Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an early audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Jane Bishop is a young woman in Regency England. She's an orphan, unmarried and trying to build a business to support herself with a ladies gambling club. Her heart was broken years ago when Eli got engaged to Jane's cousin and then he got lost at sea while in the Navy. Eli shows up with an air of mystery.

I enjoyed the historical aspects of the book while being very frustrated at the same time. Geez women had such little agency over their own lives. Family fortunes went with the males.

Blythe Fortune did a great job narrating.

Presumed dead for two years, Eli resurfaces in the midst of London’s social season. Jane, whose heart he broke before going to the sea, refuses to pine over him. She’s focused on establishing a ladies’ gambling club to gain financial independence. When he faces suspicion of desertion, she must decide whether to embrace a future with him—or risk losing him forever.

This book hooked me from the beginning. There’s a high level of romantic tension and a strong plot. Jane and Eli are complex and relatable characters who have a lot to overcome so they can be together. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This thoroughly engaging Regency-era romance gives us well-rounded, sensible yet passionate lead characters. Jane is an intelligent, unattahced woman making a backup plan for herself when it becomes obvious that marriage isn't an immediate possibility. Talented at math, particularly the ability to use probability to win money from card games in the floating gambling club that she secretly operates. Her gorwing nest egg will, she hopes support her in spinsterhood. Marrying for love -- though she realizes that almost no one in the upper classes does it -- would make her happy, but she has only loved one man, Eli. Unfortunately, her socially aggressive cousin C. put herselfin Eli's way, obstructing Jane.
Eli, a childhood friend that vanished at sea and was presumed dead, shocks his family and their social circles with his sudden return from the dead. He offers a vague explanation involving pirates, months at sea, and escape.
Tongues wag, acquaintances ask nosy questions, but Eli will not elaborate. Jane and Eli carefully rebuild their friendship, but both have matured emotionally and their rekindled friendship gains a romantic dimension. Cousin C. is now happily married to a titled gentleman, but she wastes no time in reminding Jane how close she once was to Eli, and flirts in ways that indicate she would like to be close again. Considering the reality of infidenlity by both husbands and wives during the Regency era, Jane is perhaps right to be worried. But this fast-paced story includes twists that perfectly suit the personalities, fears, social climbing, and emotional depth of the characters. The simmering attraction between Jane and Eli begins to express itself . This happens in gracefully written moments that are sensual and realistic. There's a subtle awareness of the larger world beyond the moneyed class, though most of the action takes place within a closed and wealthy world. The author balances all of this well. As a Librarian, I recommend this enjoyable, satisfying novel to fans of Mary Balogh and Carla Kelly's early Regencies, as well as younger fans of other talented authors writing in the genre such as Stacy Reid, Eva Leigh, Tessa Dare, and Maya Rodale.

4.5 stars!

Jane and Eli are so endearing in this story, their love was so pure and sweet. And to think an ANNOYING cousin caused so much grief. Cecily is the most annoying character! Urgh! So good job Faye Delacour for writing such a dislikable character! 😂😅

I also wanted to add, the narrator did a great job! And great annoying voice for Cecily! 😅😂 it added the hate for that woman.

My favourite scene was the picnic and they were caught up in the rain and their first kiss 💋💋💋. There were also some well written spicy scenes too! 🔥🔥

This book kept me listening and listening and i didnt want to stop! So I went on a 10km walk and cleaned the house so I could multitask and listen! 😅

If you love historical romance definitely give this one a listen!

𝗧𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝗲𝘀:
❤️ Second Chance
❤️Friend to enemies to lovers
❤️Independent FMC
❤️Cinnamon Roll MMC
❤️Secrets

I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Please note that this review refers to the audiobook version of The Lady He Lost. I emphasize this point because I believe some of my misgivings were exacerbated by the narration. Jane Bishop is struggling to create financial and social independence at a time when women were still supposed to devote all their energies to marrying and producing children. She is initially presented as gifted in math and business. The man she thought she loved (Eli Williams) had ended up first engaged to her cousin and then lost at sea in the navy. (Spoiler alert: he returns.) The plot had much to offer as it hopscotched around Jane’s doubts and insecurities, her cousin’s machinations, Eli’s inadequate explanation of his whereabouts, and two lovers exploring their sexual awakening. The details and delivery, however, were very uneven, as Jane, in particular, was at times presented as a skilled savant and at other times as a silly ninny – something the narrator’s exceedingly childish delivery for the female characters made so much worse. (I felt guilty while listening with thoughts of how much better the dialog and plot details would have been handled by a writer such as Stephanie Laurens.) The sex scenes were well written and creative, but the words and actions chosen seemed out of sync with the characters’ other customary behaviors and experiences. And finally, shouldn’t the title have been “The Man (Sailor? Rake? Hero?) SHE Lost” since he was the one who was missing for more than two years?! I'm giving this title four stars, but that is a generous round-up from 3.

