This book was a little confused. There was a great story in it, the plot was good - kidnapped and tortured by the French to try and get her father to develop military tech for them, Diana has escaped at great personal cost after her parents were murdered. On the run and completely alone, she runs into Jacques Laurent, an exiled Frenchman and entrepreneur with aristocratic connections. Instantly intrigued by her, Laurent helps her to the Everton Domestic Society, and then can’t keep away. Diana finally finds friends and allies there too. They are both at risk trying to keep Diana from the evil Frenchman who is on her trail, can they succeed and trust in each other enough to get their HEA?

Both the hero and heroine were likeable and honourable, and their love story was touching and believable. I also liked some of the minor characters a lot, Lady Chervil, and Mrs Fall raft, as well as Doris Whipple. However, the actual writing was poor. Word choice was anachronistic- ‘okay’ is not a word that was used before the 20th Century for example, and it was used here a couple of times. The sentence construction was a little clunky, and the writing did not flow at all. I read a lot in this genre, and when the story flows unhindered by poor writing it is a joy, but this does not. There were a couple of holes in some of the side plots too, I thought the device of the Buckthorn Horsemen was a good one, until they proved incompetent each time for example.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads

This story of intrigue, danger and romance follows Jacques, a French emigre, and Diana, who is on the run from kidnappers who are seeking information that they believe that she has.. Jacques is a very sympathetic, protective hero. Diana is a damsel in distress, but is not helpless and has an admirable scientific mind.
The story is well-written, the characters are well developed and the plot is intriguing.
Be aware that this is the 4th book in a series. It would be helpful to have read the others in the series, as characters from earlier books play a role.
I received an ARC through Netgalley, but am voluntarily providing my honest opinion

Jacques Laurent is traveling to London in the drizzling rain when he happens upon a young woman pointing a gun a him. When he offers to take her to London, she agrees, but with skepticism. She says her name is Diana St. Cloud. When the rain turns into a heavy snowstorm, they have to stop at an inn for the night. After they reach London, Jacques convinces Diana to stay with Lord and Lady Everton at the Everton Domestic Society. It is a business where ladies might find respectable employment in various areas.

Diana explains to Jacques and others at the Society that she and her parents were captured by a French spy who tried to make her father work on a special project. After some time, her parents were killed but she managed to escape. She knows that they are looking for her. Lady Jane insists that Diana stay there with them. Another wealthy woman staying there, Lady Honoria, takes Diana under her wing. After Diana has had a chance to rest, Lady Jane offers her a job working as an assistant for Francis Edgebrook. With her chemist background, she enjoys working in Mr. Edgebrooks laboratory.

Diana and Jacques enjoy spending time together and they quickly develop an attraction. Will she remain safe within the Everton Society or will she always know that someone is looking for her?

This story was interesting and has great promise, but I must say that had the damsel been placed in distress just one more time, I would have simply abandoned the book. Some things can simply be overdone.

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

I really like the Everton Domestic Society series. In each book, the heroine is a strong woman. This book was no different. Diana was on the run after escaping from a French prison and was found by Jacques Laurent. Jacques was betrayed by fiancee, but because he is a gentleman, he can't leave Diana on the side of the road. He brings her to the Everton Domestic Society to she can hide from the people she is running from. When Jacques and Diana meet again, the sparks fly. Can they both take a chance and trust each other?

I absolutely loved this book. I liked that the heroine was an intelligent woman who wasn't afraid to be smart. Jacques was a perfect hero that deserved a second chance. I loved the suspense in the romance.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by both the author and NetGalley. Thank you very much!

A Lady's Past by A.S. Fenichel is book 4 in the Everton Domestic Society Series. This is the story of Jacques and Diana. I have read the previous book and feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Diana is on the run from a mad person who has held her against her will. Diana is left not trusting and worried that she will be found or placed in a bad position again. Jacques was betrayed by his fiancée so he doesn't trust easily if at all. But when he finds Diana walking alone he has to help her which he takes her to the Everton Domestic Society for help. But Jacques can't forget her and they meet again. Enjoyed this intriguing story.

Jacques is surprised to find a young woman alone on the road to London. Being the gentleman that he is, he can't leave her there. He offers to take her into town and even though she is hesitant as first, she does reluctantly decide to join him. He ends up leaving her at the Everton Domestic Society. Thinking that he will never see her again, he finds her working with a scientific friend of his.

Diana is on the run from the French government. They kidnapped her and her parents in order to get her father to work on a rocket for them. After her parents were killed, she escaped and found her way back to England. Her plan from the beginning was to hide from the men chasing her then she runs into Jacques. Working for the scientist is a dream come true, until the men hunting her find her in London.

Jacques is determined to to protect Diana at all costs, but she doesn't want anyone else to die while trying to help her. They have fallen for each other, but will this danger pull them apart?

I really enjoyed Jacques and Diana's story. The intrigue of the men after Diana, just added an extra level of interest to their love story. I loved that Jacques loved Diana's scientific mind while others in her past made her feel like she should hide it. It was also nice to see the H/H from the previous books.

Great story! Diana has escaped a French prison and is running for her life. Jacques happens upon her on the road to London and drops her at the Everton society for shelter. Their paths continue to cross and he falls deeper for her and wants to help her overcome her past.

Sweet romance and the danger she is facing from her past will keep you engaged in the story. Diana is fortunate to find people willing to stand up for her and believe she is not a traitor while at the same time pleading her case to others to believe her.

I liked the Horsemen in this story and hope they get their own stories in the future.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

When Jacques comes across a woman in a snow storm, he has no idea of the danger and intrigue he has stumbled in to. Diana is running from the French spies who have held her captive, and one of them will go to any lengths to recapture her. I have enjoyed all of the Everton series, but this may be my favorite. I received an ARC of this book.

This is the first book I've read in the Everton Domestic Society series and while it can be read as a stand alone book, I think I would have benefited more if I had at least read Preston and Millie's story. A Lady's Past revolves around Jacques and Diana. Jacques meets her on his way to London, at first fearing she is a highway robber. When it became clear, she only required a ride to London, Jacques agrees to escort her. This chance meeting is all Jacques needs to be fascinated by Diana.

I really enjoyed the Everton Domestic Society parts of the story. The Society's goal is to help women in difficult times and secure employment if they so desire. Diana was a clever scientist and she soon was placed as an assistant to a peer. Turns out, Jacques knows Francis and reconnects with Diana again, but Diana is reluctant to share any of her fears with him or anyone. Her nemesis, Victor Caron, a French loyalist who killed her parents, is bent on capturing Diana and returning her to France. When it becomes clear Jacques can no longer protect her on his own, they are whisked north to a castle, home to the Buckrose Horsemen, a secret contingent of men working for the Crown.

There are a couple of things for me that made this book only a 3 stars instead of 4 stars. First, after the first couple of times, having Jacques call Diana 'Goddess' all the time was annoying. I get it, there was no need to constantly repeat this incessantly. Second, without spoiling anything, I found the Buckrose Horsemen a bit incompetent at the end of the book and not consistent with the theory that they are the best at protection. I started skipping paragraphs just to get to the end of the book.

He hadn't been able to get her out of his mind. "Who are you?" he asked to see if she would tell him who she truly was and her background. The lamplight from the laboratory shone on one side of her face as she turned. "I am a dead woman and no one to concern yourself with."
Diana was a woman running for her life and had to keep out of sight. Jacques Laurent gave the frightened lady a ride to London and took her to the Everton Domestic Society to see if they could help her. He could not get her out of his mind and when he finds they have given her an assignment with a famous scientist, he really wants to know her.
Diana's father had been a scientist and she had worked right along side of him. But one of his inventions had gotten him murdered and the fiends were after her for her knowledge.
A whirlwind journey that I loved every step and every word. I have enjoyed this series tremendously and was so intrigued with the scientific thread with inventions. My heart ached for Diana, as she felt there was no hope and she would only bring trouble to others. Jacques was just so kind and sigh worthy. Everything I look forward to in a story was here... Adventure, secrets, attraction that cannot be denied and two wounded souls who need each other! Perfect!

This is a really tricky book to review, because while I enjoyed reading it and will be seeking out the previous books in the series, I found it very tonally dissonant. The emotions, words, and actions don’t match. In terms of plot and emotions, the book is full of the highest melodrama – the heroine’s backstory is extraordinarily traumatic, the hero is passionate and seems to be on a hair trigger for every emotion, and the story itself is rife with kidnapping attempts, threats of violence, and outright obsession and madness on the part of the villain. And yet, the overall feel of the book is very sweet and soothing – the hero, despite all the heightened emotion, is gentle and kind in all his actions, the story is populated with dozens of people who are eager to befriend and help the heroine, and there is a very pervasive atmosphere of calm and comfort in the book.

Full review on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books.

The Everton Domestic Society has been a truly enjoyable series, with A Lady's Past another pleasing read. These books show how at least some women, in a time when there were few choices for ladies, found a way to make their way in the world without a man. And A.S. Fenichel makes the path believable. In the fourth in the series, Jacques Laurent helps a woman who is alone on the side of the road, eventually delivering her to the Everton Domestic Society. Both have been through trauma — he was betrayed by a woman in the most damaging way possible and she just escaped from a French prison, where her family had been held captive so her scientist father's genius could be used to help the French win the war. He barely escaped the guillotine. They both have suffered, but Diana is determined to make sure no one else she loves suffers. Thus, she does not respond easily when Jacques falls in love with her. His determination to woo his "goddess" affirms the power of love, and the adventure that accompanies their love story makes this a ripping good read. I received an ARC from NetGalley; opinions mine.

