A great read that flows at a steady pace with a lot of sympathy for a couple trying to beat the odds.

The Lyon's Den delivers again—this time with a deliciously dark and twisty Regency romance that blends scandal, redemption, and a love that dares to defy all odds.

Marcus Dandridge is not your typical hero. He’s rich, ruthless, and still licking his wounds after a failed blackmail attempt to win the woman he loves. It shouldn’t work—and yet, that’s exactly what makes him such a compelling character. Watching Marcus fall hopelessly for Lady Joanna, a debutante who’s already unimpressed by Society’s “suitable” offerings, is like watching a high-stakes game where you know someone’s going to get burned—but can’t look away.

Joanna is no naive miss, either. Her growing fascination with Marcus feels believable, dangerous, and electric. The chemistry crackles between them, even as her brother’s fury hangs like a guillotine over their heads.

What really sets this apart from a standard historical romance is the gamble at its heart—not just at Marcus’s gaming hells, but in love itself. Every decision feels like a spin of the wheel, and the tension is thick enough to cut with a knife.

This is a must-read for fans of morally grey heroes, clever heroines, and the irresistible chaos that ensues when love laughs in the face of propriety.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

The Dandy Lyon by Jenna Jaxon is a little different Lyon’s Den book wherein the male lead, Marcus Dandridge, is a fellow gambling hell owner and friend of Mrs. Dove-Lyon. He goes to her for advice on how to obtain the woman of his dreams, Lady Joanna Lanagford, who is completely out of his league. Mrs. Dove-Lyon is not completely sold on the idea but agrees to help. He’d had one dance with her before her brother appeared and now was invited to a house party where she would be in attendance. This was his chance and he went for it. Sadly, her brother arrived and he was forced to leave. But, by then he had solidified their relationship and if he needed to wait three years until she was out of from under her brother’s control, so be it.

Things happened quickly when they happened and Geoffrey was forced to agree to the marriage. Marcus is a good man who came from nothing and has made a lot of money. He has an interesting way of getting Geoffrey to accept his profession, but I’ll leave that to other readers to discover. Joanna was stubborn but had few rights. She knew she wanted this man and did all she could, within the confines of her life, to get him. They were good characters: a man who made something of himself and a woman who didn’t care about his origins, she just cared about him. It was a fun story of backhand dealing and sneaking around that eventually made itself right.

I was invited to read The Dandy Lyon by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #JennaJaxon #TheDandyLyon

Marcus Dandridge fell in love at first sight with Lady Joanna, but she is the sister of an earl. He owns three gaming hells. What chance does he have to marry above his station? He's already tried to bribe her brother to let them marry, but that didn't work. He was able to influence a lady for an invitation to a house party and succeeded in winning time with Joanna, but her brother's interference tears them apart. Friends with Mrs. Dove-Lyon, she gives him advice, but he decides not to take it. What's a man to do when he is hopelessly in love? A great read that flows at a steady pace with a lot of sympathy for a couple trying to beat the odds.
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

A forbidden romance is just the right incentive for Joanna, lady in high society, and Marcus a gambling den owner, to fall in love. This book was nicely done with the focus on the relationship. Marcus is deeply in love, protective and works hard to win his hea. J9anna is spunky, open to Marcus, even if he's not of the same class and willing to defy conventions to get her hea.

#TheDandyLyon #NetGalley

I enjoyed this new addition to the series. I hadn't read the author's previous book and therefore didn't know the back story or the protagonists, but I found my way into it over time. The plot is very well written and has some action, steam and forbidden love, class disparity, he falls first, hero obsessed and house party tropes. The characters are both very likeable. Marcus is a lovesick cinnamon roll hero and Joanna is a confident, headstrong young lady who knows what she wants. I liked the fact that Marcus didn't give up hope despite all the obstacles and that Joanna stood by him and fought for her love despite the social prejudices and the events of the past.

Club owner and self-made man Marcus „Dandy“ Dandridge has been in love with Lady Joanna Longford ever since he first laid eyes on her. But his attempts at extortion a year ago to force her brother to agree to let him marry Joanna backfired. Since Marcus has been unable to forget her, he now sneaks his way into a house party as a respectable gentleman. Joanna is also taken with Marcus, were it not for her brother's hatred, who wants to prevent a relationship between them...

