Short and Sweet Book Reviews #123 - Call of Fire by Beth Cato, The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare, A Duke in Shining Armor by Loretta Chase

Call of Fire by Beth Cato
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Be warned; this starts out as the last book ended so if you have not read book one you will be very lost. Ingrid, Cy, Lee, and Fenris have escaped San Francisco but are still in danger. The mix of history as we know it and history in a steampunk world is still very interesting. Cato even has a list of books the helped her develop her story listed at the end. More backstory is revealed, we meet new characters and learn more about the world where the story is set. Like many middle books in a series nothing is solved but much is set in place. This is a great series and I am looking forward to the next book. Again this does not do a good job of standing alone. Read book one, Breath of Earth, first.


The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One again Dare delivers everything I have come to expect in her books. The Duchess Deal is book one in a new series and the beginning is priceless and full of laugh out loud moments that continue throughout the book. Duke of Ashbury needs a wife and a heir. He decides that Emma Gladstone is perfect. That is where the great dialog starts. Emma is trying to collect her money for sewing the unused wedding gown from Ash's cancelled wedding and the Ash has just asked his solicitors to find him a bride. Emma get a proposal and Ash then has to convince her he means it. Everything develops from there. This is fun, sexy, sometimes ridiculous and a hard to put down story.


A Duke in Shining Armor by Loretta Chase
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hugh Philemon Ancaster, seventh Duke of Ripley, has definably bitten off more than he can handle when he goes after the runaway bride, Lady Olympia Hightower. She is not his bride but one of his best friend's bride and she is leading him a very merry chase. Great dialog, interesting characters and a fun plot are the hallmarks of any Loretta Chase story and A Duke in Shining Armor is no exception. Look for laugh out loud moments as the story progresses to a very satisfying end. There are two Difficult Dukes who need a HEA and some interesting side byplay from two characters who seem to have a history of broken romance.

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Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 100 - Breath of Earth by Beth Cato, Killing Gravity by Corey J. White, First Command by W.P. Brothers

Breath Of Earth by Beth Cato
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In Beth Cato's new series she put together a great mix. This is steampunk that features some historical events - the great San Francisco earth quake for one; some historical characters - Teddy Rosevelt is mentioned but never seen. What changes are the causes for the earthquake and Rosevelt's job in this alternate earth. Holding this all together are several interesting main characters. Ingrid Carmichael has powers that women are not suppose to have. With help she has hidden them until now. Cy, Fenris and Lee (Fenris and Lee not what they seem) all are helping Ingrid survive. The world building in very complex and the plot well developed. All in all a great start to a new series.

Killing Gravity by Corey J. White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mariam Xi or Mars as she likes to be called has some very dangerous powers. We meet her as her ship is loosing air and she transfers to the ship that responds to her call. From there it is a non-stop journey. While getting Mars in and out of danger Killing Gravity also tells the back story, does the world building and introduces the characters. This is book one in the The Voidwitch Saga and it does a good job of setting the stage for future stories. Mars makes a important discovery while getting rid of one of the people chasing her but there is still a lot of story left untold. I loved Mars pet and how she got her name very interesting. This was not a long book but it did everything it needed in a quick compact way.

First Command: Line of Battle No. 1 by W.P. Brothers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A common theme that does have a few twists. A new captain with a problem. Often it is the crew but this time it is a new first officer. Another common theme is the fact that the mission should be a milk run but turns out to be anything else. I liked the characters but there was just to much detail. I found myself skimming over a lot of the action and reading only the high points. This is a first book and the first book in the series. It has promise. People who love detail will rate this higher and people like me will give it three stars.

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Four Short and Sweet Reviews

I carried four physical books from my TBR pile with me on my month long trip and read all four.  Here are the Short and Sweet reviews for each.

Abracadaver by Laura Resnick – An Esther Diamond Novel, I love Esther and Connor her sometimes boyfriend.  This time they are off to another unusual adventure and again Connor just cannot accept what is going on right in front of him.  Great addition to the series.

