I really enjoyed this book. I love the vivid descriptions that BTB has in all of her books whether it is food, art, landscapes jewelry. Some many appreciate that but it is what I have always enjoyed. I like the characters although I dislike the token bad seed - too similar to other ones in her previous books. They are always just written about as a token cookie cutter bad guy. However I was definitely immersed and look forward to the next in the series

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I was so happy to be able to read an old favorite author of mine

#netgalley #inthelionsden

Barbara Taylor Bradford has a gift with writing, this was a beautifully written story. It was intriguing and full of romance. My favorite kind of book!

Barbara Taylor Bradford never disappoints. From the beautiful cover to the beautiful story. I was captivated and transported.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book and give my honest opinion on the book. This book was the second in a series (House of Falconer). I did not read the first book so this book was a little off for me. It is a true saga. Due to the fact I didn't read the first book, I had a hard time keeping track of the characters (and I did appreciate the character list).

Really good part 2 of James Falconer and his rise in Business and in Love. He is assistant to a contractor and is helping build an arcade that will hold businesses. But his dream is to open a shop of his own. What he doesn't count on, though, is attracting the attention of a certain woman...

Melissa contributed this review to Really Into This

Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!

Special thanks to Christina Lauren, Gallery Books & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Barbara Taylor Bradford weaves a beautiful tapestry of characters in this captivating novel.

There are certainly times when authors introduce too many characters. I thought this may be one. Luckily, all the family members & characters work beautifully! For me, it's easy to latch on to each & every character. While there is a full cast, each character has a distinctly important & different role.

Because I'm so invested in these characters, it is so easy to root for the Falconer family. This novel spans 4 years of their lives so we get a broad picture of how hard they work trying to achieve their goals. Even though this is the second in a series, I read it as a standalone. I don't think I missed a beat.

At the end of the day, In The Lion's Den is the story of a family's trials, triumphs & love. The more I read, the less I wanted to put my book down. I really wanted to see where the story ends up & what happens to this family. Read this if you're in the mood for an uplifting story centered around a close-knit & supportive family.

Right off, I have to say this story, well saga really, about James Falconer just didn't grab me. I felt like I was wading through cotton wool. Just too much. And yes I have read long novels, like War and Peace etc., but this family epic lost me after the first few chapters.
The eternal Saturday dinners and occasional Sunday lunches with the Falconer family just stretched out into the distance, interminably. I'm glad the Falconers are such a close family but I didn't want to be part of their mealtimes, constantly!
Then there's the problem of Alexis, of course she's going to be a thorny challenge.
There's the requisite villain and the predictable ending. How could there not be?
I will put my hand up and confess I didn't enjoy those various tv series about the advent of department stores, the struggles to start up and maintain the vision. So maybe this type of saga was just not a good fit for me.
Others obviously loved it, others will love it, but I was just not that fussed.

A St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley

The second book in the series, this book is a continuation of the Falconer family. I found it a bit difficult at times to keep the characters straight, but numerous characters is a Bradford trademark. Luckily, a cast of characters is at the beginning of the book.

In The Lion’s Den by Barbara Taylor Bradford is the second in a series. While I did not read the first book this book can easily stand alone. Ms. Bradford is a well established and a well known author, so it comes as no surprise that this is a well written novel.

I have always loved Barbara Taylor Bradford's books and this was no exception. She is such an extremely talented writer who writes in such descriptive detail. The details require a large amount of research and the reader feels as if they are part of every scene and see everything clearly around them.

This series is written during the Victorian era. In the beginning I was slightly concerned about how many characters there were, fearing I wouldn't remember them all. But in typical Barbara Taylor Bradford fashion you don't have to. The magic in the way the story unfolds , it is easy to see each character develop and it becomes easy to keep up. The characters are relatable and you come to love or hate them.

I really enjoyed it and am looking forward eagerly to reading what Barbara Taylor Bradford has in store for her faithful readers in book number three series. 

I would like to thank St. Martins Press, Barbara Taylor Bradford and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book was just as amazing as the first!!! I could not put down once I started! Now to wait for release so I can buy my physical copy and reread!

I hadn't read a Taylor Bradford book in a while. After reading this one I can only say why did I wait so long?? This woman is a queen of historical fiction!
It is book 2 in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. It would be a great for book clubs or a rainy afternoon in your favorite chair with a cup of tea...
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this wonderful read.

