A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes

December 19, 2022
At the start of Collins’s crafty third Ladies Most Scandalous romance (after An Heiress’s Guide to Deception and Desire), Poppy Delamere has been living in disguise as Flora Deavers for two years to avoid the unwanted marriage her parents attempted to force on her. She returns to the family fold, however, to clear her sister of accusations that she murdered her philandering husband. When a pickpocket relieves her of her funds on her journey home, she reluctantly accepts assistance from Joshua Fielding, Duke of Langham. The way Joshua sees it, they can help each other: he needs a fake fiancé to spend the week with him at his family’s house party and curtail his grandmother’s matchmaking schemes, and Poppy could benefit from the protection of his title while investigating the crime and trying to catch the true killer. As they work together, Poppy learns that the duke is not arrogant and heartless, as she first believed, but gallant and genuine, while Joshua falls for Poppy’s fire, quick wit, and loyalty to her sister. The mystery unfolds effortlessly, delivering a slew of suspects, tantalizing clues, and danger around every corner without ever overshadowing the love story. This sensual romance will have pages flying. Agent: Holly Root, Root Literary.

January 1, 2023

The third installment in Collins's Victorian England-set "Ladies Most Scandalous" series (following An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire) focuses on Poppy Delamare, who fled to London to avoid a disastrous marriage and reinvented herself as a humble secretary. When Poppy sees the half-sister she left behind accused of murder in the headlines, she rushes home to her aid. After being robbed in the train station, Poppy must accept the help of the rakish Duke of Langham, who is traveling to the country for his grandmother's birthday. A faux engagement is mutually beneficial, with the Duke's position and title assisting Poppy in her efforts to clear her sister's name while sparing the Duke all of the unwanted attention from the eligible young women at the birthday celebration. Multiple murder motives are unearthed while a simmering heat grows between Poppy and Langham until the true murderer has Poppy in his sights. VERDICT Collins keeps the heat smoldering between the well-drawn main characters in this installment, and the mystery keeps the pace moving nicely. Recommend to fans of Julia Quinn and Evie Dunmore.--Nicole J. Suarez

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February 15, 2023
When her sister is accused of committing murder, Poppy Delamare returns home to uncover the truth and winds up in a fake betrothal to a duke. Since she fled home two years ago so her stepfather couldn't force her into a marriage with his private secretary, Lovell, Poppy has lived in London under the identity Flora Deaver. But when she discovers her younger sister married Lovell and is now blamed for his murder, Poppy doesn't believe it and sets out to uncover what really happened. Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham, is taking a train in the same direction for his grandmother's birthday party. He wants to help Poppy, so the pair make a pact: They'll pretend to be betrothed so she'll have more resources to help her sister and he won't have to deal with Grandmama's matchmaking attempts. At first, Poppy thinks Langham is arrogant and entitled, but her feelings change as she gets to know him. As they try to decide what to do about the very real chemistry developing between them, the case becomes bigger, twistier, and more dangerous. Like the previous titles in the series, this third installment mixes romance, murder mystery, and feminist sensibilities. The romance here is a simple slow burn that pairs well with the increasingly complex mystery providing most of the tension, and each arc has a satisfying, well-earned conclusion. The story bucks gender stereotypes with not just the obviously intelligent, fierce heroine, but more notably with a hero who's learning to be vulnerable and imperfect. Compelling, evenly paced, and delightfully fun.

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