The Heart of a Lyon
Lyon's Den series
Anna St. Claire, author

First, I'd like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a review copy of this novel. Although, my review is late, I'm sure it'll be appreciated. I enjoy reading Ms. St. Claire's novels and this one was no different.

For me this storyline three plots going on at once and all three merged into one happily ever after storyline. The Earl of Egerton is mourning the death of his beloved father and as a result has sworn off marriage. He doesn't feel worthy of any happiness at all. He believes it to be his fault that his beloved father lost his life. Egerton believes he must pay for not saving his father; therefore, he is not deserving of his own happiness.

Meanwhile, Lady Olivia Dawson only wants to marry for love, but her family has fallen upon financial ruin. She can save her family by marrying a horrid specimen of man, as he has the means to help them. Then she meets her old childhood friend and knows immediately, it's him she wants, as she's never forgotten their childhood escapades. But is he lost to her?

Then there's a mother's love for her daughter. She does not want to see Olivia married to that horrid specimen of a man. She decides to turn to the Black Widow for help. Unfortunately, this ends up putting Olivia's life in peril.

Read this enchanting novel with an edge of excitement and mystery to find the answers for yourself. I'm sure you'll be happy you did. I recommend this book highly.

Enter the world of the most notorious gambling den in London, where matches are made... unusually. Welcome to the world of THE LYON'S DEN: The Black Widow of Whitehall Connected World, where the underground of Regency London thrives... and loves.

If you haven’t read any of the books in The Lyon’s Den interconnected world get ready to enjoy a unique romance set in the Regency era but TOTALLY unlike a typical Regency book. Think of these books as “the marriage-mart gone rogue” and get ready for shenanigans and happily ever afters.

I found this story to be entertaining with likable characters and an intriguing plot. The story moves along at a steady pace and the ending ties up all the loose ends nicely, leaving the reader satisfied. I would gladly read more books from this author. I absolutely love the creative covers from this publisher! If you look closely the covers are always full of easter eggs that always make sense once the story is finished.

Can I also just say that I LOVED the childhood friends to adult lovers trope that is masterfully blended with a fake relationship to real love trope! The chemistry between these characters was pretty hot ❤️‍🔥❤️ and I couldn’t wait for them to overcome all the obstacles and plotting - to get their well deserved HEA

4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ | 4 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥




📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to review. Reviews are usually cross-posted to social media, goodreads, Bookbub, and blog. 🦄

This is another great addition to the Lyon's Den Connected World series. The series is written by multiple authors who each bring a unique spin on the collection while keeping true to the ultimate goal of the main character. Could long time child hood friends become more? This was great, fast, action read. I enjoyed.

Gambling on Love

They knew each other from childhood, but could a childhood friendship turn into love? Olivia’s family is in dire straits. Her father is in debt, and the man who holds his gambling vowels wants his daughter in exchange. Henry would save the day, but he is plagued by nightmares and haunted by guilt. He proposes a fake betrothal, but would he recognize the love that is staring him in the face before it is too late? Danger is stalking Olivia, but where is it coming from? There is treachery, twisted secrets, a villain with an agenda, and an old grudge at play. What will happen when it all comes out? If you like historical romance with mystery and suspense, you might enjoy this story.

Great book with lots of mystery, intrigue and tangled webs! The chemistry between Lady Olivia Dawson and Lord Henry Stanton, the Earl of Egerton, is unmistakable from the very start. It truly was inevitable that they would have a happily ever after, but just to make certain, there were a lot of people scheming them together!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

A nice story about childhood friends who as adults realize they have an attraction to each other, but don’t want to admit it. It takes a fake engagement, danger and a black cat to make them see what their destiny is. That is if they can overcome the danger that is following them.

This is another great addition to the Lyon's Den Connected World series. The series is written by multiple authors who each bring a unique spin on the collection while keeping true to the ultimate goal of the main character, The Black Widow of Whitehall. In this installment, Henry, the Earl of Edgerton is plagued with nightmares of his father's death and he is also haunted by the demons of the war. Olivia has dreams of marrying a love match, but those dreams are shattered when she is forced to marry Lord Langdon, who by way of deception and cheating holds the family's fortune in his hands. Because of his demons, Henry vows never to marry, but he grew up with Olivia and wants to protect her, so he agrees to a fake engagement to keep Lord Langdon away. The fake betrothal was orchestrated by none other than The Black Widow and Olivia's mother, who is desperate to see her daughter happy. Olivia is already in love with Henry and wants more with him, but he is reluctant. When dangers strikes, will that open his eyes to the possibility of love and happiness with Olivia?
This was a fast-paced and exciting addition to the series. The storyline was smooth and the plot twists kept me turning the pages. Another great addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Thanks NetGalley for the chance to read this story. This was a little different from the other Lyon's Den books. Lady Olivia Dawson's father has decided who she will marry and he is a completely inappropriate husband but her father can't see that. Henry, the Earl of Egerton knows what he is like and his mother along with her mother decides to see their old classmate, Bessie to do something to help her. In the meantime Henry falls in love with her. Will father wake up to what he is doing? I hope so.