4.5 stars. Two years after having been declared dead by the Navy, Eli Williams suddenly returns home expecting to return to his live only to learn that his fiancee has married another and his family has spent his wealth. He hopes to regain his connection with his former friend, Jane Bishop, but she is focused on opening a gaming club for women and is hesitant to trust him again after Eli chose her cousin over her. Jane does not want Eli to mess up her plans for her future but each time they are forced together by friends and family is a reminder of their mutual attraction that neither can control. Secret kisses lead to secret steamier encounters, but with Eli facing possible court marshal for his disappearance there are questions about what a future for the two could look like.

I was first drawn to this book by the gorgeous clinch cover and the content did not disappoint. I can’t express how great it was to have a debut historical romance from an author who understands how to pace a romance. Every scene moved the story forward and focused (even indirectly) on the relationship between Eli and Jane. It was also a nice change to have a historical romance set not amongst the aristocracy as it changed the stakes. The book gives strong Persuasion vibes, which I absolutely loved. The only thing keeping this book from being a full 5 star book for me is that Eli’s character was keeping a secret even while we were in his POV, which is just frustrating, especially where it was such an anticlimactic secret. That being said, I could feel the tension between Eli and Jane and the attraction was definitely there. I am excited to see where this series goes.

I listened to most of the book and really enjoyed the performance by Blythe Fortune. The characters came to life and I found myself looking for more activities to do while listening rather than switching to the eBook which would have gotten me through the book faster. I will have to keep my eye out for other books read by Blythe.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

It had been a long time since I read a historical romance and this book reminded me why I love this genre so much! Jane and Eli's story has a very different premise, fun, romantic and sexy! I loved the fact that women's place in society was addressed with a hopeful tone. Jane is an imperfect protagonist, but very special and relatable. Eli is a guy full of flaws but so irresistible! I loved the romantic scenes. not at all vulgar and a bit... naive in a way. Anyway, I recommend it!

I actually had a difficult time getting into this book. The narrator's (Blythe Fortune) reading style and the introduction to the characters both weren't really working for me. I pushed through and the book did grab my attention in the middle once the leads started interacting more with one another. But then the end felt very rushed, so the pacing was just kind of off throughout. I wouldn't discourage someone from reading it, but I also probably wouldn't recommend it.

Things I did like: Jane's ambition to try to start a gaming club with her best friend and take her future into her own hands. The male lead did not have a ton of sexual experience, which is pretty rare in historical romances.

While there are potential improvements I think the book is decent. And since Faye Delacour is a debut author I will probably give her another shot down the line.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC.

This, quite possibly, is my new favorite historical romance. The pining, the slow burn, the secret forbidden moments, just everything combined made for such a wonderful and quick read.

The chemistry between Jane and Eli was done really well. I think the dual POV was a good choice, the only thing that would have made this better would have been a dual timeline *chefs kiss*.

The supporting characters were written well, it would be interesting to see some other HEA's for them.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical romance, such a fun quick read!

This was a pretty quick read for me - it started off super strong and I really liked the premise! I think as the book went on, I got increasingly annoyed with Jane for her hot-and-cold demeanor in regards to the relationship with Eli.

I liked Jane's friend a lot and I hope the next book is about her! I really hated Jane's cousin and I hated that I hate her if that makes sense - I really hate the "other woman" trope and just found the cousin to be irredeemable, I actually would have liked to see her about face.

There's really not a whole lot of plot in this book until pretty close to the end, which doesn't always bother me but I don't know that it worked particularly well here.

I liked the narration done by Blythe Fortune for the most part, though I did think some of her choices for the dialogue narration were a bit grating...particularly with Jane's cousin which made sense because we're not supposed to like her, but didn't make for a particularly pleasant reading experience.

I still enjoyed and will read the next book in the series! I think this is a pretty good debut and the author will continue to grow.

Thank you to Dreamscapes Media for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily

The Lady He Lost by Faye Delacour and narrated by Blythe Fortune is a fantastic debut that makes for an entertaining audiobook

Firstly, Cecily is a complete mare. Oh I really did not like her! Very well written as she was very easy to despise

Blythe Fortune is a wonderful narrator and played the cast beautifully! Very well performed from confusion to humour from the narrative to dialogue, absolutely outstanding!

Jane has been orphened (parents died of Typhus) and so she lives with her uncle who is actively trying to marry her off to secure her future. However, Jane has set up a Ladies Gambling Club. Jane is also nursing a broken heart. The man she loved, Eli, was lost when his ship was wrecked off the coast of Greece, well, that and the fact he proposed to her cousin Cecily (boo hisss) before he departed

Eli however, was not lost. Eli returns to his family, desperate to reconcile with Jane. He cannot tell the truth about his indiscretion with Cecily as that will compromise her reputation (blooming heck, compromise the sow!) however, he also has a trial to endure following accusations of desertion from his post. How will the two reconcile and will he be exonerated from the accusations?

