Check Content Warning/Triggers – Page 19 – Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett

Series: The Damsels of Discovery, #2

Release Date: March 25, 2025

After designing a weapon that was used in a bombing that killed an innocent man and then accidently shooting Arthur Kneland, Lady Phoebe Hunt, one of the founding members of Athena’s Retreat, was exiled to America and warned not to return without permission. But when her father dies, she does return to sell off the unentailed estate and ensure her mother and sister are taken care of. She approaches Sam Fenley, brother of her once best-friend Letty, to post an advert in his paper about the estate auction, never expecting any further contact with him. But when Sam shows an interest in both the estate and her sister Karolina, it is clear that she isn’t going to get rid of him any time soon. They travel to her family’s estate, Prentiss Manor in North Cumbria, a place of unknown horror and pain. Phoebe has to come to terms with the past and fight her attraction to Sam, but that is easier said than done. When they return to London and learn that there has been another bombing, one that Phoebe is a prime suspect in, it becomes clear where Sam’s affections lie. Phoebe admits to herself that she loves Sam, but with her past and the new accusations against her, she believes she is not worthy of him and thinks it would be better if she just returned to America.

Sam Fenley is a self-made man, but he longs for acceptance among the upper echelons of society. When Lady Phoebe askes him to place an advertisement in his newspaper, he sees an opportunity for success and insists on helping Phoebe. He makes an offer on the London townhouse and makes his interest in Karolina known. He then offers to accompany the ladies to Prentiss Manor to catalog the contents of the manor. Raised in a loving family, he is shocked by the air of despair and horror lingering in Prentiss. Slowly, he begins to chip away at the thick shell encasing Phoebe and finds himself falling in love with her. But Phoebe has no intention of making their road to HEA easy, but lucky for her, Sam can be just as stubborn as she is and never gives up on what he wants – and he wants Phoebe.

This story was a lot darker than I was expecting and featured a sort of reverse Grumpy/Sunshine trope. I loved Sam, he was so gentle and kind with Phoebe. I will be honest, I had a hard time liking Phoebe, I understood her pain and tried to be compassionate, but she doesn’t make it easy for the reader or Sam. She fought him at every turn, but ultimately, he won her heart. This book is filled with emotion, secrets, past abuse, self-harm, kindness, compassion, steamyish love scenes, forgiveness and finally a very hard-won HEA. This story does touch on some dark issues and may be triggering to some readers, I would strongly suggest reading the content warnings before reading this book especially if you are sensitive to self-harm and physical/emotion abuse. This is the second book in the spinoff series, and while it could be read as a standalone title, you will have a better understanding of Phoebe if you have read The Secret Scientists of London series.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Sophia White and Her Seven Promises by Anastasia Hayward

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: No Series Name Given

Release: March 16, 2026

Lady Sophia White is the only and most cherished child of the Earl of Winland. When her mother was dying, Sophia made a promise that she would only marry for true love. And keeping to that promise she ran away with a man that her father would never approve of, but one she believed loved her. Her dream of happily ever after is dashed when the young man was easily bought off by her father and she learned that her mother had passed away. Heartbroken, Sophia and her father mourn for a time, but eventually her father remarried, and Sophia’s stepmother pressed Sophia to marry. Sophia promises to try and find a husband, but her efforts are cut short when she is abducted and left for dead. When she wakes, she cannot remember who she is or how she came to be in Painwick. She was taken in by the local doctor and his family, and slowly she falls in love with all of them and makes promises that she has every intention of keeping. But when her past catches up with her and she is forced to return to her former life, will she be able to keep the promises she has made and the love she has found? And what of the villain who has tried to kill her? Clearly, Sophia’s future hasn’t been determined, and true love may yet prevail.

Dr. Faine Knight is the youngest son of the Marquess of Ashbury but turned his back on his family many years ago when he was forced to choose between them and the woman he loved. He chose love and married Mary, a healer in Painwick, together they had three children and led a life of contentment. But sadly, Mary died and with her Faine buried his heart, or at least that is what he believed until he found a badly beaten and unconscious woman in the forest. He brings her home and nurses her back to health. When she finally wakes with no memories, they name her Cecilia, he tries to keep her from his family. But Cecilia and his children ignore his dictates and begin to form a bond. Little by little, the walls he had built around his heart begin to crumble, but loving Cecilia terrifies him, and when her father shows up to claim her, he gives her up without a fight. But letting her go is not as easy as he thought it would be and when her life is once again in peril, he knows that he loves her and will do whatever is necessary to save her and keep her forever. But has he waited too long?

This was a well-written, very loose retelling of Snow White by a new to me author. I liked this story, but I will admit I found Faine to be difficult to like; he was quick to judge, moody and wishy-washy. I understood his pain and his reluctance to risk his heart, but it just dragged on for way too long in my opinion. Sophia was delightful and my heart broke for her time and time again. I think the thing that bothered me the most was (view spoiler) Overall, this was a good start to a new series with interesting characters, steamyish love scenes, a truly nasty villain, a HEA complete with an epilogue and the potential of more books. And while I did have some issues with this book, I did like the author’s writing style and would certainly read the next book in the series.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Share this:

Share this: