Elizabeth Everett continues her Secret Scientists of London series with a multi-layered, second-chance, friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance that had me wondering how in the world it would all work out in the end. There are more than a few obstacles standing in the way of this happily ever after, primarily Margaret's refusal to forgive George for leaving her when they were young.
If you enjoy STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) romances, this series is tailor made for you. Everett's women scientists are dedicated, determined, and ahead of their time, making life-changing discoveries. If only they weren't forced to do it in secret. Except for Margaret. Determined to open England's first woman-owned engineering firm, Margaret is challenging London's male-run business community head on. I'm sure you can imagine the challenges she faces in doing so. Everett doesn't make it easy for her lady scientists. While fully embracing the feminist qualities of these women, she doesn't back away from the difficulties created by their choices. It adds complexity and realism to these characters as well as the time in which they lived. It also adds layers to the relationship between Margaret and George.


May I just stay how much I adore George? This is a man who has loved one woman his entire life. Too bad he messed things up when they were young. Yes, his reasons were understandable but he broke young Margaret's heart and - no surprise - she's not exactly eager to forgive and forget. Still, I was in his corner cheering him on the entire way. He's just such a sweetheart and his yearning for his "Maggie" is so endearing. I love how he respects her engineering prowess, how he supports her even when her ambitions stand in the way of his, how he's determined to protect her at any cost. And, oh my, the personal secret he's been keeping and how Margaret handles it? Yes, please!

One of my favorite parts of this book is the bromance between George and Arthur (hero of book one, A Lady's Formula for Love). George's increasingly outrageous gifts for Arthur's and Violet's baby daughter, Arthur's responses to them, and the ways in which these two men "bond" the friendship neither is willing to openly acknowledge are both hilarious and endearing. More, please!

A Love by Design stands well on its own though for a better understanding of Everett's lady scientists and events that have brought them to this point, I suggest reading the books in order.

4.5 Stars
ARC received for fair and unbiased review

A Love By Design
By Elizabeth Everett

As mentioned in the first words I read when buying this book:
“You couldn’t design a better hero than the very eligible and extremely charming Earl Grantham. Unless, of course, you are Margaret Gault, who wants nothing to do with the man who broke her youthful heart.” I assumed this was going to be quite interesting!

Now that Margaret Gault, widowed and determined, has returned to Athena’s Retreat and the welcoming arms of her fellow secret scientists she was about to establish England’s first woman-owned engineering firm. However, from the moment she set foot in London her plans were threatened by not only by greedy investors but—at literally every turn— she came acoss the irritatingly attractive Earl Grantham, the man she could never forgive.
 
George Willis, aka Earl Grantham, is thrilled that the woman he has loved since childhood has returned to London. Not as thrilling, however, is her decision to undertake an engineering commission from which he didn’t want to be approved. When Margaret’s future and Grantham’s parliamentary reforms come into conflict, Grantham must use every ounce of charm he possesses—along with his stunning good looks and flawless physique, of course—to win Margaret over to his cause.
 
However, it seemed that no matter how hard he tried to not only dismantle Margrets project, but to try and rekindle the passion they once had for another in their youthful days. Will it happen? You have to read to find out!

Marilyn Rondeau

Everett delivers the goods with this smart, steamy, and delightfully madcap second-chance romance. In London, 1844, George Willis, the Earl Grantham, knows that getting married would enhance his reputation and help him pass an education reform bill that will benefit thousands of poverty-stricken children, but no one in London has caught his eye… until his childhood friend and teenage love Margaret Gault returns from France.

Widowed seven years, Margaret has come back to Athena’s Retreat—the secret haven of female scientists that masquerades publicly as a social club—to continue her work as an engineer. But Margaret’s new project in London requires her to cooperate with the Retreat’s arch-nemesis, and rekindling her relationship with George could further damage his reputation in Parliament—and threaten the success of his education bill—because no serious politician would ever do something so radical as marry an ambitious woman. But there’s no denying their attraction, and they must find a way to be together without losing everything else.

