Rating: 4.5 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | All Romance | Amazon UK
Length: Novella
Replaced by mechanized battle vehicles, Edgar Mason was forced to find work serving the elite of Liverpool. He didn’t expect Agamemnon, noted playboy extraordinaire, and his rumored soon-to-be fiancé. Edgar is taken by surprise when Agamemnon announces to him that the house is full of Martians. Martians that plan to take both he and Frost to make them soldiers in the Martian movement. Edgar, of course, believes Agamemnon to be off his rocker. Until the dinner party, when the patriarch of the family pulls out a weapon that Mason has never seen. As he and Frost run for their lives, Mason finds himself in the middle of a plot to turn the whole of Earth into a Martian battlefield. What comes as a surprise is that he was handpicked to be a perfect fit for Frost. In more ways than one.
In the middle of mystery and adventure Mason never thought possible, he finds something he never expected.
For Genre Challenge Week, I whined to Jay that I didn’t know what to choose, and she, of course, in all of her infinite wisdom said, “Historical!” The “dummy” was implied. It’s no secret that I shy away from most historical stories. But the part of my brain that has an aversion to historical still wouldn’t let me dive purely into the genre. But Steampunk—that I could do.
And oh my gawd! You guys! I found a story I’m in love with. Aliens, body snatchers, superior technology. It was a regular episode of Doctor Who—complete with a main character I kept picturing to be David Tennant.
From the beginning, this story starts off with intrigue and mystery. Aliens? In regency era England? Who would have thought? No matter what I thought about where the story was going, it was always headed somewhere else. This author definitely kept me on my toes.
Agamemnon Frost and Edgar Mason are a team to go down in the history books—if they would have existed. And if there would have truly been aliens in Liverpool. The reasons for them finding their way together, the compatibility between them, and the attraction are undeniably perfect. Frost is the slightly whacked, adorably knowledgeable side of the team. This façade of insanity is only that—sort of—although Mason seems to bring the real Frost out at times. As does the heartache of his past. Mason is the analytical part of the team. He’s skeptical and confused, but he also finds a way to trust Frost. The connection these guys have from the start is as special as it is fun.
So much fun.
This book… if you are a Whovian like me, this book is definitely for you. I’ve even gone as far as to purchase the next two books in the series. I can’t wait to read them.
Highly Recommended.
This review is part of our September Reading Challenge Month for Genre Challenge Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win this week’s fabulous prize of all 12 books released in September, plus an audiobook, from Less Than Three Press, as well as our amazing grand prize sponsored by Riptide Publishing. You can get more information on our Challenge Month here, and more details on Genre Challenge Week here. And be sure to check out our prize post for more about the awesome prizes!
A review copy of this book was provided by Dreamspinner Press.
So is there a steampunk aspect too? Either way, it sounds really fun!
Trix, yes… there is some spoken about and more mechanics in the characterization, but I really don’t want to go into that because it risks giving away the plot.
I did not know about Kim Knox, but your review has really got my attention. Steampunk is one my genre I’ve recently discovered and enjoy a lot, but I do not find many worthy recommendations. Aliens in Regency England? That’s something I undoubtedly want to read. I’ve already checked Kim in Amazon and added some of her books to my Wishlist.
Thank you for your great review!
This is one that I have looked at a few times – because it is Regency historical and his name just makes me smile! But for some reason I have always shied away from it, so I will take a punt and try it now. Thanks Crissy!
Thanks for the review! Although, I have to admit, I know very little about Dr. Who except my two nieces are crazy about it, I love Steampunk. And learning you bought the next two books in the series is the best endorsement. 🙂 I am going to check this one out.
This sounds really fun and I am so glad you liked it! Glad you came out of the challenge with a hit!
LOL! Right 🙂
Please don’t stone me . . . I’m not a Whovian. But I do occasionally enjoy a good steampunk novel. This sounds very interesting so of course I’m adding it to my neverending wishlist. Thanks for your review!
You won’t be stoned… this time 😉
I’ve yet to read any steampunk (so far as I know), but elements of this book sound promising. Thanks for a thoughtful and enthusiastic review.
I bought this back when it was new and apparently read 4 chapters, got interrupted, and never went back. Your review reminded me so I went back to find it still sitting at the beginning of chapter 5. I remember very little so I need to start
over again. I know I originally bought it because of a wonderful review, and I really want to read it. I have to finish Meatworks for the challenge, but this can be next. Thanks for the review. 🙂
Fellow Whovian here, and this sounds great. I’ve heard of these books before, but for some reason didn’t pick them up. I’ll be changing that soon. Thanks for the review!
OMG! Antonia… I see David Tennant all over these 🙂
Thanks for the review. I haven’t read any steampunk yet but this sounds great. I’ll check it out.
Yay, Crissy! I loved reading this review. It’s exactly what I hope people will walk away with from this week’s challenge, an eye for reaching out to something a little off their beaten path and find out there are more wonderful stories to be found. Hard on the wallet and TBR pile, but definitely an adventure. 🙂 I bought all three of these (because I was so hopeful) during a Carina sale, so now I MUST get to them. Thank you!
A lot of reviews for historical stories this week. I was also in the same boat and picked historical for my read. I like the sound of this, thank you foe the review.
I’ve had such a good time reading this week’s challenge reviews; it’s so interesting to see how everyone has reasoned and decided on what to read. Thanks for sharing!
I think I’ve seen the title of this book before – the name Agamemnon caught my eye and I thought it an interesting choice of name – but I never read the blurb or anything else about it. Contrary to you, Crissy, I love historicals, but not steampunk so much , which right now makes me realize I should have picked that for my challenge this week, but now it’s too late. Like I mentioned in a comment to an other review, I think it’s because English is a second language to me and when we enter fantasy (as in fantasy of our minds) I too easily gets lost among new words and vocabulary, much more so than when reading contemporary or historicals with realistic settings. So I’ll pass this, despite the intriguing name.
Steampunk is yet another genre I haven’t read. Thanks for the review.
I’ve never heard of this one before! I actually don’t think I’ve ever read a steampunk book before. I don’t know how I would do with all of this… even though I am a Who fan. But I’m glad you found one you like!
Great review. However, I’m not sure it’s for me. I already shy away from steampunk and adding aliens to the mix probably won’t help. Thanks for the review.