I had never heard of steampunk novels before reading Revenge of the Mad Scientist: Book One: Airship Adventure Chronicles (Volume 1).  Truthfully, I probably wouldn’t have selected this book on my own if I were in a bookstore.  What a treat I would be missing!  This book has just enough juxtaposition of danger and romance in it to keep it thrilling. The characters are strangely realistic.  I could imagine all of it!  There’s so much adventure packed into this small novel that it’s almost breathtaking.  This is a book that I would read again. It’s a quick read that would be fun for teens.  Be aware that there are a few mature situations in it, and the book touches upon issues such as prostitution and slave trade.  If you give this to your teen, it might provide a good opportunity to discuss those subjects in a non-threatening way.   I definitely look forward to reading more by author Lara Nance.

I really, really liked that this book was available in paperback format.  Although ebooks are convenient, I so prefer the feel of a print book.  The Revenge of the Mad Scientist is the kind of book that I want to be able to hold, savoring each page turn.  As the story progressed, I grew more fond of the characters (especially the heroine.)  I think you’ll agree that she’s a great combination of spunk and common sense.  Overall, this was a great read that I would recommend to anyone interested in this genre.

Author Lara Nance has a fun website.  Go over and visit!   She sounds like a really fun gal to know.  Lara enjoys sailboating and doing all manners of artsy things.

And hey, she even lets you get a sneak peek at the world of Revenge of the Mad Scientist.  Want to read the first chapter?  Just head over here and click on the link!