A Wallflower’s Guide to Viscounts and Vice by Manda Collins is a fun and exciting historical romance with a twist of mystery. Lucy Penhallow is a smart, independent heiress who would rather solve crimes than deal with suitors. Viscount Gilford (Will) has returned home from Paris, only to find himself broke and needing to marry. But when the two witness a kidnapping, they team up to investigate—and sparks start to fly.

I really enjoyed Lucy’s strong personality and her cleverness. Will was charming in a grumpy sort of way, and their chemistry was so much fun to watch grow. The mystery kept me guessing, and I loved the surprise ending! The book also had great banter, strong friendships, and a fake engagement trope that worked perfectly.

This was a great start to a new series, especially if you enjoy historical romance with smart heroines, swoony heroes, and a good dash of suspense.

3.5 stars

A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice is the first book in a new series by Manda Collins but if you've read her other series, you'll recognize some of the other characters mentioned in this one.

Lucy Penhallow is the fmc and is the leader of the Mischief and Mayhem bookclub. Despite her wealth, she has chosen to be a wallflower and does everything she can to avoid the fortune hunters in Society. When at a ball, she and her best friend's brother witness her friend being kidnapped, she is determined to do everything she can to solve the mystery. And if Viscount Gilford is willing to help her do it, that can only be a good thing, right?

Viscount Gilford (Will) is home from Paris after finding out his steward has stolen a lot of money from him. Now he needs to marry in order to fix things but there is only one heiress he finds himself constantly drawn to...his sister's best friend Lucy. When he and Lucy find themselves linked in the tabloids due to their working together to find out what happened to Vera, Will knows he needs to do the right thing by Lucy but he doesn't want her to think he is marrying her for her money. Thankfully the romance bit is the least of their problems and they find themselves betrothed.

The mystery takes mainstage in this novel however and I'll admit I was a bit surprised around how this one turned out as I didn't expect it (no - I won't give it away). As Lucy and Will (and Lucy's friends) work to find out what happened to their friend and bring her home safely, the find themselves right in the middle of danger.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The friendship between the ladies was great and I loved that they've continued the bookclub. The romance itself was well done and I loved how Lucy and Will connected and built their relationship. I've enjoyed Manda Collins' books in the past and this one is no exception. I'll definitely be picking up the next book in this series when I can.

The most exciting part of this story was the reveals in the end of who done what. Lucy and Will's relationship happened extremely quickly on the page for me, and, since the mystery is so much in the forefront, we don't end up getting that much depth to their romance. The pacing was really quick, so I didn't really feel like we got much of a good reasoning why they both were interested in one another. I did really enjoy how Lucy and her friends Elise and Meg banded together to also try to figure out what happened to Vera and how to get her back. I also did like that Will has a little group of friends as well that he discusses things with during the course of the investigation. I think if we slowed the pacing just slightly and added a few more scenes of them getting to know each other better, this one would have been closer to a 4 star for me. Collins usually does a pretty good job of balancing the mystery, the romance, and the bonkers; this book just unfortunately didn't quite pull it off as well as her previous series. I am excited to read the next book in the series. Not sure who we will follow exactly. There is a possibility but that couple has already interacted in this book; so I'm not actually all that sure.

Lucy is the heroine to love. She might have a sizeable dowry, but she's not in a hurry to marry. When one of her bookclub friends is abducted, she's determined to find her friend. Afterall, they spend their time reading detective mysteries, so who would be better? She witnessed the crime alongside her friend's brother, Viscount Gilford, who happens to need a wife with a dowry to save his estates. The pair is full of chemistry from the get-go. You can't help but root for them to find a way to be together, even with the secrets they're keeping from each other. If you like a good historical, best-friend's brother romance with a dash of mystery, this is a great place to look. I've not read this author before, but I would happily read future installments.

If you enjoy a well-crafted mystery with your historical romance, do I have a book for you. This first book in Manda Collins' new Victorian series has all the twists, turns, banter, and heart-tugging romance I could want.

She's a spinster by choice - opinionated, well-read (she leads a women only book club), and with plans that do not include a husband. Oh, and also an heiress. He's a viscount forced to wed for money and not happy about it. Newly returned from the Continent, he's horrified to discover the only woman who appeals is his sister's best friend. That's not going to happen! And yet, these two just can't seem to stay away from one another, thrown together time and again by events that unfold throughout the book along with those pesky feelings that keep getting stronger rather than going away.

Collins does a superb job of weaving together the mystery and romance elements of this book. Everything unfolds organically and realistically as Lucy and Gilford team up to hunt down the villains and rescue Lucy's kidnapped friend. Working together, the two slowly begin to peel away their social layers and get to know one another on a new level. Their banter sparkles. The chemistry is undeniable. I adored Lucy and came to appreciate Gilford for the way he eventually adored her as well. I couldn't help but root for them the entire way.

