As usual, I am left in awe by a JDP book. Every time I can hardly believe how rich and deep the story is. Such that I feel like I need to read it again now that I have some kind of grasp of the plot :) One of the hallmarks of Joanna's books is the many, many surprising twists and this one delivers multiple times.

While I didn't emotionally connect to the characters the way I sometimes do, (I think because I was so distracted by the setting), Sydney's thoughts and hopes and fears were VERY relatable. And I absolutely LOVED the examples of God's love and care that we see through the actions of the characters in this book.

As soon as Sydney got to Blakely House and started exploring, I thought, "this would be an AMAZING movie!" I mean, it would just be so cool to actually see and not just imagine! A caveat is that this house and it's mysterious ways do make this one a little creepier than other JDP books.

There are so many great themes I could talk about but the one that stood out to me the most, probably because it's the one I'm struggling with, is about taking risk and letting go of control. Throughout the book, there are several discussions that deal with this idea and offer great wisdom for Sydney (and us). Aunt Lottie doesn't always give the best advice but she is so important to Sydney and is great for that reason.

I can't share many quotes without spoilers but here is a short one that I liked: "Creation is better appreciated than understood, in my opinion."

Sydney and her aunt are in desperate straits when she finds she's inherited a mansion. She leaves to check it out and finds herself embroiled in a contest with a couple cousins to repair an automaton. She also meets an intriguing pirate of a butler, a man of mystery.

I enjoyed seeing all the machines come to life through Sydney's eyes. Her appreciation of the beauty and her growing awareness of a Creator who holds all things together was something to see. She understands her uncle like none of the others do, seeing purpose behind what he's made.

There's a great mystery afoot. While they search for who killed Emmett, Sydney believes there's another missing person who is essential to the home. It was fun seeing all the pieces come together in the end.

I enjoyed this book, the quirky house, the struggling people, the reminder that it's not what but who that matters. I'd highly recommend it. Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Wow. This book was amazing. The dark and mysterious vibes brought about by strange contraptions, nighttime rendevous with a pirate, and a secluded island had me flipping pages as fast as I could to find all the answers. The quirky and sometimes conniving side-characters made the story feel full and realsitic. The romance was such a fantastic slow burn as Sydney and André worked together to solve the puzzle of the inheritance. I adored the stargazing scene, and I loved how André helped Sydney see God through the complexities of His creation. I loved this entire story so much. I don't feel like my words can do it justice. It's definitely one that I'll be reading again at some point.

Thanks so much to the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC! All opinions are my own.

This sweet story is as whimsical and original as the main character who graces the pages. As we are swept along in the story of Sidney, we find her venturing out from her safe and known surroundings to unexpected locations and relationships. Along the way, themes of brokenness and redemption, fear and freedom, character and grace inspire and encourage the reader to look up and to confidently walk through the curious and into a richer inheritance.
— A.S.H.

Early on in reading The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House it felt like a fantasy story. Then I decided, that while fanciful, it wasn't exactly fantasy. A bit further in, I realized that, whatever the genre, this was a novel that reveals deep and meaningful truths through a beautiful story that in many unexpected ways reveals the relationship God wants to have with us. His presence is unobtrusive but there for those with eyes to see and ears to hear, just as it is in our everyday lives. It is a story of questions, that while not about God, whose answers lead ultimately to Him. The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House is a love story with God; a love story of one who is willing to lay down his life for another; and a love story of two people who, in spite of their distinctly different circumstances, bond over the similarities they share at their very core. It is written in a winsome and whimsical style that draws the reader in, helping them envision themselves within the walls of fantastical Blakely House as well as upon the beach and the open sea.

I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this novel from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Sydney Forrester lives with her Aunt Lottie in a small shop that repairs clocks. Having to pretend that there is a man who owns it, Sydney and her aunt must fix them in secret and barely are scraping by. When a mysterious woman presents Sydney with an opportunity to claim an inheritance to Blakely House, she is intrigued and desperate enough to investigate. I fell in love with the unusual house and all of its unique inventions.

