The Bachelor and the Bride by Sarah M. Eden is a great historical fiction that has it all: romance, mystery, suspense, and is the fourth book in the enjoyable The Dread Penny Society series.

I have now read all four books in this series, and I am still really enjoying them. Each one continues with an overarching theme, while spotlighting one of the members of the secret society.

This book continues at the same time/location of London during the year of 1866. The Mastiff and his underground crime network continue to escape justice and create mayhem at every turn. This book focusses on the characters of Dr. Barnabus Milligan and Gemma Kincaid and their complicated relationship. We get to see more of the backstory and also the conflicting and unbalanced emotions that are surrounding them. Brought together again to help right some of the wrongs that have come up, they both work together…and also maybe get a chance to work on their own feelings and their relationship as well.

The Penny Dreadful snippets that are sprinkled throughout add a bit of complexity to the overall novel, and I continue to enjoy those and the unique quality that they add to this series.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series. I love Ms. Eden…such talent.

5/5 stars

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

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/6/22.

What a phenomenal book!
This book is absolutely fantastic! Three years ago, Barnabus married Gemma to get her away from her father and the family business of resurrectionists (grave robbers). But just months into the marriage Gemma left when Barnabus told her he didn’t love her and didn’t see that changing. Now he has reached out to her and asked her to return. She assumes he has changed his mind, something she had been hoping for. Instead, the request is for her help in the efforts of the Dread Penny Society who are working against the Mastiff’s gang who have recruited the resurrectionists to help in their activities. With Barnabus and Gemma both struggling with horrible pasts and the present threats can anything change? Woven within this story are two other Penny Dreadfuls (short stories) and I found myself reading one of them, thoroughly engaged to the point I would forget they weren’t the main story. So much fun. Although this book is part of a series it could be read as a standalone although I’m sure you’ll be wanting to read the other books as well. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

Oh my goodness gracious! If you haven't had the chance to read any of the Dread Penny Society books, I suggest you start now because this one tops them all. There are so many spoilers and reveals that I can't share because it would ruin it for you but man this one is soo good. Sarah Eden has me sitting on the edge of my seat wanting to read faster but at the same time wanting it go by slow so I can savor it better. Dr. Barnabus Milligan is such a good-hearted guy- I mean all of the Dread Penny Society men are and Gemma is such a plucky, happy girl that you want them to figure things out to find their happily ever after. But there is soo much in their way- danger both of the heart and a physical nature. I can't say anymore otherwise I worry I will spoil it. I recommend making sure you have the time to read it all because I guarantee you won't want to set it down!

This has been a good series. I have enjoyed it. I like Eden's writing. This one ended with an ending that was a little hard for me to swallow. I just couldn't believe it and that took away some of the enjoyment for me with this one. SPOILERS( The whole book they talk about how these men unbury the dead and in the end the whole point is for them to get away with faking there death. Wouldn't they have banked on the fact that these guys would dig them up? I keep expecting to see the police come out and finally get the grave robbers..... but what you get instead makes no sense to me....If the bad guys have known all along what is the point..) ENDED.
This one just left me scratching my head. I still am not a fan of the 2 other smaller books in the middle of the book either. I ended up skipping over them and then going back and only reading one. They just don't hold my interest. I love Eden's characters and all the feelings she puts into her stories.
So fun romance between these two but the mystery and all it's parts are getting unbelievable and too complex.

It is 1866 and Barnabus, a doctor, writer of penny dreadfuls and member of a secret society aptly name the Penny Dreadful Society is trying to help the poor and exploited of London. Gemma, Barnabus’s secret wife-in-name-only is from a family of grave robbers, the Kincaids, and has been in hiding for the past three years. Barnabus, Gemma and all of London are being terrorized by the sinister criminal overlord, the Mastiff and his cronies, the Kincaids and the Kincaids want Gemma back.

Barnabus is closed down emotionally because of his painful past. It makes sense that he doesn’t recognize his love for Gemma. But it is beautiful to watch him come to that realization.

Gemma is such an appealing character: a strong and clever woman. In fact she is described as “sharp as shards and brave as arrows.” She is deeply in love with Barnabus and is willing to sacrifice herself for him. The Mastiff and the grave robbing Kincaids are out there and they are sinister. She’ll need that bravery and intelligence.

