Disastrous, short-lived engagement. Made me feel better about mine LOL

Quick read, a bit slow in parts, but solid character development. Phoebe is tasked / asked to look after Markus Flammel and his extremely drunken choice of a life which includes his toddler daughter. Phoebe is written as a strong woman which I loved and takes everything in hand, plus delivers pointed lectures towards Markus in my opinion. Story-line gives you the feels as they search for a chance at a HEA.

Markus Flammel is drowning himself with the grief of losing his wife in childbirth. Phoebe has spent the last few years caring for her ailing Grandmother. Her fiance jilted her for being too cold, so now she is employed by the Everton Domestic Society. When Markus's Mother goes to them for help, she asks for Phoebe, who excepts the job because she was good friends with Markus's wife that passed away. Can Phoebe get the household back in order and Markus back on track to living a good life with his 2 year old daughter? She has a lot to accomplish, but she is fiesty enough for the job.

A fun historical romance! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable story but a bit unbelievable. The major characters do things that would never happen in the time period in which this novel is set. A slow read that seems drawn out at times with a lot of repetition.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the first in a new series called the Everton Domestic Society. Basically, we have women in tough situations that help families in special ways. In this book we had Phoebe who kept harping on the fact she is told old to be married and then Markus a widower that has let his estate fall apart. Phoebe just was annoying I didn’t like her at all. I was glad that Markus finally manned up but just not in love with this.

Phoebe has chosen to work and has been disinherited for doing so. She is pursued by two different men, but she wants to be loved. Will she find true love?

This was a sweet romance novel. Very enjoyable!

This is a delightful, light hearted historical romance and I’m happy to discover it is the first in a new series .

Phoebe Hallsmith has made the decision to work for her living much to the dismay of her Aristocratic family .
Believing she is doomed to spinsterhood she takes a position with the Everton domestic Agency .

On completion of her latest post she meets the mother-in-law of her deceased best friend ......
who asks her to help her son, Markus Flammel .
When she arrives at his home she finds Elizabeth ,his two year old daughter who doesn’t speak , is being brought up by the few servants who remain in the household and Marcus is drinking to excess to help him cope with his grief at the loss of his wife. Phoebe is determined to improve the situation and takes over organising his household, employing new servants, helping Elizabeth behave more like a young lady .
She is on a mission to save not only Marcus but his adorable daughter .............never realising that this might just save herself .

This was an enjoyable read .......such as I have come to expect from the Author , having read many of her other books .

I was given an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review , which I am happy to do .

Loved the story of Markus and Phoebe! We briefly met Markus during his sister's book, The Desperate Bride. Markus has become an alcoholic after his wife's death and his estate is in shambles. His mother calls upon the Everton Domestic Society to help. Phoebe works for the society after being disowned by her brother. She was friends with Markus' late wife and agrees to help.

Phoebe is a strong heroine and I love the way she stands up to Markus and helps restore order to his life. The relationship between Markus and his daughter and Phoebe and his daughter is sweet as well. The secondary characters we meet are wonderful as well, especially Honoria. I hope we continue to see her and Phoebe's brother, Miles, as this series continues.

This was a well-written historical romance. The author does a great job of touching on sad subjects, but lightening it with humor. Some of the scenes were touching and the romance of Markus and Phoebe was very believable.

I look forward to further books in this series.

Many thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

A Lady's Honor is a promising beginning in prolific author A.S Fenichel's Everton Domestic Society series. Phoebe Hallsmith decided to travel to Scotland to look after her ailing grandmother. After several years, her grandmother's recovery and eventual death, and a disastrous broken engagement, Phoebe is firmly "on the shelf"; at least in her opinion and that of her overbearing family. Rather than retire to her family's home, she decided to take a position with the Everton Domestic Society. Her decision only brings more family disapproval. Phoebe has been successful at straightening out upper-class households in disarray and is relatively content.

Phoebe's new assignment promises to be a little more personal. Markus Flammel's mother has asked for Phoebe in particular. Since the death of his wife, Emma, Markus has been a complete mess. He is in a state of perpetual drunkenness, his estate is in near ruins, and he is neglectful of his toddler daughter. The problem is that Phoebe and Emma were close friends and Phoebe fears that she will become more personally involved than she should.

