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The Secret Scientists of London #1
A Lady's Formula for Love
What is a Victorian lady's formula for love? Mix one brilliant noblewoman and her enigmatic protection officer. Add in a measure of danger and attraction. Heat over the warmth of humor and friendship, and the result is more than simple chemistry—it's elemental.
Lady Violet Hughes is keeping secrets. First, she founded a clandestine sanctuary for England's most brilliant female scientists. Second, she is using her genius on a confidential mission for the Crown. But the biggest secret of all? Her feelings for protection officer Arthur Kneland.
Solitary and reserved, Arthur learned the hard way to put duty first. But the more time he spends in the company of Violet and the eccentric club members, the more his best intentions go up in flames. Literally.
When a shadowy threat infiltrates Violet's laboratories, endangering her life and her work, scientist and bodyguard will find all their theories put to the test—and learn that the most important discoveries are those of the heart.
Lady Violet Hughes is keeping secrets. First, she founded a clandestine sanctuary for England's most brilliant female scientists. Second, she is using her genius on a confidential mission for the Crown. But the biggest secret of all? Her feelings for protection officer Arthur Kneland.
Solitary and reserved, Arthur learned the hard way to put duty first. But the more time he spends in the company of Violet and the eccentric club members, the more his best intentions go up in flames. Literally.
When a shadowy threat infiltrates Violet's laboratories, endangering her life and her work, scientist and bodyguard will find all their theories put to the test—and learn that the most important discoveries are those of the heart.
322 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2021
512 people are currently reading
21453 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Everett
6 books791 followersElizabeth Everett is a USA Today Bestselling author of historical romance and lives in upstate New York. Her work is inspired by her admiration for rule breakers and belief in the power of love to change the world.
Head over to Elizabeth's website and subscribe to The Rule Breaker's Report for the latest news, exclusive excerpts from Elizabeth's books, giveaways, and terrible jokes.
Head over to Elizabeth's website and subscribe to The Rule Breaker's Report for the latest news, exclusive excerpts from Elizabeth's books, giveaways, and terrible jokes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,168 reviews
March 16, 2023
Whaaat?? I cannot stop myself, I’m singing: “And Iiiiiiiiiii wiilllll alwaysss looooveee youuuuu!” And you know what my husband dearest said after hearing my performance make Whitney Houston turn in her grave and give a horrible ear bleeding to Dolly Parton, he just told me: “Please don’t!” and he kept on watching “Hanting of Bly Manor” because he still thinks I’m the actress who plays the woman with no face!
Anyways, I truly loved this smart, entertaining blend of historical fiction and romance. This is Victorian Bodyguard (instead of Mr. Costner, Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy works so much better for the story’s sake) meets Austen novels! Both of the MCs are adorable thankfully there was nothing irritating or punch-worthy about their characterizations and plot was interesting, intriguing. After looking at the cover, it gives you books of Evie Dunmore vibes which increases your excitement levels!
Let’s take a look at the storyline to get a better idea:
The story takes place at early 19th century of England. Lady Violet after losing her husband, she finds the best secret place to organize her new club meetings: a group of women who are passionate for scientific discoveries, pursuing their dreams by working on different formulas at their lab time.
Lady Violet also keeps a big secret that she’s working for the crown! But as soon as her stepson who is at the same age with her becomes a threat for her secret mission who is she gonna call? Nope, not Bill Murray. She hired a charming protector/ guard / soldier Arthur Kneland.
You may guess what could happen as Lady Violet and Arthur starts spending so much quality time: it gets smoking hotter than August in Nevada and undeniable desire conquers their hearts.
I found the premise so creative and unique but I have some problems about the obstacles between MCs! The angst part is a little exaggerated. I didn’t see the reason so credible explains why they cannot be together.
But I enjoyed the ending and supporting characters were so much likable.
Eventually I cut my points but I’m still rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 promising, enjoyable, clever, original, powerful women characters stars!
Yes, it’s such a great start as a debut and I’d be pleased to read the upcoming works of Ms. Everett.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this incredible arc copy with me in exchange my honest review.
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Anyways, I truly loved this smart, entertaining blend of historical fiction and romance. This is Victorian Bodyguard (instead of Mr. Costner, Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy works so much better for the story’s sake) meets Austen novels! Both of the MCs are adorable thankfully there was nothing irritating or punch-worthy about their characterizations and plot was interesting, intriguing. After looking at the cover, it gives you books of Evie Dunmore vibes which increases your excitement levels!
Let’s take a look at the storyline to get a better idea:
The story takes place at early 19th century of England. Lady Violet after losing her husband, she finds the best secret place to organize her new club meetings: a group of women who are passionate for scientific discoveries, pursuing their dreams by working on different formulas at their lab time.
Lady Violet also keeps a big secret that she’s working for the crown! But as soon as her stepson who is at the same age with her becomes a threat for her secret mission who is she gonna call? Nope, not Bill Murray. She hired a charming protector/ guard / soldier Arthur Kneland.
You may guess what could happen as Lady Violet and Arthur starts spending so much quality time: it gets smoking hotter than August in Nevada and undeniable desire conquers their hearts.
I found the premise so creative and unique but I have some problems about the obstacles between MCs! The angst part is a little exaggerated. I didn’t see the reason so credible explains why they cannot be together.
But I enjoyed the ending and supporting characters were so much likable.
Eventually I cut my points but I’m still rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 promising, enjoyable, clever, original, powerful women characters stars!
Yes, it’s such a great start as a debut and I’d be pleased to read the upcoming works of Ms. Everett.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this incredible arc copy with me in exchange my honest review.
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July 25, 2021
This was one book that I had been looking forward to reading, and so it was especially disappointing that it fell so flat with me. I'm ready to move on and won't write a lengthy review except to note a few significant flaws for me.
The first book in a series about women scientists in the 19th century only promotes feminism at a surface level. The heroine is quite reliant on a male bodyguard to protect her, and that is a traditional trope not really examined here. Female friendship as a gesture to "sisterhood" is on the surface only. I marked the number of times when rival women are referred to in misogynistic terms like "pecking hens" and "biddies." Yes, women are not always supportive of feminism, but the book doesn't examine ways for women to reach out to each other and understand competing views, such as why some women align themselves with patriarchy and fight hard for traditional spheres like motherhood and domesticity. This book on the surface is about the iconoclastic women who thumbed their noses at patriarchy and fought for their right to be intellectuals in male-dominated fields, but underneath that blurb is nothing really more than a traditional romance of male chivalry and the women who depend upon it. I felt disappointed too that such a supposedly brilliant woman as Violet cannot remember to eat or sleep and is constantly putting herself in danger. Arthur certainly has his work cut out for him.
Of note too is the instant love and attraction both Violet and Arthur feel for each other. I knew in the first pages when Arthur throws his body on top of Violet and they immediately discover that special bond that this book was going to be a miss for me. The instant love and physical attraction they feel is never more than a prop to sustain a romance with zero character development. Also, too many characters populate this confusing story that serves as an opener for a new series.
Arthur had potential to be interesting and I enjoyed his scenes. Alas, this is a wallpapery historical with superficial characters, and I'm happy to move on.
The first book in a series about women scientists in the 19th century only promotes feminism at a surface level. The heroine is quite reliant on a male bodyguard to protect her, and that is a traditional trope not really examined here. Female friendship as a gesture to "sisterhood" is on the surface only. I marked the number of times when rival women are referred to in misogynistic terms like "pecking hens" and "biddies." Yes, women are not always supportive of feminism, but the book doesn't examine ways for women to reach out to each other and understand competing views, such as why some women align themselves with patriarchy and fight hard for traditional spheres like motherhood and domesticity. This book on the surface is about the iconoclastic women who thumbed their noses at patriarchy and fought for their right to be intellectuals in male-dominated fields, but underneath that blurb is nothing really more than a traditional romance of male chivalry and the women who depend upon it. I felt disappointed too that such a supposedly brilliant woman as Violet cannot remember to eat or sleep and is constantly putting herself in danger. Arthur certainly has his work cut out for him.
