Blog Tour & New Release: Clockwork Gypsy (The Enchanter Chronicles #2) by Jeri Westerson

Book Blurb:

A diabolical plot is afoot to kill thousands by connecting England’s railway lines to a deadly curse. The beautiful and mysterious Mingli Zhao, Special Inspector to Scotland Yard, enlists the help of Leopold Kazsmer, the Great Enchanter, who uses his skills with summoning Jewish daemons to perform true magic to help solve supernatural crimes. Meanwhile, a Hungarian Romani—part man, part clockwork—will stop at nothing to kill the man he believes is responsible for his hell of an existence that is slowly grinding his mind into the nothingness of gears and pistons. It’s a race against time for Leopold to stop the fiendish plot of the railway barons, fight off a plutocratic society of goblins, struggle to gain the romantic attentions of Miss Zhao…and discover the identity of the Clockwork Gypsy before he kills again.

Goodreads | Amazon

My Review:

4.5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Faeries, Mystery, Steampunk, Supernatural, Suspense--

Picking up six months from the end of the The Daemon Device, Leopold Kazsmer is still trying to figure out what his new normal is. After his world was thrown upside down, he is off balance and uncertain where his future lies- as well as his confusing feelings for the absent investigator Mingli. When Mingli shows up out of the blue to get Leopold's help on a very complicated supernatural case, Leopold is jumps in with both feet. Hopefully he can figure out his feelings for Mingli, solve the case and stay one step ahead of the person stalking him.

The Enchanter Chronicles can best be described as a historical mystery with supernatural and steampunk elements. The mystery felt very methodical, with an almost Sherlock Holmes vibe, where every lead is followed and facts are discovered and the puzzle pieces are assembled. But then we add in the supernatural elements such as demons, magic, fae and scary goblins that want to eat people and the craziest kind of glamour. And sprinkle in a dash of steampunk with spectacles that allow other dimensions to be viewed, umbrellas that are more than meets the eye, men who are not made of flesh, inspectors who have inventions that are so intricate they are almost magic themselves.

My favorite part of the story is all characters and the dynamic between them. We have Leopold who is very naïve for a demon summoner/Romani thief/very public magician, always being prim and proper in every situation and having no idea how to act on his romantic feelings. He is the main character so we know him very well and I found him to be very real, full of doubts and uncertainty just like anyone else. But the side characters were just as detailed and interesting as Leopold, and I loved them all together. We have a demon best friend/parent-like figure, an automaton that gives tarot readings and has the most human emotions, a ghost detective who should never have been made into a ghost, and a mysterious no-nonsense female investigator who shows up out of the blue and mixes everything up in the best of ways.

This series is 100% unique and the perfect choice for anyone who likes a paranormal twists to their classic historical mystery. You will never see the surprises coming, but I strongly recommend picking up the first book and starting there!

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Catch up on The Enchanter Chronicles!

Book Blurb:

The Daemon Device (The Enchanter Chronicles #1) by Jeri Westerson

London, 1891. Prince Albert has survived his brush with death. Dirigibles, like dark leviathans, surge through the sooty air of London. Steam powers the engines that supply electricity to the new electric lights along the Thames. And Jack the Ripper appears to be on the loose again on the seamy streets.

Someone is killing women and gutting them for their body parts. Is it Jack, or a far more sinister plot afoot than murder?

Leopold Kazsmer is a magician, the Great Enchanter. Ashamed of his Jewish-Gypsy heritage, he has fashioned himself into a proper English gentleman, though he harbors a carefully guarded secret; He has learned the dangerous art of summoning daemons. When he was a child, a tattoo was bestowed upon his wrist by the denizens of the Otherworld…the same night his father was killed. Though it gives him true magical powers once he’s made a sacrifice of blood, it is also his curse, for through it the creatures of nightmares have become aware of him.

With the help of Raj, a tarot-reading automated man, and Eurynomos, a shrewd Jewish daemon who helped Leopold through his tragic childhood, Leopold must discover what is behind the revolting murders that suddenly seem to involve tight-lipped German scientists, guarded Romani, ghosts, and the beautiful Special Inspector, Mingli Zhao. Is she truly from the secret depths of Scotland Yard or is she instead a heartless spy and murderess?

In a breakneck chase through London’s streets and fighting hand-to-wand high in the skies inside a lethal airship, Leopold must destroy a secret society to defeat their plan for world domination, unmask the girl, and rescue his daemon friend from the deadly Daemon Device before all is lost.

