Murdo and Clara meet at a ball. He is a big Scotsman and she is quiet and reserved.
Attracted to each other and falling in love, Clara has some family secrets.
She travels to his family home but their affair does not work out.
They meet again at the Lyon’s den….now betrothed to each other.
A good convoluted story but I was not fond of Murdo or his family.
A hard won HEA.

This story is very dynamic with very few lulls and Emily Royal keeps the reader very engaged. The main characters are Clara and Murdo. Clara has a backstory, which is related to her mother and stepfather and is a subject of a previous book by the author. I have not read that story but will certainly do so now. You do not need that background to enjoy this book.

I really liked that both main characters are portrayed as human and flawed. Clara’s flaws are more of a society perception nature due to the circumstances of her birth. She does not let it define her though, and remains true to her compassionate side, even through the insults and hurts (maybe too much so even, to her own detriment).

Murdo started out as a strong hero, but was unable to defy his father for much of the book, with both him and his brother struggling with loyalty to their cruel laird parent vs. living the life they want to lead. It took Murdo a long time to come around to rejecting his father’s legacy and understanding he needs to forge his own, as well as accepting his love for Clara completely. He got Clara’s forgiveness, but I have to say not all in her place would he so understanding.

Book is deliciously spicy with a good but not overwhelming amount of intimate scenes.

As a bonus, James’s and Duncan’s story was a very nice add!

I received an advance copy from Net Galley and publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

Contracts, Gossips, Many Shocking Moments
This might be the most unusual story and characters I have ever read. Both family's dynamics are heart pounding throughout this story.
Lady Dove Lyon is known for her match making games and this one has an absolutely surprising conclusion for Murdo the Scottish highlander who is pursuing Clara a very unique young wealthy bride.
A truly fascinating story where there are many shocking clashes between the families of this couple that the Lyons Den brought together,
Claras character is contrary to any character I have ever read in a romance story, but she is also outstanding in her ability to care for the downtrodden and she captured my heart.
At times the story seems brutal, yet there is love hiding in many corners.
An exhilarating story that never had a dull moment.
The romance and conflicts between Clara and Murdo are very passionate and frustrating with this odd couple bringing forth a very rewarding and happy end.
 💋Adult Advisory:1+/5

Attracted to each other, Murdo invites Clara and her family to his castle in Scotland to meet his family. There, the secrets of Clara's mother's past come out and everything falls apart. Months later they both turn to Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find a spouse. Unknowingly she puts them together. Clara must then make the best of a hostile welcome from her husband's family. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

This was another in the Lyons Den series.
Clara and Murdo find love quickly , Clara does not fit into the mould of a society lady and Murdo is more comfortable in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands.
There journey is fraught with misunderstanding and heartache. I felt there was a backstory ie. her mother that I'd missed but I have not read many of the series so that probably explains that
The Story was short and I'm not sure I enjoyed it.
thankyou to Netgalley who let me read this book

Thank you, Net Galley. Murdo has come down from the Highlands to look for a bride. He meets Clarie at a ball. She has recently been on the streets in London where her mother found her after looking for her for years. She feels very uncomfortable among the ton. Murdo falls for her just the way she is. She does not know how things in the ton work, but she is honest and goes with him to meet his family. Murdo's father is rude to her mother, so the two ladies went home and eventually went to Mrs. Dove-Lyon to see abut a husband at the same time Murdo went to her and was seeing about a wife. The story takes us from there to how they learn to get along.

This story in the Lyon’s Den series was different from the others. The Lyon and the Unicorn witten by Emily Royal mixes dark and light and was such an emotional read. Clara and Murdo have many emotions start to bombard them on their journey to admitting their love for one another in this heart pounding story filled with drama, scandal,sizzling passion and the story brims with tension building twists and turns.

I received a ARC copy from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

The story had an unusual set up in that Mrs. Dove-Lyon doesn’t makes an appearance until about half way through the story and then it was very short, having said that, it was still a good story. The MFC, Clara is a strong woman because of her instincts for survival in the slums. I liked Murdo in the beginning, until he takes Clara and her mother to meet his father, the Laird, and then he truly disappointed me. I can honestly say I did not like his father and his death was a blessing. This is a second chance story that eventually has a HEA but a lot happens first and not all of it is good.
I would like to see James and Duncan get their own story because I really liked these two.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.