Manda Collins's historical romance with a central murder mystery had me hooked from the first page, which is surprising because I never thought I'd be so into this type of story. I stayed up all night to finish it, and it was totally worth it.
This book was a blast! It had all the elements I love about romantic comedies and more. It felt like Oprah was giving me everything I've ever wanted, including fake dating/engagement, banter, a headstrong FMC, a down bad for his girl MMC, romance born from actual connection and conversations, mutual respect, dislike to love, the murder of a crusty man, interesting side characters, and just enough spice.
The characters were well-developed, and the central mystery kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the setting, and the historical details were spot on. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, mysteries, and great banter. Manda Collins is now officially on my auto-buy list!


⚠️TW: death, emotional abuse, violence, kidnapping, cursing, gore, suicide, blood

Poppy is in a rush to get home to defend her sister Violet who’s been accused of her husband’s murder. Going home means Poppy has to shed the persona she took on in London when she ran away from her family, and her heinous stepfather. She literally runs into Joshua, Duke of Langham, a somewhat acquaintance who offers to share his compartment on the train with her. Once he learns of her predicament he suggests a plan that could benefit both of them: a fake engagement. She’d help him keep his meddlesome family from marrying him off, while his name and influence would help her with Violet’s case.

I loved that Poppy was no demure creature. She held her own against Josh’s family’s scrutiny winning then over with her wit and charm. Not only was Josh smitten with her, he’d also be annoyed on her behalf with anyone underestimating her. The mystery was intriguing with a few plausible suspects to be weary of. I’m glad the author explained in her notes what had inspired it. I won’t name it in order to avoid spoilers, but it’s an ‘80s movie which I’d always loved, and actually rewatched recently!

This third book in the Ladies Most Scandalous series was such a fun read! For some reason I’d missed book 2, but that didn’t hinder me from enjoying this latest caper. I know I’ll definitely go back to catch up. Read this if you’re all about mystery, romance, and confident women who know they’re just as adept at getting things done!

Thank you @netgalley & @readforeverpub for my advance copy. This is my honest review.

𝗔 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝘂𝗸𝗲𝘀 is available tomorrow 3/28.

England, 1867: Miss Poppy Delamare is living a lie. To escape an odious betrothal, she fled to London where she’s been hiding as the unassuming secretary Flora Deaver. However, when her beloved sister is accused of murder, Poppy cannot leave her to the wolves. Only a most unexpected—and unwelcome—collision interrupts her journey home . . .

Despite a rather dismal first meeting, Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham, has no intention of abandoning a lady in need. But he’s not above asking a favor. A fake betrothal will give Poppy and her sister the power of the dukedom and protect Langham from the society misses intent on becoming his duchess.
Overall stars - 4
Writing Quality - 9 /10
Image / Illustration Quality - 9/10
Character Development - 10 /10
"Couldn't Put It Down"-ness - 9 /10
Intellectual Depth - 8 /10
Originality - 9/10

When I received this book for review, I didn't realize there were two previous novels. Although it can be read as a standalone, I found the beginning to be very jarring. The narrative jumps right in with the groundwork between the Duke and Poppy already laid. However, once I got my bearings, I really loved the characters and story. The Duke was amazing and the two leads had absolutely incredible chemistry. I can't wait to pick up the other two books in the series.

This is the third book I have read in the entertaining Ladies Most Scandalous series.

Poppy is hiding as a secretary after fleeing from her family home to avoid a dreaded betrothal. She has to come out of hiding when her sister is accused of murdering her husband. While hurrying home, Poppy runs into our hero, Joshua Fielding. When they realize that they are heading to the same village, they decide that a faked betrothal is the answer to their difficulties.

I loved the fake engagement trope and the mystery element to this story. As with the other books in this series, I also really enjoyed the witty banter between Poppy and Joshua.

