The Love Remedy is a heartwarming, delightful start to The Damsels of Discovery, a spin-off of The Secret Scientists of London. This one follows Lucy Peterson and Thorne—names that rang a bell from their fleeting mention in A Lady’s Formula for Love. Now they take center stage, and oh boy, do they earn it.

Lucy is running family apothecary after her parents death providing for her sister and brother who are hardly there to help her. heir family never turned away patients even though they cannot pay and Lucy is following that ethics set by her father which doesn’t leave any savings.

She had high hopes with her formula for lozenges and baby’s coup but she became victim of a man’s attention. Duncan Rider sang praises and promised a marriage for lozenges formula but he stole her work patented it and didn’t return his promise. And now her baby coup formula has gone missing. Exhausted, desperate, and furious, Lucy turns to Thorne agent at Tierney & Co., a discreet firm that handles matters outside the bounds of the law.

Thorne has his past that made him sworn off alcohol, love, anything excess and especially beautiful women to have better life for his daughter but when he meets Lucy, it’s a struggle for him to stay within his boundaries. It was interesting to see how staying in same building with Lucy and doing her bookkeeping work is going to help with that, how they are going to resist the attraction.

I loved Lucy from the beginning. She’s sweet, steady, and relentlessly hardworking. Even when her siblings contribute next to nothing (especially her brother and his string of failing business ventures), she powers on, all grace and grit.

I enjoyed reading about her life with her parents how her father supported her and her sister’s education and made them apprentices in his shop even though society disapprove of it. Leaving apothecary to Lucy than her brother itself shows how much he trusted her with the business. Reading how Duncan took advantage of her made me want to kill him too and for almost half of the book I had a feeling he had something to do with missing formula.

Given her past experience, I could understand why she would be reluctant to expect more from Thorne especially after she finds out who he really is. But she handles it all with cool-headed strength and grace. When the truth about the baby formula theft finally drops, I cheered for how she handled it.

Now, Thorne. Possibly the first romance hero I’ve read who’s described—honestly described—as ugly. His face is scarred, his scowl permanent, and his presence intimidating. But inside? Marshmallow. His devotion to his daughter is adorable, and he’s clearly a man trying to better himself. His backstory is heavy—abandonment, guilt, shame—but watching Lucy and her chaotic household chip away at his rigid, rule-following exterior was incredibly satisfying.

The side characters shine, too. The Peterson siblings may have driven me nuts with their communication issues, but their love runs deep. Mr. Gentry adds delightful comic relief with a surprisingly short but touching backstory. Sadie, Thorne’s daughter, is smart, sassy, and wildly perceptive—her interactions with both her dad and Lucy were some of my favorite moments. And Thorne’s father? Criminally underused. I’d have loved more a proper father-son heart-to-heart.

The romance is the ultimate slow burn, sizzling with chemistry and fueled by a delicious grumpy/sunshine dynamic. I loved how Lucy and Thorne balanced each other—she lightens him, he grounds her. Their relationship feels earned, not rushed. And while Thorne’s emotional breakthrough took its sweet time, his proposal at the end? Chef’s kiss. (Though let’s be honest—he really should’ve punched Duncan.)

What elevated this for me were the themes. Like Everett’s previous books, this story tackles class divides, societal expectations, and the suffocating limits placed on women in the Victorian era. From women’s access to education and medical knowledge, to the quiet rebellion of birth control in a time when even whispering the word “womb” was scandalous—this book doesn’t just romance you, it makes you think. And admire the hell out of these fictional women who fought for their place.

The fight between Lucy and Thorne in climax was sad—but necessary. It cracked Thorne wide open and forced the growth he needed. The mystery of the missing formula was a nice touch, with a twist I half saw coming, which made the reveal even more satisfying.

Overall, The Love Remedy is a warm, witty, emotionally intelligent historical romance. Perfect for fans of slow-burns, grumpy/sunshine pairings, and fierce heroines with big hearts and even bigger brains.

