Review: Girl with the Iron Touch

 * Book 3 in the Steampunk Chronicles Series *  

After coming back from New York, Finely and Emily are annoyed with the boys. Something's bothering Griffin, but he refuses to share his troubles. Sam's having a hard time sharing his feelings with Emily. None of that matters when Emily is kidnapped.

Without jumping to conclusions, the gang fears their old enemy has somehow returned. While they don't understand how that's possible, all of them will do anything in their power to bring Emily back.

Can they defeat their greatest enemy - again?

My Thoughts: I really enjoy this series for the friendship, the action, and the romance. I love the four main characters - how they're different form everyone else, their sense of loyalty, and their desire to do the right thing. While I like the mechanics on the series, the automatons raise numerous ethical questions. I can't wait until the next book to see how it all ends.

Cover Thoughts: Fabulous

Source: My Library 

CT Author Trail: Kady Cross

The Otis Library has been participating in the Connecticut Author Trail since it started 4 years ago. This year, Kady Cross was our author. 

Kady writes three different types of books with three different publishers. She uses different voices for each name, which allows her to write for different ages, without worrying that fans will find her older books.  She also writes under Kate Cross and Kate Locke.

With Harlequin Teen, she writes under Kady Cross. (Reviews of Girl in the Steel Corset and Girl in a Clockwork Collar).  She hopes the Steampunk Chronciles will have 5 books in the series. The next book will be about Emily, with her on the cover and maybe we her robot cat! I can't wait to see that cover (and of course read the book!) She uses a book on Victorian inventions and her husband (a science buff) for ideas on how to incorporate technology into this fabulous series.

She grew up in Nova Scotia, out in the middle of nowhere. A bookmobile would come around, which was fabulous. Bags of books were brought home and devoured.

Kady knew she liked writing when she was 8 and her teacher read her story aloud to her classmates. Everyone laughed in all the right spots and she thought, I could get used to this. Kady started writing her first romance at the age of 10, which was set in the deep south. She used to write stories for her classmates for their required silent reading period during school hours.

In her mid 20s, she quit her job and went back to school. Her boyfriend (now husband) encouraged her to write a book. When she finished it, she sent it to 4 publishing houses. Avon offered her a two book deal.

It was a GREAT night filled with lots of laughter and fun!

Here's our Room Set up: 
Dessert Table

 
Close Up of cookies

Chocolate Cameo:

 

The Book Table:

                                                  

The Swag:

Review: Girl in the Clockwork Collar

 * Book 2 in the Steampunk Chronicles series*

Following the ending to the first book, Griffin, Finely, Sam, and Emily travel to New York City to rescue their friend Jasper. While Jasper never talked about his past, he's kept a large secret from his friends.

Jasper got himself mixed up with scoundrels and mixed up in love. Now those scoundrels are threatening to harm the girl he used to (and probably could again) love. They want him to locate the item he stole.

Unfortunately for him, he broke the item into several pieces. Now he has to go all over the city recovering said item, hoping that Ming isn't ill treated, while pretending that he's going to come out of this situation alive and well.

Meanwhile, the other four do their best to help uncover the truth about Jasper's disappearance and the people he's hanging out with again.

My Thoughts: I'm LOVING this series. As soon as I finished the first book, I immediately devoured this book too. I loved the change in setting and looking at New York City in a different light. I loved Finely's strength to infiltrate a gang without causing too much suspicion. I'm impressed by her snark and attitude. I liked how she stood up to Dalton - not showing her fear and not giving in to him. I enjoyed the moments of banter between her and Jasper, but I loved the moments between her and Griffin. I can't wait for more books in this series!

Cover Thoughts: Great - I love the necklace
Source: BEA - from Harlequin!

Review: Girl in the Steel Corset

Finley Jayne isn't normal; she has something dark inside her. Something that lets her heal faster. Something that lets her use more strength than she should possess. Something that gets her into trouble at times.

When the son of her employer starts to make moves on her, she rebuffs him once. When he keeps pushing the issue, she knocks him unconscious.  She flees the scene, knowing that she'll never get a reference.

As she's running down the street, she comes in contact with a vehicle. Griffin King is behind the wheel and the Duke takes her in. He can see the darkness within her, but he's not scared. He's the leader of a band of misfits and he thinks Finley will fit in perfectly.

Plus, he's in danger himself. Someone and something is coming after him. Griffin will need everyone around him to help him. There's something about Finley's eyes, something he can't turn away from.Could he be able to help her?

My Thoughts: I devoured this book, hungry for more. I hope there's plenty planned in this series. I just adored the steampunk angle. I love Victorian London. The setting was perfect. The machines fit in perfectly with the story, allowing for a fantastic blend of history and science fiction.
I enjoyed the two sides of Finely - the normal side and the side where she doesn't take crap from anyone. Griffin is the perfect male hero, dark and brooding but sweet. I adored Emily. I liked her tentative friendship with Finely. I admired her brains and her mechanical abilities. I liked Sam, but it did take me some time to come around to him. I liked Jasper.  I came to love this band of misfits and I can't wait to read many more books in this series!

Cover Thoughts: Gorgeous!
Source: my friend Jess from I Read to Relax - thanks Jess!

Fun Fact: Kady Cross is coming to my library TODAY! I'm super excited!!