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Clockwork Gold
There’s a conspiracy in the Goldfields of Western Australia, and the money men of London don’t like it. Dirigible pilot Rebecca Jones likes it even less. She has a messenger service to run, justice to pursue in a lawless land, and she can do without Special Agent to the Crown, Nathan Burton, hijacking her dirigible—and her heart—and disrupting her carefully laid plans. The result is adventure, romance and explosions.
A Steampunk novella.
A Steampunk novella.
Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2014
93 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Schwartz
110 books569 followersAustralian science fiction and fantasy author.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 23, 2023
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
Another will written British 🏰 romantic mystery family and friends relationships adventure thriller short story by Jenny Schwartz. Rachel runs a dirigible mail and supply route across the gold fields of Australasia. There are rumors that she is a spy. Nathan has come back to the area after travelling all around the empire. He works with Rachel breaking up the spy ring. I would recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers of romantic relationships mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa read books 📚. 2023 👒😀😡💘
Great novella. Happy reading and have fun 🌙😀
Another will written British 🏰 romantic mystery family and friends relationships adventure thriller short story by Jenny Schwartz. Rachel runs a dirigible mail and supply route across the gold fields of Australasia. There are rumors that she is a spy. Nathan has come back to the area after travelling all around the empire. He works with Rachel breaking up the spy ring. I would recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers of romantic relationships mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa read books 📚. 2023 👒😀😡💘
Great novella. Happy reading and have fun 🌙😀
July 14, 2023
I finally realized that I'm not going to finish this one. I couldn't bring myself to care about the two characters. Their issues are stubbornness and a lack of clear communication, seasoned with no small amount of immaturity. I was disappointed, as the other books I've read by Jenny Schwartz have been entertaining if a bit predictable. Oh well - you can't win them all!
December 3, 2014
Clockwork Gold is a fun-filled romantic steampunk novella set in the wild Western Australian Goldfields.
Clever and inventive, Rebecca Jones is fiercely independent and self-reliant. Rebecca, or Becky, is a dirigible pilot, running a messenger service to minors and prospectors isolated in the harsh, lawless Outback. She has gained the trust of the mining community and remains loyal, with a strong moral compass. The Blue Wren, Becky's most prized creation, is one of the most trusted airships of the Goldfields. Rebeccas's loyalty has earned her access to fly in areas where other dirigibles would be fired upon.
Why, then, is Rebecca under suspicion for espionage? Is she being framed by a corrupt justice? Has Rebecca made powerful enemies who mean her harm? Are other pilots schemeing to take control of her unique service? Could Rebecca really be guilty of these accusations? What IS Becky up to? Nathan Burton, Special Agent to the Crown, intends to get the answers to all of the questions he has about the alluring, intriguing Rebecca Jones.
Clever and inventive, Rebecca Jones is fiercely independent and self-reliant. Rebecca, or Becky, is a dirigible pilot, running a messenger service to minors and prospectors isolated in the harsh, lawless Outback. She has gained the trust of the mining community and remains loyal, with a strong moral compass. The Blue Wren, Becky's most prized creation, is one of the most trusted airships of the Goldfields. Rebeccas's loyalty has earned her access to fly in areas where other dirigibles would be fired upon.
Why, then, is Rebecca under suspicion for espionage? Is she being framed by a corrupt justice? Has Rebecca made powerful enemies who mean her harm? Are other pilots schemeing to take control of her unique service? Could Rebecca really be guilty of these accusations? What IS Becky up to? Nathan Burton, Special Agent to the Crown, intends to get the answers to all of the questions he has about the alluring, intriguing Rebecca Jones.
May 31, 2016
Short, romance set in a steam punk universe. Just enough steam punk to not get catalogued as a romance, in my opinion.
The story was short and the plot was weak. A lot of things seemed to happen too quickly and with little motivation. A lot more could have been done to set things up without boring the reader at all. It almost seemed like a readers digest version of a full book, edited down to just the highlights.
The characters were likeable but changed too rapidly with little motivation. Again, this version seemed to have more to do with the romance than the 'mystery' steam punk elements.
Don't be too down on the book though. It was interesting and fun to read. It's the first in a series and I've heard good things about the rest of the series. For all I know, it was edited down as it was free and part of a collection of first books in a series.
If you're looking for a quick steam punk read, light and not too dark, this may be for you. Take a chance and tell me what you think.
The story was short and the plot was weak. A lot of things seemed to happen too quickly and with little motivation. A lot more could have been done to set things up without boring the reader at all. It almost seemed like a readers digest version of a full book, edited down to just the highlights.
The characters were likeable but changed too rapidly with little motivation. Again, this version seemed to have more to do with the romance than the 'mystery' steam punk elements.
Don't be too down on the book though. It was interesting and fun to read. It's the first in a series and I've heard good things about the rest of the series. For all I know, it was edited down as it was free and part of a collection of first books in a series.
