Waistcoats & Weaponry ( Finishing School #3) by Gail Carriger

I love the works of Gail Carriger.  She has such a lovely writing style and her books are always filled with humor.  I tore right through Waiscoats and Weaponry in one day because I just had to know what Sophronia and her friends were up to.  Here is the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

Sophronia continues second year finishing school in style -- with a steel-bladed fan secreted in the folds of her ball gown. She, best friend Dimity, sweet sootie Soap, and charming Lord Felix Mersey stow away on train to return classmate Sidheag to her werewolf pack in Scotland. No one suspects what or who would be aboard the suspiciously empty train.

This book was amazing! Sophronia goes on an adventure with her dear friend Sidheag with help from her gallant sootie Soap and Lord Mersey, the Piston that she knows isn't for her. I loved that Sophronia got to see Soap in situations that she never would have otherwise. Soap shows her that he is more than just a Sootie. He's a young man and that he sees her for exactly who and what she is. I think that Sophronia needed to see that. Phineas Crow will always have her back and she will always be able to trust him. He has a new path opened to him after this book but I hope that he and Sophronia will meet again someday and be able to work together because they make an admirable team. Sophronia seemed to love the chance to match wits with her arch rival again and it made for some levity. I can not wait until the next book, Manners and Mutiny, to be released in November. I can't wait!

You can click here to find the Finishing School books on Goodreads. Remember, you can keep up to date with Ms. Carriger on her BLOG and follow her on Twitter. Make sure you check out her blog because she has TONS of information on Steampunkery. I give Waistcoats and Weaponry 5 Fairies for an excellent story of mystery, choices and suspense.

Steampunk Saturday: Long Live the Queen by Kate Locke

Today for Steampunk Saturday I have my review for the final book in the Immortal Empire Series- Long Live the Queen. Here is the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

Xandra Vardan thought life would be simpler when she accepted the goblin crown and became their queen, but life has only become more complicated. Everyone -- vampires, werewolves and humans -- wants the goblins on their side, because whoever has the goblins -- wins.

Queen Victoria wants her head, Alpha wolf Vex wants her heart, and she still doesn't know the identity of the person who wanted her blood. What she does know is that a project from one of the 'secret' aristocrat labs has gotten free and she's the only one who can stop the perfect killing machine -- a sixteen year-old girl. With human zealots intent on ridding the world of anyone with plagued blood and supernatural politics taking Britain to the verge of civil war, Xandra's finding out that being queen isn't all it's cracked up to be, and if she doesn't do something fast, hers will be the shortest reign in history.
The fantastic conclusion to the series that started with the spectacular undead steampunk debut, God Save the Queen and The Queen is Dead.

I loved this conclusion to the series. It was not at all what I expected but it was a satisfying end to the series. Xandra has finally accepted herself and her subjects. She has become adept at caring for her people. She is settling into life with Vex even as she is learning things about society and the vampires that she wished that she had never known. Xandra loses another person who was important to her and she meets someone related to her that scares her even more than she feels responsible for them. I promise that you won't be able to put this book down. It will take you on a raucous ride through London and into some dark and scary places.

You can click here to find the Immortal Empire Series on Goodreads. You can also check out Kate's website. I give Long Live the Queen 5 Fairies for an epic conclusion to the Immortal Empire Series.

Steampunk Saturday: The Queen Is Dead (The Immortal Empire #2) by Kate Locke

This week for Steampunk Saturday, I have a review for the second book in the Immortal Empire Series from Kate Locke.  I first read this series a while back when I got a copy of the first book at BEA.  Being snowed in over the last few weeks has given me time to read the other two books in the series and they were just as great as the first book.  Here's the cover and Goodreads blurb:

Nothing lasts forever---and immortality isn't all its cracked up to be.

When her brother Val gets in over his head in an investigation of Half-Blood disappearances and goes missing himself, it's up to Xandra, newly crowned Goblin Queen, to get him back and bring the atrocities to light. Xandra must frequent the seediest parts of London, while also coping with what she is, the political factions vying for her favor, and the all too-close scrutiny of Queen Victoria, who wants her head. Add this to being a suspect in a murder investigation, a werewolf boyfriend with demands of his own, and a mother hell bent on destroying the monarchy, and Xandra barely knows which way is up. One thing she does know is that she's already lost one sibling, she's not about to lose another.

I loved this second book in the series because it did not stagnate. It continued to pull the reader along with Xandra as she searches for her missing brother and deals with the repercussions of everything that she learned in book one. I loved seeing how Xandra was growing into her own as her own person and not just what her father and society expected her to be. I enjoyed seeing Vex with Xandra because he is so secure in himself that he is comfortable allowing her to be her own person and to make her own choices. William is an interesting goblin. He really is. We learn so much more about the goblins and their culture over the course of this book and it is really awesome to see. I adore this series and was sad to see the end of it after tearing through the last two books over the course of a few days. These are somewhat adult and gory so be warned but I highly recommend this series!

You can click here to find the Immortal Empire Series on Goodreads. You can also check out Kate's website. I give The Queen is Dead 4 Fairies for a wild ride through alternative London with the Goblin Queen and her colorful family and friends.

