Fast-paced, intriguing story about two people brought together by a blackmailer. Anna's father recently passed away, with his title going to her profligate cousin and his fortune in trust for her. She spent most of her life at their country estate while her father stayed in London. While going through her father's study, Anna discovered that he was also a blackmailer. Complicating matters is the arrival of her cousin and his friends at the estate. Not satisfied with just the title, he wants Anna's fortune and is willing to do anything to get it.

When Elliott learns a family member is a victim of a blackmailer, he vows to retrieve the offending documents. Disguised as a servant, Elliott is searching the Earl's study when he encounters Anna. They join forces to find the papers. They are shocked to discover that even the infamous Mrs. Dove-Lyon was one of the Earl's victims. She offers to find Anna a husband in exchange for the return of those documents.

Anna and Elliott discover that one of the men at her cousin's house party is tracking her. They work together to find out why and grow closer in the process. Elliott wants to protect Anna from harm while trying to hide his feelings for her. He feels he is in no position to offer for her. Meanwhile, Anna's feelings about marriage change when she realizes that Elliott is one of the few good men in London. But can she overcome his fears?

The ending was intense as matters with the blackmail documents came to a head in a nail-biting confrontation. There was a twist to the ending that I didn't see coming but probably should have, given Mrs. Dove-Lyon's involvement.

Simply delightful. I loved this lighthearted, easy read storyline filled with heart and caring. Both Elliot and Anna are unusually honest and kind with a strong desire for justice. They make a great team as they work to foil the bad guys and save everyone in regards to the documents of her deceased father.

The reader will find in this book that Mrs. Dove-Lyon, the Black Widow, is not always an automation in her dealings with people especially those she trusts which are few and far between. In this book you will get to see a softer side of her and she becomes more real to the reader.

If you want a fast enjoyable read this is your book.

What I learned from this book is that when everything seems hopeless hope shows up.

Bravo, Ms. Marlowe! You captured the Dove-Lyon dynamic perfectly. This IS Bessie Dove-Lyon, and her good, but wily heart support Elliot and Anna as they traverse through a truly lovely romance and attempts to upend a vile viscount’s plans. So enjoyed. Please, pen another Lyon’s Den tale.

Okay, I finished this one in one sitting, and let me tell you, it is a delight. If you love Regency romance with a dash of intrigue, a clever heroine, and a hero who’s more regular bloke than duke (at the moment anyway—he has an inheritance coming someday), this one’s for you.

Lady Anna Parbury’s life gets turned upside down when her father dies, leaving her with two shocking revelations: 1) Her cousin is a snake who’ll do anything to steal her inheritance, and 2) Her dear old dad was a blackmailer. Now she’s got a house full of drunken louts trying to trap her into marriage, a secret stash of incriminating letters, and zero allies: until she crosses paths with Elliott Ward, a man on a mission to retrieve one of those damning letters for his own family. Anna catches Elliott mid-burglary in her father’s study, and instead of screaming for the constable, she coolly negotiates with him. (Major points for competence.) From there, they team up to destroy the evidence—only to realize too late that burning the letters doesn’t erase the danger. Now they’re dodging threats, outsmarting villains, and falling for each other along the way. And Mrs. Dove-Lyon is in fine form here, actually revealing some scandalous personal details.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This book in The Lyons Den Connected World series is an engaging and well written romance. It was full of drama, past misdeeds, a change in circumstances, intrigue, mystery, lies, secrets, a fortunate encounter with many emotional issues that all made for a very entertaining story. I enjoyed the delightful characters, especially the larger roll Mrs Dove-Lyon played in it. I highly recommend reading!

5 stars

Good story, Our heroine finds that her father was a blackmailer. She needs to find the evidence before her weak cousin finds it and continues the sin against others. She finds Bessie Dove-Lyons was one of the victims as was our hero's father. Our hero, Elliot helps find the evidence but then they decide to destroy it, which works out to be a mistake as the villain is still chasing Anna. Hence Eliot & Anna have to find out fresh evidence to bring the villain to justice. I enjoyed it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Blackmail, Matchmaking Shenanigans, and Unexpected Love
When Anna’s father dies, the estate and title pass to her cousin—but he’s not satisfied with that. He wants Anna’s fortune too and isn’t above using his depraved friends to compromise her. Forced to flee, Anna crosses paths with two unexpected allies: Mrs. Dove-Lyon, the infamous Black Widow of Whitehall, and Elliott Ward.
Both are after the same thing—damaging letters Anna’s father once used for blackmail. In exchange for the letters, Mrs. Dove-Lyon offers Anna a match, though Anna insists she wants freedom, not a husband. Elliott, on the other hand, surprises her. Their partnership grows, trust builds, and love quietly takes root.
However, danger lurks. Not everyone searching for the letters has good intentions, and Anna may need Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s help more than she expects. As for Elliott—he proves to be both protector and temptation. Anna values her independence, but love has a way of changing everything.
This is an entertaining and romantic Regency adventure. Mrs. Dove-Lyon may not be matchmaking in her usual way, but she’s as clever and compelling as ever. I recommend this story to fans of historical romance with a dash of suspense and heart.

I love a mystery series by this author so I was super excited to read this book. I haven’t read many in Lyon series so I don’t have any particular feelings regarding that. I did like that part of this book took place in the den. I also liked that she didn’t seem as overbearing and terrifying in this addition. Our couple were honestly very cute together. They are brought together by trying to over come the same goal and they fall in love in the process. I did think this was going to be clean and was pleasantly surprised when there was a slightly steamy scene.
Anna just wanted to find some one that really wanted her in their life. Didn’t want her for her trust which was the one kindness her father really offered her. It’s sad how little the people around her helped her when she asked. Then she meets Elliot who wants nothing from her in exchange for his help. He hopes that she will be his but never makes that a contingency for him in her life.

I liked this sweet, short story.

I enjoyed this fast paced book of wits and out foxing...

Lady Anna will do anything to avoid being compromised in to marriage to her swarmy cousin to gain her dowry and fortune. She goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Elliot seeks out Anna, to obtain letters her father was using as blackmail.Elliot and Anna strike a deal, in maybe a kind of double cross, out foxing., out witting.
Recommend for a clever pairing of Elliot and Anna.

I love Deb Marlowe’s book so I was excited to see her entry into the Lyon’s Den and this quick read did not disappoint. It was just a little over 100 pages so except for the need for a deeper story, the 100 pages were well written and told a lot of story. Anna and Elliott are really decent people that have each faced a lot of disappointment in their lives so it made their HEA so much sweeter.

The Lyon’s Love Letters
Deb Marlowe
The Lyon’s Den Connected World

Enjoyable way to end the day ~ Anna and Elliott were perfect for and with one another

What I Liked:
* Lady Anna Parbury: only child, kept in the country by her father, wealthy in a few years, just lost her father who was not what she thought, needs a safe place to land, attracted to Elliott
*Mr. Elliott Ward: Lord Heyden’s son, heir, rather useless parents, realizes he wants more and is in search of purpose, helps Anna and is attracted to her
* Mrs. Dove-Lyon: owner of The Lyon’s Den, matchmaker, has secrets, no doubt wealthy, easily reads people, intriguing
* Elliott’s plan to reveal the secret that will take down Kenniston
* The game that Mrs. Dove-Lyon set up at the end
* Being able to dislike the baddies
* The way Anna and Elliott fairly quickly knew they were meant to be together though that was furthest from their minds in the beginning
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* All of it really except

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Anna’s cousin Thomas, Thomas’s friends – especially viscount Kenniston
* That the parents of both Elliott and Anna were not worthy of their children

Did I Like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? I think so

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Aah, my favorite series to chill too. Mrs. Dove-Lyon's back with a new twist to her matchmaking skills. Anna is left on her own when her father dies. She discovers things about her dad that have her running, straight into trouble. Elliott falls instantly but is worried about Anna's past. The two must uncover more dark secrets but with Mrs. Dove-Lyon's help they may succeed. Well written and full of that old series fun at the tables with challenges.

After her father's death, Lady Anna discovers his dirty secret. Files of information on various people were used for blackmail. Elliot Ward needs to retrieve one of those files. After Anna gives him the file, he vows to keep her safe from her cousin, the new Earl of Martindale. Anna, living at the Lyon's Den, works with Elliot to collect evidence against her cousin that was in the file Elliot burned. The evidence they accumulate, shows how demented and evil her cousin really is. It's a good thing Mrs. Dove-Lyon is on Anna and Elliott's side. A clever game Mrs. Dove-Lyon's rules will end.
Mild descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I enjoyed this sweet romance novel with its well-written plot, very likable protagonists, some suspense and a bit of spice. Lady Anna Parbury, daughter of the Earl of Martindale, spent her entire life in seclusion at her father's country estate. After his death, she discovers that her father was a blackmailer and kept many files on various people. When her unsavoury cousin takes his inheritance and uses the house for a wild house party with his licentious friends, including Lord Kenniston, she has to act quickly to avoid being compromised or forced into marriage because of her inheritance. Unexpectedly, she gets help from Mrs Dove-Lyon, who wants incriminating letters that Anna's father used against her returned to her. Elliott Ward breaks into Anna’s home to find the incriminating file on his mother, but he is surprised by Anna, but instead of reacting hysterically or indignantly, she keeps a cool head and together they plan to destroy the remaining files. However, this soon turns out to be a big mistake, as there was apparently also a file on Kenniston, who now haunts the two of them. Now Anna and Edward must work together to uncover Kenniston's secrets and keep him at arm's length. In the process, they grow closer. But Anna doesn't want to give up her independence and Edward has nothing to offer her... If you like quick to read romance novels with endearing characters, a touch of suspense and a bit of spice, you are sure to enjoy this new “Lyon‘s Den“ installment by Deb Marlowe! I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

The Lyon’s Love Letters by Deb Marlowe
The Lyon’s Den Connected World series. Historical romance. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Until her father died, Lady Anna Parbury lived a quiet life on his estate in a small village. No friends or companions other than her love of books. When her cousin shows up unexpectedly, she realizes she’ll be forced to marry one of his fortune seeking friends if she doesn’t find a way to protect herself. Anna is also just realizing that her father was a blackmailer which puts her in even more danger. She bargains to get help from the famous Black Widow of Whitehall with the return of incriminating paperwork. In the middle of pulling the right papers, Anna meets a Mr. Elliott Ward who disguised himself as a servant. He’s there to also find some incriminating papers for his mother. Anna and Elliott agree to help each other out and burn all the rest of the papers.
It’s only later they realize that even though they destroyed all evidence of the blackmail, that victims will believe her innocent. Anna just wants her freedom to travel or read or garden, however she wants. She’ll have money when she turns twenty five. With a little help from the Black Widow and Elliott Ward, she’ll at least escape her money-hungry cousin!

An innocent with a lust for adventure. A son of a titled family tired of the frivolous life and looking to build a legacy with hard work and honorable intentions.
I haven’t read any of the prior Lyon’s Den stories and had no issues reading this book.

Adorable storytelling with a little intrigue and romance. The perfect combo for an evening of escape.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to keep.

I love Deb Marlowe's Kier & Levett series so I was excited to see her take on the Lyon's Den. I thought it was really interesting how she made the Lyon's Den central to the story, but not necessarily the matchmaker aspect. I also liked that there was a callback to an early book in the series (Pretty Little Lyon). As expected, this book also has a little bit of a mystery to be solved in amongst the romance brewing between the two main characters. I loved the first meeting between Anna and Elliott - it was both humorous and set up a certain level of trust between them right from the start. There is also a good villain who you will look forward to seeing getting his comeuppance. I also liked that the characters knew enough to know they should not rush into anything and although their courtship is pretty quick they have a plan. And you know they will end up being just fine because they are truly partners and not just a couple.

This book is a fast-paced and exciting adventure, leading to romance. Protected and kept out of sight, Anna Parbury realizes upon the death of her father that she is in deep trouble when she discovers his secrets. Before she can do anything about the matter, her home is invaded by the heir, her cousin, and his despicable friends. One, in particular, makes her very wary, but she manages to escape the house, planning to find safety, but without success. Instead, she is introduced to the mysterious Mrs Bessie Dove-Lyon, who offers her safety in return for a favor, which means she has to return to her father's study. There she finds an intruder, and it becomes clear that her father's files must be destroyed. Elliott Ward is relieved when Anna works with him to gather the evidence, but they leave a trail of havoc in their wake when someone else wants the files. Elliot and Anna's adventures take them into parts of London and a network of friends she knew nothing about, leading them to the answers they need. Together with Mrs. Dove-Lyon's intervention, they bring the matter to a successful conclusion. I received a copy of this novel as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Loved this story! Anna may have kept in the country and sheltered, but she has so much strength. Nothing sets her back. She accepts it, changes what she can and moves on. Elliott is such a rock! I especially liked his character and how honorable he is. A lovely story to read, and a great addition to the series.

Lady Anna Parbury is in trouble. Her father has passed on and his estates and title have passed to her cousin who wants the fortune Anna’s father left in trust for her, and he’s willing to compromise her—or worse—to get it. But Anna has discovered her charming rogue of a father was also a charming rogue of a blackmailer, and that leads to brand-new sorts of trouble—like Mr. Elliott Ward, who has arrived looking for the evidence her father held against someone he cares for. And like Mrs. Dove-Lyon, the famous Black Widow of Whitehall, who has come for the same reason—and with a bargain in Anna will give the Black Widow the files Anna’s father held over her, and in exchange, she will find the girl a husband.
Another very good book in this connected series & we see a different side to Mrs Dove-Lyon & more of her past is revealed too. I really liked both Anna & Elliott, the chemistry between them smouldered & they worked well together to avoid a ruthless villain. Fast paced with strong characters had me devouring the book in a sitting. I loved how things were resolved
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

The Lyon’s Love Letters by Deb Marlowe is a Lyon’s Den Connected World novel featuring Lady Anna Parbury, whose father, the earl has recently died and she is scrambling to find a situation in which she can support herself, when her cousin, Thomas, the new earl rears his ugly head. With him he brings a cluster of other wastlings despite the fact that her house is in mourning. She is frightened for herself: he had inherited the earldom, but she had inherited the money, or would when she reached the designated age. Elliott Ward had known her father as a cheat, a scoundrel, and a blackmailer. He just turned up at the right time. What was to follow was more a gift than anything and it involved the two of them, with an assist from Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon.

Lady Anna was as independent as society would allow. Her deplorable cousin was determined to ruin her so she would be forced to marry one of his cronies, who would then share the inherited money with him. He didn’t realized there was an age stipulation. And he and his “friends” were not easy to avoid. They were really no better than her father had been. Elliott was a younger son and as such, had nothing. The old man had something that his mother wanted. He intended to get it for her and she, in return, would give him a property she owned that he wanted. Of course, people who do things that are rewarded with blackmail don’t always keep their word. It was an intriguing novel, full of mystery as are the novels Marlowe is known for. Good story. Fun read. Yay, Mrs. Dove-Lyon!

I was invited to read The Lyon’s Love Letters by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #DebMarlowe #TheLyonsLoveLetters