🃏🃏🃏🃏/5

I really really wanted to like this book more than I did, but sadly it fell a little flat for me at times.

I’m not a huge card player in general, but I absolutely couldn’t get into the side story of the gambling hall and the ladies, mostly Jane, trying to form their own club. I supported it, mostly from the standpoint of I believe everyone should follow their heart and do what they love, especially for women in historical fiction stories. But I just got bored during those scenes majority of the time. So that part of the story just wasn’t for me.

As far as Eli goes, I felt like he could’ve been a bit more in depth. We knew he was hiding this “secret” the whole story. But by the time it was revealed near the end it felt anticlimactic. Like all this time THAT was his secret? I respected his devotion to why he was keeping it a secret, but the lead up to it lead me to believe it was something bigger than what it was.

I liked the moments between Jane and Eli though. Their chemistry was visible and I loved the spicy little moments of the book. I liked that both characters were confident in what they wanted, but also they were learning things together. It really showed how much they trusted and loved each other.

I loved Della as a side character. I hope to see more of her someday, because I feel like her story would be fun with how much she had me laughing about because she’s so blunt, practical, and just takes no nonsense. Cecily irritated me, naturally as she was supposed to. But I felt like the moment they tried to connect and have a heart to heart, it just didn’t work on her end and she still seemed like the same shallow person she was from the beginning. But the Uncle Bertie storyline? My heart swelled! I’m so glad he got his HEA also with the “Lindens” (IYKYK).

Overall, this was an enjoyable historical fiction story with lots of depth and dialogue and lots of different things happening all at once. And if that’s your jam, this book is for you!

I enjoyed this book. The pace was a bit slow in a couple of places, but overall I liked the pace of the story. I was expecting something more scandalous about Eli’s time away, but I think that’s because I’m used to fantasy romance books with high stakes. This was a nice break from those kinds of stories and allowed my heart rate to slow down for a couple of days. 😄 I like that Jane stood her ground when it came to her independence and her dream. I enjoyed the relationship between Eli and Jane, and how that developed throughout the book. It was a good, low stakes read with just the right amount of intrigue and spice!

I really enjoyed this one! It’s a second-chance historical romance with just the right mix of angst and tenderness. The main couple has a complicated past, and watching them slowly find their way back to each other was so satisfying. I was totally hooked by their chemistry and all the little emotional moments.

The writing is easy to get into, and the setting felt immersive without being too heavy on the historical details. There’s a bit of mystery woven in too, which kept things interesting. If you like romances where the characters have real history and lots of emotional depth, I think you’ll love this.

If I loved this book less, I could talk about it more. Give me all the Delacour historical romance novels...my soul and my TBR demand it!

hanks to @sourcebookscasa I was able to read an eARC of @fayedelacour upcoming book, A Lady’s Guide to London, pubbing April 15, 2025

It’s the second in the Lucky Ladies of London series, and focuses on Della, who owns and operates a gambling hell for ladies with her bestie, Jane, the FMC in The Lady He Lost.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved how unexpected it was wrt having a MMC who is married - but long separated - and is definitely on the fringes of “polite” society, as well as a FMC who has her own business, and seeks to live life on her own terms.

The I bring was, IMO, perfect for the two MCs. It’s a messy conclusion but one that makes sense for them.

There’s some side characters we spend time with and whom I hope get their own stories! I will definitely be reading more books by Faye as she continues her publishing career!

If you like the vibes of Lindsay Lovise’s Never Gamble Your Heart, Laura Lee Guhrke’s Lady Scandal or Amalie Howard’s The Worst Duke in London, then I suggest you add A Lady’s Guide to your TBR.

the set up was good and the two leads had a good foundation but the story itself just didn't keep me engaged or invested

Persuasion-esque perfection! I fell for this swoony love story and enjoyed how much time the characters spent together on page

THIS BOOK. I need more of this book injected into my body, stat. I wish I could explain it. I loved it. I'm not usually a historical reader, so I didn't know what to expect, but I thought it was a great intro into the genre.

This was a fun, quick read that I really enjoyed. It was a good historical romance. I was pleasantly surprised that this book changed things up in not making the MMC a rake, but rather having the FMC make the first moves. He showed vulnerability and was a perfect gentleman until she was more forward with him and then he yearned for her. Loved that part! I will definitely read more from this author.

This is a book for the Colin and Penelope fans. I thought it was a really well done friends to lovers / second chance romance, which was the perfect way to get through the break between Bridgerton episodes.

