical fiction/romance! You can read it as a stand-alone, but it would be better for you to read the entire series. The series is phenomenal, and I love how it portrays the time period. 

I also loved how each character had their own little spark! Each individual was different and realistic. Although some parts were quite predictable, it still kept me hooked! All in all, it was a great book!

Ah, the Dread Penny Society, I just don't know what to do with you. Your stories are always solidly three star books until the last third, when the romance and action pick up and I end the book liking you enough to pick up the next.
I requested The Merchant and the Rogue after I read the first book in this series, which started slow but picked up at the end, assuming that the rest of the series would continue the delightfulness of the end of the first. Unfortunately, the Merchant and the Rogue was even rougher at the beginning than the others. I would read a couple of pages, put it down, and not pick it up again for a couple of days. Brogan was the thing that kept me reading. He was a wonderful hero, and my favorite so far in the series. I felt pretty neutral about Vera; I didn't dislike her, but she didn't charm me.

What I really didn't like about this book was that there was no resolution in the mystery (just in the romance) and the penny dreadful stories. I just did not enjoy the penny dreadful stories in this one and they significantly slowed down the reader's progress in the plot. I regret that the author takes up so much of the space in the book with them. I get that it's cool to actually SHOW us the style of literature the story is talking about, but they're boring and I don't understand why we need two of them besides the main story.

I maintain that these books have great potential. Will I continue reading the series? Probably, because I just finished one and always end up liking the books at the end. They're stories about good people doing good things with lovely little romances, so I don't have a problem recommending them.

I love that new characters are introduced and The Dread Penny Society voted to start a sister organization.... that will allow more activity of the ladies in previous books.  As each character gets their story told it makes the "society" even more interesting.  I love the urchins of the street and that they are being looked after.  The installments of the dread penny chapters in the book take away from the main story for me although I understand why they are included since the characters of the book are writers.  I prefer to read through the main story and then go back and read the short penny books.   These books are entertaining and well thought out and the research and details outstanding.  This is not my favorite series of Ms Eden's but she does wonderful research and great detailing regardless of the story.

I love what Sarah M. Eden has done with this book. The Merchant and the Rogue tells one main story from the point of view of Vera, who works in her father's small print shop, and Brogan, an author of Penny Dreadful stories. These stories are published serially, a chapter at a time. Their story centers around a mystery or two (or three!). Between her father's former Russian life, the blackmailing of the entire neighborhood by an unknown person, and his own assignments to investigate trouble with a Russian diplomat, there is a lot going on. 

At the same time, interspersed between chapters of the main story, Sarah M. Eden gives us not one, but two, penny dreadful tales, spooled out a chapter at a time. One of the penny dreadfuls is the current story Brogan is publishing, the other is by one of his friends. Both are fascinating, with mystery and mayhem, and unexpected endings. 

This is the third book in a series. I had not read the prior two books, and was able to follow this storyline perfectly well. Of course, now I plan to go back and read the earlier books. There is an overarching plot that seems to have come from the previous books and will continue into a fourth book. Many of the plot lines in this book are completed, so the ending feels solid, but there is enough left to make me want to read the next book, once Sarah finishes writing it. Maybe she would consider releasing a new chapter weekly, just like the penny dreadfuls? Then I wouldn't have to wait so long to have the next book!

This book was not at all what I expected. While it does have romantic aspects to it, I don't know that I'd call it a romance. Brogan, the hero, is a penny dreadful writer. He belongs to a secret organization, The Penny Dreadfuls, that are apparently organized to fight wrongdoing. I didn't quite get the connection between the writing and the mission. The head of the organization has given Brogan the assignment of keeping an eye on the bookshop Vera's father owns because he thinks something nefarious is going on. Brogan gets a job at the shop under an assumed name and gets to know Vera. Their relationship grows from there. There is a parallel (penny dreadful) story that is also told in between chapters of the main one. While I found the writing good and the style an interesting concept, I also thought it someone distracting. I had a hard time getting into this. The story built rather slowly and it took a while to see where the plot was going. It's possible it's just a matter of personal taste as to this style of writing but I thought there was just more going on than I wanted to keep track of. Things do pick up and the story gets more exciting. There is more of a penny dreadful atmosphere here than a Victorian romance.

The Dread Penny Society series is light fun with interesting characters.  I like the concept, but it must be hard-going to keep it fresh.

The Merchant and the Rogue is the third book in the series and contains the sweet little romance of the main characters.  There's a hint of which secondary characters will take the stage in the next book.

Each book contains  a Penny Dreadful story by one or two of the characters.  Brogan's Penny Dreadful, "The Dead Zoo" had an interesting concept, but I found it ...not terribly interesting.  King's story was better.  Then, of course, there is the main plot in which Brogan goes undercover and falls for the bookseller and confronts corruption.

I loved the first book The Lady and the Highwayman because if its originality.  The second and third books are OK, but all of them have terrific covers. :)

Read in February; blog review scheduled for Aug. 1.

NetGalley/Shadow Mountain Publishing
Historical/Mystery/Romance.  Aug. 17, 2021.  print length:  368 pages.

This is another amazing read by Sarah Eden. If you have already loved her two other penny dreadful titles you will also love this one. If you haven’t read the other books in this series, you can still read this as a stand alone novel. This book has everything you could want-romance, suspense, intrigue, and adventure.  This novel follows Brogan Donnelly on an adventure as he meets Vera Sorokina. The two quickly get enveloped in a scheme that can only be unraveled by the penny dreadful authors. This is a great read. I couldn’t  put it down.

I enjoyed this book so much! After reading Ms Eden’s first two books in her Dread Penny Society series, I could not wait to get the third one! This series is my first of her books and I am hooked! The Merchant and the Rouge continues the story of Victorian England, where the members of the Dread Penny Society, as they attempt to protect and advocate for the working-class of London. Brogan Donnely, has built a life alongside his sister after leaving his homeland of Ireland. Now, he writes penny dreadfuls and serves the poor of his new city. Though he has the Society and his sister, he still does not feel like London is home. When he receives an assignment demanding secrecy and leadership, how will he accomplish it and how will he find his place? Vera Sorokina is grateful for her life at her father’s book and print shop. Reading the penny dreadfuls, supported by the income the shop affords, she too has built a life outside of her homeland of Russia and is able to help the poverty-stricken community she has found. Though the days are filled with mundane tasks, it gives her freedom and her father something to do. Brogan and Vera’s meeting brings an immediate attraction, though each brings secrets and reserve. With the growing criminal activities of the Mastiff, whose violence and power is whispered throughout London, they must work together to protect their area and all of those in London.
Once again, Ms. Eden wrote an engaging, entertaining, and sweet story that I flew through! I stayed up much too late reading this book! I was excited to see more about Brogan and his story. Like many of the Dread Penny Society members, his past is a mystery. I was so interested in him and Morin from their first appearance in The Lady and the Highwayman. He was such a sweet brother and she was so fun, fiery and competent. I loved seeing them together and watching him grow. He was finding his place, in the work he was doing for the poor of London and in the life he had built in London. He and Vera together were so cute! They were friends first, enjoying one another’s company and respecting one another. I loved how they encouraged and supported each other. Vera was also amazing! She was a hardworking merchant who in many ways ran the book and print shop. I loved her tender heart for the street children who came to her shop and her care for her community. She strove to be a source of help to those around her, even though she felt like she had little power. She and Brogan had to work together despite the secrets they both had.
This book continues the overarching story of the Dread Penny Society. As the criminal activities of the streets of London seem to grow in frequency and magnitude, the Society and those working alongside them uncover more danger, they are moving forward in their campaign to protect and care for the people of London. Each book answers some questions, but leaves enough unknown to continue the story. It is great pacing throughout the series, not feeling dragged out. I am so excited to read more! Honestly, I hope that a few more of the Society members get stories, I have some hopes for the next one already! I would definitely recommend this book! Even if historical fiction is not usually your genre, I think that this is a great book to get started in it! (Though maybe read the other books in the series first, it is pretty connected!) This is a clean romance, though likely best suited for teens and up.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

I posted on Goodreads, but it was not on Bookbub yet. I am going to post on Amazon and blog closer to/on release date

I read this as a standalone book (I was not aware that the story was the third in it's respective franchise). 
I have nothing but positive things to say about this book! The writing was captivating and enthralling. The characters were quite lovable and had depth. The story was set in London in the late 1800's which I enjoyed. 

Overall found the story very enjoyable, my only regret is not reading the other stories first however as I feel I would have benefitted in knowing who some of the characters were previously.

