This is an excellent collection of stories written by talented authors featuring The Lyon’s Den Saga with some returning characters that we love and introducing us to a variety of new entertaining characters. If you are already familiar with The Lyon’s Den interconnected world then this is an anthology you will enjoy … on the other hand if you have not read any of the stories from this saga this anthology is a great way to start!

As usual with all thing Lyon’s Den related there is romance, humor, mystery, and characters full of wit and charm. The anthology includes a list a favorite authors and they have created stories that capture your attention and keep it from beginning to end.

This anthology features the celebration and mystery night in honor of The Lyon’s Den proprietress’ birthday -
🎲❤️‍🔥The Lyon's Den, London's most notorious gambling hell, is having a Mystère Masque in honor of the proprietress' birthday. It's a night of gambling, dancing, and most of all, of sexy and forbidden romance. While London's ton shuns the ball, it's secretly the hottest ticket in town.
The event is an exclusive invitation-only gala except for a few invitations that are mysteriously delivered to certain homes. Called Invocation Mystère, no one knows how or why the invitations arrive, only that they do - and everyone wants one.
It's a night to remember at the great Mystère Masque at the notorious Lyon's Den where anything goes! ❤️‍🔥🎲

I highly recommend reading this anthology - this is unusual from me as I typically avoid anthologies.

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this #book from Dragonblade Publishing via #Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review. 🦄 @dragonbladepub
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These short stories that have been collected together was so good! I enjoyed all the different stories from the different authors. It kept my reading very refreshed and interesting.
I just reviewed Night of Lyons by Chasity Bowlin, Ruth A. Casie, Sandra Sookoo, C.H. Admirand, Sara Adrien, Belle Ami, Abigail Bridges, Jenna Jaxon, Jude Knight, Rachel Ann Smith, Aurrora St. James. #NightofLyons #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Night of Lyons

Mystare Masque held at the Lyon’s Den, an infamous gaming hell.

Chasity Bowlin
Ruth A. Casie
Sandra Sookoo
C.H. Admirand
Sara Adrien
Belle Ami
Abigail Bridges
Jenna Jaxon
Jude Knight
Rachel Ann Smith
Aurrora St. James

Some I've read, some not but this was wonderful.
One of the best book series now includes one of the best anthologies. Bessie Dove-Lyon's birthday celebration is by special invitation only. Let the matches begin.

A great collection of short stories for those who enjoy the Lyons series. These were fun characters and perfect for a quick read.

Many a Regency hero and heroine will meet their match at the masquerade ball held tonight in the Lyon’s Den, an infamous gambling hall.

A Lyon With No Name (Chasity Bowlin)

This was a solid start to the collection, with the tried-and-true pairing of wickedness and innocence being refreshed by William’s awareness that he must pull his affairs together for Ellie and his estate’s sake.

The Lady and the Lyon’s Scandal (Ruth A. Casie)

Eva is a clever character, and I enjoyed how she and Drew’s conducted their flirtation over gossiping about other people’s scandals. However, I didn’t like how quickly Eva flip-flopped on her opinion of Drew when he tried to discuss the scandal in his own past, and wished I had gotten a better grip on Drew’s character in general.

In Pursuit of a Lyon (Sandra Sookoo)

I enjoyed the premise and backstory of this novella, and Astrid’s social mobility made for an unusual heroine. However, I thought that the actual events of the story were rather underwhelming, with the physical aspect overwhelming the emotional components of the romance. I also found the dialogue and exposition stilted at times.

A Lyon’s Word of Honor (C.H. Admirand)

This was a funny, light-hearted read with some action tossed into the mix as well. Alasdair and Eglantine are both loud personalities, but they work together well and I enjoyed their banter. However, I did think the larger plot of the poisoning didn’t really work very well from a logical standpoint.

Don’t Tempt the Purring Lyon (Sara Adrien)

Though I thought the opening of the story was a little clunky, it rapidly hits its stride as Seth and Lucy get to talking – they make a cute pair! I enjoyed reading about a Jewish hero and heroine in a distinctly anti-Semitic era, and was intrigued by the hints of the broader world built by this author.

Unmasked by the Lyon (Belle Ami)

This is a really cute story! I liked how Lucien managed to pursue Lizzie without being obvious about it, and helps her gain more self-confidence in the process. The author manages to pack plenty of swoon-worthy romance in the limited page count, especially in the scenes at the ball and in the ending.

To Tilt at a Lyon (Abigail Bridges)

This is another second-chance romance featuring a couple that never fell out of love with each other despite being parted for nearly a decade. I liked how Gordon and Ella came to reunite at the ball and the conversations between them, but I wish we had seen more of their love story from the first time round, not just how they parted.

