Recently arrived in London, Lady Delilah Ashbrook’s is out shopping with her ladies maid’s son when he is abducted. Now feeling guilty and needing something to do she starts to search the streets for the boy. She is Lucy to run into Sebastian St. Allen while being accosted be a pair of street thugs and makes it out alive. Being that St. Allen is also on the streets searching for answers about missing children, he offers her his services and they team up on her search…

This is the second book in The Maidens of Mayhem series from Anabelle Bryant I had expected a more central role for the Maidens of Mayhem that appeared to be a foursome in the first book. This aspect really confused me, for we do not even come across the maiden until Delilah and St. Allen story is well on their way and their minimal presence was not paramount to the plot. Seemed odd for a series that is about them.

There were a lot of different mini mystery plots being hashed out in this story and beyond the class difference romance that blooms between Delilah and St. Allen, they felt obvious and at some points tedious. The plot point about missing children was not resolved at all, and I can only hope that St. Allen continues his search for justice and the Maidens of Mayhem take up the mantle in the next book. This felt like a pretty big injustice that needed some resolution. In the end, the love story kept me from DNF’ing this book and I pushed though to see their HEA. I will say that some parts felt obvious, it was still enjoyable.

Overall, this story didn’t really capture me as much as I had hoped and the girl gang of the series felt pretty AWOL for most of the book.

The Lady Loves Danger by Anabelle Bryant was released May 31st, 2022.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheLadyLovesDanger #AnabelleBryant #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

The Maidens of Mayhem Series focuses on a group of women who work together to help solve various mysteries. This particular novel is called The Lady Loves Danger. This particular novel focuses on Lady Delilah Ashbrook and Sebastian St Allen. They meet in Seven Dials while they both are looking for a young boy.

Delilah Ashbrook just moved to London to live with her widowed aunt. She brought a long time retainer with her as well as her young child. Unfortunately, when Delilah was out with him, an incident occurred and the child was lost. Delilah is frantic and willing to do anything to help find the child. She attracts the attention of the Maidens of Mayhem who offer to help her. She also attracts the attention of Sebastian St Allen, who is not impressed by her daring.

Delilah and Sebastian form an attachment for each other, but as always there are obstacles including Oliver being missing, diamonds being missing and Delilah being threatened.
The Lady Loves Danger by Annabelle Bryant is a good read.

I really enjoyed the characters in The Lady Loves Danger. I am assuming that this book is one of a series, I plan to look for the previous books soon. 4 stars

The Lady Loves Danger is book two in the Maidens of Mayhem series. Anabelle Bryant has brought us another witty, charming, mystery filled love story. In it we meet Sebastian St Allen and Delilah Ashbrook. Delilah is looking for a boy who was kidnapped while he was under her care, Sebastian works for the Crown and after meeting Delilah in the dead of night in dangerous Seven Dials they decide to work together to find the missing boy. What entails is a story filled with mystery, conflict, danger and love. I love Anabelle's characters, her settings and her use of words. She never disappoints. I can't wait to read the other books in this series!

I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

3.5 stars.
I wavered a lot while reading this book. I did not realize this was a book 2 when I requested it, and I did not read book 1 before jumping in. I felt I still was able to follow along readily, but I also felt the introduction to the Maidens was very brief.
Things The Lady Loves Danger does well:
- the yearning fantasizing/rumination: there is a lot of time that Delilah and Sebastian are thinking about kissing/touch each other, even before they get together
-Non-alpha hero: rather than saying "that is too dangerous, you can't do that!" Sebastian supports Delilah
-No three-quarter breakup!!!
Things I felt were less developed:
- The characters: Delilah was a nice girl who was determined, and Sebastian was a strong man who had a troubled past. Beyond that - and especially at the beginning of the book - I felt they didn't have defining characters. Most of their thoughts were either consumed with "kidnapping and child abuse is terrible" or "man is s/he HOT", which isn't necessarily a bad thing in romances, but the opening quarter of the novel is so focused on Oliver's kidnapping it seems the main vehicle of the novel is to talk about the deplorable practice of child kidnapping rather than developing the characters.
- insta love: Delilah and Sebastian seem to have insta love, which isn't something I really enjoy
Things I don't know how I felt about;
- her vocabulary was noticeably sophisticated (example: "He was exhausted, wrung out, but sleep evaded him with the same succinct efficiency as the abductors he sought. It was nearly half two, and yet his mind raced with unanswered questions, ugly memories, and the lingering remembrance of Delilah's lush kisses") - I really enjoyed some of it, but at other times I kept thinking about her diction choices and the sophistication there, but the lack of character depth
- the villainizing of Eva
- the very neat (and by neat I mean almost dues ex machina) resolution of the jewelry theft plot, particularly with the interpersonal relationships among the Duchess

Overall, the book has solid spice and is a regency with a lady in trousers. The opening really heavily emphasizes and centers Oliver's kidnapping, but if you're looking for a novel with a not problematic hero who only supports the heroine, this will be a cup of cool water for you. If you're looking for something very character driven, this may not be the book for you. Spice level is solid.

