Book Review and ARC Giveaway: My Lady Quicksilver by Bev McMaster

This has great, strong characters and wonderful relationship tension.
My Lady Quicksilver
by Bec McMaster

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (October 1, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 140227033X
• ISBN-13: 978-1402270338

Genre: Steampunk, Fantasy Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
"Deftly blends elements of Steampunk and vampire romance with brilliantly successful results...darkly atmospheric and delectably sexy."—Booklist Starred Review for Kiss of Steel
In the mist-shrouded streets of a steam-fueled London, a clockwork army is on the rise, vampire blue bloods rule the streets, and war is brewing...
I Will Come For You...
He will find her no matter what. As a blue-blooded captain of the Nighthawk Guard, his senses are keener than most. Some think he's indestructible. But once he finds the elusive Mercury, what will he do with her?

It's his duty to turn her in—she's a notorious spy and traitor. But after one stolen moment, he can't forget the feel of her in his arms, the taste of her, or the sharp sting of betrayal as she slipped off into the night. Little does Mercury know, no one hunts better than the Nighthawk. And his greatest revenge will be to leave her begging for his touch...

Review:
Mercury is a leader of the humanist rebellion against the powerful, blood sucking Echelon. She was raised to be a spy and an assassin. When her brutal, blue-blood, father slaughtered her beloved husband in front of her she managed to escape his clutches, along with her brothers. Her older brother, Jack, is frail due to the experiments and tortures of their father. Her younger brother, Jeremy, had gotten into the wrong crowd of machinists and has been missing since Mercury foiled the machinists plan to bomb the Echelon leadership.

Mercury has her own mechanical arm that was cut off trying to free her husband. The arm was then replaced by expert biotechs engaged by her father. Although Mercury sympathizes with the machinists, she did not agree they were ready for the all out war that would follow a vicious attack against the Echelon. Still she continues with her plans to face the brutal Coldrush guards of the Echelon. But her activities are being investigated by Lynch, “The Nighthawk” himself, who is the head of the Nighthawks, the rogue, outcast blue-bloods who serve as spies and enforcers for the Echelon along with the guard.

Mercury is distracted from her own revenge efforts while seeking news of the whereabouts of Jeremy. Mercury goes undercover as Rosalind, an able and determined secretarial assistant.  She convinces Lynch to engage her and they begin a careful, but oh-so dangerous, dance. The more Rosalind gets to know Lynch the more she respects him, even knowing he is the enemy. She knows she shouldn’t grow close but this is the first time her senses have been stirred–even her heart– since her husband’s death.
Lynch feels a growing attraction for Rosalind but he is confused by his lustful reaction to the seductive play of Mercury. He is having a hard time keeping his usual cold, controlled demeanor while challenged by two attractive, but both unattainable, women.

Lynch is given an ultimatum by the Prince Consort: he has two weeks to bring in Mercury for execution or submit himself in her place. But how can he turn over a woman who makes him feel alive?

There is plenty of action in addition to the deceptive intrigue as Lynch and his team, with Rosalind in tow to take notes, investigate the sudden rampaging and killing of loved ones and households among several Echelon leaders.  The reader knows that Rosalind is going toeventually get caught and exposed as Mercury. The fun is getting there and learning how Lynch reacts!

I enjoy the steampunk elements in this series and the strong characters. I really loved the intrigue and sensual play throughout this book. It kept my attention riveted waiting to see the next step or play in the game.

Although I recommend this whole series I think this could be read as a stand alone and it is my favorite so far. I read two of the prior books and missed one. I think the background was sufficiently recounted to identify the players and how they got where they are. There are still characters who have stories waiting, and I am especially interested to learn what happens to Barrons and to the ongoing battle between humanists and the Echelon.

I received the ARC from Sourcebooks for an honest reviewing.

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 For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is open to those with US address only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on October 18, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after October 18, 2013.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Heart of Iron by Bec McMaster

This has strong characters, engaging conflict and fun steampunk elements.
Heart of Iron London Steampunk Book 2
by Bec McMaster

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (May 7, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402270305
• ISBN-13: 978-1402270307

Genre: Steampunk, Paranormal Romance
My Rating:  4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Release date: May 7, 2013
"Deftly blends elements of Steampunk and vampire romance with brilliantly successful results...darkly atmospheric and delectably sexy."—Booklist Starred Review for Kiss of Steel

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

Dangerous. Unpredictable. That's how people know the hulking Will Carver. And those who don't like pretty words just call him The Beat. No matter how hard Will works to suppress his werewulfen side, certain things drive him beyond all control. And saucy Miss Lena Todd tops the list.

Lena makes the perfect spy against the ruling Echelon blue bloods. No one suspects that under the appearance of flirtatious debutante lies a heart of iron. Not even the ruthless Will Carver, the one man she can't wrap around her finger and the one man whose kiss she can never forget. He's supposed to be protecting her, but he might just be her biggest threat yet...

