Terrific! I thoroughly enjoy all of Manda Collins’ books, but this series specifically.

Manda Collins’ characters are endearing and their chemistry palpable! The author crafts a seamless narrative, expertly balancing heartwarming romance with a touch of mystery that adds an extra layer of intrigue. The pacing is flawless, making it impossible to put down. A truly captivating tale that leaves you with a warm heart and a yearning for more. Five stars for this beautifully crafted blend of love and mystery

This was a fun historical romance meets murder mystery! Easy reading and a fun escape. I especially liked the reuniting of best friends, second chance aspect.

Hello! This is a challenging review to write - I love Manda Collins's books, and I always find myself immersed fully in her stories as well as feel a solid relationship with her characters. Her writing style is such that time and place melt away. I am actually in the era with these characters, standing shoulder to shoulder, fashionable dress to waistcoat, in each drawing room and ballroom, in every scene. Adrian and Jane are wonderful characters, and I love Adrian's penchant for protection. The romance factor was lovely. The main reason this review is a challenge is that the book and plot deal with challenging, difficult topics. I think Manda Collins tackles these topics well, but I, myself, am uncomfortable for various reasons with these topics (warnings for which do appear at the beginning of the book). That all said, though, Manda Collins is an excellent writer, and her books are always joyful to see when published. I was furnished an ARC from Netgalley, and definitely appreciate the opportunity to read this book. This is my honest review. Thank you! :)

I am a massive fan of this author and this series. I love how characters pop up across the series, but also can be read as a stand alone. I love that this was quick paced and jumped right into the plot. I am reluctant and sad to say goodbye to these characters!

Anytime a woman makes pragmatic choices and chooses herself and her future - I want to be best friends with that character!

Losing her father and then being forced to make a hard choice and find respectable employment, our heroine, Jane Halliwell, rises above bad circumstances and pushes herself to create a life from the ashes of her old one. While pushing forward through ill-tempered employers and societal pressures - Jane becomes the best governess she can be to her pupils... until the man she considered to be a second father is murdered.

When she's asked to step back into the limelight once again, and by none other than her long-time crush, Lord Adrian Fielding, Jane will have to take a leap of faith to become who she was truly meant to be!!

NOTES:
- HEA ending
- More of a slow-burn romance with lots of tension and great character building (Not smutty whatsoever)

**Thank you to Forever & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

What a great way to start a new year.
I was on a 6 day cruise and read 9 books, 7 of them ARCS. This is the last of the bunch, and possibly the most fun. The 4th and final of the series has 2 characters we met in the previous book, Jane and Adrian.
Jane, the daughter of a diplomat, became penniless when her father died in Rome, ostensibly a suicide.
Adrian was his aide, and 18 year old Jane had a crush on him.
She went on to become a Governess to his cousin. She was very angry because he just disappeared. She did not realize he was a lowly aide and was immediately sent on to another post.
They met 2 years ago at his brothers wedding ( book 3) and she was still angry and would not speak to him, leaving him perplexed.
Ok, that is the backstory and now they are at the house of her new employer, Governess to the daughter.
Adrian is once again assigned to the conference going on, when there is a murder. It will take their combined efforts to find the murderer, which will lead back to their time together in Rome. Adrian is rather clueless about his feelings and can't figure out why he is feeling jealous. I did figure out the murderer but not the motives until the end. A very clever plot, and a very likeable couple. Historical mystery romance is one of my favorite genres.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest review. Do not start with this book however, as this is 4th in a series!

Thank you to NetGalley for us eARC. I must say this was such a fun, light read. I thought that this was just going to be a romance and did not realize it is a murder mystery too. This is my first time reading this author and I know that this book is I think book four in her series. You definitely did not have to read the others to ge this one. It was cute, sweet, and funny. I love the respect she fives to the female characters especially since this book is sent in the same victorian tume as say the Bridgerton books.

