After Reading: HEARTLESS by Gail Carriger

Lady Alexia Maccon, soulless, is at it again, only this time the trouble is not her fault. When a mad ghost threatens the queen, Alexia is on the case, following a trail that leads her deep into her husband's past. Top that off with a sister who has joined the suffragette movement (shocking!), Madame Lefoux's latest mechanical invention, and a plague of zombie porcupines and Alexia barely has time to remember she happens to be eight months pregnant.

Will Alexia manage to determine who is trying to kill Queen Victoria before it is too late? Is it the vampires again or is there a traitor lurking about in wolf's clothing? And what, exactly, has taken up residence in Lord Akeldama's second best closet? (Goodreads)

Okay, I totally adore this series. It's so funny, and the world building is awesome, and the characters just warm my heart. BUT, can I just say that the cover on this one is atrocious? I can't put my finger on exactly what's wrong with it, but it makes me cringe just to look at it. Silly, yes, but true. Anyhow, the book itself was such a nice lighthearted romp (well, with ghosts and such, and attempted murder galore), that it was the perfect novel to snag when I finally had some time to sit down and enjoy a novel. Lots of fun and all kinds of adventures. Alexia's pregnancy was amusingly handled (though how she managed some of her feats at the end will have to be chalked up to a fantasy novel), but generally it was just a solidly good time and a much needed laugh or two. Carriger definitely knows how to pull off funny and amusing, but not over the top, and I must bow to that talent (I so wish I were able to be funny!). Another enjoyable addition to the series!