Goodreads | Amazon | Audible

Daemons!

A Demonic History By Jeri Westerson

The rich history of demons or daemons (same pronunciation) is convoluted and complicated and ultimately up to the eye of the beholder. “Daemons”—the helpful kind as opposed to “demons”, the decidedly unhelpful kind, play an important role in my gaslamp fantasy/steampunk Enchanter Chronicles series, that follows the adventures of my Jewish/Romani magician, Leopold Kazsmer, the Great Enchanter, who finds himself mixed up in supernatural crimes he often helps Scotland Yard to solve. He learned the dangerous art of summoning Jewish daemons at his father’s knee. Though, as it turns out, his father was drawn into the Otherworld of Gehenna and sacrificed his life for his son and died there.

Or did he?

Though daemons help my fictional magician perform true magic, I have plucked my own version of daemons and demons from the rich tapestry of lore about the supernatural. The lore starts, naturally enough, in Genesis, though you have to go to the Talmud—a compendium of essays and arguments about what every part of the Old Testament means—that explains the emergence of demons and tries to argue that God could not have created such evil.

The Talmud describes that demons were created at the twilight of the sixth day and put the blame on the sin of Adam and Eve. Other traditions blame it on fallen angels or the offspring of humans and fallen angels. Still other traditions put the blame on Lilith (the real first woman rejected by Adam—he seems picky for the only guy on the planet) and uses sex with other men (where did they come from?) to produce demons. Now these demon fellows wreak havoc and plague humans with all sorts of evil, from simple temptations to complicated and unpleasant shenanigans, including possessing the body.

But the daemons I concentrate on for my fictional purposes come from the Greek idea of benevolent nature spirits. They are lesser deities or even a guiding spirit. It is the Latinized form for the Ancient Greek and Indo-European word “daimon”, meaning “god”, “godlike”, “power”, “fate” as well as “provider” and “divider” from the latter root. You can see how this sort of creature pitted against the Judeo-Christian nemesis can make for interesting drama. And an interesting take for one’s own lore.

The realm of Gehenna—the place souls go at death, the gate to the afterlife, which the Hebrew Scriptures are virtually silent about—is where my daemons and demons reside, and can only come to our plane when summoned. But it doesn’t mean that those with evil intent can’t summon them. Light, dark, good, evil all clash in the universal struggle. Hey, it’s an old trope but it still works.

Los Angeles native JERI WESTERSON is the author of historical novels and fourteen Crispin Guest Medieval Noir Mystery novels, a series nominated for thirteen national awards from the Agatha to the Shamus. Jeri also writes the Enchanter Chronicles, a historical fantasy/steampunk mystery series, the latest of which is CLOCKWORK GYPSY and releases, appropriately enough, on Halloween. Both THE DAEMON DEVICE and CLOCKWORK GYPSY ebooks are 99 cents! See her other books—medieval mysteries, historical fiction, paranormal books, and an LGBT mystery series—at JeriWesterson.com Website | Book Of The Hidden | Facebook | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads

Blog Tour & Giveaway: A Feast of Phantoms (Lingua Magika #1) by Kat Ross

A Feast of Phantoms
Kat Ross
(Lingua Magika, #1)
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: February 18th 2020
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Steampunk

Lingua Magika is Kat’s latest series, a fast-paced Western steampunk fantasy with a dash of romance and adventure! A Feast of Phantoms is Book #1, with at least two more to follow.

THE JOB

It was supposed to be simple.

Help Marshal Sebastian Hardin escort his prisoner one stop on the railway to Charter Oak.

Just one stop.

But when that prisoner is a savant who talks to ghosts, even the simplest plans have a way of falling apart.

THE LAW

Sheriff’s Deputy Ruth Cortez always does the right thing. Lucky Boy is a company town, dependent on the rich and powerful Carnarvon family. Besides which, the charismatic Sebastian Hardin isn’t an easy man to say no to. When his transport derails in the middle of the prairie, Ruth begins a relentless manhunt that leads straight into the dark heart of the Carnarvon empire.

THE FUGITIVE

Lee Merriweather favors sharp suits and fast trains – especially when he’s stealing them. At the ripe old age of 18, he’s managed to become the most wanted criminal in three territories. Lee can’t resist playing cat and mouse with a small-town deputy, but what starts as a game becomes deadly serious.

