I love this series and was so excited to read this! Emme and Oliver have such different personalities that you wonder how they'll possibly be able to work together. It was so fun to watch their characters grow and come to understand each other better over the course of the story. I enjoyed every minute of this book and never wanted it to end!

4 stars

okay so... I wrote up an entire, very thoughtful review of this book, and when I tried to post it, something went horribly wrong and now the review is gone. Oh well. I am now less inclined to write the whole thing again but I'll hit on the main points.

This was one the best pleasure-reads I've read in a long time. This quarantine has led me on a wild goose chase for entertainment, and I swear that everything I've been reading has made me want to gouge my eyes out. Is that a side effect of COVID-19? Because if so, I might be contagious. Anyways.

If there's one thing I'm a sucker for, it's fairytale retellings- especially Cinderella, because I'm one of those weirdos who fell deeply in love with the 2015 live action reboot starring Lily James and *swoons* Richard Madden. I totally have a crush on him and I 100% do not regret it.


This was the first steampunk novel I've ever read. (I actually had to Google what "steampunk" meant, and let's just say... what I was picturing was not at all accurate). Apparently it's part of a series, but I think the books must share characters, not continued plot lines- I haven't read any of the other books, and I wasn't confused. so hopefully that's comforting.

I adored Emme and Oliver. Honestly, their characters were reminiscent of Wolf and Scarlet from the Lunar Chronicles series. Emme was passionate, brave, and independent. Oliver was very similar to her, but in a quieter way. I thought their chemistry was very well-written!

Also, can I just say how much I loved the subtlety of the Cinderella references? It was not always overtly obvious that the story was a Cinderella retelling (except for the horrible stepsisters, of course) but there were some hidden gems if you were looking for them.

Wow wow wow. I just loved this. The characters were fantastic, the story drew me in from the first page until the last... let's just say, I'll be picking up more steampunk novels in the future.

This was an intriguing read and especially loved the world that Allen created. It was unique and exciting! I am sorry, though, that I didn't have a chance to read the other books in this series before this one. I think I missed out on fully enjoying and understanding this world because I didn't quite have the context that the other books would have given me.
The characters were compelling. Emme was feisty and independent, but also sweet! She fought with everything in her for a marginalized community; even risking her life!
As for the plot, I found it did slow down in some parts. The characters spent a ton of time discussing what they were going to do and unfortunately, this caused me to start skimming.
Lastly, the was an enjoyably clean read.

What a fun Cinderella retelling! I have really loved reading Nancy Campbell Allen’s Steampunk Romances and I have been looking forward to Ellie and Oliver’s story. I love how outspoken Ellie is and how she fights for what she wants. I love how Oliver loves her even though she can be exasperating. I loved how there was a lot of action in this book with the vampires and the horrible stepsister. I really think Nancy did a great job on this book and I would recommend it to others.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

I’ve really enjoyed this series and this 4th book was no exception.
If you’ve never read a Steampunk book, it’s a mixture of Regency with futuristic technology like robots and air crafts, but also with fantasy creatures like vampires and animal shifters. Sounds out there but it’s fun...well, at least this series is. I’ve never tried a Steampunk book by a different author. :-)
Since this is a 4th book, we know Emme and Oliver a bit from the previous stories. Emme is a small firecracker and I had a feeling I’d enjoy her story.
Emme has been asked to give a big speech that could help change the laws for the animal shifter community (this will make sense if you’ve read the previous books) but she has been getting some death threats. Oliver, also known as Detective Reed, has been given the job of being her personal body guard. Emme always saw Detective Reed as the enemy, since he had arrested her multiple times in the past for riots and things of that sort that she had created so she isn’t happy to be followed around by him. As you can imagine, there is tension, chemistry, and lots of adventure along the way.
There are subtle Cinderella nods here and there but I wouldn’t say it’s really a Cinderella retelling.
My only complaint is that I am not a fan of the book cover. How Emme is described in the book doesn’t match at all the lady on the cover. Emme is a small, petite, beautiful woman with long black hair. Anyway, that was the only drawback for me. :-)

This Steampunk series is highly entertaining. They don't have to be read in order, but the characters interact with each other. This twisted version of Cinderella has the horrible step-sisters and a beautiful slipper mixed with Shapeshifters and Vampires. The main characters are strong and wonderful. Delightful!

5 Stars Really

I would like to thank Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for giving me an ARC of this book for a fair and honest review.

I am not stranger to Nancy Campbell Allen’s steampunk fairytale series. I have read and loved Lucy and Miles, sought adventure with Daniel and Isla, and just finished Sam and Hazel’s romance. So getting to read about the fourth member of the quartet was a treat!