Of note too is the instant love and attraction both Violet and Arthur feel for each other. I knew in the first pages when Arthur throws his body on top of Violet and they immediately discover that special bond that this book was going to be a miss for me. The instant love and physical attraction they feel is never more than a prop to sustain a romance with zero character development. Also, too many characters populate this confusing story that serves as an opener for a new series.
Arthur had potential to be interesting and I enjoyed his scenes. Alas, this is a wallpapery historical with superficial characters, and I'm happy to move on.
February 17, 2021
Thank you to the author for this free review copy—all opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by this!
ALERT! ALERT! Bodyguard Romance. STEM Heroine. Corsets. Kisses. Need I say more??
“What is a Victorian lady's formula for love? Mix one brilliant noblewoman and her enigmatic protection officer. Add in a measure of danger and attraction. Heat over the warmth of humor and friendship, and the result is more than simple chemistry—it's elemental.”
Friends. Historical Romance Lovers. Lend me your ears. A LADY’S FORMULA FOR LOVE’s prose hits the same glorious notes as Lisa Kleypas & my queen Tessa Dare—it is *everything* I want in Historical Romance—banter, wit, sensuality in spades & strong female friendship. Add in a dash of suspense, sciencey geekdom & a hot, gruff SCOTTISH bodyguard & I’m in raptures. Violet and Arthur's chemistry is palpable, their backstories tender, vulnerable, and compelling; I loved how they slowly opened up to each other and found solace in their relationship as they never had with anyone else. Bonus? They’re mature. They’re relatable. And the sexual tension is diiiivine. I cannot recommend this book enough.
“You have taught me much about the world, but your most important lesson was about the heart. Home is where I love. Not where I live. [...] You are home.”
ALERT! ALERT! Bodyguard Romance. STEM Heroine. Corsets. Kisses. Need I say more??
“What is a Victorian lady's formula for love? Mix one brilliant noblewoman and her enigmatic protection officer. Add in a measure of danger and attraction. Heat over the warmth of humor and friendship, and the result is more than simple chemistry—it's elemental.”
Friends. Historical Romance Lovers. Lend me your ears. A LADY’S FORMULA FOR LOVE’s prose hits the same glorious notes as Lisa Kleypas & my queen Tessa Dare—it is *everything* I want in Historical Romance—banter, wit, sensuality in spades & strong female friendship. Add in a dash of suspense, sciencey geekdom & a hot, gruff SCOTTISH bodyguard & I’m in raptures. Violet and Arthur's chemistry is palpable, their backstories tender, vulnerable, and compelling; I loved how they slowly opened up to each other and found solace in their relationship as they never had with anyone else. Bonus? They’re mature. They’re relatable. And the sexual tension is diiiivine. I cannot recommend this book enough.
“You have taught me much about the world, but your most important lesson was about the heart. Home is where I love. Not where I live. [...] You are home.”
March 5, 2021
Unfortunately, I did not end up finishing this book. I feel bad because it's clear the author put a lot of thought, research and hard work into this story, and I appreciate the attempt at empowering women in science, but I just did not like it.
❌ THE ROMANCE was too insta-lust from the start. There was no slow burn, no enemies to lovers, no friends to lovers... they basically just both wanted to bang from the first couple chapters
❌ THE TONE OF THE STORY was way too formal. It's like it tried too hard to be "smart" by using big words and lots of scientific terms, which disrupted the flow of reading for me. Maybe it would be better if I was more familiar with chemistry, but I'm not, so a lot of the chemical compounds and stuff flew over my head
❌IT MISSED THE MARK in trying to empower women in science by making them feel too much like "mad scientists". Their experiments were constantly exploding or going wrong and they were made fun of and ostracized by society, which made it hard for me to relate to them and it just felt too extreme in one direction
🆗 THE SIDE STORY with the rebels seemed interesting, but not interesting enough to keep me reading the rest of the book. I wish there had been more proactive investigating by our characters but instead they were very reactive
Overall, I just did not like this book, which is unfortunate because I had such high hopes. I majored in engineering and work in software/technology so it's always a treat to read about women in STEM... but this wasn't for me. I still hope others enjoy it and I think there's promise for the later books in the series if the author can make the characters and story a little more relatable
❌ THE ROMANCE was too insta-lust from the start. There was no slow burn, no enemies to lovers, no friends to lovers... they basically just both wanted to bang from the first couple chapters
❌ THE TONE OF THE STORY was way too formal. It's like it tried too hard to be "smart" by using big words and lots of scientific terms, which disrupted the flow of reading for me. Maybe it would be better if I was more familiar with chemistry, but I'm not, so a lot of the chemical compounds and stuff flew over my head
❌IT MISSED THE MARK in trying to empower women in science by making them feel too much like "mad scientists". Their experiments were constantly exploding or going wrong and they were made fun of and ostracized by society, which made it hard for me to relate to them and it just felt too extreme in one direction
🆗 THE SIDE STORY with the rebels seemed interesting, but not interesting enough to keep me reading the rest of the book. I wish there had been more proactive investigating by our characters but instead they were very reactive
Overall, I just did not like this book, which is unfortunate because I had such high hopes. I majored in engineering and work in software/technology so it's always a treat to read about women in STEM... but this wasn't for me. I still hope others enjoy it and I think there's promise for the later books in the series if the author can make the characters and story a little more relatable
did-not-finish
July 13, 2024This was an utterly dumb attempt at a feminist historical.
DNF 60%. It was all things insta-love and not like other girls. The writing was disjointed with scenes ending abruptly, and new scenes picking up days later.
The heroine was supposedly extremely intelligent and yet kept ignoring the hero’s (her bodyguard and a trained anti-assassin with years of experience) commands and advice risking her safety over and over (and over). Add to that she was a moron, full stop.
The hero wasn’t much better as he kept dropping the ball because he was distracted by his lust filled thoughts and jealousy.
Also the villains were catty other women and I read spoilers and the heroine is set up as a saviour for all the ‘misfits’ in England, including people of colour, lesbians and a trans man. Include diverse characters all you want, I welcome it, but don’t use them as props to show how great your main character is or shoehorn them in willynilly to tick off boxes for credit. Yikes.
So this was the most tone deaf and misguided attempted at a feminist and progressive historical romance, ever.
I hated this.
DNF 60%. It was all things insta-love and not like other girls. The writing was disjointed with scenes ending abruptly, and new scenes picking up days later.
The heroine was supposedly extremely intelligent and yet kept ignoring the hero’s (her bodyguard and a trained anti-assassin with years of experience) commands and advice risking her safety over and over (and over). Add to that she was a moron, full stop.
The hero wasn’t much better as he kept dropping the ball because he was distracted by his lust filled thoughts and jealousy.
Also the villains were catty other women and I read spoilers and the heroine is set up as a saviour for all the ‘misfits’ in England, including people of colour, lesbians and a trans man. Include diverse characters all you want, I welcome it, but don’t use them as props to show how great your main character is or shoehorn them in willynilly to tick off boxes for credit. Yikes.
So this was the most tone deaf and misguided attempted at a feminist and progressive historical romance, ever.
I hated this.
July 4, 2020
Everett's debut, A LADY'S FORMULA FOR LOVE, is smart, sassy, sexy, and sweet.
If you demand smart characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and sharp wit in your historical romance, this is the book for you.
Her hero (yay! a common man, for a change of pace) is hella swoony and you'll be so envious of the heroine's secret society of lady scientists that you'll want to start your own club.
If I had to compare this to a movie, I'd say it's THE BODYGUARD meets PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Mr. Darcy, with his brooding sexiness, doesn't have a damned thing on Arthur Kneland.
This book is an all-around winner.
If you demand smart characters, laugh-out-loud humor, and sharp wit in your historical romance, this is the book for you.
Her hero (yay! a common man, for a change of pace) is hella swoony and you'll be so envious of the heroine's secret society of lady scientists that you'll want to start your own club.
If I had to compare this to a movie, I'd say it's THE BODYGUARD meets PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Mr. Darcy, with his brooding sexiness, doesn't have a damned thing on Arthur Kneland.
This book is an all-around winner.
November 17, 2020
If the works of Tessa Dare and Lisa Kleypas had a lovechild daughter that was unapologetically feminist and in STEM, it would be this book. Holy gawd above I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. It is single-handedly one of my favorite reads of the year. This book has it all: hilarious shenanigans, whip-smart heroines, A BROODY GRUNTING EMOTIONALLY CONSTIPATED HERO, and sexual tension for daysssssss. Seriously ya’ll, Elizabeth packs the steam with this one. I really can’t say enough about this incredible book. The story follows Violet, a widow scientist that has created a secret society for other women scientists, and Arthur, a grumpy Scottish bodyguard that has spent 20 years exiling his feelings and living unattached. The two are dynamite. This book is also so special for its incredible portrayals of consent, contraception, trans rights, and conquering the patriarchy. I busted out laughing. I actually cried. I had butterflies and and a knotted stomach and felt so many different emotions through this beautiful story. This is the kind of book that makes my heart soar as a reader, and makes me hungry to expand my craft as a writer. I’m not doing justice to this story with this jumbled review but trust me, Go forth and pre-order this gem, you won’t want to miss it.
🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆/5
🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆/5
April 19, 2021
This story started out so promising. Violet is a scientist and has a secret club for female scientists. Someone is threatening her life, so she has a new Scottish bodyguard who hasn't been to London in 20 years because of a scandal during his last job there. It's their romance! The beginning was so good, but it quickly fizzled out for me and I was just bored by the story. Violet and Arthur met and then it seemed like they were instantly jumping into bed together and I felt like I missed something. Then, I had a hard time believing their connection and that they genuinely loved each other. I did love the whole scientist backdrop and how they were a collection of intelligent ladies that went against society's norms. The rest, though, was pretty boring and I do think the ending dragged. For a book that was over 300 pages, not a lot really happened that I can even remember by the end. I just didn't really connect with the story or the characters as much as I wanted to.
July 12, 2020
This is a fantastic book. The premise is incredibly fun, widowed Violet has a secret club for other women to pursue their scientific passions. However, when it appears that her life is threatened, her stepson (who is basically her age, but it totally isn't weird, I promise) hires decorated soldier/royal protector/kind of assassin Arthur to protect her. Obviously they fall in love and there's a fun mystery element and it's a delicious romance and there are fun side characters and lots of fabulous friendships but this book is SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
There is so much more awareness of the broader world of early 19th century England and the murkiness of the class and political systems, even when the characters have the best intentions. No one in this book gets a free ride and everyone is poked and challenged about their views of the world and their relationships to others and society in ways that are nuances and really and of so very smart.
It really is fabulous debut filled with danger, imperfect but fierce found-family, and the love story of two stubborn protectors, A Lady's Formula for Love is everything a romance reader who likes to ponder as well as cheer could want. And I recommend it whole-heartedly.
There is so much more awareness of the broader world of early 19th century England and the murkiness of the class and political systems, even when the characters have the best intentions. No one in this book gets a free ride and everyone is poked and challenged about their views of the world and their relationships to others and society in ways that are nuances and really and of so very smart.
It really is fabulous debut filled with danger, imperfect but fierce found-family, and the love story of two stubborn protectors, A Lady's Formula for Love is everything a romance reader who likes to ponder as well as cheer could want. And I recommend it whole-heartedly.
Want to read
September 21, 2020DID SOMEONE SAY A HISTORICAL BODYGUARD ROMANCE???
April 13, 2021
What a shame!
I really wanted to love this book. It was in the historical romance genre and had women scientists and inventors as the main subplot.
"Any book with STEM as the occupation for a woman is a plus in my book!"
- said the civil engineer specialist *cough, cough*
But A Lady's Formula for Love didn't work for me.
✔️ The insta ‘lust’ was way too fast.
✔️ The ending was subpar and rushed. It felt like an afterthought.
✔️ The writing felted uneven and all over the place. The flow was not good in this one.
✔️ And way too many characters to keep track of.
And another thing that got my dander up was...
All the smart and brilliant women in this book were fragile, brittle, had low self esteem and believed the worse about themselves.
I think the woman servants believed in themselves more then the ladies did!
Come on!
I know that this was the 1700s and it was all about the patriarchy at this time, but I had hoped at least one woman had fire in her eyes, ice in her veins and her demons would not get the best of her.
But alas, that was not the case.
Sure, we get a happy ever ending and I did like Violet in the end, but did I like this book enough to continue the series?
Not really. Next!
I really wanted to love this book. It was in the historical romance genre and had women scientists and inventors as the main subplot.
"Any book with STEM as the occupation for a woman is a plus in my book!"
- said the civil engineer specialist *cough, cough*
But A Lady's Formula for Love didn't work for me.
✔️ The insta ‘lust’ was way too fast.
✔️ The ending was subpar and rushed. It felt like an afterthought.
✔️ The writing felted uneven and all over the place. The flow was not good in this one.
✔️ And way too many characters to keep track of.
And another thing that got my dander up was...
All the smart and brilliant women in this book were fragile, brittle, had low self esteem and believed the worse about themselves.
I think the woman servants believed in themselves more then the ladies did!
Come on!
I know that this was the 1700s and it was all about the patriarchy at this time, but I had hoped at least one woman had fire in her eyes, ice in her veins and her demons would not get the best of her.
But alas, that was not the case.
Sure, we get a happy ever ending and I did like Violet in the end, but did I like this book enough to continue the series?
Not really. Next!
July 26, 2020
A LADY’S FORMULA FOR LOVE is a sparkling debut novel by Elizabeth Everett full of humor, heart, and sizzling romance. It’s a unique historical romcom that will have you laughing out loud on one page and your eyes brimming with tears on the next. The connection between the smart, vulnerable scientist Violet and her reserved, wounded bodyguard Arthur is palpable from their first moment together on the page, and you cannot help but cheer on their romance and their gentle rebuilding of themselves as the story progresses.
Set in London in the early Victorian era, A LADY’S FORMULA FOR LOVE shares the world of female scientists and women seeking comradery and support in their intellectual pursuits while still managing the constraints of society. Violet’s circle of female scientists are lovable, endearing, and brilliant, and Arthur’s intrusion into her controlled world as her new bodyguard helps her realize the other risks of the heart that she hasn’t allowed herself to take.
Make room on your keeper shelf for this gem of a historical romance. I loved every page, and I cannot wait to read the next in her Secret Scientists of London Series!
Set in London in the early Victorian era, A LADY’S FORMULA FOR LOVE shares the world of female scientists and women seeking comradery and support in their intellectual pursuits while still managing the constraints of society. Violet’s circle of female scientists are lovable, endearing, and brilliant, and Arthur’s intrusion into her controlled world as her new bodyguard helps her realize the other risks of the heart that she hasn’t allowed herself to take.
Make room on your keeper shelf for this gem of a historical romance. I loved every page, and I cannot wait to read the next in her Secret Scientists of London Series!
November 24, 2020
WHAT A MASTERPIECE.
Now, this book is special to me, because the moment I knew it existed I remember thinking many coherent things, such as OMG, and GRABBY HANDS, and MINE MINE MINE MINE MUST READ MINE. It was a very dignified moment.
Well, guess what? Now that I’ve read A Lady’s Formula For Love I am actually very disappointed. THAT IT’S OVER. Because Elizabeth managed to create The Best World Ever and The Best Characters Ever and I am currently packing my bags to move to London, ca. 1842. Not only Violet, the heroine (A! LADY! SCIENTIST!) is the best possible mix of spunk and humor and curiosity and brains and vulnerability, but her bodyguard Arthur is truly To Thirst For, and I have fallen for literally Every Secondary Character (INCLUDING THE LEADS OF BOOK 2!). Seriously, this is the historical romcom of my dreams, and I want to spend the rest of my life with chaotic scientist ladies who form secret societies and clearly love and support each other and cause waaaay too many explosions.
(Not true. There’s never too many explosions.)
PS: My faves were Winthram and Phoebe and Mrs Sweet <3
Now, this book is special to me, because the moment I knew it existed I remember thinking many coherent things, such as OMG, and GRABBY HANDS, and MINE MINE MINE MINE MUST READ MINE. It was a very dignified moment.
