Review: Steampunk meets romance in quite a delightful way
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 22, 2014
"People have a tendency to misjudge what they don't understand." - Gerritt RhinehartWhen Steampunk meets romance and loads of humor, you know you're in for quite the ride!Young war widow Prudence Worthington knows that it's not proper for a single lady to travel to and stay at a bachelor's place. But she has a dream that needs funding to come true, and working as the new secretary for Professor Gerritt Rhinehart is the only way for her to get said funds. She expects to live with a quiet, nerdy scholar and inventor, but her employer is nothing like she imagined. Gerritt had seen Mrs. Worthington's tintype and was pleased to believe his new secretary would be a plain widow with no desire to find a husband - this way he could rest assured her top priority would be to fix the mess that is his office. But the young female so full of spirit and wit is not what he expected - and he's not sure if he likes that fact or not. With Gerritt's secret new invention causing trouble and Jubilee's society looking closely to gauge their reactions, can Prudence and her boss manage to keep professional distance? Or will their attraction make them lose sight of what they have always considered moral?If you haven't read Prudence and the Professor yet, I suggest you do it as soon as possible. Ms. Stone obviously knew what she was doing when she "arranged" for her main characters to meet and fall in love, in a time that most would find inconvenient, at the very least.The main reason for that is the fact her characters are so likeable and believable to a certain extent - not quite imaginary, yet not entirely realistic either. Just like Steampunk stories go, always in the middle of history and science, the book follows a strong and quite independent heroine struggling to come to terms with wanting someone else, even when her priorities and dreams are still the same, and a hero who is both intelligent and physically attractive. Both of them are unique in the book's universe, and they both struggle with societal proprieties, something that puts them in the middle - should they follow their hearts, or stick to the rules and morals set by society?With a main cast that was cute and fun to read about - and quite sexy when it came to intimate moments (such a naughty boy he was, that Professor Rhinehart...) - and a plot that proved quite tricky and unexpected - even I had a difficulty in guessing the main bad guy in the book, I admit - the first book of the Brides of Jubilee series is sure to become a hit. Although a little work on building attraction, which was too instant in this case, and keeping a steady mind would be most appreciated. I swear, Gerritt switched moods so quickly, and so often, I nearly got a whiplash!I can't wait what the writer has next in store for the bachelors of Jubilee. I bet they're in for quite the surprise of their lives - as are we, the readers, of course!***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***