Duke with Benefits

Written by Manda Collins

Narrated by Beverley A. Crick

Lady Daphne Forsyth is a brilliant mathematician with a burning passion for puzzles. When she learns that the library belonging to her benefactress houses the legendary Cameron Cipher-an encrypted message that, once solved, holds the key to great riches-Daphne is on the case. Unfortunately, her race to unlock the cipher's code is continually thwarted by a deliciously handsome distraction she hadn't counted on . . . and cannot resist.

Dalton Beauchamp, the Duke of Maitland, is curious as to why Daphne is spending so much time snooping around his aunt's bookshelves. He's even more intrigued by her bold yet calculating manner: She is unapologetic about her secret quest . . . and the fiery attraction that develops between them both. But how can they concentrate on solving a perplexing enigma once the prospect of true love enters the equation?

Contains mature themes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Apr 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781977378088

Manda Collins

Manda Collins grew up on a combination of Nancy Drew books and Jane Austen novels, and her own brand of Regency romantic suspense is the result. An academic librarian by day, she investigates the mysteries of undergraduate research at her alma mater, and holds advanced degrees in English Lit and Librarianship. Her debut novel, How to Dance with a Duke, spent five weeks on the Nielsen Bookscan Romance Top 100 list, was nominated for an RT Reviewer's Choice Award for best debut historical romance, and finaled in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest. Both How to Entice an Earl and Why Dukes Say I Do were selected for inclusion in Eloisa James's Reading Romance column. Why Earls Fall in Love, the second book in her Wicked Widows series, was called "sparkling romance" by Publishers Weekly and is set in Bath, England, one of her favorite cities in the world.

Reviews for Duke with Benefits

[tanaise-968201 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Honestly, the fact that this book DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS the previous one within the first few pages annoyed me so much that I couldn't even keep reading. I'm all about Roshoman and unreliable narrators, but there's unreliable and there's 'hey, remember the timeline from the previous book? Yes? Too bad because I don't!" I found it infuriating and careless, and couldn't make myself finish--or even really start--the book. The timeline is such an easy thing to avoid contradicting! It's right there in the previous one, just take a couple of hours and map it out.

Which annoys me even more because I *wanted* to like this book--I enjoyed the first book, and was really looking forward to this one. And then it was immediately so completely wrong from the start that I just couldn't stand it.

[cathygeha · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Duke with Benefits by Manda CollinsStudies in Scandal #2Lady Daphne Forsyth is a mathematical genius but not so great with people. For some reason Dalton Beauchamp, Duke of Maitland seems smitten with her. There is a treasure hunt, murder, friends to support Daphne, innuendo, a push that sets Daphne and Dalton up as betrothed, a kidnapping and eventually the treasure is found, the bad guy thwarted and a HEA for the H/h duo. I found it a rather predictable story and really did wonder what the two saw in one another. That said – thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review. (2-3 Stars)

[eyes92c · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Puzzles and intrigue!A bit of a slow start leads into an interesting plot where a somewhat OCD heroine who has difficulty lifting her gaze from mathematical pursuits into the real world.Lady Daphne Forsyth has led a difficult life hampered by a father who used her mathematical genius to line his own pockets.Now, having been left a share of her benefactress' estate and relishing the puzzle set for her to solve Daphne, finds herself with acquaintances, other young women equally as gifted in differing areas of expertise. For a lonely focused young women this is 'passing strange.'The challenge concerns the legendary Cameron Cipher that supposedly relates to a fortune in a hidden Jacobite treasure trove.What Daphne wants most though is to develop different skills. An entanglement with her benefactress' nephew the Duke of Maitland (not though marital) she feels will be a useful experiment. Well that just throws Dalton Beauchamp, the Duke. Talk about having the tables turned. Couple this conundrum with solving a puzzle that will lead to hidden treasure, throw in a murder and the story becomes a satisfying regency romp--if somewhat unusual.A NetGalley ARC

