wonderful regency romance with a happy ending. You will laugh and cry. Complex characters and good story. you will love Phoebe, Honoria and Marcus.

Rating: 4.5/5

This is a delightful, heartwarming historical romance and I’m so happy to discover it is the first in a new series - I’ll definitely be looking out for more in the series and other books by this author in future.

Although a member of the nobility, Phoebe Hallsmith has chosen to work for the Everton Domestic Service rather than staying at home - much to the displeasure of her family some of whom have disowned her. She believes she is doomed to spinsterhood after leaving London to care for her ailing grandmother (Grands) for five years and having her fiancé break off their engagement. She’s quite enjoying her new life! When she returns to the Society after a job ends, she is greeted by the mother-in-law of her now-deceased best friend and ends up going to help her son, Markus Flammel, who is not coping well with his wife’s death in childbirth, even though it is now two years since it occurred. When she arrives at his home she finds Elizabeth ,his two year old daughter who doesn’t speak but does scream to get her own way, is being brought up by the few servants who remain in the household and his lordship is drinking to excess to help him cope with his grief.  Phoebe is determined to improve the situation and takes over organising his household, employing new servants, helping Elizabeth behave more like a young lady and endeavouring to stop Markus from drinking and encouraging him to look after his estates again. She’s one feisty red head who ends up with two other men seeking her hand in marriage whilst Markus really doesn’t want her to marry either of them. However, he’s still feeling guilty about moving on after his first wife’s death. Will he give their mutual attraction a chance or will he return to drowning his sorrows again?

The story had great characters from all levels of society and I suspect many of them will feature in future stories in this series. It is a whirlwind romance, a real page turner, with many moving moments - some funny, some sad and some heartwarming. It is a beautifully told story that I thoroughly enjoyed and have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending to anyone who enjoys historical romances with a fiery female lead helping reawaken the hero who has to fight to win her heart.

I requested and was lucky enough to be given a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review of the book after choosing to read it.

Lady Phoebe Hallsmith, age 24, after embarrassing her mother, has had to go into service. She works for the Everton Domestic Society. Phoebe has just returned from an assignment helping a young wallflower prepare for her debut. Now, that young girl is to be married and Phoebe’s assignment is complete.

The proprietor of the Society wants Phoebe to take another assignment. She is to work at the home of Markus Flammel, the Viscount of Devonrose, who lost his wife, Emma, after giving birth to their daughter, Elizabeth. His grief has led him to drinking. Since then, the house and grounds have deteriorated. Phoebe had been good friends with Emma. Thus, Phoebe agrees to the position and takes a chaperone, the dowager Lady Honoria Chevril. Both will also take their lady’s maids with them.

Upon arrival, Phoebe finds a skeleton staff and a drunken Marcus. Phoebe immediately takes charge and convinces Marcus to stop drinking and to spend more time with Elizabeth. When he’s finally sober, they begin the process of hiring more staff. Both Phoebe and Marcus are night owls which means they end up in the kitchen late at night for a snack. Their growing friendship is not without its own problems due to their differing personalities. But, is there a possibility they might find love?

I really wanted to like this book but I found it difficult to believe that Marcus could quit his drinking as fast as he did. I truly did not care for Phoebe. She is a woe is me type of person who is determined to wear her hair shirt forever. In addition, there are a lot of characters thrown into the mix that makes it difficult to keep up with. I have enjoyed this author’s books in past and hope that her next ones will be more appealing.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Entertaining and sweet historical read. Phoebe and Markus are great characters and the story has plenty of drama and twists and turns. A good read.

4.5 Stars!!

My first time reading this author and I was completely enthralled. Fenichel was capable of drawing my empathy right from the start. With the hero still grieving the loss of his wife from two years prior, I was sadly moved by how his despair was characterized. Phoebe, the 24 y.0. "spinster" employed by Everton Domestic Society, was a force to be reckoned with and helped spur the Lord's recovery with her take-charge work ethic. This made for two extremely likable, but also flawed main characters. The story was laced with humor, excitement, frustration, sadness, and hope. Every aspect of this book was fun to read and had me excited to check out this author's Forever Bride Series where various characters are interconnected to this new stand-alone series. If previous reviews are any indication, they will be just as enjoyable. (This is my voluntary and unbiased review of an advanced copy of A Lady's Honor via Netgalley.)

