Review: Western Historical Romance with Steampunk Trappings.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2014
Prudence and the Professor reads very much like a typical Western romance - very idealized characters, evil bad guys, lots of lust and sex,  and the lawlessness of the period. Steampunk props and Indian mysticism add a touch of the unique but the characters still felt like characters rather than people.  But then again, that's why we read romance, for the sweetness.Prudence was married at 18 and widowed by her 20th birthday thanks to the Civil War. To get away from her harpy mother in law, she takes a position as a bookkeeper for a professor in a Montana town. Turns out, the professor is surprisingly handsome as well as a gifted steampunk inventor and Prudence ends up not being the bland widow he had expected.  Together, they will have to thwart attempts on Prudence's life as someone plans to get their hands on the professor's secret Civil War devices.I thought both characters were sweet and the supporting characters didn't provide much in the way of surprise. While this first volume probably concentrated on the Steampunk aspects since it had a professor, the next in the series will likely delve more into the Indians and their ability to transform into animals as well as their magic (which saved a handsome side character and he fell in love with the chief's daughter).In all, a light and airy read, easy to follow and quick to finish. It's a solid 3 stars for me but I think stronger and more distinct characterizations would have been needed for a higher rating.Reviewed from an ARC.