Forged by Desire (London Steampunk, #4) in Audiobook Junkies

May 12, 2013 Carmel (Rabid Reads) rated it really liked it

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads - 3.5 stars.

I love this series for its Steampunk elements, swoon worthy romances, and Bec McMaster’s beautiful writing style. I know that tears are forthcoming every time I pick-up a new installment because this author has a real knack for making me feel invested in the characters, and for tugging at my heartstrings. FORGED BY DESIRE was an enjoyable read, albeit not my favourite LONDON STEAMPUNK novel because of its rather uneventful first half; the story felt like it w Reviewed by: Rabid Reads - 3.5 stars.

I love this series for its Steampunk elements, swoon worthy romances, and Bec McMaster’s beautiful writing style. I know that tears are forthcoming every time I pick-up a new installment because this author has a real knack for making me feel invested in the characters, and for tugging at my heartstrings. FORGED BY DESIRE was an enjoyable read, albeit not my favourite LONDON STEAMPUNK novel because of its rather uneventful first half; the story felt like it was divided into two parts instead of being one cohesive story.

Up to this point, readers haven’t gotten to spend much time with Garrett and Perry, so a large portion of this installment was dedicated to developing their characters, and on growing their relationship. Now, that’s pretty standard procedure in Paranormal Romance, but in this instance it didn’t really work for me; the unrequited love grew tiring after a while as did all of the secrets. I probably wouldn’t have butted heads with these elements nearly as much as I did had they been woven into the main story arc instead of having had to trudge through chapters and chapters of angst in order to get to the point. Once the main plot kicked in, I quickly remembered why I adore this series, but unfortunately it just took a heck of a long time to get there.

I liked the political intrigue that the Echelon brought to this tale with dukes, and even the prince consort himself involved, things were sure to get interesting. The murder mystery starts out small, but as things progressed it became apparent that there were larger schemes in play, and that things weren’t quite what they seemed. By the end of this book, I felt like this series’ main story arc was on the verge of being resolved. I have no idea how many installments are planned or whether the author is going to simply take LONDON STEAMPUNK in a new direction, but regardless I can tell you this—OF SILK AND STEAM will be a must read! March 2015, mark your calendars.

Perry’s character was a bit problematic for me; I didn’t exactly dislike her per say, she just wasn’t overly memorable either. Her Nighthawks persona didn’t jive with her past, and I had difficulty making the switch from heroine to victim. Garrett on the other hand was absolutely brilliant! I loved when his Blue blood half reared its primal head, and Reed’s borderline obsession to Miss Lowell was charming—tracking beacon and all! I enjoyed the slow burn romance, although I wish that they would have A) gotten it on sooner or B) been better incorporated into the plot line. Lynch & Rosalind, the characters from book 3, played pretty significant roles in this novel, and the rest of the LONDON STEAMPUNK cast also make brief cameos. The whole gang together at last!

Bec McMaster delivered another Steampunk-erific installment with FORGED BY DESIRE! ...more

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Aug 21, 2013 Sunny rated it it was amazing

Shelves: a-1-favorite-series, arc

could this book be any better? I don't think so ...more

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Sep 19, 2013 Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal-romance, vampires, favorites, steampunk, my-favorite-books, london-steampunk-series

My Rating: A+ Personal Favorite
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher.

The Nighthawks have been the stable blueblood (think vampire) police force for forty years, but their founder and longtime leader, Sir Jasper Lynch, recently stepped down to assume his role among the Echelon (My Lady Quicksilver). Now Garrett Reed, second in command of the Nighthawks steps into the role of Master, yet he has not yet been appointed by the Echelon. As Garrett accustom My Rating: A+ Personal Favorite
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher.

The Nighthawks have been the stable blueblood (think vampire) police force for forty years, but their founder and longtime leader, Sir Jasper Lynch, recently stepped down to assume his role among the Echelon (My Lady Quicksilver). Now Garrett Reed, second in command of the Nighthawks steps into the role of Master, yet he has not yet been appointed by the Echelon. As Garrett accustoms himself to this new title, he finds that he is haunted by the recent memories of his long-time friend and partner, Perry, dressed seductively when the pair recently went undercover. Both Perry and Garrett realize that something changed that night, even though they never even so much as kissed. Now with Garrett’s craving virus levels increasing dangerously high, he cannot confide in his long-time friend.

Perry has a secret that she’s been hiding for nine years as she made her way up the ranks of the Nighthawks. But when two young debutants are discovered murdered and missing their hearts, Perry realizes her former life has come back to haunt her and will end life as she knows it. Now Perry must decide if saving the innocent is worth the cost of her own freedom, and the loss of the one man she’s ever loved.

I cannot say enough praises for the London Steampunk series and specifically, Forged by Desire. The mystery and intrigue built into the superbly crafted plot kept me engrossed and excited throughout the entire book. Yet it is the love story of Garrett and Perry that provides immense satisfaction and emotional gratification. With its unusual mix of paranormal, steampunk, historical, and mystery elements, the author creates a unique setting and world with an honest to goodness romance at the core. You really should be reading this series!

The intermixing of the mystery, Perry’s past, and the romance is wonderfully done; it is well-balanced, and I found myself ensnared by the intricacies of each plot line. Perry and Garrett make a wonderful friends-to-lovers pair, with incredible sexual tension and mutual admiration. The hiccups along the way are created out of genuine care for the other, and only once did I get really frustrated with Perry’s stubbornness. :-)

Both Perry and Garrett are complex, caring, and stubborn characters, which makes emotional break-throughs absolutely rewarding. There were multiple times during the book where I found myself dabbing tears from my eyes due to the raw and intense conversations and confessions. I appreciate the pace at which the pair comes together, and the need for one-step-forward, two-steps-back at times. Ms. McMaster knows how to play my heart strings so cleverly, and I was completely invested in the pair.

However, as wonderful as the romance is, I am seriously in awe of Ms. McMaster's storytelling. As the tale unfolds and pieces fall into place, the attention she has spent on every detail and plot point is evident. Nothing is without purpose and every scene is phenomenal. There are so many gut-wrenching, emotionally powerful scenes, coupled with tense, suspenseful ones. I seriously could not put this book down.

Overall, Forged by Desire is simply and plainly amazing storytelling, with superb plot and character development. The scenes are vivid, the action exciting, and the romance powerful and hot. The storyline is engrossing, and watching each piece of the puzzle click into place is exciting. I adore this series, which has moved up to a must-read on my list. Bec McMaster is a marvelous author and you should be reading her work! ...more

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Jun 08, 2014 Melindeeloo rated it really liked it

Shelves: steampunk-romance

Review to come (because I want to read more of all the shinies that I have awaiting me right now and will catch up on my writing later) but I liked this. What the pair had to go through for their HEA was good and I like how they won the day and who they had helping. I did have just a couple nits in that Perry was awesome in her Nighthawkness in the previous books but she is just a bit 'less' for much of this book when her past comes back to haunt her. ...more

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