The Lyon’s Wager (Jenna Jaxon)

This is a short novella, but unfortunately it felt disjointed to me, maybe because Charles’s wager and Bess’s unwelcome engagement when put together felt like too much plot for four chapters. I also thought that the issue of the engagement was too easily resolved and that we didn’t really get to know the leads. The story could have done with more depth.

Crossing the Lyon (Jude Knight)

This story is rather different in tone from the rest of the collection, with a fairytale-esque twist and a focus on revenge and not romance. I enjoyed how Mrs. Dove-Lyon stood up for the sisters and how Lady Karzel’s plot eventually played out in a truly unexpected way. However, I did feel like the romantic leads were almost window-dressing on a story which is more about family.

Mistaken for a Lyon (Rachel Ann Smith)

A longer novella, this story uses the night of a the masque as a launching point for the romance but ranges away for the plot. I liked the partnership between Crown agents Charlotte and Camden, both for work and romantically, and liked how they both had chances to show their skills in the case. However, I felt that too much context about their prior relationship was missing, and the story ended very abruptly without much explanation about what was up with the traitor.

The Lyon’s Last Chance (Aurrora St. James)

Closing out the collection, this is another second-chance romance between a couple whose first relationship never really got off the ground. While I enjoyed the basic storyline, I wished that we’d gotten a chance to dig more into the characters – Owen and Grace both have strange family backgrounds but they come up as as throwaway details, and without much more defining characteristics they never really came alive for me.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

If you have read and enjoyed the Lyon's Den Connected World series, then this is one anthology you will not want to miss! In this collection of stories, the Lyon's Den is hosting a masquerade in honor of the famous Mrs. Dove-Lyon's birthday. This is a most coveted event and entry is by special invitation only. Definitely, a night to remember, and you don't want to miss it! The collection consists of short stories written by a variety of wonderful authors, all revolving around the masquerade. They include a variety of steam levels, so there is something for everyone! A well-put together anthology that was such fun to read! Loved it!
Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for providing a complimentary copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Night of Lyons

A book to be savored, one story at a time. All stories are linked together by a masked ball held by Bessie Dove-Lyon – The Black Widow – a magnificent matchmaker and one not to be crossed.

This is a wonderful way to read authors that you know and love and as in my case, read many authors I have not read before. I am more than halfway through the collection and each one provides romance although no couple that comes together is quite like the couple found before or after in the book.

A woman desperate NOT to marry the man her stepfather chose for her saved by a man of honor.
A story of a father’s pride that left his daughter and wife destitute but saved in the end.
A woman that, in thanking someone she admired, found her future.
A second chance romance for an ex-dragoon and his commander’s daughter.
A brother that almost lost the woman he was meant to by wearing a disguise to the ball.
Sisters learn more about their past and find more than their husband’s when masks are removed.

There are more stories to read but…need to post this and will read more later. This is a book I can see reading a story from a day…or perhaps more than one, if time permits.

The Lyon’s Den Connected World is a varied and wonderful series that I look forward to reading more from and know that one more of the stories will appeal to you, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

One of the best book series now includes one of the best anthologies. Bessie Dove-Lyon's birthday celebration is by special invitation only. The golden ticket to the Mystère Masque is the envy of everyone in London. If you are a guest, you have a second chance to find your matrimonial match. From clean to very hot!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

A good blend of authors makes this anthology fantastic. Each one was unique and had good characters.

A Lyon With No Name by Chasity Bowlin
The only solution to William’s inheritance of an impoverished Earldom is to marry a wealthy heiress, but instead, he meets Ellie, who needs a husband before her stepfather forces her to marry a disease-ridden roue.

Newly come to the title, poor and cynical William attends the masked ball at the Lyon's Den, hoping to find a wife with enough money to help him get his estate back to a profitable state. He doesn't expect to encounter Ellie, the daughter of his former commanding officer, for whom he had a great deal of respect. He was drawn to her the moment she arrived. Ellie was there to find a husband to rescue her from the marriage her stepfather had planned for her.

William may be a hedonistic rake but also has a strong sense of honor. He knows the man her stepfather is going to give her to, and there's no way he can let that happen. I loved their honesty with each other as they decided to take a chance on each other. William's protectiveness was fantastic, and his kindness made all the difference to Ellie. I loved seeing William stand up to her stepfather.

The epilogue was great.


The Lady and the Lyon’s Scandal by Ruth A. Casie
A deceived lady learns the truth and finds love.

Lady Eva became a seamstress after her parents' deaths and the loss of his money. Her employer knows who she is and arranges an invitation to Mrs. Dove-Lyons' birthday ball. There, she meets the charming Lord Amherst, and they connect over their appreciation for honesty and fairness. But Eva has no idea Drew has a secret connecting him to her family. I ached for Eva and her feelings of betrayal when he revealed that secret. I hurt for Drew because he had tried to make things right and felt terrible about what had happened. I liked Mrs. Dove-Lyons' words to Eva and the difference it made.


In Pursuit of a Lyon by Sandra Sookoo
Astrid had a hard upbringing but was given a hand up by a good Samaritan. Years later, she can both thank him and indulge in fantasies with him.

Astrid goes from a seamstress in one of the poorest parts of London to the widow of a viscount thanks to a helping hand from a man determined to help those less fortunate than himself. Years later, thanks to an invitation from Mrs. Dove-Lyons, she gets the opportunity to see him again. Sutton has always remembered the hazel-eyed beauty he saw that day. When the invitation from Mrs. Dove-Lyons allows him to reconnect with her, he can't resist. I loved their instant connection over their desire to help others. The attraction that flared between them brought them even closer.


A Lyon’s Word of Honor by C.H. Admirand
Alasdair vowed years ago to protect his commanding officer’s daughters if anything should happen to the Colonel. It appears the Colonel is dying, and now he must once again face his former love, the feisty spitfire Eglantine Merriweather.

Alasdair and Eglantine come face to face when he is called to his former commanding officer's bedside. He and Eglantine were in love and planning to marry until she forced him to choose between her and his duty to his country. Not long after, he was injured and left the military. He now lives in London and offers his healing services to the poor. Eglantine recently broke off another engagement with a man who refused to give up his mistresses.

Years ago, Alasdair promised the colonel to watch over his daughters if something happened to him. Now, the colonel may be dying, but Alasdair suspects Eglantine won't be happy to hear of her father's decision. He's right - her reaction is explosive and decidedly negative. It was fun to watch the confrontation between them - it's evident that their feelings for each other are still there if somewhat overshadowed by antagonism. Eglantine's solution is to appeal to Mrs. Dove-Lyons for help, not realizing that the lady knows exactly what Eglantine needs. Eglantine and Alasdair both receive invitations to the masked ball. I liked how Alasdair's protectiveness brought them together.

Some shared characters with the author's Duke's Guard series also played a part in this story.


Don’t Tempt the Purring Lyon by Sara Adrien
Bessie Dove-Lyon ventures into Jewish matchmaking.

The companion story to Don't Wake a Sleeping Lyon. Seth is Alfred's brother and the one Alfred turns to for help. While disguised as Alfred, Seth met and fell quickly for Lucy. Lucy has been compromised thanks to a sprained ankle and a late-night trip to the doctor's office - but by who? Thanks to the deception, an emotional scene at the Lyon's Den nearly ends in disaster.


Unmasked by the Lyon by Belle Ami
Lizzie suffers from a debilitating stutter around male strangers. Will a mask and costume allow her to channel someone else and enjoy a ball? Perhaps finding a match?

I ached for Lizzie and the childhood trauma that caused her to stutter. The suffering it caused her was compounded by the teasing she endured as a debutante, and she retreated to the family estate. She spends her time in her greenhouse surrounded by plants that do not judge. Her initial encounter with her cousin's friend Lucien does not go well, and she flees in embarrassment. But Lucien is smitten and, with Mrs. Dove-Lyons' help, finds a way to meet her again under better circumstances. I loved the scene at the ball, with Lizzie's unexpected boldness and Lucien's growing love. There's a hiccup in his plans when Lizzie goes her own way, but Lucien's patience pays off in the end.


To Tilt at a Lyon by Abigail Bridges
A second chance romance. Bessie Dove-Lyon brings together a couple who have not seen each other for ten years.

Two lovers, parted by families who disapproved of their relationship, find each other again after ten years apart. I liked Ella's first reaction when she saw him again. She expressed her hurt and anger quite forcefully. I liked Gordon's determination to make things right with her. Their talk of the past was very brief before the flames of their reunion consumed them.


The Lyon’s Wager by Jenna Jaxon
The Duke of Welwyn makes two wagers, rescues a lady from an unwanted marriage, and defeats a blackmailer.

Charles, Duke of Welwyn, loves making wagers. The story opens with him making a wager with his best friend about invitations to Mrs. Dove-Lyons' ball and his plans for that ball. Meanwhile, Bess is forced by love for her father to accept the proposal of a man threatening blackmail. When Bess receives one of the coveted invitations, she defies her fiancé to attend. There, she and Charles reconnect after her father had refused his suit months before. When Charles learns of her predicament, he has the perfect plan to win his wagers and the girl.