THE FIXER

Sebastian Hardin is the Carnarvons’ right hand, loyal to the death and willing to keep any secret to protect the family. They want Lee alive, but with the young savant’s disturbing abilities it won’t be an easy proposition. Whoever catches Lee gets the keys to the kingdom and the Carnarvons aren’t the only ones hunting him down. Sebastian has enough problems without falling for Deputy Cortez – but you can’t always choose who you love.

THE PHANTOMS

They terrorized the settlers until Calindra Carnarvon learned to speak their language. Her empire relies on controlling their telekinetic powers, but Lee Merriweather could destroy it all. And not even Lee suspects the shocking truth of the phantoms’ real nature.

Goodreads / Amazon

My Review:

4.5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Another-World, Ghosts, Scary, Steampunk, Supernatural--

The story is narrated by Ruth, the most morally grounded character that I think I have ever met. There is no gray with this woman, only black and white and you will always find her on the true and moral side. I really enjoyed getting to know her and see how she reacts in every situation, how she chooses her actions with her calm demeanor and no frills attitude. I loved watching her relationship dynamics with the other characters, be it Doc who we never get to see and tries to educate Ruth, the stoic marshal who is not sure what to make of her or Lee, the charming yet devious mastermind. I will say though that I am curious to see if anything or anyone might be capable of shaking this girl up.

There are just so many cool details that the author used to create the story, seemingly subtle but well placed and important. Linguists are people who can speak to the spectral entities, using all kinds of sounds and speech patterns depending on the entities classification. And the phantoms are what help to power most things, be it a train or a city in general, given orders (suggestions?) by a linguist specializing in that certain tongue. It was honestly such a cool mix of Wild West gunslinger, meets steampunk world building meets the horror element of ghost and overall supernatural.

Also, the title is explained in the book and it really was super witty.

Ok, I just proved that I am a fan girl for this author and find her story crafting ability goes above and beyond what I expect- every time. Each book of hers that I have encountered gets better and better. I am 100% committed to continuing this journey with Ruth to catch the elusive bad guy (? I will go more with mischievous than actual bad) and will be back for the next book. I do hope though that there might be some kind or romance blossom in the next story (there was none here) because I am always a sucker for love and I enjoy both the two potential (in my opinion) love interests. 

Overall A Feast of Phantoms was completely original and engaging, the perfect read for fans of westerns, mixed with action with danger, supernatural (can more books be cool fusions of all kinds of things like this was?), and a tough cookie of a main character.

Author Bio:

Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She’s the author of the Fourth Element and Fourth Talisman fantasy series, the Gaslamp Gothic paranormal mysteries, and the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day. She loves myths, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Check out Kat’s Pinterest page for the people, places and things that inspire her books.

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Review: Before the Broken Star (The Evermore Chronicles #1) by Emily R. King

Book Blurb:

A fierce young female adventurer battles time itself to claim her destiny in a sweeping new fantasy saga from the author of the Hundredth Queen series.

Everley Donovan is living on borrowed time. The lone survivor of her family’s unexplained assassination, she was saved by an ingeniously crafted clockwork heart. But the time she was given won’t last forever. Now, every tick-tock reminds her how fragile her existence is and hastens her quest to expose Killian Markham, the navy admiral who shattered her world and left her for dead. But Everley’s hunt for justice will be a long and hard-won voyage.

Her journey takes her to a penal colony on a cursed isle, where she will be married off and charged to build the new world. It is here, and beyond, that hidden realms hide, treasures are unearthed, her family secrets are buried, and young love will test the strength of her makeshift heart. When Everley discovers Markham may not be who he seems, her pursuit for truth is bound to his redemption, her tragic history, and her astonishing destiny.

Find out more about the book on Goodreads and pick up a copy at Amazon

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Another-World, Faeries, Fairytale, Heart-Wrenching, Mystery, Romance, Steampunk, Supernatural, Suspense--

As the only family member left alive, kept that way by the clock work heart her uncle used in place of her ruined one, Everly dreams of revenge. When the man who murdered her family, the most respected soldier in the queen's army, reappears in her life, Everly know this may be her only chance for justice and answers. Even if it means being sent to a mysterious penal colony as a criminal, never to see her old life or uncle again.

Gawd, I love Jamison so much. He may not be the main character, but he is my favorite character- and it is not 100% due to his dreaminess (ok maybe like 85% due to his dreaminess). He is seriously the most perfect guy- trustworthy, honorable, understanding- and I wanted Everly to just throw herself at him and let him take care of her- but that is not the type of person Everly is or what this book is about. This was very much a slow burn relationship (almost enemies to lovers vibe) that was not the main focus of the book, but man does Emily know how to do romance. there were so many moments that just hurt my heart for them and I have high hopes for a happily ever after...somewhere down the way.

Romance, or rather my hopes for more romance, aside, the magic in the world was so fascinating. There were so many moving parts that Emily expertly wove together in cool new ways I never saw coming. We have a girl who is kept alive by a clock, wonderfully crafted mythology (...or is it mythology...) about immortality and Father Time, dangerous creatures such a a large whale beast, a witch who lures people in, and an island that nobody really knows anything about. And let's not forget about the undying love between a prince and his princess- and a cute little pixy who does not like to be called Blue. The ideas seemed to be independent, but through a magic that is purely Emily's writing style, the story came together to create something wonderful that I desperately need more of.

The ending was action packed and surprising, I am so glad that this is just the first book in a trilogy because I feel like Everly has so much more exploring/revenging left to take on and I am so excited to get to be part of the adventure.

Review: A Knight in Distress by Barbara Russell

Book Blurb:

A knight in distress. A damsel in shining armor. A city to protect.

Knights are supposed to rescue damsels. So when Nathair, a knight in training, is rescued by the princess he's supposed to protect, he's annoyed. And when the princess proves she can fight like a knight? Well, that's enough for a boy to think about a career change.

Find out more about the book on Goodreads

My Review:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Another-World, Historical, Retelling, Romance, Royal-Court, Steampunk, Supernatural, Suspense, Teen, Witches--

Nathair has been training for years to be a knight, but with his poor grades and recent family issues, he is not super positive about the outcome. With only the trial left to prove he can be a knight, he is willing to give it his all. But he never expected his quest to be so dangerous, a mission that actual knights have already failed. But the princess needs saving so off Nathair goes. But little does he know, the princess has some secrets hidden up her sleeves...

This was a case of cover love at first sight. I am so enamored with this cover, it appeals to me in so many ways, I knew I was going to read the book. Add in the synopsis about the princess saving herself and it was a no-brainer that I needed this story. After I started reading, I realized that this is the second book I have read by Barbara and once again she excels at world building. Regardless of the genre or plot, her worlds are masterpieces filled with lush details and fun quirks, in case this case such as ALL THINGS STEAMPUNK, mechanical round table knights, dragon air express flights, and hints of modern flair such as rooting for your favorite sports team mixed in with historical settings. This is hands down the best King Arthur retelling I have ever encountered, with a unique personality and plot but with touches of the original story peppered throughout.

The story was mainly an action adventure with danger, battles, political intrigue, magic, dragons- and just a touch of romance. I really liked how Bryhannon has magic and fighting skills that no lady should possess, potentially making her undesirable, but instead Nathair points out her abnormalities and then basically shrugs it off or even appreciates her more. Nathair's moral compass points strong and true in the face of every encounter and I just loved that about him (Bry's was a little more skewed, but what do you expect when being yourself is a crime?). Watching the two of them be allowed to be themselves and the slow build of romances was perfect.

I really enjoyed this adventure and I look forward to what will come next for Nathair and Bryhannon.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Heart Collector (Auckland Steampunk #1) by Barbara Russell

The Heart Collector

Auckland Steampunk Book 1

by Barbara Russell

Genre: Steampunk, Romantic Suspense

Auckland, 1884

The Supernaturals are frightened. Despite being able to do extraordinary things like teleporting or lighting a fire with a stare, a serial killer, the Heart Collector, is slaughtering them. He rips their chests open and removes their hearts.

While other aristocratic, nineteen-year-old girls spend time dancing, Isabel trains hard to become an MI7 agent—Military Intelligence Seventh Division, a crime squad run by Supernaturals. The Heart Collector murdered her best friend, and enrolling at MI7 is the best way to help catch the killer.

Isabel senses other people’s feelings as if they were her owns. But MI7’s leader is too worried about Isabel’s safety to let her join the team.

Eager to prove that her power is valuable, Isabel volunteers to meet Murk, a dangerous Supernatural man who can turn himself invisible. MI7 desperately tried to recruit him and failed.

She believes that her power is enough to convince Murk to become an MI7’s agent and help apprehend the Heart Collector. If he wants to attack her, his feelings will broadcast his intention, and she’ll be ready.