This steamy historical romance was a delightful surprise—definitely not what I was expecting, and in the best way. From the very beginning, I was hooked by the unique setting, compelling characters, and a plot that seamlessly weaves together mystery, science, faith, and romance.

Set in Victorian England, the story centers on Lucy, a rare and brilliant female apothecary who runs the struggling business her father left behind. But her financial troubles deepen when her formula for throat lozenges goes missing, depriving her of crucial income, and her newest creation—a remedy to help mothers soothe their babies’ croup—mysteriously disappears.

Desperate for answers, Lucy turns to a private investigation firm operating under the guise of a bookkeeping service, where she meets Jonathan Thorne. Once a renowned prizefighter, Thorne is now a hardened but honorable investigator, scarred both physically and emotionally. He’s also a single father, raising his late lover’s biracial daughter. Thorne and Lucy are fire together—their chemistry leaps off the page, with tension and desire that build deliciously throughout the novel.

Beyond the romance, the book explores rich themes like feminism, science, and faith. There's a strong Christian element present throughout—so much so that it almost borders on Christian fiction—though the presence of explicit sex scenes and a pro-choice storyline add complexity and depth that may not appeal to all readers of that genre.

Overall, this is a smart, sexy, and surprisingly thought-provoking read. I loved how it blended elements of mystery and romance with deeper social themes. I’m definitely looking forward to diving into the second book in the series!

“Our hearts don’t care about someone else’s rules. Love happens where it will.”

Despite this book taking place in London 1843, there are a lot of parallels (too many) to living in America right now. These 2 quotes in particular…

“Yes. Victor Armitage believes women should stay in the home and that foreigners are to blame for the high price of corn.”

“A group of men who can’t bear to see women in power are always a threat,” Violet said.

Although fictional, I always find hope in reading about strong FMC’s who fight patriarchy and for a better world. In this case, Lucy and her sister Violet, support women by providing health care and medicine to give them autonomy over their bodies. It is clear how the author feels regarding reproductive rights, which is made crystal clear in the author’s note. Read it.

I enjoyed the romance. Lucy employs Thorne to help figure out who stole her croup salve. He ends up living above their apothecary store with his 9-year-old daughter Sadie. This book had so many quiet domestic moments of them eating together, Lucy spending time with Sadie, and it was so sweet. Lucy and her sister teach Sadie to want more for herself than being a homemaker. They introduced her to science!

As a mom to 2 girls around Sadie’s age, Lucy’s experience with Sadie was entirely too relatable..
“Lucy had yet to speak, as she learned that one did not have to talk to nine-year-olds, they did the talking for you. Sadie spoke as though the words poured directly from her brain out of her mouth.”

Thorne had a rough patch for me towards the end of the book. His main conflict with Lucy and internally was to “reconcile what the church and society had taught him about women’s choices, and the very real gap between those expectations and reality?” His initial opinion made sense due to some of the things he had experienced, but it still sucked. I only want supportive and progressive men and his focus on finding a ‘godly” woman became annoying. I am glad he evolved because I think his new perspective is more in line with the man who became a single father and left wealth behind to take care of his biracial daughter.

Things I loved:
•The lovable and quirky cast of supporting characters (Mr. Gentry in particular)
•Found family trope
•Sadie’s dinner party (SO CUTE)
•Lots of consent
•Reproductive rights = human rights
•The author’s note- read it

The next book in this series, The Lady Sparks A Flame, is releasing on 3/25 and I can’t wait to dive into Violet’s story. Thank you to Berkley for the eArc- I am so sorry it took me so long to get to this one.

I adore Elizabeth and this book. I have had the hardest time reviewing this book because screaming into the ether how great it is does not seem to count as a review. Alas, that's all I've got. Elizabeth tackles real social issues that are relevant even today, sadly, while also weaving in romance, wit, spice, and humor.

I’m not one to DNF books, especially ARCs. But this book just wasn’t it for me. The cover and the blurb were beautiful and interesting, so I’m disappointed that the actual story couldn’t keep my interest. The characters and their dialogue felt flat and boring to me, and because of that, I couldn’t care to finish.

