Reclaiming the Lyon: The Lyon's Den Connected World

by Michelle Helliwell

225 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2026

About the author

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Michelle is a sucker for hopelessly romantic stories -- the swish of heavy skirts, guys in linen shirts, and moody weather is her happy place.

She lives with her husband and two sons in Nova Scotia, Canada where moody weather and bagpipes are plentiful, but alas, guys in puffy shirts are too few.

Instagram: @mlhelliwell
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Reviews

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars
Lady Georgiana Hawthorne has spent her life keeping the peace and never, ever causing trouble. When he arranges her marriage to a man three times her age, she finally breaks. She flees to London and the notorious Lyon's Den, where Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon's infamous matchmaking games offer something she has never dared reach for: a future of her own choosing. But the Den holds a ghost. Tom Blakey—the boy who once looked at her as though she hung the moon—stands across the room, older, harder, and achingly handsome. Now revealed as the son of Viscount Worthington, Tom must marry before his twenty sixth birthday to receive an inheritance.
A new author to me & another very good addition to the connected world. I really liked both Tom & Georgiana & loved the chemistry between them & I thoroughly enjoyed their journey to a HEA. However there was one huge elephant in the room about Tom & his birth, yes he was the son of Viscount Worthington but his parents weren’t married so no way could Tom be the heir to his father’s title & entailed lands. Under UK law, titles of nobility can only pass to legitimate children born in lawful wedlock. I just couldn’t get passed this & it spoiled an otherwise very good book for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reclaiming the Lyon by Michelle Helliwell is vintage Lyon’s Den with the traditional vying in contests to determine the winner of the bride. This time it started with ten or eleven suitors and three potential brides. During several parlor games more men were eliminated. The story is about Lady Georgiana Hawthorne who has gone to Mrs. Dove-Lyon to avoid a marriage to a man who was older than her father and not very pleasant. Tom Worthington, heir to a viscount, had grown up as Tom Blakey, the son of a man who worked for the Hawthornes. He and Georgie had been in love but of such different classes that being together was impossible, especially after Georgie’s brother Marcus, had threatened his family. So he took another way and joined the Hawthorne’s young son, Gabriel, in the army and going to the continent to fight. Only when his father came and plucked him out and was currently attempting to have the ton forget his wrong side-of-the-blanket origins. But, Tom had to be married before his twenty-sixth birthday, which was coming up soon. She needed to be from the ton to satisfy his grandmother. Both were surprised when they saw the other at the Lyon’s Den.

These are both good characters, stubborn to the bone, and wont to communicate. Both were determined to marry, but not for love and not to one another. It was a fun read, not an unusual plot, but filled with entertaining people and situations. It is good to get back to the basics with Bessie and her normal way of conducting business. Terrific read.

I was invited to read Reclaiming the Lyon by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #MichelleHelliwell #ReclamingTheLyon

[Winnifred D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes; second chance romance; (former) class difference; MC's seek a matchmaker
Steam level: 2 (on page sex, not graphic)
Part of a long-running series, but works as a standalone.

This is a new-to-me author, and I was pleasantly surprised by this entry in the Lyon's Den series. MMC Tom once worked for MFC Georgie's family and they fell in love before Georgie was coerced by her brother to end the relationship, breaking Tom's heart and driving him to enlist in the army. Now Georgie is being forced to marry a much older man while Tom, who has discovered that he is actually a titled aristocrat, must marry a woman from a well-respected Ton family before his twenty-sixth birthday in order to receive his full inheritance. Both end up at the Lyon's Den to request the services of renowned matchmaker Bessie Dove-Lyon.

The storyline started off slightly slowly, and it took me a bit to warm up to Georgie, but you start to understand her role in her family better and she becomes more sympathetic. The pacing and tension pick up in the second half, with interesting secondary characters and well done slow-burn chemistry between the MC's. I do wish there had been an epilogue, with a bit more involvement by Dove-Lyon toward the end and more of a sense of closure with Georgie's family. But the HEA is satisfying, with one character getting his deserved comeuppance.

This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book. Thanks to the author, Net Galley, and Dragonblade for this opportunity.

[shut.up.mamas.reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to DragonBlade publishing and the author for a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for a voluntary review. This is part of the Lyon’s Den series by several authors. This is Georgie and Tom’s story. Tom was the adopted son of the steward on Georgie’s family estate. They were each other’s first love. Georgie has to turn him away because she has to marry someone else that her father has chosen. Several years later, she seeks out the widow matchmaker at the Lyon’s den to help find a different husband. Tom has since discovered that he is actually a viscount and needs to marry so he too requires the Lyon’s den. All of the books in this series that I have read can standalone. This book in particular was a nicely written historical romance. It is a quick read. I recommend to anyone that loves regency/historical romances.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley. Now that Tom has found his real father and family he has to marry by his birthday to inherit from his grandfather. Having been raised has a commoner he doesn't want to go through the possibility of being turned down by a lady again. He is just back from war and is not familiar with the ton either. He is not looking for love. Just a nice quiet lady who will meet his grandfather's will. Georgiana's father has told her she is to marry the Baron who is old enough to be her grandfather. Now he is pressing the marriage will be soon. They have each gone to Mrs Dove-Lyon for a mate and for it to happen soon. Tom's adopted father worked for Georgie's father and she has loved him since she was a young girl but she could not tell him and have his father be put out of his job, Now they are playing games to see who they will win a mate of the three couples.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of Reclaiming the Lyon by Michelle Helliwell.

