Lie Down With a Lyon: The Lyon's Den Connected World

by Cerise DeLand

He loved her at first sight…but she was his enemy’s daughter.

Dáire O’Neill has a terrible he’s fallen in love with his enemy’s daughter. He met her by accident, but loved her from the moment he first saw her. She savors their friendship, but he won’t go beyond it.

Despite her father’s scurrilous reputation, Blanche has built a good name for herself—and a respectable business. When the man she met by accident appears uninterested in marriage, she goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon to secure a husband for herself—and a new life.

When Dáire O’Neill hears that the man Blanche will wed is not the one Dove-Lyon chose, but one her father has put in his place, what can he do if not save her from her own father—and the life she will hate?

He’ll never possess her…but he’ll set her free from all she despises. Even him.

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Genres: Historical Romance

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 30, 2025

About the author

I love to cook, hate to dust, live to travel and read and write! I've written #1 bestselling Regencies as well as contemporary romances starring SEALs that readers love! Come to my website, read my FREE books and buy my others! Then write to me. Love to hear from readers, especially those who dig my history, my sense of humor and my heroes.

Reviews

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dáire O’Neill met Blanche by accident, & for him it was love at first sight. She savours their friendship, but he won’t go beyond it as her father is his enemy. Despite her father’s scurrilous reputation, Blanche has built a good name for herself—and a respectable business. When the man she met by accident appears uninterested in marriage, she goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon to secure a husband for herself—and a new life. When Dáire hears that the man Blanche will wed is not the one Dove-Lyon chose, but one her father has put in his place, what can he do if not save her from her own father.
Another lovely addition to the connected series & this time Mrs Dove-Lyon’s plans go awry but The Fixer is on hand to do what he does. I loved both Dáire & Blanche & thoroughly enjoyed their journey to a HEA, thank goodness Blanche took matters into her own hands! An engrossing story where past hurts are revealed & families are reunited. A very well written novella which I read straight through.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lie Down With A Lyon by Cerise Deland is part of the Lyon’s Den Extended World, but gives the somewhat false impression that many of Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s matches are unsuccessful. She does not make this one but made an earlier one for the bride, which never happened, thankfully. Daire O’Neill is a fixer for the upper classes. Blanche Delacourt is the daughter of the head of the biggest crime gang in the Seven Dials. They met while riding and now ride together two mornings a week. Daire knows she is too good for him and so keeps it friendly, mostly. He does not realize that she feels the same way. She is nervous about what kind of reprobate her father may force her to marry and so takes it into her own hands by visiting the Lyon’s Den. There, Mrs. Dove-Lyon is able to arrange a marriage with the son of a merchant, seemingly above reproach. It is to be a quick wedding. She tells no one and yet her father has sent men to the church who abduct the groom and also a man to replace him. Thankfully Daire is watching and takes the bride away from the whole mess.

One difficulty with this time in history is the strict set of rules for society, one of which is marrying beneath one’s level. It never takes into account a person’s characters or accomplishments. Blanche did not care, but Daire did. Her grandfather had been an earl; her uncle was one currently. Her mother had fallen in love with the wrong man and been banished from the family. Her father had done his best for her, managing to give her respectability. This was a fun story of two classes proving that they really were not so different. Likable characters, good plot, fun involvement of Mrs. Dove-Lyon. All came together nicely to see a fixer and the daughter of a criminal find their happily-ever-after.

I was invited to read Lie Down With A Lyon by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #CeriseDeland #LieDownWithALyon

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daire O'Neill is known as the Fixer. A first meeting with Blanche Delacourt, becomes a regular meeting twice a week. In love with a woman he can never have, he watches as she hires Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find her a husband. Only her father, a powerful man in Seven Dials and Daire's enemy, will stop at nothing to keep her from marrying anyone other than one of his choosing. Not about to let that happen, Daire must save her even from himself. Another great read in one of my favorite series. Mild descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet shorter read in the Lyon series. Blanche is an independent minded woman with a disreputable father. She is determined to thwart her father's plans for her by going to Mrs. Dove-Lyon. I wish the book had been longer to allow for more depth in the story development. I wanted more of the meetings between Blanche and O'Neill in order to understand the development of their relationship.