Phoebe, Markus (at least after Phoebe takes control), and especially toddler Elizabeth are charming characters whose journey to happiness is fraught. I did think that the story dragged a bit in spots but overall was a diverting read. Thanks to NetGalley and Lyrical for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

The Everton Domestic Society #1, A new series but quite a few familiar faces. The Flammel Family that was in the Forever Brides series, particularly the last one Desperate Bride (this can be read separate from that series). The eldest brother, Marcus, lost his wife in childbirth and since then let his life fall apart around him becoming more and more like his drunken father. Getting into alcohol induced rages and firing the staff to the point there are only four of them for the whole house and are there wits end trying to raise Elizabeth and keep up with the house. Phoebe Hallsmith decided that taking care of her grandmother was more important than finding a husband, much to her Mother's dismay. Living in Scotland with her Grandmother Phoebe did once get briefly engaged only to be rejected and completely humiliated. After the death of her grandmother Phoebe proceed to further embarrass her family by going to work for the Everton Domestic Society and helping families in desperate times of need. Marcus' mother, Lady Castlereagh, is tired with her son's attitude and hires the Everton Domestic Society to help her son get his house in order and his life back on track. Margaret Flammel knows Phoebe was dear friends with her deceased daughter-in-law, Emma, and that her brother is best friends with Markus and specifically requests Phoebe be the one to help. Phoebe understand the their are complications when working with someone you know personally but is determined to stick to the rules and remain professionally distant.

Within moments of her arrival at Rosefield Phoebe is already making changes, the little Elizabeth who doesn't speak is reminded she is a lady and will disappoint her mother if she doesn't act like one. She then makes Markus see the errors of his ways and reminds him that his daughter is not a bad memory of his wife. After one more bender Markus wakes up and realizes he's turned into his father and if there is one thing he never wanted to do was that and Emma would be very disappointed in him so he starts to fix things; first by getting rid of all the alcohol in the house. Phoebe starts to set the house in order while Markus works with his secretary to fix the finances.

The romance start slow between Phoebe and Markus, just friends at first but the more time they spend together the more the feelings grow. As the feelings grow they both start to feel guilty about betraying Emma, and Phoebe is determined to keep it professional and keeps saying as soon an the Nanny is settled her job is over, but things with the Nanny keep going wrong and Phoebe ends up staying longer. It doesn't help that Markus' secretary is enamoured with Phoebe and has stated they are going to court and to top it all off Phoebe's eldest brother is demanding she marry the idiot who dumped her in Scotland. It's Markus who first realizes his feeling for Phoebe and that it's okay that he fall in love again; now Phoebe just has to realize she too can give into her feelings without feeling guilt.

Overall, this was an emotional story of learning to love again. Fenichel handles the whole thing well a lot of widow/widower stories are hard to take in, they almost always make the deceased spouse horrible so that way it's easier to accept the fact that they can love someone else. In this Emma was a wonderful person and that makes it harder for both Markus and Phoebe to get over that guilt of being in love with each other. I loved how Fenichel handled that it was raw and beautiful.

This is a sweet romance with no suggestive scenes. Usually this author's books are a little risque but this one has no objectionable scenes and slowly builds the romance between heroine and hero.
 
Phoebe Hallsmith is a young woman working for the Everton Society which provides young women with chaperones to families to help sift out their problems. Phoebe comes from a failed engagement having been rejected by her fiancée and then caring for her ailing grandmother during her best courting years. Now her brother and family have disowned her. Being a strong woman she sees it as her making her own way in the world.
 
A Lady's owner opens with Phoebe's assignment to help widower Markus Flammel who has turned to alcohol these past 2 years since his wife's death and now his finances are failing and his 2 year old daughter doesn't speak. Worse of all, he stands to become like his drunken father.
 
Phoebe and Markus clashed from the beginning but then they begin to meet in the kitchen as both endure sleepless nights and things begin to sizzle instead.
 
Markus realizes he wants to marry Phoebe but can Phoebe trust that Markus will come to love her as much as he still loves his late wife. Add to her dilemma, 2 more men vying for her hand and a brother that insists she wed another. Ms. Fenichel has a winner with a great finish. I received this from Netgalley for an honest review.

4.5*
Lady Phoebe Hallsmith has chosen to work at The Everton Domestic Society verses marriage to a man who doesn’t love her, she is disowned by her family. She enjoys helping people and finds pleasure in a job well done. She takes her position very seriously and follows the rules to the T!
Markus Flammel, the viscount of Devonrose is devastated by the death of his wife Emma after giving birth to their beautiful daughter Elizabeth. For two years his life has spiraled out of control, his home is in disarray, he has a handful of servants left and he spends most of his days drunk. Worst of all Elizabeth is scared of him.
After Markus throws his mother out of his house she contacts The Everton Domestic Society for help. When’s she’s on her way out she runs into Phoebe, who was best friends with Emma. His mother insists that she be the one sent to help get Markus’ house in order. It goes against the rules for Phoebe to be the one but she is compelled to help her friends family.
The moment she arrives there is complete chaos through out the house and she is shocked how much the estate has been neglected. Phoebe takes everything in hand and confronts Markus with is drunken behavior and how ashamed he should be. One of the best scenes is when she’s confronting him. She’s strong, direct and shows him just how much he’s fallen and what he’s loosing if things do not change. He demands she leave, but as the days go by and a sense of normalcy settled in the home the attraction between Markus and Phoebe grow. Shame and guilt for their feelings and Emma’s memory stand to drive them apart but trust and the sense of safety just might be stronger.
This book is full of emotions, sadness and laughter and the realization that the heart is big enough for more then one great love.

