This is the first book I've read by Manda Collins but it won't be the last. This is the third in a series and can stand alone but it really made me want to know what happened in the first 2 books. The book is about one of 4 heiresses who share an inheritance of a house. Each of the 4 is a brilliant, independent and talented woman in her own right but together they are a force to be reckoned with.
In addition to being a romance there is also a mystery to be solved involving painting forgers and a subsequent murder.
All the characters are well written and strong and this was a delightful read.
I received an free advanced copy of this book.

Manda Collins has become one of my favorite Historical Romance authors. She never fails to please. Once again in Wallflower Most Wanted, book #3 in her Studies in Scandal series I have been charmed by her well-developed and "oh-so-lovable" characters. At first glance artist Sophia Hastings and vicar Lord Benedict Lisle seem an unlikely couple. But they find themselves attracted to each other as they attempt to solve a mystery in their village, Little Seaford.

The author's pace of this storyline of mystery and romance flows well. The plot is laid out such that clues appear along the way as Sophia and Ben follow along, yet there are surprises along the way too.

All in all this is a truly delightful stroy full of sweet romance and mystery. I highly recommend this book!

I voluntarily read an ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.

Wallflower Most Wanted is a fun, engaging historical romance with a determined and talented bluestocking artist and a handsome vicar with equal determination and strength.
I must admit, in all honesty, that I was not excited about reading this. I haven't read a historical Regency novel in a very long time and am quite wary of them because I'd grown bored of a lot of the sameness I was seeing in the genre. Fortunately, this story is refreshingly interpid, moved along at a brisk pace and provided lots of intrigue and excitement with a murder and forgery ring. That said, I still found the pacing and language to be a bit sedate for my tastes even as the story held my attention even as it was appropriate for the historical setting. What was different though was how unconventional Sophia and Benedick were.
This is the third book in the series and I had not read the two previous books. While I do not think it is necessary to read the two previous books to enjoy this one, I feel it necessary to mention that there is frequent mention of what happened in the previous books because the characters in the previous books also feature heavily here. There is nothing spoilery about the mentions of the previous stories, only a few hints but it's enough to make me feel like I want to go back and read the earlier books to find out what happened to Daphne and Ivy before they got their happy endings. You do, of course, learn a few things of what happened in the previous books, that's inevitable but I didn't feel like it made me think I needed the previous books to enjoy this one.
I adored Benedick. Even though he was the vicar of the small village, he was also the most eligible bachelor within the three counties with his prestigious lineage and respectable vocation. Despite being the vicar, I loved that Benedick was also very much a man and had the experiences of every other young man his age prior to settling into his career, and the appetites of a man. Aside from being handsome beyond words, he was also kind, caring and protective. And for a vicar, he was also very able. It was wonderful to see him demonstrate his strength and manliness to Sophia on more than one occasion. It was also wonderful that he wasn't preachy even though his profession was that of a man of God.
Sophia is a refreshing heroine for someone set in this time period. She's not a simpering miss but instead a talented artist with a mind of her own and a backbone of steel. When she happens upon a plot against some unknown person, she's determined to get to the bottom of the matter with or without Benedick's help. Personally, I'm glad that Benedick was there to temper some of her enthusiasm because I think she had a tendency to rush headlong into things with a bit of rashness and impatience. That said, she's bright, fun and kind, and charmingly unaware of her own beauty. She and Benedick make a delightful pair.
Surprisingly, I enjoyed the book the more I got into it because for the first half of the book, I wasn't sure if I would. While I would have liked the prose to be a bit snappier, I understand that it's not possible considering the setting and the time period. All in all, I'm glad I read this. I think, when time permits, I'd like to go back and read Daphne and Ivy's stories. Also there were other characters mentioned who seem to be characters from other books of Ms Collins' that I'd like to find out more about.

I was hoping this book would distract me from what is going on in my life but in the time it took me to read this my life became more interesting than the book. This book follows Sophia and Ben as they try to solve the mystery as to who is behind paintings that turn out to be forgeries created in their area.

I don't feel like Sophia and Ben had any real chemistry or heat between them. In the beginning they seemed pretty shy to me and then all of a sudden they supposedly couldn't keep their hands off of each other. Well I wasn't buying it. They were pretty boring together to me.

What I did like about this book was the action and twist that occurs towards the end. I actually became pretty interested once the twist happened and the action started. It ended up saving the book a bit for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the galley.

Manda Collins has once again created a story that captures the beauty of being different in a society where conventional is the only accepted way of being. She really captures the essence of her characters in their witty retorts and brave deeds, and that's what makes the story feel so alive. While her books are typically a hit or miss for me, this one was definitely a hit.