This is romantic, engrossing and amusing. Markus is heartbroken and stubborn, but he's also caring, honorable and charming. Phoebe is strong, kind, stubborn and insecure. Phoebe is hired to get Markus and his household back into being orderly and safe for his daughter. Initially they both fight the attraction between them, for totally different reasons, and one mutual reason. And while Markus is trying to get Phoebe to stay with him, two other men vie for her hand. There are some interesting characters, and some not very nice characters. The end of the story is captivating and amusing. I enjoyed reading it very much.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

A Lady's Honor by A.S. Fenichel is Book One in the Everton Domestic Society Series. This is the story of Phoebe Hallsmith and Markus Flammel.
Phoebe feels she is on the shelf after a quick engagement ended along with having to take care of a family member and now her time has ended for marriage. But moving forward she is working for the Everton Domestic Society of London which has displeased her family. Phoebe takes a job helping her friend's husband who has taken the lost of his wife very hard. Phoebe comes in an makes chances to his life to get him back to the living.
Really great story that was hard to put down.

My heart is full as I turn the last page of this story. I knew this would be a wonderful story because every book I have read by this author is a keeper! Two souls brought together that were meant for each other but had to go a long way to find out. Having lost his beloved wife Emma over two years ago, Markus Flammel had been trying to drown himself in drink. Neglecting his home and his two year old daughter, he cannot bear the thoughts of his lost wife. Lady Phoebe Hallsmith has lost a lot herself. Betrothed and then rejected, she spent several years taking care of her dying grandmother before coming back home. Now on the shelf at 24 she has gone to work for the Everton Domestic Society and helping other people get their lives together. She is sent on a mission to pull Markus back up and get his house in order while making sure his daughter is in good hands. But you see, Phoebe had been his wife Emma's best friend, so she knew Markus and all that he had been through. As she begins to take control and gets Markus to shape up, Phoebe becomes invested in his sweet daughter and in Markus himself. Can anything come of their budding attraction? I loved these two characters and eagerly turned the pages to see what would happen. At times I wanted to shake Phoebe because she would not let herself believe that life could be more. This is one of the best stories I have read this year and cannot wait to read more!!

This is my first book to read by this author. It was a very interesting and intriguing story line with lots of funny spots. I really liked the characters who had thoughts and feelings of their own. It held my interest throughout from start to finish.
Phoebe Hallsmith is suppose to be on the shelf since it seems like forever. She has dealt with lots of criticism from her family about her employment with a domestic agency. Phoebe loves her job and the people she works for. Now her boss has need of her at a house that can't seem to keep the employees there. But one problem is that she knows the family personally.
Marcus Flammel lost his beloved wife in childbirth. He is left to pick up the pieces and can't get his life together. Family and friends try to help, but all he wants to do is drink. It's a state in which he believes that all he has left and does his best to be troublesome.
When Phoebe comes to his home to put her idea's in dealing with Marcus and getting the household back to some kind of peace. He doesn't want her there and lets her know. He is attracted to her and that leaves him reeling with guilty feelings for his dead wife.
There is a slow burn of love that brings two lonely people together and a happy ever after that says it all.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

Trigger warning: alcoholism, death of a spouse

Goodness, this was such a sweet and heartwarming romance – and isn’t the cover lovely? While this is the start of a series, it has some ties to some of Ms. Fenichel’s previous series. While it was obvious I was missing some backstory, I think this works fine as a standalone.

After caring for her grandmother in Scotland for several years, and then suffering a broken engagement to an absolute jerk, Phoebe breaks with her family and goes into service as an employee of the Everton Domestic Society. While normally it’s against the Society’s rules to work with someone you’re acquainted with, Phoebe makes an exception for Markus, the husband of her late best friend, Emma. In the two years since Emma died giving birth to her daughter, Markus has been mired in an alcohol-fueled fog, neglecting his estate and daughter, and rebuffing any attempts at help from friends or family.

