A Love by Design (The Secret Scientists of London #3) by Elizabeth Everett

A Love by Design is a fun, emotional, and charming historical romance blending women in STEM with a heartfelt second-chance romance.

Previous Books in Series –

A Lady’s Formula for Love (Book 1)

A Perfect Equation (Book 2)

Synopsis

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?

Review

A Love by Design was a delight from the start! Surprisingly, I found myself loving Grantham more than Margret—a first in this series, as I’ve adored the female leads in both previous books. Maybe it’s because I’ve known Grantham from the beginning, and I’ve always had a soft spot for this big, goofy guy who never failed to bring a smile to my face.

In A Perfect Equation, it was clear Margret and Grantham had a history—one that ended in heartbreak for Margret. It was fascinating to finally uncover what went wrong in A Love by Design. They’d known each other since they were eight, fallen in love as teens, and then, at 17, something changed, driving Margret to Paris and into the arms of her late husband.

I sympathized with her younger, hot-headed self and all she endured over the years. And once the misunderstanding was revealed, I also felt for Grantham. —his actions, though reckless, came from a place of pure intentions. I loved how he cleared this years old grievance and regret and I couldn’t wait to see how he would win Margret back.

Grantham hides his insecurities behind a shield of humor, still struggling with the weight of his title and the expectations that come with it. His childhood was rough—hints of physical abuse and a father battling alcohol addiction shaped him and his mother’s life. I loved that instead of resenting his title, he embraced its potential to do good. His passion for making a difference made me love him even more.

What truly endeared him to me was how he saw through Margret’s defenses, stood by her at every turn (literally), and proved his unwavering love. And the fact that he was a virgin? That was an unexpected—I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in a romance novel, and it just reinforced how much he had always loved her.

Margret, on the other hand, was ambitious, determined, and fiercely independent—traits I admired. But her decision to accept work from a firm funded by Victor Armitage, the notorious enemy of Athena’s Retreat, didn’t sit right with me. She knew Armitage was a misogynistic menace, yet still took the job without credit, all while keeping it a secret and clashing with Grantham, who openly opposed Armitage in his papers.

I get her drive to leave her mark as England’s first female engineer—especially in this time period—but her choices felt reckless. Grantham was right; she could have started small and still made an impact. That said, I respected her journey. Her character development—learning to ask for help, confronting her fears, and ultimately surrendering to love—was beautifully done.

The secondary characters shone just as brightly. Grantham’s friendship with Arthur was a highlight. The women of Athena’s Retreat kept the story engaging, even as Margret’s choices caused a divide among them. But when she needed them most, they stood by her, proving their sisterhood was unshakable.

The romance itself was a slow burn, full of push and pull, as expected in a second-chance love story. I appreciated that both Grantham and Margret acknowledged their feelings early on, yet still took the time to rediscover each other as the people they had become.

Favorite moments? So many! Grantham coming up with new toy ideas just to rile up Arthur, gaggles chasing Grantham and Margret, Margret opening up about her insecurities, Grantham learning about love from Arthur and later from Violet, his grand gestures, Margret’s dramatic rescue, and that heartwarming epilogue.

I enjoyed the climax—it kept me on edge! The rescue was thrilling, but I wanted a more satisfying resolution when it came to Armitage. The epilogue was lovely, though I would have liked to see Letty make a reappearance, even if just for a moment.

I also loved the author’s note at the end—it was fascinating to learn about Sarah Guppy, the first woman to patent a bridge in 1811, whose story inspired this book. The insights into historical contraception and postcoital menstruation methods were equally intriguing in the book.

Overall, A Love by Design is a fun, emotional, and charming historical romance blending women in STEM with a heartfelt second-chance romance.

What to Expect-

Women in STEM
Lovable, Goofy Hero
Fierce, Ambitious Heroine
Second-Chance Romance
Slow-Burn Push and Pull Chemistry

Favorite Lines from A Love by Design

“No matter how kind the man you find, when you enter a marriage, you sacrifice some of yourself.”

“A bridge is like a person in many ways— at least this is how I think of it.” She said, her concentration centered on her work, no glances to spare his way. “A person can only carry a load for so long before they need to either share the weight or collapse beneath it.”

“Sharing your fears is an act of love greater than buying a store full of lemon drops or a hothouse full of tulips.”

“My greatest fear is you will never ask for help, and the more you insist on going it alone, the further away you will push me. I do not want to live in the margins of your life, Margret. I want to be front and center.”

“Sometimes the world stops spinning, comes to a slow halt and allows you to take a courageous step in the right direction. Whether that step leads you to where you were always meant to be depends on how you define courage.”

Book Links

Goodreads | Amazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

Have you read this or wish to read?
What is your favorite STEM romance?

Just in case you missed,,,

• A Love by Design (The Secret Scientists of London #3) by Elizabeth Everett
• Life Lately and Recent Reads #WeeklyRecap (March 10, 2025)
• Re-read Review : A Perfect Equation (The Secret Scientists of London #2) by Elizabeth Everett – exceptional historical romance with feminist theme

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