There was a really lovely mutual respect between the two main characters, and while there were definitely moments of physical chemistry, it wasn’t the main focus of the book. Jane and Eli really considered what the other wanted out of life and how they could compromise to make it happen. I LOVED the fact that they would entertain the idea that Jane would be the one to provide for their family with her business, rather than Eli and his naval career.

Another interesting element was Jane’s uncle. I haven’t read much historical fiction which includes queer characters, and I thought his inclusion, was done well.

Packed with top-tier tropes - a MMC lost at sea and inconveniently back from the dead?! YES PLEASE. An FMC who wants nothing to do with him after his engagement to her awful cousin? DOUBLE YES PLEASE. This book was a delight.

Missing guy presumed dead?!?! Back once again?!?! Card games??!?! Banter?? Say less!!! I loved this one and couldnt believe I hadn't heard anything about it before reading!! A pitch perfect historical romance!

Late to the is book but better late than never. Stayed up all night reading it. You need this one. I wasn’t sure of the premise at first but got on board quickly and it became an instant favorite.

Staunchly independent female main character, Jane, is determined to start a gaming club for women. She is a genius with cards and can figure out the odds in favor of the house. She wants to be independent so she can get out of her uncle's house. Both her parents died when she was young and she went to live with her uncle. She doesn’t really want to get married because her heart has already been crushed once and she is afraid of putting her feelings out there again. Eli Williams is a lieutenant in the Navy who was thought to be dead after a shipwreck. His family spent his savings and his fiancee went on to marry someone else. Unfortunately, his fiancee had been Cecily, Jane’s cousin. Jane and Eli grew up together and were in love with each other. Part of the mystery of the story is why Cecily was engaged to him instead of Jane. Eli tries to make things right with Jane, but it took her a long time to get over his heartbreak and then his supposed death.

Jane mourned in private for a long time and kept her secrets from her family. As she allows Eli to talk to her (she is not totally over his betrayal) she starts to figure out holes in Eli’s story and parts of why he was gone for so long don’t make sense. As he tries to reestablish his life in England, he wants more than friendship from Jane. He also has his Navy career to worry about as he is called in for an inquiry investigation. Eli starts to help Jane with her gaming club and understands why she wants her own money. Readers will root for Jane as she tries to protect herself and Eli as he tries to undo some of the hurt he's inflicted. This book is a fun fast read. It was recently published in April and would make a great addition to your happily ever after pile.


Second chance romance
Angsty
Unrequited love
Miscommunication
Spicy sex
Sizzling chemistry

A perfectly heart wrenching and wholesome book! I especially loved the ending, and all the scenes where the MCs rekindled their friendship (/love).

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

This was a lovely debut by a new author. Jane was in love with Eli but he was engaged to her cousin. After he was presumed dead in a shipwreck, Jane realizes she needs to move on with her life and stop pining over someone that wasn't even hers to pine over. And move on with her life she does, as she starts a ladies' gambling club to help her gain more financial independence. When Eli suddenly reappears, Jane doesn't trust him. He broke her heart by choosing his cousin and he's obviously keeping secrets now about his disappearance. But her traitorous heart is weak and as Eli works hard to rebuild her trust in him, the walls she has built begin to crumble and she can no longer deny her feelings.
The plot was interesting and the characters worked well together but the only drawback I was I felt that there were some parts that seemed a bit slow. I do think this was a good debut novel and the author has definitely caught my interest. I will be looking forward to reading what comes next!
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Really interesting debut historical romance. The best part for me was how much the hero had to grovel to win over the heroine - he really worked for it! Didn't love the heroine's competition with her cousin, but that's a personal issue. As always, all the bonus points for virgin hero.

I really like the cover, so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, it took me forever to read it. I guess it’s not my type of book, I needed something more exciting.

This has so many elements I really love! Second chance after a long time, he’s been gone so long everyone assumed he was dead, she’s a feisty gambling club owner, he’s head over hills for her… I could go on and on! Faye Delacour weaves all these separate strings into a beautiful tapestry of a book.
The book jacket recommends this for fans of Evie Dunmore and I highly agree! It reminded me a lot of her books.

Star Rating: 3.25/5
Tropes: Second chance romance, ladies gambling club owner, hero assumed dead

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is historical romance, which centers on Eli returning to society after brigh thought to have died. He’s dealing with things that have happened while he’s been gone, but wants to reconnect with Jane who still hasn’t forgiven him for choosing to be engaged to her cousin in the past I really love the story of Jane trying to make a ladies gambling hall and Eli not giving up on her while trying to help her business. This book is full of emotions and the story is captuvating.