Member Reviews
4/5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington books for providing me this arc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Duchess if you are is a enjoyable and fast read for fans of historical romance. Scarlett is a strong willed woman and independent and her personality definitely made her enjoyable. The story begins with a mystery that we later on get clues about.
Ambrose is your normal duke. Although I didn’t like some aspects about him where he kept constantly offending Scarlett without reflecting back on his actions and apologising.
Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read and I would continue with this series. Thank you to netgalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me this arc in exchange of an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eARC.
I really enjoyed this one! I loved the group of friends and can’t wait to read more of them!
Romance -and particularly historical ones- are hit and miss but this one really was great from start to finish.
#duchessifyoudare #netgalley
I was so excited to read this book, but I ended up not reading very far. It just didn't capture my attention like i thought that it would.
#DuchessIfYouDare #NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley Kensington Books Zebra for the opportunity to read the e-arc of Duchess If You Dare, and I am voluntarily leaving my review.
I loved both main characters, Scarlett and Ambrose. Scarlett is daring and fearless and fights injustice where she can. She crosses paths with Ambrose, trying to protect his family from the scandal by solving his own mystery. They start to work together as both their mysteries are intertwined.
Chemistry and banter ensue as they work together to solve a mystery they are both intertwined in.
I am sure to follow up with The Maidens of Mayhem series and other works of Anabelle Bryant.
The premise of this book, essentially that there is a group of women in Victorian England called the Maidens of Mayhem who look to correct injustices is something I am here for. I loved getting to follow Scarlett around town and she snarks and literally fights those who think she's a weak woman. It's a viglante story I haven't seen before and I love how she's the prepared one and the Duke is floundering continually just trying to keep up with her.
When a local seamstress disappears, Scarlett sets out to find out what's happened. Armed with her knives and street smarts, Scarlett searches the seedy side of London for clues--where she meets Ambrose, the Duke of Aylesford, at a brothel. The Duke is trying to take care of his reckless brother and solve a mystery of his own, and
I loved the intrigue of this book and the banter was truly top notch! I disliked how Linnie's story turned out and what the consequences of Ambrose and Scarlett being together means logistically, but I can't wait to find out more about Scarlett's friends in the next books!
I have been a fan of Anabelle Bryant since reading her first book; with each new book, I have become quite the avid fan! Duchess If You Dare, Book 1 in The Maidens of Mayhem Series, did not disappoint! This book has an interesting and strong female character in Scarlett and an equally interesting and intriguing male character in Ambrose -- a different kind of heroine and a not your usual Duke! Ms. Bryant also tackles a topic that was often dismissed in this time period, and she handles it with compassion and sensitivity. She also has a gift for taking ordinary moments in the lives of her characters and turning them into extraordinary moments! I sometimes felt I was there in the pages observing private, intimate scenes and conversations. I thoroughly enjoyed Duchess If You Dare and am looking forward to the next book of adventures, mystery, intrigue, unlikely partners and romance!
The concept of this book was so wonderful and exciting. The only problem was that everything was a little underwhelming. I entered this book with expectations of what it would be. There were different parts I liked and didn't like but overall it wasn't that bad. The characters are great and pretty fun, but it ultimately ended up disappointing me.
Duchess If You Dare⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By Anabelle Bryant
This is the first in the Maiden of Mayhem a group of vigilante young women fighting for justice. Scarlett was a skilled fighter since she grew up in the slums of London. She was approached by the Maidens to join their group and consents.
When her seamstress disappeared she begins to search for her. At this point, she meets Ambrose Cross, the fourth Duke of Aylesford, he has become involved because of his brother Martin.
Ms Bryant makes every written scene a picture in your mind and you just fall into her stories. She is a champion at weaving plots and subplots. She ignites the electricity in her characters by looks, seemingly innocent touches and fulfilled romance. She is a wonderful author.
I received an ARC of "Duchess If You Dare" by Annabelle Bryant from Netgalley. Scarlett Wynn and Ambrose Cross, fourth Duke of Aylesford, are both out looking for the same person, a young lady who has gone missing. Sparks fly at their first encounter and fate seems to bring them to the same place no matter the time or day. They know nothing can come of their mutual attraction as Ambrose is a Duke and must do what is expected of him, and marrying a common young lady, not of noble birth is not an option. An interesting story of following one's heart or brain.
