The Gentleman and the Thief (Proper Romance; Thorndike Press Large Print Clean Reads)

Review\n"Gentility wears a burglar's mask in The Gentleman and the Thief, a proper romance set in the criminal underworld of Victorian London....During a citywide crime spree, Ana and Hollis are drawn together by a shared caper and the pursuit of another thief, Four Finger Mike. Their romantic tension comes from the double masks they both wear...Her decisions about what to reveal, and when, result in a playful, will-they-won't-they dynamic. In the absence of explicit sex scenes, the couple's decisions about when to disclose their aliases are fraught and satisfying.
As Ana and Hollis lose their fears of being known, they discover the answer to the mystery and find a meaningful romance with one another. Charming, suggestive, and featuring rich historical details, The Gentleman and the Thief has the elements of a gritty, juicy penny dreadful."-- "Foreword Reviews"\n"The real joy in Eden's follow-up to The Lady and the Highwayman (2019) is the furthering of the overarching crime story and the work of the Dread Penny Society as Hollis and Ana pursue a chaste romance. Eden excels at exploring the realities of Victorian life and class differences. Once again, chapters of penny dreadfuls written by the characters are interspersed throughout, with Hollis' story about a school for ghosts offering particular delight. Fans of Eden's smart series will be thrilled and impatient for the next installment."-- "Booklist, starred review"\n"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 successful business, bankruptcy and scandal reduced his 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 trinkets and 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, discovering that working together deepens the affection between them. After all, who better to save the day than a gentleman and a thief?"--