{Book Review} The Brass Octopus by Maeve Alpin (@MaeveAlpin)

Spinster Librarian Piety Plunkett is happy alone with her books, until her sister Polly transforms her with a brass octopus beautifying machine. With her new look, the librarian catches the lusty attentions of London’s most notorious rogue. Blake Blackmore enjoys the favors of beautiful women from the brothels of London to high society’s most fashionable debutantes but only the spinster librarian consumes his mind night and day. Piety insists she will not wed but devote her life to her position as head librarian, but Blake will stop at nothing to win her. He takes matters into his own hands and tutors her in carnal pleasure in three passion filled lessons. Now that she is sharing her body, instead of just her books, Piety is shocked yet pleased at how naughty she can be under Blake’s personal tutelage. But if anyone finds out about what goes on in the library after closing time, her reputation would be ruined. Is that Blake’s ultimate plan?

Piety Plunkett is a modern woman for her time.  She is dedicated to her profession as a Librarian and has no room for a man in her life.  One afternoon, her universe is turned around when London’s infamous cad – Blake Blackmore presents himself in her library requesting a copy of the most scandalous book of the time.

Later that evening, her sister insists that she accompany her to a society ball and she can’t imagine anything more demeaning as a female.  But with a little help from a modern invention called the Brass Octopus, she is totally transformed from a plain bookworm into a stunning debutante.  

“The young misses attending the ball came for one reason only: to find rich husbands. He was not in the market for a wife. He never would be. Unless he could find a beauty with the striking confidence and intelligence of that librarian, but clearly she wasn’t impressed by him. He’d never find that type of woman at a dance, anyway. More like a church or a tea party. He seldom attended either. Those events lacked a certain thrill and rush that he loved.”

Blake Blackmore is living up to his bad reputation by never has the same woman on his arm twice.  He can’t believe that the ravishing creature at the ball is the same shy girl that he encountered at the library.  She heats his blood as no one ever has. If only he could convince her that sometimes even a rogue can be tamed by love.

“She’d left him, the most eligible bachelor in London, at the ball. Unheard of. More intrigued by her than ever, he came up with a plan. He would get to know this woman better. Show her things she’d never experienced before. Miss Piety Plunkett would never leave him waiting for her again.”

Not only was The Brass Octopus a sizzling erotic story but it also touched on some unique issues such as mechanical innovation and gender equality.  Piety Plunkett proved that a woman can be both intelligent and seductive – something that wasn’t thought possible in her time - and I found it charming for all of its sexy idealism.  

This is Steampunk with not only a heat factor but also a brain… 

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