The Thorn of Dentonhill by Marshall Ryan Maresca – A Novel of Maradaine,  I picked this one up because I loved A Murder of Mages set in the same world.  I was disappointed.  The Thorn of Dentonhill  did not catch me like his other series did.  I am still not sure where the series is going.   I will try book two.

The Clockwork Crown by Beth Cato – A Clockwork Dagger Novel,  A two book series which is unusual.  It was an exciting story with great characters.  There is a very satisfying ending. 

The Grendel Affair by Lisa Shearin– a SPI Files Novel,  A nice start to a new series.  I loved the background of  the main characters.  The world building and character development are right on target.  The back-story adds to the plot.  Book two is already out.  Guess my TBR pile will continue to grow.

Teaser Tuesday - July 14, 2015

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhyme.  
Anyone can play along! Just do the following:"
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book.

The Teaser:

"What's the matter?" she whispered.
"I expected more.  I must make some delicate inquiries." 
page 59

From The Clockwork Crown by Beth Cato.  This is on my TBR pile.  I read book on The Clockwork Dagger and really liked it so I have high hopes for this one.  

Stacking The Shelves - June 27, 2015

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books I added to my shelves this week. They may it be physical or virtual. I include books I buy in a physical store or online, books I borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!  Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.  Follow the link to see what others have on their shelves. 

Purchased:

Betting on Hope (A Four of Hearts Ranch Romance) by Debra Clopton

Mirror Image by K.G. Stutts

The Deepest Poison: A Clockwork Dagger Story by Beth Cato

Heart Fire by Robin D. Owens

A Man’s Word (The King’s Hounds) by Martin Jensen

Abracadaver by Laura Resnick

For Review:

Protecting the Colton Bride by Elle James

Ether & Elephants by Cindy Spencer Pape

Final Protocol by J.C. Daniels

The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato

Steampunk Romance

From Goodreads:

Full of magic, mystery, and romance, an enchanting steampunk fantasy debut in the bestselling vein of Trudi Canavan and Gail Carriger

“The Clockwork Dagger was just what I needed: A steampunk adventure with an uncommon heroine, a fascinating magic system, and a young gremlin! I’m hooked and can’t wait for more Octavia and Leaf!”

—New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hearne

Orphaned as a child, Octavia Leander was doomed to grow up on the streets until Miss Percival saved her and taught her to become a medician. Gifted with incredible powers, the young healer is about to embark on her first mission, visiting suffering cities in the far reaches of the war-scarred realm. But the airship on which she is traveling is plagued by a series of strange and disturbing occurrences, including murder, and Octavia herself is threatened.

Suddenly, she is caught up in a flurry of intrigue: the dashingly attractive steward may be one of the infamous Clockwork Daggers—the Queen’s spies and assassins—and her cabin-mate harbors disturbing secrets. But the danger is only beginning, for Octavia discovers that the deadly conspiracy aboard the airship may reach the crown itself.

The first thing that caught me in The Clockwork Dagger was the world building.  There is a wonderful mix of steampunk and magic in a world torn by a war between two different countries.  Beth Cato did a wonderful job of layering each element needed as the story built.   The result is fascinating and kept me reading just to see what part of the world would be revealed next.

I also loved the characters.  Octavia Leander is a very strong dedicated healer wanted by one side and targeted for death by the other.  She carries the story with the help of Leaf, a gremlin, Viola Stout. a very unusual princess, and Alonzo Garret, a Clockwork Dagger in training.

Intertwined into all of this is The Tree, the heart of Octavia’s magic and a huge betrayal. The Clockwork Dagger is a mystery and a thriller with just a touch of romance.  The story comes to a satisfying conclusion but leaves Octavia and Alonzo with a new journey ahead.  I will be waiting to see what happens to Octavia and her Clockwork Dagger in the next book.

Harper Voyager published The Clockwork Dagger by Beth Cato in 2014.

I received an ARC of The Clockwork Dagger from Edelweiss.