I really enjoyed the first in this series so was quite eager to pick up this one, and found it to be just as interesting and engaging as the previous story!

Caroline Hardcastle has a bit of scandalous reputation, what with writing a column for ladies in the newspaper run by her friend Katherine. As such, she doesn't mind delving into matters that might cause her more trouble, including investigating the disappearance of an actress friend. Unfortunately it brings her into the same circle as her ex-boyfriend Lord Valentine Thorn (a secret relationship that never made it into the public eye) as his cousin is involved in the disappearance as well.

This is a lighthearted romance, with an interesting mystery, delightful characters, and excellent worldbuilding. Caro feels rather antagonistic towards Val (with good reason) as he'd chosen his family over her, but over the course of the story she realizes she wasn't fair to him, just as Val also realizes that his family put her in an awkward position. They are able to reach a detente that does much to restore their feelings for each other, and in turn, helps them become an effective team. Along with secondary characters from the first story and new ones introduced here, they effectively solve the mystery and find themselves with their own HEA. I hope there will be more in this series as I find it to be quite fun, inventive and enjoyable to read.

This was a really fun historical mystery/romance! The first one was kinda meh in my opinion, so I was looking forward to reading this but was unsure about how I would find it; I'm happy to report that it was a very pleasing story! I really enjoyed Val and Caro in the first book, and I'm glad they got their own story. This is, first and foremost, a mystery, but the romance is also threaded in throughout and they balanced each other out really well. The romance was fun (enemies-to-lovers, second chance romance) and I liked it more than the one in the first book. Though the tropes are different and can't *really* be compared, this couple just seemed more realistic and lovable. I enjoyed the mystery more in this as well; it was more well-rounded and the clues and discoveries were explained better and easier to follow. For fans of the first book, this one is better and I'd highly recommend picking it up, and for those who didn't love the first one, give this one a try--it's extremely entertaining!

I was already loving this historical romance/mystery when some personal upheaval and trauma happened. Then, in the midst of all of that, this book was the perfect comfort read. I will forever love it for being such a companion during a challenging season. What made this such a comfort read were the endearing characters and the well-written chemistry. It was so good. This is the second in a series and I was able to follow along quite easily despite having not read the first. I definitely now want to go back and read the first.

There have been so many good historical romances coming out of late and this is definitely one of the good ones. While maybe not quite at the level of an Evie Dunmore romance, this still holds its own as its own historical universe. There is a lot of humor in this story while still taking itself seriously enough to have undercurrents of all the feminist topics. Caro and Val were also a compelling duo and I was invested in them. The side characters were also compelling and I am definitely invested in this series and want to see what happens to other characters. There is a promise of future stories that I am quite excited about.

In summary, I loved it. Perfectly comforting and enjoyable like tea and cake, while also serving up enough nutrients to give you energy for the afternoon. I was actually a little sad to finish because I was enjoying the characters so much. I am excited to revisit them all in future reads!

I knew this was going to be a master because the first one was a master but I still was disappointed to find it wasn’t a real romance. This is a mystery with a romance subplot. I don’t like mysteries. I honestly skimmed most of it. Now, it’s not bad, which is why I still gave it 3 stars, it’s just not for me. The writing is good but for the life of me I cannot make myself care about the whodunnit.
I liked both Caroline and Val. I enjoyed their gender-bent Persuasion because I love a second chance romance, but I wish it had been the driving force of the book. I enjoyed seeing them learn to trust one another.

Grab this one if you want a breezy historical romance with a side of mystery. The heroine and her besties are independent and the leading man is agreeable to discovering he is all for that. This is fun and charming.

Thank you Forever for the complimentary copy of An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire - A Lady's Guide, #2. Caro, and her finicky cat, Ludwig are back in the second of the series.

Caro is strong and self-assured in her life until she is reunited with Lord Valentine Thorn, or Val. After leaving him broken hearted, she begins to question "why" she left her betrothed. After a forced proximity, they soon find themselves bound together again questioning if this is their second chance at love. Val and Caro's chemistry and witty banter makes for a enjoyable read.

An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire is part regency romance and mystery. Candidly, the second half of the book is far better than the first. The book was incredibly slow in the beginning.

I didn't read the first book in the series, but Ms. Collins does a great job of explaining what had happened between all of the characters in the previous book, so in the end I was able to follow along. I enjoyed the authors writing style, but this wasn't the book for me.

When an opera singer is kidnapped, a crime-solving newspaper columnist must rely on the assistance of the Lord who broke her heart.