[Marion Löw · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story and a nice addition to the Lyon's Den series with strangers to friends to lovers, hidden identity, found family, „He falls first“ and a touch of forbidden love tropes, mild steam, some action, humor and very likable main characters. Dáire is an enigmatic character who is always in control and Blanche is an enterprising woman who knows what she wants and can stand up for herself. I liked how their relationship slowly developed. Mrs Dove-Lyon and the Lyon's Den play a subordinate role this time, but that didn't bother me. The ending dragged on a bit, but there were a few nice surprises and a heartwarming family reunion.

Dáire O'Neill is known as "The Fixer" because he solves other people's problems. Ever since he first saw Blanche Delacourt when she had a fight with her criminal father, he has been in love with her and has his men tailing her to ensure her safety. On a chance meeting, they become friends and see each other often, but Dáire conceals his true identity. He is an enemy of her father and doesn't think he is good enough for her.
Blanche was brought up by her stepmother to be a respected member of society and runs her own successful business with her friend. When her father, the notorious criminal gang leader Jonathan Rivers, tries to force Blanche to marry one of his men, she hopes that Dáire, for whom she has a secret crush, will offer for her, but when he shows no interest, she turns to Mrs Dove-Lyon to find her an honorable husband...

Overall, an entertaining read with a determined heroine, an enigmatic hero, some secrets and twists, that I am happy to recommend!

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

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dáire O’Neill is The Fixer - a modern kind of Robin Hood/spy who solves problems; but only the bad one in order to turn them into something good. I liked that; him being some kind of super hero! I also liked that Dáire and Blanche became friends and fell in love naturally, evolving from friendship into something more. At this stage of the story I was totally invested in their love story and was so curious to see what would happen next.
Dáire feels a match between them is impossible, due to her father being a gang leader and hating Dáire. You know there is a happily ever after for them so I was wondering how this problem would be fixed, and it kind of didn’t. They just suddenly decided they did want to get married and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, but it never did. It just ended with their HEA.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon was also a character in this book. I like her fierceness and when her arranged marriage between Blanche and the man she picked for Blanche got thwarted, I expected her to do more, get more involved in how this could happen or where this man was held captive. Of course Dáire rescued Blanche but I’d expected her to take some action, too.
It is a nice story though, with some childhood trauma, parental issues, fighting for independence and true love that conquers all. There are a few descriptive sexually intimate scenes.
Although this book is part of the Lyon’s Den Series, it can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger. I ill definitely read more books in the Lyon’s Den Series!
Thank you Dragonblade Publishing, Netgalley and author for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own. …

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

This is another recent Lyon's Den story in which Mrs. Dove-Lyon plays more of a passive role. Yes, she helps Blanche find a husband, but there are none of the usual games or wagers involved and that man isn't even who Blanche ends up with anyway. Side note, I do not believe for one second that Mrs. Dove-Lyon wouldn't have done her due diligence in her background check on the potential husband - and in the end, the big reveal about that man's darker side was unnecessary to the story. I liked that Blanche was not the type of woman to just sit back and let life happen to her and that she was taking steps to secure her future. Had Daire not been so stubborn about thinking there was no way they could be together she would have had to have taken far fewer steps to accomplish this. It was actually a little cruel of him to keep leading her along when he knew in the end he would reject any kind of future with her. The only part of the story I did not fully understand was Blanche's father's motives in trying to get her married off to someone so completely unsuitable for her. And I did not believe that a man like him would not have sought out Blanche the moment she returned to London rather than months later. It would have been satisfying had Blanche had a chance to unload all of her anger at him, especially his threats toward her husband and future children. I am glad that Daire convinced her to meet her maternal uncles and extended family and that she was openminded enough to realize they were not like her grandfather.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, fast read at only 132 pages. Dáire is an Irishman with a sketchy past but has made a name for himself as a "fixer" for the upper classes. He wants to make a better life for his two younger sisters and protect his reputation as best he can. He fell in love with Blanche at first sight and, knowing her father's reputation, has had his men following her to keep her safe.

