Meet: Laurel Benson-Desmarais
Occupation: Racer from a family of sailors
Location: sky
Main mode of transportation: yacht and airship
Genre: Steampunk, Action, Romance, Time Travel
Teaser:
Across from her in the huge bay window, Orabilis spread in all its metallic and shiny beauty. Despite the fog, the city possessed a visceral magnetism in the way it felt alive, with machines sticking out of buildings, and huge gears turning slowly, incessantly. She couldn't stop looking at the docks at the very edge, with flying ships illuminated by gas lamps on strings or clusters like glowing grapes. She couldn't hear anything for the height and thick glass panes, but she imagined that she could. Tears welled in her eyes. Where was she? What was happening?
-chapter 8, page 147
Full Steam Ahead
by Nathalie Gray
ebook published: March 2010
Romance steam gauge: heavy
Description from the amazon:This is a race against time. Against oneself. This is the Vendée Globe, the most grueling race around the world. Singlehanded. No stopovers. On board is Laurel Benson-Desmarais, a thirty-six-year-old racer from a family of sailors. Five foot and a quarter inch of pure adrenaline junkie. One hundred and forty-seven pounds of thrill-seeking, motor-mouth, caffeine-addict of a woman who redefines the word “stubborn determination”.
Laurel’s venture starts admirably. Day one of the race sees her well in advance. Until the meteorological forecasts start messing with her patience. The mother of all storms is gathering speed. Heading straight for the race. For the first time in its history, the Vendée Globe is annulled due to bad weather. She’s worked years for this but has to turn the boat around. She’s not fast enough. The storm catches up with her, tosses the 60-foot sloop as if it were a bit of cork. Electricity crackles in the air. Spray hits her like rocks. Then as she pitches into a mountain-size wave, everything changes. The water, the very air. As if she crossed over to another world. Crazy.
Phineas Hamilton, captain of the brigantine the Brass Baron, never thought he would one day run into a woman who physically looks like the enemy, with pale hair and eyes, but yet is not one of them. The exotic prisoner is also the most obstinate, argumentative, confrontational…and fascinating woman he has ever met. He does not really care where she hails from and what brought her to his ship—no one speaks to him that way. And certainly not on his own damn ship! A lesson in manners is most definitely in order. But for now, he must make sure his crew and ship survives the latest enemy attack. They all depend on him. Another link to the long chain he carries.
To My Readers: Dashing pirates, odious villains and mouthy heroines fight for survival in this momentous steampunk story. I pulled out all the stops for this one. For those unfamiliar with this awesome genre, steampunk is a delightful mix of Victorian aesthetics and oh-so-shiny fantastical machines. If you enjoy a good historical romance mixed with an action ride that never stops, or a romance that will sweep you into a fantasy world of petticoats and steam pistols, armored dirigibles and floating fortresses, then STEAM PIRATES is for you. Strap on your brass goggles, my lovelies, we’re weighing the anchor and hoisting the mizzen. Ahoy!
About the Author: I write high-octane romance. No damsel in distress. My damsels, they kick the door down, bust the villain’s kneecaps and look good doing it. What hero could resist? Be it science fiction, paranormal or steampunk, I strive to make each story the most unique, thrilling and memorable it can be.
My two bits:
In-a-word(s): "Free grog for everyone at the next port!" -Phineas to his crew
I'm not usually an ebooker or reader of erotica. If it weren't for the steampunk I would not have discovered this gem of an ebook.
A feisty heroine + a brooding love interest + swashbuckling in the sky = Fun schtuff!
Oh, and in the end pages, Nathalie shares her Recipe for Poutine: or, How to Die Young but Happy.
*** steampunk ebook giveaway - courtesy of author ***
Sign up on one of the SteamPink giveaways to own a copy of this ebook.
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