This is another great addition to the Lyon's Den series. I especially enjoyed it because it reveals more of Bessie Dove-Lyon's past and how she got started in her match-making. The story features a doctor, Dr Phillip Rosen, who leaves his home and goes to London for his career. Shira also leaves her home and comes to London to pursue her love of medicine as a nurse. Phil and Shira's passion for medicine lead them right to each other. While they are drawn to each other, they are reluctant to act on their feelings. A little meddling from Mrs. Dove-Lyon may be all they need to get these two to acknowledge that they belong together.
Lovely characters and an interesting storyline make this an intriguing read and a great addition to the series. Thank you to Netgalley and Dragonblade for providing a complimentary copy. This is my honest opinion.

The Lyon’s First Choice by Sara Adrien
The Lyon’s Den

Rigid rules are not limited to the ton. Shira Liebling and Phil Rosen face the professional rules surrounding their work as doctor and nurse and the rigid beliefs of what is right and wrong in the Jewish community of the era. Ruin for a woman was possible just by being a nurse and marriage between Jews and Gentiles was not allowed…or deeply frowned upon. As Phil and Shira fought to maintain their professional distance while fighting growing attraction, Bessie Dove-Lyon stepped in to give them a nudge.

This book had historical, cultural and medical information that I found interesting and that had me googling Mesmerism, history of c-sections, India, and history of medicine sites. I enjoy books that include history of medicine as both my father and brother have researched various topics related to the field and I, as a nurse, have read about the history of nursing.

This book did not grab me as previous books in this series but did make me curious about other books in the series.

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

3-4 Stars

Oh Bessie!!!! We learn more about you all the time, and how you got into matchmaking!
Dr. Phil Rosen is an excellent surgeon at the Harley Street Clinic.
Nurse Shira joins him as his nurse and questions her position since she is staying in the same house as the doctor. Feeling her reputation is ruined, she still longs for the love of a good man and children.
Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon works her magic and her involvement in Phil and Shira's HEA. I enjoyed the history and romance of this story, as well as the behavior and moral code they were bound by.

Past Secrets and Present Matches

In this story, we discover why Mrs. Dove-Lyon got into the business of matchmaking. She has a secret, and it just might interfere with her current matchmaking endeavor. However, Mrs. Dove-Lyon is not above resorting to underhanded means. Phil and Shira are falling in love quickly, but they are resisting their attraction since he is a doctor, and she is a nurse. What will Mrs. Dove-Lyon have to do to take them in the right direction? There will be unconventional wagers and all manner of mischief that will keep you entertained. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like Regency romance.

4 1/2*STARS*
Where reputation is everything, Nurse Shira looks to fulfill her dream as a nurse at 91 Harley Street. Dr. Phil Rosen has worked where only Jews are tolerated. His dream of escaping leads him to London at 91 Harley St. Forced to work and live close together as nurse and surgeon, they both are caught in love's turmoil. Never let it be said that Mrs. Dove-Lyon doesn't know how to interfere when it's true love. A big secret from Bessie's past is revealed. Mild descriptive sex.
Sara Adrien's books are more than a romance. They are a look at the Jewish faith interacting with Society in the Regency period. Recommended reading.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of the book from NetGalley.

A Historical Fiction Regency working class Romance uniquely incorporates Jewish culture in an age when restrictions and bias abound (one may say there is still prejudice, but I digress). A boy meets a girl. Just kidding, but really, a promising young surgeon uproots himself to start a new life, practicing his craft in England. Meanwhile, a young woman, a nurse desiring to further expand her skills beyond her small community (and its restrictions), gambles on the chance to work on Harley Street.
Force them to work together. Tension. Decisions. Family secrets surface. Will they take that leap or let the chance pass by?

The sweet duo felt like sitting by a warm fire, cuddling close, prying into their intimate hopes and desires. In the end, I felt like a friend watching their choices spin closer and closer, all with the Black Widow’s signature meddling.

Note: there is one intimate scene that is vital to the story.

