Review: Iron Guns, Blazing Hearts by Heather Massey

Format read: ebook provided by the author
Formats available: ebook
Genre: steampunk romance
Length: 163 pages
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Date Released: February 4, 2013
Purchasing Info:Author’s Website, Publisher’s Website, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Galaxy Express

The West just got a whole lot wilder.

A woman on a mission… Scientific achievement isn’t enough for Violet Whitcomb. Life working alongside her renowned scientist father is filled with intellectual challenges, but what she truly craves is love and adventure. She’s resigned to a fate of academic pursuits…until a fateful trip across the American frontier changes everything. A rogue inventor known as the Iron Scorpion kidnaps Violet’s father and she alone is left to plan his rescue.

A man with a secret… Logan McCoy knows firsthand going up against the Iron Scorpion is suicide, but he can’t let Violet waltz into the villain’s lair alone. She may be a stranger, but she’s also the most compelling woman he’s ever known.

A perilous quest… Their attraction is undeniable, but their alliance turns contentious when Violet insists on including a third partner on their mission: her father’s latest invention and the world’s most advanced automaton, Arthur. The reason for Logan’s resistance isn’t clear until Violet comes face-to-face with the Iron Scorpion’s diabolical devices, and by then, it’s far too late.

CONTENT WARNING: An irresistibly dangerous alpha hero, a heroine whose most prized accessory is her steam gun, an automaton gunslinger…and a villain whose lust for power drives him to evils beyond the scope of humanity.

My Review:

Something about Heather Massey’s Iron Guns, Blazing Hearts evoked some very fond memories of Saturday mornings watching Dudley Do-Right cartoons. In a good way.

Partly it was the serial melodrama.  Violet Whitcomb yearns for adventure, so she reads about it in weekly magazines that provide it for her, one chapter at a time–always ending with the heroine in yet another dreadful scrape, seemingly doomed. (Did you ever wonder where the term “cliffhanger ending” came from?)

Violet is a bluestocking, an educated and intellectual woman, but her father sees her as just another tool to assist him in the creation of his amazing inventions. He has buried his grief at the loss of his wife (and Violet’s mother) in more and yet more work. But he’s prevented Violet from having any life at all. She’s in her mid-twenties, she’s happy to assist her father, but she also wants to have a chance at a family of her own. He doesn’t hear or see her as anything but an extension of himself and his work. He’s not mean, he’s just a workaholic.

On a trans-continental railway journey, Violet discovers the truth of the old adage “be careful what you wish for, you might get it”. A few moments of connection with a dangerous man on the train, a man she nearly throws herself at in her naivete, and then, without warning, the train is set upon by mechanical monsters.

Her father is kidnapped by one of those monsters. Violet’s dangerous and attractive fantasy man becomes her only hope for rescuing her father.

In all innocence, Violet assumes that this man on whom she has pinned all her hopes must be a Pinkerton agent. From her reading of adventure stories, that’s the romantic notion that makes sense to her imagination.

He calls himself Logan, and he reveals very little about his background. What he does say is that her father has been kidnapped by the Iron Scorpion. A man who has perverted the very ground on which he has made his base camp. The man who murdered Logan’s family.

They hammer out an agreement for Logan to guide Violet to free her father from the Iron Scorpion’s evil clutches only once they figure out that Violet’s father is exactly what the Scorpion has been searching for, a man who invents sophisticated automatons. The Scorpion has so fouled his own lands that humans are unable to work for him for very long.

Then Violet insists on bringing another partner. Her father’s finest creation, a fully-functional automaton that she calls “Arthur”.  (If the descriptions of Arthur don’t eventually make you think of Star Trek TNG‘s Data, especially from the episode A Fistful of Datas, I’ll eat my sombrero, or yours)

From the point where Logan, Violet and Arthur take up the trail to the Iron Scorpion’s lair, the story is adventure melodrama at its cheesy, gooey best.

The laconic Western hero with the mysterious past and the concealed motives who is doing the right thing for reasons of his own, but you just know they are not the reasons that they heroine thinks they are.

The naive heroine who has woven a beautiful fantasy about the hero that is doomed to go to smash sooner or later (probably sooner) and who is just so plucky that you hope she gets some of her happy ending. But you also want to shake some sense into her!

