It is only two more days until the release of the first book of my mystery/romantic suspense series for Dragonblade Publishers releases. The series, which I have nearly finished writing are in different stages of production. They will release three months apart beginning today, June 18 (Lyon in the Way), September 17 (Lyon’s Obsession), December 17 (Lyon in Disguise), and then in 2026, March 18 (Lost in the Lyon’s Garden) and, finally, June 20 (Lyon on the Inside). The first three are finished. I am currently working on book 4, though it is nearly finished. Book five has been in my head for MANY months now. If you do not know of Dragonblade Publishers, they are an author-owned group and specialize in historical romance (meaning pre 20th Century).
In this tale, part of the action takes place at the Claridge Hotel, an actual hotel, still in existence. The History & Heritage of Claridge tells us, “It started life as a single house, but Claridge’s was soon transformed into an art deco masterpiece favoured by royalty and the most distinguished figures of every generation.
“1800s, Small beginnings: William and Marianne Claridge are running a hotel in a single house at 51 Brook Street. In an ambitious move to expand their business, they buy the adjoining five buildings in 1854. Claridge’s opens in its own right in 1856.”
File: Claridge’s Exterior with people.jpg
The Claridge was originally known as the Mirvat (which is what it is called in my tale). Mivart’s was known as London’s most posh hotel and was founded in 1812 in Mayfair. The original Regency rooms were situated in five sites of traditional terrace housing. At the corner of Brook and Davies streets, the location could not be beat for visitors to Town and the Season. [Regency Reader]
What becomes a bit confusing is that the Mirvat Hotel and the original Claridge Hotel were once side by side in terrace homes. Claridge’s was founded in 1812 as Mivart’s Hotel, in a conventional London terraced house, and it grew by expanding into neighbouring houses. In 1854, the founder of the Mirvat (the father of biologist St. George Jackson Mivart, who attempted to reconcile the theory of evolution as propounded by Charles Darwin with the beliefs of the Catholic Church, but was condemned by both Darwin and the Church) sold the hotel to a Mr and Mrs Claridge, who owned a smaller hotel next door. The Claridges combined the two operations, and after trading for a time as “Mivart’s late Claridge’s”, they settled on the current name.
Alina Fields has a description of hotel rooms that she found in a book about another famous hotel, the Clarendon. It is a travel diary, London Observed, A Polish Philosopher at Large, 1820-1824, by Krystyn Lach-Szyrma, tutor to two Polish princes. Here are some of the excerpts Ms. Fields shared from the book:
First, something of the authentic French cuisine shared by Ms. Fields:
On entering a hotel a traveler will be met by a fat doorkeeper, carrying a large silver-plated staff as a symbol of his position, who will tell him if there are any rooms available.
You go through halls and stairs covered with carpets which are so beautiful and clean that it is a pity you have to walk on them. Bedrooms are usually situated on the second floor and a drawing room on the first one… On a bed they use mattresses and one or two flannel blankets, under which they put a sheet, so that they do not rub the body…
The coffee was already made and placed on the table, but it was not good. English coffee is weaker than Polish and its taste is different because they do not roast it for long. So we could do nothing else but start to drink tea.
This image is 1898 (long after my story takes place), but I thought you might find it as interesting as did I. It is a menu from the Claridge Hotel for that year. I used it as inspiration for what my characters chose from the menu for their meal.
Other Resources:
Claridge’s (History of …)
Laurie Benson’s A Cozy Drawing Room
The Shady Old Lady’s Guide to London
One man wants her dead. Another may love her forever.
For over a year, Lord Richard Orson has been quietly captivated by the unconventional Lady Emma Donoghue. Headstrong, brilliant, and unapologetically involved in causes that rattle Society’s comfort, Emma is nothing like the debutantes he’s expected to court.
But when he finds her bruised, confused, and alone in Covent Garden after midnight, Richard is thrust into a far more dangerous game.
Someone wants Emma silenced. And now, Richard has only moments to uncover the truth, protect her from harm, and keep her out of scandal’s reach. But staying focused is harder than he imagined—especially when every glance, every accidental touch, reminds him how perfectly she fits in his arms.
Tropes you’ll love:
Protective hero / damsel in distress (with a twist) Bluestocking heroine Rescue & recovery romance Unlikely match / opposites attract Slow burn with rising suspense One bed (forced proximity) Hero falls first
As danger closes in and secrets are revealed, Richard must decide whether he’s willing to risk his life—and his heart—for a woman who’s always been worth the fight.
A suspenseful, slow-burn Regency romance where danger ignites desire, and love must outpace the clock.
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon’s Den Connected world by Regina Jeffers.
Book 1 – Lyon in the Way
Book 2 – Lyon’s Obsession
Book 3 – Lyon in Disguise
Book 4 – Lost in the Lyon’s Garden
Book 5 – Lyon on the Inside
Every Woman Dreams... 