Markus Flammel's life is spiraling out of control. Constantly drunk to avoid confronting the grief that has haunted him the past two years since his beloved wife Emma died in childbirth, he does not even know what day it is. He has fired most of his staff in a drunken rage and his daughter has not spoken a word at the age of 2 and is being raised by the few staff members that are left. His mother hires a lady from the Everton Domestic Society to help but can she fix this pit of despair?

Phoebe cannot believe the state of Markus Flammel. She had known him as her late friend Emma's husband but only as an acquaintance. Emma's bright light had clearly been extinguished when she passed as her home had fallen into shambles. Determined to honor Emma's memory, Phoebe gets to work restoring the place and the people in it. But things go a little too far when she works on restoring Markus to a sober, responsible, and dedicated father.

When I got the e-mail that access had been granted for A.S. Fenichel's latest book, I squealed. I could not wait to get started on this book and I was even more pleased as I read when characters from her previous series, Forever Brides, made appearances. I love and highly recommend the Forever Bride series and each of those books can be read as standalones, which I imagine will be the same for the future of the Everton Domestic Society series. Having read those books, it was like running into an old friend. But there were brief descriptions provided in case the reader had not read those books.

Much like the previous books that I had read by her, the characters develop very well throughout the book. They are also often stubborn but with hearts of gold. Aside from that, these characters have very different personalities from the previous sets of characters. I loved how she incorporated Elizabeth, the toddler daughter, into the story and she was my favorite character as she turned out to be the glue for everyone. I also loved Honoria, she reminded me of Vladimir in the animated movie Anastasia: bubbly, intuitive, and supportive.

I would definitely recommend this book for romance readers who like to root for the underdogs. Much like the other books that I have read by A. S. Fenichel, the romance is complex yet lovely. I would recommend this book also for readers who love HEAs and overcoming large obstacles.

On the other hand, I would not recommend this book for those who may be offended or triggered by the following: alcoholism, addiction, spousal death, grief, sexually explicit scenarios, violence, and foul language.

Can two tortured souls overcome past hurts and embrace their second chance at love or are their hearts closed off forever?



After missing out on the marriage mart due to taking care of her sick grandmother in Scotland, Phoebe Hallsmith’s resolute to be a spinster. She’s a proud employee of the Everton Domestic Society and very thankful to Lady Jane for taking her in after her mother and eldest brother disowned her. She embraces each assignment for its challenges but her latest one has her questioning her vocation and her heart. She falls for Markus but keeps her feelings to herself, for Emma’s sake.



Lord Markus Flammel’s life ended when his beloved wife, Emma, died giving birth to their daughter, Elizabeth, two years ago. He drowns his sorrow in the bottle morning, noon and night. He’s abandoned his friends and family who’ve been trying to get him sober. It’s only when his mother contracts Phoebe from the Everton Domestic Society that things start to change. She shames him with her words but her demand for order, not to mention her intelligence, breaks through his grief. With Phoebe’s help, he vows to quit drinking and get his life in order. He starts to fall in love with her but is he betraying his late wife’s memory, or can he love Phoebe while still loving Emma?



I loved reading Markus’ story as he’s been one of my favorite characters in Fenichel’s Forever Brides series. I’ve watched him spiral downwards and knew there had to be a woman who could bring him out of his dank existence. Fenichel portrays the widower with a child addicted to drink well and I applaud her for reaching emotional depths with Markus. His growth from drunk to sober is heart-wrenching but paramount to the story.



Phoebe, by far, is my favorite character. She’s intelligent, organized, full of passion and even has a fiery temper. She speaks her mind and makes Markus want to be a better man. Her spunk attracts the attention of three men which I found amusing.



If you love historical romance with a strong-willed heroine, this is a must-read! Fenichel’s outdone herself with a lush romantic story with honest, emotional depth, high stakes and humorous dialogue. I can’t wait for the next one in the series.



Disclaimer: I received an ARC from Lyrical Press (Kensington Books) via Netgalley in the hopes I’d review it.



Favorite Character/Quote: Phoebe wanted to feel sympathy for him but she couldn't keep her annoyance in check. "What on earth is wrong with you? How can you talk about Emma that way in front of your daughter? I am well aware of the loss of my dear friend, so your attempt to hurt me was wasted. Why is your house in chaos? Why are Emma's roses along the front entrance overgrown? Why is your staff terrified of a small child? Where have you been that they are shocked at your arrival? I demand answers."



