This was a solid read; I hadn't listened to the podcast but I enjoyed the story nevertheless. The characters were fleshed out and the writing wasn't brilliant but not something that stopped me from reading either. What I really enjoyed and what perhaps kept me going on was the dynamic explored between the two main protagonists. My only lament is that I wish the stories were longer because at times, they felt rushed and not completely developed.

I couldn't get into this book, not because of the storyline but because it wasn't really my style. Check it out if you like historical fiction and adventure though.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The 1920's have a special place in my heart, and so do badass ladies. This book is set in a fictional steampunk world in the 1920's, which is enough for me personally to love it. It's got spies and gangsters and gays, and they're all done very well.

This book is filled with all kinds of powerful woman, and it makes the story feel very feminist in the otherwise rather sexist setting of the 1920's. Eleanora is fun and strong, with just the right amount of proper lady in her. She gets to be emotional and very proper, while still being badass, which is a welcome change from the stereotypical "aggressive warrior" female characters you usually get when you say "badass".

I also really enjoyed the plot, because it fits very well into the steampunk catergory. Eleanora goes by herself to a strange place in order to do what she feels is morally right, and it shows in her character that she is this strong, compassionate woman. She wants to find and destroy a machine her late husband made, and she gets the help of Valentin, a sailor who helps her out in the very beginning of the book. Eleanora decides to repay him for this help, even though he doesn't want her to. Adventures ensue. They battle all kinds of people, and it was just really fun to read about.

The relationship between the two of them was really nice, and they both care a lot about each other. Overall I enjoyed this book very much.

The cover is also very beautiful, and I love it a lot.

These are the first two stories in the Valentin & The Widow Series. I was lucky enough to spy them on Netgalley and get to review them. All thoughts and opinions are 100% honest and 100% my own. Thanks to Netgalley and Chapterhouse Publishing Inc. for letting me give them a read.
These were both really fun, really fast reads. They started out life as a podcast and I'd be interested in hearing them that way. They work fine as books though, very exciting.
Both Volumes were fast-paced, full of action, and twists and turns. I liked both of the characters. Eleanora is a determined woman. Sacha is that strong, silent type. They make a good team.
I do find Eleanora suffers from unneeded white guilt over her husband's crimes. His actions weren't her fault.
I enjoyed these first two books in the series quite a lot. I'd love to read more and continue with the series. They were quick and fun. I'd definitely recommend them.
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5
Fun Fun Fun!

This is a fun old fashioned adventure story. In this first book of the series Eleanor has traveled to Shanghai to try and stop a plot to destroy the city that her late husband has put in motion. In Shanghai she is rescued by Valentin. She hires him as her valet/body guard to help her. Valentin reluctantly agrees to help. They are pursued through the city as they track down the Mandrake Machine. I really enjoyed the relationship between Eleanor and Valentin. Yes the plot is a little over the top but that is what makes it fun. This series should be read order. Enjoy

I really tried to get into this book but it was sadly not my cup of tea. I thought I would like it but the way it was written was not my favorite and therefore made it really hard for me to read. I will not fully review since I don't want that to affect my view of the story,

A very fast-paced, whipped straight into the action story that will be fun for many.

It's the modern world, you know, so we can't have dramatic adventure stories (even those set in the 1920s) taking our heroes all across the globe and finding the trouble – here, white man has to be the cause. Here we have an English Rose, who has to play counter to the expected stereotype, travelling the world and getting into seriously bad problems in redressing the danger caused by not those strange native types, but by her Imperialist husband and his legacy as a warmonger. She forms a friendship with her colleague in the first book, a taciturn Russian sailor come bruiser extraordinaire, and with her being the very opposite of a shrinking violet they can prevent a whole city's demolition. Six books in this series will contain a pair of 140-170pp novels each, adapted from some aural podcast version, and bearing a lot of hallmarks of the old episodic 2-reelers, in snappily moving from one threat to another, via this twist and that reveal. The second story here, certainly, has all the melodrama of the old serials. The writing is fine – clear, and crisp, if a little too verbose at some times. But little needs trimming from this evidence, and the result is a pleasant entertainment. If only some things weren't so predictable, and if the characters spoke with any nationality, instead of an identical high standard of English, if might get a really high mark.

Dowager Eleanora Rosewood has been widowed since 1924. The 7th Baron Rosewood, a decorated war hero, died in a tragic plane crash. Lady Rosewood, a headstrong, resilient 29 year old aristocrat was determined to put Rosewood's affairs in order. She perused the mountainous paperwork in his study and discovered lies and deception. She found evidence of a secret society called the Dominion, blueprints of destruction, and plans for the strong and powerful to subjugate the poor, naive and the unknowing general public. When Sir Francis, a civil servant of the English government, paid Lady Rosewood a condolence call, he was deftly able to spike her tea and proceed to ransack the study, leaving with many secret documents. By accident, he left behind blueprints for the "Mandrake Machine" a drilling device that could trigger devastation in Shanghai.

Eleanora traveled to Shanghai unescorted. Inexperienced in mixing with the underbelly of society, she was accosted by common thieves on her way to the magnificent Grand Hotel. A brawny, Russian sailor from the docks brawled with the attacking brutes until they retreated. Eleanora felt she would never feel safe again. This sentiment rang true when she discovered Sir Francis was a guest at the Grand Hotel. Impressed with the Russian sailor's willingness to aid a "damsel in distress", Lady Eleanora Rosewood convinced Sacha Valentin, a solitary man of the sea, to begrudgingly act as her valet. Valentin felt that a woman schooled in aristocracy should not be accompanied by someone from his walk of life. His fists and strength were exactly what she needed to try to head off the death and destruction promised if the "Mandrake Machine" was activated.

Lady Rosewood and Valentin continue to unearth further destructive plans. "The Moore School For Girls" in Havana is a finishing school aimed at teaching sixteen and seventeen year old girls etiquette, manners needed to perform as proper wives. At her husband's request, Eleanora was a patron of the school. She asked to be provided with a tour of the school grounds replete with beautiful floral arrangements and requested an introduction to Mrs. Moore, owner of the school. This would help Eleanora assess and determine any possible connections with the Dominion. Valentin, posing as a gardener with a limited understanding of English, worked in tandem with his lady to uncover the reason for strange student behavior perhaps stemming from classes being taught behind closed doors.

Set in the 1920's, between World War I and World War II, author Andrew Wheeler presents the serial adventures of "Valentin and the Widow" with the "feel" of an old time radio broadcast. At the time of this review, the reader was made aware of audio podcasts for each adventure. It would be such fun to hear Wheeler's spoken version of Book Three: Thrones and Principalities and Book Four: Paris Pas De Deux as well as read the duo's journeys in book form. I highly recommend this series!

Thank you Diamond Book Distributors, Chapterhouse Publishing and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Valentin and the Widow: The Mandrake Machine".

I really wish this had been in Kindle form! I did not finish reading it because it was on my computer. The story sounded neat, and I liked the what I read. I thought the writing flowed well