This is the second book in the Proper Romance series. In this story, Hollis Darby is infatuated with Ana Newport. She is a music teacher and he is a gentleman who without visible means of support but is able to live a reasonable life regardless.
He has a secret, he writes penny dreadful novels for children. Not only that, he is a member of a secret society that is determined to help those less fortunate who are in great need.
He and his friends are hot on the trail of Phantom Fox, who they believe is a young child who is stealing various items, some of a little worth, some with no worth at all.
Ana becomes the music tutor of Hollis’ niece and, in so doing, becomes embroiled in the dark surface of the society’s doings. She has her own secret as well and exposure will be her undoing.
The novel switches back and forth between the story of these individuals and the penny dreadfuls that Hollis and another member have written. At first, I had a little difficulty switching back and forth but as the book went on, I began to look forward to the progression of all three stories, two of which seemed intertwined.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.
