ARC Review: How to Steal a Lyon's Fortune by Alanna Lucas

About the Book:

Title: How to Steal a Lyon’s Fortune

Author: Alanna Lucas

Series: The Lyon’s Den Connected World

Page Length: 149

Publication Date: April 28, 2021

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing

Synopsis: Enter the world of the most notorious gambling den in London, where matches are made… unusually. Welcome to the world of THE LYON’S DEN: The Black Widow of Whitehall Connected World, where the underground of Regency London thrives… and loves.

When it comes to stealing a Lyon’s fortune, it takes two to right a wrong.

Visitors to the Lyon’s Den, run by the mysterious Mrs. Dove-Lyon, usually wish to find a spouse, but Audrey has quite another goal in mind. She needs help to secure an invitation to Lyon’s masquerade, the annual event hosted by her once-stepfather, Vincent Lyon, so that she may retrieve the statue he stole from her late mother.

Mrs. Dove-Lyon knows just the person to take Audrey to the ball, a shrewd matchmaker that she is, also sees an opportunity to help Lord Peter Dermott, who has been recommended to her as being in urgent need of a wife.

When Peter meets Audrey, the attraction is instant, but she presents him with a huge dilemma. Her plan to take the statue is daring, and if it fails, his reputation will be ruined.

However, if he walks away, he will most likely lose her, and the chance to make her his…

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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My Review:

A wonderful novella, How to Steal a Lyon’s Fortune follows Audrey and Peter as they find love and work to reclaim a stolen statue. The story begins like most of the books in The Lyon’s Den Connected World with the protagonists seeking Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s assistance in finding a spouse. This is the case for Peter. However, Audrey’s case is a little bit different. Audrey needs entrance to an elite masquerade to retrieve a statue that technically belongs to her. She approaches Mrs. Dove-Lyon for assistance, as Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s reputation is also on the line. As always, Mrs. Dove-Lyon, legendary matchmaker and owner of The Lyon’s Den, has a solution – Lord Dermott.

Lord Dermott, or Peter, needs a wife before he is pushed into marrying his selfish distant cousin. Mrs. Dove Lyon, aware of his predicament, offers a solution – Audrey. The romance between Audrey and Peter is a lovely example of love-at-first-sight. The couple instantly feels drawn to each other, and their feelings only grow. I love how invested each is in the other’s well-being and happiness. They are both strong, intelligent, and caring people who love deeply and have a profound sense of loyalty and duty.

Peter and Audrey are very close with the few living relatives they have. I love Peter’s sister and niece. They are so sweet! Both have been deeply affected by the losses in their lives, and they now depend on Peter. He is so patient and caring with them, as is Audrey when she meets them. And the girls take quickly to Audrey. Bound by a shared loss, they understand each other’s grief. Audrey’s uncle is also a well-developed and interesting character, and I love how these two families slowly come together.

Another aspect of the story that I really like is the art references and appreciation. Audrey and her uncle are passionate about art, and there are several conversations about paintings, sculptures, and more. The premise of the story even revolves around reclaiming precious art. I found this so interesting and even looked up some of the pieces that are referenced.

Like the other books in The Lyon’s Den world, How to Steal a Lyon’s Fortune is a quick and swoon-worthy story that can be read as a standalone. I think it will appeal to readers who like historical romances with great characters, suspenseful heists, and a wonderful love story. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Dragonblade Publishing, and Alanna Lucas for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.