Lovely, lovely story!!
Alexander, the Duke of Blackshire, find himself the target of a couple pf attempts against his life, so in an effort to try to protect his beloved grandmother he wants to send her to the country; only he finds it won't be easy to convince her and hew new companion, Beth, one of the so called Wayward Wallflowers.

It was a complete delight to read about the interactions between Beth and Alexander, at the start they fight constantly, they both have preconceived ideas of how the other should be, they're prejudiced but as they start to spend more time together they start to see more, they start to feel more and I really liked that. I would read the book and sighed or smiled or swooned at their interactions.
I do admit by the end I'd have liked for Alexander to open a bit more in regards to certain aspect which I felt was incomplete but other than that it was a very sweet and romantic story.

I'm pretty sure I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one so I'm looking forward to read the next one!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I hope to read more from the author in the future.

This is the first Anne Bennet book I have read and I am very impressed by it, I am really looking forward to reading more of her work. I thoroughly enjoyed I Dared The Duke, the story flows effortlessly, I was gripped by the twists and turns of the assassination plot against Alex and the seductively charming romance between out two leads. It is a strong and highly Enjoyable, a smart and tantalising read and one that I highly recommend. Even though this is book two of The Wayward Wallflowers Series, a series that I hadn’t read before, I read it very much as a standalone.

Full review at Chicks Rogues and Scandals
https://chicksroguesandscandals.wordpress.com/2017/03/25/review-i-dared-the-duke-the-wayward-wallflowers-book-2-by-anna-bennett/

Reviews to appear on the release date.

Second in a series I’ve not read the first book in, I Dared the Duke had all the standards of Regency romance: a duke for a hero – who happens to be a rake (naturally), a heroine down on her luck, a bit of intrigue, and some behaviours that were more twenty-first century than early nineteenth.

If you’re a fan of the genre, there’s nothing terribly wrong here, and the book rolls along nicely.

I was confused by the hero’s behaviour. At the end of the first chapter we finally discover the reason he wants people out of his house is because his life is in danger, but up to that point his total rudeness was confusing. I still question that – danger or no danger – someone so highly ranked in the aristocracy would display such appalling manners to a lady of his social class.

After we learn this little snippet of information (the heroine does not), a significant portion of the book is devoted to the “sparring” between the two of them. One moment he is ordering her out of his household; the next he is refusing to bring the issue up.

It really didn’t make any sense for the plot, but drew out the “romantic tension”.

This is not a book I’m going to remember for long, but there’s nothing especially offensive about it.

DNF. Just couldn't get interested in the story. I was expecting more of a Beauty and the Beast type of story and instead got another rake for a hero.

I actually liked this one better than the first in the series, although it had all the hallmarks of a Regency--scarred hero, heroine who thinks that she's not beautiful, the main characters healing one another through love. It worked, but the threat to the hero had far more interesting red herrings than the actual perpetrator turned out to be.

I Dared the Duke ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ by Anna Bennett

Miss Elizabeth Lacey has certainly entrenched herself as a company to the Duke of Blackshire's grandmother. It is when Alexander the Duke returns he learns of her.

Miss Lacey has carried the burden of the title Wayward Wallflowers along with her sisters for years. Unbeknownst to her the phrase was coined by Alexander one of his many secrets, he is also known for his sexual prowess among the married women of the ton as well. This embellished tale alone has followed him for years.

As Elizabeth assumes her position as companion to the Dowager Duchess she becomes much more sure of herself. She is irreplaceable in the eyes of the Duchess. Alexander, however, has received several threats on his life and feel a strong concern for the safety of his beloved grandmother.

Elizabeth holds a stubborn position about the way Alexander treats his grandmother. Beth stands up to Alex and holds his feet to the fire devising a three wish blackmail idea. Although, there were many similarities in this book as in other historical romances I felt the author truly captured the essence of her characters in this novel. The intrigue of Alex's life being threatened only added to the narrative.

I personally enjoyed the style of this author and would continue to read her books..

