Ok, I heard chatter about this on one library social media and I had to check it out and I'm so glad I did! Listen, a lady gambler, and a naval man returned from the dead with a secret? This is my catnip. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait to tell all my romance readers about it!

Anytime an author puts a lady gambler in their story, I’m sold. Add in a little “I’m back from the dead because everyone thought I died at sea but I didn’t” and this should have been a winner for me.

But while there were things I really enjoyed (hey dual virgins figuring out sex for the first time and being kinda awkward!), the pacing was off and the ending wrapped up way too neatly with things I still felt weren’t resolved.

I mean, I felt for both of these characters. Jane wasn’t allowed to mourn Eli’s “death” because he was engaged to her cousin and Eli has returned to society with secrets that risk everything. But the first 75% is a fighting our feelings fest and the last 25% is a mad dash to wrap up plot points that were extremely anticlimactic.

I loved that Jane was the prickly pear in this relationship and Eli was the more emotionally effusive counterpart. But I kept waiting for Jane’s terrible cousin Cecily (who’s such a bitch for no reason) and Jane’s brother Edmund (who pulls something I would have run him over for in the last 10%) to get their comeuppance and they never did. It’s an odd dynamic to have Jane hold on to her anger over Eli being forced to offer for her cousin years ago when he had ZERO clue Jane felt the same way about him and then have Jane let Cecily walk all over her after being so cruel to her their whole lives.

The romance really got overshadowed by all of that. Add in Jane’s gambling club being a minor plot point when it seemed like it was a big deal and a lack luster resolving of Eli’s disappearance woes and I was left feeling pretty bummed out.

Thanks to Sourcebook Casablanca for a review copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Does anyone do sexy historical men like Faye Delacour? I think not. Loved Eli and Jane's story. Jane is such a boss! Running your own gambling club? Phew, get out of the way for this entrepreneur. Readers will swoon over this second-chance, friends-to-lovers hist-rom!

this was sooooooo cute and fun. the relationship really reminded me of bridgerton season 1 and 2 and i loved jane's desire for independence. i think most period romance fans will enjoy this a lot, in my opinion it balances the main couple's tension really nicely. surprisingly good prose too. great read

The chemistry between these two! I’m still swooning.

The set up was so interesting. He’s back from the dead, and also survived a ship wreck and being kidnapped my pirates?? I was cackling over Eli having such an annoyingly difficult time coming back from the dead.

And then Jane 🥰 oh prickly Jane who just wants some self preservation but People are making it difficult to start her ladies only casino and now her ex(?) is back from the dead and not only did he not tell her he wasn’t dead but before going off and not-dying he proposed to her one-upping cousin and not her and how can she ever forgive him for it!??


I’d highly recommend this one. Not only is the premise a fun one, but Feye’s writing is so addictively readable.

Thank you sourcebook and NetGalley for a free eARC for an honest review.

This was really cute! A refreshing feminist voice for historical romance. I loved the way the hero was the one groveling, and also was open with the heroine and was the one encouraging her dream.

As someone who doesn't typically like historical fiction, this book was actually really good. I had to read it a second time before I put my review in just to make sure. Loved it! I look forward to more from Author Faye Delacour.

Jane and Eli had such great Chemistry, Jane is such a badass. She know what she wants and what she doesn't. It's different than a normal romance main female character.

A brilliant debut. I fell in love with Delacour's dry, witty voice from the very first page. I could not have enjoyed this book more--Jane and Eli are fantastic characters, and their romance is one that will stick with me for all time. What a wonderful book!

*historical romance
*second chance romance
*grumpy / sunshine
*arranged engagement
*friends / he’s MIA, and presumed dead / lovers
*one and only
*soooo much longing
*chemistry
*laugh out loud funny

I adored this story from start to finish - the characters (main and secondary), the humor, and I finished it the day I began it. It was a very enjoyable start to a new series, and a terrific first book! I am absolutely looking forward to reading what Ms Delacour writes next!

A definite recommendation!



Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the DRC

3.5 ⭐️

I liked the premise of this book and was looking forward to reading it.

It just wasn’t one of my favorites. Both main characters never said what they were thinking and that drives me crazy. The other part that I didn’t enjoy was how all these “big” obstacles were discussed the whole book and then were just casually solved in like 2 paragraphs. Angsty problems allll through the story and nicely tied up with a bow in the very end. I felt a bit underwhelmed.

I also wasn’t sold on the quick enemies to lovers switch that happened, like “oh I hate you, I hate you but you look at me with desire, now I love you”. 🤷‍♀️

It is set in historical London, but the story was told in a more modern tone with a few “women are worthless and men have all the power” themes. I think the historical aspect needed to be a little more developed.

My favorite character was the best friend. I’d like to have read her story.

It was a decent read and I finished it in one day, it was an ok diversion while being stuck inside on a rainy day.

I loved this debut from Faye Delacour and cannot wait to read what she writes next. I knew from the first lines that this would be wry and absurdly charming, and I was not disappointed. At the outset, our male main character returns from the (presumed) dead after being (allegedly) drowned at sea two years prior, and our female main character is hell-bent on starting a reputable gaming club for women as a means of financial security and independence outside the marriage mart. I always enjoy the delicious angst of my-love-proposed-to-my-sister/cousin/friend, and the pseudo competition with the vapid (but ultimately still not unlikeable) Cecily adds steady humor throughout and a reliably tense backstory for our childhood-friends-turned-enemies-turned-lovers. Add in the doting-but-determined Uncle Bertie frantically trying to set up his charges for their future happiness so he can pursue happiness of his own, and you have a cast of family and friends that consistently strikes the right balance between funny and sincere.

