I really liked the premise of this book. Take everything I love about historical romance and mix it in with murder mystery? Sold. Add a fake engagement and the pairing of a grumpy viscount with a witty wallflower heiress? Gimme.

Let’s start with the fun, shall we?

If you like a fast pace, this book is for you. We jump right into both the meet cute and the mystery, sliding into a world where an heiress is working at a police station—because she wants to, thanks muchly—and meet a group of characters who mostly celebrate witty, forward-thinking women.

Will’s reasons for returning to the ton work well in the world and immediately sets tension with Lucy, so we know where this is going, and settle in for the fun.

And the mystery (while having some loose ends and red herrings that didn’t pan out) is twisty and surprising. It definitely feels like the center of the story.

Onto where the book lost me a bit…

The pacing is fast, bordering on too much so for me, especially for the romance. We never fully settled into a scene, and it was super light on description, which is something I look for in a historical book. It was also sold as a new series, but it took me a while to realize that the reason characters popped in and out without introduction was because they’re all characters from a previous series. A lot of this is a taste thing, though, so if you like a super fast paced read, might not bother you at all!

The premise wasn’t really accurate, though. I don’t know that I’d use the term “fake engagement”. The wallflower was not a wallflower in the typical sense of the word, but rather a woman wary of fortune hunters, with a penchant for walking repeatedly into dangerous situations with zero regard for her own safety. And while the mystery stayed in focus, the central conflict for the romance wasn’t fully carried through. We had a woman wary of fortune hunters falling for a man who actively needs to marry an heiress. The conflict was set up, but I felt like it was never truly explored.

All in all it is a fun, fast read, but needs a bit of a rebrand, both in the premise and as the start of a series. I will check out this author again, but not before going back and reading the first series this one connects to!

Thanks to Forever Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to advanced review this book!

I loved Manda Collins' 'Ladies Most Scandalous', so its a welcome return with this spin-off series featuring Lucy (Evesham's cousin) and Will (the son of the murdered man in #4) with cameos from Kate, Caro, Poppy, Jane and their amours.

However I just really couldn't get into this one. I think a huge part of this was Will and his possessiveness of Lucy and a romance that felt a bit too quick. I totally understand the Victorian era had a lot of rules about women, but I just found his actions sexist given Lucy and her friends were all fairly forward-thinking women of the time. Coupled with a bit of the insta-lust I just didnt buy the romance. I felt like Will never really evolved to respect Lucy as an equal (like all the other heroes befor him had to do).

Enjoyable and fun with some good banter, but didn't quite land for me. I am, however, looking forward to the next book.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC.

Cozy, but still exciting romance. The love story was like a warm hug. It works well to offset the tense mystery.

What a fun little historical mystery romance! I really enjoyed the mystery plot just as much as the romance, which is rare for me--lately, I've read a few that weren't as balanced, but Collins does a good job structuring the plots so that both feel like they're given equal weight. Will and Lucy don't feel like super complicated characters, but I think it fit the relatively light, almost "cozy" feeling of the book well. I know, it's odd to describe a mystery involving kidnapping and murder as "light", but Collins doesn't dwell too long in the angst or trauma.

Something I haven't seen much that I liked--Will isn't automatically understanding of the social plight faced by his female family and friends. He isn't completely sold on Lucy's work with the police at first. He's never a misogynist or even very alpha male, but in his POV chapters, we see him learning and growing. Even though he and Lucy have a fairly smooth romantic road (and usually I prefer a romance to be TESTED, give me male angst and a third-act breakup that has to be resolved with a grovel!), I felt that his growth was enough to solidify their relationship for me.

I have to say that this book wasn't perfect. I do wish Lucy had been a little more flawed--even her recklessness doesn't really get her in all that much trouble. I also got many of the side characters confused (but perhaps had I read the previous books in the series this wouldn't have happened)--there are SO many people that show up for just a scene or two that are treated like people I should already have known. And, finally, I wish this book had either stuck with just kissing or even a fade to black rather than one very very tame sex scene. It did nothing to advance the plot and it felt like the author's heart wasn't in it!

A Manda Collins book never disappoints. I really liked Lucy and Will as our leads. She’s so clever, and he’s respectful of her brilliance while also being just the right amount of overprotective considering someone is determined to do her harm. They’re good working together to solve the mystery of her friend’s disappearance, and they’re even better as two people falling in love.

The mystery is well paced and interesting. I honestly couldn’t predict some of the twists, which I always appreciate. All around, a very good book.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this e-ARC! This historical fiction was wonderfully written and a joy to read! Lucy is a wallflower by choice and would rather read thrilling stories about fictional crimes and detectives rather than being part of the ton in the season. Viscount William has no choice but to come back home to return to his responsibilities after leaving his home in London. His family would be in financial ruin. When Lucy and William witness a kidnapping, they find themselves in the middle of their own investigation.
With the mystery and an instant attraction to one another, this was a funny, cozy read!!

