Desert Isle Keeper
A Lady's Formula for Love
Some romances are just plain adorable, and A Lady’s Formula for Love is somehow both adorable and action-packed, a delightfully fun romp that brings the reader the best of both worlds.
Widowed Violet Hughes, Lady Greycliff, created Athena’s Retreat as a secret social club for women to develop their scientific knowledge without scrutiny. They’re very close to putting on their first public exhibition, and Violet wants them all on their best behavior. Violet is also working on a confidential and clandestine mission for the government.
Bodyguard Arthur Kneland works with a secret group where Violet’s stepson William (aka Grey) also works as an agent. Arthur yearns for solitude, and he plans on retiring to the Highlands to get it, but William asks Arthur for one last favor as he heads out the door; Violet has begun to receive threats, and he asks Arthur to watch over Violet for a month while she launches the Retreat and finishes her mission. Nothing could be simpler. Except that they meet when he tackles her to the ground after someone throws a chair through a window at her head.
As Arthur spends time with Violet, he begins to learn about her passion for science – and develops a passion for her. They are drawn together, but professional and personal lines should not be crossed… should they?
Well, It’s a romance, so you know they’ll be kissing before long! But A Lady’s Formula for Love has fun getting there. You want older leads having a steamy, tension-filled relationship in which they slowly become lovers? This novel has it in spades, and it has great action scenes, brainy characters and an interesting plot to boot.
I liked Violet’s grown-up practicality and her staunch feminism. Arthur, and his wonderfully serious starchiness, compliments her perfectly. They had both been different people in their youths – idealistic, heedless – and both experienced disappointments, she in marriage, he in duty – but now, in the second act of their lives, they’re trying to figure out who they are. The narrative doesn’t fear allowing them to express regret and longing in the same long, deep breath. Violet and Arthur are so good together that it’s impossible not to root for their glorious union.
There is wonderful yearning here – and a great mystery. There is genuine suspense as we try to figure out who wants to stop Violet’s foundation in its tracks, and Everett milks it for every last drop.
I definitely enjoyed Violet’s fellow chemists, and Grey is both roguish and gently fond of his stepmother. They’re quite close in age, and have a certain amount of life experience between them, but they’re willing to try again with each other.
This is simply a great little romance novel, with genuine suspense and style, and two leads who are likable and absolutely wonderful to root for. A Lady’s Formula for Love is a beautifully written book with a swoonworthy romance that makes the heart sing. It comes highly recommended.
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Book Details
| Reviewer: | Lisa Fernandes |
|---|---|
| Review Date: | February 8, 2021 |
| Publication Date: | 02/2021 |
| Grade: | A |
| Sensuality | Warm |
| Book Type: | Historical Romance |
| Review Tags: | bodyguard | older couple | STEM heroine | The Secret Scientists of London series |
While I was underwhelmed by the execution of this story, I love the conversation it’s sparked.
I just caught up on the convo re: trans rep & Carrie’s experiences as a parent/trans ally. I’m so glad you shared it Carrie. I felt similarly to Dabney while reading the story – the author clearly establishes that our villain is a villain as a sibling and in the overall intrigue in this story. I felt his repeated dead-naming was purposeful here. I also remember thinking the potential violence Henry felt was also traumatic – I’d be tempted to post a trigger warning for it, too.
While I haven’t budged on my rating re: the execution, I realized – after these comments and the quote Dabney shared – there are positives I perhaps overlooked or ignored. I do love how committed and loyal and optimistic and hopeful Violet is from start to finish – even when events and people would seem to conspire against all of the above. This jaded reader read it as blind naivete…but other readers, more generous than me, might see it less cynically. Ha!
Violet wants better for all the marginalized characters in her world, and she puts her money and efforts into making that happen. I’m not sure the author succeeds in proving her heroine is up to the task, unfortunately.
Thanks for participating, as always!
I am assuming this is set in England, kinda based on the review. But what is the time period? Often I prefer to read several books from the same historic era before moving to another, and I don’t find cover illustrations to be reliable guides.
1842 England, yep.
I should have mentioned this in the review, but I’m adding it in a comment
There’s a character named Winthram who is Violet’s footman and happens to be a trans character. He’s also an activist. Because I was so happy to see trans rep that didn’t end tragically, I glossed over his role in the book, which I shouldn’t have done.
The character is repeatedly deadnamed by his brother, who wants him to move back into their family home and leave the Retreat, but only if he’s willing to present as a woman, and a chunk of his arc really only exists to inform Violet’s.