Everett skillfully creates high stakes for her characters without sacrificing the zaniness of the first two books in this series. Margaret faces the dilemmas of so many modern working women—balancing relationships with a career and not being taken seriously by the men in her field—while George flounders, trying to reconcile the sweet, charming man that he is with the ruthless politician society expects him to be, all the while trying to avoid both hedgehogs and a murderous gaggle of geese.

With its engaging plot, memorable characters, spicy love scenes, and a bromance for the ages, A Love by Design is one book no romance lover should miss. Highly recommended.

For libraries with strong regency romance readers, this is a great bridge between regency romances and more romantic historical fiction.

I absolutely swooned over this historical romance, and have become a huge fan of Elizabeth Everett’s writing and story telling.

I think I first knew I was going to love this book by the time I finished the Prologue. I mean who doesn’t love childhood friends to eventually lovers? Pair that with spice,feminist MCs, and critiques on society and you have a winner.

I think what I absolutely adored was the way Everett gave the reader a male hero who was seen as a Rake and made him a virgin. I mean the way that truth critiques so much of how society views men and masculinity!! I could write a whole paper on it and I loved it so much. Not to mention he was a male who championed for women in a setting that this was frowned upon. I truly fell in love with him, especially when he was causing havoc and mayhem in the Kneland household.

I was also living for the strong heroine, who while I didn’t always love the direction she took I could respect it. She was truly doing what she needed to do and then was willing to investigate when things went wrong. I honestly loved her so much, and rooted for her at every point. She was career focused and also learned that love wouldn’t impact that along the way. Plus she legit would not let any man make her bow to his demands even when staring down the barrel of a gun, and for that she will always be a favorite.

There are so many part of this book o enjoyed, in fact I enjoyed it so much I ordered the whole series so far after getting about 40% through. I could probably go on for awhile about everything I enjoyed but to sum it up quickly: spice, feminism, science, and romance. Oh and amazing writing.

Elizabeth Everett has crafted an absolutely delicious second chance romance with a Hero that everyone will fall in love with and a smart and independent Heroine. This novel was wonderfully delightful, deliciously sensual and heartwarmingly sweet. I am not one to typically love a second chance romance, but Everett definitely hit it out of the park for me. Her writing is witting and engaging, the pacing is well balanced, and her characters are intriguing and endearing. A Love by Design is the third installment in Everett's The Secret Scientists of London series, and it is a glorious addition to the series.

Margaret is a determined and ambitious woman, who is working to establish England's first woman-owned engineering firm. She is driven and smart and watching her negotiate the politics of the times is really interesting. Her dreams have made her independent after she was widowed so watching her grapple with her renewed feelings for George are tension filled and intriguing. George has only ever had eyes for Margaret and after she wed another he is left adrift, but now she is back in London and all he wants is to be close to her. George is such a sweet heart, he is quiet and awkward in moments, and he really grows to learn to speak his mind especially when it comes to his feelings for Margaret. These two must learn to work together and see things through the other's eyes in order to ultimately overcome the obstacles that lie before them.

While the politics and dreams of both characters are interesting, the true heart of this novel lies in their relationship and how their young love never truly died. For George, it has only ever been Margaret, so even though he might have the reputation of a rake, he definitely does not have the experience. There are lots of inner moments of reflection in this novel in which both characters don't always feel confident and ready to voice, but they are slowly learning to trust the other and open up to a deeper understanding. This novel is sexy and sensual, and it is really refreshing when the heroine can introduce the hero to a world of pleasure. These two have such wonderful chemistry that sparks when they are together and that tension only grows and grows until they are able to fully meet each other on equal ground.

Definitely pick up this novel, you will not be disappointed! A Love by Design can be read as a standalone and it will for sure make you interested in exploring other works by Elizabeth Everett!