What Isabel isn’t ready for is to fall in love with the man who will collect her heart.

Goodreads * Amazon

My Review:

3.5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Historical, Mystery, Romance, Royal-Court, Steampunk, Supernatural, Suspense--

Isabel has been waiting for the moment that she would finally be allowed to join the M17 team and hunt down criminals, following in her deceased parent's footsteps. When the M17 leader Victor agrees that she can work on the current case of the Heart Collector, she is thrilled to have the opportunity to prove herself. Her first task is recruit Murk, a supernatural with the gift of invisibility that would help their investigation. But she never intended to lose her heart...

I had a hard time coming up with a rating for this book. The world building (yay, go Steampunk!) was great and the mystery aspect of the story kept me guessing so that was all a solid 4 stars. The romance was where I floundered a little and leaned towards 3 stars, so I split the difference and gave the story a 3.5 Star rating.

Set in a world where Supernaturals are a well know factor, the government created the M17 to be a special department made up of skilled supernaturals to stop difficult criminals. They all basically had super strength and batter healing properties, but that was about it for the commonalities. There were empaths, super (super) strength, invisibility, levitation, cloning, freezing...and a ton more of unique gifts. The world was also enhanced with mechanical hearts, automatons, flying dirigible parties, complicated machines and all the extras you would hope for in a steampunk setting. I will admit that it felt like I missed the first book set in this world with how some details were missing or just assumed I knew, so at times I was a little lost as to what was happening. The mystery was great and full of suspense, I thought I had everything figured out until I didn't- which is just the way I like my mysteries.

The romance I personally felt was a little awkward (for me at least, Isabel did not seem to mind). Isabel is a wealthy, title woman of nobility with no romantic experience and her love interest is Murk, a homeless supernatural who has...a lot of experience (to put it mildly). Isabel has determined that she was instantly attracted to him and attempts to pursue him repeatedly, in EVERY situation even when he continuously rejects her. The girl can't take a hint and seems to have no pride, at one point she is practically begging him to want her and he still abstains. It just made me cringe each time and I wanted her to at least pretend she was not desperate for him. So I guess there is a HEA at the end, but the problems that existed between them are still there (status, permission, propriety...) and nothing is changed but it seems like they both forgot and live in a fantasy. I was hoping for an explanation how it could be possible, but there was none (and yes, I am nit-picky and I am sure others will love it and not care.)

Overall this was an interesting world with a great mystery (with the most gorgeous of covers!) and I would step back into another story set here. I would be interested to read the backstory or have a prequel of how Victor and Essie got together because I loved them the most! This is the perfect read for steampunk fans as well as anyone looking for a paranormal murder mystery with a touch of heat.

I am voluntarily reviewing a complimentary copy of this book.

I’m an entomologist and a soil biologist, which is a fancy way to say that I dig in the dirt, looking for bugs. Nature and books have always been my passion. I was a kid when I read The Lord Of The Ring and fell in love with fantasy novels.

When I discovered cosy mystery and crime novel, I fell in love with Hercules Poirot and Sherlock Holmes. Then I grew up and . . . Nah, I’m joking. I didn’t grow up. Don’t grow up, folks! It’s a trap.

PS I hate gardening. There, I said it. Sorry fellow Kiwis.

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Review: Ink, Iron, and Glass (Ink, Iron, and Glass #1) by Gwendolyn Clare

Book Blurb:

Can she write a world gone wrong?

A certain pen, a certain book, and a certain person can craft entirely new worlds through a branch of science called scriptology. Elsa comes from one such world that was written into creation, where her mother―a noted scriptologist―constantly alters and expands their reality.

But when her home is attacked and her mother kidnapped, Elsa is forced to cross into the real world and use her own scriptology gifts to find her. In an alternative Victorian Italy, Elsa finds a secret society of young scientists with a gift for mechanics, alchemy, or scriptology―and meets Leo, a gorgeous mechanist with a smart mouth and tragic past. She recruits the help of these fellow geniuses just as an assassin arrives on their doorstep.

In this thrilling debut, worlds collide as Elsa unveils a deep political conspiracy seeking to unlock the most dangerous weapon ever created―and only she can stop it.

