A woman's place does not end in the home, and Letty is here to prove it.

Elizabeth has done a wonderful job empowering women even in the days of the old (historical setting, lol). This was my first historical romance, and I didn't know what to expect going in, but I couldn't put it down when I started. The enemy-to-lovers trope, banter, extremely high sexual tension, and chemistry kept me on my toes. I had to keep turning and turning till I got to the end.

Then you have Grey, who's not ashamed of expressing how much he wants her (I've been reading books with men like these lately), and that's one thing I loved about him. For my first historical romance, I really enjoyed it. Thank you, Berkley, for my free, gifted arc. It was worth every page.

Another winning novel from Elizabeth Everett! I loved returning to Athena's Retreat for this take on enemies-to- lovers with the brilliant Letty and starchy Lord Greycliff. Also, I am not a math person, but I really enjoyed the insights into Letty's process. Can't wait for book 3!

The short jokes and big head cracks are aplenty in this enemies-to-lovers historical British romance!

Letty Fenley is a vertically challenged mathematician with a feminist agenda who is left in charge of running a club for lady scientists called "Athena's Retreat," which readers of the "Secrets Scientists of London" series will recognize from "A Lady's Formula for Love." Letty's dream is to be taken seriously in the math world by the men who rule it.

Lord Greycliff is the large noggin sporting stepson of the club's founder who works for a mysterious government agency that's main goal seems to be keeping women submissive and HOORAY, he's up for a promotion! Which gets complicated when he is also left in charge of Violet's uppity science women's club.

What are they up against? Well, Letty is still outcast by the ton after an affair with Lord Greycliff's cousin Nevin five years before and Grey is up for promotion against a nefarious anti-feminist who threatens the club's members. They both have a lot of misogyny to overcome to be together. You'll get a few steamy love scenes (none of which happen in a bed!)

My favorite scene, that gets a lot of callbacks, is the one in which Letty is getting teased for reading a dramatic romance novel and, after her brother starts reading it aloud during a carriage ride, both of the men in the carriage sneakily buy the book to find out how it ends. LOL

The mood of this book is brought down at the outset by the sad events that cause Violet and Athur to leave town and leave the club in Letty and Grey's keeping at the very beginning. Also, all the rude men following picketing the club and harassing the smart ladies, was a mood killer. Good news though, the sneak peek for the series' third book teases happier times for Violent, Arthur, Letty, Grey, Grantham and Margaret Gault.

I give it a 4/5 and thank the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I read this in a day and I loved it so much!

It was fast paced, had great characters, and women in STEM from a historical fiction standpoint.

I would highly recommend this if you’re looking for a cute read with lathe strong female leads who will always find a way and advocate for themself and others.

But to truly understand my love, check out my favorite quotes:

“Everyone knew a woman’s place was in charge, if you wanted something done right.”

“Never wait for someone else to rescue you […] especially a man. They’ll ride away on those fine horses afterward, and where will you be? Still here, cleaning the mess, having to work for an owner who couldn’t be bothered to come out after you. Rescue yourself, my dear.”

“Change in uncomfortable. It takes effort and commitment and there will invariably be frustration.”

“I don’t believe in flukes […] I believe in mathematics. I believe in the scientific laws governing our universe and the infinite equations that allow humans to find q way together. I believe mistakes can be mended, grudges can’t be reconciled, mysteries solved, and happy endings can come to each of us.”

Elizabeth Everett has followed up her smashing debut novel, A Lady's Formula for Love, with another winner! A Perfect Equation is a smart, sexy, STEMMinist romance that takes us once again to the world of Athena's Retreat, a secret club for female scientists in Victorian England.

Letty Fenley is a mathematician who is competing for a prestigious prize in mathematics. As the daughter of a mathematician, I found Ms. Everett's depiction of Letty's (at times) single-minded focus on working through her mathematical equations to be spot on.

