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Everton Domestic Society #5
A Lady's Past
The greatest risk—for the sweetest reward…
His fiancée’s betrayal nearly cost Jacques Laurent everything. Despite his resolve not to trust anyone again, he can’t abandon the young woman he finds alone on the road to London. In the brief hours they spend together, the enigmatic Diana touches his heart in a way he can’t explain. Even after bringing her to the Everton Domestic Society for safekeeping, he can’t get her out of his thoughts. And when he next encounters her, working as assistant to a renowned scientist, he becomes even more intrigued…
The Society’s kindness is especially welcome after everything Diana endured in a French prison, but she fears for the safety of those who get close to her. French spies are on her trail, convinced that her scientific knowledge can help them win the war. As peril draws them irrevocably together, Diana and Jacques succumb to mutual desire. But love may be the most dangerous pursuit of all, when a lady guards her heart even more carefully than she guards her life...
His fiancée’s betrayal nearly cost Jacques Laurent everything. Despite his resolve not to trust anyone again, he can’t abandon the young woman he finds alone on the road to London. In the brief hours they spend together, the enigmatic Diana touches his heart in a way he can’t explain. Even after bringing her to the Everton Domestic Society for safekeeping, he can’t get her out of his thoughts. And when he next encounters her, working as assistant to a renowned scientist, he becomes even more intrigued…
The Society’s kindness is especially welcome after everything Diana endured in a French prison, but she fears for the safety of those who get close to her. French spies are on her trail, convinced that her scientific knowledge can help them win the war. As peril draws them irrevocably together, Diana and Jacques succumb to mutual desire. But love may be the most dangerous pursuit of all, when a lady guards her heart even more carefully than she guards her life...
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2019
62 people are currently reading
1012 people want to read
About the author
A.S. Fenichel
43 books783 followersA.S. Fenichel (Andie Fenichel) gave up a successful IT career in New York City to pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She's never looked back.
Andrea adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.
She is currently writing Regency romance for Kensington Publishing and you can learn more about Andrea's books at http://asfenichel.com or visit her on her Facebook page, where she spends entirely too much time. https://www.facebook.com/A.S.Fenichel.
Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in Missouri with her real life hero, her wonderful husband and a fussy cat . When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden.
Andrea adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.
She is currently writing Regency romance for Kensington Publishing and you can learn more about Andrea's books at http://asfenichel.com or visit her on her Facebook page, where she spends entirely too much time. https://www.facebook.com/A.S.Fenichel.
Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in Missouri with her real life hero, her wonderful husband and a fussy cat . When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
January 14, 2020
A Lady’s Past features an excellent romance with a plot full of intrigue, French spies, and a woman with the power to change the war.
Jacques Laurent is all too aware of the perils of trusting women, but despite his wariness, Jacques finds he cannot abandon the young woman he finds alone in a winter storm. In the brief time Jacques and Diana spend together, the two grow close and their connection is undeniable. After Jacques brings Diana to the Everton Domestic Society for protection, he cannot get her out of his mind. When the two meet again while Diana is working as an assistant to a scientist Jacques knows, Jacques is determined to get to know her. But Diana knows anyone she grows close to will be in danger as French spies are after her convinced that her scientific knowledge can change the war in their favor.
Diana had been held captive with her family in France for several years where they were tortured so the French could force her father to build a weapon France could use to win the war. After her family was killed, Diana escaped with the French in pursuit due to her own skill in scientific endeavors. However, England was not the safe haven she expected as the Crown believes her father defected, not that he was captured. Despite her dire circumstances, Diana is determined to find a way out of her situation and I admired her resolve.
Jacques has his own tense connections to France as he was previously betrayed and scheduled to be guillotined before being rescued and brought to England. At the start of the book, Jacques has just successfully brought his parents over from France which was of great relief to him due to his fear of retaliation against them. Jacques is definitely my favorite thing about this book as he’s such a wonderful man. He’s incredibly sweet and loyal to his friends.
Diana and Jacques’ relationship starts on shaky ground as Diana is on the run and Jacques has trust issues as he has been betrayed by a woman before. It was interesting seeing Diana’s reaction to Jacques due to her torture at the hands of the French and his being French, but I was happy to see that she didn’t blame him for what his countrymen did to her. One thing I loved about their relationship was that Jacques truly appreciated Diana for who she was and he admired her intelligence. The chemistry between the pair was amazing and I loved how drawn they were to each other. When the two do finally progress their relationship, it’s wonderfully done with some amazing scenes.
Despite being the fourth book in the Everton Domestic Society series, this book works well as a standalone as the plot is not dependent upon the previous books in the series. However there is a large cast of side characters in this book, particularly within the Everton Domestic Society, so I am interested in reading the other books to learn more about those characters. I’m most interested in learning about how the society was founded and I hope the other books go more in depth about that.
A Lady’s Past ended up being a fantastic read and I definitely want to check out the rest of the books in the series soon.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Jacques Laurent is all too aware of the perils of trusting women, but despite his wariness, Jacques finds he cannot abandon the young woman he finds alone in a winter storm. In the brief time Jacques and Diana spend together, the two grow close and their connection is undeniable. After Jacques brings Diana to the Everton Domestic Society for protection, he cannot get her out of his mind. When the two meet again while Diana is working as an assistant to a scientist Jacques knows, Jacques is determined to get to know her. But Diana knows anyone she grows close to will be in danger as French spies are after her convinced that her scientific knowledge can change the war in their favor.
Diana had been held captive with her family in France for several years where they were tortured so the French could force her father to build a weapon France could use to win the war. After her family was killed, Diana escaped with the French in pursuit due to her own skill in scientific endeavors. However, England was not the safe haven she expected as the Crown believes her father defected, not that he was captured. Despite her dire circumstances, Diana is determined to find a way out of her situation and I admired her resolve.
Jacques has his own tense connections to France as he was previously betrayed and scheduled to be guillotined before being rescued and brought to England. At the start of the book, Jacques has just successfully brought his parents over from France which was of great relief to him due to his fear of retaliation against them. Jacques is definitely my favorite thing about this book as he’s such a wonderful man. He’s incredibly sweet and loyal to his friends.
Diana and Jacques’ relationship starts on shaky ground as Diana is on the run and Jacques has trust issues as he has been betrayed by a woman before. It was interesting seeing Diana’s reaction to Jacques due to her torture at the hands of the French and his being French, but I was happy to see that she didn’t blame him for what his countrymen did to her. One thing I loved about their relationship was that Jacques truly appreciated Diana for who she was and he admired her intelligence. The chemistry between the pair was amazing and I loved how drawn they were to each other. When the two do finally progress their relationship, it’s wonderfully done with some amazing scenes.
Despite being the fourth book in the Everton Domestic Society series, this book works well as a standalone as the plot is not dependent upon the previous books in the series. However there is a large cast of side characters in this book, particularly within the Everton Domestic Society, so I am interested in reading the other books to learn more about those characters. I’m most interested in learning about how the society was founded and I hope the other books go more in depth about that.
A Lady’s Past ended up being a fantastic read and I definitely want to check out the rest of the books in the series soon.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
November 1, 2019
Series: Everton Domestic Society #4
Publication Date: 11/19/19
Number of Pages: 223
This was an adventurous, exciting addition to the Everton Domestic Society series. It also has the most wonderful, romantic, dedicated, honest, steadfast and loyal hero I’ve read in a long time. We should all have a Jacques in our lives – I mean, he always calls Diana his Goddess! I liked Diana too – she was smart (very smart), beautiful and running for her life. She’s about as resilient as one lady can be, so you can’t help but admire her. I think this is my favorite book in the series.