Find out more about the book on Goodreads

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My Review:

3 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Another-World, Historical, Mystery, Steampunk, Survival, Suspense, Teen--

Can we take a second to just appreciate how incredibly gorgeous the cover of this book is? This is a book I would insta-buy on sight alone, with no idea of what the book is about. Oh and the second book in the series is just as pretty. Check out that cover:

This is very much a fantasy, with a teen girl leaving her safe (fictional...created?) world to try and find her kidnapped mother. Along the way, she learns the truth about her mother's background, what she herself is capable of and the wonders of the outside world, all while set in a steampunkish-Victorian world with a cast of magically talented orphans.

The world building was fantastic, magical and creative and I was lost in the concept of the World Books and the talents that each kind of person can have. The fantastical elements of the book were 100% the star of the book, for me at least. I loved learning about the new, totally strange and unique creatures that showed up in the story. The almost steampunk devices and inventions were fun, including Casa, a sentient house that takes care of everyone's needs as well as tries to manipulate people, and that brings me to the coolest part of the story- the World Books. A World Book could contain whatever the writer wanted it to- be it a fantastically stocked laboratory or an entire world with living people. Each one was detailed and interesting and could house any number or inventions, creations or details that I was excited when an opportunity would come up in the book for the characters to jump in.

Some times the plot was uncertain and lost a little bit of it's point and I was not certain what was actually the purpose of the story. Don't get me wrong, the details the author brought to life were fantastic, but I was not sure what the end game was of if I really cared. By the end of the book, I was pretty sure I understood the plot and a concrete purpose was formed.

All that being said I would like to see where the story will go next and what sort of cool new inventions, creatures or worlds will show up next. The ending created a new sort of conflict and adventure, just waiting for the character to embark on and I am interested to read the next book.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: To Catch A Rogue by Bec McMaster

To Catch A Rogue
Bec McMaster
(London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy #4)
Publication date: October 30th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Steampunk

An impossible heist. A thief and a rogue. But will she steal his heart, instead?

The Company of Rogues finally knows the identity of the mastermind behind a plot against the queen—but their enemy is still one step ahead of them. When he kidnaps one of theirs, the Rogues plan a daring rescue mission that will lead them into the heart of the bloodthirsty Crimson Court.

It’s a job for a master thief, and there’s nothing Charlie Todd likes more than a challenge. To pull off the impossible, Charlie needs a crew, including the only thief who’s ever been able to outfox him.

He broke her heart. But now she must risk it all to save his life…

Lark’s spent years trying to forget her past, but the one thing she can’t ignore is the way a single smile from Charlie still sets her heart on fire. When he proposes they work together again, it feels just like old times, but she has one rule: this is strictly business.

It’s Charlie’s last chance to prove he can be trusted with her heart. But Lark’s keeping a deadly secret. And as passions are stirred and the stakes mount, it might be the kind of secret that could destroy them all…

Ocean’s 11 meets Dracula, in this sexy paranormal heist by USA Today Bestselling Author, Bec McMaster. If you like sexy paranormal romances, steampunk shenanigans, and plenty of action-adventure (vampires, dirigible flights, and steamy rooftop chases), then dive into this thrilling heist with Charlie and Lark.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Historical, Mystery, Romance, Royal-Court, Steampunk, Supernatural, Suspense--

I have intended to read a Bec McAlister book for years (I mean supernatural + romance + all things steampunk!! How was I suppose to resist?), I seriously own like 5, but I have never gotten around to actually reading one since other things always get in the way. When I was given the opportunity to read To Catch a Rogue it sounded interesting and this was my perfect opportunity to jump feet first into the London Steampunk series for realsies.

The nice thing about this series is that each book interconnects because it is the same world and characters occasionally show up, but you can pick up any story and enjoy it for it's own plot, characters and overall development without feeling like you missed anything at all. The only downside to reading To Catch a Rogue is now I am super intrigued about the back story for all the other characters I was introduced to and need to read ALL OTHER BOOKS STAT! And that is problem because life and that silly adulting thing.

"Who are you?" he'd asked.

"The bane of your existence," she told him, with all the arrogance she could muster.

This was so much fun and incredibly hard to put down! There was secrets, lies, false identities, royal court intrigue and manners, spy antics, battles and danger, angsty emotions, amazing supernatural feats and powers, and some steamy romance with all the feels- and the overall concept kinda reminded me of the story of Anastasia, the lost princess who has sparked tons of rumors over the years (and I just so happen to love all things Anastasia- it was as if this book was made perfectly for me!).

