As you can tell from the publisher's blurb, this is a paranormal steampunk romance. So, it's a light read -- what I call a "catch-and-release" book, especially good to take along when travelling, so you can leave it behind wherever you are when you finish. I was particularly interested in it because my own background is in science and technology, which are not interests of the typical romance heroine. Alice is, alas, the traditional beautiful blonde; but then, it is important to the plot that everyone wants to marry her, whether they approve of her interests or not. I do appreciate the emphasis on romance, rather than sex. The behavior is, in general, decorous -- only slightly racier than Jane Austen.

I found it to be a pleasant story, with commendably few errors introduced by the spell-checker. I had been a bit worried about how the paranormal aspects would be handled, but I thought that was well done, and very little "willing suspension of disbelief" was needed, whether for that or the steampunk elements. I do draw the line, though, at a "stereoscopic monocle", however much my husband might like to have one. And no matter how unconventional or distracted the heroine, I cannot imagine a woman of that era never questioning whether it would be proper for her to go on a tour with an unmarried man. I think it would have been better to have addressed that question when the tour was first suggested, rather than leaving it as a last-minute afterthought. I can't see that it would make any difference to the plot. And Dr. Smith should surely not have left the two of them alone overnight in New York.

This book ends with Alice's engagement to her "Mr. Right", but the title hints that there may be more adventures to follow. I expect they will be fun to read, too. I had been hoping to hear more about Ian's uncle.

I received this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads program.

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