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Many years ago, Margaret “Maggie” Strong and George Willis were in love with plans to marry, but on the day they were to elope, George broke Maggie’s heart and left for Canada without her. Heartbroken, Maggie left England for France and studied engineering under the tutelage of Henri Gault and later married his son, Marcel. Now a widow and back in London, Maggie and George meet again at Athena’s Retreat, which is run by their mutual friend Lady Violet. And while George wants nothing more than to mend fences with Maggie, the woman he never stopped loving, but sadly for him, Maggie wants nothing to do with him.

Maggie has a goal, she wants to open her own engineering firm and be completely independent. She tolerates George for Violet’s sake, but has no plans to remarry, and even if she did, she would never consider George – even if he is an Earl now. No, Maggie has big dreams and will do whatever is necessary to make a name for herself, even if that means keeping secrets from Violet. But clearly, she has underestimated George’s determination and her own betraying heart.

This is the final installment of the series and it does wrap things up rather neatly, but for me, the story wasn’t everything I was hoping for and I had a hard time liking Maggie. Heavy on technical facts that bored me to tears and caused the story to drag in places, and as a result, I skimmed quite a bit of the book, don’t get me wrong, the facts were interesting, but I was here for the romance, not a lecture on bridge and tunnel design. The book is not a light read, it is filled with betrayal, secrets, a bit of steam, forgiveness, compromise, and finally a HEA complete with an epilogue. Overall, I did enjoy the story, George alone makes this a book worth reading and I would recommend it, especially to readers who prefer more intellectual and progressive characters.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

If you are missing Bridgerton pick this series up. The latest installment was a great addition to the series.
Margaret returns to Athena’s retreat as a widow and a plan to create the first woman owned engineering firm. What she didn’t expect was to come face to face with her childhood love the Earl.
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I love Earl Grantham and these two were such a great pairing. I also loved that it started with the very first time they met each other as practically children but their love was always there, even when life stood in the way.
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There’s something about regency that is written with such romanticism and beautiful words, like this. “I breathe her and bleed her, and if you open me up, my heart is the shape of Margaret Gault. I have loved her from the moment she knocked me to the ground; a blow from which I have never tried to recover. Of course I love her.” SWOON!
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This was a fun one and I love the women in STEM aspect in this series!

Huge thank you to @berkleypub @berittalksbooks @thephdivabooks @dg_reads and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This series is simply delightful! A Love by Design continues the trend and I was so excited. First, the society of female scientist at Athena's Retreat. And now we also get Grantham's story! Theirs is a second chance story that started in childhood. He really values her brains and her determination in engineering. He wants to use his position as Earl to make it easier for women to study science and not have to move away to Paris like Margaret did. George's devotion to Margaret is so swoony!!!!

It's finally time for Earl Grantham to get his HEA with engineer/girl next door Margaret Gault who he's loved since childhood in this mid-life, enemies-to-lovers, role-reversed, second-chance romance (how's THAT for a trope description?!), but will old misunderstandings and Athena's Retreat drama keep them apart?

I found it so hard to get into this book. It really dragged for me. The chemistry between the two leads just wasn't there. Grantham and Arthur's frenemy-ship was a more fun relationship to read. I could only manage one or two chapters in a sitting. All the books in this series have been a struggle for me. I'm not really into the STEM/feminist subplots and Margaret was so unlikeable and mean to Grantham. I wanted to tell him he deserved better.

This was also a role-reversal flip from the usual historical romance characters. Grantham is the starry-eyed virgin and Margaret the experienced, hardened cynic. It was just too weird for me. Grantham being an awkward virgin is pretty unbelievable. Making him gay, would've been more believable.

I'll probably bow out of this series now. It's just not getting better for me.

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, however I had a hard time connecting with Margaret and George in A Love by Design. The storyline sounded really great, but unfortunately I found myself putting it down and not picking it back up. I got up to about 30%, but have decided to put the book aside for now. I hope to continue it again in the future.