The author has a way of weaving elements of her stories into faith. With Sydney, she sees herself as a broken clock that is in need of repair, but several important people in her life help her to see that she is a rare and precious gem instead. I was touched by this and also the character of Emmett Sinclair, the man who was behind the marvelous inventions.

Things to love about this story:
Gothic atmosphere
mystery
mechanical gadgets
pirates and wreckers
service to man
sacrificial love
redemption

I highly recommend this book. Once again, Ms. Politano has written a beautiful story with an intricate plot and rich, complex characters. I was intrigued from the beginning of the story all the way to its conclusion. This was one story that I really didn’t want to see end, and I’d love to see it made into a movie.

I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

It has been a long time since a book fired up my imagination like this one did. I was able to picture so many things in this novel and it made it such a wonderful experience to be so immersed.

I am learning that when you start a book by Joanna Davidson Politano, you just have to hold on and trust the author. I find myself not quite sure what is going on in the beginning, but at some point it’s like a light comes in and it all starts coming together. And honestly, this being unsure and then starting to see is part of why I love her books and now need to read more of her writing.

Sydney goes through so much in this story, and with each passing chapter, I loved her more and more. When she finally figured out who she could trust, it was so good! I don’t want to spoil it for you so that you can enjoy it like I did.

I loved the setting of Blakely House, definitely a character in its own right, the gadgets and secrets within the house. The pure genius in her uncle’s work. The excerpts of letters at the beginning of each chapter between Emmett and Sophie; I wanted to meet these two so badly.

Reading a novel with steam punk elements is new for me. It’s not usually what I read. It worked so well in this book and made it all the more intriguing.

The faith elements are so well done. Slowly learning to trust the Lord, realizing he is in charge of it all. Watching Sydney grow in this area with the help of someone else, again I don’t want to spoil it, was such a beautiful reminder of how the Lord knows every single detail.

All around, this was such a great story and one I was sad to see end. I was hooked from the beginning to the last page and highly recommend it for fans of Christian fiction who enjoy some mystery and some fascinating characters.

Thank you to Revell Fiction for the copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved this gothic feeling mystery with Christian themes, gothic feelings, and a romantic mystery. Is that combination a thing? Yes it is, and it’s truly enjoyable.

I loved the main character Sydney. She’s a bit of a lost soul. She’s trying to find her place in the world, which she’s always felt out of place. She’s a clock engineer that is told she has inherited a home full of mysterious inventions. But when she arrives, nothing is as it seems and her future is still very uncertain.

This book has it all. Mystery, adventure, a quest, rich beautiful language, Christianity woven within the pages and the natural lives of the characters, and the most unique setting. There were several unexpected turns the book took, which kept me engaged. I love that it’s a book I enjoyed, but that could also be enjoyed by my teens. I will definitely be passing it on to them. As someone who works in patent law, I loved the idea of all the inventions and how they improved the lives of those in the book. To have a curious mind bent on helping others is truly a gift.

At the turn of the 20th century, a young woman is informed that she has inherited Blakely House. Sort of. When she arrives, she finds she is not the only person who might inherit, but she finds straight answers hard to come by. Sydney is not your typical woman of the times. She is mechanically minded to the point of distraction. She is considered quite odd, but the previous owner of Blakely House might have been odder. It is filled with inventions (this is almost steampunk). Plus, pirates!

This is a quirky, slightly uneven tale that improves as it goes on. Sydney doesn’t try to be anyone but herself, even though that makes her a bit of an outcast. It is delightful to see her appreciated by a few along the way. Conformity is highly overrated. She has other struggles as well, with abandonment by her mother at the top. This is a good story that I enjoyed.

This is Christian fiction so expect prayer and discussions about God.

Family friendly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The author will take readers to a dark, mysterious house filled with twisty characters and a house breathing and speaking when not expected.

