Series:
Lyon's Den (Book 44)
An intelligent bluestocking is doomed to be a spinster.
Can she find love in the Lyon’s Den?
Miss Elizabeth Denham is hopeless in love and a
disappointment to her family. Her every word is about history and literature,
earning her condemnation by Polite Society as a stuck-up bluestocking. But when
her mother brings her to the Lyon’s Den, she meets Mr. James, a rake with an
infamous past, who instantly catches her eye.
Mr. James did not expect to find anyone of interest, as
so many of today’s ladies focus only on dancing and frivolities. But when he
meets Elizabeth, a bluestocking with a penchant for saying the wrong thing, he
is intrigued. She is everything the other ladies are not: bright and
independent, with an inquiring mind worthy of any Bow Street constable.
As the unlikely pair grow close, they must overcome false
friends, unwanted suitors, and malicious gossip. When one charming gentleman
threatens to steal Elizabeth's heart, Mr. James wants to protect her. But his
past is on every gossip's tongue, and it could ruin his chances with Elizabeth
forever.
Can they find love, or will Elizabeth remain an unwed
bluestocking?
Good addition to the series. This one is a little
different than most, as the heroine is the daughter of a wealthy tradesman, not
a member of the ton. Unlike the rest of her family, Elizabeth prefers her
interest in history over the typical female pursuits of fashion and gossip.
This puts her at odds with her mother and makes her the butt of jokes at
society functions. Mrs. Denham decides to enlist the help of Mrs. Dove-Lyon in
finding a suitable husband for Elizabeth.
I found Mrs. Dove-Lyons' solution rather interesting. The
first steps are logical - updating Elizabeth's look with better clothing and
hairstyles. The next step is teaching her to talk to men without descending
into historical lectures. She recruits Mr. James, who has expressed interest in
learning more about history and will exchange history lessons for teaching
Elizabeth how to converse with gentlemen.
Mr. James is a man with a reputation as a rake with an
infamous past. As soon as he meets her, he is intrigued by Elizabeth, and her
wit and intelligence fascinate him. It is very easy for him to spend time with
her.
I enjoyed watching the development of their relationship,
though it had its ups and downs. Elizabeth may be intelligent and well-read,
but she is also perilously naïve. She and Mr. James spend much time together,
and their conversations are thoughtful and satisfying for both. Their meetings
at the Lyon's Den go well also until she runs into a young woman who has a lot
to say about Mr. James - and none of it is good. I wanted to shake Elizabeth
for believing everything she said, especially as she knew that the woman wasn't
trustworthy. I felt terrible for Mr. James, who clearly cares about Elizabeth
and is hurt by her lack of trust.
Matters are complicated when another man shows interest
in Elizabeth. She is flattered by his attention and is encouraged by her
mother's approval. Elizabeth is torn between her attraction to Mr. James and
the courtship actions of Mr. Lewis. But not everything is as it appears, and
Elizabeth is soon faced with betrayal from several sides. I thought she was
quite lucky that Mr. James's love was strong enough to forgive her lack of
trust in him. The ending was good.
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