Well, guess what? Now that I’ve read A Lady’s Formula For Love I am actually very disappointed. THAT IT’S OVER. Because Elizabeth managed to create The Best World Ever and The Best Characters Ever and I am currently packing my bags to move to London, ca. 1842. Not only Violet, the heroine (A! LADY! SCIENTIST!) is the best possible mix of spunk and humor and curiosity and brains and vulnerability, but her bodyguard Arthur is truly To Thirst For, and I have fallen for literally Every Secondary Character (INCLUDING THE LEADS OF BOOK 2!). Seriously, this is the historical romcom of my dreams, and I want to spend the rest of my life with chaotic scientist ladies who form secret societies and clearly love and support each other and cause waaaay too many explosions.
(Not true. There’s never too many explosions.)
PS: My faves were Winthram and Phoebe and Mrs Sweet <3
September 27, 2020
This was just delightful! A sweet romance with a wonderful heroine, compelling and hilarious supporting characters, and a all-too-relatable villain!
June 3, 2022
Just read this again and I still love it just as much as the first time round!
Brilliant! Funny and more!
The dark, earnest assassin and the lovely insecure widow with a genius for chemistry!
Violet Hughes, Lady Greycliff, is developing an antidote to poison gas being used by a radical worker’s organization. The prime minister’s agent Arthur Kneland has been deployed as her body guard after a failed assassination attempt.
Arthur’s idea of the widow, before he meets her it must be admitted, is way below par. He should have listened more closely to his employer, Lord Greycliff, Violet’s stepson when he muttered,“Funny how chaos seems to follow behind certain women.” Arthur is about to get the surprise of his life.
Violet is one of the founders of Athena’s Retreat, a salon that fronts for a secret society allowing women scientists to pursue their chosen areas of investigation away from the disapproving society of the times.
I’m not sure if the developing relationship between Arthur and Violet is a slow smouldering burn or attraction at first sight. After all Violet did reflect at their torrid first meeting, that Arthur’s “eyes were what told Violet she would be safe, no matter what.”
As for Arthur I love his acceptance and delight in Violet. To him “something happened when Violet explained a scientific theory. She glowed. Her stained, work-worn hands flew up with a sudden grace, illustrating a point as if pulling the knowledge from the air. What a beautiful sight, watching her revel in imparting secrets of how the world worked.”
This has it all! A Victorian mystery romance that delights! I’m looking forward to more from Everett!
A Berkeley Group ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
Brilliant! Funny and more!
The dark, earnest assassin and the lovely insecure widow with a genius for chemistry!
Violet Hughes, Lady Greycliff, is developing an antidote to poison gas being used by a radical worker’s organization. The prime minister’s agent Arthur Kneland has been deployed as her body guard after a failed assassination attempt.
Arthur’s idea of the widow, before he meets her it must be admitted, is way below par. He should have listened more closely to his employer, Lord Greycliff, Violet’s stepson when he muttered,“Funny how chaos seems to follow behind certain women.” Arthur is about to get the surprise of his life.
Violet is one of the founders of Athena’s Retreat, a salon that fronts for a secret society allowing women scientists to pursue their chosen areas of investigation away from the disapproving society of the times.
I’m not sure if the developing relationship between Arthur and Violet is a slow smouldering burn or attraction at first sight. After all Violet did reflect at their torrid first meeting, that Arthur’s “eyes were what told Violet she would be safe, no matter what.”
As for Arthur I love his acceptance and delight in Violet. To him “something happened when Violet explained a scientific theory. She glowed. Her stained, work-worn hands flew up with a sudden grace, illustrating a point as if pulling the knowledge from the air. What a beautiful sight, watching her revel in imparting secrets of how the world worked.”
This has it all! A Victorian mystery romance that delights! I’m looking forward to more from Everett!
A Berkeley Group ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)
January 1, 2021
3.5 stars -- I am always here for women in STEM in a historical and this books definitely delivered that character type & the accompanying tropes really nicely. Add in a bodyguard/his client trope? Love it. The parts of this book I found most successful were the characters and the overall writing-- there's a nice wit throughout and I really enjoyed the dynamic with Violet & Arthur. I thought the plot was a little messy, so that dinged things down a bit, but this was a really fun take on a Victorian historical that I would recommend!
dnf
February 11, 2021DNF no rating
I tried SO HARD to get engrossed in this book. I just can't go on forcing it anymore, I'm pulling my hair out! It had many elements that should have made the perfect formula for success. There was no big chemical reaction for me, just one big fizzle. Initially the idea of female scientists living in the beginning of the Victorian era with their own club was really intriguing. If you're familiar with my reviews, you know by now that I'm a sucker for nerdy/brainy heroines. Big brains are where it's at, let's celebrate intelligence before appearance. However, there is a serious disconnect when it comes to these characters. I spent a lot of time reading things multiple times because I couldn't keep track of the various characters. Not being able to easily distinguish between the women caused me to feel as if I was dragging my feet through quicksand. The characters felt unfocused, the plot felt unfocused, and the romance unfortunately suffered the same. I felt pulled in so many different directions with little emphasis or focus where there should have been strong development.
For example, Violet and Arthur meet when he tackles her to safety during an explosion. He's an aloof man who doesn't like to get too close to people, and has little time to form attachments to women. Violet is a widow who did not have a happy marriage, and her experience has led her to have zero interest in romance or men in general. Despite that, from the moment their bodies touch as he tackles her, they're both feeling an overblown animal attraction that they can barely contain. It doesn't really seem in character for either of them to be so overcome by the sight and feel of each other's physical appearance. Honestly it would feel more organic if they grew attached to one another reluctantly rather than just their hormones. Based on their personality types, they would more likely need to gradually form an emotional attachment as they fight their feelings.
Arthur had a typical bodyguard conflict-not wanting to get emotionally attached because it would distract him from protecting her. We would be told that he feels that he needs to keep things purely professional, then he would turn around in the next breath and passionately kiss her without a second thought. Are we to believe then, that the mysterious mistake from his past that made him fail to protect his client would be so easily forgotten so many times? I liked that he accepted her differences. In fact, he found her to be attractive because of those differences, not despite them. I really wasn't feeling much for these two as a couple though because there was so much going on that it detracted from what should have been the main focus. Everything from the mystery, to the romance, to the character development felt half-hearted instead of equally balanced.
I kept pushing through because I was hoping that if I read long enough that I would get invested in the storyline. After getting to 65%, I was still feeling emotionless about what happened to the couple and forcing myself through it. Some books you just can't click with and I'm going ahead and admitting defeat. Many others will not have the same issues, so don't just take my word for it.
I tried SO HARD to get engrossed in this book. I just can't go on forcing it anymore, I'm pulling my hair out! It had many elements that should have made the perfect formula for success. There was no big chemical reaction for me, just one big fizzle. Initially the idea of female scientists living in the beginning of the Victorian era with their own club was really intriguing. If you're familiar with my reviews, you know by now that I'm a sucker for nerdy/brainy heroines. Big brains are where it's at, let's celebrate intelligence before appearance. However, there is a serious disconnect when it comes to these characters. I spent a lot of time reading things multiple times because I couldn't keep track of the various characters. Not being able to easily distinguish between the women caused me to feel as if I was dragging my feet through quicksand. The characters felt unfocused, the plot felt unfocused, and the romance unfortunately suffered the same. I felt pulled in so many different directions with little emphasis or focus where there should have been strong development.
For example, Violet and Arthur meet when he tackles her to safety during an explosion. He's an aloof man who doesn't like to get too close to people, and has little time to form attachments to women. Violet is a widow who did not have a happy marriage, and her experience has led her to have zero interest in romance or men in general. Despite that, from the moment their bodies touch as he tackles her, they're both feeling an overblown animal attraction that they can barely contain. It doesn't really seem in character for either of them to be so overcome by the sight and feel of each other's physical appearance. Honestly it would feel more organic if they grew attached to one another reluctantly rather than just their hormones. Based on their personality types, they would more likely need to gradually form an emotional attachment as they fight their feelings.
