A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventures by Angela Bell is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the first line: For Miss Clara Marie Stanton, the task of preventing her family from being committed to an asylum had become as commonplace as it was exhausting.
I want to tell you I loved this book, but first the photo and verse. I caught these clouds back in the spring of 2022 and found them fascinating. And the verse was just what I needed, even then…in fact, that verse should be my life verse! One version translates it as Cease striving… My version says, let go and let God.
Now for A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventures by Angela Bell. Here’s the cover and back copy:
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.
My take:
This enchanting book was a joy to read! Angela Bell gave us a young woman disappointed in love, and a young man believing he is less than, mixed in a little steampunk*(see below for a description of steampunk), a strong faith element, added a touch of fantasy and a lot of whimsy, and set the story in Victorian England. A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventures is a story that I will not soon forget.
The secondary characters of Clara’s mother and grandfather were brilliant. Clara’s mother is so well written. Just about the time the reader decides she’s whacky, Mum comes through with great pearls of wisdom. I loved that the grandfather set Clara off on a journey they had often taken through books and maps. Theodore’s experience and kindness played well against her education.
And there’s even a bit of suspense in the story. The ex-fiancee was well written–I even found myself feeling sorry for him at times. From the ending, I don’t believe we’ve seen the last of him. I certainly hope Miss Bell has another story in the future for us as I thoroughly enjoyed this book
- Steampunk is a design style inspired by Victorian-era industrialism. Science fiction author K.W. Jeter created the term steampunk in 1987 to describe a style of fantasy fiction that featured Victorian technology, especially technology powered by steam.
Have you ever read steampunk? This is my first book with steampunk in it, but probably won’t be my last. 🙂 Leave your answer or the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library!
check out my review of A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventures by Angela Bell. Leave a comment and you may win a book from my library! Click To Tweet
Comments 39
I have never read steampunk, however, the story sounds fascinating.
Author
It is, Phyllis.
I love the photo and verse. I’ve just started the book and you’re making me look forward to it more 🙂
Author
It is so good, Delores!
Yes, I’ve read steampunk. It’s fun. A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventures sounds like a blast to read! I’m currently reading a Christian fiction novel about the evils and pains of abortion. It’s called Awakened to Life by Sarah Hanks. The first line: I have two mothers.
I love your sky photo! And no matter the translation, Psalm 46:10 is a beautiful verse.
Author
I knew I’d find a kindred spirit with you, Phyllis! 😉 Sarah Hanks’ book sounds like a good book to share!
You asked for the first line of the book that I’m reading? Okay, here goes: For Miss Clara Marie Stanton, the task of preventing her family from being committed to an asylum had become as commonplace as it was exhausting.
LOL! I’m almost halfway through, so thank you for no spoilers! This may be my first steampunk experience. So interesting! I love Angela’s humor, too!
Author
I’m glad I didn’t either, Regina. I think you’ll enjoy the rest of the book.
Pat, that is a beautiful photo and I like the verse. It summarizes a devotion I read this AM from Time of Grace Ministries. Letting go of control to someone else, and especially to God, is sometimes very difficult for us.
I have never heard the term steampunk before. Interesting word.
I just finished Lynn Blackburn’s “Never Fall Again”; a great “who’s doing it”. Yesterday, I started Susan May Warren’s “Tate”. In the opening chapter we read, “By the time Slava’s fist came at him, Tate was wrangling with his thoughts about trouble and how he probably knew this was coming…” It’s the second book in her Montana Marshalls series. Lots of action; lots of romance.
Author
Thank you, Tim! I’m glad I could let you know what steampunk. 🙂 I first encountered the term back around 2015. Susie’s book sound great!
Love the photo. I had three reactions to it. 1) Oh! 2) It looks like those puzzles you have been posting. 3) Wow! Stuffed animals exploding everywhere. ADHD overdrive this morning. Then my eyes trailed to that wonderful verse, be still. . . and there was peace. . . .
That book sounds absolutely delightful! I’ve been reading this era a lot lately. Not sure if it was steampunk or not, though. There was industry in them.
I’m getting ready to start Never Fall Again by Lynn Blackburn. The first reads, “Landry Hutton didn’t believe dreams came true anymore.”
Author
Tim says you’ll enjoy Lynn Blackburn’s book, Barbara! And I may use that photo for my next puzzle! Steampunk always has a little (or lot) of whimsy in it. Angela Bell’s book is delightful to read.
I have heard “let go and let God” numerous times but did not know it is a translation. Such wise words and yet so hard to do!
Steampunk is a new word to me and this book sounds very interesting.
My current read is One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey – “He inhaled the stiff resolution of her death.”
Author
Miss Mary, that’s my translation. 🙂 But you’re right, it is very hard to do.
Fascinating. I always wondered about steampunk!
Author
I think you’d enjoy it, Sally Jo!
Cool photo. I have read books in this time period lately, but I don’t think they are steampunk. I keep hearing great things about this book, so I am thinking that I need to check it out.
May 1883
Philadelphia, PA
Felicity Richmond pulled a derringer from her skirt pocket and peered around the door leading into the shipping warehouse. Counterfeit Truth by Crystal Caudill
Oh Gloria, I so enjoyed Counterfeit Truth!!!!
Good to know, Barbara! I have the series and have been saving it.
Author
Thank you, Gloria! I think you’d really enjoy Angela Bell’s book. I’ll have to check out Crystal Caudill’s book–it sounds very intriguing.
I’ve read the series, Pat, Gloria! I loved them!
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
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It is very interesting, Diana! I love sharing book I enjoy reading. 🙂
I’ve never read steampunk; it sounds interesting!
Author
Steampunk is really interesting, Suzanne! I think you’d enjoy Angela Bell’s book!
I’ve never read steampunk but I already have this on my radar. Beautiful photo and perfect verse. Blessings
Author
I think you like it, Lucy. Thanks–glad you like the photo!
I read a few books by Kathleen Y’Barbo that I think were steampunk. It’s been awhile but I do remember liking them.
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I think steampunk is a very interesting genre, Pam. So glad you stopped by!
never read a steampunk book that I remember anyway
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I think you would enjoy it, Shelia!
Wow! What a picture! It looks almost like an explosion of cotton balls with sunlight glistening off of them. That sight certainly would make a person want to be still and meditate for a while.
I’ve never heard of steampunk. I’ve heard of punk rock, but I don’t even know what that is. However, I’m fairly certain it has nothing to do with steampunk. 🙂
I am reading Letters of Wisdom, the third book in Wanda E. Brunstetter’s The Friendship Letters series. The first few lines:
After putting her two-year-old daughter, Myra, down for a nap, Irma Miller grabbed the mail and went outside. There, she found her middle child, Clayton, crouched in one of the flower beds with a bunch of rocks he’d piled into a mound.
Author
Thank you, Edward. Cotton balls is what I thought of when I saw the sky that day. I really enjoy steampunk, especially when you put a mystery to it. 🙂 Wanda’s book sounds interesting1
Steampunk is a fun genre!
Enjoy your weekend.
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I agree, Caryl!
Not sure. Love the verse & photo.,
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So glad you enjoyed the photo and verse, Lisa!
Thank you so much for taking a chance on a debut author and taking the time to write this marvelous review! I’m delighted that you enjoyed the story.
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It was so good, Angela…and it was good connecting with you last week at our bookclub meeting! Can’t wait for the next book…