Crossing the Lyon by Jude Knight
Bessie Dove-Lyon foils a vengeful plot and uncovers a secret.

Good story about misunderstandings and wrongly focused revenge. After the scandal of their father's death, Ursula and Lenora struggle to find their feet. Eventually, both find positions that suit them and friends who look out for them. But when invitations arrive for Mrs. Dove-Lyons' ball, both need clarification about why. Their confusion turns to anger at the arrival of suspiciously decorated masks, and they take their anger to the source. There, they discover there is more to the story than they knew. Along with them are their friends, the Beaumont brothers, who are determined to protect the ladies.

I liked Mrs. Dove-Lyons' reaction to what had happened and her steps to foil the revenge seeker. There were a couple of unexpected twists that changed the expected outcome. The epilogue was great.


Mistaken for a Lyon by Rachel Ann Smith
A story featuring Agents of the Crown attempting to find and capture the traitor in their ranks.

Charlotte and Elijah are agents for the Crown. Charlotte is frustrated by leadership's unwillingness to give her missions overseas while the men get all the best assignments. The current big mission involves unmasking and capturing the traitor in their midst. On the night of the ball, Eljah and Charlotte have their ideas of who the traitor is and use their attendance to capture him. Neither realizes the problem with their deductions until it is almost too late.

Forced to recognize each other's abilities, they decided to work together to find the real traitor. They also discover that underneath their professional competitivity is an attraction they were reluctant to admit. I enjoyed seeing their banter and cooperation as they pursued their quarry. When their pursuit is interrupted by a devious trick, both must call on their strengths and trust each other to complete their mission. The epilogue and the lead-in to another Lyon's Den book were good.


The Lyon’s Last Chance by Aurrora St. James
A wager and a promise has kept Owen from the woman he loves for years, but seeing her once more at the Lyon’s Den masque, he knows he cannot give her up again.

Good second chance story. Grace's brother George is Owen's best friend. Years earlier, Owen gave Grace her first kiss, partly because of a bet but mostly because he wanted to. But when George gave Owen an ultimatum about leaving Grace alone, Owen disappeared from Grace's life, breaking her heart. The reasons behind Owen's agreement were heartbreaking, and I ached for the pain it brought to both.

Ten years later, they meet at Mrs. Dove-Lyons' ball. Owen has never stopped loving Grace and is happy to see her. However, Grace's reaction isn't as pleasant. Mrs. Dove-Lyons steps in to enlighten Grace about some things she didn't know and sends her back to Owen. I liked seeing them put the past to rest before looking forward to the future. The only remaining obstacle is George. It was interesting to see the struggle between love and friendship in the scene with Owen and George. I liked how it ended.

To choose which is my favorite of these would be a hard choice. Although my least favorite is because the author turns Mrs Dove-Lyon into a buffoon, that is the authors choice. The rest portray Mrs Dove-Lyon as a matchmaking widow who loves to see love blossom and usually knows the victims, ahum the couples hearts before they do. Wonderful matches made by all autbors and interesting stories.
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.

This is s great series (I've read them all) and the premise behind the anthology is good, but it could have been great. It's Bessie Dove-Lyon's birthday: there is gambling, there isn't gambling, tickets are exclusive, tickets can be purchased. A few authors mentioned events or guests from other stories, and that added to the book as a whole. BDL role was small in comparison to the other books. Two of my favorites were Chasity Bowlin's "A Lion With No Name" and Sara Adrian's "Don't Tempt The Purring Lyon."

It was a good introduction to a few new writer's for me, All in all I think this was a good book.
I received an ARC and all opinions are my own.

I ended up DNFing this book after the first story. I felt that the story was too short to have the characters more developed, and that left me feeling disconnected from them. I also didn't like the writing style, something about it made it read a bit awkwardly for me. I would have loved for the first story to introduce the mysterious ball and its invitations more in depth. Overall, it could be a great read for other people, but it wasn't my cup of tea.

Entertaining, Historical Romance Anthology

It is Mrs. Dove-Lyon's birthday, and it is a masquerade. Many matches will be made; secrets will be revealed, and disasters will be averted. Mrs. Dove-Lyon will keep a watchful eye on those who intend to cause scandal or harm. Beware of crossing her; you won’t like the results. If you get an invitation to the party, consider yourself lucky. The Black Widow has matched some couples others thought could never be matched.

There are a variety of stories that are sure to entertain and delight. Some are connected to series, but all can be read as standalone. I enjoyed this anthology and would recommend it to lovers of Regency romance. The stories are novella-length. You can finish each one in one sitting.