We meet a new group in this book, and they really impressed me. I’d love to see a series featuring them and some of their exploits. The group is the Buckrose Horsemen – sort of a takeoff on the apocalyptic Horsemen. They all attended the Buckrose School for Boys and were recruited by the Crown to form a group that would work on behalf of England. This group rescued Jacques from France just before he’d been scheduled for the guillotine.
We get a lovely visit with Millie (A Lady’s Escape) and her hero Preston – along with her eccentric uncle Francis who we all learned to love in Millie’s book. I really liked Preston in this book – he was a wonderfully loyal friend to Jacques.
Jacques, who has just managed to rescue his parents from France, is traveling to London for a meeting when he comes across a woman traveling on foot in the dead of winter – during a storm. At first, he isn’t sure if she is a highwaywoman out to rob him or just a frightened woman. Whatever the case, he knows he cannot leave her on the road to die. As they travel – and have to stop at an inn to get out of the worsening storm – he tries to get to know her better. What he does (and doesn’t) learn intrigues him.
Diana is running for her life. Two governments are after her – one thinks she is a traitor and the other wants to imprison her and force her to work for them. Everybody she loves has been tortured and killed and she cannot afford to get close to anyone – ever again. She can’t live with more people who care about her dying. So, when she feels drawn to the kind and caring man who has offered her sanctuary on a cold and lonely road into London, she knows she must stay away from him. She asks him to drop her off at some very public places, but his conscience won’t let him do that. He persuades her to let him take her to the Everton Domestic Society where she can seek employment or just rest up while she decides where to go and what to do.
We all know that Diana and Jacques meet again – and things blossom – even though neither of them is prepared for a relationship. Things get really exciting and tense when the bad guys start closing in. Diana and Jacques are thrown together more and more often and, of course, love blossoms in a very difficult situation. I love how they came together.
This could have been a 5-star read for me had the author not mentioned whiskey so many times. Whiskey wasn’t readily available in England in that period. If they had it, it was illegally made in Scotland (spelled Whisky) or Ireland (spelled Whiskey). As punishment for the Irish and Scot rebellion against the Crown, extreme, exorbitant taxes were imposed on the production of whiskey and on the distilling equipment to make it. Since the upper classes tended to view the Scots and Irish as barbaric, few would have made any effort or paid the price to have it. Whiskey didn’t become a staple in England until the Victorian period.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Publication Date: 11/19/19
Number of Pages: 223
This was an adventurous, exciting addition to the Everton Domestic Society series. It also has the most wonderful, romantic, dedicated, honest, steadfast and loyal hero I’ve read in a long time. We should all have a Jacques in our lives – I mean, he always calls Diana his Goddess! I liked Diana too – she was smart (very smart), beautiful and running for her life. She’s about as resilient as one lady can be, so you can’t help but admire her. I think this is my favorite book in the series.
We meet a new group in this book, and they really impressed me. I’d love to see a series featuring them and some of their exploits. The group is the Buckrose Horsemen – sort of a takeoff on the apocalyptic Horsemen. They all attended the Buckrose School for Boys and were recruited by the Crown to form a group that would work on behalf of England. This group rescued Jacques from France just before he’d been scheduled for the guillotine.
We get a lovely visit with Millie (A Lady’s Escape) and her hero Preston – along with her eccentric uncle Francis who we all learned to love in Millie’s book. I really liked Preston in this book – he was a wonderfully loyal friend to Jacques.
Jacques, who has just managed to rescue his parents from France, is traveling to London for a meeting when he comes across a woman traveling on foot in the dead of winter – during a storm. At first, he isn’t sure if she is a highwaywoman out to rob him or just a frightened woman. Whatever the case, he knows he cannot leave her on the road to die. As they travel – and have to stop at an inn to get out of the worsening storm – he tries to get to know her better. What he does (and doesn’t) learn intrigues him.
Diana is running for her life. Two governments are after her – one thinks she is a traitor and the other wants to imprison her and force her to work for them. Everybody she loves has been tortured and killed and she cannot afford to get close to anyone – ever again. She can’t live with more people who care about her dying. So, when she feels drawn to the kind and caring man who has offered her sanctuary on a cold and lonely road into London, she knows she must stay away from him. She asks him to drop her off at some very public places, but his conscience won’t let him do that. He persuades her to let him take her to the Everton Domestic Society where she can seek employment or just rest up while she decides where to go and what to do.
We all know that Diana and Jacques meet again – and things blossom – even though neither of them is prepared for a relationship. Things get really exciting and tense when the bad guys start closing in. Diana and Jacques are thrown together more and more often and, of course, love blossoms in a very difficult situation. I love how they came together.
This could have been a 5-star read for me had the author not mentioned whiskey so many times. Whiskey wasn’t readily available in England in that period. If they had it, it was illegally made in Scotland (spelled Whisky) or Ireland (spelled Whiskey). As punishment for the Irish and Scot rebellion against the Crown, extreme, exorbitant taxes were imposed on the production of whiskey and on the distilling equipment to make it. Since the upper classes tended to view the Scots and Irish as barbaric, few would have made any effort or paid the price to have it. Whiskey didn’t become a staple in England until the Victorian period.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 23, 2019
Kindly received and ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
What can I say? I’m a sucker for a good historical romance and this had the perfect menu for it. Enjoyed it as a quick read and I would love to read about the rest of the Everton ladies.
What can I say? I’m a sucker for a good historical romance and this had the perfect menu for it. Enjoyed it as a quick read and I would love to read about the rest of the Everton ladies.
