Today’s post is a spotlight on Bec McMaster’s fifth installment in the London Steampunk series, Of Silk and Steam. Read on for my thoughts, an excerpt, and a giveaway!
Of Silk and Steam by Bec McMaster Series: London Steampunk #5
ISBN: 9781402291944
Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. on March 3rd 2015
Format: eARC
Pages: 448
Source: Publisher
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Steampunk
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.
Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
drey’s thoughts:
Life is pretty bland for Mina, Duchess of Casavian – or so she’d like others to believe. She’s playing a very dangerous game, one that could very easily mean the end of her life, and there aren’t many she can trust enough to share the weight of that load.
When Leo Barrons, son of the man responsible for her father’s death, starts poking his nose in her business, Mina can’t quite figure out how to get rid of him. She doesn’t know he’s interested, she’s just annoyed he’s around.
I loved how these two interacted, as it went from flirting and snubbing to trusting and loving, all in the midst of political wrangling that’s definitely crossed the line into treason. There’s plenty of drama and action to balance out the sexy goings-on, and plenty of gadgetry to satisfy the geeky cravings of all steampunk fans. Because it’s all about the gadgets, right? Right?
We’ll pretend I’m right. 
You’ll definitely want to check this out if you’re a fan of paranormal romance and/or steampunk. Of Silk and Steam can be read on its own, though I think you should start at the very beginning (a very good place to start!) with Kiss of Steel to get the full effect of McMaster’s world.
drey’s rating: Excellent!
Have you read Of Silk and Steam? What did you think? And if you haven’t, read on for more!
A Bit of Fun:
For this tour, Bec McMaster came up with a character quiz that participants could take. I did, and here’s my character result –
Read an Excerpt from Of Silk and Steam:
Barrons looked at her. “Do you trust me?”
“No.” His father would have cut her down without thinking, but Barrons was an enigma. If he were a different man, she would have enjoyed his attentions, but a part of her couldn’t help wondering if his pursuit of her was just a way to get closer, to slip the knife in when she least expected it…
Could she trust that he meant her no harm?
His hand tightened around hers, dark heat sweeping through his irises. He focused on her so intently that she could almost feel it on her skin. “Then let us call a temporary truce for tonight. I shall help you escape. In return…”
“Yes?”
His voice roughened. “I want a kiss.”
A kiss. Tension slid sinuously along her limbs, each muscle clenching. Those motives she could certainly understand. It didn’t mean she had to like them.
Wariness spread through her as he lifted his hand and slowly, carefully brushed the back of his fingers against her lips. She didn’t flinch. Instead she tipped her chin up and glared him down. “Help me escape and I shall grant you such a liberty.” What harm could a single kiss do? “Until then”—she took a step back, her skirts swishing around her ankles—“I’ll thank you to keep your hands to yourself.”
His hand dropped but the ghostly sensation of that touch lingered, reminding her that it had been a long time since she’d been touched in any way intimately, and never like this. Never…soft. Full of gentleness, as if the very sensation of her skin beneath his was a pleasure in itself, not merely a step to greater satisfaction.
He was far more dangerous than she’d ever suspected, and she’d known, since the first moment she’d met him, that he was dangerous indeed. He was the only man who had ever managed to make her feel something.
Giveaway!
The publisher has a giveaway for you, especially if you haven’t read McMaster’s London Steampunk series – 5 copies of the book that started it all, Kiss of Steel! Fill out the form below to enter. Good luck!
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About Bec McMaster
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.
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