I am a huge fan of Sarah Eden and of the previous books in this series, so I was delighted to receive an ARC of The Merchant and the Rogue from NetGalley. This book continues the story of the Dread Penny Society and their quest to defeat the Mastiff in regency London. Character from the previous tales make brief appearances, but this story primarily belongs to Brogan, a reliable ally in the first two books. I was excited to read about him as I really liked him in the previous books, but I found him a little less intriguing as a main character. All his interesting edges were sanded off and he was just GOOD. He's a former street urchin who spends every penny helping the poor, doting on his fearsome sister, and fighting for the little guy. He's in touch with his emotions and enlightened about womens' issues and— a little too good to be true. There is not a lot of tension between him and his love interest Vera, because they are all that is good and pure and perfect and strong, and they are obviously meant to be together. The author does plenty to show us this with their deeds, but she undoes her work a bit by repeatedly stating it straight out. She needs to trust her readers and herself to understand her characterization without backing it up with empty words.

The mystery here isn't much of a mystery. Spoiler alert: it was the Mastiff. Fletcher Walker, adorable as ever, is a scene stealer wherever he appears and I found myself wishing he and Elizabeth would get more time on the page (The Lady and the Highwayman is their story, and if you haven't read it, YOU MUST). 

The Dead Zoo (Brogan's penny dreadful) was mildly entertaining if predictable. I far preferred The Merchant and the Rogue (Elizabeth's story) as I always do, and found Royston to be a much more dashing hero than Brogan, actually. 

This all sounds like criticism, but when it all comes down to it, I read this book in a day, almost non-stop when I REALLY didn't have time to be reading. It was compelling, and I pulled for Brogan and Vera's love story just as much as I did for Hollis and Ana. I love Ms. Eden's work, and I will eagerly await the next installment in this series. The characters are easy to love. You won't regret reading it.

Thank you NetGalley for sending me the ARC for this book.

THE MERCHANT AND THE ROGUE by Sarah M Eden 

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨

The Merchant and the Rogue was absolutely delightful! I read it as a stand-alone as I didn’t realise it was part of a series when I got it, however I found that didn’t matter and it still made sense and I was completely hooked on it.

I honestly could have read about all these characters forever. I found myself just as excited about the characters from Mr King’s story as I was about Brogan and Vera. Tullulah and Royston felt to me like I was reading a fairytale based off Brogan and Vera’s story and I love that. 

This book was so fun from start to finish and I definitely recommend it for fans of Historical Romance and Mystery!

I was gifted an arc of this from Netgalley in return for an honest review

I'll admit that when I started this, I was a bit lost, as I had not realized on my request that it was third in a series, but that didn't matter too much as I was able to gather enough from the story itself. 

I really enjoyed this novel, Eden has a great way of integrating the main story line with the penny dreadfuls, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It's a clever idea, as the reader ends up with three storylines, that are all connected, but that all come in small parts, so you NEED to keep reading. It's nearly impossible to put the book down. I especially loved the penny dreadful "the merchant and the rouge" story, it was right up my alley!

I found this book very entertaining, I loved our two main characters and their relationship throughout the novel. I loved that they both had a bit of a past, and we got to see into that. I would absolutely love to read more about brogan and his sister's time in ireland, I feel like that would make an incredible story on its own

Now that I have read this one, I want to read the first two as I've really enjoyed Edens world, as well as her penny dreadfuls. 

I feel like this world was well written, and there really are so many characters that would make wonderful protagonists in the next books, Eden could be writing in this world forever. I loved her creativity and the names for the street children were hilarious "Bobs your knuckle" was too good

I'm absolutely looking forward to the next installment of the series and will be seeking out the first two as well

Oh, man, after reading the first book in this series and the male protagonist, Fletcher Walker, quickly becoming one of my favorite leading men of all time, I anticipated enjoying the remaining books in the series but not having any character surpass Fletcher. And in the second book, that was true--I did quite like the characters but Fletcher remained my favorite. Here, though, in the third book, Brogan Donnelly has given Fletcher a run for his money in my esteem. I still love Fletcher, but Brogan has the advantage of being an Irishman (I love all the Irish characters Sarah M. Eden has ever written!), and I found him and his insecurities so endearing. It was really interesting to read a story with a male character who is insecure, who sees himself as a good "foot soldier" but not a general, not someone who can strike out on his own and take the lead. That made him very fascinating--and then throw in his good heart and how he's trying to take care of as many people as he possibly can, and I just adored him. I also really liked Vera; she's as kind-hearted as Brogan, looking out for her customers and fellow merchants. I was pulled in by the plot, wanting to see how things would play out, and while there are definitely things that will need to be resolved in later books in the series, things wrapped up at a good spot in this novel. 
As for the two penny dreadfuls woven in through the book, I really liked those as well, particularly Mr. King's. I liked seeing the parallels between the penny dreadful and the main story. 
This is one of those books that I wanted to start re-reading as soon as I finished reading it. It's also one I'm hoping will be made into an audiobook because I think it would awesome to listen to these characters! This is definitely one of my favorites of 2021!
5 stars.
I read an ARC provided by the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

What a great addition to this series. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Brogan. This one has a little twist on the Penny Society. It kept me hooked until the very end!

As expected, this book is an absolute delight. I can't say it's my favorite in the series because The Lady and the Highwayman holds such a special place in my heart, but it is a very close second. I loved finally spending time with Brogan and his sister Móirín, after meeting him in the first two books, and Vera is a new favorite among the characters. The mystery was fun, as usual, but it's really the characters and relationships that make these books stand out – they're portrayed with such tenderness and humor, it's truly a joy to watch them develop. Plus, Brogan and Vera are plenty swoony. *wink*

This is the first book I have read by Sarah M. Eden and I really enjoyed it. Very interesting plot and great characters. I can't wait to read more from this author.

A story within a story, this book bounces between multiple stories: its main story of a writer's undercover employment in a print shop to look for clues of espionage and deceit and 3 substories of author's in the Dread Penny Society. It was a unique experience of reading multiple stories at once, and I enjoyed trying to find any parallels between the Penny stories and the actual tale of the book.

My favorite element of this book was Eden's dialect writing. She does such a wonderful job nudging her readers to fill their heads with Irish, London English, and Russian vernacular and accents.

The mystery of Vera & Brogan's histories kept me wondering & their budding romance kept me turning the page to see how they would learn more of their own history or finally be willing to share their truths with each other.

This is a sweet story that builds to a beautiful ending.

I don't know how Sarah Eden does it- going from Regency romances set in the high classes of society to penny dreadfuls set in the Victorian era mixed with a secret society of good doing gentleman who are trying to solve the problems of the common and street class of London. The mystery she has woven into the pages- of not just one story but three. All three stories had me intrigued and hooked until the end. Brogan and Vera's romance grew so slowly but sweetly in the midst of the dangerous events happening due to the low-lifes four fingered Mike and the Mastiff. 

This story is just as great as her others. She really manages to show, not tell- giving life to the world of Victorian England. I can tell how much research Sarah Eden puts into each of her books. It breathes life into it and makes it more real than most of the stories out there. These stories are always a must-read for me.

As the third book in the series, I thought this was an excellent addition! I’ve been curious about Brogan’s story from the beginning but now I can’t wait to find out more about his sister!

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Dread Penny Society has been one of my favorite series ever, and I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book from Net Galley. As always, I love how the penny dreadfuls are incorporated into this series, it makes all the books so interesting. The switches between the Penny dreadful stories and this book's plot are super engaging. They offer a different reading experience than most books because you are experiencing the same stories that the characters in the book are reading and/or writing. As always, I absolutely love the time period this book is set in, the characters, and the Dred Penny Society as a whole. If you have read the first two in this series, you have to read this one, and if you have yet to read the series, you totally should.

I have really enjoyed this series by Sarah M. Eden. This is the third story and we get to learn more about Brogan the Irishman. Brogan is sent on an investigation on his own and meets Vera. They have mysteries to solve and rebellions again extortion to lead. My small complaints are that the romance is pretty minimal and I have way to many questions unanswered. I again, as with the other two books in the series, loved the two side stories written into the thread of the main story. I can't wait to find out who will star in the next installment. 

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this eARC for an honest review.

"If laughter truly were the best medicine, Brogan Donnelly would have been the healthiest Irishman in all of England. Jests came as easy to him as breathing, and that was more-or-less all anyone knew of him. He preferred it that way."

A first line to rival even Pride and Prejudice. 

Vera and her father are russian immigrants with a small shop and a decided prejudice against writers; her father insists they are all a roguish untrustworthy bunch. 

In some unfortunate turn of events, Brogan Donnelly one of the writers for the well known "Penny Dreadfuls" not only finds himself working for Vera, but also, slowly falling for her. 
To make matters even worse, he lied about who he was. If she finds out the truth under his alias, she will find not only a writer, but a lying one, at that.

