Series: The Secret Scientists of London, Book 1
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: February 9, 2021
Source: Publisher
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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 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.
In the heart of London lies Athena’s Retreat – a social club for ladies that hides their true interest: science. How could I resist A Lady’s Formula for Love when it features not one but innumerable women with vast and varied scientific interests in a time when women’s ideas were dismissed, stolen, ridiculed, and more? Elizabeth Everett’s debut has a lot of promise and when it focuses on the sharp minds and diverse characters that inhabit The Secret Scientists of London series the book shines.
Lady Violet Hughes is the founder of Athena’s Retreat. Violet is a brilliant scientist who can sometimes get lost in her work and I enjoyed her absent-minded professor qualities. She’s also the survivor of an emotionally abusive marriage and I loved watching her find confidence in herself over the course of the story. It’s clear from the start that she’s strong. After all, even though her husband spent years tearing her down she still created a place as glorious as Athena’s Retreat. But Violet is vulnerable in other respects, particularly when it comes to her desirability. It was lovely to see her appreciated mind and body by Arthur. When Violet is tasked with coming up with an antidote to a toxin being used by radicals, her stepson hires Arthur Kneland as a bodyguard. Arthur is a man haunted by death and this is his last job before retirement. Arthur knows better than to see his assignments as people but from the start Violet barrels right through his well-constructed walls. Arthur tries to be remote but Violet and her staff all quickly find their way into his heart. I loved the friendships the lonely Arthur formed. And as for his relationship with Violet…the two of them have definite chemistry. Their attraction is impossible to deny and though they want to keep things strictly physical, it’s clear there’s no way for them to prevent their hearts from becoming engaged. Violet and Arthur are likeable as individuals and their romance is easy to become invested in.
There’s a lot to like about A Lady’s Formula for Love, but there are also some missed opportunities. Athena’s Retreat is a place where people can be themselves and be supported by the group. However, though Violet is supportive of everyone her closest friends don’t do the same. I hated seeing Violet hurt by their dismissiveness and wanting to put the club above all else. Their reasoning is realistic but problematic and the latter is never discussed. I really wanted to see strong female friendships in this story and felt like Everett missed the mark a bit. Then there is the mystery of who is going after Violet’s work for the Crown. The predictability of the villain wasn’t all that bad, but the resolution of this plot given all that happened left a sour taste in my mouth. The book’s climax is messy and the false equivalencies drawn in order to resolve the plot to the heroine’s satisfaction were incredibly dissatisfying to me, the reader.
A Lady’s Formula for Love is a bit difficult for me to stick a rating on because it had big pluses and minuses for me. Ultimately, I am in love with the wealth of STEM characters enough to come down on the side of highly enjoying this book. I also could swoon over how Arthur cared for Violet and how he appreciated her for all that she was. So while A Lady’s Formula for Love was a bit uneven for me, I’m looking forward to the next Secret Scientists of London book because I think this series has a lot of potential.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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