The Lyon and The Bluestocking: The Lyon's Den Connected World

The Lyon's Den Connected World

by E.L. Johnson

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 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?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance

116 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2023

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Denham is concerned about her daughter Elizabeth's future. Her hope is Mrs. Dove-Lyon will have the answer. One gentleman in particular is interested in Elizabeth, even though she is a bluestocking. Rumors and lies are all she hears about him. Are they true? Elizabeth's heart says "Yes," to trust him, but her head says, "No." Mrs. Dove-Lyon is always wise and speaks the truth. The Lyons Den once again works it's magic. I love this series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Elizabeth Denham is a disappointment to her family as her every word is about history and literature. 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. As the unlikely pair grow close, false friends try to drive them apart
Another well written novella in this connected series. I really liked both James & Elizabeth & liked how their relationship developed even though there were those who tried to drive them apart. I really disliked those who maligned them & I must admit I was surprised Mrs Dove-Lyon wasn't far more forceful with them, to me she acted out of character. The story flowed well & I read it in a sitting
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Donna Nalbandian Woerner Homschek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Story

Good fast paced story. Not the usual Lyons Den story, this was different in that that was no true background on the male character.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth loves history and current events but lives in a world that isn't not acceptable for a woman. This Lyon's story is a e different from the others and that makes it all the more worthwhile. It takes three time to look at the prejudices of the time, the cruelty of gossip and the viciousness of people lead by jealousy. Well written with great character depth and insight. A quick but powerful story.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Sweet Story!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. All of these stories are so good. I loved the characters except for the two horrible people. Very good storyline too. On to my next book. 💜💜💜💜

[Cindy C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic story from Lyon's Den series. Mrs. Dove-Lyon of the most notorious gambling den in London, is busy making another match through her match making service in The Lyon and the Bluestocking that will keep you captivated all the way through. E. L. Johnson has a of writing style with flawed characters who manage to grow and yet retain their personalities which captivates you from the beginning until the very end, passion, false friendships, underhanded deception, treachery and Elizabeth and James treading a bumpy path before accepting their attraction for each other.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion

[Elaine Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many sidelines left unanswered. The main male character was left unfinished. His development was just that he was a good guy. No history, no connections, just nothing. Teasers to sex scenes that never happened. If these items would have been addressed the book would have been longer - yes - but it would have been fuller, more complex, like a good rich wine.

[Texastwang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. James is a honorable man given a bad name because of gossip.. That is what he and Miss Elizabeth Denham have in common although they don't know it. False friends and gossip still surround and swirl around these two, until they can find each other as steady.
This is my first novel by this author.
The only thing I did not like about this book is that Mrs Dove-Lyon is depicted as a little aloof. She is involved and caring. Just aloof. The rest of the book is genuinely unique and interesting.
I have given my honest review for a complimentary copy.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one of the best books I've read this year! A fun easy read that you can not put down!

[KAREN MARTIN · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely addition to the series

Lots of twists turns, and deceit. Mr. James and Elizabeth become acquainted at the Lyons Den when her mother decides other measures need to be used. Elizabeth is a pretty young blue stocking and has very very little hope of finding a husband. This is a quick read and interesting to find out the true villians. Enjoy!

[Sven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great novella on the love between. James and Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a bit coddled, not by her family, but by her knowledge in history and other "bluestocking" matters. A lot of the story focuses on her growing awareness, of both other people and herself. She is rather naive and overtime grows out of it and realizes all that she hears is not all true. James is falesly maligned by others in this story and works hard to build Elizabeth trust and live for him. He is in short quite groovy. Fast paced and a great read.

[Layne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bluestocking

She loves history and learning but that only irritates her Mother. She meets Mr James at the Lyon ' s Den when her Mother decides to enlist help in making a match but along with him she also meets a vicious young lady who wants him for herself. Once again Mrs Dove-Lyon shows her match making skills for a hea!

[Diana N. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The amout of gossip in this book made it feel like high school, but a subset of society. Apparently the Lyons Den is the place to meet people, but not all are honorable.

I felt like this was maybe too short to develop much of a plot. I liked the theme tie in, but it was just too much social dialog for me.

I liked Elizabeth and her more bluestocking ways and how she got to know people to find their inner truth, Mr. James in particular. The romance was a bit abrupt too. I wonder where the author would have taken this if it was a bit longer.

