Fun, funny, inspiring, adventurous, whimsical, reddeming. The list could go on and on! I LOVED this story so much! My all time favorite character had to be Clara's mum "Heidi Stanton" for her whimsy and fierce love of family and all animals great and small. This debut author has already written a classic in my opinion, so well done! Thank you netgally for the ARC, the opinion expressed is entirely my own.

A sweet steampunk-y tale that riffs with pieces of the classic Nutcracker story -- a "broken" prince of a man, a genius inventor named Drosselmeyer, a giant clockwork owl, a beloved young woman named Clara/Marie -- and uses them to spin a yarn of thoroughly believable adventures across different cities with carefully crafted characters and details.

This was sophisticated historical fiction, but also quite quirky and fun. I found the characters humorous, and chuckled at their behaviour, and I felt the author brought the story and characters to life very well. I think a book like this would be a good choice for a light comfort read, after reading something dark or heavy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

What fun! I loved the the entire story, strong heroes, a terrible villain, automatons, a grand adventure and an ever growing cast of stray animals that no one seemed the least bit bothered by. I hope this is just the beginning of the story for Mr. Kingsley and the Stanton family. Absolutely charming story that I'll be able to recommend to light hearted romance readers of any age.

Thank you to Bethany House Fiction for this ARC of A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell. All opinions are my own.

What an excellent debut! This book is an absolute delight with a menagerie of animals, an adventurous European scavenger hunt, and a delightful cast of characters. It’s also a faith-filled story that is heartwarming and full of character growth.

There were so many fun elements to this story. The number of different animals and all the sticky situations they found themselves in was hilarious. Mrs. Stanton, the protagonist’s mother, was so endearing, and I loved her care for all animals and for everyone she encountered. She was also super protective and full of wisdom. I really enjoyed all her interactions with Clara (the protagonist) and Arthur (the apprentice/love interest).

Both Clara and Arthur were interesting characters. I loved their interactions and how much each of them grew throughout the story. While I do think Clara was pretty mean to Arthur to start with, I did understand why she acted that way. Arthur was so patient towards her, and I found him to be so charming.

Grand (Clara’s grandfather) was so sweet and quirky. I loved how he cared for everyone and didn’t pass unfair judgments on people. The scavenger hunt he set up was so fun and interesting. He was such a brilliant inventor, and I looked forward to learning about each of his creations.

One thing I really appreciated about this story was how the author included faith naturally throughout the book. Some of the characters had such strong faith and were amazing mentors to the younger characters. I loved seeing how the characters grew in their faith throughout the story.

Overall, this book was such a great read. I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy historical fiction stories set in 1860s Europe. It’s full of adventure, family, and a slow burn romance.

The travel bug has bitten me! This was the Victorian European tour I didn't know I needed. I loved all of the characters and the growth they experience over the course of the story. I feel like everything was so fleshed out - from the characters to the architecture it really felt like I was on this adventure with Clara, Theodore, Mrs. S, and Fred.

As much as I enjoyed the story and character arc, I did feel like the romance was more of a sub-plot and would have liked to have had a bit more of it - but honestly there was way more to the story than the romance and the author did an amazing job keeping my attention and moving the story along while also allowing readers to relax and have a pseudo-vacation through 1860s Europe. I loved the prose and the wit between the characters, all while the author creates a beautiful image of who God is throughout the story for readers.

Overall, very fun historical Christian fiction - readers who enjoy the hijinks and sass of Jen Turano's characters but with slightly less of the romance emphasis will enjoy this read!

Thank you to the author and publishers for the chance to read this e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

Wow! What great imagination and creativity from this debut author! Follow as Grand(father) leads Clara, apprentice Arthur, Mum and menagerie on a European scavenger hunt. Amidst danger and misadventures, they follow the clues to many fascinating wonders and fantastic marvels. Full of whimsical happenings and quirky characters, you will be left wonder-struck too! The sweet romance brings enemies to friends and beyond. The thread of faith is strong as the two main characters learn to give up control, forget past hurts, and grow in trust of God and each other. It’s an amazing story and I loved it! I look forward to future books by Angela Bell.

A strange wonderful quirky book. A sort of steampunk around the world in eighty days. The family are delightfully weird, in the nicest possible way. I could see why they may not have been a good fit for an uptight upper class. Looking forward to more books from this original author.

A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure
by Angela Bell
Publisher: Bethany House
Series: None
Rated: 3
Obtain: Borrow
Back of the Book: “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.”

Impressions: This is reminiscent of, Around the World in 80 Days. Society has outcasted the Stanton family due to rumors. The quirky Stanton family is sent on a multi-country adventure as Grandfather Dosselmeyer seizes the day on an unexpected journey to spur Clara to overcome her grief and fearmongering rumors. It is a playful and whimsical adventure. The romance was ok, but the rest of the story was a little too whimsical for my taste. This was a cute story though with spiritual wisdom with a clean romance.