Blanche is a young woman whose father is the local crime boss. She is aware of his activities but has stayed separate from them. Her stepmother raised her to be respectable, and Blanche runs an employment agency with a friend.

Dáire and Blanche met by chance while out riding. Dáire gave her a false name when they met, knowing her father would disapprove. They quickly became friends, meeting twice a week to ride together. Each has unrevealed feelings for the other, but circumstances keep them from saying anything. When Blanche's father tells her he intends to marry her to one of his men, Blanche takes matters into her own hands. First, she sounds out Dáire, but when he shows no interest, she goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for assistance in finding a husband.

There is a twist with Mrs. Dove-Lyon's pick, a brouhaha at the church, and a heart-pounding rescue to keep things interesting. Blanche worked hard to overcome Dáire's objections to marriage, and I thoroughly enjoyed those efforts. The ending had still more interesting twists and revelations as they began their life together. I especially enjoyed their conversation with Mrs. Dove-Lyon.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced and exciting, Mrs. Dove-Lyon plays a smaller part in this novel, although she is still a beacon of hope and the promise of a future for Blanche. Her heart was set on the man she knows as Mr. Dillon; however, even though he is kind and tender towards her, making her feel special and appreciated, he keeps his distance, little realizing that he is her protector and is keeping her safe. Blanche's father is rather a sinister character, demanding marriage to a man of his choice. Blanche is well aware that any plans her father has for her will be to her detriment, thus her plans to call upon Bessie Dove-Lyon. Everything seems to be going to plan, nevertheless, Dáire O'Neill and his runners take every precaution to ensure that the wedding goes ahead as scheduled. At the very last moment, their plans are blown to pieces, and Dáire is forced to kidnap Blanche for her own protection. Carefully navigating the underbelly of the Seven Dials, Dáire negotiates a treaty between Blanche and her father, bringing this novel to a successful conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Sportochick · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great storyline! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the Dáire and Blanche characters. They were unique and interesting in how they approached their difficult situations.

Dáire falling in love at first sight satisfied the romantic part of me and his desire to protect Blanche no matter what was enduring. His character is an example of resilience which Blanche's character also has.

Blanche is a very strong willed woman for that era but her ability to stay within acceptable society standards is done with finesse till her father tries to control her and causes am unforgivable act. I am glad she has a backbone and common sense. Author Cerise DeLand wrote a great storyline with two very interesting leading characters.

I give this 4.5 STARS.

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[DD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different from other Lyons Den books, but in a good way.
Blanche is caught to one of the notorious gang leaders in the East end of London, although thankfully he's had her raised by his second wife on the edges of society, and using a different name. But when her father threatens her with marriage Blanche takes matters into her own hands and has Mrs Dove-Lyon arrange a match for her.
Unbeknownst to Blanche she has an admirer Daire O'Neill, they met once and Daire fell in love, and has kept a watchful eye on her since that Friday meeting. But he knows Blanche would not consider him as he lives in seven dials like her father, and could be considered a rogue. In fact Fair and his team work for the home office as fixers.
When on the morning of her wedding Blanche's groom is abducted by her father's men,Fairs is nearby to rescue her, although she's sure she's being abducted. But misunderstanding is soon resolved.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blanche is looking for a husband. She enlists Mrs Dove-Lyons’ help. Things don’t go exactly as planned. Daire wants to be with Blanche. He rescues her from the possibility of a bad marriage. Now what will they do? Why didn’t Daire try to get to know Blanche before she went to Mrs. Dove-Lyon?

Blanche is a woman of her time. She needs to make a good match but she doesn’t have anyone to help her. Daire is a bad guy around town. He worries his ties to the underworld might be difficult for Blanche. This is a short story so their relationship and realizations about each other are fast.

