I’m not one to DNF books, especially ARCs. But this book just wasn’t it for me. The cover and the blurb were beautiful and interesting, so I’m disappointed that the actual story couldn’t keep my interest. The characters and their dialogue felt flat and boring to me, and because of that, I couldn’t care to finish.

Chemist heroine in a historical romance novel?

Just stop there and I’m already hooked.

Here’s the quick of it all:

Lucy runs a kickass apothecary and makes cures and runs the show. Her ex (a piece of work) steals her formula and makes a fortune and then takes another. Enter Thorne: man to solve the problem hired by Lucy. He moves in with his daughter and bam! Chemistry of another type.

This is not a fast burn book. It felt very similar to the first book in Everette’s first series, A Lady’s Formula for Love.

But I loved the little details and softness woven through the book. There are a lot of things that happen to women in this book and it ain’t great. But there a little slivers of hope sprinkled throughout.

Also the scenes when you get to them 🥵🥵🥵🥵. Excellent. I’ll keep the rest to myself.

Sure do I wish some of the characters got their comeuppance? Yes. But that’s not how the world works and I’m okay with it in fiction too.

Highly recommend if you have loved Everette’s work before. Also great for the Evie Dunmore lovers out there.

A unique historical with endearing characters. The Love Remedy does a beautiful job of balancing mystery and romance.

With historical romance not being my go to, I've been wanting to give Elizabeth Everett a try for the longest time. And I was able to snag this read off of Netgalley. HR has been notoriously tough for me to get into and this one started off about the same, but the more I kept going, I was fully immersed into their story.

I'll definitely be keeping a lookout for book two from this series! And hoping to keep my stride going with historical romances.

Lucinda Peterson has worked herself to exhaustion to make the London apothecary her father left her a success and to provide for herself and her siblings. Two years ago, a rival apothecary—and former lover—stole Lucy’s formula for throat lozenges before she could patent it. Now, in 1843, her formula for a salve to soothe babies’ croup has gone missing, and Lucy’s certain her ex-lover is the culprit once more.

Jonathan Thorne, a former prizefighter, now works for an agency that helps the palace cover up royal indiscretions and sometimes assists civilians who have been wronged. Hired by Lucy to recover her missing formula, Thorne poses as the apothecary’s new bookkeeper, and he and his nine-year-old daughter, Sadie, move into an apartment above the apothecary.

The sparks between Lucy and Thorne are immediate and intense, but they both hold back. Lucy fears being duped by another man, while Thorne has never forgiven himself for not saving Sadie’s mother from an early death. But as Thorne works to uncover the thief, he and Lucy are irresistibly drawn together, and they must challenge themselves to heal.

Once again, Everett mixes romance with sharp insights into women’s lives in Victorian England—as well as today. She pulls no punches highlighting the unequal treatment of women throughout history, particularly as it relates to healthcare access, freedom of choice regarding one’s own life, and safety. Readers of Everett’s previous series, Secret Scientists of London, will cheer to see cameo appearances from familiar characters while being treated to a colorful and often amusing cast of new ones. Dealing unflinchingly with birth control, abortion, and sexual assault—as well as containing some of Everett’s steamiest bedroom scenes yet—this book is not for the squeamish, but it’s sure to win Everett a legion of new fans.

I really enjoyed this book, and it actually made me go back and find other books by this author, which is a good sign. The incorporation of a single father as the love interest AND a female apothecary taking on the world was a breath of fresh air in the genre. This was such a good blend of cozy mystery and romance.

This book took a minute to really get into (I would say almost 50% in, I got hooked into the story). I liked the plot & character development and the conflict each character had to face. It was a good historical fiction/romance and I ultimately liked the ending where views were changed, people grew (except Duncan) and lives were better for it. Sometimes things you think are true, are not what them seem.

an absolutely sensational book that i think everyone needs to read. it's beautifully written and doesn't shy away from difficult topics

I wanted to love this story SO much.. based solely on the Victorian timeline and women in STEM, as a woman named Lucy who works at an apothecary tries to get her stolen formula.

It was just too slow moving, and the characters felt flat, making it hard to connect to the story.

*many thanks to Berkley Pub, PRH audio, and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

First, I love this cover. Second, I love a mystery/romance blend! Strong-willed apothecary Lucy and grumpy private detective Jonathan were an intriguing match, although I do think that Jonathan was a bit too judgy at times. However, that's my opinion as a woman who doesn't live in the Victorian era. Lucy is determined, ambitious, and willing to do what is needed to help others.

Elizabeth Everett has such a vivid writing style that I was immediately transported to Victorian London as soon as I fell into this book. Lucy and Thorne have a wonderful relationship that truly allows the reader to encounter the a world of less gender equality than our own and highlight how special their relationship is because of that. There was a bit of biting my tongue and swallowing my objections to the way events and Lucy's story was presented, but this is not anything the author did wrong. Again, this is a reaction to the world that Lucy lives in, a world she was created by, and a world that is so different from our own. This is vital aspect of the novel and a key point for the reader to consider. There is are some non-Victorian era aspects to please the modern reader like the spicy scenes and the conflict at the heart of the book.