Quotes: “What-ifs are not acquainted with what-ifs, and they spread horrid falsehoods about what will be, so why bother entertaining them? I’d sooner invite hope into my home- for even when her predictions miss the mark, she makes for pleasant company and eats far less food.’”

“‘Civility smiles because she’s content, and more importantly because she and her household are safe. No one can take advantage of you if you keep the door bolted.’ ‘True, but no one can take care of you either. Bolted doors are poor judges of character, keeping out friend and foe alike. I don’t want you to forfeit the former for fear of the latter.’”

“Trusting that the Way, the Truth, and the Life is better than our way, our understanding, and our might.”

“‘Just as Grand would never expect a clock to fix its own windings, God would never expect us to mend our own hearts.’”

“’ The third step in relaxation is to accept one’s own stupidity. This eliminates the stress of caring what people think and the frustration of never meeting their expectations.’”

I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

This book was truly unlike anything I typically read... but I absolutely adored it. It had a whimsical, steampunk vibe to it with Clara's grandfather taking off in a flying owl machine. There was so much great history, romance and even a suspense, all rolled into one excited and unique adventure. The characters were absolutely fantastically done. Clara's family was eccentric, for sure, but I couldn't help fall in love with them and all their quirks. Her mother's love of animals led to some wonderfully hilarious antics throughout the story and her grandfather's inventions throughout were just so clever! Theodore was equally intriguing and just seemed to fit so well with the family. I loved having the chance to go on this beautiful adventure right along with them... and the author did a great job at making me feel like I was doing just that. There was a great faith message within the story as well, and I found myself loving everything about. While this may be different than my typical reads, I find myself wanting to find more like it!

If you enjoy Christian historical romance, you'll absolutely want to experience this one for yourself.


**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

Angela captures the readers interest from the very beginning with unique topics of automation, set in the 1800's England. She ably draws in the skill of a clockmaker and his automation abilities with the very real childhood/family issues of those who come in contact with the Stanton family. Issues of abandonment and financial worries intertwined with the love, hilarity and at times absurd behaviour leads the reader to be absorbed and reminded of the truths of faith sprinkled throughout the the Stanton's adventure revealing the love God has for all people, whatever their past and the new life that He gives to those willing to accept His offer of love.

This book is so much fun! I absolutely loved it! It’s got a little bit of The Nutcracker in it especially with the main character being named Clara and her Grandfather Drosselmeyer. Also has Around the World in 80 days vibes as Clara chases/follows her Grandfather’s flying owl machine with him flying in it, to different destinations. Along with Clara, her mother and Theodore come along on the journey. Clara’s mom is hilarious, and does whatever it takes to help animals. Theodore, who has a metal foot, and newly employed to Drosselmeyer, is on Clara’s bad side. She doesn’t trust him but as they go along the journey together she learns to. I love Clara and Theodore’s relationship. There is a lot of banter and wit that just made me smile and laugh. They are awesome together. And then thrown in Clara’s mom and it’s just a good time. There is a villain in this story as well that is chasing them and they have to outrun them and get to Grandfather first. The Christian message is strong in this story, mainly being Clara tries to control everything and do everything on her own and learns to lean on God and let him control things and guide her.

“There is a God who loves us more than we could ever love each other, and because there’s no darkness in Him at all, we can trust His love absolutely. We can lean wholly upon it and follow Him into the unknown, trusting that He will carry us through sunshine and storm. Trusting that the Way, the Truth, and the Life is better than our way, our understanding, and our might.”

Overall a fantastic read and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

What a fantastic debut by Angela Bell. She has written a wonderful adventure with her marvelous storytelling.
The quirky, loveable characters make this story shine. Our main heroine, Clara, sets out on a journey her grandfather has designed for her, and along the way, finds something she has been missing. Her mother and a noble, Mr. Theodore, are her travel companions and keep the adventure exciting.
The relationship between Theodore and Clara is absolute perfection. How they have a rough start yet blossom with humorous banter and teasing to feelings unexpected.
And Fred! I absolutely want a Fred of my own, an adorable ermine to carry around my neck.
Clara's mother brings humor to this story, and you will be laughing out loud, a woman ahead of her time, willing to do whatever it takes to save any animal in distress.
The grandfather offers such beautiful wisdom and guidance. It made the faith content in this story warm my heart.
This story was so unique and not what I was expecting but in such a wonderful way.
I highly recommend you pick this up and go on the soul searching adventure with Clara, Theodore, and Mrs. Stanton ( and her crew of rescued furry friends).

“ 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.