I always like a period piece when the FMC is taking control of her independance and defies the usual social conventions of their time. This is surprisingly a debut novel and is so well written and performed that it can easily be converted into a screenplay (although I always prefer the book/audiobook!)

I am really looking forward to seeing how Faye DeLacour builds on this series. Engaging, entertaining and great character development. Fantastic listen

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, the author Faye DeLacour and the narrator Blythe Fortune for this fun ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

3.5, rounding up

I really enjoyed this one- until the end. The end was so incredibly rushed and for no real reason. You have all this build up and suddenly everything is over instantly.

I did like both Jane and Eli. They had communication issues, but I feel both had valid reasons. I am really glad for the insight on Jane's uncle at the end- why he was pushing both his daughter and Jane to marriage so vehemently. I also like how his future lined up. Funny- due to the rushed ending, I feel like the uncle's story line wrapped up better than Jane and Eli's.

It looks like this is a new series and I will definitely pick the next book up.

Blythe Fortune narrates the audiobook. I listened at 1.5. No complaints.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an early copy of this book.

Even though I´m not a super fan of historical romances this one was reeeeally cute! I enjoyed it a lot!!!

I found the story and the characters very interesting. Eli and Jane had unmatched chemistry and all their scenes were just spot on!

I also really enjoyed the side characters, there was a little bit of everything. The super cute and loving uncle, the bitchy and annoying cousin, the young little sister, the crazily brilliant best friend (whom I hope will be the protagonist of the next book in the series).

As far as debut novels go this one was really good.
If you are a fan of Bridgerton I think this book is a must for you.
I also liked the amount of spice, not too much and not too little.

Overall I think it´s a well-deserved 4 stars.

A fabulous debut by a promising Canadian author! It is always great to see more Canadian historical romance authors. I have enjoyed the romance of Jane & Eli. I am learning that I’m a sucker for a resurrection trope. The instant angst of a hero presumed dead, makes for great drama to unpack. The sad detail of Jane presuming she is second best, being chosen after her cousin leaves you sympathetic and eager for her HEA. This story is full of plenty of good humour and dialogue, many of my favorite tropes and a delightful conclusion. What’s more we are given a strong female lead who strives to make her own way instead of relying on a man. I look forward to more from Faye Delacour.
The narration read by Blythe Fortune is such a smooth voice. It took me a minute to adjust, but the more the story went on, the more I enjoyed her smooth cadence and ease of voices.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and Sourcebooks Casablanca for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own. I really enjoyed the narration for this audiobook.

Jane is working on getting her lady’s gambling club up when her long lost crush returns from the dead. Eli was believed dead in a shipwreck but has returned after being kidnapped by pirates and escaping. Jane and Eli have a rough start as they resume their acquaintance. When he left he was engaged to her cousin after being caught in a compromising position.

I liked how Eli and Jane’s relationship was rebuilt. They are thrown together at a house party and find they struggle to stay away from each other. They have obvious chemistry but have to rebuild some of their trust. I would’ve liked a little more romance, but overall I really enjoyed this and look forward to more books from this author.

Genre: historical romance
London, 1839

Everyone, including the Navy, presumes that Eli Williams is dead. Until, one Sunday morning, he shows up on his parents’ doorstep very much alive. Now that he’s back in town, he’s eager to reconnect with Jane Bishop, one of his closest childhood friends. Jane also happens to be the cousin of his former fiance, Cecily, who is now mostly-happily married. Jane hasn’t forgiven Eli for his engagement to her cousin while she had hoped he had feelings towards her (spoiler: it’s always been her), and Eli’s attempt to reconnect is met with frosty resistance. Afterall, after several Seasons, Jane has decided she’d rather not marry, and instead set up a gambling hall with her best friend Della as a source of income. But the draw between Eli and Jane is too strong, and they’ll find that they need one another, especially as Eli’s disappearance comes into question.

The Lady He Lost is a strong historical romance debut from Faye Delacour! And Sourcebooks with the stunning cover art! Give me more clinches! I enjoyed seeing Jane trying to be an independent young woman in the very early Victorian era. Eli is steadfast and honorable, and also kind of a fool in love. He’s a good listener and goes out of his way to make things better for Jane, if only she’d pay attention. There are well developed side characters throughout, with the cake going to Uncle Bertie, devoted father of Cecily and guardian of Jane, who really just wants to see his niece married.

