I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Miss Flora Deaver has a secret. Working as a secretary to her friends, Katherine and Caro, she has hidden the fact she is from a country gentry family, and is in fact Miss Poppy Delamare. She fled her home to avoid marrying her stepfathers partner, and has never returned. However, when her sister is accused of murdering her husband - the very man Poppy fled from - Poppy needs to return to save her sister. On the train home, Poppy runs into the Duke of Langham, and though they had a bad first meeting, Joshua will not abandon a lady in distress, especially one in his social circle. Hatching a plan to pretend to be engaged to allow Poppy more freedom and power to help her sister, and Joshua to avoid the ladies his family have assembled to force him to marry, they expect everything will easy going. But when feelings start becoming apparent, will the couple be able to remember it's a 'fake' engagement.

Another great book by Manda! A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes had it all. Intrigue, suspense, mystery, romance, love. Poppy and Langham's relationship definitely was not a smooth one, and they did not make a good first impression on each other. They do have chemistry though, and the fake relationship was the perfect plot line for the pair. I appreciated the way Langham stood up for Poppy, particularly when it came to his family and the woman they gathered for him to pick from. He also knew when she didn't need the help, but wanted support. Langham didn't underestimate her, and he bolstered her when she needed it. The mystery took turns I wasn't expecting, and I was gripped until the very end. I hope there are more books in this series, as I need more of Manda's epic storytelling.

As a fan of Jane Austen and Bridgerton, I was intrigued by the premise of A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes (even through it’s set in Victorian England and not the Regency period).

This series definitely has Bridgerton vibes. The characters are similarly concerned with propriety and appearances. Poppy is concerned that she will not be accepted by Langham’s family because she was a working woman in London and because her sister is suspected of murder. Poppy deftly handles the snarky comments from Langham’s grandmother’s friends and other members of the ton.

A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes is the third book in a series, and I do feel like I missed out by not reading the first two books. The book feels like it starts in the middle of the action with Langham and Poppy meeting at the train station. It is clear to the reader that they have a history, but the reader is not let in to what that is. There are references to them not getting along at first, but they are fleeting and without elaboration. Kat and Caro are such interesting characters, who make brief appearances in this third book the series, but they are each the focus of another book in the series. They are working women in a time and place that didn’t make that easy. I might just have to go back and read the first two books in the series.

I love a good cozy murder mystery, and A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes definitely fits that bill. It is fast paced and fun, but not without its serious moments. A Satanic society and its rituals add a sense of danger and additional mystery to the story. The stakes of the investigation are very high as Poppy’s sister’s life hangs in the balance.

Of course, it is not without romance as well. Langham and Poppy’s relationship is very sweet. They start off not liking each other, but Langham still almost immediately agrees to help Poppy and her sister. I didn’t love the implication that Poppy needs a male savior to fix her problems, but the sense is that Langham just genuinely wants to help. It is also clear almost immediately that they have real feelings for one another even though they are faking their engagement. Langham’s sisters and Poppy’s friends immediately catch on to those feelings and encourage their relationship.

I appreciated that Langham seems to reject societal expectations of women in the Victorian Era. When Poppy voices concern that he doesn’t have faith in her ability to help clear her sister of her brother in law’s murder, he gives her all of his research and allows her to take the lead. While he is hesistant to do so at first, Langham also reveals that he is claustrophic and allows Poppy to support him through his moments of fear.

I enjoyed A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I’d read the other books in the series. If you are a Bridgerton fan, you are likely to enjoy this series.

I loved this book so much that I immediately took the first two in the series out of the library. Literally the minute I finished this one.

Poppy and Langham made for such a charming couple. Even with their rocky start, I appreciated that the level of angst in their courtship was low, the banter was witty but not unkind, and they were earnest in their efforts to help one another.

It does frustrate me somewhat when, after the protagonists go through the trouble of solving a mystery, the perpetrator acts out and explains the crime in its entirety. It makes their efforts at cracking the case seem somewhat pointless. That said, the mystery was tidy and well-constructed.

Likable characters + fake fiance + murder mystery + secret society + interesting place for lovemaking made for an entertaining story. Had danger and drama but without being stressful

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an egalley of A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes.

Poppy Delamare has already had adventure by the spades since she left her not so ideal family life. She has been hiding in London, working under an alias and happy with her life. However, when her sister is accused of murder, Poppy knows she must return home to help her clear her name. Before Poppy's journey home can even commence, she runs into the Duke of Langham who has quite the savior complex. As Poppy is determined that she does not need the assistance of a man, they eventually come to an agreement - she will serve as the Duke's fake fiancee and he will help Poppy clear her sister's name.

But we all know the rule...never fall for your fake fiancee.