Miss Sophia Hastings refuses to be ordinary. Creating thought-provoking yet scandalous paintings is her life's mission, and she is very good at it. However, her passion has led to her being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and she finds herself at the bottom of a cliff listening to two men plotting to kill a third in the forest above. And she is not alone - Lord Benedick Lisle, the local vicar, has rushed to help her. Each have vastly different reactions to the scenario. Sophia wants to rush headlong into danger in order to help the unsuspecting victim, while Ben is more cautious and wishes to protect Sophia from potential harm. Soon there is a battle of wills between the two, and it's only a matter of time before the battle turns into one of both the mind and the heart.

It was definitely interesting to have a vicar as the hero, let me say! My brain was having quite a hard time finding its groove in this romance, as half of it expected a clean romance (given the religious nature of the hero's occupation) while the other half knew there was bound to be some fun times in the coming pages (given the author). The odd feeling never fully went away, especially when Benedick mentioned God several times, and I was thrown for a loop again. In most historical romances I have read, it's either no religion or a lot of religion, with no in between. Manda Collins did a good job creating a hero that was able to balance both religion and lust in a way that wasn't awkward, which I think says a lot. Sophia was a fun, spunky heroine that was seemingly Ben's polar opposite, and there were a few times where I just wanted to shake her and tell her to listen to his wisdom. She was a bit too impetuous and came close to having some TSTL moments. In the end, though, I am happy to say that she lives and matures, and it was a lovely progression.

This was a very enjoyable read and one that prompts me to anticipate the next book, sure to feature Sophia's sister, Gemma. It's bound to be a very interesting and entertaining story!

Sophia Hastings is another of the Beauchamp heiresses, a talented painter and artist. She finds herself paired up with the local vicar, Benedick Lisle, to solve a mystery. Unbeknownst to them both Sophia was actually charged with this task by Celeste Beauchamp herself, though they will find this out later in the story. Sophia and Benedick's story line was very similar to those in the previous two novels, and while things did start to feel a tad repetitive, Sophia and Benedick had a story all their own. One of the things I love most about this series is that it features intelligent and strong women, and also women that form a deep and meaningful friendship with each other even though they're all technically "competing for their own legal rights to this house. I think that it is so inspiring to read about such strong and talented ladies. That being said, the characters weren't as fully formed as I think they could have been and also with the plot it felt almost like we dove right in without much preamble, which felt a bit jarring at first. I thought this was a sweet story though and a good romance novel, and a good addition to the series. I look forward to reading the rest of the ladies stories (hoping for one on Serena's story too!).

Another great story. I thought the characters were well developed and the author had a interesting plot. I would read more books from this author.

Sophia Hastings is a talented painter. She is more concerned with finding the right inspiration for her next art, than finding a husband.
She is very beautiful and friendly enough to make several gentlemen want her company. She is kind to all but gives no hope to any of them.
In fact, the only one who catches her attention is exactly the one she can not have, after all, Lord Benedick Lisle is the son of a duke and vicar, which means being a man of God, and God and Sophia have not been in a lot of contact lately...

Benedick, or Ben, is not yet looking for a fiancee, but he knows he will soon be looking for it.
However, he himself is the target of some machinations of single women wanting to entangle him, since he has a cherub-like appearance.

He may be a vicar but he is not blind, and he has already noticed the qualities of Miss Hastings.
One morning as he walked along the beach, he saw Sophia, distracted while painting, fell from a cliff and twisted her ankle. Ben was promptly helping her to the Beauchamp House.
But Divine Providence wanted the two to be together when they heard a mysterious conversation about someone who needed to be eliminated.
Immediately Sophia's detective spirit has surfaced despite her bruised ankle, and with that Ben finds himself involved in discovering with her what could hardly happen in Sussex.

Further on, one of Ben's brothers, Frederick, looks for him with a shocking revelation: the city of Sussex was being targeted by forgeries of famous paintings, and the time that had happened coincided with the permanence of the heiresses of Beauchamp House, and precisely Sophia, among them, was known for being the artist. Was she involved in this devious act?

As the mystery unfolded, the couple who could not be together yielded to the attraction one feels for the other.
But being so different and unlikely, would there be any possibility of being together for good?
Who was the forger? Who was in the gang? Who would be the next victim?

Book 3 in the series Studies in Scandal.
5 stars

As promised, this is a fair and honest review in return for this ARC. This is now the third book of this series that I have read. So far, I have thoroughly enjoyed them all and can't wait for Gemma's story. These are the Beauchamp Heiresses! Strong women who fight their way through the barriers put in front of them due to their gender. Intelligent and very good at their chosen pursuits. These book all have intrigue, laughter and love which combine to make them oh so readable.