Lord Greycliff is the perfect foil for Letty and it was a delight seeing them go from prickly acquaintances to lovers as they journeyed to their HEA. The grand gesture at the end was *chef's kiss* so sweet and endearing I had to read it a few times to savor the fun. This book is one for the keeper shelf.

5 STARS.

4.5-star read!

I've heard so many great things about Elizabeth Everett's series of historical STEM heroines, and I've finally got a chance to read her book for the first time! Letty Fenley was a genius mathematician, daughter of an emporium owner, and had a scandalous past that had ruined her chance of a good marriage. She seek refuge in Athena's Retreat, a social club for ladies but a coverup for an actual "science institute" with laboratories and scientific discoveries... When the head of Athena's Retreat asked Letty to help run the club in her absence, she was forced to work together with Viscount Greycliff, a starchy and uptight nobleman who played a role in her humiliation six years before...

Letty was quite prickly in the beginning, and I'm glad I got to learn about her past experience that shaped who she was, making me more sympathetic with her attitude. While Greycliff was as starchy as a crisp linen, occasionally he did show a glimpse of a soft teddy bear inside. I enjoyed Ms. Everett's beautiful prose, the way she presented the vulnerabilities of both Letty and Greycliff and how they learned to overcome them with the support of the other.

While the sexual tension was strong, I felt there was some repetition in their inner thoughts. I wanted to see them working more closely together and having more interactions. As a STEM professional, I also appreciated an honest portrayal of the struggles and frustration women were facing in the past in order to follow their scientific endeavors. However, I thought it might be just a little bit overdone and repetitive. That being said, if you're looking for a good enemies-to-lovers story with steamy seksy times (carriage sex!) and a bit of humor, this book is for you!

*Special thanks to Berkley Romance for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a review copy of this book!

I really wanted to love this book. It had all the makings to be one of my faves! Historical romance, women scientists, swoony love interests! But sadly, it fell flat for me.

Don’t get me wrong, there were things I really liked about this book. I loved that there were women in STEM featured prominently and there were definitely more than a few sweet moments between Letty and Grey - including a certain night at a ball!

However, it seemed like most of what came out of Athena’s Retreat was explosions, stinky smells, and stubborn women, which felt like a juvenile way to describe the serious work these scientists were doing. In addition, I couldn’t seem to fully buy in to the romance between Letty and Grey. They obviously had a lot of chemistry, but their relationship didn’t seem to evolve beyond lust. Every time they would get close to crossing that bridge, it would be interrupted by a make out session (or more). Instead, we are told how much they love each other from their own POV. We do seem to get out of just lust at the very end of the novel, but I wish it had happened earlier.

All that being said, the vast majority of readers really enjoyed this book, so I would still urge you to give this one a try. It could just be a situation of it wasn’t for me, but may be for you!

Athena’s Retreat, a haven for lady scientists, is in need of some managing assistance when the director decides to take a break and heard north with her husband… she asks her friend and one of the founding members to take on that role while she is gone. Miss Letitia Fenley prefers to stay out of the spotlight since scandal years ago ruined her reputation. Her work as a female mathematician only exacerbates her notoriety, but she will do anything to keep the club that has been her saviour alive… even work along side her nemesis, Lord William Hughes, the Viscount Greycliff.

Greycliff permits his former step-mother to have her club and even steps up to keep the members safe while she is away… but when the club comes between his ambitions and what he believes is his duty to his country, will he be able to reconcile his priorities when the club alters his perceptions?

This was a delightful enemies to lovers tale, that brought our MC’s to lovers very quickly (yippee!!). But at the heart of the story, trust and ambition rules these characters and their decisions.

Our mathematical dreamer, Letty was a beautiful heroine to watch as she came out of her our self created chrysalis. She absolutely blooms through friendship and unwitting support she finds from the ladies at the club and from Greycliff when she opens up to them.

