Review by Ronny
Series Name: The Damsels of Discovery, # 2
The Lady Sparks a Flame is another addictive historical romance by the talented Elizabeth Everett.
Favourite Quote:
“If marriage to a scientist is wonder, then why didn’t you marry the first one with whom you were engaged, eh? Lady Phoebe Hunt?”
Grantham’s smile disappeared like quicksilver.
Sam turned to the window and studied the bark-brown clouds of fog creeping over the building’s roof.
“She was a founder of Athena’s Retreat, has a more elevated title than yours, and was a villainess of majestic proportions to boot,” Sam pointed out.
“Sam—” Grantham’s voice rose an octave, and satisfaction washed through Sam. About time Grantham heard a few truths.
“In fact, the only thing a woman with a title is good for—”
“Sam!”
The reflection in the window shifted, revealing a dark figure behind him, backlit by the doorway. A cold brick of embarrassment sent Sam’s stomach plummeting to his ankles.
“She’s standing behind me, isn’t she?”
Book Synopsis:
Lady Phoebe Hunt never anticipated returning from exile. A fatal choice drove her from England, but the death of her father—and the revelation of his debts—has brought her home. Once she settles her father’s estate, she will return to America, where she has reinvented herself. There’s no reason to remain, not even for one gravitationally challenged but deliciously tempting entrepreneur: Sam Fenley.
Samuel Fenley is all ambition. Rising from shop boy to wealthy investor, he’s left knocking on doors that open only for those with a title. Unless he buys the damned door itself—and the estate that goes with it. Sam offers to relieve Phoebe of her burdens, but is her crumbling mansion all Sam wants? Or is it the Lady herself?
When threats from Phoebe’s past spark new dangers, Sam and Phoebe discover that neither is what the other expected. Standing on the edge of disaster, the disgraced Ice Queen will have to decide if she wants to forge through life alone, or let an unlikely hero melt her heart.
Review:
I love Elizabeth’s books. They are this fabulous combination of wit, romance, chaotic shenanigans, and smart, courageous women who are capable of great things. This book is connected to many of the characters from Elizabeth’s previous series, The Secret Scientists of London, and I’ve been trying to decide if reading that series would benefit readers before diving into this book. To be honest, I am on the fence. Elizabeth briefly catches readers up with what Phoebe did to get expelled to America, and she also gives readers the background story for many of the characters in this book. So, I would feel confident that readers would be able to understand what is going on and why certain characters interact with each other the way that they are. But if you are a fan of historical romances and are looking for a new series to dive into, then I would highly recommend reading the previous series and then reading this book; you will grasp what is happening on the pages faster and will not flounder with the story that is unfolding on the pages.
Now, let’s talk about what made this book so spectacular. Once again, Elizabeth has written a story that is interesting, filled with heart, and possesses many twists and turns. The first few chapters are a bit slow, but once the story starts to move, it becomes hard to put down. Everything in this book is well-balanced and works together to create something that is entertaining and has a lot of depth. I did find that this was a more serious book than Elizabeth’s previous books. There are a few fun shenanigans that happen at Phoebe’s house, but overall, it wasn’t the fun, chaotic read that I have come to expect from Elizabeth. Now, I am not saying it is a bad thing; it is a fabulous story, but if you accept similar vibes in this book that Elizabeth’s previous books had, you might be slightly disappointed.
Phoebe is an interesting heroine. Others around her have deemed her as a villain. She doesn’t fit into that typical heroine mold that society has created. She is distant, cold, and stand-offish, and many consider her to be unlikeable. But I loved her. She actually reminds me of Nesta from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Phoebe is incredibly misunderstood by those around her. There is this rage inside Phoebe that is hard to contain, and her anger for the world makes her a prickly person. And to be frank, there is a part of her that wants to see the world burn. She feels so much, and those emotions are hard to control. Without giving any spoilers away, Phoebe and her family also had to deal with abuse from her father, and Phoebe developed some unhealthy coping mechanisms in order to survive living with an abusive father. I really liked her character, and her journey in this book was heart-wrenching at times, but it was also wonderful watching her fall in love with Sam.
I enjoyed the romance in this book. Sam has this goofball, golden retriever personality. He is the complete opposite of Phoebe’s character, which I found absolutely delightful. I love watching characters with polar-opposite personalities interact with each other because you know they are going to clash in the most spectacular way. I enjoyed their chemistry, and their banter was this great mixture of wit and spice. It was heartwarming and sweet watching as Sam got past Phoebe’s barriers and saw and loved the Phoebe she was hiding from the rest of the world.
The Lady Sparks a Flame is a rich and addictive historical romance bursting with smart and capable women.
Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
