Early Book Review: A Clockwork Christmas by Stacy Gail, PG Forte, Jenny Schwartz, and J.K. Coi

A Clockwork Christmas by Stacy Gail, PG Forte, Jenny Schwartz, and J.K. Coi is a collection of four steampunk novellas set during the Christmas season. It is set for release on December 5 2011. The for novellas are: Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail in which a professor seeks revenge against a stunning thief, This Winter Heart by PG Forte in which one man discovers that love is what really defines humanity, Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz in which a headstrong woman and an American inventor find love in Australia, and Far From Broken by JK Coi in which a married couple changed forever through tragedy must rediscover their love and redefine themselves. The stories included in this anthology will also available separately, but they are all worth the read so I suggest getting them in the one volume and enjoying a very merry steampunk Christmas.

Usually when you read an anthology, there is one story that sticks out as a favorite, or perhaps one that sticks out as one that was just not as good as the rest. A Clockwork Christmas breaks that mold. I am hard pressed to come up with a favorite, and thought the entire collection was high quality. In Crime Wave in a Corset the professor, Roderick, is initially single minded in pursuit of vengeance for his sister, who dies after a precious token was stolen. Cornelia is a survivor, raised to steal from others but who has chosen to do so in a way that least affects individuals. Roderick and Cornelia are both complex characters that find instant, but initially unwanted, attraction and come to an understanding and eventually love. The chemistry between the two is fantastic, and I really liked Cornelia's character. This Winter Heart is a heart wrenching but satisfying read. Ophelia is not the woman she appears to be, and when her husband Dario discovered this in a conversation with her father, he cast her out. Now Ophelia's father has died and she feels that she has no choice but to seek help from Dario, not just for her but for the son Dario does not know he has. The emotional depth of this novella is much more than one might expect.

Wanted: One Scoundrel is set in Australia, in a time when questions of succession and equality are major political topics. Esme is working to secure equal rights for everyone regardless of race, gender, or social standing. However, when the meetings that she would need to attend in order to make a difference are moved to locations she has no way to attend, she needs some help. Jed has just arrived from America, and just might be the man she needs to speak for her in those forums, although her attraction to him is distracting. Politic maneuvering, power plays, and the desire for wealth turn a political enemy into a desperate man willing to break all the rules to get what he wants. Far From Broken is another story that is completely heart wrenching and compelling. Jasper works as a spy, and had never shared the true nature of his work with his wife. Calliandra is a ballerina, beautiful and graceful. When she is taken and tortured Jasper is willing to do anything to help her survive, even agree to experimental surgeries for her that cost him further service as a spy. Callie wakes up and thinks that she is a monstrosity, half technology. She wishes that she had just been allowed to die. Jasper is still in love and feels tremendous guilt for being away when Callie was taken and for the fact that his job was the reason she was taken in the first place. Will they be able to create a new bond based on love that is fitting to the current circumstances? Will they survive the attempts to silence them?

I highly recommend A Clockwork Christmas for readers looking to explore the steampunk genre, those that already love the genre, and those that simply love great romance. The characters in each tale are well built, as are the worlds that they live in. Each of the included stories has a different feel, and a different setting, so there is a great feeling of variety and newness as you read. If the anthology sounds good, but you worry about the holiday settings because you do not celebrate Christmas or generally enjoy holiday related tales do not fear. Christmas plays a role mainly as a means to set the time of year, and as a backdrop for the weather, fairs, or general bustle found in the story. The season is not the focus of the tales, and these are not your traditional Christmas romance stories. I am grateful to NetGalley for the chance to read this galley, and to discover four authors that I will need to read much more from.