Review:
Lena is a young woman caught between worlds. Her scientist father died leaving the family in debt. They moved from the aristocratic side of London to Whitechapel Rookery where the working class struggles. While Honoria works her chemical experiments, Lena builds clockwork mechanical toys. Lena did not want to remain in the lower classes so she is living with her Guardian on the edges of the Echelon, the ruling vampire blue bloods. Her position is precarious without a blood protector and more and more she feels she doesn’t belong in either society world.

Will is a werewulfen in a city that has basically banned all of his kind. The only other werewulfen are caged slaves or side-shows. He is unpredictable, even among his friends, and it has taken him years to learn to keep his nature in control – sometimes barely. He is fascinated by the beautiful and intelligent Lena who once had a bit of a crush on him. But he knows that he can have no relations or future with a human.

Lena has become a courier of messages for a rebel group, the Humanists, humans and mechanists (those with metal enhancements) who are seeking release from the oppression by the Echelon and the government-owned blood draining factories. Although she originally thought the communications were mostly innocent it appears that they are being used by a violent faction of the subversive group. Her continued co-operation and participation in their efforts is now being coerced by blackmailed threats to injure her family.

Will serves as Lena’s bodyguard but she even manages to slip away from him and keep secrets. What he does know is that she is in danger. He will fight through mechanical monsters, and jeopardize his own freedom by risking the liaison position with the foreign werewulfen; a position that he has been appointed to by the Prince.

As the days tick down to a precarious peace conference, Lena becomes deathly ill. Will is devastated as danger presses in.

I really enjoyed the mechanical elements and especially the intensity of the danger in the plot. The characters are strong, well developed and there is also intensity in the forbidden attraction between Lena and Will.  Be forewarned that the sexual interaction is on the hot side but I skimmed through that and still enjoyed the story.  This is a good story for those who like intrigue, steampunk and conflicted romance.

I received this book from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC Review Copy:

ENTRY FORM HERE

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is open US AND CANADA ONLY.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on June 7, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED on June 8, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Interview with Bec McMaster and Giveaway of Kiss of Steel

Please welcome Bec McMaster, Author of Kiss of Steel. 
See Below to enter the Giveaway for a print copy.

Q1.  What inspired you to write this genre?

BM: I have always had a love of science and a curiosity about the world and how it works – I studied two years of biology at University before deciding it wasn’t for me – so a lot of movie or books with a science base have always appealed. And the more outlandish the inventions or ideas, the more I like them. I remember my Dad taking me to see Wild, Wild, West when it first came out and we loved it. Then of course it started infiltrating a lot of the genres I read and my mind started racing. The story and world practically built itself.

Q2.  Do you do anything especially helpful for your world building? (Notebook, Bulletin board, etc.?)

BM: I stare out the window a lot. Kidding. Keeping track of it is hard, and I have started keeping detailed records, but honestly a lot of it is in my head. I have entire worlds and plots in there and I can recall most of it off the top of my head. It’s the names I need to keep track of mostly.

Q3.  Do your work career/hobbies/interests influence your writing?

BM: Everything I see, do or read influences my writing in some way. I’m particularly interested in travel, so I love setting my books in places I’ve been to or want to visit. It’s the next best thing to being there, and I love researching travel blogs and weird little facts about the places I set my books so that it truly feels like you’re there. I spent several months living in London four years ago, so a lot of that went into creating Kiss of Steel. London has such an atmosphere and a weight of history about it. I spent hours walking down random streets and staring at all the houses or little museums and pubs that were everywhere. Or absorbing all the little details of costumes at the Victoria & Albert museum. They’re amazing!
 
Q4.  Did you find anything “hands on” or unusual required when researching these books?

BM: Again, it’s a combination of experiences over the years popping up in the stream of my sub-conscious. For example, I did a junior pentathlon once, so we studied fencing, which came in handy for certain scenes. And my step-sister’s boyfriend is English so I spent a lot of time listening to him and the way he speaks. Not that he probably knows that.
 
Q5.  What is one thing you struggle with in your writing?

BM: Adverbs. They’re everywhere. Luckily I give the manuscript a good prune with the editorial scissors before anyone else lays eyes on it. I remember my critique partner highlighting them in a page once, just to show me. There was a lot of yellow.
 
Q6.  Please share your most rewarding experience since being published. 

BM: It actually happened two nights ago. I had my local book launch at the library in town and 120 people showed up, which is pretty good for a small town. The level of local support has been amazing, and people have been really, genuinely excited about hearing what has happened. I’ve always been a private person – in fact a lot of my friends weren’t even aware I wrote until a few years ago – so it’s been an eye-opening experience for me.

