Review - - A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice

A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice

by Manda Collins

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: April 22, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

A wallflower by choice, wealthy Lucy Penhallow would rather sit out the dancing all season than listen to false flattery from the fortune hunters who pursue her. But when she and her best friend’s brother witness a crime in progress, they’ll need to put every skill Lucy’s learned from reading detective stories to the test in their hunt for a missing woman. And if Viscount Gilford happens to be handsome as sin and clever to boot? Well, that's no hardship for her.

Viscount Gilford needs a wife to save him from financial ruin, and there’s only one heiress who’s off limits. So when he and Lucy find themselves inextricably linked in the tabloids, it’s a disaster. As their investigation progresses, their once unwelcome alliance becomes something more—a love match neither will give up. But there’s a killer watching their romance from the wings who’s only too happy to keep these meddlesome sleuths together . . . in the afterlife.

PJ's Thoughts:

If you enjoy a well-crafted mystery with your historical romance, do I have a book for you. This first book in Manda Collins' new Victorian series has all the twists, turns, banter, and heart-tugging romance I could want. 

She's a spinster by choice - opinionated, well-read (she leads a women only book club), and with plans that do not include a husband. Oh, and also an heiress. He's a viscount forced to wed for money and not happy about it. Newly returned from the Continent, he's horrified to discover the only woman who appeals is his sister's best friend. That's not going to happen! And yet, these two just can't seem to stay away from one another, thrown together time and again by events that unfold throughout the book along with those pesky feelings that keep getting stronger rather than going away.  

Collins does a superb job of weaving together the mystery and romance elements of this book. Everything unfolds organically and realistically as Lucy and Gilford team up to hunt down the villains and rescue Lucy's kidnapped friend. Working together, the two slowly begin to peel away their social layers and get to know one another on a new level. Their banter sparkles. The chemistry is undeniable. I adored Lucy and came to appreciate Gilford for the way he eventually adored her as well. I couldn't help but root for them the entire way. 

The mystery, once again, is one that kept me on my toes. Collins has a knack for that. There were more than a few points along the way where I was certain I knew the identity of the culprit only to have another viable suspect pop up around the next corner. She kept me guessing to the very end. I love when an author accomplishes that!

While A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice launches a new series, readers should be aware that characters from Collins' last series are liberally sprinkled throughout. It shouldn't detract from your enjoyment of this new book but it may very well cause you to want to learn more about the heroes and heroines from the Ladies Most Scandalous series. The four books in that series are: A Ladies Guide to Mischief and Mayhem (Kate and Andrew), An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire (Caro and Val), A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes (Poppy and Joshua), and A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril (Jane and Adrian).  

If you enjoy twisty mystery, romance, lively banter, supportive friendship groups (male and female), family dynamics, and a heart-tugging HEA set in Victorian England, check out A Wallflower's Guide to Viscounts and Vice by Manda Collins. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Review - - A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril

A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril

by Manda Collins

Ladies Most Scandalous - Book 4

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: March 26, 2024

Reviewed by Santa 

Jane Halliwell once dreamed of a home of her own—but those dreams (and her dowry) died with her father. Now, she works as a governess, preparing her charge for a future no longer within her reach. When her employer is murdered during a house party, however, Jane is forced back into the world of the ton. But stepping in as hostess will require working with the same lord who once broke her girlish heart.

Lord Adrian Fielding was too consumed with his job at the Foreign Office to pay young Jane much heed, but he always considered her a friend. Which is why he’s confounded by her icy demeanor now. More troubling still is his desire to melt the tensions between them. But his mentor’s murder means he must first find the culprit—and ensure Jane’s safety as she manages a house full of foreign dignitaries.

Only Jane insists on joining the investigation, and Adrian, despite all his diplomatic skills, finds himself seduced by her sharp wit and sparkling eyes. But with a vicious killer circling ever closer, will it soon be too late for their chance at forever?