This Victorian romance hits all the necessary notes for the historical romance genre while having a strong thread of mystery and suspense--plus a welcome does of feminism. Characters and events from the previous book feature more prominently in this book than is often the case in historical romance series, therefore I highly recommend reading A LADY'S GUIDE TO MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM first, in order to avoid becoming bogged down in (and confused by) the explication at the start. Although the romance elements are occasionally overpowered by the mystery plot, overall, I believe this book will satisfy most historical mystery readers, especially fans of Amanda Quick.

Another great historical romance from Amanda Collins! I adored the characters and their story and can’t wait for the next book in the series! (We’re getting one right?)

I truly enjoyed An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire! I’m still newish to historical romances so I wasn’t sure what to expect! This is the second in its series but works fine as a standalone.

The plot was pretty balanced in the mystery and romance. Manda Collins did a great job at weaving a story with strong main characters and a historical/mystery/romance plot.

I absolutely loved Caro and enjoyed following her throughout the book. Val is so sweet and I loved the banter. I do wish there was more chemistry between them.

Overall, An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire is a quick, sweet, historical romantic mystery with twist and a little steam.

Thank you to Forever for the gifted copy!

If you read A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem and enjoyed it, let me tell you, this one is even better (at least in my opinion!) An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire follows Caro and Lord Valentine, two fun personalities from the first book, as they try to figure out who kidnapped Caro's friend and hurt Valentine's cousin. It's got mystery, twists, intrigue, tension, a marriage of convenience, and a little spice thrown in. The story moved quickly and stayed interesting, and I didn't want to stop reading. I loved watching the two main characters grow, both individually and together. Overall, 5 stars. It delivered what I expected and had me entertained and excited!

Recommended for cozy mystery readers, fans of Evie Dunmore or Manda Collins' previous work, and readers who like Bridgerton but want a slightly different genre.

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever Publishing for the e-ARC!

An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire is the second in Manda Collins’ Lady’s Guide series. It can be read as a standalone, although Some of the blanks you might experience are filled in by the first book.

An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire is Centered around Miss Caroline Hardcastle, who is trying to locate her friend who has been kidnapped in broad daylight. Caro is forced to work with her enemy and former lover Val to find clues and solve the kidnapping mystery.

This book is more focused on mystery than the romance so if you are looking for heavy romance, you find that. It's a second chance trope woven into the story but the focus is the mystery surrounding a kidnapping.

I did enjoy the appearance of the previous couple from the first book Kate and Andrew. It's definitely a feminist book set in the 1800s.

Thank you netgalley for my Arc in exchange for an honest review



The romance is all right, even if the leads lack real chemistry and glue that keep them interesting. Caro and Val are compelling as characters in their own right, with Caro being an author who works to bring attention to crimes against the underprivileged, and Val is reckoning with his new role as heir to a dukedom after having spent most of his life as a carefree second son. However, I struggled to really invest in the romance.

Meanwhile, there’s the mystery plot, where Caroline’s friend is kidnapped, and Val is somehow connected. I feel it really fought for page time with the romance, and it ended up being resolved a bit too hastily as a result.

While this wasn’t my favorite book by Manda Collins, it’s still fun and can see why others who enjoy a mix of mystery and romance would enjoy it.

This novel is a brilliantly managed mix of amateur detective thriller and enemies to lovers romance. I already knew that Caro and Val would make an explosive couple just from the few interactions between them in the first Lady's Guide book, and Collins definitely manages to live up to and surpass the promise I saw in their relationship.
Caro and Val have a personal history that makes them enemies, but they're brought together when Caro's friend, an actress engaged to Val's cousin, gets kidnapped. So the story is a mix of Caro, Val, Kate, and her detective husband, all working together to find the missing woman before anything truly horrible can happen to her, and Val and Caro slowly realizing that they never got over each other and finally realizing that they might just be meant to be together.
It's a story full of intrigue, revelation, brilliant banter, and lots of romance that kept my interest from beginning to end.
This is the second book in the series, but I'm pretty sure it can be equally enjoyed as someone's first introduction to the world. There are minor comments and allusions to things that happened in the first book and Caro and Kate's much-talked-about newspaper column doesn't really get explained in this volume, but the relationships and the case need no previous knowledge to be enjoyable.

Many happy thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the great early read!

This was a lovely book - full of action, pithy banter, and sweet romance. It's the second in a series, but could stand well on it's own. The characters are all enjoyable, and really grew to feel familiar as the story progressed. What I like about this book, and the one before, is that the focus is more on the mystery aspect, rather than bringing romance to the fore. And I especially love the strong female protagonists who are working hard to help Victorian women.

Overall a nice story, and one I would definitely recommend.

I enjoy a mix of mystery with my romance and Manda Collins is one of my favorite authors blending the two with skill in historical settings. As with the first book in this series, A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, Kate and Caroline are at the heart of another crime, this time the disappearance of a talented actress who also happens to be a dear friend; a friend who happens to be secretly betrothed to the cousin of the only man Caro has ever loved. The man who broke her heart.

Collins uses one of my favorite tropes, second-chance romance, with a bonus of enemies to lovers, in this book and I am there for it. There's emotional baggage to unpack, opportunities for growth, witty banter, and just plain fun as Caro and Val reconnect. I like that Collins goes slow with them and doesn't rush their romantic reunion. Deeply emotional issues need to be addressed, between Val and Caro as well as within each of their families. Watching Val evolve, take ownership of his feelings, and control of his life is immensely satisfying and makes forgiveness, when it's finally given, all the more sweet. Caro has a necessary growth arc as well, with the deeper understanding of her parents, especially her father, especially poignant. These are well-developed characters with layers that give them depth and make them interesting.

On the mystery side of the book, Collins once again crafts a tightly-woven scenario with well-placed twists and turns that keep me guessing pretty much right up until the reveal. That aspect of her storytelling adds additional depth that always keeps me flipping pages.

An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire is unabashedly feminist while still staying true to the time and place in which it is set. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Caro take the reins (both figuratively and literally) in her pursuit of justice as well as love. There are definitely no wilting lilies among this group of female friends. I've thoroughly enjoyed the first two books of the series and am already giddy with anticipation for the next, especially if the two secondary characters who practically set the room on fire with their sparks in this book are ready to take center stage in book three.

4.5 stars
ARC received for fair and unbiased review

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire is the second in Manda Collins’ Lady’s Guide series. It can be read as a standalone, although I do recommend the first book as well.

There’s the bones of a good story here, but it falls down a bit in execution, as there’s an attempt to juggle both mystery and romance, resulting in both feeling rather half-baked.

The romance is all right, even if the leads lack real chemistry and glue that keep them interesting. Caro and Val are compelling as characters in their own right, with Caro being an author who works to bring attention to crimes against the underprivileged, and Val is reckoning with his new role as heir to a dukedom after having spent most of his life as a carefree second son. However, I struggled to really invest in the romance.

Meanwhile, there’s the mystery plot, where Caroline’s friend is kidnapped, and Val is somehow connected. I feel it really fought for page time with the romance, and it ended up being resolved a bit too hastily as a result.

While this wasn’t my favorite book by Manda Collins, it’s still fun and can see why others who enjoy a mix of mystery and romance would enjoy it.

This is the 2nd in the Lady's Guide series and I was so hoping to get into Val and Caro's story during the 1st book.

They had such chemistry in the first book and an enemies to lovers thing they put to the side to carry out the investigation but it was back in full force in this book.

In the middle of another investigation one of their new friends and his relatives goes missing and is injured, respectively. They get pretty close to solve the disappearance.

I loved hearing their back story and what caused their animosity. But their feelings didn't seem to lessen even though they let their positions in society decide their fate. 

Oh man is the next story going to be Flora and Langham? I need it!

Thank you readforeverpub for the gifted copies of both books in the Lady's Guide series!! 

Thank you readforeverpub and netgalley for the e-ARC for the honest and voluntary review.

Caroline (Caro) is a young woman who has an interesting life. She is the only child of a very wealthy manufacturer. She writes a column in a popular newspaper, she writes cookbooks and she and a friend hold salons where all kinds of women discuss news of the day.

Four years ago, she was secretly betrothed to the second son of a duke, Valentine (Val). But, Caro overheard a discussion between Val and his elder brother. Val’s relatives did not believe that Caro and her parents were qualified to become a part of their important family. When Val did not immediately defend her and her parents, Caro ended their relationship. She never forgave him.

Now, Caro and Val are both involved in the search for his cousin, Frank, and his betrothed, Effie, a famous actress. Val has become his father’s heir and will become a duke. In the recent past, he has had the chance to rethink many of the things he formerly believed.

The mystery adds a great deal of adventure to this story.

The clues are doled out to the reader. Slowly, a picture comes into focus. Effie is a beautiful woman who is admired by many men. When Effie and Frank are attacked in broad daylight, she disappears and he is seriously injured.

Caro and Effie are good friends. Val cares deeply for Frank. The two of them put aside all differences in order to recover Effie and Frank.

While they are working together, the feelings they had for one another 4 years ago return.

I enjoyed this book. Ms Collins has created a good plot and interesting characters. To be honest, at times I got tired of reading about Caro’s 21st century thought process. I felt there was a little overkill.

