The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House Book Review

 About the Book

Title: The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House

Author: Joanna Davidson Politano

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: April 15, 2025

A clever young woman, a contested will, and an estate that does not easily give up its secrets.

It is 1901 when clockmaker and tinker Sydney Forrester receives a most unusual inheritance. Blakely House, the island estate of an estranged uncle she's never met, seems almost alive, revealing and hiding its secrets at will. It is filled with remarkable inventions, including an intriguing unfinished automaton Sydney is itching to get her skilled hands on.

The estate is also home to a number of peculiar people--including two men intent on removing this interloper from the island. 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.

About the Author

I’m a work-from-home mom of two fun and adventurous littles and we’ll soon be homeschooling. I married my hero Vince, who is my love and my polar opposite. I write, he tears it up with the red pen. I break cars and other mechanical things, he puts them back together. He’s nailed the “speak the truth” thing, and I bring the “in love” part. But the real spark to our marriage is that he does not like chocolate and I…  like it a normal amount. We love and live from our little house in the woods near Lake Michigan.

My Thoughts

Have you ever struggled to belong? Felt that all your little idiosyncrasies don't mesh with what this world considers normal? That's exactly where we find our heroine, Sydney Forrester, at the beginning of our story, and let me tell you, I loved this girl from the get go.

Sydney struggles with ADHD or maybe, is even on the Autism spectrum. I'm not sure which the author was going for, but it came through in Sydney's personality in spades. The point of view is written so well that we can see and hear other things changing in a room, while Sydney is so focused inside her thoughts that she misses them at first. Unfortunately, Sydney believes she is broken and "not normal." She struggles to reconcile her logical mind with the concept of faith and belief in a being that she can't see. She arrives at Blakely House after the promise of an inheritance that she hopes will save the clock shop of her beloved "aunt." Unbeknownst to Sydney, she's not the only cousin hoping to get their hands on the stately manor and the treasures it holds. 

The story was a little slow in the beginning but rich in narrative and description, allowing the reader to fully grasp Sydney's personal struggles as well as capture the mystery and wonder that is Blakely House. Filled with secrets, strange inventions, and a bit of a steampunk vibe, Blakely House will pull you in and make you want to explore every nook and cranny with our heroine as she roams the house unable to sleep at night due to her active mind.

This story had several twists that I did not see coming, and some that I began to suspect and anticipate as our tale progressed, which made me read all the more quickly to see if I was right! Each cousin learns something about themselves and a piece of truth is exposed that changes the way they think about their uncle and view the world. 

Our hero is a mysterious Frenchman with the aura of a pirate, a heart of gold, and the patience of Job. You're going to love him as he overcomes his flaws to love Sydney and brings her to a knowledge and awareness of the great Creator of all.

The most beautiful part of this story is the theme. As sinners. As flawed human beings, we are not broken. Only unfinished. If we allow the great Creator to work on us, to tinker and tighten, we can become all that He desires us to be.

The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House is marketed as a historical romance, but it explodes with enough mystery and intrigue to keep even the most avid romantic suspense reader on the edge of their seat. I highly recommend this book. You'll want to move it to the top of your TBR. 

Giveaway

I am giving away one (1) paperback copy of The Curious Inheritance of Blakely House to one commenter. Please leave your email address so I can contact the winner. 

Available for US readers only.

Gina Holder is an indie author and stay-at-home mom. She’s had an infatuation with books for as long as she can remember. She loves sharing uplifting messages from God’s Word and introducing readers to new and new-to-them authors on her blog. When she’s not writing, Gina enjoys playing the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape room” puzzles. She loves growing in her craft as an author. She published her debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.