I received a review copy of this book via Netgalley in exhange for an honest review. At first I put off reading this book for two reasons: 1) I wasn't sure if I was going to be interested in another one of Lady Celeste's mysteries and 2) I have absolutely no interest in the remaining wallflowers.
However this is one of my all-time favourite historical romance series so I gave it a go and I'm glad I do.
The book opens immediately with a mystery. Painter, Sophia overhears a conversation between two men who are planning to get rid of someone. She teams up with the handsome vicar, Ben and they try to find out who is in danger, why and from whom.
I loved the chemistry between Sophia and Ben. They have a really genuine, playful relationship and I loved that.
This book was well-written and once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I loved that it was different to the previous books but it still retained the same air of mystery. It is very easy for this series to get repetitive and predictable (it's a series about wallflowers solving mysteries) but so far Manda Collins has done a great job making each book unique. This book can be read as a part of the series or as a standalone. I loved this book and I definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good romance or mystery book.

Wallflower Most Wanted ⭐️⭐️⭐️by Manda Collins
(Studies in Scandal #3)

It took me quite a while to finish this book. I found the story mired in repetitive situations as well as an attempt to be mysterious.

The heroine a very popular young debutant Sophia Hastings seems to have her pick of men. Yet the opportunity presented and she was rescued by the local vicar Lord Benedict. Apparently, he is the most handsome man in the area and helps her when she is injured in a fall. How convenient, wouldn’t you say.

On to the crux of the story. Apparently, a so called ring of forgery artist is prevalent in this small town. The banter back and forth to the possibility of the guilty party is too much. The final guilty party is like an old Charlie Chan movie.

This book didn’t do it for me.

This is the third book in this series of four talented heiresses who stand to inherit Beauchamp House and how they end up solving mysteries. I've read the other books and enjoyed them so I was anxious to read Miss Sophia Hastings's story. Sophia is a talented painter who must overcome prejudice and condemnation of her work which is not considered proper for a young lady to partake in. Throw in a handsome and sexy vicar, Lord Benedick Lisle, who at first rescues Sophia after a fall off a cliff, and the main characters are set. Ben helps Sophia unravel a mystery about art forgery in their community as their attraction for each other heats up.

As much as I wanted to love this book, it was just ok for me. Ben calls Sophia "Wallflower" as an endearing name, but every scene Sophia is at a social event, she is surrounded by a bevy of young men. She is far from a wallflower. The mystery in this story is pretty predictable with a slight twist. This book can be read as a standalone, but it does help to understand the other ladies if you've read their stories. I am looking forward to reading the final book of Ms. Gemma Hastings.

This book is part of a series. I have not read any of the other books nor any others by the author. The book functions okay as a stand-alone, but some back story would have helped me better understand the characters, the underlying theme and the plot. However, as I said, a reader can understand and enjoy this one without having read any of the other books in the series. The series involves four women who share an inheritance, and, though I am not sure, these appears to be a competition to get the inheritance.

Sophia Hastings, a talented painter, co-owns Beauchamp House. An unfortunate accident on the cliffs near Beauchamp House, leaves Sophia in the arms of Lord Benedict Lisle. Ben is the second son in his family, and realizes he will end up either in the military or the church, so has chosen the church. In the story, Ben is the new vicar of the local church. Ben is not interested in church politics, but prefers to help people. Ben and Sophia overhear a plot to kill a local artist, and Sophia is determined to get to the bottom of things. Ben, for his part, is not ready to let Sophia jump into the fray alone. Soon, both are enmeshed in a serious plot, where the person behind it all will stop at nothing to achieve his end desire. As the story progresses, Ben and Sophia spend more time together, and a mutual attraction begins. The book moves along quite well, and I was somewhat surprised at the bad guy, as the author did a pretty good job of concealing the culprit throughout.

The characters in the book are both interesting and refreshing. I enjoyed watching Ben in action, as he interacted with Sophia and with his family, hardly the usual in-and-out-of-bed rogue in other romances. Sophia is a strong and competent young woman, determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. Unfortunately, the mystery aspect of this novel happened mostly at the end, though I would have preferred throughout the story. There are, as I said, some gaps in the book that more back story would have hopefully eliminated, though the book can be read as a good stand-alone. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Thanks St. Martin's Press and netgalley this ARC.

This series just gets better with each new book. Stays fresh, true to the theme, and full of passion. Loved Sophia and Lord Benedict together- they make a superb team. Can't wait for the next one.

