Series:
Lyon's Den (Book 83)
One man wants her dead. Another may love her forever.
For over a year, Lord Richard Orson has been quietly
captivated by the unconventional Lady Emma Donoghue. Headstrong, brilliant, and
unapologetically involved in causes that rattle Society's comfort, Emma is
nothing like the debutantes he's expected to court.
But when he finds her bruised, confused, and alone in
Covent Garden after midnight, Richard is thrust into a far more dangerous game.
Someone wants Emma silenced. And now, Richard has only
moments to uncover the truth, protect her from harm, and keep her out of
scandal's reach. But staying focused is harder than he imagined—especially when
every glance, every accidental touch, reminds him how perfectly she fits in his
arms.
As danger closes in and secrets are revealed, Richard
must decide whether he's willing to risk his life—and his heart—for a woman who's
always been worth the fight.
A good mix of slow-burn romance and suspense. This is the
first of a five-book miniseries within the larger Lyon's Den collection, and a
good introduction to the characters. Richard is one of five adopted
"sons" of Lord Duncan. They were taken in as children to protect them
from unscrupulous relatives. Lord Duncan is also an operative for the British
government and trained them also to work for the Crown. This training proves
particularly useful during the book.
Lady Emma is the daughter of a career diplomat who has
spent the past decade out of the country, leaving Emma at home to be cared for
by servants. She is intelligent, stubborn, and has strong opinions that she acts
on with enthusiasm. Most recently, she joined others blocking the entrance to
White's, calling out its members for their various sins. For more than a year,
she has caught Richard's attention. Though he shakes his head at her antics, she
fascinates him.
Matters become complicated when Richard finds Emma badly
beaten and confused in Covent Garden. His protective instincts kick in, and he
takes her to Duncan's home for care and protection. Emma doesn't remember
anything about what happened to her. Richard and his brothers join forces to
investigate what happened to her. The twists and turns of the investigation
kept me guessing to the end. The nail-biting final confrontation kept me glued
to the pages until it was over.
I liked Richard's care and understanding as Emma slowly
recovered from the attack. The time they spend together allows them to get to
know each other. Richard falls hard for her and struggles to maintain focus
when she is near. Emma's feelings for Richard grow, but she hesitates to give
in while her memories remain elusive. I enjoyed their interactions and seeing
how they balance each other. The ending had a cute twist that suited their
relationship.
There is a secondary mystery that runs through the book. A
mysterious assailant shot Lord Duncan at the beginning of the story. The brothers
are determined to bring the shooter to justice, but clues are hard to find. The
epilogue provides a hint of what is to come in future books.
No comments:
Post a Comment