Con: Lord of Conquest

by Louisa Cornell, Andrea K. Stein

Rookeries crime king Connor Dyer faces off against a Regency era female Robin Hood whose good works go awry and land him in a damning stew.

Connor Dyer runs an efficient counterfeiting empire built on networks of quid pro quo until one day he discovers a Robin-Hood-like criminal dilettante has unintentionally stolen a fortune in counterfeit notes.

The faux notes circulating through his crime network fall harmlessly into the hands of the wealthy members of the ton who frequent his gambling hell. However, when a maddening, petite bluestocking thief proceeds to distribute phony money to the unsuspecting poor of Seven Dials, Con must intervene. The danger she poses to the poor families she’s unintentionally showered with fake money is bad enough. She could also wreak major damage on his own vast crime operation.

Marianne Oxley has traded a lifetime of being a virtual prisoner on her father’s vast Welsh estate for burglaries targeting the wealthy abodes of the ton.

Her skill as a crack archer is all that saves her from capture. Her father, through a generous allowance, unknowingly underwrites her devious maneuverings. She wants to plunder the wealthiest men of the ton to help the poor of East London’s rookeries.

No matter her good intentions, Con must take her down, and fast, before the stolen counterfeit notes land all over the East End of London, bringing unwanted attention from Bow Street onto his brotherhood of gangs. Whilst Con tries to neutralize her thieving ways, Marian plots to change his cruel, dismissive, secretive attitude and turn him into the perfect man…

Will these two battle to a final, fatal ending, or will the scorching heat between them turn their differences into a fiery conflagration? Preorder today so you don’t miss this fast-moving new series starter – Bow Street’s Most The Four Horsemen.

Genres: Historical Romance

157 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2025

About the author

Louisa Cornell read her first historical romance novel, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, at the age of nine. This inspired her to spend the next three years of her young life writing the most horrible historical romance novel ever written. Fortunately it has yet to see the light of day. As Louisa spent those three years living in a little English village in Suffolk (Thanks to her father's Air Force career.) it is no surprise she developed a lifelong love of all things British, especially British history and Regency-set romance novels. (And Earl Grey tea!)

During those same three years, Louisa's vocal talent was discovered. Her study of music began at the London College of Music and continued once she returned to the States. After four music degrees and a year of study at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, Louisa was fortunate enough to embark on a singing career in opera houses in Germany, Austria, and most of Eastern Europe.

Now retired from an active career in opera, Louisa has returned to her first love – writing Regency-set historical romance. She has completed four books to date and A PERFECTLY DREADFUL CHRISTMAS is her publication debut.

Two time Golden Heart finalist, three time Daphne du Maurier winner, and three time Royal Ascot winner, Louisa is a member of RWA, SMRWA and the Beau Monde Chapter of RWA. She lives in LA (Lower Alabama) with a Chihuahua so grouchy he has been banned from six veterinary clinics, several perfectly amiable small dogs, and a cat who terminates vermin with extreme prejudice.

You can learn more about Louisa and her future publication plans at : www.louisacornell.com and https://www.facebook.com/RegencyWrite....

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connor Dyer & his three brothers run an efficient underworld empire including counterfeiting built on networks of quid pro quo until one day he discovers a Robin-Hood-like criminal dilettante has unintentionally stolen a fortune in counterfeit notes. The faux notes circulating through his crime network fall harmlessly into the hands of the wealthy members of the ton who frequent his gambling hell. However, when a maddening, petite bluestocking thief proceeds to distribute phony money to the unsuspecting poor of Seven Dials, Con must intervene. Marianne Oxley has traded a lifetime of being a virtual prisoner on her father’s vast Welsh estate for burglaries targeting the wealthy abodes of the ton. Her skill opening locks and safes is all that saves her from capture.
The start of a new series about the Four Horsemen or the Dyer brothers who whilst not blood brothers are closer as they forged an unbreakable bond when they started life in the stews of London. I really liked both Con & Marianne, their chemistry sizzled & she certainly was no simpering miss. They both have plenty of baggage & I loved how they fell for each other & the banter was witty. I also loved that previous characters made appearances. I was left wondering about the malachite box & how the four boys rose to the heights but otherwise a very enjoyable book
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story.. it was an amazing story.. with lots of twists and turns..