For those who’ve been reading the series it is a delight to finally learn the identity of both the head of the secret society and of the Mastiff. There are other mysteries being revealed as well. This is a satisfying and gripping novel and addition to the series.

It is a tale of suspense and love. You can feel the sense of foreboding, the race against time, throughout the novel. It just doesn’t seem like there can be a positive resolution. And as a entertaining added bonus there are stories within the story-written as if they were penny dreadfuls. This clever plot device mirrors and expands on the main story and is just plain fun and an interesting read.

The library has the rest of the series and they are quite popular. I look forward to recommending this recent entry.

I always look forward to another mysterious Victorian tale by Sarah Eden! The Bachelor and The Bride was an interesting twist to this series. The danger seems to lurk around every corner and the criminal mastermind the Dread Penny’s have been chasing is becoming more bold and crafty which makes for an unpredictable story. The romance in this story was a bit unusual and I have to say that I wanted a bit more. Our hero and heroine share a past and the love story was more of a coming to awareness of love, rather than a falling in love. That said the relationship was tender and sweet and worth the slower paced steps it took to come to fruition. The end was intense and shocking! No really, you really cannot predict the end! Some major things were revealed and a nail biting plan was enacted! No spoilers! The next book is going to be epic I’m sure! This series is so fun and unique and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

I don't know where to begin. This book was everything I hoped for and also everything I didn't know I needed in this series. It is a perfect fit, with wonderful twists and turns, leaving the reader on the edge of the seat. I didn't want to put it down, however, I also did not want it to end. I would have to force myself to put the book down so that I didn't finish it too quickly and so that I could absorb all its goodness.

Barnabus Milligan is the DPS's resident doctor and bachelor, at least that's what everyone else thinks. It is not until the Mastiff's current works that requires him to tell the others that he actually is married and that his wife doesn't live with him. Gemma Kincaid married Barnabus three years ago to escape her family. She knew their marriage was not out of love, but hoped that something resembling it would eventually happen. After months of trying, she left, waiting for the day when he calls her back. When that day comes, Gemma is excited for what that means until she discovers what her despicable family has been up to. Gemma feels trapped, desperate to escape them again and keep Barnabus and her friends safe. Barnabus is desperate for Gemma to stay with him, and to understand his own feelings.

I cannot wait for more in this series! It feels like this and the previous books have been fantastic, but the best it yet to come!

Oh. My. Word. I will read anything Sarah Eden writes. I wasn't sure about Baz and Gemma at first, I thought they would be fools who took forever hemming and hawing about their relationship, but Eden is better than that, and has proved it yet again. This was so exciting!! So much came together in this fourth installment of the Dread Penny Society. And that ending!! One bombshell followed by another. Chills, I got chills. My jaw is still on the ground needing to be picked up. Can I have book 5 immediately please?! The only thing is, in my opinion, a reader really needs to start the series from the beginning, but it's hardly a chore. Okay, I'll stop signing praises over this book now. I received an ARC copy from the publisher via netgalley for an honest review.

I really liked the main story between Barnabus/Baz and Gemma.

Until now, everyone has thought that Dr. Milligan is a bachelor, but he's actually been married to Gemma Kincaid. They married in secret on account of her being related to the Kincaid family who are resurrectionists.

As Baz and Gemma work together with the rest of the DPS members to get themselves and others to safety, their relationship progresses from their 3-year estrangement to friendship and eventually more.

The last chapter was a revelation and I'm looking forward to what that means in the next book.

I still think the little DPS stories would be better served as bonus content instead of in the middle of the main story. I skipped them, since I find them to be very distracting interruptions.

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

Book Review: The Bachelor and the Bride by Sarah M. Eden
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I. Am. Speechless. Literally no words. Let me try and formulate something after finishing this book.
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I read the first book in this series and didn’t think it could get any better. With each book that came out I was proved wrong. This is already such a unique idea and somehow Sarah M Eden just keeps topping her previous book. I love the mystery that she weaves through the books and draws me back with the need to know more. This book was so good! My jaw was literally on the floor by the end, and I need to know what comes next. All I have to say about this series is that it just goes to show how brilliant of a story weaver Sarah M. Eden is!
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My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Clean romance, ends on a cliffhanger

I loved this book!!!! Another great addition in this fun world of Penny Dreadful authors and those who love them. Great surprises and reveals. The characters are so real and easy to cheer for. I love this series.

