ABOUT THE BOOK
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 business, bankruptcy and scandal reduced the family 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 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, but working together deepens the affection between them. After all, who better to save the day than a gentleman and a thief?
REVIEW
Sarah Eden has a knack for great dialogue and great characters. I think that's what I enjoy the most about her stories. Hollis Darby and Ana Newport are both unusual characters, which made it delightful to read about them. Hollis appears to be a gentleman in every way and yet he has interests and activities that upper level society would not approve of in the slightest. He writes penny dreadfuls, printed stories that society considers "low" literature but which many people read and enjoy. He also belongs to a secret society that works to help the poor and needy, especially those in trouble with a criminal mastermind known as the Mastiff. Ana's family has fallen from grace as a result of her father's partner's misconduct. She's turned to thievery in order to retrieve items of value to her that were stolen from her family after their fall. It turns out that Hollis and Ana have more in common than either one imagined and their going to need each other in order to take down a dangerous gambling ring that endangers Hollis's family as well as others.
Sarah Eden has written a marvelous book with lots of fun interactions between the characters as well as shorter "penny dreadful" like stories mixed in with the Hollis's and Ana's story. The settings are beautifully described and the characters are fascinating. One of the things that I enjoyed most about this story is the fact that most of the characters aren't upper class. Many of the regencies I've read focus on the upper classes. It's nice to read one that focuses on the struggles and challenges of life for those who aren't well off. Although it's heartbreaking as well to read about children being bought and sold and turned into thieves. Sarah Eden has written another superb tale well worth reading again and again.
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