The Lady Sparks a Flame is a sharp, empowering historical romance that brings the heat—both in passion and in its feminist undertones. The heroine is bold, the banter crackles, and the tension simmers just beneath the surface. This isn’t just a love story; it’s about agency, ambition, and defying expectations. The romance unfolds with depth and intensity, making every moment between the leads feel electric. If you love historical romance with wit, heart, and a heroine who refuses to play by the rules, this one’s for you.

This is not only the best historical romance I have read in some time, but perhaps the best romance. We are so often given redemption stories for heroes, mostly rogues and rakes whose biggest flaw is falling into bed with as many people as possible. This is a heroine's redemption ARC and one in which Phoebe must only reckon with the impact of her actions from anger, but to also heal the harm that her own father caused her (and subsequently, she enacted on herself). This is not a novel where a charming hero helps her, but one where Phoebe heals herself and finds herself falling in love in the process with everything she doesn't want - a younger, social climbing man who smiles and charms. Phoebe and Sam are opposites attract who are stunned to find themselves with the other for vastly different reasons.

The author's note at the beginning is also significantly powerful and important. This was an absolute powerhouse of a book.

Phoebe Hunt is back in England after being exiled to America in the wake of her fatal bomb explosion. All Phoebe wants is to help settle her mother and sister following her father’s death, then head right back to America. Entrepreneur Sam Fenley sees helping Phoebe’s family as fortuitous and possibly his way to finally getting a title. But the more time he spends with Phoebe and her family the more their traumatic past comes to light. And Phoebe and her cold exterior begin to make sense. Sam is determined to help Phoebe see she is not the villainess she seems. The chemistry between Sam and Phoebe is electric, but will Phoebe finally set her self-loathing free and let herself be happy? Or will she return to America as the independent female scientist she is?

This second installment in the Damsels of Discovery series once again highlights science, feminism and the healing powers of a of loving and supportive group of women.

I would do anything for Phoebe. I don’t think I’ve ever seen as much of myself in a romance novel heroine, from her flinty sharp rage to her deep conviction that she is unworthy of love. Elizabeth Everett wrote about self-harm and the lasting pain of abuse with compassion and tact, and Sam is the perfect lover for a woman so fiery and hurt. I’d cross the Atlantic for both of them.

I absolutely love Elizabeth Everett and this book was no exception. Lady Phoebe Hunt - who readers will remember from Everett's first series - left for America after a bomb that she developed was used in a fatal incident in London. She's back now, briefly, because her father is dead and she needs to help her mother and sister get settled financially. Ready and willing to help her is Samuel Fenley - brother of Letty (from another of Everett's books) and brilliant financial mind behind Fenley's Fripperies who is interested in elevating himself to fit in more with the aristocratic class. Sam wants to buy one of the Hunt homes and help them sell the others, and if he can manage to get a betrothal to Phoebe's sister, then all the better. The problem is that he's not actually all that into the sister, but he does have some serious chemistry with Phoebe. As the story progresses, Sam (and by extension, the reader) learns more about Phoebe's past, which is pretty tragic. Dealing with the aftermath of lifelong abuse from a cruel father, years of secret self-harm, and deep guilt that her invention led to the death of an innocent man have made it hard for Phoebe to love and trust anyone, and despite what she grows to feel for Sam, her plan is always to get back to America (where she works as a private investigator) so that she has more distance from her past. I really liked the connections back to the Secret Scientists of London series, and honestly the only thing that I was a little confused by here was that this seemed to connect a lot more to that than it did to the previous book in this current series, the Damsels of Discovery. Phoebe is an agent of Tierney & Co, but otherwise, this didn't feel as connected to the Love Remedy as it did to the Secret Scientists. Still a great book, and I love a prickly heroine. I'll read anything from Elizabeth Everett. Content warning for abuse, self-harm, and political violence.

I really enjoyed this story! Phoebe's story was so heartfelt and sad. I resonated deeply with her feelings for needing to self-harm and for recovering from that sort of abuse. I think it was portrayed beautifully and accurately. Sam was such a cinnamon roll golden retriever and I adored his gentleness towards Phoebe. He was so chaotic and bubbly. I will say that the story took a long time for me to get fully invested. I read a few other books in the time it took me to even get to 50%.

I didn't realize that Phoebe was a character in the author's previous series and I do feel like I was missing a little bit, but this does work pretty well as a standalone. This was definitely not a light read but I appreciated the depth and care Elizabeth Everett put into writing Phoebe's story. I love an icy heroine and really enjoyed watching Sam figure her out.

In The Lady Sparks a Flame, Lady Phoebe Hunt, the villain of Everett's first novel, A Lady's Formula for Love, gets her own story and perhaps a bit of redemption. Delving into Phoebe's past and witnessing her thought processes allow her to be painted as a much more sympathetic character than in her first outing. Sam the shopkeeper is steady and true and everything a (somewhat) evil genius can hope for in a man. Recommended for fans of the series and those who like a bit of angst in their historical romances.

