Early Review: Precious Metals by L.A. Witt

Reviewed by Heather C

Title: Precious Metals
Author: L.A. Witt
Series: Metals Universe
Heroes: Paul Benson/Joseph Starling
Genre: M/M Historical Romance
Length: 43,000 words
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: October 27, 2014
Available at: Riptide Publishing and Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  For Constable Paul Benson of the North-West Mounted Police, monotony is a blessing. As a provision inspector below the Chilkoot Pass during the Klondike Gold Rush, he’s seen miserable conditions and gold fever turn civilized prospectors into madmen.

Joseph Starling is on his way to the Klondike to find the men who savagely beat him, murdered his eldest brother, and stole their mining machine. They’ll kill his youngest brother if Joseph doesn’t operate the machine for them—it won’t work without him. With time running out, Joseph must purchase an expensive ticket aboard a crash-prone airship. But the station is miles away through dangerous terrain.

Under orders, Paul grudgingly escorts Joseph, but quickly finds himself intrigued by the young man. As they make their way toward Juneau, it’s not just the need for warmth that drives them closer together. But neither man can draw an easy breath until they make it to the gold fields . . . and there’s no guarantee that Joseph’s brother will still be alive when they do.

Review:

Precious Metals is set around the same time period as Noble Metals, during the Klondike Gold Rush, but can be read completely as a stand alone.

Paul Benson fled from his Canadian home and found himself working as a constable for the North-West Mounted Police just below Chilkoot Pass.  When prospectors return with a half frozen man with a fake leg, Paul volunteers to help warm him.  When Joseph awakens, he’s anxious to return to Dawson City to rescue his kidnapped younger brother.  But the journey is too risky, especially for a crippled man without any money or provisions; he will never make it alive.  Paul suggests traveling south to Juneau and somehow catching an airship to Dawson City to get there safer and faster.  Before he knows it, Paul has been “volunteered” to escort Joseph and ensure he safely makes it onto one of those airships…you can imagine what happens along the way.

I really enjoyed this story.  I happen to love the “gold rush” theme and the modest steampunk aspects are especially a plus.

The Romance:  It’s told in alternate first person POVs from Paul and Joseph, so I got the chance to get right into the heads of both characters.  They are easily likable and it wasn’t hard for me cheer them on.  There was some good sexual tension and I always have a soft spot for first time/self discovery type stories.  I do think their commitments to each other happened a bit too fast for almost strangers, but I’m mostly okay with that since it kinda worked for the stressful situation they were in.

The Adventure:  The majority of the story covers Paul and Joseph’s journey from Chillkoot Pass to Dawson City.  There are some scary, exciting moments here and there, but I think a lot of it lacked intensity.  I was most worried when they were trying to get on the airship, and even that was resolved very easily.

The Steampunk:  This book, along with Noble Metals, is fairly light on the steampunk.  There are the mechs, airships and a few other gadgets, but it’s nothing heavy or difficult to follow.  I do think the “idea” of the mechs was better explained in Noble Metals and may be a tiny bit confusing for readers not already familiar with them.  But since the mechs aren’t a huge part of this story, it shouldn’t be a problem.

My Question:  How did Paul plan to return to Chilkoot Pass?  No way could he have safely made it back via Skagway.

I do hope there will be more books from this universe.  There just aren’t enough gold rush romances out there right now.

Overall Impression: I Liked It

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*