The Lady Sparks a Flame is the 5th book from Elizabeth Everett, second in her new series, and my new favorite. 

Set in Victorian England, it tells the story of Lady Phoebe Hunt and Mr. Sam Fenley. Phoebe is a “villain” from a previous book banished to America and back in England to help her mother and sister deal with the financial fallout of her tyrannical father’s death. Sam is an entrepreneur from the merchant class and has designs on rising above his station perhaps even with a titled wife. When the opportunity to help Phoebe's family gives him a chance to court Karolina, Phoebe’s sister, he jumps at the chance. As you might imagine, his designs on Karolina don’t last very long and Karolina’s feelings are decidedly unhurt.

As Sam learns more about the Hunt women, and deals with his own preconceived notions about what those with privilege may also endure, Phoebe confronts the awful reality of her past, including the mistakes she made and the horrifying abuse she, her sisters, and mother suffered at the hands of her father. 

While Phoebe and Sam navigate cataloging the Hunt home and belongings they realize their attraction is more than it seems. Sam’s joyful, nearly goofy, personality gives Phoebe the opportunity to laugh without restraint for the first time, in, well, perhaps ever. He also gives Phoebe the space she needs to come to terms with the impact the abuse had on her and to forgive herself. Phoebe’s reserve and steadfast loyalty to her mother and sister show Sam that not all families are the same and that smart, brave, complicated, and serious women are in fact some of the best kinds of women. 

Everett uses this book (written two years ago mind you) to tackle tariffs, misogyny, incels, and women’s careers along with sisters, friendship, family, forgiveness, and overprotective men (who we love but who need to chill out).

  

The Lady Sparks a Flame is at times a difficult read. The abuse Phoebe and her family suffered and how Phoebe dealt with it is brutal but also brutally honest. Everett acknowledges the cycle of abuse while giving her characters the opportunity to find their way out of the cycle. 

Sam is kind, warm, industrious, ridiculous, forgiving, delightfully clumsy, really a nice himbo/golden retriever mix. Phoebe is smart, crass, sharp, hilarious, self protective, devoted, and powerful. Also she’s older than him. Whoop! Like the rest of Everett’s books, the sex is so good and it’ll make you think. And the epilogue, oh my goodness!!

The Lady Sparks a Flame (and book 1 in this series) is set in the same universe as Everett’s first series. You don’t have to read book one or that first series to enjoy Phoebe and Sam’s story, but you’ll be happy if you do.

Thanks to Everett for this arc!