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194th out of 469 books
—
2,466 voters
Photographs & Phantoms (Gaslight Chronicles #2)
Brighton, 1855
As a member of the Order of the Round Table, Kendall Lake is overqualified to be investigating strange phenomena at a seaside photography studio. But since the photographer is related to the Order's most powerful sorcerer, Kendall reluctantly boards a dirigible to Brighton.
Amy Deland is haunted by a shadow that appears in some of her recent portraits. In each
...moreebook, EPUB , 169 pages
Published
April 25th 2011
by Carina Press
(first published April 2011)
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Photographs & Phantoms was a Kindle freebie short (it was still free when I posted this) and second in a series of steampunk/magic romances. I enjoyed both books and this one would probably stand alone fairly well, even without reading Steam & Sorcery, though characters from the first book do put in an appearance. Like the first book the story setup is good, and so are the characters, so - and I had the same comment for the first book - I would have like to have seen this as a full lengt...more
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Paranormal Romance in 1800s Brighton, where magic exists, as do "vampyres", "rogue mages", and apparently, "goblin invasions". Sorcerer/Aristocrat Marquess Kendall Lake is directed to investigate a mysterious paranormal occurrence plaguing the niece of his magic Order's most powerful sorcerer. He discovers a surprisingly [to him] attractive, and [coincidentally] single young woman photographer plagued by a curse [the subjects of her photos keep dying, oh my!]. Magic and mys...more
Paranormal Romance in 1800s Brighton, where magic exists, as do "vampyres", "rogue mages", and apparently, "goblin invasions". Sorcerer/Aristocrat Marquess Kendall Lake is directed to investigate a mysterious paranormal occurrence plaguing the niece of his magic Order's most powerful sorcerer. He discovers a surprisingly [to him] attractive, and [coincidentally] single young woman photographer plagued by a curse [the subjects of her photos keep dying, oh my!]. Magic and mys...more
Photographs & Phantoms is only sixty-six pages long and therefore is more of a novella than a book. Though we do get to briefly see the Hadrian family, whom we met in Steam & Sorcery, this novella involves a brand new relationship. In the interest of fairness to Cindy Spencer Pape, I feel it's once again necessary to disclose that I am not a fan of romance novels, so please keep that in mind as you read this review.
Photographs & Phantoms once again begins with a confirmed bachelor. K...more
Photographs & Phantoms once again begins with a confirmed bachelor. K...more
For a lovely little historical read that won’t cost you anything but the time it takes to download and read it, try Photographs & Phantoms. At 20 thousand words, there is a treat in store where it “feels” much longer—which is a good thing because I enjoyed it a lot and didn’t want it to end.
The sights of Brighton were vivid in my mind because I’ve been there, so it was a great bonus to discover the book is set there. I loved the “old” feel, the clothes, the people, the way they behaved. One...more
The sights of Brighton were vivid in my mind because I’ve been there, so it was a great bonus to discover the book is set there. I loved the “old” feel, the clothes, the people, the way they behaved. One...more
Short, but pretty good! At first I couldn't help but compare it to The Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger because the story starts off with the hero stepping onto land from a dirigible, and it didn't compare favorably because Carriger's books are more fun and funny, but as soon as the hero arrived in the heroine's neighborhood and finally met her I was able to view this book more along its own merits, and it's not bad. Not bad at all.
In addition to the romance and the paranormal and st...more
In addition to the romance and the paranormal and st...more
I just flat out like this world. It's a fun blending of steampunk, chivalrous knights and magic. Which is pretty much exactly what I said after reading Steam & Sorcery, so you know I'm enamoured of it when I start repeating myself.
In this short story we get to meet new characters while renewing our acquaintances with old friends. The Hadrian brood puts in a boisterous appearance... really, though, would you expect anything less from them? As fun as it is seeing them again, it's Kendall and A...more
In this short story we get to meet new characters while renewing our acquaintances with old friends. The Hadrian brood puts in a boisterous appearance... really, though, would you expect anything less from them? As fun as it is seeing them again, it's Kendall and A...more
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Set in Brighton, England in 1855, this Steam Punk romance is full of paranormal elements and romance. Lord Kendall Lake, a Knight of the Order of the Round Table, has been sent by his father to check on one Miss Amelie Deland, the niece of the most powerful sorcerer in...Read More
Set in Brighton, England in 1855, this Steam Punk romance is full of paranormal elements and romance. Lord Kendall Lake, a Knight of the Order of the Round Table, has been sent by his father to check on one Miss Amelie...more
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.