Scarlett is no stranger to danger. She often wears pants under her skirts and carries knives to protect herself as she travels in the worst parts of London. Ambrose, a duke, gets dragged by his brother into solving a mystery. He and Scarlett become an unlikely team investigating what has been happening to missing prostitutes. What neither planned for was for them to develop feelings for each other. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books for my honest review.
I don’t know if I’ve read a romance this year that’s been hotter than Scarlett and Ambrose’s. When the human rights crusaderess and the Duke encounter each other, reluctant sparks fly, and the two realize that the other is exactly what they need. As women disappear and Scarlett relentlessly acts to bring good into the slums of London, her love story with Ambrose lights the way,
This book was a wild ride! I loved the historical aspect of it, and the characters really spoke to me. I think this book was a perfect romance combined with some intrigue, and I don’t think anyone will be disappointed by picking it up!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am a sucker for historical romance. Scarlett is a feisty young woman how has had a traumatic childhood and learned how to take care of herself at a young age. She is fiercely independent almost immediately to her detriment. The story begins with a mystery and carries it throughout as we get bits and pieces of clues. I will say that there were not enough clues for the reader to figure it out on their own. While we get an inkling of pretty much all the people involved, the actual mystery was not what I was expecting. The reveal of all the details was a bit lackluster and I would've loved to have seen a scene where Scarlett confronts Linnie.
Ambrose is your classic duke. Completely bound and frozen by his sense of duty that has been ingrained in him since birth. I enjoyed the chapters from his point of view, though I felt like he was constantly offending Scarlett in the same way over and over without learning from his mistakes. I think that was intentional on the author's part as it demonstrates his upbringing being so ingrained in him, but it definitely angered me each time he confessed his desire to protect her. She doesn't want protection but she will probably take a partner.
It is a romance so there is smut. It is well written except for the repeated use of unerring accuracy to describe how Ambrose always found her mouth. It took a while to get to the ultimate sex scene but it was definitely well worth the wait. The author paints a steamy picture which was much appreciated.
I definitely intend to pick up the rest of this series as it comes out. Notwithstanding some minor typos in the kindle version, it was a great read.
I enjoyed this story and liked the strong heroine and the intrigue, however it lagged in a few places and the investigation at times didn’t ring completely true. The story leaves some unanswered questions, especially about the other ladies in the group, but that makes me just want to see where the series goes.
Duchess if you dare by Anna Belle Bryant
Scarlett Wynn has had a very tragic young life having experienced /seen the worst of the underbelly of life. As a young woman she is now a ‘Maiden of Mayhem’ trying to right some of life’s wrongdoings. Whilst saving a stranger from death only to discover he is the Duke of Aylesford. When looking for clues about a missing, her path crosses with the duke who is trying to save the family name from scandal caused by his brother and a mystery he is also trying to solve .
Fast moving story showing both best and worst of all societies and broaching it’s very darkest side. Extremely well written many twists and turns. Fabulous read.
It's wonderful to find a strong female lead character. This is what we have in Scarlett. She is determined and physically capable and not interested in men.. till she meets Ambrose, the Duke. I never write spoilers. Just know there is a great plot, with action and worry, and love.
Not your classic historical romance and this is not bad at all. This story is fastpaced and full of action. However, love and romance are the driving forces of the characters' actions. I loved the main couple and I really liked the premise of this book. The female MC is not your usual regency heroine and this is so refreshing. She is daring, dangerous and really brave. It's fun to follow her while she realizes that falling in love is not as bad as she thought.
I will definitely follow the rest of the maidens in this series.
I received an ARC by NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
An intriguing tale about a missing seamstress no one misses and the hunt to find her before a body is found on the Thames. The Duke of Aylesford and Ms. Scarlett undertake the search, separately and together, investigating, asking questions of the wrong persons, until one is kidnapped and the other threatened with death, but, in the end, happiness will out and Ms Scarlett will dare to Duchess—or won’t she?
Very sweet romance with a bit of mystery. Well written quick read, with a strong female lead who is not your normal heroine.
Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Calling all Stalking Jack the Ripper and Bringing Down the Duke fans! We have hit the jackpot. This books is jam packed with mystery/suspense and a strong, independent heroine and her group of mystery solving partners. The plot keeps you entertained right up to the last page. We follow our main heroine as she tries to solve the mystery of her seamstress disappearance. The characters, I found to be relatable even though they are based in a time period far different from my own. The location, is one of my favorite places to read about: London, England.
This book will keep you guessing and swooning through the whole adventure.