Q7.  If you could ask readers a question, what would it be?

BM: If you could create an invention to do anything you wanted, what would it be? (I must admit, I want the Tardis).

 

KISS OF STEEL BY BEC MCMASTER 

IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2012

 

A brilliantly creative debut where vampires, werewolves, and clockwork creatures roam the mist–shrouded streets of London...

When Nowhere is Safe…

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Bec McMaster lives in a small town in Australia and grew up with her nose in a book. A member of RWA, she writes sexy, dark paranormals and steampunk romance. When not writing, reading, or poring over travel brochures, she loves spending time with her very own hero or daydreaming about new worlds. For more information, please visit http://www.becmcmaster.com/ or follow her on Twitter, @BecMcMaster.

GIVEAWAY ONE PRINT COPY OF Kiss of Steel

Thank you to Sourcebooks for allowing me to host a giveaway!
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for Print Copy from Sourcebooks:

ENTER HERE

For 3 Extra Bonus entries: Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.
For 3 Extra Bonus entries: Comment on this Interview and/or Answer the Author's Q7 above in pink.
For 2 Extra Bonus entries: Comment on my review (the previous post).

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on October 5, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on October 6, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.   

Book Review: Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

I really enjoyed this fast paced steampunk version of a not quite Vampire tale.

Kiss of Steel
by Bec McMaster

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402270275
• ISBN-13: 978-1402270277

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Steampunk
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Release Date: September 1, 2012
"Action, adventure, steampunk, and blazing hot seduction...Bec McMaster offers it all."—Eve Silver, author of Sins of the Flesh
A brilliantly creative debut where vampires, werewolves, and clockwork creatures roam the mist–shrouded streets of London...
When Nowhere is Safe
Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?
Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single–handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood–craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.
When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

Review:
This 'vampire' story has a different bite. It is set in a wonderfully steampunk Victorian England with strong characters and a good action plot.

In Honoria's world the upperclass are the infected Blue Bloods, the ruling houses of the Echelon who are allied with the Queen. They have their armies of metaljackets and the specially trained Nighthawk warriors. Honoria was once a 'lady' with expectations of becoming a respected "thrall" to one of the Blue Blood families. Her father was a brilliant scientist who was experimenting to develop a cure or at least a vaccine against the blood craving virus that will first give a man strength and heightened abilities but eventually degenerates into the bestial vampires that are executed at first signs of deterioration. Honoria was her father's research assistant and kept a diary almost as good as his.

When her father is murdered by his cruel and vicious patron, Lord Vickers, Honoria flees with the diaries and her younger sister and brother. They are in hiding in Whitechapel which is full of dangers and under the control of the infamous Blade. Honor has caught the eye of Blade and although she resists his interest she is soon desperate with nowhere else and no one else to turn to for help.

Blade is the most famous infected being who escaped the clutches and experiments of the Echelon. He now rules in Whitechapel with the aid of a mixed group of henchmen including a 'verwulfen' and some mechanically strengthened humans.  In addition to her beauty, Blade is interested in Honoria because he knows that Vickers has a price on her head. Blade has a personal score to repay for his own tragic loss brought about by Vickers.

Blade bargains with Honoria and her reluctance falls under his odd form of courtship. She discovers she can trust his gentleness as she has a way of bringing out his more honorable traits and even calming the beast within.

Blade has to cooperate with one of the Blue Blood lords, Barrons, who has some connection to Honoria. He doesn't want to be jealous but he doesn't like the secrets that keep Honor at arms length. As Blade and Barrons battle a rogue vampire a trap is set to capture Honor. Will Blade be able to save Honor from Vickers before he does harm? Will Honor be able to find a cure before Blade's disease progresses out of control?

I really loved Honor and Blade and their cautious courtship that finally blossoms with their passion. Their romance is sensual and steamy without ever seeming vulgar. Ms. McMasters does a grand job with world building a setting that is different and fascinating, especially since I enjoy steampunk features. The plot is believable and provided fast paced action and suspense. The secondary characters are drawn with appropriate depth to make them likeable or horribly villainous. I recommend this to readers who enjoy strong, romantic characters who face dangerous odds. Even if you aren't a big fan of vampire stories you might enjoy this steampunk version with its twisted bite.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blade's sad thoughts:

A blue blood had no personal scent. No warmth. Sometimes he felt as tough he were slowly turning to marble, devoid of any of the touches of humanity that surrounded him. Until nothing but the hunger remained. Page 51.

What Honoria wants:

Someone to love her. Someone to hold her in his arms, to tell her that she was the center of his world. That he would look after her. Someone to trust. Someone to love back. Page 223

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Ms. McMaster for providing the book to review, sharing in Interview and providing Giveaway copy! See the Giveaway and Interview post next.

I will add this title to my New Author and ARC Challenges as well as Steampunk list.