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  • A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure

  • Written by: Angela Bell
  • Narrated by: Beverley A. Crick
  • Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins
  • 3.4 out of 5 stars (8 ratings)

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A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure

Written by: Angela Bell
Narrated by: Beverley A. Crick
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Publisher's Summary

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.

©2024 Angela Bell (P)2024 Recorded Books
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What the critics say

"Utterly charming! What an original and adorable story. Angela Bell's debut is a book I can, without hesitation, highly recommend."—JEN TURANO, USA Today bestselling author

"Bell's voice will draw you immediately into her world, and her characters will hold you there. A must read!"—ROSEANNA M. WHITE, Christy Award-winning author

What listeners say about A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great narrator - story is whimsical

Loved this book - a fun intriguing adventure and romance - reminds me a bit of around the world in 80 days - would love to see it as a mini series - personally, I had no issues with the occasional references to trusting in God - I think, especially for the time it’s legitimate -I did find it dragged a little bit about 2/3 of the way through, but then it picked up again - glad I read it

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

It had so much potential

I definitely would not have bought this book if I'd had any inkling about how much preaching was in it..

it's one thing to express your belief, when it fits naturally into the storyline, but it's quite another to make your listener hear it over and over again. The amount of preaching about God and faith was to the excess, repetitive, and wearing.

I actually turned the volume down on my phone for several minutes at a time to try and escape the preaching, and every time I came back, they were still talking about faith and God.

Even though I thought the story was cute and enjoyable, I will be steering clear of this author I'm going forward.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A niche story but just not for me.

Stars: ⭐️⭐️ & 1/4 (2.25 stars)
Read: September 2024

Format: Audible audiobook
Narrator: Beverley A. Crick (excellent!)

[The narrator was extremely suited to this book and did a fabulous job!]

COMMENTS: I never would have chosen this on my own. It’s *way* out of my wheelhouse. It’s very eclectic with fantasy and whimsy.

I got this on an Audible deal because of all the people who loved it. I really didn’t know that it would be a fit for me but sometimes a push is a good thing.

My perspective? This wasn’t for me unfortunately. I was fine with the early part of the book but the very long trip was so repetitious for me that my mind wandered often. I struggled to finish, since it’s just not my style, but I forced myself to see it through and push my boundaries. I did feel that this story was twice as long as it truly needed to be. I loved the character of Arthur/Theo. There was some good humour and a couple of quotes that I really enjoyed.

- Ch. 4 of audiobook: “His candied promises still concealed arsenic-filled centers.”
- Ch. 14 of audiobook: “Don’t get so busy tending the garden that you never sit back and enjoy the view.”

For folks that like fantastical whimsy, this book is definitely for them. She’s a good writer for this style. It’s got a Mary Poppins vibe and it reminded me of the many Saturday matinées I saw as a kid. I think it would make a great kids’ movie in many ways. It’s a niche style but just not *my* niche. And that’s okay! :-)

It’s very difficult for me to rate a story that isn’t my “cup of tea,” but I will put it in the middle-ish. I enjoyed the beginning (prior to the trip), the character of Arthur/Theo, the creativity of the author, and the happily ever after ending. I fully acknowledge my interest bias so take that for what you will. I can only rate by my own personal experience.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

TW: excessive religiosity

This was a reasonably good story, reasonably well written, with engaging and well developed characters. The narrator was excellent. It’s too bad that the final half of the book was overtaken by completely unnecessary, preachy, drippy Christian sentiment. It was completely distracting from the story, and unless you are a “true believer” it did nothing to increase the enjoyment of the book. In fact, it was extremely irritating and detracted from the strength of the characters. Has I known about the preaching I would not have bought the book.

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