And the silent sidekick, who in this case is really, really silent!

Logan is much more competent than Dudley Do-Right ever hoped to be, but also much less on the right side of things. Violet is also more competent than Nell (she not only knows which is the man and which is the horse, she know how to operate a steam engine!)

But Snidely Whiplash was not half as villainous as the Iron Scorpion. Our heroes needed to be a lot more competent than their cartoon counterparts.

Will that be enough to save the day from a very evil inventor? Or will they need a more scientific boost?

Escape Rating B: There is more steampunk than romance in this steampunk romance. That’s okay, they were busy!

Having each chapter prefaced with a quote from one of Violet’s “adventure stories” was adorable. It showed where she was coming from as a character, and made the idea that she kept on believing that Logan was a Pinkerton agent a bit easier to swallow. She had led a rather sheltered life!

Arthur’s growth as a character and as a “person” definitely paralleled Data. Also Logan’s reaction to him. Logan first treats him as a “thing”, and finally at the end, treats him as an asset and acknowledges that they wouldn’t have succeeded without him. It’s a big leap.

I do hope that author does tell Arthur’s future adventures. Data was “fully-functional” after all.

This was fun and froth. It read as if it were one of Violet’s adventure stories come to life, which I think was the author’s intention. If there are more monsters out in this author’s version of the weird West, I’d be happy to read her tales of their vanquishing!

***FTC Disclaimer: Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books we have purchased with our own money and will be noted as such. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.

Guest post: The Great Steampunk Romance Airship Tour + Giveaway

Today I’d like to welcome one of the co-conspirators behind the absolutely fabulous SFR Galaxy Awards. Heather Massey is here to announce the Great Steampunk Romance Airship Tour and discuss…

Analysis Of A Steampunk Romance Cover

by Heather Massey
  

With steampunk romance gaining more visibility over the past few years, I thought it’d be useful to tease out the elements one can expect from a steampunk romance cover. These covers have evolved quickly and I’d wager it’s because the steampunk aesthetic is unique and lends itself to a visual medium. Also, whether covers feature original designs or stock images, steampunk elements are fairly accessible.

Cover designers routinely use certain elements to tip off readers about steampunk romance content. Color is a main one. Steampunk romance covers trend toward warm, earthy color schemes—reds, browns, orange, yellow. The sepia-like tone evokes the Victorian-era time period (especially if that’s the story setting). Another reason for this color scheme is that it pairs well with metallic objects that are made of brass, bronze, and copper.

Other elements are more specific in nature. Below are a few additional steampunk romance cover clues along with examples.

Airships

Airships are one of the most popular steampunk romance cover elements. And no wonder—they’re frequently present in the stories. Plus, they’re really cool!

 

Gears

Many steampunk and clockpunk devices are made with gears and so many covers reflect that aesthetic. Gears also provide clues about the time period and setting.

Gadgets

Steampunk romances feature a number of intriguing gadgets from handheld devices to transportation vehicles. The presence of a gadget is also an indication that a story is likely to contain action-adventure elements. The covers below proudly display a type of gadget.

 

 Goggles & Clothing

Many steampunk romance characters wear goggles at some point. One of the most popular accessories, they’re handy for eye protection when one is creating an invention. They also prevent bugs from smashing into the eyes of heroes and heroines during travel. You’ll encounter them in many covers because they make the characters really pop.

Steampunk romance covers are also a great excuse to showcase fabulous Victorian-era fashion, or any alternative version thereof.

 

 Prosthetic devices

Characters who wear prosthetic devices are fairly common in steampunk romance. And for good reason—the devices are fascinating and often serve an interesting purpose within the story. Prosthetic limbs lend themselves to the exploration of important themes and it’s always a thrill when a cover represents them.

Now that we’ve had fun dissecting steampunk romance covers, it’s time for a giveaway!

Leave a comment for this post and you’ll be entered for a chance to win the following ebook:

The Iron Heart – Leslie Dicken (winner’s choice PDF, ePUB, or .mobi)

And there’s more! Everyone who leaves a comment at any of the stops on The Great Steampunk Romance Airship Tour will be entered for a chance to win the Grand Prize:

$100 e-gift card (winner’s choice Amazon or B&N)

75$ e-gift certificate to Clockwork Couture

1 digital copy of IRON GUNS, BLAZING HEARTS (winner’s choice PDF, ePub, or .mobi)

Please include your email address. The deadline to enter all of the giveaways will be midnight PST on February 14. On Friday, February 15, check back here to see if you’ve won the ebook prize.

