“ I would rather be absurd with you than normal with anyone else.”

This was a very clever and interesting tale. I was originally expecting a book with nutcrackers and ballet, but this was more of a spin on ‘80 Days Around the World’. Grand and Normas love story sounded so sweet. I think a story of their adventures would be fun. Grand’s inventions were neat to read and imagine. Clara is constantly feeling like she needs to care for everyone else and putting them first. Also, Mrs. Stanton is a hoot and will keep you laughing. If you are looking for a dashing adventure and scavenger hunt, you have found the perfect read for you. Grab a yummy snack ( you will want one after reading of all the delicious ones in the book) and cozy up with this delightful story!


Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc. I was not required to write a review.

Whimsical and delightful. Angela Bell has crafted a stand-out debut novel. I laughed out loud numerous times and wanted to cry with/for Clara. I am so impressed at how the tone of the book is very lighthearted and yet there are deep truths that are shared and our heroine goes on an incredible journey of growth. Let me give you an idea of the brilliance of this book.

"My current state of exhaustion surpasses that of a perpetually napping hedgehog."

"Dependence isn't about striving, it's about relying. It's assuming a posture of hopeful humility at the feet of a sovereign Lord. Conferring with Him before you move. Believing that He is moving on your behalf when you're instructed to be still."

See what I mean?!

There was a lot in this book that tied in to my word for 2024, which was neat. Sometimes I think that God places books in my life at the perfect time and this is one of those times.

I absolutely LOVED the little nods to other literature and/or pop culture. The Nutcracker is obvious and then others pop up as the story goes on. The Narnia references with the house and brothers... the turtle. THE TURTLE!!!!! And then her mom's name/her grandmother's maiden name. Those are just the ones I recognized. I wonder how many more there may be that I didn't know.

Do yourself a favor and read this beautiful, touching, hilariously brilliant book!

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell
Miss Clara Marie Stanton is known to her loving grandfather as Little Atlas because she often carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Living in the mid 1800’s, she is terrified that something horrible will happen to her family, especially if the word gets out about her uncle and his disgraceful demise. The rest of the family is quite unique with her mother an animal rights activist who can’t pass up a stray and her grandfather who is an inventor of automatons including butterflies and a huge flying owl. As she seeks to protect her family, her grandfather leads her on a merry scavenger hunt across Europe. She attempts to follow his clues while staying ahead of her former fiancé who wants nothing more than to use her family for his own nefarious purposes.
There were many things that made this book unique and entertaining. The automatons were a fun surprise. The many interesting locations in the book were fascinating. The characters were quirky, a definite plus for this reader. And the vocabulary was delightful, often requiring me to use the look up feature in my kindle.
Readers who enjoy a witty read with unexpected elements, a bit of romance, and lovable characters who grow spiritually are sure to enjoy this book. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in return for this my honest review.

Never have I ever read such a creative, magical, quirky historical fiction book! What an imagination Angela Bell has!
I loved the fun eccentric characters, the banter and the tender romance.
The journey these characters traveled was fun and the genius of Drosselmeyer and his automatons was so fantastical!
This was a fun story. I admit that I wrestled with wanting to quit and yet wanting to know what happened next during the first half of the story. I am so glad that I finished it though. It was indeed a worthwhile read!

There is no way to miss the Christian words of comfort, hope and the fact that God will find a way.
A couple memorable quotes:

“any broker thing can be made whole again. It all depends on who you give the pieces to.

“Now Theodore remembered why talking to the Lord was do dashed frustrating – the Almighty had a penchant for answering him with a particularly profane four-letter word, Wait.”

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fantasy, Historical Steampunk, Christian Fantasy, Romance
Christian Level: 10 out of 10. (More to come on this.)

A LADY'S GUIDE TO MARVELS AND MISADVENTURE is a delightful romp through Victorian England (and a few other European countries).

I was vested in Clara from the beginning. She's got a rough task to keep her eccentric family in line—they literally do not care about what other people think, but she's worried for their safety from unscrupulous people. And she has a right to be since her ex-fiancé has threatened to send them to the mad house.

