I'm always up for a good steampunk read, so I'm thrilled to host Lara Nance and her book, Revenge of the Mad Scientist. The cover is gorgeous, and the author looks great in her steampunk gear!
Here is the plot:
When Lady Arabella Trunkett’s father, the High Lord
Minister of Urbannia is kidnapped, all clues point to the mysterious country of
Gandiss and the world is thrown into political upheaval.
Arabella is convinced the more sinister nation of
Carabarras is to blame, urged on by a mad scientist seeking revenge. So, she
sets out on a perilous airship journey across a variety of exotic locales to
save him, and halt the potential world war.
But airship pirates, secret assassins and slave
traders aren’t her only trials. The fickle hand of fate has made the captain of
the only airship available for charter, the man who left her at the altar. For
eight years she's wished him dead. Now he's her only hope.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt:
“Oh!” She jumped up, put a hand in her purse and
withdrew the handkerchief. “I forgot to tell you about this. I found it on the
floor in the room from which Father was taken. I’m positive he left it as a
clue but I’m not sure what it means.”
Benji took the piece of cloth with the stick pin
and his youthful face screwed up in concentration as he examined it, then he
bolted to his feet “D, d, dash it all, Belle. Do you know what this is?”
She shook her head and her heart raced at his tone.
“It’s a ceremonial j, j, jewel given to the Sarcs
of Carabarras.”
Her eyes widened. She’d heard of the secret group
of assassins but didn’t know any more than the general public. She hoped her
adopted boy genius had more details. “You’d better explain.”
“The Sarcs are t, t, taken as children and trained
within the secret organization. When they finish their t, t, training, they’re
given a task to fulfill. Usually that means k, k, killing someone. If they're
successful, they’re given the t, t, title of Sarc and one of these.” He held up
the gold and ruby pin. “They wear it on the inside of their c, c, cloaks and
never take it off until they die.”
“Or until it falls out of their cloak while they’re
kidnapping someone…or…that someone steals it as a clue.” Belle hadn’t really
examined it, so she reached out and took it from him. She turned the pin around
seeing it in a new light. The golden head resembled some type of flower and the
large ruby was planted in the middle of the blossom. She looked up at Benji.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lara
Nance grew up and lived in many cites throughout the South. She loves to write
in a variety of genres, but the basis of all of her stories is a great tale
that will take you on an adventure of imagination.
If
you want to escape and lose yourself in a novel, you've come to the right
place. Choose your genre and settle in to be entertained. From thrilling
mysteries and steampunk tales, to paranormal romance and adventure, she's
willing to explore a variety of compelling stories full of danger and suspense,
along with a touch of romance.
Having
been on the fencing team in college and now living on a sailboat convinces her
that she was a pirate in another life, or possibly kin to Errol Flynn… However,
due to the unfortunate demise of the romantic pirates of the past, she lives
out her fantasies, thrills and adventures in her stories. Lara loves to weave
interesting true historical tidbits into her fiction which invite the reader to
explore further after the novel is finished.
Currently
docked in Norfolk, Virginia (until the wind changes) Lara enjoys living on her
sailboat and spends time reading, of course writing, indulging a variety of
artistic endeavors, cooking and sailing with her husband, Joe and their Yorkie,
Rio.
