The Lady in the Coppergate Tower, Steampunk Proper Romance #3, by Nancy Campbell Allen
ISBN: 9781629725543 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781629737478 (ebook – available September 2019)
ASIN: B07SYCN8WB (Kindle edition)
Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing
Release Date: August 6, 2019
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.
Purchase Links: IndieBound | Amazon | Amazon Kindle | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | Books-A-Million | Kobo eBook
Dr. Sam MacInnes is a well-respected and incredibly talented surgeon in London. He is at the forefront of cybertronic prosthetic devices for amputees. He’s drawn to his medical assistant, Hazel Hughes, a talented Healer in her own right. Just as Sam doesn’t fit in with high society, Hazel doesn’t seem to fit into the roles society has deemed appropriate for a woman of her status. Her mother would be happy if she were to get married and settle down, but Hazel feels that she is meant to do more with her life and wants a husband that not only understands that but is willing to work with her on pursuing her goals. Both Hazel and Sam seemed destined to skirt around the idea of flirtation and possible courtship with one another when Hazel’s life is turned upside down when she’s introduced to Count Dravor Petrescu, her long-lost uncle from Romania. In one night, Hazel finds out that she was “adopted”, is titled and related to a count, and has a twin sister. Suddenly Hazel’s dreams begin to make a bit more sense. Hazel feels she has no choice but to agree to return to Romania to do whatever she can to help her twin sister, Marit, and thankfully, Sam insists on traveling with her. Although Hazel might be considered somewhat naive, she quickly realizes that her uncle isn’t what he appears to be and there may be some dark magic at play. When Hazel’s lady’s maid is attacked followed by an attack on Sam’s automaton, she realizes that she may not be as safe as she initially presumed. Can Hazel and Sam figure out what is behind Petrescu’s dark magic before it is too late to save her twin sister? Will they be able to save themselves from this dark power?
I can’t recall ever reading a steampunk romance novel before and I’ve got to say I was intrigued with a lot of the ideas introduced in The Lady in the Coppergate Tower by Nancy Campbell Allen. I enjoyed the concept of the automatons or ‘tons and loved Eugene, Sam’s automaton valet/assistant with artificial intelligence like capabilities. The inclusion of telescribers, or devices much like pagers, was interesting for a Victorian era, along with the steam-powered carriages and the submersible. Hazel was fiercely independent, whip-smart, kind-hearted, loyal, and, best of all, no pushover. I enjoyed the push-pull relationship between Sam and Hazel as well, partially due to the constraints of the time period and partially due to their unwillingness to overstep the boundaries of friendship, etc. The best part of reading a romance, historical, steampunk, or otherwise, is knowing there’s going to be a HEA ending and The Lady in the Coppergate Tower provides a great HEA ending. Although this was the first book in this series that I’ve read, I now feel that I should go back and read the previous books in this series. It is important to note that it is quite possible to read The Lady in the Coppergate Tower as a standalone, but something tells me it might make a bit more sense if I had read the previous books. For those of you that enjoy reading steampunk novels or romance, I sincerely hope you’ll be adding The Lady in the Coppergate Tower to your TBR list. If you’ve never tried a steampunk novel, perhaps it’s time to give one a try and might I suggest The Lady in the Coppergate Tower as your first read. I found this to be a fast-paced and enjoyable read that offered bits of intrigue, murder, obvious steampunk elements, fantasy, and romance. Happy Reading, y’all!
Meet the Author
Nancy Campbell Allen (N.C. Allen) is the author of twelve published novels, which span genres from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. In 2005, her work won the Utah Best of State award. She has presented at numerous writing conferences and events since her first book was released in 1999. Nancy received a BS in Elementary Education from Weber State University. She loves to read, write, travel and research, and enjoys spending time laughing with family and friends. She is married and the mother of three children.
Connect with the author via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads.
NOTE: Due to a scheduling conflict, my blog tour date was rescheduled.
Like this:
Like Loading...
Related
Author: thebookdivasreads
I'm a reader, an avid reader, or perhaps a rabid reader (at least according to my family). I enjoy reading from a variety of different genres but particularly enjoy fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, ChickLit, romance and classics. I also enjoy reading about numerous non-fiction subjects including aromatherapy, comparative religions, herbalism, naturopathic medicine, and tea.
View all posts by thebookdivasreads
The Book Diva's Reads 