Welcome to my tour stop! I'm so, so happy to share my
review of this delightful book with you! Read on below...
The Merchant and the Rogue
A Proper Romance Victorian
(The Dread Penny Society #3)
By Sarah M. Eden
Adult Historical Romance, Historical Romance, Mystery/Suspense, Inspirational Fiction
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 368 Pages
August 17, 2021 by Shadow Mountain
Summary
London, 1865
Vera Sorokina loves reading the Penny Dreadfuls and immersing herself in tales of adventure, mystery, and romance. Her own days are filled with the often mundane work of running the book and print shop she owns with her father. The shop offers her the freedom and income to employ and protect the poverty-stricken Londoners she's come to care about, and it gives her father something to do other than long for their hometown of St. Petersburg. She is grateful for the stability in their lives, but she often feels lonely.
Brogan Donnelly was born and raised in Ireland, but has lived in London for several years, where he's built a career as a Penny Dreadful writer. He has dedicated himself to the plight of the poor with the help of his sister. His membership in the secretive Dread Penny Society allows him to feel he isn't entirely wasting his life, yet he feels dissatisfied. With no one to share his life with but his sister, he fears London will never truly feel like home.
Brogan and Vera's paths cross, and the attraction is both immediate and ill-advised. Vera knows from past experience that writers are never to be trusted, and Brogan has reason to suspect not everything at her print shop is aboveboard. When the growing criminal enterprise run by the elusive and violent Mastiff begins targeting their area of London, Brogan and Vera must work together to protect the community they've both grown to love. But that means they'll need to learn to trust each other with dangerous secrets that have followed both of them from their home countries.
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Special Offer
If you purchased a copy of The Merchant and the Rogue last week, submit your receipt and fill out the form to receive The Merchant and the Rogue - Swag Bundle. Supplies are limited, so act today. Please visit the Swag Bundle webpage for details.
My Review
THE MERCHANT AND THE ROGUE is one of those books that includes all the things cozy historical romantic mystery fans love: great characters, an engaging plot, mysterious undertones, a few twists and turns and sweet romance. There is also a bit of the unusual and fantastical in the Penny Dreadful stories (yes, two!) that adds a bit of Gothic feel to the story. Highly recommended to fans of the author, series and genre!
I loved the first book in this series, and it is still an all-time favorite book, but this third book comes in a close second. I loved the main characters, the plot, the romance, the mystery... but I also loved the two additional Penny Dreadful stories and how all three magically worked together to bring a book that was an absolute delight to read!
Both Brogan and Vera have secrets... pasts they have moved on from. They also have lives that are at the whim of family and the class of society they belong to. As part of the working class, they live among those who are less fortunate, witness crime and have their own hopes and dreams for a future of their own. The whole group who make up the Dread Penny Society mostly fall into this class and it lends a different feel to this series compared to many others. The story moves at a steady pace while the suspense slowly grows. There is a plot to disrupt and danger to face, all while friendships and love are on the line.
I've started reading The Dead Zoo (the first Penny Dreadful story included in the book) to my kids (ages 9 to 17) as I think they'll find it quite intriguing as well as humorous. The style reminds me a bit of a classic mystery, like a lighter Sherlock Holmes, which is one of the best compliments I can give it. The second Penny Dreadful story is call The Merchant and the Rogue (the book title is always the same as one of the short serial stories included), and it is also quite intriguing. I'll be reading that one to the kids as well.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This is a truly entertaining and delightful book! It's definitely recommended reading if you enjoy likable and complex characters, mystery, romance, and two additional short stories that enhance the main one. Readers will thoroughly enjoy it and then eagerly await the next installment in this series!
Content: Some violence including references in the past, but clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Austenprose for this promotional tour, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Other Books in the Series
(Linked to my reviews.)
About the Author
Sarah M. Eden is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning Proper Romance series novels including The Lady and the Highwayman and Ashes on the Moor. Combining her passion for history and an affinity for love stories, Sarah crafts smart, witty characters and heartfelt romances. She happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library and dreams of one day traveling to all the places she reads about.
Tour Schedule
Join the virtual book tour of THE MERCHANT AND THE ROGUE, Sarah M. Eden’s highly acclaimed historical romance, August 16-29, 2021. Thirty-five popular on-line influencers specializing in historical romance, mystery/suspense, and inspirational fiction will join in the celebration of its release with a spotlights, exclusive excerpts, and reviews of this new Victorian-era novel set in London, England.
Follow the tour here (schedule is at the bottom of the post).
Are you a fan of this series or other Victorian era romantic mysteries?
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