This one kept my head spinning and thoughts twisted as more and more information was revealed about the inheritance and how Sydney Forrester fits into everything.

Sydney was full of life and intrigue and care for others. I enjoyed her outlook on life and how she approached life and other people. Even when circumstances were against her, she was a light shining brightly.

Her quest to find out what happened to her deceased relative took her on dangerous adventures.

Another great gothic mystery from the author.

This is the first book I've read by Joanna Davidson Politano and I look forward to reading more. I absolutely loved this book from the very beginning. It had a mixture of mystery, fantasy, romance, and faith in a wonderful balance.

Thank you to Revell for providing an electronic copy of this book for my honest review. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed the stories with in a story in this one! Adventure, mystery, inheritance and a long lost love. Sydney Forrester knows her aunt's shop has not been doing well and is not sure how much longer they will be able to sustain. So when information about an inheritance comes, she knows she cannot pass up this opportunity. But when Sydney gets to the Blakely House, it is anything and everything she could have imaged. An inheritance that has become a competition, a house full of trinkets and things she could hardly imagine to be able to work on and fix and a few cousins who are also in the running for the inheritance and can hardly believe a woman would be considered a possible heir. As Sydney works to unravel how to prove herself and that this house belongs to her, she starts uses the clues that are appearing and realize that things are really not as they seems. There is more to Uncle Emmett's story and everyone else is fighting for the entire wrong reasons. They do not realize there is a mystery to be solved, a lost love who may have the answers and an imposter wanting in on it all. I really enjoyed all the trinket, characters and adventure that Sydney had while trying to figure out where she fit into it all, while also feeling at home. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

Brilliant story! Ms. Politano pens another mesmerizing story that celebrates the wonder of creation, with all of its broken pieces that worked with a master's hand become something beautiful.

I was initially unsure of my thoughts as I unwrapped a story told from the POV of a person with ADD. But as I delved deeper into the story, I became accustomed to it, finding the prose and POV an original tool to tell a story filled with wonder. I am so glad I stuck with it. Tucked within the pages is an exquisite tale of sacrificial love.

Sydney Forrester receives an invitation to visit Blakely House after the eccentric owner, Emmett Sinclair, mysteriously passed away. As the potential heirs circle around Blakely House and its odd creations, Sydney finds that she must uncover the details surrounding Emmett Sinclair's death.

Sydney is a unique and quirky heroine, yet one I found utterly delightful. With a diverse cast of characters and plot that built slowly, I found myself lost within Blakely House, filled with its odd gadgets and mysterious secrets. With the help of Mr. Sinclair's butler, Sydney finds that she must overcome her fears as she ventures into a world full of the unknown, one shimmering with adventure and possibilities.

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

"It was a strangely calm morning in March, with no wind off the dales, when a woman I assumed to be my mother slipped into the shop."

With a first line like that, you know to expect the unexpected! And Joanna Davison Politano is no stranger to unexpected stories.

I absolutely loved this atmospheric, gothic historical story. It's Alice in Wonderland meets Beauty and the Beast, but imagine pirates and inventions in place of beasts and talking furniture. I don't even think there's a name for the category Joanna's books fall under, simply because of how unique they are. While there are many moving pieces to this story and at times, it's hard to grasp what exactly is going on. Yet her writing is incredibly gripping and once I started BLAKELY HOUSE, I couldn't put it down.

This book starts off with darker tones yet ends with the reader feeling uplifted and encouraged. Joanna takes us on a faith-filled journey with Sydney where we see her find the courage to embrace the differences we find in ourselves and others.

One thing to note, Sydney's perspective is written in first-person while other supporting characters pop up now and then in third person. It didn't bother me at all and I found it fairly easy to switch over between voices.

If you love Jaime Jo Wright for her spooky mysteries and Amanda Dykes for her poetic prose, you'll find familiar voices in Blakely House. I highly recommend this one, especially if you love atmospheric mysteries and mysterious + charming pirates ;)

Some favourite quotes I had to share --

"I wanted more puzzle pieces, more letters, more love story. I sat on a little chair, running my hands over the box. I couldn't help myself. Scientific minds had a tendency towards nosiness. As well as minds saturated in fiction."