Greycliff came in hard and turned out to be a big softy! His teddy bear personality and need to care for those he loves was a great contrast to the other men portrayed in the book and made him worthy of book boyfriend status!

I had such a fin time enjoying the secondary characters in the book as well. They were so unique and added a lot of fun to the story!

Though, I did not read the first book in this series, but could this book very easy to step into and enjoy without the background from the first book. Saying that, I am eager to catch up with what I missed and get in more time at Athena’s Retreat with A Lady’s Formula for Love!

A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth Everett is scheduled to release February 15th, 2022.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#APerfectEquation #ElizabethEverett #Netgalley #pinkcowlandreads

Elizabeth Everett's A PERFECT EQUATION (THE SECRET SCIENTISTS OF LONDON, #2) returns readers to 1840s Victorian England where women scientists are studying STEM and running experiments in the clandestine labs at Athena's Retreat in London. In this enemies-to-lovers romance, founding member Letty Fenley and Viscount Greycliff (a.k.a "Grey") are tasked with overseeing the safety and management of the club, a frequent target of anti-feminist groups. As Letty and Grey learn to put aside their past prejudices to work together, unexpected desire and a profound love develops between the two.

Sympathetic romance protagonists, memorable supporting characters, and fun lab explosions make this story a thoroughly satisfying read from start to finish.

A Perfect Equation is a great blend of romance, smart, strong women, and problems to solve!

Letty is our female love interest, and she’s such an interesting character. She’s so closed off from others, and she doesn’t “NEED” help from anyone. I enjoyed watching her evolve and grow. As she finds herself in charge of the Athena’s Retreat, a place for women scientists (and a secret), we get to see her grow and change.

And it’s not just Letty that’s watching over Athena’s Retreat…she’s got a partner to work with. Viscount Greycliff was asked to help Letty, and their chemistry is great. Starting as enemies-to-lovers, as they work together, they find an attraction they didn’t expect!

This is a great read for historical romance fans. It’s the second book in the series The Secret Scientists of London, but I thought it could absolutely be read as a stand-alone!

An enemies to lovers historical romance with- STEM! Letty and Grey have had, ahem, issues with each other since an unfortunate incident but now they are both charged with keeping the women of Athena's Retreat safe. The Retreat is meant as a safe space for women to do STEM experiments and share information, as well as friendship but there are men out there who don't like it. Grey, Viscount Greycliff, has a secret in his past that's kept him from forming romantic relationships and Letty, well she just hasn't been interested after what happened 6 years ago. Grey also wants to head up the mysterious Department but he's got a rival for that position. I missed the first book and must admit I felt a little at sea initially but then I quickly found the rhythm of the story. I liked the characters (Letty is boffo) and the acknowledgement of women in science. And then there's the slow burn romance. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, A very good read.

Please let me try and keep calm while I’m writing this. I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review of A Perfect Equation by Elizabeth Everett. I’m coming down from a historical, enemies-to-lovers, bluestocking, hero with issues, romance euphoria right now. It’s that good high where your body is totally relaxed and everything is just fine, not that one where you’ve been watching the Hallmark channel for what feels like an hour and it’s actually only been 3 minutes and you can’t remember the basic plot of the movie.

We’ve all been there, right?

Right, guys?

A Little Bit of Plot
Letiticia Fenley, mathematician extraordinaire, understands too well what scandal can do to a woman’s reputation. As such, she is less than thrilled when tasked to lead Athena’s Retreat, a female- only club which provides shelter for scientific discovery and experimentation in 1850’s London. Alongside to assist her as co-director is her arch nemesis, Lord William Hughes, Viscount Greycliff (or Grey). Letty is well aware of Grey’s view of her and her scandalous reputation as he was the one to cast the first aspersions. The chemistry in this book isn’t just coming from the experimentation rooms. They can barely stand to be in the same room together, when danger arrives how will they join forces to save the club they are both duty bound to lead? When they do join forces will it be opposites attract or combustion at first sight?

