Another charmer from Manda Collins!
Enjoy Victorian-era romance and a fake engagement trope? A spirited and strong female MC? An intriguing mystery? This one checks off all those boxes in such a charming way! If you've read any of this series, you know Collins can deliver a well-written and entertaining read, and this one is no exception!
England 1867, and Poppy Delamare is living under an assumed identity living as a secretary after fleeing home two years previous to avoid an objectionable engagement. Instead, her sister ended up in that marriage and now stands accused of having murdered her husband. On her way home to help, Poppy has a run-in with Joshua, the Duke of Landham. There may be sparks, but the two previously had a bad first impression of one another. However, when Poppy's purse is stolen, Joshua cannot leave a lady in need. Plus, he needs a favor. So a mutually beneficial agreement is struck. The two will enter a fake engagement. This way, Poppy has the resources of his duchy at her disposal for the investigation, and Joshua can avoid the press of society ladies desperate to become his duchess. Their romance heats up as they delve into the mystery, but danger lurks.
Poppy and Joshua had fantastic chemistry, and I loved their banter! Poppy is no shrinking violet, she is intelligent, strong-willed, and flawed but utterly likable, and Joshua respects and admires her intelligence and capabilities. The story is well-paced with a layered plot, and I enjoyed how well the romance and murder mystery were balanced. These two trying to solve a multi-faceted mystery while sparks were flying was great fun! If you haven't read this series, I recommend it and this great addition to it!
Thank you to Read Forever Publishing and author Manda Collins for the ARC and the opportunity to review it. I really enjoyed it!
My steep was Lemon Jade Green tea from Simpson Vail Teas www.svtea.com
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?
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