When "The Protector," a mysterious person who promised to *protect* the people in their community and surrounding businesses starts extorting money from them instead, their disagreements seem to fade from the spotlight as the entire city becomes inextricably entwined in the dark plot. 

"The Merchant and the Rogue," is the third book in Sarah M Eden's "Dread Penny Society" series, the rest of which I haven't gotten my hands on, yet. Even so, I found it easy to follow along and enjoy it as it's own story.

This is one of the few books I've read lately, (being, as you are aware, a great lover of love stories,) that I could recommend to my brother as something I think he'd enjoy as well. (Aka more action, less romance😉) 

The book features excerpts of short stories by the DPS, a stylistic choice I usually don't prefer, since it breaks up the flow of the story and often weighs down the momentum. I rather enjoyed these installments however, despite (or perhaps because of,) their dabbling in very different genres. 

Sarah M Eden rarely if ever disappoints and again, she has delivered a vividly painted,  suspense-filled story. 

And if ever there was a comfort character, it's Brogan. I just want to give him a hug😂❤ 

As an added bonus, the book is fairly brimming with quotable lines (as well as some rather...unique, names. Looking at you, "Bob’s Your Knuckle"😂).

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (obviously) and obligatory: I received a free copy of this book through Netgalley, all thoughts and opinions are my own. (Though perhaps slightly biased because, Sarah M Eden😍😍)

The Merchant and the Rogue is the third installment in Eden's Dread Penny Society series. I've read the first two books, and enjoyed this just as much. This was a lovely story to read! I like how Sarah Eden's novels are atypical, compared to other historical romance books.

I am hooked on Sarah Eden's Dread Penny Society series.  Her unique 'story within a story' is always engaging and her characters are delightful.  There is a Dickens-esque feel to 'The Merchant and the Rogue' as it deals with social issues of the times.  I will admit I was a little confused about Brogan's undercover assignment and how harsh he was treated by his former companions. I, for one, can't wait for Moirin's story to be told.  This keeps me in happy anticipation for more.

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

The Penny Dreadfuls and the Dread Society are back! 

Brogan is tasked with finding out secrets connected to the print shop. Vera has long been taught to detest writers, so when he arrives at her shop he conceals his identity as a Penny Dreadful author from her. 

Brogan is an eminently likeable character, though clearly not as talented a Penny Dreadful writer as the famous Mr King (who we met in the first of this series). I love that Sarah Eden is able to adopt the different writing styles of her characters as she sprinkles their Penny Dreadfuls throughout these books.

Installment III *Where our avid reader gets sucked deeper into the story of the Dread Penney Society!* 

Sarah M. Eden does not disappoint! I have fallen more in love with this series as it has continued and cannot wait to see its continued growth. This third installment set the bar higher for this story and these characters in the best way possible. I’ve loved learning they’re personal stories and the depth that has been created with these characters and their world. I didn’t realize I needed Brogan’s story until I started reading this and I’m so glad it has been so kindly given to us. 
Historical romance can tend to be one dimensional and fall flat by just focusing on the ‘romance’ aspects, that is by no means this series. Our author provides excellent balance of character’s personalities and quirks, great world building, getting to read the penny dreadfuls that our characters themselves write, and of course yes a little romance to make a beautiful bouquet of a story! 

Endless thanks to Sarah M. Eden for creating the DPS which has become one of my all time favorite series and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy for an honest review (all thought and opinions are completely my own)

A wonderful, mysterious and romantic story! I absolutely adored the fact that they included a secret society and it's passed in a beautiful place! I loved Vera's character so much, she's incredible and fierce!
Highly recommend everyone to read this!

It's always a gamble with a series - you can never be quite sure that the author is going to be able to recreate the magic again and again. Fortunately for fans of the Dread Penny Society, Sarah M. Eden does indeed appear to be up to the task - <i>The Merchant and the Rogue</i> successfully continues the adventures of the members of a group of altruistic penny dreadful authors in its third installment. This time the focus is on Brogan Donnelly, whom readers will remember has been getting increasingly unhappy about being forced to keep his Dread Penny work a secret from his sister Moirin. It's this unhappiness that leads to him being given a special mission by the Dread Master, the mysterious society head - a mission that forces him to "quit" the DPS in order to get closer to the latest horrible scheme being perpetuated by the notorious criminal known as The Mastiff.

Naturally this throws him into the path of his love interest, Russian immigrant Vera Sorokina, who runs a print shop with her prickly father. Even if Brogan isn't your favorite DPS character (I'm personally holding out for Stone's book), Vera more than makes the book worth it. She's brassy, smart, and a match for Moirin, which any woman who ends up with Brogan needs to be. She may make the occasional bad decision, but once she learns all the facts of a situation, she's not afraid to reassess, or even to say that she's wrong. Romance readers will recognize that as being in relatively short availability as far as protagonist qualities go, so Vera's definitely ahead of the pack. She and Brogan compliment each other well and are a delight to read about.

The two embedded penny dreadfuls this time are by "Mr. King" and Brogan. The former is among the best the series has offered, although my love of folklore may be influencing that statement. All in all this is another enjoyable outing with the DPS, and I'm delighted with the progression of the overarching plot, if only because it means that we'll get more novels in the series.

Well... It seems this is part of a series. I was unaware, which is probably why I had a harder time getting into this particular book. It didn't ruin the book for me, just took longer to get the groove. 

Sarah M. Eden has a great talent for story telling and weaving words. I found myself really enjoying the book and the characters. The idea of weaving in The Penny Dreadfuls was intriguing.

Another triumph! You can't help but love Brogan and Vera, and of course Móirín! Brogan is a sweetheart, full of kindness and fun. Vera is perfect for him, just as loving and kind (though a bit more distrustful). Móirín is a strong woman, full of passion, wisdom, and guts; I wouldn't be surprised if she ended up being the Dread Master herself (still trying to figure out that mystery....). 

What makes this third book in the series special is all the street children it features; they add so much fun, laughter, and winsomeness to the story. The story focuses more on grassroots, community-built relationships and "regular people" working together to combat the havoc stirred up by the Mastiff. The stakes climb higher and the Dread Penny Society face tougher odds, keeping my interest. And of course the Penny Dreadful stories interspersed throughout the book make this series truly unique and entertaining. I am never bored with these! 

Rated PG
--mild violence
--no swearing
--clean romance

I was provided a free ebook copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story was a compiling of 3 stories. Since the author did a good job of distinguishing between the stories, it was easy to read the main story, then go back and read the other 2 serial stories. This book us part of a series about a group of writers who double as spies. They work with the working and lower classes. The book gives great details of every day life if the working class in London. The historical details are great. 
The main story, about the hero and heroine seemed to be a step back to the ongoing plot about the gang leaders that the group has been trying to put down. The heroine is a Russian transplant whose father is a printer. He has been brought to the attention of the writers because of a problem with the Russian Ambassador to Great Britian. There is a conspiracy there. The hero has been working with the group and wants to stop the lying. But he is picked for a super secret assignment where he has to leave the group. And since he us the first to resign, the group is very upset and he makes some disgruntled friends. 
Even though I enjoyed this story because it is so well written and the author is very talented and one of my favorite authors, I did not feel the romance. The story was well paced, there was growth in the characters, but it needed a little more romance. It is considered a historical fiction, but couldn't they have held hands earlier or something. I am still giving it 5 stars and definitely recommend reading because it is an excellent book. Remember, 5 stars.

Brogan Donnelly has always worked best with others. Whether he’s with his sister assisting people in poor neighborhoods or joining his fellow Dread Penny Society members in their latest scheme, Brogan prefers a supporting role rather than the lead. So when the Dread Master gives him a secret mission separate from the rest of the DPS, Brogan finds himself a little lost. Then he meets Vera Sorokina. Vera and her father run a small printing shop that sells books, including Penny Dreadfuls by one Brogan Donnelly. Using the name Ganor O’Donnell, Brogan begins working at Vera’s shop. When shopkeepers in the neighborhood begin receiving mysterious notes, Vera and Brogan must team up to defend their little community from a shadowy threat. 

This is the third installment in the Dread Penny Society series. Although it is possible to enjoy this story without reading the previous books, I would recommend reading them first. Characters and plot points from the earlier books come into play here.

Just like the two earlier books in the series, this novel contains two Penny Dreadfuls that are woven into the main storyline. This time around they are The Merchant and the Rogue by Mr. King and The Dead Zoo by Brogan Donnelly.

I’ve noticed that as the series progresses, the Dread Penny Society finds itself digging deeper and deeper into a conspiracy and the stakes are getting higher and higher. Judging by what happens at the end of this novel, I can only imagine what’s in store next.

***I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher via NetGalley. My words and opinions here are my own, as always.***

Of course there is going to be romance. 
Of course there is going to be suspense and mystery. 
Of course, in this series, there are going to be three stories plaited together to develop the plot.
And of course it was a book I was up late racing to the end to read. 

These are all good things, as was the story line. I do not usually like suspense but after book two I was eager to get to know more of the Dread Penny Society, a group of authors who band together making their single efforts to help the poor, outcast, and forgotten members of London more influential and powerful. 

Usually I can pick out hints the authors use to foreshadow what’s ahead, but here there were several surprises. Those made it more enjoyable. 

If you’ve read the first two books, this has a different tone to it, but the culmination proves it worth all the twists. 

But now I need book four!

5 stars

You get 3 stories in this book.  It's the third book in the Dread Penny series...horrors I missed book 2! So there's the main story of the society's fight for social justice for the poor and dispossessed and then two penny dreadfuls.  

In this one Brogan is asked to go on a secret mission and leave his fellow story writers in the lurch.  Vera's father is his assignment and he reluctantly spies on him whilst a relationship with Vera is evolving.  It's a clean read, only kisses with some characters from before but all is explained so it could be read as a standalone.  The  story is based in the poorest of areas and with the working and non working poor. 

There's the continuing fight against the main villain Mastiff and I'm intrigued by the leader of the socity as well.  Hopefully we will learn more as the series develops.  Let's hope Stone's story is soon.  I enjoyed it and hope you will too.

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

I loved this book! Sarah M. Eden spins a wonderful tale. I love how she incorporates the Penny Dreadfuls into the story and how they foreshadow the story.  It weaves a wonderful spell while you're reading.  I love all the characters in this series. This is primarily about Brogan Donnelly and a new character Vera Sorokina.  They are both characters of depth and complexity. I am already looking forward to the next book. I would highly recommend.

Another offering from one of my very favorite authors, yeah! This was a good story with lots of character development, which I love, and some good surprising twists and turns. The Dread Penny stories didn't have as much to do with the original story going on as some of the other ones have, but it was still interesting, probably because it allowed us to see into what the characters including the children were reading. I appreciated the principles the main characters held to, the fears they experienced and even the disappointments they fully expected. Fortunately, some of those disappointing expectations were replaced with lovely outcomes. This was a very nice next Dread Penny Society offering! (Although it did leave one hanging for the next one...)

I gratefully received a prerelease version for my honest review. #TheMerchantandtheRogue #NetGalley

Date reviewed/posted: April 6, 2021
Publication date: August 17, 2021

When life for the entire galaxy and planet has turned on its end, you are continuing to #maskup and #lockdown to be in #COVID19 #socialisolation as the #thirdwave ( #fourthwave #fifthwave?) is upon us, superspeed readers like me can read 300+ pages/hour, so yes, I have read the book … and many more today.

I requested and received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review...I also got a hard copy of it for my Luddite sister who has neither Kindle nor Smart Phone.

From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.

London, 1865

Vera Sorokina loves reading the Penny Dreadfuls and immersing herself in tales of adventure, mystery, and romance. Her own days are filled with the often mundane work of running the book and print shop she owns with her father. The shop offers her the freedom and income to employ and protect the poverty-stricken Londoners she’s come to care about, and it gives her father something to do other than long for their hometown of St. Petersburg. She is grateful for the stability in their lives, but she often feels lonely.

Brogan Donnelly was born and raised in Ireland but has lived in London for several years, where he’s built a career as a Penny Dreadful writer. He has dedicated himself to the plight of the poor with the help of his sister. His membership in the secretive Dread Penny Society allows him to feel he isn’t entirely wasting his life, yet he feels dissatisfied. With no one to share his life with but his sister, he fears London will never truly feel like home.

Brogan and Vera’s paths cross, and the attraction is both immediate and ill-advised. Vera knows from past experience that writers are never to be trusted, and Brogan has reason to suspect not everything at her print shop is aboveboard. When the growing criminal enterprise run by the elusive and violent Mastiff begins targeting their area of London, Brogan and Vera must work together to protect the community they’ve both grown to love. But that means they’ll need to learn to trust each other with dangerous secrets that have followed both of them from their home countries.

This book is styled/described as a romance but it is so much more. I loved the Penny Dreadful aspect of it and Brogan and Vera's backstories were divergent but worked when they came together as a couple. (Some romances make people so different that it is not even fathomable that they end up together .... !!!).  I highly enjoyed the book and will recommend it to friends, families and patrons who I know will enjoy the book.

Take this book to the beach (or your back yard, porch or balcony) and enjoy it  - just wear a tonne of SPF110 as you will lose track of time as you read this. - If we are in the 5th or 6th wave/mutation of COVID19 by then, stay inside: no tan is worth dying for.  

As always, I try to find a reason to not rate with stars as I simply adore emojis (outside of their incessant use by "🙏-ed Social Influencer Millennials/#BachelorNation survivors/Tik-Tok and YouTube  Millionaires/snowflakes / literally-like-overusers etc. " on Instagram and Twitter... Get a real job, people!) so let's give it 🏖️🏖️🏖️🏖️

I have read the two previous books in The Dread Penny Society series by Eden and was delighted to get an ARC of her latest.  This adventure keeps the same format with two Penny serial stories interspersed with the main storyline.  Brogan Donnelly is Irish, a Penny serial writer, and member of the Dread Penny Society.  The Society is a group of writers who unite to help the poor in London, especially women and children.  He receives a secret assignment that requires him to quit the society and gather information about a Russian ambassador on his own.  He takes a job with Vera Sorokina, a Russian immigrant, who with her father runs a book and print shop.  The father has been seen at the home of the ambassador.  It is all very vague but he takes up the challenge willingly.

Vera is a wonderfully strong character.  She is mindful of the her neighborhood, the children in poverty and especially caring of her father.  When neighborhood shops are threatened she organizes and leads.  Friendship develops with Donnelly as they work days together.  There are many small plots that I don't want to spoil but clearly 1865 London can be a rough place to live.  Eden delivers in bringing different accents and unusual slang and words to life.  (I assume they are time period correct and not made up.)  The main story focuses on Vera and Brogan which keeps things simpler to follow.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction with a slice of romance.  The two leads are wonderful together.  The other society members get some storyline especially near the end.  I was also happy to see the two love interests from the other books make appearances and wish there was more of them.  This book can be read as a stand alone but I recommend reading them in order.  There is an overall menacing plot flowing thru the books that isn't resolved yet.  

This book is clean for language and steaminess with some fighting and drinking.  I can't wait for the next adventure.  Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this installment of the Dread Penny Society Series. I think that the penny dreadfuls contained in this novel are my favorite of the series thus far. Brogan is such a great character. I just love him and Moirin (his sister). Hopefully she will get her own story in the future. I loved learning more of Brogan's background in Ireland. Vera is a great female lead. I love that she isn't afraid to hold her own and that her friendship with Moirin gives her even more confidence to stand up for herself and others. Vera and Brogan are a great pair. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow and survive trials. I look forward to the next installment of this series! Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced ebook.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3803770575

3 stars

A fun read about a penny dreadful writer & his charitable work that leads to confronting some dangerous criminals—& to love. This is a lighthearted story with a clean romance. I liked the characters, but there are many plot inconsistencies & contrived conflicts.

[What I liked:]

•Brogan is a very likable person. He’s warm hearted, & his fierce bond with his older sister is very touching. 

•The cast of side characters on Vera’s street are all very charming & give a homey feel to the neighborhood. Seeing them all come together to help each other was heart warming.

•There are two short stories written in a supposedly “penny dreadful” serial style with chapters interspersed between the main story’s chapters. Those stories didn’t seem related to the novel other than they’re written by characters in the book, so I’m not really sure why they were included. That said, they were both cute & entertaining.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•I don’t like the prose. There are awkward word choices, the dialogue often doesn’t feel natural, & sometimes descriptions leave me confused rather than enlightened. It’s not bad writing, but it leaves some to be desired. Plus, in the third person narration, why use “‘twas” & other nonstandard/archaic forms? It feels like it’s trying to hard.

•Why, if the members of the PDS have to keep their membership super top secret, would they publish their penny dreadful writings under their real names? Why do they need a super secret society to do charitable work? Why does Brogan have to go undercover, & why does he have to pretend he left even after the other members get involved in his supposedly “solitary” mission? Why, even after they find out he never left the society, do they still treat him suspiciously? There’s a lot that doesn’t add up.

•The main conflict between Vera & Brogan is petty & contrived. She, a grown woman & book lover, thinks all writers are evil & deceitful just because her paranoid father does? Either she’s a hypocrite, or very short on critical thinking abilities. 

