The Gentleman and the Thief by Sarah M. Eden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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?
This story is about Hollis Darby, a gentleman and a member of the Dread Penny Society. He is out to save the world while pretending to be a man of leisure. He is devoted to his cause, friends, and family.
Hollis has a mystery to solve. There is a thief that is making life harder for the street urchins he is concerned about. It is something that he wants to get to the bottom of while finding himself attracted to Ana, a music teacher at a girl's school the Dreadfuls have a vested interest in.
The book has many moments that make you laugh, smile, and teach about the plight of the less fortunate during Victorian London. I enjoyed the story and the stories within the story. There are chapters that are Penny Dreadful stories. It is a unique feature that I enjoy.
The characters are wonderful and the story is well-paced. Sarah Eden is one of my favorite authors and this book is one that I would love to revisit.
Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own,
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About the Author: Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of witty and charming historical romances, including 2019’s Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, The Lady and the Highwayman, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, Healing Hearts. She is a two-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner. Combining her obsession with history and her affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting deep 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.
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Thank you Lisa. I love Sarah's writing and can't wait to read this book.
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