When Poppy's sister is accused of murder she cannot abandoned her. Despite haviing fled years earlier to escape an unwanted marriage and her cruel stepfather, Poppy is determined to return to her family and save her sister.
When she runs into the Duke of Langham, she suddenly finds herself in a fake betrothal with her former adversary the Duke himself. Pretending to be his fiancee so as to save him from his grandmother's scheming to marry him off at her birthday house party, Poppy finds herself neck deep in secrets and subterfuge. Using the power of his dukedom, Joshua and Poppy set out to solve the murder and set her sister free, and if along the way they fall in love? Well, can the fake betrothal become real?
I liked this story, it had enough intrigue and adventure along with a sweet enemies to lovers trope that I really enjoy. Poppy and Joshua's romance is just what is needed for those cold winter nights. Curl up with the Duke and his lady and be prepared to be entertained.
Thank you to Forever Grand Publishing and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

This is third book in the A Lady's Guide series that follows three woman as they find love in England as well as work for a newspaper. This one follows Poppy who we met in the previous books under the name Flora. Poppy fled her home a few years ago when her stepfather tried to marry her off, now Poppy has to return home and try to save her sister who was accused of killing her husband, the man Poppy was supposed to marry. On the way out of town Poppy receives help from her friend the Duke of Langeham. I thought this one was fun but not as good as the first book in the series. The book was still funny and I loved Poppy's relationship with the Duke and I enjoyed the mystery that was going on in the background with the murder and a resurrected cult. I look forward to what Manda Collins writes next. Thank you Forever for my gifted copy for review!

Manda Collins knows how to write a cute romance novel troupe that entails a one sided enemies to lover's. Will keep your attention with a good mystery that will keep you guessing and top it off with a secret cult. Definitely recommend to anyone who loves this genre.

Manda Collins is exceptional at creating characters who allow the other to truly be themselves and grow to accept the love they deserve. We have seen in other historicals how a very similar situation would have turned out poorly for the main characters but Collins worked under the premise of "what if they chose each other over society?" Langham and Poppy are self-possessed and simply needed to learn how to ask for help and to accept it when it is offered. If you're looking for a cozy romance with a dash of mystery, and a few red herrings, I strongly recommend picking up A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes.

historical-romance, historical-research, 1857, country-house, England, situational-humor, verbal-humor, scam, scandal, sham, false-imprisonment, law-enforcement, lies, murder, murder-investigation*****

He was an anathema to her, so why did she agree to be his fake fiancée?
It really does have a good plot complete with astonishing twists and inventive red herrings. But the best parts are the characters and all the humor! Perfect escape reading that had me ROFLMAO!
I requested and received an EARC from Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley. Thank you!

This was SO MUCH fun! I love, love this series in general, but this was just so, so, so good. Poppy is returning home to rescue her sister who has been accused of murdering her husband (the man Poppy left home instead of being forced to marry) and meets and gets some aid from a duke, who poses as her fake fiancé (one of my absolutely favorite tropes, and it was done incredibly well here). Their chemistry is amazing. Joshua is strong but sweet and helpful, and Poppy is a tough, tenacious, but also flawed and real heroine, and together they are magic.

The mystery element is excellent and interesting and face-paced and well done and keeps you guessing until the end, which is kind of everything you could want. This was just impossible not to keep reading until the end. I had some much fun with it and am so excited that I got to read it early!

"I am a lady, Your Grace," Poppy said with a roll of her eyes, "not an ignoramus."

Manda Collins strikes again! This series is so clever and fun, and Poppy and Langham's book is my favorite yet. I love a fake engagement! Poppy and Langham were well developed, interesting characters, and it was fun to see the return of Caro and Katherine as well. It says a lot about Manda's writing that I, NOT a mystery lover, enjoys these books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

This is Poppy and Joshua’s story. Poppy is hiding in London under the name of Flora Deever to get away from her stepfather. She reads about her sister being accused of murder. She must go home to save her sister. When she goes to buy her ticket, a thief steals her purse. She runs into the Duke of Langham. He suggests a that she pretends to be his fiancée to help her investigate and keep him away from the matchmaking mamas.

The have a great attraction. They find many mysteries when they get home. The book was fast moving. I couldn’t put it down. Manda Collins has written another great romance.

I finished it, but it was just okay for me. I couldn't really pinpoint what I didn't like. It was just a bit bland for me.

A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes exceeded all of my expectations. Poppy escapes from an abusive stepfather who plans to marry her off to a man she despises. She goes to London, where she works for several years until she sees in the papers that her sister is accused of murdering her husband (the man Poppy was supposed to marry before she ran away). Poppy immediately sets out to save her sister, venturing back to her family's town when she runs into the Duke of Langham. The Duke agrees to help Poppy clear her sister's name in exchange for pretending to be his fiancee to appease his family and ward off potential brides.

I love a fake dating/engagement trope, and Manda Collins did it well. This book's mystery plot line was also far more fascinating and complex than I expected. A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes is perfect for fans of the fake engagement trope and secret society/murder mysteries.