Manda Collins and the Ladies Most Scandalous series get better with every book. In ASGTDAD, Poppy (formerly known by alias Flora), is rushing home to clear her sister's name in the murder of her sister's husband. On the way, she runs into the Duke of Langham, who trades his help with her endeavor for her help with his own-to get out of his family's match-making by pretending to be engaged. Tale as old as time, and it was excellently done.

As always, the mystery-solving and co-plot was very fun to go along with the romance plot. It makes this series all the more special! Overall, I loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever for the e-ARC and ARC!

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

This was fantastic! I loved the fake-relationship angle (my favorite trope) and how the author drops the reader right into the action, but never in a way that leaves the reader feeling confused. The romance and the mystery here were terrific. I did not want to put this one down. I have no idea how I missed book 2 - I loved book 1 in this series. But I picked that up immediately after finishing this so I wasn't missing out on any of the stories. Can't wait for book 4 - this is definitely a "must read" series for me! (Sex, language, an occult-ish ceremony which I could have done without)

I admired the strength and tenacity in which Poppy carried herself. During the late 1800s it wasn’t seen as proper for women to advocated going to a university or helping solve a mystery, and poppy broke both those narratives.

This book overall was a miss for me. I really didn’t like the 1800s old England language, so that made it harder to get through. I really was excited that it was fake dating, but ultimately I didn’t connect with the characters really at all. The characters to me didn’t stand out and the overall story didn’t pull me in at all.

This was a fast paced read and very exciting! I hadn’t had the opportunity to read the first two books in the series but it wasn’t hard for me to catch up with Poppy and her frenemy, Joshua Fielding aka the Duke of Langham. I absolutely loved the banter between the leads, they reminded so much of Miss Scarlet and The Duke on PBS, and the bickering back a forth made it for me 😂

I will say the mystery part of this book was a bit more dark and sinister than I was expecting after seeing that cover, it gave me True Detective vibes for sure 👀

Over all this was a quick and interesting read, and very much looking forward to more from this author!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever for an ARC in exchange for an honest review ♥️

A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Desire by Manda Collins is the third book in the Ladies Most Scandalous series. My personal preference is to read the series in order but this can be read as a stand alone

Poppy Delamare has been living in London as Flora Deaver and working for Kate and Caro, the leading ladies in the first two books in the series. Flora meets Joshua in the second book and based on their interactions, you could tell that they would be the focus of the next book.

Poppy is heading home to help her sister who is accused of murder. At the train station, her purse is stolen and runs into Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham. Turns out he is from her home town and is heading there for his grandmother’s birthday. After he finds out who Poppy really is, he offers to help he get home and help her clear her sister’s name in exchange for her to be his fake fiancée, just to keep from being set up with a number of eligible ladies. No surprise that she agrees.

I enjoyed this story, a romance with a little mystery thrown in. I recommend this for readers that enjoy:
❤️ Fake engagement
❤️ Forced proximity
❤️ Frenemies to lovers

Thanks to Read Forever and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I've been really enjoying Manda Collins's series and I love the continuation from the prior book. I do believe that Poppy(Flora) could've held onto her animsoity for Langham a little bit longer though. Also super solid side plot with a twist I did not see coming! But I get who isn't a sucker for a hero? Can't wait for the next book in this series!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing an arc for an honest review.

TW:
Murder(off page)
Gaslighting
Kidnapping
Possible Cannibalism

Tropes:
Enemies to Friends to Lovers
Fake Engagement
Found Family

This is probably my favorite book of this series so far! I absolutely devoured it! The Duke of Langham and Poppy were so much fun to read. The Banter, the tension, and the way he just cared for her. I loved that they were able to read each other and know just what the other needed. They listened to each other and aside form one small thing they communicated and worked together and helped one another. The progression from enemies to friends to lovers was well written and heartwarming.

I loved the element of secret societies, even as disturbing as it was. The mystery folded in perfectly with the family gathering and I absolutely loved how Poppy didn't put up with crap from anyone, even Langham's grandmother.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and this book was the perfect addition.