Arthur had a typical bodyguard conflict-not wanting to get emotionally attached because it would distract him from protecting her. We would be told that he feels that he needs to keep things purely professional, then he would turn around in the next breath and passionately kiss her without a second thought. Are we to believe then, that the mysterious mistake from his past that made him fail to protect his client would be so easily forgotten so many times? I liked that he accepted her differences. In fact, he found her to be attractive because of those differences, not despite them. I really wasn't feeling much for these two as a couple though because there was so much going on that it detracted from what should have been the main focus. Everything from the mystery, to the romance, to the character development felt half-hearted instead of equally balanced.
I kept pushing through because I was hoping that if I read long enough that I would get invested in the storyline. After getting to 65%, I was still feeling emotionless about what happened to the couple and forcing myself through it. Some books you just can't click with and I'm going ahead and admitting defeat. Many others will not have the same issues, so don't just take my word for it.
February 8, 2021
I rediscovered my love for historical romance back in December when I decided to take a break from review copies and went back to re-reading some of my comfort reads. I'm not sure what it is about this particular subgenre that draws to me but some of my all-time favorite novels are historical romances. So I came into the new year excited about the prospect of reading new historical romances, especially debuts. One such book I was looking forward to was A Lady's Formula for Love.
Set in Victorian London, the book focuses on Lady Violet, a young widow who has founded a secret society for women who wish to pursue scientific endeavors. This secret club of hers is not only a gathering for women of various scientific interests and backgrounds but also holds laboratories of all kinds. As a STEM girl who spent quite a bit of time in labs, this delighted me. Though several women significant roles in the progress of science back in the day, they were significant barriers to their progress, namely the patriarchy. I haven't read many historical books with heroines who are actively practicing science so I was excited about the prospect here. Violet was the perfect heroine to open up this series. She was this eccentric, witty, and highly intelligent woman who was clearly passionate about the work she was doing. Ofen, she would disregard her own safety, but it was clear that this scientific society of hers was her priority. It's always fun for me to read about characters who get totally nerdy about science, so I really enjoyed being inside Violet's head. Also, Violet was just plain likable, you know? She was genuinely kind to others and saw the good in people, so it was impossible not to like her as a protagonist.
When it appears that Violet's life is in danger, her stepson hires Arthur, to be a bodyguard. Undeniably, sparks fly between the two as they forced to interact with each other. You all know how much I love a stoic, grumpy hero. Even better when they are broody, intense, and protective Scottish bodyguards. And Arthur is all of that. He has his reasons for being a rather solemn character, all stemming from the childhood trauma of having lost his family at a young age. He left Scotland so he could throw himself into work, but it was clear that he was still battling with his grief and guilt over the loss of his family. I loved watching Arthur trying to figure out the women in the scientific society. He was baffled by them and their love for explosion-inducing experiments, but he quickly grew attached to them and was never judgemental.
As Arthur and Violet are brought into each other's circles, he tried his best to resist his attraction to her. After all, he was meant to be protecting and guarding her life. The chemistry between the two was hard to ignore, however. The romantic elements in A Lady's Formula for Love worked for me. There was a sweetness underlying the physical heat between the two. They were so gentle and soft around each other, but also brought all the steam in the bedroom scenes - exactly how I like my romances in books!
A Lady's Formula for Love also had an underlying mystery thread that gave the book a sense of danger - as I mentioned, someone is trying to kill Violet and steal her work. I was left surprised and quite frankly, a little heartbroken, by the revelation of who was behind it all. I'm curious to see how Elizabeth Everett will handle this character in the future because it was definitely an interesting choice and their motives made sense. My only minor complaint about A Lady's Formula for Love would be that I initially had a hard time keeping track of the secondary cast. There were quite a few of them and my brain isn't always good with names. However, it didn't affect my enjoyment of the overall romantic arc and by the end, I did have a good grasp of the entire cast.
I had a great time reading this fun romance debut and I'm looking forward to reading more from this series. If you're keen to try a new historical romance author, I'd encourage you to pick up A Lady's Formula for Love.
Relationship disclosure: Elizabeth Everett and I are mutuals on social media.
CWs: attempted murder, deaths from illness
March 31, 2021
While perhaps well intentioned, this book badly bungles its progressive message and fails to deliver a satisfying romance. I was so excited to read this 2021 historical romance debut that I preordered it, but I couldn’t wait for it to be over and the last 25 pages knocked it down into 1-star territory for me.
After the death of her elderly husband, 30-year-old chemist Violet Hughes founded and now operates a ladies’ club for scientists, mathematicians, and inventors called Athena’s Retreat (think: the 1842, STEM-only version of The Wing). But, after she takes on a government job, her adult stepson believes her life is in danger and hires 40-year-old bodyguard Arthur Kneland to protect her and investigate cases of sabotage at the club. Arthur and Violet’s instantaneous love complicates his assignment, as he believes remaining aloof and objective is the only way to keep her safe and she struggles to shake off lingering self-doubt from her previous relationship. While Arthur looks into the club, its members, and staff, she’s busy preparing an open house that will boost the organization’s respectability in the eyes of high society.
Despite the book’s positioning as a progressive romance, its feminism wasn’t convincing. A Lady’s Formula for Love draws an effusive circle around its self-consciously feminist heroine and her cadre of friends, while any woman outside of their clique is portrayed in misogynistic terms, as catty, superficial, and physically unattractive. Labeling older, judgmental women “nasty hens” and “biddies” isn’t feminist; it’s a sly adaption of Not Like Other Girls, wherein the bad other women are defined as unaware of patriarchy or gendered discrimination. Whenever a book sorts women into “good” and “bad” categories like this, I’m suspicious that it’s working on patriarchy’s behalf unintentionally and I was disappointed to find that in a debut I’ve been anticipating for its feminist perspective.
Then, the trans supporting character, villainous victim of domestic abuse, and negative portrait of a worker’s rights organization also gave me serious pause. At her ladies only club, Violet employs a transman as a footman, but Winthram’s gender identity is framed as an elective choice or decision, he’s deadnamed on page, and his backstory leans entirely on tragic familial rejection. When he’s surrounded by an angry, threatening mob, our cisgender heroine acts as his savior and rescues him from danger. Simultaneously, the established Big Bad is a group that agitates for universal male suffrage and worker’s rights, which unpersuasively sets up organized labor as the ultimate enemy of feminism. Finally, in the last 25 pages, the villain is revealed to be a victim of domestic abuse and this person receives a long, sanctimonious, and tone-deaf lecture on the evils of retributive violence and women’s rage. Yeah, I hated this. Turning an ongoing abuse victim into an unsympathetic antagonist is already an ignorant and bizarre choice, but to top it off with an offensively patronizing speech was the last straw.
However, if the romance had been satisfying or the story had come together, I could imagine rating this a bit higher. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen. Among an overlarge cast of characters at the club, the central mystery remains muddled and the author struggles to capture the immediacy of physical danger or action. Then, from the beginning, our romantic leads experience a lot of mutual lust and that’s fine, except we’re given little character or relationship development to explain their connection. Violet and Arthur are blandly adequate in their starring roles, but their emotional bond relies too much on cliché as the book goes forward. Since Arthur’s reluctance to get romantically involved with someone he’s guarding is the relationship’s most vivid conflict, the stakes felt too low and their HEA ending inevitable.
After my lack of success with The Widow of Rose House, Midsummer Moon, and now this, I think it’s time to concede the “mad scientist” type in romance doesn’t work for me. Outside of their “genius” innovation, these characters are often infantilized, which isn’t something I enjoy reading. Even as A Lady’s Formula for Love seems to celebrate women’s accomplishments in the STEM fields, it portrays the women themselves as out-of-touch, accident-prone, and naïve, to a childish degree. Beyond the immature bickering and petty exclusion amongst close friends, the women constantly find themselves in silly experimental mishaps, speak in long monologues of esoteric dialogue, and their scatterbrained habits are used as justification for male dismissal or intervention. Was this supposed to be endearing quirky or comic? Is it meant as autism or ADHD representation? Either way, it didn’t work, and I kept waiting for the book to treat the women’s work with a degree of sensitivity, seriousness, or respect that it deserves. By the end, when Violet is vaguely referring to leaving her post to follow Arthur to his sheep farm in Scotland, I realized my hope wouldn’t be realized.
