Audiobook narrated by Lisa Flanagan

Lions and Lace is the first book in Meagan McKinney’s Van Alen Sisters duology, and if I hadn’t been invited to buddy read it, I don’t think I’d have picked it up otherwise. And boy would I have been missing out! This book is easily one of the best Historical Romances I’ve read in the past decade. When no one shows up to Trevor Sheridan’s younger sisters debut, he decides to take his wrath out on the elite Knickerbockers of New York, taking them out one by one, and then forcing society’s darling into marriage until she makes his sister a ‘success.’ Only then will he let Alana Van Alen go, but with the battle of wills that commences even before their marriage, one can’t help but wonder if he’ll keep his word. The sparks between this pair fly immediately, but Trevor doesn’t realize that he has targeted the one woman in all of society who desperately wanted to attend his sister’s party. But circumstances forbade it.

Words can’t express how much I loved this story. It felt so true to the time period, which is something that I look for in my Historical Romances. I loved Alana’s character. After the loss of her parents, all she wanted was independence and a simple life of her own in the country. But self-made Irishman Trevor Sheridan gives her the exact opposite of what she longs for - luxury that even as one of the most elite in New York, she never had. Alana’s devotion to her sister and her longing for the parents she’d lost made me like her so much. She was so caring and kind, and even after Trevor forces her into marriage, that kindness follows her as she adores his sister as much as before. Trevor was such a nuanced character. He was so determined to be strong, but it was insecurity, not strength that ruled him. He couldn’t see that the prejudices he saw in other people also plagued him. And I love how Alana almost taunted him with that - accusing him of not really knowing her and not wanting to, but just using her as a pawn in his game. This story was emotional all the way around, and I loved every delicious moment of it. I did have a few issues with the story. For one, the ‘villain’ felt a bit caricature-ish to me. He was much more in your face. And while I would have preferred some subtlety, I was able to enjoy it anyway. The other issue I had is that during pivotal moments of the story, the focus shifted to Trevor’s brother’s point of view or his sister’s, and that was frustrating. It was an element I just wasn’t interested in, and it felt like it came at the cost of getting more of Trevor and Alana.

Suffice it to say, I loved this story and have already read the second book in the duology. I love how true it felt to the time period, and I desperately want to find more books like it. Lions and Lace is a book that I can see myself reading again and again throughout the years.

Audio: I loved Lisa Flanagan’s narration so much! She did a fantastic job with Alana’s character, and the way she was able to convey Trevor’s general disdain was genius. I can’t wait to listen to more books that she’s narrated!