The Iron Duke has been given RT Book Reviews’ October Seal of Excellence, and they say some really lovely things about the book at that link.

Other recent reviews have been Mrs. Giggles’ and Felicia Day’s (and I’m hard-pressed to say which brings out the bigger fangirl in me). I also ran across Sarah’s (at YA Librarian Tales) review, Nicola’s at Alpha Heroes, and Jenny at Supernatural Snark.

(I know I’m forgetting some recent reviews, and I’m sorry! I hope to catch up soon — I just can’t remember which ones I added before Steampunk Romance Week, eek. The brain, she ain’t what she used to be.)

But this is all very awesome, and I continue to be grateful to everyone who is picking up or mentioning the book. Thank you!

First, THE IRON DUKE received a DIK from All About Romance this weekend. As many of you who have followed my blog for a long time know, I’m a huge fan of AAR from way back, and one of my goals when I began writing was to get a DIK from them. This is my third, and I gotta tell you…it’s just as awesome as the first.

The Iron Duke was an intense read that created conflicting emotions in me, but which in the end proved a gripping experience I wouldn’t have wanted to miss. The Iron Seas series has catapulted itself on my autobuy list (next I must get the prequel to this novel, There Be Monsters in the Burning Up anthology), and I recommend it most highly.

The next review from Publishers Weekly is another awesome first, and one that I totally wasn’t expecting (their reviews for October books were published a few months ago.) But they also have web-exclusive reviews that feature past and current releases … and THE IRON DUKE’s had a star next to it. It’s difficult to link (the page changes after a week) so I’ll paste the full text here.

In this engrossing steampunk adventure, paranormal romance author Brook (Demon Blood) uses detailed descriptions and an impressive imagination to create a world where people can be part machine but all heart. It’s been nine years since the Horde, an oppressive empire from Asia, were run out of England. However, detective inspector Lady Wilhelmina Wentworth will never be able to escape their cruelty: her mother was raped during the invasion, and Mina is half Horde. Mina crosses paths with the revered Iron Duke Rhys Trahaearn, a former pirate captain who was instrumental in fighting the Horde, when a dead body is tossed on his estate. What begins as lust sparks into full-blown romance as the two learn more about the nefarious Black Guard and catch a murderous madman. Airships, zombies, nanotechnology, outlandish secondary characters, and a complicated heroine–who goes from believing “Dead people of all sorts were more tolerable than most of those living” to being willing to love–make for a complex, gripping read. (Oct.)

Wheeeeeeeeeee! In celebration (and because now that I’ve interrupted Steampunk Romance Week, I should at least make the interruption relevant) I’m giving away two books: BURNING UP, the anthology that includes “Here There Be Monsters,” and THE DEMON’S DAUGHTER by Emma Holly (featured in my Introduction to Steampunk Romance Week). Just comment and let me know which one you’d like to win, and you’re entered!

The small print: Comment on this post by 11:59:59 PM Pacific time on 10/24/2010 for your chance to win. Two commenters will be selected to win using random.org, and the winners’ names will be posted on this blog 10/25/2010. Commenters should indicate which book they’d prefer to win, or Meljean will choose for them. Meljean will contact the winners via e-mail on 10/25/2010. Only one entry per ISP address, but multiple comments are allowed. International entries are welcome. No purchase necessary to enter. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Void where prohibited.

The Iron Duke comes out tomorrow. I’ve gone through a bottle of TUMS in about a week. Coincidence? I’m not sure.

Twimom227 has an interview up at her blog as part of The Iron Duke Week. Yesterday’s post included a snippet of Mina and Rhys in a lift.

On Saturday, I was up in the Seattle area for the Emerald City Writer’s Conference book signing. I met up with so many fantastic authors, it’s ridiculous. To my surprise, they had copies of The Iron Duke available. To my extra-surprise, they almost sold out. My sister was with me, and took pictures — hopefully I’ll have some of those soon, and more on the authors there. If you were there and took any pics, please feel free to post the link in the comments.

Proof that there is life after Demon Angel* — this review from Carole came up on Amazon yesterday (not that I check Amazon every hour day or anything):

She has a talent for keeping you on your toes and on the edge of your seat, where you couldn’t help but keep on turning the pages. Not only that, but she drew her characters with a bold pen, making them stand out, especially Irena. Her writing style has also improved a lot since Demon Angel and Demon Moon. I was one of those who couldn’t follow the jumps in her thoughts and I hated reading a story that didn’t flow, that required me to reread passages just so I could understand what the hell was going on. I was tempted to give all of her other books a miss, but at several bloggers’ and friends’ urging, I decided to give her another chance. I’m glad I picked this up.