Part of me hates rating a book 1 star because it feels so extreme, but this book was dull, poorly constructed, and offensive. I disliked how marginalized secondary characters were used as evidence of the heroine’s benevolence and the sermon on the impracticability of an abuse victim’s anger made my blood boil, especially when a large part of the heroine’s journey is learning to articulate her feelings in an open way. If I’m going to be sold a book on the grounds that it’s feminist, I also don’t think it’s asking too much that the internalized misogyny be interrogated in the text or removed before publication. Well, at least this “nasty hen” would appreciate it!
After the death of her elderly husband, 30-year-old chemist Violet Hughes founded and now operates a ladies’ club for scientists, mathematicians, and inventors called Athena’s Retreat (think: the 1842, STEM-only version of The Wing). But, after she takes on a government job, her adult stepson believes her life is in danger and hires 40-year-old bodyguard Arthur Kneland to protect her and investigate cases of sabotage at the club. Arthur and Violet’s instantaneous love complicates his assignment, as he believes remaining aloof and objective is the only way to keep her safe and she struggles to shake off lingering self-doubt from her previous relationship. While Arthur looks into the club, its members, and staff, she’s busy preparing an open house that will boost the organization’s respectability in the eyes of high society.
Despite the book’s positioning as a progressive romance, its feminism wasn’t convincing. A Lady’s Formula for Love draws an effusive circle around its self-consciously feminist heroine and her cadre of friends, while any woman outside of their clique is portrayed in misogynistic terms, as catty, superficial, and physically unattractive. Labeling older, judgmental women “nasty hens” and “biddies” isn’t feminist; it’s a sly adaption of Not Like Other Girls, wherein the bad other women are defined as unaware of patriarchy or gendered discrimination. Whenever a book sorts women into “good” and “bad” categories like this, I’m suspicious that it’s working on patriarchy’s behalf unintentionally and I was disappointed to find that in a debut I’ve been anticipating for its feminist perspective.
Then, the trans supporting character, villainous victim of domestic abuse, and negative portrait of a worker’s rights organization also gave me serious pause. At her ladies only club, Violet employs a transman as a footman, but Winthram’s gender identity is framed as an elective choice or decision, he’s deadnamed on page, and his backstory leans entirely on tragic familial rejection. When he’s surrounded by an angry, threatening mob, our cisgender heroine acts as his savior and rescues him from danger. Simultaneously, the established Big Bad is a group that agitates for universal male suffrage and worker’s rights, which unpersuasively sets up organized labor as the ultimate enemy of feminism. Finally, in the last 25 pages, the villain is revealed to be a victim of domestic abuse and this person receives a long, sanctimonious, and tone-deaf lecture on the evils of retributive violence and women’s rage. Yeah, I hated this. Turning an ongoing abuse victim into an unsympathetic antagonist is already an ignorant and bizarre choice, but to top it off with an offensively patronizing speech was the last straw.
However, if the romance had been satisfying or the story had come together, I could imagine rating this a bit higher. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen. Among an overlarge cast of characters at the club, the central mystery remains muddled and the author struggles to capture the immediacy of physical danger or action. Then, from the beginning, our romantic leads experience a lot of mutual lust and that’s fine, except we’re given little character or relationship development to explain their connection. Violet and Arthur are blandly adequate in their starring roles, but their emotional bond relies too much on cliché as the book goes forward. Since Arthur’s reluctance to get romantically involved with someone he’s guarding is the relationship’s most vivid conflict, the stakes felt too low and their HEA ending inevitable.
After my lack of success with The Widow of Rose House, Midsummer Moon, and now this, I think it’s time to concede the “mad scientist” type in romance doesn’t work for me. Outside of their “genius” innovation, these characters are often infantilized, which isn’t something I enjoy reading. Even as A Lady’s Formula for Love seems to celebrate women’s accomplishments in the STEM fields, it portrays the women themselves as out-of-touch, accident-prone, and naïve, to a childish degree. Beyond the immature bickering and petty exclusion amongst close friends, the women constantly find themselves in silly experimental mishaps, speak in long monologues of esoteric dialogue, and their scatterbrained habits are used as justification for male dismissal or intervention. Was this supposed to be endearing quirky or comic? Is it meant as autism or ADHD representation? Either way, it didn’t work, and I kept waiting for the book to treat the women’s work with a degree of sensitivity, seriousness, or respect that it deserves. By the end, when Violet is vaguely referring to leaving her post to follow Arthur to his sheep farm in Scotland, I realized my hope wouldn’t be realized.
Part of me hates rating a book 1 star because it feels so extreme, but this book was dull, poorly constructed, and offensive. I disliked how marginalized secondary characters were used as evidence of the heroine’s benevolence and the sermon on the impracticability of an abuse victim’s anger made my blood boil, especially when a large part of the heroine’s journey is learning to articulate her feelings in an open way. If I’m going to be sold a book on the grounds that it’s feminist, I also don’t think it’s asking too much that the internalized misogyny be interrogated in the text or removed before publication. Well, at least this “nasty hen” would appreciate it!
October 23, 2020
This is not your grandma's historical romcom.
I'm here for the feminism. I'm here for the ladies in STEM. I'm *here* for the *steamy* bodyguard romance. I'm here for the Victorian romcom.
Between the expectations of Victorian society and the lingering scars of a ill-suited marriage, widowed Lady Violet has lost all sense of herself. She creates a safe space for her fellow women to learn and host their cutting-edge experiments, out of sight of the oppression of the day. But even as the center of a secret society of brilliant women scientists, Violet can't find happiness until she learns to be her true self. The romcom plot is well-balanced and nicely paced, the characters are a delight, and the bodyguard is magnificent. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
You know what? I take that back bit about grandma back. You should totally buy a copy of A LADY'S FORMULA FOR LOVE for your grandma, too. She'll *love* this fun historical romcom, and so will you!
I'm here for the feminism. I'm here for the ladies in STEM. I'm *here* for the *steamy* bodyguard romance. I'm here for the Victorian romcom.
Between the expectations of Victorian society and the lingering scars of a ill-suited marriage, widowed Lady Violet has lost all sense of herself. She creates a safe space for her fellow women to learn and host their cutting-edge experiments, out of sight of the oppression of the day. But even as the center of a secret society of brilliant women scientists, Violet can't find happiness until she learns to be her true self. The romcom plot is well-balanced and nicely paced, the characters are a delight, and the bodyguard is magnificent. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
You know what? I take that back bit about grandma back. You should totally buy a copy of A LADY'S FORMULA FOR LOVE for your grandma, too. She'll *love* this fun historical romcom, and so will you!
June 29, 2021
Widowed Lady Violet Hughes is on a top secret mission for the Crown. But as with all top secret missions, her life may very well be in danger. Soon Violet is under the protection of bodyguard Arthur Kneland.
Arthur takes his duties very seriously. Rule #1 for Arthur is to never get too close to the person he is supposed to be protecting. The growing attraction between Arthur and Violet has him concerned. Violet's life is potentially in danger and Arthur needs to keep a clear head and his wits about him if he is to protect her. Will his sense of duty prevent Arthur and Violet from becoming more than a working relationship?
I loved A Lady's Formula for Love! This book had the perfect amount of humor, mystery and such a sweet and sexy romance between Arthur and Violet. I will admit that I haven't read a lot of bodyguard romances, but...sigh, this one was so good.
Grumpy + sunshine gets me every time and Arthur was such a grump (but I still loved him). I loved his dry wit, but also how much love he has to give. If Arthur is grumpy then Violet is definitely the epitome of sunshine. Not only does she have an amazing refuge for women scientists to reside in, but she loves them all equally. She is smart and witty, but is fighting her own doubts and insecurities. These two together brought out the best in one another and their romance was equally swoony.
Although A Lady's Formula for Love was my first book by Elizabeth Everett, I already can't wait for the next book in the series to come out! Pick up A Lady's Formula for Love if your'e looking for a romance featuring women in STEM, a bit of mystery and a swoony, steamy romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
Arthur takes his duties very seriously. Rule #1 for Arthur is to never get too close to the person he is supposed to be protecting. The growing attraction between Arthur and Violet has him concerned. Violet's life is potentially in danger and Arthur needs to keep a clear head and his wits about him if he is to protect her. Will his sense of duty prevent Arthur and Violet from becoming more than a working relationship?