This story takes place in London in 1805. What makes me sad about this story is that it’s utterly forgettable. I usually love the Mrs. Dove-Lyon books but I forgot everything almost as soon as I was done reading it. I think it lacked some of the sweetness and humor of many of the other stories in this series. I will probably read more in the future.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lie down With a Lyon is the next book in The Lyon's Den Connected World.

This was a very fast paced and (132 pages) short read. I enjoy the series, but was disappointed Mrs. Dove-Lyon role was minimized. Of course, the story is about Daire and Blanche, but we look forward to reading about Mrs. Dove Lyon.

Star crossed Daire and Blanche appear to be apart forever. Blanche wants her mystery man to give her a sign that he cares. Daire does not dare to show his feelings to the daughter of an enemy. An ill-advised marriage and an interruption by her father, causes Daire to rescue her by abducting her to safety. Time will tell whether it is safe to return and under what conditions can she expect from her father.

Still a fun story but would have preferred for it to be a longer book, and more of Mrs. Dove-Lyon.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This emotional tale of star-crossed romance between Dáire O’Neill and Blanche—his enemy’s daughter—grabs your heart from the first page. Their connection is instant but painfully restrained, shadowed by loyalty, pride, and long-standing feuds. Blanche is a heroine to root for: strong, independent, and determined to escape her father’s dark legacy. Dáire is the kind of tortured hero who will break your heart in the best way.

The tension simmers beautifully, and the stakes feel real. While the ending might leave some readers craving a bit more resolution between the lovers, the journey is well worth it. A must-read for fans of slow-burn romance with a noble sacrifice at its core.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Dradonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Pat Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Dove-Lyon is not amused when her plans go awry…even worse when she realizes she is wrong. Blanche is caught between a rock and a hard place as her dastardly father keeps bullying her and Daire just wants to love Blanche, but feels he can’t have her. I liked how Blanche took her future into her own hands. The heartbreaking scene of her and Daire in the park was so sad and the author’s ability to really make you feel the emotions is very good. I did not like the f_bomb being used as it was not the least bit necessary , in my opinion. Fortunately, it was only used once. The climax was a bit “anti-climactic” with her father-thought that would have been ‘messier’. All-in-all a cute story to add to the Lyon’s Den series


I received this story for free and these are my own views.

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

Entertaining Regency Romance
Dáire is a mysterious man. He’s in love with Blanche, but he believes he’s no good for her. Blanche, determined to escape her criminal father’s control, wants to marry and take charge of her own life. When Dáire shows no interest, she turns to the infamous and highly successful matchmaker, Mrs. Dove-Lyon. But unlike most of Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s pairings, this one goes awry.
What happens when Dáire resorts to kidnapping to rescue the woman he loves? Her father is bound to retaliate—and this wouldn’t be Dáire’s first run-in with him. When Blanche learns Dáire’s true identity, will she still accept him?
Fans of Regency romance with a touch of suspense might enjoy this one.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story but was sorry to see that Mrs. Dove-Lyon played very little in it. Never expecting love, Daire found Blanche but because of circumstances beyond his control he could not act on his feelings for her. I loved how he saved her from a disastrous marriage in order to keep her safe. There are a lot of emotions displayed throughout the story and eventually they get their HEA but it does not come easy. The story is entertaining especially when she connects with her mother’s past. It’s a heart warming story that is worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gylene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daire and Blanche meet by accident, while Daire knows who she is he also knows that he can’t have her. He can at least see to making sure she is safe even from her father. When Blanche decides to marry another man Daire ends up saving her from her own wedding. Will they see that they actually belong together no matter the circumstance?