The Top Bun
The Chemistry (Mostly Grey’s Not So Secret Obsession With Letty)
When I say that Grey is obsessed with Letty, I mean it in the most innocuous of terms. We aren’t talking Penn Badgley - You - obsessed, more along the lines of wanting to touch her constantly. Let’s say how I feel while watching Tom Ellis in Lucifer - I just want to run my hands along those pant suits.

We first see Grey saving Letty from an unyielding mob which leads to this interaction:

This close, he could catch a faint scent of orange blossom and something tantalizingly familiar. Leaning in, he closed his eyes and inhaled, lungs filling with the sweet scent of vanilla.

How unexpected.

Letty Fenley smelled like cake.

“Are you smelling my hair?” she asked.
He opened his eyes, disconcerted. “No. I’m not…smelling your hair”.

FYI guys, Grey is constantly smelling her hair.

Later in the novel:
Removing his gloves, he combed his fingers through her hair, still soft and–he leaned in—still smelling of cake.

And again here:
The more nonchalant he acted, the whiter the skin at his knuckles as he held on to the glass bottle stop. He sniffed the air. “Have you been eating cake?”

We have one of my favorite sub-tropes of the enemies-to-lovers analogy, one in which the hero is (not so) secretly in love with the heroine from ‘jump street’. While Grey might not recognize the emotion that he’s experiencing is love per se, we, as the reader, can see all the hallmarks of a man fighting a losing battle with his heart.

In regard to the heroine, I have the utmost respect for Letty, who for all intents and purposes, has the absolute right to tell Grey to shove his self-righteousness up his ass and refuse to work with him. While she won’t admit it, she loves the club and the very odd women that frequent its experimentation rooms. She suffers Grey and his sanctimonious view of her past with aplomb. Suddenly, she finds herself attracted to this frustratingly charming yet cold man. She fights against this attraction due to their very volatile history.

Grey steepled his long fingers, setting the tips to his mouth. This drew her attention to the cleft in his chin and, from there, downward, to where he’d loosened his cravat, revealing the column of his throat and a darkened hollow at the base. The sight woke a subtle awareness in her of his body and the narrow distance between them in the snug chamber.

We flashback to the confrontation between Grey and Letty which led to her ousting of London society. To say it was an explosive event is an understatement. I think a lot can be said about Everett’s storycrafting that she can redeem this hero as well she has in spite of the horrific things that are said about Letty in this exchange. To actively root for this man after, in essence, ruining her, is a wonder and Everett should be applauded for her character building.

The Con
Honestly, there’s not too much to dislike with this novel. If I had to choose something, I would say, I wish Letty’s climactic event had turned out differently, however, I think for storytelling purposes, it works well.

Te Bottom Bun (The Pro)
This book is gorgeously written. I could fill this page with quotes from the book. I won’t do that however, but I will provide some of my favorites.

Upon their first and then subsequent second kiss:

How could a gentle touch to the smallest part of her affect her entire body? The question fluttered through her mind. Perhaps a reaction of the nervous system to various stimuli…But the rest of the theory left her brain along with any other rational thought.

Once Letty and Grey make amends and she is forced to re-enter society:

“Look at me looking at you,” he repeated. “I am looking at a beautiful woman. A woman who inspires others, who is fiercely loyal, and who has a brilliant, stunning mind. Even though most of what people say goes over her head.” He paused. “Because she is ridiculously short”... “You have no reason to hide from them,” Grey declared. “You are brave, and you are good. Shine, Letty.”...”Let them see you shine”.

Lastly, if you aren’t already in love with Grey, here he is arguing against society’s archaic belief of virginal purity:

“We do not have the right to discount a woman’s worth - her intelligence, her bravery, her heart - simply because of the state of her hymen.”

Lord William Hughes, Viscount Greycliff can get it. Get it every day and twice on Sunday.

