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.

He’s back from the dead and she want to be financially independent. A great plot and delivery. Jane and Eli were a great match and the slow build up was great. Eli had to gain Jane’s trust again after getting engaged to her cousin before he was shipwrecked. Jane was a strong female character, dismissing marriage in favor of spinsterhood and having a successful club.
The narrator was very good, had an engaging voice and enthusiasm with the various character voices.

An absolutely lovely, delightful story of second chances! If your heart beats for a tender, tension filled friends to lovers trope, The Lady He Lost will have you swooning. Faye Delacour so beautifully executes this trope and I was rooting for Jane and Eli from the start. Although Jane and Eli have only had eyes for each other for years, there are small complications like Eli was presumed dead for two years following a shipwreck… and right before that, he was briefly engaged to Jane’s cousin. Lots to work through!

My heart ached for Jane! I understood Jane’s reaction to build walls around her heart - she was forced to grow up so quickly and her heart was tender from past hurt and unrequited love - and I loved how Eli slowly sought make amends and rebuild trust with Jane by prioritizing open communication and emotional intimacy. It was quite moving to see Jane and Eli bare their souls by sharing their fears, dreams, and desires while seeking forgiveness for past hurt, and working together to build a foundation of trust and support for their future to rest upon.

I love historical romance where FMC seeks an unconventional path to establish independence, while ignoring her family’s attempts at matchmaking, and embracing the title of ‘spinster’ to make a name for herself. Jane was such a clever, determined character and I relished seeing her fight back against her meddling, overbearing family members as they tried to shape Jane’s future into something genteel and ‘appropriate’. And I adored how Jane’s friends and Eli rallied around her, fully supporting her endeavors to establish a ladies’ only gaming club.

Blythe Fortune’s superb narration made for a most delightful listening experience and infused another layer of humor, tenderness, and joy in the story. This story has quite a large cast and Fortune had distinct voices for every character, and Jane and Cecily’s voices in particular were so perfect for their characters’ personalities.

This was such a sweet and soft story of second chances and friendship and I am looking forward to reading more from Delacour in the future!