Angela Bell: A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventures

By Kelly Bridgewater

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 Thoughts:

A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell is a unique, exploring historical novel. I have read some steampunk novels, but not a lot, but I do not believe I have read a story with this plot before. Yes, there is a search for adventure through clues places in unique places around Europe, but the way the clues are realized is different, yet adorable. While on the surface, the family appears to be eccentric, Bell does a wonderful job at allowing the readers to see that an outsider’s perspective is not always true. This family is close knit and has a heart for others and God’s little creatures. The settings in the story are fascinating, and Bell does a wonderful job at allowing me to dive into the European settings even though I have never been there personally. The settings are a character by themselves. Full of life and adventure. As for the romance, Bell does have a change of heart for the heroine, but personally, I have an issue with characters who actually completing falling in love in a matter of days. Makes me doubt their feelings for each other. More lust than lifelong romance. Overall, A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell captured my adventure spirit as the heroine searches for the clues left by her Grand. A special story that will spark interest from the readers.

I received a complimentary copy of A Lady’s Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

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Lynn Austin: All My Secrets

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Bestselling author Lynn Austin returns with a luminous work of historical fiction set amid the opulence of Gilded Age New York, where three generations of women in one family must reckon with the choices they have made and their hopes for the future.

New York, 1898. The only thing more shocking than Arthur Stanhope III’s unexpected death is the revelation that his will bestows his company—and most of the vast fortune that goes with it—to the nearest male heir, leaving his mother, wife, and daughter nearly impoverished. His widow, Sylvia, quickly realizes she must set aside her grief to ensure their daughter, Adelaide, is launched into society as soon as the appropriate mourning period passes. If Sylvia can find a wealthy husband for Addy before anyone realizes they’re practically destitute, there will be little disruption to the lifestyle they’re accustomed to.

Sylvia’s mother-in-law, Junietta, believes their life could use a little disruption. She has watched Sylvia play her role as a society wife, as Junietta once did, despite what it cost them both. Junietta vows to give her granddaughter the power to choose a path beyond what society expects.

But for Addy to have that chance, both mother and grandmother must first confront painful truths about their own choices. Only in bringing their secrets to light can they hope to reshape their family inheritance into a legacy more fulfilling than they ever dared dream.

 

My Thoughts:

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin is a reminder of the bad results of holding grudges and allowing God’s forgiveness to come into a family and change each individual lives. Three different women joined together by blood, but three different life’s paths make them realize how close and important they are actually to one another. The plot was organized into three different perspectives from each individual woman. Current time of 1898 and back to the past to hear the older women’s stories. A little bit of romance. A little bit of learning about the harsh realities of life outside their cushy wealthy lives. The heroines were defined, unique, yet Austin did a wonderful job at allowing them to change from the characters at the beginning of the book to the end except for the matriarch of the family. She already had the transformation, but she wanted to share it with her daughter-in-law and granddaughter. The story was written well, and the plot captured my attention, and I couldn’t wait to see how the story ended. Overall, All My Secrets by Lynn Austin is a   story that will capture the reader’s attention and make them question any slight grudges they may be holding in their lives. I will own a copy of this novel to put in my library.

I received a complimentary copy of All My Secrets by Lynn Austin from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

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Verse for 2024 Explanation

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

For 2024, I think two verses will help me. If you will read the last post or even the prayer for 2024. I need some personal help.

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I need to be a better Child of God.

I need to be a better wife.

I need to be a writer.

All of these goals have been seriously lacking, and I need to work on making them better.

Of course, they will all start with having a better relationship with God.

We’ll see.

Hopefully in a year or two, I will update this blog with some book answers and suggestions. Maybe I’ll even have a contract to be published. I need to stop reading other author’s stories and just moving through the day without any type of joy.

What about you? Need anything to help motivate you to become a better person.

Nancy Mehl: Cold Threat

By Kelly Bridgewater

Twenty years ago, several people were murdered in Des Moines, and the only evidence left behind was a snowman ornament hanging on a tree on their front lawns. With a suspect behind bars, the killings have come to an end--or so everyone thought. But now crimes with a similar MO are happening in a small Iowa town, and a local detective believes the killer is back and ready to strike again.