“’I am four and twenty.’
‘I see.’
‘What do you see? That I am too old to make a good match and had no choice but to join the Everton Society? That I have wasted my best years? That I should be married and raising a family by now? That I am an old maid put on the shelf to be pitied and despised by the women of the ton?'”

Phoebe is twenty-four, and has resigned herself to being on the shelf, though she dreams of a marriage and family. She also has a bit of a temper, a tendency to let her emotions run away with her, and likes to stick her nose in other peoples’ business, but most of all she is strong-willed with a firm moral compass, and through her tenacity starts to get Rosefield, Markus’ estate, back into running order. Through a series of late-night meetings in the kitchen, Markus and Phoebe reminisce about Emma and begin to develop feelings for each other. However, Markus believes he only has rom in his heart for his dead wife, and Phoebe doesn’t want him to marry her out of obligation instead of love, and eventually end up as an unwanted encumbrance.

“’You have value, Phoebe. I do not know why you cannot see it, but you do yourself a disservice by believing you must settle.’
She swallowed the lump in her throat. His warmth spread through her along with the warm, masculine scent that muddled her mind. ‘I am a woman past her time to marry well, with little to recommend her. I know my worth, Markus, but I am realistic and know my limitations. Joining the Everton Domestic Society at least gives me some power over my own life.’
His grip tightened and he drew her forward until his body pressed hers. ‘You are a smart and beautiful woman, tenacious and witty. Anyone who does not see that is a fool.'”

In true romance novel fashion, their relationship helps both Phoebe and Markus heal. Phoebe feels unwanted and unseen – by society in general, since she’s a spinster, and by her family, since she refused to leave her Grandma to come back for her London season and remains unwed. While joining the Society has given her some agency and allows her to help others, that help comes with a time limit, and she knows that eventually, if she does her job well, they’ll no longer need her and she’ll have to move on. Markus is trying to deal with the ramifications of his two years of anger and neglect, seeking forgiveness for himself from his friends and family, and eventually realizing that he needs to forgive as well.

Unlike some second marriage books I’ve read, there’s no doubt that Markus and his first wife were deeply in love, and it was nice to see both he and Phoebe accepting that it’s OK to love more than one person. Also, while I make no bones (heh) about the fact that I love steamy romances, there is something delightful about historical romances where touching bare hands is risqué and chock with sexual tension. One thing I especially liked about their relationship was that Markus accepted that Phoebe was due her own agency (unlike her other suitors). As for cons, things seem to happen rather quickly – from getting Rosefield back in order to Phoebe gaining a trio of suitors – plus Markus’ daughter, Elizabeth, veered into twee territory too much for my liking.

Overall, this was a delightfully sweet and charming historical, and I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series!

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

After a disastrous, short-lived engagement and years of caring for her ailing grandmother, Phoebe Hallsmith is resigned to spinsterhood so she becomes an employee of the Everton Domestic Society of London, Phoebe accepts a position at the country home of an old friend and discovers an estate—and a lord of the manor—in a state of complete chaos.

Losing himself in the bottle has done nothing to ease Markus Flammel Viscount Devonrose’s grief over losing his wife Emma in childbirth. Not even his toddler daughter Elizabeth can bring him back from the brink. Now this fiery, strong-minded redhead has taken over his home, firing and hiring servants at will and arousing unexpected desire. Then not one, but two, suitors suddenly vie for Phoebe’s hand.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read & how Marcus managed to put his life back together & totally give up the booze as he’d no wish to become like his father. Phoebe is strong willed & highly organised. The attraction between the pair is there from the beginning but gradually grows as each comes to term with the loss of Emma. The secondary characters are on the whole delightful especially Honoria & Elizabeth. It was good also to catch up with some of the characters from the Foolish Brides series. I look forward to the next book in the series

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

REVIEW: Phoebe Hallsmith doesn’t regret the years of caring for her ailing grandmother. No, discovering that the man she was once betrothed to turned out to be a rat-bastard doesn’t really bother her as well; so all in all Phoebe is more or less resigned to ‘spinsterhood’. She has disappointed her parents and her brother has disowned her since she is now working as an employee of the Everton Domestic Society of London. Phoebe generally doesn’t accept positions where she is acquainted with the client, but upon a special request she agrees to try and sort out the chaos of her best friend’s grieving husband’s life - Markus Flammel.

