Nefertiti's Heart

For those of you who know me, you'll know I don't often review other author's work. I don't like to voice my opinions, either good or bad, as I don't feel it's my place to judge their hard written work.

However...

Sometimes a book comes along that I HAVE to review. The latest one was Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion, can I just say that guy was a writing genius. And Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor -- that woman can write so beautifully. And now I'm honoured to say a personal friend and fellow writer has published her debut novel and it's outstanding. I saw it in the critique phase and watched it grow. I sat by as she submitted to publishers and got a lot of interest, and now I'm pleased to say it's available for EVERYONE to buy.

Nefertiti's Heart

And isn't that cover delightful?

Goodreads
Amazon

My Review:
5 Star *****

Cara is is kick-ass heroine who doesn't wait for a man to save her. She shoots interlopers, can box better than a pirate, and is on a treasure hunt for priceless egyptian artifacts. Nate is a swoon-worthy sky-pirate who wants to covert Cara. In return for helping sell off her expensive trinkets, he gets to touch her. Or kiss her... you get the saucy picture.

Anita Exley conjures a world full of copper-steampowered horses, brocade and taffata drawing rooms, and a steampunk London that oozes with charm and mystery. The plot is well though out, flows fast with no boring bits, and all the side characters are just as interesting. Right down to the detective who wants Cara to fess up to murders she isn't commiting, and the serial killer who is. Naughty thing.

All in all, Nefertiti's Heart takes all the best out of a murder mystery, steampunk, thriller, and romance and squashes it together in one neat little package. The best thing is, it can be a stand alone book, however I happen to know (insider knowledge) there will be more of Cara and Nate action in the future.

So... buy it! That is my recommendation.

Here's the back blurb:

Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father - sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.

Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.

Self-preservation fuels Cara's search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.