ARC Review: The Lady Loves Danger (The Maidens of Mayhem #2) by Anabelle Bryant
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Series: The Maidens of Mayhem #2
Author: Anabelle Bryant
Published May 31st 2022 by Zebra Books
Goodreads Synopsis
The society of daring women known as the Maidens of Mayhem dedicate their lives to protecting London’s most vulnerable citizens from injustice. Daring and discreet, their missions lead them to people and places they least expect, often putting their lives—and their hearts—in peril...
Lady Delilah Ashbrook is tirelessly searching the streets of London for a boy 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 certainly cuts a dashing figure. But is he hoping to save the child—or harm him?
Sebastian 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. Sebastian knows they can help each other, if only she’ll let her guard down. And, as they become entrenched in danger, they realize how strong their ties have grown—and how much they need one another.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
When Lady Delilah Ashbrooke's maid's son is kidnapped in broad daylight when out shopping, she will stop at nothing to find young Oliver, and return him home. Even if that means going into the slums in the dead of night. Luckily, she crosses paths with Sebastian St Allen, who is also looking into the kidnapping - and dog-napping of a Duchess's prized pet - and he is on hand to save her from attack. Deciding to work with Sebastian, and ask for his help, Delilah tells him everything she knows, and soon finds herself crossing paths with the Maidens of Mayhem, uncovering more behind the abduction than she could ever imagine, and finding herself in danger. But she soon discovers that rather than shying away from the danger, she realises the adventure, and being able to spend more time with the handsome and mysterious Sebastian.
I quite enjoyed the first book in this series, and had high hopes for book 2. Though I didn't love The Lady Loves Danger, I did enjoy it, and found Delilah to be a refreshing heroine. She was quite a privileged young lady, whose aunt had brought her to London following the deaths of her parents, and was ready to give her a season, and see her happily married. Delilah, though, had other ideas. While she might enjoy having a family one day, she had no intentions of settling down just yet, and had no real need to do so either. She loved her maid, Beth, and Beth's son Oliver, who were like family to her, and so she thought nothing of it take Oliver shopping for a birthday present in the middle of the day. After a commotion on the street, Oliver got away from her, and he and the duchess's dog were bundled into a waiting carriage, and haven't been seen from since. Delilah, in my opinion, was really brave to journey into Seven Dials alone, at night, but she thought only of Oliver, and wanting to see him returned. Her first meeting with Sebastian was full of action, but the attraction was clear from the beginning, and both brought out the best in the other. Sebastian was full of secrets. An agent for the crown, he had a special interest in helping the orphans and strays in London, after he found himself one of them at the age of 5. Hearing about Oliver's abduction, he hopes to find him before anything happens, and though Delilah is an outsider, he's willing to work with her. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the couple, and that their relationship felt like one of equals. There were some scenes with another agent which were unnecessary in my opinion, but seemed to be included for the drama. A much better book than the first, and I think I'd probably continue with the series.
Dates Read:
August 19-20, 2022
Rating
3 Stars
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