See! These promo posts aren’t all about The Iron Duke! I can pimp my other stuff, too — and thank you to all of the bloggers and readers who keep on urging others to try the series. And now maybe my sister won’t narrow her eyes at me whenever I tell a reader to skip to Demon Night if they can’t get into Demon Angel.

Okay, back to pimping The Iron Duke:

Janine from Dear Author posted her review. (This is especially awesome, because she DNF’d Demon Angel — and her comments regarding that ended up being some of the most helpful feedback I’ve gotten.)

Kate from Babbling About Books, and More posted her review (and unrelated, but more importantly, check out Kate’s anti-bullying pledge and donation page … all you have to do is comment.)

Shiloh Walker writes the same type of book reviews that I do. But she says,

Folks… if you like science fiction type romance? You’ll probably dig this. If you like paranormal romance? You’ll probably dig this. If you like historical romance? You’ll probably dig this.

Listen to her, please. And Carolyn Jewel made me tear up a little with this:

It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year. Actually, I haven’t read a book this good in a really long time. The very best authors sweep you away into the story. It’s a rare talent. There are a lot of good authors out there but only a few great ones. I can’t think of any reason Meljean Brook shouldn’t be called one of the great ones.

I hope the book is this awesome. I can never tell when I’m writing it or reading it — I can only see the problems I’d like to fix. I do love it, though, and I hope I can keep writing in this world forever.

Terri from Night Owl Reviews gave The Iron Duke 5 Stars, and a Reviewer Top Pick.

…and with that, I’ll stop for today. Oh, wait! I forgot about this:

The bottom entry is a search that brought someone to my site: why is meljean brook’s book iron duke so

… what? So WHAT? Bad? Good? BIG? (Hehe, I’ve got an answer for that.) You realize, of course, that this search string is going to haunt me for days. But if you want to finish that search in the comments, I’ll be happy to answer it for you

Rural + Fantasy + Romance = Pure Awesome

First of all, how awesome is this? The Book Binge is giving away seven copies of BURNING UP and seven of THE IRON DUKE.

I’m over at Odd Shots today, talking about genre combinations and giving away a copy of Ilona Andrews’s awesome BAYOU MOON and a copy of THE IRON DUKE.

The post was inspired by a few questions that Suzanne Johnson asked me as part of a spotlight on October science fiction releases at Tor.com; unsurprisingly, I over-answered and only a few lines made it into the post at Tor, but I think it’s a really fun question: What on earth possessed me to think that it was a good idea to blend two genres that are so different on the surface? The simple answer is over at Odd Shots, but I’ve pasted my long answer after the jump (which is after the links to reviews.)

Starting October 1st, Moira Rogers and Vivian Arend are hosting a Fall Frenzy, including tons of giveaways and book recommendations. They’ve got an amazing site set up — you just start clicking to enter.

Some early reviews for The Iron Duke:

Booklist:

Brook jumps ship from her Guardians urban fantasy novels (Demon Blood, 2010) to a steampunk series mixing the British Regency period with the Industrial Revolution gone mad. During the celebration of the Iron Duke’s defeat of the Horde in England, a body is dropped from an airship onto his London doorstep. Detective Inspector Lady Mina Wentworth is assigned the case to find out who the dead man was and who killed him. Intrigued upon meeting her, Rhys Trahaearn, now Duke of Anglesey known as the Iron Duke, invites himself along on her investigation. So begins an adventure reminiscent of an action-packed video game complete with mechanical oddities, from metal eyes and human limbs to a killer kraken plaguing the seas. Dirigibles, blacksmith shops, contraband bazaars, and clipper ships become the backgrounds for Rhys and Mina’s blossoming love affair. With adept writing and a flair for creating believable worlds, Brook’s first in the Iron Seas series showcases her masterful storytelling. — Pat Henshaw

Throuthehaze Reads:

There is a prequel to The Iron Duke in the anthology Burning Up which is called Here There be Monsters (my review is HERE). It was the first thing I have read by this author and from that story I knew that this series was going to be amazing. The Iron Duke was beyond awesome. It is a steampunk adventure with romance and a ton of action.