In a sentence a beautifully written, well researched, and delightful book!

The Love Remedy by Elizabeth Everett is an engaging historical romance that blends elements of mystery and women's empowerment within a Victorian setting. The story follows Lucinda Peterson, an apothecary owner who hires a stoic private investigator, Jonathan Thorne, to uncover the theft of her crucial croup formula, leading to an intriguing mix of romance and family dynamics. While the pacing starts slow, the chemistry between Lucinda and Jonathan builds nicely, showcasing themes of trust and resilience amidst societal challenges. Overall, this book marks a promising start to the Damsels of Discovery series, filled with humor and heartfelt moments.

I wanted to love this novel as many have shared great things about Elizabeth Everett. However; I had a hard time connecting to the characters and couldn't make the emotional thread needed to continue reading. I ended up "not finishing at the 20% mark but hope to try another by this author in the future!

I always feel bad about dnfing an arc but when you're at 40% and feel no connection to the plot or characters it's like, eh, there are too many good books to read to dwell on this one.

3.5 Stars — I really enjoyed this steamy historical romance. Sometimes I want shimmering ball gowns and courting, other times I want less glitter in my historical romances. I am a sucker for apothecary settings. I find apothecary stories usually have grit, nerdy science; and something about them feel a bit magical. One of my fave historical romances is The Apothecary’s Daughter by Julie Klassen. Now this is a very different type of romance. 🌶️ 🌶️

They both share strong, intelligent women as the protagonists. Lucy is impressive in her skills but this is a time when she is completely burnt out and feeling alone in running her family’s apothecary. It was nice to follow a story about two people really stuck in their life. Thorne is constricted by all these societal and personal rules and limits he’s imposed on himself for fear of the past. Lucy is stuck financially and eaten up with anger and guilt. As they work together and get to each other, they open each other’s eyes to the possibility that there are alternate ways to feel and live. Following or breaking rules doesn’t make someone a good or bad person.

The sexual chemistry between them is present from their first meeting. They are immediately drawn to the other, which I didn’t love. Thorne is a private person so things felt extra rushed. I needed more vulnerable moments between the two. However, the romance and emotional connection eventually catches up. In the end, I was happy with how the book ends.

Sadie was such a sweet character. I loved when she was on page with her cheerfulness and geekiness over animals. Mr. Gentry was hilarious and too real. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for David and Juliet. They both felt pretty one note to me as they just weren’t on page enough. We barely get any real moments between the siblings. They had good intentions and love for Lucy but they knowingly left her to bear the emotional toll by herself. I’m still salty about that. Lol.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. The romance isn’t perfect but I enjoyed our unconventional lovers. The steamy scenes were pretty good too. 😄

Another great historical romance from Elizabeth Everett! I love how powerful her female characters are and how they fight against the gender norms of the time. I really enjoyed Lucy, and how well her anxiety was shown. Also, Thorne was a great hero who never wanted to change her and was happy to support her. I can't wait to see where this series goes!



Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Elizabeth Everett is a rock star and you cannot convince me otherwise! I always love her books, and this one was no exception! It was so good and I could not put it down. The characters, the story, and everything in between was perfection. Two thumbs way up!

What a wonderful, strong and resourceful heroine! Lucy is amazing and really stands up for herself, her family and womenkind!

(Lucy) “…doubted any argument he could concoct would convince her to trust him again. A heart could only break so many times before it lost its original purpose.”

I don’t read many historical romances but this regency story was so enjoyable and entertaining!

The Love Remedy is a smart and fun read with so many characters you can love. It is a great start to a new series and I look forward to reading more books set in this world.
-4.5 Stars-

The Love Remedy by Elizabeth Everett is a fascinating historical romance that is sure to entertain romance readers with its’ powerful & intelligent woman at the helm & an intriguing hero to match. I would also say if you appreciate more modern values but wanted to try a historical romance, this is a great suggestion for you.

This is book #1 in The Damsels of Discovery & I am excited to continue reading more from this author.

The Love Remedy is great for fans of…
❤️ Historicam Romance
❤️ Women in STEM
❤️ Single Dad
❤️ Forcef Proximity
❤️ Victorian Apothecary Meets Private Investigator

I always love reading historical romance with characters that are ahead of the time. I appreciated the showcasing of women & their knowledge of science, biology, apothecary & so much more. Even though it is a historical romance, the emphasis on women’s rights & health felt so relevant & important to today.

If you are interested in intriguing apothecary along with romance & curious mystery, The Love Remedy is a great recommendation!

Massive thanks to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the gifted copy, which I voluntarily read & reviewed.

A wonderful start to a new series. This has one of the steamiest h*mping scene's I've read in a very long time! The last third of the book dragged for me a bit and I was disappointed that there was no epilogue