Her only interest is in making her own way in the world. Luckily, he can help.

Lieutenant Eli Williams was supposed to be dead. In the two years since his shipwreck, his friends and family mourned him, his brother spent his savings, and his fiancée married someone else. So, when he turns up in the middle of the London social season, he quickly becomes the talk of the town. All Eli wants is to set his life back in order and reconnect with Jane Bishop, a friend who has always meant so much more to him, before returning to sea.

Jane refuses to waste any more of her life pining over Eli, who chose her cousin instead of her. She needs to focus on gaining her financial independence by establishing a ladies’ gambling club. Never mind that Eli keeps trying to atone for his past mistake by bringing in new members. He’s obviously keeping secrets about his disappearance, which means that she can’t trust him with her heart even if she did kiss him in a moment of weakness. Or three.

As Eli works to regain her trust, Jane’s defensive walls begin to crumble. But when Eli faces a court of inquiry on suspicion of desertion, Jane must decide if she can let go of the past to build a future with Eli, or risk losing him for good.

This charming and sexy friends to enemies to lovers historical romance romp is the perfect read for fans of Evie Dunmore and India Holton.

My thoughts:

Faye Delacour’s debut historical romance, The Lady He Lost, is a promising and highly enjoyable read, marked by strong writing, even if it isn’t without its shortcomings.

The premise—featuring pirates, a shipwreck, and a hero presumed dead for two years—sets the stage for a thrilling tale with a dashing lead. Eli certainly fits the bill as the charming hero, but the narrative itself often lacks excitement, sometimes feeling tedious. Given the mystery surrounding Eli’s disappearance, I expected his backstory and experiences to be a central focus, more thoroughly fleshed out. Unfortunately, his two-year absence is explained away with a simplicity that undermits its potential impact.

However, the characters largely compensate for the plot’s weaknesses. Jane and Eli are masters of pining; their longing is palpable. It was evident that Eli never truly desired her cousin, Cecily, though Jane remained blind to this fact. I would have appreciated flashbacks to their friendship before the shipwreck to better convey the depth of their past connection, as their backstory felt somewhat lacking. Jane’s reluctance to communicate with Eli and explain her hurt was frustrating; while I understand this served to prolong the conflict, her hot-and-cold behaviour became wearisome.

I particularly adored Jane’s uncle and her best friend, Della. I’m eagerly anticipating Della’s story next. Her friendship with Jane, built on shared interests and humour, was a highlight. Della seemed to possess even more personality than Jane, suggesting her own book could be even more compelling.

The subplot involving Jane and Della’s quest for independence through their ladies’ gaming club was delightful; those scenes were among my favourites, and I look forward to seeing their endeavours continue in the sequel.

Overall, while The Lady He Lost is not a perfect novel, it will undoubtedly appeal to fans of historical romance.

This book has successfully reignited my passion for the historical romance genre. Despite occasionally dragging, it was a fun read with writing and characters I loved, even if the plot had issues. I’m excited to continue with the series and believe the second book holds even greater potential than this debut.