For romance lovers, there are familiar beats executed with delicious twists - a stolen kiss in a downpour, a woman facing ruination - and the added intrigue of pirates and scandal and sexy talk at Ascot. This is a lighthearted and sexy and delightfully feminist historical romance for readers who love sunshine MMCs who desperately want to do the right thing and will sacrifice everything to see their women thrive. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy!

I really enjoyed this book. The author made it very easy to root for both of the main characters. I sympathize with Eli but also completely understood where Jane was coming from in her insecurity in the present situation and her past with him. My main dislike was around hoe some of the conflict was or was not resolved. Cecily was quite awful I would have like a little more from the end of that conflict. I'm not sure how I feel about her uncle and brother either. And I hope for a happy ending for Hannah as she was a very sympathetic character as well, hopefully in a future book. I will look for more to come from this author in the future. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Good book. The storyline moved fast, I liked the characters- Jane and Eli but also the side characters as well- Uncle Bertie and Cecily. Overall a good read.

📣 yayyyyy what a thrill to find a new author whose book I loved

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 let’s have fun with the title. What would your autofill The Lady title be? The Lady Is Not In Your Possession is mine 🤣.

What an emotional adventure The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour is & I loved every minute.

This historical features a woman scorned only—the woman scorned was only very reluctantly done so & the hero has regretted it basically every moment since & he misses their friendship & being with her…

Jane Bishop & Lieutenant Eli Williams used to be besties. One drunken night he is caught in a mildly (my interpretation) compromising position with Jane’s mean cousin & he proposes to said cousin as a result.

Jane’s broken-hearted & even more upset when he leaves to return to sea & is presumed dead after a shipwreck.

Now, several years later, Eli returns *surprise!!*. His former fiancé is now engaged to someone else & Jane is pissed at him.

This book abounds with humor & emotional delicacy & enough steam even during a coded convo between the leads that I had an “oh my” feeling going on.

My fave books are those where we have well -rounded relationships with secondary characters too, where they’re fleshed out & real, & TLHL has that for sure. I love Jane’s BFF & her uncle Bertie & could even see a bit of redemption in the cousin by the end.

Then, the ending! I loved it. The gesture of support Eli makes is wonderful. Just 👏🏻. I didn’t even mention that Jane is entrepreneurial & is running her own ladies-only gambling hell with her bestie.

Check this one out! You won’t be disappointed.

5 ⭐️. Out 04/02.

Please see the CWs listed by a trusted reviewer.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in front of a red & white-decorated Christmas tree.]

Eli is presumed dead after being in a shipwreck. He shows up two years later hoping to reconnect with Jane. He and Jane were close until he chose to marry her awful cousin over her. Eli has secrets about the time he was missing and Jane is trying to establish her independence by setting up a ladies gambling club. Jane doesn't want to risk her heart by letting Eli back in and Eli doesn't understand how much he hurt her.

Eli is so earnest it's easy to root for him to win Jane over. I could also see why Jane wanted to keep him at a distance. Very enjoyable romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f historical romance
-second chance
-friends to estranged to lovers
-she owns a gaming hall
-he's back from the dead
-mutual pining
-it's always been you
-virgin hero
-incredible chemistry

This was just everything I wanted from a historical romance. Beautiful prose, incredible chemistry, and just a great plot that was pulling me through. Eli is returned from the dead and back in Jane's life. But she doesn't need a man. If you are a fan of Sarah MacLean's heroines this book is for you, just the pure independence I don't need you complicating my life I have my dreams I loved Jane so much.

The chemistry between these two was just so palapable the push and pull as Eli groveled and Jane tried to keep him at arms length, scared and trying to figure out how their lives could work together. To keep her choices. Gahhh just read this one. I can't wait to read whatever Faye has coming next.

I am still firmly in my historical romance era and this one had all the elements I love - a strong female lead, a dose of adventure, so much chemistry, and happily ever afters all around. I enjoyed it so much!

Thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC.

I raced through this book — a smart, swoony, sexy romance about a hero lost at sea and the woman he always loved… but blew it with when he was accidentally caught in a compromising position with her cousin. Bonus points for an excellent first sentence.

What an interesting premise! Jane is trying to create a gaming club that caters to society women so that she will be financially independent. Her parents died when she was younger and one uncle has been caring for her while another helps financially. She's also concerned about her younger brother. Jane participated in the season, but without a dowry, she's never found a match. Her outgoing cousin, Cecily, was more successful.

Eli Williams is a lieutenant in the Navy who was thought to be dead after a shipwreck. He was engaged to Cecily, but Jane had feelings for him as well. Cecily moved on and married someone else while Jane kept her mourning private. Eli was shipwrecked...but he was also picked up by pirates. The book opens as he arrives back in England and attempts to put his life back together.

You can't help but root for Jane as she tries to protect herself and Eli as he tries to undo some of the hurt he's inflicted. The writing allows for a fast read. The story stands alone, but could also be the start of a series, as there are other characters that could use their "happily ever after."

“The lady he lost” is a romantic story between Jane Bishop and Lieutenant Eli Williams, two characters with lots of chemistry to share.

Jane and Eli were children friends secretly in love with each other. One night, Eli made a mistake that caused him 2 years of his life. When he returns from death there are more than a few problem he needs to resolve before he loses his reputation, his life and the love of his life.

You can expect from this book second chances, romance, family feud and a few heated scenes.

Even though, “The Lady He Lost” is a historical romance for me the book lacks historical facts but the romance is lovely all the same

I just reviewed The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour. #NetGalley
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