Parajunkee:

Hot damn! My jaw is still on the floor after reading this one. Excuse me while I pick it up and get my thoughts in order. I can only compare the world building in the IRON SEAS series to the greats, Tolkien, {yes him} Rowling, {her too} and King. It was phenomenal, smart, heart-stopping and rotund. The novel tracked from one end of this fictional world to another and had me imagining Krakens, Air Ships, giant coal burning ships and a world where even the humans are machines. I’m smitten with Brook’s Iron-Clad world and I can’t wait to go back.

Vampire Book Club:

If we were to merge the alpha overtones of Gone With the Wind, the swagger of Sherlock Holmes, the post-catastrophic world of Downside and a bunch of microscopic machines, we would get The Iron Duke. (And, yes, it really is that awesome.)

Lovin’ Me Some Romance (VampFanGirl):

Lighter than her Guardian Series, Brook’s Iron Seas is a series filled with swashbuckling adventure, rogue pirates, corrupt governments and at its center, a heated core of romance that propels the plot through the seas and the air.

And there are quite a few more reviews on The Iron Duke’s Goodreads page.

Awesome. I probably won’t post excerpts from reviews every time, because I feel like a self-congratulatory a$$shole and it makes me uncomfortable, but as someone who can barely string two words together to write a good review, I just want to express my thanks (as both reader and writer) to everyone who does. I know reviews serve other readers, not authors … but that doesn’t mean authors don’t appreciate the hell out of anyone willing to read their book, let alone talk about it.

And not specific to The Iron Duke, but this was fun: The Literary Sluts spotlight on my work (with the flashing boobies again!)

i have to be up at 6:30 and i am unable to sleep because i am so tense about mina and rhys. what the hell is wrong with you that create such bookcrack! I AM IN A READING FRENZY! I AM IN BOOK LUST!

would it kill you to write badly so i could get some sleep!?!

good night you asshole.

clarzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

——–

Meljean: Bwahaha! God, I love my job.

She also swore at me (after midnight) when I introduced her to the crack that is Kresley Cole’s IAD series.

Now that I’ve popped my Meljean Brooks cherry, I am now a hard-core fan of this awesome author.

Ha! Love it. And considering that you jumped in on the sixth book in the series — holy crap and wow!

And last night at around 3 a.m., I sent her a guest post about steampunk romance that’s supposed to go up on Saturday (if it’s Saturday, click here!) Last night was kind of hazy: I remember a lot of caffeine, and cackling maniacally after taxes and a cruddy writing day, so all bets are off for that post. (And there will be a giveaway with it — not one of my books, but it’s steampunk.)

Today (Friday!) I’ve got a post up at Odd Shots, talking about book signings, with pictures from different signings, and a book to give away that I bought at a signing: Patricia Briggs’s SILVER BORNE. Drop on by, and comment on my ever-changing hair. Or, you know, just talk about whether or not you’d go to a signing.

I’m getting back to writing. Another 3 a.m. and a caffeine IV is calling my name.

And it strikes me again how much freaking work reviews are. On Twitter, Robin (Janet of Dear Author) had called her fantastic review “epic,” and I have to laugh and hang my head a little, because I know these books are a lot of work to get through, let alone try to sum up. So, because I probably don’t say it enough, THANK YOU to every reader who hangs in there.

Also, for hanging in here with my sporadic blogging. The Cold Of The Century has knocked me sideways, and combined with just a lot of writing trying to get Demon Blood out, and then finish up my other work that is quickly coming due, I know this hasn’t been the most exciting blog in the world. In fact, it might be the least exciting thing (aside from the proverbial drying paint.)

What color would you say this shade is? Eggshell white? (Actually, it’s #FFFFFF)

The Book Binge has a review and a Demon Forged giveaway.

Rosario has her review up. (And I didn’t make this in time for the acknowledgements, but she also helped me with my Spanish in the novel — a huge, huge thanks.)

VampFanGirl continues her Guardian extravaganza today with … Demon Forged, and another giveaway.

I’m over at Odd Shots today, filling in for Nalini, and geeking out about comic character trading cards (and the DF cover).

I saw a tweet that mentioned a review for Demon Forged would be up at Dear Author today. I don’t have a link yet, but here is their main site. ETA: The link!

I have to run, but I’ll keep this post updated as I receive more links.

Did she love love love “Falling for Anthony”? Well…not exactly. See who she hated by clicking the link (hint: Lilith hated her, too).

Second — Ana at the Book Smugglers just wrote a review of Demon Forged that might be better than the book, and they are giving away one copy. The review does have minor spoilers for the series (at this point, that just can’t be helped) but skim through quickly if you don’t want to know.