Duchess if You Dare

A fun premise and rather more fistfights than one expects from a Regency romance animate the otherwise lackluster first Maidens of Mayhem novel from Bryant (the Midnight Secrets series). The Maidens of Mayhem have sworn to protect London’s most vulnerable. Among these vigilantes is Scarlett Wynn, who is brilliant, inquisitive, and handy with a dagger. When Linie, Scarlett’s seamstress, disappears, Scarlett’s investigation leads to the Scarlet Rose, a brothel where Linie had been moonlighting—and she’s not the first woman to go missing. Also looking into the disappearances is Ambrose Cross, the straitlaced Duke of Aylesford, who’s pulled into the mystery by his wild younger brother. Ambrose and Scarlett’s paths cross repeatedly during their investigations and opposites are quick to attract. But with such an extreme difference between their stations, can they make a relationship work? It’s a thorny question and the answer is disappointingly hand-waved away in the midst of some third act danger. The final twist is heavily telegraphed from the beginning while Scarlett’s backstory comes too little too late. Bryant compensates for these shortcomings with plenty of steamy scenes, but readers excited for action adventure will be disappointed by the poor execution. There’s no denying Bryant’s created a badass heroine, but even the most devoted readers will hope for more depth from future installments. (Apr.)