Elizabeth Everett crafts a unique and captivating historical romance in The Lady Sparks a Flame, blending emotional complexity, a touch of intrigue, and a romance that feels both tender and earned. Lady Phoebe Hunt, once a scheming and exiled figure, returns home to face her past and protect her family, only to find herself drawn to the charming and ambitious Sam Fenley. Phoebe’s sharp exterior and Sam’s unwavering kindness create a compelling dynamic as they navigate their growing connection and the challenges of their vastly different worlds. Everett excels at humanizing Phoebe, exploring her regrets and resilience while weaving in moments of humor and heart. With its richly detailed Victorian setting, emotional depth, and well-matched leads, this story delivers a memorable romance that’s both touching and empowering.

The Lady Sparks a Flame is part of a series of historical romance novels featuring female scientists; this installment works as a standalone. It brings back Phoebe Hunt, a "villainess of majestic proportions," and an older Sam Fenley, a cinnamon roll hero (and younger man!). The novel is very much a character study focusing on Phoebe's redemption and also her traumatic family life, where her father ruled everyone with an iron fist. Her misdeeds occurred in the first novel whereby she concocted a deadly weapon that had the expected results, and she also caused an accidental shooting. Exiled to the United States, she returns only after the death of her father to take care of the remaining properties in an effort to secure funds for her Lithuanian mother and younger sister to live on. Sam comes into the picture as a wealthy businessman who not only owns an emporium with his father but has expanded into newspapers. When Phoebe places ads for the sale of her property, Sam offers a mutually beneficial arrangement whereby he would purchase the property and furnishings--sparing the family a public sale and auction (along with an intimation that he court the younger sister). Throw in a road trip to their (haunted) properly and things set in motion.

Phoebe is a complicated, somewhat icy female protagaonist, which honestly I thoroughly enjoy. Sam worked very well as a foil (though I'd like to see more books in with both main characters are icy and thaw each other out), with his kindness and patience wearing away Phoebe's sharp edges and giving her a place where she could finally feel safe. I had a few minor quibbles (Sam was ridiculously successful at the tender age of 25, and given how he just ups and leaves to go on said road trip with it seems not a word of who is running his businesses, and again at the end when he makes a big romantic gesture as if it's easy peasy, what?) but overall it was such a tender romance that I la la la'd them away. I enjoyed it much more than the previous installment. Recommend!

An ARC was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

In the very beginning I was a little worried it would take me awhile to get into this book. Phoebe is presented as cold, sometimes cruel, and with a problematic past. However, this story very quickly reveals that Phoebe is not the villainous person she sees herself as and what she thinks everyone sees her as. She has deep regrets and pain that affect her and how she is able to treat others.

I really appreciated how the author humanized Phoebe through her mother and sister. I never saw the cold side of Phoebe - I saw the daughter and sister who wanted to protect her family from the pain she endured.

Sam and Phoebe really warmed my heart. He was everything she needed and also was there for her to be everything she needed for herself.

Even though we see the friendship between Phoebe and her scientist friends heal, I actually didn’t feel like it was quite enough for me. I wanted more of their friendship, more blunt conversations between them. But still, I found their love for each other beautiful!

This is a really unique story I enjoyed!

I really loved the way this book combined an FMC who has a traumatic and dark past with a golden retriever vibes MMC who literally would do anything for her. I have read two books by Elizabeth Everett and each book has been so impactful because not only are they romance books but they are so immersive in their storytelling that I feel like I’ve been transported back into the Victorian era. The plot had me engaged from start to finish and I learnt so much history from this book.

My only criticism is the pacing. I really wish the last bit of the book was slightly longer as it just felt slightly short.

what a charming and unique set of characters in a very modern take on the historical romance genre. absolutely perfect for the historical romance fans AND the naysayers. give this a chance, it'll show you how fun that genre can be.

Always impressed when an author can take “a villainess of majestic proportions” and redeem them, turn them into a character you understand, empathize with, and cheer for their HEA.

Sam is a wonderful character. Phoebe’s demons were no match for Sam. He emits so much light and joy, the darkness had no choice but to recede from her life.