I loved A Lady's Formula for Love! This book had the perfect amount of humor, mystery and such a sweet and sexy romance between Arthur and Violet. I will admit that I haven't read a lot of bodyguard romances, but...sigh, this one was so good.
Grumpy + sunshine gets me every time and Arthur was such a grump (but I still loved him). I loved his dry wit, but also how much love he has to give. If Arthur is grumpy then Violet is definitely the epitome of sunshine. Not only does she have an amazing refuge for women scientists to reside in, but she loves them all equally. She is smart and witty, but is fighting her own doubts and insecurities. These two together brought out the best in one another and their romance was equally swoony.
Although A Lady's Formula for Love was my first book by Elizabeth Everett, I already can't wait for the next book in the series to come out! Pick up A Lady's Formula for Love if your'e looking for a romance featuring women in STEM, a bit of mystery and a swoony, steamy romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
April 15, 2021
A 3.5 for me. I enjoyed it but got a bit bored.
January 27, 2021
Series: The Secret Scientists of London #1
Publication Date: 2/9/21
Number of Pages: 336
Elizabeth Everett’s debut novel is a delightfully witty, humorous, romantic, and exciting story filled with lovable characters who will quickly capture your heart. The story is excellently crafted and well-plotted without being predictable.
After her husband died, Lady Violet Hughes was a shadow of the vibrant, fun-loving, brilliant young lady she had been before her marriage. After years of abuse to her self-esteem, she had shrunk into herself. Her dream now that she’s a widow has been to create a retreat, Athena’s Retreat, where other women like herself can be themselves – without the censure of unsupportive spouses and family. These are all brilliant ladies who engage in studies in every scientific field imaginable – botany, chemistry, paleontology, biology – just to name a few. Lady Violet has sunk a considerable chunk of her fortune into creating that retreat and now she needs to gain at least a moderate acceptance from the ton in order to make it acceptable for ladies to become members. Of course, the public face of Athena’s Retreat will be benign and will not show the projects and experiments that are carried on in the non-public areas.
Arthur Kneland is an ultra-elite bodyguard who has just retired from a special branch of the Queen’s service. He has guarded and protected everybody from foreign despots to villains to – well, you name it – all in the name of the Crown. He’s been stabbed, shot, and almost anything else and he is still mostly in one piece and retiring. He’s only had one failure in his service to the Crown and that was his very first case as a very green 18-year-old. That case still haunts him and caused him to exile himself from England for twenty years. Now, he’s back and looking to find a farm to call home – right after he takes this one private case for a good friend – Lord Greycliff. Grey wants him to provide protection for his stepmother, Lady Violet Hughes, while she is working on a very important project for the Crown.
Arthur certainly has his work cut out for him when he finds himself surrounded by quirky, brilliant, secretive ladies who don’t quite trust him – or anyone else for that matter. Their explosive experiments cause him much alarm – especially when there are explosions happening that are far from benign. Lady Violet will not believe that one of her ladies could be involved in a plot against her and therefore is always putting herself in danger. Arthur himself is in danger as well – at least his heart is. Despite his considerable strength of will, he finds himself more and more drawn to Lady Violet – and she appears to be drawn to him as well.
Can a Scottish farmer's son and an English lady find their HEA? Is the villain of the piece one of Lady Violet’s ladies? Or, is the villain Adam Winters, the violent leader of the violent rebel group Omnium Democratia? Or, is the villain Violet’s suitor, Earl Grantham? Or – someone else entirely? You’ll just have to read this delightful book to find out.
This was a great, fun-to-read mystery, but the ending left just a little to be desired. I’m sure this is a personal preference, but it is important to me as a reader. I want the romance to be totally complete in the book. I really dislike it when the book ends with the proposal and acceptance. I always want a wedding and some follow-up from that. An epilogue is absolutely one of my favorites. In this one, I would have LOVED to see their wedding and a scene from several months down-the-road when he receives his ‘honors’. I’d like to know what those honors were. Was he granted a title – maybe a Baron or something? Did he just get medals or was it more substantial? For me, it just felt a bit unfinished because I had too many questions. Therefore, I’ve given it a 4-star rating.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 2/9/21
Number of Pages: 336
Elizabeth Everett’s debut novel is a delightfully witty, humorous, romantic, and exciting story filled with lovable characters who will quickly capture your heart. The story is excellently crafted and well-plotted without being predictable.
After her husband died, Lady Violet Hughes was a shadow of the vibrant, fun-loving, brilliant young lady she had been before her marriage. After years of abuse to her self-esteem, she had shrunk into herself. Her dream now that she’s a widow has been to create a retreat, Athena’s Retreat, where other women like herself can be themselves – without the censure of unsupportive spouses and family. These are all brilliant ladies who engage in studies in every scientific field imaginable – botany, chemistry, paleontology, biology – just to name a few. Lady Violet has sunk a considerable chunk of her fortune into creating that retreat and now she needs to gain at least a moderate acceptance from the ton in order to make it acceptable for ladies to become members. Of course, the public face of Athena’s Retreat will be benign and will not show the projects and experiments that are carried on in the non-public areas.
Arthur Kneland is an ultra-elite bodyguard who has just retired from a special branch of the Queen’s service. He has guarded and protected everybody from foreign despots to villains to – well, you name it – all in the name of the Crown. He’s been stabbed, shot, and almost anything else and he is still mostly in one piece and retiring. He’s only had one failure in his service to the Crown and that was his very first case as a very green 18-year-old. That case still haunts him and caused him to exile himself from England for twenty years. Now, he’s back and looking to find a farm to call home – right after he takes this one private case for a good friend – Lord Greycliff. Grey wants him to provide protection for his stepmother, Lady Violet Hughes, while she is working on a very important project for the Crown.
Arthur certainly has his work cut out for him when he finds himself surrounded by quirky, brilliant, secretive ladies who don’t quite trust him – or anyone else for that matter. Their explosive experiments cause him much alarm – especially when there are explosions happening that are far from benign. Lady Violet will not believe that one of her ladies could be involved in a plot against her and therefore is always putting herself in danger. Arthur himself is in danger as well – at least his heart is. Despite his considerable strength of will, he finds himself more and more drawn to Lady Violet – and she appears to be drawn to him as well.
Can a Scottish farmer's son and an English lady find their HEA? Is the villain of the piece one of Lady Violet’s ladies? Or, is the villain Adam Winters, the violent leader of the violent rebel group Omnium Democratia? Or, is the villain Violet’s suitor, Earl Grantham? Or – someone else entirely? You’ll just have to read this delightful book to find out.
This was a great, fun-to-read mystery, but the ending left just a little to be desired. I’m sure this is a personal preference, but it is important to me as a reader. I want the romance to be totally complete in the book. I really dislike it when the book ends with the proposal and acceptance. I always want a wedding and some follow-up from that. An epilogue is absolutely one of my favorites. In this one, I would have LOVED to see their wedding and a scene from several months down-the-road when he receives his ‘honors’. I’d like to know what those honors were. Was he granted a title – maybe a Baron or something? Did he just get medals or was it more substantial? For me, it just felt a bit unfinished because I had too many questions. Therefore, I’ve given it a 4-star rating.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 30, 2020
A Lady's Formula for Love is a fun, charming historical romance following a widow who runs a secret society for lady scientists, and a nearly retired counterassasin hired to protect her.
I'm always a fan of historical romance with lady scientists and this one did not disappoint. It has a sweet, semi-forbidden love story but also addresses issues of the time in terms of class and gender, while maintaining a light touch.
Lady Violet is a forgetful genius who gets absorbed in her work, sometimes forgets to eat, and pays little attention to her clothing getting worn and out of fashion. She is kind to everyone, perhaps overly trusting, but has been hurt by the words of her deceased husband who made her feel unseemly for experiencing physical desire or for caring too much about her work.
Arthur is reserved and keeps to himself- determined to keep his charges safe and never again let feelings get in the way. There is an immediate spark between him and Lady Violet, but she is in danger from political rebels because of her scientific work for the government.
