The Gentleman and the Thief: The Dread Penny Society #2 by Sarah M. Eden

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

A standalone novel in The Dread Penny Society set in 1865 London brimming with secrets, scandal, suspense, and romance.

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 thoughts:

What a book! I absolutely LOVED Sarah M. Eden's novel, The Gentleman and the Thief. It's the second book in her The Dread Penny Society series and it is fantastic! Chock full of mystery, suspense, and romance - this book has it all in spades. It is gripping from the start and you simply can't put it down for anything. I'm serious. I read this book all the way through and found myself completely hooked! I just loved getting to know Ana and Hollis - they were quite a pair.  Ana is a music teacher who teaches during the day and robs from the rich at night. Hollis is from high society, but his family's money is all gone. So to make ends meet, he has been writing penny dreadfuls. He's smitten with Ana and soon they are spending time together as she tutors his niece.  The more time they spend together, the more they get to know one another, including their secrets.  And the more they begin to like one another. Especially, when they team up to help solve a spree of robberies.  Their knowledge combined makes for quite an effective force and soon they are in deep.  And that is all I will write about this terrific story. You just have to check it out for yourself - you will LOVE it to bits!

Sarah M. Eden has written such a great story. Her writing is top notch, her characters are unforgettable, and the story itself is unputdownable. You can't help but get caught up in all the drama and thrills. And, you can' help but chuckle at Holli's flirtatious comments and root for him and Ana to fall in love. I just loved reading about Victorian London and this dynamic duo - what a treat!

I would happily recommend The Gentleman and the Thief to fans of Sarah M. Eden's books and anyone looking for their next exciting read. Definitely check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!