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

Elizabeth Everett did not take the easy road with this book: casting a very difficult heroine who majorly messed up and deeply hurt and betrayed the adored main characters of her previous series is not for a faint of heart writer! The beginning of the book was slower for me and I worried if it would all come together as a believable love story- the heroine, Phoebe, is paired with a bright sunshine younger man hero, who initially contrives to court Phoebe’s younger sister, thus forcing them all in close proximity. Thankfully Everett does not take the courting sister plot very far (they are just clearly incompatible and the sister pretty quickly sees where the hero’s heart truly lies!)- and while there were some shenanigan side plots with intrigue I didn’t find overly compelling, the book really clicked once Phoebe and Sam are alone and intimate at length. And here is where I applaud Everett for her depth as a Romance Writer, who knows that intimate scenes are there to drive the plot and relationships in an extraordinary way that only the Romance genre can pull off. I loved the way Phoebe and Sam came to each other, and where they ended up especially! I am really amazed that a book that could be weighed down with tragic backstory for the sake of tragedy, or unlikeable villainy for the sake of villainy, or a tidy redemptive arc, eschews these easy traps and gives us a very real, compelling portrait of two complex individuals with complex lives committing to each other in love. A gorgeous book, and enormous thanks for this advanced reader copy.

I was in the mood for a historical, and this hit the spot perfectly!

Lady Phoebe Hunt has been dragged back to England after her father’s death reveals a mountain of debt. She’s determined to settle his affairs quickly and return to America, where she’s built a new life.

Samuel Fenley has worked his way up from a humble shop boy to a wealthy investor. He’s ready to buy Phoebe’s crumbling estate.

The tension between Phoebe and Sam is electric, and their every interaction is packed with emotion. Watching Phoebe wrestle with her past while slowly opening herself up to the possibility of love was such a satisfying journey.

The angst in this story kept me glued to the pages, constantly wondering how they’d find their way to a happy ending.

And that cover? Absolutely gorgeous—just as stunning as the story inside!

If you’re in the mood for romance, emotion, and a bit of drama, this one’s definitely worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for this free ARC!

This was a wonderfully done novel, it had that concept that I was looking for and had that historical element that I wanted. The characters worked in this world and was everything that worked in this type of book. Elizabeth Everett has that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel for the genre.

Lady Phoebe Hunt is back in London and placing adverts in Sam’s newspaper to auction off her family’s home in London as well as their country estate. Phoebe was sent away after getting mixed up with some sinister plots and accidentally shooting a man. Sam has made good investments and at twenty five is already very wealthy. He knew Phoebe because she was a friend of his sister at Athena’s Retreat, a secret group of women scientists.

Sam was recently turned down for a railroad consortium he wanted to invest in because he doesn’t have a title and he resents it. He goes to Phoebe’s home and offers to buy it and when he meets her younger sister, asks to court her. He likes the idea of having children that have blue blood. He knows Phoebe has scandal in her past but he finds himself attracted to her. He can see past her icy layers, that she is broken and wonders what happened. Phoebe has spent the last four years in America where she worked as a detective. She had to come back to London after the death of her father, to help her mother and sister who are forced sell everything to pay off his massive debts.

Phoebe has been though a lot of abuse and feels she is unlovable plus she has a lot of secrets. The secrets unfold throughout the story and we see how she has dealt with the terrible things that have happened to her - it’s emotional and sad. She is a scientist and is fascinated with the study of electrical currents and Michael Faraday’s work and I liked reading how she finds refuge studying his experiments.

Sam is a wonderful hero who comes from a loving family (plus they have pet hedgehogs!). Phoebe and Sam grow closer as Phoebe’s past secrets catch up with her. Also, we see many interesting characters in this story from the author's Secret Scientist series (which I haven’t read yet, but now I want to).

I wanted to know how Phoebe and Sam would work everything out and it was pretty angsty. I loved the grand gesture at the end! It was a big one! This was 4 ½ stars for me and I rounded up to five. Thank you to Elizabeth Everett, Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book swept me off my feet with its perfect blend of tension, romance, and personal transformation. But what I loved most was the chemistry between Phoebe and Sam. The emotional dance between them; her reluctance to trust, his persistence to break through was chef’s kiss. The writing beautifully captures their growing connection, making every moment between them feel both tender and electric. This is a story of redemption, vulnerability, and the strength of love to overcome even the most stubborn divides. An absolute must-read for fans of historical romance!