Neither Lady Daphne's mathematical ability or forthright attitude have gotten her far in society. While she attempts to decipher a cipher that could lead to hidden treasure, they do attract the notice of the Duke of Maitland, who finds himself intrigued by her unladylike behavior. Manda Collins writes great romance with a dab of humor and a helping of suspense.

I decided I was still fancying a good historical romance after finishing The Scot Beds His Wife, one where I didn’t have to flick through to the end just to sate my curiosity about what happened (it was ridiculous, don’t bother) so I picked up Duke With Benefits as I knew it was on my ARC list and I figured why not? I read the first book this series with Kaja and Danya and it was highly ridiculous and the mystery in it hadn’t been great and the characters weren’t brilliant, what on earth possessed me to read the second?

I tried valiantly but this one just didn't click for me. This is partly to do with how sudden the romance is. There isn't build up you are told the Daphne and Dalton have chemistry, there is a rejection of a possible affair to explore this chemistry and then you jump forward in time to the cipher mystery this book focuses around whilst our MCs supposed chemistry continues. I didn't feel this at all. Maybe it had been too long between reading the first one and this one where you would have noticed the chemistry. I don't know, but in the end, I felt like I'd been told more than seen the chemistry for myself, I didn’t even get to the good stuff with the romance because it felt so stiff and forced. Never a good sign for a romance.

Maybe I was too harsh but this romance and this series maybe won’t be one I continue for obvious reasons.

This novel took me forever to get through and I'm actually surprised that I finished it. The storyline is interesting, however, it is quite thin. This made it really easy to put down and pick up again. I'm not sure I would have finished it otherwise. I also wish there had been more mathematics in it . Because it is obvious that the Duke is interested in her because of her intellect, but in the novel we don't really see that, apart from the fact that she and everyone around her states that she's smart (arrogantly so in some situations).

While the plot of this story initially attracted me to this book, I wasn't as impressed with this book as I would have liked. The characters just didn't pull me in. I read the entire book because, as I said, the plot was interesting, and I wanted to see how the action played out, but I just couldn't get 100% invested in the characters. They were all likable and I wanted everything to work out for them, but I just didn't fall in love with them. All in all an OK read.

This is my first time reading Collins work. I'm happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. When I first saw the cover, I thought "Another Harlequin, Oh, boy." However, this story is faster paced with characters that pull you straight into the story as if you are one of them. This story is a Suspenseful Historical Romance and will keep the reader engaged at all time.

Seriously Lady Daphne is brilliant but hysterical in her lack of understanding how to relate to people. I can honestly say I know several people just like her and at times they frustrate me and other times they astound me with their high intelligence and way of looking at certain things. So yes Daphne's character is relatable and well written. I also felt that a situation that happened in her past was brought into the storyline with supreme finesse showing part of why she acts a bit strangely and also enriched the mystery part of this book.

Dalton Beauchamp, the Duke of Maitland, is just yummy and ever female reader will love him right from the start. His character is honest, caring and thoughtful. Additionally intriguing about him is how he takes his childhood and creates a man with integrity as an adult.

There are lots of secondary characters in this story and all of they are fully developed adding full body to an already fun romantic mystery book.

I give this 5 STARS for being an entertaining hot hot read that keeps the reader guessing to the very end who did what, when, where and why.

First time reading this author. This story is faster paced with characters that will pull you in. There is romance, mystery and suspense and is sure to keep you engage. I was entertained throughout the book.

I wish I would have read the first book! This 2nd one in the series was so much fun. Lady Daphne Forsyth is a pretty, but odd woman. Her social interactions are a bit awkward because she has spent her life studying mathematics. She is a brilliant mathematician and we are introduced to her quirkiness as she has just inherited part of an estate and she has a cipher to solve. For the first time in her life, she is getting to know other women. These women also have just inherited a piece of the estate that they find themselves at. Each woman has a particular skill that is needed to solve the cipher.

The Duke of Maitland, Dalton, also finds himself at the manor home and he is intrigued by Daphne. They really do have some funny conversations and find themselves in awkward situations. The dialogue makes for a fun read. The main premise of the book is the murder mystery that everyone is there to solve. Things get a little tense when the dead body is found in the house, but at that point, you will not be able to put the book down.

I enjoyed the unique characters, the fun setting, the intrigue and the humor that was part of this happily ever after story. It’s not often that you find women deemed “bluestockings” as the main character of a historical romance. I think the pieces of the puzzle reveal themselves at the right points in the book to keep the action going. The chemistry and sex is definitely off the charts between these two characters. You can’t help but fall in love a little bit with the Duke of Maitland.

This was my first Manda Collins and it won’t be my last. I love the author’s style of writing and I feel like she is one of my people ;) #librariansunite

I love it when historical romance includes a smart woman who does more than just read! Not to mention when an author portrays an intellect without making her completely cold and indifferent. Daphne and Dalton sizzle from the very beginning, and her desire to explore their chemistry more stems from more than just a need for research! The romance is heart-warming, and the sub-plot ( a delicious mystery) is the perfect mix of math and legend. There are no slow parts. The only issue I had was that I didn't start with book one, so I missed out on experiencing all the characters first hand, but I'll def. be going back to read it. Excellent recommendation for historical romance lovers who love heroines who are more than just doormats!

Whilst I didn't think this was a terrible book, I also thought there were some overused romantic tropes and some unfortunate repetition in it, so it didn't end up being one of my favourite romance books of the year.

The mystery aspects of the book felt a bit formulaic and reminded me a lot of the first book, so it leads me to wonder what future books in the series will contain and if it will be similar to these. The main character in the novel is interesting, sassy and a bit unpredictable and I enjoyed those aspects. I don't always want to be able to trust that a character will remain the same throughout, I like the edge. Otherwise I wasn't all that involved in the lives of any of the other characters.

The story was surprising in some places but rather predictable in others. The romance was hot enough to keep me turning pages and the love scenes were well written. I liked that the female characters were portrayed as intelligent and somewhat independent.

Overall, I thought this was a decent book and would recommend it to others that like mystery/romance.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a great story and I’m so glad I read it. I love the fact that Lady Daphne is portrayed as intelligent, in fact all the women in this story are geniuses in their own fields and not at all reliant on men, which is so often the case in regency novels. A group of Ladies are left a house and a mysterious adventure by Lady Celeste and they have to work together to find the clues to the Cameron Treasure. I also enjoyed the fact that Dalton Beauchamp, the Duke of Maitland, the romantic male interest is not the usual regency Duke and often defers to Daphne and her intelligence. This is a well written book, with great characters and good story. It’s not just a romance but a murder mystery and a treasure hunt too. I would be really interested to read the rest of the character’s stories and will definitely seek out more by this author.

I felt lost, as if there were characters I didn't know yet. It was slow, dragging on. Nothing about this story excited me

I really worked hard at trying to immerse myself in this book. I tried to have the heroine and hero grab me and hook me in to their story. It was difficult for me. There was something that was missing and for the life of me, I could not find it.

I usually love strong, smart heroines, but Daphne did not win me over. Dalton seemed to be too safe, and while he certainly adored her and found her refreshing, I just did not see him as a strong character.

Duke with Benefits was a delightful read. I really like unconventional heroine, and I loved Daphne with her oddities, wit, and unusual charm. Dalton was also a likeable and charming hero, and I found by the end of the book I was quite taken with him. I also enjoyed the romance along with the mystery in equal measure. The cast of characters was a wonderful addition to the richness of the overall story

Another rad by Mandy. It will be on our shelves in the public library.

I enjoy the occasional historical. Especially ones that are clearly so original, as this book was. I have to applaud the author for her use of language - the way all the characters spoke, regarded each other, the propriety, etc, was spot on. I loved the hero, the side characters, and the plot was a real selling point for me. What I didn't like, however, was the heroine. I'm not sure what it was - I can't say it was the way she talked because I thought that fit her character and single-minded mindset. But Daphne herself just wasn't a very likable person. Her character seemed to have smoothed out the further I got into the book, but she was uncomfortably prickly through the majority of the story.

I did enjoy the mystery and puzzle elements to the story. I also appreciate how well this book could work as a stand-alone, despite being the second in a series of close-knit women. I would have liked to see Dalton and Daphne's relationship from the very beginning, as this book begins several months into them knowing each other, but I'm sure if I had read the first book, I would have seen the beginnings of something special between the two.

I will definitely be purchasing this book and it's predecessor for my library system's historical romance collection.

I'm giving this book three stars, but it is leaning closer to a 3.5. It was an enjoyable, entertaining read, just unfortunately one of the main characters was not likable throughout most of the book.

After I had finished the first book of the series I had very low expectations about this book, and I was not disappointed.

The second story was not one iota better than the first. This time the main event is a treasure hunt. If you had read Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, then reading about Beauchamp estate where the Cameron's cipher is hidden crack you up, but that's all the humor in this story.

Once again, Lady Celeste is pulling the strings behind grave (or curtain), and this time she pushed together Daphne and Quill's friend Dalton. Daphne made her first move already in the first book, when she made indecent proposition to Dalton, but in this book, when they must look for the cipher together, they of course fall in love, but they can not be together, they have sex at the first opportunity,Dalton lies about their relationship to Daphne's father and people from Daphen's past that have no business in the estate show up and just before one of the new lovers is dead, they admit, that they are important for each other.