4.5 stars - due to rushed ending
Alexander Savage, the Duke of Blackshire, is known throughout the ton for three things: the burn scars on his neck, his ornery disposition, and the trail of broken hearts behind him. None of which would concern Miss Elizabeth Lacey in the least, if she weren’t living under his roof, as his grandmother’s companion. Incensed by his plans to banish the sweet dowager duchess to the country, Beth refuses to do his bidding. If Alex wants her help, he’s going to have to take her dare and grant his grandmother three wishes.
Alex adores his grandmother, which is precisely why she must leave. A string of unfortunate incidents has him worried for the safety of everyone around him, including the dowager’s loyal and lovely companion, Beth. Someone is trying to kill him & he won’t let his Grandmother nor Beth become involved. But the notorious wallflower isn’t as meek as she appears, and as their battle of wills heats up, so does Alex’s desire. He’s dangerously close to falling in love with her and revealing secrets he’d rather keep hidden.
This is the second book in the series & whilst it could be a standalone read I’d recommend reading the first book. This is another well written book from the author, the characters are well portrayed & the plot keeps you turning the pages. Alex is tortured about the fire that killed his parents & likes to keep his past to himself. Beth is a Wilting Wallflower but there’s nothing wilting about her & she challenges Alex all the time. The would be murderer is quite a surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed the book & it was well on it’s way to being a 5 star read until I felt the ending was a little rushed. I’ll certainly be looking for more books from the author & I look forward to Julia’s story.

I would normally feel that I'm a wide reader of historical romance as a book blogger, but I hang my head in shame that I have only just discovered the amazing talent of Anna Bennett! Seriously though! Where the heck have I been, that I have not experienced the deliciousness of this writing! And the shame that I have not shared this amazing authors work before! But before I waffle on too much, let me tell you about her latest release, I Dared the Duke.

Alexander (Alex) Savage, the Duke of Blackshire, was under attack...quite literally! Someone had it out for him and after barely surviving 2 attempts on his life, he was determined to protect the only family he had left, his grandmother Dowager Duchess.

But little did Alex know, his grandmother had a companion now, the plain spoken Miss. Elizabeth (Beth) Lacey, one of the "Wilted Wallflowers", and Beth was not going allow the Dowager Duchess happiness to be zapped by the overbearing and ornery Duke, by sending them to the country.

So Alex and Beth enter into an agreement...well basically she is blackmailing him, into giving his grandmother 3 wishes, and then she will support his decision into heading to the country.

But who would know, that from an blackmail, spark of attraction can turn into love! And now Alex is determined not only to protect his beloved grandmother, but also Beth, the only other person he loves; from the person that wants his demise.

Now, I just wants to say that I have barely touched the surface with my description of the story! But I didn't want to give the story away, I wanted everyone to share in the pleasure of reading this book! Honestly, I cannot even begin to describe just how much I love this story! the plot is gripping, amazing and full of love! The writing is smooth and you instantly get absorbed into the story.

But oh the characters! They are all divine! From the scared Alex who begins to smile, to Beth who finds a purpose, to a Alex's Grandmother, who is more than meets the eye. And I could go on and on! But I can only implore you just to read this amazing story and fall in love, the way I have!

I give I Dared the Duke 5 stars!

i dared the duke pairs up "wilted wallflower" elizabeth lacey with alexander savage, the duke of blackshire. they find themselves at odds over alex's grandmother, he wants to send her into the country for her protection, but beth believes that he's only doing it because he wants to get rid of her.

the truth is that alex has been the target of some attacks that have threatened his life and after losing his parents in a horrific fire, one in which he almost perished, he would do anything to protect his grandmother. sending her away seems like the best way to keep her safe. but beth is worried about her feelings, and since alex feels guilty about not being as attentive as he should be, he lets himself get guilt tripped into letting beth and his grandmother stay in town.

the agreement is that he will fulfill his grandmother's heart's desire three times, and then beth will convince her to go visit the country. and all this plotting about his grandmother means that beth and alex start spending a lot of alone time together late at night. alone and free of society's restrictions for an unmarried duke and young lady, both alex and beth start to let down their guard. they share things with each other that they don't share easily. but there is one thing alex should share and doesn't. he doesn't tell beth that it's his fault she and her sisters were labeled the "wilted wallflowers" during their first season. it was a throwaway comment that took on a life of its own, but he feels immensely guilty about it. and if only he bothered to share this with her before someone else spills the beans it would have only been a tiny roadblock, instead of a big one.

alex and beth have amazing chemistry and when they are not being willfully stupid are an entertaining pair to read about. i haven't read my brown-eyed earl, the first book in the series, but am going to definitely check it out.

I can honestly say that Anna Bennett is on my short list of favorite authors. Her voice speaks to me like a siren song and when I finish one of her books, I am left completely satisfied and with a smile on my face.

