A review by jess_justmaybeperfect
A Lady's Formula for Love by Elizabeth Everett

emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

A Lady’s Formula for Love is book 1 in the The Secret Scientists of London series. It’s the story of Lady Violet Greycliff, a brilliant scientist, widowed young by an older man who swept her off her feet only to quickly turn around and break her spirit. At 30 years old she’s founded a club for scientific women and dabbles in work for the government through her beloved step-son. Grey. 

Grey, fearing that Violet may be a target because of her government work, hires a colleague, Arthur Kneland, to be her bodyguard while she works on a high level government project. 

At 40 Arthur has just retired from his government role and is ready to start a new life (and avoid a decades old scandal) with the money Grey gives him to protect Violet. 

A simple job keeping his eye on some ladies? Yes? Not so much. Arthur’s got all kinds of problems, friends with secrets, loyal servants, fanatical radicals, potential suitors, and most of all the insta lust and very soon the deep respect he has for Violet. She returns those feelings and well, they get to it. 

I loved a lot about this book. A older STEM FMC reaching for joy meets an emotionally reserved protector who has forgotten happiness completely. The club and its inclusiveness are great. The villains are very well done. The sex is 🔥! And I always love when a MMC can’t help but listen to the brilliant FMC hypothesize 😏 or just watch her think. 

Unfortunately the book felt mildly disjointed to me. Arthur’s sudden switch to shockingly astute emotional intelligence just wasn’t believable to me. Some growth is to be expected, but I guess I just didn’t buy the complete transformation. He’s still a wonderful man without all the flowery language that just didn’t seem to fit his personality. Also, the story wrapped up too quickly for me. 

I’m definitely reading the rest of the series though. The other books sound great and I’m willing to bet on the transitions I found rough being smoothed out as the series progresses. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings