Isabella Rossi is a well-known courtesan who has decided to retire her career. Belle longs to find companionship in a husband with whom she can have children, and is aware that several obstacles stand in her way as a former member of the demimonde, but she knows exactly who can help. She approaches a woman known as the Black Widow who not only owns the Lyons Den gaming hell, but is renowned for her matchmaking abilities. Belle doesn't think she has a super tall order, so she's a little surprised when the Black Widow agrees to help on one condition: she will find Belle a suitable husband if Belle helps Luke Lynwood, the heir to an Earldom, overcome his addiction.

Luke is the posterchild for "down and out". He is rarely sober, up to his eyeballs in gambling debts, and at risk of being cut off by his father. After imbibing and increasing his debt even further, the owner of the Lyons Den, offers him a deal he truly cannot afford to turn down: shake his vices for debt forgiveness. Belle and Luke met once before and neither one is thrilled by this prospect, but they reluctantly agree.

I thought this was a great forced proximity/enemies-to-lovers romance that very respectfully handles addiction. As someone with first hand experience of caring for a person with addiction, I appreciated the inclusion of each detail that expressed the struggle of alcohol detoxification and recovery even if Luke's rehabilitation is handled a bit quickly. Both MCs are bound by pasts and societal expectations that make a future seem nearly impossible. One obstacle seems particularly insurmountable, but Maggie has a way of developing incredibly vulnerable characters that makes you absolutely believe things could work out. While their relationship begins on shaky ground, it develops into something really lovely.

This novel is a part of a larger Dragonblade series that I have not read, but also did not feel I *had* to read to enjoy this story. Lyon's Lover occurs in tandem with Maggie's last book, Charlotte's Control. While I don't necessarily think you *have* to read that one to pick up this story either, I'll tell you right now that you absolutely will not regret starting there before you dive in. Maggie Sims is always an auto-read author for me. If you're looking for an extra steamy, well written historical romance that's a little k!nky, I *highly* recommend checking out her backlog.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this eARC via NetGalley. As always, opinions are both honest and my own.

4/5 stars

I have not read much from this author , but this story is DELICIOUS! Luke is a wastrel who believes his father, The Earl doesn’t care for him. Belle is a celebrated courtesan who wants to retire and raise a family. Enter Mrs. Dove-Lyon, who , with her majestic ways manages to convince Belle she must help Luke before Mrs. Dove-Lyon will help her find her a mate. I was enthralled to see how the author described his withdrawal and his absolute NEED for alcohol . (Though I feel it would probably take a lot longer than noted in the story). The reverse age-gap was an interesting mix and I adored how Luke handled not only that, but how he made sure he was getting Belle’s real responses and not her practiced ones. The twist was a surprise and added great depth and angst to the story. Seeing Belle’s change was beautiful and Eleanor’s view of the real problem putting it into focus from Belle was wonderful! Steamy love scenes and a sigh-worthy ending makes this book one to devour!

I received this book for free and these are my own opinions

Thanks to the Netgalley and the author for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is a part of the Lyon's Den series, but it would be helpful if you read book 1 of the Control series, Charlotte's Control, because the two main characters in this book, and some background on them are denoted in Charlotte's Control.

In Lyon's Lover, we have a forced proximity historical romance with differing social status, reverse age gap, family conflict, and addiction themes. Isabella Rossi is a talented and sought after courtesan, who has decided to retire. Thanks to her friendship with her financially savvy friend, Charlotte, she has accumulated enough wealth to not need to seek and cater to male benefactors anymore, and can use it instead to forward her own goals. She seeks out the help of the Black Widow, owner of the Lyon's Den for her matchmaking services. But, in addition in lieu of part of her fee, Mrs. Dove-Lyons contracts Isabella to provide a service that she as successfully plied before. Not as a courtesan, but as someone who has successfully aided another in overcoming an addiction. The Widow has a problem client that she wants Isabella to help overcome his particular vices.

