Rachelle J. Christensen

Romance, Suspense, Mystery Author

Book Review: Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts by Nancy Campbell Allen

by

Book Thoughts by Rachelle

Is anyone else sick of this coronavirus and quarantine/social distancing? Sometimes I feel like a vampire who has to hide away from the living. If you’ve been feeling that way you should definitely read Nancy Campbell Allen’s latest steampunk Victorian romance. Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts is an incredibly unique spin on the Cinderella story that takes us back to the feisty Emme O’Shea and her fight to defend predatory shifters. Yep, in this book vampires and werewolves can be good people too.

Oliver Reed also makes a reappearance acting as Emme’s bodyguard. This assignment puts two enemies together, but in a fun twist, their feelings start to change. You’ll have to read the book to find out if they can make it out alive and maybe more than friends.

Here’s more about the book:

A steampunk retelling of Cinderella

Emmeline O’Shea is determined to save the world—single-handedly, if necessary. A strong voice for societal reform, she is the natural choice to deliver a key speech at the end of the International Shifter Rights Organization’s week-long Summit in Scotland.

But when a death threat arrives at Emme’s home, she is immediately placed into protective custody, watched over by none other than her personal nemesis, Detective-Inspector Oliver Reed. The two have crossed paths many times, with disastrous results, but now they will have to work together in order to reach the Summit before midnight of the last day in order to ensure legislation is passed to protect the Shifter community.

As unseen enemies close in around Emme and Oliver, they struggle to reach Edinburgh by any means necessary, only to find Emme’s vindictive stepsister, Oliver’s vampire brother, and a dangerous political minefield awaiting them in Scotland.

Even more difficult is their own refusal to admit that the fiery animosity that once burned between them might be turning into the heat of romantic passion. Could a straitlaced policeman determined to uphold the law and an outspoken activist willing to break the rules ever find true love? Or will all their dreams shatter like glass when the clock strikes midnight?

Other books you may enjoy:

   

Visit Rachelle’s Book Review Page to see all reviews HERE.

Follow Rachelle:

*Affiliate links used in post. All reviews shared are Rachelle’s honest opinion.*

Book Review: The Lady in the Coppergate Tower by Nancy Campbell Allen

by

Book Thoughts by Rachelle

The Lady in the Coppergate Tower was another winner in Allen’s fascinating steampunk twisted fairy tales. I’ve read all of them so far and was happy to see mention of other familiar characters. This book can be read as a stand alone but it’s fun to see how connections keep building in Allen’s world.
Hazel Hughes has an interesting set of abilities that she doesn’t quite understand. She works with the gorgeous doctor Sam MacInnes and each day tries to talk herself out of a growing attraction.
When Hazel is invited to Romania by a count with nebulous intentions, Sam accompanies her and a mystery ensues. I enjoyed the hints, the chase, the romance, and the adventure. This book has a little bit of everything and will keep you busy uncovering secrets until the end.
Here’s more about the book:

Hazel Hughes has spent her life believing she is a Medium—someone who can talk to ghosts. But as of yet, that skill has remained frustratingly elusive. She is also suffering from a reoccurring childhood dream of someone who looks almost exactly like Hazel, but this dream version of herself is slowly going mad.

Sam MacInnes is a talented surgeon who runs in the highest social circles thanks to his family’s position and history. When Sam hires Hazel to assist him with his medical practice, he is immediately drawn to her intelligence, wit, and beauty.

Their potential relationship is derailed one evening when a mysterious count arrives in London and reveals to Hazel the truth about her past: she was abducted at birth and her twin sister has fallen dangerously ill.

Hazel agrees to travel to Romania with Count Petrescu in order to save her sister, and Sam insists on accompanying her. The count has secrets, though, and the journey grows more sinister with every mile that draws Hazel closer to her homeland. Even as her feelings for Sam become deeper and more complicated, she fears she might not survive the quest to save her sister with her heart intact, not to mention her life. She must learn to draw on gifts she doesn’t know she has if they are going to ever return home again.

Hazel and Sam must fight their way past dark magic, clockwork beasts, and their own insecurities as they try to reach her sister in the impenetrable Coppergate Tower before time runs out.

Other books you may enjoy:

   

Visit Rachelle’s Book Review Page to see all reviews HERE.

