The Gentleman and the Thief (2020): A Blog Tour + My Thoughts

About the Book

Book: The Gentleman and the Thief

Author: Sarah M. Eden

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing

Release Date: April 7, 2020

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?

Purchase Links

Amazon ✥ Barnes & Noble ✥ Book Depository ✥ Bookshop ✥ Bookbub ✥ Goodreads

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.

Website ✥ Twitter ✥ Facebook ✥ Instagram ✥ Goodreads

Advanced Praise

“The real joy in Eden’s follow-up to The Lady and the Highwayman (2019) is the furthering of the overarching crime story and the work of the Dread Penny Society as Hollis and Ana pursue a chaste romance. Eden excels at exploring the realities of Victorian life and class differences. Once again, chapters of penny dreadfuls written by the characters are interspersed throughout, with Hollis’ story about a school for ghosts offering particular delight. Fans of Eden’s smart series will be thrilled and impatient for the next installment.”— Booklist, starred review
“Every time I thought my racing heart just couldn’t take the suspense anymore, I’d turn the page and smile.”— Bookconfessions
“Eden writes it well, so thoroughly researched that you’re transported and in Victoria England. Great suspense and romance.”— Leslie, Books and Socks Rock
“Undeniably clever, suspenseful, well-researched, and deftly written…”— Katie Jackson, RegencyProofreading.com
“Charming, suggestive, and featuring rich historical details, The Gentleman and the Thief has the elements of a gritty, juicy penny dreadful.”— Foreword Reviews

My Thoughts

The Gentleman and the Thief by Sarah M. Eden is a great read. I enjoyed every minute of this fun story and very much appreciated the escape it afforded me this week. The characters in this novel are the best! From upper-crust elites to devastatingly poor street urchins, and those with hearts of gold willing to do whatever it takes to save the lives of those less fortunate to those who relish belonging to the seedy underbelly of London society, this novel truly portrays a unique and well-crafted cast of characters sure to delight any reader. Hollis and Ana, our hero and heroine, clearly have chemistry very early on but are hesitant to declare their feelings because both are keeping some BIG secrets. But as they spend more time with one another, as they grow more comfortable in each other’s company, their relationship blossoms into something genuinely sweet and realistic. In addition to the excellent characters, I was thrilled to read more penny dreadful serials. In this novel readers are treated to two new installments — one a delightful romantic mystery and the other a super fun ghost story. I found myself as excited and engaged in these serials as I was in the main story.

Hollis is an excellent hero with a relatable issue. He is a full-fledged member of the Penny Dreadful Society, but because he’s not originally from the mean streets as the other members are he often feels like the outsider. And, it doesn’t help matters that his fellow PDS members only see him as a socialite. But what’s really frustrating to Hollis is that he doesn’t really belong to the upper-crust set either as his family coffers are basically empty. Hollis is a man without a place and he just doesn’t feel like he fits in anywhere — that is until he meets Ana. What I appreciate about Hollis is his need to be seen for who he truly is. Too often we judge others by what we see or hear, or by first impressions only, and we never really get to know the true person. What a shame this is! How many friendships might we be missing out on because we judge too hastily?

The Gentleman and the Thief is a fantastic Historical Romance/Suspense novel I highly recommend. It’s engaging, it’s fast-paced, and it’s so much fun. Purchase yourself a copy today — you won’t be disappointed that you did!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

BLOG TOUR INFO

Join the virtual online blog tour of THE GENTLEMAN AND THE THIEF, Sarah M. Eden’s highly acclaimed second novel in The Dread Penny Society series, November 2 through November 29, 2020. Forty popular blogs specializing in historical mystery/suspense, historical romance, and inspirational fiction will join in the celebration of its release with exclusive excerpts, spotlights, or reviews of this new Victorian-era novel set in London, England.