The grand prize winner will be announced on February 15 at The Galaxy Express.

About the authorHeather Massey is a lifelong fan of science fiction romance. She searches for sci-fi romance adventures aboard her blog, The Galaxy Express. She’s also an author in the subgenre. To learn more about her published work, visit heathermassey.com.

Iron Guns, Blazing Hearts
 

(February 2013; Lyrical Press)

The West just got a whole lot wilder.

A woman on a mission… Scientific achievement isn’t enough for Violet Whitcomb. Life working alongside her renowned scientist father is filled with intellectual challenges, but what she truly craves is love and adventure. She’s resigned to a fate of academic pursuits–until a fateful trip across the American frontier changes everything. A rogue inventor known as the Iron Scorpion kidnaps Violet’s father and she alone is left to plan his rescue.

A man with a secret… Logan McCoy knows firsthand going up against the Iron Scorpion is suicide, but he can’t let Violet waltz into the villain’s lair alone. She may be a stranger, but she’s also the most compelling woman he’s ever known.

A perilous quest… Their attraction is undeniable, but their alliance turns contentious when Violet insists on including a third partner on their mission: her father’s latest invention and the world’s most advanced automaton, Arthur. The reason for Logan’s resistance isn’t clear until Violet comes face-to-face with the Iron Scorpion’s diabolical devices, and by then, it’s far too late.

The Sunday Post AKA What’s On My (Mostly Virtual) Nightstand? 2-3-13

We will pause this Sunday’s Post for a moment of fangirl squeeing…NCIS has been renewed for an eleventh season. Cue Kermit the Frog flailing  his arms and shouting “Yaaay!” I’m looking forward to another season of Gibbs’ rules and the best five-man band on TV.

And now back to our regularly scheduled recap of the past week at Reading Reality plus previews of upcoming events.

As promised in last Sunday’s Post, the winner announcement for the Happy Endings Blog Hop…drumroll please! The Happy Winner is Kathleen D. Congratulations Kathleen!

This week’s big event was definitely the SFR Galaxy Awards. Please rocket over to the Awards site to get the complete list of award winners. And to add oodles of books to your groaning wishlists and TBR stacks. We picked LOTS of really fantastic (pun only partially intended) stories!

The week’s complete recap:

B+ Review: Real Men Don’t Break Hearts by Coleen Kwan
B+ Review: Binding Vows by Catherine Bybee
B- Review: Savage Angel by Stacy Gail
SFR Galaxy Awards
A- Review: Short Soup by Coleen Kwan
Stacking the Shelves (32)

So what’s coming up this week?

I have three guests this week. Cool! Also hot.

On Tuesday, Reading Reality is part of The Great Steampunk Romance Airship Tour. Since Airships are generally kept aloft by a LOT of hot air, there has got to be plenty of steam involved in that conversation–as if steampunk romance wasn’t steamy enough already! (There are also some lovely steampunk-themed giveaways to go along with the tour)

Moving backwards in time just a bit to Monday, my guest will be Catherine Bybee, the author of the MacCoinnich Time Travel Trilogy. She’ll be talking, of course, about time travel in romance, and giving away one of her books. Even though I’ve already reviewed Binding Vows, the first book in the series, I enjoyed it so much I kept going. I’ll have a review of the second book (Silent Vows) on Monday and a review of book three (Redeeming Vows) on Wednesday.

Thursday, finally moving forward in time, my guest will be that mistress of the Georgian romance, Victoria Vane. In addition to her guest post about her love of flawed heroes, she’ll also have a giveaway of her books. And I couldn’t resist the chance to review her latest flawed hero story, Treacherous Temptations.

Last but not least, on Friday I’ll be going back (or forward) to the thrilling days of yesteryear as they never were in the weird, weird west with the second book in Theresa Meyers’ Legend Chronicles. I’m almost finished with The Slayer, and it’s just as thrilling as The Hunter (see this review to discover just how thrilling.) Catacombs, anyone?