1885 and Anna Kronberg is a nurse when Garret O'Hare forces his when into her lodging suffering from a gunshot wound. In this prequel to the series we read about the relationship of Anna and Garret, intermixed with a sadist who likes to cut prostitutes.
A depressing portrayal of Victorican London but still a good read.
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This was an enjoyable, fast read. I loved the characters. The poor in Victorian times often had to to perform unsavory acts in order to survive. Their misery is brought to life on the pages of this book. However, the two main characters, Anna and Garret, bring a little hope and light into the story. ( )

A. Kronberg, Survivor, Savior, Selfless

In the slums of Victorian England lives A. Kronberg, a person buried in many secrets, but also a realest in it’s truest form. At night, Anna is the nurse who cares for the destitute in the slums where she lives by choice. During the day she morphs into the respected gentleman, Dr. Anton Kronberg of Guy’s Hospital. Women doctors are unheard of in England. Should anyone find out her true identity, she would loose her license and go to prison. But that is not her only secret.

This story shows us the ugly truth about how people lived during Victorian times. The street was a sewer, and a life wasn’t worth very much, except to Anna. She did not judge her patients no matter how much she despised how they came to need her or how she hated what she had to do to care for them. Because of the true empathy for these people, she almost losses her life.

Anna’s flat is invaded by a gunshot victim, Garrett O’Hare. After she saves him, he wants nothing more than to care for and protect her. A skilled powerful thief by trade who melts into a clumsy puppy when he is near her. But will her deep seated fear of men along with her other secrets push him away.

Warning: This book does contains some archaic and sensitive medical procedures that may be offensive to some people. To keep true to the historical and ethical practices of this time, many of the conditions and procedures were common place in day to day life.

Take some “me” time. This book is perfect for an afternoon. Not to long, easy to read and hard to put down. It is a bumpy ride, so hang on and enjoy! But don’t stop here. Book 2 brings more excitement and surprises. ( )

This is my first introduction to Annelie Wendeberg's writing and to the Anna Kronberg series. I found out Lion's Courtship was a prequel to Devils Grin,introducing Anna, to Garret O'Hare. He's an Irish thief,who she saves from a gunshot wound. He's a big man, with a kind heart, and a protective nature toward Anna. She's the only nurse or medical help with any skill willing to go into this morbid underbelly of London.The St. Giles slum is a place filled with little hope, food, clothing, with the poor are huddled in rat infested rooms. Death's no stranger to this place! Anna, herself holds many secrets, and their are many twists and turns to follow. I probably should have read the Kronberg series first so I would have more of a background of Anna, who besides being a nurse, wears a disguise as a man to become Dr. A. Kronberg. It was certainly a quick read with the end coming way too soon. This certainly won't be the last time I read this author. I found it highly entertaining but as I said, I think I would have gotten more out of the story had I read the series first.
Jack Murphy ( )

Anna, the nurse. This story focuses on Anna's work among the whores in the slums of London. Truly, an angel of mercy, she creates a cadre of allies to track down a brutal killer. They are finally successful, or are they? Enter, the consulting detective. ( )