If you're looking for a quick steam punk read, light and not too dark, this may be for you. Take a chance and tell me what you think.
November 14, 2016
Cute and decent for a novella. Plot was interesting, if abbreviated. Romance was a bit creepy, foster brother-sister. I could read a lot more of this world-building - steampunk dirigibles in frontier Western Australia. I look forward to reading this authors longer works.
August 30, 2024
Cute As A Bug’s Ear
I love steampunk! I love the juxtaposition of technology with the mores of a previous era.
Rebecca Jones is a dirigible pilot and an inventor. She is constantly designing and refining her ideas, because Australia in the age of empire was sometimes very rough and ready. And if men happened upon unaccompanied women, sometimes the unimaginable resulted. So, Becky has a plan to take down the worst offender, Sargent Poole, the local head of the constabulary.
Nathan Burton works for the crown, dealing with many international interests, on behalf of the British government. He has come back to Australia for Becky, because someone is accusing her of espionage. Not his Becky, no sir.
So, Nathan has decided to follow Becky’s route, and see what he can gather. They work well together. Dealing with corruption and selling corporate secrets seems to be the work of two different groups. But it will take invention and judgment to gather all the evidence.
Crackin’ good yarn!
I love steampunk! I love the juxtaposition of technology with the mores of a previous era.
Rebecca Jones is a dirigible pilot and an inventor. She is constantly designing and refining her ideas, because Australia in the age of empire was sometimes very rough and ready. And if men happened upon unaccompanied women, sometimes the unimaginable resulted. So, Becky has a plan to take down the worst offender, Sargent Poole, the local head of the constabulary.
Nathan Burton works for the crown, dealing with many international interests, on behalf of the British government. He has come back to Australia for Becky, because someone is accusing her of espionage. Not his Becky, no sir.
So, Nathan has decided to follow Becky’s route, and see what he can gather. They work well together. Dealing with corruption and selling corporate secrets seems to be the work of two different groups. But it will take invention and judgment to gather all the evidence.
Crackin’ good yarn!
September 6, 2021
Really liked it!
I don’t read romances - virtually ever, but since this was a novella by one of my favorite authors, I decided to dive in.
I wasn’t surprised that it was well written (after all it’s a Jenny Schwartz!), but I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed it!
One of Ms. Schwartz’s strengths is in how well she develops and writes her characters… and the characters in this novella are just as sympathetic and interesting to read about as are the characters from anything else she’s written. (Great title, too!)
I don’t read romances - virtually ever, but since this was a novella by one of my favorite authors, I decided to dive in.
I wasn’t surprised that it was well written (after all it’s a Jenny Schwartz!), but I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed it!
One of Ms. Schwartz’s strengths is in how well she develops and writes her characters… and the characters in this novella are just as sympathetic and interesting to read about as are the characters from anything else she’s written. (Great title, too!)
August 19, 2024
This is a good fun novella, set in Victorian Australia for a change. Dirigibles are a good way to cross the open country, and with gold mining prospering, many people live scattered through the bush. Our heroine pilots her dirigible to contact and connect miners, families and towns.
We get a suspenseful story and a somewhat rushed romance, all suitable for family reading.
Enjoy.
I was sent an e-ARC for a review in my own time. This is an unbiased review.
We get a suspenseful story and a somewhat rushed romance, all suitable for family reading.
Enjoy.
I was sent an e-ARC for a review in my own time. This is an unbiased review.
December 30, 2023
3 stars. This book is firmly in the “meh” category. Becky is on a mission to capture and provide proof of a man who assaults women. But her long lost step brother, Nathan, (both Becky & Nathan were adopted) decides to return home and join her in her airship. Becky wants to ditch him, Nathan wants to protect her from an unknown threat. Hijinx ensue.
October 26, 2021
Quick enjoyable read
Australian steampunk. Well written as always. Nothing really surprising in the story, and the technical aspects don’t require a lot of suspension of disbelief. Overall a fun read.
Australian steampunk. Well written as always. Nothing really surprising in the story, and the technical aspects don’t require a lot of suspension of disbelief. Overall a fun read.
January 22, 2023
Super cute!
Who doesn't love a sassy strong woman and a suave hero. I loved the interesting take of the steampunk old west in Australia. That was super fun. I just wish the story was a little longer.
Who doesn't love a sassy strong woman and a suave hero. I loved the interesting take of the steampunk old west in Australia. That was super fun. I just wish the story was a little longer.
October 9, 2023
the setting makes up for other flaws
Very typical romance, annoyingly predictable in many ways. That said the setting, Australia during the gold rush with innovative steampunk technology, carries the story and leaves this reader wishing for more.
Very typical romance, annoyingly predictable in many ways. That said the setting, Australia during the gold rush with innovative steampunk technology, carries the story and leaves this reader wishing for more.
