An interview with Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator about the just released, The Moonstone and Miss Jones.

Jillian: “How would you describe the paranormal side of the plot in The Moonstone and Miss Jones?”

Phaeton: “Ah yes, Phaeton and America part deux: a tale of two Londons. Where do I begin? Upon our return to London, America Jones and I quickly discover that an alternate future London is sucking the bloody life out of the dank, sooty metropolis of 1889––the city I know and love. For lack of a better name, we begin to refer to this parallel London as the Outremer––admittedly a rather hasty use of the French word meaning ‘distant lands beyond the sea.’ But then, when one is on the run from Skeezicks, Reapers and other strange dregs––what’s a paranormal investigator to do, but choose an overly romantic name for such an odd phenomena?”

Jillian: “A number of new characters, like the Nightshades, help you battle the strange Outremer creatures. And there are still others from the alternate London who claim to be––well, who knows if they are friend or foe? All of them are interested in one thing, and one thing alone…”

Phaeton: “The Moonstone. As I said, we’re under attack by these strange creatures who plague 1889 London, and, well, I suppose there’s no other way to explain it, but things appear to be unraveling––on both sides. With the help from the Nightshades, Miss Jones and I venture into the alternate London to extract the Moonstone and close the rabbit hole between the two worlds. Plot-wise, this is all I will reveal, and suffice it to say, Miss Jones and I have our own issues to work out, as well. The series reader has a new flock of characters to get to know and dare I say––the story continues well beyond The Moonstone and Miss Jones…”

Jillian: “What exactly are these issues you and America Jones have to work out?”

Phaeton: “I will reveal this much: we take turns being angry at one another, which keeps the sex lively. An RT reviewer’s warning: SCORCHER. The story picks up a few months after The Seduction of Phaeton Black. If you recall­­, America and I sail off into the sunset happily ever after––or at least happy for now. Then, in The Moonstone and Miss Jones I am quite rudely shanghaied in Shanghai. America, rightly or wrongly, believes I abandoned ship and chases me back to London. Needless to say, the moment she catches up to me, we become entangled in a nefarious plot by powerful Outremer moguls of industry to recover the Moonstone. Of course there is only one person in all of 1889 London who can unleash the Moonstone’s energy and save both worlds.”

Jillian: “And who might that be, the author asks with a grin?”

Phaeton: “Who do you think? The hero answers with a wink.”

Excerpt from The Moonstone and Miss Jones

Strange and amusing things happen when Phaeton ventures into the alternate, future London. I couldn’t resist the idea of dropping him into a modern day lingerie boutique and have him purchase the briefest of brief ladies unmentionables!

Phaeton entered Hanway Yard and checked his surroundings. Even though the uneven pavers were enough to trip a person up, gaslights had been replaced by electric lamp posts, and shop windows blazed with light. He had definitely crossed over into a parallel London and it was nearly dark. Phaeton strolled past chic boutique windows with smart looking togs on display and racks of clothing for sale inside. The future—if indeed this was the future, appeared ready-to-wear.

He stopped short near Tottenham Court Road, mesmerized by a shop window filled with ladies unmentionables. The delicate underthings lay scattered about in front of large photographs of statuesque women, nearly all of them nude, except for a tiny string, running between their buttock cheeks.

Christ, he was instantly hard as a stone.

The fragile, lace pantalettes on display came in every shade of pastel, cream and black. Tiny pieces of cloth and string––and all he could think about was how they might look on America.

One of the life-size women in the photographs looked over her shoulder. She cupped bare breasts with her hands––like there was something to be modest about when a lady’s buttocks were jiggling in the breeze? Still, he enjoyed a quick fantasy.

Phaeton scanned the yard behind him and entered the shop. A pert young woman with bobbed hair popped up from behind a pink and white striped counter. She looked him up and down. “Love your costume––going to the Anti-Christ?”

“Pardon?”

“The nightclub in Whitechapel? Steampunk theme night?

A bit slack jawed, he nodded. “Right.”

She pointed to the goggles around his neck. “Nice touch.”