I enjoyed this book for the fairly accurate look at how women were treated in this time frame. I appreciated that the main female character doesn't just swoon over the main male character the first time he shows interest. The book kept me engaged and interested the entire time.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I have read all the Ladies Most Scandalous Series books and A Governess’s Guide to Passion, and Peril lives up to the other novels. It is a Victorian Romance with a mystery twist. Jane has lost everything after her father, a foreign diplomat, committed suicide and left her and her mother scandalized and penniless. Jane is working as a governess for a wealthy family of the ton when her employer is suddenly murdered. Meanwhile, Jane reunites with her girlhood crush, Lord Adrian, her father’s young underling, whom she resents for abandoning Jane and her mother when their lives fell apart. Jane and Adrian are adults and must reconcile their past while solving the murder.

Manda Collins writes spirited, intelligent, courageous female characters who won’t back down or have a fainting spell at the sight of blood. The men in their lives love and respect them for their independence and intellect. Female empowerment and delightful female friendships abound. I am hoping this is not the last of this series!

My thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing the ARC. Your support to reviewers like us is genuinely appreciated.

What an absolute delight this book was! Manda Collins brings these characters to life with her witty writing. Would recommend to everyone who is looking for a fun romance!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy

This series has been so near and dear to my heart. A Ladies Guide to Mischief and Mayhem was one of my very first romances I read when I got into the genre and this was a perfectly wonderful addition to the series.

Like the others in the series this is a romance/mystery with all the trappings of Nancy Drew (some Agatha Christie maybe?) with a little Austen and Bridgerton thrown in there for good fun.

Lord Adrien Fielding and Jane Halliwell have a past and it did not end well. After the death of Jane’s father she is forced to work as a governess due to her reduced circumstances. 5 years later, at the house party of her employers, Lord Adrien Fielding and Jane Halliwell find themselves reunited for a second chance romance when they begin the murder investigation of her employer.

Like the last book this one is heavily mystery with some romance in there but their chemistry is off the charts and makes the slow burn that much more fun.

Read if you love:
Second chance romance
Frenemies to lovers
Miscommunication

While I did love this I just wish the romance had taken a little more of a focal point, however, that’s just not this series. So if you’re looking for a murder/mystery with a touch of spice then this is the PERFECT book.

Overall this is a solid 4 stars. I’ll definitely be pre-ordering the audiobook for a re-read. Mary Jane Wells is an auto buy for me.

Thank you to Forever Publishing for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for an e-galley of A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril.

A regency murder mystery with a little bit of spice, what more could you ask for?
Side note: I read this book without reading the other three in the series. There were no issues with picking up at the end of the series.

Jane just wants a house of her own and to not be at the mercy of others. However, when she discovers the master of the house dead in his study, she realizes she might be asking for too much. When Adrian decides to solve the murder, Jane can't let him investigate on his own. As the two launch their investigation, they discover that what was a schoolgirl crush years ago has turned into something more.

This has been such an amazing series! The female characters have all been strong and independent women and Jane is no exception. She deals with her reduced circumstances and crushed secret love with strength. Jane and Adrian together are a great team working together to solve a highly political murder mystery. They have great chemistry and I love getting cameos from our other favorites heroines! Such a great series I highly recommend reading them all! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

✔️ Childhood Crush
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Teaming Up to Solve a Crime

I've already said how much I love this series by Manda Collins. This one was just a fun as the others in the series, though I was less connected to the characters in this one.

I liked the locked room mystery as well as the setup of the story. I wish the romance was amped a little higher - it was pretty slow burn early on and it wasn't the kind of burn where there were small payoffs partway through (like really prolonged glances or anything like that).

Overall, it was good but definitely slightly less fulfilling than the earlier books.

Steam 🔥
Banter 🗣️🗣️🗣️
Swoon 💕💕💕💕

I was so happy when this book was sent to me because I didn't realize there would be another in this series. This is my favourite historical romance series by a landslide as I love that each book contains a crime plot that drives the book so it's not just all about the romance.

This was a great addition to the series. I think the crime plots are getting better and more interesting through the series. I would've loved more cameos from Val and Caro and Kate but I'll live.

Manda Collins delivers a captivating historical romance in "A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril," a delightful addition to the Ladies Most Scandalous series. The story revolves around Jane Halliwell, a governess who once dreamed of a different life until her father's financial downfall altered her trajectory. When her employer is murdered during a house party, Jane is reluctantly drawn back into the world of the ton, where she must work alongside Lord Adrian Fielding, her childhood crush who once broke her heart.

The narrative is skillfully woven with a blend of mystery, romance, and wit, providing readers with a compelling story that unfolds against the backdrop of a murder investigation. Jane's resilience and determination as she navigates the challenges of her changed circumstances make her a relatable and admirable protagonist. Lord Adrian's internal conflict and desire to mend the past add depth to his character, creating a dynamic and engaging central couple.

The murder mystery plot adds an element of suspense to the romance, with Jane and Adrian teaming up to uncover the truth behind their employer's death. The intertwining of the murder investigation with the rekindling of their childhood connection keeps the pace of the story engaging and well-balanced.

Collins excels in creating a vivid historical setting, and her attention to detail adds authenticity to the Regency-era backdrop. The exploration of societal expectations, class dynamics, and the impact of financial ruin on individuals is seamlessly integrated into the narrative, enriching the overall reading experience.

The chemistry between Jane and Adrian is palpable, and the evolution of their relationship from childhood acquaintances to partners in solving a murder is both heartwarming and passionate. The banter and sharp wit between the characters add a delightful layer of humor to the story.

In conclusion, "A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril" is a well-crafted historical romance with a compelling mystery at its core. Manda Collins' storytelling prowess shines through, making this book a satisfying read for fans of the genre. The exploration of love, redemption, and second chances, coupled with the engaging murder mystery, creates a delightful and immersive reading experience.

I love Manda Collin's Ladies Most Scandalous Series. It has been so fun reading along as Kate, Caro, and Poppy fall in love. Jane Halliwell is the newest lady to join their ranks. Like the other books in the series, A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril, has an independent female lead dealing with a world determined to contain woman and a mystery to solve! I love the way Manda Collins can inspect the situations of women historically without letting her main characters lose their agency or the plot lose it's pace. Being a governess is certainly not a glamorous job and Jane has persevered through a lot. That being said, she is not as dynamic a main character as Kate or Poppy. I wasn't as gripped to her story or her romance. This is the only one of the series that I didn't finish in an evening. It took me several days. I always enjoyed being in the world Collins creates when I did read it. I just wasn't glued to the book. That being said, I recommend this and all of the books in the series to any fan of strong women in regency romance.

I received a copy of this for my honest feedback.

This is a great continuation of the Ladies Most Scandalous series! In this book our FMC has fallen off the social ladder, due to her father's suicide which was linked to gambling away his fortune. To keep herself on her feet she takes up a position as a governess in the home of one of her father's old acquaintances from the Foreign Ministry. While he is holding a gathering of dignitaries, his young mentee joins, who just happens to be our FMC's childhood crush. But nothing goes according to plan when the man of the house is murdered after dinner. our FMC and MMC work together to solve this case, along with others that may have a connection - and in doing so may discover childhood crushes don't actually go away.

Manda Collins does it again, I absolutely loved this book and this series. What I have loved so much about it has been the great balance between the murder mystery plot and the romance plot. The cameos by other characters from other books I loved so much! Through the book it didn't feel dull at any point and nothing felt over done or out of place through the story.

BA Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril is book #4 in the Ladies Most Scandalous series. You don't need to read these in order, but you will bump into characters from other books in each title. This series can very much be read and enjoyed with each book standing on its own. This one is a great addition to the series. Nancy Drew + Jane Austen, you can't go wrong.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.