Another phenomenal installment from Everett in this series — I think this is one that’s snuck up on me in terms of being a recent favorite, with characters I will always be happy to return to. I’ve been eagerly awaiting Margaret and George’s romance since the last book and this one did not disappoint. Childhood friends to almost lovers thwarted by circumstance, only to be reunited after Maggie has been widowed and manage to rekindle their emotions after some initial tensions. Also really enjoyed the twist on a dynamic where George is the one who’s revealed to be a virgin in spite of having something of a reputation of a ladies’ man — I will never not be weak for the “it was always meant to be you” trope. A somewhat overdramatic third act, but I can’t say I read this one with anything but a smile on my face. I’ll be curious to see whether there’s any more in this series or if it’ll spawn a spin-off, but either way, I’ll be here for future books.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so grateful to receive an early copy of A Love by Design from the Berkley team. And I am also a part of the blog tour for this book as well.

I just enjoy reading any historical romance read. But I truly enjoy reading about historical romance with stem women characters. It provides so much more depth to the story. Plus, it always has all the tropes.

A Love by Design is a slow burn historical romance book. I truly did not expect it, so it caught me by surprise in the beginning. But you will enjoy reading this slow burn historical read with a bit of second chance romance and a bit of friends-to lovers trope.

But back to this fabulous historical romance, it took me a bit of time to get into it. I got through it, and I truly enjoyed reading it. I just enjoy reading about the angst and the bitter feelings between old friends who were once close but not anymore, but they get to see each other again. It just builds up the romance between them. And it’s the definition of a second chance romance.

Margaret and George were childhood friends, running wild in the countryside and then fell in love. Margaret thought they had a future together but then George broke her heart. She went on to study engineering, moved to Paris and married while honing her skills.

Now a widow, Margaret’s back in London staying at Athena’s Retreat with the goal of starting her own engineering firm, the first woman owned in England. Her latest project, designing and building an underwater tunnel would go a long way to establishing her career, but when Margaret discovers the main investor is an enemy of Athena’s Retreat, a man set on keeping women down, she knows things will not be smooth sailing. I was on edge over the information coming out and wished she would’ve shared it once she found out.

George, now the Earl of Grantham, knew his decision to break things off with Margaret broke her heart and his, but if he didn’t Margaret wouldn’t have gone on to become the accomplished woman she is now. Now that she’s back in London he hopes to explain his actions and have a chance to win her heart again. He’s also working on making the title he inherited mean something by pushing through reforms that would make education accessible to all children, boys and girls and not just in the upper classes.

A Love by Design was another great installment in the Secret Scientists of London series. I do love a good second chance romance and Margaret and George’s was full of longing and passion. I enjoyed their relationships with all the ladies at the retreat and laughed over the shenanigans George pulled with Arthur, frustrating him with over-the-top gifts to baby Mirren.

The best of the series! I’ve absolutely adored Grantham since the first book, and he did not disappoint—and Margaret! An icon who deserves it all. I love the way Everett writes about women who want everything (a career and love, in Violet and Letty’s cases children, and a home life as well as business). Rather than having a deus ex machina in which everything turns out perfectly, her heroines have to make sacrifices, but end up happy nonetheless. Grantham and Margaret’s story was so tender and full of pining but also humor, I absolutely loved it.

I have enjoyed all the books in this series! I love all the brilliant minds at Athena's retreat.
This one is very different than the others besides the very smart successful woman. Margaret the FMC is in trade which has made her disrespectable in society.
Her childhood love is now a nobleman and their past isn't exactly what she thought. Love a good second chance romance especially with a handsome but constantly saying the wrong thing mmc. But we soon find out why. He's a sweetheart cinnamon roll with a reputation he may not deserve.
Loved the second chance romance!
Also like the other books those horrible patriarchal men's group are causing trouble again, being frustrating af. But we will see if they can continue their crusade. Gross lol. But in that time it wouldn't be realistic without them.

