Finette's Folly by Lily Benjamin ~ Review

Title: Finette’s Folly
Author: Lily Benjamin
Genre: Steampunk Romance
Length: 108 Pages
Publisher: Indie
Release Date: January 8, 2016
Source: Review Request
Rating: 3
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

A Steampunk fairy tale.

Happy endings require patience, hope, and a little ingenuity. Finette Proulx puts her skills at repairing clockwork gadgetry to greater use when she bets all she has on an airship race. Her loss only steams up her desire to win the prize at the British Diamond Cup—and her freedom. After such a lonely life, love seems too much to ask... until she meets Sacha. A mysterious Romanian, “Sacha” Aleksander Dragomir Dalca, aids her in ways she doesn’t suspect. At the moment she thinks her life is falling into ruin, she finds him waiting to catch her with open arms. The handsome gypsy affirms her belief that dreaming's not for fools, and she deserves to write her happy ending her own way.

Quite a fun version of a Steampunk Cinderella tale. Finette is an inventor and tinkerer whose only dream is to fly in the big airship race. But in true Cinderalla fashion, her step-family stand in her way at every turn. I really enjoyed Finette - she had just the right amount of attitude and needed just the right amount of help for me to keep cheering for her.

Her prince charming was a little different - I loved the way they met, and you know right away that they will end up together. You just aren't sure how it's going to happen. The two played nicely off each other and I really liked how they interacted.

My biggest complaint was Finette's father - he just didn't sit right with me at all. I never understood how he acted at all. Her friend and fellow pilot was amazing though. She'd make a great character for her own little romance.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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ARC Review: Of Silk and Steam (London Steampunk #5) by Bec McMaster

Title: Of Silk and Steam (London Steampunk #5)
Author Bec McMaster
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Steampunk Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: March 3, 2015
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 5
Sexual - 3

Enemies. Allies. Lovers.

When her beloved father was assassinated, Lady Aramina swore revenge. The man responsible is well beyond her grasp, but his dangerously seductive heir, Leo Barrons, is fair game. When Mina obtains evidence proving that Leo is illegitimate, she has the means to destroy both the killer and his son, a man who troubles her heart and tempts her body.

A woman of mystery, Mina's long driven Leo crazy with glimpses of a fiery passion that lurks beneath her icy veneer. He knows she's hiding something, and he's determined to unravel her layer by silken layer. He just doesn't expect the beautiful liar to be the key to overthrowing the corrupt prince consort… or to saving his own carefully walled-off heart.

This book was just amazing.  We had gadgets and robots, enemies become lovers, intrigue, and an almost full scale war on the streets of London.  I think that covers so many different types of books I like that I just couldn't help but fall in love with this one.  Mina and Leo are quite the pair.  From the very beginning you can see the interest between the two, but their families aren't fond of each other - so hands off!!  In fact, Mina would love to see Leo's family fall.  But that all gets pushed aside with the crazy prince consort goes - well - crazy.

Then Mina and Leo are forced to work together and realize that there's nothing wrong with changing your mind and opinion on someone.  I love how they came together when they really needed to and their relationship just grew from there.  I also loved that Mina was a mastermind behind a pretty devious plot - I love a devious woman.

There really wasn't much I didn't like about the story.  This one was a big win all around.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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Review : Disenchanted and Co. ( Disenchanted and Co. #1) by Lynn Viehl

Title: Disenchanted and Co
Author: Lynn Viehl
Published: January 28, 2014 by Pocketbooks
Pages: 380 pages
Reviewer: Cerridwen
Rating: 4
Sexual : 2

This release is considered Book One in the series. It combines Part 1: Her Ladyship's Curse and Part 2: His Lordship Possessed into one volume. In the Provincial Union of Victoriana, a steampunk America that lost the Revolutionary War, Charmian “Kit” Kittredge makes her living investigating crimes of magic. While Kit tries to avoid the nobs of high society, she follows mysteries wherever they lead. Unlike most folks, Kit doesn’t believe in magic, but she can’t refuse to help Lady Diana Walsh, who claims a curse is viciously wounding her while she sleeps. As Kit investigates the Walsh family, she becomes convinced that the attacks are part of a more ominous plot—one that may involve the lady’s obnoxious husband. Sleuthing in the city of Rumsen is difficult enough, but soon Kit must also skirt the unwanted attentions of a nefarious deathmage and the unwelcome scrutiny of the police chief inspector. Unwilling to surrender to either man’s passion for her, Kit struggles to remain independent as she draws closer to the heart of the mystery. For the truth promises to ruin her life—and turn Rumsen into a supernatural battleground from which no one will escape alive.

Finding something that is different is always a challenge for me. I am so glad to see more steam punk come into the romance genre. A good steam story for me always has a female lead that is strong and proving her way in lieu of the Victorian setting and male dominance. It should also not overwhelm me with so much Steampunk science that I can't envision it. During Disenchanted and Co. I loved the storyline but at times I found Kit to be annoying. It was as though she would put reason aside to prove a point and would eventually land herself in danger...to which a man must rescue her. Viehl does build the world around her characters to where you feel like you know them yet leaves a lot of mystery to keep you reading. She also gives a delightful ghost a surprise persona.

Review: Prudence and the Professor (Brides of Jubilee #1) by Sibelle Stone

Title: Prudence and the Professor (Brides of Jubilee #1)
Author: Sibelle Stone
Source: Author Request
Genre: Steampunk Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: January 20, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

Civil War widow Prudence Worthington has vowed to never again be at the mercy of a
man. She’s determined to make her own way in the world after being one of the first women to graduate from a business school in upstate New York. In search of adventure and independence she takes a position as a personal secretary to an eccentric inventor and heads to Montana Territory.

Professor Gerritt Rhinehart must develop his newest invention to meet a critical deadline. Someone is willing to do almost anything to stop him, and the distraction of a raven haired beauty he hired as his secretary makes it impossible to concentrate. But he must stay focused, especially when his invention could change the course of the War-Between-the-States.

Discover a rollicking steampunk romance from an award-winning author. The first book in the Brides of Jubilee series.

I have found that it can be difficult to find a good mix of steampunk and romance.  One of the halves always seems to come up a little short.  Prudence and the Professor had a very nice balance of the two.  The machines and contraption were a little lacking in the  middle, but the Screaming Meemie and the devices at the end made up for it.  

Prudence and Gerrit seem to be made for each other, but neither of them want to admit it.  Their reasons aren't very sound, and it was really the only downside of the book( although the bath house scene near the beginning is pricelss).  I would have liked to see a slightly different conflict between them.  There was plenty of other conflict to go around though.  With espionage and assassination on the agenda, both Prudence and Gerrit are attached for several different reasons.

There is a bit of paranormal twist as well, but since it was a surprise I don't want to say exactly what it was.  It was very nicely done though and leads the way into an interesting set up for book two.  I think it will be another very exciting one.

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