Expected Release Date: April 25, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Carina Press
Author’s Website: http://www.cindyspencerpape.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley, free to preorder on Amazon.com
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1.5, Gaslight Chronicles
Steam Level: Steamy
This tasty little short story is book 1.5 of the Gaslight Chronicles, sequel to Steam & Sorcery, which was a story that I loved so much that I gave it a 4...more
Expected Release Date: April 25, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Carina Press
Author’s Website: http://www.cindyspencerpape.com
My Source for This Book: Netgalley, free to preorder on Amazon.com
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1.5, Gaslight Chronicles
Steam Level: Steamy
This tasty little short story is book 1.5 of the Gaslight Chronicles, sequel to Steam & Sorcery, which was a story that I loved so much that I gave it a 4...more
I'm going to be honest with you guys for a second. I only read this book because
A) I needed a steampunk book for my monthly reading challenge
B) I saw that someone else in the grow was reading these books
C) It was free
And I really enjoyed it.
The PLOT- Amy, a modern thinking photographer, is seeing some disturbing images in some of her more recent photographs. Enter Kendall, a charming and handsome (and SINGLE!!) man sent to help her with her problem. After determining that there is a malevolent...more
A) I needed a steampunk book for my monthly reading challenge
B) I saw that someone else in the grow was reading these books
C) It was free
And I really enjoyed it.
The PLOT- Amy, a modern thinking photographer, is seeing some disturbing images in some of her more recent photographs. Enter Kendall, a charming and handsome (and SINGLE!!) man sent to help her with her problem. After determining that there is a malevolent...more
Photographs & Phantoms is a period piece set in Brighton, England in the 1850’s. While it is touted as a steam punk novel, I saw it as more of a historical romance with a hint of the paranormal. The steam punk elements felt secondary to the story. Sure, there were the requisite dirigibles, and a few other devices like wheel barrows with feet rather than wheels, but for me it felt more like a romance.
This short novella is the story of Amy Deland, a photographer. Amy has noticed that some of...more
A sweet little novella set in 19th century Brighton, England.
Photographs & Phantoms is pretty much your standard romance short story. There is the girl with the problem, in this case a ghost that seems to target clients she takes photographs of, and there is the awesome-wizard-guy that comes to save her. And while he's playing Superinvestigator, they fall in love.
The mystery was actually pretty good, I liked how everything came together in the end. Although I think the ending was quite abru...more
Photographs & Phantoms is pretty much your standard romance short story. There is the girl with the problem, in this case a ghost that seems to target clients she takes photographs of, and there is the awesome-wizard-guy that comes to save her. And while he's playing Superinvestigator, they fall in love.
The mystery was actually pretty good, I liked how everything came together in the end. Although I think the ending was quite abru...more
And I thought the first book I read by Cindy Spencer Pape was awesome. This was even better! If you haven’t read my review of Steam & Sorcery, make sure you stop over and check it out after reading this one.
Once again, Cindy has created a world so rich and alive that I could almost hear the whir of the motors from the various gadgets. I really liked these characters a lot.
I really wished that this story was much longer though. However, I really think that she did a great job with the story...more
Once again, Cindy has created a world so rich and alive that I could almost hear the whir of the motors from the various gadgets. I really liked these characters a lot.
I really wished that this story was much longer though. However, I really think that she did a great job with the story...more
Pape's writing style is wonderful and enjoyable. The dialogue between her characters is authentic and sounds real. I do understand how some readers who hadn't read the first book in the series may have had trouble with the world building in this, it's because she did so much of it in the first book, Steam and Sorcery, which is an awesome book and if you haven't read it, I'd start with it.
The only reason I didn't give this five stars was because I was left wanting more. I wanted more growth and...more
The only reason I didn't give this five stars was because I was left wanting more. I wanted more growth and...more
I wasn't sure what to think of this one when I started reading it, but I found I was instantly pulled in and it was a very fast read. Considering it was only 60+ pages, I didn't expect it to take a long time to read it, but it flowed very nicely and it wasn't until after I was finished with it that I realized it was a 1.5! It definitely read like a standalone novel, and it was definitely written well because I didn't even realize that there was an entire book that had come beforehand. I'll defin...more
For some reason, when I started reading this, I remembered the blurb giving the impression that this was a steampunk mystery novel. Either I remembered what it said incorrectly or it was leaving a lot out, because it was more steampunk paranormal mystery romance/erotica, which lead to a much different experience than I was expecting. Specifically, it made it really awkward to read at work.