Miss Poppy Delamere has been living a fabricated life for the past two years since she fled her family and established herself in London as secretary Flora Deaver. But now her younger sister has been accused of murder and Poppy must return to help her. Unfortunately, an unexpected and unwelcome interference threatens to derail her travels.

Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham, knows Poppy doesn’t particularly like him but he won’t abandon her when she so clearly needs help. Seeing that they could help one another he proposes that they present themselves as a betrothed couple. This will lend Poppy and her sister the weight of the dukedom and give Langham some protection from the eager young misses his grandmother has lined up for him as marriage prospects.

But as their act continues, Poppy and Joshua both begin to see one another for who they truly are, and their engagement doesn’t feel like pretending. Before Joshua can propose a genuine alliance, their investigation into the murder reveals much more than they’d anticipated and forces them to set their feelings aside until they’ve apprehended the true villain.

I’ve had a rather long streak of three-star reads this month, so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself so thoroughly enjoying this one. It was a real breath of fresh air for me. Poppy did give me pause at first with her snappishness towards the duke but given the stress she was under her reactions were understandable and she rapidly made up for them. I had forgotten just how much I love the fake relationship trope and it was well-utilized here. Poppy and Joshua are seemingly opposites, but they made the perfect couple, and I loved seeing them realize that as they came to know one another better. Poppy was able to really think about what she wanted and realized she wasn’t willing to give up love for the sake of independence and that Joshua would never stifle her that way, anyway. I loved that she recognized just how good of a man he was and finally gave him the credit for it that it seemed his family often failed to do. I loved seeing their feelings develop for one another as they worked to solve the mystery and clear Poppy’s sister’s name. This is probably my favorite story of this series and I look forward to perhaps another installment featuring Joshua’s brother, Adrian, and the governess.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a delightful read! I devoured it and want more of Manda Collins! It's a murder mystery wrapped up in a pretend engagement historical romance. Joshua Fielding is surprising as a guardian protector hero given that he seems like a self important Duke. Miss Poppy Delamare, aka Flora Deaver, is a delightful intelligent woman trying to make her way in life away from her cruel con-artist step-father. When she finds out her beloved younger sister was forced to marry her father's business partner and is now accused of his murder, Poppy comes out of hiding to help her. Along the way home she literally runs into the Duke of Langham who quickly sees an way to mutually help each other. What a fun story that had me guessing well into the story as to who killed Alistair Lovell.

Poppy Delamare has taken on the persona of Flora Deaver and is a secretary to Katherine Bascomb, now Eversham and Caroline Hardcastle, now Viscountess Wrackham who write The Ladies Guide to Mischief and Mayhem column for the London Gazette. The previous two books in the series are their stories. I'll have to find time and money to go back and read them because this series is so much fun. It has a touch of humor at times and great characters. When Poppy reads an newspaper story about the arrest of her sister Violet for the murder of Alistair Lovell, she knows she has to go home and fight for her sister's freedom. Her step-father Lord Short tried to force Poppy to marry his business partner Alistair Lovell. She escaped from being locked in her room and became Flora Deaver in London. At the ticket window for the train home a pickpocket steals her purse with all her money in the world in it. As she chases after the thief she runs smack dab into Joshua Fielding, the Duke! They are acquainted with each other in the previous books and Poppy is not impressed with him. He on the other hand finds her interesting. When her story comes out he proposes a solution for both of them. She pretends to be his fiancé to keep his grandmother's matchmaking out of his hair for her birthday celebration and he'll help her with her sister. This starts an adventure that ends with finding the killer and them madly in love with each other.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a gifted copy of this book!