Emma and Oliver, who we meet as minor characters in the series are center stage in Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts. Oliver is detective who is often at odds with the willful spitfire Emma, who like her cousin Isla is championing shifter rights by diplomacy, speeches, and sometimes causing riots. This enemies to lovers story is beautifully written, and very believable. The action in this story is swift and the pacing rolls at a well placed clip.

Like many of these novels, you don’t “get” the reference of the fairytale until the end, which is fine for me. I adore this series and hope it continues. I will be buying a copy in August and hope you do too. In the mean time, check out the series from the beginning with Beauty and the Clockwork Beast.

I enjoyed this latest installment of Nancy Campbell Allen's steampunk series. It was fun to finally get Emmeline and Oliver's story. There was plenty of adventure and twists along the way.
This is a clean romance. It is a standalone book. We do see some of the characters from previous stories, but you do not need to know their stories to enjoy this one.

Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts by Nancy Campbell Allen, 368 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2020. $16.
Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Emmeline O’Shea, a 23-year-old activist, is forced to work with her nemesis, Detective-Inspector Oliver Reed, when she receives a threatening letter concerning her upcoming speech. As both Oliver and her midnight speech get closer, those wishing Emme harm get more desperate to silence her. Without a fairy godmother or a miracle to save her, Emme might not live long enough to speak the words still in her heart.
While technically the fourth in a series, this book can easily be read as a standalone; it alludes to some events that were put into action in the previous books, but all the important pieces are explained here for readers. Emme’s story is advertised as a Cinderella retelling, but I found myself straining to find the connections through the first half of the book. Connections to the original story seem to be mostly a stretch of the imagination, though a couple factors are obvious like Emme’s stepsisters and a character named Gus-Gus. Overall, I liked the story, though I think I would have enjoyed it more without the distraction of looking for Cinderella-elements that were not there.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

I have read all of the books in this series. I live the author's steampunk world! I live the characters that you continue to meet during these books! I enjoy the stance that Emme takes in your desire to make her world better. It was fun to see Oliver, who we met earlier in the series, transform. It was a good read and one I will recommend!

Another brilliant book! Being relatively new to steampunk, I wasn't sure what to expect when I first read one of Nancy Campbell Allen's retellings of fairy tales in steampunk style. Suffice it to say that I have now read every single book in the series so far!

Emmeline O'Shea is stubborn, willful, and afraid. Oliver Reed is stubborn, determined, and resigned. They clash from the start, though to the reader the sparks will be obvious.

Madeleine and Lisette as the evil stepsisters were intriguing and saddening. I hope we get more of their story (or at least of one of them!) in a future book.

Gus Gus was a wonderful addition, and a great nod to the Disney Cinderella that many of us know and love.

There were enough twists and turns to stop this retelling from being too predictable. Well worth the read!

I have been impressed with this series by Nancy Campbell Allen. I have loved the h & H in the past titles and all thought they had great chemistry. I never thought I'd read steampunk and enjoy it.
I enjoyed this book becuase I thought it had a good amount of suspense. The whodunnit wasn't obvious. I always enjoy it when previous characters come back for a visit in the current story. This was done well and helped the plot move along while not taking away from the h & H or main plot. Seeds were planted for the next title, I hope! There were some unanswered questions about one step-sister and a previous character Nigel Crowe. I'd love to see their story explored either together or each in their own book. I felt the story had a good pace and development. Excepting perhaps a bit of the romance between the two main charactersj. It was a enemies to lovers trope and while I woudn't say it was too fast it did seem a bit of a quick turn around. The h I had mixed feelings about. I loved the H. He was fantastic. A bit of an oppostie but complimentary to her and her to him. Early in the book it seemed the h had a "the ends justofy the means" attitude. I didn't care for that. Also, I feel like she didn't have much introspection when it came to seeing the H's p.o.v. in their previous history. There was will they/won't they & the h came across as too stubborn or self centered for me in a couple of instances. One example, while they at a hotel she didn't want him to kiss her but she did want him to & when he didn't she was mad about that. The way it was done didn't put her in a good light for me. However, there were some moments of letting her guard down & vulnerability that I did still care. That and the use of the word "social justice" & "activist" used once each would be my only reason for not enjoying it as a 5 star like the other titles. For me those two descriptors have an aggressive/negative connotation to me. Advocate would be good! I think justice is justice there doesn't need to be a qualifier to it. That's just me and probably most people wouldn't care so to each his own! I believe I'll read this a 2nd & slower paced read to see if my opinion changes, The last section of this book was a page turner for me for sure. I loved it. I thought she tied in the elements of the fairytale nicely. I think Nancy Campbell Allen has a great imagination and can paint a scene well so I'm right there with the characters. This is a intersting world she has created and the people have come to life for me, A nice escape