[julied2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an excellent mystery. Daphne is a brilliant mathematician and Dalton Beauchamp is the handsome Duke. They join together to hunt for a Legendary Cipher, a mystery left for them to uncode by the Dukes dead aunt. If they are successful the results will lead them to huge amounts of gold which in the wrong hands could lead to war.There's talk of spies, kidnapping, attacks and even murder in this intriguing mystery, and of cause the romance was hot. The Duke was an endearing character, he was stunned when Daphne turned his proposal down, I liked him a lot and Daphne was very forward for a "Lady", she didn't want marriage just fun between the sheets, she made me chuckle.Duke with Benefits was an excellent mystery/romance, the mystery and clues had me hooked and kept me entertained and guessing right to the end. A marvellous read!

[eileen.dandashi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’ve read a few of Manda Collins’s books. Book two of Studies in Scandal, is the first I’ve read of this series.People come in all colors. There are those who are socially adept and then those who are, well…not. Intelligence shines where apparent. Most of us manage to have some intelligence and social breeding, but there are those who excel way beyond the pack.This being said, the heroine, Daphne, is very clever in the field of mathematics, but, dear readers, dismally failing in social politeness. Her problem? She is unerringly accurate in what she says. It must be from how she looks at the world.Her father has used Daphne’s cleverness in the past to make money to pay his debts. She’s a master at cards.When talking to Daphne, you can be rest assured she knows she’s more than qualified in mathematics, making sure you are aware, too, and her plain-speech can be a bit offsetting. Did I say a bit? She is very offsetting to most people, but one Dalton Beauchamp, Duke of Maitland is intrigued, amused and outright entertained with Daphne’s manner of speech.Dalton is easy-going, another nephew to Lady Celeste, always making those around him comfortable. He has occasion to smooth things over when Daphne starts telling people what she thinks. She has me chortling and embarrassed for the poor girl. Daphne realizes her plain-speech is considered to be rude and may also hurt people’s feelings. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know how else to talk.Daphne has never been attracted to a man. She’s actually avoided them for some time, ever since she was accosted by her tutor’s son. But she is attracted to Dalton. When she discovers her feelings, she proposes she bed him (yes, this is true)! He is shocked and tells her, it wouldn’t be appropriate. This creates bad feelings and humiliation for Daphne, but Dalton can’t seem to get the idea out of his head. Hell yes, he wants to bed her! Very comical situation. Dalton is nothing but the gentleman. Daphne is discovering herself, making her thoroughly confused.Lady Celeste, recently passed, left her wealth to four young women, all acclaimed in their field of study. Of the four, Ivy has married Marquess of Kerr, nephew to Lady Celeste (their story in book one).Each woman inherits ¼ of Beauchamp Hall and to retain her share she must remain at the hall for one year. Additionally, Lady Celeste, a person of intelligence herself, concocted a puzzle with hints to the ultimate treasure. This was left for Daphne. The Cameron Cipher is a message, in code, which locates where the leader of clan Cameron hid the Jacobite gold meant for the Pretender in ‘forty-five. Daphne’s competitive nature is brought out while working on the cipher.This story, well-written, fast-paced with great engaging developed characters, a romance with mystery and suspense aspects, kept me entertained, particularly with the humorous tones throughout the read. There was no way I could put the book down. Upper-most in my mind was what will happen next? I look forward to reading book three.ARC copy provided by the author in exchange for a fair review.

[bookworm2bookworm · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the second story in the Studies in Scandal series and you don't need to read the first book in order to understand this story. Now, if you're like me and read mostly complex and dark and heavy romance novels, you may find lighthearted stories welcome to break the cycle of tortured heroes and heroines. And that's what I enjoyed in this story. What I had a hard time enjoying was the heroine and her personality. I really tried liking her but she just rubbed me the wrong way throughout the book. As for the hero, I liked him a lot as he was introduced to us in the first book, yet in this story, all the charm he possessed was gone. This lighthearted tale was well written and plotted but the slow pace had me enjoy it less than I would have if the pace was faster. If you've read the first story, you'll like this one as well. I'll recommend it to all of you that are due a fun and funny tale.Melanie for b2bGift copy provided by the publisher for an honest review