Chemist heroine in a historical romance novel?

Just stop there and I’m already hooked.

Here’s the quick of it all:

Lucy runs a kickass apothecary and makes cures and runs the show. Her ex (a piece of work) steals her formula and makes a fortune and then takes another. Enter Thorne: man to solve the problem hired by Lucy. He moves in with his daughter and bam! Chemistry of another type.

This is not a fast burn book. It felt very similar to the first book in Everette’s first series, A Lady’s Formula for Love.

But I loved the little details and softness woven through the book. There are a lot of things that happen to women in this book and it ain’t great. But there a little slivers of hope sprinkled throughout.

Also the scenes when you get to them 🥵🥵🥵🥵. Excellent. I’ll keep the rest to myself.

Sure do I wish some of the characters got their comeuppance? Yes. But that’s not how the world works and I’m okay with it in fiction too.

Highly recommend if you have loved Everette’s work before. Also great for the Evie Dunmore lovers out there.

A unique historical with endearing characters. The Love Remedy does a beautiful job of balancing mystery and romance.

With historical romance not being my go to, I've been wanting to give Elizabeth Everett a try for the longest time. And I was able to snag this read off of Netgalley. HR has been notoriously tough for me to get into and this one started off about the same, but the more I kept going, I was fully immersed into their story.

I'll definitely be keeping a lookout for book two from this series! And hoping to keep my stride going with historical romances.

Lucinda Peterson has worked herself to exhaustion to make the London apothecary her father left her a success and to provide for herself and her siblings. Two years ago, a rival apothecary—and former lover—stole Lucy’s formula for throat lozenges before she could patent it. Now, in 1843, her formula for a salve to soothe babies’ croup has gone missing, and Lucy’s certain her ex-lover is the culprit once more.

Jonathan Thorne, a former prizefighter, now works for an agency that helps the palace cover up royal indiscretions and sometimes assists civilians who have been wronged. Hired by Lucy to recover her missing formula, Thorne poses as the apothecary’s new bookkeeper, and he and his nine-year-old daughter, Sadie, move into an apartment above the apothecary.

The sparks between Lucy and Thorne are immediate and intense, but they both hold back. Lucy fears being duped by another man, while Thorne has never forgiven himself for not saving Sadie’s mother from an early death. But as Thorne works to uncover the thief, he and Lucy are irresistibly drawn together, and they must challenge themselves to heal.

Once again, Everett mixes romance with sharp insights into women’s lives in Victorian England—as well as today. She pulls no punches highlighting the unequal treatment of women throughout history, particularly as it relates to healthcare access, freedom of choice regarding one’s own life, and safety. Readers of Everett’s previous series, Secret Scientists of London, will cheer to see cameo appearances from familiar characters while being treated to a colorful and often amusing cast of new ones. Dealing unflinchingly with birth control, abortion, and sexual assault—as well as containing some of Everett’s steamiest bedroom scenes yet—this book is not for the squeamish, but it’s sure to win Everett a legion of new fans.

I really enjoyed this book, and it actually made me go back and find other books by this author, which is a good sign. The incorporation of a single father as the love interest AND a female apothecary taking on the world was a breath of fresh air in the genre. This was such a good blend of cozy mystery and romance.

This book took a minute to really get into (I would say almost 50% in, I got hooked into the story). I liked the plot & character development and the conflict each character had to face. It was a good historical fiction/romance and I ultimately liked the ending where views were changed, people grew (except Duncan) and lives were better for it. Sometimes things you think are true, are not what them seem.

an absolutely sensational book that i think everyone needs to read. it's beautifully written and doesn't shy away from difficult topics

I wanted to love this story SO much.. based solely on the Victorian timeline and women in STEM, as a woman named Lucy who works at an apothecary tries to get her stolen formula.

It was just too slow moving, and the characters felt flat, making it hard to connect to the story.

