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The Electrical Affairs of Dr. Victor Franklin
Sometimes all love needs is a spark.
Victor Franklin has two goals in life: finishing his mechanical man and hiding his feelings for his erstwhile—and sadly married—scientific collaborator, Mary Clay. After Victor inadvertently slights Mary, she shocks him by demanding a place in his laboratory. The charged atmosphere creates new opportunities for the Mecha-Man project, but every second spent with Mary tightens her hold on Victor’s heart.
Forced from her family’s copperworks by her odious, perpetually absent husband, Mary takes solace in her scientific pursuits and the kindness of friends. But days working alongside handsome, charming Victor ignite sensual feelings she dares not succumb to. Worse yet, Mr. Clay’s abrupt reappearance in her life threatens everything she holds dear.
When a murder at the copperworks makes Mecha-Man a suspect, it endangers Mary and Victor’s work, their reputations, and even their lives. As they hide from prying eyes, the crackling tension between them builds to an electric passion and the dream of a future together. Can they prove their innocence, evade the killer, and conquer old fears to bring their dream to life?
Victor Franklin has two goals in life: finishing his mechanical man and hiding his feelings for his erstwhile—and sadly married—scientific collaborator, Mary Clay. After Victor inadvertently slights Mary, she shocks him by demanding a place in his laboratory. The charged atmosphere creates new opportunities for the Mecha-Man project, but every second spent with Mary tightens her hold on Victor’s heart.
Forced from her family’s copperworks by her odious, perpetually absent husband, Mary takes solace in her scientific pursuits and the kindness of friends. But days working alongside handsome, charming Victor ignite sensual feelings she dares not succumb to. Worse yet, Mr. Clay’s abrupt reappearance in her life threatens everything she holds dear.
When a murder at the copperworks makes Mecha-Man a suspect, it endangers Mary and Victor’s work, their reputations, and even their lives. As they hide from prying eyes, the crackling tension between them builds to an electric passion and the dream of a future together. Can they prove their innocence, evade the killer, and conquer old fears to bring their dream to life?
346 pages, Paperback
Published May 26, 2023
15 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Stein
28 books169 followersAward-winning author Catherine Stein believes that everyone deserves love and that Happily Ever After has the power to help, to heal, and to comfort. She writes sassy, sexy romance set during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Her books are full of action, adventure, magic, and fantastic technologies.
Catherine lives in Michigan with her husband and three rambunctious kids. She loves steampunk and Oxford commas, and can often be found dressed in Renaissance Festival clothing, drinking copious amounts of tea.
Catherine lives in Michigan with her husband and three rambunctious kids. She loves steampunk and Oxford commas, and can often be found dressed in Renaissance Festival clothing, drinking copious amounts of tea.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 26, 2023
Dr. Victor Franklin has two passions, perfecting his mechanical man and his colleague, Mrs. Mary Clay. Both are proving difficult. When he fails to give Mary the scientific credit she deserves, on a joint venture, it looks like their days of working together are over. But when she looses her own laboratory space, Mary decides Victor owes her the use of his. They come to an agreement to work separately, but over time find themselves working together on the mechanical man and solving the murder of her husband. I enjoyed how Victor understands Mary and gives her his support and the space to figure out what she wants. Sweet and hot. 4-1/2 stars
May 22, 2023
This is the second book in Stein's Mad Scientists Society series, spicy romance retellings of early sci-fi classics. This one, as you can tell from the title, is a riff on Frankenstein. I call it a "riff" because it's really not a retelling - it's a fun book that references the original just a little bit. Victor and Mary are both inventors: Victor is focused on creating a mechanical man, while Mary is more focused on coming up with a cooling system.
When the book opens, not only has Victor been a bit of an ass, Mary is also married to someone else. Not to worry, though: soon, Victor realizes the error of his ways and decides to make amends, and Mary's husband is out of the picture for ~reasons~. (Spoiler alert: Victor and Mary end up together, surprise!)
Along the way, they foil a few plots, make some good friends, and move into an underground bunker with a ribcage shower (look it up because when I say there's a shower scene in the ribcage shower you might be intrigued 👀 ). Also the "kids in the epilogue" was WAY funnier than it had a right to be.
Honestly, we're just having a ton of fun with these pulpy steampunk romances!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
When the book opens, not only has Victor been a bit of an ass, Mary is also married to someone else. Not to worry, though: soon, Victor realizes the error of his ways and decides to make amends, and Mary's husband is out of the picture for ~reasons~. (Spoiler alert: Victor and Mary end up together, surprise!)
Along the way, they foil a few plots, make some good friends, and move into an underground bunker with a ribcage shower (look it up because when I say there's a shower scene in the ribcage shower you might be intrigued 👀 ). Also the "kids in the epilogue" was WAY funnier than it had a right to be.
Honestly, we're just having a ton of fun with these pulpy steampunk romances!
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
May 10, 2023
Catherine Stein's newest romance is inventive and fresh. I thoroughly enjoyed The Electrical Affairs of Dr. Victor Franklin. A delightful mashup of Frankenstein lore, a steampunk vibe and familiar characters from other classic stories, this was so much fun to read. The two main characters, Mary and Victor, are absolutely adorable together...but they know how to steam up the pages too! Dastardly affairs are afoot when we learn that Mary's villainous husband has basically taken over her family's company, using it in a smuggling operation. It's up to Mary and Victor to find out who the smugglers are and to foil their evil plans. Throw in a mechanical man, some high-speed chases and an underground bunker, and you've got a romance full of adventure.
June 24, 2023
Super fun!! Mary and Victor are delightful and lovely and wonderful. There’s a fun mystery and tons of little Easter eggs for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein!
June 3, 2023
Beautifully crafted story with loveable, quirky protagonists, a cute lovestory and a plot that kept me on my toes from beginning to end. I especially adore mechanical man!
July 2, 2023
I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews