We're back in 1867 England, this time solving the mystery of Mr. Lovell’s murder while navigating London society. As always, we love a little historical romance mixed in with a murder mystery!   

Poppy and Langham had a rocky start and are not friends. His reputation fills the gossip pages and Poppy doesn't have time for that! But she just found out that her sister has been accused of murdering her husband - the man she was supposed to marry years ago and ran away from. Langham is on his way to his country estate to celebrate his beloved Grandmother. To solve both their problems, he proposes they help each other by entering a fake engagement. He can help her sister with this Duke influence and she can keep the parade of eligible ladies away! 

Poppy is headstrong and Langham understands and likes that, which leads to a lovely friendship that stems from their mutual respect. It was interesting to see the different ways women are treated and viewed in society especially when she is introduced as his fiancee and the other women instantly judge her appearance. They were almost strangers when they embarked on this fake engagement and seeing them get to know each other while solving the mysteries in Little Kidding is what made this book entertaining.

Although this is the third book in a series, it can be read as a standalone because the other two couples are not vital to the story but do make an appearance (which we always love). These books are good at showcasing strong willed women who don't conform to society and the men who love them!

What we liked:
▪️Fake Engagement with lots of pining
▪️Murder mystery
▪️The banter between the couples (past & present books)
▪️ Getting a regency hit

What we didn’t like:
▪️a bit of a spoiler: the cultish secret society was a little much

Having run off to avoid an unwanted marriage arranged by her con man of a stepfather, Poppy Delamare had reinvented herself as secretary Flora Diver. When news reaches her that her sister - who was pushed into that marriage in her absence - is the main suspect in his murder she finds herself returning to try rescue her (and figure out what really happened)

Chance, and an unfortunate purse snatching, has her intercepted by Joshua langham, a Duke headed to the same place she is. He agrees to assist her in transport and using his own name to help clear her sister’s. All he asks in return is the tiny favor of a temporary fake engagement. Just long enough to get his family, mainly his matchmaking grandmother, off his back for this trip.

What could possibly go wrong!
Many things, in fact, could go wrong.
Trying to solve one murder leads to uncovering so much more - schemes, blackmail, additional murders, and even a cult! Things escalated *quite* quickly after they entered the caves.
Of course, aside from all the investigating, they still have to handle the society part of their deal and a relationship that seems less and less fake as time goes by.

I enjoyed the bits of banter and flirting, even more so their determination to redefine the behaviors and feelings of friends as a cover for their mutual pining.

This is the third book in the Ladies Most Scandalous series, but reading the other two books first isn’t necessary. That said, I enjoyed the appearances of those characters in this book enough that I plan on going back to see how their stories went.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC!

I love this series! It has just the right amount of suspense and romance for me, while giving me all the regency feels. Joshua (Langham) and Poppy run into each other at the train station. Poppy is returning home because her sister is accused of unaliving her husband and Poppy knows she didn't do it. Joshua is returning to his abbey for a party his grandmother is throwing, and while there, he will have women paraded in front of him because it is high time for him to find a wife.
Joshua only recently has taken to the idea of settling down and he isn't sure that the women she gives him as choices are what he wants. He wants someone who challenges him, someone who gets under his skin and he can't live without.
Poppy has been lying to her friends for two years. Ever since she ran away from home because she was being forced into a marriage she didn't want. Joshua and Poppy have met, but Poppy thinks he is very full of himself and she relys on no man. It's just, that right now, she might not have a choice. She needs help trying to figure out what happened to her sister and navigating all the red tape and a duke's protection sure would help.
Joshua doesn't have alterior motives when he suggests that Poppy play the part of his betrothed, but the more he is around her, the more he falls for her, bit by bit.
I honestly didn't see the twist coming here and I felt that it was a little more face paced and gritty than the first two in the series. What I love about these books are that when the hero falls, he falls fast and it's all he can think about. I can't wait to continue the series!
Thank you to Forever (GCP), Netgalley and Manda Collins for an early copy.

Oh historical romances are fun... and add in a murder mystery and I'm hooked!

Romance side:
- I loved Poppy and Langham immediately. Poppy is a spitfire and I like the way they complimented each other.
- The fake dating/engagement was perfect. Langham is so protective over Poppy, I swoon.
- You can see the "hate to love" happening, each interaction they have is better and better

Murder Mystery side:
- Poppy's sister is framed for the murder of her no-good husband
- You've got cult vibes
- You think you can trust them, but can you?

The timeline was great for me but the pacing was a little slow in the middle, it felt like we kept explaining a lot of the same murder mystery info again and again. But that ending? Loved it!

Thanks NetGalley, Forever, and Manda Collins for an eARC in exchange for a review!

So fun!

I got this book on NetGalley, and I guess I didn't investigate fully, it's book 3 in a series. BUT that didn't stop me from enjoying the book.

I loved Poppy! She was fierce, wouldn't let anyone (man or woman) put her in a corner. She was probably that way before living on her own, but I think it helped that she could be her own woman. (As I stated, I haven't read the first two, so I'm just assuming)

Her relationship with Latham was fun the way they would snipe at each other. And spicy too.

The mystery part shocked me, I didn't figure it out till it was revealed. But to me, that's what makes a good mystery, NOT figuring it out and realizing the small clues along the way after.

Great book, I'd like to read the first two now! Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing!

Flora, the prim and proper secretary to former series protagonist Kate Eversham, is not what she seems. She has been living under an assumed name (her name is really Poppy Delamere) in London for two years after fleeing an arranged marriage. Now she is forced to return home when her sister is accused of the murder of the man Poppy was meant to marry -- who ended up marrying her sister instead.
Throw in a fake betrothal to the Duke of Langham who bailed her out when her purse was stolen, and we have the makings of a slightly farcical, rather steamy, quite intriguing gem of a historical mystery/romance.
Will Poppy and Langham be able to clear her sister's name? How fake is their betrothal? What's going on in the caverns beneath the old Folly? Many questions wrap up neatly at the end. Manda Collins describes her work as Nancy Drew meets Jane Austen with more kissing, and she's not wrong.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes is the third in Manda Collins’ Ladies Most Scandalous series. It can be read as a standalone, although I’ve mostly enjoyed the series so far. I will note that while the first two (especially the second one) felt more mystery-focused, sometimes to the detriment of the romance, this one is much more romance-centric, so this may work better for readers who found that aspect lacking in prior books.
On that note, I really liked the characters and their dynamic. Poppy is very unconventional, from the initial setup of her living on her own under an assumed name to her overall just bold personality. As for Joshua, I like that he’s just generally a good person, trying to navigate his ducal responsibilities and the pressures put on him by various members of his family. And while their backgrounds couldn’t be more different, family and their duty to them is a great early point of bonding for Poppy and Joshua, especially their complex relationships they have with their respective siblings.
I admit to being a bit confused about how the mystery fit together at times, especially since it was much more of a subplot this time around. However, I did ultimately feel it was a bit better executed than that of the previous book, especially when the intentions were clear. And the fact that the fictional Lucifer Society takes inspiration from the real-life Hellfire Club is a nice touch.
This is a fun read, and I’d recommend it to historical romance readers who want stories with a generous dose of comedy/fun and a dash of suspense.

A very sweet romance between Poppy and Langham, with a nod to the Gothic in the mystery. I thought the romance shined the most in this installment, as we see the main couple become friends who slip into something more due to their shared adventure. One of the things I really like about this series is how all the main characters are legitimately decent people, despite any reputations or misunderstandings they might have about each other at the outset. The mystery element had plenty of baddies, a damsel in distress, creepy garden follies, and a secret society. It's basically the romcom version of a Gothic novel the characters may have read. I did have a bit of an issue with the <spoiler>
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St. Lucifer Society portrayal. There was all this talk of how "depraved" and horrible it was, but all we actually learned/saw of it was ridiculous rituals and sex. This made the characters' reactions feel very kink-shaming to me. I think we were supposed to believe there was actual harm to people going on, but I didn't feel it. </spoiler>
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Aside from that, I found the book to be a fun and fast read, and I look forward to the next couple who were hinted at.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy, all of the following are my own views and thoughts.

I devoured the first two books in Manda Collins's Ladies Most Scandalous series so it was no surprise that I did the same with the third installment, A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes. I'm a massive fan of Collins's writing and this book did not disappoint! It follows Poppy Delamere (initially known to readers in the first two books under the pseudonym of Flora Deaver), Kate and Caro's friend and secretary, as she sets off on her own emergency quest to save her sister from being framed for murder. On her journey to the countryside, Poppy happens to run into, of all the people in the world, Joshua Fielding, Duke of Langham, and her personal nuisance. Upon striking a deal to pretend to be betrothed for the week, he helps her track down clues to uncover who the real murderer is and, unexpectedly, finds their bond growing far more than initial mutual respect and care.

Collins excels at interesting dialogue, setting the clues for potential suspects and weaving both romance and mystery to create a truly fantastic third book in her series. It's rare to find a trilogy where each book improves upon the last and readers are capable of (if they so choose) reading each book as a standalone. If you're a fan of historical romances, murder mysteries, and witty banter, A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes is not to be missed!