Charlie and Lark have some serious baggage between them, yet at the same time you just want to yell at them to get over it and kiss and make up! Ok, maybe that was just me because I love a happy ending and the friends to lovers plot. Multiple narrated romances are my favorite, but not only do we get to see inside Charlie and Lark, but random other characters from the book along the way- and really ensemble books are the best! I can't wait to jump into the rest of the series and experience more steampunk adventures.

I voluntarily reviewed a complementary copy.

Author Bio:

BEC MCMASTER grew up on a steady diet of 80’s fantasy movies like Ladyhawke, Labyrinth and The Princess Bride, and loves creating epic, fantasy-based worlds with heroes and heroines who must defeat all the odds to have their HEA. If you like sexy, dark, paranormal romance, try her Dark Arts series; for some kick-bustle ladies-saving-the-day steampunk romance then check out London Steampunk; and for rocket-fuelled post-apocalyptic romance with a twist on the werewolf theme, then see her Burned Lands series.

Bec has been nominated for RT Reviews Best Steampunk Romance for Heart of Iron (2013), won RT Reviews Best Steampunk Romance with Of Silk And Steam (2015), and Forged By Desire was nominated for an RWA RITA award in 2015. The series has received starred reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal, with Heart of Iron named one of their Best Romances of 2013.

Escape the Ordinary at www.becmcmaster.com or follow her on Twitter @BecMcMaster, or www.facebook.com/BecMcMaster

Join Bec’s newsletter for all the latest news on releases, exclusive excerpts and cover reveals, and get your copy of ‘Tarnished Knight’, a novella in her award-winning London Steampunk series. Copy and paste this link into your browser: http://eepurl.com/F_LkD.

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Blog Tour: The Ironfire Legacy Series by Janeen Ippolito

Book Blurb:

One wild night, Shance Windkeeper discovers he is married to a death unicorn.

But that’s the least of his troubles.

As an agent for the Lawless, Shance is working with dragonshifters Kesia Ironfire and Zephryn Nightstalker, trying to end the dragon-human war and the organization that masterminded it. While on a mission in the Scepter of Knowledge, the Lawless is hit with a devastating death unicorn attack.

Out of the wreckage new allies emerge: Lirome Ukerys, and his twin sister Maira, the death unicorn queen—Shance’s long-lost wife.

Recently freed from captivity, Maira is fighting to regain control of her herd. Lurien Alistil, a rogue death unicorn, has bespelled the Scepter of Knowledge and taken Maira’s son. When Kesia unexpectedly challenges Lurien to a public debate over the fate of the city, the Lawless has a chance to break the usurper’s hold. To obtain vital information they must infiltrate her lair—and as the husband of the death unicorn queen, Shance Windkeeper is the perfect prize to go in.

But Lurien’s power is stronger and more insidious than they realize. And if the final pieces of her plan fall into place, not even Shance’s newfound Talents and knowledge will be enough to stop her.

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My Review:

4 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Another-World, Mystery, Royal-Court, Steampunk, Supernatural, Suspense--

To be fair, the book had me at "death unicorns". Without knowing any back story, I would want to read a story about death unicorns- because, you know, death unicorns. But since I have gotten to know this world and the adventures that the gang get themselves into, I wanted to continue the adventure and see what would happen next.

I think that Janeen was able to create the most interesting world full of dragons, magic, war and all things steampunk (nothing is more steampunk than flying air ships)! I do love myself some steampunk and I really don't think there is enough of it in the world- be it books, movies or cosplay (ok, the jewelry is my favorite!!)!I loved how everything is so detailed and encompassing, the author left nothing out- I could see, smell and smell everything the characters were experiencing, nothing was left out and that did a great job of world building.

The snarky banter really is the shinning star of the series though, the characters all have such big attitudes and watching them interact really made the book for me! I also really enjoyed the merging or combating of the two cultures, the human and the dragon, at times so at odds with each other. The plot was twisty and engaging but to me the characters are so well developed, quirky and human (full of flaws and emotions) that they were my favorite part.

Overall this series has the perfect balance of action and political intrigue, magic, mayhem and romance and cool steampunk gadgets. I think that there is something for most readers within the pages and I highly recommend picking up this series.

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Catch up on the Ironfire Legacy Series!

Book Blurb: Lawless (The Ironfire Legacy #1)

Dragonshifter Kesia Ironfire has one goal—to redeem her past by serving the cruel dragon Pinnacle as a soldier in the dragon-human war.