Overall, an entertaining forbidden love story with strong, determined protagonists and a happy ending against all odds that I am happy to recommend!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

Jenna Jaxon delivers a delightfully unconventional Regency romance with "The Dandy Lyon," where love defies class, propriety, and a controlling brother’s wrath. Marcus Dandridge—self-made, ruthless, and utterly smitten—is the kind of hero you can’t help but root for, even when he’s making spectacularly bad decisions (blackmailing the heroine’s brother? Bold move, Marcus). His desperation to win Lady Joanna’s heart leads him to Mrs. Dove-Lyon, though this time, the infamous matchmaker takes a backseat as an advisor rather than a puppeteer.

Joanna is a sweet, naive debutante bored by stuffy suitors and intrigued by the man society deems unsuitable. Their chemistry is off the charts, especially when Marcus crashes a house party under false pretenses just to be near her. Joanna’s growing defiance against her overbearing brother adds just the right amount of drama. And it's sweet how Marcus’s devotion is unwavering. A few pacing hiccups aside (the brother’s obstinance toes the line of repetitive), this is a charming, steamy romp with heart. Perfect for fans of heroes who fall first and heroines who refuse to play by the rules.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC!

A Captivating Regency Romance
Marcus falls for Joanna the moment he lays eyes on her. But winning her heart isn’t simple, especially after he makes an enemy of her protective brother by leveraging his financial desperation into blackmail. To complicate matters further, Marcus is of a lower social class, a fact that makes their match all the more scandalous. In his desperation, he turns to the enigmatic Mrs. Dove-Lyon. This time, she doesn’t arrange a match but offers guidance from the sidelines.
Determined to be near Joanna, Marcus boldly crashes a house party under false pretenses. His charm and boldness stand in stark contrast to the tedious men of the ton, and Joanna is quickly captivated. However, her brother refuses to grant permission for the match, and Marcus’s relentless pursuit only intensifies the conflict. Joanna, no wilting flower, stands her ground and challenges both her brother and society’s expectations, setting off a chain of events with unanticipated, and nearly deadly, consequences.
Can love triumph over pride, class barriers, and past mistakes?
The Dandy Lyon is a compelling Regency romance brimming with passion, tension, and heart. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to lovers of the genre.

Marcus Dandridge is a gentleman in the true sense of the word. Not by birth but by action. Lady Joanna Longford is in her 1st season and she's already bored with the men she's met. She wants love, someone she can talk to, and for her he doesn't have to be a peer. Her brother has other plans for her, and they can not include Marcus. He wants the best for her, and he'll do what he can to make sure she gets it.

Marcus came from nothing and now he his owns a gaming hell, The Dandy. Love the play on his name, and the strong description of a 'dandelion." He has an unexpected friendship with Bessie Dove-Lyon, the matchmaker. BDL's role is more friend in this book, and it's a nice change from her typical role. Jaxon gives a glimpse into the lives of characters from her two previous Lyons series books and it provides depth to this story. Marcus is looking for love and only Joanna will do. And he'll do anything to win her love.

This was a wonderful story to spend a few hours with on a very rainy Nashville afternoon. Lots of heart, a good redemption story with a sweet HEA.

He falls first...

And he falls hard. This is a gem about Marcus Dandridge, a gaming club owner, who falls for Lady Joanna at first sight and the lengths he goes to in order to gain her favor and her hand in marriage. He's crafty and fighting a huge class divide and her family and ton circle, to obtain his hearts desire. Lady Joanna. Joanna is intrigued and flattered by Marcus. She's young and not quite sure what to make of him. Just go with it, men like Marcus don't come around every day, if ever.
Recommend.

This book in The Lyon's Den Connected World series is extremely heartwarming and captivating. Rhe drama, action, past grievances, intrigue, family issues, attempted murder, and other emotional issues kept me very entertained. The characters were both tenacious, strong-willed, and very much in love. I enjoyed how their beautiful love for one another came a class difference, and family issues to become a forever love. I highly recommend reading!

Marcus fell in love with Joanna when he first saw her. However, he is from a poor background and made his money by running gambling dens. Knowing she is far above him in social class, Marcus attempts to force a marriage by blackmailing her brother, Geoffrey (The Lyon's Paw). This rightfully angered Geoffrey, who took steps to ensure that Marcus couldn't get near her. Desperate to win the lady, Marcus goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for help.

