By Elizabeth Everett
The Damsels of Discovery Book 1
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Audiobook rating: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Blurb
When a Victorian apothecary hires a stoic private investigator to protect her business, they learn there’s only one way to treat true love—with a happily ever after.
When Lucinda Peterson’s recently perfected formula for a salve to treat croup goes missing, she’s certain it’s only the latest in a line of misfortunes at the hands of a rival apothecary. Outraged and fearing financial ruin, Lucy turns to private investigator Jonathan Thorne for help. She just didn’t expect her champion to be so . . . grumpy?
A single father and an agent at Tierney & Co., Thorne accepts missions for a wide variety of employers—from the British government to wronged wives. None have intrigued him so much as the spirited Miss Peterson. As the two work side by side to unmask her scientific saboteur, Lucy slips ever so sweetly under Thorne’s battered armor, tempting him to abandon old promises.
With no shortage of suspects—from a hostile political group to an erstwhile suitor—Thorne’s investigation becomes a threat to all that Lucy holds dear. As the truth unravels around them the cure to their problems is they must face the future together.
Genre: Historical Romance
Read if you Like:
⚕️ Anxiety Rep
⚕️ Grumpy sunshine
⚕️ Reproductive rights
⚕️ He's an investigator
⚕️ She owns an apothecary
⚕️ Single parent
My Thoughts:
Thanks to PRH audio for gifting me with this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
I have been delighted in the past by Elizabeth Everett's scientifically minded women and this new series is no exception! I do think the tone of the series is a bit different. Lucy has less privilege and a more challenging life than the previous heroines, but she is still smart and dealing with a society that doesn't respect that.
There is no escaping that reproductive rights are a large part of this story. I really enjoyed reading about them in a Victorian setting and learning about how the issue was handled at the time. I thought it was an interesting choice to have the hero be from the nobility and holding some opinions the heroine disagreed with. I liked watching her open his eyes to the unfairness of the rules that he accepted.
I really related to Lucy's anxiety. She had so many responsibilities and it was clear she was burned out. I think that can be the case for a lot of people who always try to think about others as Lucy was taught to do. It shows how important it is to teach their children that being kind to others is so important but so is being kind to yourself.
I think this one is a must read for historical romance lovers. It beautifully captures issues facing women in our current society and puts them in a historical context.
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - This story has several open door steamy scenes.
🎧🎧🎧🎧- Elizabeth Jasicki did the audio narration and I thought she did a great job! It is a dual POV book but I thought she did well with both parts. I have enjoyed previous books by her. Romance readers may recognize her from Evie Dunmore books.
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