"There is no greater beauty than the one who recognizes it in others, and takes the time to draw it out."

*Thank you to the publisher for giving me a copy of this novel via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 STARS

I started this and immediately sank into the mysterious Gothic vibes. The wonder. The sophisticated prose. And I figured this would be another winner from this author (because her books are SO good!). And I was right...yet this book STILL caught me by surprise with how rich and textured and deep the story is!

Some of the eclectic, almost Alice in Wonderland, parts were hard for me to grasp, but there's so much beneath the surface of the plot that I loved.

Read this for the faith thread, if for no other reason! (And the romance...ahhh, the end of chapter thirty-five!)

Thanks so much to the publisher for an ARC to read and honestly review.

An enjoyable tale, which is almost gothic in its setting, about an unusual and talented young woman who sets off to claim her mysterious inheritance. Pirates, shipwrecks, automata, what's not to like! I'd like to read more from this author.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House
by Joanna Davidson Politano
Pub Date: Apr 15 2025

It is 1901 when clockmaker and tinker Sydney Forrester receives a most unusual inheritance. Blakely House, the island estate of an estranged uncle she's never met, seems almost alive, revealing and hiding its secrets at will. It is filled with remarkable inventions, including an intriguing unfinished automaton Sydney is itching to get her skilled hands on.

The estate is also home to a number of peculiar people--including two men intent on removing this interloper from the island. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle's death, the late master's nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn.

Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate's butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master's brilliance as well as his property--or someone else will.

i really wanted to enjoy this more, the premise seemed super good and i was intrigued by the spookiness of the synopsis and cover, overall though, it was just an okay read for me, i didnt love it, but didnt hate it either. the fmc was a great character though, she was strong and wanted to prove herself, which i enjoyed, however the suspense behind it all fell flat, i never felt like i knew what was going on and in turn it never pulled me in bc i just felt confused more than i felt like i could grasp onto anything unfortunately. the premise definitely was intriguing and the ending did wrap up nicely, so i appreciated that. i just wish the suspense and mystery kept me interested a little more.

the authors writing style though i thought was very good and would be interested in reading more books based off that alone.

Curiously complex. Maddeningly mysterious. Clever contraptions. Sinister secrets. This is Blakely House.
"Face that fear and wrestle it to the ground!" "You'll never know what you'll get if you don't try." Sydney Forrester steps into a puzzle at Blakely House, not safe like her books, but one that promises great reward if only she can embrace the adventure and uncover the truth.
With a dash of allegory and a slew of automatons, Joanna Politano weaves the threads of hurting people, redemption, dark, light, love, and adventure into a story that touches the reader's heart.

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the characters (well, not so much the villains), and I loved that God used Joanna's writing and Sydney's story to remind me that I am not broken. I am not forgotten. And when I can't feel Him, and even though I can't physically see Him, all I need to do is look up. "And though fear shadowed me, I'd keep looking, keep stepping out of the boat, letting him catch me again and again just so I knew what his arms felt like. "

1901 England

Brilliant! What a fascinating tale created by the author.

Mechanically inclined Sydney Forrester was abandoned by her mother and lovingly taken in by her aunt. Sydney thrives in the world of watch repair, however, she is driven to seek out a possible inheritance to help her aunt financially.

At Blakely House Sydney discovers that her role as misfit in normal society has her fitting right in among all the industry left behind by the deceased owner of the mysterious home.

Sydney loves adventure...in books, but has no desire for adventure outside of them. She no longer trusts God after he didn't bring her mother back. When Sidney finds one of her biggest allies at Blakely House is a "pirate", she contemplates making a real life adventure.

The faith message about trusting God is strong and beautifully shared in the pages. A creatively crafted tale that has a dash of romance between two very strong main characters and some lovely secondary characters as well.