The Recommended Reading Order
For the best reading experience, it is highly recommended to read Elizabeth Everett's historical romances in publication order. Because the spin-off series, The Damsels of Discovery, takes place in the same universe and features cameos, sibling connections, and recurring organizations from The Secret Scientists of London, starting from the very beginning will ensure you appreciate every character dynamic and easter egg.
Here is the recommended reading path across her entire catalog:
- A Lady's Formula for Love (2021) — Secret Scientists of London Book 1
- A Perfect Equation (2022) — Secret Scientists of London Book 2
- A Love by Design (2023) — Secret Scientists of London Book 3
- The Love Remedy (2024) — Damsels of Discovery Book 1
- The Lady Sparks a Flame (2025) — Damsels of Discovery Book 2
- Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel (2026) — Standalone Cozy Romantasy
The Secret Scientists of London Series
This series centers around the "Athena Club" (also referred to as Athena's Retreat), a clandestine sanctuary in Victorian London where women of science can conduct research, share ideas, and escape the oppressive expectations of 19th-century society. Each book blends a passionate romance with a suspenseful plot involving intellectual property theft, societal scandals, or political intrigue.
A Lady's Formula for Love (2021)
The series begins with Lady Violet Hughes, a clever chemist who runs the secret sanctuary. When she is tasked with a confidential government project to develop a new counter-intelligence formula, her safety is compromised. Enter Arthur Kneland, a brooding, stoic bodyguard hired to protect her. The dynamic plays on the classic bodyguard/ward trope with a refreshing, intellectual twist, as Violet's sharp wit clashes with Arthur's protective instincts.
A Perfect Equation (2022)
Focusing on Letitia "Letty" Fenley, a brilliant but socially awkward mathematician, this second installment revolves around a competition to run the prestigious Athena Club. Letty must team up with the charming but seemingly shallow Viscount Greycliff to secure the club's future. This enemies-to-lovers romance is packed with mathematical theory, sharp-tongued banter, and a deep exploration of Victorian class divides.
A Love by Design (2023)
The third book follows Margaret Gault, a widowed engineer determined to establish England's first woman-owned engineering firm. To secure funding, she must collaborate with her childhood sweetheart and first love, George, the Earl of Grantham. Their second-chance romance is enriched by Margaret's determination to overcome the industrial era's gender barriers and George's earnest support of her dreams.
The Damsels of Discovery Series
Spinning off from the original trilogy, The Damsels of Discovery shifts the spotlight to other independent women pursuing scientific endeavors in Victorian London, maintaining close ties to Athena's Retreat.
The Love Remedy (2024)
This novel introduces Lucinda "Lucy" Peterson, a dedicated apothecary fighting to save her late father's shop in London's East End while secretly distributing medical remedies to women in need. When her proprietary formulas are stolen by a malicious competitor, she hires Jonathan Thorne, a grumpy, protective private investigator and single father. The story blends the apothecary setting with a heartwarming domestic subplot involving Thorne's young daughter, Sadie.
The Lady Sparks a Flame (2025)
The second book in the spin-off follows Lady Phoebe Hunt, an exiled heiress and scientist haunted by a past laboratory accident. Upon returning to London to settle her late father's debts, she crosses paths with Samuel Fenley, an ambitious, self-made investor. Samuel is the brother of Letty Fenley from A Perfect Equation, serving as a direct familial bridge between the two series. This story focuses on themes of guilt, recovery, and finding love with someone who respects your intelligence.
Venturing Into Cozy Romantasy
In 2026, Elizabeth Everett expanded her writing style by releasing her first contemporary cozy fantasy romance, Magic and Mischief at the Wayside Hotel. Entirely separate from her Victorian romances, this standalone novel follows Pax Nomen, the manager of a sentient, magical hotel that serves as a interdimensional travel hub. When the hotel gets stranded on a non-magical Earth and loses its power source, Pax attempts to "reboot" it by renting a room to a human single mother named Josie LaChusia. It is a whimsical, low-stakes romance filled with magical creatures like gargoyles, faeries, and pixies.
Practical Reader Advice
Where to Start
While the contemporary fantasy stand-alone can be read at any time, historical romance fans should start with A Lady's Formula for Love. The establishment of Athena's Retreat is critical to understanding the setting and supporting characters in subsequent books.
Can the Books Be Read as Standalones?
Yes. Each romance novel features a self-contained romantic arc with a clear happily-ever-after (HEA). However, the overarching progression of the Athena Club's survival and the recurring appearances of the core cast make reading them in chronological publication order much more satisfying.
The Sibling Connection
When transitioning from the first series to the second, pay attention to the Fenley family. Letty Fenley is the heroine of A Perfect Equation, and her brother Samuel Fenley becomes the hero of The Lady Sparks a Flame, creating a rewarding continuity loop for returning readers.