Showing posts with label Kady Cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kady Cross. Show all posts

Friday, February 14, 2014

BOOK COVER REVEAL - THE GIRL WITH THE WINDUP HEART by KADY CROSS - STEAMPUNK CHRONICLES # 4 - HARLEQUIN TEEN -YA STEAMPUNK

In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.

London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.

Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.

Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.


******

I am such a fan of this series. I love this cover. I can't wait to read it.

I am a huge fan of Steampunk genre and I totally dig the clothing. I so want a pair of those wicked goggles they wear.

This is due for release by Harlequin Teen 20th May 2014.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

BOOK REVIEW - THE GIRL WITH THE IRON TOUCH by KADY CROSS - STEAMPUNK CHRONICLES # 3 - HARLEQUIN TEEN - 4.75 STARS

By: Kady Cross
Published By : Harlequin Teen
Released : 28th May
Details : Digital ARC, Netgalley,  384 Pages 

RATING : 4.75 JACK & GRIFFIN ARE MY ADDICTION STARS!!

Blurb: Goodreads

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken.

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....



BOOK REVIEW by Michelle :

Kady Cross always entertains me with her motley crew of characters in this YA series.

The story leapt off the page with a fantastic first chapter. LOL! Not in a million years will you guess what happens, very random, exciting and creative. I could just see Kady sitting at her computer thinking how am I going to start book 3, light bulb moment, oh this will be fun!

I got quotes a plenty and ......*sigh* lots of our loveable Jack Dandy and Griffin the Duke of Greythorne. 

Finley and Jack have a connection. 

The door opened. On the other side of it was Jack, clad in a black silk dressing gown. It was open at the neck, giving her an eyeful of his naked, muscular chest. She couldn't help stare. No girl alive would be able to resist that temptation.
"Are you done objectifyin' me, Treasure?" he asked drily. "I don't mind , o'course, but I don't fancy 'aving all of Whitechapel taking a gander at me ankles. A bloke 'as to 'ave some secrets, right?'


"I won't keep you from your beauty rest for long, Jack," Finley shot back as she strode into the drawing room. She loved that room with its dark wood and deep red fabrics. It looked more like something from a high-class bordello than someone's home - not that she had much experience with bordellos.
"I should 'ope not, luv. It takes a lot of rest to be this gorgeous." 


Just because I adore you don't mean you get all my secrets, Treasure......"



Finley and Griffin have a connection.

Was he going to kiss her? Because she would like that, very much, even if she did have the faint whiff of chamber pot about her from the river. 

Kady is certainly making my mind up for me when it comes to my lads. I still love them both dearly, but she has drawn a line in the sand. 

*waggles eyebrows* 

What a choice!


The velocycles are ready to ride and you may be surprised who is riding pillion with whom.

Emily has got herself into a bit of a pickle in this installment , but she is a tough nut to crack and she is always thinking about her next step. For a little thing she sure has a tough intelligent exterior. Emily has some skeletons in her own closet that she may tell you about.

Sam has actually decided to smile and things may be afoot with Emily and Sam. Sam also makes for some bad timing when he barges into a certain room....ALL THE TIME!!!

The thought of losing you....” Sam’s gaze locked with hers. “I can’t live in a world without you in it.”

Oh. Oh . A few pretty words and her heart melted. Her resolve, however, didn’t waiver. “You’re going to have to accept it, boyo, because I can’t wait here for you to return, wondering if I’ll be able to put you back together again. You’re not going without me.”

“Stubborn wench.”

“Thick-skulled jackanapes.”




“Gadzooks. You like it when he’s all scowly and thumping his chest.”


She took his big hands in each of hers, lifting them to kiss his slightly scarred knuckles. When she lifted her gaze to his, she caught him looking at her as though she’d hung the stars and the moon. 

Griffin is keeping secrets and Finley wants in on them. 

Griffin was the first bloke - the only - that had ever made her contemplate doing something rash, scandalous. 

Sam and Finley are having some fun moments.

“Dandy?” Sam was full-on scowling now. “What the hell does that scoundrel want?”

