Review: A fun blend of fact and fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 8, 2014
Victorian Scoundrel by Stephanie Burkhart is Book One in ‘The Windsor Diaries’ series and is an intriguing look at the conundrum of time travel with the added twist of an alternate past being explored.  Edmund Windsor and Alice Windsor are royalty in 2011 but have the invaluable opportunity to interact with their forebears in 1851 but Alice is attempting to make sure that her cousin Edmund does not substantially change history, only to fall afoul of the dreaded potential paradox herself.  Grayson Kentfield, Earl Swinton develops a fascination for the unusual female, Alice, but his suspicions about her and Edmund are almost too fantastical for him to accept.  He will have to balance his obligations to his country and the desires of his heart but unfortunately, time may be his enemy.This steampunk romance blends fact and fantasy in an enjoyable tale.  There are interesting quirks such as the use of ‘whuzzies’ which allow messages to be exchanged once the owner’s scent is known, a heroine who has overcome a significant learning disability, and a search using magic and science for alternative fuel sources.  I was a little surprised that there didn’t seem to be any difficulty with the cousins sharing a hotelroom despite being opposing sexes but I have to admire the tenacity and daring that allows them to travel to the past and experience history firsthand.  The reader should be reminded that this is the first in a series and the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger but it is a fun and exciting tale that will stir one’s imagination and whet the appetite for more adventures involving these intriguing characters.A copy of this story was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.