This is such a fun series! Although this is book three in the Ladies Most Scandalous series, it can easily be read as standalone. I loved the first two books and this follow-up didn't disappoint.

Poppy and Langham met in a previous book with less than favorable first impressions. They are reacquainted here when they join forces to stop Poppy's sister from being convicted of murder while posing as a betrothed couple to help Langham out of a bind with his family.

This is a Victorian era historical romance with a strong mystery element involving a secret society and murder. I liked the country setting as it's something different from the usual London. It was a fast-paced read with banter plus fake engagement and enemies/friends to lovers tropes. Poppy was smart and independent. Langham was caring and supportive, with Poppy bringing out his protective side. I enjoyed their chemistry together and seeing their relationship deepen while working together to solve the murder. Hope to see more books in this series.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy of this book.

This was an entertaining, well-written historical romance. It was fun, steamy and kept me reading. I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Whoa - how have I not read Manda Collins before? This book is spectacular! I’ve seen the other titles from the series posted about on Bookstagram and pop up in various other places, but they didn’t really capture my attention (I’m not sure if it’s because it was regency romance or the combo of historical and mystery, but I enjoy both)? I totally loved this! Combining my favorite genres of romance with cozy mystery was perfection!

I definitely recommend this to everyone who enjoys romance, regency or otherwise (I only read the sun-genre occasionally), and especially those who enjoy cozy mystery, because the combo of the two, Manda Collins’ brilliant storytelling, and all the great character development and the solving of the crime while they fell in love? This is just brilliant! I adored Poppy and Lord Langham’s story and wish it was longer (and now I have to go back to read the rest of the series). They were a no-nonsense couple from page one and straight through all the struggles and discrimination and the mystery.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and this is my honest feedback.

Thanks to Forever Publishing and Netgalley for gifting me an early copy of this book to review!

My Rating: 4.5/5

My Thoughts: This is the third book in the Ladies Most Scandalous series. I believe that each book can be read individually but they are best read in order. I adored this book! I have been waiting to read Langham and Poppy’s story since I first heard that they’d get their own book! If you read the previous two books, you have already met Poppy and Langham. I loved their dynamic, the banter was amazing! Langham as a hero was great and he intrigued me a lot in the previous books. I absolutely adored Poppy! I think she has a heroine was very relatable and a breath of fresh air! The writing of course was great too, I expect that anytime I pick up a book by Manda Collins. I especially loved the mystery aspect of this book! I think that lovers of historical romance and mystery will love this book!

I received an ARC from Forever Grand Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Historical Romance, Romantic Mystery, Historical Thriller
Spice Level: High (On page spice—which I skipped because I don't enjoy it.)
Tropes: Sassy Woman, Rich/Poor, Fake Engagement

I find so much delightful about this book and series.

Good:
— The characters—we have former favorites & some new ones. Strong-headed women & men who appreciate them. There are also women who support women instead of cutting each other down.
— The voice is so much fun! The tone always makes me smile.
— Interesting mystery. How would the investigators solve a crime and approach forensic evidence?
—Lighthearted banter. I absolutely love how they all talk to one another.

Bad:
— Rushed ending. I really wanted more than an "I love you"—give me more emotional outpouring of feelings!!!
— The mystery took a turn to debauchery. Is this historically accurate? (My research did not find anything similar, though there are certainly unsavory practices in the time period.)

I enjoyed it overall.
I would recommend this book to lovers of this genre with spice.

This series doesn't need to be read in order to make sense.

Happy reading!

Every time I read a Manda Collins novel, I am easily transported into the 1800s and it is such a fun ride! This story focused on Poppy, aka Flora, who fled her home to avoid an unwanted betrothal and is now returning to her home after finding out her beloved sister is being accused of murdering her husband. After running into Mr. Langham at the train station, they arrange an agreement that he will assist her with proving her sister’s innocence if she pretends to be betrothed to him to avoid family pressure to wed. This leads to a wild ride of society parties, a tangled web of lies and betrayals, lots of tension, and a race to solve a murder.

I loved Poppy and Langham’s fake dating scheme in this novel, there was so much tension! They had such meaningful conversations with one another and were so accepting of who the other person was and their insecurities. The murder storyline was solid and I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout as we got closer to solving the mystery. The family relations and friendships are so great in these novels and I love that characters from the other books in the series make an appearance in this one as well. The bonds they have formed between their group are amazing. Another enjoyable read for me with this series, I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next!

I absolutely loved this book! It was a really fun and light read. Historical romance is one of my favorite genres and this one has witty banter, strong female characters, swoony romance, and a touch of mystery.

Poppy fled to London to get out of a bad betrothal and has been living under a false identity (Flora) and working as a secretary. She enters into a fake relationship with the Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham, who wants to avoid all the women clamoring to be his Dutchess. However, the fake relationship starts to feel real as time goes on. This book is very low on the spice scale, but I hardly missed it with the chemistry, plot, and banter.

A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes is the third book in the Ladies Most Scandalous series, and I have loved every single book so far. Although characters from the first two books appear, this novel does standalone.

I can’t wait to see what the author releases next!

Happy Tuesday y'all and happy release day to A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes by Manda Collins! Thank you so much to Forever and Netgalley for letting me read an eARC of this book. I really liked books one and two in this series, so I was the most excited to read book three!
A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes 4/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads:
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a lady in danger must be in need of rescue, but whether she wants to be rescued is up for debate—for fans of Evie Dunmore and Netflix's Bridgerton from the bestselling author of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem!
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—before Poppy becomes the next victim?
I really liked Langham and Poppy from the other books, so I was really excited to see what their book had in store for us, and man, I definitely was not disappointed! Finding out everything about Poppy's backstory and her sister being accused of murder leading into a fake engagement between Poppy and Langham was such a great way to start this book! I also really liked Langham's sisters and grandmother and how close that whole family was. And the small town that they were in was so fun- not as progressive as London, but man, so much more drama! In terms of plot and pacing, I really liked everything that was going on in the book and the way that Manda Collins had things happen. The secret society was a fun twist and the killer makes so much sense when everything is explained. I wasn't expecting the epilogue to happen so soon after the events of the story, especially with the elements of the epilogue, but it was super cute, and overall I just really enjoyed this book and think that y'all should pick it up today!

Link to be added once post goes live

This book was great and full of twists and turns. The romance aspect was so fun as well. I enjoyed the relationship between Poppy and Langham and the ups and downs they faced. You can tell that there is chemistry between the two and when they agree to a fake relationship, you know more will happen between them. I also appreciated Langham supporting and standing up for Poppy throughout the book. It was refreshing and helped them form a better bond. Besides the romance, I loved the mystery woven throughout the book. I can't wait to read more from this author.

This book was such a fun mix of romance and mystery. It is the third book in Manda Collins Ladies Most Scandalous series. I listened to the first two books on audible and truly enjoyed them. I was excited to switch up the format while reading this book and found it just as enjoyable in this format if not even a little more enjoyable. Everything felt intentional and the characters were well developed and I found myself really rooting for them throughout the whole book. It was a quick paced book that didn't lag, which made me love it even more!

This book is perfect for people who like historical fiction, strong FMCs, romance where the plot is as important as the spice, and the fake dating trope.

I honestly have no complaints about this book. It is exactly what I look for when I pick up a book and I think it was my favorite of the series.

I flew through this. I haven’t read a historical romance in ages, and to find one that has a murder mystery in it? I stumbled upon this and didn’t realize it was the third in the series, but it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of it at all. Now I just have two more books to read 😂 I didn’t put it down. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. Add in some of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers and fake engagement. I can’t wait to dive back into this world with the first two books!

Poppy is leaving London in a rush because she saw an article that said her sister was under suspicion for murdering her husband. As she’s waiting to buy her train ticket, her purse is snatched. As she is chasing him down, none other than the insufferable Duke of Langham stops her. He buys her ticket and is heading in the same direction. On the way he has a bargain for her. He will help her clear her sister’s name if she pretends to be his betrothed so he can dodge all the women his grandmother will be trying to set him up with. And she will do anything to help her sister.

‘A SPINSTER’S GUIDE TO DANGER AND DUKES’ BOOK REVIEW

by Manda Collins
Publisher: Grand Central Publishers
Pub Date: March 28, 2023

My Thoughts:
4.5⭐️. I am loving this series. I love the characters especially the FMC in each of the series. They’re daring and opinionated. Brave and curious.

From start to finish, never bored. Finished this book in one sitting. Never predictable. Love how the men are so enamored by the women. It gave just enough spice without going overboard. Enemies to lovers trope.

Poppy is no different from the FMC of this series. Stubborn, quick wit, and determined to find her half sister. The one thing I like about the Duke is that he doesn’t let society dictate his decisions, not even his grandmother. I love the banter, the unpredictability, and the plot.

Thank you, Netgalley and Grand Central Pub for the eARC in return for an honest review.

What a fun series! We now get Poppy’s story as she works to clear her sister’s name in a resulting murder mystery, with an unlikely partner, the Duke of Langham. I often found myself holding my breath and unable to stop turning the page until I learned the latest twist. It’s Bridgerton meets Nancy Drew with romance, danger, & the ‘Ton. Also loved that we got appearances by Kate and Caro. This latest in the Ladies’ series releases this week! Thanks to NetGalley & Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC.

A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes
3rd Book in the Ladies Most Scandalous Series
Rating: 4 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story! I loved how Poppy and Langham are brought together to solve a murder and that the only way they can work together is to pretend to be betrothed.
These two together made a great pair of sleuths. Adding the back and forth banter and "pretend" flirtations made the story more entertaining. Of course the male lead did not disappoint with his nobody-touches-my-fiance attitude. He was so protective of her, even when she could stand for herself. One of my favorite scenes is when he suggests to her to try and solve some coded list on her own, because she's smarter than him. lol
Though the main focus of the story is finding the culprit of who is responsible for the murder of Poppy's brother in law, the chemistry between Langham and Poppy was very evident from the moment they decide to help each other out from the get go.

Overall, I really had fun and was trying to solve the mystery along with our two leads. Leads who fell in love along the way and their pretend engagement became oh so very real.

In the third installment of Collins' Lady's Most Scandalous historical mystery-romance series, we meet heroine Poppy as Joshua, the Duke of Langham prevents her from pursuing the man who stole her purse. Not to leave a lady in distress, the Duke insists she join him in his private train carriage. On the journey out of London, the two strike a deal: the Duke will use his influence to help prevent Poppy's sister, Violet, from being arrested for the murder of her husband, and Poppy will pretend to be the Duke's betrothed to prevent his grandmother from throwing the women of the ton at him. The continue their farce of engagement, growing closer in the process, while looking into who may have actually killed Poppy's brother-in-law.

I loved this book! Romance and mystery are two of my favorite genres, and I loved to see them mashed together in one great novel. Poppy and Joshua were both extremely likable characters and I was enthralled by the mystery from the very start. I suspect I saw the dangling of a book four when two minor characters of the opposite sex greeted each other by their Christian names... I hope I'm right! Because now I want to read it!

Thanks to Forever for my eARC and finished copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars - 9/10

I devoured A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes by Manda Collins. Although this was my first of hers to read, I cannot wait to go back and read the others in this series.


Poppy Delamare has a secret identity that she’s been keeping from her friends. When she reads that her sister is accused of murder however; she cannot let her sister be alone and sets her sights on home. Duke Joshua of Langham has morals, he cannot leave a lady in distress. Seeing Poppy robbed at the station, he convinces her to travel with him to home. He also has the connections necessary for Poppy to learn all about her sister’s case. The catch? He’d love for her to be his engaged lover for the week.