While I didn't read the first book in the series I certainly will be going back and reading it now!

The Lady Sparks a Flame is a complex love story about Phoebe Hunt, and incredibly complex FMC who you can't help but learn to love. While I think some of the depth for me was missing because I hadn't read the first book I still readily enjoyed it! Overall the story of Sam and Phoebe will warm your heart and overall a unique refreshing story!


Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

The second book in The Damsels of Discovery, The Lady Sparks a Flame is definitely a standalone title, as one did not have to read NYPL’s 2024 Best Book The Love Remedy in order to enjoy and understand it. The titles are tangentially related as it is the same universe, and Athena’s Retreat (mentioned in the prior title) is visited. The Lady is draped in cobwebs and painful secrets, most often dealing with the abuse women have endured at the hands of a male family member. Phoebe is back in England after the death of her monstrous father, working to make sure her Lithuanian-born mother, Moti, and younger sister Karolina, will be taken care of after the sale of the estate and everything inside it. Sam Fenley, five years Phoebe’s junior, tangles himself up with the family in first an attempt to win Karolina’s hand, and then, to both his and Phoebe’s horror, he and Phoebe fall in love. Two bone-headed characters, Phoebe who is caustic and acidic, and Sam, who is full of light and love, work out. Definitely recommending others to read this, as it is a mid-1840s historical romance.

Big thanks to @elizabetheverettauthor and @berkleyromance for the eARC of this glorious book, The Lady Sparks a Flame, which publishes March 25, 2025.

I think The Lady Sparks a Flame may have one of the most complex FMCs in romance books. Phobe Hunt was a villainess in the Secret Scientist’s of London trilogy and boy oh boy are people surprised that she has returned to England after living in exile in the United States.

One of the few people to see past her past… complications… and see Phoebe for who she is and was, is Samuel Fenley who, much to Phoebe’s chagrin, becomes the person who can set her family up for a respectable future after the death of her father. However, the more time they spend together, the more they find themselves wanting to be together, even though society, friends, and even their logical brains are telling them they shouldn’t.

Of course, there’s intrigue, there’s suspense, there’s science, there’s women who are incredibly intelligent and refuse to follow society’s ‘rules’ and instead are choosing to forge their own futures.

Elizabeth can write historical romances that are full of emotion and intelligence, and write about social issues that, sadly, we are still seeing and experiencing in modern society. Elizabeth’s books serve as a reminder that it’s been women, brave, bold, spirited women, who have often been at the forefront of social, economic, and political change. Women who have pushed society forward, aiming for us all to be better versions of ourselves. Women who can do all that and also have a happily ever after with a partner who chooses them, and loves them for all their strengths and weaknesses, even when society says otherwise.

While this book can be read as a standalone, I strongly recommend reading the Secret Scientists series to fully appreciate Phoebe’s character arc in this book. I think reading the Love Remedy is also an excellent decision, but there isn’t as strong of a connection between Remedy and Flame. But you should still read it because it’s about a woman’s right to choose.

Reading this book was a joy and I hope other’s like it as much as I do!

Elizabeth Everett crafts a unique and captivating historical romance in The Lady Sparks a Flame, blending emotional complexity, a touch of intrigue, and a romance that feels both tender and earned. Lady Phoebe Hunt, once a scheming and exiled figure, returns home to face her past and protect her family, only to find herself drawn to the charming and ambitious Sam Fenley. Phoebe’s sharp exterior and Sam’s unwavering kindness create a compelling dynamic as they navigate their growing connection and the challenges of their vastly different worlds. Everett excels at humanizing Phoebe, exploring her regrets and resilience while weaving in moments of humor and heart. With its richly detailed Victorian setting, emotional depth, and well-matched leads, this story delivers a memorable romance that’s both touching and empowering.

The Lady Sparks a Flame is part of a series of historical romance novels featuring female scientists; this installment works as a standalone. It brings back Phoebe Hunt, a "villainess of majestic proportions," and an older Sam Fenley, a cinnamon roll hero (and younger man!). The novel is very much a character study focusing on Phoebe's redemption and also her traumatic family life, where her father ruled everyone with an iron fist. Her misdeeds occurred in the first novel whereby she concocted a deadly weapon that had the expected results, and she also caused an accidental shooting. Exiled to the United States, she returns only after the death of her father to take care of the remaining properties in an effort to secure funds for her Lithuanian mother and younger sister to live on. Sam comes into the picture as a wealthy businessman who not only owns an emporium with his father but has expanded into newspapers. When Phoebe places ads for the sale of her property, Sam offers a mutually beneficial arrangement whereby he would purchase the property and furnishings--sparing the family a public sale and auction (along with an intimation that he court the younger sister). Throw in a road trip to their (haunted) properly and things set in motion.

Phoebe is a complicated, somewhat icy female protagaonist, which honestly I thoroughly enjoy. Sam worked very well as a foil (though I'd like to see more books in with both main characters are icy and thaw each other out), with his kindness and patience wearing away Phoebe's sharp edges and giving her a place where she could finally feel safe. I had a few minor quibbles (Sam was ridiculously successful at the tender age of 25, and given how he just ups and leaves to go on said road trip with it seems not a word of who is running his businesses, and again at the end when he makes a big romantic gesture as if it's easy peasy, what?) but overall it was such a tender romance that I la la la'd them away. I enjoyed it much more than the previous installment. Recommend!

An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

In the very beginning I was a little worried it would take me awhile to get into this book. Phoebe is presented as cold, sometimes cruel, and with a problematic past. However, this story very quickly reveals that Phoebe is not the villainous person she sees herself as and what she thinks everyone sees her as. She has deep regrets and pain that affect her and how she is able to treat others.

I really appreciated how the author humanized Phoebe through her mother and sister. I never saw the cold side of Phoebe - I saw the daughter and sister who wanted to protect her family from the pain she endured.

Sam and Phoebe really warmed my heart. He was everything she needed and also was there for her to be everything she needed for herself.

Even though we see the friendship between Phoebe and her scientist friends heal, I actually didn’t feel like it was quite enough for me. I wanted more of their friendship, more blunt conversations between them. But still, I found their love for each other beautiful!

This is a really unique story I enjoyed!

I really loved the way this book combined an FMC who has a traumatic and dark past with a golden retriever vibes MMC who literally would do anything for her. I have read two books by Elizabeth Everett and each book has been so impactful because not only are they romance books but they are so immersive in their storytelling that I feel like I’ve been transported back into the Victorian era. The plot had me engaged from start to finish and I learnt so much history from this book.

My only criticism is the pacing. I really wish the last bit of the book was slightly longer as it just felt slightly short.

what a charming and unique set of characters in a very modern take on the historical romance genre. absolutely perfect for the historical romance fans AND the naysayers. give this a chance, it'll show you how fun that genre can be.

Always impressed when an author can take “a villainess of majestic proportions” and redeem them, turn them into a character you understand, empathize with, and cheer for their HEA.

Sam is a wonderful character. Phoebe’s demons were no match for Sam. He emits so much light and joy, the darkness had no choice but to recede from her life.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

from the moment miss phoebe was introduced, she gave me lizzie vibes from boys of tommen...do with this what you will, as im not certain i mean that in a critiquing way! this prickly lil tough cookie was so intriguing and i was fully invested in not only her personal character development but her blooming romance with fenley. everett has always been a reliable auto-read author for me and i def recommend her books!

Elizabeth Everett did not take the easy road with this book: casting a very difficult heroine who majorly messed up and deeply hurt and betrayed the adored main characters of her previous series is not for a faint of heart writer! The beginning of the book was slower for me and I worried if it would all come together as a believable love story- the heroine, Phoebe, is paired with a bright sunshine younger man hero, who initially contrives to court Phoebe’s younger sister, thus forcing them all in close proximity. Thankfully Everett does not take the courting sister plot very far (they are just clearly incompatible and the sister pretty quickly sees where the hero’s heart truly lies!)- and while there were some shenanigan side plots with intrigue I didn’t find overly compelling, the book really clicked once Phoebe and Sam are alone and intimate at length. And here is where I applaud Everett for her depth as a Romance Writer, who knows that intimate scenes are there to drive the plot and relationships in an extraordinary way that only the Romance genre can pull off. I loved the way Phoebe and Sam came to each other, and where they ended up especially! I am really amazed that a book that could be weighed down with tragic backstory for the sake of tragedy, or unlikeable villainy for the sake of villainy, or a tidy redemptive arc, eschews these easy traps and gives us a very real, compelling portrait of two complex individuals with complex lives committing to each other in love. A gorgeous book, and enormous thanks for this advanced reader copy.

I was in the mood for a historical, and this hit the spot perfectly!

Lady Phoebe Hunt has been dragged back to England after her father’s death reveals a mountain of debt. She’s determined to settle his affairs quickly and return to America, where she’s built a new life.

Samuel Fenley has worked his way up from a humble shop boy to a wealthy investor. He’s ready to buy Phoebe’s crumbling estate.

The tension between Phoebe and Sam is electric, and their every interaction is packed with emotion. Watching Phoebe wrestle with her past while slowly opening herself up to the possibility of love was such a satisfying journey.

The angst in this story kept me glued to the pages, constantly wondering how they’d find their way to a happy ending.

And that cover? Absolutely gorgeous—just as stunning as the story inside!

If you’re in the mood for romance, emotion, and a bit of drama, this one’s definitely worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this free ARC!