Duchess If You Dare (The Maidens of Mayhem #1) by Anabelle Bryant - Starting February 8th 2021

[Jenn]

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... These Regency Robin Hoods from USA Today bestselling author Anabelle Bryant are destined to storm into 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, 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. But 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...

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

I've started this, and I read like 3%, but this seems to be off on a good start! I'll read more later today when I go to walk

[Brinley]

Ok! Ill probably start tonight!

[Brinley]

9%
(view spoiler)[ Oh gosh, here we go again. They have an "instant connection" and hes oh-so attractive. Will he be the one to bring our Maiden of Mayhem to the light? *dramtic gasp*

Sorry, that scene was just so stereotypical. I cant take instant connections seriously anymore. Especially when they're accompanied by an entire paragraph describing how fine the other character is. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "9%
.."

You will not believe how loudly I snorted. (view spoiler)[EXACTLY
Maybe it's just not the mood for reading, but instalove is seriously irritating me at present, and nearly everyhting I read has it, or so it seems. WHERE IS THE PINING!??! WHERE IS IT!?!? WHERE IS THE UNEXPLAINED ATTRACTION!??! WHERE IS NOT KNOWING WHAT YOU FEEL BUT IT'S NOT LUST!??!? (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "9%
."

(view spoiler)[ I havent reached where they have actually had a conversation yet, so the insta love isnt killing me, but it might soon. Im in the mood for a romance, so im just praying i can stand this.

AND YES!!! I NEED THAT!! AND THE BANTER IN WHICH THEY THINK THEY HATE EACH OTHER, BUT ACTUALLY DONT. Im praying that these two each think the other made Lini disappear, so theyll suspect each other. It would make things fun! (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

30%
(view spoiler)[Youre already having nightmares about his death????? YOU LITERALLY JUST MET EACH OTHER. You met at a brothel for gods sake. This insta love is irritating the heck out of me.

Also, how many times did his erection "revive" in that last conversation??? It felt like every other sentence he was getting a boner... (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

39%
(view spoiler)[ Hes an idiot if he thinks that one kiss will actually end his desire for her. Im so tired of male love interests thinking like this, its irritating at this point, because we've seen it so many times now. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

43%
(view spoiler)[ Is this really going to turn into a love triangle? Between the person whos been admiring for years from afar and the one who is the lost soulmate? Come on, love triangles are only entertaining if you dont knoe who the heroine would choose. (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

83%
(view spoiler)[ Ambrose is an idiot. I cant belive he sent his brother away who had information about the women, and warned them of danger. JUST SO HE COULD HAVE SEX WITH SCARLETT AGAIN. And now shes kidnapped. What is it with historical romances and kidnapping????? (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

100%

(view spoiler)[ That was unispiring. I feel nothing towards this book. I didnt care for a single one of the characters, and the romance was just meh. I wish we had seen the Maidens of Mayhem actually causing mayhem, it wouldve made things fun. And, despite the entire book being about trying to find the seamstress, she was dismissed in like a single sentence. It was just odd... (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Brinley wrote: "9%
."

.."

I'm wishing so bad that something like that happens

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "30%
.."

ABSOLUTE SAME
All I can say about the other part, is that at least it's not Outrageous bad. But it's bad

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "39%
[spoilers removed]"

Same, who are these guys even deluding at this point?

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "43%
[spoilers removed]"

YES EXACTLY Though I just don't love them in general...

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

48%
(view spoiler)[What I don't understand, do these people wear rings under gloves??
Isn't that uncomfortable?? (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "48%
??"

(view spoiler)[ I thought the same thing!!! And wouldnt it leave a giant lump under the glove? And how does the glove even fit if you have a ring on? And why were they all wearing gloves?? If we're being honest, it just felt like a way to lengthen and convolute the plot. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

Brinley wrote: "Trisha wrote: "48%
??"

[spoilers removed]"

Right?!?!?(view spoiler)[I know they used to wear gloves a lot, but I really thought rings would be worn above the gloves, and not below, because that would be seriously uncomfortable
Ah, I get what you're saying, and honestly I'm just happy that this is shorter than Outrageous, and that's why I'll try to finish this today because I just can't seem to get through this if I don't force myself (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

53%
(view spoiler)[

She was young and just developing her skills of distraction and sleight of hand, but she’d never forgotten the euphoric taste of her daring that day.

Does this mean that the others are more experienced?? Is this a life long commitment??? like a school?? why are there so little details about the actual maidens of mayhem this book seems to be about? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

56%
(view spoiler)[Also, my theory about the girls is human trafficking (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha (semi-hiatus)]

63%
(view spoiler)[How do they even know that they feel something for each other when so many emotions are clouding their heads and rendering them incapable of logical, rational thought (hide spoiler)]

[Brinley]

Trisha wrote: "53%
.."

(view spoiler)[ I have no idea... I really wanted more about them, but they're barely mentioned!

(hide spoiler)]