Heart of Steel

Table of Contents

 

 

PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF MELJEAN BROOK

The Iron Duke

“I loved it! As far as I'm concerned, with
The Iron Duke
, Meljean Brook has brilliantly defined the new genre of steampunk romance. From now on, everyone will compare other writers in the genre to her.”

—Jayne Ann Krentz,
New York Times
bestselling author

“A stunning blend of steampunk setting and poignant romance—smart, sexy, breathtaking, and downright addicting. I'm ready for the next book or anything else Meljean Brook writes.”

—Ilona Andrews,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Engrossing steampunk adventure . . . [A] complex, gripping read.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“With adept writing and a flair for creating believable worlds, Brook's first in the Iron Seas series showcases her masterful storytelling.”

—
Booklist

“A high seas/airborne adventure that's filled with zombies, pirates, and deadly betrayal. Along with the pulse-pounding adventure, there's plenty of serious sizzle for readers to enjoy.”

—
RT Book Reviews
(4½ stars)

“I absolutely loved this book . . . Everything from characters to world was done with care and precision . . . Any current fan of Ms. Brook has to read this one, and those who aren't fans should. Steampunk has never been written so well.”

—
Night Owl Reviews

Demon Forged

“Dark, rich, and sexy, every page makes me beg for more!”

—Gena Showalter,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Another fantastic book in a beautifully written series. [It] has all the elements I love in Meljean's books—strong, gorgeously drawn characters, a world so real I totally believe it, and the punch of powerful emotion.”

—Nalini Singh,
New York Times
bestselling author

“A dark, gripping read . . . The characters are brilliant, and the breathtaking romance, vivid setting, and darkly delicious adventure will immerse readers in this spellbinding world until the satisfying conclusion.”

—
RT Book Reviews

 

 

Demon Bound

“An excellent entry in a great series . . . Another winner as the multifaceted Guardian saga continues to expand in complexity while remaining entertaining . . . As complex and beautifully done as always.”

—
Book Binge

“Be prepared for more surprises and more revelations . . . Brook continues to deliver surprising characters, relationships, paranormal elements, and plot twists—the only thing that won't surprise you is your
total
inability to put this book down.”

—
Alpha Heroes

“Raises the bar on paranormal romance for sheer thrills, drama, and world-building, and hands-down cements Brook's place at the top of her field.”

—
Romance Junkies

 

 

Demon Night

“Meljean is now officially one of my favorite authors. And this book's hero? . . . I just went weak at the knees. And the love scenes—wow, just wow.”

—Nalini Singh,
New York Times
bestselling author

“This is the book for paranormal lovers. It is a phenomenal book by an author who knows how to give her readers exactly what they want. What Brook's readers want is a story that is dangerous, sexy, scary, and smart.
Demon Night
delivers all that and more! . . . [It] is the epitome of what a paranormal romance should be! I didn't want to put it down.”

—
Romance Reader at Heart

“Poignant and compelling with lots of action, and it's very sensual. You'll fall in love with Charlie, and Ethan will cause your thermometer to blow its top. An excellent plot, wonderful dialogue . . . Don't miss reading it or any of Meljean Brook's other novels in this series.”

—
Fresh Fiction

“An intense romance that will leave you breathless . . . I was drawn in from the first page.”

—
Romance Junkies

 

 

Demon Moon

“The fourth book in Meljean Brook's Guardian series turns up the heat without losing any of the danger.”

—
Entertainment Weekly

“A read that goes down hot and sweet—utterly unique—and one hell of a ride.”

—Marjorie M. Liu,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Sensual and intriguing,
Demon Moon
is a simply wonderful book. I was enthralled from the first page!”

—Nalini Singh,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Brings a unique freshness to the romantic fantasy realm . . . Action-packed from the onset.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“I loved every moment of it.”

—
All About Romance

“Fantastically drawn characters . . . and their passion for each other is palpable in each scene they share. It stews beneath the surface and when it finally reaches boiling point . . . OH WOW!”

—
Vampire Romance Books

 

 

Demon Angel

“I've never read anything like this book.
Demon Angel
is brilliant, heartbreaking, genre-bending—even, I dare say, epic. Simply put, I love it.”

—Marjorie M. Liu,
New York Times
bestselling author

“Brook has crafted a complex, interesting world that goes far beyond your usual . . . paranormal romance.
Demon Angel
truly soars.”

—Jennifer Estep, author of
Kiss of Frost

“I can honestly say I haven't read many books lately that have kept me guessing and wondering ‘what's next,' but this is one of them. [Brook has] created a unique and different world . . . Gritty and realistic . . . Incredibly inventive . . . This is a book which makes me think and think about it even days after finishing it.”

—
Dear Author

“Enthralling . . . [A] delightful saga.”

—
The Best Reviews

“Extremely engaging . . . A fiendishly good book.
Demon Angel
is outstanding.”

—
The Romance Reader

“A surefire winner. This book will captivate you and leave you yearning for more. Don't miss
Demon Angel
.”

—
Romance Reviews Today

“A fascinating romantic fantasy with . . . a delightful pairing of star-crossed lovers.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“Complex and compelling . . . A fabulous story.”

—
Joyfully Reviewed

DEMON ANGEL

DEMON MOON

DEMON NIGHT

DEMON BOUND

DEMON FORGED

DEMON BLOOD

DEMON MARKED

 

THE IRON DUKE

HEART OF STEEL

 

 

HOT SPELL

(with Emma Holly, Lora Leigh, and Shiloh Walker)

WILD THING

(with Maggie Shayne, Marjorie M. Liu, and Alyssa Day)

FIRST BLOOD

(with Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, and Chris Marie Green)

MUST LOVE HELLHOUNDS

(with Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, and Ilona Andrews)

BURNING UP

(with Angela Knight, Nalini Singh, and Virginia Kantra)

ANGELS OF DARKNESS

(with Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, and Sharon Shinn)

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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.

 

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Copyright © 2011 by Melissa Khan.

 

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

BERKLEY SENSATION
^®
is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

 

PRINTING HISTORY

Berkley Sensation trade paperback edition / November 2011

 

ISBN : 978-1-101-54567-6

 

An application to register this book for cataloging has been submitted to the Library of Congress.

 

 

ISBN : 978-1-101-54567-6

 

 

It is time to brush up on your knowledge of Venice, for I have determined that it will be the site of my next adventure. As a practical man of good sense and judgment, I am well aware that it might be my
last
adventure (as all of them might have been) so please forgo the warnings, lamentations over daft brothers, insults to my intellect, and etc. in your reply. The moment after I post this letter I will be en route to Bath, where I am boarding the first available passenger flight to the New World and the University in Wien, where I will waltz through their lovely map archives. Please pray that the airship does not combust over the Atlantic, that I do not have to share a cabin with a minister or one of those absurdists who believes he can discern a man's character by studying the shape of his skull, and that we are not beset upon by pirates or mercenaries—unless that mercenary is she who freed us from patriarchal tyranny, because I would like to finally express our gratitude. I should do it while wearing my yellow waistcoat. Do you think she would fall immediately in love with me, or would I need to charm her for a full hour?