"You demand? Who are you to demand anything? Where were you when Emma lay in her coffin and they covered her up with dirt? You have no rights here." He collapsed into his chair.



My Rating: 5+ stars

Phoebe Hallsmith willingly spent her eligible years caring for her beloved grandmother instead of looking for a husband. Now firmly on the shelf, she chooses to become useful by seeking employment with the highly reputable Everton Domestic Society, dedicated to placing respectable ladies in positions of usefulness. Assigned to help the grieving husband of a close friend after his wife’s death in childbirth, Phoebe has to fulfil her duties while adhering to the Society’s strict rules, one of which heads each chapter in the book.

Many second-chance romances dismiss or demonise the first spouse, but this book does the very opposite. Markus was deeply in love with his wife, and struggles to reconcile growing feelings for Phoebe with his belief that loving again would betray Emily. Phoebe in turn encourages Markus to celebrate his love for Emily, and their daughter Elizabeth. Emily was her friend too and she doesn’t want her to be forgotten.

Despite Phoebe being ostensibly on the shelf, she has a couple of suitors other than Markus turn up in the novel, neither of whom really consider her wishes. There’s a hilarious scene where both of them try to propose to her at once while Markus watches on, seeking to contain his laughter, and making a conscious choice to let Phoebe handle them unless and until she appeals to him for assistance. Of course she manages the matter beautifully, but that single moment of contrast, of Markus assuming her competence and respecting her choices, made the contrast between him and her other suitors quite glaringly obvious.

The only thing I wasn’t sure of was a rather unnecessary love scene. In the early Regency era, a respectable and honourable lady like Phoebe just would not sleep with a man before marriage, especially when considering possibly marrying someone else! I understand sex scenes are considered de rigeur in even historicals these days unless they are categorised as Christian, but in this case I really felt it detracted from the plot. Potential consequences weren’t even mentioned, and considering the lack of reliable birth control, it should definitely have been considered. To be honest, it felt like an addition after the fact, probably at the suggestion of an editor, and could have been left out altogether. It was well written, though, and my sense that it wasn’t necessary isn’t enough for me to take a star off this otherwise really excellent historical second-chance romance. Five stars for a charming read.

This is the first book I've read by the author and after reading this I bought quite a few of her other titles.
The characters are well written, flawed but likeable and I couldn't help but cheer on Markus and Phoebe. They were quirky characters who deserved to find their happy ever after. the supporting cast were a delight. I found the two male suitors for Phoebe's hand in marriage to be perfectly detestable and I enjoyed watching Markus and Phoebe deal with them in their own way. There were a few funny moments.
I didn't particularly like Markus's surname, Flammel. It sounds like something you'd use to wash your face and it didn't really conjure up any great imagery of the aristocracy. I also thought he got over his years of alcoholism unrealistically quickly. He sobered up in one afternoon no problem to him!
Nevertheless, this was a very enjoyable story and I look forward to reading the next one in the series.

Wonderful debut to the Everton Domestic Society series by A.S. Fenichel with unforgettable characters and beautifully written story that kept me glued to the book from the first page and didn't want the book to end when I got to the last page.

I loved Phoebe Hallsmith, a strong-minded employee of Everton Domestic Society, who accepts a position at a country home of an old friend and finds an estate in complete chaos including the lord of the manor, Markus Flammel, who has lost himself in a bottle due to grief over losing his wife in childbirth.

This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a well-crafted Regency romance. A Lady's Honor will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I received a free copy of A Lady's Honor from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my unbiased review. I enjoyed the book so much, I purchased a copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed Phoebe. She knew what she wanted to do and did not truly care what others thought. She was faced with a situation of heartbreak, lost love, and despair. Despite her feelings, she managed to turn things around for Markus, but she was blind to her own world. I love the second chance at love to show one can love more than once in a lifetime. The Everton Domestic Society was a wonderful idea. I loved this story and recommend it. I look forward to more in the series.

I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

Miss Phoebe Hallsmith is a very strong minded lady and joins the Everton Domestic Society of London after her brother publicly disowns her for not agreeing to a marriage of his choice. She faces her biggest challenges, however, on an assignment to the estate of Markus Flammel. He has fallen into the bottle after the death of his wife, Emma, and cannot find the strength to manage his affairs or spend time with his young daughter, Elizabeth. Phoebe finds herself very engaged in this assignment since she knew both Emma and Markus years earlier and she also becomes very attached to the toddler Elizabeth. The biggest issue is whether Markus can find room in his heart to love again and whether Phoebe will agree to marry two eager suitors.

Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.

This is a lovely tale of second chances, difficult families, friendship and support, outrageous suitors, and our hero and heroine picking their paths through it all. I totally enjoyed the journey. I see that some of the supporting characters have already had their own stories told. You don't have to have read them to enjoy this book. But you will certainly be tempted to do so!