Con thought he was incapable of loving anyone or incapable of being manipulated especially in his own world the underworld where he and his brothers run everything however when a bluestocking shows up and starts to run havoc in the underbelly of London he learns that he has a weakness..

Marianne thought she could do whatever she wanted by breaking into the upper ton's homes and giving away the money to the poor.. however the scariest bunch of men find out who she is and she finds out her that not only that she's crossing into their territory but she's being followed..

This story was so good.. my only complaint is that I wanted to know what happened to the little green box other than that I loved this story from the beginning to the end..

The sparks between the characters were incredible..

I can't wait to read the next book in this series..

I received this book from the author as an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest voluntary review and this is purely based upon my own personal opinion and that of no else.

[Rainelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was entertaining and on the real side. The characters are engaging. Their dialogue helps the story be even more real. The plot is a plus. The revealing background stories of Con and his family is what makes this a must read page turner. Con’s objectives for the community speaks volumes to what this book is primarily about. The romance was a fresh and quick reprieve from emotional challenges story. I really liked this book. Great writing for the authors.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first story in the Bow Street's Most Wanted: The Four Horsemen. Rookeries crime king Connor Dyer and Marianne Oxley meet when she has stolen from him and has started distributing the counterfeit money to the poor. There is drama, twists, turns and romance. I found their story to be well worth reading.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any book that starts a new series has a tall order of business in establishing the main characters as well as the backstories of these characters, and Con - Lord of Conquest, the first book in Andrea K. Stein's and Louisa Cornell's new series, Bow Street's Most Wanted: The Four Horsemen, is no exception. It covers so much ground in a short 150+ pages, more than a forty-year span, and we first meet Con(nor Dyer) when he is twelve years old and has just been sold, along with his 3 younger brothers (although I doubt they are all blood brothers, given their rough start with Ma Dyer), to Bill Green, who operates much like Fagin did in Dickens' Oliver Twist. Fast forward 12 years, when Con is now 24, and the woman who sold him years before finally gets her well-overdue punishment. Fast forward another 11 years, and he is now a kingpin of the London underworld, he and his brothers now the stuff of legend as The Four Horsemen (of the Apocalypse), and finally, the epilogue is set 18 years in the future, when Con is 53, married and has 8 children (yes, that's right - EIGHT!). Needless to say, I really liked Con's character, which had the potential for so many nuances and layers, but which quickly get scrapped for the steamy parts with the heroine, Marianne, a bored young woman who practices the Dark Art and who is more morally grey than Con, imo. It makes for a choppy read, especially with the frequent, short chapters.

For me, I wanted more from these two MC's, and I especially wanted Con to stick to his own personal code of honor (honor among thieves and all that) rather than succumb to his carnal desires for a slippery thief who sketches masterfully. There's a particularly poignant moment when Marianne captures the frightened little boy who still lives within Con in a sketch, despite all the incarnations he has undergone to become a respected, yet feared man of the underworld. But that image of someone seeing inside Con to the ghosts he carries with him gets a little lost in the rush of moving the story along. I wanted MORE and for them to discuss his difficult past rather than just hers, which I found far less interesting, given how the novel starts.

Did I enjoy what I did get from these two authors, who write well together when creating new worlds in their series? Yes. Was it fun seeing familiar faces from the previous two series, like Archer Colwyn, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters of theirs, and Dickie Jones? Yes. Will I stay tuned to see what happens with Con's younger brothers, especially Fam, his second in-command foster brother? Oh yes! But hopefully now that the series setup has been framed for readers, we'll get a bit more character development from these two authors who make such a good writing team.

