Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Amid London’s brass and steam, one apprentice and one inventor risk everything for a love society would deny.

If Marcus Tanner can prove himself worthy of inventor William Collier’s workshop, he can claim a future he’s never dared allow himself to imagine when growing up in the slums of London.

For William, Marcus is meant to be only an apprentice: brilliant, steady-handed, and entirely too easy to admire. But long nights among brass and steam turn respect into longing, and longing into something far more dangerous, with class and propriety standing between them at every turn. And for all William thrives within the Inventors’ Guild—among minds like his own, where wit, invention, and a taste for trouble are rewarded—it is not a world that makes room for a man like Marcus at his side.

Then William draws Marcus into the sort of mischief the Guild delights in most: outwitting polite society and stealing a priceless ruby. As Marcus begins to believe he might truly have a place in William’s life, the return of William's former lover stirs old doubts and new wounds. Marcus has fought too hard for this life to risk his heart on a man whose world was never built for him—especially when every fear he has ever carried whispers that he will never be enough to be chosen.

Finishing Touches is a gay Steampunk romance novel with a backdrop of the elite London members' club, The Inventors' Guild.

 

Book Review

“There is no road so long and winding as the one that lead you to the finish line. Every bend is meant to test you, every junction made to bring you closer to that place where love and sacrifice meet.” ~ Bianca Scardoni

 

William, the main character in Rebecca Cohen's 'Finishing Touches’, is a wealthy inventor of steam engines for steam-powered vehicles. He is brilliant, but like many geniuses, he has several quirks, especially when he is in the midst of a breakthrough with one of his inventions. William forgets to eat, lock the front door, pay his bills, and leave enough money for household needs, along with other everyday, mundane tasks.

 

When his apprentice leaves, William needs another; on a friend's recommendation, he posts an ad and starts interviewing candidates. Most of them, though they seem socially acceptable, don't fit his criteria. He is discouraged until he meets Marcus. Although he comes from 'the wrong side of town', Marcus impresses William not only with his honesty and forthrightness, but also with his effort to better himself by learning to read and write, manage a business, and work with numbers. He is hired right away.

 

Marcus is elated to be employed by such a distinguished gentleman, especially since it will afford him the means to help his family. When he arrives at the shop, things are not as he expected. William insists that he call him by his given name. Marcus is stunned to learn he won't have to sleep in a corner somewhere, but will have his own room, indoor plumbing, and an allowance for new clothes. William explains the details of the operation, and Marcus immediately catches on, which only makes William more certain he's made the right choice.

 

As time goes on, Marcus has learned enough to help William with his creations. His feelings for Marcus shift from grateful employee to young man in love. William is oblivious, but he isn't good at reading others' thoughts, feelings, or motives, so he misses how Marcus feels. When William finally understands how Marcus feels, they become lovers.

 

The club, The Inventor's Guild, is actually a front for a gang of elite thieves who neither want nor need what they steal. They do it merely for sport. When they need someone “inside”, William suggests Marcus, who is willing and able to do the job, yet the one with the most to lose.

 

'Finishing Touches' is a story set in a Steampunk universe, which makes the events surprising and unique. It has lots of suspense, intrigue, and some romance. I loved Marcus. He was sweet, honest, and sincere. I did question why he didn't feel he could confront William about practical but important matters, like how he kept forgetting to pay Marcus. I regret to say that I never warmed up to William. Although their relationship worked out for the most part, I questioned his sincerity when he told Marcus he was his equal, even though he didn't always treat him as such. Thanks, Rebecca, for taking us on a journey into the Inventor's Guild world.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book was purchased by the reviewer.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 236 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	28-June-2026
Price	$4.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Finishing-Touches-Rebecca-Cohen/dp/B0H6VBP4J5