Series:
Lyon's Den (Book 75)
In love, the odds may never be in your favor.
Ruthless, wealthy, social outsider Marcus Dandridge has
fallen in love. Hard. So hard he's already attempted to force marriage to Lady
Joanna Longford by means of blackmail—and failed utterly, gaining the eternal
enmity of her brother. Now desperate, Marcus consults his friend, Mrs.
Dove-Lyon at The Lyon's Den, whose recommendation is a wild gamble--one Marcus
would never lay odds on at his gaming establishments. But he's so desperate to
have Joanna, he's willing to roll the dice just once more.
Lady Joanna Longford, just out and already bored by the
conventional gentlemen she's met, is suddenly intrigued by the darkly handsome
Mr. Dandridge. He's different from the other Society men—which makes her even
more susceptible to his unconventional pursuit of her.
Still, the odds are against them, until Fate—and her
brother's decree that they will never marry—triggers a defiance that may well
spell disaster for both of them...
Marcus fell in love with Joanna when he first saw her.
However, he is from a poor background and made his money by running gambling
dens. Knowing she is far above him in social class, Marcus attempts to force a
marriage by blackmailing her brother, Geoffrey (
The Lyon's Paw). This
rightfully angered Geoffrey, who took steps to ensure that Marcus couldn't get
near her. Desperate to win the lady, Marcus goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for help.
Joanna is unimpressed with the men she has met so far.
But a single dance with the mysterious Mr. Dandridge piques her interest,
especially when her brother makes his displeasure known. Her attempt to meet
with him ends in disaster, with Geoffrey even more determined to keep them
apart.
Marcus doesn't give up and, through some deception,
acquires an invitation to the same house party that Joanna attends. His arrival
and unmasking show his determination and his negotiating skills. Seeing Marcus
and Joanna convince their host to allow him to stay was fun. Marcus's attention
gives Joanna the courage to be herself, and there are some amusing moments when
she ruffles the feathers of the more conservative attendees at the party. I
loved Marcus's matter-of-fact acceptance of her complaints and his willingness
to do something about them. It doesn't take long for Joanna to return Marcus's
feelings.
I loved the development of Marcus and Joanna's
relationship. The depth of his feelings for her is evident throughout the book.
While he is determined to win her heart, he also wants to protect her and her
reputation. Joanna doesn't care what people think; she just wants the man she
loves. The ups and downs of their road to happiness kept me glued to the pages
from start to finish. The intense event that tipped the scales emphasized their
feelings for each other. The ending was terrific, and I loved the epilogue.
This book was unusual in that Mrs. Dove-Lyon plays a very
minor role. Rather than being the matchmaker that brings two people together,
she is more of an advisor to Marcus.
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