Gave it 4.5/5.0 Stars
Not too long ago, I read A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes, the #3 book in the Ladies Most Scandalous series, so of course, I was thrilled to see the next book in this series was available for review! If you love this series or are just looking for something new to try in 2023, here is a fun storyline! You'll be entertained with manners, mystery, and mayhem! You still have time to start with Book #1 and work up to this one, as it releases March 26, 2024!

For fans of Bridgerton, Persuasion, and books by Sophie Quinn. A mix of “cozy mystery” plus period piece. It took me longer than I expected to get into the story, but once I did, I dove right in.

I have really enjoyed the other books in this series - I've always found them to be a really good balance of romance and mystery. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite strike that balance for me and it's by far my least favorite of the series.

The "bad guy" was obvious by about half way through (right after the carriage accident) which wouldn't have necessarily bothered me but I feel like there was never an attempt to show us any other real suspects to make it more interesting.

I also just was not at all convinced by the romance. Honestly to the point that I was fully shocked when the characters kissed for the first time because I had detected no chemistry whatsoever and they hadn't had many scenes together to build that tension. Adrian also in the beginning of the book says that he has accepted that he won't marry for a few years due to his career and because his career is so important to him. And then less than a week later he's proposing? I don't know...it just really didn't work for me. I think I needed to see more character growth and time together - so really I think the whole book needed to be longer in order to achieve that for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The fourth book in the series is quite similar to the first three - love and murder … the miscommunication at the beginning is cleared up early on ( thankfully !) … I also like that this doesn’t have the what seems to be almost mandatory third act breakup - instead the focus is on solving the murder

This book mixes romance with mystery, just like the others in the series, but I feel like this one didn't push as far as the others. The story is good - Foreign Office officials are dying, but it turns out they've been murdered - and the characters likeable but I figured out who it was pretty early on so the tension just wasn't there.

The chemistry between Jane and Lord Adrian is very well built - the spice is very low in this book, so it's good for a wide range of readers.

A good story, a lot of action, and true love - I give it 3.5 stars, rounded to 4.

•ARC Book Review•
A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril by Manda Collin’s
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to review this one!

This was my definition as the ultimate comfy, quick romance read. It has all the makings with a little bit of love, miscommunication, murder, and just overall fun. This is the first I’ve read from Manda Collin’s, but now I’m looking forward to reading her other works. The murder piece was a little transparent but that was honestly part of the drawl with this one. I found the main and secondary characters to be fun and personable. Overall I really enjoyed how quick and light this was to read!

Another delightful addition to this series!

I have yet to find a book in this series that I didn’t thoroughly enjoy. Adrian and Jane have a shared history, not quite a second chance romance, but it does their romance a stepping stone on which to start.

I adored that we got to see the previous main characters from the prior books, especially the Duke of Langhan and Poppy, since Adrian is the Duke’s younger brother. We also get to spend a delightful amount of time with Eversham.

As always we are thrown into a mystery that our two main characters assist with solving, and I loved that even though Adrian continues to protect Jane, he swiftly realizes that she will not be swayed by joining him on their journey to finding the killer.

A Governess's guide to passion and peril fell flat for me with regard to both the mystery and the romance. I felt almost no chemistry between Adrian and Jane through the first half of the book, which made the moment of their first kiss feel lackluster. Their relationship didn't flow or build gradually. One moment they're behaving as thoroughly platonic acquaintances, and the next he has her against a wall with his hand up her skirt. It felt forced.

The book lacks the urgency and tension - both romantic and story - that I expected given the synopsis. It's not a bad book, but it's not for me.

This is the first book I have read in the series although I own the other three. They have been on my TBR but after reading this gem I will be pulling them out to the top of my TBR for sure. This book was a perfect combination of mystery and romance. I loved the lack of a 3rd act break up and the chemistry that slowly built between Lord Adrian and Jane was a pleasure to read about. The fact that all these little threads of plot came together to make a conflict captivated my attention from the beginning. I was hooked from the first page to end of the story. During the book I found myself constantly hypothesizing who was the killer. Such a good book in my opinion with low steam but sizzling chemistry. ❤️🥰

This was an enjoyable, fourth installment of the Ladies Most Scandalous series by Manda Collins, this time involving Miss Jane Halliwell, a former lady working as a governess, and the Duke of Langham's younger brother, Lord Adrian Fielding. For me, it was so fun to catch up with this group of friends and relatives, and we see quite a lot of Poppy Delamere (now the Duchess of Langham - Book 3) and Langham in this one. Both main characters in this story are very likable, and I loved that Adrian develops a protectiveness toward Jane, given her turbulent past, very early on. Despite his (sometimes over-) protectiveness, Jane is a strong character who can stand on her on two feet. And I liked that they worked together as a team to solve parts of the mystery surrounding Jane's father's death when she was younger.

Personally, I was delighted that a fourth book in the series was released, especially since the 3rd book did not click with me, and that we see the return of Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham, who is perhaps my favorite hero of the series. I was hoping that we would see more of the heroines from previous books - Lady Katherine and Caroline - here, but I did think there were some parts that cast Langham and Poppy in a better light than in the last book. I would also mention that this book, of the series thus far, is closest to being closed door; there is not much steaminess to it. But I didn't mind because I was more absorbed in the whodunit aspect of this book. I did guess who the culprit was early on - perhaps at the 40% mark, because who else could it be? - but the motive wasn't clear until the end. The culprit could have had a little more character development as to the kind of villain he truly was before the last few chapters, and can I just say that Viscountess Gilford was just terribly horrid to Jane so I, for one, was delighted that she was shuffled off to the country early on!