Besides that, the plot itself was very basic and minimal, wrapped up entirely too quickly to really be anyth...more
Besides that, the plot itself was very basic and minimal, wrapped up entirely too quickly to really be anyth...more
This is a novella, available from Carina Press. It's a cute little story that achieves exactly what it sets out to do: build an interesting world -- in which steampunk technology mixes with magic, and Order of the Round Table is in charge of investigating supernatural events -- in which a short mystery is resolved, while allowing the romance between the two main characters to develop. The romance bit is a little squeezed in: the whole story takes place in a matter of days, so it has to be a coup...more
I picked this up from the Amazon Free Bestselling list, and I think it's the first time I have read a .5 book, though I am seeing more of them around. In principle I think they are a great idea - introducing new readers to the world of a series before they invest in a longer work, and also filling readers desire for more while they wait for the next in the series to be released.
I'm quite fond of steampunk, so it was a no brainer that I was going to pick this one up. The cover was quite interest...more
I'm quite fond of steampunk, so it was a no brainer that I was going to pick this one up. The cover was quite interest...more
Cindy Spencer Pape's characters are described with straightforward detail that seems almost juvenile in style. The novella leaves little room for character development, and the reader must trust the narrator that the two main characters (Kendall and Amy) have fallen in love with each other, for there is no evidence of this. The mystery that is introduced as the root of the narrative is solved quickly and neatly; there is little hindrance in reaching the ends desired by Kendall and Amy. The only...more
Short read and very well written. The only argument I have against it is the completely gratuitous sex scene. The story was fine and interesting without it.
I'm afraid that it's becoming a trend to add sex scenes that don't have anything to do with the plot and are stuck in more or less willy-nilly (that's a joke).
I read it for the steampunk and magic connection. If I wanted erotica, I would have felt better if it were clear that this contained graphic sex. Yeah, sometimes I like to read it, and...more
I'm afraid that it's becoming a trend to add sex scenes that don't have anything to do with the plot and are stuck in more or less willy-nilly (that's a joke).
I read it for the steampunk and magic connection. If I wanted erotica, I would have felt better if it were clear that this contained graphic sex. Yeah, sometimes I like to read it, and...more
Seriously, what is it with books and movies these days being overrun by sex!? The book industry needs a rating system, because I'm getting awfully tired of starting a book, getting into and then getting surprised by a bedroom scene! This book would be rated R, possible NC-17, so definitely not for this lady to read. The scene is about half way through the book. I'd enjoyed the dialogue up until that point, but had to put it down because it wasn't a small section that could be easily skipped. Too...more
3.5 stars. Didn't realize it was a novella after the first of a series. I thought it was extremely well done with one exception - it needed more time. What I mean by that is that it seemed that the author tried to squeeze a bigger story into a smaller package. I can suspend belief and believe that the romance portion of the story happened within one day but it just all felt so rushed. The story itself was nicely developed and interesting and the characters interesting enough to want more.
I'm goi...more
I'm goi...more
Jun 23, 2011
Sobia
added it
NOVELLA.
That's really the most important word, if you're considering reading this. Don't get me wrong, CSP did a great job( better than most, really) shrinking an entire story to the confines of a short story...but she did it by moving things faster than the speed of light( or there's about) . Everything happened too quick, even compared to other novellas I've read, so much so, that with an average reading speed, and if you can concentrate, you can finish it in an hour or so.
It's not bad, there...more
That's really the most important word, if you're considering reading this. Don't get me wrong, CSP did a great job( better than most, really) shrinking an entire story to the confines of a short story...but she did it by moving things faster than the speed of light( or there's about) . Everything happened too quick, even compared to other novellas I've read, so much so, that with an average reading speed, and if you can concentrate, you can finish it in an hour or so.
It's not bad, there...more
Oct 22, 2011
Melissa ( Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf)
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
owned-ebook,
reviewed-other
This short book (really more a novella) had a little something for everyone. Steampunk, Magic, Romance, Mystery...you name it...this little gem had it. The premise was interesting and kept me reading to see what would happen next. The world was fascinating...Victorian England but with a bit of a "mechanical" twist. And I'd almost forgotten how much I can enjoy a little (steamy) romance thrown into the mix.
All in all a short sweet fun and entertaining read...and for me a good mini introduction to...more
All in all a short sweet fun and entertaining read...and for me a good mini introduction to...more
A genius mix of steampunk and magic...just as fun and flirty as the first!
Lord Kendall Lake is a member of the Order of the Round Table on assignment regarding some supernatural occurrences at a photography studio owned by Amy Deland, the niece of the Order's most
powerful member. Amy's photographs are the common link in a series of recent unexplained deaths and Lord Kendall has been dispatched to investigate the case. Kendall expects Ms. Deland to be an old maid but when he sees she's a young at...more
Lord Kendall Lake is a member of the Order of the Round Table on assignment regarding some supernatural occurrences at a photography studio owned by Amy Deland, the niece of the Order's most
powerful member. Amy's photographs are the common link in a series of recent unexplained deaths and Lord Kendall has been dispatched to investigate the case. Kendall expects Ms. Deland to be an old maid but when he sees she's a young at...more
Very predictable. Decent writing. I liked where the story was heading in the beginning, but then it just seemed to fade to me.
This really didn't feel like 'steampunk' fiction to me either. I didn't even know it was labeled as such until after I had already read the book and saw the other reviews on Goodreads. I can see why it would be called steampunk though- the guy with the metal arm who makes trinkets and the camera. I get it, I do.
But I don't think the author put enough emphasis on the mecha...more
This really didn't feel like 'steampunk' fiction to me either. I didn't even know it was labeled as such until after I had already read the book and saw the other reviews on Goodreads. I can see why it would be called steampunk though- the guy with the metal arm who makes trinkets and the camera. I get it, I do.
But I don't think the author put enough emphasis on the mecha...more
This delightful romantic novella (20,000 words) is a companion to ‘Storm & Sorcery’ by Cindy Spencer Pape (March 7, 2011). I haven’t read Storm and Sorcery, but after reading this, I certainly want to. The book shows the writers ability to create a rich world of interesting, likeable characters and mix them up with a good chunk of mystery, romance and surprise to make an absorbing and enjoyable read.
I give it 5 stars and recommend it to all lovers of fantasy romance, especially if you’re int...more
I give it 5 stars and recommend it to all lovers of fantasy romance, especially if you’re int...more
Read this in the course of an evening. This book is a hot mess, especially considering that the ghost story bit doesn't make a lick of sense and has no real purpose in the novel. Furthermore, the protagonists have zero chemistry other than "I'm attractive" and "Well hey, so AM I!" which is dreadful. This book feels rushed in so many ways and it shows even in the editing. I feel like I jumped the gun considering I thought Steam and Sorcery was cute. After this questionable bit of content I am not...more
Photographs and Phantoms is the story of a woman portrait photographer, Amy Deland and Kendall Lake a member of the Order of the Round Table. Amy sees something "evil" in some of the photographs she takes and shortly thereafter the photos with the shadowy presence dies. Kendall is called upon by the Order to investigate. I felt the characters weren't developed enough, I wanted to know more about Amy and Kendall's past, I especially wanted to know why Amy's family became estranged from Lord Drood...more
Didn't realize this was erotica. As soon as one character started to "lave" another's nipple, I bailed, more or less. About 50% through.
Too bad, the plot (a photographer's subjects keep dying...are her photos foretelling the future, or are they somehow causing the people to die) was intriguing.
Maybe this is normally filed under erotica, I dunno. ("Spread your legs and show me how wet you are." kind of moves it beyond romance in my book.) Fair game if so.
However I got it as a freebie and it wasn'...more
Too bad, the plot (a photographer's subjects keep dying...are her photos foretelling the future, or are they somehow causing the people to die) was intriguing.
Maybe this is normally filed under erotica, I dunno. ("Spread your legs and show me how wet you are." kind of moves it beyond romance in my book.) Fair game if so.
However I got it as a freebie and it wasn'...more
Well... I didn't know this was erotica when d/l it as a freebee. It wasn't even tagged as romance where I d/l it (Kobo shop). I don't mind erotica or romance, but I like to know what I'm reading beforehand. But that's certainly not the book's fault.
Now the book itself: It's too short for the plot, too weak, the characters are quite plain, the villain too quickly and suddenly made out, without letting the reader think about who it might be - or not, the final solution and ending are very abrupt....more
Now the book itself: It's too short for the plot, too weak, the characters are quite plain, the villain too quickly and suddenly made out, without letting the reader think about who it might be - or not, the final solution and ending are very abrupt....more
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Cindy Spencer Pape has been, among other things, a banker, a teacher, and an elected politician, though she swears she got better. She volunteers in environmental education, when she can fit it in around writing. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two teenage sons, a dog, a lizard, and various other small creatures, all of which are easier to clean up after than the three male humans."
More about Cindy Spencer Pape...
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