This was an adventurous, exciting addition to the Everton Domestic Society series. It also has the most wonderful, romantic, dedicated, honest, steadfast and loyal hero I’ve read in a long time. We should all have a Jacques in our lives – I mean, he always calls Diana his Goddess! I liked Diana too – she was smart (very smart), beautiful and running for her life. She’s about as resilient as one lady can be, so you can’t help but admire her. I think this is my favorite book in the series.

We meet a new group in this book, and they really impressed me. I’d love to see a series featuring them and some of their exploits. The group is the Buckrose Horsemen – sort of a takeoff on the apocalyptic Horsemen. They all attended the Buckrose School for Boys and were recruited by the Crown to form a group that would work on behalf of England. This group rescued Jacques from France just before he’d been scheduled for the guillotine.

We get a lovely visit with Millie (A Lady’s Escape) and her hero Preston – along with her eccentric uncle Francis who we all learned to love in Millie’s book. I really liked Preston in this book – he was a wonderfully loyal friend to Jacques.

Jacques, who has just managed to rescue his parents from France, is traveling to London for a meeting when he comes across a woman traveling on foot in the dead of winter – during a storm. At first, he isn’t sure if she is a highwaywoman out to rob him or just a frightened woman. Whatever the case, he knows he cannot leave her on the road to die. As they travel – and have to stop at an inn to get out of the worsening storm – he tries to get to know her better. What he does (and doesn’t) learn intrigues him.

Diana is running for her life. Two governments are after her – one thinks she is a traitor and the other wants to imprison her and force her to work for them. Everybody she loves has been tortured and killed and she cannot afford to get close to anyone – ever again. She can’t live with more people who care about her dying. So, when she feels drawn to the kind and caring man who has offered her sanctuary on a cold and lonely road into London, she knows she must stay away from him. She asks him to drop her off at some very public places, but his conscience won’t let him do that. He persuades her to let him take her to the Everton Domestic Society where she can seek employment or just rest up while she decides where to go and what to do.

We all know that Diana and Jacques meet again – and things blossom – even though neither of them is prepared for a relationship. Things get really exciting and tense when the bad guys start closing in. Diana and Jacques are thrown together more and more often and, of course, love blossoms in a very difficult situation. I love how they came together.

This could have been a 5-star read for me had the author not mentioned whiskey so many times. Whiskey wasn’t readily available in England in that period. If they had it, it was illegally made in Scotland (spelled Whisky) or Ireland (spelled Whiskey). As punishment for the Irish and Scot rebellion against the Crown, extreme, exorbitant taxes were imposed on the production of whiskey and on the distilling equipment to make it. Since the upper classes tended to view the Scots and Irish as barbaric, few would have made any effort or paid the price to have it. Whiskey didn’t become a staple in England until the Victorian period.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Lady’s Past (Everton Domestic Society #4) by A S Fenichel

A Lady’s Past by A S Fenichel is the fourth book in the Everton Domestic Society. The Everton Domestic Society is a group of people who provide a safe house and positive employment opportunities to women who would be out on the street. Many of the women are educated and intelligent. The stories almost always have some humor, some drama and lots of love.

Jacques Laurent finally freed his parents from France and has them in a safe place. Who knew that on his way back to London, he would find another person who needs to be freed, but that is what happens. Not that Jacques knows that right away. Diana is on the run. She knows she is not safe and needs to find a way to hide in plain site. Jacques brings her to the Everton Domestic Society house, where she is taken care of. It is from here that the story jumps off. Diana is truly on the run and Jacques can’t seem to stay away.

Jacques and Diana’s story is a wonderful story. Each book A S Fenichel has written in this series has brought to the readers a wonderful story. This particular one is not my favorite as I didn’t really bond with either character. Not that this is going to be an impediment to me reading more books in this series. I enjoy this series and enjoy reading A S Fenichel’s writing. A Lady’s Past by A S Fenichel was a good read.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. Jacques finds Diana alone on the road to London and despite being wary of trusting anyone again, he can't leave her alone in a snowstorm. Diana is on the run and fears for the safety of anyone who helps her. They both have guards up, but still find themselves falling for each other. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