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would easily continue reading the series if there is more to come in the future!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of The Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril and to the author as well. All opinions expressed herein are my own, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m absolutely loving the trend of regency romances that integrate a bit of mystery into the mix. Manda Collins delivers in her continuation of the Ladies Most Scandalous series, with Jane and Lord Adrian’s story. In the air of the classic Nancy Drew level mystery solving while managing to develop the romance as the story continued, I really enjoyed Manda’s style of writing.

A Governess Guide to Passion and Peril continues the series "Ladies Most Scandalous." This is the fourth book in the series and follows Jane Halliwell. We last saw her as taking up as a governess for an affluent family in the ton. Her past is revealed when she dredges up her father's untimely death. She perceivers but seems as if there is more to it than she originally thought. Reunited with her childhood crush Adrian brings new light to things buried in the past.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Manda Collins is BACK with another great mystery in the Ladies Most Scandalous Series. We were introduced to Lady Jane Halliwell and Lord Adrian Fielding momentarily in A Spinsters Guide, but it was great to get to know Jane and her situation that led her to being a Governess instead of a lady of the ton. When the master of the house is murdered while the estate is full of diplomats from other countries, Jane has to step in as hostess and works with her old acquaintance Lord Adrian and Detective Eversham to help solve the murder. We even get visits from Poppy and the Duke of Langham! 
This cozy mystery brings you right into the story and knowing that Jane and Adrian have history helps make their storyline progression work a little bit better. The mystery wasn't as strong, there were strong suspicions early on, but the conclusion was up there for me! 
The epilogue left me hoping we will be seeing more out of The Ladies Most Scandalous series... so fingers crossed for another book with a strong, independent female lead coming our way! 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever Publishing, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Although Manda Collins is one of my go to authors, A governess Guide to Passion and Peril was more historical than romance. I found the relationship was placed in the "backseat" and was left wanting more.

The Ladies Most Scandalous Series has been a delight to read from start to finish. The mix of mystery elements, involving dignitaries and literary clues, along with a strong romance is a great example of what Manda Collins does so well. For those who love sleuthing with their smooching in a historical romance!

A Governess’s Guide to Passion and Peril by Manda Collins. A historical romance set in Regency-era England.

In the enchanting world of the ton, where society's rules dictate every move, Manda Collins weaves a delightful and witty tale. *A Governess’s Guide to Passion and Peril* invites readers to step into a realm of love, mystery, and hidden emotions.

If you relish historical romance with resilient heroines and enigmatic puzzles, this book is essential reading. The electric tension between Jane and Adrian will keep you turning pages late into the night. Manda Collins deftly intertwines passion, danger, and scandal, promising an unforgettable journey for fans of Evie Dunmore and Netflix’s Bridgerton.

Whether you're a seasoned devotee of Regency romance or a newcomer to this captivating genre, *A Governess’s Guide to Passion and Peril* awaits, ready to transport you to a world where love and danger collide .

A Governess’s Guide to Passion and Peril is a good addition to the Ladies Most Scandalous series. It is a murder mystery/historical romance. The mystery, while entertaining, was more easily solved by the reader than the previous book.

The second-chance romance was sweet and lovely. The main characters are likable yet have their own foibles. We met both in A Spinster’s Guide to Danger and Dukes. Characters from previous installments played secondary roles in this book, which was nice. I don’t want to give away the plot as it is all part of building the mystery. I enjoyed it and found it a good way to spend my afternoon.

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing), NetGalley and the author for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.

Overview: Miss Jane Halliwell is a governess in the household of Lord Gilford, a British diplomat and one of the few in the community who did not shun her after her father’s suicide. After discovering that her employer has been murdered, Jane must work with the handsome Lord Adrian Fielding, another British diplomat and former family friend (who had abandoned her right when her family lost everything), to help solve the mystery before more people get hurt…

Thoughts: What a charming book - I could not put this down! And I am flabbergasted that I did not know about this series earlier. As someone who is a big fan of historical romance AND cozy mysteries - this book had the best of both worlds. I loved the chemistry between Jane and Adrian, and especially how jealous he would get whenever she interacted with other men. The big reveal at the end was not a huge surprise, but the mystery was still enjoyable to have in the background as it forced Jane and Adrian to spend time with each other. Jane’s friends (and their innuendos) were a hoot - I definitely plan on reading the first three books in the series!!

Take home message: I highly recommend this breezy and humorous historical romance that features a pair of charming leads and a side of whodunit. Perfect for readers who prefer a spice level somewhere in between“Pride and Prejudice” and the Bridgerton series.

I love the yellow cover, but there's not a whole I lot I liked about this one, unfortunately. I've read this whole series and it really has been hit or miss for me. This one was more of a miss. For one thing, these books are typically historical romances and also historical mysteries and one part typically overshadows the other. The other books in this series are more on the steamy side whereas this one, minus one very small scene, was not steamy in the least and the characters really didn't have any romantic chemistry. I felt like Adrian had more chemistry with Eversham, who spends a lot of time in this book because of the investigation. I think if you enjoyed the other books in this series, you will probably enjoy this one as it concludes the arc. For me, the series overall was only okay but I could see recommending it to people who like less steam and more mystery in their historicals.

This was everything I’ve come to expect and enjoy from Manda Collins! A really strong mystery - twisty enough without a major info dump - and a perfectly paced love story that heated up at exactly the right time. I’ve loved spending time with all four of these Ladies Most Scandalous, and I hope to revisit them again in the future.

I received a copy of this book from Forever through NetGalley.