Romancing the Inventor

By: Gail Carriger

Narrated by: Emma Newman

Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Narrated by the wonderful Emma Newman, this is Gail Carriger's first steampunk lesbian romance featuring a maid bent on seducing a brilliant cross-dressing scientist who's too brokenhearted to notice. Or is she?

Imogene Hale is a lowly parlor maid with a soul-crushing secret. Seeking solace, she takes work at a local hive, only to fall desperately in love with the amazing lady inventor the vampires are keeping in the potting shed. Genevieve Lefoux is heartsick, lonely, and French. With culture, class, and the lady herself set against the match, can Imogene and her duster overcome all odds and win Genevieve's heart, or will the vampires suck both of them dry?

This is a stand-alone LBGTQ sweet romance set in Gail Carriger's Parasolverse, full of class prejudice, elusive equations, and paranormal creatures taking tea.

Delicate sensibilities? This story contains women pleasing women and ladies who know what they want and pursue it, sometimes in exquisite detail.

Supernatural Society novellas can be consumed in any order. Look for surprise appearances from popular characters and the occasional strategic application of cognac.

©2016 Gail Carriger LLC (P)2017 Gail Carriger LLC

Entirely delightful f/f romance!

I love the way this author does romance. Intriguing characters, quirky and vivid turns of phrase (I particularly enjoyed "gertuding"), humor, and just enough detail in danger or dishabille to titillate and make the heart pound.

I am most pleased that my favorite hat making inventor finally has someone to love her properly. If you're already a fan of the other books in this universe then you will probably enjoy this bit of dandelion fluff quite as much as the rest. You'll definitely feel more warmly disposed toward a certain wicker chicken.

Warning: do not read if a couple ladies getting naked and lovingly frisky with each other makes you uncomfortable. Gail Carriger has many other books of a more heteronormative and less descriptive bent, if that's your fancy.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

A voice like silk.

I've been an avid fan of all things Parasol since I was given the first Parasol Protectorate novel years ago. I'm overjoyed to see LGBT themes in her novels, and now, with this story a fantastic f/f story.
When listening to an audio book, the narrator is so important. I've heard books that were good, but the narrator was not and it ruined the experience.
This narrator was prefect! Her voice was soothing and silken. I could listen to her read almost anything.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Loved it!

I really enjoyed this book. Its about one of my favorite characters in the Parasol universe, and I loved to meet her again.
This is a romance book, and I loved the story and the drama. It is also really really funny, as is all Gail Carrigers book.
Emma Newman did a wonderful job, and she is always a pleasure to listen too. Loved the French accent!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

I love listening to French accents!

Even if it's fake, she sounds so silky! Most books would have a side character have such an amusing accent, but a main character in a romance novella with the accent of the language of love? I can listen to this for hours! Emma Newman can really pull it off and the storyline is just great! Definitely worth it for me.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoyed story

The narrator was ok. I wish someone would go over names with each reader so that there is consistency between series.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

The only flaw was that this is too short

I love this book and the characters. It was far too short. I do recommend having read the Parasol Protectorate series at least up until Heartless before tackling this

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Greater the second time around!

I knew I loved the story already, this being my second time going through it. But the reader's performance made the story coming alive in entirely different way! Both my interpretation reading it and her vocal presence reciting it created two wonderfully unique experiences, each great in its own way. The romance was sweet, Imogene really shined through Emma this time around just as strongly, and Genevieve's charms showed through just as well. Another job well done!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE!

This Novella has given me some insight into same sex relationships. I try not to judge but nature proves only propagating is accomplished thru opposites.

great book!

Loved this wonderful book! I would recommend it for a quick listen. it keeps you entertained.

Smart characters were dumbed down

no continuity of names as The Countess was pronounced differently three times and muchdiffefent than Parasol Protectorate.
Not upto the Qualitey that Gail Cariger usually means

An excellent story, beautifully told

I listened to the audiobook of this story, and Emma Newman did an excellent job of bringing it to life. I especially loved her variations in accents between the "town" and "country" folk, and LeFoux is adorable. Whilst it's not suitable for everyone due to same sex relationships and some violence, I'd definitely recommend this story to those who can accept those things in a story, especially fans of the Parasolverse - it's great to see so many characters pop up, including the Wicker Chicken!

An excellent book

I am always pleased by Ms Carriger's books and this was no exception. Her first dip into the LGBTQ community was in my opinion a triumph. It not only looked into the struggles of a young girl's coming to terms with her sexuality, but the story between the two lovers read to me like an actual love story that could have been any couple. Yes it addresses the fact that in Victorian England it was a perversion and illegal but it did not focus too heavily on this and I felt this was a good thing. The hesitation was more because of the hurt of a love lost and not the issue of legality. I really enjoyed this book and the narrator was very competent. I am used to Moira Quirk as a narrator so it took some getting used to Ms Newman but she did the book justice. All in all a wonderful book.

Adorable

Imogen is a very likeable point of view character and it's really lovely to read about Madame Le Fou after the end of the Parasol Protectorate.
Reading the series beforehand isn't necessary but I do recommend it.
Emma Newman's narration is perfect, with great characterisation of all the main characters. A great choice!

Simply delicious

I couldn't have enjoyed this more. Having become quite enamoured of Genevieve during the parasol series, I fell head over heels for Imogen & their story.

As a gay woman myself, I have seldom read about someone coming to terms with their sexuality in a more convincing and sympathetic way. Bravo Miss Carriger.

Alexia is always a delight & doesn't fail to push, or perhaps undo, any of the relevant buttons.

A little disconcerting to hear a different voice with different pronunciations, but wonderfully narrated.

You have excelled yourselves ladies. Touché

Not what I expected from Gail Carriger

The book can easily be summarized in one sentence, too easily! There is no wit or humor. The main character is incredibly boring and rather silly. I'm not very fond of her inner dialogue nor how it was interpreted by the narrator. I never laughed nor smiled when I listened to this book. I'm terrified this book was a writing exercise in preparation for writing the third book in the custard protocol which will be from Primrose's perspective. Terrified! Because this book was awful but I adore the parasol protectorate and the custard protectorate!

Brilliant book!

I enjoyed this book so much. It was great to have Genevieve Lefoux's storyline expanded, to see her find love and for other main characters to make an appearance. Good to have some quality lesbian romance too - with very tastefully written intimate scenes which are not gratuitous or excessive. I have listened to all the Parasol Protectorate and Custard Protocol series plus 3 out of 4 of the Finishing School series, and this is definitely up there with the best. My only gripe with audible is that the readers for the various series pronounce characters' names differently - this should be checked before a new recording is made and the author consulted on correct pronunciation.

Definitely a gentle romance

If you like Gail Carrigers other books of the same universe then it's good filler with a sideways glance or perhaps a good nod to some familiar characters , though for me some thing was lacking...on reflection it was the action/adventure I've come to expect of the parasol protectorate and the finishing school books.