Veena’s review of Dauntless (The Shaws, Book 2) by Lynne Connolly
Historical Romance published by Lyrical Press 26 Jun 18
Ms. Connolly delivers another brilliantly written chapter in the Shaw family saga. Even as this tale features many of my favorite characters from the series and the mystery is well executed, this story did not have the same emotional intensity that I’ve grown to expect from this author.
Drusilla lives in her head spinning stories, close to giving up on her dream to find true love. Her first meeting with the Duke of Mountsorrel evokes a strong chemical reaction, but then he abandons her in the middle of the dance floor in a society ballroom? Clearly, there could be no future for them? Or could there be?
Nattily dressed, he shows up in her mother’s drawing room to apologize and make amends. Except the carriage ride her mother deems as the proper approach to restore her daughter in the eyes of society ends up with a broken wheel and the two of them thrown out on the road, entwined together, while the duke attempts to spare Drusilla injury. At this point the only recourse left to them is to marry. The duke needs to set up his nursery and Drusilla needs a society match.
Drusilla, in a fit of anger after the ballroom incident, painted Oliver as a villain in her latest manuscript, which has subsequently disappeared and is now making the rounds in London society. As if a new marriage and meeting Oliver’s family and sizzling hot sex isn’t enough to occupy Drusilla, there are the random accidents that seem to involve her. Who is targeting Drusilla and why? It took me a while into the story before I twigged to the villain, but the question that continues to gnaw at me is how did the villain know so early in the game to steal the manuscript?
While this might not be my favorite story in the series, I can’t wait to see how the remaining Shaws find their happily ever afters.
Grade: B
See Stevie’s review here.
Summary:
The Shaws are one of Britain’s most influential, dynamic families, but one Shaw prefers to keep a low profile. Unfortunately, the limelight can shine behind-the-scenes . . .
Lady Drusilla Shaw may be a bit introverted, yet she has the observant mind of a writer, capturing all of society’s quirks and scandals. But when the novel she’s been working on disappears from her room, that is just the beginning of her problems. Confident, magnetic Oliver, Duke of Mountsorrel, has taken an interest in Dru, and when he proposes, she is both thrilled and anxious. Her book depicts a ruinous family story that is uncannily similar to Oliver’s real-life, not to mention libelous. The manuscript could surface at any moment—and eventually it does, in published form, for all to read . . .
Oliver is bewildered by his new wife and her blasted book. Worst of all, how can he love a woman he no longer trusts? But when it becomes obvious that someone is taking their cues from the book in a series of attacks, he has no choice but to stick close to her. Their explosive connection in bed should take care of the heir-making, but for that to happen, Drusilla has to stay alive—and so does Oliver.
