Title: Clockwork Heart
Series: Clockwork Love, #1
Author: Heidi Cullinan
Genre: Steampunk Romance
Length: Novel
Publisher: Samhain (February 2nd, 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Blurb: As the French army leader’s bastard son, Cornelius Stevens enjoys a great deal of latitude. But when he saves an enemy soldier using clockwork parts, he’s well aware he risks hanging for treason. That doesn’t worry him half as much, however, as the realization he’s falling for his patient.
Johann Berger never expected to survive his regiment’s suicide attack on Calais, much less wake up with mechanical parts. To avoid discovery, he’s forced to hide in plain sight as Cornelius’s lover—a role Johann finds himself taking to surprisingly well.
When a threat is made on Cornelius’s life, Johann learns the secret of the device implanted in his chest—a mythical weapon both warring countries would kill to obtain. Caught up in a political frenzy, in league with pirates, dodging rogue spies, mobsters and princesses with deadly parasols, Cornelius and Johann have no time to contemplate how they ended up in this mess. All they know is, the only way out is together—or not at all.
Product Warnings
Contains tinkers, excessive clockwork appendages, and a cloud-sweeping tour of Europe. A little absinthe, a little theft, a little exhibitionism. Men who love men, women who love women, and some who aren’t particular.
ISBN: 9781619227231
Product Link: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5706/clockwork-heart
Reviewer: Portia
Review: Clockwork Heart is a wonderful start to the new Heidi Cullinan series, Clockwork Love. Set in an alternate world, where ManLove is not exactly forbidden, but neither is anyone waving rainbow flags.
Cornelius is a tinker surgeon. He has spent the past several years apprenticing with one of the premier Master Tinkers. When he comes across a gravely wounded enemy soldier, his surgeon heart acts before his good sense can kick in. Helping this soldier, much less adding clockwork will be considered treason. Not a good look, when your father is the head crazy in charge of the military.
What can I say? I loved every single moment between these pages. Cornelius is an absolute gem. Nerdy and slutty…what’s not to love? Johann is his polar opposite. Strong and silent, Johann is questions his attraction to Cornelius, but doesn’t fight it very hard. 😉
There is fabulous world building, which is usually my down point with Steampunk. All of Heidi Cullinan’s science is plausible. And for me that was a huge selling point for my reading pleasure.
Several interesting side characters are introduced, and I’m curious as to whether a certain captain and his part-time Asian playmate will end up in their own romance…or wind up sharing a lover. Not to mention a certain Frenchman with some snazzy clockwork of his own, who need some love.
All in all, this was a fabulous read from beginning to end and I highly recommend it.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *