The Bachelor and the Bride

An estranged wife returns home at the request of her emotionally distant husband in Eden’s sweet and suspenseful fourth Dread Penny Society Victorian romance (after The Merchant and the Rogue). Physician Barnabus Milligan married his wife, Gemma, to save her from her criminal family. Though Gemma had hoped that a romance might blossom, Barnabus, orphaned at 12 and wary of love, vowed to her that their marriage of convenience would never be anything more. Brokenhearted, Gemma abandoned their home, determined not to return until Barnabus bid her. Three years later, he finally does, but when she arrives, it’s not the affectionate reunion she was hoping for. Instead, Barnabus and the Dread Penny Society, a secret organization that protects the less fortunate, need Gemma’s help to thwart the plans of her evil uncles, who are robbing graves and attempting to resurrect the corpses. With evil threatening to destroy London, Gemma and Barnabus are forced to work together—but will they live long enough to reach their happy ending? The close-knit members of the Dread Penny Society add some fun, and Gemma’s heart of gold is sure to win readers over. A plethora of secrets and a thrilling mystery make this fresh take on arranged marriage a treat. (Sept.)