*Book received for consideration. All thoughts are my own.
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 (authorangelabell.com) is a 21st-century lady with 19th-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. Whenever you need a respite from the 21st-century hustle, you're welcome to visit her imaginary parlor at authorangelabell.com, where she can be found waiting with a pot of tea and a great book.
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.
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