There’s plenty of mystery in The Lady Loves Danger. Who kidnapped the child? Who dognapped the Duchess’s dogs? And what happened to the diamond collar? Two people from very different walks of life work through these mysteries. Lady Delilah Ashbrook, who has joined her Aunt in London after her father died, and Sebastian St. Allen, whose origins are a mystery.

The series is called The Maidens of Mayhem. While the Maidens, who believe women should have all the same advantages that men have, were a part of the story, it was a very small part. Most of the story concentrated on St. Allen and Delilah both separately and together. Also, there is an adorable child and a dog, giving the story cute appeal.

Historical mystery is combined with romance, but I found the combination to be awkward. At a certain point, the mystery became predictable. I did enjoy the story though and can recommend it to readers of historical mystery and romance.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

Anabelle did it again. I was involved in this storyline right from the beginning. I loved that I was surprised about the route of the story. I enjoyed the mystery when trying to recover Oliver and beyond. I love that I get to see the another side of London ~ the unpleasantness, the horrors that aren't typically in these books.
Sebastian comes with a goal and baggage. Delilah has a soft heart and a plan to put things right. They can help each other accomplish their goal.

I loved the romance of this story and the mystery behind it all.

This is the first read for me by this author and this is book 2 of a series.

I love stories with strong, daring female characters which is why I picked this book to. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the story matched the description. The Maidens of Mayhem seemed to play a prominent part, according to the synopsis, yet they had a minor and, IMHO, incomplete role in the story. Maybe there was more info given in the first book, but I felt that details were lacking such as how did the group form in the beginning, who the other maidens were, what was their motivation to be in this club. They secretly meet in a building but who owns the building? One of the maidens? But how did she get to own a building in a time period where women did not own anything or very little?

Delilah was described as fearless and intrepid. While I applauded her dedication to finding Oliver, I thought her actions were careless and dangerous. She was a lady of genteel breeding yet goes traipsing off into the stews of London with no backup. Fortunately for her, Sebastian comes to her rescue.

I was also disappointed in Sebastian. I would have liked more info on him. While we know his is rags to riches story, we don’t know how it came to be. How did he get his riches? How did he become an agent of the Crown? His peer father, who abandoned Sebastian as a child, was mentioned quite often yet there was no follow up as to his identity or confrontation with Sebastian. I was annoyed with his emotional whiplash regarding Delilah. He would reprimand Delilah for going into dangerous situations then, in the next sentence, will be in awe of her daring.
While the story idea was attractive, I did not feel the story lived up to my expectation.

The first book in this series did not hold my interest but I kept with it. Still it was a no-go for me. I went into this book with higher hopes. Unfortunately, I felt the same thing. It was a bit boring. I did not finish the book. I have loved Anabelle’s writing and have read many of her books and I hate that this series is just not the same. I don’t think I will finish the series.

THIS BOOK IS JUST GOLD!!! The Last Mile by Kat Martin is book 2 in the Blood Ties, The Logans series and what an incredible read this was. Though in a series this book can be read as a standalone. This is Kat Martin at her best. What I just loved about this book was the looking for gold expedition, a grandfather’s dream and the slow romantic burn between Gage and Abby. You have got to love the Logan Brothers!! I am so looking forward to Edges’s story! Kat is one of the very best authors of today and she never disappoints. I could not put this book down. It is no wonder that she a New York Best Selling Author. If you have never read any of Kat’s books you are in for an adventure as well as a treat. I found this book easy to read, the character wonderful, original and as I said just incredible. It defiantly will keep you on your toes and this is a “just one more chapter” kind of book. I could not wait to see what was going to happen next and how it would end. This story has a map willed to Abby by her dead grandfather, a renowned explorer, a break in & being strangled, almost being kidnapped, hiring Gage to help find the gold, so many bad guys after the gold, a good friend and employee, a brother who is ex-military, protection, wild animals, danger at every turn, rescue on more than one occasion, a dark past that haunts them today, death, an accident, being tortured, a plane malfunction and falling in love. This book has it all and I am highly recommending you read this book.

