If you’re into second-chance romances with a bit of drama and a lot of heart, The Lyon and the Unicorn might be right up your alley. It’s set in Regency England (think ballgowns, gossip, and not-so-subtle matchmaking)—and follows Clara Martingale, a girl who grew up in the slums but now finds herself living in high society and Murdo McTavish, a Highland marquess with a serious sense of duty and some unresolved feelings. Sparks fly when they meet, but things quickly get complicated (as they tend to in romance novels). Fast forward a bit, and they find themselves face-to-face again at The Lyon’s Den, a matchmaking club with a bit of a reputation. Cue the tension, the drama, and a shot at love again.

It’s a fun, emotional ride with strong characters, a few twists, and just the right amount of scandal. Definitely worth a read if you like romance with some grit and glamour.


Huge thank you to Emily Royal, NetGalley, and Dragonblade Publishing for the e-ARC.

#NetGalley #EmilyRoyal #TheLyonAndTheUnicorn #DragonbladePublishing #eARCreview

Oh Clara girl, you should have walked away again. Murdo was a pretty sucky MMC not worth page time, especially with his lack of spine and humbleness to beg his wife for forgiveness. Overall the cruelty of the cha4acters in this book was offputting, but I suppose may have been realistic of that time.

Not worth my time.

This was a very uneven story with too many unlikeable characters. Sadly, one of them was the MMC, who was supposed to be a fierce Highlander but somehow managed to disappoint the FMC throughout the story, lacking the courage to stand up for her.
Too many characters also had backstory elements left incomplete, doubtless due to the fact that this book is the latest installment in an interconnected literary world, The Lyon’s Den, which includes dozens of novels. This created a story where people’s actions careened from one sensibility to another. Just as the tale seems to settle and start to gain steam, another person does something that doesn’t seem to fit their character and derail’s the reader’s investment in the tale.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free ARC. The opinions here are wholly my own.

As younger son he has been given the task of finding a wealthy wife. He has found that and more. However. One mistake will cost him everything. Until the Lyons den gives him a gamble to win or lose. In more than one way.
She is not exactly the belle of the ball but has a good heart. He makes one mistake and thats it.
An intriguing book for sure. One thing I would like to point out it does have a homosexual thread in it.

This one missed its mark, didn’t even graze the target, but overshot into the hedge.
It’s a standalone novel in a long historical romance series.
I really wish I liked this relationship. Yes, they were both outcasts in a very prim and proper society, but how they treated each other - sigh. It was awful to experience. I like myself a soft, yet possessive alpha; however, his actions were often cruel and unfeeling. If you must be an @sshole, at least be protective about it.
The author masterfully crafted a unique historical romance with moments of entertainment. I did read all of it, which is not something everyone can pull off. The character match itself is cringe. Sorry to say this, but not for me.
3.2/5 for a nod to the author’s writing, but I shake my head at the love match.
This was an honest review sponsored ARC through NetGalley.

This one makes more sense if you’ve read some of the other Lyon’s Den books and get the set up that Mrs Dove Lyon is in the matchmaking business and uses unusual techniques to set up her couples. I did not read the mother’s story that’s referenced here, and it was fine, but I am curious to go back and read it.

There’s an absolute bonkers set up to this one. A competition to win a bride. But when the winner is unmasked, the lady punches the guy right in the face, twice. Then we go back 2 months to tell why Clara is so furious at Murdo.

This made me cry. But I had been awake about 20 hours on planes, so might not have been functioning on all cylinders. Murdo’s dad is THE WORST. He’s awful to Clara and everyone else. And Murdo is an idiot. This didn’t have enough grovel time, though he does get on his knees and kiss the ground at her feet. I would have been more satisfied if Murdo had been put in cold storage for a bit, or told his dad to fuck all the way off

Realistic characters with flaws who eventually strive to grow and change are a favorite of mine. The Lyon and the Unicorn was both the first book I read by Emily Royal, and the first book I've read about the intriguing Lyon's Den collaboration. Now that I've finished the book I want to find more books by Emily Royal and more of the Lyon's Den series.

I have a soft spot for charming Highlanders who don't exactly fit into proper Society, and Murdo McTavish quickly burrowed his way into my heart. He's a second son of a laird who traveled to England to find a bride with a good dowry to help his clan. But the shallow & vain ninnies of the ton didn't interest him in the slightest, he was repulsed by their antics. Instead he was immediately drawn to Clara Martingale, who also did not quite fit in. They quickly fell in love as their hearts recognized the one person who would understand them in the sea of those who mock and scorn them for being different.