June 7, 2023
3.5
An interesting tale and certainly a quick read. However it was so short it was hard to grow close to any of the characters.
An interesting tale and certainly a quick read. However it was so short it was hard to grow close to any of the characters.
April 14, 2020
Racconto vagamente steampunk (c'è solo una nave volante) ambientato in Australia, scene d'azione e una trama con un mistero che però servono a nascondere una storia d'amore. Carino, niente di più.
December 7, 2014
Clockwork Gold by Jenny Schwartz is a romance novella set in a stempunk gold rush Western Australia. I think it's set in the same universe as her other WA steampunk books (Wanted: One Scoundrel and Courting Trouble), but the characters and plot are completely unrelated.
Being a novella it's a fairly brief story with a reasonable plot centred on various shenanigans happening in the gold fields. There's a conspiracy that Nathan is investigating — which leads him to impose upon Rebecca for a dirigible lift — and there's Rebecca's personal vendetta to punish a corrupt and generally terrible policeman. On the latter front it deals with some heavy issues, but with a comforting happy ending.
I've said before that I'm not a huge fan of capital-R-omance, so it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that I was less enamoured with the romantic plot than I was with the steampunk elements. (What romance could trump mechanical echidnas designed to protect chickens from foxes?) I didn't particularly buy the premise — estranged-ish foster siblings — but I suspect others will feel differently.
Clockwork Gold was a quick fun read. I recommend it to fans of steampunk and romance. In particular, I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoyed Schwartz's other books. This might not have been my favourite steampunk read ever, but I will be checking out her other new steampunk novella.
3.5 / 5 stars
Read more reviews on my blog.
Being a novella it's a fairly brief story with a reasonable plot centred on various shenanigans happening in the gold fields. There's a conspiracy that Nathan is investigating — which leads him to impose upon Rebecca for a dirigible lift — and there's Rebecca's personal vendetta to punish a corrupt and generally terrible policeman. On the latter front it deals with some heavy issues, but with a comforting happy ending.
I've said before that I'm not a huge fan of capital-R-omance, so it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that I was less enamoured with the romantic plot than I was with the steampunk elements. (What romance could trump mechanical echidnas designed to protect chickens from foxes?) I didn't particularly buy the premise — estranged-ish foster siblings — but I suspect others will feel differently.
Clockwork Gold was a quick fun read. I recommend it to fans of steampunk and romance. In particular, I would definitely recommend it to readers who enjoyed Schwartz's other books. This might not have been my favourite steampunk read ever, but I will be checking out her other new steampunk novella.
3.5 / 5 stars
Read more reviews on my blog.
September 12, 2016
I received a copy of this book for an honest review. The title indicates that this story setting will be one of steampunk. The fact that the heroine, Rebecca James, owns a dirigible alludes to this as well. The story has few elements of this genre. I was disappointed. The story does have potential. Rebecca is trying to get proof that a cop was involved in the death of one of her friends. The hero, Nathan, is her foster brother and works for the Crown. I would like to learn more about these two in this setting, perhaps some of Nathan's past can show up.
January 29, 2015
What a combination - my home town (and the inland gold mines), steampunk, spies, all mixed up with a bit of romance? Oh, and don't forget the clockwork echidnas. Now I really want one of those.
This is a light read, with enough suspense and romance to happily while away an afternoon. Though it does make me wonder if Western Australia's history might've played out very differently if dirigibles were the order of the day before the twentieth century...
Five stars.
This is a light read, with enough suspense and romance to happily while away an afternoon. Though it does make me wonder if Western Australia's history might've played out very differently if dirigibles were the order of the day before the twentieth century...
Five stars.
January 26, 2015
Unique setting: a steampunk version of Western Australia during the Goldrush. Well-described. The heroine, Becky, is a plucky engineer/inventor/pilot of her own dirigible and the hero Nathan is an agent of the British Crown.
Quibble: the barriers to the romance were dealt with two swiftly for my tastes (one of the perils the novella) leaving the only tension in the spy plot.
Quibble: the barriers to the romance were dealt with two swiftly for my tastes (one of the perils the novella) leaving the only tension in the spy plot.
December 21, 2015
Recommend steampunk and romance adventure.
Thank you Jenny Schwartz for a great Aussie steampunk and romance adventure. Recommend to anyone looking for both. Thanks again.
Thank you Jenny Schwartz for a great Aussie steampunk and romance adventure. Recommend to anyone looking for both. Thanks again.
August 22, 2016
A fun read
I enjoyed this quick fun read. I'm a steampunk fan and the light steampunk with some light romance made for a good read. I'd love to see more from these characters.
I enjoyed this quick fun read. I'm a steampunk fan and the light steampunk with some light romance made for a good read. I'd love to see more from these characters.
September 9, 2016
Interesting characters and an intriguing set up which ended up being quite simply resolved albeit in a rather over the top manner. I'd try more from this author though.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews