by Sarah M. Eden
Publisher : Shadow Mountain (September 6, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 368 pages
ISBN-10 : 1639930485
ISBN-13 : 978-1639930487
London, 1866
Dr. Barnabus Milligan has always felt called to help people, whether that means setting a broken bone or rescuing the impoverished women of London from their desperate lives on the streets as part of his work with the Dread Penny Society.
Three years ago, he helped rescue Gemma Kincaid by secretly marrying her to protect her from her family of notorious grave robbers.
But six months after Gemma and Barnabus exchanged vows, she realized her love for her new husband was unrequited. To protect her heart, she left, telling Barnabus to contact her if his feelings for her ever grew beyond a sense of duty.
When Barnabus sends a letter to Gemma inviting her to return home, she hopes to find a true connection between them. But unfortunately, he only wants her help to foil the Kincaids, who have been terrorizing the boroughs of London, eager to gain both money and power.
Heartbroken, Gemma agrees to help, but she warns Barnabus that she will not stay for long, and once she goes, he’ll never see her again.
Yet as the couple follows the clues that seem to connect the Kincaids to the Mastiff, the leader of London’s criminal network, Gemma and Barnabus realize they might make a better match than either of them suspected. Perhaps the marriage that had once saved Gemma’s life might now save Barnabus―and his lonely heart.
But before the once-confirmed bachelor can properly court his secret bride, they’ll need to evade the dangerous forces that are drawing ever closer to the hopeful lovers and the entire Dread Penny Society itself.
Dr. Barnabas “Baz” Milligan is a member of the Dread Penny Society and has always felt a calling to help ever since he was a young child and watched what his mother was forced to go through. He has always been called a bachelor among his friends because he hid the fact that he had secretly been married for the last 3 1/2 years after rescuing a woman from her family.
London was no place for the faint of heart. Fortunately for Barnabus Milligan, he’d stopped listening to that organ long ago.
Gemma Kincaid grew up in an awful situation, and she didn’t follow after her family. I love that she is strong, yet she is vulnerable with Baz. She has never had anyone love her, and Baz’s distance and lack of reassuring words breaks her heart. She is not sure how much she can let him back in when she suddenly hears from him three years after she left.
“Life is often a struggle. There’s something beautiful about having someone who is willing to walk with you through it.”
I always loved this series, but this book was one of my favorites. It was so hard to put down! I love all the characters in the Dread Penny Society, and Gemma was a great new character.
I adore Moirin, and she and Parkington would make the best couple. I loved their scenes. There were so many characters from previous books I loved seeing again.
“Never you fear, Gemma,” Móirín said. “We’ve a high and mighty blue-bottle with us.” She hooked her finger in Parkington’s direction. “Never safer than when you’re with a policeman.”
“One of these days, Móirín Donnelly,” Parkington said, “you’ll confess I’m a fine person.”
“Do you mean to make the same confession about me?”
He shook his head. “I’ve a strict policy against lying.”
“And I’ve a strict policy against being too friendly with Peelers, so seems we’re at an impasse.”
As with the other books in this series, this book has the main story, and 2 penny dreadfuls weaved throughout it. I love how unique this is, and Sarah Eden is so incredibly talented in her writing. I highly suggest reading the others in the series before reading this one.
The ending of the book is so good! It is going to be brutal to wait for the next in the series.
Timeless Novels 