Then a rogue mission to spy on a new airship explodes into sickening green smoke. The same mysterious green smoke that was present the night of Kesia’s crime. When her dragon overlords deny any involvement, she and her tactical partner Zephryn Nightstalker try to investigate--and are sentenced to death.

Still searching for answers, Kesia and Zephryn flee to the human military capital, where Captain Shance Windkeeper has been furloughed after the destruction of his airship. Eager to discover what--and who--blew up his vessel, he agrees to help Kesia and Zephryn infiltrate High Command. In exchange, Kesia must pretend to be his betrothed so Shance can escape an arranged marriage. If only she knew what ‘betrothed’ and ‘arranged marriage’ meant.

But human social customs are the least of her worries. Dark secrets surface as Kesia delves deeper--secrets that challenge the facts of her crime and undermine the war itself.

Book Blurb: Priceless (The Ironfire Legacy #1.5)

A little ambition can turn into a lot of trouble—even for the city’s wiliest double agent.

After years of rebel spywork in the dragon-human war, Nula Thredsing is ready to claim her legacy.

As the Scepter of Commerce’s new liaison to dragons, she’s one step away from the old family seat on the city council. But during her first meeting with dragon diplomat Tiers Sunscaler, they are attacked by rogue dragons—one of them Sunscaler’s former tactical partner, who is bitterly determined to keep the sham war in action and turn the diplomat to his side.

At the same time, Nula and Tiers discover a startling connection: an embermate bond. While a political marriage suits Nula, the bond’s side effects are obnoxious—and potentially deadly.

Aided by an unexpected cat-dragon and a mysterious unicorn, Nula and Tiers must track down the rogue dragons before their dangerous bond tears them apart.

Fortunately, Nula Thredsing is used to impossible odds—and this time, she has a dragon on her side.

A steampunk fantasy novella with espionage, cat-dragons, snark, and a side of romance.

Learn more about the series on Goodreads

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Celebrate the launch of Faithless: The Ironfire Legacy Book 2 with featured author Janeen Ippolito and guest authors Angelique Anderson and R.J. Metcalf! Get your fill of steampunk, dragons, adventures, and more (re: death unicorns and a cat-dragon) with this fun-filled evening that includes giveaways, games, and an exclusive reveal or two. 

Hosted by Laura A. Grace of Unicorn Quester and Uncommon Universes Press!

Join the Facebook party HERE Author Bio:

Janeen Ippolito believes words transform worlds. She creates writing resources and writes steampunk fantasy. She’s also an experienced teacher, editor, author coach, and the editor in chief of Uncommon Universes Press. In her spare time, she enjoys sword-fighting, reading, food, and making brownie batter. Two of her goals are eating fried tarantulas and traveling to Antarctica. This extroverted writer loves getting connected, so find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and at her website: janeenippolito.com

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Monday, October 8^th

-      Map Monday Spotlight – Becky Gaines

Tuesday, October 9^th

-      Spotlight – Letters From Annie (Douglass) Lima

Wednesday, October 10^th

-      Character Interview – Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

-      Guest Post & Interview – TheHufflepuffNerdette

Thursday, October 11^th

-      Behind-the-Scenes –The Simmering Mind

-      Author Interview – Claire M. Banschbach

Friday, October 12^th   

-      Behind-the-Scenes – Author Katherine A. Massengill

Sunday, October 14^th

-      Book Review – Smada’s Book Smack

Monday, October 15^th

-      Spotlight –  A Hippie’s Bookshelf

-      Character Interview with Shance – Becky Gaines

Tuesday, October 16^th

-      World Building Feature on the Scepter of Knowledge – K.A. Cummins

Wednesday, October 17^th

-      Spotlight – The Genre Minx Book Reviews

Thursday, October 18^th

-      Behind-the-Scenes – Unicorn Quester

Friday, October 19^th

-      World Building Feature on Death Unicorns – C. O. Bonham

-      Spotlight – YA/NA Book Divas

Saturday, October 20^th

-      World Building Feature on Dragons – Empyrean Voyager

-      Book Review – The Book Unicorn

 Monday, October 22^nd

-      Book Review – Jessica Rachow: Author & Blogger

Tuesday, October 23^rd

-      Behind-the-Scenes – Anna Tan

Wednesday, October 24^th

-     Book Review – Anna Tan

Thursday, October 25^th

-     Author Interview – Laura VanArendonk Baugh

-      Book Review – Becky Gaines