Abigail Bridges

Into the Lyon of Fire by Abigail Bridges
The Lyon’s Den Connected World

My first foray into The Lyon’s Den World did more than whet my appetite…it made me wish I had read more than the one book in this collection while introducing me to an author I immediately doing an online search to see what other books she might have written and whether Matthew’s many siblings might have books of their own now or in the future. I do love sinking my teeth into a well-seasoned sensual story that leaves me satisfied while wanting more!

What I liked:
* Sarah: intelligent, strong, enduring, compassionate, steadfast, responsible, abused, scarred, practical, deserved so much more than her life provided before she became a widow
* Matthew: capable, protective, military background, recently invested as Duke of Emberton after his father died unexpectedly, eldest of many children, in for a surprise as he sets his future course to include Sarah
* Mark: brother to Matthew and heir to the duchy, more lighthearted than his brother, in the know, has a great idea to help Matthew back to his military career
* Phyllida: mother of a brood that includes Matthew and Mark, bold, intrepid, strategist keen, puts her family first, misses her husband, someone I would like as a friend and not as an enemy.
* That a novella could pack so much into so few pages
* Being drawn into the story, getting to know and care about the characters, and hoping that a happily ever after would occur for the couple
* That in spite of all that Sarah had suffered and endured, she was able to find the strength to move forward and do so in a positive way – she reminds me of a piece of Kintsugi porcelain repaired with gold…perhaps broken but stronger and more beautiful in the aftermath

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to – Owen the horrific husband and the couple that came after him
* Thinking about how difficult Sarah’s life must have been

Did I enjoy this book? YES!
Would I read more by this author? Definitely
Would I read more in this series/World? Eagerly

Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars… (meer)