*many thanks to Berkley Pub, PRH audio, and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

First, I love this cover. Second, I love a mystery/romance blend! Strong-willed apothecary Lucy and grumpy private detective Jonathan were an intriguing match, although I do think that Jonathan was a bit too judgy at times. However, that's my opinion as a woman who doesn't live in the Victorian era. Lucy is determined, ambitious, and willing to do what is needed to help others.

Elizabeth Everett has such a vivid writing style that I was immediately transported to Victorian London as soon as I fell into this book. Lucy and Thorne have a wonderful relationship that truly allows the reader to encounter the a world of less gender equality than our own and highlight how special their relationship is because of that. There was a bit of biting my tongue and swallowing my objections to the way events and Lucy's story was presented, but this is not anything the author did wrong. Again, this is a reaction to the world that Lucy lives in, a world she was created by, and a world that is so different from our own. This is vital aspect of the novel and a key point for the reader to consider. There is are some non-Victorian era aspects to please the modern reader like the spicy scenes and the conflict at the heart of the book.

In a sentence a beautifully written, well researched, and delightful book!

The Love Remedy by Elizabeth Everett is an engaging historical romance that blends elements of mystery and women's empowerment within a Victorian setting. The story follows Lucinda Peterson, an apothecary owner who hires a stoic private investigator, Jonathan Thorne, to uncover the theft of her crucial croup formula, leading to an intriguing mix of romance and family dynamics. While the pacing starts slow, the chemistry between Lucinda and Jonathan builds nicely, showcasing themes of trust and resilience amidst societal challenges. Overall, this book marks a promising start to the Damsels of Discovery series, filled with humor and heartfelt moments.

I wanted to love this novel as many have shared great things about Elizabeth Everett. However; I had a hard time connecting to the characters and couldn't make the emotional thread needed to continue reading. I ended up "not finishing at the 20% mark but hope to try another by this author in the future!

I always feel bad about dnfing an arc but when you're at 40% and feel no connection to the plot or characters it's like, eh, there are too many good books to read to dwell on this one.

3.5 Stars — I really enjoyed this steamy historical romance. Sometimes I want shimmering ball gowns and courting, other times I want less glitter in my historical romances. I am a sucker for apothecary settings. I find apothecary stories usually have grit, nerdy science; and something about them feel a bit magical. One of my fave historical romances is The Apothecary’s Daughter by Julie Klassen. Now this is a very different type of romance. 🌶️ 🌶️

They both share strong, intelligent women as the protagonists. Lucy is impressive in her skills but this is a time when she is completely burnt out and feeling alone in running her family’s apothecary. It was nice to follow a story about two people really stuck in their life. Thorne is constricted by all these societal and personal rules and limits he’s imposed on himself for fear of the past. Lucy is stuck financially and eaten up with anger and guilt. As they work together and get to each other, they open each other’s eyes to the possibility that there are alternate ways to feel and live. Following or breaking rules doesn’t make someone a good or bad person.

The sexual chemistry between them is present from their first meeting. They are immediately drawn to the other, which I didn’t love. Thorne is a private person so things felt extra rushed. I needed more vulnerable moments between the two. However, the romance and emotional connection eventually catches up. In the end, I was happy with how the book ends.

Sadie was such a sweet character. I loved when she was on page with her cheerfulness and geekiness over animals. Mr. Gentry was hilarious and too real. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for David and Juliet. They both felt pretty one note to me as they just weren’t on page enough. We barely get any real moments between the siblings. They had good intentions and love for Lucy but they knowingly left her to bear the emotional toll by herself. I’m still salty about that. Lol.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. The romance isn’t perfect but I enjoyed our unconventional lovers. The steamy scenes were pretty good too. 😄

Another great historical romance from Elizabeth Everett! I love how powerful her female characters are and how they fight against the gender norms of the time. I really enjoyed Lucy, and how well her anxiety was shown. Also, Thorne was a great hero who never wanted to change her and was happy to support her. I can't wait to see where this series goes!



Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.