Despite having some doubts of this particular request, Isabella agrees, and is particularly chagrined when she finds out that the addict in question is a particularly loathsome, wastrel friend of her best friend's paramour. A boy she has met before, and who failed to make any positive impression on her because of his immaturity and poor behaviour. Luke Lynwood is a young man on the wrong path. Having lost his mother at an early age, and unable to earn the love and approval of his father, the Earl, he runs down the path of dissipation, preferring to recklessly gamble and drink his days away. But he gambles and loses too much one night and ends up caught up in the Black Widows schemes and forced into the not so loving arms of Isabella Rossi.

This starts out with both parties being more enemies than anything else, with Isabella seeing Luke as an immature, drunken wastrel and neither liking, trusting, nor expecting much from him. Luke lacks any sense of direction, and sense of self, and having nothing else, settled on drinking, gambling, and hanging with the wrong set of people to get through his days, and avoids responsibilities, especially having to deal with his fractured relationship with his father. But as he sobers up, he starts to gain a sense of accomplishment, and sense of self and a direction for his life. He and Isabella, despite an ignoble beginnings, do develop a friendship, and burgeoning attraction for each other. But Isabella doesn't want an affair or another patron. What she wants is marriage, and to raise a family outside of Town, so that she can leave her past behind. When she returns to the widow with the Luke, Mrs. Dove-Lyons throws her plans for a loop again when she presents to her chosen match for Isabella - the newly sober Luke.

This is not the whole of the story. Isabella and Luke are forced to deal with her qualms about their relationship, with their differing social status, as well as with her past and his family issues as well before they can find their HEA. Not to give to much away, but there are some interesting elements about Isabella's past that overlap with Luke's family as well, and at times, as a reader, there were some cringy moments on thinking about them. But I found the evolution of Luke and Isabella's relationship and his growth to be sweet, with a lot of expected heat as they allowed their attraction to bloom.

3.75 stars out of 5

Family, Secrets, Emotional, Surprises:
What a fascinating and pleasurable story this turned out to be.
Finally, a really good gripping deeply emotional and surprising Lyon story. 
Both characters are most interesting in their own right.
Belle is tired on being a courtesan and would like to marry, start a family and gain some respect, but how you say?
Enter Mrs. Dove Lyon.
This is not the usual way the Black widow works her magic for a client to gain a husband but if that is what Belle wants, she will need to do what the black widow insists.
Taking on a challenge to rehabilitate Luke, an incorrigible wastrel and acholic has both characters thrown together into a fast-paced journey.
Will Belle be able to help Luke and keep him sober?
Will she be able to keep away from the handsome man who tantalizes and fascinates her with his sexy innuendos, and his desirous looks
Will the unknown surprise send her away or will they be able to find a happy ever after.
This is a story that captured my heart, and the passion had the pages smoldering. Worthy of a Lyons Den book and a lady's fan is suggested.
My first time reading this author and it was a delight that I will look forward to reading more of Ms. Sims books

The premise of this book sounded so good and I have read a couple of Maggie’s books so I decided to read it. Luke is a wastrel but he can be redeemed – enter Belle who is compassionate and caring. Watching these two go through the trials of detoxification and redemption is really satisfying to read. This isn’t a topic a lot of authors take on and reading it makes you appreciate life and forgiveness (yes, there is a life’s lesson). It did move a little slow in parts but was a really good story with two very kind and nice people (even The Earl). There are cameos of Willian and Charlotte which was a bonus since I did read that story.

Belle and Luke were marvelous together. Luke is in his early 20s a drunk, gambler and general ner do well. He is sent to Belle to get over his addiction. Belle is a retired and wealthy courtesan wanting to settle down and have a family. Mrs Lyon matches these two, but it takes a lot of convincing for Belle to accept Luke as someone she deserves. This was fast paced with a whole lot going on, but comes to a nice resolution.

this was another winner in the Lyon's Den world, it was what I was hoping for and enjoyed about the historical setting. I enjoyed getting to read this and was enjoying the way it was written. Maggie Sims wrote this perfectly and was glad I read this.