A Lyon of Her Own
by Anna St. Claire

Welcome to the world of THE LYON'S DEN: The Black Widow of Whitehall Connected World, where the underground of Regency London thrives.

The story idea is good but I was not to thrilled about the writer, however this series has been pretty great.

Alexander Douglas, the fifth Earl of Wrotham, has just returned home from war and learns that his estate is in financial ruin, thanks to the mistress of his late father. He is determined to prove she is a criminal and that she tricked his father into signing over one of his properties to her. Alex decides to use his skills at cards to try and win the money to pay back the creditors, but meets his match when he enters the Lyon's Den to play cards. With her mother's dismal fashion sense and insistence on performing despite the fact she has no musical talent, Priscilla worries she may never find a husband. She is trying to win money to gain her financial freedom so she can escape the ton's ridicule. With the help of Mrs. Dove-Lyon, she is able to put her plan into motion. But when she encounters Alex at the Lyon's Den, she realizes he is not only handsome, but equally as clever.
Filled with romance, intrigue, and drama, this is another fantastic addition to the Lyon's Den series that is not to be missed! The characters were well-defined and interesting, and the chemistry between them was undeniable. The storyline flowed smoothly and the plot twists kept me glued till the end. The author does a nice job of creating vivid descriptions that really bring the story to life. A delightful story I am happy to recommend!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Alex is trying to redeem his finances. Priscilla is trying to redeem herself and save herself. Each has something to prove and earn. BUT will they get the ultimate prize?
Intriguing book. Interesting how it ends. You knew what was coming just did not know how it was going to happen. I really enjoy when Mrs Dove Lyon is seen in this light it only add to the story.
I received a copy for a completely honest review, which I strive to tell to others. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s blah, sometimes it’s funny or sad. I won’t give away the ending though.

4 stars

Not bad. Alex thinks his father was duped out of his townhouse and wants to proove it. He feels sorry for Cilla as her mother dresses her in the wrong colours. I wanted more passion.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was very much intrigued by the summary. With the mere fact that the heroine dresses as a man, I was sold on this book. This is a clean romance read with much more mystery and a bit of action in between. I thought the simple fact that it was a clean read was done perfectly for these characters in particular, merely because they have separate individual storylines within the book, their romance slowly builds.

Alex had a lot of secrets he was keeping from his family after the passing of his father and them being left without any money, plus a townhouse that he suspects was stolen by his father’s supposed mistress. The mystery surrounding his father’s death and their financial situation is what motivates him first and foremost until he meets Priscilla, only she’s not exactly a woman when he first meets her.

Priscilla at the start of the book is busy making money and proving herself worthy while she goes and gambles dressed as a man. Her plan is to take her winnings and move out from her parents’ home. Then she meets a little girl and her dog who makes Priscilla realize she wants to do something useful with her life. And in the process, falls in love with Alex.

I was a little put off by the lack of “screen time” with the two protagonists. Even as a clean romance, I was expecting much more dialogue between the two that I couldn’t establish their personalities properly. By the time they proclaim their love for each other, I still wasn’t convinced. There quite a bit of repetition in information through the dialogue between characters that I found distracted me and took up time from the rest of the story. Also, Alex having to “fake a courtship” didn’t last very long before the cat was out of the bag.

I very much enjoyed the storyline, besides I’m a sucker for a heroine dressed in male clothing. I wished she would’ve been able to experiment more with Alex as a man. Those moments always make the story much more entertaining. The added characters added more enjoyment to the story and helped the make characters liven up.

This is my first book in The Lyon’s Den Series, and I am now very much intrigued what will happen next!

Really sweet story that moved along at a nice quick pace. Didn't take away from the fact that Alex and Priscilla took their time to figure out what they were each looking for and that they were perfect for each other.