Thank you to Dragonblade and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

[Cheryl McTyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick and enjoyable read. This was my first book from EL Johnson, but she did justice to her view of The Lyon's Den. James, a bit of a mystery and Elizabeth, a true Bluestocking meet at the Lyon's Den, resist their feeling, run into resistance from outside forces and finally get to their HEA. There are a few twists along the way that made me wonder if an HEA was possible, but the story wraps up in a nice bow.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me review and advanced copy.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

#netgalley

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

I have loved E.L. Johnson's Perfect Poison Mystery series and was really excited to see her take on the Lyon's Den. Her take on Mrs. Dove-Lyon was a little different than some others - I thought she wasn't quite as imposing as in some previous books. Case in point - she didn't boot Mr. Hickson and Miss Rowley after the whole debacle with the missing necklace. On a side note, I liked the little detective moments between Elizabeth and James. I really liked Elizabeth, but also found her so frustrating. She is the poster child for book smart, street dumb. She repeatedly believes the things Miss Rowley tells her even though she knows this woman is out to get her and is telling lies about her to others. And she never just confronts James to find out if what she is hearing is true or gives him opportunities to defend himself. I do understand why she would be a little shaken by James given that she has never received attention from any males, but for someone who is all about learning and facts she didn't seem to be all that interested in gathering any from him. All of that being said, I did actually really like this book. I found myself wanting just one more chapter as I felt it ended a little abruptly.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a number of the Lyon's Den Connected World series books, but this is my first time reading something by this particular author. I thought the writing was well done and followed well with the general gist of the series. Elizabeth is about a pure a bluestocking as they come, therefore always being shunned by polite society for her love of history and literature. Her mother worries she will forever remain a spinster, and so she seeks the help of Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Elizabeth meets the infamous rake, Mr. James, and is instantly smitten. James, in fact, is an honorable man, only to be a victim of unforgiving gossip. He never expected to find a lady of any appeal to him, as all they typically focus on is dancing and other frivolous activities. But Elizabeth is quite unique and different, and he is intrigued by her. They begin to form a bond and grow closer, but rumors and gossip threaten to break them apart.
Yet another lovely addition to the series! The storyline was interesting and enjoyable and flowed smoothly and the characters were likable and well-developed. I liked the author's writing style and look forward to reading more of their work.
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is part of the "The Lyon's Den Connected World" series of about 96 stories by different authors. Please note that the four novels listed below are E. L. Johnson's contributions to this series.

Because it has fewer than 120 pages, this story features a limited number of characters, but it is packed with plenty of action. Miss Elizabeth Denham is twenty-two years old and is a disappointment to her family. She studies history, not fashion. Because Elizabeth is not making any headway at balls or other festivities, her mother takes her to a discreet gaming and dancing center, the Lyon's Den. There are lies, gossip, an unwanted suitor, and false friends.

My issues with this interesting story were the sparsity of facts about the hero and the oddness of taking one's daughter to a gaming hall to find a suitor. Overall score = VG.

Lyon's Den Connected World
** (8/25) The Lyon and the Bluestocking (2023)
A Lyon to Die For (2024)
In Service to a Lyon (2024)
Love, Lies, and the Lyon (2025)

