Review: Dauntless (The Shaws #2) by Lynne Connolly

Print Length: 286 pages

Publisher: Lyrical Press (June 26, 2018)

From Goodreads.com: 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.

                                                 *******************

My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Honestly, from the description I expected there to be more than two ill-thought out plots that weren't even guaranteed to succeed. In fact, I expected a lot more from the premise than what I got. 

Don't get me wrong, this book is by no means horrible, but there are a few things that I feel could have been done to improve it overall. To begin with, I wish Oliver had just listened to Dru. At the first sign of her book, he flies into a justifiable fit of anger, however if he had just allowed her to explain instead of automatically thinking/accusing her of the worst, the pair could have worked things out so much sooner. In addition to this, he believes someone is out to harm her, but not only does he not tell her about his plan, but it doesn't even dawn on him that the release of the book may have something to do with it? The same can be said for Dru, ordered her maid to destroy it, but did not question her version of events after it was exposed.

As for Dru, sure, the things she wrote were not complimentary and would have caused the ton to shun her if they dared, but even when it came out that she was the author, she still refused to tell anything the truth. 

I will say that I enjoyed the twist at the end, even though I had suspected who was behind things. I would read more from this author!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

                                                         *******************

                                   Dauntless is available from Amazon.com