In book 1.5 in the London Steampunk series, John “Rip” Doolan is learning how to deal with the craving virus that’s forever changed his life. Six months earlier, a vampire nearly killed him, and his friend and boss Blade (the leader of the Whitechapel rookery gang) saved Rip’s life by turning him into a Blue Blood, a type of vampire. Now, Rip craves blood, and he’s struggling to stay in control. To do so, he does his best to stay away from Esme, the only woman he’s ever really wanted.
Esme has secretly loved Rip for years, but he’s never shown interest in her as a woman, only as a friend. She’s willing to serve as his blood thrall in order to help him through his problems, but he spurns her advances. Will her hopes and dreams of a future with him ever come to pass?
I really enjoyed this novella, but poor communication kept Rip and Esme apart for a long time. They’re both strong, stubborn, loveable characters. She’s infinitely patient, which is wonderful because he’s very insecure when it comes to trusting himself to not hurt her.
The characters from book one returned, and it was especially nice to see Blade again (he’s my favorite hero in the series!). This story is a standalone, but it’s best to read the other books as well, just to get a better understanding of the Echelon, the Blue Bloods, and their societal problems.
Unfortunately, there were some typos, and I’m not meaning the Cockney dialect. For example, the word “pretty” was used in the place of “pity.”
Anyway, I’ve read the other books in the series and enjoyed them, and this one is no exception. I haven’t read the spin-off series yet, but I plan to. Ms. McMaster certainly knows how to weave a fun, exciting, heartwarming tale, and I definitely recommend her books.
4 Stars ( )

Yes! I loved the angst! I adore “unrequited” love, and these two circling each other is right up my alley. I re-read this one a lot! ( )

I found the beginning portion especially intriguing, their desire for each other was believable and they seemed well suited to each other straight off. But my interest waned a bit in the middle with the characters seeming determined to stand in their own way. And I never quite recovered that level of engagement. Since they were already friends to begin with this might have been better as a novella actually, cutting out some of the middle dancing around. Overall it was fine though. ( )

I'm so glad I listened to my instincts and went ahead and bought this today. It really links the first two books together. And imagine my surprise when I discovered that there were two novellas inside! I'm so excited for the next book! ( )

Rip is a hardened man who is dealing with his changing body after becoming a blue blood or half vampire. He deals with these changes by distancing himself from all who care and love him, especially Esme. Esme is under the protection of Rip's boss and pines desperately for Rip. The two skirt around each other's feelings until finally succumbing to the electricity between them. Enjoyed this different type romance. ( )