Finley returned his dark expression with one of her own. “You shouldn’t use words you can’t spell, mutton head.” 

Jack my gorgeous Criminal Underworld Lord, you come out with the best lines in this book. Why do I still not fear you? I know you are the dark one, but when you use those endearing nicknames I just want to snuggle up to you. I want to get myself an endearing nickname that you call me.

“You’ll be waitin’a long time if you fink she’ll give in first, mate,” came a familiar voice from the door.

Finley didn’t have to look. She’d only ever met one person who spoke so atrociously and eloquently at the same time. “Jack!”



“Jack manipulates with charm and power. He doesn’t lie so much as wrap the truth in temptation.”



He gave her a squeeze before setting her back on her feet. “A right lovely sight are you as well, Treasure. Glad so see your sojourn to the colonies done you no lasting ‘arm.” His dark eyes surveyed the room . “Where’s ‘is pompousness? I’ve come to speak with ‘im.”


“Don’t get your drawers all knotted up, Goliath. If I wants to court trouble I never ‘ave to leave Whitechapel. I’ve come into possession of some information the likes of which I believe would interest Monsieur le duc.” 


“Talk first. Eat later, Jack.” 

His gaze narrowed , but there was a twinkle in his eye. “You’ve become cruel, Treasure. An ‘eartless minx what delights in denyin’a man ‘is proper tea. A little suspense is good for the digestion.” 


I love when Jack lets his guard down and he loses his Cockney. 

“My mistake ,” Jack conceded, his voice soft. “Tea would be lovely, thankyou.” It wasn’t the first time he’d dropped that awful affectation of his in front of her. 

I really want to see Jack when he is bad and dark. I am wondering due to errr the possibilities from this here storyline that we could have the potential of seeing that??? I may be waaay ahead of myself here. I do like where Kady may be leading us. It kind of puts my mind to bed with my lads. I do so adore both of them.

Their host took a sip of his whiskey. "Right. 'Ad that 'appen a few times meself. Some blokes you got to hit with something a bit 'arder than a roof."


This book went all mad scientist and in a very Frankenstein steampunk way.

It’s aliiiivvveee!!!!

Me thinks a certain somebody may be ...errrr....well, I can’t say!

The group must work together including bringing Jack into the fold to find ‘the little ginger’ and set things right.

The villain is in a manner quite gross and quite the master mind of his plot to pull out all stops to ensure his evil plan will not be foiled.

But will it?

Jasper has found his Wildcat...or she found him and he has his own intrigue which I am rather intrigued about. I was most pleased to see Wildcat make an appearance ...well, before the intrigue J

Now I know we are all assuming that it is Emily on the front cover....but is it really??? When you read this book you will understand my hesitation to assume. Mei was on book # 2.

With one of their own in danger and Sam on a mission , Griffin getting all hot under the collar and Finley quite possibly also getting hot under the corset, plans are in flight for ‘the little ginger’ to be rescued and the evil villain and his errr....minions put on the scrap heap. 


That was one long sentence.

I am hoping there is another book in this entertaining series , I get the feeling there will be as well Jasper has his own intrigue. I am sure he will want to tell us about it....



...... I am intrigued J


The Discovery of Jack Dandy #2.5
Release Date: 1st July
Publisher : Harlequin Teen

A teaser ebook novella will give you a glimpse into events before The Girl with the Iron Touch from the perspective of everyone’s favorite underworld criminal, Jack Dandy. The story will conclude in The Girl with the Iron Touch.

Yay, this makes me happy to see Jack getting a novella. 


Michelle

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

BOOK COVER REVEAL - THE GIRL WITH THE IRON TOUCH by KADY CROSS - STEAMPUNK CHRONICLES # 3 - HARLEQUIN TEEN







Finley Jayne, Griffin and their crew are stunned when one of their own is kidnapped. Emily has a way with machines—she can literally talk to them. But the automatons who abducted her aren’t ordinary machines. They’re almost human—and they want Emily to do something as horrifying as it seems possible.

To save Emily, Finley must contact the highly unsettling Jack Dandy and face her feelings for two vastly different men, even as Griffin’s nightmares threaten to turn into a reality that might just end them all.