4.25 Stars
His fiancée’s betrayal nearly cost Jacques Laurent everything. Despite his resolve not to trust anyone again, he can’t abandon the young woman he finds alone on the road to London especially as the weather is dire. In the brief hours they spend together, the enigmatic Diana touches his heart in a way he can’t explain. Even after bringing her to the Everton Domestic Society for safekeeping, he can’t get her out of his thoughts. And when he next encounters her, working as assistant to a renowned scientist, he becomes even more intrigued. The Society’s kindness is especially welcome after everything Diana endured in a French prison, but she fears for the safety of those who get close to her. French spies are on her trail, convinced that her scientific knowledge can help them win the war.
This is the fourth book in the series & it could easily be read on its own. I did love that characters from earlier books made appearances so it was very good to see where their lives were. I like Diana but absolutely adored Jacques, their attraction was immediate but they also came to know each other & they both fell in love, they also liked each other. Diana is a highly intelligent woman coming to terms with all that life has thrown at her & it’s thrown a lot. Jacques is utterly, utterly gorgeous, so steadfast & loyal, he fell heavily for Diana & never ever wavered in his devotion. A page turning book which at times I found hard to put down. The road to their HEA is strewn with obstacles & the journey was highly entertaining
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Review excerpted from my blog post over at FanSciHist (https://fanscihist.wordpress.com/2019/11/14/a-ladys-past-by-a-s-fenichel/)

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Library recommendation: Recommended for public library historical romance collections.

Warning: Hereafter, you chance spoilers. I will try never to reveal major plot points, but to review any book, you must reveal some parts of the story.


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Number of titles I have read by this author: 1

Love story speed: Borders on Instalove (or, as my reading notes say, “instalove with a healthy dose of self-sacrificing denial”)

Relationship dynamics: The French Immigrant (H) / The Genius Gentlewoman on the Run (h)

Sexual content: A smidge; “on-screen” and explicit

Triggers: Recounting of murder of parents (of h, not by h or H)

Grammar/Editing: My ARC had a couple of typos and word choice problems, along with a few anachronisms.

Review: This novel jumps right in an keeps up a quick pace. It is a Regency novel, although this is inferred from clues in the novel rather than explicitly stated. Some of the language and style is melodramatic and repetitious, particularly when it comes to the overarching themes of “self-sacrifice for the greater good,” purity of heart, and purity of mind. This is also book 4 in the series, and it becomes clear by reading that progressing through the series in order would provide valuable backstory information on some of the characters.

Jacques and Diana are, as already indicated, basically in instalove. However, they throw up plenty of roadblocks to their own happiness throughout the novel. Diana, particularly, is self-sacrificing and repeatedly threatens (in her mind) to leave her situation and fend for herself. In contrast, Jacques practices melodramatic self-denial. There is a lot of tension in their relationship that stems not only from these character flaws, but also from the fact that, while Jacques is very trusting of Diana, Diana hardly trusts Jacques at all and constantly pushes him away, which is quite frustrating. As mentioned previously, many of the major supporting characters appear to be from previous books in the series and the familiar, almost “Three Musketeers” way in which they interact may be attributed to shared history from previous books.

Overall, the story was compelling enough that I do plan to go back and read at least the first book in the series to see if I want to read them all.



Song Lyric version:

“Easy come, easy go, will you let me go?
Bismillah! No, we will not let you go
(Let him go!) Bismillah! We will not let you go
(Let him go!) Bismillah! We will not let you go
(Let me go) Will not let you go
(Let me go) Will not let you go
(Let me go) Ah
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Oh, mamma mia, mamma mia) Mamma mia, let me go!” (Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen)



Full disclosure: I received a free advance review copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this story. The characters are unusual. When Jacques encounters Diana on the road to London, he is intrigued. He doesn't want to just leave her at the side of the road. He helps her get to the Everton Domestic Society and doesn't expect to see her again. He was really happy when he sees her again and decides that he will help her with her problems, no matter what. Diana is in extreme danger and doesn't want to involve anyone else in her problems, especially Jacques. Will Jacques be able to protect her and can he convince her that she should stay with him?

Jacques and Diana were fantastic! The slow burn of this story was killing and just got when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore things changed. The book is filled with so much romance and mystery and I was hooked from the very beginning. Both of our main characters went through some horrible things connected to France. I love that they were able to find healing in each other even though they came from such different worlds. Be prepared for an emotional roller coaster of a story!

Jacques Laurent is French and barely escaped France, his head was to go to the guillotine. He luckily had friends in England who helped him escape. His parents had just arrived and had also been rescued. As he drove toward London, after spending time with his parents, someone ran across the road. He thought he was going to be robbed by a highwaywoman. Diana St. Cloud had been a prisoner for two years of the French. She had escaped a year ago and had been running ever since. Her parents had been murdered in that dungeon. They thought she had the same knowledge as her father but she didn't or wouldn't give them any knowledge.
This was a lovely story of spies, information, murder, and love. It is well written and moves smoothly. The characters are well defined and likable. It does get sexy so probably eighteen and over-read it. It is exciting in spots and keeps your interest. If you like spies and action then you will love this.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.
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