Thank you berkleyromance and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

A Love by Design is the third book in the Secret Scientists of London series, and I must preface this review by admitting that I haven’t actually read the first two books yet. Sure, it’s a bit chaotic of me to start with the third book, but romance series novels tend to work as standalones, so no harm done. I still found this one perfectly enjoyable, even when I knew the references to events in the previous books were going right over my head.

This is a second chance love story between Margaret and George. The love they shared as teenagers was cut short years ago, but have they actually forgotten it? As soon as Margaret is back in town, George is drawn to her. He hopes she’ll listen to him long enough for him to apologize for and explain his past actions… but he also hopes they can became friends again. Or maybe something more? Margaret is icy towards him at first, but given enough time she may thaw.

Much of this book focuses on Margaret’s work as an engineer. There were few women in this profession in 1844, and she faces a lot of sexism and barriers to entry, but Margaret is determined to prove just how talented she is. Indeed, she intends to open her own engineering firm for women. She signs on to accomplish the (nearly) impossible and build a tunnel under the Thames. But her work with this project is plagued by trouble from the start, and Margaret doesn’t know how to seek help.

For his part, George went from rags to riches and is now an Earl. He is working to overcome his bad reputation, in part so he has enough influence to do true good with his power and help those who are poor and disadvantaged. In his free time, he also drives Arthur and Violet up the wall with his increasingly lavish gifts for their baby daughter. This latter subplot is a bit silly for my taste, but it does keep the first book’s couple highly involved in this one.

Some of what I most enjoyed in A Love by Design are the themes of working women, especially in the sciences, and more especially in applied work in a man’s world. It’s interesting how Margaret must navigate tough working circumstances, and sometimes make compromises or sacrifices, in her efforts to further her career. There are also some LGBTQIA+ themes which I enjoyed, both in side characters and more centrally. And George’s mission to help people—in part because he himself came from so little—is one of my favorite aspects of his character.

The love story between George and Margaret is also cute. Most of their conflict centers on what happened in the past, but even after that is cleared up, there is still trust that needs to be rebuilt and is tested along the way. Even once they reach a point where they could want a romantic relationship again, their respective social standings and careers would pose significant complications. How can it all work out? These two are sweet together, and you’ll root for them to find a way forward. It may take an action-packed ending to get there, but in the end, I love the life they embark on.

A Love by Design is a sweet and smart book that’s equal parts romance and a story of a woman earning career success. It does get rather silly at times (presents! geese! hedgehogs!), and there is an unexpectedly thrilling final act, but the thoughtful themes and cute couple are what ultimately stand out the most. It’s a wonderful addition to the growing trove of “STEMinist” romances.

Now I just need to go back and read the first two in this series before the next one arrives!

Dear publishing companies: we need more romances with female engineers! We need more romances with love interests who will literally scale buildings for a moment with the person of their heart! I'm just all broken up about this book and its perfect details. The way it incorporates Victorian era historical context, feminism, a suspenseful plot, a second chance romance, and the biggest (funniest?) grand gesture is just excellent.

Margaret Gault has returned to England in the hopes of starting the first woman-owned engineering firm. She has a new contract for a project that will put her firm on the map, but it does have some iffy strings attached to it. It's a man's world, and Margaret is just trying to survive in it.

George Willis, the Earl of Grantham, has the sunshine-y, golden retriever kind of energy that parries perfectly with Margaret's prickly nature. He's trying to pass a major education bill, but first has to try to fix his reputation in order to garner support. The newspaper he owns gets involved, and the stakes are raised.

While a bit slow to start, I fell in love with this story. There is so much mutual pining throughout, and the way their interactions evolve over the book is just so sweet. This was a top-tier second chance romance!

I'm very excited to read the spin-off series placed in this same world. If you're looking for a completed trilogy, I definitely recommend this one!

Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy. I was more than happy to provide a review!

