4.5 stars
Advance copy provided by NetGalley

Adored this, blew through it quickly and now a little sad it’s over. I was very glad to spot the couple I think will be the focus of the next book (so far I’ve been right twice, enough that I feel confident to the point of being somewhat smug).

Daniel and Isla still hold first place in my heart, but Oliver and Emme are a close second, and this one is going on the comfort read list. The bodyguard romance scenario is nothing new, but I enjoyed it with these characters, and it was fun to see them as leads this time around. Having Emme fleshed out beyond just being Isla’s fiery activist cousin was great, and the same goes for seeing more of Oliver’s character. As always, I love the candor and mutual respect of Allen’s characters—very little angsty monkey business in these romances.

For me, the villains are usually the weak points in these books, with their extra villainous villainy, but I love the rest so much, I tend to gloss over that tendency.

I recommend this series to people who are looking for something chaste but swoony. Allen’s romances are addictive! ( )

Emme and Oliver are such interesting characters that they carry the story right along. Emme is a fierce fighter for the rights of the oppressed and Oliver is the canny detective charged with keeping her in line and then keeping her safe from those who would shut her down. It was interesting to see what elements of Cinderella showed up. ( )

Series Info/Source: This is the fourth book in the Steampunk Proper Romance series. I bought this audiobook from Audible.

Audiobook Quality (4/5): I listened to this book on audiobook and it was very well done. No complaints, the narrator does an excellent job.

Story (4/5): This was exactly what I thought it was going to be. There's a good mystery here paired with a decent romance. All in all it was a fun steampunk romp. This is supposed to be a retelling of Cinderella and I think that's a bit of a stretch. There are some elements that make this similar to Cinderella but they felt kind of forced. I would be reluctant to recommend this to someone who is only looking for a Cinderella retelling. However, this was a fun and entertaining light read. There were some fun steampunk elements in here and a lot of vampire/werewolf politics. The romance was well done if fairly predictable.

Characters (4/5): The characters were fun and well done and have good chemistry together. Emme is a werewolf rights activist who is a rising star in the werewolf organization and gaining enemies along with her popularity. Oliver is a detective who has arrested Emme for causing trouble with her protests in the past and has now been assigned to protect her during a political trip. Of course, sparks fly between them. We also have a number of cameos from characters from the previous books in this series.

Setting (4/5): I continue to enjoy the steampunk London setting, the world isn’t really fully built out, but it is still a fun one to visit.

Writing Style (4/5): As with previous books in this series, this book is well written and easy to read. There is an excellent mystery here, blending with some action, and some romance. I didn’t think this was a great fairy tale retelling but it was a fine story on its own.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I have no complaints. I was looking for an easy and fun steampunk romance read and that is exactly what I got.. I would also recommend Anne Renwick's books if you enjoy this series by Allen; I like Renwick's steampunk series just a bit more because it has a more sciency steampunk vibe to it. ( )

Steampunk, shifters and love!

I do enjoy steampunk but must admit I haven't read any for a couple of years. I was unsure if I wanted to get back into this genre, and wondered if I could read this without having a knowledge of the series background. I'm pleased to say this stands alone, so that's that hurdle down. I'm now committed to investigating the series, and a have renewed interest in this genre.
I enjoyed Brass Carriages immensely. I loved the courage and vivacity of Emme (Emmeline Castle O’Shea) and the long suffering, dependable and broodingly, focused energy of Oliver (Detective-Inspector Oliver Reed). (Really? Oliver Reed? Mmm! I can see that!)
Emme is a strong advocate for the rights of the shifter community and is working on trying to repeal the Predatory Shifter Extermination Act. An important international conference, The International Shifter Rights Organization is being held to vote on the matter. Emme is to speak. Forces against her have already sent threatening letters and Oliver is assigned to guard her. The lead up to this was très amusing. Of course Emme and Oliver's relationship is like oil and water, tricky and needing something else for the emulsifying factor to occur. That component is present in spades! Emme has a difficult family structure, partly pure poison. The Cinderella references are rife. As the preface states each book in the series is a, "familiar fairy tale in a steampunk 19th-century UK setting." The manipulation of this traditional literary tool is rewarding.
I think of 'Emme' and I immediately think of the suffragettes and their activism. The modeling fits the energies and activism of that era. A young woman concerned with injustice and the ability for all to choose their own path, for enfranchisement for all no matter their background and traits.
A great read that made me laugh and teeter on the edge of Oh No's! quite a few times.

A Shadow Mountain ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change ( )