Arthur/Theodore has genuine problems of having been abused and fighting to know where he belongs. Even so, he's generally cheerful and trying. I found this plot line to be realistic. He's a cinnamon roll. Now I'm second guessing myself, because he's a bit like a golden retriever too. You'll have to decide.

My favorite parts are all the unrealistic bits of the inventions and mayhem. It's whimsical, outlandish, adventurous, and plain fun. There are genuinely touching moments as these characters figure out themselves and each other.

The Christian aspect: Whether people were true believers in the Victorian era, most people attended church. So the fact that this family has faith in Christ tracks from a historical standpoint. In the beginning of the novel, there isn't as much to point this adventure out as being Christian fiction. As it gets going, the theme of who is in charge is apparent. The characters actively speak to one another about what it means to believe in Christ and pray to God. It's integrated into the novel, and I thought it was done well. As a believer, it rings true to me as being nondenominational. If you're not a Christian, I still think you can read it and enjoy the book.

I highly recommend this book!

Happy reading!

This book has such a fun cover and as a debut novel I wasn't sure what to expect. I imagined this story to be fun and light and a tad silly. It did prove to be a light and silly read with needed life lessons throughout. The silliness at times was a bit over the top for me. There are some fun family dynamics that I enjoyed and this truly has a cast of colorful and unique characters. I struggled to fully be engrossed in this book. I love the idea and the travel adventures is great but at times it felt a bit slow. I did appreciate how this story shows a different side to personalities. Often with books set in this time period the people tend to be very much the same with perhaps one quirk about them. In this book it veers greatly and shows how people all have different personalities. This has always been true, it just isn't often written into the books we read. So I commend the author for taking a leap and writing something different. I am eager to read what comes next!

Three Stars.

" I received this book for free from NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

I loved everything about this book! The romance, the adventure, the banter, the hopeful message, all of it was perfect.

This is such a sweeping and delightful story about leaning on others and trusting the Lord. I instantly fell in love with Clara and Theodore and loved going along on the adventure with them and Mrs. S (and all their little friends).

I have no bad things to say about this book. I was giggling and kicking my feet the whole time while reading, and planning my next trip to Europe when I wasn’t. I think everyone needs to read this book!

I received an ARC of this book and I’m so grateful, and I’ll definitely be picking up a physical copy when this book comes out.

Clara carries a great load over her shoulders, taking care of her eccentric family. Its true that they are a peculiar bunch but it does not mean they are insane as her ex-fiancé tries to prove, spreading false rumors about her beloved Grand, a great clockwork maker, and his offspring, treating them to end up in an asssylum. She tries to mantain her family under control but one day a vagabond appears at the door of grandfather´s workshop becoming his apprentice. Would he be a menace? A spy from his ex-fiancé? No way he is going to stay, Clara will get rid of him!
Theodore is a ex-soldier, burnt by the aftermath of the war. Rejected by his own father he wants to start a new life under a new name. So, when he returns to England he meets Drosselmeyer, a nice old man that amazed by Theodore´s skills hires him inmediately, fact that Clara, his grandaughter finds quite inconvenient and suspicious.
One day Drosselmeyer dissapears in an owl flying machine touring Europe leaving behind a trail of clues for Thedore and Clara to follow and find him, leading them to adventure, perils and love amidst the menacing hand of her ex-fiance, who wants the flying machine for himself no matter the cost.

Join Clara and Theodore in this adventure among witty banter, very good descriptions of Europe and its monuments, perils and a beautiful love story.
A lovely reading that will made you have a very good time!

This book was unlike any other I've read: steampunk mixed with a Victorian era novel. Clara is strong-willed and feisty. She is determined to protect those she loves ... including her former fiance. I really enjoyed her grandfather and his flying owl machine. The overall cast of characters are easy to connected with and varied. The reader receives a literary taste of Europe. It reminded me a bit of "Around the World in 80 Days." The faith message is woven throughout.

This is such a fun, whimsical romp of a book. I loved its uniqueness and ingenuity and Angela Bell really has a way with words so was delighted by her clever word choices and turns of phrases. It reminded me a bit of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton—historical and fantastical at the same time. Cant wait to see what the author comes up with next

I couldn't get hooked, I just never wanted to continue reading. The writing and the plot are good, it just wasn't for me. There was nothing specific I didn't like, I just didn't like much.