Caro and Val and all the characters are complete people. The reader gets a true sense of affection among family members as well as strong sense of friendship. The secondary characters add to the depth of the story. The dialog is entertaining. It is nice to see the growth of forgiveness nand affection between Caro and Val

Ms Collins has created a good book. Although this is part of a series, this book works fine as a stand alone read. I absolutely loved the cover of this book.

I received the book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

I smiled and sighed the entire way through this delightfully witty, romantic, and entertaining book. Our socially mismatched protagonists were secretly betrothed two years ago, but she called it off because she realized he was as snobbish as the rest of his family and her life would be miserable if she married him. Now, her good friend and his cousin have been kidnapped and they’ll have to work together to save them. Can they put aside their pasts and work together? Will their love be rekindled? Ooooh – you’ll just have to read it to see.

We first met Caro and Val in ‘A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem’, and I’ve been anxiously awaiting their story – and it was well worth the wait. I was instantly smitten with both characters and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them rekindle their love and work out their differences.

Miss Caroline Hardcastle is many things – a journalist, a writer of cookbooks, a fierce believer in class equality, a tiny pocket Venus, an excessively wealthy heiress, a loving (but put upon) daughter, a devotedly loyal friend, and very, very independent. When she learns one of her best friends, Effie Warrington, a very popular actress, has been kidnapped, Caro will do whatever it takes to find and rescue her. Caro knows Effie is betrothed to – and madly in love with – Francis Thorn. Caro also knows, thanks to the newspaper column she writes, the men in a woman’s life are the ones who usually cause her harm. Did Francis have something to do with Effie’s disappearance? When she arrives at Effie’s home to learn all of the details, she’s shocked at who is already there. Val is Francis’s cousin and he’s there to ‘save’ him. Caro and Val are hissing at each other from the moment Caro enters the room, so how can they begin to work together to save Effie – especially when Caro thinks Val’s only interest is protecting his cousin and the precious Thorn family name.

Valentine Thorn, newly minted Viscount Wrackham, has had a very hard time over the last two years. First, he lost the only woman he’s ever loved because he wasn’t man enough to stand up for her against his brother’s snobbish comments about her and her parents. Then, he lost his brother in a senseless accident. After a year of mourning for his beloved brother, his cousin has been attacked during the abduction of his betrothed. He knows Caro will immediately believe Francis is responsible for harming Effie – but Val knows Francis couldn’t have had anything to do with it and it is his job to protect him.

Though they are wary of each other, and Caro doesn’t trust Val, they have to find a way to work together if they are going to save Effie – and Francis. Val has learned a lot in the two years since Caro broke their betrothal and he’s learning he needs to stand up to his family – particularly his father. When their investigation causes Caro to be compromised, a marriage between them is the only way to save her reputation. Can Val stand up to his father and protect Caro from his class snobbishness? Can Caro learn to trust Val again? Can they trust each other enough to let themselves fully love each other again?

I can definitely recommend this highly entertaining and book. The romance is wonderful and there is even a lovely epilogue. You’ll love all of the characters – and – we spend some time with the protagonists in the next book – Miss Flora Deaver and the Duke of Langham. Sadly, we’ll have to wait until this time next year for their book. It will, I’m sure, be worth the wait.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem was my first whodunnit historical romance and I absolutely adored it, so when I received this advance copy of the sequel, my expectations were…rather high.

And!! It!! Delivered!! The mystery kept me guessing right up until the big reveal, and the pacing was just right to keep me interested in the string of clues our heroes were uncovering while balancing it with their romance. I love that I was never really able to piece all that much together by myself, and every new twist only complicated a mystery which seemed relatively straightforward at the outset.

The romance, on the other hand, was simpler, allowing the mystery to take center stage. There were a few turns, of course, but it’s definitely suspense first and romance second—and that isn’t a criticism! Val and Caro are both interesting characters in their own right, and their dynamic is so much fun. Their chemistry is excellent, their banter (my Achilles heel, as you may know) is to die for, and they genuinely respect and appreciate each other so much even before they’ll admit to it. Plus it’s a second chance romance AND a marriage of convenience, so. You know I’m living for it.

This one deals very heavily with women’s position in Victorian society—to be expected, given its female leads write a newspaper column helping women protect themselves—but also with class divisions, and while these divisions are no longer relevant to the same extent in today’s society, I think there are some aspects of the classism Caro faces that ring true even now.

We also get to see Kate and Andrew quite a bit in this novel and see the MCs for the next installment go toe to toe as well! I appreciate especially that, unlike many other series that follow different romances in the same world or group, Kate and Andrew play a fairly significant role rather than being relegated to cameos.

And of course, as a Caroline myself, I have rather a soft spot for the intrepid heroine. She’s brilliant and impulsive and dotes excessively on her cat, and I respect that.