After Markus’ wife Emma passed giving birth to a beautiful baby girl he’d been drowning his grief inn a bottle. Not even his toddler daughter can bring him any form of happiness. Phoebe who had been best friends and missed Emma was not about to let Markus get away with drowning his sorrows and neglecting his daughter - not if she had anything to do with it!

*** Again, I have been enthralled and moved by a book! I will also confess that I was originally drawn to this book by the luscious cover art and was thrilled to find that the beauty of the cover translated into a beautiful story as well! Lucky me!!

Phoebe had known how much her friend Emma loved her husband, although she herself didn’t have that much interaction with him. However, knowing Emma, she knew that only a good, honest, and honorable man could have had her friend so mush in love. For the sake of Emma’s beautiful daughter Phoebe would fight tooth and nail to bring Markus back to the living. Once Phoebe convinced Markus to stop drinking and look at his daughter, she began the long process of bringing his estate back to rights and letting him discover the joy of loving the precious gift of his daughter that Emma left behind.

With a few twists and turns from an old beau and a new conquest, Phoebe now had to examine her heart and decide if falling in love with her best friends widowed husband was the right thing to do. Also, was Markus ready to move on as well?

Bottom line: A wonderful story - high five star rating!

Marilyn Rondeau

While the premise of the domestic agency was an initial draw, I was hugely disappointed in the lack of effort in portraying alcoholism, withdrawal and recovery. "She asked me to stop drinking so I did" is a complete cop-out for a major plot point.

Phoebe Hallsmith has been disowned by her family, because she chooses to work for the Everton Domestic Agency. She spent the years when she would have been looking for a husband, looking after her grandmother. She did have one offer, but he cried off the engagement. She sees herself as definitely on the shelf. She is very good at the work she does for the agency, helping different families. This latest job involves someone she knows so it will be hard to be objective.

Marcus Flammel lost his beloved wife in childbirth. Since then he has tried his hardest to drown his sorrows in alcohol. The rest of his family have reached the end of their patience . He needs to sober up before he loses everything.

A lovely story showing just how strong a woman could be even when put under a lot of pressure from family and society. Good strong characters with lots of emotional content. Our hero has to face more than a few hard facts about his behaviour.

This is part of a series of stand alone books with family links.

I loved it. You will need the tissues occasionally.

I really loved Phoebe and Markus's story!

Resigned to spinsterhood, Phoebe has joined the Everton Domestic Society of London. When asked to help her late friend's husband get his life back together, she can't turn it down. When Phoebe arrives at Markus's home, she finds it in upheaval and its master drunk, which she learns has been his general state since the passing of his wife.

Markus doesn't want Phoebe there, but she is determined to get the house in shape so that her best friend's daughter can live a life free of chaos. First on her list, is to get Markus not to drink.

Having madly loved his wife and knowing he would never love again, Markus finds it discerning to be attracted to Phoebe. Not wanting to dishonor her best friend, Phoebe tries to deny her growing feelings for Markus. Can these two find their way to a HEA?

I just loved watching Markus and Phoebe falling in love. One of the reasons I liked this story so much was that it showed you could fall in love more than once. Usually in the stories of a second marriage, the surviving spouse didn't love the first person they were married to. It was generally a marriage of alliance and not someone that they would have chosen on their own. This was a refreshing change.

This was a great first book in Fenichel's newest series and I'm excited for the next book in the series, A Lady's Escape, to come out in October!

Note: This book has ties to Fenichel's Forever Brides series, Markus is the brother to the heroine in Desperate Bride and he is friends with the heroes of all 3 books.