4.5/5-star rating

This was a sponsored ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

When Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon looks up to see Dr. Philipp “ Phil” Rosen who has come from Austria to 91 Harley Street to be a surgeon at Dr. Alfred Stein’s new hospital, she is so shocked she drops the teapot she was pouring hot cocoa from and burns her hand. It’s as though she’s seen a ghost. Both doctors jump up in to immediately attend to her as well as the two nurses who have just arrived also. Wendy Folsham had just walked in with her friend and fellow nurse, Shira Liebling. Shira has just agreed to be the doctor’s nurse but she was unaware she would be living alone with the new surgeon at 91 Harley Street. Being a nurse as a Jewish female was damaging enough to her reputation but being alone with the unmarried surgeon would ruin her for sure. As whenever Mrs. Dove-Lyon, the Black Widow of Whitehall is involved, it’s not long before both Shira and Phil have been entangled in her web but in this book we learn the story behind the mysterious Black Widow herself and why she devotes her life to finding love matches for others while still operating the most exclusive gambling den in London.
In this book, we not only get to experience the emotional struggles that Shira goes through trying to balance a career that blemishes her reputation while still wanting to find love and marry, we also feel Phil as he struggles with not crossing the line of doctor and nurse in the workplace, having his first choice, as well as his turmoil over the past connection he shares with Mrs. Dove-Lyon but we are also front and center experiencing a life and death situation involving Ada Stein. All this plus learning why Mrs. Dove-Lyon didn’t get to have her first choice.
Sara Adrien brings to light the issues of the Jewish people, the biases against them and their self-imposed biases, the traditions they try to escape and the ones they cling to, and their sense of family and sharing of their love as she tells the story of Shira Liebling, the young Jewish nurse, and Dr. Phil Rosen, the Jewish surgeon as they overcome all biases by making their love their first choice.
I received a free Advanced Readers’ Copy of this book but was given no monetary compensation. I read for the enjoyment and voluntarily review so that others may know what to expect and authors may be helped by critique and encouragement.

The Lyon's First Choice is a sweet story of love and first choices.

It tells the story of ow Bessie Dove-Lyon got her start in making matches. Phil is a doctor, and Shira, a nurse, have come to London in order to practice medicine. When they first meet, they feel something for each other but struggle to keep it hidden.

Mrs. Dove-Lyon gets injured and needs to see a doctor. But when she sees Phil and Shira she decides to do a little matchmaking.

This was a sweet story. I didn't find it as exciting as other I have read about the Lyon's Den. It is good and still worth reading.

Dr. Phil Rosen excels in surgery but struggles to mend his broken heart. Shira, a woman of courage who dared to defy societal norms by choosing a career in nursing over reputation. Her journey leads her to the bustling clinic on Harley Street, where destiny intertwines her path with the dashing surgeon who saved her friend’s life. In his presence, she discovers that her passion for medicine has guided her straight into the arms of love.
Another interesting romance in the connected world of Bessie Dove Lyon, not only do we have a lovely romance but more of Bessie’s past is revealed. I liked both Phil & Shira & enjoyed their journey to a HEA. There was also the insight into being Jewish which I found very interesting & added another dimension to the book
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The Lyon’s First Choice by Sara Adrien is a story in which we get a glimpse of more of Bessie Dove-Lyons’ past and why she is on this quest to match people based on true love. Shira is a nurse who has just arrived in London. She has left home because the fact she nurses everyone who needs it, including men, has pretty much ruined her reputation and her hopes of finding love. Now that she is in London, she discovers that she will be living in the same house as the surgeon she will be assisting and that is even worse. Dr Philipp Rosen has just arrived from Vienna to assist his friend in his quest to open a hospital. He has left Vienna because the restrictions on him as a Jewish man of medicine have become claustrophobic. His new surgical nurse seems to able to read his mind when they are operating. He is falling in love with her, which he sees as unprofessional. In addition, she doesn’t seem to reciprocate his feelings. They have been individually called to the Lyons’ Den to visit with the widow who has invited them back to greet their true love. Individually they have considered not responding to her invitation, but eventually they both do and are mightily surprised at her suggestions.

Both Jewish, both consummate medical professionals, and both wishing for love and a family, she has them trapped. Knowing she introduced their good friends, who now have twins, adds to her credibility. Both are attracted to one another but their communication skills are lacking so they think they are alone in their feelings. What the Widow suggests is shocking, but Shira, feeling she is already ruined, goes forward. Despite the fact they are blindfolded and not allowed to speak, recognition is almost immediate. It is a lovely story of two people finding their heart’s desire.

Thank you Dragonblade for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #SaraAdrien #TheLyonsFirstChoice

Love, love, loved this story! I'm a huge fan of this author and of the Lyon books, so when you put them together, you get magic. Phil is a surgeon who moves to London. Shira is a nurse, who has also moved to London. Given that the setting is in the 1800s the code of behavior was very strict. Then add the moral code of their faith and these two people are faces with serious concerns. There's the history and the romance. Next you have Mrs. Dove-Lyon who adds her own sparkle to every story plus some background information that we have all been dying to know. There's the fun 😊. Lastly, some clarity regarding the medical world at that time. The prejudice of women in this field as well as other prejudices and you have a captivating story that will grab your interest and hold you enthralled until the very end. Beautifully written, excellent research and portrayal of the times with a bit of spice added to the mix. A show stopper.

