Mystery
![Manda Collins - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B005GH78XY.jpg)
An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire
Former lovers become reluctant allies in this delightfully witty historical rom-com from the bestselling author of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem-for fans of Evie Dunmore, Enola Holmes, and Netflix's Bridgerton!
England, 1867: As half of the writing duo behind England's most infamous crime column, Miss Caroline Hardcastle has quite the scandalous reputation. It may have cost her a fiancé, but she would much rather bring attention to crimes against those ignored by society than worry about what the ton thinks of her.
After Caro's dear friend is kidnapped, however, she has no choice but to work with Lord Valentine Thorn, the same man who broke her heart. Worse, when her actions put her father's business at risk, a marriage of convenience may be her only solution . . . but can she trust Val to stand by her? Or will their past repeat itself?
Val-the new Viscount Wrackham-is in an untenable position: His father is demanding he find a respectable bride to secure the succession. Yet the only woman he's ever loved, Miss Caroline Hardcastle, is notorious for behaving improperly. And she's never forgiven him for his youthful transgressions, missteps made in the name of familial duty, but ones he still regrets to this day.
As they grow closer to unmasking the culprit, Val sees an opportunity to show Caro he's a changed man. But can he convince her to give their love a second chance-before death does them part?
England, 1867: As half of the writing duo behind England's most infamous crime column, Miss Caroline Hardcastle has quite the scandalous reputation. It may have cost her a fiancé, but she would much rather bring attention to crimes against those ignored by society than worry about what the ton thinks of her.
After Caro's dear friend is kidnapped, however, she has no choice but to work with Lord Valentine Thorn, the same man who broke her heart. Worse, when her actions put her father's business at risk, a marriage of convenience may be her only solution . . . but can she trust Val to stand by her? Or will their past repeat itself?
Val-the new Viscount Wrackham-is in an untenable position: His father is demanding he find a respectable bride to secure the succession. Yet the only woman he's ever loved, Miss Caroline Hardcastle, is notorious for behaving improperly. And she's never forgiven him for his youthful transgressions, missteps made in the name of familial duty, but ones he still regrets to this day.
As they grow closer to unmasking the culprit, Val sees an opportunity to show Caro he's a changed man. But can he convince her to give their love a second chance-before death does them part?
Editorial Reviews
"After delighting readers with A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (2020), Collins is back in fine fettle with another fetching mix of sprightly wit, nimble plotting, and engaging characters that is certain to endear her to fans of historical romances and cozier historical mysteries."―Booklist
"The mystery drives the action while the romance provides the heartbeat of the story, and the two weave together to create a well-plotted, entertaining tale for fans of both genres. Expectations and prejudice based on class and gender are scrutinized throughout, while the leads are witty, fierce, bighearted, and easy to love. . . . A successful and thoroughly enjoyable mix of mystery and romance."
―Kirkus
"A delectable mystery that reads like Victorian Moonlighting (with a good heaping of Nancy Drew's gumption). Collins writes with a brisk whimsy, her diverting characters popping off the page . . . adroitly threading the needle of her darkly amusing sense of humor, genuine suspense, and a deep sense of connection. . . . A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem is wickedly smart, so engrossing it'd be a crime not to read it immediately."―Entertainment Weekly on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"Utterly charming."―PopSugar on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"A fun and flirty historical rom-com with a mystery afoot!"―SYFY WIRE on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"Smartly plotted, superbly executed, and splendidly witty."―Booklist on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"Thoroughly enjoyable."―Library Journal on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"Both romance and mystery fans will find this a treat."―Publishers Weekly on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"Manda Collins smoothly blends romance and an English country-house whodunit . . . The twists and turns of the plot will keep readers guessing, but Kate's independent attitude and the interesting friends she gathers around her bring the story to vivid life."―Bookpage on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"When I pick up a Manda Collins book, I know I'm in for a treat. With compelling characters and a rich Victorian setting, A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem weaves mystery and romance into one enthralling tale."―Tessa Dare, New York Times bestselling author
"[Manda] Collins is a delight! I read A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem waaay past my bedtime, absorbed by its spot-on period detail, the well-crafted characters, and of course the intriguing mystery. Brava!"―Elizabeth Hoyt,...
