Reviewed by Heather C
Title: Gilded Lily
Author: Delphine Dryden
Series: Steam and Seduction #3
Hero/Heroine: Barnabas Smith-Grenville/Frederique Murcheson
Genre: MF Steampunk
Length: 304 Pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Available at: Berkley, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: HIDDEN IDENTITIES, SCANDALOUS SECRETS…
DEADLY ATTRACTION.
Frederique Murcheson’s introduction into society hasn’t gone smoothly—some would even call it a disaster. Only Freddie considers her debut a success. Her scheme to become a makesmith has gone off flawlessly. The only thing that could upset her plans now would be if someone discovered that brilliant tinker Fred Merchant is, in fact, a lady in disguise.
Wooing a spoiled heiress is not exactly Barnabas Smith-Grenville’s idea of high espionage. However, considering his brother disappeared on the job, supposedly into the most iniquitous of opium dens, he cannot expect much better. At least the assignment will afford him time to search for his brother, whom he suspects is in spy-related trouble rather than a drug-addled haze.
But when Freddie proves to be both irresistible and the key to the answers he seeks, Barnabas finds himself not only entwined in a scandalous mystery involving lethal submersibles and deranged dirigibles, but also in a dangerous game of the heart…
Review:
Gilded Lily has to be my most favorite book of the Steam and Seduction series to date. Filled with over-the-top antics, secret identities and killer cuttlefish, this book was A LOT of fun!
The Plot: We met Barnabas Smith-Grenville in the previous book, Scarlet Devices. Barnabas’s search for his missing brother Phineas has led him to London and his first assignment for the agency is to pretend to court Frederique Murcheson, the meddlesome daughter of Rutherford Murcheson. Freddie spends her days in disguise as tinker makesmith Fred Merchant, and her social evenings as the wallflower heiress no one wants to marry. Barnabas is a bit too unremarkable and Freddie is a lot more perceptive than her father realizes. Both covers are quickly blown and blackmail ensues. Freddie’s determination to uncover what her father is really up to with the Glass Octopus and the Gilded Lily leads her smack in the middle of the opium trade that supposedly swallowed up Phineas. And Barnabas can’t help from being her accomplice in it all.
The whole plot was totally outrageous, but that is what makes it so great. The things that Freddie got up to…I can’t go into any details and spoil all the fun, but it was one crazy plan after another. And poor Barnabas was too smitten and too deep into the mess to do anything about it. He was totally adorable, even though he mostly sat back and let Freddie run the show. I hate to say that Freddie and Barnabas were TSTL…but maybe they were just smidge. Surprising, they both survived it all in piece, mostly. I will say that this book was NOT predictable!
The Romance: I absolutely LOVED Freddie and Barnabas together. Even though they were both nothing-but-trouble, I got a feeling of innocence (of love) from them. There was never any malice between them, but since their “relationship” stemmed from secrets and lies, trust was the biggest question on their minds. Was it an affair of convenience? Of course it was initially, but it wasn’t long before thoughts of love started swirling in their heads. True to the series, the love scenes were as humorous as they were sexy…
“Perhaps it’s a bit like riding a horse?” ~ Freddie
The Villains: Remember Lord Orm from Scarlet Devices? Well, his brother Rollo has taken over opium import and distribution in London. Rollo has a few little giant problems: the shoals of killer cuttlefish taking out his men and his product…and the nosy Freddie Murcheson who is set on proving her value to her father. Then there is Rutherford Murcheson, who is technically one of the good guys; I really liked him in Gossamer Wing. But oh does Freddie make him into one nasty villain!!! And I can’t forget about Albert and all of his blinky friends.
What’s next? Will it be Phineas and Lady Sophronia? I’m not a big fan of reunited lovers but I will certainly read whatever and wherever this series takes me next.
Overall Impression: I Loved It!
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*
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