September 28, 2019
A Lady's Past (Everton Domestic Society Book 4) by A.S. Fenichel
A Big 5 Stars! Wow! What a beautifully written and touching story! Jacques and Diana both have dark and painful past associated with France and Diana’s has caught up to her in England where she hoped to be safe. Now she will have to trust Jacques and his powerful friends to save her, or will they find she’s a spy and arrest her for treason? This is my favorite story of the series! The storyline is creatively original and has a little bit of everything needed to keep it exciting and keep me wanting more. There’s danger, espionage, murder, adventure, and a sweet slow burn romance that will make you blush at 80% in! This story kept me riveted from page one to “The End”! I highly recommend! Happy Reading♥️
Merged review:
A Lady's Past (Everton Domestic Society Book 4) by A.S. Fenichel
A Big 5 Stars! Wow! What a beautifully written and touching story! Jacques and Diana both have dark and painful past associated with France and Diana’s has caught up to her in England where she hoped to be safe. Now she will have to trust Jacques and his powerful friends to save her, or will they find she’s a spy and arrest her for treason? This is my favorite story of the series! The storyline is creatively original and has a little bit of everything needed to keep it exciting and keep me wanting more. There’s danger, espionage, murder, adventure, and a sweet slow burn romance that will make you blush at 80% in! This story kept me riveted from page one to “The End”! I highly recommend! Happy Reading♥️
A Big 5 Stars! Wow! What a beautifully written and touching story! Jacques and Diana both have dark and painful past associated with France and Diana’s has caught up to her in England where she hoped to be safe. Now she will have to trust Jacques and his powerful friends to save her, or will they find she’s a spy and arrest her for treason? This is my favorite story of the series! The storyline is creatively original and has a little bit of everything needed to keep it exciting and keep me wanting more. There’s danger, espionage, murder, adventure, and a sweet slow burn romance that will make you blush at 80% in! This story kept me riveted from page one to “The End”! I highly recommend! Happy Reading♥️
Merged review:
A Lady's Past (Everton Domestic Society Book 4) by A.S. Fenichel
A Big 5 Stars! Wow! What a beautifully written and touching story! Jacques and Diana both have dark and painful past associated with France and Diana’s has caught up to her in England where she hoped to be safe. Now she will have to trust Jacques and his powerful friends to save her, or will they find she’s a spy and arrest her for treason? This is my favorite story of the series! The storyline is creatively original and has a little bit of everything needed to keep it exciting and keep me wanting more. There’s danger, espionage, murder, adventure, and a sweet slow burn romance that will make you blush at 80% in! This story kept me riveted from page one to “The End”! I highly recommend! Happy Reading♥️
October 27, 2019
A Lady's Past
Everton Domestic Society Series #4
A.S. Fenichel
https://www.facebook.com/A.S.Fenichel/
Release date 11/19/2019
Publisher Kensington Lyrical
Blurb :
His fiancée’s betrayal nearly cost Jacques Laurent everything. Despite his resolve not to trust anyone again, he can’t abandon the young woman he finds alone on the road to London. In the brief hours they spend together, the enigmatic Diana touches his heart in a way he can’t explain. Even after bringing her to the Everton Domestic Society for safekeeping, he can’t get her out of his thoughts. And when he next encounters her, working as assistant to a renowned scientist, he becomes even more intrigued…
The Society’s kindness is especially welcome after everything Diana endured in a French prison, but she fears for the safety of those who get close to her. French spies are on her trail, convinced that her scientific knowledge can help them win the war. As peril draws them irrevocably together, Diana and Jacques succumb to mutual desire. But love may be the most dangerous pursuit of all, when a lady guards her heart even more carefully than she guards her life . . .
My review :
Will a woman on the run be able to trust enough to let a man see past the mask she wears ...
This is my first read by Mrs A.S. Fenichel, and she has a very personal writing style. She brought to life her characters by given them depth and layers. Both protagonists are quite ambivalent, they refuse love or the idea of getting attached but at the same time, they long for closeness.
Diana, after what she endured under some madmen thumb, has every rights to be wary of men.
Still I think her good nature served her right, as she encountered many peoples ready to fight her battle by her side.
Up to her to accept their support as at each turn, she fears for their security more than hers.
She is yet a very innocent person, as she trusts those helping her, she is more circumspect about certain men as while she sees herself as broken, beyond repair.
Jacques has found shelter in England after risking to have his body shortened from a head. Why he is able to recognize a doe on edge, ready to bolt.
And bolt she does, at every turn but Jacques without being able to sort his own feelings out, knows fundamentally she is the one woman of his life.
He will pass by every stade of a relationship moving to something more, with its doubts and struggles when Diana fears the hurt she might be the origin if she stays around.
At first, they react like magnets as opposites attract or push back.
Why their story has only one hope to move forward, to lay all their secrets and fears on the table.
It was a sweet second chance for two persons who should have become jaded but let a sparkle of hope ignite their past dreams.
4.5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author and the publisher, I had previously preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
Everton Domestic Society Series #4
A.S. Fenichel
https://www.facebook.com/A.S.Fenichel/
Release date 11/19/2019
Publisher Kensington Lyrical
Blurb :
His fiancée’s betrayal nearly cost Jacques Laurent everything. Despite his resolve not to trust anyone again, he can’t abandon the young woman he finds alone on the road to London. In the brief hours they spend together, the enigmatic Diana touches his heart in a way he can’t explain. Even after bringing her to the Everton Domestic Society for safekeeping, he can’t get her out of his thoughts. And when he next encounters her, working as assistant to a renowned scientist, he becomes even more intrigued…
The Society’s kindness is especially welcome after everything Diana endured in a French prison, but she fears for the safety of those who get close to her. French spies are on her trail, convinced that her scientific knowledge can help them win the war. As peril draws them irrevocably together, Diana and Jacques succumb to mutual desire. But love may be the most dangerous pursuit of all, when a lady guards her heart even more carefully than she guards her life . . .
My review :
Will a woman on the run be able to trust enough to let a man see past the mask she wears ...
This is my first read by Mrs A.S. Fenichel, and she has a very personal writing style. She brought to life her characters by given them depth and layers. Both protagonists are quite ambivalent, they refuse love or the idea of getting attached but at the same time, they long for closeness.
Diana, after what she endured under some madmen thumb, has every rights to be wary of men.
Still I think her good nature served her right, as she encountered many peoples ready to fight her battle by her side.
Up to her to accept their support as at each turn, she fears for their security more than hers.
She is yet a very innocent person, as she trusts those helping her, she is more circumspect about certain men as while she sees herself as broken, beyond repair.
Jacques has found shelter in England after risking to have his body shortened from a head. Why he is able to recognize a doe on edge, ready to bolt.
And bolt she does, at every turn but Jacques without being able to sort his own feelings out, knows fundamentally she is the one woman of his life.
He will pass by every stade of a relationship moving to something more, with its doubts and struggles when Diana fears the hurt she might be the origin if she stays around.
At first, they react like magnets as opposites attract or push back.
Why their story has only one hope to move forward, to lay all their secrets and fears on the table.
It was a sweet second chance for two persons who should have become jaded but let a sparkle of hope ignite their past dreams.
4.5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author and the publisher, I had previously preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
October 7, 2019
A Lady's Past
Everton Domestic Society #4
A.S. Fenichel
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jacques Laurent is no stranger to heartache as his fiancee's betrayal nearly cost him everything and despite his resolve to never ever trust a woman again, he just can't find it with in himself to abandon the young woman he comes across all alone on the road to London. It doesn't take long for the beautiful mysterious Diana to grow on him, touching his heart in a way that even he can't explain. Even after bringing her to the Everton Domestic Society where he knows she will be safe, he just can't get her out of his thoughts. Then he once again comes across her, working as an assistant to a renowned scientist, and he becomes even more intrigued.
After everything Diana has been through and that includes being in a French prision The Society's kindness is especially welcome, but she truly fears for the safety of those who get too close to her. She's got french spies chasing her because they are sure that she possesses scientific knowledge that can win them the war. As peril draws them closer together, Diana and Jacques succumb to mutual desire on a level neither of them have felt for another like this before. But will love be enough for these two, when Diana gaurds her heart even more carefully then her life? Or when Jacques has been so betrayed by another woman?
A.S. Fenichel has just written my most favorite of the Everton Domestic Society novels yet. This book was brilliant. From the moment I opened it up and started reading I just knew this was going to be epic. I had such a hard time setting it aside to do anything because I just had to know more. Jacques and Diana were totally made for eachother. They were two very passionate main characters who just oozed charisma. The outcome of this book left me with a warm giddy feeling that stayed with me for long after the book was done. Goodness knows I can't wait to see what Ms. Fenichel's characters get up to next.