A Love by Design is a fun and smart romance about women who aren’t afraid to stand up for themselves. 

…Sigh…. This book is wonderful! I really cannot wait to gush about it to all of you. A Love by Design is the third book in The Secret Scientists of London series and can be read as a stand-alone. If you are a fan of STEM romance books, you should try this series. Elizabeth always creates female characters that blow me away with their brilliance. Half of the time, I have no idea what they are talking about (like most of the men in these books), but I know what they are talking about is important to them and society. Their passion leaps from the pages, and I can’t help but be excited for them. Maggie is a brilliant engineer, and I love watching her talk about her work and her hopes for her future. She is a more serious and reserved heroine than her predecessors in the series. She isn’t my favourite character, but I did like her. Maggie has built this wall around her heart, and it was wonderful watching as it slowly came down as she spent more time with George. I loved watching her navigate the world of men as she tried to set up her own business.  

This story is full of chaos and shenanigans, something I have come to expect from this series. But what surprised me was that it was men who were chaotic and pulling off the shenanigans. The bromance between Arthur and George just absolutely made my day. It was one of the things that I loved most about this book. These two men had the weirdest and funniest friendship. I just couldn’t get enough of them. In particular, I loved their awkward conversation about their feelings toward the women they love. Watching these two men try to be fierce and manly while also trying to get relationship advice from each other was hilarious. I was also so happy when I learned that all these men get together and talk about romance books. 

I am on a second-chance trope kick right now. I loved the chemistry between George and Maggie. There is a long and bumpy history between these two. Their relationship in this book faces many challenges, whether from society or from each other, or through misunderstandings. I really liked them, especially George. He appears as if he is this large, gruff man, but he isn’t. He often got tongue-tied, especially around Maggie, and I love how excited and happy he could get. He stole my heart. The relationship between George and Maggie is swoony, witty, and sweet. I thought Elizabeth did a great job at bringing these characters together, and I loved how they had to work for their relationship. Nothing came easy for these two.

A Love by Design is full of corsets and smouldering kisses. 

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

This third offering in the Secret Scientists Of London series.
Is, in a word...captivating.
Why?
Well.
There is the "lost love found" story of Gorgie and Maggie.
Who were as idealistic youths all set to run away together. She following him into his chosen career of military service. Or "following the drum," as a military wife. Until some harsh words and a fateful decision on his part changes the trajectory of both their lives forever.
Sending him into the service as planned.
But his lady love a world away to Paris, a marriage to another man, and a life as a respected engineer.



But now it seems that things have changed for these two most star-crossed of lovers.
As he is now Earl of Grantham.
And she is now the widow Gault.
Back in London determined to build her own engineering firm, and rebuild her life.
But it seems that the male dominated work place and society are a lot less ready for a woman engineer than she is to take both by storm.
But her completion of a secret and very daunting project could change everything. Or be the key to her forever ruination.
It's a good thing that she can rely on George and all the memories and longings that he inspires to destruction her when the going gets misogynistic.
Ahem...
Needless to say, this book will set any blue-stocking, feminist, woman forward reader's heart pitter pattering.
If for no other reason than the way that the social constraints and obstacles make the romance.
With George's dogged support being the cornerstone of Margaret's success.
And her achievements being the one thing assured to heal his heart.
Swoon...
This is a bit of a slow burn writing wise. But the story does find its feet quite well by the third chapter.
The romantic heat is a moderate one. Playing nicely with social commentary and character conflict. For a very mature and well rounded read on the whole.
It must be said that at the time of this review. I have not had the pleasure of reading the previous two books in the series. So all opinions are based solely on this story.

Working girls, reclaimed hearts, social change and romance.
Signed sealed and delivered with unmistakable flair and panache.
Yes please.
A Love By Design is and will always be the perfect fit.

Reviewer's Note:
This review is based on a copy of the above referenced work provided by Netgalley and Berkley.
All opinions expressed are my own