After reading this whole series, I have to say that book 3 was probably my favorite! Following Miss Poppy and The Duke. I love a fake engagement that helps bring characters together to fall in love, while solving family issues and mysteries. Our previous heroines show up briefly, but Poppy and Duke definitely steal the show. Poppy was more of side character compared to Caroline and Katherine so their role here is minimal. I love the witty characters, the strong female portrayals, and the spice!

I really adore this author and this series! It’s so fun to have romance mixed with a little mystery! I also like that these two characters didn’t get along much in the beginning but grew to love after they started a fake engagement! Poppy is outgoing, stubborn, works hard, and a feminist! I really like her character. Joshua, Duke of Langham, is a gentleman, who avoids marriage. When these two run into one another on a train ride, they learn of Poppy’s sister was charged for murder and Langham wants to keep the marriageable ladies at bay, they decided to fake an engagement! They will also try to solve the murder bc Poppy knows her sister didn’t do it! I really loved mystery along side the romance between Poppy and Langham! It was so fun and sweet! Looking forward to what’s next from Manda!

I didn’t enjoy the first book in the series, but I thought it had potential and so I read the second. I liked it and was genuinely excited for the tie breaker, but I thought it was pretty boring. Collins spent a lot of time describing actions and the mystery plot and not a lot of time on the characters’ internal worlds, which is the main draw of a romance for me.

what a pure delight this book was!! it was just so much fun to read. the characters were charming and full of heart. i adored this and will be adding it to my shelves so soon!! thank you so much netgalley!!

I loved this so much, but I can’t decide which I love more as they’re all so good. I adore the mystery and suspense, the characters and plot are wonderful. Poppy is a strong woman, with her own strengths and mind even if society doesn’t like it and I’m so here for that. I’ll still be here for many more books too. Love them

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the third installment of the Ladies Most Scandalous series, which follows a group of friends breaking the gender norms of their name - educated, working, single - and the men they find themselves entangled with.

In this book Poppy is a woman hiding from an abusive stepfather forced to return to her childhood home to save her sister accused of murder. When her trip home starts on the wrong foot, Joshua aka Langham offers his support and power as a duke in exchange for a week of fake engagement to deter his grandmother’s matchmaking schemes.

Of the three books, this may be my favorite. Poppy and Joshua’s friendship blooms really organically, and the characters spend a lot of time together. The murder mystery element adds some thoughtful filler along the story and gives the characters an opportunity to know each other outside of attraction to one another. The couples from the first two books make a return as well as some teases of who may be coming next and I would gladly read more books in this universe. This is a nice quick read.

Thank you to @readforeverpub and @netgalley for the early digital copy!

I am obsessed with the show Ms. Scarlet and the Duke on PBS and I'm ALWAYS on the lookout for books with that same feeling. I read the first book in the A Lady's Guide series so when I saw this book, the third in the series, was available I snatched it up right away. This book was a great addition to the series and now I'm stalking the library to snatch up the second when I can.

What I Loved:
-Poppy, we learn that she runs away from home when she was going to be forced to marry a dangerous man and she had to figure out how to live in London on her own. Instead of letting that negatively impact her it made her into a strong woman who stands up for what she believes in.
-Secret Society, I'm a sucker for a secret society/cult situation cause I just find it absurd that people are so swayed to "join the club" and I liked what this one added to the story as a whole.
-Joshua, even though he is a Duke and expects to be treated a specific way he always encourages Poppy to be who she is and I just loved how he was always wanting to protect her from the people in his social circle but trusts she can take care of herself.
-Joshua's family, Poppy gets thrown to the wolves with the fake engagement but I loved how his family first thought it was a joke but then really took the time to get to know Poppy and compliment her on her strength and how she doesn't stand down to Joshua
- Non-traditional, I love that Poppy works for a living and the work she does ends up helping her save her sister from being charged with murder

As I noted above, this book really reminded me of Ms. Scarlet and the Duke in all of the best ways. I'm so happy that this series has continue to be exceptional and I really need to get the second book in the series so I can see how Poppy and Joshua meet...fingers crossed its a meet cute with Poppy putting him in his place :) Anyone out there who loves a historical romance with a bit of mystery and strong lead female character this is absolutely a must read.

I wish Bridgerton was what this book is; I would want to watch it! I enjoyed the witty banter and the fun mystery thrown into the regency time period. This book was a fun escape from the real world for a bit!

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Poppy Delamare has been living a lie - she's been hiding out in London for two years after running away from home when her wicked stepfather betrothed her to his private secretary. When Poppy fled, her stepfather married Poppy's half-sister - his own daughter - to the man, Mr. Lovell. Mr. Lovell is now dead and the murder is being pinned on her sister Violet, so Poppy is returning to her family home to clear her sister's name. On the train ride there, she runs into Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham, who she met before and took an instant disliking to. They happen to be headed to the same place, so Langham agrees to help her, if she'll pretend to be his fiancee to stop his grandmother's matchmaking. As the two work to clear her sister's name, Poppy realizes there may be more than meets the eye with the Duke.

I've loved every book in this series more than the last and this one was no exception. The gentle sparring and banter between Langham and Poppy was so fun and I loved watching their relationship grow. Poppy thinks Langham is arrogant at first, but deep down, he is gentle and caring, especially towards those he has affection for. And you can tell Langham sees Poppy as an equal, though he'll still go to any length to protect her and make her happy. As their emotional connection grew, so did their chemistry, and the spicy scene was HOT! The writing was fast paced and bingeable, and I absolutely devoured the book. And did I sense a little something between Governess Halliwell and Lord Adrian??? I can't wait to read more from Manda Collins!