Everton Domestic Society #4
A.S. Fenichel
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jacques Laurent is no stranger to heartache as his fiancee's betrayal nearly cost him everything and despite his resolve to never ever trust a woman again, he just can't find it with in himself to abandon the young woman he comes across all alone on the road to London. It doesn't take long for the beautiful mysterious Diana to grow on him, touching his heart in a way that even he can't explain. Even after bringing her to the Everton Domestic Society where he knows she will be safe, he just can't get her out of his thoughts. Then he once again comes across her, working as an assistant to a renowned scientist, and he becomes even more intrigued.
After everything Diana has been through and that includes being in a French prision The Society's kindness is especially welcome, but she truly fears for the safety of those who get too close to her. She's got french spies chasing her because they are sure that she possesses scientific knowledge that can win them the war. As peril draws them closer together, Diana and Jacques succumb to mutual desire on a level neither of them have felt for another like this before. But will love be enough for these two, when Diana gaurds her heart even more carefully then her life? Or when Jacques has been so betrayed by another woman?
A.S. Fenichel has just written my most favorite of the Everton Domestic Society novels yet. This book was brilliant. From the moment I opened it up and started reading I just knew this was going to be epic. I had such a hard time setting it aside to do anything because I just had to know more. Jacques and Diana were totally made for eachother. They were two very passionate main characters who just oozed charisma. The outcome of this book left me with a warm giddy feeling that stayed with me for long after the book was done. Goodness knows I can't wait to see what Ms. Fenichel's characters get up to next.
November 19, 2019
A Lady's Past by A.S. Fenichel is a fabulous historical romance. Ms. Fenichel has provided readers with a well-written book. The characters are phenomenal and my favorite part of the book. Diana and her parents were kidnapped, imprisoned in France, tortured and her parents killed. She escaped and made her way back to England where she's wanted as a traitor. Jacques comes across Diana along the road and leaves her at the Everton Domestic Society to keep her safe. Jacques and Diana's story is loaded with drama, humor, spice, action and suspense. I enjoyed every page of this book and look forward to reading more from A.S. Fenichel in the future. A Lady's Past is book 4 of the Everton Domestic Society Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 20, 2019
In the firelight, her eyes glowed with passion. Perhaps it was anger, but it was not mild by any means. ✨
A strong female, Diana has survived so much pain. She feels that opening herself up to anyone be it friendship or love will only hurt those around her. Maybe opening herself up to the risk of love is the only thing that will save her.
There was so much story packed into this book. Every time I felt like it should be close to wrapping up into a happily ever after, it would take a wonderful new turn. Diana was a very endearing character. I enjoyed reading about a female that was educated and smart. Just naive enough to be sweet but strong enough to endure the challenges thrown at her.
A 4/5 🌟’s from me. I would recommend this book. This book just hit the shelves in November. Be sure to check A Lady’s Past out soon!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.
....
A strong female, Diana has survived so much pain. She feels that opening herself up to anyone be it friendship or love will only hurt those around her. Maybe opening herself up to the risk of love is the only thing that will save her.
There was so much story packed into this book. Every time I felt like it should be close to wrapping up into a happily ever after, it would take a wonderful new turn. Diana was a very endearing character. I enjoyed reading about a female that was educated and smart. Just naive enough to be sweet but strong enough to endure the challenges thrown at her.
A 4/5 🌟’s from me. I would recommend this book. This book just hit the shelves in November. Be sure to check A Lady’s Past out soon!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC.
....
September 22, 2019
This book has a little bit of everything, mystery, intrigue, spies, danger and of course romance. The female characters are interesting, some a little quirky, which adds quite a bit to the story. As it is part of a series, readers can get caught up quickly, but the role of the Horsemen seems diminished in this installment as they were ineffective in protecting Diana. Jacques is a romantic figure and I loved this character and sympathized with him as Diana pushed and pulled on his feelings. Some questions are left unanswered, like how did she get to be on the road to London with nothing but a shotgun, but all in all this was a captivating read.
Read
June 2, 2019"It wasn’t their first kiss, yet as his lips touched hers, it was as if her soul joined with his for that brief moment. He felt her inside him, like the blood pumping through his veins." ~ From A Lady's Past
Jacques got more than he'd bargained for when he picked up a damsel in distress on the side of the road to London. He'd found a lady with a past that could get them both killed.
https://www.amazon.com/Ladys-Past-Eve...
Jacques got more than he'd bargained for when he picked up a damsel in distress on the side of the road to London. He'd found a lady with a past that could get them both killed.
https://www.amazon.com/Ladys-Past-Eve...
November 20, 2019
He hadn't been able to get her out of his mind. "Who are you?" he asked to see if she would tell him who she truly was and her background. The lamplight from the laboratory shone on one side of her face as she turned. "I am a dead woman and no one to concern yourself with."
Diana was a woman running for her life and had to keep out of sight. Jacques Laurent gave the frightened lady a ride to London and took her to the Everton Domestic Society to see if they could help her. He could not get her out of his mind and when he finds they have given her an assignment with a famous scientist, he really wants to know her.
Diana's father had been a scientist and she had worked right along side of him. But one of his inventions had gotten him murdered and the fiends were after her for her knowledge.
A whirlwind journey that I loved every step and every word. I have enjoyed this series tremendously and was so intrigued with the scientific thread with inventions. My heart ached for Diana, as she felt there was no hope and she would only bring trouble to others. Jacques was just so kind and sigh worthy. Everything I look forward to in a story was here... Adventure, secrets, attraction that cannot be denied and two wounded souls who need each other! Perfect!
Diana was a woman running for her life and had to keep out of sight. Jacques Laurent gave the frightened lady a ride to London and took her to the Everton Domestic Society to see if they could help her. He could not get her out of his mind and when he finds they have given her an assignment with a famous scientist, he really wants to know her.
Diana's father had been a scientist and she had worked right along side of him. But one of his inventions had gotten him murdered and the fiends were after her for her knowledge.
A whirlwind journey that I loved every step and every word. I have enjoyed this series tremendously and was so intrigued with the scientific thread with inventions. My heart ached for Diana, as she felt there was no hope and she would only bring trouble to others. Jacques was just so kind and sigh worthy. Everything I look forward to in a story was here... Adventure, secrets, attraction that cannot be denied and two wounded souls who need each other! Perfect!
December 5, 2019
Jacques Laurent is traveling to London in the drizzling rain when he happens upon a young woman pointing a gun a him. When he offers to take her to London, she agrees, but with skepticism. She says her name is Diana St. Cloud. When the rain turns into a heavy snowstorm, they have to stop at an inn for the night. After they reach London, Jacques convinces Diana to stay with Lord and Lady Everton at the Everton Domestic Society. It is a business where ladies might find respectable employment in various areas.
Diana explains to Jacques and others at the Society that she and her parents were captured by a French spy who tried to make her father work on a special project. After some time, her parents were killed but she managed to escape. She knows that they are looking for her. Lady Jane insists that Diana stay there with them. Another wealthy woman staying there, Lady Honoria, takes Diana under her wing. After Diana has had a chance to rest, Lady Jane offers her a job working as an assistant for Francis Edgebrook. With her chemist background, she enjoys working in Mr. Edgebrooks laboratory.
Diana and Jacques enjoy spending time together and they quickly develop an attraction. Will she remain safe within the Everton Society or will she always know that someone is looking for her?
