Book Review: A Lady’s Guide To Marvels And Misadventure

I am so excited to present to you the debut novel by Angela Bell, A Lady’s Guide to Marvels And Misadventure. This book is termed a whimsical Victorian, and draws its inspiration from Jules Verne and The Nutcracker. Bell captures the Victorian era and has a wonderful grumpy and sunshine duo in Clara and Theodore. You do not want to miss this fun historical novel!

Miss Clara Marie Stanton’s family may be eccentric, but they certainly aren’t insane.

London, England, 1860
When Clara’s ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, it’s all she can do to protect them from his desperate schemes, society’s prejudice, and a lifetime in an asylum. Then Clara’s Grandfather Drosselmeyer brings on an apprentice with a mechanical leg, and all pretense of normalcy takes wing.

Theodore Kingsley, a shame-chased vagabond haunted by the war, wants a fresh start far from Kingsley Court and the disappointed father who declared him dead. Upon returning to England, Theodore meets clockmaker Drosselmeyer, who hires him as an apprentice, much to Clara’s dismay. When Drosselmeyer spontaneously disappears in his secret flying owl machine, he leaves behind a note for Clara, beseeching her to make her dreams of adventure a reality by joining him on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe. Together, Clara and Theodore set off to follow Drosselmeyer’s trail of clues, but they will have to stay one step ahead of a villain who wants the flying machine for himself–at any cost.

Angela Bell is a twenty-first-century lady with nineteenth-century sensibilities. She resides in Texas with her charming pup, Mr. Bingley Crosby. One might categorize her books as historical romance, but Angela likes to describe them as “a cuppa Victorian whimsy” because it sounds so much more poetical.

Whenever you need a respite from the modern-day hustle, you’re welcome to visit her parlor at AuthorAngelaBell.com, where she can be found waiting with a pot of tea and a great book.

My Impressions:

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels And Misadventure gives a nod to several literary treasures, including The Nutcracker, Around The World in Eighty Days, and Heidi. But this debut by Angela Bell is no knock-off! With its steampunk vibe, fabulously fun Victorian settings and whimsy, and charming and colorful characters, this novel is so very good! Clara is burdened by many things, taking her grandfather’s childhood nickname, Little Atlas, to heart as she shoulders the family griefs and scandals. But her grandfather has other plans for her as he sets her on an adventure accompanied by his apprentice Arthur and chaperoned by her mother, the animal-activist Mrs. S. It takes some doing for Clara to lighten up, but she finally embraces the adventure as she solves a treasure hunt across Europe. I loved both main characters — the grumpy Clara and sunshine-y Arthur — as they made their way to each other and towards a God who provides, protects, and keeps His promises. The group travels by boat and train, with stops in fascinating cities all orchestrated by Drosslemeyer to delight and enlighten. It certainly delighted me! I admit to googling places and foods as I sought to immerse myself in this book. A dastardly villain keeps the characters on their toes as well — I gasped along with them. As the raucous romp continues, a strong faith thread is developed. This novel is full of surprises, not the least being the profound truths that made me stop and think about my own journey through life.

Fun and fabulous are two descriptors that fit A Lady’s Guide to Marvels And Misadventure. You are going to want to go along on this ride. I laughed, shed a few tears, and definitely learned a thing or two!

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults

(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Tags: Angela Bell, historical fiction