The Lyon’s Muse: The Lyon's Den Connected World

by E.L. Johnson

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There are multiple authors by this name in the Goodreads database. This profile may contain works from multiple authors.

See also: Historical romance/mystery author E.L. Johnson

Reviews

[AmazingJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story.

This Story was different from her other books. A hero who loved reading & had certain opinions about people wanting fame. A heroine who loved reading yet chose to allow her mother to take her around to meet eligible men.  A bump in at a booksellers starts a journey of the mind..

Sybil & Neville were Delightful characters.

I am looking forward to reading "Pledged To The Lyon" by Terri MacKenzie in the next book in this series.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lyon’s Muse by EL Johnson is a clever story about a jealous, two-faced woman, and a man who learns that his father wasn’t always right. Miss Sybil Clifton was a blue-stocking. All she was really interesting in doing was sitting and reading a book. She first met Mr Neville Heyter when the two of them reached for the same book at the lending library. Then, she began running into him often at the myriad of social events her mother dragged her to, hoping to find her a husband. She was trying, but none of them seemed to have a thought in her head. She met an artist, Phillippe Mercuse, known to the world by only his first name. As he looked a Sybil, he became more enthralled. She was perfect to be his next muse, so he invited her to sit for some sketches. The first time she took her sister as a chaperone, but she was bored and so for subsequent sitting her mother accompanied her. She was asked not to tell anyone she was sitting for him, so she didn’t.

Along the way, she had picked up a rival, well, a woman who thought she was a rival. That woman, Kate Harvey, not only wanted Neville for herself, but also wanted to be Phillippe’s muse, so when it appeared she had neither, everything came to a head. These were a couple of kind people who were maybe a little naive about how other people might behave. The plot was so simple, and yet so touching. Something that could have happened today just as easily. Mrs. Dove-Lyon was only peripherally involved, but she, as always, played a key role. She is amongst the most powerful
people in London.

I was invited to read The Lyon’s Muse by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #ELJohnson #TheLyonsMuse

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

We have Miss Sybil Clifton loves a good story she is an Avid reader and would read every waking moment of allowed!
Her mother is desperate for her to wed so engages Mrs Bessie Dove-Lyon to assist her!
This is another book where Miss Bessie makes multiple appearances! Definitely not a one and done in this story almost the end!
We also have Mr Neville Heyter a handsome wealthy young man who is an avid reader! This too have chemistry and definitely have a love of books and one other passion that they each are competitive and don’t like to loose!
But there is another bitter, vindictive and petty rival who will use any means to make Sybil look small and herself larger than life!
There are some many pranks played on Sybil and none are harmless whatsoever!
Sybil is every bit naive as she tries to understand her nemesis! She also can’t believe anyone would want to hurt her!
This part irritates me! Because when someone shows you who they are…! Believe them!!!
Neville is a bit mysterious because he holds grudges against a family based on popular opinion!
But he has scars and book knowledge which he does put into practice! But there is no promises at all from Neville after his liberties he takes with Sybil!
But I love some of the banter and Sybil should have talked to Neville early on to find out his feelings! Now who is next? Lucy
I received an ARC copy from Netgalley for my honest opinion!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sibyl Clifton loves a good story. A passionate reader, she grew up falling for heroes and wanting to be like the dashing heroines in the stories her father would bring her from his travels. After his untimely death, she relied on these stories even more for solace. Sibyl knows her mother despairs of her marriage prospects. Neville Heyter has a chance encounter with Sibyl at a circulating library where they fight over a book. He finds himself intrigued, especially when he sees her again at the Lyon’s Den, where Sibyl’s mother hopes to enlist the famous matchmaker to find her daughter a husband. Then an up-and-coming artist chooses Miss Clifton as his next model, his muse.
Another interesting addition to the connected world. I really liked both Neville & Sybil & thoroughly enjoyed their journey to a HEA. It was slightly different, Sybil is sworn to secrecy when she becomes Phillippe’s muse but that secrecy causes no end of problems for Sybil especially from Kate Harvey who thinks Neville should be hers. Kate is one piece of work & I really wanted her to get her comeuppance & I think she got off lightly. I liked the chemistry between Neville & Sybil but felt trust was lacking & both would have given up if not for a friend
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Gylene · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read the description of this book I was really interested in reading it, since I have read a lot of the Lyon’s Den series book and enjoy them. This one was a little different from the rest of the books that I have read in the series. One of the differences was Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s role and how she moved about in society. In most of the books that I have read she rarely if never leaves the Lyon’s Den, so that took a little bit of getting my head wrapped around her character in this book.

Now the main and secondary characters in the story. Sibyl’s character was likable if not a little naive. She enjoyed reading and she did want to find a husband. Neville’s character was not as likable. He did not seem to know what he wanted and he just followed along. I had a hard time seeing how Sibyl and Neville were going to be a couple together. I did not feel like they had any chemistry together and it felt almost forced. The secondary characters were annoying at times and were a big distraction in the book. Sometimes books are not meant for everyone and I will chalk this one up as not being for me.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley. This story is about reading and Sibyl has such a love of it that she hope's to find a husband who she can spend an evening with talking about the books they have read. But she finds most of the young men she meets are bored with talking about books. Her father died in a ship's sinking and she hasn't met any one since then who likes what she does. She meets Neville when both of them want to borrow the same book. They meet again at the Lyon's Den. This has a different approach to how the Lyon's Den is involved. Sibyl is asked to be a model for a painter and she has been asked not to tell anyone. It causes nothing but problems for her.. This is an interesting story that several secrets don't come ou until the end.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a tale of love and jealousy with a bit of trust thrown in Sibyl loves books and meets Neville Heyter in a book shop. They are instantly attracted but Miss Kate Harvey feels she has possession and when Sibyl is chosen by French painter Phillippe. Miss Harvey is even more jealous and does her best to discredit Sibyl and break her and Neville apart.
But all comes good in the end
This was a pleasant cozy read and I recommend reading for a comfortable afternoon
Thanks to Netgalley and Dragonblade publishing for my arc copy

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is interesting with characters who at times are exasperating. There are a few places where the info does not match what was previously noted. (Ex: The Prologue said ship was attacked by French cannons, Chapter 1 said it was sunk during a nasty storm (story does not match). At times, my attention to the story struggled with what was going on. I enjoyed Neville and Sibyl in their budding attraction but there were moments of where outside disruption created issues for them.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on the Lyons Den theme. Sybil seems to be the only sensible character in the book. Neville seems very flighty and changes his mind based on gossip. Sybil's mother is all over the place in her attitudes. I struggled a lot with their back story which is why it is rated at a three.