DUCHESS IF YOU DARE by Anabelle Bryant

PUBLISHER: Zebra, 3/2021

GENRE: Fiction/Historical Romance

SETTING: England, 1817

MY GRADE: C

SYNOPSIS: 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...

MY THOUGHTS: What started out as 4 stars turned into a 3-star read. The mystery was the only thing interesting but even that turned very dull. Scarlett's out to find out what happened to her missing friend and seamstress/prostitute Linie/Daisy. In the process she meets twenty-eight-year-old Ambrose at a brothel called The Scarlet Rose while he's there to see his younger brother Martin, who frequents the place. Ambrose is trying to find out who's been lending Martin money.

Both main characters were severely underdeveloped, as was their quick-blooming relationship, which was very surface. One knows nothing about the other. I didn't feel any chemistry between them despite two sex scenes, the first of which felt out of place and too soon. Both characters were very bland to me.

Other than the time period, Regency, being given, the exact year wasn't until the last few pages, 1817. The timespan felt like just a few days but I guess it was longer than that. Scarlett's age was given, sort of, by saying she'd been on her own for almost twenty years and that at "barely" five years old she'd stopped wishing on stars. I assume that's when her prostitute mother was murdered by a lover, and I assume Scarlett's 24 but the author couldn't tell us outright.

I think this book failed (me) because of it being too condensed at only 250 pages and just not good writing. The subject matter is very dark (dead body washing ashore, missing brothel workers, possible abuse in a room in the brothel, sex trafficking) but it just wasn't handled well.

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

WHISPER TO ME OF LOVE by Shirlee Busbee

PUBLISHER: Avon, 4/1991
GENRE: Historical Romance
SETTING: England, 1815

STEPBACK: link
MY GRADE: A

SYNOPSIS: She was a raven-haired waif from the streets of London-- a wild innocent to be rescued... and tamed. A spirited beauty, she would captivate Royce Manchester's jaded heart-- while resisting the smoldering desire she felt for her virile protector.

In Royce's glittering world of money and privilege, young Morgana discovered the shocking secret of her true identity-- entangling the wealthy American planter in a deadly skein of aristocratic family intrigue. But grave peril would only feed the flames of a love that knew no bounds... and a glorious rapture that would not be denied.

MY THOUGHTS: I couldn't gauge the timespan on this but it felt very short, maybe a couple months and takes place in England. Like a lot of historical romances, this had a mystery running throughout that I thoroughly enjoyed. Shirlee created a few evil villains that were introduced in the prologue so that hooked me from the start.

Morgana is 19 and goes by the name 'Pip.' She had black curly hair and gray eyes. She's dirt-poor and lives with her two older brothers, Jacko and Ben. She dresses like a boy and is a pickpocket like her brothers. It's what they do to get by in life. She stands up to Royce and I really like her. 

Royce is a 33-year-old American. He's 6'3" with tawny hair and topaz eyes. He first meets Morgana when she attempts to steal from him. She ends up staying at his house when he learns she's female and what her living situation is like. They don't get along and bicker, which I like. Some of Royce's terms of endearment for her are, greedy little strumpet, scheming baggage, delectable little slut, conniving little slut, conniving little bitch, wretched grasping little hussy, grasping little harlot. Of course she's none of those things. We weren't really given any background on him, which was disappointing.

A servant helps Royce uncover the mystery of Morgana's parentage, which she doesn't even know isn't what is seems. This part of the plot involves three villains, two of which are working together, and I like all three. The mystery is essentially what keeps the story moving. I never guessed who the "one-eyed man" was and don't see how anyone could have.

Dominic Slade, from the previous book in this series, Midnight Masquerade, is in this one briefly, along with his wife Melissa. I haven't read it so I don't know if Royce is in it but I assume he is. Melissa is the sister of Royce's twenty-year-old cousin Zachary, who's in this book but he doesn't serve much purpose.