Mystére Masque....

To celebrate her birthday, Mrs. Dove-Lyon throws an annual Mystére Masque. Held at the Lyon's Den, its a night to get freaky and let the lucky golden ticket winners' freak flag fly. Anything goes, with masks and plenty of hooking up. This is an anthology of novellas focused around invitees to the Masque. I enjoyed Sandra Sookoo's, Jenna Jaxon's and Rachel Ann Smith's contributions in particular.
Spicy novellas.
Recommend.

The Lyon's Den Connected World is one of my very favorite (44 books so far) Series. This Anthology publised by Dragonblade Publishing is a collection of stories from different authors about Bessie Dove-Lyon's birthday. One night each year Bessie sends out invitations to her Birthday Party. While the ton openly thinks the Birthday Party is "bad ton or scandalous", everyone wonders who the lucky individuals will be that are invited to the party. It is a masked party called Mystere Masque where matche can be made and many of the tons rules and behavior are forgotten for one night.
I loved the individual stories by this group of amazing authors. Each author continues to give us snippets of information about Bessie.
Thank you Dragonblade Publishing for this delightful Series and this Anthology.
More Books Please!

An invitation to a Mystère Masque is highly sought after, although considered scandalous in the extreme. Whilst it may be Bessie Dove-Lyon's birthday party, and the gambling tables are closed, she does not let up on her match-making efforts, and when she needs information regarding her invitees, she sends her wolves out to follow the trail of information that makes her one of the most influential and respected women in London. The novellas can each be read in one sitting and they are entertaining, witty and some are also suspenseful. With one common theme, each of these stories is a standalone and comes to a very satisfactory conclusion. I received a copy of this anthology as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the chance to read these short stories. It is Mrs. Dove-Lyon's birthday. It is a privilege to receive an invitation to the special occasion. These are short stories by some of the most read historical romances and they have done a outstanding job of giving us the story and coming to the point in the short time that they have.

As with almost every collection/anthology there were some stories I loved, some I just liked, and some I didn't care for at all. My favorites were:

The Lyon's Last Chance (A. St. James) - If you have read the author's time travel regency novels you will recognize some of the names in this story. I loved getting to know Owen a little better and see him as a full fledge character rather than in a supporting role. This story also deepens the mystery about Zeph a little more - now I definitely want to find out what he is all about. Overall, a really sweet story about getting a second chance with a first love. One of my favorite scenes is the one between Owen and George where Owen makes it clear he would choose Grace if forced to decided between a future with her and his friendship with George.

Crossing the Lyon (J. Knight) - I have loved this author's fairytale-inspired series. If this was another re-imagined fairy tale I'm not sure which one it is, but the ending keeps the theme going. We know who has it out for Ursa and Nora but not why. When you do find out it is a little heartbreaking and shows that there is often more to our villains than initially meets the eye. And I will say that my heart broke a little for this villain when everything was revealed.

The Lyon's Wager (J. Jaxson) - Mrs. Dove-Lyon saves the day again - who does she do it? Although it is our favorite widow who brings the complete truth to light, this story is really about Elizabeth taking control of her own life. I liked that she does call out Charles for not telling her his entire plan that night, she had every reason to be upset with him and she made it clear he had messed up a little. I loved the banter between these two characters too, you definitely get the sense that they will be happy together.

Don't Tempt the Purring Lyon (S. Adrien) - If you have read this author's first Lyon's Den book you will recall that it is mentioned at the end that there is a double wedding between the brothers, so it was nice to find out what Seth's story was. I liked that Seth's initial interest in Lucy was her looks but that he fell in love with her when he realized how clever and smart she was. The circumstances between them that catch Dove-Lyon's attention was a little far-fetched, but it was quite a knight in shining armor moment for Seth. It is also nice to have a series that focuses on the experiences of Jewish people at this time in history.

A collection of stories about one night of birthday celebrations for BDL ( Bessie Dove-Lyon) the owner and matchmaker of the Lyons Den.
Each story revolves around a mysterious invitation to a masked party of risqué behavior. The parties try to determine why they have been singled out to attend.
Multiple authors add to the anthology in their own style but the best part of this collection is that all are focused on this one night of revelry. Also some authors relate their stories to other books in their own series which adds to the reading fun as you try to search out the other books to read and add to your knowledge.
BDL’s knowledge of past mistakes and unrequited love is acknowledged as couple after couple finds love and romance at the party.
I enjoyed the variety of each author’s take on the theme. A book you can put down and come back to the next story or just immerse yourself in the shenanigans of the Lyons Den.