CW: physical violence (fist fighting)

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Sarah Eden has become one of my favorite authors, especially with her Dread Penny Society series. Her use of intriguing plots and fabulous characters are seamless as you read first one book and then another. Each member of the secret Dread Penny Society (DPS) helps in combating evil and helping others who need them.

Brogan Donnelly is a likable Irish penny dreadful author who feels like he isn’t a fully contributing member of the DPS like his colleagues. Imagine his surprise when the mysterious unseen head of the organization asks him to go undercover and unmask a diabolical plan that would rock British society. 

With mysterious comings and goings at a print shop, Brogan begins to suspect that Mr. Sorokin and his lovely daughter, Vera, may be a part of this criminal plot. Both seem secretive and cautious to trust anyone. As both Brogan and Vera become attracted to each other, Brogan is going to have to make a decision about what he has done to learn about this plot. 

The brilliant use of two penny dreadfuls that are interspersed throughout the book add details and some symbolism to the main story. These stories are filled with superstition, suspense, and Gothic elements. The three intriguing stories all wrapped up into one book made me clear my calendar so I could finish without being interrupted. I like how Ms. Eden uses these historical pieces from literature to create her own versions in order to write her own unique books. 

I am always disappointed when each book end because there are questions of, “What happens next?”.  This particular story because I see all kinds of possibilities with what is presented at the end of the story. (no spoilers here!) This is the third book in the Dread Penny Society and I would begin with The Lady and the Highwayman for a better understanding of the characters, although this can be read independently. I highly recommend this series if you enjoy mysteries, romance, or Gothic novels. This has all of these elements. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an advanced reader’s copy of this book. I was not required to write a review and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I truly enjoy this series. This is book 3 in Sarah M. Eden's The Dread Penny Society Series and I enjoy how each character is getting their own story. The mystery and intrigue is what I liked about this one. I also enjoy how the characters come alive. Looking forward to book 4. I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain.

I cannot get enough of how the penny dreadfuls are so artfully woven into the main story.

I fell in love with Brogan in The Gentleman and the Thief and was excited to learn more about his story. It did not disappoint. The looming storm on the horizon in this book is gaining speed. One can only sit on pins and needles as secrets and lies abound and are revealed to throw hurt. Trust has to be rebuilt in many facets and as it does the story comes alive.

The real question is, after a meeting of the Mastiff in the last book, how will that effect this one? You gotta read to find out.

Thanks to Net Galley for the book!

This continuation of the Dread Penny Society series doesn't disappoint! There is wonderful character development and it keeps you wanting for more resolution to the evils that continue multiplying. I really enjoyed getting to know Brogan. There are also multiple value conundrums that make you think. Every book leaves you hungry for the next one!

Thank you netgalley for the book!

This book is the 3rd in the series. It continues to follow the stories of the Penny Dreadful authors as well as the mission of the Dread Penny Society. This book follows the similar pattern of the others. Children and people in need, misunderstandings, strong female roles, brewing romance and the good of humanity coming together. Also like the other books there are two Penny Dreadful novels intwined within the story. It’s like getting 3 tales in one which is part of why I enjoy these books. This book was entertaining, intense, romantic, and full of mystery and adventure. I can tell there will be more to come and I have my suspicions on who’s story comes next. We shall see!!

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC.

I was struck with this book how darn impressive it is that Sarah can write stories from other authors with a completely different voice than her own. And multiple distinct voices and styles of writing at that. I mean, holy cow! Not only can she write perfectly for her own novels but she can literally create novels by other writers with their own distinct voices and have them be so good. Is there anything Sarah M. Eden can't do?!?

This book was lighter than the second in the series so I liked it better. Both of the Penny Dreadfuls were entirely captivating. I am getting a bit tired of the ultimate plot not being fully resolved in every book. I know we are making progress, and that it is actually very realistic. But also I'm ready for the Dreadfuls to fully win. 

I'm still so impressed at the creative  idea and execution of this series. The first will always be my favorite but this is definitely a close second (due in large part to those incredible Penny Dreadfuls).

4.5 stars 

Such a fun addition to this series!! Please note, these books are best read in order, in my opinion, as there are references to characters and situations from the previous books, as well as the main villain in those two is still at large in this book. I love Eden's attention to detail, the humor she adds to her stories, and how well she crafts her books, to draw me in and make things believable and make me see everything! This book also includes two different penny dreadful serials that are mixed in between the chapters of the regular action of the story line, one written by Brogan (the male lead in this book), though the other is from Mr. King who rarely makes an appearance in this book (maybe one time??). As before, these stories parallel somewhat of the story line as well. Brogan's penny dreadful story (<i>The Dead Zoo</i>) was interesting but the shortest and least developed (in my opinion) of the two penny dreadfuls and very open-ended, leaving a lot up to the reader's imagination. The series apparently will go on, as the ending is left with lots of questions and not many answers as to who the Dread Master is, as well as how the Dreadfuls will deal with The Mastiff. There's a hint of a future romance and possible future book for two of the characters, so it'll be interesting to see if Eden does indeed take the series in that direction. Such a varied cast at play in this series! What a unique idea, and I am loving how Eden is executing every aspect of this! A clean read with plenty of entertainment value, not to be missed if you like historical fiction!!

What a great sequel! This book stays true to Sarah M. Eden's style and submerses the reader back into the world of the Penny Dreadfuls. Great storytelling, wonderful chemistry between characters. This is a very enjoyable read.

Each of the Penny Dreadful books Sarah Eden writes is better than the previous-and I've enjoyed all of them! I love when a romance also has a mystery to solve. Weaving through this story are two other stories that mirror the events of the main story. It is very entertaining to read. If you haven't read the other stories you may want to before reading this one because reference is made to them and events that happen in them. That said, this is standalone. so you could read it without reading the others.

I've always enjoyed Sarah Eden's writing. I think this might be my favorite series of hers. I love the bit of mystery and intrigue mixed within the romance. A perfect balance and mix of the three in this book. As the mystery unfolds I was grateful it wasn't overly complicated to make this reader unable to follow. Yet, not simplistic at all and held my attention very well in reading the romance bloom and layers of the mystery unfold. The penny dreadfuls are a great addition. I had fun reading it just as much as the rest of the story. This was easy to get caught up in and swept away by the mysery, following the dreadfuls and cathing glimpses into actual Victorian life. I think the bits of history worked into the book helped bring the story to life and feel authentic. As well, as the dialogue and slang used. This really helped me feel like I was right there in London. Of course, there were some moments that had me say "awww". I'm excited to read more in the series & find out who The Mastiff is!
Thank you very much to Netgalley for an ARC. All opinions are 100% my own.

Once again, Sarah Eden has given us a masterful plot with twists and turns aplenty. Not only do we get one story but since the main character is also an author we get, three stories in one book. All are well written with well rounded characters. I can't wait to read about the rest of the PDS members.

The Merchant and the Rogue is another satisfying entry in the Dread Penny Society series. It contains another happily-ever-after ending for a new couple but also plenty of unresolved intrigue for future stories. There are many characters left to find their own HEAs (mostly likely all straight m/f couples though). This is a light series heavy on flirtation and easily resolved misunderstandings. Although societal issues are addressed the sordid realities are not detailed. This is escapist reading - a clean and breezy read. The pages from the Penny Dreadfuls are a fun touch. 

I read an advance reader copy of The Merchant and the Rogue from Netgalley.

I am always astounded by Sarah's books, but this one is truly something special. I have been intrigued by this series since The Lady and the Highwayman and this third book is just stunning. Brogan is an incredible hero. He is so relatable that it's a bit unnerving. Feeling like you can't be a leader because you are surrounded by leaders is a pretty common experience and seeing how Brogan handles this challenge is amazing especially because he isn't confident he can be a leader. Vera is a delightful heroine. I loved her from the very first mention of her. She and Brogan go so well together that it just makes me happy! 
This story is unique because it furthers the overall story in the dread penny series while also helping the readers to better understand the world of Victorian era. It also throws some Irish folklore into it which is just fun! This series just keeps getting better and better which is a very impressive accomplishment!

I liked this book way more than the last one in the series! It had its problems, but as a whole, it was a super entertaining read.

The one thing that set this one apart from the others had to be the romance. In the last one, both me and my buddy read partner were disappointed by the lack of angst. There were problems, but they were resolved almost immediately. Yes, I dislike unnecessary angst, but some is required to keep things dynamic. Anyway, this book did a much better job of promising conflict, and then delivering on it!

Also, I absolutely loved the dynamic between Brogan and Vera. They started out as friends, and slowly grew to something more. It did grow a bit fast near the end, but I enjoyed the development of their relationship.