3.25 stars

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the authors, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Nanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what to say about this great new series starter! I have a ton of notes I took to write this review and don’t know if am going to use any of them. This is a very different regency story if you would call it that. Instead of being at society balls and dealing with the ton, we are in what is called “The Seven Dials” the Rookeries. Conner Dyers and his brothers and sister were left at what was call an Ma’s Dryer baby farm. What a horrible place, somehow, they survived the beating and starvation till she sold the whole family to every meaner person. Now grown they run the show. Con with his brothers, Fam, Ban and War have many gangs that report to him. He is known as the king. His empire is running well till someone decides to spread fake bills thru out the poor. This could ruin him. A person dressed as Robin Hood is robbing from the wealthy and giving money and items for sale to the poor. Unknown to Con the person he is looking for he just rented one of his buildings too! Marianne Smith is really Marianne Oxley daughter to a very wealthy mine owner who has very little moral standards. She runs away and with her knowledge of locks she can open anything. She is also a skilled archer too which helps keep her safe robbing from the rich. With her maid, Lucinda who use to be her mother's maid and Robbie one of her fathers grooms. When Con figures out it's her robbing him and ruining his world he is surprised to find her so beautiful and that he can’t stop thinking what he would like to do to her. She is dawn to him also and so begins a game of wit, danger and suspense when others show up from their past and tons of laughs and passion. Wow, what a fast-paced story with wonderful characters helping them out. We run into some of our favorites from other books too. Will they be able to save each other or will the villains win? How will Con be able to save her from herself? So much going on, with the wonderful wolfhounds, Lugh and Aneus to all his brothers this is a story you will not be able to stop reading. Great start to the series. It will be interesting to see which brothers story we get next, I can’t wait. Be sure and grab a copy and get started. Don’t miss the epilogue it will have you laughing out loud. I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

[Marion Löw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this captivating start to a new series that had me hooked from the beginning and is somewhat related to the two authors' previous series.
The plot is very well written, with a rival to a lovers trope and full of humor, action, steamy love scenes and very likable main and supporting characters. Con is a morally gray hero with a soft core, and Marianne is a strong, skilful master thief with a knack for escape. The chemistry between the two crackles from the start, and it was very amusing to follow their battles of will and perseverance. I loved the epilogue that put a smile on my face.

Con Dyer and his three brothers Fam, Ban and War, known as „the Four Horsemen“, have survived the hell of their childhood in the rookeries and are now the leaders of London's four most lucrative criminal enterprises. When a thief starts stealing from his rich, influential clients and his distribution channel for counterfeit banknotes via his gambling hell Commerce is compromised in the process, Con does everything he can to find the thief.
Marianne Oxley is the spoilt daughter of a rich Welsh mine owner who has run away from home to escape her boredom in London. Marianne has learnt the Black Art from her criminal uncle and has become a master of theft and burglary. So now, as a female Robin Hood, she goes on a thieving spree with her faithful maid and breaks into the homes of the rich of Society, distributes the loot to the poor and plans to build a school for the children of the poor.
However, Marianne incurs the displeasure of Con and the other horsemen, who are anything but thrilled that she is poaching in their territory and putting them all in danger with her criminal mischief...

I recommend this entertaining short read to anyone who likes lovable, morally grey heroes, sassy, intelligent heroines with lots of criminal energy, LOL moments and spice, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.

[Fanosse23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrea K. Stein and Louisa Cornell's "Con: Lord of Conquest" launches The Four Horsemen series with a thrilling dive into London's gritty Seven Dials, far from the usual ton-centered historical romances. Con Dyer and his siblings, sold to a ruthless gang by their mother, rise to infamy as "The Four Horsemen," rulers of East London's streets through a powerful counterfeiting empire.

Con, who is supposed to be devious and ruthless, finds his carefully maintained control threatened when counterfeit notes infiltrate the wrong hands, linked to a mysterious Robin Hood figure—Marianne Oxley. Marianne, the rebellious daughter of a wealthy Welsh businessman, uses her archery skills and her father’s unwitting financial support to rob the rich and aid the poor, driven by her deep-seated need to help the less fortunate. She hasn’t found a lock she couldn’t open, and this helps her elude Con numerous times.

When Con and Marianne collide, their chemistry is electric, marked by sharp banter and sizzling tension. Marianne’s daring heists and Con’s relentless pursuit create a captivating cat-and-mouse dynamic that had me hooked. Despite Con’s supposed ruthlessness, his feelings for Marianne are beautifully portrayed, adding depth to his character. Their contrasting qualities—Con’s dark intensity and Marianne’s compassionate rebellion—make them a perfect pairing.