This story was interesting and has great promise, but I must say that had the damsel been placed in distress just one more time, I would have simply abandoned the book. Some things can simply be overdone.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Diana explains to Jacques and others at the Society that she and her parents were captured by a French spy who tried to make her father work on a special project. After some time, her parents were killed but she managed to escape. She knows that they are looking for her. Lady Jane insists that Diana stay there with them. Another wealthy woman staying there, Lady Honoria, takes Diana under her wing. After Diana has had a chance to rest, Lady Jane offers her a job working as an assistant for Francis Edgebrook. With her chemist background, she enjoys working in Mr. Edgebrooks laboratory.
Diana and Jacques enjoy spending time together and they quickly develop an attraction. Will she remain safe within the Everton Society or will she always know that someone is looking for her?
This story was interesting and has great promise, but I must say that had the damsel been placed in distress just one more time, I would have simply abandoned the book. Some things can simply be overdone.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 22, 2019
One of the most exciting books I have read all year. A Lady's Past by A.S. Fenichel is book 4 in the Everton Domestic Society series and I am so enjoying this series. A.S. Fenichel never disappoints in her writing or her characters. This regency story is so very original and a tad intense though very east to read. This story has imprisonment, hiding, not able to trust, a domestic society, a scientist, spies, a lasting impression, trust, fear and love. I highly recommend you read this book and the others in this series… you won’t be disappointed.
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
November 13, 2019
I really enjoyed this story. The characters are unusual. When Jacques encounters Diana on the road to London, he is intrigued. He doesn't want to just leave her at the side of the road. He helps her get to the Everton Domestic Society and doesn't expect to see her again. He was really happy when he sees her again and decides that he will help her with her problems, no matter what. Diana is in extreme danger and doesn't want to involve anyone else in her problems, especially Jacques. Will Jacques be able to protect her and can he convince her that she should stay with him?
December 2, 2019
This book is filled with emotion. Other people will retell the story. Not me. The author is way better than I am. I will tell you the emotions the story brings. We have villains. Wonderfully clear villains. We have heroes and everybody loves a hero. We have romance. You’re almost ready to cheer when our couple finally gets it together. And of course we have a happy ending. But it’s the good author who gets you to the ending with wonderful twists and turns. This is probably one of the best books in her series. However I always say that when I read another of her books. Don’t miss it
November 10, 2019
3.5 STARS
This wasn’t a bad read. I just don’t think I was in the proper mood to enjoy it to the fullest. After reading a historical, I always ask myself why don’t I read them more often. I really do usually enjoy them.
I voluntarily read an early copy.
This wasn’t a bad read. I just don’t think I was in the proper mood to enjoy it to the fullest. After reading a historical, I always ask myself why don’t I read them more often. I really do usually enjoy them.
I voluntarily read an early copy.
October 5, 2019
I loved this book. It had suspense, mystery and spies. The 4th book in the Everton Domestic Society. The book can be read alone, but do yourself a favor and read all of them. They are a fantastic series. I am waiting to read more from this author.
July 13, 2020
Oh, what a fab story. A tale of spies, heroes, and a heroine who takes a bullet for her love. Of course, the lovely HEA too. I absolutely loved it! Great series too. 5☆
September 12, 2019
This novel continues with another lady who joins the Everton Domestic Society. Diana St. Cloud has escaped from France and has a hard journey in trying to return to English soil. Held against her will and the loss of her family has made her distrustful and wary of others. When Jacques Laurent finds her on a road, his chivalry will not allow him to leave her on the road and insists on helping her to a destination of her choosing but realizes the best place for her is the Everton Domestic Society. He cannot stop thinking about Diana and when they cross paths again, he becomes more intrigued by her. Diana is intelligent but as a woman cannot pursue the sciences as men do. However, her knowledge could shift the tides in the war. Diana fears she could be labeled as a traitor and with several people on her trail, she needs Jacques more than she realizes. Neither of them expected feelings to enter into the equation, nor the lengths the French will go to retrieve Diana. Jacques will protect Diana from all, even at the expense of his own life.
October 12, 2019
A Lady’s Past (Everton Domestic Society #4)
This was a great book and had it all; mystery, romance, abduction, dungeons, explosions, and humor. Diana and her parents were abducted and taken to a prison in France and kept there for 3 years. The French tried to force her father to improve their rockets so they could use them in the war against England. Diana was finally able to escape but has been on the run because the French want her to finish her father’s work. Jacques Laurent found Diana along the road to London and couldn’t leave her there alone. He takes her to the Everton house where he knows the women will take care of Diana. When he finds her with his friend who is a chemist, he becomes more curious about her. Will Jacques be able to keep her safe and can Diana trust him with her secrets?
This was a great book and had it all; mystery, romance, abduction, dungeons, explosions, and humor. Diana and her parents were abducted and taken to a prison in France and kept there for 3 years. The French tried to force her father to improve their rockets so they could use them in the war against England. Diana was finally able to escape but has been on the run because the French want her to finish her father’s work. Jacques Laurent found Diana along the road to London and couldn’t leave her there alone. He takes her to the Everton house where he knows the women will take care of Diana. When he finds her with his friend who is a chemist, he becomes more curious about her. Will Jacques be able to keep her safe and can Diana trust him with her secrets?
October 5, 2019
This tale was darker than previous Everton stories but that did not make any difference in my enjoyment. Jacques and Diana have both endured heartbreak at the hands of French agents. Now in England Jacques risks his safety to help Diana gain her own. I enjoyed the twists and turns of this romance/suspense story and truly admired the main characters.
December 14, 2019
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Fourth volume in the Everton Domestic Society series but that can be read alone, A Lady’s Past features Diana, who’s running from the Napoleonic spy who killed her parents, and Jacques, a Frenchman who took refuge in England.
Jacques is a likeable hero, very understanding, and who admits really fast he has feelings for the heroine, even if he needs some times to understand which ones. I liked seeing his friendship with a hero from a precedent volume, but he doesn’t let people around him make him doubt the heroine’s innocence. Only black spot: the author mentions several times Jacques’ love past with a treason by the woman he loved then, but we don’t really know more. I suppose we learn about it more in one of the previous books but I don’t know which one.
Diana is a strong heroine who lived some very difficult things in the hands of the French people who kidnapped her parents and herself. She succeeded in running away to come back in England but she’s sure she’s being chased by at least one of these men. She spends her time turning down the hero, and every offer of friendship by other characters, because she feels she’s not worth it and she’s a danger for him and for them. And for a reason I didn’t understand she feels guilty for what happened to her parents.
Between them the attraction is fast but they both resist for a long time, her because of the danger hovering around her, and him because he wants to protect her. But it’s the heroine blowing hot and cold who ruins it all IMO, because once she finally believes in her feelings as in Jacques’, she repeats regularly that at the beginning he said he wasn’t thinking about marrying, even if he told her later he wanted to marry her. In short she annoyed me more often than anything, even if I was sorry for what happened to her.
Other drawback: I thought there was too much familiarity between them when they meet. Yes the events have them coming closer rapidly, but that left me with a strange sensation. Then there’s the fact everyone or so is very welcoming with Diana when nobody knows her, everyone likes her directly and offers a helping hand, except the hero’s best friend who’s wary but without insisting much. It’s only later, when her past comes back, that the new characters called to protect her are more suspicious of her, which seems more realistic than the Care Bears seen until then.
The plot with the spy is well found and quite interesting, and its resolution felt well done until a scene that I thought totally unrealistic: the prisoner succeeds in escaping during his transfer and in finding Diana’s room up the stairs in a castle, to try and choke her. IMO it was a useless event borderline ridiculous. In fact I thought it was the heroine having a nightmare and I was waiting for her to wake up.
So all in all it’s a historical romance that can be read easily but I missed it out, sorry.
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Fourth volume in the Everton Domestic Society series but that can be read alone, A Lady’s Past features Diana, who’s running from the Napoleonic spy who killed her parents, and Jacques, a Frenchman who took refuge in England.
Jacques is a likeable hero, very understanding, and who admits really fast he has feelings for the heroine, even if he needs some times to understand which ones. I liked seeing his friendship with a hero from a precedent volume, but he doesn’t let people around him make him doubt the heroine’s innocence. Only black spot: the author mentions several times Jacques’ love past with a treason by the woman he loved then, but we don’t really know more. I suppose we learn about it more in one of the previous books but I don’t know which one.
Diana is a strong heroine who lived some very difficult things in the hands of the French people who kidnapped her parents and herself. She succeeded in running away to come back in England but she’s sure she’s being chased by at least one of these men. She spends her time turning down the hero, and every offer of friendship by other characters, because she feels she’s not worth it and she’s a danger for him and for them. And for a reason I didn’t understand she feels guilty for what happened to her parents.
Between them the attraction is fast but they both resist for a long time, her because of the danger hovering around her, and him because he wants to protect her. But it’s the heroine blowing hot and cold who ruins it all IMO, because once she finally believes in her feelings as in Jacques’, she repeats regularly that at the beginning he said he wasn’t thinking about marrying, even if he told her later he wanted to marry her. In short she annoyed me more often than anything, even if I was sorry for what happened to her.
Other drawback: I thought there was too much familiarity between them when they meet. Yes the events have them coming closer rapidly, but that left me with a strange sensation. Then there’s the fact everyone or so is very welcoming with Diana when nobody knows her, everyone likes her directly and offers a helping hand, except the hero’s best friend who’s wary but without insisting much. It’s only later, when her past comes back, that the new characters called to protect her are more suspicious of her, which seems more realistic than the Care Bears seen until then.
The plot with the spy is well found and quite interesting, and its resolution felt well done until a scene that I thought totally unrealistic: the prisoner succeeds in escaping during his transfer and in finding Diana’s room up the stairs in a castle, to try and choke her. IMO it was a useless event borderline ridiculous. In fact I thought it was the heroine having a nightmare and I was waiting for her to wake up.
So all in all it’s a historical romance that can be read easily but I missed it out, sorry.
November 3, 2019
Jacques is driving back to London when he finds a young woman along side the road. Her only possession is a shotgun. She also carries a heavy emotional burden of some sort. Jacques is a sucker for a damsel in distress.
Diana tells Jacques she will accept a ride and he can drop her in some public place in London when they arrive in town.
He is a gentleman. It would be against his character to simply abandon her when it is evident she is running from something or someone. He suggests the Everton Domestic Society as a place she could be safe.
It is the perfect place for her. And the society is the place to find a perfect place for her to hide in plain sight. She becomes an assistant to a scientist.
Both Diana and Jacques have losses in their past. Most importantly, both of them have escaped being killed in France. Diana lost her parents there. Jacques nearly lost his life there.
There is danger from one particular Frenchman who takes pleasure in torture and murder. He is familiar to both Diana and Jacques. He is determined to make the Emperor take notice of him. Bringing both of them or one of them back to France would make his reputation.
This story has mystery and adventure as well as romance. Although it is part of a series, I had no problem understanding and enjoying the book. Characters are introduced and identified in the scheme of things. The plot moves along at a good pace and it is easy to follow.
I enjoyed the book.
I particularly liked Jacques. He is a hero in the truest sense of the word. He finds it difficult to believe that he is actually attracted to Diana. But, at no time does he ever consider not helping her in any way he can. He introduces her to people who are in positions of power. He provides a way for her to find all the protection and help she could need.
Diana was more difficult for me to like. She just seemed cold and distant to Jacques as well as everyone else who went out of their way to help her. I wanted to feel more emotion from her. She had been in terrible situations. She had seen terrible things. I wanted her to have passion.
I also got very distressed when in nearly every situation, she giggled. For some reason, that display of amusement seemed very out of place for her.
Ms Fenichel is a talented author. She has created complete characters. The secondary characters are fully described and become fully human.
Lady Honoria stole my heart. She has courage, a sense of humor as well as knowledge of the way the world works. She is the guardian angel every young lady on the run needs in her life.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely may own.
Diana tells Jacques she will accept a ride and he can drop her in some public place in London when they arrive in town.
He is a gentleman. It would be against his character to simply abandon her when it is evident she is running from something or someone. He suggests the Everton Domestic Society as a place she could be safe.
It is the perfect place for her. And the society is the place to find a perfect place for her to hide in plain sight. She becomes an assistant to a scientist.
Both Diana and Jacques have losses in their past. Most importantly, both of them have escaped being killed in France. Diana lost her parents there. Jacques nearly lost his life there.
There is danger from one particular Frenchman who takes pleasure in torture and murder. He is familiar to both Diana and Jacques. He is determined to make the Emperor take notice of him. Bringing both of them or one of them back to France would make his reputation.
This story has mystery and adventure as well as romance. Although it is part of a series, I had no problem understanding and enjoying the book. Characters are introduced and identified in the scheme of things. The plot moves along at a good pace and it is easy to follow.
I enjoyed the book.
I particularly liked Jacques. He is a hero in the truest sense of the word. He finds it difficult to believe that he is actually attracted to Diana. But, at no time does he ever consider not helping her in any way he can. He introduces her to people who are in positions of power. He provides a way for her to find all the protection and help she could need.
Diana was more difficult for me to like. She just seemed cold and distant to Jacques as well as everyone else who went out of their way to help her. I wanted to feel more emotion from her. She had been in terrible situations. She had seen terrible things. I wanted her to have passion.
I also got very distressed when in nearly every situation, she giggled. For some reason, that display of amusement seemed very out of place for her.
Ms Fenichel is a talented author. She has created complete characters. The secondary characters are fully described and become fully human.
Lady Honoria stole my heart. She has courage, a sense of humor as well as knowledge of the way the world works. She is the guardian angel every young lady on the run needs in her life.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely may own.
November 14, 2019
Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2019...)
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.
Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.
_____________________
Number of titles I have read by this author: 1
Love story speed: Borders on Instalove (or, as my reading notes say, “instalove with a healthy dose of self-sacrificing denial”)
Relationship dynamics: The French Immigrant (H) / The Genius Gentlewoman on the Run (h)
Sexual content: A smidge; “on-screen” and explicit
Triggers: Recounting of murder of parents (of h, not by h or H)
Grammar/Editing: My ARC had a couple of typos and word choice problems, along with a few anachronisms.
Review: This novel jumps right in an keeps up a quick pace. It is a Regency novel, although this is inferred from clues in the novel rather than explicitly stated. Some of the language and style is melodramatic and repetitious, particularly when it comes to the overarching themes of “self-sacrifice for the greater good,” purity of heart, and purity of mind. This is also book 4 in the series, and it becomes clear by reading that progressing through the series in order would provide valuable backstory information on some of the characters.
Jacques and Diana are, as already indicated, basically in instalove. However, they throw up plenty of roadblocks to their own happiness throughout the novel. Diana, particularly, is self-sacrificing and repeatedly threatens (in her mind) to leave her situation and fend for herself. In contrast, Jacques practices melodramatic self-denial. There is a lot of tension in their relationship that stems not only from these character flaws, but also from the fact that, while Jacques is very trusting of Diana, Diana hardly trusts Jacques at all and constantly pushes him away, which is quite frustrating. As mentioned previously, many of the major supporting characters appear to be from previous books in the series and the familiar, almost “Three Musketeers” way in which they interact may be attributed to shared history from previous books.
Overall, the story was compelling enough that I do plan to go back and read at least the first book in the series to see if I want to read them all.
Song Lyric version:
“Easy come, easy go, will you let me go?
Bismillah! No, we will not let you go
(Let him go!) Bismillah! We will not let you go
(Let him go!) Bismillah! We will not let you go
(Let me go) Will not let you go
(Let me go) Will not let you go
(Let me go) Ah
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Oh, mamma mia, mamma mia) Mamma mia, let me go!” (Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen)
Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.
Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.
_____________________
Number of titles I have read by this author: 1
Love story speed: Borders on Instalove (or, as my reading notes say, “instalove with a healthy dose of self-sacrificing denial”)
Relationship dynamics: The French Immigrant (H) / The Genius Gentlewoman on the Run (h)
Sexual content: A smidge; “on-screen” and explicit
Triggers: Recounting of murder of parents (of h, not by h or H)
Grammar/Editing: My ARC had a couple of typos and word choice problems, along with a few anachronisms.
Review: This novel jumps right in an keeps up a quick pace. It is a Regency novel, although this is inferred from clues in the novel rather than explicitly stated. Some of the language and style is melodramatic and repetitious, particularly when it comes to the overarching themes of “self-sacrifice for the greater good,” purity of heart, and purity of mind. This is also book 4 in the series, and it becomes clear by reading that progressing through the series in order would provide valuable backstory information on some of the characters.
Jacques and Diana are, as already indicated, basically in instalove. However, they throw up plenty of roadblocks to their own happiness throughout the novel. Diana, particularly, is self-sacrificing and repeatedly threatens (in her mind) to leave her situation and fend for herself. In contrast, Jacques practices melodramatic self-denial. There is a lot of tension in their relationship that stems not only from these character flaws, but also from the fact that, while Jacques is very trusting of Diana, Diana hardly trusts Jacques at all and constantly pushes him away, which is quite frustrating. As mentioned previously, many of the major supporting characters appear to be from previous books in the series and the familiar, almost “Three Musketeers” way in which they interact may be attributed to shared history from previous books.
Overall, the story was compelling enough that I do plan to go back and read at least the first book in the series to see if I want to read them all.
Song Lyric version:
“Easy come, easy go, will you let me go?
Bismillah! No, we will not let you go
(Let him go!) Bismillah! We will not let you go
(Let him go!) Bismillah! We will not let you go
(Let me go) Will not let you go
(Let me go) Will not let you go
(Let me go) Ah
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Oh, mamma mia, mamma mia) Mamma mia, let me go!” (Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen)
Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 20, 2019
This is the first book I've read in the Everton Domestic Society series and while it can be read as a stand alone book, I think I would have benefited more if I had at least read Preston and Millie's story. A Lady's Past revolves around Jacques and Diana. Jacques meets her on his way to London, at first fearing she is a highway robber. When it became clear, she only required a ride to London, Jacques agrees to escort her. This chance meeting is all Jacques needs to be fascinated by Diana.
I really enjoyed the Everton Domestic Society parts of the story. The Society's goal is to help women in difficult times and secure employment if they so desire. Diana was a clever scientist and she soon was placed as an assistant to a peer. Turns out, Jacques knows Francis and reconnects with Diana again, but Diana is reluctant to share any of her fears with him or anyone. Her nemesis, Victor Caron, a French loyalist who killed her parents, is bent on capturing Diana and returning her to France. When it becomes clear Jacques can no longer protect her on his own, they are whisked north to a castle, home to the Buckrose Horsemen, a secret contingent of men working for the Crown.
There are a couple of things for me that made this book only a 3 stars instead of 4 stars. First, after the first couple of times, having Jacques call Diana 'Goddess' all the time was annoying. I get it, there was no need to constantly repeat this incessantly. Second, without spoiling anything, I found the Buckrose Horsemen a bit incompetent at the end of the book and not consistent with the theory that they are the best at protection. I started skipping paragraphs just to get to the end of the book.
I read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed the Everton Domestic Society parts of the story. The Society's goal is to help women in difficult times and secure employment if they so desire. Diana was a clever scientist and she soon was placed as an assistant to a peer. Turns out, Jacques knows Francis and reconnects with Diana again, but Diana is reluctant to share any of her fears with him or anyone. Her nemesis, Victor Caron, a French loyalist who killed her parents, is bent on capturing Diana and returning her to France. When it becomes clear Jacques can no longer protect her on his own, they are whisked north to a castle, home to the Buckrose Horsemen, a secret contingent of men working for the Crown.
There are a couple of things for me that made this book only a 3 stars instead of 4 stars. First, after the first couple of times, having Jacques call Diana 'Goddess' all the time was annoying. I get it, there was no need to constantly repeat this incessantly. Second, without spoiling anything, I found the Buckrose Horsemen a bit incompetent at the end of the book and not consistent with the theory that they are the best at protection. I started skipping paragraphs just to get to the end of the book.
I read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
October 24, 2019
This is the 4th installment in the Everton Domestic Society series, and it does not disappoint. Jacques has been a minor character in the other books, and here he gets his story. A Frenchman in England during the Napoleonic wars, Jacques has had his share of troubles. After finally rescuing his parents from France and the guillotine, he is traveling back to London when he finds a woman by the side of the snowy road. Being a true gentleman, he cannot leave her there to freeze to death and offers her a ride to London. Diana, it seems, is a Scottish lass who was kidnapped by the French, along with her scientist father and her mother, to help make better rockets. Her parents have died because they refused to help the French. Diana escaped, and has made her way back to England to prove her innocence. One thing leads to another, and Jacques finds himself in the role of protector for this young woman. This story ranges from the parties of the ton, to a secluded school housed in a castle, as Jacques and his friends struggle to decide if Diana is telling the truth, and to keep her safe from the crazed Frenchman who intends to take her back to Napoleon and restore his place in the army. During this time, Jacques and Diana fall in love. but it is one that is met at every turn by problems. Rest assured that they do get their HEA!
I have enjoyed all of these books, and eagerly began this one. It was such fun to reconnect with old friends from the other books, and to watch the chemistry between Jacques and Diana, who fought it every step of the way!! I must say, this book did not let me down!
I have enjoyed all of these books, and eagerly began this one. It was such fun to reconnect with old friends from the other books, and to watch the chemistry between Jacques and Diana, who fought it every step of the way!! I must say, this book did not let me down!
November 15, 2019
4.25 Stars
His fiancée’s betrayal nearly cost Jacques Laurent everything. Despite his resolve not to trust anyone again, he can’t abandon the young woman he finds alone on the road to London especially as the weather is dire. In the brief hours they spend together, the enigmatic Diana touches his heart in a way he can’t explain. Even after bringing her to the Everton Domestic Society for safekeeping, he can’t get her out of his thoughts. And when he next encounters her, working as assistant to a renowned scientist, he becomes even more intrigued. The Society’s kindness is especially welcome after everything Diana endured in a French prison, but she fears for the safety of those who get close to her. French spies are on her trail, convinced that her scientific knowledge can help them win the war.
This is the fourth book in the series & it could easily be read on its own. I did love that characters from earlier books made appearances so it was very good to see where their lives were. I like Diana but absolutely adored Jacques, their attraction was immediate but they also came to know each other & they both fell in love, they also liked each other. Diana is a highly intelligent woman coming to terms with all that life has thrown at her & it’s thrown a lot. Jacques is utterly, utterly gorgeous, so steadfast & loyal, he fell heavily for Diana & never ever wavered in his devotion. A page turning book which at times I found hard to put down. The road to their HEA is strewn with obstacles & the journey was highly entertaining
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
His fiancée’s betrayal nearly cost Jacques Laurent everything. Despite his resolve not to trust anyone again, he can’t abandon the young woman he finds alone on the road to London especially as the weather is dire. In the brief hours they spend together, the enigmatic Diana touches his heart in a way he can’t explain. Even after bringing her to the Everton Domestic Society for safekeeping, he can’t get her out of his thoughts. And when he next encounters her, working as assistant to a renowned scientist, he becomes even more intrigued. The Society’s kindness is especially welcome after everything Diana endured in a French prison, but she fears for the safety of those who get close to her. French spies are on her trail, convinced that her scientific knowledge can help them win the war.
This is the fourth book in the series & it could easily be read on its own. I did love that characters from earlier books made appearances so it was very good to see where their lives were. I like Diana but absolutely adored Jacques, their attraction was immediate but they also came to know each other & they both fell in love, they also liked each other. Diana is a highly intelligent woman coming to terms with all that life has thrown at her & it’s thrown a lot. Jacques is utterly, utterly gorgeous, so steadfast & loyal, he fell heavily for Diana & never ever wavered in his devotion. A page turning book which at times I found hard to put down. The road to their HEA is strewn with obstacles & the journey was highly entertaining
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
December 8, 2019
This book was a little confused. There was a great story in it, the plot was good - kidnapped and tortured by the French to try and get her father to develop military tech for them, Diana has escaped at great personal cost after her parents were murdered. On the run and completely alone, she runs into Jacques Laurent, an exiled Frenchman and entrepreneur with aristocratic connections. Instantly intrigued by her, Laurent helps her to the Everton Domestic Society, and then can’t keep away. Diana finally finds friends and allies there too. They are both at risk trying to keep Diana from the evil Frenchman who is on her trail, can they succeed and trust in each other enough to get their HEA?
Both the hero and heroine were likeable and honourable, and their love story was touching and believable. I also liked some of the minor characters a lot, Lady Chervil, and Mrs Fall raft, as well as Doris Whipple. However, the actual writing was poor. Word choice was anachronistic- ‘okay’ is not a word that was used before the 20th Century for example, and it was used here a couple of times. The sentence construction was a little clunky, and the writing did not flow at all. I read a lot in this genre, and when the story flows unhindered by poor writing it is a joy, but this does not. There were a couple of holes in some of the side plots too, I thought the device of the Buckthorn Horsemen was a good one, until they proved incompetent each time for example.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
Both the hero and heroine were likeable and honourable, and their love story was touching and believable. I also liked some of the minor characters a lot, Lady Chervil, and Mrs Fall raft, as well as Doris Whipple. However, the actual writing was poor. Word choice was anachronistic- ‘okay’ is not a word that was used before the 20th Century for example, and it was used here a couple of times. The sentence construction was a little clunky, and the writing did not flow at all. I read a lot in this genre, and when the story flows unhindered by poor writing it is a joy, but this does not. There were a couple of holes in some of the side plots too, I thought the device of the Buckthorn Horsemen was a good one, until they proved incompetent each time for example.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.
November 17, 2019
A Lady’s Past by A S Fenichel is the fourth book in the Everton Domestic Society. The Everton Domestic Society is a group of people who provide a safe house and positive employment opportunities to women who would be out on the street. Many of the women are educated and intelligent. The stories almost always have some humor, some drama and lots of love.
Jacques Laurent finally freed his parents from France and has them in a safe place. Who knew that on his way back to London, he would find another person who needs to be freed, but that is what happens. Not that Jacques knows that right away. Diana is on the run. She knows she is not safe and needs to find a way to hide in plain site. Jacques brings her to the Everton Domestic Society house, where she is taken care of. It is from here that the story jumps off. Diana is truly on the run and Jacques can’t seem to stay away.
Jacques and Diana’s story is a wonderful story. Each book A S Fenichel has written in this series has brought to the readers a wonderful story. This particular one is not my favorite as I didn’t really bond with either character. Not that this is going to be an impediment to me reading more books in this series. I enjoy this series and enjoy reading A S Fenichel’s writing. A Lady’s Past by A S Fenichel was a good read.
Jacques Laurent finally freed his parents from France and has them in a safe place. Who knew that on his way back to London, he would find another person who needs to be freed, but that is what happens. Not that Jacques knows that right away. Diana is on the run. She knows she is not safe and needs to find a way to hide in plain site. Jacques brings her to the Everton Domestic Society house, where she is taken care of. It is from here that the story jumps off. Diana is truly on the run and Jacques can’t seem to stay away.
Jacques and Diana’s story is a wonderful story. Each book A S Fenichel has written in this series has brought to the readers a wonderful story. This particular one is not my favorite as I didn’t really bond with either character. Not that this is going to be an impediment to me reading more books in this series. I enjoy this series and enjoy reading A S Fenichel’s writing. A Lady’s Past by A S Fenichel was a good read.
November 26, 2019
Jacques is surprised to find a young woman alone on the road to London. Being the gentleman that he is, he can't leave her there. He offers to take her into town and even though she is hesitant as first, she does reluctantly decide to join him. He ends up leaving her at the Everton Domestic Society. Thinking that he will never see her again, he finds her working with a scientific friend of his.
Diana is on the run from the French government. They kidnapped her and her parents in order to get her father to work on a rocket for them. After her parents were killed, she escaped and found her way back to England. Her plan from the beginning was to hide from the men chasing her then she runs into Jacques. Working for the scientist is a dream come true, until the men hunting her find her in London.
Jacques is determined to to protect Diana at all costs, but she doesn't want anyone else to die while trying to help her. They have fallen for each other, but will this danger pull them apart?
I really enjoyed Jacques and Diana's story. The intrigue of the men after Diana, just added an extra level of interest to their love story. I loved that Jacques loved Diana's scientific mind while others in her past made her feel like she should hide it. It was also nice to see the H/H from the previous books.
Diana is on the run from the French government. They kidnapped her and her parents in order to get her father to work on a rocket for them. After her parents were killed, she escaped and found her way back to England. Her plan from the beginning was to hide from the men chasing her then she runs into Jacques. Working for the scientist is a dream come true, until the men hunting her find her in London.
Jacques is determined to to protect Diana at all costs, but she doesn't want anyone else to die while trying to help her. They have fallen for each other, but will this danger pull them apart?
I really enjoyed Jacques and Diana's story. The intrigue of the men after Diana, just added an extra level of interest to their love story. I loved that Jacques loved Diana's scientific mind while others in her past made her feel like she should hide it. It was also nice to see the H/H from the previous books.
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