I’ve been loving The Ladies Most Scandalous series, which introduced me to a whole new genre / subgenre of reads I didn’t even know existed and I love. The series is a Historical Romantic Suspense (Historical Romance meets Cozy Murder Mystery) - think Nancy Drew meets Jane Austen. The books are interconnected and feature recurring cameos of some cast, but each can be read as a standalone.

For A Governess’s Guide to Passion and Peril, old friends Lord Adrian Fielding and Jane Halliwell (who due to reduced circumstances has been working as a governess) are reunited and find themselves investigating the murder of a mutual friend at a house party.

Once again, I was immediately swept up in the story - I love these characters and the world Ms. Collins has created. Im always excited to jump in and they give me that same feeling I had reading my Nancy Drew reads growing up. This one was a quick paced, easy read.

I liked both our mains, and was excited for the cameos of former characters in this one as well. If you’ve read others in the series, we were briefly introduced to both mains in a former book (and Adrian is Langham’s younger brother). I appreciate that each of the FMCs is always an independent lady, with her own thoughts, hopes and dreams and Jane was no different in this regard.

I will say I had my suspicions of the culprit earlier on in this book, but found solving the mystery and unraveling the particulars alongside our mains satisfying as always. I was charmed and entertained and I’m hoping the ending was leaving things open for another book in the future as I’m reluctant to say goodbye to this world and characters.

I look forward to adding this sunshine-y, bright cover to my physical shelves. Thank you to Netgalley and Read Forever Pub / Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I did read through this rather quickly. (A sign that I liked the book. books I don't like take forever.) And the characters were largely intelligent. My only quibble, as far as the romance goes, it wasn't instalove, but I can't figure out when they actually fell in love. So maybe invisible love? (Like it happened off page?)
Not a bad read, but it loses a point for lack of romantic gestures. (Not spice, but chemistry.)

Still recommended.

what is not to love about this book or author. This is a go to author so it was a must read for me. do it today.