Priscilla, after many months of allowing her mother to dress her according to her mother's colouring, which was all wrong for Cilla with her beautiful red hair and lavender eyes, decides to take things into her own hands and wear a dress her mother has not approved but which proved a fabulous hit as it attracted the attention of Alexander Douglas, the Earl of Wrotham. What begins as a curious looking "young gentleman" in a gambling establishment, leads Alex to the love of his life. Alex on his part, is still trying to get over the fact that his father, recently deceased has squandered the family's wealth on his mistress (or so he thinks) and is attempting to recoup said losses through a series of visits to the same gambling den frequented by Cilla, disguised as Mr Paul Smith.

Wonderful tale that had me reading the book and completing it in a couple of days. An extremely charming story with lots of wonderful supporting characters that managed in the short number of pages to tell a brilliant story.

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

Another good entry in the Lyon's Den series. In this book, we have Priscilla, a young woman suffering at the hands of an overbearing mother. Mom has her ideas of what her daughters need/should do to catch husbands, and her actions have made Priscilla and her sister Jane the laughingstock of the ton. Her only bright side is the card games she plays with her father. Pricilla has a knack for the cards and rarely loses. Desperate to get out from under her mother's thumb, Priscilla hatches a plan to win enough money to set herself up in her own home. With Mrs. Dove-Lyons's help, she disguises herself as a young man and gambles at the Lyon's Den.

After years at war, Alex returned home after his father's death to find the estate in financial ruin. He suspects that his father's greedy mistress found ways to fleece his father of everything from money to a townhouse in London. A skilled cardplayer, Alex goes to the Lyon's Den to win enough money to repair his fortunes. There he encounters a mysterious young man whose card skills match his own.

When Alex is attacked on his way home after another winning night, it starts a rollercoaster of events. There is a link between the attackers, the Lyon's Den, and his father's mistress, and Alex is determined to follow it. He also meets Priscilla and almost immediately connects her to the mysterious young man at the Lyon's Den. Fascinated by her talent and bewitched by her beauty, Alex finds his protective instincts aroused. Though I didn't care for him ratting out Priscilla to her father, it opened the door to them spending time together. It isn't long before Alex's pretend courtship turns real. The attraction and connection between Alex and Priscilla are undeniable, and I loved watching them get to know each other.

The romance sometimes seems to take a back seat to the mystery surrounding Alex's father. I enjoyed seeing Alex unravel the truth behind his father's death and finances. The twists and turns of this mystery kept me hooked from start to finish. The resolution was intense, with a surprise heroine saving the day. I loved seeing justice done.

As always, Mrs. Dove-Lyons manages to bring together two people who are perfect for each other, though, in this case, it wasn't preplanned. I also liked her scene with Priscilla's mother near the end of the book. Priscilla's mother had quite the wake-up call, and I was happy to see its effect on her.

There are some possible lead-ins to further books with these characters. I liked Alex's friend Montgomery and would love to see a book with him. A line at the end indicates he is interested in Priscilla's younger sister, Jane. There is also Maggie, the younger orphan girl that Priscilla rescued. Comments about her resembling someone (currently unknown) show a mystery that needs to be solved.

The Earl and the Gambler

Usually, the bride and groom purchased Mrs. Dove-Lyon's services so she could match them. Sometimes one or the other might purchase her service. However, in this story, our protagonists met at her den on their own. She might have thought them a good match, but they did not have to pay her one penny.

Priscilla was a lady in disguise. She was gambling so she did not have to marry. She did not think she could get a husband. Her voice was appalling; her dresses were atrocious, and her stutter was a source of gossip. She gambled because she thought she was doomed to be a spinster.

Alex gambled so he could pay his father's debt. While at the Lyon’s Den, he recognizedPriscilla. Something about her seemed familiar. Eventually, he knew she was a woman and an earl’s daughter. A courtship followed, but there was a cloud over the entire affair. Alex’s father was tricked out of his money, and Alex was working to uncover the truth. His investigation would lead to danger. What would he discover, and how would his courtship with his lady gambler end? If you like historical romance with a dash of mystery and suspense, you might enjoy this story, as I did.