I’m giving the series the benefit of the doubt RE the character perhaps becoming a hero in a later volume and getting to sit in his own sun, but I’ll be disappointed if that never happens. The deadnaming in particular is likely hurtful for trans readers, but since it came from a villainous character I gave it more of a pass than I should have. Sadly too many trans readers experience these sorts of machinations in real life from uncaring family members, and when you’re reading a romance novel for escapist purposes it’s not something I think they’d want to have to endure. It overall does read very ‘cis reader’s guide to their first trans character’ and I regret not noticing that.
So an extra TW for trans readers who find deadnaming triggering.
Great addition to your review Lisa! I don’t think it will impact my interest in reading the book, but I’m not trans either. So more information is always better than too little. Thank you for taking the time to add. Would be interesting to have a trans reader’s take on the book/character.
You’re welcome! I’d rather readers be fully informed. The SBTB review kind of made me look at the other end of things so I thought I’d add that here!
I read the other review and thought about some of the things they brought up there. I’d have to read the book to really know, but I didn’t have the same reaction to this point as they did. I don’t claim special understanding, being straight, but perhaps a little insight having a trans daughter. Someone being called their deadname can be triggering and traumatic, especially if done specifically to gaslight them. However, when my daughter first came out, it took me a while to erase 20+ years of habit. She was understanding and patient. She said when people are honestly trying and willing to correct themselves, it doesn’t have quite the same negative impact.
My take on what I see you and the other review describe is this: yes, the brother deadnaming the trans character is hurtful and wrong, but the brother is shown to be a villain. The support of the footman’s community is good. It feels like a real portrayal of how trans people are marginalized and the hurt it can cause, but also showing the correct community response–love and acceptance.
That’s how it felt to me. The brother is dismissed from the very first sentence as being WRONG and mean.
Thank you so much for your observation of the material as the parent of a trans child!
I really appreciate your commenting too, Carrie. I like to think that I’m a more thoughtful reader/consumer (of all types of media) these days; but it’s helpful to have input from other people’s real/lived experiences. (And your experience has been mine as well: trans friends and colleagues absolutely know the difference between people who just need a little time/practice to adjust, and bullies who are deliberately rude or threatening.)
I am reading this now and as a liberal straight reader I like how accepting everyone is towards the young footman. I think he is treated with respect and love which stands in contrast to the way his stupid brother treats him.
Yep, I just think it’s worthwhile to give trans audiences a heads up. It wouldn’t result in me marking the book down, but it’s important that they know it happens.
Great review Lisa! I want to read it. ;-)
Hope you like it!
Are these characters older than 40? If so I will update this with the older couple tag.
I think they’re both just on the cusp of forty, if I remember right.
He is 40; she is 30 according to Chapter One.
Thank you! That jibes with her being her stepson’s age, etc. I haven’t read it since all the way back in November, so some details have eluded me with time (I also read way too many books).
I don’t know if it’s possible to update the review tags, but the series is called the “Secret Scientists…” not “Sectet”
Thanks! Fixed it!
Oops, sorry! Too much typing too fast!
This sounds like so much fun! Thank you for the great review.
Welcome!!! Hope you enjoy it!
I’m about to start listening to the audio version… fingers crossed!
Hope you like it!
This might be next up for me, too! Sounds excellent.
Didn’t work for me, unfortunately! Low C for the strong premise and like-able (though underdeveloped) leads; execution was clunky. Think this one will really split readers!
I finished it last night. I’d give it a B. I loved the positive messages in it–especially the call to pursue compromise rather than rage. And Arthur was a dream.
I’m fascinated by how mixed the reviews have been for this one!
Me, too, Lisa. But it’s just mixed enough to dissuade me from getting it at this point. I’ll wait until I can get it from the library.
I finished this last night – I’d give it a B+. Arthur was terrific. I thought the writing was strong. Looking forward to more of her work!
I just finished the audiobook and was largely unimpressed – maybe a C. The narrator’s crappy Scottish accent meant I cringed every time Arthur opened his mouth :(
I really liked parts of it. And Arthur is divine.
I never got that about Arthur at all. Even when I tried to listen to the words behind the terrible accent, I found him a bit bland :(
To each his own but I thought he was great even as he was hobbled by the “I’m not worthy of her love” problem too common to romance.
Also in the bland camp.
This made me happy.