With little time on the clock before they have another murder on their hands, private investigators River Ryland and Tony St. Clair must work alongside Tony's father to find evidence that will uncover an evil that has survived for far too long.As the danger mounts and the suspect closes in, it will take all they have to catch a killer--before he catches one of them.

USA Today bestselling author Nancy Mehl continues her explosive new FBI profiler series with an intense story of revenge and redemption.

 

My Thoughts:

Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl has a spine-chilling synopsis that I could not wait to dive into. Yes, there are moments of high tension and full of suspense. But as the story progresses, River and Tony spend a lot of time at Tony’s parents’ house trying to help Tony’s father with a Cold Case that has bothered him for years. Of course, the clock is ticking until the next climactic moment. But the characters spend so much time trying to come to terms with what happened in the past and River wants to know Tony’s parents better, to me, the suspense element at times was shoved to the back of the stove. One thing I really did enjoy about Mehl’s story is that she starts to show feelings between Tony and River, but she is writing a three-book series, so they don’t jump into an engagement or marriage by the end of the first novel. Readers are actually seeing their romance blossom across the pages of the series. Plus, being the same hero and heroine in all three books make developing the characters a little more realistic. The first time, anyone meets somebody they don’t know everything about them right away. It takes some time. I like this idea. As for the setting, I do love that it is set around the time period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not actual Christmas novel, but in the cold part of the year. Overall, Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl does have a wonderful suspenseful storyline, but at times, the suspense element did not seem that important. I do love the development of the characters and the romance across the three-book series.

I received a complimentary copy of Cold Threat by Nancy Mehl from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars

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Word for 2024 Explanation

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Seek.

Such a simple tiny word.

But what a punch.

I need to seek.

God.

Writing.

Happiness.

I have not been the same person since my Daddy passed away eight years ago.

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I need to seek answers to why not?

Why do I have no joy in reading the Bible? Why do I not spend more time in prayer, except to whine about how unfair my life has been?

Why can’t I write?

Why am I always wanting to be at home?

Why do I not have any friends that want to hang out or pray with me?

Why am I invisible?

This year, starting in July, I will not being doing this blog anymore. Reviewing books for others have taken up so much of my time for the past 10 years. I NEED TO WRITE.

I need to write all these stories that I have ideas for. I’ll never be published or become a better fiction writer, if I do not spend time writing.

I need to visit a therapist who will help me move past the block to write better and become a better wife.

Lord,

Help me to seek you for 2024.

I want to spend more time with you.

I need to understand that I need some help, and I need to seek out that help that I need. Bring the right people into my life who will help guide me back to a better person and hopefully, a better writer.

Amen.

Lynette Eason: Double Take

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he's rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it's not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason will leave you breathless with this fast-paced first book in a brand-new series.

 

My Thoughts:

Double Take by Lynette Eason is an appropriate title for this story. Readers will understand why as they dive into the plot. The plot has many different woven parts that confuse Lainie and Adam’s family. Luckily, filled with determination and grit, Laine and James, the hero, worked really hard together to try to uncover the different threads and come up with a conclusion to solve the case. Eason does a wonderful job of keeping the readers guessing until the climactic moment at the end. As for the romance, Lainie and James grew up together, but Lainie was the sister’s best friend, so the sparks may have been one-sided at one time, but now, they might blossom into something else. Definitely something I hope will continue in the future stories in this series. Eason also includes the importance of family in the plot. Eason does a wonderful job at crafting memorable characters that readers will want to stick with and root for as the horrible occurrences rain down all around them. Overall, Double Take by Lynette Eason is a wonderful thrill ride with deep characters and a twist enough to the plot to make readers question the villain’s identity.

I received a complimentary copy of Double Take by Lynette Eason from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

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Word and Verse for 2024

 

By Kelly Bridgewater

Seek: 

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Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.