A Reflection of Shadows: A Sexy Second-Chance Historical Fantasy Romance

Anne Renwick

May 2019 · Elemental Web Tales: Historical Fantasy Romance Book 3 · Anne Renwick

About this ebook

Enjoy this story by historical fantasy romance author Anne Renwick where you'll unravel mysteries and defy conventions in a world where danger lurks around every corner. You’ll find forbidden romance, evil villains and mad science in these gaslamp and steampunk romances...

A thief with golden eyes. The spy who loves her. A mad scientist who will break hearts to expose her secrets.

Shunned for her odd eyes and an unnerving habit of slipping into shadows, Lady Colleen Stewart refuses to be caged—should she decide to marry, it’ll be for love and to a man of her choice. After all, she’d rather be racing over rooftops than waltzing across ballroom floors. So when the only man to ever tempt her heart invites her on a covert mission, she leaps into danger.

Nicholas Torrington, Queen’s agent, is running out of time. While work has him chasing his tail, his sister grows increasingly ill, and Colleen, the woman he would make his bride, has acquired another, determined suitor. To coax his favorite thief back into his arms, he’ll break every rule and lead her through the underbelly of London on a hunt for a mad scientist and a cure for his sister.

But the discovery of a burned-out laboratory provides more questions than answers, and they find themselves caught in a deadly game where they have become the prey. Surviving the ambitions of their pursuers will bring everything into sharp focus as they risk their very lives.

STEP INTO THE ELEMENTAL WEB!

A Reflection of Shadows is the third story in the Elemental Web Tales, although all books in the Elemental Web (Chronicles, Tales & Stories) can be read as standalones. For fans of steampunk and gaslamp fantasy romance like SL Prater, AJ Lancaster and Jacquelyn Benson, this is a STEAMY romance with a guaranteed happily ever after for women in STEM and the men who are their match.

Ratings and reviews

Delightful Steampunk, Full of Darkness and Light I have to admit that I have come to absolutely adore steampunk fiction! I've always enjoyed true historical fiction and historical romance, but I wasn't sure at first of steampunk as a sub-genre. But I find it to be incredibly fun. The heroines are usually very strong and smart, and the heroes typically are not intimidated by this or would want them any other way, even if Victorian society would have them be so. I love the quirky science elements that steampunk provides which are close to reality, but definitely not real; kind of like a world that could exist but isn’t true to life as it was. Luckily, this was a book that delivered on all that I love about steampunk. The heroine is a strong Scottish laird who won't actually gain control over her lands in Scotland until her 25th birthday. In the meantime, since her father's death, as she has become a bit of a sneak thief but works on this side of goodness and justice (mostly). For instance, her last case involved protecting a young woman from a man who was only after her sizable dowry. In the past, she has had a little flirtation with the hero, and they have even kissed, but nothing has gone further than that. She thought he might propose, but they were interrupted The heroine, as we see throughout the novel, is not sure about marriage, mostly because she has seen what it has done to women that she knows; they are subjugated by dominant men, leading to difficult lives in the shadows. She does not want that for herself. Can the hero make her believe that he would not be that sort of man and that they can truly have a loving partnership? But first, can they find the invention that could help save his sister's life? The book gets down and dirty at times because of the evil characters in the book and what they do, but the hero and heroine absolutely shine in this novel that is full of intrigue, deception, and perhaps, love. If you enjoy steampunk, you will most likely enjoy this book. I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

ONE GRIPPING WHIRLWIND!!! Holla hell! Anne hit the ground running, blazing forward on the wings of fire, riding through the winds of darkness with a vengeance, blowing this baby into the eye of the storm, bursting it into a tailspin with a shocking culmination. A churning throng, chocked full of vexing circumstances and daunting events, exposing those swirling emotions running rampant, thrusting them into play front and center. Action packed, hard hitting, heart pounding, pulse racing, nailbiting, mind-blowing, chart topping bombshell, revving it up and blasting this little fella to life brilliantly. Add distress, turmoil and perplexing situations along with a boatload of dark dastardly deeds, you have one thrilling rollercoaster ride. Bridging the trials and tribulations, along with a slew of shocking twists and unexpected turns, tempting our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. The characters are complex and realistic with qualities and traits that transform into out

A Reflection of Shadows can be described as a combination of steampunk, mystery, romance, and a spy novel. Lady Colleen Stewart is a thief with golden eyes and Laird of Craigieburn Castle in Scotland; Nicholas Torrington is a handsome Queen's Agent whose sister is gravely ill. These two characters have a history of crossing paths in their respective worlds and have a bit of an attraction towards each other. Their worlds collide in an unexpected way as they work together to chase down a deranged scientist who has been doing horrific experiments on animals that may, ironically, provide insights into a cure for Nicholas's sister. In order to make their story stick, they play the role of an engaged couple. Question is, can they keep this ruse up while their lives are put in danger? As the story builds to a climax, the two finds themselves literally fighting for their lives as they become victims to the madness that is the deranged scientist. A jealous suitor who wants Lady Stewart's inheritance doesn't help matters either. Can Colleen and Nicholas overcome these challenges and help Nicholas's sister? Ms. Renwick pulls in her trademark elements of science which is my favorite part of her writing style. She's so imaginative and it's apparent to me that she does her research before diving in. I didn't feel like this one flowed as smoothly as the other installments in the series. At times, I felt like there was too much additional detail for minor aspects of the book. Regardless, this was a good story and is recommended for fans of Ms. Renwick and steampunk romance fans.

About the author

ANNE RENWICK holds a Ph.D. in biology and greatly enjoyed tormenting the overburdened undergraduates who were her students, fiction has always been her first love. Today, she writes steampunk romance, placing a new kind of biotech in the hands of mad scientists, proper young ladies and determined villains.

Anne brings an unusual perspective to steampunk. A number of years spent locked inside the bowels of a biological research facility left her permanently altered. In her steampunk world, the Victorian fascination with all things anatomical led to a number of alarming biotechnological advances. Ones that the enemies of Britain would dearly love to possess.