An Unexpected Love

They came into each other's life unwillingly, but they were exactly what they both needed. The past haunted them; life broke them; might they heal their pain together? They did not think they would find love together, for their pain was much too raw. Love was exactly what they needed. This is a story, both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. I loved it, and I found myself alternating between smiles and tears.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this novella and this is my freely given opinion.

This is another short story that is part of the Lyon's Den world. Montague Bassage, the Earl of Pennington, has suffered greatly through the traumatic losses of his two fiancees. He had loved them and hoped for a future of love and family, only have those hopes destroyed painfully. Not just once, but twice. He no longer believes or trusts in love, has no intentions of wedding anyone, and has retreated within himself, and gained the reputation for being a gambling, drinking, rake, labeled the Worst Man in London.

Despite his lack of desire to wed, he ends up gambling one night against Baron Kentwood, who in a reckless bid, wagers the hand of his youngest daughter, and Pennington wins. When Adriana Roberts, the baron's widowed elder daughter finds out, she sacrifices herself and takes the place of the bride, as her sister has a chance to make a good marriage and save the fortunes of the family. Adriana does not expect much for her own future, having already suffered a disappointing marriage, and then being tarnished with the reputation of possibly having murdered her husband. Her own family was less than welcoming of her return to the fold, fearing that her reputation would ruin her sister's chances. Pennington was not wanting the marriage to begin with and quite furious when he discovers the ruse as well. Needless to say, they start the marriage on very rough waters.

But they find connection in the fact that they both are very lonely people are looking for comfort, acceptance, and love, and when they let their defenses down for each other, they can forge a future together.

This was a short and intense story and it sounds like Adriana's family was just awful and narcissistic, while Pennington's losses were quite tragic, sudden, and heart rending. They are two older people who have each experienced hardship and tragedy, and definitely deserved to find some love and solace in their life. It was satisfying to read their HEA and that they found connection, and family together.

4 stars out of 5

Mrs. Dove-Lyon strikes again in this latest addition to the captivating Lyon's Den Connected series.
Montague Bassage, the Earl of Pennington, has been very unlucky in love considering that he has been engaged twice and both times his fiancé died. Having completely given up on love, he becomes a total rake, the worst man in London. Adriana is a widow who is accused of killing her late husband. In the midst of all the scandal following his death she goes back home and finds, her father having lost at cards, that her younger sister has been promised as a bride to, Montague. Mrs
Dove-Lyons does her thing and an underhanded marriage is arranged between Adriana and Montague instead, and they have no choice but to honor it. But it doesn't take long for their marriage of convenience to blossom into something more as they both have trouble fighting their mutual attraction.
Ms. Sookoo always creates such engaging and entertaining stories and this was no different. A well-written story with wonderful characters, the story pulled me in from the very start and kept me interested till the end. This is a wonderful addition to the series!
My thanks to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for providing a complimentary copy. This is my voluntary and honest opinion.

He has a terrible reputation since his two fiancees had died, the Earl of Pennington has been through so much heartache and is reluctant to meet anyone again. She is a widower living at home, her father just gambled her sister away. She takes her place.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon steps in and shows tough side. She gives them choices, but the end result is up to them. This is an emotional story. Its dark pasts, hurt, uncertainties. But it's about two wonderful people who need each other desperately. The story holds your attention from the bitter beginning straight through to the wonderfully end.

The Earl of Pennington has been through so much heartache and is reluctant to meet anyone again. Thongs get out of hand while gambling and he's going to marry. His wife isn't as docile as he had hoped and sparks fly. Ups and downs throughout this whole story. If you haven't read it...you should!

The Lyon’s Puzzle by Sandra Sookoo. As a Sookoo fan I was anxious to give this book a try, knowing she’d bring her own brand of storytelling to the book. I was not disappointed. After spending a rather boring evening at the Lyon’s Den, Montague Bassage, Earl of Pennington was looking for an amusement. He found it at a card table where Lord Kentwood lost a huge amount. He had no money and he had no credit so he offered his youngest daughter’s hand in marriage. It was the last thing he needed, a nineteen year old bride, but Mrs. Dove-Lyon really left him no choice. She arranged the whole thing, several days hence, giving him no time to plan an escape. It was a small wedding and the bride wore a heavy veil. It was not until it was over that he discovered the brides had been switched. Adriana Stapley, Kenwood’s elder daughter had convinced Mrs. Dove-Lyon that it was for the best. She was a widow and this man, no matter his reputation, could be no worse than her dead husband had been.

