Enter the world of the most notorious gambling den in London, where matches are made... unusually. Welcome to the world of THE LYON'S DEN: The Black Widow of Whitehall Connected World, where the underground of Regency London thrives... and loves.

If you haven’t read any of the books in The Lyon’s Den interconnected world get ready to enjoy a unique romance set in the Regency era but TOTALLY unlike a typical Regency book. Think of these books as “the marriage-mart gone rogue” and get ready for shenanigans and happily ever afters.

IMO Emily Royal has created one of the best installments of The Lyon’s Den World! I was captivated from the beginning and honestly disappointed there wasn’t a book two with these characters.

The MCs are the Dowager Countess, Wilhelmina “Mina” Redstone, and the Laird of Kilduggan - Duncan Alexander James MacLeish. These two are brought together because of different reasons however they both have the same goal of marriage. Mina has been through hell after being married off to an older Earl, Charles Redstone, who was very abusive and thought of Mina as nothing other than a broodmare for heirs - heirs she was unable to provide. Duncan is looking for an heiress because his castle and clan are in jeopardy and he is looking at debtors prison if he can’t obtain an influx of money, quickly. These two are brought together by the notorious Black Widow of Whitehall - and although on the surface they appear totally wrong together - it seems another brilliant match is created.

Now the question is can these two save each other and will they ultimately fall in love?

I.Loved.Every.Word!

Highly recommend this poignant and satisfying romance!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




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Book: Lyon of the Highlands
Author: Emily Royal
Series: The Lyons Den Connected World
Publisher:Dragonblade
Book Length: 214 pages
Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Flags

The Lyons Den Connected World is a series where a group of talented Dragonblade authors pen different unique stories. Each book is connected to the same character, the entrepreneur proprietress Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon, owner of The Lyon’s Den which is basically an exclusive matchmaking service for the wealthy.

This book follows A Lyons Pride book by Emily Royal.

London/Scotland
This story is centered on the widowed Dowager Countess, Wilhelmina Mina Redstone, who was horribly abused by her deceased previous husband the elder Earl Charles Redstone. Now her daughter-in-law Lily sees how miserable Mina is and wants to see her happy. Which is an unusual relationship considering her husband Mason was supposed to marry Mina previously, after his elder brother who was Mina’s betrothed died. His father tried to force Mason to marry Mina, but he ran off to enlist in the Army to avoid the marriage since he had been in love with his childhood sweetheart Lily. However Charles married Mina expecting this young wife to bear lots of children the only reason he married Mina. Yet Charles abused her horribly every time she lost a child.

Now Mina was jealous seeing the kind loving marriage her daughter-in-law had and the beautiful children she will never have. Somehow she learned to put her jealousy aside and ended up loving her daughter-in-law. Especially after seeing how she only wants Mina and wants to help move forward and find some love and kindness in her life. So Lily goes to the one person that helped her and Mason’s relationship which was Bessie Dove-Lyon, owner of The Lyon’s Den.

Duncan Alexander James MacLeish, Laird of Kilduggan in Scotland, needs a rich heiress to help save his castle and his clan, so he wouldn’t end up in debtors' prison. He was a beast of a man with a gentle soul. He was surprised he was chosen but quickly realized his wife had been horribly abused with an addiction to landelum to help her migraines. This was all from the after effects of her abusive first marriage. He is instantly attracted to Mina and starts falling in love with very quickly, but also realized she had been abused and still lives with the nightmares of that life.

Now even though Mina was learning to trust Duncan she was plagued with horrible nightmares with her deceased first husband. Unfortunately her husband's brother Callum thinks that Mina is unstable and needs to be sent away hearing her screams at night and other physical effects. Yet Duncan won’t share why thinking it would be betraying Mina’s trust which had been very difficult to gain in the first place. The one person in her corner is Callum’s wife Flora and their two young children, Jamie and Shona.

Will Mina ever be able to let go of her abusive past and move on with her kind Scottish husband? Will his brother convince Duncan to send his wife away? Do Duncan and Mina have a chance of a happy future? Will Mina ever have the children she dreams about? Read and find out.

