Steampunk Novel - TOUCH OF STEEL

TOUCH OF STEEL
A Novel of the Clockwork Agents
Kate Cross
Signet Eclipse
ISBN:  0-451-23882-5
December 2012
Steam Punk - Romance

The second in Kate Cross’s Clockwork Agents series, TOUCH OF STEEL resumes the series several months after the events of HEART OF BRASS.  Determined to avenge her brother’s death, Company agent Claire Brooks is shot when pursuing the murder, Stanton Howard.  Captured by the Wardens of the Realm (W.O.R.), Claire eagerly agrees to cooperate with the W.O.R. in order to continue her pursuit, although she knows that the betrayal she has planned will ensure her death from either agency.  Disgusted from his own prior experiences with double-crossing women, the Earl of Wolfred, Alastair Payne, is a W.O.R. agent determined to keep Claire from negatively impacting the newly-rebuilt marriage of Lucas and Arden Grey.  Alastair expects Claire to betray their agreement, but neither of the two can be prepared for the attraction that flares between them.

If steam punk is a genre you enjoy, then Cross’s Clockwork Agents series is a wonderful addition to your collection.  While the technology that made the first book so engaging is less obvious, TOUCH OF STEEL is full of espionage, danger, and forbidden romance.  Claire’s American background, alias, and determination make her a very interesting character, and Alastair’s own English background leads for a lot of natural conflict.  With diverse characters and settings, TOUCH OF STEEL is an unexpected adventure that will keep you hooked!

Reviewed by Angela Etheridge
Rating: 4

December Paranormal Picks

BLACK MOON

Alpha Pack-Book 3

J. D. Tyler

Signet Eclipse

ISBN: 978-0-451-23883-2

December 2012

Paranormal

Kalen Black is one powerful sorcerer and since joining the Alpha Pack, he has been battling an evil Fae who is determined to take over his mind and bring him over to his side. He was doing fine until he handed over his protective amulet to Mackenzie. Mac is the one woman who has broken through his loner defenses and to protect her from Malik he will do anything, even put himself in danger. So Mac wears the amulet and Kalen fights daily for his sanity. Meanwhile Malik works on Kalen's weaknesses and slowly draws him in. But Mac is determined to save the man she has come to love because not only is he her mate, he is the father of the child she is carrying. As the stakes rise, Kalen may risk losing everything, even his mate, because Malik may just have too much power for him to overcome.

BLACK MOON is another great release from J. D. Tyler. The sensuality is hot with just enough angst to make it powerful. This Alpha Pack really knows how to love and the next release isn't out until September 2013, so there will be quite a wait.

Reviewed by Lori Sears

Rating: 4 1/2

 

 

WILD ABOUT YOU

Love At Stake Series-Book 13

Kerrelyn Sparks

Avon

ISBN:978-0-06-210771-8

December 2012

Paranormal

Elsa Bjornberg is the Amazonian host of a renovation show. At 6'2" she has never felt anything close to womanly until she met Howard, a giant of a man and hunky to boot, too bad he set off the curse. Her aunts always warned her of the silly curse, but now that Howard has activated it, she is starting to think that just maybe there may be more to it than she thought. When her aunts arrive with guns in hand, and she is knee deep in paranormal activity she begins to doubt her burgeoning feelings for Howard, after all, he is a shape-shifter. Howard has been in love with Elsa for a while and when she shows up to remodel the gatehouse he knows this is the chance he has been waiting for. If he can only get her to trust him and overcome the curse, he knows she is the perfect woman for him. But when Howard's past comes calling, the little bit of trust he and Elsa have built may shatter and danger lurks around every corner. I have enjoyed all of Sparks' books since this series began and I was glad to finally see Howard get a chance at romance. WILD ABOUT YOU is heart felt and fun romance with a little action to top it off and fans of the Love at Stake series are sure to enjoy Howard's story.

Reviewed by Lori Sears

Rating: 4

Lori Sears

HEART OF ATLANTIS

The Warriors of Poseidon-Book

Alyssa Day

Berkley Sensation

December 2012

Paranormal

As the high priest of Atlantis, you swear an oath of fealty to Poseidon as well as your future king and in order to maintain your power you also make a vow of celibacy. For hundreds of years Alaric has led that life and now he has finally decided to throw that all away and make a vow to Quinn, the woman he loves. Quinn has been leading the rebels and even though she is only human, she is the most fierce warrior Alaric has ever encountered and just the perfect mate for him. When an impostor shows up claiming to be the true king of Atlantis and flaunting the last jewel of Poseidon's Trident, Quinn's life becomes endangered as the impostor plans to use her to beget an heir. Alaric nearly goes out of his mind when Quinn disappears and the world itself may be in jeopardy if Alaric is unable to find the one woman who completes him.

HEART OF ATLANTIS completes the Warriors of Poseidon series with a bang. I have loved this series from the beginning and Alaric's story has been a long time coming. He was the most stoic and grouchy of all the characters and his love was all consuming proving the bigger you are the harder you fall. Day's Warrior series is full of hot alpha males just waiting for the perfect woman to complete them.

Reviewed by Lori Sears

Rating: 4

Book Three in Isobel Carr's League of Second Sons

RIPE FOR SEDUCTION

The League of Second Sons #3

Isobel Carr

Grand Central Publishing

ISBN 978-0-446-57274-3

December 2012

Historical Romance: 1785

Lady Olivia Carlowe's reputation has been tainted after the fiasco of a bigamous marriage and the death of her philanderer of a husband. Through no effort of her own, she has become fair game to the rakes and rogues of Society, and scorned and given the cut direct by their wives, sisters, and daughters. When she receives a written proposal from a very drunk Roland Devere to beat his friend in being the first to bed her, her first reaction is outrage until she realizes that she can use it to her advantage to get through the long interminable Season. If Roland becomes her shield for the Season, court her then become engaged to her, in a few months she can cry off, retire to the country, her reputation totally destroyed and she will become 'the mistress of her own destiny.' To save face in front of his family, Roland agrees and quickly realizes that every moment in her delicious company will bring them closer and closer...he has no doubt that he can shield her from the undesirables...and seduce her into his bed at the same time...yet Roland does not count on love entering the picture...

RIPE FOR SEDUCTION is another sensuous and entertaining winner in the League of Second Sons from Isobel Carr. Readers will love the delectable hero and wonder how Olivia ever thought she could withstand his advances! Also sensual and enjoyable is the secondary romance between Olivia's father and Roland's older sister. 

Reviewed by Debora Hosey

4