If you're looking for something fun, and enjoy a bit of the supernatural, I highly recommend the Parasol Protectorate series by Gail Carriger.

Steampunk, Victorian England, comedy of manners... and also vampires, werewolves, evil scientists, and a whole mish-mosh of complications as well. I found all the books in the series entirely enchanting. It doesn't hurt that the lead male character is a large Scottish fellow, aye?

Published so far are Soulless, Changeless, Blameless, and Heartless. Timeless (the fifth and final in the series) comes out in February.

Not heavy reading by any means, but certainly a great way to spend some chilly winter afternoons!

I love the Parasol Protectorate books. Is Timeless really the last??? I had no idea. I am already on the request list at the library and should get one of the copies first when they are ready.

I love Alexia and the whole gang. Such fun reads.

Yes, Timeless is definitely the last in the series... but she has two other series coming up. The next to be published (I believe) is a YA series set in a finishing school (Etiquette & Espionage is the first title), coming out in 2013. I think she's also planning a spin-off series focusing on a certain character from the Parasol Protectorate (Prudence), which should be all sorts of fun.

I do adore Alexia, and Connall as well!

UPDATE: Just looked it up: The Prudence series will be called The Parasol Protectorate Abroad, and come out late in 2013.

Thanks for the info Lisa.

I adore this series, and while I'm sad to hear she's winding down with Alexia and Connall, I'm glad to hear she has other things in the hopper.
Maybe it's good news. I've had several disappointments in the past couple of years with series that continue past their sell by dates-Vampire Academy, Wicked Lovely, Sookie Stackhouse, to name a few. It's good for authors to know when they're done with one story and ready to tell another. I didn't actually think Alexia and Connall's story was getting stale, but Gail Carriger would know best how much more story there is to tell.
Thanks for the info on the other series!

I definitely agree. I appreciate an author who wraps up a series when it's still good and gives you a satisfying ending. "Timeless" is supposed to arrive on Tuesday, according to Amazon. Can't wait!

(And you're so right about the Sookie books -- I loved the first seven or so, but since then, I've felt like the story has been stretched out way longer than needed. Time to wrap it up!)

Adding my vote to Carriger's Parasol Protectorate....inventive and well-written...lots of fun. And as far as abandoning series when they've stretched beyond their shelf life.....I've lost count of the series I've ditched as they became repetitive, too drawn out and convoluted, or I just stopped caring about what was happening .There is considerable skill involved in knowing when you've said everything you have to say...and stopping. Let's take a moment to give props to Diana Gabaldon for keeping her characters intriguing and her stories engrossing over the years, aye? And for Charlaine Harris fans...I never got into the Sookie series, but her Lily Bard "Shakespeare" series and her newer Harper Connelly "Grave" series are excellent.

I also really liked the Harper Connelly series -- and really appreciated that it was just four books and then done!

I think the Lily Bard books are my favorites (there are 5 of those). I still enjoy the Sookie books and I know CH has always had a plan for the series. There are only 2 more books to come (this May and next May), so it's not going on forever, but I understand that people may consider that too long. I also enjoyed the Aurora Teagarden books, but I still think the Lily/Shakespeare series is my favorite.

I thought "Timeless" wasn't coming out until March. Is it really next week?
Weird: I just checked Amazon and it has (Mar 2, 2012) as the release date, but it also says you can order for delivery on Feb 21 and the Kindle version will be available Mar 1. What sense does all that make???

I got multiple updates on shipping from Amazon, but the final word is that my copy of Timeless shipped already and is supposed to be delivered on 2/21. I'm just happy to be getting it earlier than expected! I believe Gail Carriger is doing a reading in San Francisco next weekend, so that should give me enough time to read the book ahead of time.

Quickie update: My copy of "Timeless" arrived yesterday, and I'm already enjoying it. Thought y'all would appreciate this passage (in regard to the main character's husband, who - BTW - is a large and handsome Scot!):

Lord Maccon, it ought to be noted, was wearing another pink brocade shawl wrapped securely about his waist. It looked like a skirt from the East Indies. Alexia supposed her husband, being Scottish, was accustomed to wearing skirts. And he did have very nice knees. Scotsmen, she had occasion to observe, often did have nice knees. Perhaps that was why they insisted upon kilts.

Oh! I do love Alexia and her observations. I suspect that I won't get the book for another week or two since I am waiting for a library copy and I think the official release date is March 2. I don't think libraries loan copies before they are officially released.

I just got back from attending a book signing for Timeless at a local bookstore. Gail Carriger was fabulous, as always! So warm and appreciative, and took the time to answer lots of questions. If you're at all interested, you can find her appearance schedule on her website. She's one of the authors I always try to see when she does local appearances, as she really likes her readers and is so much fun to be around.

And in case you're interested, here are a couple of photos from the signing: (I'm the one without the adorable hat!)


By the way, "Timeless" was pretty terrific. I love it when a series I care about wraps up well, and this one definitely did not disappoint!

Oh, how wonderful that you got to go to the signing and get pics. Thanks so much for sharing. I am still waiting anxiously for the book, but I hope to have it within a week.

I'm waiting for Timeless to hit Sony's Reader Store...even submitted a special request to them...anybody here work for Sony? Could you tell them to get a move on?