Nefertiti's Heart by Anita Exley
Published: February 14, 2013Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.
London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father - sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.
Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.
Self-preservation fuels Cara's search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.
This is a great introduction to the steampunk genre if you haven't read any yet. The one thing I will say is that it is geared towards adults due to the content.
I loved that it had steampunk technology, Egyptian mythology, romance and action all mixed into one. The main character is strong and resilient. Cara Devon has faced quite a lot of trauma and abuse in her past, but she is a survivor. During a time when she should have been debuting with her fellow debutantes, she was being given over as payment for gambling debts her father owed. The abuse and horrifying experiences of her past still haunt her, but have made her a stronger woman who doesn't take crap from anyone. It also makes her shield her emotions and not let her heart be open to love.
Viscount Lyons happens to be a sexy, cunning and persistent admirer, though Cara is determined he is after her fathers antiquities and not her assets. Their relationship is beautifully written, with just the right amount of give and take. Nate pushes her beyond her own boundaries and Cara is as stubborn as ever, but somehow it all works.
Cara has one heck of a time figuring out who to trust, how to find the hidden treasures her father left behind, how to control her new found emotions and trying to keep herself safe.
Between the budding romance, the mystery of finding the serial killer at large and learning the history of these artifacts, you will be on quite a journey with Cara.
I loved that it had steampunk technology, Egyptian mythology, romance and action all mixed into one. The main character is strong and resilient. Cara Devon has faced quite a lot of trauma and abuse in her past, but she is a survivor. During a time when she should have been debuting with her fellow debutantes, she was being given over as payment for gambling debts her father owed. The abuse and horrifying experiences of her past still haunt her, but have made her a stronger woman who doesn't take crap from anyone. It also makes her shield her emotions and not let her heart be open to love.
Viscount Lyons happens to be a sexy, cunning and persistent admirer, though Cara is determined he is after her fathers antiquities and not her assets. Their relationship is beautifully written, with just the right amount of give and take. Nate pushes her beyond her own boundaries and Cara is as stubborn as ever, but somehow it all works.
"She didn't have butterflies in her stomach, she had unicorns. They ran in circles and charged her insides with their horns, gouging her as they rampaged." (On her reaction to Lord Lyons).
Cara has one heck of a time figuring out who to trust, how to find the hidden treasures her father left behind, how to control her new found emotions and trying to keep herself safe.
Between the budding romance, the mystery of finding the serial killer at large and learning the history of these artifacts, you will be on quite a journey with Cara.
About the Author:
Books and writing have always been an
enormous part of my life. I survived school by hiding out in the
library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At
university, I overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing
in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.
Today,
I write steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. I live
in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful
equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.
Sounds really, really good. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt really was a great story.
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