A lady's formula for love

At first glance, Athena's Retreat, a club formed by Lady Violet Hughes and her closest friends, would seem to be nothing more than a woman's response to the gentleman's social clubs of Victorian London. But the real purpose of Athena's Retreat is to serve as a haven for women like Violet to explore their scientific interests. When Violet develops a chemical formula for the Crown, she and it are targeted by a secret organization, prompting her stepson to hire Arthur Kneland to act as her bodyguard. Given his past professional history, Arthur is determined to treat his protection of Violet strictly as an assignment and nothing more, until he finds the chemical reaction developing between them impossible to ignore. With its beguiling blend of danger, desire, and deliciously dry wit, the brilliantly conceived and smartly executed A Lady's Formula for Love is an exciting debut and a first-rate launch for Everett's The Secret Scientists of London series. Fans of Evie Dunmore's A League of Extraordinary Women books or Olivia Waite's historical romances will savor this fiercely feminist, achingly romantic, and intensely sensual love story.

Everett debuts with an enjoyable feminist romance between a widowed viscountess and her bodyguard. In 1842 England, Lady Violet Hughes runs Athena's Retreat, a secret club of eccentric and groundbreaking female scientists. Meanwhile, Omnium Democratia, an illegal workers' organization demanding suffrage for all men, grows increasingly radical and violent. When Omnium brings a devastating new chemical weapon to their riots, the Crown tasks Violet with developing an antidote, and her stepson, Grey, hires protection officer Arthur Kneland to keep her safe as she completes the formula. Between contending with sabotage attempts on her work and keeping up the appearance of propriety to protect her beloved club, the last thing Violet needs is to let the "instantaneous, primal attraction" between her and Arthur cloud her judgement. The pair decides their affair must be fleeting and purely physical--but both soon realize that deeper feelings lie beneath their chemistry. Everett's expert character development results in Violet and Arthur's believable and scorching connection, though this is sometimes at the cost of the suspense plot, which is underdeveloped in comparison. Nevertheless, the diverse cast and admirable heroine will win over fans of historical romance. Everett's off to a promising start. Agent: Ann Leslie Tuttle, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Feb.)

DEBUT Lady Greycliff, Violet Hughes, established Athena's Retreat, a laboratory facility masquerading as a proper ladies' club, to provide fellow female scientists with a safe place to work. Unfortunately, someone is intent on halting Violet's most recent project, bringing violence to Athena's Retreat. Arthur Kneland, a bodyguard assigned by Violet's stepson to protect her, keeps his distance while solving the mystery of who wishes Violet harm. But will a mutual passion building between the two distract Arthur from his mission? Violet and Arthur's sexual chemistry initially feels abrupt rather than natural, and while Violet's eccentricities provide many entertaining moments, they diminish the suspenseful tension. Arthur appears domineering at times, clashing with Violet's independence, one of several scenarios highlighting Victorian views of empowered women. VERDICT Despite some shortcomings, Everett's Victorian-set debut keeps things light and amusing, depicting a world in which class and gender dictate everyday decisions, while spotlighting several women and one transgendered man who have chosen to rebel against such strictures.--Eve Stano, Ball State Univ. Muncie, IN

*Starred Review* At first glance, Athena's Retreat, a club formed by Lady Violet Hughes and her closest friends, would seem to be nothing more than a woman's response to the gentleman's social clubs of Victorian London. But the real purpose of Athena's Retreat is to serve as a haven for women like Violet to explore their scientific interests. When Violet develops a chemical formula for the Crown, she and it are targeted by a secret organization, prompting her stepson to hire Arthur Kneland to act as her bodyguard. Given his past professional history, Arthur is determined to treat his protection of Violet strictly as an assignment and nothing more, until he finds the chemical reaction developing between them impossible to ignore. With its beguiling blend of danger, desire, and deliciously dry wit, the brilliantly conceived and smartly executed A Lady's Formula for Love is an exciting debut and a first-rate launch for Everett's The Secret Scientists of London series. Fans of Evie Dunmore's A League of Extraordinary Women books or Olivia Waite's historical romances will savor this fiercely feminist, achingly romantic, and intensely sensual love story. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.

DEBUT Lady Greycliff, Violet Hughes, established Athena's Retreat, a laboratory facility masquerading as a proper ladies' club, to provide fellow female scientists with a safe place to work. Unfortunately, someone is intent on halting Violet's most recent project, bringing violence to Athena's Retreat. Arthur Kneland, a bodyguard assigned by Violet's stepson to protect her, keeps his distance while solving the mystery of who wishes Violet harm. But will a mutual passion building between the two distract Arthur from his mission? Violet and Arthur's sexual chemistry initially feels abrupt rather than natural, and while Violet's eccentricities provide many entertaining moments, they diminish the suspenseful tension. Arthur appears domineering at times, clashing with Violet's independence, one of several scenarios highlighting Victorian views of empowered women. VERDICT Despite some shortcomings, Everett's Victorian-set debut keeps things light and amusing, depicting a world in which class and gender dictate everyday decisions, while spotlighting several women and one transgendered man who have chosen to rebel against such strictures.—Eve Stano, Ball State Univ. Muncie, IN

Everett debuts with an enjoyable feminist romance between a widowed viscountess and her bodyguard. In 1842 England, Lady Violet Hughes runs Athena's Retreat, a secret club of eccentric and groundbreaking female scientists. Meanwhile, Omnium Democratia, an illegal workers' organization demanding suffrage for all men, grows increasingly radical and violent. When Omnium brings a devastating new chemical weapon to their riots, the Crown tasks Violet with developing an antidote, and her stepson, Grey, hires protection officer Arthur Kneland to keep her safe as she completes the formula. Between contending with sabotage attempts on her work and keeping up the appearance of propriety to protect her beloved club, the last thing Violet needs is to let the "instantaneous, primal attraction" between her and Arthur cloud her judgement. The pair decides their affair must be fleeting and purely physical—but both soon realize that deeper feelings lie beneath their chemistry. Everett's expert character development results in Violet and Arthur's believable and scorching connection, though this is sometimes at the cost of the suspense plot, which is underdeveloped in comparison. Nevertheless, the diverse cast and admirable heroine will win over fans of historical romance. Everett's off to a promising start. Agent: Ann Leslie Tuttle, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Feb.)