The mystery, once again, is one that kept me on my toes. Collins has a knack for that. There were more than a few points along the way where I was certain I knew the identity of the culprit only to have another viable suspect pop up around the next corner. She kept me guessing to the very end. I love when an author accomplishes that!

While A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice launches a new series, readers should be aware that characters from Collins' last series are liberally sprinkled throughout. It shouldn't detract from your enjoyment of this new book but it may very well cause you to want to learn more about the heroes and heroines from the Ladies Most Scandalous series. The four books in that series are: A Ladies Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (Kate and Andrew), An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire (Caro and Val), A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes (Poppy and Joshua), and A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril (Jane and Adrian).

If you enjoy twisty mystery, romance, lively banter, supportive friendship groups (male and female), family dynamics, and a heart-tugging HEA set in Victorian England, check out A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice by Manda Collins. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

4.5 stars
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice is the fifth installment in Manda Collins' Ladies Most Scandalous series and like its predecessors, it's a delightful combination of historical romance and mystery.

William, Viscount Gilford, is moving back to London after a few years in Europe because his family's finances are in dire straits and he needs to marry a wealthy heiress. He's very attracted to his sister's friend Lucy Penhallow and she has the necessary inheritance, but as he gets to know her, he doesn't want her to think he's only interested in her because of her fortune. After he and Lucy witness her friend Vera being kidnapped, they're thrown together as they try to solve the mystery.

Lucy is a great heroine. She's content to be a wallflower, and she's more interested in crime solving and reading books. Thanks to her familial relationship with a Scotland Yard inspector (the hero of the first book), she has a job as a clerk at Scotland Yard. Desperate to solve Vera's kidnapping, she happily teams up with the handsome Viscount.

This book is the perfect blend of mystery and romance. William and Lucy are a cute couple and they're both pretty happy about the forced proximity of investigating a crime together. The mystery is really well done, and I was completely surprised by the ending.

I was a little confused when I began this book because, though it is the beginning of a new series, the characters were very familiar.
so I went back to my Goodreads reviews of the previous series, and indeed, this takes place about 3 years after the last book in the previous series.
Viscount Gilford, whose father was murdered in the previous series, has run away to France for 3 years. Alas, he learns his steward has run off with all his money, and he must return home to marry an heiress.
He returns home to find his mother as disagreeable as ever, and his sister Meg and her friend Lucy all grown up.
Lucy, an heiress should be off limits, but when they see a crime happen in front of them,they become partners to help solve the crime.
What I love about these books is that women are smart and strong, and the men support them in every way. There is even a joke that the men have formed their own club of men with smart wives.
The original 3 women formed a book club, to which the younger women now belong.
When we meet Lucy, she has a job (amazing) working for her cousin Detective Eversham, filing at the police station. This helps her be immune to the many injured men who seem to come her way.
There is a very convoluted mystery and a surprise ending, which I really enjoyed. There is excellent banter among all the characters.
This is a very satisfying and fun addition.to the series and I hope the next book is about Meg and Woodward.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. The opinions in this review are my honest thoughts.

I had a lot of fun reading this book! Is it a work of great literature? No. The mystery was a bit muddled and the romance was definitely insta-love, but it was light (for a mystery) and swoony and an easy read. Exactly what I wanted.

Let's discuss the romance. It happened quickly, but for some reason, it didn't bother me as much as it usually does. Maybe it was because of the time period of the story. I feel like romances progressed more quickly in the Victorian era so it didn't seem so out of place. Whether that's true or not, I loved Will and Lucy together! Will was jealous and overprotective at times (qualities I enjoy in fictional men) but I enjoyed watching Lucy push back. They were a good team and had great chemistry.

As for the mystery, at times it was hard to follow because of the nature of mistaken/secret identity (trying not to spoil) and it seemed that most of what Lucy and Will discovered was because of happenstance rather than superior investigative and deductive skills. Some of the circumstances were repetitive, but the mystery served the romance well. It showed Lucy's independence and intelligence and it showed Will's care along with his trust in Lucy's capabilities.

Really, when it comes down to it, the book was not perfect, but I enjoyed every minute. Manda told a story that had me invested and drew me in to the era with writing that matched the decorum of high society of that time. For anyone looking for a light read, this is one for your list!

This is my first Manda Collins book and I was intrigued by the murder mystery plot along with the romance. I have read a few historical romance mysteries and I am not sure about this one as I know that Will and Lucy definitely had some instant attraction but it almost felt like the mystery as stronger than their relationship development. I didn't like how hung up Will was over needing an heiress to help his money problems, especially his mother who can't help be spending money like it's going out of style. I was mad for him about that but for some reason I didn't feel as much of the heart flutters with them. They seemed sweet but a lot of the story was focused on the mystery, which I have to admit kept me guessing until near the end but even then it was so left field and the suspect felt very flat as a character or maybe Manda Collins was going for more of a psychopathic character. I may try another one of her books but I don't think I was connecting with her writing style.

Heiress Lucy Penhallow loves to solve mysteries, along with her friends in the Mischief & Mayhem Book Club. Viscout Guilford needs a wealthy bride to save his inherited estates, as his previous steward embezzled money. Lucy and Will witness a woman’s abduction, Lucy feels honor bound to investigate, and Will tries to keep her safe. Lovely slow burn romance as Lucy wants to be desired for herself and not her money, and Will wants to prove that he values Lucy for herself. There was quite a bit of violence, I am not sure if all of that was really necessary, but I enjoyed the story and the interactions between the main characters. This was my first read by this author, and characters from previous stories appear here, I am willing to read the previous books to get their stories.
I was given an advance copy. This review is my honest opinion

Fun and romance all tied into a mystery!

I loved Manda Collin’s historical fiction romances because they always blend a mystery with amateur women sleuths and romance. And this one was no different.

This story was a quick read getting to the main crux of the plot quickly and kept a steady pace balancing the romance and sleuthing. The romance felt bit fast but worked with the pacing with the rest of the book.

What a fun historical romance and I love the set up for a new series but still connected to the previous one! Lucy and Will have a lot in common, but mostly they are working together solving a kidnapping while also falling for each other and I’m here for it, the suspense plot line runs heavy alongside the romance so it’s perfect for readers of both genres especially as it all starts to come together with twists and turns along the way, and some peril and deaths along the way. Will is desperate to marry an heiress after realizing his family fortune is gone and is on the hunt, but instead he falls for Lucy as they work together, and has to figure out how to tell her his feelings without her assuming it’s for her money. Lucy just loves Will and it’s so endearing as they go on in their friendship!

I also love Meg’s relationship with both of them, and it makes me so excited for her book. She was so supportive and secretive that she dropped amazing one liners and truths on both Will and Lucy but also kept them together when some stuff go real, along with my fav Manda Collins character Eversham, and I loved every scene that man was in! But seriously I can’t wait for Meg’s book and to see where the rest of the series goes!


Posted to Goodreads, StoryGraph, and Bookbub, will post to Instagram and Amazon on release day!

Manda Collins has figured out the formula for these cozy historical mystery/rom coms and I truly can’t get enough of them.

Lucy live in 1870’s London. She is smart and fearless, but unlike most young ladies of her time, she offers her opinions freely and doesn’t believe that marriage is the pinnacle of a woman’s life. This book is a kind of spinoff from the Collins “Ladies Most Scandalous” series. While you don’t need to read those books to enjoy this one, having that character background would be worth your time…plus they are great books. Lucy belongs to the Murder and Mayhem bookclub with other ladies like her and, through the bookclub meets and become close friends with Meg and Vera. Meg’s brother Will is the Viscount Gilford who has just return from France where he fled after the murder of his father. Will is informed that the family fortune is greatly depleted and he must marry an heiress to become solvent. Lucy is an heiress but Will is attracted to her for so much more that her money. When Vera is violently kidnapped, Meg, Lucy, Will, the ladies of the Murder and Mayhem bookclub and their spouses spring into action. Will Vera be found alive, will Lucy and Will find love??? I fun mystery with a romantic side.

I have been enjoying reading historical romances in the past few months.

This book was a fun read and a cute spinoff from the author’s first series.

There was a good amount of mystery, twists and turns along with a sweet romance and growing relationship between the main characters. The side characters were fun as well.

Thanks to @netgalley and @readforeverpub for the advanced reader copy.

A delightful read, cozy with intrigue. I enjoyed the characters and their banter. I love a grumpy vs sunshine trope plus add in a fake engagement and a murder mystery and you have a great start to a new series.

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was so amazingly cute and swoony!!!

I loved Lucy. She was brilliant and thoughtful and I love that she works and has such a strong sense of right and wrong. I love her!! I love her strength and dedication.
I struggled a lot with our intrepid hero. He was just so...broody and whiny and secretive?
I did like the mystery, which was pretty engaging and surprising.

I enjoyed Manda Collins’ previous books and was excited for this spin-off, but it disappointed, and I struggled to finish. The mystery elements were more engaging than the romance, which felt forced and flat between Lucy and Will. A semi-spicy scene was abruptly inserted and didn’t enhance their relationship. The supporting cast, like Will’s mother, felt unnecessary, and the club’s lack of response to Vera’s kidnapping was odd. The mystery started well but faltered with Vera’s weak motives and a lackluster climax.
Thank you NetGalley for ARC, all opinions are my own.

Manda Collins does it again. Sometimes a girl just wants to sit down with a cup of tea and read a cute historical romance with a murder mystery sub plot! And honestly, Manda Collins is the best at what she does. I really enjoyed this book. It is exactly what I wanted to be and I can’t wait to read the next one!

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.