Scan barcode
A review by drops_everything_and_reads
The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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!
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!