Series:
Lyon's Den
He’s dashed all her hopes. She won’t ask him for help
again…
Only the production of an heir can save Lady Araminta
Lamb. The problem is that she’s a childless widow who, after an abusive
marriage, can’t bear the thought of a man’s touch. But when her desperate
attempt to adopt a child is foiled by the powerful Leo Chetwynd, Earl of
Aylsham, there’s only one option left to keep her home and her fragile sister
safe. She must gamble everything on Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s outrageous matchmaking
scheme.
Playing by Society’s rules hasn’t done him any favors.
Perhaps it’s time to break those rules…
Leo Chetwynd needs money urgently or his precious orphans
will be cast out. A disastrous business venture has cost him all his capital,
and there’s nothing left to offer but himself. Marriage to an heiress is the
only solution that he and his scapegrace brother can think of, but first, he
must go to the Lyon’s Den and prove his skills as a lover. If Leo accepts Mrs.
Dove-Lyon’s choice of heiress, sight unseen, the orphanage and the family name
will be saved. He can only pray that the chosen heiress isn’t the anonymous
veiled widow who has become his enemy.
She’s the last woman on earth he could ever marry…
An interesting entry in the Lyon's Den series. Araminta
is a recent widow with a problem. She must produce a baby within the year to
inherit her husband's property. A poorly written will means the child doesn't
have to be her husband's. Her late husband was a terrible man, and Araminta had
no desire to marry again and get a child in the usual way. Instead, she goes to
a local orphanage and attempts to adopt one of the babies. However, it is no
surprise that the director of the orphanage, Leo Chetwynd, turns her down flat.
She gives a fake name, wears a veil to hide her identity, and attempts to bribe
him for an infant. Araminta is furious and storms out, but despairs finding a way
to keep a roof over her and her sister's heads. So she turns to the notorious Mrs.
Dove-Lyons for help, who promises to find Araminta a suitable husband.
Leo has more critical problems than a woman who wants to
buy a baby. A risky business venture has tied up all of his cash, and someone
is trying to buy the orphanage's property from under him. He needs an infusion
of capital, fast. With his younger brother's encouragement, Leo realizes that
marriage to an heiress is the best solution to his problem. He goes to the
Lyon's Den to ask Mrs. Dove-Lyons for help. She proposes that if he can prove
himself as a lover to her choice for his wife, his problems will be solved. Still
grieving over the deaths of his wife and baby, he hadn't planned to remarry,
but desperate times call for desperate measures.
Of course, Mrs. Dove-Lyons pairs up Araminta and Leo.
Their first meeting hadn't gone well - Araminta thought he was arrogant, and
Leo thought she was just short of a criminal. Their second meeting, the
anonymous night spent together, was far different. The chemistry between them
was off the charts, and by compatibility, they'd surely do well together. But
when they discover who their mysterious partners were, both are shocked.
I liked that they met and put all their cards on the
table. Honesty was the only way to go forward and have a successful union. But Araminta
has some issues to overcome before taking that final step. Leo is more than
willing to tie the knot to get Araminta in his bed and save his orphanage, but he
has his work cut out to convince her. A surprise twist alters Leo's need for a
quick marriage in an amusing yet awkward scene, but by this time, Leo has
realized his feelings for Araminta. I liked his big moment and seeing him come
through for Araminta.
The epilogue was good. There's a neat little twist
involving Mrs. Dove-Lyons and the surprise she had for Leo and Araminta.
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