A Lady's Handbook to Gadgets and Guile by Angela Bell: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Margaret Kingsley's routine revolves around invention not investigation--until her ordered world springs a gasket.

London, England, 1895

Ambulatory wheelchair user Margaret Kingsley secretly crafts gadgets for the Daughters of Genius Society, a covert team of lady inspectors disguised as harmless bluestocking spinsters. While her fellow inspectors gallivant about London solving crimes, Margaret has been perfectly content assisting from the sidelines--until her expertise is needed to infiltrate the domain of London's most prolific inventor.

Charles Noble sacrificed his career as a musician to support his family after his father's stroke. Now he balances ledgers as a secretary by day and tends to his disabled father by night, but he can't pass up the chance to take a temporary job as event coordinator for a famous inventor commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of his mechanical empire. As strange occurrences cause Charles' event planning to collide with Margaret's case, the pair must unravel a plot of sabotage against the inventor's legacy while also investigating the sparks of attraction between them. 

Little Women meets Inspector Gadget in Angela Bell's witty romp of brilliant women, whimsical gadgetry, and sweet he-falls-first romance set in the Victorian era with themes of disability representation, women in STEM, light academia, and steampunk.

The Author

Angela Bell is a 21st-century lady with 19th-century sensibilities. She resides in Texas with her charming pup, Mr. Bingley Crosby. Her book A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure was named a Booklist Top 10 Romance Debut. 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.

Book Review

Little Women meets Inspector Gadget might be one of the most unusual descriptions I have seen for a book... and yet somehow, it actually works! I had read the previous book a few years ago when it released and there was just something about it that felt very different from the historical reads that I had previously read. I loved that hint of whimsy and found myself very much looking forward to what book two would bring. And honestly, I think I enjoyed this one even more. It's quirky, it's fun, it's clever... and the characters are ones that you cannot help but root for. As someone who deals with chronic pain issues, I found myself relating to Margaret in many ways in her own struggles. I loved that the author introduced the spoon theory, even if it wouldn't historically have been a thing then (it worked, and she did address that in the notes as well). Again, for me, this just her all the more relatable, and had me rooting for her happily ever after with Charles all the more. These two had a great dynamic that I couldn't help but enjoy. If you love Christian historical romance that's witty, fun and truly unique... this is one you'll certainly want to experience for yourself. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4dhuvMG