I had originally thought this series was going to be a trilogy, so I am slightly disappointed by the lack of resolution in it. It definitely set up for the next book, but it also felt unfinished. Unlike the others, the main mystery is barely solved, and we're left with more questions than answers. It's not a bad thing, it's just something I wasn't expecting.

The reason this isn't 5 stars is the penny dreadfuls it contains. I absolutely loved them in the first book, they were fresh and unique. They've gotten continually worse though. In this book, they just threw off the pacing, and interrupted the pacing. They also felt hastily finished, and I wasn't a fan of either one.

Although I was disappointed by several elements of this one, I still really enjoyed it! I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series, as I can't wait to see what it brings.

Thanks to Sarah M Eden and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review

These Penny Dreadful books were the first thing I read from Sarah Eden last year and since I have been steadily working my way through her entire backlog. This series though has a special place as my first from her so I was anxiously awaiting the chance to read this next installment!
I really enjoyed Brogan’s character in the previous books (and his sister) and I was quite excited to get in his head and have his story. He is one of those guys that is just quintessentially good. He doesn’t have a lot in life but he uses what he does have to help others at every corner. But his kind and generous heart doesn’t mean that he doesn’t also know how to fight to protect those under his care.
Vera was a great addition to the group, I loved her wit and spunk her secret love of stories. 
Vera and Brogan were well-matched in pretty much every way. They gave as good as they took with banter yet also knew when to be serious. And I loved the way they truly worked as partners, letting each other be who they were and do what they needed to do without stepping on toes yet always being right there to back them up when the time came! 
It was of course intriguing as they puzzled out more of the schemes of the big bad they’ve been trying to nab throughout the series. Every turn seems to uncover more questions and danger but I’m loving it!
The Penny Dreadful serials woven amongst the chapters again added a fun level to the book and we’re enjoyable in their own right!
All in all a smashing addition to the series and I’m already counting down till we get another!

Another great read from Sarah M. Eden in the same style as the previous two novels and a continuation of the ongoing story arch. I liked the characters of Brogan and Vera, they felt fresh and relatable and it was easy to see why they would form an attachment. Being the third book in a series the other side characters such as members of the Dread Penny Society are well developed even as side characters for the majority of this story. I wasn't entirely convinced with the "big reveal" regarding what Vera's father was up to with the print shop but I didn't feel that invested in it anyway. I was much more interested in the relationships between the characters and finding out more about the mysterious Dread Penny Society and their ongoing quest to stop the Mastiff. Like the previous two books this is technically three stories with two "Penny Dreadfulls" interspersed between chapters of the main story. I liked this idea because it is something different, but personally I was not that interested in those stories, I honestly just wanted to find out what was happening with the main characters.

Many thanks to Netgallery for the e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Far too often I will request to read a book that ends up being part of a series so I have to do a bit of backtracking, even with standalone books I like to know what came before. All that said it was a well written engaging story and addition to the series. With a little romance and suspense and a few twists and turns and a happily ever after. I’ll be checking out other series by the author in the future.

(5/9/2021) 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an e-ARC of this wonderful novel!

The Merchant and the Rogue is an action-packed historical mystery with charming and lovable characters. It's my introduction into the Dread Penny Society (DPS) series (I am excited to dive into the other two books!), a Victorian mystery series with a dash of romance. 

For a long while, I lost my passion for reading. In 2019, I took a Mysteries and Detective Fiction course at my local community college and despite not ever reading anything from that genre before, it revived my love of delving into written stories. I'm mostly a fantasy reader but now there is a special place in my heart for mysteries. I loved the formatting of this book; there is the main story but in between sections, there are stories from different members of the DPS which were a lot of fun to read. 

The strongest point of the story is the cast Eden has created. The main characters and the side characters are delightful. I'm sure I would've been more excited if I read the previous books before I read this one as I'm sure certain appearances are like easter eggs. Nonetheless, I want to know more about these other DPS members! This little band of writer/crime fighters are great.

Lastly, the romance is sooooo sweet and slow burn. There's even a little bit of angst thrown in there to tug at our heartstrings. Vera and Brogan are adorable and I can't wait to see what lies in store for them.

I received a free e-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

This was better than the last, but nowhere near the first.

I don't know where this series went wrong, but with the first amazing book, the less than enjoyable second, and this marginally better Third, I don't know whether this series is worth keeping up with any more. I will most likely read the next instalments too, but I don't know where the potential that the first one had went.

This book actually had conflict, and angst, and actual character differences, so compared to the second one, this one was amazing. But compared to what drew me to this series, the first book, it still wasn't that good.

The plot is alright, but I honestly thought this was just going to be a trilogy, so it was a bit disappointing to see that nothing much ended up happening except that the most notorious and previously thought most dangerous criminal got caught. But now there's an even worse one, so we're more or less back to square one?

I like that this explored the way the members of the Dread Penny society were facing numerous problems with being able to tell their family members, but I would have liked the resolution in this book? I would have loved to see the ending actually including the decision and it's consequences at the end.

Vera and Brogan's romance was so many levels above Ana and Hollis, just because there was angst. I'm telling you, after The Gentleman and The Thief, I'll enjoy nearly everything if there's actual conflict; the book was just so boring. But this is not the review for that book, so you can go and read my grievances there.

The penny dreadfuls have gotten boring though? the first book ones were amazing, though I didn't i>love the vampire one; in the second book they were alright, but the gentleman and thief one seemed out of place because in the first Elizabeth was drawing inspiration form her life, but here she seems to be drawing inspiration from two other people's lives that she is not actually privy to, so it seems weird?; and in the third, the same problem was there, and in both the second and third book I didn't completely love the ones not by Mr. King.

The Dead Zoo one was okay, but the ending was like those creepy ones where you're left like WHAT OH NO like those Ruskin Bond ones where you realise 5 minutes after reading the ending the creepy meaning of what was actually happening. Or even Roald Dahl level ones. Or even those Enid Blyton short story endings, if you've read Anytime Tales or ones like that.

Honestly, my favourite parts of this book were when we had cameos of Elizabeth and Fletcher, so that should tell you a lot about how this ended up being.

The ending was not to my liking because it seemed really incomplete. We just left the story when we could have done with a couple more chapters to explain what happens next with Vera. And the other thing I didn't like about it was the permanency.

In both this book and the last, we end with a typical historical romance ending where the characters end up marrying but I loved the open ending of the first book a lot more. Fletcher and Elizabeth don't end up marrying and are still courting, and honestly that is the best ending because it subverts insta-love so well. And in both this and the last, the proposal seems too early and jarring compared to the voice of the first book.

I laughed so loud when he reason behind Vera's father's' hate were revealed, which was not the correct emotion to display but it was so funny somehow? Like of course this would be the reason, how else could this have possibly ended. In like a sarcastic way. But my BR partner agreed with me, so I think I'm not completely mad. Yet.

One the main likes for me about this series is that the characters are all middle class or middle class adjacent, which allows for a lot of other stories to be told than the typical historical romance involving earls, dukes, and marquesses.

On the whole, an alright book by itself, but not a very good sequel. I would recommend it to readers of this series, but to take this recommendation with a grain of salt because you might not find the magic of the first one in this. And also to anyone who likes the secret hidden identity trope, friends to lovers trope, historical romances that do focus on plot and do it somewhat well, and ones involving the middle class.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars 

These two siblings have had my interest since book one in the series, so I was so excited to finally get a chance to know them better throughout this story! I loved the development of Brogan and Vera, each with their own unique histories and cultures, they find common ground as they stand up for injustice in Vera’s neighborhood. I loved seeing more of the Dread Penny Society gang and appreciated the opportunity to get caught up on what bad guys like Four Fingered Mike and the Mastiff are up to. The diverse characters and unique story telling style makes for an interesting and enjoyable plot. While I really enjoyed the scenes with the familiar faces from the DPS, I loved reading the scene with Vera and Moirin in the print shop! I loved this read and am definitely looking forward to seeing what adventures the future has in store for this cast of characters!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publshing for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Ms. Eden is one of my favorite authors especially in regency romance and truthfully if I'd been handed the first book in this series by any other author I might not have read it because it isn't my usual type of read but since I read all of Eden's books, I did. It took me a bit to get used to the Penny Dreadful stories but I found I liked them. They aren't too awfully dreadful for me. I've enjoyed each of the books more than the last.
I've seen some reviews that said they didn't find the Penny Dreadfuls necessary in the book but I think they aren't getting that the whole idea is to build a story around them. That is what sets this series apart from others. I wouldn't have really understood what the stories were if I hadn't read them in the book. I've never experienced reading anything like them before this series. It is important to the book for the reader to understand what they were and why people would be so addicted to them and seek out the next installment.
As for this particular book, I liked the main characters and hope that their happily ever after will be full of good things. And I still love that these writers are so willing to go undercover and risk danger to help the less fortunate who can't help themselves.
The evil people in this book are so horrible. I'm not sure how many books are planned for this series but I sure hope they catch the Mastiff before too long. I don't know how much more of him I can take.

Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes
*I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

Wow! This book is so good! It is entertaining, witty, romantic, action-packed, mysterious, quick-moving, full of twists, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "The Merchant and the Rogue", I was whisked back in time to the Victorian Era, and went on quite a journey with this story.

This is the third book in Sarah M. Eden's "The Dread Penny Society" series, and, this series is simply incredible! Ms. Eden has such a brilliant and unique way of storytelling, and I am immediately drawn into any book of hers from the first page to the last. Her characters all feel like such incredibly real people, and each has a distinct personality. Every moment is so well-thought out and helps to push the plot forward in one way or another, and I truly forgot that I was reading much of the time, as I felt I was right there back in time. I can only imagine the amount of research Ms. Eden must have done, as every aspect of this book felt so authentic to the era it is set in. 

Vera works in her family's bookshop, and she absolutely loves to read Penny Dreadfuls. Brogan is a Penny Dreadful writer, and is member of The Dread Penny Society, a society whose main goal is to help those in need. When Brogan begins to work in the bookshop, he and Vera start to get to know one another, and their chemistry is quick to start. Both are so passionate about helping those in need, and have such kinds hearts. Both have understandable fears as well. With secrets, lies, danger, and much more, will these two allow their hearts to lead them to love? I do not want to spoil anything in this review, so, I will simply say, you must read this book!

Furthermore, Ms. Eden seamlessly weaves in pieces of Penny Dreadfuls throughout the book, and I feel like they really help to add to the story. I also loved seeing some characters from previous books in the series as well! 

If you enjoy historical romance and / or historical fiction, I highly recommend this book! It had me turning the pages to see what would happen next, and I had such a hard time putting this book down. I hope this series continues, and that we see many of these characters again! I hope we see more or Moiron's story soon as well!

Thank you so much to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, and to Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a physical ARC as well, it is incredible! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was definitely a different kind of historical fiction. I'm used to them being very very spicy. This one was definitely more about the story. There were points when I found too much going on. I liked that we got to read the penny dreadfuls but I felt like there was a lot of stories to remember and that sometimes took away from the story of Vera and Brogan. 

I really liked the two main characters and I enjoyed seeing their feelings fro each other bloom. I wish there would have been even more of that. At some point I felt like they were in love and I didn't really see or understand how they got there. 

This is the third in the series and I definitely recommend reading the other two books first. I didn't and I think that can account for a lot of my confusion. 

But this was a good suspenseful book and I think you will really enjoy it if you are interested in historical fiction, but don't always like the spice that comes with it. Also, if you like the show Penny Dreadful I think you'd enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review

The Merchant and the Rogue was highly enjoyable! It was awesome to read a book that combined Penny Dreadfuls, a romance and a good old fashioned mystery! Highly recommend to anyone who wants a quick fun read.

The mystery is definitely building in this series with each book. I have always like Brogan so it was fun to read his story. Vera is so kind hearted on one hand and a strong leader on the other. I love how Brogan and Vera compliment each other and become better versions of themselves. Overall a great book and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Once again, I am amazed by this author's storytelling ability, not to mention the authentic historical details that she weaves so effortlessly to create realistic environments and characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the return of several members of the Dread Penny Society from the previous books in this series, and I was particularly happy that this was Brogan's story, as he and his sister have intrigued me since my first introduction to them. I liked the two penny dreadfuls mixed in with the main storyline, although I was dissatisfied with the conclusion of one, perhaps only because I was expecting something different, but I must admit the unexpected ending was quite clever. Sarah M. Eden's creativity never fails to astound me. The romance was more satisfying than in the previous books, giving me a greater sense of happily-ever-after, although it's clear this series will continue. There were a few situations where my implausibility button was pushed and suspending disbelief was challenging. For example, why do villains who outnumber and outweapon and outsize the hero/heroine stand around waiting their turn while the hero/heroine battles them one by one? And also wait for the hero/heroine to work out a plan? Overall, these were entertaining stories-within-a-story that kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning, and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Another win for Sarah Eden. I absolutely adore this series and each one becomes a new favorite gem I will always treasure. Brogan and Vera are wonderful. They each have hard pasts and heart breaking stories to tell. As always, the urchins that enter their lives steal the show and are enduring, wonderful characters. The penny dreadfuls are entertaining and spooky! I enjoy them almost as much as the story itself. The elusive Mastiff makes another appearance in this charming adventure full of surprises and page turning perfection.

Brogan Donnelly has spent several years in London, building a career as a Penny Dreadful writer. With the help of his fellow writers, he does what he can to help the poor. His membership of the Dread Penny has meant lying to his sister, a matter that weighs heavily on him. More lies pile on as he seeks information about a growing criminal organization and he falls in love with a Russian immigrant, Vera Sorokina, the daughter of a printer. Can he trust her with the truth and gain her forgiveness when he has lied to her face?

After feeling disappointed with the second book of this series, I was a little hesitant about this one but it was better than I was expecting. Brogan was a wonderful character to follow, and I loved how his back story was hinted at but never directly told until later on in the story. He reminded me of my favorite characters from this author’s other series, Longing for Home.

Vera was also an interesting character. She adores reading the penny dreadful tales, doing so in secret as her father dislikes anything to do with writers. Her own backstory causes her to consider writers as untrustworthy, though she enjoys the tales they weave. This sets up a believable conflict between her and Brogan.

This book builds on the previous one, with familiar villains we have seen before. More than book two, this tale lets us in that there is a large conspiracy that our heroes and heroines are fighting against. It will take all of their cleverness to take down the villains before disaster strikes.

Readers who enjoy Victorian romance interspersed with a much larger mystery will enjoy this series.

Up to par
Synopsis:

The Dread Penny Society (DPS) is an exclusive & secret cooperative that consists of those who write 'Penny Dreadfuls' and dedicate a part of their profits and particular skills to improving the lives of the down of their luck children and other altruistic ventures.

Brogan Donnelly, Irish and good natured, is on the verge of retiring his membership penny. Living a double life and keeping it from his tight knit sister is wearing on him, when he brings up his qualms to the mysterious & elusive Dread Master-The 'Charlie' to DPS's 'Charlies Angels'- offers him an alternative: To publicly quit the DPS & go undercover on a super secret mission. So, just to reiterate, his solution to Brogan being sick of living a lie is to embroil him in an even more elaborate and high risk lie? That's some solid logic ...

The assignment takes him to adopting an alias an getting a job at Sorokin Print shop run by Russian immigrant who was seen in company of the ambassador. The ambassador was linked to Four finger Mike, a nefarious sort who works for the criminal mastermind ‘the Mastiff’ whom we first met in The Lady and the Highwayman.

Vera Sorokina's father owns the shop and she runs the storefront. She loves Penny Dreadfuls but has to surreptitiously enjoy them as her father- ironically for running a print shop- does not like Vera reading, and he puts up a big fuss to even carry Penny Dreadfuls. This dude should rethink his line of buisness...
Due to past dealings, Mr Sorokin hates writers, thinks the whole profession is a breeding ground for monsters, and that the lot of 'em are shifty.

Brogan used to being a supporting player is nervous about rising up to the challenge of going undercover solo and not blowing his cover, especially as the shop sells his stories.

Vera is friendly, but cautiously wary of Donnelly. With good reason to be as even his name is a lie, but Vera ought to think twice before casting the first stone on that front...

What Charmed:

♡Historical details.
♡Sorokina: compassionate, discerning, and self-possessed.
♡Moirin is an empowered badass- my favorite character in this story if I had to pick.

What Marred:
✗The love story was ehh. It just wasn't anything out of the way, and for the category of 'Historical Romance' it keeps company with epic love stories like that of Rhett & Scarlett, Christine & The Phantom and Darcy & Elizabeth etc. Of course those are big boots to fill, but all the same they had a very run of the mill courtship. I have heard more romantic stories from acquaintances.

✗The problem with these type of series that remain in the same 'universe' but follow a different pair of characters each book is that we end up with less character development. In this story I also found that it was 1 step forward two steps; the star of this series is the Dread Penny Society and yet I still feel it has not been fleshed out enough, not enough revelations or lore/ Canon has been introduced as the story has continued.

