The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House

About the Book: 

It is 1901 when clockmaker and brilliant tinker Sydney Forrester inherits Blakely House, the eclectic estate of an estranged uncle she's never met. The well-known but mysterious industrialist has left behind a stunning array of peculiar inventions--and a couple of nephews intent on removing this interloper from the estate. Convinced that Sydney has something to do with their uncle's death, the late master's nephews contest the will and work against their cousin at every turn.

Sydney finds a sometimes-ally in the estate's butler, an ex-adventurer who ran aground on the island years ago. But when a mysterious man washes ashore with a stunning surprise that upsets everything, Sydney must prove she has inherited the late master's brilliance as well as his property--or someone else will.

My Review: 

Sydney Forrester lives with her Aunt Lottie in a small shop that repairs clocks. Having to pretend that there is a man who owns it, Sydney and her aunt must fix them in secret and barely are scraping by. When a mysterious woman presents Sydney with an opportunity to claim an inheritance to Blakely House, she is intrigued and desperate enough to investigate. I fell in love with the unusual house and all of its unique inventions.

The author has a way of weaving elements of her stories into faith. With Sydney, she sees herself as a broken clock that is in need of repair, but several important people in her life help her to see that she is a rare and precious gem instead. I was touched by this and also the character of Emmett Sinclair, the man who was behind the marvelous inventions.

Things to love about this story:
Gothic atmosphere
mystery
mechanical gadgets
pirates and wreckers
service to man
sacrificial love
redemption

I highly recommend this book. Once again, Ms. Politano has written a beautiful story with an intricate plot and rich, complex characters. I was intrigued from the beginning of the story all the way to its conclusion. This was one story that I really didn’t want to see end, and I’d love to see it made into a movie.

I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.