The Moonstone and Miss Jones
Book Two in the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator Series
Book Two in the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator Series
By Jillian
Stone
Genre: Paranormal
romance with steampunk and erotic elements
Publisher: Kensington
Brava
Date of
Publication: September 26, 2012
ISBN-10: 075826898X
ISBN-13: 978-0758268983
Number of
pages: 300
Book Description:
The Moonstone and Miss Jones is the dark and sexy sequel to The Seduction of Phaeton Black. Phaeton
returns to England in time to help Doctor Exeter and the mysterious deadly
Nightshades rescue London once again––this time from Professor Lovecraft's destructive
tinkering.
As the threads of existence begin to unravel, the eccentric scientist
attempts to save his son’s deteriorating condition by replacing body parts with
mechanical apparatus. Ah, but how to power them? The near mad professor
believes he has found a way to unleash the arcane energy inside
the Moonstone and he needs Phaeton Black to help him do it.
When Phaeton is shanghaied in Shanghai, America Jones assumes the
worst––that he has abandoned her in the Orient. An angry Miss Jones returns to
London, where their spirited partnership takes an unexpected turn––a new
business venture MOONSTONE INVESTIGATIONS. No uncommon psychical
disturbance refused.
Well, why
not mix business with pleasure?
Short
Excerpt:
A lone gaslight sputtered
above the stair landing. America steadied herself and waited for her eyes to
adjust to the darkness below. The hansom ride from the Docklands to the West
End had been one of the most harrowing in her life––with the possible exception
of a rickshaw pulled by Zulu in Durban, South Africa.
She squinted and a few
details emerged from the flat below, including a shadowy figure in the
overstuffed chair. A soft snore rumbled its way up the stair––it was Phaeton,
all right. She ventured further into the room for a better look.
He lounged in the chair with his pelvis
forward, legs spread. America angled her head, studying him. There was a rough
of whiskers on his chin; could he look anymore dashing? She exhaled a sigh. Only
if he opened those liquid brown eyes.
“A little lower,
darling.” He mumbled, still asleep. It suddenly hit her. He was safe. He was
healthy. The bilge rat.
“Darling, is it?” she
whispered. Her gaze trailed down his open waistcoat to the buttons on his trousers.
As if in answer to her own lascivious thoughts the buttons began to open.
She grinned at first––was
this some new kind of power emerging? Something ancient and primal fueled by
lust? She had noticed a marked increase in her abilities these last few months,
there was no question they were getting stronger. She reached out and her hand
was slapped away––by what she had no idea. She tried again and was flung across
the flat onto the lumpy old chaise longue.
America sat up and
stared. Something tugged at Phaeton’s trousers––something powerful enough to
manipulate the physical world and yet remain unseen. Rising to her feet, she strode
across the floor and slapped Phaeton hard across the face.
He groaned, still in a
deep trace. “Just the tip, Georgiana.”
She slapped him again.
“Snap out of it!”
Jarred awake, Phaeton
pushed away from her and blinked––several times. She slapped him again. This
time he rubbed his jaw and his eyes watered. “America?” Gradually, between
squints and blinks, he came around.
Her fists landed on her
hips. “Who is Georgiana?”
Phaeton eased back into
his chair, though he regarded her with some wariness. “A rather persistent
succubus. And you certainly aren’t one of those––thank God.” If it was possible
for a man to have sultry eyes, Phaeton
had them. He tilted his chin and studied at her. “Though, I must admit the
nasty little vixen has me in some discomfort––would you mind?” He gave a nod to
the bulge in his trousers.
“Stuff it, Phaeton.”
“Exactly.” A slow grin
twitched on the devilish mouth. “I’m just asking.”
“Goodness––separated for
less than two months and I had already quite forgotten how exasperating you can
be.”
“You followed me––rather
sweet of you. I wasn’t sure you would. I thought you would think I jumped ship
and sailed off––abandoned you.”
America’s eyes narrowed
into cat slits. “According to your wire, which I received just yesterday, you
were shanghaied––in Shanghai.”
Phaeton shrugged. “Old
joke, not particularly amusing anymore.”
She stared at him. “You
must trust me when I say, it was never comical––in the least.” America shook her head and moved to
the pantry area of the flat. She braced herself against the table edge. “I
chased you halfway round the world, Phaeton. I want the truth this time, and
not a crafty as you please answer.” She swept an errant curl back into her top
knot. “I believe I’ve known eels less slippery.”
Phaeton wore that
cajoling half smile. “You’re angry with me.”
“Mad at you? No Phaeton,
I’m not angry with you. I’m...I’m furious.” America choked on her own words, or
was it the painful and growing lump in her throat that stifled her breath? “I
searched for you for in every opium den and every back alley of Shanghai. Only
after a great deal of money changed hands was I able to find out you’d cut and
run––aboard the Boomerang. Do you have any idea how I worried?”
“I’ve caused you great
torment, but I swear to you none of it was my doing. Yes, I was on that
ship––in leg irons for more than half the voyage. I was cracked over the head
in Blood alley, stuffed in a sack and taken aboard ship. “Phaeton rolled his
eyes a bit. “Turns out the captain was a regular chap, with a good supply of
whiskey––nightly
card play.”
America shook her head.
“How lovely for you. I don’t suppose there was any chance to escape––or any way
to get word to me?”
“But I did get word to
you, love––darling––” Phaeton appeared rather stricken.
The tears that had welled
up, were streaming now. “And while we were separated did you…think of me?”
Phaeton rose from the
chair. “Every minute.” He strode toward her slowly. “Of every hour.” He caught
her up in his arms. “Of every bleeding day.” His gaze fell to her mouth, and
her lips parted. Good God, what a hussy––she was sending him an invitation.
“Have I ever told you I
love you––outside of the throes of passion?”
America shook her head.
“I love you.”
America pressed her hands
to his chest. “Too late, we’re in the throes of passion.”
Jillian Stone's books are a whole lot of fun. If you like steampunk with erotic overtones then you will love this series. I jumped into this one not having read the first one (The Seduction of Phaeton Black) but I was able to read it without feeling lost.
For fans of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate and Amanda Quick's Arcane Society novels, this world is full of sensual fun with a sexy and imaginative flair that will turn Victorian London on its ear. The paranormal elements in this book are not your usual vampires but a twist on the paranormal that will be sure to keep you guessing.
Brava to Jillian Stone for her excellent plot development, sassy and steamy sexual tension and page turning books that leave me turning pages in the middle of the night when I should be sleeping. I loved this book and am going back to read the first one. Can't get enough of the sexy Phaeton Black and the precocious American Jones.
5/5
Author Bio:
In
2010, Jillian won the RWA Golden Heart for An
Affair with Mr. Kennedy and went from no agent or publisher to signing
with Richard Curtis and being offered a three book contract by Pocket Books.
That summer, she also won the erotica category of the 2010 Romance Through the
Ages contest for The Seduction of Phaeton
Black and was offered a three book contract by Kensington Brava. Needless
to say, she has been busy writing books this past year and a half! Jillian
lives in Southern California and is currently working on the third book in the
Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series, The Miss Education of Dr. Exeter.
Author web
links: (web, blog, twitter, facebook, goodreads, etc)
Twitter: @gJillianStone
Win Phaeton’s most charming charm bracelet. And find clues to theMoonstone’s hiding place in this modern, edgy take on the traditional charm bracelet created by Ana Karolina, a 19-year-old Mexican born designer who made her debut at Nordstrom at the ripe old age of 17. This silver-plated chain bracelet makes skulls and bugs look oh-so cool!
Five copies of The Moonstone & Miss Jones (e-book or print- winner’s choice)
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