✗I like the idea of the Penny dreadfuls themselves being included in the story but to make these interruptions work they would have to be more interesting than they were. Perhaps they are more accurate, as these were not high literature back in the day for a penny, and considering the audience, but it just felt like filler and dull one at that.

The Brass Tacks:
➭At the end of the day you can give a million reasons why you loved or hated a story, but those will only take you so far, it is more a gut feeling. Small things that bring a character to life, a chemistry that leaves you hopelessly invested in them, places them in a challenging situation that moves you, where they are tested in a compelling fashion, and you are helplessly tied to to the story, balancing on the edge of your seat.

Unfortunately, with this entire series I have felt quite lukewarm about it from the start. It is alright, but I have not once been enthralled by the plot nor interested in the characters- just the premiss; I think it a brilliant one, but I feel Ms Eden has not taken risks or ventured to deeper waters to bring the pages to roaring life.

I am very much a fan of Brogan and Vera. This series is a lot different than any of Sarah M Eden’s other novels and although there are some factors that I am not a fan of, they are always entertaining. 

I enjoyed the banter between Brogan and Vera. The fact that they are both genuinely kind people was a sweet coincidence and I enjoyed the scenes where they helped people together. I was a bit confused with some factors involving the Mastiff. Hopefully future books will be a bit more enlightening on what’s going on so I won’t feel as lost. 

I’m not a huge fan of two short stories being contained within a main storyline. I find that it often would detract from the story and then I would forget what happened in the previous chapters. It wouldn’t be an issue as much if I had time to read it straight through. If only there was time in the day for that to be possible. As a side note: I am more invested in the mini stories that contain some sort of romance. 

I received a complementary advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. This in no way affected my opinion or my review.

Sarah M Eden delights readers once again with two cleverly interwoven penny dreadful stories that tie into this Victorian whodunnit with a healthy helping of romance!  I love how the penny dreadful stories add depth to the narrative of the good deeds and challenges of the authors in the Dread Penny Society.  This book also had some highlight-worthy quotes; the pacing was good, the characters endearing and well suited, and I love the direction this series is headed! 

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are completely my own.

4.5/5 

I really enjoyed this! I have not read the first two in the series, but I was intrigued when I saw this on Netgalley and decided to give it a go. 

This novel is told in a unique format. There is the main story, set in old timey London, of two immigrants - Irish Brogan and Russian Vera. Brogan writes Penny Dreadfuls - short stories that used to come out in episodes that cost only a penny each. They were the equivalent of trash TV at the time - very popular but looked down upon as low brow. Vera works in a print shop that sells the Dreadfuls. Brogan takes a job at the shop to help him work on solving a mystery for the underground society of authors known as the Dread Penny society. He gives Vera a false identity - but soon they're tangled in a more complicated web than they expected - both in their neighbourhood, and in their hearts...

Interspersed with this main story is two Penny Dreadful stories, an instalment at a time mixed amongst the chapters of the main story. These short stories have elements that echo the main narrative. 

I can see from reviews that this structure isn't for everyone, but I actually loved it! I had no problem switching between the different stories, and truth be told, I think my scattered, short-attention-span brain actually enjoyed it more than a normal narrative! 

I thought the characters of Brogan and Vera were lovely, and their budding romance very sweet. I also loved Brogan's sister Moirin and would love to see her get her own story. 

I had no problem following this story as a standalone but I'd like to read the previous two now. The ending of this one definitely sets up for more stories in the future, and I would definitely be keen to return to the world of the Dread Penny Society.

Sarah Eden is one of my favorite authors and I have loved almost everything I have read from her, but I have really struggled to enjoy this series. 

I enjoyed the main story line of the Merchant and the Rouge and loved the main characters of Brogan and Vera. Their love story was touching and sweet. 

While many others I have talked to love the Penny Dreadfuls inserted throughout the books in this series, I personally find them frustrating. There are a lot of storylines and characters to keep track of. I spent the first few pages of each chapter trying to remember what was going on I that particular story. 

Overall it is a fun story with engaging characters. It was actually one of my favorite storylines of the series. I recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the first two books in this series.

Loved this!! The atmosphere from the inserts of the little stories in between chapters really pushed you through the book.

My four-star review was posted on Goodreads and I attached the link to the review below in the designated area.

The Merchant and the Rogue is book 3 in The Dread Penny Society series by Sarah M. Eden, published by Shadow Mountain Publishers. This story is set in London 1865 and is about Dread Penny Society member Brogan Donnelly. By working there, he is assigned to secretly investigate a Soho print shop for possible criminal connection to the Russian ambassador’s office. Brogan has to be careful not to tip off shop manager Vera Sorokina about why he is there. Local merchants seem to be at risk if they don’t pay for “protection” against sabotage of their livelihoods, so Brogan and Vera work to stop the crime spree while their feelings for each other grow.
 
Main character is philanthropist Brogan Donnelly who has grown up as an orphan on the streets of Dublin and is passionate about making the lives of poor children easier. I keep whishing he would value himself more, but I like him a lot and he is my favorite of this story.

Supporting character is print shop manager Vera Sorokina, who seems a compassionate and confident business woman with a heart for the street children. I find her very obedient with her father and wish she would have found courage to rebel.

I have read both previous books in the series and would probably recommend reading them in order to get the complete picture, but the story reads perfectly as a standalone too. The plot centers on the secret Dread Penny Society whose purpose is to make the lives of London’s street children better. Brogan Donnelly is an active participant in this. I felt I learned even more from this book about the difficult living conditions for poor, orphaned children in the 1800s.
As it takes place in a poor area where businesses struggle to survive and criminals find a way to exploit it felt unique as I have not read anything similar. 
The dramatic mystery element of figuring out who pressures shopkeepers to pay to prevent destruction of their businesses was one of my favorite parts. 

The description of when Brogan and Vera met for the first time was my absolute favorite part of the story and I loved the bantering between them. Having followed the series so far, I eagerly await what the next book will be about.

Readers who enjoy historical romance stories will enjoy this.  I have read quite a number of Sarah M. Eden’s books and loved them all, so I’m sure other of her fans will too. Similar authors to explore might be Abigail Wilson or Arlem Hawks. 
Thank you to Shadow Mountain, Sarah M. Eden and NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.

Conclusion: In The Merchant and the Rogue, grown-up Irish street urchin Brogan Donnelly works in a print shop to secretly investigate criminal activity when he meets kindhearted Vera Sorokina who is equally passionate about poor children. Brogan and Vera’s feelings for each other grow while they work to stop the crime spree threatening local merchants.

Following 2019’s The Lady and the Highwayman and 2020’s The Gentleman and the Thief, Sarah M. Eden’s clever The Merchant and the Rogue again incorporates the history of Victorian popular fiction into a lighthearted romance. As a former pseudonymous romance writer (quite old, though not actually Victorian) myself, I love the series’ secret society of “penny dreadful” writers. Eden’s obvious affection for 19th-century “pulps” and her deft incorporation of them into her plots makes the books really fun; The Merchant and the Rogue’s pairing of an Irish penny dreadful writer and a bookseller with Russian roots adds another interesting element to its enjoyable mix.

BOOK REVIEW 
The Merchant and the Rogue - Sarah M Eden
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Thank you muchly to @netgalley @sarah_m_eden and especially @coffeebooksandmagic for allowing and recommending this one to me.
A wonderful historical tale full of intrigue, action and romance, The Merchant and the Rogue is the third in its series but can definitely be read as a stand alone. 
It focuses on the DPS or Dread Penny Society, a group of gentlemen who seem to fight injustice all across London. They also write the famed Penny Dreadfuls, periodical stories or mystery and horror, much to the delight of their audience.

When Brogan Donnelly is sent on a secret mission by the Dread Master himself, he finds himself deep undercover without the protection of his brethren and in the middle of a a blackmail ring affecting the merchants in soho. He also comes face to face with the fearless and strong minded Vera and her father, who mistrusts writers and  everything about them. 

How will he solve the blackmail plague, win the girl and get back to the DPS? What unfurls is a atmospheric and intrigue filled tale with fantastic characters and a powerful opening for the series to continue. Great stuff.

I love Vera and Brogan's characters. They are strong loving characters who are humble yet give all that they have to help others. There are so many secrets going around in this story that it is tough to keep them all straight. That is one of the main points though. Living a life of secrets is a hard and sometimes painful way to live. I love watching communities come together to strengthen the individuals within. Once again I found that following 3 plot lines was distracting. It is clever how the Penny Dreadful stories within correspond to the main story. However, I find it frustrating to keep switching plot lines. Like another reviewer mentioned I think for the next book in the series I will skip the chapters that are the Penny Dreadful stories and come back to them after I complete the main story. Regardless, I am enjoying watching this series unfold.