From the glittering ballrooms of the ton to the city's grittiest corners, London has no shortage of wrongs in need of righting--and the Maidens of Mayhem are prepared for the challenge. United by secrecy and sisterhood, these daring women from all walks of life aim to fight injustice wherever it takes them--even into the arms of unexpected love. This feminist take on Regency-era Robin Hoods from USA Today bestselling author Anabelle Bryant is destined to storm readers' hearts!
Scarlett Wynn's tragic childhood taught her that life can be cruel to women with little power. So when a local seamstress disappears, Scarlett vows to find out why. Armed with a weapon and her courage, Scarlett scours London for clues--and crosses the unlikely path of Ambrose Cross, the Duke of Aylesford, at an unlikely place: an upscale brothel. The Duke is trying to solve a mystery of his own, and Scarlett is sure they can help each other--if she can resist the attraction that draws them together...
As Duke of Aylesford, Ambrose is duty-bound to protect his family name from scandal no matter the cost. But Scarlett's fearless spirit forces him to look beyond his world of privilege. Scarlett is as intoxicating as she is dangerous, igniting a fire in him like no other. When the pair learn both mysteries they're trying to solve are tied to a string of missing women, the tangled scheme they uncover may put their lives, and their growing love, in mortal danger--and lead them to search their hearts like never before...
"A delightful historical romance with a liberal dash of adventure, plenty of sizzling heat, and a heart of pure gold. A superb start to Bryant's new Maidens of Mayhem series"
--Lenora Bell, USA Today bestselling author
"Duchess if You Dare is a fantastic read that kept me up late and has me anxiously awaiting the next book in the series."
--USA Today Bestselling Author Renee Ann Miller
Purchase Links
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Review
First in a new series, Duchess if You Dare introduces us to the Maidens of Mayhem, four women who have taken it upon themselves to right the wrongs of Regency London by straying outside of society's rules. While two of them do not get a lot of page time and Julia is a strong supporting character, the Maiden in focus is Scarlett, a clever, competent, and fiercely independent woman with a fondness for roaming London in breeches.
When Scarlett's seamstress Linie disappears, she learns of a series of missing girls. It's pretty dark subject matter, but while investigating a brothel, she crosses paths with the handsome Duke of Aylesford. Ambrose is trying to track down his brother's favourite whore, but Scarlett's mysterious allure threatens to derail his search and upend his world. Dangerous situations lead to heightened tension until there's no way this won't lead to love.
While I loved Scarlett - I'm a sucker for competence and her actions flowed so naturally from her rough backstory - Ambrose has the more complex character arc. As a duke, he's powerful and privileged but constrained by responsibility and expectations. He takes a long time to realise how much his birth has benefited him and even longer to leverage it into any sort of action. His protective instinct wants to wrap Scarlett up in cotton wool, and while it comes from a place of emotion (and later love), he seems to completely ignore how well she can handle herself and her own self-determination, which I did find frustrating.
I definitely would've liked to see more of the Maidens, as Scarlett's friendship with Julia is a good emotional foil to the romance but Phoebe and Diana felt more incidental. A throwaway line makes me wonder if there's another story running concurrent with this one, perhaps the subject of a sequel. Ambrose's brother also seems ripe for his own story, given his the curtailing of his wayward tendencies.
After deceit, danger, and a smattering of abduction, the mystery wraps up quickly and Scarlett and Ambrose decide that love conquers all, including their hesitations and the huge gap in their social status. It felt a little handwavey but I'm willing to overlook it for the sake of a happy ending.
Overall, this is a solid romance for those who want a bit more grit with their Regency (but don't worry, there's still a ball!)
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources, all opinions are my own.
USA Today Bestselling author Anabelle Bryant began reading at age three and never stopped. Her passion for reading soon turned into a passion for writing and an author was born. Happy to grab her suitcase if it ensures a new adventure, Anabelle finds endless inspiration in travel; especially imaginary jaunts into romantic Regency England, a far cry from her home in New Jersey. Instead, her clever characters live out her daydreams because really, who wouldn't want to dance with a handsome duke or kiss a wicked earl?
Anabelle's books have been translated into several languages including Japanese and Russian, but writing isn't all that keeps her busy. Building miniatures, baking and photography are other favorite pastimes. Often found with her nose in a book, Anabelle is just as happy in a room full of people. She enjoys meeting readers, attending conferences and book signings. She has earned her Master's Degree and is ABD for her Doctorate Degree in education.
A firm believer in romance, Anabelle knows sometimes life doesn't provide a happily ever after, but her novels always do. Visit her website at AnabelleBryant.com
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