Elizabeth Everett has crafted an absolutely delicious second chance romance with a Hero that everyone will fall in love with and a smart and independent Heroine. This novel was wonderfully delightful, deliciously sensual and heartwarmingly sweet. I am not one to typically love a second chance romance, but Everett definitely hit it out of the park for me. Her writing is witting and engaging, the pacing is well balanced, and her characters are intriguing and endearing. A Love by Design is the third installment in Everett's The Secret Scientists of London series, and it is a glorious addition to the series.
Margaret is a determined and ambitious woman, who is working to establish England's first woman-owned engineering firm. She is driven and smart and watching her negotiate the politics of the times is really interesting. Her dreams have made her independent after she was widowed so watching her grapple with her renewed feelings for George are tension filled and intriguing. George has only ever had eyes for Margaret and after she wed another he is left adrift, but now she is back in London and all he wants is to be close to her. George is such a sweet heart, he is quiet and awkward in moments, and he really grows to learn to speak his mind especially when it comes to his feelings for Margaret. These two must learn to work together and see things through the other's eyes in order to ultimately overcome the obstacles that lie before them.
While the politics and dreams of both characters are interesting, the true heart of this novel lies in their relationship and how their young love never truly died. For George, it has only ever been Margaret, so even though he might have the reputation of a rake, he definitely does not have the experience. There are lots of inner moments of reflection in this novel in which both characters don't always feel confident and ready to voice, but they are slowly learning to trust the other and open up to a deeper understanding. This novel is sexy and sensual, and it is really refreshing when the heroine can introduce the hero to a world of pleasure. These two have such wonderful chemistry that sparks when they are together and that tension only grows and grows until they are able to fully meet each other on equal ground.
Definitely pick up this novel, you will not be disappointed! A Love by Design can be read as a standalone and it will for sure make you interested in exploring other works by Elizabeth Everett!
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.