***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.

That was a lot of fun. A relatively quick read, and some of the characters could have been more fleshed out, but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. The reason for the theft and mystery, however, is both unclear and rather ridiculous. But I just went along with it and had fun.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was an enjoyable story to read, and I really liked the characters within this story that it revolves around. While some parts of the book such as the ending and a little bit of the romance felt rushed, it didn't take away from the enjoyment of this story. It just left me wanting a little bit more time worked into certain parts. Overall this was a really good read. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this story.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was clever, steamy and fast-paced. It held my interest and I wanted to find out what would happen. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

A wonderful journey to love, wound around a mystery that will keep you turning the pages. What else could you hope for?

She had to find her friend's son and hoped that the Maidens of Mayhem could lend a hand. Navigating the streets of London was a danger in itself, but she luckily finds a man who may be able to help her, if she can trust him.

He knows he can help her and try to keep her safe. The only problem is he never expected such an attraction and he knew he was not of her class.

Simply delightful and cannot wait for more!

Looking for Oliver.

Bother Delilah and Sebastian are looking for Oliver.
That's how they encounter each other. Delilah isn't very good at it, Sebastian is.

There's a lot of intrigue in this book, and less focus on the romance.

Sebastian St. Allen is investigating child abductions when he happens upon Delilah Ashbrook. She is desperate to find a boy that has gone missing. Delilah blames herself for the child's abduction and will stop at nothing to locate him. She accepts St. Allen's help and they embark on a perilous investigation.
This is the second book in the Maidens of Mayhem series and I enjoyed much of it. The plot was good and I like how the author's writing flows. I did feel that the characters lacked in chemistry however overall it was a good book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Enthralling start had me hooked!

Pleasing characters made this an equally pleasing read. Although I felt the end was a trifle rushed, as was the romance. Still two hearts were electrified, two noses discerned the fetching aromas surrounding their equally as interesting counterparts. A few small details that I wondered about, including, did I miss something? Has Sebastian St. Allen, a peer’s by blow, product of the streets like the Seven Dials neighborhood, become a peer whilst my eyes were closed? The ending brings that question up for me. Although to be fair Sebastian always says he’s just St. Allen, never Mister! Hmm!
Anyway we have stolen children, stolen dogs and some very nasty happenings. St. Allen meets his match in the aforementioned surrounds when Lady Delilah Ashbrook investigates the disappearance of her maid’s son, for which she holds herself responsible. An adventurous woman, in more ways than one, sizzling even, who ends up being befriended by the Maispdens. I was sorely disappointed in our heroine when she yelled at exactly the wrong moment. Hours of patient waiting destroyed by an uncontrollable call. This impulsive action at the penultimate moment just didn’t add up with her character, but it did act as a lever for what followed. And throughout her auntaccuses her of being impulsive, but really that incident was just plain out of sync.
St Allen is an agent for the Crown along with a couple of other interesting fellows and the diabolical Eva, who manages to throw a spanner or two into the works.
Of course all is resolved, although there’s a few loose ends hanging about should one care to notice.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Delilah is desperate to find the boy who disappeared under her care. Suspecting a kidnapping, she haunts the seedy parts of London seeking information. She encounters Sebastian, who's investigating a kidnapping ring. Can they stay alive long enough to fall in love?

What a fun book! It's well written and fast paced, with a ton of chemistry between Delilah and Sebastian.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The second book in the Maidens of Mayhem series was so much fun. Lady Delilah was with her Lady’s Maid’s son when he disappeared. Desperate to get him back so finds herself in the night confronted by another person who is desperate to find kidnapped children. That other person is Sebastian St. Allen, a spy that is intrigued by Delilah. Soon they are joining forces and fighting not only a child kidnapping ring, but also their attraction for each other. When Delilah joins the Maidens of Mayhem she finds a purpose for her future, which hopefully also contains the dashing and charming St. Allen.

What I love about these books is that they are both romance and have great mysteries. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

The society of daring women known as the Maidens of Mayhem dedicate their lives to protecting London’s most vulnerable citizens from injustice.
Lady Delilah Ashbrook is tirelessly searching the streets of London for Oliver her maid’s son who vanished while under her care. Suspecting the child was abducted to be sold, Delilah hopes the Maidens can help find him before it’s too late. But Delilah’s mission brings her into the crosshairs of a mysterious man who is also looking for the boy. Sebastian St. Allen has his own reasons for protecting the less fortunate. He has a gift for seamlessly navigating both London’s darkest corners and its most elite circles. But nothing prepared him for Delilah, whose delicate beauty belies an independence and sensuality he finds irresistible.
This is the second book in the series & I found it to be so much better than the first & I’m glad that I decide to continue with the series. A lovely mix of mystery & romance. I loved both Delilah & Sebastian, they were perfect for each other, the chemistry between them was sizzling, their road to a HEA made for a delightful read which I devoured in a couple of sittings
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read. .