The capers and crime solving that Lucy and Will went on were enjoyable. The romance was open door and very sweet. I have not read the first series yet and as a result, was rather lost on some of side characters. I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I had started at the very beginning.
Thank you to Forever for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Manda Collins does such a good job writing historical romance mixed with mystery. Here we start with a new set of Michief and Mayhem ladies, continuing the traditions of intelligence and independence set out by their predecessors in Collins' "Ladies Most Scandalous" series. FMC Lucy is an heiress who is able to navigate the ton with aplomb while avoiding fortune hunters and enjoying books and learnings with her friends. MMC Will is a Viscount who has recently learned that his estate is destitute. So he makes plans to marry an heiress. But after meeting and spending time with Lucy, he realizes he doesn't want her to think he wants to marry her because she is an heiress - he wants to marry her because she is her.

Lucy and Will begin spending time together after they witness the apparent kidnapping of one of Lucy's good friends and decide to investigate the crime themselves when it seems authorities might not be doing enough. They are thrown into scandalous situation after scandalous situation but come a step closer to solving the mystery every time. Collins mixes the romance and mystery plots quite well, leaving the reader satisfied with both. There are some twists to the mystery, and while by the time the culprit is ultimately unveiled their identity is not that surprising, the mystery remains intriguing throughout. The romance is lovely - Will adjusting to allow Lucy to be who she is, and she being able to see the best in him.

4 stars. I will certainly continue with this series. Thank you to Forever and to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

I'm gonna read whatever Manda Collins writes. Her historical romance/mysteries are always so entertaining and fun, with great leading ladies and men that can't help but pine.

Lucy is a wallflower who is perfectly fine not dancing with the fortune hunters that seek her out. Viscount Gilford lowkey is trying to be a fortune hunter (and is forthcoming about that, which I appreciated) but when asking Lucy if she knows of any good matches for him, they both end up witnessing one of Lucy's friends getting kidnapped. So, of course, the two begin to work on solving the crime and just keep getting thrust deeper and deeper into more intense situations!

I enjoyed that this is a new series, but set in the same world as the Ladies Most Scandalous series, so we got to see old characters around. This will be a fun series as it continues, of course. I honestly could have used 50 or so more pages to build up some more rapport and chemistry between the two leads. It was there, but not as much as I would have liked to see!

In conclusion, really liked!

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the e-ARC!

The beginning of a new historical fiction mystery/romance series from Manda Collins. Lucy Penhallow prefers to be the wallflower and not deal with suitors after her fortune. Viscount William Gilford is her best friend's older brother. He is grumpy to her sunshine. When they witness another friend being kidnapped Lucy wants to put her amateur sleuthing skills to work. Being together can cause a scandal so a fake engagement is suggested. William truly needs to marry someone wealthy to help his family finances. Of course there is nothing fake about their attraction.

This reads lighter like the cover suggests even though there is murder and mayhem. Lucy and William are sweet together. And I liked his sister Meg as well. There is some spice with an open door scene but it is not overly descriptive. Collin’s books seem slightly more focused on the mystery side. There are some clues and red herrings.

I enjoyed this mystery/romance story. I have read the author’s Ladies Most Scandalous series. This seems to be a standalone novel, beginning a new series, and in the same world as the previous series. The main characters in the other series make appearances, which added to my enjoyment.

3.5 rounded to four stars. This was my first time reading a book by Manda Collins, and I definitely enjoyed it. The romance was cute, with appealing characters. I also loved the book club ladies! I do wish the various events of the plot had been spaced out over several weeks instead of a few days; it would have made the romance far more believable and convincing. I also think the motives of the villain could have been more convincingly explained. As it is, the explanation just seems to be “villains gonna villain,” which isn’t all that convincing.

Thanks to the publisher for proving an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A cozy historical romance with a twist of mystery and a heap of charm.
Lucy is the kind of heroine I adore: clever, independent, and just a little bit stuck in the societal rules she wishes she could outrun. And Will? Oh, Will. Will might not have set out to fall in love, but he grows into it beautifully. He listens, adjusts, and (bless him) tries very hard to do right by Lucy.
Bonus points for the Partners of the Clever Ladies League — the secret “book” (read: drinking) club for the heroes. A group of dude friends brought together because they are fully supportive of their leading ladies is among my favorite tropes.

The mystery that threads through the love story has enough red herrings and twists to keep you flipping pages. I had some suspicions but loved letting it unfold without trying to solve it too fast. Sometimes it’s about the journey, not the gotcha.