Manda Collin’s A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes is part mystery, all parts historical romance. I love reading a marriage of convenience and the forced proximity aspect made this one I will recommend! Poppy and Joshua trade barbs throughout with tension that leads the reader to think: when will they finally kiss?! While I thought that the ending mystery part was rushed, I found the overarching mystery fascinating and may try to do further research into if this secret society actually exists! I read this book before the others and felt this could be read as a standalone.

Thank you Forever Published and Netgalley for my earc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

✨ Review ✨ A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes by Manda Collins

I flew through this in two sittings! I enjoyed the two previous books in this series, but this by far is my favorite!!

Miss Poppy Delamare (Flora Deaver, or Kate's assistant in previous books) is fleeing London to rescue her sister from a false murder charge when she quite literally runs into Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham. While Poppy thought Langham a flashy, annoying rake, they make a deal where he will help with her sister's legal issue and she'll pretend to be his fiancee for a week during a house party to keep his family off his back. They end up traipsing around through caves and empty fake churches and I loved it!

The snark and sass between these two was just a delight. And Poppy's not afraid to verbally cut down anyone who questions whether she belongs there. The blossoming romance between the two of them was a delight, and the mystery was a fun addition. I would have loved a bit more steam between the two, but overall I adored this book and will for sure be back for more!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5)
Genre: historical romance f/m
Location: rural UK
Reminds me of: the other books in this series + Evie Dunmore
Pub Date: March 28, 2023

Read this if you like:
⭕️ sassy, strong 1800s women
⭕️ historical romance + mystery/suspense
⭕️ weird gothic cult stuff
⭕️ swoony dukes

Thanks to Forever Publishing and #netgalley for an advanced e-copy of this book!

This was my first book in this series and I'm wondering if it put me at a disadvantage. I loved the wit and banter of the characters and how Poppy is her own person, but I wish there had been a bit more focus on the relationship between Poppy and Joshua. I did love the mystery and danger and I'm always a fan of a fake relationship story. This book didn't completely hit the spot for me, but it did have elements that appealed to me. I'm wondering if I read it at a different time if I would think differently?

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes by Manda Collins
Rating: 4.5 stars
Pub Date: 3/28

For the past two years, Poppy Delamere has lived in London under the alias Flora Deaver. She left her small town to get away from a terrible home life and awful engagement without looking back. But then her sister is accused of murdering her husband, and she must return home to help clear her name by finding the real killer.

When she sees the Duke of Langham at the train station, he offers her a ride home in exchange for a favor. He’ll help her prove her sister’s innocence, if she agrees to pretend to be his fake fiance. He’d like to make it through his grandmother’s birthday celebration without every available woman in the ton expecting to become the next duchess.

I can’t believe how wildly entertaining this book was! From the start, I loved Poppy. She’s headstrong and shirks polite society by being unequivocally herself. Langham was sweet, charismatic, and the perfect gentleman, and I loved their witty banter and sizzling chemistry. The whole “teach me how this whole lovemaking thing works” in historical fiction is one of my favorite things about it! It’s books like this that make me wonder why I don’t read this genre more often.

The mystery itself was intriguing and took up a great deal of the story without overshadowing everything else. This enemies-to-friends-to-lovers story is full of mystery and adventure, and I’m happy to say I didn’t see the ending coming! I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but I will be rectifying that, soon! Read this if you love witty banter, a headstrong fmc, quirky side characters, and Bridgerton with a side of murder.

Thank you so much to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for letting me read this one early! You can pick up your copy of this twisty historical romance on 3/28.

Sharp and Clever...

Poppy Delamare has no time for the frivilous Duke of Langham, Joshua Fielding. He's handsome and wealthy and dismissive of the invesitgating she and her firends do.
Poppy is in dire need to get to her sister before she hangs for a murder she did not commit.

Poppy is very clever, has a rapier wit and does not simper or defer to the duke. Nope, she treats him like an inconvenient necessity since she needs his help to save her sister. There's plenty of mystery and murder to solve with ties to Langham. But this thrust and parry of the equally matched Joshua and Poppy is sharp and clever and a very good read.
Recommend.