Phaeton cleared his throat. “Might I inquire about the cream colored lingerie in the window?”

“Oh!” The shop girl gasped. “One of my favorites––did you notice the strategically placed little rhinestone? Adorable!” The enthusiastic young woman opened a shallow drawer in a display cabinet. “We have them in every color!”

Phaeton picked out the cream with the rhinestone, a violet lace little nothing and something in transparent black with a velvet bow at each hip.

“Is this a gift? Wife or girlfriend?”

Phaeton noted a flash of pale light out in the yard. No doubt his comrades were arriving. “More of a gift for me, actually.” He picked up the delicate underthings and stuffed them in his pocket. “How much?”

“Thirty-one and six.” When he stared, she added: “Including VAT.”

Luckily, he still had a money clip full of his gambling winnings. He counted out nearly as half year’s rent.

“Phaeton––we’ve been looking all over for you.” Jersey swept through the doorway goggles resting on top of his head, his cloak swept back off his shoulders, looking for all the world, like the adventurer he was. The shop girl’s mouth dropped open as her gaze moved from Jersey to Cutter, who also stood in the door way, whirring and rasping. “I could call a few friends…meet up with you blokes later in Whitechapel?”

Phaeton stepped away. “We’re off to a…masquerade party. Perhaps later, love.”

“After hours, then.” She winked.

They joined Ping and Lovecraft outside. “Shopping, Phaeton?” Despite the annoyed look, the professor stole another glance at the display window. They all did. Phaeton deciphered the sign above the pink striped awning and snorted. “Of course the queen would want to keep this shop a secret.”

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Excerpt from The Seduction of Phaeton Black

She had never met the like of such a man.

After a few deep draughts of spirit, he kicked a chair out from under the table and straddled the seat. “The chair rails guard my bulging privates. Not to be confused with filthy pirates.”

He took another swig from the bottle. “Tell me about these imaginary, cutlass wielding corsairs. Miss––?”

 “My name is America Jones.”

He set an elbow on the chair back and cupped his chin. He had a wary way of studying her, as if she were some kind of curiosity. “Are you incapable of answering questions in a truthful manner? Again, Miss––?”

She set her jaw and glared. “America.”

“Is the name of a continent, or two. I can never remember if there are two continents designated north and south, or one continent designated south and north. Which is it?”

Why did he play the Mad Hatter? Leaning far back off the chair, he had to catch himself. The grog appeared to be having an effect. “And there is a new country, the United States of America.”

Even with arms tied down, she still managed a shrug. “It is my name, sir. America Síne Jones and I have learned to live with it these twenty-ought years.”

 “I believe I may call you by your middle name.” His mouth twitched. “Sin–ay. I do so admire the first syllable.”

Her gaze narrowed to a quizzical squint. “Is your mind always in the gutter, Mr.––?

“Black.” Liquid sable eyes flecked with gold drank in every inch of her. “Only when I am interested, Miss Jones.”

“And are you interested?”

“I once enjoyed a meal at the Langham Hotel, which I thought about repeating for weeks afterward.”

“Is that what I am to you? A supper?”

 He lowered his chin. “A banquet, my tempting dark dove.” Hooded ebony eyes crinkled at the sides. He enjoyed taunting her. 

Captivated for a moment, she mentally slapped herself.  “I would love to stay and chat, really I would, but I must be on my way.” She flashed the faintest of smiles. “Now that we are introduced, certainly you can release me from bondage?”

“One more thing, Miss Jones. If you would kindly explain about the pirates?” He tilted his head. “Your eyes are most extraordinary. Almost feline.”

What an exasperating man! While he swigged from the bottle, she tugged again on her bindings. “Why do you insist on torturing me?”

She pressed her lips together and chewed the inside of her bottom lip. A force of habit when vexed beyond endurance. Well, she supposed two could play this silly, annoying interrogation game. “Are your parents still living, Mr. Black?

He sat up and blinked. “Mother died of a virulent meningitis years ago. My father teaches advanced mathematics at Trinity College.” He ran a hand through thick waves of dark brown hair. “He might as well be dead. We don’t get on.”