Stein and Cornell deliver a gripping tale of loyalty, deception, and redemption, set against the vivid backdrop of London’s East End. The characters are memorable, the plot twists, and a passionate romance, "Con: Lord of Conquest" is a compelling beginning to this new series. I look forward to reading the other Horsemen’s stories, and finding out what is in that malachite box hints at even more intrigue to come, making this a fantastic start for The Four Horsemen saga.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Star-Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvelous beginning for a new series by Louisa Cornell & Andrea K. Stein about five orphans, Con, Fam, War, Ban and the only female Nell, from “Ma Dyers baby farm” or orphanage sold to Bill Green, “who ran the most ruthless cutthroat gang in London” with Nell being sent to Sally Big’uns (yes, fans of Five Pearls for the Earl will recognize this name as well as several others who are also in this book including Dickie Jones). The four orphan “brothers” took the last name Dyer and fought their way to the top in the rookeries of London’s most prestigious dark corners coming known as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Con Dyer rules in the Seven Dials owning a gaming hell but lately someone has been passing counterfeit money amongst his businesses and in his territory. There’s also a “Robin Hood” thief running amuck that he must put a stop to but unfortunately for him and his three brothers he’s about to find out that Miss Marianne Oakley (Smith) is not that easy to stop. Con’s nose is going to be his downfall to start. Please, do not expect a sweet regency romance with ballrooms and garden parties because this one takes place amongst The Seven Dials and the characters tend to be morally gray on their best days but do expect plenty of intrigue, lust and Con hopelessly failing under the powers of the woman who practices the Black Art.
I received an Advance Review Copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connor Dyer has worked his way from the dismal orphanage through the lessons in survival in Seven Dials to become head of a notable gaming hell and a vast counterfeiting operation. Someone is passing counterfeit notes to the poor in his territory. This will cause unwanted problems, including with Bow Street. He finds the culprit, Marianne Oxley, a determined crusader who dresses as Robin Hood. It doesn’t take long for Con, and his brothers, to realize he has met his match, in more ways than one. This is a fantastic beginning to a new series featuring four men who grew up to inherit the workings of the
Seven Dials underworld. Set in a harsh and hard part of London society, the story is exciting and complex, with lots of twists and turns. It is filled with tension and suspense, deception, a good dose of humor, and snarky banter between the underworld boss and the intelligent wily intruder. Con and Marianne butt heads and drive each other crazy, but they can’t deny their attraction. What will happy ever after look like for them? You’ll love it. I enjoyed this first look at the Four Horsemen and look forward to what comes next.
I voluntarily reviewed a special copy of this book.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uniquely different from historical romance. Most stories of this genre are related to Ladies and Gentlemen of the ton. Sometimes class differences are added into the mix but generally the reader doesn't get the opportunity to really experience what the "other side of the track" is doing, until now. A fully engaging story, first in a series about four men from the worst part of life. Con is a crook, plain and simple, the way to survive in the Rookeries was to do whatever was necessary to remain alive. Marianne, was from a rich but untitled family in Wales. Her father, while rich, wasn't very high in the moral standards either. The plot is fast moving, riveting and entertaining. Can Con fix who is passing fake money around to the poor? Can Maranne stay one step ahead of both her father and Con? Will they change their darker sides for a more ethical way of life? Is there any possibility of a HEA for the seeder type of folks? Be sure to read this tale to find out all the probing questions. I read it in one sitting, because it's that good!

[Sahar's Honest Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robin Hood and the Crime Lord
In this lively and unconventional Regency romance, Robin Hood is a woman—and quite an extraordinary one at that. Marianne steals from the rich and gives to the poor, but a mishap lands her squarely in the crosshairs of Con, a powerful man who rules the rookeries of London.
Con thinks he can capture and contain her, but Marianne is unlike any woman he’s ever met. She doesn’t just take off with money and jewels—she makes off with his heart. His brothers claim he’s gone soft, but maybe he was never as cold as he pretended to be. Con might not steal for charity like Marianne, but beneath his rough exterior hides a soul more tender than most expect.
Their game of pursuit is charged with tension, wit, and growing passion. Can two people on opposite sides of the law find common ground—or will their clash burn everything down?
If you enjoy Regency romances with street grit instead of ballroom polish, and a heroine who fires arrows rather than coy glances, this one’s for you.

