Series:
Lyon's Den (Book 103)
She sought marriage.
He sought pleasure.
Love had other plans.
When scandal threatens to force her sister into a
disastrous marriage, Miss Eliza Wainwright makes a desperate, daring nighttime
visit to the Black Widow, owner of London's most notorious gaming hall. All
Eliza needs is a respectable husband to restore her family's standing—instead,
she finds herself drawn to the arrogant yet enigmatic Marquess of Redver, who
comes to know her only as The Blackbird.
Redver's carefully crafted façade hides explosive family
secrets. But during a masked encounter with The Blackbird, he discovers not
only pleasure and passion, but unexpected solace. When she refuses to see him
again, him being of the same ilk that ruined her sister, his walls begin to
crumble.
As hidden truths emerge and disguises fall away, will
Redver and Eliza be destroyed? Or can Redver convince his perfect match he is
worthy of her heart?
Eliza and her twin sister, Cassandra, are caught up in a
scandal through no fault of their own. Desperate to save her sister from disaster,
Eliza sneaks off to the Lyon's Den to beg for help from Mrs. Dove-Lyon. All she
needs is a respectable husband to restore the family to Society's good graces. Through
a case of mistaken identity, she encounters the Marquess of Redver, who stirs up
unexpected feelings.
Redver comes across as the typical nobleman - arrogant,
self-controlled, interested only in his own pleasure. But behind his carefully
crafted façade is a man with secrets and emotional trauma that still haunts
him. The only thing that gives him relief is his anonymous encounters with a
woman at the Lyon's Den.
The initial encounter between Eliza and Redver leaves
Eliza disturbed and intrigued. She recognizes him immediately as the best
friend of the man who caused the scandal involving her sister, and tars him
with the same brush. At the same time, the effect he has on her leads her to
make an astonishing proposal. I liked how Eliza took control and had some
rather pointed observations about Redver's attitudes. However, she did not
anticipate her reaction to the things he did. Both left the encounter changed
and unable to forget each other.
Redver can't get "Blackbird" and her effect on
him out of his mind. He wants to see her again. In the meantime, he accompanies
his friend Harbury, who must make amends for his actions. Redver is
inexplicably drawn to Cassandra's sister, Eliza, unaware that she is his
"Blackbird". I enjoyed watching them spend time together and seeing
Eliza get to know the man beneath the rakish façade. At the same time, Redver
takes Blackbird's criticisms to heart and begins to change his ways.
Redver and Eliza both have painful family histories that
make them reluctant to trust love. I enjoyed seeing them build a friendship
first as they got to know each other. There are some interesting complications
involving the respectable man that Eliza and Mrs. Dove-Lyon selected to court
Eliza, with a twist at the end I didn't see coming. Eliza worried about what
would happen if Redver discovered her identity. Redver realized his feelings
for Eliza, but worried that he wasn't worthy of her. The revelation scene was
intense and moving.
Family dynamics on both sides were interesting. I liked
the relationships among the five sisters. Eliza is protective of them all and
wants what is best for them. She is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for
them. I would love to see a story for Cassandra and Harbury. I'd also love to
see stories for the three younger sisters as they grow up - I loved their
embrace of the "Willful Wainrights" name. Redver's family history is
quite complicated. I loved his relationship and protectiveness toward his young
sister, Emily. She was sweet, and I liked her quick friendship with Eliza's
sisters. The twist at the end was a surprise, but I liked how it turned out.
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