This was a good read but it was not much of a romance until the final chapters. Priscilla and Alex were both involved with their own issues. Alex was dealing with the aftermath of his father's death and Priscilla was in conflict with her mother. Of course, Mrs. Dove-Lyon was instrumental in bringing the two people together. This book had some action and mystery. There was also humor and a heroic dog named Penny. This low-steam romance was very refreshing in that the feelings of both parties were straightforward. For instance, Priscilla actually accepted Alex's marriage proposal without hesitation. That never happens!
The author definitely planted some seeds for a future book. Will Lord Montgomery be able to turn the head of Lady Jane? Also, who does Maggie the orphan bear a strong resemblance to? Despite some tantalizing tidbits, this book does come to a satisfying conclusion. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Each book that I have read in the Lyon's Den Series has been unique, and a true joy to read!

Alex and Priscilla meet initially while both are gambling at the Lyon's Den. While Mrs. Dove-Lyon does not get the credit for bringing these two together, she is still capable of playing a part in their story.

This story offers so much - the characters are interesting, there is a mystery, villains, an amusing butler, and of course dogs and orphans. I loved it!

Well I had a fun time reading this story. The writer gave the readers a very witty and interesting love story. Alex and Pricilla romance was to intriguing not to ignore by busy mothers and The Ton. The book was an easy read for me. The writer kept the dialogue simple and engaging for the reader. The plot was logical and was very believable. I enjoyed the action of hunting down bandits and thieving black guards. I received a copy of this book for a voluntary honest review

Lady Priscilla Gifford is determined to get out from under her mother's control, and knows how to do it.

Alexander Douglas, Earl of Wrotham was very surprised to find the financial mess his father left when he died. He feels someone is behind it.

This historical romance is unusual in that our characters actually talk to people who can help them, and about how they feel. There is a mystery to solve and a dangerous villain to avoid. We also have a cute four legged heroine. All the characters are fabulous and there are secondary characters I would like to read more about. This book is part of the "Lyon's Den " world set around a gambling Den run by a very clever widow. These books are by lots of your favourite authors and can be read in any order.

Great fun.

More from this very addictive series, all of them revolving around Bessie Dove Lyon and her He’ll and Sin club, but written by a plethora of talented writers.
This one by Anna has everything you could wish for in a plot.
Some places were a little slow for me , but I stayed with it, and found it was very enjoyable, and I always love the happy ending.
Great characters too.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

What a fabulous story in The Lyon's Den series. A Lyon of Her Own will keep your attention as it takes you on a rollercoaster ride that weaves a story from beginning to end with threads of intrigue, violence and a villain who is cold and calculating. Anna St Claire has given readers a book that is well-written, filled it with great cast of characters that come off the pages and pull you into this emotional ride that keeps you involved until the very end. With setting descriptions and action sequences that are wonderfully vivid that brings the story to life and as the uncertainties escalates the suspense builds and danger abound which brings this read together perfectly with Mrs. Dove-Lyon happy ever after ending.

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

Thanks NetGalley. It is always fun when they find their forever love at the Lyon's Den. But in this case Alex did not get to see the real Priscilla until he attended her mother's party. She was dressed as a man at the Lyon's Den but he follow her home and guessed who she really was.Priscilla thought she'd make enough money to support herself because her mother was trying to make her someone she wasn't and she wanted to earn funds to live on her own. But along the way she saved a little orphan and her thought went in a new direction. At first Alex was pretending to be courting her but that soon changed.

This is such a fun series and I love they keep adding more titles and new authors. Anna St Clair has written a few other titles in this series and she includes a character or two from her previous book. It makes me wonder if perhaps the awful "Burleson Musicals" were mentioned in a prior book.

Wrotham and Priscilla make a great pair, but their coming together was not through the typical scheming of Mrs Bessie Love-Dyon as in other books, Her role as matchmaker is secondary, but good backstory is included so everything makes sense. Here she has the bigger role of trusted friend, confident, and widow. It was a nice change in storyline. Lots of twists, unexpected turns. This is a stand-alone series and everything wraps up nicely.

