Series:
Lyon's Den (Book 77)
A heart hidden in shadows. A beauty who dares to see.
Eternal optimist Lady Rosilee Fairchild refuses to let
fate -- or scheming rogues -- dictate her future. When her brother is tricked
into gambling away their estate and held prisoner by a ruthless man determined
to force her into marriage, she takes matters into her own hands. Her solution?
Find a husband of her own choosing before one can be chosen for her. And
there's only one place daring enough to help her do it without question -- Mrs.
Dove-Lyon's infamous matchmaking den.
Hardened recluse Blake Faiththorne, Duke of Crane, has
long been withdrawn from society, content to live in the shadows of his past.
But when he learns that the woman who once saved him is now in danger herself
-- not only menaced by the worst sort of ruffian but on her way to the Lyon's
Den, a place dripping in scandal -- he cannot stand idly by.
There is only one, big problem -- though Blake has vowed
never to marry himself, helping Rosilee find a husband leaves a bitter taste in
his mouth. She is a flame in the dark, and he, despite all reason, is doomed to
seek her radiance.
Can he break free from his haunted past and claim the
woman who has always been his light? Or will old wounds and new dangers keep
them apart forever?
The story opens with a prologue where we see Blake, the
future Duke of Crane, as a boy desperately trying to escape his abusive father.
Just as he's certain his father will catch him and beat him, a young girl pulls
him to safety and hides him. Though he never saw her again, he never forgot
her.
Fast forward about fifteen years. Blake is now the Duke,
but he is also a recluse. He is bitterly ashamed of his father and convinced
that because of his "bad blood," he has the potential to be just as
bad. His only option, in his opinion, is to avoid people altogether. His only
friend is his butler/valet/man-of-all-work, Bishop. When he hears that the little
girl, all grown up now, is in trouble, he vows to help her.
Rosilee is eternally optimistic and cheerful. But when
her brother falls prey to an unscrupulous card player and loses everything, the
rogue takes Leo prisoner. He attempts to coerce Rosilee into marrying him to
set Leo free. Rosilee takes matters into her own hands and heads for London to
ask Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find her a husband.
Blake decided to help Rosilee find a husband without
involving Mrs. Dove-Lyon. The problem is that he loves her, and
thinking of her with someone else is difficult. Though Rosilee doesn't
recognize him at first, she instinctively trusts him. I enjoyed watching their
relationship develop. She senses his pain and doesn't push. Once she realizes
who he is, she understands him much better. As her feelings for him grow,
Rosilee wants him to marry her, but she can't get past his fears. When faced
with his rejection, she again takes matters into her own hands. It takes a kick
in the pants for Blake to realize what he is throwing away. The confrontation
at the Lyon's Den was intense and emotional, and I loved how it worked out.
I loved Blake's friend and butler, Bishop. He is about the same age as Blake and takes it upon himself to break Blake free from his past. I loved their interactions. There is nothing servant-like about
Bishop, and I loved watching him call Blake out on his stubbornness.
In an unexpected twist, Blake encounters one of seven
illegitimate half-brothers. This man is determined to help Blake whether he
wants it or not. There are some terrific scenes with him. The other brothers
show up at a critical time. I hope these brothers will get their own stories.
The story was good, but it didn't keep me as engaged as other Lyon's Den stories have.
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