CWs: murder (off-page), violence, attempted assault (brief mention), suicide (off-page), mental abuse (described in some detail)

I really enjoyed reading this one. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but I didn’t find that my enjoyment of this one suffered. I felt like it was completely readable as a standalone, although I’m sure having prior knowledge of some things mentioned would provide a more exciting reading experience.
I thought the pacing was good, and the writing style was easy to follow. I really enjoyed the back-and-forth between Poppy and Langham. They had some good chemistry, and I felt like their relationship progressed at a reasonable pace.
The murder and mystery aspect of the plot was really intriguing. I was guessing all over the place and was eager to get answers while reading. I thought the secret society was an interesting addition.
Overall I thought this was a really fun historical murder mystery romance and I’ll be checking out the rest of the series.

This is such a fun series and I must go back and read the others! Miss Poppy Delamare is cunning and ready to show others that females are not to be put in boxes. With the help of the Duke of Langham and a fake dating ruse, Poppy jumps into the investigation. This story was fast paced, keeping me turning the pages to solve the mystery along with Poppy. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Pub! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Super cute storyline and love the characters from previous books are referenced throughout this series. This story is adorable and I couldn’t stop reading!

A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes by Manda Collins

Poppy Delmare isn’t who people think she is. She had to run away from her childhood home and her scrupulous step-father from an unwanted marriage. She re-created herself in London’s society as a secretary named Flora Deaver. She recently found out that her sister is under the suspicion of murdering her husband, so she is on her way to her hometown where she runs into the rakish Duke of Langham. Seeing that they both could help each other, they pretend to be engaged. Langham will use his influence to help Poppy’s sister and Poppy will keep all the matchmaking mother’s off of him. However, there seems to be something between them and it might not just be hate…

While this is #3 in the series of Ladies Most Scandalous series, I read it as a stand alone and it was still a fun read! I loved the mystery element to this story. I felt like they appropriately balance each other very well! Poppy is independent and self-reliant but it was so fun to see Poppy and Langham lose their control with each other! I loved their chemistry and it was relatively fast paced.

Definitely recommend this one and if you like series, I recommend to start with the first book A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem.

A fake betrothal, satanic cult, country house party, blackmail, and murder. What more could you ask for? Two years ago Poppy fled to London and has been living under an assumed name to escape marriage to a man her swindler step-father chose for her. She reads in the newspaper her sister is accused of murdering her husband - the man Poppy was to marry. Poppy heads to the train station to go to her sister and literally bumps into the Duke of Langham. They met before (in previous books), and didn't like each other, but this time they come to an agreement. He'll use his influence as a Duke to help Poppy's sister if she'll pretend to be engaged to him at his grandmother's house party. It will take the pressure off of him with all the debutantes and their marriage minded mamas. Langham turns out to be a nice guy and their feelings for each other grow amidst the investigation of the murder. Characters from the previous books appear making for a satisfying reunion but this could be read as a stand-alone. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“Delicate sensibilities, indeed. I should like to show him just how delicate my boot against his shin can be.”

Thank you Manda Collins, Forever, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

England, 1867: Miss Poppy Delamare is living a lie. To escape an odious betrothal, she fled to London where she's been hiding as the unassuming secretary Flora Deaver. However, when her beloved sister is accused of murder, Poppy cannot leave her to the wolves. Only a most unexpected-and unwelcome-collision interrupts her journey home. Despite a rather dismal first meeting, Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham, has no intention of abandoning a lady in need. But he's not above asking a favor. A fake betrothal will give Poppy and her sister the power of the dukedom and protect Langham from the society misses intent on becoming his duchess. Yet the longer the ruse goes on, the more Poppy and Langham realize how false their first impressions were-and the less pretend their engagement feels. But before Langham can propose in truth, their search reveals a tangled web of lies and betrayals. With time running out, can Poppy and Langham find the real culprit?

I loved the mix of cozy mystery, historical fiction, and romcom in this book! It was fast paced and fun to read. I enjoyed the dual POV and being able to read both characters inner thoughts. This book is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. If you’re a fan of Bridgerton and cozy mysteries, I definitely recommend this book!

Book Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5

*There was one spicy scene, but it wasn’t very descriptive and was really more of a brief mention.