"The Bachelor and the Bride" was a good addition to the Dread Penny Society series.

I'm a big fan of Sarah M. Eden's, but I much prefer her Regency series to her Victorian one. The Dread Penny Society is still very well written, but I'm less attached to the characters and less interested in the working class people of London in the 1860s. I also generally don't like mysteries, and have to admit I was sometimes a bit lost in what was going on in this series with The Mastiff and his clan as I didn't remember the previous books in the series well. One needs to read them all to understand what's going on.

In "The Bachelor and the Bride", we follow Barnabus 'Baz" Milligan and his secret wife, Gemma, that he married to save her from her family (although I'm not sure how he did that - how did marrying her saved her? Why couldn't she just escape from her family?). Their relationship was sweet, but it wasn't the main focus of the story, contrary to what the cover might make us believe. It was nice to see them amongst the CALL society and Baz's friends.

I didn't really enjoy the penny dreadful novels included in the previous books in the series, but for this one, I have to say that I liked them more. I especially enjoyed the medical mystery - it fitted well with Doc's personality to have written it, and I was looking forward to the resolution of that penny dreadful. Unfortunately, that mystery wasn't solved...

As for the bigger mystery in the series, it's not getting close to getting solved. The whole whole fraud/child labour/forced prostitution/arson/blackmail/forgeries/extortion stuff is still going on in London because of the Mastiff, although we hear less about it than in "The Merchant and the Rogue". Here, we learn about the "restrictionist" trade (i.e. those taking bodies out of cemeteries to sell them), which was very interesting - and creepy. It gets a lot creepier towards the end of the book - for sensible souls, I wouldn't advise reading the last two chapters right before going to sleep!...

The cover of the book is gorgeous but definitely not in the tones that the novel inspires - I'd rather see it in dark grey tones!

I'm kinda curious what's going to happen in the next instalments but I hope the mystery will soon be solved.

Okay, so this was just so good! And I need the next book right now! The Bachelor and the Bride is the fourth book in Sarah M Eden’s Penny Dreadfuls Series! I was super excited for this book and it did not disappoint. This was such a fun book especially because it had a marriage of convenience! I love these kinds of stories, and the romance was so sweet.
Dr. Barnabas Milligan was the bachelor of the group, content to be by himself but little was it known to his friends that he had a wife. It was so interesting to read about him. He had so many layers hidden behind his walls and facade. I loved him from the beginning. He cared greatly for those who were hurting. He wanted to help create a better world especially for the women who were forced into jobs. However, he was also scared of losing those he loved so he closed himself off. Baz will have to learn how to let Gemma in and allow her to bring light into his life.
Gemma Kincaid married Baz to save herself from her family. But she lost her heart along the way. Gemma was used to the shadows, to be ignored, but she couldn’t handle that from Baz. Oh, I loved Gemma. She was so full of life and joy. She had not had an easy life but she strived to look to the light. It was lovely to read about her and get to know her. She had to learn to open her heart back to Baz. Gemma had to learn to trust that Baz was different from those who had left her and led her astray.
Gemma and Baz were a fun couple. I just really enjoyed reading about them falling in love and connecting again. I liked their easy banter and how they made each other better. I also liked how the romance didn’t feel rushed but fit with the story.
The plot was also very engaging, and there were a lot of surprises and twists. I didn’t know what was going to happen and it was very exciting to read. It was a bit hard when the penny dreadfuls interrupted the main story, but it was not that bad. I also liked seeing the other characters and I am excited to see whose story Eden is going to write next. I have some theories but I really don’t know. :)
I would totally recommend The Bachelor and the Bride! It was a wonderful book! It is a clean historical romance. However, there is some violence and mentions of brothels because of the time period and where the characters are in London. The Bachelor and the Bride is part of a series, and it is best read in order.

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.

Yet again Sarah Eden did not miss the mark with The Bachelor and the Bride. You will go wrong with one of her tales!

Thank you for the ARC via NetGalley

First of all this was different than what I was expecting but was still a good read. When I requested this book I had no idea it was part of a series. I will need to go back and read the other books in the series to catch up on what I missed. That being said you can 100% read this as a stand alone novel, I had no problem understanding what was happening because the author recapped things thoroughly.

