The lady in the Coppergate Tower /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Hazel Hughes believes there is nothing remarkable about her, not even her strange ability to heal the sick and injured. Her employer, Doctor Sam MacInnes recognizes her special talent, but because of the difference in their social status, he can't tell her how much he admires her. When a mysterious count arrives in London and reveals to Hazel the existence a twin sister, she agrees to accompany him to the wilds of Romania, where she learns that her healing skills are needed to save her twin's life. Worried for her safety, Sam insists on traveling with her.



Faced with dark magic, malfunctioning automatons, and dangerous magical artifacts, Hazel and Sam learn to rely on each other as they untangle a deadly web of mystery surrounding the count and search for a way to free Hazel's sister from the cursed walls of the Coppergate Tower before time runs out on all of them.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Allen's third visit (after Kiss of the Spindle) to her lightly supernatural, steampunk fairy tale world is a clever riff on the "Rapunzel" story that blends exotic undersea travel with a dark mystery and a glee-inducing, respect-first romance between awkward colleagues. The setting seamlessly merges mechanization and magic with Victorian social concerns. Mysterious Romanian count Dravor Petrescu arrives in London claiming to be the unknown uncle of Hazel Hughes, a brilliant physician's assistant and healer. All her life, Hazel has dreamed of having a twin; Petrescu says he has the twin in his castle, Coppergate, and wants to take Hazel to meet her. Hazel's employer, friend, and secret admirer, surgeon Dr. Samuel MacInnes, insists on accompanying her on the count's submarine. Allen's comedic writing peaks in Sam's sarcastic automaton butler, Eugene, playing on the tropes of both the overmeticulous British servant and the hypercompetent android. Though the novel stands alone perfectly, series fans will appreciate cameos by the strong heroines of the earlier installments. Readers who love witty adventure-romances between competent, mutually reliant equals will gobble this one up. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

Allen pens another clever steampunk tale of romantic suspense, this time creating a twist on the story of Rapunzel. Hazel has enjoyed assisting Dr. Sam MacInnes for a year, and she's in love with him. Sam talks her into joining him at a ball, but Hazel is waylaid by Count Petrescu from Romania, who tells her that he is her relative. He also tells her that she has a very sick twin and that Hazel must go with him to help her sister. Sam insists on coming along and they travel in a submarine cruise ship filled with mystery and danger. Hazel dreams of her twin living locked in a tower, going mad. Hazel and Sam's sweet courtship is often hilariously interrupted by his sarcastic automaton, and every scene and room on the ship holds deftly crafted surprises as Allen spins a sparkling overlay of romance and humor. The steampunk and fairytale elements make for added fun as Allen continues her excellent, uniquely delightful Steampunk Proper Romance series, following Kiss of the Spindle (2018) and Beauty and the Clockwork Beast (2016).--Amy Alessio Copyright 2010 Booklist

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Nancy Campbell Allen is the author of fifteen novels, including Beauty and the Clockwork Beast and Kiss of the Spindle. She has been a speaker at numerous writing conferences and events. She has a degree in elementary education and is the mother of three children.