Cross Checking: A Buffalo Steampunk Adventure

Buffalo Steampunk #7

by Laura Strickland

When Maddie MacGillicuddy loses her job, she's desperate to find another. Though good jobs are available at the stables, only men are hired. A big, strapping girl, she becomes Matty in her brother's clothing. Complications arise when a city magnate, assembling a tournament hockey team, admires Matty's skating skills and recruits "him," with real money and the city's reputation on the line. Huritt Gilbert is used to battling his way through life. At the stables, he routinely endures racial slurs, sometimes striking back. He's never met a woman like Maddie and would do anything for her, including accept the dangerous position of goalie for her team. But when competition heats up, loyalties get twisted. Will Gilbert and Maddie play for glory, or love?

298 pages, Paperback

Published March 11, 2020

About the author

Born and raised in Western New York, Laura Strickland has pursued lifelong interests in lore, legend, magic and music, all reflected in her writing. She has made pilgrimages to both Newfoundland and Scotland in the company of her daughter, but is usually happiest at home not far from Lake Ontario, with her husband and her "fur" child, a rescue dog. Author of Scottish romances Devil Black, His Wicked Highland Ways, Honor Bound: A Highland Adventure and The Hiring Fair as well as The Guardians of Sherwood Trilogy consisting of Daughter of Sherwood, Champion of Sherwood and Lord of Sherwood, she has also published three Steampunk romances, Dead Handsome: a Buffalo Steampunk Adventure, Off Kilter: a Buffalo Steampunk Adventure and Sheer Madness: a Buffalo Steampunk Adventure as well as two Christmas novellas: The Tenth Suitor and Mrs. Claus and the Viking Ship, and a Valentine’s novella: Ask me. Her Lobster Cove Historical Romances include The White Gull and the novella, Forged By Love, which won first place in the International Digital Awards. Her latest release, Awake on Garland Street, is her sixteenth book with The Wild Rose press.

Reviews

[N.N. Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book that has an original place in the steampunk genre. There is just a bit of a wry smile that comes when you realize some of the steam engines that are alive are a bit punk like so there is a steam punk aspect to them.


The author cannot be lauded enough for the first-rate job of accurately portraying hockey in the late 19th century. That game was barely the bones of the game currently being played but its character gives a lot of opportunity for artistic and author license. The intense violence of the game, the marauding fans, the backers who will lie/cheat/steal for a win. This type of hockey makes the movie Slapshot look like a tea party.


The character Maddie is a brilliant creation and is given a storyline that is as rich in drama and conflict as it is in romance and family responsibility. Very readable, this book keeps a reader on edge. I actually dreamed about the book over and over just last night before I finished it today. This book will stick with a reader.


Excellent for fans of the steampunk genre, good for fans of robotics, sci fi, hockey and accurate historical fiction.


My Rating: 5 stars


Reviewed by: Mr. N


This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of Laura Strickland's books I've read, and also the first steam-punk book I've read, and am so happy to have discovered her. This story was lots of fun to read, the heroine was unique, and the plot unusual. I enjoyed it all the way through. I loved that the main character, Maddie, resorts to dressing like a man to earn a living, and also the "steamies" that populate the book. All in all, this is a book I highly recommend, and I'll look forward to reading more of Ms. Strickland's work.