This is my first book by Emily Royal but it definitely won’t be the last. This book was a definite heartstring puller that I absolutely loved. Between all the horrific nightmares from Mina’s dead ex-husband and her laudanum addiction with Duncan’s unconditional love toward his wife, you can’t help but feel so much empathy toward her. Duncan was a beast of a man with a tender heart that I absolutely loved. I also absolutely fell in love with Duncan’s niece! A book I highly recommend. I am definitely going to read Mason and Lily’s story next!

This is a book I highly recommend.

Disclaimer: I recieved an Advance Reader Copy from Dragonblade publishers. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair, review and blog through netgalley. All words, thoughts and ideas are my own.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Lyon-Highlands-Lyons-Connected-World-ebook/dp/B0BP4DTLH4/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lyon-of-the-highlands-emily-royal/1142896123?ean=9798371597205

This is yet another fabulous addition to The Lyon's Den collection. Ms Royal does an excellent of creating stories that pull you right in, and never fails to captivate and engage, and this is book is no exception. I always love seeing who Mrs. Dove-Lyon manages to pair next and in this story she works her magic on Laird Duncan MacLeish and Wilhelmina (Mina). Duncan comes to the Den because he is looking for someone who can help save his land from becoming bankrupt. Mina has stepped out of society after surviving her abusive marriage. Her cousin wants to help her find a new husband and urges her to look for a match at the Den. Mina agrees and she meets Duncan, and is both fascinated and terrified by him. Because of his predicament, Duncan resigns himself to a loveless match, as long as he is able to save his land. But when he meets Mina, he is captivated by her. He learns of her tragic past, and treats her with the utmost care and kindness and is supportive of her. He begins to care deeply for her, and Mina is in awe of affection and love he shows her since she has never experienced anything of the like before. The two were so great together and it was lovely to see their relationship grow. They were both very well-developed characters who captured my heart from the very beginning.
The story was well-written and entertaining and I am glad to have had the opportunity to read it. A lovely addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily providing my review.

Thank you NetGalley. I have enjoyed the books about the Lyon's Den. Mina is a widow who is about the same age of her step-son and was treated terrible by his father who married her. Mason's wife takes her to the Lyon's Den to find a husband and to have a family of her own.
Duncan is the Laird now and his father lost the money to take care of his home. Duncan needs a wife with money to get him out of the financial trouble he is in. They marry and though he is a large man he is a gentle man with his new wife. Mina loves his niece and nephew but his brother does not know all that she has been through. He thinks her life was easy in an English household. They have a long road to trust and understanding.

One of my favorite Lyons World books. Thank you Emily Royal for giving us a brawny highlander with a gentle, tender heart that saw something in Mina that he swore to protect her always. Loved the gentle and caring way he treated Mina, thus earning her trust and love. Characters were amazing, and I always enjoy when Bessie Dove-Lyon puts in an appearance. So glad Mina got her HEA after her disastrous first marriage.

Duncan is in need of a bride, a rich one to save his land, so his friend takes him to the marriage market where he takes a test. This is another great addition to the Lyon's Den Connected World series. The series is written by multiple authors who each bring a unique spin on the collection while keeping true to the ultimate goal of the main character. The journey til the end you will be captivated. I absolutely love this series and this was a great book.

What a Fantastic story! Mrs. Dove-Lyon is match making again! Lyon of the Highlands will keep you spellbound from the moment you begin the journey with Duncan and Mina until the very end! This is my favorite story in The Lyon's World Connected series. Mina is held captive to her dark past and lost all hope for someone to see her, Mina. Duncan sees Mina and he reaches out her and sets out to break her out of her cage of loneliness and despair. Will Mina be able to step forward to a new life and if so will Duncan be able to help her overcome her nightmares? Emily Royal had given readers a heartfelt romance that brings the characters to lif. She weaves a story that will hold you spellbound as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale they come off the pages and pull you in, with passion, drama and trials and tribulations easy flowing dialogue that brings this story together perfectly.

Lyon of the Highlands by Emily Royal is a well written, historical romance. Wilhelmina Redstone is a shadow of her former self. Her much older husband abused her. Laird Duncan MacLeish is a large Highlander. He is in need of a wealthy bride to help him save his lands.

Duncan’s friend takes him to Bessie Dove-Lyon who runs a marriage mart. While there he takes a test devised by Lily, Wilhelmina’s daughter-in-law. That test is very interesting and not at all what I expected.

Duncan wins the honor of marrying Wilhemina and takes her to his home in the Highlands. There, he carefully tries to remove the emotional bonds that her ex-husband wrapped around her.

Emily Royal is a “new” author for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to read more of her work.

A delightful story

Mina had a difficult start in life, but she had angels on her side. One of those angels was her daughter-in-law, who convinced her to use the services of Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find a husband. Could Mina find the love she sought? Would a most unconventional test find her the man she needed?

Duncan is a beast of a man, in looks, at least, but he is a gentle giant. Mina has the dowry he needs, but will he have the love she must have to heal her damaged soul? The Highlands will be both a haven and a challenge for Mina. She has nightmares from her past that plague her still, and there are members of her new family that are unsure about her. Will Mina and Duncan be able to overcome the obstacles in their path? I enjoyed this story and fell in love with both Mina and Duncan. The children were a delight, too.

Mina Redstone is a widow who survived an abusive marriage. Her daughter-in-law, a successful and resource young woman, suggests that she goes to the Lyon’s Den for help finding a new husband. Laird Duncan MacLeish needs money to bring his estate right, and has come, at the advice of a friend, to the Lyon’s Den to find a wealthy wife. Bessie Dove-Lyons sees them as a good match. When they arrive at his home, Mina works to become part of the family. There are some touchy moments, but truth and trust prove tough to beat. It appears that Mia and Duncan both got more than they bargained for. I enjoyed this emotional heartwarming story, and loved the wonderful epilogue.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

Trust, Family, Hamish:
This story starts on a sad note. Mina a widow that had a horribly traumatic marriage and no children needs to change her outlook on life. She needs to do something drastic. Off to the
Lyons Den, she goes.
Duncan, (who I fell in love with) is in need of finances and finds himself looking to marry a rich lady and the best place to find one is at the Lyons Den, so off he goes.
What a terrific love story this turned out to be. Full of love, trusting, patience, and heartfelt yet brave confessions.
Several charming and intriguing characters made the pages fly by as I was totally enraptured with this story.
A terrific epilogue that made me smile and feel warm and fuzzy all over.
Mature Reader:

I especially enjoyed how she set up the Lyons den game. The characters and situations were realistic. I was moved at how Mina interacts with everyone in the village. I absolutely adored the epilogue. What a wonderful book. Once again Emily Royal has outdone herself.
I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book..

The Lyon of the Highlands by Emily Royal is part of the Lyon’s Den Connected World, a unique series of books by different authors connected only by one character: Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon and her matchmaking services. It always makes for a fun read. In this case, Duncan Alexander James MacLeish, Laird of Kilduggan was in London looking for a wife, a rich one. He had come with his friend, Fraser, who had convinced him that this was the way to go: Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Mina, the Dowager Lady Redstone, lived with her stepson and his family. Lily, her daughter-in-law loved her and hated seeing her waste away. She was convinced the road to happiness for Mina was a new marriage. Mina had had a marriage, an abusive and miserable one, and she wasn’t really desiring another. Lily promised her she could do better this time, through Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Lily designed the entire process and who came out the winner? Duncan. Lily promised if Mina wasn’t satisfied, they could start over, but Mina was satisfied and so was Duncan.

The Highlands were so different than London and that was wonderful. Duncan was a kind and sympathetic man and written so well that the reader fell in love with him. He was the size of a giant, but was gentle, but definitely in charge of his castle and all who lived there, including his brother, Callum, who was neither kind nor insightful. Again, a well-written character. Mina slowly came out of her shell, which years of misery had imposed upon her. She still had nightmares, though, and sometimes Duncan came out of one battered. The plot was simple enough: a kind man marries a damaged woman, who through his kindness and patience, comes around. It was a truly lovely story.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Lyon of the Highlands by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #EmilyRoyal #TheLyonOfTheHighlands

I loved this story by Emily Royal. I could not wait to finish in order to see how it ended. When love stories end well it makes you feel good. I would recommend this book to anyone.

