Title: Noble Metals
Author: L.A. Witt
Genre: Steampunk, History, Suspense
Length: Novella (116pgs)
Publisher: Carnal Passions (2nd January 2012)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Ever since he gambled away his chance to make it to Dawson City during the Klondike Gold Rush, Robert Belton has been stranded in Seattle working as a prostitute. When an attractive customer carrying a mysterious wooden box comes into the brothel in search of a bed for the night, Robert’s more than willing to oblige. When he learns his customer is also looking for a crew to help him haul provisions to the gold fields in the frozen north, Robert jumps at the chance and volunteers.
Dr. John Fauth is only looking for one thing in Dawson City, and it isn’t gold. He needs platinum for his semiconductor research, and if he doesn’t find it in the Klondike, the university that employs him will be more than happy to redirect their funds to more profitable scientists. Just getting to the gold fields is a grueling, dangerous journey, especially when a competitor will stop at nothing to get his hands on an invaluable device in John’s possession.
As they fall for each other out on the bitterly cold trail, John and Robert may just find themselves with more to lose than they could ever gain in the gold fields of the Yukon Territory.
Purchase Link: http://www.carnalpassions.com/store/product.php?id_product=103
Review: Robert is working as a whore after losing his money gambling. When a handsome customer admits that he is looking for men to help him on his journey Robert jumps at the chance to get to Dawson City, even offering to take half-pay. John is desperate for his invention to come through for him. But, first he has to slog through the trail to Dawson City, in the biting cold while avoiding the men who have been tailing him and letting no one know about his invention.
I enjoyed this story for its simplicity, for its combining of fact and fiction, for the hot sex and the gentle love. Robert has never known the touch of a man when he wasn’t paid for it, when John walks into the saloon and into his bed it’s the first time that he has genuinely wanted a man and would gladly have paid John for the pleasure. John just needs someone to help him with his equipment so when Robert offers for half the wages he jumps at the chance and on the journey fraught with danger he comes to trust and love the former whore.
This is a story that takes you on a journey. It’s about trust, it’s about love, it’s about hopes and dreams as these two men struggle to survive against the elements and against those who want the invention. This story is from both POV while Robert’s is done in a normal prospective John’s is mainly through his journal, you can see how these men become closer and although there is some hot sex the circumstances don’t allow for it to be prolific. A lot of the time they spend together is for warmth and talking is the main activity.
So in all truth… if you love hot sex, danger, mystery, a journey of natural danger, thieves, threats and a happy ever after with some great Steampunk then this is the book for you.