What a great story, loosely based on Beauty and the Beast. Both these people had been hurt badly, and neither was open to trying again. Lines of communication started off as non-existent. Adriana was convinced she was not attractive and that belief radiated from her. She also was not amenable to taking orders, something Pennington excelled at. As for Montague, he had reasons to be hurt, but the way he had responded, by becoming the worst man in London, wan’t helping anything. She intrigued him, as he intrigued her. Still no communication. Things happened slowly, but they did happen. What a terrific story. Sookoo did not let me down in the least. I think she even surprised Mrs. Dove-Lyon.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Lyon’s Puzzle by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #SandraSookoo #TheLyonsPuzzle

Thank you NetGalley. I enjoyed this story so much. It was a little different. Adrianais living at home with her parents after being widowed by a husband who abused her. Her father has gambled away his younger daughter but with the help of Mrs. Dove-Lyon she takes her place. Pennington has a terrible reputation since his two fiancees had died. He is ma that the brides were switched on him. They start with fighting each other verbally until they spend some time learning what was happening in the other's life to make them the way they are. They grow to love each other but will they stay together? They almost lose what they have.

He is mired in grief. She is a widow who was abused. Neither is looking for fairytales. In fact, both just want to be left alone. Adriana wasn’t the bride in the bet, but she sought to save her sister and offered herself instead. Montague doesn’t know about the swap until the wedding is done. This makes for an uncomfortable start to their marriage to say the least. One step forward, two steps back might be an apt description of their efforts to find if and how they fit. When it looks like they will give up, Mrs. Dove-Lyon steps in and shows her really tough side. She gives them choices, but the end result is up to them. This is an emotional story filled with dark pasts, hurt, uncertainties. It also has two wonderful people who need each other desperately. The story holds your attention rather bitter beginning straight through to the wonderfully delicious end. Bessie Dove-Lyon does it again. Another winner for Sandra Sookoo.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

The synopsis of the story drew me in to wanting to read this book. The main character Mobtague, I thought was perfectly written for the book. While reading the first few chapters I tried to get an idea of where the writer wanted to lead her readers. I understood that mobtague did not want to be married after his last fiancés ended badly. As I continued to read the story was a bit all over.

This historical romance has our devious widow, the owner of Lyon's Den being particularly ruthless.
Montague Bassage, the Earl of Pennington is known as the worst man in London. He has suffered terrible heartache and protects himself by driving everyone away.
Adriana Roberts has had her self worth beaten out of her. In an attempt to be worth something she sacrifices herself for her sister.
Lots of twists and turns of emotions in this story. You won't want to put yourself in our characters places through most of the book.
A very entertaining addition to the Lyon's Den series.

I couldn't really take to this book at all. I like Adriana from the beginning but her family was just awful then so did Montague. This meant I struggled to warm to him I could not believe Adriana would run back to the Lyon’s Den or that Mrs Lyons would treat them that way airing their dirty laundry in public. This was so out of left field that it made this part of the book illogical and awkward and just ruined it for me. I received an advanced reader copy for free and am voluntarily leaving my review.v2.5 stars

Montague Bassage, the Earl of Pennington has been in love twice & both times his fiancées died, he retreated within himself. Over the years, he’s made himself into the worst man in London. Besieged by rumour and innuendo Mrs Adriana Roberts nee Stapleton, eldest daughter of Baron Kentwood, is a widow accused of killing her reprobate husband. In the scandal that followed his death, she returned home, only to dance attendance on her much younger and more beautiful sister. But when that sister’s hand is lost at a card table to the Worst Man in London, she has to do something. When the owner of the Lyon’s Den arranges a devious marriage between them, they have no choice but to comply. So begins a marriage of convenience despite the intense attraction present.
A well written interesting read of two tortured souls finding love. I thoroughly enjoyed the book until Adriana acted the martyr & then I felt things went over the top & I want to shake the couple especially Adriana but things did resolve in the end & the epilogue was lovely. The characters are well portrayed & have depth & I loved how they helped each other heal & trusted each other with their backstories.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Another winner for Mrs. Dove-Lyon. The master manipulator once again proves she knows who makes the best match. A slight glitch in the contract makes a better match, when Adriana takes her younger sister's place marrying the Earl of Pennington. Two damaged souls face each other toe-to-toe to build trust. It's only the beginning for a strong marriage, until Adriana runs scared.
By far one of the best series!
Heat level 3.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