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Fun and adventure, well written and very enjoyable read.

Duncan has a title but no money.
Mina needs a husband, one to treat her well, not like her previous one.

The two meet at Bessie Dove Lyon’s Hell.
A game is played and a marriage secured.
Will they get what they desire?

Enjoyed the story and chemistry that built as the book progressed.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to write a review

This was the first standalone novel of Emily Royal's that I have read (everything before that was part of short story collections) and I immediately fell in love with her writing. I've said before how much I love the concept of the Lyon's Den series and this story, while keeping with the world developed in previous entries, brought something new to the table. I immediately loved Mina and wanted to see her get her happy ending. She went through so much prior to this story and survived with some belief that she could find a place where she would be loved and happy. Her laudanum addiction was not something we get to see in many historical romance stories (especially for the main character). It really made you realize how difficult something like that would have been at this time in history when so little was understood about addiction and how to treat it. I was so glad that it was Duncan was the man who won the challenge at the Lyon's den. He pretty much saw her worth and understood her troubles right from the beginning but never shamed her. And the one time he did question her behavior he immediately realized his error and sought to make it up to her. As for Callum, he's pretty much a jerk to Mina from the moment he meets her and continues to be terrible to her. At least he realized what a jerk he was being once he hears about Mina's past. This may actually be my favorite Lyon's Den story so far, which says a lot because I've really enjoyed all the books in the series. I will also definitely be checking out more from this author.

Wilhelmina Redstone suffered in an abusive marriage that affects her still. Now she's living in her stepson's home like an unwanted part. Our heroine is still young but believes life has passed her by. Her daughter in law has an idea that could help.

Highland Laird Duncan MacLeish desperately needs to refill the Clan coffers after his father wasted it all. It's of to London to find a rich wife for him. Our hero is a real gentle giant.

This historical romance is a bit of an emotional roller coaster. The characters are wonderful and it's so easy to see the beautiful Highland setting.

Great fun.

Duncan Alexander James MacLeish, Laird of MacLeish of Kilduggan Castle, is strapped for cash. On advice of his friend, the quickest solution is a wealthy wife. The quickest way to get one is through Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Wilhelmina, Dowager Lady Redstone, was in an abusive marriage with the now dead Lord Redstone. She needs another life away from her step-son, his wife and their children. Not easy to trust, she puts her future into the hands of her daughter-in-law and Mrs. Dove-Lyon. When Duncan wins the lady, it's his gentleness and patience that pays off for love. Always entertaining, I look forward to reading a new book in the series.
Heat level 2.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

After surviving an abusive marriage to an older man, Wilhelmina Redstone retreated from society. Her stepson’s wife, Lily, once her rival, promises to find Mina the perfect husband a man to love her as she deserves, by engaging the services of Bessie Dove-Lyon, who secured Lily’s own marriage. On entering the Lyon’s Den, Mina glimpses a huge, savage Highlander among the dandies, and his appearance both terrifies and thrills her. Laird Duncan MacLeish must marry for money to avoid bankruptcy. Resigning himself to a loveless match, he sets off for London, and the infamous Lyon’s Den. But, when he competes in an extraordinary game, he learns that the prospective bride is a widow with soulful eyes and a tragic past.
A strong, braw Highlander with such a soft centre, Duncan will make your toes curl – he’s exactly what Mina needs & I loved their journey to a HEA , it's not easy but I adored how Duncan gradually eased Mina fears & helped her deal with her past. One of my favourites from the series & I was sad when it finished but happy for the outcome
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This book was excellent! I was not able to stop reading once I began. I loved how Mina took charge of her life despite how poorly she was treated. All she wanted was to be l loved… And Duncan was so sweet and swoony. Although he really needed the money, you could tell he immediately felt protective of her. It may have started as a marriage of convenience, but they slowly found comfort in one another. And the build up was worth it in the end 🔥. The drama was just enough to hold my interest but not set my blood pressure rising! I cried at the end when Mina got her HEA!