In Barbara Taylor Bradford's latest edition of the Falconer family, In the Lion's Den, she continues the saga of James and his rise to continued rise to greatness. James has gone from a shop worker to the assistant of Henry Malvern, head of the most prestigious shipping company in London. Malvern's daughter Alexis is away in the country after the death of her fiancee and shows no sign of returning. James makes several important discoveries and finds himself the love of his life. The story is interesting but very slow.

What is there to say but here is Another great book by this author. She always draws you in with her characters.
Enjoyed it
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the copy.

This family drama is typically satisfying.. Barbara Taylor Bradford never disappoints but this is a particularly impressive series.

I read a few books by this author, and enjoyed them, back when I was a teenager, so thought I'd treat myself to a return visit. I rather wish I'd left the past in the past...

There's no denying that BTB knows how to create a readable story line, I wouldn't call it compelling, but it's certainly enjoyable if you're looking for an undemanding read. However, I have a couple of massive issues with this book. The language is rather repetitive at times, lots of peoples' faces go 'white as bleached bone' and it stands out. I also don't need to be told the story of Thomas Beckett!

More worryingly, sexism is absolutely rampant throughout this book. A woman can be as clever and powerful as she likes, but if her looks aren't up to scratch, she's worthless. Female characters are often described as looking ten years younger than they are or they haven't aged a bit in years, as though that's a positive, or a skill. It's insidious too; a couple are described as eating breakfast - the man has meat and eggs, the women has grilled tomatoes on toast. Give me strength!!! It's just the most appallingly disempowering message to be sending out to women.

I'm bitterly disappointed, I was hoping for more.

I am completely puzzled by this book. It feels like it's a draft that needs to be flushed out some more. The writing is choppy and I have not been able to connect with any of the characters because they all feel stilted as a result. There are characters thrown into situations for reasons I can't fathom, a cousin out of the blue in a restaurant to start a fight.... who is he, why, do I even care... not really. I've gotten half way through and do not expect that I will finish because it's just so scattered around. I will revise my review upon completion if I feel differently. Thank you for the opportunity to read in advance of publication.

I received an temporary digital advanced copy of In the Lion's Den by Barbara Taylor from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author in exchange for an honest review.

In the Lion's Den is the second book in the House of Falconer series and follows James Falconer and his rise in Henry Malvern's shipping company. While Falconer's success grows, family and friends question if Malvern's daughter Alexis will come back to London, after running off to Kent. Falconer has dreams of opening his own shop and hopes Alexis will soon return to her father's company and life in London--but will she?

After reading the first book in Taylor's House of Falconer series, Master of his Fate, I was excited to receive the second in the series from the publisher. When reading a second novel in a series, I always find it helpful for the author to include important details from the first novel. Taylor did recall these details for some characters, but not all, which left me somewhat frustrated throughout the book because I kept trying to remember what had previously taken place rather than focus on the current story. In addition, there were numerous characters and most had their own story lines, some received closure, and others did not. The number of characters was confusing in itself; it was not until I was 35% through the book where I felt as if I had everyone straight again.

Despite the aforementioned frustrations, Taylor's writing is so descriptive and vivid, it is like the reader is in the room with the characters and seeing everything with their own eyes. The beautiful details bring the Victorian Era to life. Many novels that take place during this era do not allow for the social mobility which one sees in the Falconer's series. It is a welcome change to the genre. In addition, the ending was extremely enjoyable.

Another beautiful Barbara Taylor Bradford book. I didn't realize this was book 2 in a series but it read well as a stand alone. Barbara does what she does best, emerses us in the experience, you feel, see, smell everything. You know everybody. James continues on in his life in business and learns and makes mistakes in life. A good amount of research went into this book centered around victorian England, a great historical fiction novel.. I definitely need to get book 1 to see how this begins!

Barbara again brings us another wonderful story that just draws us in. Her descriptions are so vivid that we can experience Alexis’s sorrow, James’s love for his work, the disappointments he faces as well as his joy at his success.
Even though this is the second book in the House of Falconer series it can be read by itself. I had not read the first book and I throughly enjoyed this book.

Barbara Taylor Bradford writes book that immerse readers in the lives of her characters. The back stories are true to the era, painting an accurate picture of their homes and communities. As I read, I could see the scenes as they played out and feel the characters' emotional responses to each other. This type of story is usually called EPIC.