This one leans low-spice, but don’t let that fool you — the romance is sweet, sincere, and packed with swoony kisses (and yes, I am absolutely here for great kissing scenes). There's one open-door moment that's more "go girl" than graphic, and it fits the tone perfectly.

There’s nothing like falling in love while solving a mystery. Lucy and Will are out there sleuthing and swooning in equal measure.

Tip: You will probably want to have read the Ladies Most Scandalous series first — there’s overlap in characters and backstory that will give you useful context. (If you haven’t, consider this your formal invitation.)

What a fun romp! It wasn’t my favorite of Manda Collins works, but still worth a read. There is Will who needs to marry and heiress to save the family estate and what do you know Lucy is an heiress. But their falling in love is almost a b story line. The main plot centers on the two investigating Lucy’s friend’s abduction. The whole thing is a rom com mystery but in an historical setting. As I said this isn’t my favorite Manda Collins novel. But I love her work, I was thrilled to read an early copy. And I recommend it for a bit of fluff.

This book was interesting and I enjoyed reading it. It was nice to have a mystery aspect in addition to the typical historical romance tropes. I must admit that I was surprised by the plot twist! The book has also nicely set up a new couple and I am interested to see how their relationship will develop.

Will and Lucy are thrown together when they witness a crime in progress. The pair decide to dig into the intrigue and as they work closer together they realize that the feeling they have might be more than crime solving partners. Can they unravel this mystery before they become the next victims?
I love the relationship between the two and seeing them each become slowly aware of the other person and grow closer as friends and maybe something more. I also really like that while Will is adamant about keeping Lucy save there is also a sense that he knows her and that she won't back down from a bit of danger and he can either join her or she is going at it alone, there is no stopping her.
I am very excited to see the world continue to grow and explore the other characters' stories. (especially Meg and Ben)

This was a very cute little historical romance with a healthy dash of suspense, but it didn’t quite do it for me. Lucy is part of a ladies’ book club, and she’d prefer to be a wallflower than entertain a bunch of fortune hunters (fair.) But she seems to have zero hesitations about fortune hunter Will Gifford, who is her friend’s brother (so maybe that makes it different?) When Lucy and Will witness her friend Vera’s abduction from a ball, they decide to team up to solve the mystery and find her, hunting down suspects and interviewing anyone who might be related to the case, but the body count keeps racking up as Will and Lucy’s relationship becomes more romantic, too.

I felt like the character motivations were kind of hazy — the couple had some insta-love things going on, which isn’t my favorite, and the villain’s desires were also kind of unclear (they mastermind this whole scheme and then in the climax seem to abandon it without blinking.) The writing also felt a little simplistic to me — I kept thinking it was YA and the characters were teens, and then having to remind myself that Lucy is meant to be a spinster in her mid-20s. That said, it was a fun, fast-paced little story, and less angsty romance readers might enjoy this more than I did!

After reading (and lamenting the end of) the Ladies Most Scandalous series, I was only too excited to try this newest series from Amanda Collins.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that rather than a new series / world, the A Wallflowers Guide series is instead a spin off of the LMS series set in the same world and features numerous cameos and references to the former.

Though it can be read as a standalone series, given the references I’d definitely recommend starting with the Ladies Most Scandalous book series to fully appreciate all the characters and what is happening.

As I came to expect from her other books, this newest offering once again was a charming combination of cozy mystery and historical romance. It was a fun, quick and easy read that finally led me out of a prolonged reading slump. I really love that once again we’ve got hints of pairings to come — and of course the promise of more mysteries afoot. I look forward to hopefully seeing Meg and Woodward’s story soon.

This was my first Manda Collins book and I certainly enjoyed it.
The love story was cute, if a little instantaneously, and the mystery was intriguing. However, I would have liked a different ending to the investigation as the culprit's motives were not really convincing to me.
That being said, I would definitely read upcoming installments in the series.

This was as charming and delightful as I’ve come to expect from Manda Collins—truly just a pleasure to read, with some twists in the mystery that I didn’t see coming and a really sweet romance at the heart of the story. Although this is billed technically as the start of a new series, readers should know that it leans heavily on the series just before this one with many of the same characters and references to plots. I would advise considering it as a spin off series rather than its own thing. Still, such a fun read—looking forward to the rest of the Ems finding their partners!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Manda Collins for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Wallflower’s Guide to Viscounts and Vice coming out April 22, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoy this author! I love historical romance. I really love historical mysteries. So I was thinking that it would be a really fun combo. The characters didn’t really work for me, unfortunately. I think things moved a little too fast paced when it came to the romance. I was slightly confused by the different characters. It was a little difficult to keep them separated. I think they felt very similar in personalities. I just wasn’t really into the plot. I would read other books by this author!