Book Review: A Lady Never Lies

Author: Stephanie Burkhart

Title: A Lady Never Lies

Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing

Publish Date: June 11, 2014

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Steampunk Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Jocelyn Dunkirk is not your typical Victorian lady. She dresses in leather, wears goggles, and is not afraid to get a little grease under her fingernails. Gentlemen avoid her like a dirty rivet.

Richard Windsor, the Prince of Wales, travels through time to claim Jocelyn's heart, but if it isn't one challenge, it's another. He determines to be a constant, steady presence in her life, hoping to prove he'd make a worthy husband.

Jocelyn's facing a bucket full of problems. The prime minister wants her to assist in ending a coal strike before it cripples the nation while her father attempts to recover from a serious injury. Will Jocelyn's dedication to her country and family ruin the one chance she has at love?

Review:  This is a fabulous steampunk series. A Lady Never Lies is book 3 in the Windsor Diaries series. I don't often stray much from contemporary novels, but when it comes to Stephanie Burkhart's series, I am always on board. If you've never tried this genre, her books are a wonderful place to start.

I recommend reading Victorian Scoundrel and A Gentleman and A Rogue before tackling this one, even though this can be read as a stand alone novel, especially if you are a fan of continuity. If that kind of thing doesn't bother you, by all means go ahead and read this one, you'll enjoy it either way.

In this book the usual cast of characters are present from the other books, but the main focus is on Jocelyn Dunkirk (from the past) and Richard, the Prince Of Wales (from the present).  An accident at the beginning of the book shapes the actions here, and results in a terrible injury for a focal character.

Jocelyn is a woman ahead of her time. She's definitely out of place in Victorian times, and it is her close relationship with her father that keeps her from jumping through time to be with Richard Windsor, the Prince of Wales.

It is a ring that Richard gave her that caused the accident at the beginning of the book that sets the ball rolling.

More time travel causes more problems in the future, especially when one of the time travelers tries to change history which will leave readers anxious for the next book to see what is going to happen next.

These books are short but the pacing is fast and never slows down. Once you are involved in the story it is hard to put it down.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Victorian Scoundrel

Author: Stephanie Burkhart
Title: Victorian Scoundrel
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Publish Date: June 30, 2011
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb:

It's 2011 and compressed natural gas has taken over from the coal producing steam machines of the Victorian Age. Alice Windsor, Princess of York, follows her mischief-making cousin, Edmund of Wales, back to 1851 where Prince Albert is hosting Britain's Great Exhibition.

Alice soon finds herself over her head in trouble. Edmund is determined to help Prince Albert build a dirigible and the prime minister appears intent in preventing her from stopping Edmund. Alice knows it's too early for the massive flying machine to take to the air. Complicating matters is the passionate Grayson Kentfield, Earl of Swinton. Alice can't stop her pulse from pounding when she's near him.

Can Alice give her heart to a man from the past while working to stop Edmund from changing history?

EXCERPT

Tired and thirsty, she finally made it to the courtyard. Edmund was nowhere to be found. She should have expected it, really. No doubt he was in the palace filling their great-grandfather's head with forward-thinking ideas. She crossed her arms, staring at the steps. Several carriages waited nearby. No one in their right mind would let her into the palace looking like she did -- like she had just stepped out of the gutter.

"Excuse me, who are you?"

Alice spun around to find herself face-to-face with two gentlemen who stood near one of the waiting carriages. One gentleman was older, Alice guessed in his fifties, one younger. The older gentleman stared at her like she truly was a guttersnipe, but the younger one -- he was tall, with chiseled cheeks and sensitive hazel eyes. His broad chest filled his suit well and he measured her with a cool, appraising look that hinted at... appreciation. An uncomfortable feeling washed over her. Never had a man's stare made her feel so... warm.

"Well?" asked the older gentleman.

Alice straightened her posture with her usual royal dignity and took off her glasses as she always did when she introduced herself. "I am Her Royal Highness, Princess Alice of York."

The men looked at each other, at her, then back at themselves. She wasn't sure if they were befuddled, confused, or wanted to laugh. Finally, the older gentleman spoke. "Princess Alice is seven years old."

Alice bit the inside of her lip, realizing she had totally forgotten where she was due to the younger gentleman's attention. She slid her glasses back on. "Simply call me Alice -- Alice Windsor."

"And you may call me Prime Minister."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review: I read the second book in this series a few years back. It was full of wibbly wobbly timey whimey goodness, so when I got the chance to review the first book in the series, I was thrilled.

This book is a quick steampunk read and a great start to the series. I love Alice and Edmond Windsor. It was great to finally see how the story started.