I think it is safe to assume I LOVE The Steampunk Chronicles series.  Check out this beautiful cover! Finley Jayne is rocking it! That outfit!! The goggles!!! That belt!!!....her hair!! Those lads!!! ( well they aren't on the cover , but you can't go past Jack and Griffin) I was only just thinking yesterday when the 3rd book was coming out and also Kate Locke ( aka Kady Cross) her adult Steampunk series The Immortal Empire ( # 2 Feb 2013) . Love steampunk, it is an addiction. I highly recommend this YA series. I am looking forward to meeting back up with cockney Jack. 

An edit to my above comment. 7th February. I did not have blurb at the time as it was not up. Only cover reveal. This is apparently Emily on cover. Which would fit in with a different girl on each cover theme. I could only go on the bit of info I had at the time. I have to admit I didn't quite think of Emily like this! But good on Emily she is rockin' the clothes and looking gorgeous!

Due for release : 21st May 2013
Harlequin Teen

WOOT!!!

My reviews for :





http://hollywoodcrush.mtv.com/2012/12/03/girl-with-the-iron-touch-cover/


Michelle


Blurb taken from Goodreads 7th February 2013

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken 

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives. 

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin. 

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine. 

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....

Thursday, May 24, 2012

BOOK REVIEW - THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR by KADY CROSS - STEAMPUNK CHRONICLES # 2


By : Kady Cross
Published By : Harlequin Teen
Released : 22nd May 2012
Details : NetGalley , 411 Pages

RATING : 4.5 KICK ASS FINLEY STARS!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.



BOOK REVIEW by Michelle :

This book was a whole pile of kick ass Finley. The girl has summoned her inner fight club self and taken to the streets of New York in her endeavour to go undercover and get Jasper out of his pickle he has got himself in. Finley eventually winds up under the roof of Dalton , the villain of the story,  proving herself the bad girl, ready to ride with his gang, whilst hatching a plan with Griffin and the crew to get Jasper out from Dalton’s clutches.

Mei...errrr....Xing...yes ! That put a stop to me throwing that name around in my head on how to pronounce it. Amazing...get it...bahhahahaaa!!

Anyhoo this innocent looking young asian lovely ( yes ,she is the covergirl) , is the reason Jasper will not leave the clutches of Dalton. He is being rather chivalrous in his endeavour to keep her safe, even though that darn clockwork collar is causing a spanner in the works.

Mei ...errr...Xing and Jasper have a bit of history. Jasper, we thought he was falling for young Emily in the first book , that seems to have gone a float like a dirigible. ( an airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms) Yes, I have learnt some big words since embarking on my love of Steampunk genre.

For that matter, the Emily and Sam type courting thing from the first book seems to have turned into a dirigible too.

Kady has kept us entertained in this instalment while I was looking under all things for Jack....my dark Dandy where are you? I realise this is a ploy for Finley to spend time with Griffin, for the reader to get comfy with Griffin and Finley, and for the next instalment to throw us about when Jack reappears. I am thinking aloud here.....hehe! Or hoping and wishing.

I must admit I missed Jack terribly. Dalton was no match for Finley’s feelings and not a good sparring match for Griffin and his affections for Finley. Sure Dalton was all things villain and murderous and gang leader and after power..... but, my Jack, who we were left rather unsure of how dark he really was at the end of The Girl In The Steel Corset was nowhere....*pout*

Reno Dalton’s character is kind of leeching that dark side out of Finley, bringing it more to the surface. She quite appears to be enjoying herself playing the part of a would be gang member.

I love how fast paced this story is. Kady really lets us visually see Finley in our mind all dressed in her attire fighting away and being kind of scary. She does show some weakness and some femininity but she has become a force to be reckoned with. I am not sure how I feel about this? I like a woman who can handle herself...but....... 

Griffin is going through some discovery himself. He is still this guy that would make me swoon...if I was a swooner. I am still trying to figure out how the emotions changed in this book between Emily and Sam, and Jasper and Emily, and Griffin and Finley. They are still there but.......