I won't say more, but I found this to be enjoyable, heart-warming, and funny at times, if a bit on the flowery side of romantic language near the end. Definitely worth a read! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I'm always a fan of historical romance with lady scientists and this one did not disappoint. It has a sweet, semi-forbidden love story but also addresses issues of the time in terms of class and gender, while maintaining a light touch.
Lady Violet is a forgetful genius who gets absorbed in her work, sometimes forgets to eat, and pays little attention to her clothing getting worn and out of fashion. She is kind to everyone, perhaps overly trusting, but has been hurt by the words of her deceased husband who made her feel unseemly for experiencing physical desire or for caring too much about her work.
Arthur is reserved and keeps to himself- determined to keep his charges safe and never again let feelings get in the way. There is an immediate spark between him and Lady Violet, but she is in danger from political rebels because of her scientific work for the government.
I won't say more, but I found this to be enjoyable, heart-warming, and funny at times, if a bit on the flowery side of romantic language near the end. Definitely worth a read! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 31, 2020
I was so excited to get an early copy of this for review. I’m new to the historical romance genre and have been having a lot of fun checking out some of the recent releases. A Lady’s Formula for Love is a perfect entry point. As a big fan of The Bodyguard, I fell quickly into the story of star-crossed lovers Violet and Arthur and didn’t want to leave it.
Set in London in 1842, the setting felt familiar, which for someone not used to reading historical fiction was a plus. I liked that I understood where they were and when, and how society at that time shaped these people and this story. I could picture it easily and the descriptions provided in book only enhanced my mental picture. The added science, while significant to the plot, wasn’t heavy handed; it was easy enough to understand without pulling you out of the moment. But it also characterized these women and the amazing work they were doing at time when no one wanted them to be doing it.
This book is both sweet and steamy. In one moment, the steam factor is high, and then it falls into a sweet moment between these two imperfect lovers. Both experienced but so naïve in love, Violet and Arthur are a breath of fresh air. The fumble through it, but whole-heartedly. You root for them as the world attempts to tear them apart and a literal villain puts Violet in harm’s way. You wonder if society expectations and self-sacrifice will win out over love and are then rewarded with a shock of an ending (I never guessed who the villain was!) that makes all your worry worth it.
Set in London in 1842, the setting felt familiar, which for someone not used to reading historical fiction was a plus. I liked that I understood where they were and when, and how society at that time shaped these people and this story. I could picture it easily and the descriptions provided in book only enhanced my mental picture. The added science, while significant to the plot, wasn’t heavy handed; it was easy enough to understand without pulling you out of the moment. But it also characterized these women and the amazing work they were doing at time when no one wanted them to be doing it.
This book is both sweet and steamy. In one moment, the steam factor is high, and then it falls into a sweet moment between these two imperfect lovers. Both experienced but so naïve in love, Violet and Arthur are a breath of fresh air. The fumble through it, but whole-heartedly. You root for them as the world attempts to tear them apart and a literal villain puts Violet in harm’s way. You wonder if society expectations and self-sacrifice will win out over love and are then rewarded with a shock of an ending (I never guessed who the villain was!) that makes all your worry worth it.
October 10, 2020
Good dialogue.
August 7, 2023
I love the dynamic of a brainy woman who's super attracted to her brawny bodyguard. This was very fun.
August 19, 2021
I received an ARC of this book.
In my opinion the first few chapters of this book--which I assume were supposed to start off the action with a bang!--were kind of a mess. There were way too many characters, a flurry of activity, and so much going on, that I was just confused. After a bit everything seemed to calm down and I began to enjoy the story and the two main characters. But then again, after about half-way through, the book seemed to lose it's focus. I couldn't tell if the author was trying to give us clues to the "mystery" in a much too heavy-handed manner, or if things were already being set up for sequels, or what. The main conflicts between the two main characters were confusing, as well. I really didn't understand what the big deal was about why they couldn't be together. This book was just not for me.
In my opinion the first few chapters of this book--which I assume were supposed to start off the action with a bang!--were kind of a mess. There were way too many characters, a flurry of activity, and so much going on, that I was just confused. After a bit everything seemed to calm down and I began to enjoy the story and the two main characters. But then again, after about half-way through, the book seemed to lose it's focus. I couldn't tell if the author was trying to give us clues to the "mystery" in a much too heavy-handed manner, or if things were already being set up for sequels, or what. The main conflicts between the two main characters were confusing, as well. I really didn't understand what the big deal was about why they couldn't be together. This book was just not for me.
November 16, 2020
This was so much fun! A historical romcom featuring a lady scientist and a gruff bodyguard? Sexy scenes? Explosions? Feminism?! That's an insta-read for me, and the book absolutely gave me what I wanted. Arthur is now on my list of Gentlemen Characters I would make come to life if I ever develop magical powers. I adored the book and am so much looking forward to more in the series.
March 12, 2021
4.25 ⭐️
Odd to see how this book is averaging under 4 stars 😏
Regardless, I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. So I was pleasantly surprised by that.
This will give you Bridgerton vibes, but is also nothing like that plot—especially if, like me, you’ve only seen the show and haven’t read the books 😂
This is basically about a bunch of genius women, suppressed by men and society standards, who all further their inventions through Athena’s Retreat, a club they founded to aid women who have nowhere to go.
I love them. I love their wacky inventions, how they blow things up and don’t even bat an eye, how determined they are in leaving their mark even if they have to do it in private.
I did find that the love story overshadowed some of the plot, and that the plot development was pretty average. Violet needed a bodyguard because she was developing an antidote that an organization wanted to get their hands on and would harm her into getting it. so in comes Arthur. The overall plot had to do with the antidote and the organization, but I paid less attention to that and more attention to the relationship developing between them.
There are tons of well-placed humor in here and obviously a lot of romance. Thank God for that, too, because by the end of the first chapter, you get the build up of their attraction. I will say that it seemed a bit rushed just in terms of them literally going from strangers into the possibility of falling in love.
The story felt quite simple despite what its main plot was about, but not really a bad thing for me because I actually enjoyed the simplicity of it, especially to help me get over a reading hangover from a different book.
Some steam here, not THOROUGH spice, but the adult language was there. Probably would give it 🌶🌶/5 just because of the mention and some execution.
“The connection between himself and Violet was the same: like breathing and sleeping. Blind or deaf, now or a hundred years from now, Arthur would know what to say to make her color that gorgeous shade of crimson, to make her stammer and set her pulse beating at her throat.”
UGH—one of my fave quotes.
Odd to see how this book is averaging under 4 stars 😏
Regardless, I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would. So I was pleasantly surprised by that.
This will give you Bridgerton vibes, but is also nothing like that plot—especially if, like me, you’ve only seen the show and haven’t read the books 😂
This is basically about a bunch of genius women, suppressed by men and society standards, who all further their inventions through Athena’s Retreat, a club they founded to aid women who have nowhere to go.
I love them. I love their wacky inventions, how they blow things up and don’t even bat an eye, how determined they are in leaving their mark even if they have to do it in private.
I did find that the love story overshadowed some of the plot, and that the plot development was pretty average. Violet needed a bodyguard because she was developing an antidote that an organization wanted to get their hands on and would harm her into getting it. so in comes Arthur. The overall plot had to do with the antidote and the organization, but I paid less attention to that and more attention to the relationship developing between them.
There are tons of well-placed humor in here and obviously a lot of romance. Thank God for that, too, because by the end of the first chapter, you get the build up of their attraction. I will say that it seemed a bit rushed just in terms of them literally going from strangers into the possibility of falling in love.
The story felt quite simple despite what its main plot was about, but not really a bad thing for me because I actually enjoyed the simplicity of it, especially to help me get over a reading hangover from a different book.
Some steam here, not THOROUGH spice, but the adult language was there. Probably would give it 🌶🌶/5 just because of the mention and some execution.
“The connection between himself and Violet was the same: like breathing and sleeping. Blind or deaf, now or a hundred years from now, Arthur would know what to say to make her color that gorgeous shade of crimson, to make her stammer and set her pulse beating at her throat.”
UGH—one of my fave quotes.
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