Another Lyon's Den, another Sara Adrien book. More insight into Bessie Dove-Lyon and a wonderful love story featuring Dr. Philipp Rosen and Nurse Shira. They fall in love on their own, but it takes some meddling from Bessie to get the two together.. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and how Adrien weaves Jewish heritage into her stories is so uplifting.

Phil, a doctor, and Shira, a nurse, have both come to London to pursue their passion of healing and medicine. Phil and Shira both feel they work well together at the clinic on Harley Street and could possibly outside the clinic as well. But they’re each afraid of doing of crossing that line. Before even stepping into the Lyon’s Den Phil and Shira find themselves stuck in her web. As life at the clinic continues they both lose track of time for the wager they agreed to but still find themselves back at their appointed time to see if another match can be made.

I haven’t read all of the books in this series but have enjoyed this author’s work and her previous novella for this series so I was excited to read this one. However, this one was a miss for me but I think it would’ve been better if it was part of this series. The last 60% of the book was a lot better than the first 40% but it seemed forced. There wasn’t much of a story in the beginning, it was more of a backstory. While I enjoyed the Jewish perspective and found it interesting I wished it had been better blended into the story. The latter part was enjoyable and more of a story but the MC feelings seemed like they kept repeating themselves without any progression of the story. I liked Phil and Shira and the healing of old family pain. I’m intrigued with the new author’s series about Harley street and hope that they’re told and flow more like the Infiltrating the Ton and Diamond Dynasty series.

There is one encounter and came off very steamy.

Advanced ecopy of the book provided by Net Galley and Dragonblade publishing for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A quick and simple read, easily finished in an hour. Although this is a book in a series, you don’t need to have read the other Lyon’s Den books to understand this one at all.

The plot of this book is a fairly common one, especially in historical romance, but that doesn’t detract from the story. The characters are likeable enough and the pacing is good.

The surgical aspects to this book added an interesting layer to the story, which was a nice change.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

They had to leave their home for their career. Their future turned out to be with each other, with the help of the Black Widow. An interesting and historical insight into the Jewish community and traditions and ceremonies. More than romantic read, but also educational.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

I have really enjoyed Sara Adrien's previous books, but I was a little disappointed with this one. I liked both Phil and Shira and would probably have liked their love story more had it not been part of the Lyon's Den. I actually found Bessie Dove-Lyon rather pompous and annoying in this book. She's given all this credit for getting Alfred and Ada together even though (if my memory is correct) she had not really planned for them to be matched together and they kind of went about things behind her back. Same here, she's not really responsible for getting these two together, they fell in love with one another all on their own - it seems like maybe just an honest conversation between the two of them would have solved a lot of their problems. I also didn't really like the backstory between Bessie and Phil's grandfather - it kind of changes previously established things about Bessie's past. As always it is such a breath of fresh air to have characters that aren't Christian and to see more of what it was like for Jews in England during this era. I'm looking forward to Sara Adrien's upcoming series and hope to get to see more of the characters she has introduced through the Lyon's Den series.

A interesting read in more ways than one. The story of Shira a nurse and Dr. Phil touches on their Jewish upbringing and the love of their careers. A bit confusing why love couldn’t also be a part of their lives. But that is why they need Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon, to help them see what is obvious. Her matchmaking skills are once again put to the test. Although I truly loved that we also got some background history on Bessie and an explanation of why she does what she does. Plus an understanding of some of the Jewish traditions.
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #TheLyonsFirstChoice

Bound by the rules of tradition and the taboos of the workplace, Nurse Shira and Dr Phil Rosen fight against an attraction that cannot be denied. I enjoyed this romance, the description of medical procedures of the time as well as the traditions held in Orthodox families. There is humor in this novella, as well as the lifting of the veil of mystery that surrounds Mrs Bessie Dove-Lyon. The Black Widow sees what others miss and she uses her reputation and wagers to bring Shira and Phil together into a very unorthodox liaison. The novel comes to a sweet conclusion, bringing their romance full circle and healing the pain of the past. I received a copy of this love story as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

This is a sweet romance that brings Phil and Shira together in a work arrangement and from there romance comes into play. Once Shira decides what is most important to her, they get their HES, along with help from Mrs. Dove-Lyon. It’s a good read and I enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

Thanks NetGalley. This another in a series about the doctors of Harley Street. Shira is joining the group as a nurse to a surgeon and happy to have a chance to do more than regular nursing. Phil is the new surgeon she will be helping. They are both Jewish and contending with that and living in the same place. Bess is there visiting from the Lyon's Den when she burns herself over seeing Phil who looks just like his grandfather who Bess knew when she was young. Shira and Phil fight the attraction for each other and ask Bess for help to find someone to marry.