I quite liked Ashes on the Moor by this same author. So much that I recommended it to a few people, and even read it a second time! Unfortunately though, I did not enjoy this book. It was a bit of a chore for me to slog through, actually.

If I had to boil all my complaints down to one word I think it'd be 'slow'. It kind of plods along, and a fair amount could be removed entirely without changing the story much at all. I'm a pretty patient reader though, so I still could have gotten along with it, but also the characters were definitely a bit slow-minded as well. To the point I started wondering if the author thought the *reader* was slow-minded! Very predictable and simplistic. If it were edited down though, I think it might actually work decently for a younger crowd. Tween girls perhaps, who are interested in historical romances but maybe not ready for a more complicated, sordid tale. It's already a clean romance with just kisses and hand holding, so that wouldn't be a complication.

The hero doesn't really have any flaws, just always patient and adoring and nearly perfect in every way. Which isn't as interesting to me, honestly, but he was otherwise very likable. Irish, a writer, loyal, a do-gooder, a fighter when the situation calls for it. All of those things are pluses for me.
I didn't warm as much to the heroine, she felt more standoffish and high maintenance. But I did like that she was originally from Russia (though ultimately she's about 99% Londoner), and ran a business, and she didn't just sit back and wait for someone else to solve the problems. I believe she was *crushing* on the hero, but I didn't feel like her actions supported a case for having stronger feelings. So the romance seemed a bit one-sided to me and her claims to love kinda suspect.

Interspersed throughout the story are two fantastical tales meant to be issues of penny dreadfuls I believe. And they were okay-ish..., but I'm not sure they added enough to warrant their inclusion (or that they would inspire the fandom they seem to have in the story). For me, it was just further slogging.

Overall it wasn't for me, but I'm sure there's an audience out there who will eat it up.

I received an advance copy courtesy of NetGalley. ( )

Sarah M. Eden has crafted another winning book. It is so much fun to read. The authors of the Penny Dreadfuls are still out saving others. This time it is Brogan with his own story. He shares it with Vera, her father owns a publishing shop and she runs it while he runs the printing press.

Vera is in her own right amazing. She takes the street children under her wing by giving them odd jobs to do around the shop and help provide them a way to purchase their very own installments of the penny dreadful publications. She does this although the shop is struggling.

This is where Brogan comes on the scene. He is under assignment for the Dread Master and is investigating on his own. Fortunately, this brings him in contact with Vera. Their effortless banter and work ethic make them mighty main characters. They both like to help unfortunate children.

There is a villain on the scene who is threatening the livelihood of the community. He uses extortion and threats to cause mayhem. Together Brogan and Vera work to bring down the villain and save the businesses in the district. They have help from family and friends. It reminds me that people can make a difference when they unite in a common cause.

The insert of the Penny Dreadful stories is wonderful. The stories go right along with the book. It adds another dimension to the story and is a nice interlude from the main story.

This is the third installment of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. I would highly recommend all of the books. They are well written and fun to read.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

P.S. I also purchased a copy for my personal library. ( )

This is not my first book that I have read by this author but it is the first in this series. After reading this book, I want to go back and read the prior two books. Which if you are like me and a first time reading to this series; I am happy to report that you are able to pick up this book and read it as a stand alone novel.

A bug part of why I do want to read the prior novels is because of the Dread Penny Society. They are an intriguing group; especially member Brogan. He and Vera worked very well together. I felt that she was an equal in the story. The chemistry between these two was sweet. I like that it was not the main focal point of the story.

Speaking of stories. I like the mini stories featured in this book. Stories within a story. Readers of mystery and historical fiction will want to pick up this book. It is worth your money and reading time. ( )

The Merchant and the Rogue is book 3 in The Dread Penny Society series by Sarah M. Eden, published by Shadow Mountain Publishers. This story is set in London 1865 and is about Dread Penny Society member Brogan Donnelly. By working there, he is assigned to secretly investigate a Soho print shop for possible criminal connection to the Russian ambassador’s office. Brogan has to be careful not to tip off shop manager Vera Sorokina about why he is there. Local merchants seem to be at risk if they don’t pay for “protection” against sabotage of their livelihoods, so Brogan and Vera work to stop the crime spree while their feelings for each other grow.

Main character is philanthropist Brogan Donnelly who has grown up as an orphan on the streets of Dublin and is passionate about making the lives of poor children easier. I keep whishing he would value himself more, but I like him a lot and he is my favorite of this story.

Supporting character is print shop manager Vera Sorokina, who seems a compassionate and confident business woman with a heart for the street children. I find her very obedient with her father and wish she would have found courage to rebel.

I have read both previous books in the series and would probably recommend reading them in order to get the complete picture, but the story reads perfectly as a standalone too. The plot centers on the secret Dread Penny Society whose purpose is to make the lives of London’s street children better. Brogan Donnelly is an active participant in this. I felt I learned even more from this book about the difficult living conditions for poor, orphaned children in the 1800s.
As it takes place in a poor area where businesses struggle to survive and criminals find a way to exploit it felt unique as I have not read anything similar.
The dramatic mystery element of figuring out who pressures shopkeepers to pay to prevent destruction of their businesses was one of my favorite parts.

The description of when Brogan and Vera met for the first time was my absolute favorite part of the story and I loved the bantering between them. Having followed the series so far, I eagerly await what the next book will be about.

Readers who enjoy historical romance stories will enjoy this. I have read quite a number of Sarah M. Eden’s books and loved them all, so I’m sure other of her fans will too. Similar authors to explore might be Abigail Wilson or Arlem Hawks.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain, Sarah M. Eden and NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: In The Merchant and the Rogue, grown-up Irish street urchin Brogan Donnelly works in a print shop to secretly investigate criminal activity when he meets kindhearted Vera Sorokina who is equally passionate about poor children. Brogan and Vera’s feelings for each other grow while they work to stop the crime spree threatening local merchants.

Brogan Donnelly has spent several years in London, building a career as a Penny Dreadful writer. With the help of his fellow writers, he does what he can to help the poor. His membership of the Dread Penny has meant lying to his sister, a matter that weighs heavily on him. More lies pile on as he seeks information about a growing criminal organization and he falls in love with a Russian immigrant, Vera Sorokina, the daughter of a printer. Can he trust her with the truth and gain her forgiveness when he has lied to her face?

After feeling disappointed with the second book of this series, I was a little hesitant about this one but it was better than I was expecting. Brogan was a wonderful character to follow, and I loved how his back story was hinted at but never directly told until later on in the story. He reminded me of my favorite characters from this author’s other series, Longing for Home.

Vera was also an interesting character. She adores reading the penny dreadful tales, doing so in secret as her father dislikes anything to do with writers. Her own backstory causes her to consider writers as untrustworthy, though she enjoys the tales they weave. This sets up a believable conflict between her and Brogan.

This book builds on the previous one, with familiar villains we have seen before. More than book two, this tale lets us in that there is a large conspiracy that our heroes and heroines are fighting against. It will take all of their cleverness to take down the villains before disaster strikes.

Readers who enjoy Victorian romance interspersed with a much larger mystery will enjoy this series. I received a free copy through NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. ( )