And once again the story has some absurd moments, like when the murderer of Lady Celeste is mentioned, it sounds like it's no big deal, and once again some of the members of the search party are using contemporary cars and some regency time vehicles.

It does not matter if Sophia and Gemma (the other ladies in the inheritance party) will find their happiness with the new clerk and his cousin, I will not waste my time with reading Manda Collins books. Thanks to NetGally I read this book, but this was the last one.

Duke with Benefits by Manda Collins is the second story in her Studies in Scandal series but the first one I've read by this author. My reading resolutions for 2017 included reading more historical romances and new to me authors so this accomplishes both tasks nicely, and I'm very happy with this particular choice.

Lady Daphne Forsyth is a bit of an eccentric in her social circles. A brilliant mathematician, she also has some social anxiety issues and a plain outspokenness that sometimes puts her at odds with other people. But Dalton Beauchamp, the Duke of Maitland is far from put off by her – in fact he finds her quite fascinating.

Daphne is one of four women who've inherited an estate from Dalton's aunt, the late Celeste Beauchamp. Her benefactress has given Daphne clues to a mystery on the estate, the Cameron cipher Daphne wants to decode that can lead her to a treasure. But there are others also interested in this treasure, and when an old acquaintance of Daphne's winds up dead, she and Dalton must work together to identify the killer before it's too late. While Daphne has indicated to Dalton that she'd be interested in a sexual relationship, Dalton insists on developing their friendship first. Friends, then lovers, can they catch a killer and ensure their own happy ever after?

What a delightful romance! I loved the contrast between Daphne and Dalton's characters. Daphne has the brains, but difficulty relating to people. She trusts few due to her upbringing, but has made friends with the other women with whom she's inherited the estate. She also finds that she can rely on Dalton, when from one day to the next he shows her that he's on her side, that he's willing to help her with the puzzle of the cipher, and that he respects and approves of her using her talents. What Dalton brings to their quest is the ability to relate to people and together they can investigate the clues to solve their mystery.

Dalton is a conscientious, thoughtful and friendly man. He worries about compromising Daphne's reputation and takes things slowly with her. While Daphne at first feels his rejection keenly, she discovers the reasons for it and is able to get past that and develop a real friendship with him that soon turns into more. Their love scenes are sensual and emotionally charged, and they are a well matched couple.

I enjoyed how the romance plays out along with the mystery, and I'm definitely intrigued by the concept of the series and the other women who are Daphne's friends. Duke With Benefits is an entertaining and smooth flowing historical romance with a dash of mystery and intrigue to flavor the story.

This review has been posted at Straight Shootin' Book Reviews and feedback updated with the link. An abbreviated review has been posted at sale sites.

2 helms

Please follow me on my blog :) Review originally posted on Vellum Voyages (www.vellumvoyages.com)

Damn.....I really thought I would enjoy Daphne's story :( Quite disappointed I couldn't get into it and I did try to give the book another chance by having a break and coming back to it but nope...still didn't work for me. So I skim read from 40% onwards...

Lady Daphne Forsyth is our ingenious mathematician from our group of Lady Celeste's bluestockings who live together at Beauchamp house. Daphne learns that the legendary Cameron Cipher (an encrypted message) is rumoured to be in their very library at Beauchamp house and once solved, holds the key to a treasure. Lady Celeste has entrusted Daphne to solve the mystery of this cipher with the help of her nephew, Dalton Beauchamp - the Duke of Maitland. Daphne's forthright nature and their mutual attraction was of great intrigue in the first book, and we get to see Daphne and Dalton explore their attraction further with a murder mystery and legendary treasure to help their romance along!

Daphne intrigued me immediately from the first book <a href="http://www.vellumvoyages.com/ready-set-rogue-by-manda-collins/" target="_blank">(Ready, Set, Rogue by Manda Collins)</a> as I loved Daphne's forthright nature and public crudeness and it made her a very unforgettable character...but sadly my intrigue didn't last :( Admittedly, I was worried this was going to happen as unusual secondary characters really stand out to me, but once a whole book is dedicated to them, the follow through story sometimes doesn't meet my expectations and I end up disappointed. Another reason the novel didn't excite me was because this book was not that much different to the first.....Another murder mystery with a very clever, deceased match making aunt just didn't seem as plausible this time around....Felt a little unoriginal so I got bored quite early and I couldn't get out of my slump....If you are looking for a lighter romance with a mystery thrown in, then this might work for you as I'm definitely in the minority of liking "Ready Set Rogue" more than this one!

*Thank-you Manda Collins, Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.