A review by ghostiegail
The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Why must he make her miserable when he wished to make her happy?

The ton is shocked when a lieutenant presumed dead in a shipwreck returns to London alive and well. No one is more surprised than Jane Bishop, his lifelong friend and the cousin of his former fiancee. Jane, who spent the last two years mourning his loss (and running a ladies gambling club).

If you want a regency romance that will have you kicking your feet and giggling, please look no further. This book takes mutual pining to a new level with just the right amount of steam to fog up your glasses. For how sexy it is, The Lady He Lost doesn’t shy away from heartfelt messages, either. This is a story about the risks we take for love and the power of having someone believe you. With a strong cast of characters, plenty of drama and toe-curling spice, you’ll find yourself flying through the pages.

That being said, I feel a bit torn about the pacing in this book. The reader often finds themselves moving from moment to moment with no time to spare, and even the characters remark how quickly things seem to progress. Because the author included several intertwining plots but only gave herself 336 pages to wrap everything up, The Lady He Lost honestly felt rushed. I absolutely enjoyed how complex this story was, but when each piece is woven together as tightly as a corset, it can be hard to breathe.

On the other hand, the fast paced nature was engaging and made me feel caught up in the whirlwind of Jane and Eli’s romance. I think if you normally find historical fiction to be slow or boring, this book would be a perfect introduction into what makes the genre so powerful. In the end, I believe The Lady He Lost would have benefited from another 50 to 100 pages, which would not only give the story room to breathe but also suit the genre.

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely. The pacing is keeping me from giving it a higher rating, but I’m definitely looking forward to the next books in the series (which will hopefully be about Eli’s younger sister)!