Clockwork Heart — Heidi Cullinan

Love, adventure and a steaming good time.

As the French army leader's bastard son, Cornelius Stevens enjoys a great deal of latitude. But when he saves an enemy soldier using clockwork parts, he's well aware he risks hanging for treason. That doesn't worry him half as much, however, as the realization he's falling for his patient. Johann Berger never expected to survive his regiment's suicide attack on Calais, much less wake up with mechanical parts. To avoid discovery, he's forced to hide in plain sight as Cornelius's lover-a role Johann finds himself taking to surprisingly well. When a threat is made on Cornelius's life, Johann learns the secret of the device implanted in his chest-a mythical weapon both warring countries would kill to obtain. Caught up in a political frenzy, in league with pirates, dodging rogue spies, mobsters and princesses with deadly parasols, Cornelius and Johann have no time to contemplate how they ended up in this mess. All they know is, the only way out is together-or not at all.

Warning: Contains tinkers, excessive clockwork appendages, and a cloud-sweeping tour of Europe. A little absinthe, a little theft, a little exhibitionism. Men who love men, women who love women, and some who aren't particular.