This series is so much fun, and I’m loving the swoon-worthy romances! The third book in the series, A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes follows Poppy and Langham and their frenemies-to-lovers romance as they work together to solve a murder.

The story takes place in the English countryside, which is a nice change from the first two books. It’s an interesting contrast since one wouldn’t expect the idyllic setting to be riddled with danger, murder, secrets, and more. Between the setting, the compelling and well-developed characters, the mystery and suspense, and the swoon-worthy romance, it’s entertaining and engrossing from beginning to end.

We’ve seen Poppy in the previous books since she is Caro and Kate’s assistant, and I was so excited to learn more about her and her backstory. Poppy is fantastic! She’s smart and independent, and she’s not afraid to assert herself. A self-proclaimed spinster at age 25, Poppy has a bit of independence, so when her sister is accused of murdering her husband, Poppy immediately rushes to her to prove her innocence. I love how she is unapologetically herself. She never tries to change or conform, and she remains true to herself. And Langham appreciates that about her. Langham is great too! He makes an arrangement with Poppy to help her with her sister if she fakes an engagement with him. He’s trying to avoid the pressure of marrying, but it’s pretty clear he has feelings for his frenemy even before he realizes it.

Langham and Poppy have so much chemistry, and their banter is the best! They make a good team, and I liked their verbal sparring as much as their electric connection. Some of their conversations are so funny, and others are sweet and sexy. It’s a nice mix. I enjoyed seeing the couple grow closer and trust each other more as they investigated the murder together and maneuvered through social events.

The mystery is really interesting too and much more complex than the pair originally thought. Luckily for her sister, Poppy isn’t daunted by the dangerous murmurings she hears, and neither is Langham. I think the suspense and intrigue add to the tension between Poppy and Langham, and the high-stakes situations bring them together pretty quickly.

I loved the story. It’s fun and funny, adventurous and romantic, and the mystery is intriguing. Of course, you can never go wrong with a historical romance by Manda Collins! Thanks so much to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes is the third book in the Ladies Most Scandalous series by Manda Collins, recounting the story between Miss Poppy Delamare and Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham.

These two are the most unimaginable match that you could think of if you read the previous books in the series, but of course the author offered this pair as another couple in the amazing group of friends that know one another. And, as it was expected, this time around the mystery aspect of the story was once again present. Of course I love myself a murder mystery centered plot and if you add a fake-relationship for the sake of keeping appearances as the investigation goes on… well, I am sold!

With the nature of the main characters’ relationship I was afraid of how the romance portion of the book would come out, but I loved to see them go through friendship while growing their feelings for each other, finding a great balance between the romance and the actual story centered around the resolution of the mystery.

*ARC kindly provided by Forever Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

They planned to hit two birds with one stone. While they were able to achieve both, they also fell in love. A minor misunderstanding caused some anxiety but was easily resolved. The heroine is smart and tenacious at getting to the truth while the hero is very supportive and helpful to her quest. A good mix of mystery and romance.

I received an ARC,of this book from Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

Mysterious, romantic, and entertaining!

A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes sweeps you away to the British countryside during 1867 and into the life of the independent, reliable Poppy Delamare who, after discovering her sister is accused of murdering her conniving husband, quickly heads home to do whatever it takes to prove her innocence even if it means agreeing to a fake engagement with the handsome, arrogant Duke of Langham, Joshua Fielding.

The prose is witty and sharp. The characters are resourceful, vulnerable, and passionate. And the plot is a fulfilling blend of family, friendship, danger, desire, societal expectations, scheming behaviour, tricky situations, awkward moments, secrets, attraction, and true love.

Overall, A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes is another humorous, charming, adventurous addition to the Ladies Most Scandalous series by Collins, complete with characters I couldn’t help but root for and a swoon-worthy ending that left me smitten, satisfied, and hopeful that there’s still a lot more to come!

Thank you for an advanced copy of this book! I really enjoyed it.

I am a big fan of this series by Manda Collins, and A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes is a wonderful addition!

First, I loved Poppy and Langham. I am a huge fan of enemies to lovers, and the sparks flew between them from the very beginning of this book. I am also a huge fan of fake dating, so this book really brought together all my favorite tropes! Manda Collins does a wonderful job of building the anticipation and tension between Poppy and Langham, but the book itself is light on the steam. There is one open door scene and except for a few longing glances, that's it. I was a little disappointed that this book wasn't quite as spicy, IMO, as the previous too! It focused more on the murder/investigation, which was fine...but I prefer the romance aspect with the murder being more of a side story.