Trigger warning for abuse.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Manda Collins for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a great cozy read with just the right amount of daring and romance. The fake relationship trope is one of my favourites and there was just enough swoon-worthy heat.

This was such a fun read! Poppy is such a strong character and I loved that she wasn’t going to let anyone intimidate her or tell her what to do. I felt that the book was fast paced and kept me interested from start to finish. The chemistry between Poppy and Joshua was fantastic and I fell for them and their relationship so quickly! This was definitely a read that I completed in one sitting.

I felt that the mystery was fascinating and it was very interesting, keeping me hooked the whole time. I also was not able to accurately guess who the ultimate villain was. I had many guesses throughout reading the book, but found myself wrong on the end and that was refreshing. It was nice to be surprised!

So if you’re looking for a fairly quick read that will keep you extremely entertained and interested along with keeping you guessing about the mystery involved, this one is for you. And if you’re looking for the added bonus of a swoon worthy couple and a heroine who makes you cheer for her at every turn, then I can’t recommend this book to you enough!

Fake engagement, a sister charged with murder, a stubbornly feminist main character, and a charming Duke, dear readers, get ready to be transported back to Victorian London, and fall head over heals with Poppy Delamare and Joshua Fielding.

Dear readers, fake dating/engagement is one of my absolute FAVORITE romance trope! And when done well, like Manda Collins’ did in A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes, I say ‘TAKE MY MONEY, I want your book.’🤣

From start to finish, readers will be steeped in a warmth of pleasure, experiencing the tug and pull as these two characters become completely besotted with each other.

The questions is, will headstrong and independent Poppy Delamare entertain the idea of being a duchess?

Happy Reading ~ Cece

In this latest installment to Manda Collins' historical mystery series, Poppy Delamare is set to return to the town she once escaped from to save her sister from an unthinkable fate. Violet has been accused of murdering her husband, and Poppy knows she is innocent. When she comes across the Duke of Langham, she must set aside her dislike of him as the two enter a mutually beneficial fake betrothal. It will get Langham's grandmother to stop trying to matchmake for him when he goes home, and it will provide Poppy with some influence as she works to prove her sister's innocence. As the web of deceit surrounding Violet gets more tangled though, Poppy and Langham start to realize there is more to their ruse than they previously thought.

This book's primary strength was the development of the main characters and their motivations. Poppy and Langham made sense as individuals, so they were so much more authentic as a couple. I also thought the way that the society plotline and the murder mystery plotline meshed together was really interesting. There were a few characters and loose ends that felt underdeveloped, but overall, this was a great read!

Thank you so much to Forever and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Manda Collins has absolutely won my heart with this third installment of the 'A Lady's Guide' series! I'm not a historical fiction aficionado but I've found myself enjoying the genre a lot lately and this book has sparked a stronger interest for me going forward.

This story begins with Poppy trying to find a last minute train ride back to her village after learning her sister has been implicated in the murder of her brother-in-law. On the way, Poppy bumps into and is given a ride back by Joshua, a very well known Duke that Poppy doesn't particularly like or respect. On the way, they decide to settle on a quid-pro-quo situation and help each other. Poppy will act as Joshua's fiance to ward off any unwanted suitors at his grandmother's party and in return Joshua will do everything in his power to help Poppy prove her sister's innocence (which he was going to do anyway without the mutually beneficial agreement).

From that moment on things get mysterious, steamy and absolutely chaotic. Manda Collins has outdone herself putting together a murder mystery that kept me on toes about which direction it was heading while naturally developing the relationship between Poppy and Joshua.

They spend so much time together that they get to learn a lot about each other within a short amount of time. Poppy learns how wonderful of a person Joshua is and Joshua gets to see Poppy truly for this outstanding and fierce woman that she is.

The pacing of this book was extraordinary! It was fast-paced in that so much happens plot-wise and relationship development-wise in such a short amount of time and yet it never felt rushed. This story felt like a row of dominoes falling perfectly one after another.

I really enjoyed the discussions that Poppy and Joshua had that led to a really believable and high chemistry romance between the pair. It develops so naturally that when they inevitably feel a fierce desire for the other it makes absolutely perfect sense that they would. They were both under the wrong impression about each other and as they spend time together they realize the other person was just who they were looking for without realizing it.

The side characters were also so enjoyable and don't steal the show from the main mystery and relationship but instead uplift the levity of the courtly drama happening outside of it.

They mystery itself was so interested and paced so well. There are moments you can tell what's the likely answer and it happens. Then there are moments where you have an inkling where it might be going but Manda Collins subverts that and leads to a bigger, more scandalous reveal. Additionally, the mystery was so connected to the personal issues and lives of the main characters that it flowed so naturally in between the more romantic and society drama scenes.


A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes was a fun, fresh and easy read that I think anyone can enjoy. The language isn't too taxing even for people who aren't familiar with historical fiction and the chemistry of the leading characters is fantastic.

Thank you so much to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for giving me to the opportunity to read and review this ARC.