This was a great mix of mystery along with Baz and Gemma's story. I had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

I normally like my romance novels with a little more steam. This is a very chaste romance with brief kisses and embraces but I still enjoyed the story as a whole and would recommend to anyone looking for a good mystery with a sweet love story mixed in.

This was a great story! What twists and turns this group of writers and do-gooders lives take! This book is focused around the Doc and his unknown wife prior to this book. Gemma is from a family of resurrectionists and left the family business. Things with the Mastiff have elevated and now they need to find a way to stop the evil.
This was so hard to put down. And the ending, Oh So Good!! I can't wait for the next one!

I recieved an arc of this book from Netgalley. It was incredible. So many twists and turns with just the right amount leading up to it so that you are intrigued but you dont actually know. I can't wait for more.

I totally loved this book. I loved the growing relationship between Barnabus and Gemma. Everything was woven together very nicely. Highly recommend reading this.

Thank you Shadow Mountain for the ARC and for bringing great stories like this one.

I received this book from NetGalley. Sarah M. Eden does it again with the Bachelor and the Bride. The Dread Penny Society is getting closer to finding the Mastiff, and the danger has also gotten closer. This book follows Dr. Milligan and his previously unknown wife as they fight against the Mastiff, help the less fortunate, and fall in love. I loved this book. The plot was fast paced, and filled with mystery and romance. And as always I loved the Penny Stories that are told throughout the books.

The Bachelor and the Bride is already the 4th amazing book in this series by Sarah M. Eden. (Which kinda means it was a very much anticipated and auto-request read)

As all books in this series we actually get 3 books in one (2 dread penny novels extra mixed in which in this slight way reflect = are inspired by the "real life")

Barnabus (Baz) is a Bachelor (or so everyone thinks...), who like every Dreadful fights his own battles and struggles. His speciality is safing women and children.

Gemma is a real gem indeed and for me was kinda the safing grace for this book because if not for her extremely hopeful and cheerful nature it would have felt a bit too dark...

Again, this book has a very open ending leaving lot's to the following books...

Generally this book was slightly darker and sadder again than the prequels and discouraging (I'm just one for very happy books).

Main Characters: Clear Backgroundstory, Locigal Actions
Side Charactes: Funny, Adorable, Clear Backgroundstory, Reoccuring (constant character) (though you could have let Fletcher and Elisabeth marry by now come on everyone else could...)
Writing Style: Very good
Content: Clean, just kissing
Violence: Medium, non graphic descriptions but lots of mentions of Resurrections and quite specific in that trade...
Would recommend: Yes, absolutely but read the prequels first.


By the way I'm freaggging excited for Moirjin and X's (you know who if you read this book) story

And also soo excited to finally hear something about Stone's lovelife...


***Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review posted via Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4643155248
A bit confusing.
London in the 1800s, Dr.Barnabus has his schedule full between being a doctor and being a part of a secret society. Dr.Barnabus works with The Dread Penny Society, to save women in desperate need from the streets. Three years before this story takes place, The Doctor married a young woman, Gemma, to rescue her from her family. Gemma quickly comes to realize that her affections for the Doctor are not returned and flees. At the present time in the novel, Barnabus calls Gemma home when he needs her help to create the appearance of a happy couple. Upon her return, Gemma is once again heartbroken when she learns of Barnabus's true intentions, nevertheless, she agrees to help. As the two work together they learn they could be a perfect fit for each other.
Personally, this was not my favorite book. I liked the characters and plot but it was very confusing. I never really understood what the Dread Penny Society really did. Barnabus is also called Baz, it was puzzling and did not make sense. This was not a good fit for me but I would give the author another try for sure.

I have read all of Sarah M. Eden's Penny Dreadful series, and I think this one is my favorite yet!! There was surprise after surprise in this book, and I could not put it down!

I've noticed some other reviews mention that this book was confusing for them- I did not feel that way at all. I've read all the books prior to this in the series, and I highly recommend you start with those. This book builds upon people and events from those books and is not meant to be read as a standalone.

Barnabus and Gemma are so likeable, but are not without flaws. Their flaws stem from broken childhoods, and Sarah M. Eden did such a wonderful job illustrating how trauma from childhood can have a lasting impact on people. Watching the pair navigate a loving relationship that has never been modeled for them had me cheering them on from start to finish. The love story was sweet, hard fought, and so satisfying.