Murdo was so sweet and gallant as Clara's champion I had high hopes for him. Everything was going great until Clara & her mother traveled to meet Murdo's family. It all fell apart when Murdo's toxic waste of a father remembers who Clara's mother was and turns ugly. His father lashes out in drunken rage, denigrating Clara and her mother. Murdo, stuck in the fog and guilt of the son who is unable to stand up to his father doesn't do enough to stop him. Clara tells Murdo to go kick rocks as she and her mother leave, thinking she'd never see him again.

Of course everyone is surprised, except for the reader, when Murdo & Clara meet again at Lady Dove-Lyon's famous gambling establishment & matchmaking extravaganza, the Lyon's Den. Unknown to anyone but Lady Dove-Lyon, Murdo & Clara have been matched and the contracts they both signed obligate them to marry. Once married, they travel to the Highlands to live with Murdo's clan. At this point, both Murdo & Clara will need to go through some major character growth, especially Murdo. Clara needs to work through her insecurity & fear of rejection from her past, and Murdo needs to grow up and choose to be a husband first over a son. He needs to realize that the father he loved & respected died well over 10 years ago from bitterness and drink. They will both get there, but there will be some pain and angst first.

Realistic characters with flaws who eventually strive to grow and change are a favorite of mine. The Lyon and the Unicorn was both the first book I read by Emily Royal, and the first book I've read about the intriguing Lyon's Den collaboration. Now that I've finished the book I want to find more books by Emily Royal and more of the Lyon's Den series.

I have a soft spot for charming Highlanders who don't exactly fit into proper Society, and Murdo McTavish quickly burrowed his way into my heart. He's a second son of a laird who traveled to England to find a bride with a good dowry to help his clan. But the shallow & vain ninnies of the ton didn't interest him in the slightest, he was repulsed by their antics. Instead he was immediately drawn to Clara Martingale, who also did not quite fit in. They quickly fell in love as their hearts recognized the one person who would understand them in the sea of those who mock and scorn them for being different.

Murdo was so sweet and gallant as Clara's champion I had high hopes for him. Everything was going great until Clara & her mother traveled to meet Murdo's family. It all fell apart when Murdo's toxic waste of a father remembers who Clara's mother was and turns ugly. His father lashes out in drunken rage, denigrating Clara and her mother. Murdo, stuck in the fog and guilt of the son who is unable to stand up to his father doesn't do enough to stop him. Clara tells Murdo to go kick rocks as she and her mother leave, thinking she'd never see him again.

Of course everyone is surprised, except for the reader, when Murdo & Clara meet again at Lady Dove-Lyon's famous gambling establishment & matchmaking extravaganza, the Lyon's Den. Unknown to anyone but Lady Dove-Lyon, Murdo & Clara have been matched and the contracts they both signed obligate them to marry. Once married, they travel to the Highlands to live with Murdo's clan. At this point, both Murdo & Clara will need to go through some major character growth, especially Murdo. Clara needs to work through her insecurity & fear of rejection from her past, and Murdo needs to grow up and choose to be a husband first over a son. He needs to realize that the father he loved & respected died well over 10 years ago from bitterness and drink. They will both get there, but there will be some pain and angst first.

The other characters in The Lyon and the Unicorn were a delight too. I enjoyed James, Duncan, & the sweet dog Beck. It was an enjoyable read and I'd recommend it to others.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Lyon and the Unicorn by Emily Royal takes us back to the Lyon’s Den at the end of a contest for a woman’s hand. When the winner takes off his mask, the lady and her mother recognize him and refuse to follow through. Mts. Dove-Lyon reminds them of the contract they signed and the nuptials go forth. Clara Martingale is not at all happy to see that Murdo McTavish is to be her husband. She had met him months before and fallen quickly, but that had come to an end when they had visited his home, her mother and her, and his father had recognized her mother as a whore he had bedded years earlier. He insulted and belittled both of them as Murdo stood by doing nothing. The man was rude and abusive and they left the house, disheartened. But, she needed to marry and she had a huge dowry. Her mother decided to take her to Bessie Dove-Lyon who was an expert in such matters. At this point the story reverts to tell the back story in detail before we find the newlyweds arriving at Murdo’s home, where is father is no kinder than ever.

Murdo does not know what to do. He loves his wife. Everyone but his father seems to love her as she is kind and helpful. They venture forward with this wall of misunderstanding between them. As Murdo slowly starts to see reality, Clara involves herself in his brother’s betrothal and things fall apart again. Teh world is full of misunderstanding. Clara, as kind as they come is heartbroken until she discovers the problem behind it all. Soon, his brother is her staunchest ally. Things go forward, with both of them wondering if they can even construct a happy life out of this mess. You know the answer. It’s fun to watch.

I was invited to read The Lyon and the Unicorn by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #EmilyRoyal #TheLyonAndTheUnicorn

This was an OK read. I did feel like I was missing a lot of backstory for the FMC. My understanding is her mother had a book as well and I have not read it. I did like Clara overall and thought her arc was realistic.

I did not like the MMC. The way he let his family and community treat Clara was awful. He never stood up for her and in fact, treated her horribly much of the time as well.

The writing was solid and I got through the book but there wasn't much to like about the characters.

He's uncouth...

But, so is she. They kind of deserve each other. They start off as enemies, hook up, then are enemies again.
But two months later, they are engaged after he publicly dumped her due to her parentage, or rather the questions around her parentage, which he knew of when he met her.
Both Clara and Murdo have dirty mouths and aren't fit for polite society. I guess it was kind of a miss for me, but I really like the author.

The second book I've read in the Lyon's Den series however I didn't enjoy it as much as the first one I read. I much preferred the first half of the book as the characterisation of the MC was a bit inconsistent. It was all wrapped up a bit too quickly given how awful most of the character were to the FMC. However I did really like that both main characters were written as human and flawed. I feel like the FMC's backstory cpuld have been fleshed out a bit more, it's all brushed over very lightly. I enjoyed it enough that I would definitely read more in the series and other books by the same author.

Murdo is the second son of a Scottish Laird. He goes to England looking for a wife and meets Clara. In another amazing Dove-Lyon's story, we follow the path of these two as they maneuver their way through both past and present issues that test both their strength and their honor. A poignant story that can stand alone but would be greatly enhanced by reading this authors prior, Lyon's book. The fierceness of these two stories will touch your heart and spure you to rage against injustices in life.

Another entertaining Lyon's Den read!

I liked the splitting of time in telling the story of Murdo and Carla in this story - we get a brief moment in present time, and then go back to when the pair had their initial meeting and fall out, so we get a bit of a second chance romance here. We end up back in present time, where the story continues until the end.

I felt like this pairing was put through the wringer thanks to miscommunication and jumping to conclusions on both sides! Thanks to Murdo coming from a highlander clan family where alpha male traditions run deep, we get a ton of conflict happening that really drove different parts of the story. I both liked and disliked this. Liked, because it was really compelling to read and you get to know various characters from different sides throughout the conflict. Disliked, because WOW Murdo's father....what a disgusting brute of a man. Like, I was physically repulsed by his behavior. What marvelous writing to make a character so deplorable that I wished he was real and standing in front of me just so I could punch him in the face hard enough to break his nose.

The hero and heroine had to navigate their relationship through not only a marriage of convenience and some less than ideal in-laws, but also having to face different parts of society judging Clara for her past, which had them encountered some situations that were also less than ideal. I can't say that I loved every choice each party made, but I found that I was happy with how things wound up for them and where I can see their story going off the page.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC to read and review.

The Lyon and the Unicorn is the first book that I have read by author, Emily Royal. The story begins with Clara attending a house party in the country. Clara is the illegitimate daughter of a Duchess (born under unsavory circumstances). She was lost in the streets of London for most of her life, and discovered by the Duke recently. Needless to say, her manners have room for improvement. The house party is a trial run before she gets introduced to society in London.
Murdo Mactavish needs to marry well to save his estate. When he first meets Clara, there is an instant attraction and he courts her in earnest. Then he finds out the circumstances of her birth and calls it off, breaking Clara's heart in the process. Through the Lyon's Den (a notorious matchmaking club), they are reunited and what follows is a big old mess. Clara stays true to herself, but Murdo has some growing up to do.
Right off the bat, I had a hard time getting into this book. I just did not believe that characters would act they way both the hero and heroine did. Even with the excuse of Clara's background, Murdo should have known better. The sexual innuendo just did not work for me. That kind of colored the entire story. Many other readers liked the book, so try it yourself. For me, it was just not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A scandalous and passionate journey to love. I enjoyed the emotion and a story filled with duty and secrets and a second chance for Clara and Murdo. Two people that deserve their happiness and find a love worth so much.

Plucked from London’s slums and thrust into Society as the stepdaughter of a duke, Clara Martingale should have every advantage. But rumours about her birth and her lack of refinement make her the target of cruel gossip, until she meets Murdo McTavish who needs to marry an heiress to save his estate, but falling for Clara wasn’t part of the plan. Their connection is instant, and even his disapproving father can’t argue with her dowry, or her spirit. Until Clara’s true parentage is revealed… and everything falls apart. Heartbroken and cast aside, Clara turns to The Lyon’s Den , the infamous matchmaking club run by Bessie Dove-Lyon. Like her mother before her, she seeks a fresh start, only to be matched with the very man who betrayed her.
Another very good addition to the connected Lyon’s Den world. I loved Clara & began loving Murdo then he shot himself in the foot & I really wondered if he could be redeemed. Clara was a breath of fresh air who said it like she saw it & she fell for Murdo. Oh Murdo I wanted to shake you several times, I was disappointed in you too especially as you supported Clara when you first met. A well written quite emotional romance which I read straight through
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

Be prepared for this hero to make a great big mess of things... Oh, he redeems himself in the end, but not before thoroughly mucking up, breaking his woman’s heart and battling his inner demon a.k.a. his father.

Born and raised in London’s slums, Clara was rescued by her mother’s husband, a duke. Dropped into a razzle dazzle world, surrounded by haughty vicious debutantes, her murky descent and unrefined spirited nature stick out like a sore thumb.
Until Murdo singles her out...
He’s all Highlander; brawny, rugged, frank and unconditionally loyal to his clan and their laird, his father. While his elder brother is supposed to marry for heirs, he’s to marry for fortune – and then he falls head over heels for Clara.
A brief but intense courtship follows. Introducing her to his family, his father brutally spills Clara’s – and her mother’s – secret, crushes their love and it’s all downhill from there...

This romance goes from rainbows and butterflies to hell in the Highlands.
Forced to marry by a Lyon’s Den agreement, they’re stuck together. Rumour, prejudice and verbal abuse (never by Murdo) spiral them into a cold but passionate union, an emotional minefield – and the poor bloke can’t seem to dig himself out.
She’s a courageous, feisty little thing refusing to be cowed or tamed. Good for her; go Clara!
He’s a fool in love. Kind, caring and deliciously naughty, but still an idiot blinded by pride.
The amount of secret pining between these two is heartbreaking. The sacrifices she makes had me going “don’t do that, silly girl” – she also suffers from pride, and a big heart; ask his brother and fiancée, a maid, the vicar’s son – but they do get there in the end!
An enthralling, unusual and angsty but beautiful, moving read!
It won’t be for everyone, but I absolutely loved it!

I can honestly say this is the first book in The Lyon’s Den series that I didn’t like and the first of Emily Royal’s that I don’t like. The first thing I didn’t like is a personal thing and it may not bother most but I really dislike when you start a book and then about half the book happens in the past. I don’t understand the need for it in the storytelling aspect. And the family was just downright nasty to the heroine. Murdo, the MC just let it go on much too long and didn’t have the backbone to protect the woman he professed to love so much. Add in a side story of an secret love of another character and it was all over the place for me.

Clara Martingale has a secret about her true parentage. She knows that she must keep it a secret in order for her to marry well.

Murdo McTavish needs to marry an heiress to save his estate. He doesn’t need to fall in love with the woman he will marry.

Murdo notices Clara across the room at a party and is instantly drawn to her. As they begin to get to know each other Clara wonders if he is the man to share her secret with. Murdo believes they will be happy together and even his father will approve of her. What will happen when Clara’s secret is revealed and will Murdo still stand by her?

I enjoyed the first part of the book, but as I got halfway through it I started not liking some of the characters. I really liked Clara’s character as she stayed true to herself even with everything that she went through. I was disappointed in Murdo’s character as he turned out to be someone I didn’t recognize from the first part of the book. I was sad to see how much he changed once his father was brought into the story. While the book does have a happy ending with Clara and Murdo declaring their love for each other I was not a fan with how they got there.