Love this series and the Black Widow! Each author writes such amazing stories!
Anna St. Claire has written a story where three strong, caring women help to manipulate the H and h to a HEA!

This is a story that is part of a series, but can be read alone. The mothers of the main characters want what is best for their children so they go to a matchmaker who also runs a gambling den (a bit unusual). The heroine meets up with a childhood friend, the hero. He is a war veteran and devastated by the loss of his father. She is to be engaged to an evil man because of her father’s debts. Together they find a HEA but not until after some twist and turns. I felt that the heroine’s father got off a little light. I really have a hard time sympathizing with people who ruin their further and have someone else pay for their mistakes. I received an ARC for an honest review.

The Heart of a Lyon by Anna St. Claire is another of the Lyon’s Den Connected World by various authors. Lord Henry Stanton and his adopted brother, Roger Stanton, were returning after war in France. Their father had sent a ship to retrieve them, and come on it himself. In a freak accident, the Duke of Kendall was killed, right in front of them. He should never have come. He hated water. Now he was dead. Henry was trying hard to drown his sorrow in gambling and drink. One night when he returned home, he found his brother, Albert, the new Duke of Kendall, had been wounded by a knife and was at death’s door, sitting in a chair in his study. Determined to find the miscreant who had done this, Henry and Roger kept the attack quiet, hoping that would help lead them to the culprit. Lady Olivia Dawson was in a bad way. Her father had gambled away all of their money, even her dowry. He had lost much of it to Lord Langdon who demanded Olivia’s hand as payment. The entire family agreed that was never going to happen.

This was a little different than most of the Lyons Den stories as Henry had a bride in mind when he went to see Mrs. Dove-Lyon. He thought he could find his brother’s attacker and save Lady Olivia at the same time, having no idea he was going to fall in love. It was a good plot and the main characters were both very sympathetic. The stories in this connected world have been very satisfying, except that rarely do we revisit any character from previous books, except Mrs. Dove-Lyon. She has turned out to be a surprising character, a better friend to the ton that most would expect and always fighting for the underdog. Roger Stanton is an entertaining character, all the better for having not been born into the family, as such. It was an entertaining book.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Heart of a Lyon by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #AnnaStClair #TheHeartOfALyon

I really enjoy this series especially when Mrs Dove-Lyon is really involved. She is hands on while appearing to be hands off. I really enjoyed this book and the story was fascinating.
I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book

Normally, I do not review a book if it is not at least 4 stars.
Contains spoilers.
My concerns with this story come from the basic idea is that you have to know your subject matter. The heroine in this case, is a lady with the title "lady". Yet she is referred to as "Lady Olivia" and "Miss Olivia" interchangeably. And this is not correct. "Lady Olivia" refers to a noble who holds the title through birth or circumstance, such as marriage or inheritance. Referring to a young lady as "Miss" and using the first name means that she is a younger sister to another young woman who is already presented, but not yet married. So you can't use the titles interchangeably like what is happening in this book.
Another concern is that this book is part of a series where the female owner of a gaming establishment accepts wagers in order to make prestigious marriages for two people who do not know each other. While I thought this was a good idea, none of the books in the series were able to incorporate this into their story in a believable manner. It is like the book was already written, but in order to make it part of the series, the author added a few chapters to make it fit. And it is obvious in this book, since in the middle of the story, Mrs Dove-Lyins in introduced as a dear friend of each of the main character's mothers. Mind you, the story had been going on with neither mother acting like they were good friends nor close to the gambling hell owner. All of a sudden, in the middle of the story, both mothers are plotting to wed their children to each other. It comes across as being contrived and not as part of the main story. If we had started with the hero's father's death and then moved to how the families (therefore the mothers) were close, it would seem realistic. But the main characters are unknown to each other, except the parents said they played together for a few years when the heroine was 8 or 9, yet neither main character remember. And the reason why the story started with the father's death is to make it seem as if the family is being targeted and killed off one by one.
The story seems well written, but I am giving it 2 stars. There is too much contrived or added story parts that it does not read smoothly or cohesively. I would not recommend reading.

