Clockwork Countdown

Whoo-hoo! Only four days left until the release of Carina Press' steampunk holiday anthology, A Clockwork Christmas. I was pretty thrilled to learn my story had been chosen as part of this anthology, but once I'd read the other stories in the collection, I was  totally blown away. Now, with less than a week to go, I guess it's too late for them to tell me it was all a mistake. lol!

So, to celebrate, I'm stealing a leaf from antho sister, JK Coi's book. I'm going to be posting sneak peeks at all four of the stories here and awarding a set of Romance Trading Cards to one lucky commenter.

First up is Stacy Gail's Crime Wave in a Corset. Here's the blurb:

  Roderick Coddington is on a mission to make Cornelia Peabody pay. After identifying her as the thief who stole a priceless Fabergé egg from his dying sister, he finds her and shackles a deadly timepiece to her arm. If she doesn't return the egg by Christmas morning, she will die.

Normally seven days is more than enough time for Cornelia to carry out the perfect crime, but Roderick's intrusion into her life is beyond distracting. He challenges her mind, and ignites her body with desire she's never felt before. But worst of all, he threatens the independence she values above all else...

As Roderick spends time with Cornelia, he realizes there's a lonely soul hidden beneath her beautiful but criminal veneer. Falling for a thief wasn't part of Roderick's plan, but plans can change and he has no intention of letting another priceless treasure get away from him.

33,000 words

Read an excerpt

This is pretty much your classic caper story. It's a fast-paced adventure tale with a holiday flare and a steampunk twist. The characters are just how I like them--both brilliant, both wounded, a perfect match for each other. And neither one as cold-hearted as they try and pretend. 

What's been interesting about the reviews the collection has been receiving is that practically every reviewer has their own favorite story from the anthology--and it's never the same one! Still, it's no surprise that Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer had this to say about it: 

"My favorite tale is Stacy Gail’s Crime Wave. I adore the spunky, intelligent wit of Cornelia. The chemistry between her and Roderick is delightful. The plot was exciting and I would love to read a full length version of this story. "

Read the full review here

Oh, and that's the delicious RTC for this title. Yummy, right? 

We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband's love. A man learns that love isn't always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

Anthology includes:

Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail

This Winter Heart by PG Forte

Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz

Far From Broken by JK Coi

Stories also available for purchase separately.