ABOUT THE BOOK:
A gentleman scribes penny dreadful novels by night and falls in love with a woman who is a music teacher by day—and a thief at night.
LONDON 1865
From the moment Hollis Darby meets Ana Newport, he’s smitten. Even though he’s from a wealthy, established family and she isn’t, he wishes he could have a life with her by his side. But Hollis has a secret: the deep coffers that have kept his family afloat for generations are bare, so he supports himself by writing penny dreadfuls under a pseudonym. If not for the income from his novels, he would be broke.
Ana Newport also has a secret. Though she once had a place in society thanks to her father’s successful business, bankruptcy and scandal reduced his fortune to nothing more than a crumbling town house. So Ana teaches music during the day, and at night she assumes the identity of the “Phantom Fox.” She breaks into the homes of the wealthy to reclaim trinkets and treasures she feels were unjustly stolen from her family when they were struggling.
When Hollis’s brother needs to hire a music tutor for his daughter, Hollis recommends Ana, giving him a chance to spend time with her. Ana needs the income and is eager for the opportunity to get to know the enigmatic gentleman. What neither of them expects is how difficult it will be to keep their respective secrets from each other.
When a spree of robberies rocks the city, Ana and Hollis join forces to solve the crimes, discovering that working together deepens the affection between them. After all, who better to save the day than a gentleman and a thief?
LONDON 1865
From the moment Hollis Darby meets Ana Newport, he’s smitten. Even though he’s from a wealthy, established family and she isn’t, he wishes he could have a life with her by his side. But Hollis has a secret: the deep coffers that have kept his family afloat for generations are bare, so he supports himself by writing penny dreadfuls under a pseudonym. If not for the income from his novels, he would be broke.
Ana Newport also has a secret. Though she once had a place in society thanks to her father’s successful business, bankruptcy and scandal reduced his fortune to nothing more than a crumbling town house. So Ana teaches music during the day, and at night she assumes the identity of the “Phantom Fox.” She breaks into the homes of the wealthy to reclaim trinkets and treasures she feels were unjustly stolen from her family when they were struggling.
When Hollis’s brother needs to hire a music tutor for his daughter, Hollis recommends Ana, giving him a chance to spend time with her. Ana needs the income and is eager for the opportunity to get to know the enigmatic gentleman. What neither of them expects is how difficult it will be to keep their respective secrets from each other.
When a spree of robberies rocks the city, Ana and Hollis join forces to solve the crimes, discovering that working together deepens the affection between them. After all, who better to save the day than a gentleman and a thief?
MY REVIEW:
The Gentleman and the Thief by Sarah M. EdenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Gentleman and the Thief by Sarah M. Eden is a 2020 Shadow Mountain publication.
A gentle, sweet story, full of wit and adventure!
Hollis Darby carries a torch for Ana Newport. The difference in their station in life doesn’t matter to him. He’s a gentleman born into wealth, but Ana has lost her place in society after her father lost his fortune. Little does she know that Hollis is no better off financially than she, earning his living by writing Penny Dreadfuls under a pseudonym.
As it turns out, Hollis is not the only one with a secret- What would he think if he discovered that Ana, the sweet music teacher, he is in love with, was in fact, the infamous thief- ‘The Phantom Fox’!!
This is the second book in the Dread Penny Society series.
I do love the premise of this series, and enjoy the light, clean, format. The pacing is brisk, and the dialogue is wonderfully smart and flirty. I enjoyed he chemistry between Hollis and Ana, both of whom were trying super hard to keep their secrets from one another.
Once again, the author gives us snippets of the Penny Dreadful stories, which were so easy to get into and is a nice, unique element, adding more adventure and intrigue to the novel.
The story has all the elements for a fun escape- mystery, adventure, and a sweet romance. While the plot features some heavy topics and crime elements, the tone, as with the first chapter in the series, is very light.
If you are looking for a story that is both heartwarming and entertaining- this one should fit the bill!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today bestselling author of multiple historical romances, including AML's "2013 Novel of the Year" and Foreword Review's 2013 "IndieFab Book of the Year" gold medal winner for Best Romance, Longing for Home, and the Whitney Award's "2014 Novel of the Year," Longing for Home: Hope Springs. Combining her obsession with history and affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a Bachelor's degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library. Sarah lives with her husband, kids, and mischievous dog in the shadow of a snow-capped mountain she has never attempted to ski.
Excellent review, Julie💜
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jonetta!! 💖
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