An Enterprising and Stubborn Woman
Aug 08, 2025 1:11 pm
Dear Readers,
I love writing a heroine with a plan. And Caroline, from The Lyon Loves Last, is no exception.
When I sat down to write an origin story of Hawthorne House that could also fit into the Lyon's Den world, I needed to know who would take on this kind of project. What would she be like? What would her husband think of it? Would he be for her plan or against it? And why did they choose this particular house?
The answers came together like pieces of a lovely puzzle, and the connections between the two series simply melted into place together. Lyon's Den is, after all, an establishment run by a woman that undermines, in ways, some of the Regency preconceptions about how women fit into society. So is Hawthorne House! The Widow of Whitechapel helps women with financial means find the men who deserve them. And Hawthorne House helps women with very little means at all find safe havens in a stormy world.
I have some fascinating research to share with you about all this in the coming weeks! But for now, let's meet our heroine: Caroline!
Her father was a radical thinker, an abolitionist and philosopher who was an intellectual acquaintance of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey. And all of that shaped who Caroline is. What also shaped her? Not knowing she was an heiress until her father died and made her one. Now here she is, used to traveling around the world, conversing with big thinkers and working to help the downtrodden--suddenly needing a husband.
With a house. That part is important. Because she has plans. But she has no idea how to be courted or how to move in the circles where she's most likely to find a fellow with a house who just wants a wife in name only. She's tried. All it got her was stuck with the nickname Most Stubborn Woman in London. But the venerable widow who owns the Lyon's Den can help her!
Her hero--Felix--is also stubborn, and in many ways this story is a battle of wills and hearts, an exploration of when stubbornness is necessary and pays off versus when it keeps us from healing.
Another fun detail about Caroline? Her sister is married. To a Mr. Beckett. And if you'v read my other Hawthorne books, you'll recognize the name! You'll get to meet Mr. and Mrs. Beckett in their youth!
Finally, remember: cover reveals for the second season of The Rake Review are happening now in the Brazen Belles Facebook group. Kate Bateman has already revealed her cover, and it's ❤️🔥 so swoon! We'll be doing title reveals, cover reveals, and other super fun reveals all this month for all 12 season 2 books! Join us!
Discover a New Book
Looking for new books released in August? Look no further! This promo collects them all in once place!
Looking for curvy heroines? Here ya go!
This promo has historical romance in kindle unlimited!
Guys, this one is going to be SO MUCH FUN. The Brazen Belle authors have been sitting on it for a while and having a grand old time planning it. Can't WAIT for everyone to be able to dive in.
Heads up: We don't yet have an Amazon pre-order link, though you can pre-order it everywhere else. It will definitely be on Amazon, but we've had some technical difficulties with the Amazon platform and the pre-order there. I'll let everyone know when it's available to pre-order for Amazon readers. For readers who use other stores, it's available now!
Happy reading, everyone!
Charlie
(Now in Kindle Unlimited!)
(these books are in KU)