“I could not tell you if my mother is alive or dead. I’ve not been home to Louisiana in many years. Buried my father four short months ago. Charles Gardiner Jones.” She leaned forward purposefully. “A decent and honest merchant trader. Acquaintances said he couldn’t face his business failure––that he died of drink. People who knew him well, told a very different story. My father’s heart was broken by his lying, scheming business partner.”

When her eyes threatened to tear, she lifted her chin. “After his funeral I vowed to bring Yanky Willem to justice.”

“And how goes this pursuit?”

She frowned. “Not as well as I’d hoped. Last night Willem caught me rifling through a year’s worth of cargo manifests.”

He arched a brow. “Searching for––?”

“Proof of piracy, Mr. Black.”

He smiled that maddening grin of his. “I knew if I was patient, we might actually get round to the original subject of my query––the filthy pirates.”

“Chased me from the Docklands all the way down the Strand.” She laid her head back against the padded chair and counted the cracks in the ceiling. “When you stepped into the sharp edge of my blade, I was clean out of bullets.”

“Bullets? And where, pray tell is your pistol?

Now it was her turn to grin. “Untie me, and––“

“I think not, Miss Jones.” From behind protective rungs, Mr. Black stepped over the seat of his chair and ventured closer. “Shall we search together?”

She-Wolf Review

This book was a lot of fun.  Words that come to mind to describe it are bawdy, saucy, witty…sexy fun with a supernatural twist.  A sexy, at times kinky, romp with a heart of gold.  The Seduction of Phaeton Black took me by surprise, and its infectious fun left me curious to know what happens next to Phaeton Black and the lovely Miss America Jones.

The best parts of the book were the wit and the chemistry between Phaeton Black and America Jones.  They meet in a very unusual way and from the first moment, the sparks fly.  The relationship goes from a light sexual dalliance to something deeper that neither wants to admit to feeling.  Both don’t really believe in love as an absolute but I liked the way the relationship developed from light to heavy.  It was extremely sexual in nature but there were moments of tenderness that gave it more depth.  Phaeton himself was an acquired taste.  He went from rakish fun to being a bit of an ass but he won me over in the end.  And he never failed to make me smile.

 “He quickly gave the nod to a confection of emerald green satin.  The gown featured a narrow bodice held up by the daintiest small sleeves, which fell off her shoulders and threatened to bare all if she so much as exhaled.

 How he hoped she might take a deep breath.”

Miss America Jones is also a wonderful character.  Smart, sassy, independent – she was a definite match for the elusive Phaeton.  She also did not compromise her goals in order to satisfy a man…which I loved.

There were some intriguing secondary characters as well — Dr. Exeter who has some unclear abilities of his own, the hermaphrodite Jin, and the gargoyle Edvar.  I hope to see more of them in the next book.  Especially Dr. Exeter who I felt a little uncertain about in terms of his footing in the paranormal world.  Maybe he will be less of a mystery in the next book.

Another nice twist was the mythology used in the supernatural aspects of the story.  It takes place in Victorian England when the obsession with Egypt and its artifacts was at its height.  Phaeton is a paranormal investigator with the ability to sense or see supernatural beings.  He is investigating a murder that he suspects is the work of an empusa/vampire.  America, who has her own paranormal abilities, is able to help with his work given her extensive travel and experience in Egypt.  I love that the mythology around the seductive empusa had its basis in Egyptian mythology with the jackal headed god, Anubis, making an appearance.  Most vampire stories find roots in a European mythos which gets stale after a while.  It was refreshing to get a taste of a new mythology.

However, I think the supernatural aspects of the story were also its weakest points, at least in terms of how they were developed.  I felt the actual paranormal investigation took backstage to the sexual adventures of the couple.  I wish the story was a bit heavier on solving and capturing the goddess terrorizing the mortals of London.  Instead, it felt a bit rushed at the end. 

Though a bit light on the paranormal for my tastes, I can’t help but recommend this book.  The Seduction of Phaeton Black was bawdy, infectious fun.  Read it and I dare you not to smile.

A strong recommendation.