A Duke at the Door: Regency Romance with a Shapeshifter Twist (Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde, 3)

Alwyn, the Duke of Llewelyn (Lion Shifter) hears a woman cry for help. When Alwyn approaches, he sees that the woman and baby are covered in blood and surrounded by several men. He decides to shift into Lion form to protect the humans, and a gold chain is slipped over his paw, preventing him from shifting back to human. Thus begins the life of Alwyn the lion in a traveling menagerie. After escaping, he returns to King George (Bear) for assistance. Close to being feral and weak, George calls for the aid of a healer.Tabitha, the heroine, and an apothecary returns to England with her brother who is the Lowell Hall tutor. Prince George requests that Tabitha help Alwyn return to the ways of human society which helps keep the world of shifters secret. Alwyn has been in lion form for so long has forgotten how to use his hands and feet. Tabitha is patient as she assists Alwyn in gaining his confidence in life, as well as trusting those around him. Something that's hard for him to do, because as his memory returns, he remembers that the one that captured him wasn't human, but a shifter. Can Alwyn fully recover and let his lion out? He is Alpha and he know he'll need all the help he can get because he realizes that Tabitha is his mate.

Another excellent addition to the Shapeshifters of the Beau Monde series. Alwyn’s story has great trauma and sadness, and Tabitha also has a past dealing with neglect and attempted abuse. They fit together well, showing each other care and kindness, but also a lot of humor and banter like the couples in the previous books. Allen is constructing a very interesting, lovely, fun, intricate world. I am enjoying it all very much.

This was a fabulous end to this series! I loved the characters and how the previous characters were included. Great adventure, romance, characters and storyline. I want more of this series! Two thumbs up!

The damaged lion shifter and 35 year old apothecary heroine should have been a perfect couple for me, but somehow I wasn't as caught up in their story as in the other books. Maybe other plot was emphasized more than the love story? Still a good book, and I will 100% read the next, but I would recommend the first 2 novels more.

Y’all this series just keeps getting better and better. I love these books I will while it is a series you can read as a stand alone but if you like Regency novels then I highly recommend just start at book 1 | mean who doesn't like spicy men who turn into shape shifters!! Yummy !!! Add in the twists and turns and the plot of these books and you've got yourself an amazing book!!! Ahhh I can't wait for more !!! I love love these books and I've never read anything like this before!!!Totally in love!!! Go get these books don't walk run!!

After years as a captive, lion shifter Alwyn, Duke of Llewelyn has secluded himself on an other shifter's estate. Even then he is having trouble connecting with others including his own lion.Tabitha Barrington has been travelling with her brother and learning healing arts from everywhere they've been. Now they have been summoned back to England by His Highness Prince George. He needs them to fix a problem for him.Our heroine make a lot of discoveries not the least among them about herself. Our hero has to learn there is a life worth living.This paranormal romance is the third book in a series. They are all action packed and a little steamy, but absolutely fascinating stories that catch you on the first page until the end. I think they are best read in order, but you can read each one on its own.These are not ordinary shifters. Some are funny others very dangerous. Added to that the particularly ruthless villains and you will have lots of fun reading this.I loved it.

Each time I read a book by Susanna Allen it is a really unique experience of immersion into this historical world with a paranormal twist. Her writing style feels less modern and closer to the way people spoke during that time period, which some may find difficult to read at first, but once you're used to it, there's something about it that feels magical to me. She also adds an element of humor to each book that always makes me smile, and with this particular book, I really loved seeing the other characters interact with the heroine when they realized she was available for courting. By the end, I was so emotional over the two characters growing and finding love with each other.Trapped as a lion for many years, unable to Change back to his human form, Alwyn Ap Lewin, Duke of Llewelyn, has no interest in being social with anyone. He has lost contact with his lion half and refuses to Change for fear that he would be trapped once more. To the point of feeling his life should end rather than continue on in this manner, he is forced to try one last ditch attempt at healing - go to Lowell Hall, a sort of sanctuary for shifters of all kinds, and work with a human healer there by the name of Miss Tabitha Barrington. Tabitha was only recently brought into the shifter world, but she is already becoming used to their different ways of thinking and doing things. She is far too much of a spinster to be intimidated by a bachelor lion who is not mentally well, and besides, he seems more intent on protecting her than doing her any harm...or seducing her into a relationship she does not aspire to. At the age of 35, she is firmly on the shelf and has no interest in offspring, so there seems little point in engaging in activity that could result in marriage. However, as often happens when two people spend time in close proximity, they develop feelings, and Alwyn becomes convinced she is meant for him...his vera amoris, his fated mate.Be advised that the story does begin slowly, and given the writing style and the fact that this is the third book in the series, it is much easier to read if you've read the first two books in the series. Once you have that foundational background, you can really immerse yourself into the story and get to know all of the characters. There are so many colorful secondary characters, and even the ones who play a minor role charmed me almost immediately. Tabitha and her brother were a fun pair to watch interact, and I really enjoyed seeing his character get more depth as the story progressed. We learn why they fled England several years ago, why they seem attached at the hip, and how this has shaped Tabitha's decisions in life. Alwyn's internal monologues were also particularly enlightening, seeing him work through his past trauma and realizing that there is a path forward with Tabitha at his side. He takes quite a while to get her to see that they belong together, and Tabitha is convinced their relationship couldn't be serious without the promise of offspring, which she has no interest in producing. It's actually quite a refreshing viewpoint in romance, and I loved how the author handled it, not only with Tabitha but also Alwyn's reaction to it. Overall, a splendid tale of healing, and the ending will have you flooded with emotions.As always, I look forward to see what comes next for this author. It's so fun reading paranormal set in a historical setting, and she blends the two genres so well.**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**

I have to admit to feeling a tad nervous before starting Alwyn and Tabitha’s story. I’m Officially Obsessed (caps required; iykyk… no discussion necessary) with this series and I worried that Book 3 wouldn’t live up to my, admittedly high, expectations of what I knew (hello, backstory!) was going to be a decidedly emotional story.*gestures to puffy eyes and sighs*Well, let me tell you, ADatD is RAWR! *snort-sniffs*I felt a fierce protectiveness I can’t even begin to explain towards Alwyn and Tabitha; especially for Alwyn after all he had suffered. And in case you are wondering, my propensity to become emotionally attached to fictional characters was. NEXT. LEVEL. When it came to these two. (The claws were most definitely at the ready if required.)As the story behind Alwyn’s capture began to unravel, my heart decided to take up permanent residence in my throat with the mounting suspense and tension. I was on a knife edge as all the different threads came together…At the same time, the invisible threads of chemistry and connection were being woven between Alwyn and Tabitha which made my heart (when it decided to dislodge itself from the aforementioned throat) flutter and soar. (Alwyn’s got game! *winks*)And with the words, “My friend…” I knew I was in for the Mother of All Book Hangovers.*palms face*Oh, it gets worse! *winces* I was sobbing with relief and happiness at certain events coupled with Ursella striking again (that cub will be the death of me!) that I was compelled to emote all over the author in her DMs *blushes* aka Laura had breeched DEFCON1 fangirl mode…With each book in the series the world building is enriched with the love and acceptance created by the bonds of each couple. This was triply so with Alwyn and Tabitha. If the heart is pure, you’ll always find a place to belong with them.In order to belong you need to be yourself and be seen, and this couple most certainly do.