• Jesse Perry, for being a proofreading lifesaver.

• Liz Swick and Jonathan Eden, for invaluable assistance juggling everything.

• Pam Pho and Bob Diforio, for being the best team an author could hope for.

Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions

1. Fear and significant trauma prevent Gemma and Barnabus from confessing their feelings for each other. Which other characters do you think are being held back by pain and worry?

2. Both Gemma and Barnabus come from difficult family circumstances, suffering from poverty and danger as they grew up. How do these similar experiences help build a bond between them? Do you think they are ready to trust that their marriage is something more than an unwanted necessity?

3. How might Gemma and Barnabus being declared dead prove helpful in the coming battle with the Tempest? How might it complicate things?

4. Gemma’s family now knows she was not buried in her coffin. Do you think they will continue searching for her? Do you think they will assume Barnabus is also still alive?

5. Why do you think Stone has kept his sweetheart a secret from his friends? How do you think that will impact him moving forward?

6. Did you correctly guess the identity of the Dread Master? Who else did you feel could have filled that role?

7. What role do you think Parkington might play in the coming conflict with the Tempest?

8. What theories do you have as to why the Radlett murder is of so much significance to the Mastiff and/or the Tempest?

9. With their secrets known and the danger growing, the DPS has scattered. How do you think the organization will function moving forward?

About the Author

About the Author

Sarah M. Eden is a USA Today best-selling author of witty and charming historical romances, including 2019’s Foreword Reviews INDIE Awards Gold Winner for Romance, The Lady and the Highwayman, and 2020 Holt Medallion finalist, Healing Hearts. She is a two-time “Best of State” Gold Medal winner for fiction and a three-time Whitney Award winner.

Combining her obsession with history and her affinity for tender love stories, Sarah loves crafting deep characters and heartfelt romances set against rich historical backdrops. She holds a bachelor’s degree in research and happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library.