Wednesday, April 1, 2015

*Book Review & Giveaway* The Diamond Conspiracy by Pip Ballantine, Tee Morris

Series: Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences #4
Publisher: Penguin/ACE
Released: March 31, 2015
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book, 368 pages
Genre: Steampunk, Science Fiction


*Book Blurb*

Having narrowly escaped the electrifying machinations of Thomas Edison, Books and Braun are looking forward to a relaxing and possibly romantic voyage home. But when Braun’s emergency signal goes off, all thoughts of recreation vanish. Braun’s street-wise team of child informants, the Ministry Seven, is in grave peril, and Books and Braun must return to England immediately.


But when the intrepid agents finally arrive in London, the situation is even more dire than they imagined. The Ministry has been disavowed, and the Department of Imperial Inconveniences has been called in to decommission its agents in a most deadly fashion. The plan reeks of the Maestro’s dastardly scheming. Only, this time, he has a dangerous new ally—a duplicitous doctor whose pernicious poisons have infected the highest levels of society, reaching even the Queen herself.



After romping their way across America in Dawn's Early Light, Eliza Braun and Wellington Books are on their way home to England. But, as they are flying home and finding a bit of romantic enjoyment along the way, Eliza receives a distress signal from her group of former street urchins called the Ministry Seven. After running into some serious trouble, the Ministry is in dire need of her help, which forces Eliza to use her imagination, and ingenuity to get them to France before it's too late.

In the meantime, The Ministry has found itself under attack by The Department of Imperial Inconveniences at behest of the Queen Victoria. Ministry agents from around the world are finding themselves hunted down and eliminated by The Department known for cleaning up messes. With Director Sounds Phantom Protocol in place, we end up with the return of ex-Agent Bruce Campbell, and for the first time ever, the introduction of a group of Ministry agents that have been hanging in the background from the very beginning of this series.

People, if you haven't read the first THREE books in this romping good time of a steampunk series, you should be! Eliza, as I've said many times now, is one of my favorite heroines of the steampunk genre. She's a bit on the gun ho side, and likes to blow things up. But, she's also not afraid of her own shadow, and takes on villains with a smile on her face, and a snarky comment to go along with it. Eliza's relationship with the Ministry Seven is brilliantly done. They are her eyes and ears on the streets of London, and I do love that the kids have such a positive effect on who Eliza has become.

The relationship between Eliza and Welly has FINALLY come to the light of day! They've been flying around each other like hummingbirds ever since Eliza found herself in the Archives. I did mention the "KISS" that hung over the couple in Dawn's Early Light. Never worry my little mushrooms! Ballantine and Morris unleash the forces that are Eliza and Welly and nothing will ever be the same again!

The Diamond Conspiracy is the book for major revelations, shocking surprises, and end of certain story arcs, and a beginning of another. It is an epic adventure right from the beginning. We get the long awaited peek into the Ministry Archives which has tempted and teased readers and the Maestro as well. We also get a look into the backgrounds of Welly, who is more than just THE Archivist for the Ministry, and Director Dr. Basil Sound whose own secrets and revelations are just shocking, if I may say so.

The Diamond Conspiracy is the fourth book in the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris and I dare say one of the better stories of this series. With the cliffhanger ending, I am definitely eager to find out what happens next!

**I received this book for free from (Penguin/ACE) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**'




I am giving away (1) copy of The Diamond Conspiracy as part of this blog tour.
Please, you MUST be at least 17.
You MUST be a US resident as I can not afford to pay the high cost of shipping.
I would love that you follow this blog, and spread the word about this book!










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