There is no single way in which people react to pain and brokenness. Some individuals will close in on themselves and go into a deep depression, others will adopt a stiff upper lip and carry on courageously, whilst yet others will display anger and vent their rage on whoever gets in their way. Adriana battled on courageously, taking the fall for her weak-willed father and spoiled sister, and the Earl of Pennington vented his rage on society. Both had broken hearts and trust issues and finding themselves manipulated into a marriage that was not to their taste, they enter their relationship with anger, antagonism, and firing insults along the way. It seemed that the only one who had any hope for the pair was Pennington's butler. Little by little, Adriana and Pennington begin to see and hear beyond the obvious and an uneasy truce is formed, each giving a little and conceding that they may have been mistaken. However, when Adriana once again takes on the role of martyr, hope for the future seems to diminish and in the middle of the plot, Bessie Dove-Lyon is stirring the pot. Fortunately, both main characters come to their senses and the novel comes to a successful conclusion. I received a copy of this well-written romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Expect the unexpected, open your mind and your heart, and hold on tight. You will experience every emotion, and your head will be so full of thoughts and feelings that you won't be able to stop thinking about it for a long time. And when you make it to the end, you'll be changed. Welcome to the Sandra Sookoo Fan Club

Wow! Loved This Story!

This was such a fun and witty read it kept me engaged page after page. I think this has to be one of my favourite Lyon’s Den stories!

Pennington was known as a beast because of all the heartache he’d had in the past, he’d given up on love and led his life as a wild rake not caring about anyone but he was very lonely!

Adriana an abused widow, couldn’t see her younger sister sacrificed to the beast so she took her place. She was now a stronger person and wouldn’t put up with any nonsense.

They both didn’t want love and she couldn’t give him what he truly desired but sometimes love creeps up on you and you have to fight for what you really want.

Such a wonderful recommended read, it opens your heart to possibilities and gives you hope!

I voluntarily read and reviewed and ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Having read every book in the Lyon Den series, I was really excited to be able to read and review this one.
The story begins well enough by drawing in the reader into the world of Mrs. Dove-Lyons. You have to read the series to really get an idea of the background that runs in each book. There seems to be much more drama involved in this one that fits into the complicated lives of the two main characters. Unfortunately, for me the author goes on a totally different tangent with the female character. My first thought as I began to read this turn of events was that no way would Adriana run back to the Lyon’s Den! This section was so out of left field that it made the conclusion illogical and awkward.
I received an advanced reader copy for free from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Witty and steamy but also an insight to how people cope with violence, rape and loss. They rose from the ashes of their past, each broken but also stronger. Society dubbed them the Murderess and the Beast. Their clashes are legendary,. But when they learned to fight for each other, things started looking up. Finished in one sitting as it is hard to put down!

I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

Sandra Sookoo has always been a bit of a hit or miss author for me - this one is definitely a hit. I've really been enjoying the Lyon's Den series and love getting to see how different authors tackle the premise. Adriana's family is pretty much the worst so I was so happy to see her find someone that really saw her and loved her for everything she was. I also really loved the scenes where she goes toe-to-toe with Montague when he was being particularly awful to her. He also had a lot to overcome in order to be willing to open his heart to Adriana. I enjoyed everything about these characters and this book right up until the final confrontation at the Lyon's Den. I thought it was a little over the top and made Mrs. Dove-Lyon too much of a bad guy - overall it just felt too contrived.

This is The Lyon's Den Connected World from Various Authors. I read previous book in this series (Lyon of the Highlands by Emily Royal) and curious in this book. My first book from this author and this book is good.

Lord Montague Bassage, Earl of Pennington bored, tired and disgruntled of everything. He close his heart because of lost of two fiancee, he cant bear the lost anymore and the last thing he need is a wife. When Lord Kentwood lost gambel and over Lord Pennington his daughter as a payment he refuse it. In Lord Kentwood househeld there are chaos, Sybil dosnt want to married with someone she dosnt know, they make plan so Adriana the oldest and a widow will married Lord Pennington. With Mrs Dove-Lyon the owner of Lyon's Den meddling the marriage happend.

The first part of their marriage are not easy, a lot of fight, bickering, the tension high tho. I love how they sharing each other past, open up their wound to each other. My heart ache for Adriana, she desrve better and happiness. It is take time for Montague to make her understand that she what he wants.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#TheLyonsPuzzle #LyonDen #LyonDenBooks #SandraSookoo #DragonbladePublishing #NetGalley #ARC