Noble Metals (Metals, #1) in Riptide Publishing

Jan 27, 2012 Elisa Rolle added it · review of another edition

First of all, I was surprise to find out this was an historical romance, I don’t know but I was of the wrong impression it was more sci-fi/fantasy. In a way, there is a steampunk flavour on it, it’s not that the author pushed much on fantasy details, but I think she took some “liberties” to make the story more a romance than a historical novel. For example, John Fauth is a University professor and a scientist, and his machine to find noble metals seems a little too much futuristic to be true, bu First of all, I was surprise to find out this was an historical romance, I don’t know but I was of the wrong impression it was more sci-fi/fantasy. In a way, there is a steampunk flavour on it, it’s not that the author pushed much on fantasy details, but I think she took some “liberties” to make the story more a romance than a historical novel. For example, John Fauth is a University professor and a scientist, and his machine to find noble metals seems a little too much futuristic to be true, but I’m not so familiar with the various scientific discoveries and their time to be able to tell how much far from reality the author went. Another of such liberties is maybe the forced profession of Robert Belton, a male prostitute in a brothel in Seattle; while it’s true molly houses and similar places were already existing at the time, a saloon/slash brother in a frontier town like Seattle in 1898 I think was not a common place to find a male prostitute. Again the author made it believable, specifying Robert is a “necessary” evil thing, according to the owner of the brothel; but I wonder who would have been the courage at the time to enter such a place and openly ask for a man instead of a woman (since women were available); from Robert’s words, even if they were not the majority, and the women gained more money than him, he still had customers.

In any case, from my point of view, these were more positive than negative aspects, they made the story more “light” and easy to enjoy. That is probably the main thread of this story, it was quite romantic, sometime even sweet, despite the event that those men had sex without even knowing each other names, and it was more focused on them than on the adventure part of the plot. In the end, John’s target completely changed, and by the way, since the beginning, he was not the aloof professor someone could imagine, but more a man in love, basking in the warm given by the proximity with the object of that love.

Robert is a man who had to do what it had to be done, not for some teary story about little brothers or ailing parents, but simply since he lost all his money gambling and now he has to find a way to pay his ticket to Klondike and an hypothetical treasure (the gold). He doesn’t like what he is doing, but not for the sex per se, but more since he would like to be able to have it with someone he likes more than with strangers. When he meets John, it is a dream comes true, also since John seems to not be reticent to admit his preferences in bed companions, and he is quite good when he is into that be with someone else.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006TSNZUO/?... ...more

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Mar 22, 2014 Heather C rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, historical-romance, m-m, the-blogger-girls, cloud, novella, steampunk

I admit, I may have a slight addiction to Discovery Channel’s Gold Rush and Klondike, so when I saw this book I wanted to read it immediately. But then I discovered it was to be re-released by Riptide Publishing and expanded by over 10,000 words, so I had to wait.

Noble Metals is set in the late 1890s alternate history during the Klondike Gold Rush in Alaska, where men use mechs or airships to aid them in the treacherous journey to Dawson City.

After gambling all his money away, Robert Belton ...more

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Jul 09, 2014 Jody rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I can always count on Ms. Witt for a story that's unique with creative elements and this latest release continues that trend. With a setting that puts us amidst the freezing temperatures and danger of the Gold Rush, and adds in minor steampunk elements, readers easily get caught up in the action and romance between two very different men.

Robert and his brothers came to Seattle to get rich but too much sex and gambling left them destitute and Robert chose to become a prostitute to find a way to c I can always count on Ms. Witt for a story that's unique with creative elements and this latest release continues that trend. With a setting that puts us amidst the freezing temperatures and danger of the Gold Rush, and adds in minor steampunk elements, readers easily get caught up in the action and romance between two very different men.

Robert and his brothers came to Seattle to get rich but too much sex and gambling left them destitute and Robert chose to become a prostitute to find a way to continue his search for gold. His career choice seemed a bit implausible as I find it hard to believe men would acknowledge their preferences so vocally in that time and place but Robert is forthright in his choice and is a likable and loyal man who John ultimately comes to rely on. Their relationship may have started out as just sex but John soon gives him the chance to fulfill his dream of reaching the Klondike and it solidifies and strengthens their relationship.

John is a professor who has plans of searching for a metal far more valuable than gold, a metal that will change the future. He seems to be out of his element at first but his unexpectedly meeting Robert changes everything as it gives him a capable man to help him traverse the dangers of the mountains and someone truly loyal he can count on. Falling in love with him is also unexpected and as their journey becomes more dangerous their connection deepens.

This story is mostly written from Robert's perspective so I felt that I had a good understanding of who he is and I liked him. We learn about John though through his journal entries which dragged the story down a bit as I would've liked more action and less wordiness of the kind of man he is. The steampunk elements were on the light side which put this story more in the historical category. What steampunk elements there were though were intriguing and larger than life. The action sequences used these steampunk elements to great advantage which made for some fast-paced and pulse-pounding action. As villains try to get the device used to find this new precious metal Robert and John are in constant danger and they must rely on each other to reach the end. These secondary characters were nondescript though which disappointed me as I love discovering a hidden gem separate from the main characters. The romance was nicely done and their relationship allowed to grow organically as they fought danger coming from the elements and from various villains. There's not much steaminess though, not what I'm used to from other m/m reads, which was also disappointing as I love to get lots of bang for my buck. The ending is a bit rushed too but satisfying as things are tied up but still crafts thought-provoking ideas for the sequel. Ultimately this is another entertaining read from the talented Ms. Witt that will satisfy readers of many different genres and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

3.75 STARS! ...more

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