[Winnifred D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tropes: class difference; MMC is an underworld boss; MFC is a thief
Steam level: 3-4

2.5 stars squeaked up. This had potential, and the plot was fast moving for such a short tale. But unfortunately it ended up an example of steam trumping character depth. And while I was a fan of Con from previous novellas by this writing duo, I didn't care for Marianne. She was basically spoiled, often TSTL, and her behavior with Con once he captured her was a letdown. She's supposed to be strong willed and spirited but just starts crying because she's so hungry (???). She gets free but on the way out for some reason feels compelled to steal an item from him; after that hormones take over. And there was nothing about her background that convinced me she would have been a decent thief.

There were a few effectively steamy scenes, and the writing style and world building were good, which is usual for these writers. Con's past is dark and compelling, and I wanted more of that. Based on the previous novellas I had been looking forward to his story. This fell rather short.

[Lana Birky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The authors delivered a thrilling and seductive ride through London’s criminal underbelly in Con: Lord of Conquest. Connor Dyer, mastermind of a vast counterfeit network, meets his match in the fierce and reckless Marianne Oxley, whose burglaries threaten to unravel his empire. Their dynamic is electric—witty banter, sizzling tension, and a battle of wills that makes every interaction crackle with intensity. The authors weave a gripping tale of loyalty, deception, and redemption, all set against the backdrop of a richly realized historical landscape. With intricate twists, deeply layered characters, and a love story that burns bright, this book is an irresistible start to a promising series. And what happened to that malachite box? The perfect lingering mystery to pull readers deeper into the world of the Four Horsemen.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Bridget Love to read Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have Con Dyer one of the fabled 4 Horseman of Seven Dials! He and his 3 brothers rule with iron fists! Seven Dials and the torment they suffered there would have maimed or killed a lesser man but it made him stronger! We have Marianne Oxley daughter of a wealthy Industrialist! Thomas Oxley who wants to control Marianne who only sought her own path and escape! Con’s brothers see what he does not that he is head over heels for her and can not remain objective! Marianne can open any safe or lock or cell! But can she unlock Cons battered and bruised heart!? There are some surprise returning characters I was very pleased to see pop up! This story was an unexpected delight! Marianne sees the very vulnerable lonely boy turned man! Con is a rake reformed but whew child he definitely makes up for it! Bravo 4.5 stars!
I received an ARC copy for my unbiased opinion!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great start to a new series. Connor hadn’t had an easy life and now he was the leader of a powerful group of brothers who worked on the wrong side of the law. He was quite ruthless at times and was feared by all who knew him. Con was tall and handsome and into his world came Marianne Oxley. She was from a wealthy family but she often rebelled against her father’s strict rule. Marian had come to London to help the poor by robbing the rich. However, her activities encroached on Con’s enterprises. When they meet, they are attracted to each other and Marian is unlike any woman Con has met before. They have a love/hate relationship but could it turn into something more? I found this to be a good paced story with plenty of action and some passion. There are a few unanswered questions but I’m assuming they will be answered in the following books. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

[Reva Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louisa Cornell, Andrea. K. Stein … Con - Lord of Conquest

This book was compelling with the story of the Four Horsemen of the rookies’ beginnings as foundlings in an orphanage run by a lady who mistreated them mercilessly. She eventually sold them to the Big Boss of the gang where they were schooled in thievery. Twelve years went by and they now owned the gang and most of the rookery. We follow them as they turn the lady of the orphanage over to the police to end her and continue running their own adventurous lives. Con is the oldest and the big boss and his story is in this first book. Recommended read.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different kind of story that wowed me and left me wanting to read more of these Four Horsemen men. I liked everything about this book. Nitty gritty really does it for me. Morally gray, heck yeah! The storytelling was amazing. This is the first book I have read by either of these authors. Call me impressed. I don’t know if there is a piece of the story that will be overarching but I wanted answers about…well, you will have to find out. The epilogue is, what can I say, epic!

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this fabulous new retelling of an old classic Con needs to catch this Robin Hood who has stolen his counterfeit money. What he doesn't realise is that his thief is a woman whose unsuspecting father is funding her endeavour to rob the rich and feed the poor of Seven Dials. What will happen when he catchs her and will sparks fly. Loved it.

[Kasey Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting…

Just a tad more “adventures in stupidity” than I like and some unanswered questions between the final chapter and the Epilogue. Well enough told story, but missing some details to the story. Maybe in the next book…but the questions I have relate to the MCs of This story…not the MC of the next story.