Curtsies and Conspiracies (Finishing School #2) by Gail Carriger

I finally got a chance to sit down and read Curtsies and Conspiracies by Gail Carriger. If you've been following me for a while, then you've heard me go on and on about my love of all things Gail Carriger. I've been wanting to read this book for quite some time. Here's the cover and Goodreads blurb:

Sophronia, second year at Miss Geraldine's Finishing Academy, helps Dimity avoid London kidnappers and Vieve 10 attend Bunson boys' school. Someone kills for malfunctioning guidance valves that can control 'aether' atmosphere level. Again, she flirts with 'sootie' coal-worker Soap from the boiler room, and cuts Felix, son of Duke Golborne, at come-out ball. Teacher Captain Niall turns werewolf; vampire Prof Braithwope braves 'tether'; mechanimal Bumbersnoot plays essential role.

I loved every moment of this book!  Pillover was a typical boy who gave some levity to the book.  Felix is an interesting young man who is both excceedingly enjoyable and offensive to read.  I loved seeing Soap again.  I can not wait until we can see what Ms. Carriger has in store for Mr. Phineas B. Crow.  We got some great foreshadowing of how Lady Kingair's life is going to progress.  I can't wait to see more from her in the next book.  Bumbsnoot brought the house down with his role on the missions in this book.  Dimity made me angry in the first half of the book until she got her spine back and chose her friends and loyalty over her directives.  There is just so much to recommend this book!  I highly recommend that you try this series!!  The books are well written and very funny.

You can click here to find the Finishing School books on Goodreads. Remember, you can keep up to date with Ms. Carriger on her BLOG and follow her on Twitter. Make sure you check out her blog because she has TONS of information on Steampunkery!! The next book in the series, Waistcoats and Weaponry, is due out on November 4. Be sure to pre-order your copy now! I give Curtsies and Conspiracies 5 Fairies for a fun, adventure filled romp across England that is written so well that I never wanted to finish the book.

Baiting Ben (The Moon Pack # 2) by Amber Kell

I have enjoyed Amber Kell's Banded Brothers series so I thought I'd try one of her Moon Pack works while I was looking for some new Kindle Books. I chose Baiting Ben.

After leaving his old pack in Alaska, Benjamin is looking for a man to call his own. His Alaskan pack hadn't known what to do with a gay half wolf. The one man he'd hoped to bond with was missing on mate night which told Ben more than words that he needed to move on.

Unfortunately, just as he finds Thomas, his old love hunts Ben down to claim him. What is Ben going to do when two gorgeous werewolves both want him for their mate? Can he teach two alphas that sometimes it's more fun to share? Or will Ben be forced to choose between a new love or an old flame?

One thing I have learned about Amber Kell is that she loves alliteration in her book titles and this one is no different.  I am also learning that she writes many good books that could be great books if there was more to them.  I thought the whole story felt rushed and I really wanted more details.  Would things really go so fast?  Possibly but I doubt it.  I just wish that there was more to the story.  How did they each come to accept that they were trimates?  How does Anthony do what he did? Why was creepy Ned being creepy?  There are so many unanswered questions.

Click here to find Baiting Ben on Goodreads.  The entire Moon Pack series is found here.  You can also find out more about Amber Kell and her writing by checking out her blog.  She can also be found on Twitter.  Baiting Ben earns 3 Fairies for a good story that could have been better if there had been more of it.

Best I've Read 2013: Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster

Today I am featuring Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster.  I won a copy of the first book in the series, Kiss of Steel and absolutely loved it.  I have been pimping the London Steampunk Series out to all of my reader friends on Facebook and this blog since I finished the first book.  I ordered Heart of Iron and My Lady Quicksilver months before they came out and I may have done happy dances when each book showed up in my mailbox on release day.  This series is an amalgam of all the things that I love.  There is romance, action, adventure, intrigue, Victorian London, vampires, werewolves, and steampunkery.  It's the perfect storm of books, really.  I haven't been able to read My Lady Quicksilver yet due to my ridiculous blogging schedule and the fact that my kids seem to think they need to be taken to activities after school.  But I hope to get it read over the holidays.  Today I have an awesome interview with Bec McMaster about Heart of Iron and Will, it's leading man!

In the mist-shrouded streets of London’s dreaded Whitechapel district, werewolves, vampires and a clockwork army are one
step away from battle…
NO ONE TO TRUST

Lena Todd is the perfect spy. Nobody suspects the flirtatious debutante could be a rebel against London’s vicious elite—not even the ruthless Will Carver, the one man she can’t twist around her little finger.

Will Carver, is more than man, he’s a verwolfen and he wants nothing to do with the dangerous beauty who drives him to the very edge of control. But when he finds Lena in possession of a coded letter, he realizes she’s in a world of trouble. To protect her, he’ll have to seduce the truth from her before it’s too late.

Award winning author Bec McMaster lives in a small town in Victoria, Australia, and grew up with her nose in a book. Following a lifelong love affair with fantasy, she discovered romance and hasn’t looked back. A member of RWA, she writes sexy, dark paranormals and adventurous steampunk romances. When not writing, reading, or poring over travel brochures, she loves spending time with her very own hero or daydreaming about new worlds.

