ARC Review: A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett

A Love by Design
Author: Elizabeth Everett
Series: The Secret Scientists of London (Book 3)
Publication: Berkley (January 17, 2023)

Description: 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?

My Thoughts: This is the third story in the Secret Scientists of London series. It stars Margaret Gault and George Willis, the Earl Grantham.  They were childhood friends and shared difficult childhoods. George was the abused son of a man who abused his mother and him. Margaret was the daughter who favored science and disappointed her widowed mother at every turn.

After a childhood breakup due to George's fear that following the drum after him would ruin her future, Margaret goes off to France to be an engineer. She marries, and is widowed, but never manages to convince her father-in-law that she can run the firm. After he closes it, she returns to London to open her own engineering firm. 

Meanwhile, Georgie has grown up too. He's served in the military and inherited the earldom from his grandfather. His own life experiences make it essential for him to do something about children like himself and he finds himself working for reform in Parliament. 

When Margaret is hired to build a new Thames tunnel by a man who loudly hates the idea that women would ever be able to work outside the home and who has caused trouble for the Athena Society, she is in conflict with George who is opposed to everything her new boss stands for. Her decision also causes dissention in the Athena Society as women take sides about the future of women.

I enjoyed the romance between Margaret and George which looked like it wasn't ever going to come right because each character was so bound up in their insecurities. I liked the political landscape which seemed hopeless for women who wanted the right to be treated as human being with equal opportunities. 

Fans of the series will enjoy glimpses of the main characters of the previous two books. New fans will enjoy it too.

Favorite Quote:

Georgie would know what to do. He might not understand more than basic arithmetic and constantly assume he would win a gith with gravity, but he's an inbred sense of fairness no amount of abuse or derision could alter.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.