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as it gave us a different look into the happenings of the Lyon's Den, and more of Mrs. Dove-Lyon.
Miss Elizabeth Denham is a bluestocking and loves history. Her father is a very successful business man in trade. Her family (especially her Mother) is worried about her marriage prospects, so her Mother takes her to the Lyon's Den. Elizabeth and her Mother go almost nightly to give Elizabeth a chance to meet eligible men.
The story also included a pair of cousins that like to cause trouble for Elizabeth and others. I enjoyed Mr. James character, but thought Elizabeth should have challenged the lies she was told. However, Elizabeth was naive and mostly read history, without a clear understanding of life around her.
I encourage you to read a look into the Lyon's Den in this book.
I received an ARC and this is my opinion.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading the Lyon’s Den stories, and this one is no exception. It’s a bit different than most of the other stories in the series. While the romance begins at the Lyon’s Den, Mrs. Dove-Lyon did not deliberately bring Mr. James and Elizabeth with a marriage between them in mind. Elizabeth’s mother asked Mrs. Dove-Lyon to help find a suitable husband for her, no one specific. Mr. James is a mystery all through the story. He is not the only potential suitor, and gossip almost took him off the list. There are some twists and turns, a bit of danger, surprise kisses (welcomed and not), rumors and gossip (spread by two villainous cousins). A short interesting story, strong characters, and another happy ending at the Lyon’s Den.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite often in these Lyon’s Den stories it is Bessie Dove Lyon who brokers/arranges a match but that is not the case in this story. Instead we have a young woman, not of the ton as her father is in trade, attending Bessie’s events at the behest of her mother, who hopes that a different environment will garner a husband for her bookish daughter. And indeed there seem to be two men vying for her attention but are either of them sincere in their attentions? And is a recent female acquaintance looking out for her or totally malevolent?
One of my pet hates, particularly in a paid for book so I’m glad I got it when free, is silly typos. I would have thought that after 16+ months on sale that an ebook could have easily been corrected.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit confused and bemused by this novel as it did not follow the concept that had been established for Bessie Dove-Lyon. I also found the malicious gossip and false spread of information rather unpleasant. There were parts of the novel that were pretty far-fetched and I had difficulty believing the plot, not to mention relating to Elizabeth Denham being an intelligent young woman. The novel did come to a good conclusion, but there were far too many questions left unanswered. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Kathleen Ryder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had not heard of this author before, but decided to take a chance.

There was a lot of dialogue in this short read, it felt as if the author did not have enough time to fully develop the plot. Perhaps if it had been a longer book.

The FMC was likeable, but the romance was too abrupt, it came from nowhere. I wish the book had been longer in order to fully develop this plot, as I think it could have been a fun read.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

[Margueritte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really short book, and a different way of matchmaking than the others connected to the Den. The other matches were made in secret, the people in this story walked around the gambling floor. So when the h was told she was goofy for thinking someone would want to marry her after meeting her in a gambling den I agreed - her mom was either that desperate or that stupid.

I liked the characters but we are not really told about the H’s social standing or family connections. Just his bad luck with women.

[Tiffany P · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️s - You can’t believe gossip when actions contradict the lies………..,,.,

This novella was sweet but the heroine was way too naive. It even came off as stupid at times. The lies she chose to believe made no sense given all that she knew and had experienced. I loved the hero. He was genuinely a good person and that was obvious to everyone except the one person he treated the best. This steamy novella had love, villains, romance, live at first sight, and a HEA. However, the ending was abrupt. I would have liked a little more insight into happy ending. I give it 3.5 ⭐️s.

[Rainelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good mystery with some good romance. I most especially love a good romance with Mrs. Love Joy. This story was rather interesting for me. When I thought Elizabeth was to be set with Mr. Hickson or Mr. Cox. I was totally flipped around further in the book. Elizabeth’s mother is a woman who you really need to watch. You will never know which way her mindset will swing. Well anyway I enjoyed the love story as Mr. James proceeded to get to know Elizabeth at the Den of Sin. This was a flirtatious and cozy story to cuddle up to and read your day away.

[Avril Hemingway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well written novella in this connected series. Both James & Elizabeth were likeable character's and well suited. This was a slightly different take on the Lyon's Den in that it was made to seem more like a meeting place for the marriage mart and Mrs Dove Lyons seemed much more laid back than in other books. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth loves history and current events but lives in a world that isn't not acceptable for a woman. This Lyon's story is a e different from the others and that makes it all the more worthwhile. It takes three time to look at the prejudices of the time, the cruelty of gossip and the viciousness of people lead by jealousy. Well written with great character depth and insight. A quick but powerful story.

[Roxanna Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just awful

There is just too many things wrong with the heroine in this story. Miss Rowly calls the heroine a slut or harlot. They both go outside and Miss Rowly starts telling the heroine horrible things about the hero, Mr. James, and she believes her! Did an 8 year write this? The two stars is for the good-looking guy on the cover. Its the best thing about this book.

[DENISE I. · Rating 2 out of 5]

sorry

Not what I expected. Sorry it wasn’t a “ Lyon’s Den” hit. I’ve highlighted sections here and there but skipped large portions of the story.
I didn’t like ANY of the characters major or minor. The storyline didn’t truly follow the Lyons Den theme or spirit. Mrs. Dove-Lyon would not have allowed the antagonist that much leeway. Not true to form - for me.