A Clockwork Heart

A Solid Sequel with Stronger Character Development

Goodreads Blurb:
"FOR BETTER OR CURSE. That might as well have been the wedding vow of Elle Chance and her new husband, the ex-Warlock Hugh Marsh in the second book of this edgy new series that transforms elements of urban fantasy, historical adventure, and paranormal romance into storytelling magic.

As Elle devotes herself to her duties as the Oracle—who alone has the power to keep the dark designs of Shadow at bay—Marsh finds himself missing the excitement of his former life as a Warlock. So when Commissioner Willoughby of the London Metropolitan police seeks his help in solving a magical mystery, Marsh is only too happy to oblige. But in doing so, Marsh loses his heart . . . literally.

In place of the flesh-and-blood organ is a clockwork device—a device that makes Marsh a kind of zombie. Nor is he the only one. A plague of clockwork zombies is afflicting London, sowing panic and whispers of revolution. Now Elle must join forces with her husband’s old friend, the Nightwalker Loisa Beladodia, to track down Marsh’s heart and restore it to his chest before time runs out."

A solid sequel, this book has more of an emotional component to it than the first book. Of course, the characters are more solidly developed, so relationships, friendships, and such all combine to enhance the emotional aspect of the story.

Unlike the first book Elle is learning to stand on her own in this book. In part because of an error in judgement, and in part because she is forced to. Without her beloved Hugh to guard her and shepherd her through the intricacies of the Shadow, Elle must make her own way. In doing so she makes easily as many errors as she gets things right. Luckily, she has the help, love, and support of an amazing group of people, some fairies, and one ancient Nightwalker.

Old enemies return to plague her as well, but Elle is unaware of their involvement. In fact, she is blissfully unaware of them at all. However her nemesis in this book is formidable, and even should Elle prevail, she's bound to feel the lingering effects of tangling with the most powerful La Dame Blanche the world has ever known. But the real question isn't if she'll prevail, but if she'll get to have her happily ever after continue on, or will she lose it to her role as the Oracle?

Numerous twists and turns fill this book just like the first, but the largest by far come all in one swift period of intense action and drama. Many strange things happen, among them being the number of strange romances springing up around Elle as she struggles to rescue to husband in time.

A few new characters are introduced who seem as if they're going to be sticking around, certainly to show up in the next book if only for brief moments. But more than likely they will be playing larger roles in the third book in this entertaining series.