I recommended this book on our last podcast episode and stated that this might be one of my favorite new books of the last few years and that’s the absolute truth. You have strong male leads that support and protect women’s rights, which in itself is so damn sexy. The women in question are extremely self sufficient, intelligent, and know their worth. We even have transgender and same sex couples, who are treated with respect and normalcy and to which the hero supports and provides advocacy.

I can’t say enough about this gorgeous novel.

I love this series by Elizabeth Everett and if you haven't read book one yet, definitely go read it. Then pick this one up. I do think you lose a bit of the story if you jump right to this book. A lot happens in book one to set the stage for these characters and their path forward so if you choose to read only this book, just know you're not getting the full view.

Our main characters are Letty and Grey. They have a past history and while it doesn't come out right away, you know it isn't good. I really liked both of these characters. Letty is a smart woman but as a woman, the work she loves (math) isn't something she can easily be recognized for so she enters a competition for the prestigious Rosewood Prize for Mathematics and spends her days at Athena's Retreat practicing for her presentation. This just happens to be at the same time that she is asked to manage Athena's Retreat while her best friend steps away for a while.

At the same time, Grey has been asked to help Letty (which she feels she doesn't need) while trying to balance what needs to be done so he can accomplish his dream by becoming the director of the clandestine agency he works for. Unfortunately the timing couldn't be worse. When he faces some real decisions that impact the safety of the ladies within the Retreat and realizes he has had the wrong impression of Letty, he has to figure out what he wants more. The happiness of the ladies or his own.

I loved how the relationship changed for both Letty and Grey. They obviously have a past and when Grey realizes just how wrong he was, he doesn't even hesitate to change his view. With that said, he still has to figure out how to balance his feelings for Letty and those he has for his lifelong mentor.

If you're looking for a great series to pick up in historical romance, I highly recommend this book right along with book one. It has a great story and well developed characters who will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next.

Another reader on Goodreads, India Holton, summed up my feelings better than I could have: "Elizabeth Everett has once again created a fabulous story about a smart, brave woman and a man who develops the good sense to love her."

I am positively in LOVE with Letty! What an A+ woman. All of the ladies of Athena's Retreat are intelligent and outspoken but I so admire Letty for being as brave as she is. Her status as an outcast within society could have resulted in a quiet life at home, trying to be as quiet as possible - not taking charge of a secret science club for women in London.

Letty and Grey's dynamic was just perfect - they had great chemistry and brought out the best in each other. I do think the book had a bit of a slow start but once it hit it's stride I couldn't put it down!

According to the preview at the end, the next installment is about Grantham and I absolutely cannot wait! As much as I love the dark and brooding boys I definitely have a soft spot for the dandelion ray of sunshine guys.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced e-book!

A Perfect Equation is the second book in The Secret Scientists of London series. This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I would highly recommend reading the first book first (which is also just a fabulous read). I always get nervous when I read the second book in a series; there is this fear that it won’t live up to my expectations, and I will be so disappointed. I can happily say that A Perfect Equation lives up to every expectation I had for this book. Elizabeth not only manages to keep her readers entertained with an exciting and engaging story, but this book is also bursting with well-crafted characters that you can’t help but love. I once again found myself laughing at all the chaos at Athena’s Retreat, and I loved how Elizabeth was able to weave so much wit and passion throughout the dialogue in this book.

Letty is a wonderful heroine. She has this fierceness about her that just draws you to her. She is smart, and behind that tough exterior is a heart of a true romantic. I loved how Letty’s character had so many layers. I felt like I learned something new and unexpected about her with every page I read. I also thought it was adorably that she secretly reads romances and believes all heroines should always get the happy ending that they deserve. I wasn’t too sure if I would like Lord Grey; I thought his character would be predictable. But I couldn’t be more wrong; he is a fabulous character with so much depth and a perfect hero for this romance story. The scene where he took part in Willy and Milly’s experiment melted my heart. I think that was when I fell in love with him. The pure boyish joy he showed when things started to explode was just so heartwarming.