I have been waiting rather impatiently for the next steampunk fairy tale. These books are so unique. They balance romance, suspense, fantasy and fairy tale elements so well. This one however, wasn't my favorite. The plot was intriguing and the suspense kept me engaged, but there were a few elements I'd come to expect from the others that felt missing in this one. I found myself often distracted from an otherwise interesting plot because I was trying to figure out the Cinderella connection. In the other books in this series, the fairy tale connection felt natural and ingenious, this one felt a little forced. I really like the two sides of the same coin concept in the enemies to lovers trope. There were definitely swoony worthy moments between the two and I loved their snarkiness.  I may need to go back and read the last book to see if there's a little more back story between the two characters that I just don't remember, because the romance felt a little rushed. Despite not being my favorite, you can bet I'll be waiting just as impatiently for the next steampunk fairy tale. I love this unique and wonderful world the author has created.

I've really enjoyed all the books in this series. I love Allen's works and this steampunk series opened up a new genre to me that I didn't know I loved. Her fairy tale retellings were fun and inventive. This by far was my favorite!

I loved how strong and passionate Emme was and how Oliver never tried to diminish her light, even when they were at odds with each other. Their relationship was so fun, enemies to lovers being stuck together. The Cinderella parts of this were subtle especially at the beginning and didn't really take effect until the end.

It was perfect. Strong writing and well crafted scenes that kept my interest. I loved seeing the other friends from previous books. This could be read alone, but you may be a little confused at the broading story like with shifter rights that Emme is so strongly for.

I'm very sad this series is ending but it ended on such a high! Thank you to the publishers, Shadow Mountain, and Net Galley for letting me read this for an honest review. I will definitely be buying this in paperback for my own collection.

A great addition to the Proper Romance books. I like that the stories seem to be intertwined and just build on one other.

I have really loved all of these books. I like the intensity of the emotions and how Allen writes them. This book was good and was a good addition to the series. I knew these two would get together and am so happy it worked out so well. They are perfect for each other. Allen always puts a lot of thought into her characters. The book is always well done around them. Both were heroes:} These are always fast paced and fun to read. Not a book I put down. The book did have a bit of a weird flow issue. Almost like things were cut out to make it shorter. It wasn't dramatic and didn't stop my enjoyment of the book. Can't wait for the next one! Will the spy and the mermaid get a story next:}

I will admit up to 40% I was having trouble with the book. After the 40% I was hooked. The pace picked up, I was able to connect more to the characters, and it ended up being a great read for me. I haven't read the others in the series but I will now. The others from the previous book were present in this one as well as Gus, a new secondary character.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!
Can I say that any louder?? This series has been a favorite of mine for a couple years now, and this book exceeded all my expectations. The way that Nancy Allen manages to build the romantic relationship in a way that feels realistic but also adds tension throughout the entire story (as opposed to only partway through a book) is just wonderful--not to mention the sheer brilliance that was the story line. I loved the fast, thrilling plot. There always seemed to be some conflict or interest quickly moving the story along. And the few moments that the main characters had a break from the crazy, we got to see the sweetest, most swoon-worthy interactions. I also really loved all of the appearances by past main characters, and the furthering of their own stories.
I didn't want it to end. I couldn't put the book down (quite literally, my physical copy already looks well-loved because I took it everywhere) and cannot wait for it to release so that everyone can enjoy it as much as I did. Honestly, my only cons were that there was no epilogue (I wanted the story to keep going!) and that the cover was not as great as previous in the series, but I know that the author likely did not have much of a say in that so it does not factor into my review.

I know a book is a winner when it keeps me up half the night even though the outcome is never in doubt. This steampunk novel, loosely based on Cinderella, is full of twists, turns, adventure, and appealing characters, as well as a romance I can comfortable recommend even to young teen readers.
Review based on an ARC received through NetGalley.

📚Happy Weekend hope your plans are full of comfy clothes & a lovely book!📖
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Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts by @authornancycampbellallen
Was a book that I consumed & boy was it good! In my opinion the best one in the series so far. I would even go as far as to say the best book she has written! .
Steampunk Proper Romance Series:
📖Beauty and the Clockwork Beast ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖Kiss of the Spindle⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖The Lady in the Coppergate Tower⭐⭐⭐
📖Brass Carriages and Glass Hearts⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Even though you could read this book as a stand alone it's better if you read the others first. That way you could really appreciate the cameos & see how much the friendships have grown. Loved this book, the world, the friendships, the swoon worthy moments, and the way she wrote Cinderella characters!
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Cinderella Retelling✔
Swoon worthy moments✔
Steampunk✔
Adventure✔
Romance✔
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This one comes out in August & if you couldn't tell already I highly recommend this one!
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Thank You to @netgalley , @properromanceseries & @shadowmountainpub for an advanced copy! All my thoughts & opinions are my own.