The Lyon's Nemesis - Belle Ami (Dragonblade - Jan 2026)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 104)
 
He must save his earldom—or risk losing everything in a high-stakes game.
 
Short-tempered and teetering on the edge of ruin, Lexington Capel, the Earl of Essex, must marry—not for love, but for a dowry. His only hope lies with London's infamous matchmaker, and gambling-den doyenne, Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon. But on his journey to engage her services, Lex is waylaid by the notorious highwaywoman known as the Lace Bandit—a masked beauty whose daring and defiance he cannot forget.
 
She harbors a secret that, if revealed, could lead her to the gallows.
 
Lady Edwina Sinclair, last surviving heir to her family's baronetcy, leads a double life as a modern-day Robin Hood. When she robs the wrong man—a dangerously intriguing earl—her carefully spun world begins to unravel. Forced to London by her formidable grandmother to make a respectable match, Winnie must keep her identity hidden from both the ton and the ever-watchful Mrs. Dove-Lyon.
 
In a city of glittering salons and whispered scandal, fate draws two adversaries into a perilous dance. Reputation, revenge, and forbidden desire collide in The Lyon's Nemesis—where even the most cunning hearts may be undone by love.
 
Fun story. Lex Capel, Earl of Essex, inherited a nearly bankrupt earldom. He needs to marry a wealthy woman quickly if he wants to save his lands and his people. His best option is to engage the assistance of Mrs. Dove-Lyon. However, on his trip to London, he encounters the notorious Lace Bandit, a female robber who relieves him of the small amount of money he has. Though furious at the robbery, a brief meeting of their eyes leaves him intrigued.
 
Lady Edwina is the lone heir to her family's baronetcy after the rest of her family died. Her grandmother is her guardian. Edwina will inherit a large fortune when she marries or reaches her majority. Her grandmother drags her to London and hires Mrs. Dove-Lyon to help find Edwina a husband. But Edwina has a secret that could get her hanged if revealed. She is the Lace Bandit, who robs from the rich and uses the ill-gotten gains to improve the lives of the poor.
 
When they cross paths at the Lyon's Den, Lex is immediately taken with Edwina. He doesn't recognize her as the Lace Bandit, though she recognizes him as her latest victim. Lex is confused as to why he feels strongly about two women. Though Mrs. Dove-Lyon initially doesn't see them as a good match, there is no denying their connection. I enjoyed their banter and seeing them get to know each other. But as her feelings for Lex grow, Edwina worries about what would happen if he learned her secret.
 
There are some interesting twists in this story, between secrets kept, misplaced pride, and a scorned suitor, ending with a confrontation that could end with Edwina in custody. The confrontation was a nail-biter, and I was glued to the pages until it was resolved. The ending was sweet and emotional, with an epilogue that neatly wrapped up the story.