I felt that this was a good take on the Victorian romance novel. I liked the idea of the main character being a heroine in a mystery. I personally think adding in solving the murder of her employer adds a lot to the plot and allows the romance to build. Often times romances don’t really have much of a plot, just the two main characters story of coming together. I much prefer this where they are working together to solve something and then have to face their feelings for each other. Definitely a good read.

Manda Collins masterfully intertwines romance and mystery in A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril. The story follows Jane Halliwell, a governess whose aspirations for a home were dashed by her father's untimely death, and Lord Adrian Fielding, a diplomat entangled in a perilous investigation. When Jane's employer is murdered during a house party, she and Adrian join forces to uncover the truth, reigniting past affections amidst the danger. Collins crafts a compelling narrative, blending sharp wit with suspense, making it a delightful read for fans of historical romance and intrigue.

Historical rom-coms might just be my new favorite genre. There's something about the mix of humor and mores of the time period that just tickle me.

While not my favorite and not the funniest of the four books in this series, this was still highly entertaining and an easy five stars.

This was fun!

I ended up reading this story on audio and I enjoyed my listening experience a lot. The third book in this series holds the title as my favourite, but I liked the main couple in this one, and I enjoyed the way the mystery played out. Jane was a really compelling main character, she was easy to root for, and I liked how Adrian was a slightly different lead than we'd seen in previous books in the series. The development of the romance in this one was a little different from the other books in the series but I enjoyed the dynamic quite a bit, I liked how soft the two characters were with each other. This was fun, and I'll definitely keep an eye out for more books in this series, they're always a good time.

This book was such a great read! I loved the characters, and I'm so excited to read more in this world! This story sets up the secondary characters getting their own stories so well.

🌹🌹🌹🌹/5

Do you like murder mysteries and pragmatic, independent FMCs?

When a house party goes wrong and the host turns up dead, it’s a mystery against time to find the killer. Who, as it turns out, has been murdering men in the foreign office for years!

Our lovely Jane Halliwell is strong and practical. She doesn’t live by fanciful dreams of the heart, but by pragmatism. And at this party, she reconnects with an old friend, Lord Adrian Fielding, who she has been enamored with since she was younger. Their love story in this book is more of a slow burn and secondary plot line than I expected.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story but I personally wish there was more romance, since it was limited in this book. But the secrets uncovered and how it connects the present to the past was a fun journey. We learn a lot about each member of the foreign office and the side characters were enjoyable, even if the murderer was somewhat predictable.

If you like historical romance, murder mysteries, little to no spice romances, practical and strong characters, banter and tension, HEAs, detective work, and the Victorian era then this book for you!

The fourth book in Manda Collin's Ladies Most Scandalous series, A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril, follows along in a similar way to the other books. Characters meet, someone dies, romance and mystery ensues. I love it. Like, sign me up for every version of this equation. That being said, this was maybe not my favorite in this series.

Jane was once the proud daughter of a Foreign Service employee until he dies with all the money upending her life. She's now a governess to kinda awful people. Adrian was once the apple of Jane's eye back in the day, but he was Too Busy With Work TM, although they were friends. Now they're back together with a dead Foreign Serivce Officer (read: dad's coworker / Adrian's coworker). Duh. Duh. Duh. So now, they obviously have to solve this mystery and totally not fall in love.

My thoughts:

I liked Jane. She was very practical and understandably distraught from everything going on. I respected her apprehension around Adrian all things considered. Adrian was an interesting character too, with his dedication to his job and very much having blinders on. Lovely idiots in love.

To be honest, it was a solid center of the road kind of book. I really enjoyed it, but because it was balancing so many things (brining in old characters, setting up a second-chance (ish) romance, a mystery, and everything else in a historical romance) it was overwhelmed with too much and was underwhelming. It was a little heavy on the mystery and the relationship in both the "current" and previous timelines is lacking. There is some emotional draw, but for my level of enjoyment it was lacking for me. Just the whole relationship was just a quick jump for me and didn't have much development at all.

Long story short, I did enjoy the book and do recommend it. I just wanted more from the book. But take it for what it is, I look forward to the next book by Collins and will be reading that so.... I am who I am and that is a person who loves mysteries in her romance, so Collins is on my "definitely will read" list!

I've loved the other books in this series but this one fell a little flat for me. While the overall storyline was quite interesting, it started slow and took a while to pick up. By the time it really picked up in pace, it was practically the end of the book and I was left wanting more.

Manda Collins is a genius! Her Ladies Most Scandalous series is one of the best I've read in a long time. This series mixes historical romance with cozy mystery. The first novel in the series introduced us to the all the ladies, and each subsequent novel features one of them. However, each can be read as a stand-alone even though previous characters make appearances in them all.

A Goveerness's Guide to Passion and Peril tells the story of Jane Halliway who finds herself on hard times. These circumstances force her to take employment as a governess. But when her employer is murdered, things take a desperate turn. When an old "friend" comes back into her life in the form of Adrian Fielding, that's when everything gets more interesting. Their relationship made me laugh and groan in equal parts.

I thoroughly enjoyed this latest novel of the series, and am happy to award it 4 out of 5 stars.

Oh, I wanted to love this more than I did. I think it wasn’t a complete hit for me because it took a bit to get invested-there seemed to be a slot of characters and a slower plot. Historical Romance isn’t my normal genre either, but I kind of wish there was just a bit more romance in this. Many thanks to Forever Publishing for an electronic copy to read and give my honest thoughts.

