Quickie Review and Contest: THE JANUS AFFAIR by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris

A touch of steampunk for our paranormal fans today.  This book, THE JANUS AFFAIR: A Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences novel, is the second in what I hope will become a long-lived series.  It features agents Books (the studious, play-by-the rules archivist) and Braun, the devil-may-care guns-at-the-ready woman who I'm constantly cheering for.  The relationship between the twosome is gradually growing stronger as this story begins, and the reader will hope for it to become so much more.  (But do take their time.  That's the pleasure of reading a long series, in watching the characters grow.)
Set in London, the agents set on a case of disappearing women on behalf of The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.  I'm not going to detail the plot—you can get that info from the book blurb.  I only want to mention that the series is well worth the read, but I would suggest getting the first book, Phoenix Rising, so you're up to speed on the main characters.  Those who enjoy steampunk and its mechanical machines and devices and weapons will love this read.

Blurb: Evildoers beware! Retribution is at hand, thanks to Britain's best-kept secret agents!!

Certainly no strangers to peculiar occurrences, agents Wellington Books and Eliza Braun are nonetheless stunned to observe a fellow passenger aboard Britain's latest hypersteam train suddenly vanish in a dazzling bolt of lightning. They soon discover this is not the only such disappearance . . . with each case going inexplicably unexamined by the Crown.

The fate of England is once again in the hands of an ingenious archivist paired with a beautiful, fearless lady of adventure. And though their foe be fiendishly clever, so then is Mr. Books . . . and Miss Braun still has a number of useful and unusual devices hidden beneath her petticoats.

VampChix is giving away the review copy of this book!  Please leave a comment below to be entered to win.