A Lady’s Formula for Love (The Secret Scientists of London #1)

By:

Elizabeth Everett

Blurb:

Lady Violet Hughes is keeping secrets. First, she founded a clandestine sanctuary for England’s most brilliant female scientists. Second, she is using her genius on a confidential mission for the Crown. But the biggest secret of all? Her feelings for protection officer Arthur Kneland.

Solitary and reserved, Arthur learned the hard way to put duty first. But the more time he spends in the company of Violet and the eccentric club members, the more his best intentions go up in flames. Literally.

When a shadowy threat infiltrates Violet’s laboratories, endangering her life and her work, scientist and bodyguard will find all their theories put to the test—and learn that the most important discoveries are those of the heart.

Review:

Alright, so, I’ve read a few books where women are scientists in London in the 1800s. So I have expectations at this point. Sadly, A Lady’s Formula for Love did not meet those. I don’t know if Everett intentionally put in a red herring for a future romantic pairing or if that’s just what happened. Either way, I didn’t like the outcome. Actually, I didn’t like that character at all. Phoebe was mean and so sure of herself that even when I was supposed to feel sympathy for her, I couldn’t. Yet, in any other series, I would expect her to have her own story, but after that ending, she better not.

Ugh, I was ready to give the book a three-star, but the more I think about it, the more I realize I can’t go above a two. Not just because of the Phoebe character, but because of the main characters. I liked certain things about them, but I didn’t like how it was written. Not the characters themselves. They were fine, but the actual writing. I didn’t enjoy it, and I can’t put my finger on why. It didn’t feel natural. I don’t care to think about it long enough to figure out anything further than that.

Kind of bummed cause I like that storyline, but I won’t be reading more of the series.

2/5