The best part of this book for me was the last page though. We finally find out a key bit of information, and I was so happy with it.

Highly recommend this series and book to readers who love sweet romances, fun mysteries, or period pieces. It checked so many boxes for me! Loved, loved, loved!

the cover of this book immediately caught my attention, then after reading the premise i was even more intrigued! i mean, marriage of convenience? unrequited love? forced proximity? pining? it had the ingredients for an ideal romance. and it succeeded... in the romance department. but this, despite being promoted as a romance book, is heavily plot-driven.

i started this book a) not knowing it was part of a series, b) having never read any of the other books in this series. so it didn’t take me long to realise the plot of this book has clearly been running throughout the previous four books. so i was kinda lost at times, ngl. but i did manage to wade through my disorientation and enjoy the plot on a basic level, but i wasn’t invested since i had never read the previous books so had no knowledge of the history leading up to this book.

the relationship between Gemma and Barnabas, however, i was throughly invested in!

Gemma was delightfully charming. she had an endearing air of mischief about her which instantly drew me in and i fell for her right away. she was incredibly easy to root for. while Baz was difficult to get a handle on at first but i grew to be quite fond of him, with his flustered nature combating his confident intelligence.

then Baz’s feelings for Gemma felt really authentic— it was soft and gradual, blossoming from a really tender affection he’s always had for her. the passing touches, the brief embraces, their hands clasped and the way they’d look at one another had my heart in a chokehold, ngl. it was wonderful.

as a romance, this was four stars. but like i said, this was so plot heavy it was would distract from the romance.

while the writing style felt so authentic, as in, if someone told me this was published in the 19th century, id very much believe them. but it wasn’t suffocating or stifling like some Victorian classics can be. if anything, it was vey Conan-Doyle-esque. i just adored it, honestly. the research and attention to detail was impeccable, it was so vivid i could picture the places thoroughly in my mind (some places still thriving today in London) and i loved it so much! so the writing style and romance is what worked for me.

i found the Mr King and Baz’s story excerpts a bit distracting and they definitely took me out of the romance between the MCs. but i eventually became somewhat invested in the tale Mr. King wrote— i liked Duncan and Sorcha, and i assume it was the parallel Gemma and Baz. i liked the story on a surface level but nothing much beyond a casual enjoyment.

while Barnabas’ Dread Penny writings i will admit i would briefly skim bcos they held no interest to me. i was desperately wanting get back to Gemma and Barnabas bcos i was so intrigued by them and their dynamic. i appreciated the attention to detail... but i just wasn’t a fan. i think it was too much on top of Duncan and Sorcha’s story. i think one or the other alongside Gemma and Barnabas’ story was enough. but not both.

and at times, there was a lot of info-dumping i found to be overwhelming. i think this could have been rectified with flashbacks or just more insight into Gemma and Baz from three years ago when they first married. especially bcos at times i didn’t know why they wanted to be together? relied too much on assumptions and telling rather than showing the depth and background.

i just think the book just wasn’t too sure about what it wanted to be? it was doing far too much at once that i struggled to truly stay invested. i am very intrigued by this author though and would love to check out more of her work!!

thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Such a great installment in this series. Kept me on my toes and loved getting to know Barnabus bettee. Would highly recommend

Oh. My. GOODNESS!!! This is hands down my favorite DPS book yet, I loved the romance, the suspense, and just everything! Sarah M. Eden does it again, I don’t know how she does it but she keeps getting better and better!

The Bachelor and the Bride

I’ll admit I’ve read a lot of Sarah Eden books, but not any of the Penny Dreadfuls, until now. This was my first and since it’s the 4th in the series I was a little lost for a bit, thinking “what have I got myself into?” However as I continued on I became more interested in the story and what was going on. Sarah has a talent for making anything interesting, though I would recommend reading them in order as they do build upon each other.

That said, there was a sweet love story between the two main characters. They both grew up with very difficult childhood situations, so were a little stunted in their expressions of love and affection. The author did a great job of building their relationship, making you want to cheer them on.