Joanna is unimpressed with the men she has met so far. But a single dance with the mysterious Mr. Dandridge piques her interest, especially when her brother makes his displeasure known. Her attempt to meet with him ends in disaster, with Geoffrey even more determined to keep them apart.

Marcus doesn't give up and, through some deception, acquires an invitation to the same house party that Joanna attends. His arrival and unmasking show his determination and his negotiating skills. Seeing Marcus and Joanna convince their host to allow him to stay was fun. Marcus's attention gives Joanna the courage to be herself, and there are some amusing moments when she ruffles the feathers of the more conservative attendees at the party. I loved Marcus's matter-of-fact acceptance of her complaints and his willingness to do something about them. It doesn't take long for Joanna to return Marcus's feelings.

I loved the development of Marcus and Joanna's relationship. The depth of his feelings for her is evident throughout the book. While he is determined to win her heart, he also wants to protect her and her reputation. Joanna doesn't care what people think; she just wants the man she loves. The ups and downs of their road to happiness kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. The intense event that tipped the scales emphasized their feelings for each other. The ending was terrific, and I loved the epilogue.

This book was unusual in that Mrs. Dove-Lyon plays a very minor role. Rather than being the matchmaker that brings two people together, she is more of an advisor to Marcus.

When Marcus,aka Dandy, has trouble capturing the love of his life, he turns to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for help. Always the matchmaker, Mrs. Dove-Lyon does her best to bring Marcus and Lady Joanna together. There are conflicts and hurdles to overcome which is why these stories are so popular among us. Only the best authors get to delve into Mrs. Dove-Lyon's world to bring the readers joy, happiness and romance.

Well written, but I would expect nothing less when it comes to this series and the authors who contribute.

Although this historical romance is part of the Lyon's Den world, our infamous black widow doesn't make the match this time. She just tries to talk some sense into someone who needs it.
Our hero is not part of society. He has dragged himself and his family up out of poverty. Consequently when he falls in love at first sight with a high society lady it's not going to be well received.
Our heroine is a lady with a mind of her own. Unfortunately her brother is being rather disagreeable about her choices.
We get a little intrigue and naughtiness from or characters. They have an almost impossible task ahead of them.
Good fun.

When a man loves a woman, he will do whatever he can to win the approval he needs to woo her, even if it is totally outrageous. At times, Marcus, otherwise known as Dandy, causes more friction than goodwill, but with Bessie Dove-Lyon's advice, he slowly makes inroads to achieving his goal of winning Lady Joanna's heart. He discovers that she has a mischievous streak, and when it comes to spending time with her, he quickly realizes that if he is to win her over, he needs to be somewhat unconventional. The novel ends on a delightful note with Joanna discovering a whole new world and Marcus finally finding the balm he needs for his wounded soul. I received a copy of this entertaining romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I really like this book it was a great tale with good characters and settings. I received a review copy from NetGalley but the views and opinions expressed herein are my own.

Loved reading the fabulous and fantastic romance story. Even though Joanna's brother doesn't want Marcus to have anything to do with Joanna, Marcus goes to great lengths to spend time with Joanna. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written, and a must read riveting love story.

Thank you NetGalley. The first time Marcus saw Joanna, He fell in love with her. He owned gambling clubs and was not in the same class as she was. He asked her brother for her hand in marriage but he told Marcus never would he allow them to marry. Marcus tries different situations for them to meet but her brother gets in the way. Finally they meet at a hunting party and now that she has been given a chance to get to know Marcus without her brother there she falls in love with him. But will they ever be together?

I adore a historical romance where a man is all for women doing what they want to and learning things society deems "unacceptable", so suffice to say I rather enjoyed the MMC and his adoration for the FMC in this installment in the Lyon's Den series.

I really liked the connection between Marcus and Joanna, it felt very genuine and caring. He is honestly just so down bad for her, it was exciting to read about him doing all these cute things just to be able to get a HEA with her.

I thought it was interesting that the Black Widow had very little intervention in the pairing for this story, but it was nice to see a sort of different aspect of her just being a friend to Marcus and encouraging him to go for the girl he wants on his own accord.

Marcus Dandridge has been in one with Lady Joanna ever since the first time he glimpsed her.
Her brother has refused his hand in marriage due to his dubious background.
But Marcus will not give up. He tries multiple ways to gain her for a wife.
An entrancing love story watching him capture her attention and his never give in attitude.