TW: Violence, murder (off page), attempted assault, kidnapping, emotional abuse, claustrophobia

I loved the first book and this second one did not disappoint. The mystery and banter between the characters kept me interested. I can't wait for the third book!

The intrigue in the plot of this novel was so much fun to read about as it just kept getting more absurdly gothic, and the investigation was very entertaining to follow. I really liked that there was a balance between the mystery and romance elements, but with that being said I felt like there wasn't enough lead up to the romance for it to be as satisfying as it could have been. I also felt that the pacing was a bit off as a lot of the investigation breakthroughs happened really close to the end of the book and it seemed a bit rushed considering there were so many different elements involved in it. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I am definitely going to read the other two books in this series now!

A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes by Manda Collins is book 3 of the series but can be read as a standalone. I've read the first 2 books in the series which I found more exciting than this one. This is a fake dating historical romance, with a murder mystery, and satanic ritual which turned me off. It was different for a historical romance which made it interesting but the book became predictable. It also took awhile for me to get into this book but about half way through it picked up and brought me back. Interested to see where this series will go from here.

Alright Manda Collins, you won me back with the third book in the A Lady's Guide series. A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes was so much fun and had not only a fake engagement, but murder, mystery, and secret societies. Poppy was such a spitfire of a character, and I love that she took no shit from anyone. Langham was charming and adorable from the get-go and I loved seeing him and Poppy work together to solve this mystery.

Honestly, we need more books where people fall in love while solving a murder.

Such a treat! Despite being the third book in a series, this title works as a stand alone. This story has no shortage of murder, blackmail, and secret societies. This was a pleasant combination of a historical romance with a central murder mystery storyline. The two characters (Poppy and the Duke, Joshua) had such good chemistry, and their storyline was really fun!

To set the scene: Poppy gets pickpocketed while in line to buy a train ticket, the Duke (who she can’t stand but is in mutual circles) literally runs into her and offers to pay her passage, turns out they’re going to the same place, she shocks herself by revealing she’s been concealing her identity and is now returning home to help her sister—who was charged with the murder of her husband—the Duke offers to help use his connections/power to prove her innocence, Poppy says no so the Duke reframes it as a bargain…he will help her solve the murder if she pretends to be his fiancé for the week….

As you can imagine this book has the following:
-fake engagement/dating
-fun banter
-stubborn and independent FMC
-an MMC who’s pining after the FMC
-actual communication (shocking I know)
-murder(s)
-blackmail
-a devilish secret society
-dislike to love (they aren’t really enemies)

Poppy and Langham's story was delightful. I am so happy with how the fake engagement trope was used in this romance novel. These two tried to hide and deny their true feelings, but it was clear they were meant to be together. I loved seeing the characters from books 1 and 2 again in this story, especially with how much they badgered Langham about his life choices.

I was very much here for the romance, but ended up being really surprised by the great plot that was full of mystery and intrigue. There was an element of danger hanging over Poppy's fate that added tension to her time at Langham's estate, which was matched by the great pacing of the story. Watching Poppy and Langham grow closer and closer was really lovely - they were super cute together.

Manda Collins gives the reader a rollicking romantic suspense in A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes. Miss Poppy Delamere is rushing to her sister's side after she is accused of murdering her husband. When a thief takes her purse at the train station the Duke of Langham offers her a seat in his train coach car as they are going the same location. The Duke offers to help her defend her sister if she pretends to be his betrothed to stop the local ladies from chasing his at his grandmother's week of entertainment. Langham and Poppy find a real relationship forming while the shadows around her sister darken. Lots of crimes pop out of the woodwork. Great reading.

I love the Ladies Most Scandalous with all my heart! This one did not disappoint, which means, in my humble opinion, that Manda Collins has created a truly unique historical romance series. This one didn’t have as much of the romantic tension of the previous two (perhaps because fake engagement is not my favourite trope) but it was still enjoyable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own."

The classic romance story line of two people who dislike each other pretending to be together to solve their problems. This time there is a murder to solve and a sister to save from the noose!

At first I was worried that I would have to read prior books to make sense of what's happening, but once passed the first chapter it holds its own.

I enjoyed it. A fun book with a little mystery that I'd perfect for the beach or the cabin.

This book was so good thanks so much for the copy I really enjoyed this so much along with the writing definitely will recommend I absolutely loved the story line so much and couldn't put it down

SPINSTER’S GUIDE TO DANGER AND DUKES is another fabulously fun, perilous, and romantic romp into the world of Ladies Most Scandalous series. Collins brings to life her characters with witty banter, smart deductions, and a hint of danger lurking around the corner.

In this third book, the reader is gifted with the story of Poppy (aka. Flora Deaver) and Joshua, Duke of Langham. These two want to free her sister from a murder conviction while keeping potential matches for the Duke at bay. However, it becomes clear there are much more double dealings, murders, and secrets involved with this investigation.

Honestly, this book is just as enjoyable as the others. The mystery is layered, and the pace propels the narrative forward at just the right speed. Then there is Poppy. Like Caro and Katherine before her, is a strong female with the desire to protect the ones she loves and never back down just because society expects her to.

A SPINSTER’S GUIDE TO DANGER AND DUKES is a historical mystery that will entertain from the first chapter until the final scene.