The secondary characters added so much richness to this story. I was so happy that Elizabeth gave more time to the women at Athena’s Retreat in this book. All these women are fun, quirky, and oh so smart. I don’t think I will ever get tired of spending time with them. Their passion is addictive, and it was so much fun watching them conduct their experiments.

My favourite scene in this book was the carriage ride with Letty, Grey, Sam (Letty’s brother), and Margaret. Grey, Sam, and Margaret all made fun of Letty because she reads cheesy romances. But after reading some of her romance book aloud during their carriage ride, Letty’s friends find themselves in a heated discussion about the book. Will the couple end up together? Who is the true hero and villain? I ate this scene up with so much glee and happiness.

I adored the relationship between Letty and Lord Grey. It has an enemy-to-lovers/ forced proximity feel to it. I loved the banter and dynamic between these two, there is just so bent-up tension between them, and you knew sparks would fly when they would finally get together. Besides the delicious spice in their relationship, there were also a lot of fun moments between these two. Lord Grey’s comments about how short Letty is or Letty’s comments about how “big” Grey’s head is, always had me smiling,

A Perfect Equation is an unapologetic feminist romance with plenty of wit, spice, and chemistry.

Thank you, Berkley Publishing Group, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A historical romance with scientist / feminist heroine? Going into this— insta yes. Coming out of it? Oof.

I struggled connecting with this. The writing was all over the place. The self-dedicating narration was enough to make me not enjoy it. How many times is it really necessary to make fun of the short MC? I feel like we missed the mark on empowering these women of science when they’re portrayed as terrible scientists. Also.. I appreciate the idea and the attempt at a diverse direction, but it feels like a token flop.

A Lady's Formula for Love was one of my favorite reads last year. I was on pins and needles waiting for the next installment in the series. I've read my ARC 4 times now. Letty and Greycliff have been living rent free in my head since October.... clamoring like a nest of magpies for me to let them know what impression they made.

Letty can stop wringing her hands and peering around corners and Greycliff may even crack a smile. I adored every single aspect of their story!

Greycliff reluctantly and reservedly steps in as the guardian of Athena's Retreat. Even though he wants to spend every single second soaking up the sparkle and flash of the beguiling, maddening woman who haunts his dreams. He doesn't approve of her reckless disregard for her reputation. He doesn't approve of her plotting, her scheming, or the way she seems to draw trouble like true north. But he can't stay away.

To her complete annoyance, Letti's every pore and sense of self preservation seem attuned to the inscrutable, enigmatic Greycliff. He's everywhere she doesn't want him to be- a temptation and a nuisance to ignore or avoid.

She won't ask for his support or approval or protection. He can't stop himself from giving it once he sees past all of her painstakingly erected defenses.

I loved loved loved this book.

Plot & Setting: 5 ⭐️
Character Development: 5 ⭐️
Banter: 5 ⭐️
Steam: 5 ⭐️

This was a fun, entertaining, well-written second book in the series, but it can totally be read as a stand-alone. I think the author is beginning to hit her stride because this book stayed more focused than the previous one. I would assume part of that is because the first book also had to set up the series, the characters, Athena’s Retreat, etc. as well as providing a sigh-worthy romance.

Lord William Hughes, the Viscount Greycliff, had epilepsy when he was a child and it led to a very unhappy childhood. His father was ashamed of him and hid him away in the country until his godfather, Earl Melton, rescued him. Of course, his godfather also raised him to be like himself – stark, unbending, detached. His life was filled with things he must avoid – emotions, exuberances, etc. because they brought on his seizures. At least that was his godfather’s interpretation. Grey has lived that way his entire life and he has made few real human connections – at least until a pint-sized termagant whirls into his life – again.

