ARC Review: A Love By Design (The Secret Scientists of London #3) by Elizabeth Everett
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Series: The Secret Scientists of London #3
Author: Elizabeth Everett
Published January 17th 2023 by Berkley Jove
Goodreads Synopsis
You couldn't design a better hero than the very eligible and extremely charming Earl Grantham. Unless, of course, you are Margaret Gault, who wants nothing to do with the man who broke her youthful heart.
Widowed and determined, Margaret Gault has returned to Athena's Retreat and the welcoming arms of her fellow secret scientists with an ambitious plan in mind: to establish England's first woman-owned engineering firm. But from the moment she sets foot in London her plans are threatened by greedy investors and--at literally every turn--the irritatingly attractive Earl Grantham, a man she can never forgive.
George Willis, the Earl Grantham, is thrilled that the woman he has loved since childhood has returned to London. Not as thrilling, however, is her decision to undertake an engineering commission from his political archnemesis. When Margaret's future and Grantham's parliamentary reforms come into conflict, Grantham must use every ounce of charm he possesses--along with his stunning good looks and flawless physique, of course--to win Margaret over to his cause.
Facing obstacles seemingly too large to dismantle, will Grantham and Margaret remain forever disconnected or can they find a way to bridge their differences, rekindle the passion of their youth, and construct a love built to last?
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
Mrs Margaret Gault has returned to England after losing her husband, and her father-in-law selling the family engineering business. Ready for a new adventure, she reconnects with old friends, and lands her dream contract. But when George Willis, the Earl Grantham, reappears, it opens up old wounds, and Margaret is conflicted on whether to go after her dreams, or think about her friends and loved ones?
Well, this book took me by surprise a little. I loved A Lady's Formula for Love and A Perfect Equation, and though I enjoyed this book, I felt it was lacking some of the spark present in the previous ones. Growing up together, Margaret and George found love, and were all ready to elope together and travel when George enlisted. But, for some reason that Margaret doesn't quite know, George called off the whole thing, and left her heartbroken. She channelled that heartbreak into her work, and after marrying, became a sought after engineer in France. However, she longs for England, and her friends, so when Violet offers her a place at the Athena Retreat, and she gains a contract for a new Thames crossing, she jumps at it. But the contract is not quite what she imagined it would be, and she's working for the man who wants to vilify and bring down the retreat. I liked that Margaret was a morally grey character, and she made some bad choices and decisions which she later regretted, and rectified. Her and George's romance though, could've been better in my opinion. They really needed to talk more, and explain what happened in the past, and what was happening now. Seeing more of Violet, Arthur and baby Mirren was wonderful, and George as the mischievous godfather wanting to spoil the little bairn was so cute! Not the best book in the series, but still enjoyable nonetheless.
Dates Read:
November 20-24, 2022
Rating
4 Stars
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