A Lyon of Her Own by Anna St Claire continues the connected world of Lyon’s Den which features the Black Widow, Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon, as the proprietress of a notorious den of iniquity where a man could gamble as well as any other vice that might appeal to him. Alexander Douglas, Earl of Wrotham was an excellent card player. By playing cards he had managed to save his earldom from bankruptcy. He was very circumspect: he only had one drink a night and left early, while he was still winning. One evening he noticed a very young man who seemed to play as well as he did. He was curious but he and his friend, Lord Montgomery opted to leave early, as usual. On their way through London, on the darkest possible street, they were attacked by robbers. They shot Strafford, the driver, but were brought to heel by Wrotham and Montgomery and turned over to the magistrate. One of the was familiar and he soon remembered he had seen him talking to Lord Anders before they left the Lyon’s Den. He resolved to let Mrs. Dove-Lyon know. The next evening he attended a ball where he saw the most beautiful woman he had even seen, Lady Priscilla Giffard. He danced two waltzes with her before she joined her father in the card room. Very odd behavior for a young lady.

Alex had spent his time during the war as an intelligence officer and as such noticed more than other people did. He was also good at sniffing out wrong doing. There seemed to be wrong doing regarding his father’s death and the loss of their fortune. He had Bow Street checking into it. Alex was a clever man, aside from how good looking and easy-to-get-along with he was. Priscilla was strongly independent and was tired of her mother, who never seemed to see what was right in from of her: for example, the colors she favored did nothing for Priscilla. Cilla was ready to fight back. She normally wasn’t a sneaky girl, but enough is enough. What a terrific pair. Good characters. Good story.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of A Lyon of Her Own by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts are my own. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #AnnaStClaire#ALyonOfHerOwn

Another great adventure at The Lyon's Den and this time Mrs Dove-Lyon is not the person that brings them together!

She is determined to get out from under her mother's dominance and concocts a scheme to dress as a man and win money at the Den.

He returns home from the war to find all the money in his father's estate is gone due to the the mistress of his deceased father/ What he finds is a woman dressed as a man winning money at the tables!

A delightful tale filled with everything needed including Penny (will have to read)!

The hero, Alexander Douglas, the fifth Earl of Wrotham, is a war veteran who is trying to expose his father’s mistress as a fraud. He is convinced she tricked his father into signing over one of the family's townhomes and also drained the earl's coffers. Now, with his widowed mother and younger siblings to support, Alex goes to the Lyon's Den to use his considerable skill at cards to win enough to repay the creditors.

Lady Priscilla Gifford is tired of being the focus of the Ton's ridicule and is determined to break free from her overbearing mother and she has just the plan to produce the financial and personal independence she needs. Priscilla has a stutter that makes her nervous in social situations, but after disguising herself as a young man, she is playing cards at the Lyon's Den and finds confidence and freedom in her disguise as a cardsharp.

When Alex encounters Priscilla, who manages to beat everyone she plays, Alex uncovers her clever ruse and is intrigued by her courage and intelligence. She also finds herself attracted to Alex, who is as clever as he is handsome. Feelings surface quickly, but an evil plan threatens to destroy their future. This was an entertaining read from start to finish with a great couple, fun romance, villains (who get their "just desserts"), and bring in orphan, Maggie and her very protective pup, Penny and you have a wonderful read. I voluntarily read & reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts & opinions are my own.

This book was a hot mess. The author didn't know if she was writing a mystery or romance. The MC's barely spent time together and then the insta-love on the part of the MMC didn't feel real. There were too many side stories and side characters that this book was all over the place. I almost DNF'd about 60% in but wanted to give a fair review.

There were a few instances of modern phrases when thrown into the story it just took me right out. As far as I know you didn't have the "lights" on into the night. You had a fire and candles but not referred to as lights.

I grudgingly give 1.5 stars rounded to 2.