The main story however, revolves around the Dread Penny Society and the Charitable Authors League of London and their efforts to help the poor and downtrodden escape their desperate situations, many of which were caused by “The Mastiff” a big crime boss. In this story he was aided by resurrectionists or gravediggers. So there are some gritty scenes and situations, though tastefully handled.

This book also has a big reveal as they find out who “The Mastiff” really is and also the mystery of who the head of The DPS is discovered.

There were lots of twists and turns, mysteries, tense escape scenes, etc. if this is your jam you’ll be on the edge of your seat turning pages to see what happens.

Sarah Eden does it again! The Penny Dreadfuls that feature throughout add a brilliant touch of uniqueness and mystery to these novels.

You might want to throttle Dr Milligan at times, and hug him at others. His soft heart allows him to feel for others and do anything in his power to save him. But it doesn't communicate well with his brain, which is adamant that he cannot love anyone romantically.

With unexpected twists and turns, this one will have you hooked. And with the big reveal you might end up wondering if you missed clues in the previous Penny Dreadful books, so be ready to reread those once you finish!

I loved this book! It is book 4 in Sarah Eden's Penny Dreadful Series! It's my favorite in the series so far. I loved that this was a marriage of convenience! Barnabus and Gemma were so perfect! I was really impressed how Sarah Eden put this story together! At the end of the book I just sat there in amazement!! We learn some things towards the end that were literally jaw dropping to me!! I can't wait for the next book in this series. I do, however, think that these books could do without the short stories inside the main storyline.

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley as well as a physical ARC from Proper Romance Publishing. All of my thoughts are my own. Thanks again to Netgalley for my eARC and Proper Romance Publishing for my physical copy! This book comes out on September 6th. I will be posting another review on my Instagram when it gets closer to the release date. ❤️

This book picked up right where the third book ended. Immediately tension are high as our group of Dread Penny are trying to figure out what the Mastiff. It’s nonstop from there.

Barnabus and Gemma were great main characters. Both coming from a rough childhood, giving them something to build off. Despite their force marriage, Gemma grows to love Barnabus. This being a Sarah M. Eden book, Barnabus is a lovable idiot, and this sets up the the main couples problem for the story.

I love that we were able to see more of the society and their family. I love that everything is coming together in anticipation of the last book. 👏🏽👏🏽

This book has the same set up as the other three books which made reading it easy. The Penny dreadful stories were great, but a little frustrating at times. They happened when I really didn’t want them too.

I’m looking forward to the next book!

Thanks for NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for giving me the chance to read this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow! This is such a fun series. I loved this book. It is always amazing to me how Sarah M. Eden can write three stories within the book and I can follow each one. I love how the Penny Dreadful stories parallel the actual story. A very interesting way to write a book. Barnabus and Gemma are both delightful characters that have heavy histories. The twists and turns in this book are incredible! I did not see the the end of this one coming at all. I am so excited for the next book. Definitely recommend!

Sarah Eden returns to The Dread Penny Society with "The Bachelor and the Bride", the fourth installment of her thoroughly charming series. Using her unique three-stories-in-one format, Eden pens three tales with different writing styles; one bears the title of the actual story, and the romance is mirrored there.

This one features Dr. Barnabus Milligan and his independent wife Gemma. As she hides from her unscrupulous resurrectionist family, who have teamed up with the elusive Mastiff. Fellow Dread Penny Society members are wonderful secondary characters, along with a few savvy street children.

I greatly enjoyed all three stories. Mr. King's tale spotlights whimsical Scottish folklore, with crafty spirits and attempts to defeat them. "Bodies of Light" has an unexpected macabre twist that is quite pleasing. The most surprises, however, are in the main story. Without giving spoilers, the story arc has taken a new direction.

Sarah Eden is a favorite author of mine, and her writings never fail to disappoint. Her prose is crisp, imagery is vivid, and characters are well-developed. Moreover, this book is clean with few grammatical errors. This is not a stand-alone novel; the series is better understood if the installments are read in order. As I have absolutely loved this series so far, this is fine by me. I am quite interested to see how the paths of future stories play out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this entertaining work.

*Received a copy for review.*
This installment finds the Dread Penny Society still looking for the Mastiff and trying to protect the people who need it. Doc is married unbeknownst to the rest of the members. His words fe returns to help the team learn more about the resurrectionists and what they are up to.

It was a good addition to this series.