I'm giving a three star review as I have nothing bad to say about the book so a neutral rating is best in my mind.

I feel like I've been on an adventure with Nellie Bly! Debut author Angela Bell has produced a whimsical, steampunk adventure that will leave you wanting more.

While I had a hard time picturing a mechanical flying owl, I was still caught up in this thrilling story that had a very strong faith element, a slow-burning romance, and a quirky cast of characters that I will miss.

Clara Marie Stanton has sworn off men after her ex-fiance started spreading rumours about the sanity of her family. When her grandfather takes off in a flying owl machine of his own making, she is forced to chase him across Europe in the hopes that her ex doesn't find out who is behind the mysterious owl. When Prince Albert offers a large sum of money to the creator of the great flying machine, Clara, her mother, and her grandfather's apprentice, Theodore Kingsley, are in a race against time to prevent a certain villain from claiming the prize for himself.

I loved everything about this book! The antics of Clara's mother, an animal lover with a penchant for rescuing stray animals, helped keep this novel fun. Theodore's tragic story and Clara's determination to keep her family from harm made the faith element of trusting God in all things exceptionally poignant. I was genuinely sorry to see this story end.

I look forward to more by this author, and I highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest review.

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventures written by Angela Bell

“You need to embrace the starry-eyed wanderlust God has placed in you. Explore the wonders of the world and let Him be the one to carry it. Let Him be the one to carry us.”

⏱️About the Book…
Miss Clara Marie Stanton’s family are the most eccentric collection of people living in London during the 1860’s. Despite their quirks, they are definitely not insane, but when Clara’s ex-fiancé begins to spread rumors that her family suffers from hereditary insanity, she must do everything in her power to reject the rumours and keep her beloved Grandfather Drosselmeyer safe from a lifetime in an asylum.

Drosselmeyer is not helping, as he spontaneously decides to take a trip around Europe in his flying owl machine, leaving Clara with no choice but to pursue him on this savager hunt, and to Clara’s displeasure, accompanied by Drosselmeyer’s mysterious new apprentice.

Release Date: February 27th 2024
Themes: Love, Trust, Surrender, God’s Sovereignty, Betrayal, Identity, Acceptance and Belonging, Travel, Society Expectations, Wonder, Adventure
CW: Father Hurt, Abuse, Abduction, Night terrors, Gambling

🚢 What I Loved…
Reminiscent of Around the World in 80 Days, Up (yes, the Disney Pixar movie that had me bawling like a baby within minutes 😂) and the Nutcracker, this historical adventure tale has the perfect amount of mystery, whimsy, romance and travel!

🦉This Book is for you if you enjoy…
• Reluctant to fall, dreamy and sweet romance
• World-wide Scavenger Hunts
• A villain you can love to hate!
• Non-magic magical inventions
• A women ahead of her times & hilariously outspoken against animal cruelty (with a conviction to care for Gods creation so greatly that she’ll hold a funeral for an animal)
• Deep back stories and well-developed characters
• Letters full of wisdom and faith

🚂 Book Club Read?
Yes! You can download the book club guide written by An Open Book here https://www.bethanyhouseopenbook.com or comment OWL and I’ll send you the link 😉

Thank you to @BethanyHousePublishers and @netgalley for my arc #bhpfiction

Steampunk meets epic travel adventure in this book! Strong themes of faith and reliance on God are present, along site automatons and a flying owl, a wild menagerie and a quirky family!

This book was a fun read overall, though the continual repetition of the main characters desire to be independent and refuse help became a bit much. In their path to learning to accept help, the book did read in places a bit like a morality tale.

Overall, enjoyable!

I received an arc from #netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Such a fun story, filled with historical facts and fun characters. I thought that the setting was delightful and unique. I look forward to reading more by Angela Bell!

A classic melodrama: the villain is obviously wicked (although in the end we do at least understand a bit more of his background), the hero and heroine, while flawed, are obviously going to save the day. And while there is plenty of action, the overall tone is fun. While not exactly steampunk, the wide variety of automatons that make their appearance gives it a bit of that vibe. I just wish it had avoided the downfall of so much Christian fiction that makes the lesson of the story too obvious. A bit more subtlety please. Still, a very fun way to wile away a cold rainy afternoon.
Review based on an eARC received through Netgalley.

