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Book Review

Publisher's Note:

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 Drea…

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The Bachelor and the Bride

by Sarah M. Eden

Reviewer: Rachel
Genre: Historical Romance
Recommended Age: 18+

Overall Book Review:

The Bachelor and the Bride is the fourth installment in the Dread Penny Society Series and it’s the most action-packed yet! Author Sarah M. Eden brings not just excitement, but mystery and love to this latest Proper Romance from Shadow Mountain Publishing. Eden envelops readers in the time period with characters’ frequent use of Victorian English accents and slang. A fascinating element to the story are grave diggers, or ‘resurrection men’, that threaten to upend all that the novel’s heroes have worked for. Like the other books in this series, The Bachelor and the Bride is actually three stories in one – with two being short serials that tie in to the main plot. While this concept makes things a little tricky to follow, readers should have no difficulty if they read the Dread Penny Society novels in order. Many questions are answered in The Bachelor and the Bride, but the story is left on a major cliffhanger. Readers will enjoy this story and be giddy for Eden’s next book and the answers it brings.

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: Frequent verbal threats and implied occurrences of violence involving murder and attempted murder; frequent secondhand reports of violence including stabbings, murder, arson and finding mangled bodies; a brief scene with blood and gore takes place.

Sex/Nudity: Frequent incidents of kissing on the hand, cheek, head and lips; a sexual reference is made, as well as implied sexual activity regarding a character’s mom being forced into prostitution.

Mature Subject Matter:

Tragic death of family members, grave robbing, murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and attempted kidnapping, forced prostitution, ghosts and the supernatural.

Alcohol and Drug Use:

Character drink Guinness in a pub.

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
0
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
5
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
3
10

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About the Reviewer

Rachel
My mother was the one who sparked my love of books. Long before school instruction, she sat me down and taught me to read. My childhood was filled with trips to the library and bookmobile to find great books. My first loves were The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Pippi Longstocking series by Astrid Lingren. Now as a mom and speech pathologist, I am constantly looking for good, clean books to use at home and in therapy. I enjoy reading many different genres, but my favorites are usually historical fiction. I married my best friend, the “boy next door”, and we have a beautiful little girl who we often find sprawled out on the floor, flipping through picture books. Together our family likes to swim, run and play tennis. Besides reading, I also love to bake, garden and travel.

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