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Heart of Gold
The proper Miss Lavinia Greene believes nothing will upset her carefully ordered existence…although she rather wishes it would. But when she receives a letter from her uncle, the eccentric inventor Malcolm Greene, she finds herself drawn into mayhem and murder as foreign agents attempt to seize his latest invention.
Whether in the wilds of Romania or the elegant ballrooms of a London just slightly different from our own, Lavinia must find her way through a shifting web of loyalties and deceit, where nothing is quite as it seems and danger…and love…hides where she least expects it.
Whether in the wilds of Romania or the elegant ballrooms of a London just slightly different from our own, Lavinia must find her way through a shifting web of loyalties and deceit, where nothing is quite as it seems and danger…and love…hides where she least expects it.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2012
9 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Christine Pope
217 books1,096 followersA native of Southern California, Christine Pope has been writing stories ever since she commandeered her family’s Smith-Corona typewriter back in the sixth grade. Many reams of dead trees later, she’s happy to announce that her debut novel, Fringe Benefits,was published by Pink Petal Books on April 8, 2010. Her short fiction has appeared in Astonishing Adventures, Luna Station Quarterly, and the new journal of dark fiction, Dark Valentine. Her paranormal novella, Playing With Fire, was released on August 5, 2010.
While Fringe Benefits is a straight contemporary romance, she writes in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical romance. She blames this on being easily distracted by bright, shiny objects, which could also account for the size of her shoe collection.
After spending many years in the magazine publishing industry, she now works as a freelance editor in addition to writing fiction. She lives with her husband and an explosively fluffy Pomeranian mix. Her house is pink, but don’t hold that against her.
While Fringe Benefits is a straight contemporary romance, she writes in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical romance. She blames this on being easily distracted by bright, shiny objects, which could also account for the size of her shoe collection.
After spending many years in the magazine publishing industry, she now works as a freelance editor in addition to writing fiction. She lives with her husband and an explosively fluffy Pomeranian mix. Her house is pink, but don’t hold that against her.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 22, 2019
Miss Pope wove an intriguing tale of murder, mystery, and a love that seemed lost to Luvinia until the night of her forced marriage to Lord Langdon when Joshua appeared from what she had thought dead and rescued her. What a way to end a most absorbing tale
If you have never read any of this authors stories, a pity, for she never disappoints.
If you have never read any of this authors stories, a pity, for she never disappoints.
May 19, 2018
If adventure has a name, it's Lavinia Greene. This book was so much fun. It reminded me of those classic books we all read by Victoria Holt--plucky women doing daring things and finding love in the process. With airships!
March 1, 2020
This started really well, a nice steampunk adventure. Except ... then it turned out that this was basically a romance novel. The heroine got more annoyingly useless (which might be realistic but I'm not reading a steampunk novel for the realism) and the plot ground to a halt (I know technically the romance is the plot but, ugh, no) and ... I read to the end hoping it would get better but no. Bah. (I think the twist (???) at the end actually somehow made everything somewhat dumber.) :(
July 17, 2018
Light and fun escape!
June 5, 2016
Actual rating: 3.75 stars.
Before I get started, I'll admit that I'm not all that versed in all things steampunk. My knowledge is rudimentary at best, so I might not have any idea what I'm talking about here. In my opinion, the steampunk elements of this book were handled quite nicely. There were airships and other things I won't mention due to them being spoilers, but they were very worked very seamlessly into the plot, and didn't feel like they were only inserted in order to label the book 'steampunk'. (Unlike the only other book I read that was labeled 'steampunk'.)
I liked the fact that despite this being an alternate universe Victorian London, the social mores of the time were still observed.
Characterization was fine, the action was tight, and the explanations of the technical aspects of the book were easy to understand.
My one problem was that then ending was a bit too abrupt and things were resolved a bit too quickly. That's what kept the book from being a full four stars for me. But other than that, I thought it was a great story, thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Before I get started, I'll admit that I'm not all that versed in all things steampunk. My knowledge is rudimentary at best, so I might not have any idea what I'm talking about here. In my opinion, the steampunk elements of this book were handled quite nicely. There were airships and other things I won't mention due to them being spoilers, but they were very worked very seamlessly into the plot, and didn't feel like they were only inserted in order to label the book 'steampunk'. (Unlike the only other book I read that was labeled 'steampunk'.)
I liked the fact that despite this being an alternate universe Victorian London, the social mores of the time were still observed.
Characterization was fine, the action was tight, and the explanations of the technical aspects of the book were easy to understand.
My one problem was that then ending was a bit too abrupt and things were resolved a bit too quickly. That's what kept the book from being a full four stars for me. But other than that, I thought it was a great story, thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
September 13, 2012
This wasn't a bad book really. The characters were relatively engaging and the societal setting was done fairly well. The problem lies mostly with the ending. It felt rushed, predictable and anti-climactic. It left too many questions unanswered and read like the author felt everything had been adequately explained. It's a shame because so much time was dedicated to outlying details and descriptions. The ending seemed like an afterthought.
The book could have benefitted from another editing pass for sure. If length was an issue, I would rather lose some of the introspective or shopping scenes or the stuff at the races and had a more thorough ending. Since I got this for free I suppose I shouldn't complain too much, but still. The book has potential to be really good, but the anticlimactic ending killed it. A lot more attention should have been paid to the spin on the Frankenstein aspect. Oh well. On to the next.
The book could have benefitted from another editing pass for sure. If length was an issue, I would rather lose some of the introspective or shopping scenes or the stuff at the races and had a more thorough ending. Since I got this for free I suppose I shouldn't complain too much, but still. The book has potential to be really good, but the anticlimactic ending killed it. A lot more attention should have been paid to the spin on the Frankenstein aspect. Oh well. On to the next.
May 18, 2012
I think I probably would have given this 5 stars if it wasn't for one plot device, which I'm hiding behind a spoiler, and believe me, it's a pretty big spoiler. Otherwise, the plot was more or less tight and the characters were enjoyable - it was a good, quick read.
September 25, 2015
Too much dancing too little plot development.
The regency style filler was a tedious detour from the unfulfilled plot possibilities. Too little development of Joshua and the technology and fantasy elements.
The regency style filler was a tedious detour from the unfulfilled plot possibilities. Too little development of Joshua and the technology and fantasy elements.
May 9, 2012
I wasn't impressed. The story started out fine, but I found it becoming predictable and a bit boring. And very much like a gothic novel. It's ok--I don't plan to read it again, but I did finish it.
March 16, 2018
Romantic suspense based in England in the 1880s. Lots of action, hints of mores of the time, and a big twist ending. Addicting. I had to keep reading.
July 8, 2018
In general, I liked the story. It was light on the steampunk and light on the sci-fi, but felt very Victorian. Honestly, I would have loved a little bit MORE steampunk and science, but if you're looking for an adventure romance set in a slightly altered Victorian era, this isn't a bad place to look.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews