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A Lady's Formula for Love
(The Secret Scientists of London #1)
by
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 fem ...more
Lady Violet Hughes is keeping secrets. First, she founded a clandestine sanctuary for England's most brilliant fem ...more
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Paperback, 336 pages
Published
February 9th 2021
by Berkley
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Start your review of A Lady's Formula for Love (The Secret Scientists of London, #1)

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 romanc ...more
Anyways, I truly loved this smart, entertaining blend of historical fiction and romanc ...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

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 brood ...more
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 brood ...more

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
...more

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 bo
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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 t ...more
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 t ...more

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 Victor
...more

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
...more

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 ...more

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 fo ...more
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 fo ...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

The premise for this book is that it is a historical rom-com, and boy does it deliver! There's heart and depth, but plenty of laughs too. A lady-scientist running a secret lady scientist club falling in love with her body guard? Signed. Sealed. Delivered. I'm yours.
...more

DNF 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 ...more
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 ...more

love love loved this book! smart, sexy, sweet...the characters are utterly charming and wonderful! I loved Violet so much and Arther - swoon! I want to be a member of Athena's Retreat! One of my favorite romances I've ever read and I am anxiously awaiting the 2nd book now!
...more

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 ...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 ...more

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 "myst
...more

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 ab ...more
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 ab ...more

Debut author Elizabeth Everett is a spectacular talent. Set in 1842 England, A Lady's Formula for Love introduces readers to Athena's Retreat, a women's group that doubles as an underground save haven for women scientists. The sparkling cast of characters, particularly the club's founder, Violet, captivates from page one. Intrigue, suspense, and humor support an emotionally engaging romance between Violet and her bodyguard, Arthur, that (rather deliciously) defies societal standards of the time.
...more

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- ...more
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- ...more

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 ...more
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 ...more

What best to read on Valentine’s Day than a romance :O) This debut novel from Everett is everything you might want from this genre - fun and entertaining. As it happens, it is also very smart.
Lady Violet Hughes is an endearing character, more at ease in her secret lab, loosing herself in chemical experiments, then navigating the treacherous waters of contemporary society. Since the death of her oppressive husband, she has found solace in Science and in helping her fellow female scientists by fou ...more
Lady Violet Hughes is an endearing character, more at ease in her secret lab, loosing herself in chemical experiments, then navigating the treacherous waters of contemporary society. Since the death of her oppressive husband, she has found solace in Science and in helping her fellow female scientists by fou ...more

2.5 stars
Unfortunately, I have to be in the minority of readers who didn't enjoy this debut book by Elizabeth Everett. I wish I could've liked it more. I was interested with the book due to the blurb... I mean, SECRET FEMALE SCIENTISTS sounds heavenly. Women in STEM, people. In historical era. Alas, it didn't happen to me sadly.
First and foremost, I thought Everett leaned towards the forgetful and mad-scientists trope a little bit too much. It already started a bit shaky because so many characte ...more
Unfortunately, I have to be in the minority of readers who didn't enjoy this debut book by Elizabeth Everett. I wish I could've liked it more. I was interested with the book due to the blurb... I mean, SECRET FEMALE SCIENTISTS sounds heavenly. Women in STEM, people. In historical era. Alas, it didn't happen to me sadly.
First and foremost, I thought Everett leaned towards the forgetful and mad-scientists trope a little bit too much. It already started a bit shaky because so many characte ...more

Lady Violet get awarded a contract from the government for a new scientific discovery. This brilliant woman who has a club for women that masquerades as a place to convene for sewing and gossip. But is actually a secret place for woman to research and hold scientific experiments.
This new attention brings threats to Lady Violet, enter protection officer Arthur. They have instant chemistry. Violet is a widow and her husband was an abusive prick (verbally, we don't hear it only the after effects o ...more
This new attention brings threats to Lady Violet, enter protection officer Arthur. They have instant chemistry. Violet is a widow and her husband was an abusive prick (verbally, we don't hear it only the after effects o ...more

PUB DATE 2.9.2021 Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the early copy of 𝐀 𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐘'𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐀 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 (The Secret Scientists of London #1).
This debut historical romance by author was full of dazzling chemistry, both literally and figuratively. Take a genius STEM heroine and a gruff bodyguard amidst a clandestine mystery and you have the formula for a fabulous read.
WHAT I LOVED:
-Headstrong, brilliant women in science willing to go against the grain.
-Devastatingly sweet one moment and "smelling sal ...more
This debut historical romance by author was full of dazzling chemistry, both literally and figuratively. Take a genius STEM heroine and a gruff bodyguard amidst a clandestine mystery and you have the formula for a fabulous read.
WHAT I LOVED:
-Headstrong, brilliant women in science willing to go against the grain.
-Devastatingly sweet one moment and "smelling sal ...more

I love love LOVED this book! I didn't know I wanted to see BODYGUARD in 19th Century England but my god, I did. I loved the way the world was explored from the POV of a super-smart scientist. I was hooked from page one and I'm not usually a historical romance gal. I think it really hits the rom-com beats so well. Just a joy of a debut!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for real reviews. ...more
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for real reviews. ...more

3.5 stars (on a curve)
Alright. I suspect the tags for this one proved irresistible to most romance readers: female scientist! "Enigmatic" protection officer! A secret women's club comprised of England's most brilliant FEMALE scientists! Female empowerment! Feminism! Spies! Shadowy threats! Seasoned principal characters! An inclusive cast of secondary characters!
Yep, yes, more please! Look, these bona fides plus a DIK at my favorite romance review site had me rushing to read this one. But.
Good n ...more
Alright. I suspect the tags for this one proved irresistible to most romance readers: female scientist! "Enigmatic" protection officer! A secret women's club comprised of England's most brilliant FEMALE scientists! Female empowerment! Feminism! Spies! Shadowy threats! Seasoned principal characters! An inclusive cast of secondary characters!
Yep, yes, more please! Look, these bona fides plus a DIK at my favorite romance review site had me rushing to read this one. But.
Good n ...more
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Elizabeth Everett lives in upstate New York with her family. She likes going for long walks or (very) short runs to nearby sites that figure prominently in the history of civil rights and women's suffrage.
A Lady's Formula for Love is her first novel, 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 ...more
A Lady's Formula for Love is her first novel, 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 ...more
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