Problems plague their growing love. But it helps to have wonderful siblings and parents as well as good friends in high and low places. No villain can withstand assault from several fronts. Wonderful read from start to finish. Looking forward to the next in series!

I received an ARC from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Another visit to Bessie’s Den .
Another Lyon of her choosing wins a bride, and saves a reputation or a life by entering the parsons knot.

I love this series so much, I’m a total addict.
This is a great story with so much chemistry once the happy couple sort themselves out.

Bessie is on form, the games about to begin.
Henry and Olivia take their lives in their hands, and now have to evade a killer as well as arrange their future.
Relax and enjoy.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Filled with danger, mystery, wonderful characters and a cat named Salem bring this wonderful addition to this series full circle!

Having not seen each other seen childhood, Henry and Olivia's paths cross again at just the right time!

He has been suffering at the loss of his father and the nightmares he still has from the war. The Lyon's Den has been a refuge to drink and gamble.

She is trying to escape the clutches of a terrible man, who her father owes a lot of debt, so is desperate.

When a fake engagement ensues, who knows what will happen! Anna always creates stories that you cannot put down and you can only smile as you turn the last page!!

The Heart of a Lyon by Anna St. Claire was an excellent addition to The Lyons Den series. The soldier with PTSD, unknown of then, and the debutante that gets a fake betrothal. They have a terrible ordeal to get through then their HEA. Loved it!

One mother hoping to save her daughter from an unhappy future with a cruel man, and another seeking someone who will help her son move past the horrible memories of war and the guilt he feels over his father’s death come to Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon, owner of the Lyon’s Den and matchmaker extraordinaire for help. Henry and Olivia agree to a pretend betrothal to fend off her unwanted suitor. Henry and Olivia make a wonderful couple and a sweet, true romance develops between them. Their story is shrouded in mystery and danger. Who is trying to harm the Stanton family and why? The families will work together, along with some influential friends and Bessie Dove-Lyon, to stop the villains and make sure there is a happy ending. This is an entertaining story with awesome characters and a few twists and heartwarming surprises. A great addition to this addictive series.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

Part of the Lyon's Den series by multiple authors, I am always intrigued by the way in which each author brings their own flavor to the collection, whilst incorporating the main character, namely The Black Widow of Whitehall. This book opens on an incredibly dramatic note as the Earl of Egerton and his adopted brother watch their father die before their eyes. For a while, life spirals out of control for Henry, until he arrives home after a night of drunken gambling and finds his older brother gasping for breath after an attempted poisoning and stabbing. Keeping the desperate health of the Duke of Kendall under wraps, Henry and Robert set out to investigate who was responsible for the crime. This brings them into the orbit of the Dawson family only to find that their problems have become intertwined with the Stanton's difficulties. Thomas has no intention of marrying until such time as he can overcome the effects of the war, but when the only solution to Olivia's particular plight is a fake engagement, at the behest of the Black Widow, Henry finds that he cannot completely ignore the feelings he has for his childhood friend. Danger has a strange way of bringing out one's deepest feelings, and when Henry realizes that he is at risk of losing Olivia, he and his brother allow nothing to stop them in their bid to rescue her. The novel comes to a successful conclusion with the perpetrators of crimes receiving their just rewards and Henry finds his heart safe in Olivia's hands. I received a copy of this fast-paced and exciting book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Drinking and gambling don't mix. Henry Stanton, Earl of Edgerton, has a hard time fighting his demons. He carries the nightmare of his father's death and the death of men in battles against Napoleon. Lord Langdon is a villain who cheats for power. Obtaining Lord Southwood's vowels by cheating, he demands Southwoods' daughter, Olivia, will marry him and no one else. Henry Stanton, Earl of Edgerton, grew up with Olivia. He doesn't like Langdon and is willing to have a fake engagement with Olivia to protect her. This engagement is orchestrated by Henry's mother and Mrs Dove-Lyon. Although Olivia already loves Henry, he isn't so sure. When Olivia's life is in danger, Henry has no choice when his heart tells him he must come to her rescue. Mrs. Dove-Lyon has only a small part in manipulating the circumstances in this book.
Kissing only. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.