Opening scene: our heroine falls while painting and sprains her ankle. As the hero strides over to help her, they overhear a murder being discussed. There is also contained in this book the problem of vast amounts of forged art coming out of their village and an unscrupulous man running for local council.

Luckily, Sophia and Benedict are positioned to help (she's an artist, his family is part of the government entity trying to shut the forgeries down).

Sophia actually seemed believable; a female artist with talent who might not be appreciated because of her sex - somewhat resigned but accepting. Benedick is a nice guy. There could be more to their connection but I don't think regular Collins readers won't be disappointed.



Three stars

This book comes out January 30

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley

Follows Duke with Benefits

I voluntarily read an Advance Review Copy of this book through Netgalley. This is a sweet romance story that has another storyline within that involves murder, forgery and deceit. Sophia and Ben come together when trying to figure out who the art forgets are and how to stop them. Along the way, they fall in love while trying to solve the mystery. The book is well written and the storyline is well written. I would highly recommend this book.

I normally avoid historical romances with vicars because I am unfavorably reminded of Mr. Collins, the ridiculous vicar from Pride and Prejudice. Well, huzzah, because the mystery-solving, crime-fighting, marital vows-anticipating Lord Benedick fully kicked the stuffy stigma of being a vicar in the arse. There was nothing ridiculous or boring about this vicar, for sure.

Sophia, the single-minded artist, was not my favorite Studies in Scandal heroine - that honor will always go to blunt-spoken Daphne from Duke With Benefits but there was no denying that Sophia and Benedick made an adorable team whether sneaking in kisses or solving a mystery or both. I imagine the first few years of their marriage to be much like Agatha Christie's Tommy and Tuppence, flirting and fighting through the countryside while solving the cutest local conundrums.

As always, I'm looking forward to the next Studies in Scandal; Gemma's story shouldn't disappoint.

This series, about four blue stockings who are leaps and bounds ahead of their time, has been an absolute pleasure! This third installment is Sophia's story and she might just snag herself the sexiest vicar England has ever seen. There's another mystery (or two) to unravel, a murder to solve and a few more to prevent. Ms. Collins does an amazing job of layering this tale with intrigue, character complexity and an engaging love story. It’s a real treat!

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another installment in this series and just when you thought those spinsters couldn't possibly have more dangerous intrigue, you are proven wrong! There is a request for help from the Home Office, a art forger running amok in the town, a handsome vicar, a talented artist, and a villainous potential politician. The love story is sweet, but the real teeth of this novel is in the mystery surrounding the art forgery ring. So if you liked the first two books (which you don't have to read in order to read this one), then you will likely enjoy this tale as well.

Wallflower Most Wanted is a historical romance novel written by Manda Collins. It is the third book in her Regency-era Studies in Scandal series. I was very excited about the opportunity to read this book because I have enjoyed the other two books in this series. There was a fleeting moment between Sophia and Benedick in the second book, and I knew that they would be perfect together. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I found out that they would really be paired to together.

Sophia is a talented painter, and has spent the last few months at Beauchamp House as one of the four heiresses who are to inherit the house after a year in residence. While painting, she inadvertently falls off a cliff and right into the path of Lord Benedick Lisle, the handsome young vicar. The pair overhear a tense and menacing exchange between two strangers, and while they are trying to puzzle out the meaning of that conversation, they learn that an art forgery ring that has been traced to their little seaside corner of the country.

Meanwhile, a local industrialist attempts to insert himself into the local art scene by declaring that Sophia’s paintings are indecent and should be barred from an upcoming competition. And then something happens that suggests that this is a much bigger problem than Sophia or Ben could have anticipated.

Sophia played a minor role in the first two books in this series, so it was such a pleasure to finally get to know her. The depth at which she sees everyday life is rather atypical for a young woman of her station, and it is perhaps this reflective nature that attracts Ben to her.

I’ve read a couple of books with vicar heroes recently, and I must say, there’s something appealing about the subgenre. Ben is a rather unique hero; he has chosen quite a different path than a life of dissolution, and uses his natural ability to help people. His daily life is quite different from his privileged background as the younger son of a duke, and he will only use his advantageous connections as a last resort.

I would absolutely recommend Wallflower Most Wanted. I think this book stands pretty well on its own, so you don’t have to read the other Studies in Scandal books before reading this one. You really ought to read them though because they are equally delightful, although I do think that this is my favorite of the bunch. As was the case with the other books, Collins does a wonderful job of setting up the pairing for the next book. I can’t wait to read about Gemma and her new chap- June seems entirely too long to wait!

I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.