Her London Steampunk series is available from Sourcebooks, with Heart of Iron (Book Two) being nominated for both Best Steampunk Romance by RT Reviews 2013 and Best Romance 2013 by Library Journal. Visit her website at www.becmcmaster.com or follow her on twitter @BecMcMaster.

Thanks so much to Bec McMaster for being willing to answer my questions and being willing to participate in BIR!

M- What is your favorite thing about Will?

Bec- I think one of my favourite things - and the hardest thing! - about writing Will is that he was so unapologetic about who he was. He is obviously scarred, with a very painful past, but he didn't let that hold him back from pursuing Lena. Despite being a tortured character, with a mother who had sold him into virtual slavery and little experience around women, he was almost naively hopeful of a relationship, even when he believed that his verwulfen status would never allow him to have that relationship. Despite what he believes or says, he wants someone to love him. In Kiss of Steel, it's revealed that he and Blade (a male character) had a moment in the past, where Will was feeling conflicted about relationships and mistook a certain act for a sexual advance. The interesting part, I thought, was that Will wasn't so much asking for sex as asking for tenderness. For a certain closeness that he's never had. Even just for someone to touch him in a manner that is not cruel - a pat on the back, a hug, just a human touch for someone who has been starved of touch for years. Considering that until that point he hadn't been around women very much, or truly trusted them, he had never felt this closeness with a woman, so it was fun to explore that as an author. His relationship with Blade - the eventual understanding that he has a place with Blade and his family, no matter what - is almost as grounding for him, as the love, tenderness and desire that he eventually feels with Lena. 

M- Why did you choose to write a paranormal steampunk series?

Bec- I don't think I chose it, so much as it chose me. *grins* I'm a little bit of a kitchen sink world builder. Once the idea hits me, I just develop it from there, weaving in elements that I like, or that I think will be useful in future installments. It's not like I set out to write a steampunk romance, or a paranormal romance and the results mingled, its simply that I set out to create a dark, grim world, with an alternative history in which certain things had happened. Because I love both sub genres, I think that's why the lines crossed. I will probably always cross genres in a little way.

M- What is your favorite thing about steampunk?

Bec- I love the freedom that writing/reading steampunk offers, the adventurousness of it all. You can create worlds that are so different to a lot of things out there, and the rules are few. Basically steam-driven technology and a certain challenge of the status quo. You can create so much, as an author. And your heroines can be really kick-ass (in a certain way). I love that. 

My Review of Heart of Iron

My Review of Kiss of Steel

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Heart of Iron (London Steampunk #2) by Bec McMaster

I love the London Steampunk series by Bec McMasters!  I won the first book last year and LOVED it.  When I saw that the next two books were available for pre-order from The Book Depository for an insane price of $5.99 each, I had to order them.  Lady Quicksilver has actually gone down in price since I ordered so now it is only $5.24!  Kiss of Steel (book 1) is $6.99 and Heart of Iron has gone back to full price of $7.99.  Even at full price, the Book Depository has FREE SHIPPING so it is WORTH IT in my book.  They are paperbacks but they are THICK.  Here is the cover and Goodreads blurb:

In Victorian London, if you’re not a blue blood of the Echelon then you’re nothing at all. The Great Houses rule the city with an iron fist, imposing their strict ‘blood taxes’ on the nation, and the Queen is merely a puppet on a string…

Lena Todd makes the perfect spy. Nobody suspects the flirtatious debutante could be a sympathizer for the humanist movement haunting London’s vicious blue blood elite. Not even the ruthless Will Carver, the one man she can’t twist around her little finger, and the one man whose kiss she can’t forget…

Stricken with the loupe and considered little more than a slave-without-a-collar to the blue bloods, Will wants nothing to do with the Echelon or the dangerous beauty who drives him to the very edge of control. But when he finds a coded letter on Lena—a code that matches one he saw on a fire-bombing suspect—he realizes she’s in trouble. To protect her, he must seduce the truth from her.

With the humanists looking to start a war with the Echelon, Lena and Will must race against time—and an automaton army—to stop the humanist plot before it’s too late. But as they fight to save a city on the brink of revolution, the greatest danger might just be to their hearts…

I loved this book!  It was easily as good as Kiss of Steel.  I love how this series is an amalgam of all the things I like.  It is kind of like a historical romance but there are paranormal creatures and lots of mystery.  I also enjoy the fact that the women in this series are so strong and independent.  This series is one of my favorites.  Truly.  I also really liked seeing more of Will in this book.  He was a supporting character in the last book so he really got his time to shine in this one.  If you are not sure if you will like Steampunk, this series is one to try! 


You can click here to the London Steampunk Series on Goodreads.  My Lady Quicksilver is set to release on October 1st and the fourth book in the series, Forged by Desire, is set for release in August of 2014.  I hope you will give this series a try!  You should also check out Bec McMaster's website.  She can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.  I give Heart of Iron 5 Fairies for a second book in a series that does not disappoint.