Series:
Lyon's Den (Book 63)
A man with nothing to lose…
Lieutenant Lord Alec Quinton gambled and lost in the Lyon's
Den. But Mrs. Dove-Lyon grants him a second chance. Will he win the hand of an
heiress this time, or face his worst fear?
Forced to retire from the Navy when an injury leaves him
with one and a half legs, his pride takes a second hit when he returns home and
his fiancée cries off. His dream is to breed horses, but needs an influx of
ready coin. He seeks to marry an heiress who will agree to a marriage in name
only.
A hoyden on the verge of losing everything…
Lady Catherine Huntington's widowed mother is bedridden,
and her aunt has struck a bargain with the Black Widow of Whitehall, but time
is running out. She must marry by her twenty-first birthday, or lose her
inheritance and the ability to pay for her mother's care.
She'd rather spend her time in the country, racing her
gelding through an open meadow, than attending the tedious round of
entertainments in London. If only she could find a man agreeable to a marriage
in name only.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon has made the perfect match: two people who
love horses and want a marriage in name only. But will their stubborn pride
bend and listen, when their hearts cry out for more?
Terrific book. I was so happy to see Alec get another
chance at finding love after losing one of Mrs. Dove-Lyon's challenges. Unlike
many of the other defeated contestants in her contests, Alec is a good man and
deserves his chance. I ached for him and everything he has gone through. He was
forced to retire from the Navy after the Battle of Trafalgar when his injuries
resulted in the loss of part of his left leg. In another blow, his fiancée cried
off. Because of that, he seeks a marriage in name only. I especially loved his commitment to help other returning veterans.
Kit needs to marry before her twenty-first birthday or
lose her inheritance. She needs that money to take care of her bedridden
mother. She tried the usual route of Society balls, but she'd rather be in the
country with her horses. This unconventional attitude and tendency toward
direct speech limit her desirability in Society's eyes. All she wants is a
marriage in name only and the opportunity to be with her horses. Her aunt makes
a deal with Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find her a husband.
Alec and Kit first encounter each other during the Lyon's
Den masked ball. They are immediately drawn to each other. Alec does something
that gets him banned from the Lyon's Den before he can uncover the mysterious
lady's identity. Fortunately, with the aid of two friends, he convinces Mrs.
Dove-Lyon to give him a second chance. His biggest obstacle is to win the challenges
set up to win Kit's hand - challenges that involve his greatest fear. I loved
his determination and how he faced those fears. Kit fell quickly for the man who
saved her from a drunken patron but had no idea who he was. She was thrilled
when she discovered he would be one of those vying for her hand.
I loved their quick connection. They are open and honest
with each other, which goes a long way toward achieving their happy-ever-after.
Though both looked for a marriage in name only at the outset of their journey,
their growing feelings led to the decision to make it real. I ached for Alec,
whose injuries have made him wary of trusting someone with his heart. Kit won
my heart with her love and acceptance in an emotional scene on their wedding
night. Not everything is sunshine and roses. Alec and Kit must contend with a
sore loser in the marriage competition who is bent on revenge.
I loved the characters' appearances from the author's
other series and previous books in the Lyon's Den. The seamless inclusion of
those such as Captain Coventry and members of the Duke's Guard are always fun
to read.
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