Sophie Reads YA: Anabelle Bryant

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Lady Loves Danger (The Maidens of Mayhem #2) by Anabelle Bryant

11:00

The Lady Loves Danger
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

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Duchess If You Dare (The Maidens of Mayhem #1) by Anabelle Bryant

10:00

Duchess If You Dare
Series: The Maidens of Mayhem #1
Author: Anabelle Bryant
Published March 30th 2021 by Zebra

Goodreads Synopsis
Fans of Sarah MacLean, Vanessa Riley, and Julia London will adore this modern take on the Regency, filled with tough, empowered women meeting their matches in a sexy story from rising star Anabelle Bryant.

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...
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

When Scarlett Wynn's friend disappears one night, she investigates, and soon finds herself infiltrating an upscale brothel, looking for more information. While there, she comes across Ambrose Cross, the Duke of Aylesford, who is trying to solve his own mystery. It soon becomes clear that both Scarlett and Ambrose are trying to find the same person, and by working together, and using their own backgrounds and social connections, they will get ahead so much quicker than if they join forces. While delving into the seedy underworld of London, they uncover a sex trafficking plot, which may be their downfall, once and for all.

I really liked this book, but my main bug bear was that The Maidens of Mayhem - the group of women who worked to help others in London - aren't actually a big part of the story. I think we should've see a lot more of them for a series named after the group, but perhaps we will in future books. Once I got over that, I felt that both Scarlet and Ambrose had their positives, and their negatives. They did care about their loved ones, and wanted to help others - and were definitely invested in solving the mystery and stopping the trafficking from continuing. But, they were also a bit placid, and lacklustre. I wanted more from them, especially Scarlett, as her backstory is alluded to again and again, but isn't delved into too much. She was fiercely independent, and I loved that aspect of her - how she didn't need to be rescued, but was rather the rescuer. I will be continuing the series - probably - but hope that we see improvements.

Dates Read:
March 4-5, 2021

Rating
3 Stars