Angela Bell has penned an incredible debut as she cleverly combines a touch of steampunk with hints of Jules Verne in this unconventional scavenger hunt across Victorian Europe. I quickly found the story was more about the journey than the intended finish line. It is filled with some of the most lovable and quirky characters to grace the written page. The characters found a spot within my heart, causing me to smile and laugh out loud with pure delight.

Like many stories that have grabbed my imagination, A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventures is meant to be revisited again and again. Ms. Bell masterfully pens a portal into an imaginary world which is grounded with a faith thread that shines hope, one that relieves the burdens we were never meant to carry. The true magic is in the knowledge that the sheer joy of reading this book will last forever. One for the keeper shelf!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A fierce heroine, a clever and sweet hero, a quirky family, brilliant automatons, a scavenger hunt around the world, and a dangerous stalker--A Lady's Guide has it all! With interesting, fully-developed characters (including truly amazing secondary characters), gorgeously detailed settings, and awesome steampunk vibes, Bell's debut will be a hit for fans of unique historical fiction as well as for fans of fantastical Christian fiction. The characters' faith is organically woven into the story and is impactful without being too in-your-face, playing significant roles in changing the lives of both the leading characters in ways that feel completely natural. On top of all this awesomeness, there's also a veritable menagerie of animals, a giant mechanical owl, and tons of fun Nutcracker Easter eggs. Elegantly written, wonderfully paced, and altogether unique, A Lady's Guide will easily be one of my favorite books of the year.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! I do not typically read Christian-Fiction but I am so glad I decided to read this one. The writing was phenomenal! The descriptiveness of the author was very impressive. The details given to each location were wonderful. I really felt like I was traveling along with our protagonists. The banter between the main characters was perfection. Vulnerable when they needed to be. Quips where there needed to be. It’s a book you read with a big dorky grin on your face the whole time. The main characters bring you that much joy. I felt I could relate deeply to the characters and that added to my pleasure when they each grew beyond what burdens they carried. I will be checking this author out in the future. And here is hoping we have more adventures with Clara and Theodore in the future!

If you love adventure and whimsy and stories set in the Victorian era, read this book.
If you’ve ever felt more fear than faith, read this book.
If you’ve felt the weight of the world on your shoulders,felt less than, or like you haven’t a place to call home, read this book.
If your faith needs a boost, your day needs cheering, or your world needs escaping, read this book.
If none of these things relate to you should you still read it? Abso-bloomin-lutely!

I can’t remember who first introduced me to this novel, but it had been on my radar for a while. When Angela Bell approached me to be on her influencer team I said, YES!! It’s her debut novel and it is not to be missed!

Inspired by Around the World in 80 Days and The Nutcracker, this story is full of clockwork marvels, humor, eccentric endeavours, bamboozling, travel, a game of cat and mouse, matchmaking and sweet romance. It’s a story where anything is possible with a little imagination and the bizarre is probable.

A Ladies Guide to Marvels and Misadventures is brimming with whimsical delight, from Grand’s halo of automaton butterflies to his and Clara’s imaginary adventures at the Great Globe to their real life travels around Europe. Angela Bell’s characters were delightful! Mrs. S stole the show with her advocating for animals everywhere and in the most unusual ways, which included a mandatory spa day of rest for her carriage horses. When she accidentally snorted a smelling salt, and told her daughter “I love you” with three squeezes I knew we were going to be fast friends.

I could really see myself in Clara. Her white-knuckled desire to keep control of her life and how she was letting her life be navigated by the fear of losing that control. Throughout the story we are reminded that we are not without hope. That God is there and He is in control and we can lay our burdens before him and trust him to make anything broken whole again. That light of Hope never diminishes, it is always there, we just need to depend on Him. Thank you, Angela Bell for the reminder.


Read if you like:
Grumpy/Sunshine (PrettyGrump/Hobgoblin)
Enemies to love
Loveable characters
Clockmakers

If you are a fan of Jen Turano or Roseanna M White I think you would love this book

Thank you, Angela Bell, Bethany House and Net Galley for the complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.