I think this was my favorite of the series. Both characters were infectious, and the plot was fast-paced and fun. A great read for anyone looking for a mystery/romance combo.

I received an advanced copy of A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril by Manda Collins from the publisher Forever via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What It’s About: Jane Halliwell once lived a life of privilege, but that life ended when her father died. Now, she’s working as a governess, preparing her chargers for the future that she lost. However, when her employer is murdered during a house party, Jane is thrown back into the world of the ton and she’s asked to act as hostess, but this will place her close to the man she always expected to end up with. Lord Adrian doesn’t understand why Jane is being so chilly, but he has bigger issues like solving his mentor’s murder. But when Jane insists on joining the investigation, Adrian find himself being seduced by his sharp with and sparkling eyes.

My Thoughts: I think of the series this might be my favorite, and the reason that I feel that way is because I still remember it (I know low standards, but alas). I really liked the concept and premise of this story, Jane’s drop from society into working class and being forced back to the society who abandoned her was intriguing. I really enjoy our female lead because of how determined she is and how she pushed to continue being the best person for her charges and not get bogged down in her circumstances. It is so much more delightful to cheer for a character like Jane. I also found the mystery intriguing. While the chemistry was not entirely convincing to me, I still thought this was a fun romp.

Who Should Read It: People who like a falls from grace and coming back from it. People who like historical romances.

Summary: Jane was a rising debutante until her father died, now she’s pulled back into the ton to help solve the murder of her employer with the help of her former prospect.

Not my favorite of the series, but still a decent storyline! The chemistry wasn't evident in this storyline like the other 3 stories. I really, really struggle with the murder mystery romance plots in general, so I struggled a little with this one, but Manda Collins writes in a way that truly captures her readers. While I didn't feel the immediate connection with the main characters, it was all the other characters (the friendship group specifically) that kept me hanging on by a thread! Watching how they continued to interact brought happiness to this book and I'm glad I picked it up in the end. Thanks for the opportunity to read!

This was a fast and wholesome read, I really enjoyed the murder mystery solving and estranged friends to lovers plot!

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

When Jane Halliwell's father died she lost not just her father but also her dowry and her standing in society. Now she is working as a governess and joining dinner parties with guests that once would have considered her their equal. Which is how she finds herself reunited with her once school-girl crush, Lord Adrian Fielding. They haven't spoken in years and now the murder of their host brings them back together to find his murderer. Can they stay focused on the task at hand without succumbing to their attraction to each other and will the hurts of their past keep them from each other now? The plot is really strong in this installment of the Ladies Most Scandalous series. I feel like Collins had a really strong idea of who this heroine was and had spent time with her backstory to create the political espionage/diplomatic mystery. I loved getting to revisit the characters from other books and it felt like they were natural additions to the story, rather than forced cameos which sometimes happens when you have a series where each book focuses on a different character/couple.

I have enjoyed this entire series, and this book was not an exception! Manda Collins writes such strong female characters and men who both accept and embrace them for it.

While the loss of her father led to a significant change in Jane’s circumstances, she accepted it with grace and didn’t let it change who she is. She has remained strong, proud, and compassionate, even when faces with less than kind employers.

Adrian is smart, ethical, and dedicated to his work. He believes in and respects people, though he feels bad that he wasn’t able to help Jane when her father died.

Together they renew their friendship, heal old misunderstandings, and search for a killer. (I have a lot to say about this, but don’t want to give away spoilers). The caring that always existed between them grows into love as they spend more time together.

We get to see the characters from previous books as they help the couple in their quest.

I am hoping the author continues the series.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Manda Collins never disappoints! I loved jumping back into this series after a long hiatus. I flew through this one in a single evening. I couldn't put it down.

Jane Halliwell used to think she'd marry well and have a home and children of her own, but in the wake of her father's disgraceful death, she's left without a dowry, and without many options. She becomes a governess, working for one of her late father's good friends. But when her employer is murdered and she happens upon the body, she joins forces with Lord Adrian Fielding, a former associate of her father and her first crush, to solve the case, with the help of some of their friends.

It's cute, low-steam (I'd give it two chili peppers?), fast-paced historical romance with a mystery thrown in for good measure. Definitely worth picking up!

Thank you to Forever Pub and Netgalley for my review copy.

This was a cute, fun, and quick read.

I really liked the main characters, the chemistry between them, and the friendship group whom we have read about in previous novels in this series.

However, I found with this specific novel, the 'mystery' plot line is what I found to be lacking and eventually what I became bored with. Originally, I was intrigued because it almost felt like a diplomatic and political "Clue" with all of them being held in the same estate. But unfortunately, I wasn't kept in suspense or thrilled with the reveal. In fact, I was able to predict that individual and yet, I don't think there was anything really incriminating to make that prediction obvious.

It was an okay and cute read but coming off of the previous novel, which I really enjoyed, this one was kind of lacklustre.

If ever there were a closed-door mystery that felt cozy, romantic, angsty, and so very sweet- it is this one! I adored our whip-smart Jane as the protagonist. Her persistence to solve the mystery, in spite of societal pressures, was admirable. And the fact she was able to reconnect with her old friend, Lord Adrian, during this was icing on the cake. The way he fell for her was just perfect, just a total goner!

This one was more on the mystery side of a mystery-romance, just fyi! And while this is the 4th book in the series, you could start with this one easily as they are all only loosely connected. A fun romp for sure!

Thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

Manda Collins is definitely one of my favourite voices in the historical romance genre. She's so fun and her characters are super entertaining but also I end up so invested in them. I look forward to reading more from her in the future!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.