Grab these free tips from a bestselling and award-winning author HERE

Follow Rachelle:

*Affiliate links used in post. All reviews shared are Rachelle’s honest opinion.*

Book Review: Kiss of the Spindle by Nancy Allen

by

Book Thoughts by Rachelle

Fans of steampunk will love this great twist on the Sleeping Beauty tale. Not a fan of steampunk, or don’t even know what it is? You’ll still love it! At least I think you will because when I read Nancy Campbell Allen’s book, Beauty and the Clockwork Beast, I had no idea what steampunk was. Basically it’s a story where a classic setting is integrated into a society that utilizes steam-powered or gear-powered technology. If you love a good romance, I think you should read this book.

Doctor Isla Cooper is incredibly resourceful, smart, and beautiful. Oh, and she’s cursed, so she bullies her way onto Daniel Pickett’s private airship to try to find a cure. The crew and passengers aboard are delightful, curious, scary, and clever. I enjoyed the many different forms of tension in the book, from romantic to mystery to paranormal. Shape-shifters, criminals, detectives, and captains all play a big role in this story. Allen did an awesome job of weaving in intricate details from the classic Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. You’ll want to be on the lookout for them throughout the story. I think you’ll smile and even hold your breath a time or two. There’s definitely some swoony kisses in this book and I loved it because it is a clean romance–the best kind! I look forward to reading more books by Nancy Campbell Allen.

Here’s more about the book:

A steampunk Sleeping Beauty story from the author of Beauty and the Clockwork Beast.

Doctor Isla Cooper is cursed. Literally. Each night, at the stroke of midnight she falls into a death-like sleep from which she cannot be awakened for six hours. To make it worse, the curse has an expiration date–after a year, it becomes permanent. And the year is almost up.

In a desperate attempt to find Malette–the witch who cursed her–Isla blackmails her way onto Daniel Pickett’s private airship bound for the Caribbean, only to discover she’s traveling with three illegal shapeshifters and the despicable Nigel Crowe, a government official determined to hunt down and exterminate every shapeshifter in England. Isla and Daniel must work together to keep the identities of the shapeshifters hidden while coming to terms with their own hidden secrets, and their blossoming attraction to each other.

Filled with suspense, intrigue, and plenty of romance, Kiss of the Spindle is steampunk Sleeping Beauty story. It is a race against the clock as Isla and Daniel try to hunt down the elusive Malette before Isla’s death-like sleep becomes permanent.

Other books you may enjoy:

 

Visit Rachelle’s Book Review Page to see all reviews HERE.

Follow Rachelle:

*Affiliate links used in all posts. All reviews shared are Rachelle’s honest opinion.

Book Review: Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen

by

Book Thoughts by Rachelle

When I first started reading Beauty and the Clockwork Beast, it took me a minute to find my footing as I realized that maybe I didn’t know steampunk very well. In essence, this book takes place in London, long ago but the steampunk part is that people have access to electricity in Tesla coils and many clockwork mechanisms that provide transportation, robots, and even airships (planes). Also, there are vampires and werewolves. Not what I was expecting at all from a typical proper romance and totally different from Nancy’s earlier release, My Fair Gentleman, but this book was just as good. Once I recognized what continent/age I was supposed to be in, then I burned through this book.

This novel had everything I love in a great story. Lucy is an interesting character and a force to be reckoned with. I loved the interactions of her and Lord Miles Blackwell. I also loved the mystery throughout! It was fun to watch the romance unfold even as I paid attention to the clues that Allen left along the way. I liked the otherworldly connections and the drawback to one of my favorite fairy tales–Beauty and the Beast. Allen is an excellent writer and she’s created another enchanting story that I highly recommend. If you haven’t tried Steampunk before–don’t let that scare you. This story has all the same classic underpinnings as a traditional proper romance novel.

Here’s more about the book:

When Lucy Pickett arrives at Blackwell Manor to tend to her ailing cousin, Kate, she finds more than she bargained for. A restless ghost roams the hallways, werewolves have been reported in the area, and vampires lurk across the Scottish border.
Lord Miles himself is clearly hiding a secret. He is brash and inhospitable and does not take kindly to visitors—even one as smart and attractive as Miss Pickett. He is unsettled by the mysterious deaths of his new wife, Clara, and his sister, Marie. Could Miles himself be to blame for the deaths?
Working together, Miles and Lucy attempt to restore peace to Blackwell Manor. But can Lucy solve the mystery of Miles? Can she love the man—beast and all?

Other books you may enjoy:

   

Visit Rachelle’s Book Review Page to see all reviews HERE.

Follow Rachelle:

*Affiliate links used in post. All reviews shared are Rachelle’s honest opinion.*

FTC Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Find my books and other books you’ll enjoy on

CleanRomanceBooks.com

©Rachelle Christensen 2016. All rights reserved.