"The mystery drives the action while the romance provides the heartbeat of the story, and the two weave together to create a well-plotted, entertaining tale for fans of both genres. Expectations and prejudice based on class and gender are scrutinized throughout, while the leads are witty, fierce, bighearted, and easy to love. . . . A successful and thoroughly enjoyable mix of mystery and romance."
―Kirkus
"A delectable mystery that reads like Victorian Moonlighting (with a good heaping of Nancy Drew's gumption). Collins writes with a brisk whimsy, her diverting characters popping off the page . . . adroitly threading the needle of her darkly amusing sense of humor, genuine suspense, and a deep sense of connection. . . . A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem is wickedly smart, so engrossing it'd be a crime not to read it immediately."―Entertainment Weekly on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"Utterly charming."―PopSugar on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"A fun and flirty historical rom-com with a mystery afoot!"―SYFY WIRE on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"Smartly plotted, superbly executed, and splendidly witty."―Booklist on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"Thoroughly enjoyable."―Library Journal on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"Both romance and mystery fans will find this a treat."―Publishers Weekly on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"Manda Collins smoothly blends romance and an English country-house whodunit . . . The twists and turns of the plot will keep readers guessing, but Kate's independent attitude and the interesting friends she gathers around her bring the story to vivid life."―Bookpage on A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem
"When I pick up a Manda Collins book, I know I'm in for a treat. With compelling characters and a rich Victorian setting, A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem weaves mystery and romance into one enthralling tale."―Tessa Dare, New York Times bestselling author
"[Manda] Collins is a delight! I read A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem waaay past my bedtime, absorbed by its spot-on period detail, the well-crafted characters, and of course the intriguing mystery. Brava!"―Elizabeth Hoyt,...
Readers Top Reviews
Jaime Book LoverJess
The second book in Manda Collins “A Lady’s Guide” series is an enjoyable story full of “who-dun-it” twists, new beginnings, and crazy aristocratic rules. I do think you should read the first book, A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem before reading this story as a lot of the characters and plot lines overlap. This story focuses on Miss Caroline “Caro” Hardcastle, heiress to the Hardcastle fortune and Lord Valentine Thorn, Viscount Wrackham and heir to a dukedom. These two are not new to each other and several years prior they were betrothed until Caroline called it off. Valentine’s father is demanding he find a respectable bride to secure the succession. Yet the only woman he's ever loved, Miss Caroline Hardcastle, is notorious for behaving improperly. And she's never forgiven him for his youthful transgressions, missteps made in the name of familial duty, but ones he still regrets to this day. Meanwhile After Caro's dear friend is kidnapped, she has no choice but to work with Lord Valentine Thorn, the same man who broke her heart. Worse, when her actions put her father's business at risk, a marriage of convenience may be her only solution . . . but can she trust Val to stand by her? Or will their past repeat itself? In what turns out to be a proposed marriage to avoid Caro’s ruination— Val doesn’t care how he finally got Caroline to the alter, he only cares that she said “I do” and she is his now — whether his father accepts her or not. The story is set up to be a cross between “enemies-to-lovers, second chances, romantic mystery” and the author makes this combination quite enjoyable. What I enjoyed: ✔️ Enemies to lovers trope; ✔️ Caroline’s fight against the treatment of women in 1867 England; ✔️ Val’s devotion to Caroline and his fierce defense of her; ✔️ The inclusion of characters from book one; ✔️ Ludwig *meow* ✔️ The alternative POV What I disliked: ✔️ The mystery felt rather dry compared to book one; ✔️ The lack of actual romance between Val & Caro; ✔️ The lack of heat and sexy times included, very skimpy; ✔️ The lack of an epilogue that was actually in the future, not the next day; Like I said, I enjoyed this book but I think it suffers from a bit of “second book syndrome” — I expected more. Now we have to wait another year for book 3 — by the time it gets here I won’t remember or be as invested in the characters. 3.5 Stars ⭐️ | 3 Flames 🔥