I'm always drawn to Regency-era romances, so I was excited to dive into this one. I've read other books in this series, and unfortunately, they've started to blend together for me. While each story has its own characters, the plots and overall feel seem very similar, making this one less memorable than I had hoped.

The story was a quick, easy read, but it was also fairly predictable. It served as a pleasant enough distraction for an afternoon, but I never found myself fully invested in the characters or eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

Fans of light, familiar Regency romances may still enjoy this installment, but I was hoping for something that felt a little fresher and more distinctive.

[Tiffany P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice addition to the series. It was a second chance story of two people separated after hurting one another. She was trying to protect him, and he was just responding to his wounded pride and heart. Years later they encountered one another at the Lyon’s Den, both participating in a game to find a spouse. The game didn’t end the way they wanted but they found a way to get their HEA. This story included friends, found family, a cruel father and brother, a treasure hunt, musical chairs, a plan for ruin, and a HEA. The story spent too much time with the main couple avoiding one another instead of just admitting their feelings. It was wasted time in the story and then the ending felt rushed and rather abrupt.

I revived a copy of this book from ‘Net Galley and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lady Georgiana Hawthorne needs a husband before her father forces her to marry a man three times her age. Tom Blakely is now Mr. Tom Worthington, the illegitimate son and heir of Viscount Worthington. Time is of the essence for Tom to marry before he turns thirty to gain his inheritance. He decides to participate in the games at the Lyon's Den to find a bride. To his surprise the woman he has always loved, but rejected him four years ago, is also participating in the games. Let the games begin.
The books in this series are always interesting to read. You never know what Mrs. Dove-Lyon plans for her next matchmaking.
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from Netgalley.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Georgiana needs a groom to marry before her father marries her off to a man older than himself. She goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Tom. once a steward's son. now a peer, must marry very quickly in order to inherit money and an estate from his grandfather. He goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon. Mrs. Dove-Lyon sets up a series of games that several men compete in so that they may be chosen by one of three eligible ladies. They are both shocked when they realize they know each other. Georgiana broke Tom's heart when he was a mere steward's son. Can they forget their pasts to find happiness? I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally I am not that big of a fan of second chance romances but Reclaiming the Lyon was fantastic! This book is part of the Lyon series which I have also enjoyed.

The FMC and MMC run into each other at the Lyon’s Den Gaming Hall after not seeing each other for years. Their previous parting was bad so neither is happy to see the other. I loved that they both needed to marry quickly for very different reasons which is why they are at the Den.

The tropes you will love:
Second chance romance
Best friend’s little sister
Betting on a Partner
He rescues her

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. Tom and Georgie are destined to be together but the road to that ending is not an easy one. The storyline is well thought out and presented in such a way to make for a great read. I loved the strength that Georgie found to secure her own happiness. In the end they would be married and I would have loved to have an Epilogue attesting to that. It’s a wonderful story that is worth reading. This was a new author for me and I will search for more of her writings.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Tom has to find a bride before his birthday so visits Bessie Dove-Lyon at the Lyons Club meanwhile his childhood sweetheart is also desperate for a husband to avoid marrying the man her father has found for her. Bessie Dove-Lyon organises a competition she had 3 ladies looking for a husband Lady Georgina being one of them. This is the story of how Both Tom and Georgina are finally together
This was a nice story and I struggled to put it down
Thanks to Netgalley and Dragonblade publishing for my arc copy

[Cherie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost Friend, Lost Love Reclaimed
My first time reading this author and the plot was good and the characters were enjoyable.
The story of a lost friendship rekindles itself along with a little of Mrs. Dove Lyons help.
the Lyons club parlor games were fun to follow but not the usual which favors the main characters.
Lots of turmoil throughout that is resolved at the end with intelligence which made for a happy ending.
This story of long-lost love could have been so much better with a little more spice; a short few kisses left me disappointed.

[Dawn M. Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

great story

I love this story although I feel the ending was hurried. It could have included another chapter and/or an epilogue. I feel some loose ends were yet to be tied. The father’s, her intended fiancée’s, and Mrs Dove-Lyons reactions would have rounded this story out nicely. But definitely a great read!

[Carolyn Tornatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable how love never dies

I'm so glad that they found their way back, together. This love will last forever. What happened to Marcus? How did Miss Duigood know him? Is there going to be a story about them. Are we going to hear what happens to Gab?

[Rebekah Carulli Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

Another awesome book in the Lyon’s Den Connected World Series. Two star crossed lovers unable to be together get separated and then find each other again. Can they overcome the demands of their stations and snub the overbearing families that would keep them apart?

[Carla King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom and Georgie found their HEA!!!

First time author read for me. I enjoyed the storyline very much. Another wonderful addition to The Lyon's Den World of books!