December 1, 2024
Lady Phoebe Hunt, daughter of the Marquess of Fallowshall, has made the most of her banishment to the States, finding a freedom and purpose she never had in the confines of aristocratic England or under her father's abusive reign. When her father's death reveals a series of debts, Phoebe quietly returns to England to assist her mother and sister. Samuel Fenley has worked with his father to build an incredibly successful emporium, but he's still lacking a title and land. He sees opportunity in assisting the Fallowshalls and the possibility of courting the younger sister, but finds himself seeking out Phoebe instead. For Phoebe, Sam's effortless joy is a constant draw, but she believes he would be better suited to her sister. When Phoebe's past returns to make trouble, they work together even better than they imagined; if only they can make room for a future that encompasses both of their ambitions. VERDICT Everett returns in the second "Damsels of Discovery" novel (after The Love Remedy), which could almost serve as the fourth book of her "Secret Scientists of London" series, as the two intersect significantly here. Readers of both series should be thrilled with this entry.--Kellie Tilton
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Starred review from February 1, 2025
Banished to America after an incendiary device she invented killed a police constable, Lady Phoebe Hunt returns, temporarily, from exile to London to help her recently widowed mother, the marchioness of Fallowshall, and her sister, Karolina, sort out their family's alarmingly reduced finances. Accepting successful entrepreneur Sam Fenley's offer to buy up the Fallowshall estate and encouraging his courtship of Karolina seems like the answer to her family's money woes. So why is Phoebe so very annoyed when it seems like Sam's wooing of Karolina is going so well? With the second stellar addition (though it stands firmly on its own) to her Victorian-set Damsels of Discovery series, following The Love Remedy (2024), Everett brilliantly pairs a deliciously complex heroine who has seen her share of past pain and an eternally optimistic hero with an endearing penchant for stumbling over things. There is also a serious dimension here as Everett offers thoughtful characterizations and an insightful exploration of how young women cope with overwhelming stress and abuse. The result is a sensitive, sublimely sexy, and heart-melting romantic story that boldly and wittily illuminates the ongoing battle women wage to be taken seriously in science and life.
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February 15, 2025
A merchant's son melts the heart of London's Ice Queen. After Lady Phoebe Hunt was exiled to America for her participation in a revolutionary plot, she thought nothing would bring her back to London, and she was happy to live in relative anonymity as a private detective overseas. After her abusive father dies, however, she's forced to return to sell as much of their estate as necessary to support her mother and sister. The hasty auctions bring her back into contact with Sam Fenley, a merchant's son whose clever investments have allowed him to build a mercantile and real estate empire, despite being routinely snubbed by the ton. And though Sam is struck by Phoebe's beauty and intelligence, he knew her first as a "villainess of majestic proportions," and her sangfroid defines their interactions to start. Years of abuse and cruelty have made her prone to bouts of rage and lashing out, even at those she cares for. His steadfast kindness starts to thaw her somewhat, but even as they begin to flirt and their private moments become steamier, any moments of connection are immediately followed by ice. The past still haunts Phoebe, and even Sam's patience and growing devotion may not be able to help her imagine a different future. Against a restless backdrop of England in 1845, roiled by debates over the Corn Laws and suffrage, Everett has once again created a complex heroine many readers will identify with. This is the second volume of Everett's Damsels of Discovery series, itself a spinoff of the Secret Scientists of London series, and fans will be delighted to see cameos from many beloved characters at Athena's Retreat, but the book can be read on its own as well. The story handles Phoebe's history of self-harm with compassion and is direct and honest about the impact that years of family trauma have had on her mental health and her relationships. Though even some intimate scenes are overshadowed by Phoebe's internal struggles, Everett balances the darker elements of the story with the happy ending expected by romance readers, and though the pacing falters somewhat at the end, readers will be quite satisfied by the final page. An excellent Victorian romance that uses love to illuminate the darkest places.
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