The Legend of Lyon Redmond

August 17, 2015
Long’s ardent 11th Georgian-set Pennyroyal Green romance (after It Started with a Scandal) is vivid and tender but lacks historical verisimilitude. Lyon Redmond and Olivia Eversea are meant to be together; from the moment their eyes meet at the Sussex Christmas Eve Assembly, their connection is intimate and powerful. They know fate is against them—the Eversea and Redmond families have been at odds since before Lyon and Olivia were born—but their innocence, passion, and youthful optimism drown out the obstacles preventing their happiness, until Lyon’s father hands down an ultimatum: Lyon must abandon all thought of marrying Olivia, or be disowned and left penniless. Can their love survive such a choice? Long’s take on young lovers torn apart by circumstance has a conventional sweetness, but modern language and mannerisms jar the reader out of the period on more than a few occasions. Agent: Steven Axelrod, Axelrod Agency.

Starred review from October 15, 2015

For years, Olivia Eversea has resisted marriage, waiting for her love, Lyon Redmond, to return. Now, she has relented, and the news of her upcoming wedding has reached him--and it's time for Lyon, something of a legend in his own time, to come home and take action. Clever plotting, exceptionally well-developed characters, and a scenario that reveals a few secrets and ties up a number of loose ends make this a story to sigh over and savor. A dash of mystery and a well-done ballad add to the fun. VERDICT Stunningly romantic and ultimately satisfying, this long-awaited and beautifully rendered story wonderfully wraps up Long's "Pennyroyal Green" saga; it won't disappoint. Long (It Started with a Scandal) lives in the San Francisco area. [See "Editors' Fall Picks," LJ 9/1/15.]

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2015
Once Olivia Eversea had a secret love. Five years ago at a country ball in Pennyroyal Green, she fell hopelessly in love with Lyon Redmond. The two spent several blissful months indulging in a furtive affair before their feuding families found out. While Olivia was terrified of losing Lyon, she was equally terrified of being cut off from everyone else she loved. So when Lyon asked her to elope with him, Olivia couldn't say yes, and Lyon disappeared from Pennyroyal Greenand Olivia's lifeforever. Now, as Olivia is counting down the days until her marriage to the perfectly amiable Lord John Landsdowne, she finds her thoughts straying to the only man she ever truly loved. The Legend of Lyon Redmond, the eleventh book in Long's Regencyset Pennyroyal Green series (It Started with a Scandal, 2015), is a triumph of scintillating wit and soul-searing passion. From its exquisitely nuanced characters to its impeccably crafted setting, everything works together seamlessly in Long's superbly written romance to deliver a truly affecting and unforgettable love story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)