A Lady's Honor (Everton Domestic Society, #1) by A.S. Fenichel ... This is the first book in this series and I was lucky to be able to preview it on #NetGalley. Phoebe.. left England to care for her ailing grandmother in Scotland..giving up a chance of making a good marriage match...Markus..has fallen into decline (he has become a drunk with a foul temper) after the death of his beloved wife Emma when their daughter Elizabeth is born... Phoebe has taken a position with The Everton Domestic Society....and is sent to help Markus repair his life... Emma was her best friend and she feels guilty for her feeling for Markus.. which is against all of the Everton Lady Rules (which we learn in the story) Markus feels guilty for caring for Phoebe... I love the way I felt part of the story and enjoyed sharing their lives...Of course they get to their HEA...but I won't spoil your trip getting there...Can't wait for the next book in the series... Review on Goodreads will post on Amazon and B&N 4/3

First book I've read by A.S. Fenichel and I totally liked it. Such a good solid piece of writing with a real plot. Phoebe and Markus are good strong couple.

Lady Phoebe Hallsmith made her own way after a disastrous end to her engagement and her brother disowning her. She went to work for the Everton Agency and all ...except for her brother and mother were pleased by her work.
The details of her story come out through the tale and evoke many different emotions on her and her new assignment's behalf.
This historical romance weaves a tale of life like characters, their strengths and foibles. I liked that Phoebe was a strong individual in the face of adversity.
I requested and was granted a NetGalley Arc to peruse for my opinion.

I loved the story of Phoebe and Markus! The addition of Elizabeth was perfect. Watching how Phoebe dealt with falling in love with her best friend's widower was great as well as watching how he handled it as well. I almost cried with Elizabeth's first words! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Phoebe spent the years between age 18 and 23 in the Highlands with her grandmother.  She loved every minute of it and wouldn’t have changed a minute of the time she had with her Grand.  Of course those were her best “courting” years and now she’s considered on the shelf.  She was engaged in Scotland but the man broke it off stating that Phoebe was a “cold fish.”  When she returned home rather than try to find a husband she decides to continue helping people and takes a job at the Everton Domestic Society.  Her family is outraged and her oldest brother, a viscount and head of the family, disowns her.  She’s fine with that.

She is assigned to a job helping the Viscount of Devonrose get his house and family back in order.  Normally Everton ladies don’t take jobs that involve anyone they know but she is specifically requested.  She knows the family because she was very good friends with the now deceased Viscountess of Devonrose.  When she arrives at the country estate she realizes she has her work cut out for her.  When her friend Emma died in childbirth her husband, Markus, chose to kill himself with drinking. He was stuck in his grief and has been drinking practically non-stop for the past two years.  His daughter Elizabeth is being raised by what little staff hasn’t been fired when Markus goes into a temper.  The staff as well as Elizabeth is frightened of Markus and Phoebe isn’t having it.

When Phoebe arrives. Markus wants nothing more than for her to be gone.  He does promise her that he will stop drinking and the longer he goes without a drink he realizes the kind of man he’s become.  Instead of helping his grief, it was only worsening it.  He also realizes he had ignored his holdings and most importantly, his daughter.  He tries to put this to rights the damage he has done and in doing so he starts to notice Phoebe.  He doesn’t want to be he knows that what he’s feeling isn’t just gratitude for her help, but appreciation for the woman herself.  Though they both try to fight it they fall in love.  Unfortunately Phoebe’s circumstances and her brother’s meddling may keep them apart.

This was a cute story.  I really liked Phoebe and loved that she said whatever was on her mind (most of the time).  She was bossy, but the situation called for that.  I wish she had been a little bossier with her family – they were nuts.  Her brother Miles was fine but the rest?  Wow.  Just wow.

Markus was fine after he finally pulled himself out of the bottle.  He tried to make amends and was actually doing a bang-up job of it. Little Elizabeth needed her father and he was finally there for her in a big way.

The parts of the story I didn’t really care for had to do with Phoebe’s suitors.  Markus was having problems coming to terms with his feelings and his thoughts on how he could never love another woman that would replace Emma.  That didn’t make it any easier to see both his secretary and the man who had once jilted her come around to court her.  I think this part annoyed me because Phoebe was so straightforward with everything else and it almost felt like she was leading these two on instead of telling them to take a giant leap.  Yes, she said it a round about way but it bothered me that the author had her personality changing in those instances.  It just was consistent.

Despite my issues it was a good story and I’ll be looking to read more in this series in the future.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

This will post as a guest review on Book Binge.
bookbinge.com