I DARED THE DUKE. the second novel in the Wayward Wallflowers series, begins when Alexander Savage, the scarred Duke of Blackshire, arrives home to discover his beloved grandmother has taken on a young companion, Miss Elizabeth Lacey. Feeling that Elizabeth is unnecessary to his spunky grandmother, Alexander attempts to rid the home of her presence and try to banish his grandmother to the country. Although the duke has his reasons, he doesn't impart that knowledge to Miss Lacey or his grandmother and he and Beth butt heads over leaving London.

Alexander Savage has the dubious distinction of being a phenomenal lover, but the man who was scarred as a child in a fire that claimed the lives of his parents, is so much more than those rumors. Someone is trying to kill him and before danger befalls the woman who nursed him back to health after being badly burned, Alex must find a way to remove her from town.

Elizabeth Lacey is one of THOSE Wayward Wallflowers, a group of odd young ladies who have little hope of snagging a husband of quality. Elizabeth, or Beth as she is called by her friends and family. When the opportunity arises to become a companion to the Dowager Duchess of Blackshire, Beth gladly takes on the roll and flourishes in her roll. The Duchess adores her and her life has meaning until her rogue of a grandson makes an appearance and upends the balance in more ways than one.

When Elizabeth discovers Alex is being singled out for murder, instead of running to the countryside with the Dowager Duchess, she puts up her dukes and proves to all she is so much more than the nickname given to her. Alex is taken aback by this formidable opponent and beyond all self-control, begins to fall for the puzzle named Beth.

I DARED A DUKE is a supremely written tale with action as well as romance. It's one of those stories to be remembered and shared. Anna Bennett had taken her Wallflowers to a new level and I eagerly await for her next tale to be spun.

Here is the link to my review on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1939025074

What’s it About? Alexander Savage, the Duke of Blackshire has quite the reputation in society but all he cares about is moving his grandmother out of his house and into the country. He doesn’t anticipate being defied and outright challenged by his grandmother’s companion, Miss Elizabeth Lacey. Now Alex has yet another person to worry about because after a series of suspicious accidents he’s certain someone wants him dead. He can’t tell Beth the truth of why he needs her to help him convince his grandmother to leave London so he agrees to Beth’s bargain, she’ll help him get his grandmother to move to the country if he grants his grandmother three wishes.



Describe the hero in five words: Sneaky. Funny. Secretive. Loyal. Vulnerable.

Did you like him? Yes.

Why? Aside from being pretty arrogant in the beginning, Alex was a good guy pretending to be a typical aristocrat. He was a sweetheart pretending to be a rogue and while he wasn’t exactly inexperienced with women, he didn’t have legions of them. Alex had a vulnerable spot in the form of his grandmother and while he wasn’t obvious in his affection he did love her very much so it wasn’t difficult to fall in love with Alex. Of course, Alex was no angel, he did like to ruffle Beth’s feathers with his remarks and his flirting but I never felt like he was being too pushy or forceful, he always remained aware and respectful of Beth’s wishes. Alex’s generous heart and snarky attitude landed him on my book boyfriend list for sure!



Describe the heroine in five words: Determined. Stubborn. Intelligent. Courageous. Caring.

Did you like her? Yes.

Why? Beth had the guts to stand up to Alex and I loved the way she did it. She used logic and sheer determination to win her fair share of arguments with Alex. With her background, Beth made an admirable companion for Alex’s grandmother. She had a good heart and was a natural caregiver. She had a lot of spunk and sass when it came to defending Alex’s grandmother and getting Alex to grant her three wishes but when it came to her attraction to Alex, Beth was unsure and vulnerable. I loved both sides of her.



Let’s talk about the romance:

Alex and Beth were so well matched and it showed from their very first meeting! Alex came in expecting to very easily move his grandmother to the country and dismiss Beth as her companion but Beth put the brakes on that dukely swagger so fast I swear I could smell the smoke from Alex’s back peddling! She wasn’t having his nonsense at all, Beth challenged Alex and it kind of threw him off at first which is what I love to see in romances where there’s a difference in social classes. Nothing says “strong” like a woman who can throw a duke off balance and keep him guessing! Of course that just added to the spark of attraction that was already there. I thought Alex and Beth were delightful to be honest. They’re both vulnerable people who have experienced tragedy at a young age but they also had this drive to protect the people they cared about. Anna Bennett certainly knows how to transition a relationship in a way that feels natural and special, I loved how Alex and Beth’s relationship went from antagonistic to baffled to desperately in love.



