An enchanting feminist Victorian romance.
A single-minded duke and a lady mathematician make two halves into a perfect whole.
Where were all the female scientists and mathematicians in Victorian England? Hiding in plain sight, it seems, at Athena’s Retreat, London's only social club for ladies. Miss Letitia Fenley—Letty to her fellow geniuses—is their erstwhile leader, but she just wants to focus on preparing for the upcoming Rosewood Prize for Mathematics competition. Having made one public misstep years ago, she’s now happy to be a spinster and focus on proofs. Unfortunately, in keeping the raucous ladies’ club from (literally) exploding, she has a partner: William Hughes, Viscount Greycliff. Grey and Letty have some history and do not care for each other at all, despite an obvious attraction. All they have to do is keep the chaos to a minimum and avoid each other, but when Grey’s nomination to a leadership role he’s worked toward for years is at stake, he agrees to close the club entirely to please the Guardians of Domesticity, a men’s group that blames “unnatural” women for the ills of the empire. This announcement stokes the chaos to maximum levels and forces Letty away from her Rosewood preparations to the Retreat’s defense. In trying to convince Grey that her colleagues must be allowed to stay, she grows even closer to him, resulting in more sparks than the experiments upstairs—but they cannot have both each other and their individual long-cherished dreams for the future. The second book in Everett’s Secret Scientists of London series stands out among recent feminist historical romances thanks to a fierce enemies-to-lovers plotline and a sexual tension that is built slowly and expertly. The story can be read alone, but first timers will be inspired to go back to her debut, A Lady's Formula for Love(2021) thanks to the smart writing and charming storytelling. Though Letty and Grey are standard romance characters, the series introduces readers to a diverse group at the Retreat, which hints at a promising future direction for the series.
An enchanting feminist Victorian romance.Pub Date: Feb. 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-20064-3
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Berkley
Review Posted Online: Nov. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2021
An extraordinary finale to a series that deserves to be esteemed as among the best in the genre.
A doctor and a duke who continually challenge the rules of society find that embracing love is one of the biggest risks of all.
Aurora Montalban Wright operates a secret, not exactly legal, women’s clinic in the backstreets of Paris, and when her estranged brothers cut off access to her trust, she needs to find other means of funding her operation. Desiring a distraction, she seeks out Apollo César Sinclair Robles, the new duke of Annan, who has frustrated her since they first met, yet also reawakened her long dormant carnal desire. Apollo is captivated by the gutsy doctor and becomes determined to protect her from the dangerous situations she puts herself in for her patients, even if she doesn’t want him—or anyone—to interfere with her independence. As he supports her work and she repeatedly winds up in his bed, she begins to recognize the similarities between them as Afro-Latine people using their power and skills to improve the lives of the disenfranchised and vulnerable; his aunt may be set on finding him a bride, but he’s more concerned with creating better living conditions for those who live on the dukedom’s land. As Aurora and Apollo’s feelings for each other grow, what was meant to be a temporary relationship starts to feel impossible to let go of, even as they face prejudice and confront complicated personal histories. Bursting with passion, the final book in Herrera’s terrific Las Leonas series is a masterclass in romance writing and plotting. There are heightened yet completely believable emotions and tensions throughout, with Herrera providing just the right amount of fascinating historical detail while still keeping the romance front and center. Conflicts concerning women’s healthcare, particularly regarding reproductive choices, are frighteningly resonant today. This can be enjoyed as a standalone, but is even more powerful alongside the previous books.
An extraordinary finale to a series that deserves to be esteemed as among the best in the genre.Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9781335476968
Page Count: 432
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
Action packed but romance-light.
After her queen in cursed by the gods, a healer embarks on a magical quest to Circe’s island.
Jocasta was born to a family of commoners but became a princess after her brother’s unlikely rise to the throne, a story told in the first three books of Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles series. Jocasta’s healing talent makes her feel like a lesser member of the newly minted royal family, which needs powerful warriors and politicians to stay in power—men like Flynn, her brother’s most trusted friend and captain of the guard. Years ago, Jocasta thought she was in love with Flynn, but she has been steering clear of him ever since he cruelly rejected the romantic overture she made on her 18th birthday. Flynn is afraid to love again, having lost his entire family to various illnesses and tragedies. He never intended to hurt Jocasta but only wanted to protect himself from further loss. When the queen is cursed by a stasis spell—not only will she never change or grow old, but she’ll stay 8 months pregnant forever without ever giving birth—it’s clear she is being used as a pawn in a battle between the gods of Mount Olympus. Jocasta realizes the only possible cure lies in the fabled gardens of Circe. Flynn and three others volunteer to go with Jocasta on her quest, which involves traversing the perilous route of Odysseus. When Flynn and Jocasta become temporarily separated from the rest of their party, they discover they can no longer deny their feelings for each other. Readers looking for a rip-roaring adventure will find it here, but the romance arc is tightly compressed and almost perfunctory compared to the long, complex fighting and action sequences. Uneven pacing makes the final round trip push to Circe’s island feel rushed.
Action packed but romance-light.Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72823-004-7
Page Count: 496
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2022
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