Finley and Griffin are still verbally sparring, but there is a slight shift. Finley is strong and making her own calls in this book. Griffin is having trouble keeping up with her where-a-bouts.

Is it just me, or does everybody else forget that Finley is only sixteen? 

Emily is simply gorgeous. The brainiac, loyal to the core, so inexperienced in the ways of fighting, but she won’t let Finley down. I love her pet Panther and all her little steampunky gadgets, she is rather handy to have around.

Sam is not the grumpy bear that he was in TGITSC. He has mellowed. You still wouldn’t want to mess with the part machine, part man... you would not win. His disposition is more agreeable. I think I like him being a bear.

I love the new characters Kady introduced to us. Wildcat , I would love to see her make her way to England, she is quite a character. There is a certain somebody who needs a ‘stinky dead fish slap’ in this book.....well a couple somebodies. 

I think I would fit in quite nicely into the Steampunk era. I am still hanging for a pair of those goggles and a nice corset, I just think I would have a whole lot of smashing fun . 

It pains me no end how long I have to wait for a title for book 3, never lone reuniting with Jack. Where is one of those blasted countdown widgets to torture me!



FAVE QUOTES:


A soft hand curled around his fist, loosening his fingers so they could twine with hers. He lowered his head, opened his eyes and found himself gazing into her eyes the colour of warm honey, framed by thick , dark lashes.
Finley.
Suddenly he was breathless for an entirely different reason.





“Do you believe that I have led him on?”
He choked on a bark of laughter. “You spent the night at his house. Could you blame him for making assumptions?”
Hands fixed on hips, Finley glared at him. “And I live with you. What assumptions have you made, Your High and Mightiness?”



She realised then what he and Jack had in common. They liked themselves. They knew their own strengths and their weaknesses and had made peace with them both. She envied that. Respected it.



“Sweetheart , I won’t deny that you’re the kind of gal who sparks my tinder, but you’re not here for my entertainment.



“Thankyou” , she murmured as she hugged him. “I’ll always be your friend.” He meant it , and that was what made it so difficult. He would do anything for her, but if Finley gave in to the darkness inside her, he would have no choice but to stop her--- even if it meant losing her forever.



Finley dropped her head, squeezed her eyes shut and began to silently do what some might call praying. She called it begging.



“You’re stupid.”
“Not as stupid as you.”




Griffin looked away, annoyed by the sudden heat in his cheeks. “Yes, well, she was a much prettier sight to wake up to than your ugly head.”
I’ll have you know I’ve been told my eyes are like night sky” came the mock - indignant reply.



“Sorry ,” he said, breathless. “I meant to be on the bottom when we fell.”
Finley grinned at him. “Worse places to be, my friend.”





“You care about her, don’t you?” Emily asked, nodding at Finley.
“I care about all of you.”
“But you don’t want to be kissing Sam or me.”
“Hell, no.”



Michelle

Friday, May 20, 2011

BOOK REVIEW - THE GIRL IN THE STEEL CORSET by KADY CROSS - STEAMPUNK CHRONICLES # 1 - YA GENRE - HARLEQUIN TEEN

By ; Kady Cross
Published By : Harlequin Teen
Released : May 24th 2011
Details : Netgalley digital book , 473 Pages ( Adobe Digital Reader)

RATING : 4.5 GRIFFIN STARS!!!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Godreads

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….


Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.


Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.


But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.



BOOK REVIEW:


I’ve decided I really am a , ‘steampunk’, lover at heart. If you enjoyed reading Cassandra Clare’s, ‘Clockwork Angel’, then this is the book for you.


Kady Cross has me badly wanting to read her next book in the ‘Steampunk Chronicles ‘, series. I shall have to settle for her #0.5 , ‘The Strange Case Of Finley Jayne’ until I can get another fix.


London 1897, Finley Jayne ( awesome name for a character) has got herself in a pickle with the gropey , Lord Felix, a member of the ‘Dandies’, who happens to enjoy beating up on the women that won’t take to his advances. Finley isn’t your average maid and after a smack down that would send us regular girls out for the count, she escapes and after high tailing it through Hyde Park gets run over by the most handsome, Griffin King, Duke Of Greythorne who is out for a spin with Sam Morgan on their velocycles.


Finley wakes up in Greythorne House and is a tad upset , to say the least. Finley doesn’t understand herself, or what happens to her and Griffin has taken it upon himself to take her under his wing and help her. Sam is not so trusting as there is a lot at stake keeping the house occupants safe and under the radar and this causes a bit of a riff. I think Sam needed a bit of a slap for being so single minded, but that gave the story its direction.


Emily O’Brien , is a wonderful character who Griffin adores. She is the brainiac, the inventor, the one that most of us , brain wise, couldn’t keep up with....I doubt Einstein could. She invents gadgets like the Personal Telegraph Machine for fast communication, she tinkers with the velocycles, works on the automatons and can just about do anything she puts her brain to. She is always putting her brain to something.


Jasper Renn, makes me laugh, he is the American cowboy in this story. He has earnt Griffin’s trust and has his eye on Emily and he knows how to kick butt.


Jack Dandy is the Cockney, crime boss of Whitechapel. Finley feels comfortable around him. Jack doesn’t feel all that bad when Finley is at his doorstep, but is he? I love the way he talks to her, calling her ‘Treasure’. He seems taken by her, yet dangerous, but unable to help himself. I really like Jack’s character. He is written almost to make you feel sorry for him when it comes to Finley and her affections she also has for Griffin. It’s like he gives in , but Finley always winds back at his doorstep.


Jack Dandy is Finley’s darker side and Griffin is her better side.

 
Naturally you need a villain and I did admittedly pick The Machinist and worked what he was up to, but for a debut book I still give this high marks as the descriptive was wonderful. I loved the ever changing clothes the girls wore. I want me a pair of those big googly steampunk goggles...wiiccckkeed!!!!


I loved the Pick-A-Dilly Ball scene. There’s something about a beautiful dress, the girl getting all dolled up and the 2 boys that only have eyes for that girl and the close dancing .....sigh....


I enjoyed all the POV’s in this book. You are in just about everybody’s head, which I really liked, it helped with the world building and getting to know the characters and how they felt. I really ‘feel’ like I know these characters. They weren’t 2 dimensional.


Griffin is just gorgeous and for only 18 years old, very mature and I love his caring side with Finley when she is at her darkest.


The Girl In The Steel Corset , ( yes there is one) is a book I couldn’t put down, I just kept reading until the last page, so much happened, I loved the characters and I can see that I’ll be off to...... for the next book, so should be lots of fun. The colourful clothes, devices, and even the Queenie herself got an amusing part.


All in all this is fast paced, lots of action and the story keeps unfolding. There is a triangle forming, well I think 2 triangles, possibly. I would be Team Griffin 100% , but Kady writes Jack with me going awwww...he just doesn’t act so bad around Finley, he kinda pushes her out the door, back to Griffin . He hasn’t misbehaved in front of her, he’s been the perfect gentleman. Kady, give me an excuse not to like him...lol!!

FAVE QUOTES:

Was there nothing she couldn't do? Sam wondered a little bitterly. He wouldn't be surprised if she sprouted wings out of her arse.


He smiled over his shoulder at her. "I've a sneakin' suspicion you're much more entertainin' awake than asleep." 


Jack Dandy reached out the long fingers of his right hand and gently touched her cheek. "Don't mistake me, Treasure. I can offer you many things, but friendship ain't one of them. Now , for once in your life, be a sensible girl and run away."


She whirled on him, but he kept his hold on one of her wrists. His other hand, instead of coming up to defend himself as she thought it would, circled her waist, pulling her against him. He hugged her. Letting go of her wrist, he cupped the back of her head, holding her so her face was in the crook of his neck. He smelled warm and spicy-- like cinnamon and cloves. Safe, and comforting. As he held her, he murmured soft words.


A gentle and hesitant hand came down on her back. "Don't cry, Treasure. You'll get me all wet and then I'll melt. I'm made of sugar, don't you know."



Michelle