reviewsbyerin

Penniless clockmaker Sydney Forrester finds the world against her, for although she is brilliant she is young and female, and therefore customers aren't likely to trust her. She longs for connection with the parents she does not know and cannot remember, and when a mysterious woman informs her that she has inherited a remote manor house from an uncle she's never met, Sydney takes a leap and sets off to claim her new home.

It turns out, however, that she is not the only heir. The will is in dispute. Blakely House is also not at all what Sydney expected, full of gadgets and half-finished inventions that give her a glimpse into her uncle's mind. There is also a full company of mismatched pirate servants who seem to have it out for her. With the odds against her, Sydney must prove who she is and that she is the rightful heir through many ups and downs and adventures.

As with every Joanna Davidson Politano book, there are beautiful themes woven throughout the story. Threads about identity, being chosen, and reckoning that "When you run away from your problems, you take yourself with you" (page 134). The themes were my favorite part of this book.

I liked Sydney as a character, and though I found the plot a little hard to follow, I appreciated her journey. It was a great reminder of how God knows what we need and who we need in our lives and is able to provide even in uncanny ways.

I would recommend this book for readers who like historicals with hints of mystery and suspense.

I received my copy of the book from the author. All thoughts in this review are my own.