Second, I liked that this one took place outside of London. It was refreshing to "visit" the English countryside instead, and this also enabled the story to purely focus on Poppy and Langham. Caro and Kate were in the book very little this time, and while I missed the friendship dynamic from the first two stories, I did enjoy the change of pace in this one.

Overall, this is a fun series! I enjoyed this book, although the second book is still my favorite in the series! I will definitely read more from this series if Manda Collins chooses to write them!

When I first started reading romance novels, my favorites of the genre were historical romantic suspense. This book reminded me why I love them so much. It brings together so many mysteries and a sense of danger. And of course, there's a dashing duke. This series just keeps getting better.

We know Poppy Delamere as Flora, Kate and Caro's assistant from the previous books. When her sister is suspected of murdering her husband, Poppy races to her side to prove her innocence. On the way, she quite literally runs into Joshua, the Duke of Langham. The book features a fake engagement, as the two of them agree to trade favors.

Poppy is quite happy to pronounce herself a spinster at the advanced age of 25 because doing so allows her more independence. I loved her so much. She is witty and so smart. And Joshua is a great character as well. Both have such depth. I was impressed that the claustrophobia mentioned in the content warnings at the start was his, rather than hers. And I appreciated their discussions of class difference in a way that made sense for the time.

The book was incredibly well balanced with great plot and character development and with great romance and suspense. I highly recommend this book. You can read it as a stand alone, but as always, I love a great series in order.

Thank you to Forever for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up

Season 1 of True Detective but with a rakish duke.
This was odd...
If you like reading a mystery to the point that you can ignore a lack of chemistry between the main characters and mediocre writing, have at it!

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love this series and the way it blends romance and murder mysteries. A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes was no exception. Super fun from start to finish with plenty of touching romantic moments along the way.

Poppy Delamare has gotten used to lying over the past couple of years, since she's had to conceal her real identity. So what's a little more lying, really? When she runs into the Duke of Langham on her way to save her sister from false murder charges, she agrees to pose as his fiancee, in exchange for his help on the murder case.

Fake dating is great, and fake engagements are even better. Add that to a fraught murder investigation, a secret society, and chaotic family members, and you have a reliably entertaining book. While at times it felt like there were a lot of different elements happening all at once, I was happy with the way they were all tied together.

4.25/5

In need of a feminist regency romance tangled in a whodunnit mystery made complete with a fake betrothal and a dangerous satanic secret society? Look no further! A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes by Manda Collins follows Poppy and Joshua as they unravel a gritty murder mystery - and of course reluctantly fall in love during the process.

It was a quick fun read with a little spice, a lot of pining, great banter between our frenemies to lovers, and quite a mystery to be solved. I’ve also learned that I really enjoy multiple POVs, so being in both Poppy’s and Joshua’s minds was fantastic fun for me.

This is the third book in the Ladies Most Scandalous series, and while the characters from the first two books do appear, you can also read it as a standalone.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), Manda Collins and NetGalley for this advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes comes out March 28th.

A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes is the third in the delicious Ladies Most Scandalous series by Manda Collins. The series name alone is delightful, let alone savouring the mysteries, deceptions and romance written with incredible wit and attention to historical details.

In 1867 England in the wake of personal and family challenges, fiesty Miss Poppy Delamare flees to London under the name of Flora Deaver to escape her deplorable betrothed. New environment, new name, new life. But life has a funny way of not going as planned. She meets Joshua Field, Duke of Langham, who has a proposition she cannot refuse, a win-win. She agrees to a fake betrothal, thereby avoiding marriage and he can put an end to the clamouring of the ladies who are desperate to marry him. Flora can hold her own under intense scrutiny of the Langham women. Now they are both safely off the market. Meanwhile, Flora's sister Violet is involved in a murder and Flora is anxious to bring the real killer to justice. Flora and Joshua aren't the only one with secrets.

Banter, chemistry, murder, scandals, social class mores and even a secret society are skillfully written into this fabulous story. The pacing winds and wends and there are many intricacies which kept my eyes stuck to the page.

Historical Mystery Fiction readers who adore romance sprinkled throughout ought to seek out this series, well worth diving into head first.

My sincere thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for introducing me to this charming and highly entertaining series.

Oh no! Poppy's father has accused her sister Violet of killing her husband! Poppy, who has been living in London, immediately heads off to find the truth and meets Joshua the Duke of Langham at the train station. They form an alliance, she poses as his fiance, and they investigate. So many tropes but you know what - this is a fun light read with good characters. I'd not read the earlier books in the series (about Poppy's sisters) but this was just fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this.