The story combines all the wonderful things that make steampunk such a great genre, while adding a touch of romance between Edmund and Keira, the prime minister's daughter and Alice and Grayson. 

The mixture of present day and Victorian times makes the book all the more interesting. Something about this series reminds me of the Doctor Who epis set in Victorian England. I expect to see Strax, Vastra and Jenny at any given time. Maybe its just the time frame, or maybe its the time travel element of the story or maybe I still love working Doctor Who into everything I can.

But back to the story, Edmund is making mischief in Victorian times and Alice is trying to make sure he doesn't succeed in messing up the timeline. Burkhart really pays attention to detail in this book in regards to The Great Exhibition and The Crystal Palace.

If you are looking for a great way to get into the steampunk genre, this is a good series to start with and I can assure you the second book is just as good.

Rating: 5 flowers

Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours Review: A Gentlement & A Rogue

A Gentleman and a Rogue

by Stephanie Burkhart

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Royals Edmund and Alice Windsor return to 2011 only to discover their world is now powered by gasoline and electricity - not compressed natural gas. Their attempts to persuade their grandmother, Queen Anne II, falls on deaf ears. Taking matters into their own hands, they enlist Jonas Byron's help and travel back to 1855 to set the time line right.

Now in Lincoln, Edmund is reunited with Lady Keira Russell, the love of his life, but if it isn't one obstacle, it's another. Keira does not want to fall in love with him again. Jonas Byron has taken up with Keira's father to build a windmill, and Edmund's brother, Richard, the Guardian of the Time Machine, has followed Edmund to ensure Queen Victoria makes the right decision when choosing the fuel of the future. Edmund has a choice - make mischief to ensure time marches to the beat of the right drummer, or trust in Keira and her belief that Queen Victoria will make the right decision on her own. Will Edmund lose Keira for good if he makes the wrong choice?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt :

He grabbed her hand and leaned against the water fountain. The spout was inactive, thank goodness. Edmund hesitated, unsure where to start. He drew in a breath. The best place to start was his feelings. Angling his body, he found her sweet hazel eyes. "I love you."

Her lower lip trembled. "I love you, too."

He cupped her cheek and rubbed her jaw with his thumb. "What are we going to do about it?"

"What can we do? You're from the future. I'm your past." "I can stay with you."

Surprise swept across her face. "Can you do that?"

"I intend to."

"How?"

"I believe Richard's watch is the override."

"But--"

He held up a reassuring hand. "Whatever happens, I'm not going back."

"What about your necklace?"

"I am determined to find a good hiding place for it."

Keira paused, her expression very serious. "Ed, I have to ask you something important."

"All right."

"I know you are convinced that my project fuels your future, but I have to request that

you don't sabotage my father's project. Please, don't use your steel rivets."

"But, Keira--"

"This is important to me."

Confusion pooled inside him. "I don't understand. I'm doing what I have to in order to ensure my future occurs."

She grasped his hands and squeezed, her eyes imploring him. "Then trust Queen Victoria to make the right decision. My father has his pride and so do I. I want to win fairly, not by cheating."

"But, my future--"

"Ed, if we're to have a future as a couple, I must win without cheating."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review: Ah this book is all wibbly wobbly timey wimey! It really combines a lot of my favorite elements  romance, time travel and a historical setting.

Steampunk, how I love thee...let me count the ways...

Ah yes, the only gripe I have is it is book two in series and I didn't know that. Book 1 is called Victorian Scoundrel and the books are part of The Windsor Diaries. I was able to read it without problems, but in a series like this, it is very helpful to have read the first book, because without it you'll be left with some wondering.

This is one book that I almost expected to find The Doctor and his TARDIS to show up in. There's a lot of talk of time travel and time lines and what you should or shouldn't do. (And since it is set in Victorian England...well I was expecting to see Madam Vastra, Jenny and Strax at any given time)

See I can work Doctor Who into just about anything, but I digress.

If you are a fan of the Steampunk genre and you are looking for a quick read, you have to pick up this book. (Though you probably should pick up book 1 first).

Along with the time travel there is some lovely romance going on between Edmund and Keira and Richard and Joceyln. I really liked how their emotions affected how they behaved in that particular setting.

Oh and a wonderful set up for the next book. This is definitely a must read series...

Rating: 4 flowers

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD.  She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire.  She served 11 years in the US Army and currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate and is addicted to coffee.  She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:

http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:

http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:

http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Stephanie will be awarding a $5.00 Starbucks GC to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop and a Grand Prize of a Coffee & Chocolate Basket: A Gentleman and a Rogue Coffee Mug, a Starbucks GC, Andes Chocolates, magnets, and a Lori Powell Original Book Bag (US ONLY), will be awarded to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour.