This is a sweet and romantic story. The characters are captivating and likable. The h is not your usual lady, she had an exciting past and now wants no part of society, because society wants nothing to do with her. The H is caring and amusing. I enjoyed reading this very much.

This book was awesome!!! I could not put it down! Hildie McQueen is an amazing author. Her books never disappoint! Can not wait for the next one!

I have read lots of these stories set in this regency London, where the Widow of Whitehall owns an exclusive Gambling Hell called the Lyon's Den. in addition to this, she has a lucrative sideline in making matches between women in difficult situations, and men who are happy to gamble on their futures. An assortment of authors who write for Dragonblade publishing write these stories with differing levels of success. I have really liked some of them, and enjoyed most. I am afraid this one was dire.

I have read good Western romances by this author, s I could not believe this was the same writer. The plot is preposterous, a 30 year old spinster has happily had sex in a park with a lord who just abandoned her to her fate, and then was injured so badly she has a permanent limp. Her parents are so desperate to marry her off they agree that the loser of a card game at the Lyon's Den can marry her. This is completely unbelievable in the time period, where a woman's reputation was all. There is very little attempt to be historically accurate in any way, the Laird is divorced - also incredibly rare in the time period.

Preposterous plots can work beautifully in HR, but they need to be handled better than this, and the writing has to be spot on sadly not the case with this book.

So disappointing.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

I love the Lyon's Den series. This tale is lots of fun, considering its set in the Regency era. You have a heroine, Evangeline, who is no longer chaste. A limp forces her to look at a life at home with her parents. You have Camren, who finds he has to marry in order to save his property, and he is a man of his word. A romance between Evangeline and Camren becomes a tug-of-war between his heart and his family's influence.

I enjoyed reading this book but felt there was a lot wrong with the story. The author introduced quite a few dramatic scenes that were left hanging. I kept wondering if the story lines would pop up later in the book but they never did. Also, the ending was very abrupt.

I have been following this series since book one. Each story has a different story line regarding someone that needs to marry but scandal has ruined them. This is the case with Miss Evangeline Prescott, who has been out of society since an injury that ruined her reputation and because of the injury she suffers a limp. She knows that she will be a spinster and so be it. However, a Scottish Laird has come to town and goes to the Lyon’s Den and loses at cards. The matchmake of the Den comes to their aid and what happens next is surprising. I like this series and hope that there will be more

This is standalone story in a series and my first from this author. I wasn't a huge fan of this story. The characters didn't have much depth and I just needed more of a connection between the characters in the love story. The plot was a little crazy which was fun to see in a HR and I'm sure if you're familiar with the rest of the series you would enjoy it more, but it just wasn't for me.

The Lyon's Laird by Hildie McQueen is book 5 in The Lyon's Den Series. This is the story of Camren MacLean and Evangeline Prescott. This was a standalone book for me. Evangeline had a very embarrassing episode that ended her with a limp. So she has settle into never marrying and keeping more towards herself. But her parents have other ideals which leads her to Camren. Carmre must honor a debt he gain which leads him to Evangeline. I enjoyed their story.

Wow! What a fantastic read! I will definitely be looking into other books by Hildie McQueen, especially within this series. It's a true delight to find an author where the story and characters jump right off the page. Everyone, down to the "villains" of this story are so full of life. I have a handful of books I read each year, and I think this one might just start making that cut.

Evangeline is a curious girl that's turned spinster at 28 after an unfortunate accident that left her with a limp and a compromised reputation several years prior. She's fine with her lot in life, but her mother definitely isn't! Mother dearest goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon who apparently is a reoccurring character from previous books that seems to act as a matchmaker for good girls and boys of the ton.

Much to Evangeline's horror, she finds that she's the kitty of a card game and our Hero, Laird Camren has been dealt the losing hand. Now marriage is imminent and they have to figure things out. Camren is a stand up guy who while hurt in the past and not interested in trusting, find himself inexplicably drawn to Evangeline. She tries to get him to call the whole thing off, despite her own growing interest in him. Her horrid cousin and a man from her past try to tear them apart before they've even begun.

There was so much to love in this book, I'm about to go searching for the previous books in the series!

My honest opinion was given freely and reflects only my own thoughts.

Posted on Goodreads, B&N, Amazon and brought to the attention of my online/local book clubs.

What a very enjoyable story! The Lion's Laird  will keep you spellbound from the moment you begin the journey with Laird Camren and Evangeline until the very end! Hildie McQueen has a writing style that I thoroughly enjoyed, she's filled the story with characters that come off the pages and pull you into their tale, a story that is well-written, a strong  plot and great and witty dialogue. Evangeline has been ruined in the eyes of the Ton and her mother finds her a husband through a high stakes card came. Laird Camren has come to London on business and find himself with the loosing hand in a card game and the prize is the betrothal to one Miss Evangeline and marriage within a week. As their attention to each other starts to grow Evangeline's jealous cousin has plans to destroy their engagement. It's a heartfelt love story that unfolds beautifully with drama, steamy passion, uncertainties, trials and tribulations.

He Won Her Hand by Losing a Bet

Who knew that a card game could lead to marriage? The woman he won had a scandal attached to her. Would they marry despite the scandal? In that game of chance, will they both win, or will they lose? Evangeline and Camren must contend with London gossip and a spiteful cousin of Evangeline’s that did her best to make her unhappy. If you like historical romance with handsome Scots, adventurous women, and some laugh-out-loud moments, you might enjoy this story.