I liked reading Blanche and Daire’s story and how they got to the happily ever after. The book was fun and entertaining. I felt the author did a good job with how she convey the emotions of the story on to the pages throughout the book so you could really feel connected to both Blanche and Daire. I would recommend this book!!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley. This a story about a man who falls in love with his enemy's daughter. She thinks he doesn't know who she is. He has her watched to protect her. she goes to Mrs Dove-Lyon to find her a husband. The morning of the wedding her father has the groom kidnapped what is her love to do but goes to the church to protect her. At first she wonders what is going on. The is about a man who loves her and thinks he isn't good enough for her. He wants her to have a good husband. She has to convince him, he is good enough and they love each other. It is a different story for the Lyon's Den.

[Cherie S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scandal, Decisions', Family, Desirous Love:
Have you ever felt like you were being followed?
Well, our heroine Blanche certainly is being followed by Daire and his crew of information gatherers. He needs to keep her safe and follows her every move, even her secret visit to the infamous Lyon's Den.
He knows why she wants this visit the Black Widow. Daire is fighting his feelings for her throughout most of the story.
The longing and desire for both characters come though clearly, and the thrilling and terrifying situations had me glued to my seat
This romance is a delightful, charming story to read with a very joyous ending that brings happiness to all.
💋Sizzle Level Low 1/5

[Challis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not quite up to par in the Lyon's Den world for my tastes - plot and character wise, anyway. I liked a good chunk of the writing itself, as far as good flow to the chapters and nice descriptions.
I just could not get myself to feel a darn thing for our main characters. I was missing the piece where I got invested in their story and why they did the things they chose to do. I felt like we didn't get to see enough of the yearning, fall in love moments that happen during their weekly get togethers, so I was missing the "awe" factor that makes me giddy to see where the relationship goes.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

[Lisa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

He watches over her...

Daire is enamored with Blanche, who is the daughter of his rival criminal gang leader. He watches over her (well, his men do). When Blanche seeks out Mrs. Dove-Lyon to arrange a match for her so she can avoid marrying the man her father wants her to, Daire is forced to step in, even though he knows he shouldn't, to wed her himself when her father gets involved. Blanche and Daire are crushing on each other, but Daire has secrets and they both think the other deserves better.
Recommend.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved this series since book one. I still greatly enjoyed this story, however I'm truly saddened that there wasn't more of Mrs. Dove-Lyon's shenanigans woven into the overall story as it makes a general romance more engaging. Daire goes to great lengths to protect Blanche in this well paced story. But can he save her from Mr. Dillon? Only way to find out is to join the party and read this entertaining story.

[Tiffany P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short novella with misunderstood beginnings……

This novella seemed a little different than others in the series. Mrs. Dove Lyon didn’t really factor into the love match in this one. Once the couple found happiness together, the heroine was more likable. There were all these moments that made her a walking contradiction and I really couldn’t connect to her. I was glad that ultimately they got a HEA together as well as with extended family.

[Lyn D Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book in The Lyons Den Connected World series was a very exciting and well written historical romance. It told of the travesty of children's lives, drama, intrigue, secret identities, lies, betrayals, and so many more emotional and intense issues that were very engaging. I enjoyed how haunted pasts could be made whole and to begin a whole new way through after finding true love. I highly recommend reading!

[Linda Brugger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daire Finally Gets His Due

After earning a sterling reputation for helping others Daire is not convinced that he deserves a respectable life. However with her usual skill, Deland fashions a tale that leaves you believing that good things happen to good people.

[Sven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute add to the Lyons series, with unusual protagonists who are very sweet together. This was a well written friends to lovers book, with some interference by Mrs. Lyon.

Cute read.

#netgalley #LieDownWithALyon

[Mahnoor Lasania · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved both Dáire & Blanche & thoroughly enjoyed their journey to a HEA, thank goodness Blanche took matters into her own hands! An engrossing story where past hurts are revealed & families are reunited. A very well-written novella which I read straight through.

[Pansy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay story but not very gripping. Only challenges were a controlling father. I kind of expect more from these stories. Have I gotten jaded? I did finish it, and it wasn't bad. I think I need more excitement right not.

[Aj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and the romance founded on friends to lovers / love at first sight. Blanche and Dáire are likable characters with a strong connection and a great journey to love.