I can't decide which story I like more in this series! ( )

This book (novella-length) is available for free; it is related to the author's Prosperity books, but it can be read whenever, because it stands on its own. The setting is alternate history/steampunk, although the latter elements are not much in evidence here (except for the "carnivorous mechanical horse.") The plot, which is lovely, is pretty much pure romance. There are one or two things peripheral to the romance that seem important but are not really followed up here, although they may be in some of the other stories. However, the romance is quite satisfying. It is also the first and only romance I have read and enjoyed that involves M/F content, which I usually avoid and/or dislike intensely because apparently I have issues, but I didn't have issues with this book, so make of that what you will. It also has M/M content, of course, and in my view it manages to handle both without any repressed misogyny or homophobia bubbling to the surface. The characters are believable and lovable without being anachronistic (that is, they don't think and act like 21st-century people, at least not without having good reasons for it). I might have preferred having viewpoint chapters from all three of them, but I think I can see why the author did it this way, and it works, so it isn't a problem. Anyway, this is definitely well worth reading. It is a lot better than some of the books I paid money for in the past year. I actually would have paid for this one, except it's free. ( )