Book Review: The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade; Original edition (October 5, 2010)

Amazon Description:

First in an all-new series where seductive danger and steampunk adventure abound in the gritty world of the Iron Seas.

After the Iron Duke freed England from Horde control, he instantly became a national hero. Now Rhys Trahaearn has built a merchant empire on the power-and fear-of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.

But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans-and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen, as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.
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On the cover of this book there is a quote:

"Meljean is now officially one of my favorite authors"
-Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author

All I can say is that is exactly how I feel about Meljean Brook as well. There is a prequel to The Iron Duke in the anthology Burning Up which is called Here There be Monsters (my review is HERE). It was the first thing I have read by this author and from that story I knew that this series was going to be amazing. The Iron Duke was beyond awesome. It is a steampunk adventure with romance and a ton of action. The Duke is fierce and protects what is his...including Mina, a detective inspector he met while she was investigating a murder on his property. He wants her in his bed and he will do whatever it takes to get her there. The Duke is definitely a swoon-worthy character that made me melt into a puddle. Mina is a strong woman who has had to deal with being assaulted and put down by people because of what she looks like. Because of that she has built of a wall around her to protect herself. With the duke in her life that wall slowly crumbled down. The attraction between the two was almost immediate, but their relationship was built slowly as they came to trust each other. It was captivating to watch it unfold. As for all the action, there were zombies, firebombings, secret weapons, murders, airships, kraken, sharks, and some pretty hot sex. I couldn't put the book down. I am anxious to read the next in the series because I want to read more about this fascinating world.

5/5

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review. Any opinions expressed are my own.

CSN Preferred Blogger

I was contacted by CSN Stores again and have chosen to do a product review! In the meantime check out some console tables. They have a wide variety and lots to choose from. I really like the simplicity of the one pictured above.

Book Trailer: Alpha by Rachel Vincent

and the winners are...

I would like to thank H.P. Mallory for allowing me to review her books and have this giveaway. I also want to thank everyone who entered.

I used a random name picker (Fruit Machine) to choose the winners of the H.P. Mallory e-book giveaway:

First Winner is.....

Pink Panther

Second Winner is....

vvb32 reads

I have emailed both winners and they have 48 hours to respond before I pick new winners.

Contest Reminder!

There is ONE day left to enter for the H.P. Mallory e-books.

So far there are 6 entrants with a total of 26 entries. Don't forget that there will be 2 winners, so enter now because the odds are pretty good!

follow the LINK

Zombie vs. Unicorns Challenge

I have chosen my side in this challenge. It wasn't a difficult decision...TEAM UNICORN!! Zombies don't have ANYTHING on Unicorns. Let's compare:

Sure zombies are dangerous. They are infectious and they can sustain a lot of damage and still come after you. But come on people, they shuffle! They are slow and if you can't outrun a zombie (unless there are special circumstances) then you might just deserve to be eaten. Unicorns aren't just rainbows and sunshine, they can be 10X more dangerous than a zombie. Giant built in weapon on their head, crushing hooves of death, scary big horse teeth of death, and they gallop...quickly. If it came down to me facing off against a zombie and a unicorn, I'm gonna be scared of the unicorn.

In addition to the fighting skills of a unicorn they have an advantage of not being disgusting. They aren't rotting and falling apart. Honestly, that is reason enough alone for me to be Team Unicorn.

So, what team are you? Leave a comment below!

Waiting on Wednesday #13

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Banished by Sophie Littlefield

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (October 12, 2010)

Amazon Description:

There isn’t much worth living for in Gypsum, Missouri—or Trashtown, as the rich kids call the run-down neighborhood where sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell lives. Hailey figures she’ll never belong—not with the popular kids at school, not with the rejects, not even with her cruel, sickly grandmother, who deals drugs out of their basement. Hailey never knew her dead mother, and she has no idea who her father was, but at least she has her four-year-old foster brother, Chub. Once she turns eighteen, Hailey plans to take Chub far from Gypsum and start a new life where no one can find them.

But when a classmate is injured in gym class, Hailey discovers a gift for healing that she never knew she possessed—and that she cannot ignore. Not only can she heal, she can bring the dying back to life. Confused by her powers, Hailey searches for answers but finds only more questions, until a mysterious visitor shows up at Gram’s house, claiming to be Hailey’s aunt Prairie.

There are people who will stop at nothing to keep Hailey in Trashtown, living out a legacy of despair and suffering. But when Prairie saves both Hailey and Chub from armed attackers who invade Gram’s house in the middle of the night, Hailey must decide where to place her trust. Will Prairie’s past, and the long-buried secret that caused her to leave Gypsum years earlier, ruin them all? Because as Hailey will soon find out, their power to heal is just the beginning.

This gripping novel from thriller writer Sophie Littlefield blazes a trail from small-town Missouri to the big city as Hailey battles an evil greater than she ever imagined, while discovering strengths she never knew she had.