How about that supporting cast? Beth has two sisters, Meg and Julie who both have differing personalities. They didn’t show up until later in the book but they were always present in Beth’s mind and heart. Alex’s grandmother was so sweet too but she wasn’t at all what she appeared and I had to laugh at her end game because she was so sneaky. I do wonder if there is a story in the future for Alex’s friend, the Marquess of Darberville or Darby as Alex called him. He seemed like a decent enough guy and Alex trusted him with everything.


Overall reaction to the story? I Dared the Duke met and in some ways exceeded my expectations. The first book had such a romantic and fun vibe to it and I’m happy to say this latest book in the Wilting Wallflowers series has that same vibe all while keeping Beth’s story totally different from her sister Meg’s. I loved Beth’s chemistry with Alex, not just the physical chemistry but the way they challenged each other mentally and emotionally. The pacing of the story was brisk but nothing that would be too fast for anyone to follow along. I appreciated Anna Bennett’s attention to a reader’s time. I never felt like my time was being wasted with drawn out scenes or dialogue.


Click It or Skip It? Click It. Alex and Beth’s chemistry is irresistible and the romance is totally sigh worthy.

Someone's out to kill him and she thinks he's just a womanizer who doesn't value his grandmother. They strike a bargain, if he will allow his grandmother 3 wishes, she'll convince her to retire to the country.

As he’s dodging knife wielding thugs, crumbling balconies, and enduring fist fights, he’s also falling in love. She soon learns that his life’s in danger and gives up on fighting the attraction between them.

I gave this one 3.5 stars because it felt like it dragged all the way through. It took me three sessions to get to the end. Not because it’s very long, but because it wasn’t captivating enough to entice me to finish it in one sitting, like so many romance suspense I’ve read.

I received an ARC of this book, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks St. Martin's Press and netgalley for this ARC.

Love this romance with it's push and pull and steamy, hot love.

What a breathtakingly beautiful, Regency Romance story.

If done right, there is no better Romance than a Regency one, in my humble opinion, and boy, did Anna Bennett get it right.

I Dared the Duke grabbed me from the first page and did not let go of me until the last. I was hooked, forget the housework, I wasn't going anywhere. The protagonists were so well drawn and realistic I could envisage them walking down the street!

I adore Alex, the notorious rake who is perhaps not as notoriously as the gossiping ton would have you believe. His back story was simply heartbreaking, but it made him all the more believable.

The heroine, Beth, was such a strong female lead for Alex, and she was a genuinely lovely person. The whole relationship just worked, and it sucked me right in. Totally believable and a joy to watch unfold as I lost myself in the pages of this remarkable story.

The plot was super-engaging and had a real fast paced feel to it. There were lots of things that hindered the couple's relationship — his reputation and the fact that someone was trying to kill him, certainly didn't help! But this drama drove the story forward. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Hats of to you Anna Bennett, you just got yourself a new fan.

I Highly Recommend.

*I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley, for review consideration*

This is my first book I have read by this author and it was wonderful. I love how Beth cares for Alex's grandmother and does not cower to him. I thought she was a bit unfair always assuming he was with other women when she was not even courting him. I knew the grandmother was trying to play matchmaker from the beginning because she knew the true man Alex was evem though he put on this barrier to keep people away.

I Dared the Duke tells the story of Beth and Alex, both of whom aren’t anything like their reputations among the ton. I like the idea of being different to what people think, but in this case I kept wondering how they ended up with reputations that clearly had so little to do with their personalities. In general I thought all characters, apart from the (possible) villains, were a bit too nice and too good. Though there were likeable, a flaw or two would have made them considerably less bland.
I think those too-perfect characters also made the romance a bit odd. It wasn’t quite instant love, or even instant lust. It was more a case of instant ease and comfort with each other. From the very first time they meet properly, they talk to each other as if they’ve been friends forever instead of a Duke and his grandmother’s companion. It was very odd. The only source of conflict was this tiny little thing that got blown up to gigantic proportion. Beth reaction to it was so over the top and it didn’t fit her personality and her relationship with Alex.
Of course there was also a mystery. It wasn’t a particularly strong mystery, although I must admit I hadn’t figured out who the villain was. While I appreciated that surprising plot twist, I also wonder how the villain had committed the crimes.

Just like the first book in this series, I Dared the Duke definitely has potential but it fails to deliver. For me this book is somewhere between 2 and 3 stars, but I’ll round it up because of the potential.

I really liked the development of their relationship. I would recommend this book. ☆☆☆☆☆.

This was a cute story. A little light on character development but the mystery was interesting.