I thought the narration by Blythe Fortune was fine-but-not-exciting for the book. But in our buddy read discussion, it became clear that the narration misses out on the humor and joy of the text! Eli was captured! By pirates! That didn’t ransom him! The plot is truly a little bit on the bananas side, and yet, the narration made it seem like more serious historical romance (I enjoy both types!). For most readers, I’d recommend using your eyes on this one.

As a fun activity related to my #RomancelandiaUniversity lecture, I decided to try to suss out the dates of this book, even though they aren’t listed. There are a couple of great hints that Delacour drops: the onset of the Opium Wars, how young the new queen is, and then to pinpoint it, she references the opening of the grandstand at the Ascot racecourses in 1839! The historical details feel comfortably situated in the book, particularly those surrounding the horseraces as well as Eli’s time as a sailor.

I don't normally read/listen to historical novels, but this one had an interesting premise and I liked that the main female character was running a card/gambling ring. Overall the novel was engaging. I don't think I would listen to it again and I think if I would have read it, I might have enjoyed it more. The accents turned me off a bit. Although, not bad or unlistenable, just a bit cringy. I am glad there was not too much spice to it, a slow burn.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this ARC.

Having lost the (seemingly unrequited) love of her life in a shipwreck, Jane sets about to secure financial independence by starting a ladies gambling club. Supposedly lost at sea, and mourned by his family, Eli becomes the talk of the town after returning from the dead. His efforts to win Jane over are complicated by a court inquiry on suspicion of desertion. Can Eil gain Jane's trust?

This was a sweet regency romance, with some interesting historical insights. I liked the way the story slipped seamlessly between Eli and Jane’s perspectives, and found myself sympathising with them both. I enjoyed the dramatic elements with the shipwreck, pirates and trial. I also loved Jane’s fierce independence, and Eli’s patient empathy. My favourite side character was Bertie - I loved the way he fanned the drama but also came to the rescue!

I enjoyed this as an audiobook and found the narration engaging and articulate. I was really able to lose myself in the story.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Lieutenant Eli Williams supposedly died in a shipwreck. Imagine everyone’s surprise when he turns up alive and well at his parents’ home two years later. He wants to set his life to rights and reconnect with his dear friend, Jane Bishop, before resuming his post, but his return to society isn’t exactly smooth sailing.

Jane, though once hoping for more with her friend Eli, realized that ship had sailed the day he got engaged to her cousin. Years later, Eli is back. The cousin is married to someone else, but Eli has yet to regain Jane’s trust. She’s not focusing on potential romance; no, she’s focusing on creating a means of supporting herself. Jane and her best friend have established a ladies only gambling club that they hope to expand in the future.

Eli is now the talk of the ton, but the only attention he wants is Jane’s.

I enjoyed the teen-friends-to-lovers aspect of this one. Jane and Eli had genuine trust and care for each other when they were younger, and we watch that get reestablished between them as adults. I liked Jane’s independence, how Eli wants to care for and support her and her dreams, and how their steamy moments all have an underpinning of love.

I appreciated that this one is written in dual POV, so that we see Eli’s side of the story and not just Jane’s perspective on how she once was scorned. His eagerness to be with her warmed my heart.

Uncle Bertie is my favorite supporting character in the story, but Jane’s best friend, with her commentary on what happens behind closed doors—and out of doors—between Jane and Eli, is a close second.

I look forward to reading more in this series.

As for the audiobook, while I enjoyed Blythe Fortune’s voices for Eli and Bertie, I was not a big fan of her voices for the female characters in the story, especially those for Jane and her cousin.

I listened to an advance copy of the audiobook from Dreamscape Media and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

My review is based on the audiobook, however that is not an option on Goodreads at the time of this review. The narrator was five stars and the story so compelling that I finished the over seven hour listen in just two days.

After believing the man she loved and lost to her cousin had drowned at sea, Jane Bishop is shocked when Lt. Eli Williams returns two years later. Can she forgive him for getting engaged to her cousin?

Eli has always regretted being forced into an engagement after being caught kissing Jane's cousin in a garden, so maybe being shipwrecked was a blessing in disguise? He has always loved Jane and wonders if there may still be a chance to win her love.

Jane soon begins to doubt Eli's story about his disappearance but cannot deny her attraction to him. Will they work through their broken hearts and pasts to forge a new life together?

This was my first Faye Delacour book and I'll be looking up the rest of her catalogue with interest. It was a great blend steamy historical romance and compelling characters. There wasn't an adventurous plot, an evil villain to catch, mystery or the typical plots I like, but just a simple second-chance love story of two people learning to communicate, pining (OH so much pining), and working through obstacles together.

One thing I did find confusing -- Is Uncle Berty gay? Bi? It was suggested that he had an intimate relationship with a male friend a couple of times, but then he also has a daughter from a previous marriage and got engaged to a woman. I was puzzled by Uncle Berty to say the least. Perhaps it would have been clearer if I had read instead of listened.