Book Beginnings on Friday, March 2, 2012

Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Katy from A Few More Pages. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include  include the title and author so others know what you're reading.

This was my Waiting on Wednesday book.  It came in the mail Wednesday and I have already finished it.  Timeless by Gail Carriger is the last Alexia Tarabotti novel.  I have to applaud Gail for stopping the series instead of continuing until it got old.  I don't want to spoil the end for anyone but I will say it was a very elegant ending.  Even with that Timeless left me wanting more.  Of course there will be a new series featuring Alexia and Conall's precocious child.

Here is how Timeless begins:

"I said no such thing," grumbled Lord Maccon, allowing himself, begrudgingly, to be trussed in a new evening  jacket."

Here is what Goodreads has to say about Timeless.

 Alexia Tarabotti, Lady Maccon, has settled into domestic bliss. Of course, being Alexia, such bliss involves integrating werewolves into London High society, living in a vampire's second best closet, and coping with a precocious toddler who is prone to turning supernatural willy-nilly. Even Ivy Tunstell's acting troupe's latest play, disastrous to say the least, cannot put a damper on Alexia's enjoyment of her new London lifestyle. 

Until, that is, she receives a summons from Alexandria that cannot be ignored. With husband, child, and Tunstells in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to cross the Mediterranean. But Egypt may hold more mysteries than even the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does the vampire Queen of the Alexandria Hive really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy Tunstell suddenly become the most popular actress in all the British Empire?

Blameless by Gail Carriger

Paranormal Romance

I have been waiting of Gail Carriger’s Blameless to be released. At the end of Changeless Alexia Tarabotti was left in a very uncomfortable and inconvenient condition. As Alexia stated she was used to defending herself from things she had done but this time she was suppose to defend herself from something she had not done.

In typical Alexia fashion, since she is not guilty, she leaves the scene and goes to France and Italy to find the proof of her innocence. We see the result of her action in Blameless, a book filled with more hair-raising adventures. Along the way we get to know more about each of the characters and the world they live in as well as meet new players who add important elements to the plot. The story is never boring. The dialog is crisp and often humorous in spite of the danger. There are some great lines in the book but to quote them here would give too many important elements of the book away. Get Blameless and read them for yourself.

Look for Heartless, the next book in the series in July 2011. Souless and Changeless are the first two books in the series.

Orbit published Blameless by Gail Carriger in 2010.

I purchased Blameless from Amazon.

You Tube has a video that shows the creation of the Blameless book cover. My June 25, 2010 post has the address to watch the video.

Soulless, an Alexia Tarabotti Novel by Gail Carriger

Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Gail Carriger calls Soulless an urban fantasy alternate history with a sprinkling of steampunk. I just call it fun. Soulless is set in the late 1800’s and combines the paranormal with historical romance. There are all the rules that you read in other historical romances with the addition of werewolves, vampires, ghosts and the preternaturals. All of these elements lead to a story with interesting twists in the behavior of the characters. Filled with great world building, an interesting plot and great characters Soulless is a good start to a new series.

Alexia Tarabotti is a strong female who has no soul. Lord Maccon is a werewolf who clashes constantly with Alexia. A new vampire tries to feed on Alexia she and Lord Maccon are thrown together to solve the mystery. The result is an entertaining page-turner filled with adventure and romance.

Orbit published Soulless by Gail Carriger in 2009.

I purchased Soulless at Borders.
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