Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Always Love a Man in Uniform...The Agents of Jillian Stone
Let’s be honest—we all love a good hero.
Actually we all love a naughty one, but you know what I
mean. We all adore the kind of hero who makes our palms sweat, our hearts race,
and who make us forget almost indefinitely that the hero is actually a character
of fiction.
Agent Phineas “Finn” Gunn is just such a hero.
When I first met Finn, he was stealing scenes in Detective
Rafe Lewis’s book, helping Fanny with her bath. I was seriously hoping for a
few bathing scenes in this book as well, but I had to make do with a delicious
scene of being tied to a bed…and his comments about how flexible his ballerina
heroine was. He’s roguish and heroic and flawed, and he’s wonderfully matched
with a heroine who is about as much a deceiver as he is.
She might be the bigger liar though. It’s a toss-up.
Catriona “Cate” de Dovia is a celebrity ballerina—but she
also makes a very effective double-agent of sorts…and a thief. But for an
excellent cause: to save her brother Eduardo, who is being ransomed…and who
also happens to be an anarchist.
And that’s just where the fun begins. Finn’s supposed to
keep a watch on Cate; she’s stealing jewelry to save her brother; and there is
a merry chase across France in an “Air Commander”.
Here’s the actual blurb:
Prima ballerina
Catriona de Dovia lives the glamorous life of a starlet, filled with glittering
jewels, sumptuous dinners, and admiring suitors. She’s grown up considerably
since losing her heart to Hugh Curzon once upon a time, no longer wasting her
emotions on the empty promises of charming gentlemen. On her own since the
untimely death of her parents, she will do anything for the only family she has
left: her brother, a notorious anarchist.
Scotland Yard
Agent Phineas Gunn—sometimes known as Hugh Curzon—receives his new assignment
reluctantly. He’s up for something a little more strenuous than playing nanny
to a ballerina, until he sees who his charge is. Then, it’s a completely
different story, because he’d been unable to forget the trusting, beautiful
Cate since he had to leave her behind in Barcelona.
As the two race
across the Continent—by land, by sea, even through the air by zephyr—it becomes
uncertain who is keeping tabs on whom, and Finn and Cate must battle the sexual
tension that snaps and sizzles between them every step of the way.
This new book in the series has all the trademarks of
Jillian’s charms: ribald humor, sly wit, and tight pacing and story plot. And
if you’re like me, looking for the next hero who will round out the Gentlemen
of Scotland Yard, there is also a novella of Archie Bruce (who I was hugely
hoping would have his own story!), and there are a number of delicious
characters who may yet have a future as one of Ms. Stone’s delectable heroes.
I’m keeping my eyes peeled for the next installment. I always enjoy a story of
wit, action, and hot chemistry of reunited lovers. May 2013 bring me even more
of Ms. Stone’s wonderful stories!
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9 comments:
have you read any novels that feature steam punk that you have enjoyed?
I don't have time to list them all... ;-)
I haven't read a lot recently. Angelfall by Susan EE has a kind of steam punk feel about it. And I started Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices but I couldn't finish. I thought the heroine was irritating.
Marn, Kiddo reads the Infernal Deviced series and loves them. Might be an age thing?
Kiddo also loves Lia Habel's books, which are called "cyber-Victorian/Steampunk romance-with zombies" on her website. I had to cough up the money for the hardback of the latest, DEARLY DEPARTED, if that tells you how badly she wanted this book.
I have more experience with Steampunk movies than books but now that I have my Kindle I'm really hoping to find the time to read Gillian's books. Though will reading these things stifle my muse? I'm getting a little worried about that again. Not sure why.
That is curious. Don't know why steampunkish stuff would stifle the muse...
I don't mean the steampunk element. I only meant if they're as well written as I think they are.
Oh! That I get. The newest Dresden File is out today and I want to buy if for my Nook. And I don't...
I hate those amazing books that destroy my will to live.
Hello everyone at Romance Writer's Revenge,
The Steampunk discussion is interesting. I write two different series that have steampunk elements...mostly because they are set in Victorian London.
The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series incorporates a few gadgets and vehicles––all of them either of the period (1887) or slightly advanced for the time. Kind of like how James Bond gets to play with gadgets that are futuristic but not too fantastic.
My other series, Phaeton Black Paranormal Investigator, has been called an erotic steampunk version of the Dresden Files. Lol! It too is set in late Victorian London, and includes time travel, and paranormal elements...so as you can see...steampunk is a tough category to define, because it can incorporate so many different genres.
I almost never refer to the books as steampunk...not sure why. If pressed I will say they have steampunk elements.
And before I sign off, thanks Fran, for the awesome review!
Hey, guys, thanks for commenting and discussing today--I'm sorry I haven't been around (have been running since 7 am and just got home at 9 pm).
I agree--steampunk is not the right term for the Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series, they're definitely what Jillian said (and I've said before): James Bond with gadgets. While a couple gadgets are slightly ahead (as she said), mostly they seem very probably/possible. It's just a very fun, very cool series. Love-love-love!
Great to see you, Jillian! Do let us know who the next hero will be...soon. :)
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