The Black Widow of Whitehall brings another couple together through unusual means. This time Scottish Laird Camren MacLean is sent an invitation to The Lyon's Den, and invited to participate in a high stakes card game. When Camren loses he finds he must marry a stranger within a week.
Hildie McQueen is one of my favorite authors and has written a wonderful story of hope, fidelity, and love. I loved reading this story, and thoroughly enjoyed the characters in the story, especially Camren and Evangeline. This is a fantastic series, and if you have not read the other books in the series I encourage you to do so.

A fantastic addition to "The Lyon's Den" series and with the fabulous Hildie McQueen and her magical pen is one not to be missed!
Evangeline was twenty eight and thought herself a spinster, but she had a limp from a terrible incident years ago. But her mother seemed determined to find her a husband.
Laird Camren Maclean was in London to see about his whiskey business by longed for his lands in Scotland. Surprisingly he received an invitation to The Lyon's Den, a gambling establishment and could not figure out why.
Well the Widow of Whitehall was at work again and this time she was matching Evangeline and Camren together and it was an entertaining journey!!
Loved these two and truly enjoy this story!

This was my first book by Hildie McQueen and I found that I enjoyed it.
Why? Women are so much more interesting after they have been ruined. And Evangeline was thoroughly ruined.
I liked that she was just a normal person, who unfortunately got ruined, but she's curious and has been confined with her books.

Camren is a young Scottish lord who looses at gambling, but perhaps wins in the end, because what he gambled on and lost, is that he would marry Evangeline.

I liked Camren and Evangeline together and they were a very good match.
Recommend.

4.5

The Lyon's Laird by Hildie McQueen is part of the Lyon's Den Connected World published by Dragonblade and penned by various authors. The books are all loosely connected through Mrs. Dove-Lyon, a matchmaker who uses interesting methods to find matches for unwed able people, mostly women. Evangeline Prescott had a very risqué young womanhood, in which she sampled pleasures of the flesh and was caught in flagrante, naked, by members of the ton. She has become very used to the inside of her father's house. Her parents have, as well, and are tired of it. They seek to find a match for their very unwed able daughter. Laird Camren MacLean is in London for business. He is not looking for a wife. He and his friend, Gideon, receive very odd invitations to Lyon's Den, a local gambling establishment known for its "interesting" wagers. They attend and find themselves gambling: the winner wins a valuable home; the loser marries a bride of Mrs. Dove-Lyon's choice.

Evangeline is a lovely young woman, if overly curious. She gets on well with her mother, whom she adores, but finds it difficult to believe that she is related to her horrid aunt, and her aunt's even more horrid daughter, Prudence. Prudence is not nice, but believes herself to be irresistible. An opinion most men of the ton do not share. Hence, she is always on the lookout and she has spied Camren and Gideon and is furious when Evangeline become betrothed to one of them. She is a fun character, as villains often are. Oh, and Camren loses the game. He will keep his word. He is nothing if not honorable. Camren is a great guy ... young and strong. He has been hurt before and is not particularly open to being hurt again. He is, however, intrigued by Evangeline. Watching their courtship is wholly entertaining and makes The Lyon's Laird a must-read. This is one of the better stories in a pretty wonderful world. I recommend it.

I received a free ARC of The Lyon's Laird from Dragonblade, through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thelyonslaird

Eight years ago Evangeline Prescott became a social scandal when she was found in a rather compromising position and a damaged leg leaving her with a limp. She has since retreated to her parent’s home and decided to never marry. Her parents have other ideas and have bought the services of Mrs. Dove-Lyon and her unconventional marriage arrangements. Camren Maclean and his cousin Gideon have arrived in London to do business and have been invited to the Lyon’s Den for a night of gambling and entertainment. The Lyon’s Den is know for its outrageous wagers and Camren finds himself gambling and winning himself a wife. This is a captivating story as Evangeline is furious with her parents and tries to dissuade Camren against marriage, but the more he sees her the more determined he is to wed her. Forces are against them as cousin and a man from her past try to tear them apart. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

The Lyon’s Laird is part of the Lyon’s Den Connected World. It was a cute novella but wasn’t true to history since it included a lot of modern terms. The characters were sweet, but I didn’t really care for Evangeline. She was too passive and needed a little more backbone. The story line of wagering a house against marriage seemed farfetched and silly. It was a short simple book but overall not one I would recommend.

Invited to The Lyon's Den for a game of chance, Laird Camren MacLean soon discovers that losing results in a betrothal to the scandalous Evangeline Prescott. Unfortunately, Evangeline's jealous cousin tries to put a spoke in the wheel, but Camren has been around the block a time or two and is able to see through the lies being told. Two people are brought together in an arranged marriage, however, despite the circumstances, they are actually very well matched. There are lighthearted moments in this book, but some difficult ones as well. The secondary characters involved in the story are as enjoyable and entertaining as the Camren and Evangeline. This book is part of a series but it is a well written standalone and comes to a sweet close. I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

What happens when you are invited to attend one of London's elite gambling clubs? Why you end up engaged that's what. Camren and Evangeline have a wonderful story. I am loving this series. Readers will not be disappointed.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was not impressed by this historical romance. While I admired Evangeline's outspoken mind and bravery I didn't feel the author spent enough time developing her relationship with Cameron. He admires her beauty and wit but does not allow enough time to get to know her before agreeing to marry her. I felt it was more list between them than true love.