Miss Letitia Fenley, a brilliant mathematician, a loving sister and daughter, is unwelcome in polite society. She made a mistake in judgment six years ago and she’s still paying the price – as is her family. Her sisters who could have made advantageous marriages will be unable to do so now. Her family is very wealthy as the owners of Fenley’s Fantastic Fripperies, but that wealth won’t afford them entry into a society that has turned its back on them. The mistake – well, I won’t tell you in this review, but suffice it to say that the REAL truth of the matter was not revealed at the time it happened. Two members of Grey’s family know the truth – and the lies – but Grey only knows the lies that were told at the time.

Grey and Letty are forced to work together to run Athena’s Retreat while Lady Violet and her husband are in the country mourning the loss of their unborn child. They immediately butt heads because of their past history. Can they learn to work together for the good of Athena’s Retreat? It would appear that they cannot because they are coming at the problem from two different perspectives. For Letty, Athena’s Retreat is a balm for her soul – a place she needs as much as she needs air or water. For Grey, it is a means to an end – he wants to assure his ascension to the directorship of The Department. The Department is a secret non-governmental agency whose spies provide information to various and sundry individuals ‘for the good of the country’. When an unexpected challenger, Victor Armitage, seeks the directorship as well, it seems closing Athena’s Retreat is something that Grey just has to do – especially with the potential for violence from Armitage’s group, the Guardians of Domesticity. The Guardians are violently opposed to any kind of women’s suffrage.

I enjoyed watching Letty letting down her defenses – and watching her tear down Grey’s defenses as well. Grey has epiphany after epiphany before he finally realizes he has only been living half a life. There were some steamy scenes, some intense scenes, some amusing scenes, and a plethora of absolutely delightful secondary characters. I particularly enjoyed George Willis, Earl Grantham, and Margaret Gault who will be featured in the next book. Of course, I’m also pulling for Letty’s very sweet, loving brother – Sam – to get his HEA as well.

I hope you’ll read and enjoy this book as much as I did.

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

I felt so-so about the first installment of this series. The hero of the book just didn't do it for me. But this sophomore effort is much improved. The love interests have better chemistry and I like the characters for what they do, say, and how they act and not just because the author says I should like them or because other characters say I should I like them. This is a classic tale of enemies to lovers but there is an enjoyable read.

Review forthcoming on Smexy Books
Set in the early part of the Regency era in England, the Perfect Equation is a book that features a bluestocking heroine, a mathematician no less, as well as a bottled-up hero ready to be uncorked. The setting of the novel occurs against the noisy and disturbing backlash against women working and becoming educated.

Lord Greycliffe, or Grey, was my favorite part of this novel. He was raised in seclusion because of the epileptic fits he displayed as a child, and the efforts of self-control and even temperament that his godfather and mentor Earl Melton taught him have become an emotional straitjacket in his adult life. It is fascinating to watch him awaken throughout the book and re-evaluate both his method of living and his mentor. He is about to take over Melton’s role as head of the Department, a quasi-governmental agency that is somewhere between MI5 and the army, when he meets Leticia Fenley, a founding member of Athena’s Retreat, a secret women’s STEM haven.

Letty and Grey are put in charge of Athena Retreat while Letty’s best friend, the owner of the building, is in the country. Without giving anything away, they have conflicting purposes, which adds to the tension as the novel progresses. Just as Grey’s childhood has shaped who is, Letty is also constrained by a scandal that damaged her reputation six years before.

Elizabeth Everett does a great job depicting oily villain, Victor Armitage. He is the leader of the Guardians, the rabblerousing group trying to send women out of the workplace and back to the kitchen and the hearth. A bad, bad guy: I really wished harm upon the man.

The most disappointing part of the novel was the depictions of what went at Athena’s Retreat. Most of the science occurring there was depicted as silly, comical, or out of control. The explosions and damage made several of the women seem irresponsible. There were other moments, like when Letty is working through her equations, where the process reflects a more purposeful inquiry. I found it hard to believe that these women, who risked so much to pursue their science, would come off as so slapstick.