Kiss of the Spindle [Proper Romance Steampunk] - Softcover

Nancy Campbell Allen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1629724149 ISBN 13: 9781629724140

Publisher: Shadow Mountain, 2018

Synopsis

A steampunk Sleeping Beauty story from the author of Beauty and the Clockwork Beast.

Doctor Isla Cooper is cursed. Literally. Each night, at the stroke of midnight she falls into a death-like sleep from which she cannot be awakened for six hours. To make it worse, the curse has an expiration date--after a year, it becomes permanent. And the year is almost up.

In a desperate attempt to find Malette--the witch who cursed her--Isla blackmails her way onto Daniel Pickett's private airship bound for the Caribbean, only to discover she's traveling with three illegal shapeshifters and the despicable Nigel Crowe, a government official determined to hunt down and exterminate every shapeshifter in England. Isla and Daniel must work together to keep the identities of the shapeshifters hidden while coming to terms with their own hidden secrets, and their blossoming attraction to each other.

Filled with suspense, intrigue, and plenty of romance, Kiss of the Spindle is steampunk Sleeping Beauty story. It is a race against the clock as Isla and Daniel try to hunt down the elusive Malette before Isla's death-like sleep becomes permanent.

About this title

About the Author

Nancy Campbell Allen is the author of thirteen novels, which span genres from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. She has been a speaker at numerous writing conferences and events. She has a degree in elementary education and is the mother of three children.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"Captain," Isla called, grateful for the relative seclusion behind the ship.

He turned and she reached his side, hating that she was slightly breathless and knowing it wasn't because she was winded from the brief run. Isla Cooper faced down dangerous predators on a regular basis. She would not be intimidated by one bad-tempered man.

He frowned, and her breath caught in her throat. Oh, dear. Evidently the photos she'd seen had come criminally far from doing him justice. Even frowning, his face and form spoke to an element of feminine approval within that she usually had little time for.

"Yes?" he prompted.

She exhaled. "I need to join you on this voyage. Money is no issue; I am prepared to pay twice the usual fare."

"This is not a commercial flight, miss." He turned away and she grasped his arm. He looked at her in some surprise, which turned quickly to incredulity and then something she decided she'd rather not decipher.

Isla tightened her grip on his bicep, noting the very human feel of the very not-human limb. "I must get to Port Lucy. Immediately."

He pulled away but she held tight.

"There is a commercial flight bound for New Orleans, and a connecting ship to Port Lucy in six weeks."

"I do not have six weeks, sir. Furthermore, I am a natural empath and a Doctor of Shifter Therapy and Human Relations.

He stilled. "I do not see the relevance."

"I believe you do."

"What exactly are you implying, Miss…?"

"Dr. Cooper. I am implying that with this particular cargo, you might benefit from my expertise."

He pulled his arm roughly away from her with a scoff. He opened his pocket watch again. "If you'll excuse me, Dr. Cooper, I have an airship to fly."

"Or perhaps Her Majesty's Cyborg Regulations Division would be interested to know that England's most prominent airship mogul is rather more than he appears to be."

He stopped midstride and she swallowed. Her heart thumped, and she rather wished she were facing a beast with fangs; those she could usually tame.

Mr. Pickett slowly returned. "I do not know what it is you think you know, lady, but you can take your threats and-"

"Your arm, likely fusing into your pectoral," Isla said quietly and pointed from his bicep and up along to his chest. "Most forward, rational thinkers realize such implants have no bearing on one's ability to live a healthy life, run an empire. Government agencies are not always known for rational thinking, though, are they?"

His jaw clenched visibly, and his nostrils flared. Isla forced her feet to remain firmly planted.

"Turn around and walk away now, Dr. Cooper, and I'll do you the favor of forgetting this conversation occurred."

Edition details

• Publisher: Shadow Mountain
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1629724149
• ISBN 13: 9781629724140
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352