Overall impression: The masterful Sarah M. Eden has done it again! "The Bachelor and the Bride" kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire book. Then the ending left me speechless.

This book is the fourth in the Dread Penny Society series. I would recommend that readers read the first three in the series before reading this one since the over-arching storyline moves forward and is advanced in each book. That being said, I think this one is my favorite. I love a good second chance at love storyline and that is what we get in this book.

I also love the "Penny Dreadfuls" included in each book. This one features dreadfuls written by "Mr. King" and Dr. Mulligan. I love how Mr. King's book mirrors the love story of Gemma and Baz. Dr. Mulligan's story is symbolic of his passion in life and helped me understand him a bit better. Both of the stories enhanced the character development of the book and helped me understand the main characters better. There was also a twist in one of them that I didn't see coming. In fact, it distracted me so much that the ending completely blindsided me. The next book should feature a show down of epic proportions. My only complaint about the book is how long I will need to wait until the next one.

I can't get enough of this series from Sarah Eden, and everyone I share them with says the same! All of these characters and their mission have my heart. The Bachelor and the Bride will keep you in suspense, and the ending doesn't disappoint! As always the penny dreadfuls woven throughout are such a fun addition. Thank you for another amazing tale!

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

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

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

5 stars

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

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

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

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

I highling recommend this book and this series.

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you Netgalley & Shadow Mountain for providing me the ARC

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

Holy. Crap! I just finished this book and I am dying. Although I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't my favorite of the three. However, I did enjoy Baz and Gemma's relationship and their rise above difficult times.

I wasn't a huge fan of the resurrectionist aspect of this book, but I understand the need for it. I love how this story is progressing. Sarah is such a great writer! I really enjoy everything she writes but this series is one of my favorites. The writing just really resonates with me for some reason.

I'm desperately looking forward to the next one!

Another great addition to the Dread Penny Society Series!

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

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

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

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

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

THE BACHELOR AND THE BRIDE by SARAH M EDEN is an historical romance novel that takes place in London in 1866. I enjoyed the story and the characters, especially Gemma Milligan and Dr Barbnabus Milligan with their unusual marriage relationship, and the members of the Dread Penny Society with their help to the underdogs in London’s society and their determination to find and destroy the Mastiff and his criminal activity, together with the “resurrectionists”, who are members of Gemma’s family that Barnabus saved her from.
The plot is good, full of intrigue and exciting. I had a problem with the two penny dreadful stories running through the novel and cutting into the flow.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This is my favorite so far of the Dread Penny Society series. It is about Dr. Barnabus (Baz) Milligan, who is a practicing physician and also a writer of Penny Dreadfuls. He also saves women and children around London in the Victorian era 1830s. Over 3 years ago, he married Gemma to save her from her law-breaking family. After 6 months she leaves him and goes into hiding because he would not tell her he loves her. Through a series of events, they are reunited. In the middle of all of this, the Mastiff is growing stronger, braver, and more deadly in his dealings with the people of London who cross him. Will this bring Baz and Gemma together or tear them apart even more? This book was suspenseful, romantic, and scary at times. The Penny Dreadful stories dispersed throughout the book were very good and entertaining. New villains arise and the entire Dread Penny Society is threatened. New things were revealed and other people's lives were made more clear. Very entertaining and although there is romance in the story, it would definitely appeal to those who like mystery and suspense. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Another exciting installment in the series!

Sarah Eden has a gift for creating a large cast of characters that all have unique personalities, quirks, and intriguing storylines. No storyline ever feels repeated and no character copied and pasted into another story. I don't know how she does it!

This story begins with Dr. Barnabus Milligan announcing to his friends that their longtime bachelor friend has actually been married for years - and to the daughter of a notorious grave robber!

His wife has left that life behind, but she has also left behind Barnabus when she discovers that her new husband does not love her - and likely never will. She tells him to let her know that ever changes.

When she finally receives word from him after three years of separation, she is ecstatic that distance really has made his heart grow fonder... or does he merely need her help with a troubling case?

This installment ended on a bit of a cliff hanger and I'm excited to see where the series will go from here!

i got totally into this book. So many twists and turns that I stayed up to finish it! I had to know how it was going to end! Look forward to many more i. this series.

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

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

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

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

- Series best enjoyed when read in order!

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

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

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

Very well done!

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

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