Santa Says:

A Governess’s Guide To Passion and Peril by Manda Collins is another solid five star story. It is the fourth in this delightful series. It had me quickly turning pages. I just had to see what the main characters Jane and Adrian were up to as they worked together to solve what turned out to be a series of murders within the Foreign Office community. 

We met Jane Halliwell and Adrian Sterling in the previous book. I was excited to see how their story would evolve and I was not disappointed. Adrian is the younger brother of the Duke of Langham who went to work at the Foreign Office. He met Lady Jane Halliwell in Rome early in his career while working with her father. Tragically, her father committed suicide because of massive gambling debts. This threw Jane and her mother into diminished circumstances. Society was unforgiving and Jane was forced to seek employment as a governess.

Jane and Adrian are reunited several years later in the home of her latest employer, Lord Gilford, who is also a respected member of the Foreign Office. A house party turns to tragedy when her employer is found dead in his study by Jane and a lock down of the home is enacted. A mysterious message is found on Lord Gilford. 

Jane remembers a similar note she found on her father. Could her father’s suicide have been a homicide? There is more than one mystery to unravel here. This brings Jane and Adrian closer together as they assist Detective Eversham who some may remember from the first book in this series. Adrian’s brother the Duke and his wife Poppy also make appearances. I am a huge fan of other characters from the world Manda Collins created coming organically into a story.

This series always delivers a delicious recipe of romance with a hearty helping of mystery, a combination that keeps readers engaged throughout the book. I highly recommend this book and, really, this series to readers. Enjoy!

Review - - A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes

A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes

by Manda Collins

Ladies Most Scandalous - Book 3

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: March 28, 2023

Reviewed by Santa

England, 1867: Miss Poppy Delamare is living a lie. To escape an odious betrothal, she fled to London where she’s been hiding as the unassuming secretary Flora Deaver. However, when her beloved sister is accused of murder, Poppy cannot leave her to the wolves. Only a most unexpected—and unwelcome—collision interrupts her journey home . . . 

Despite a rather dismal first meeting, Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham, has no intention of abandoning a lady in need. But he’s not above asking a favor. A fake betrothal will give Poppy and her sister the power of the dukedom and protect Langham from the society misses intent on becoming his duchess.

Yet the longer the ruse goes on, the more Poppy and Langham realize how false their first impressions were—and the less pretend their engagement feels. But before Langham can propose in truth, their search reveals a tangled web of lies and betrayals. With time running out, can Poppy and Langham find the real culprit—before Poppy becomes the next victim?

Santa Says:

A Spinster’s Guide To Danger and Dukes by Manda Collins is an utter delight! I was fortunate to get an early release of this five-star book. Come for the mystery, stay for the romance. There’s a delicious fake engagement between frenemies Miss Poppy Delemere and Joshua Fielding, Duke of Langham. Intrigue in spades! The banter is spot on! The players come to life right off the pages and there is quite a cast of characters! 

We met both the Duke and Poppy in Manda Collins’ previous book in this series. There is no love lost between these two although the Duke would like to see what lies beneath Polly’s prickly exterior. They literally run into each other at the train station. Poppy is desperate to get back to her family while Joshua dreads his trip home. Poppy is running back to the very situation that drove her away to London. Joshua is returning to his grandmother’s birthday bash which he knows will only be an opportunity for her to parade blushing debutantes before him.  

They strike a bargain to thwart his grandmother and he promises to help Poppy with her family’s problems. Poppy becomes the Duke’s fake fiance. Her sister is accused of killing her betrothed. There are confidence men with nefarious designs. A murder mystery to solve, secret societies resurrected and more twists than the connected chalk caves. And love, always love. 

I could not put it down! It is, without a doubt, the best in this series. I may have said that about every book in this series but this one hits all the marks! There were moments that were hilarious, as well as moments that were so poignant. I highly recommend this one and look forward to more in the series. I’m looking at you Adrian.

Review - - An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire

An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire

by Manda Collins

Ladies Most Scandalous - Book 2

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: November 16, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

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?

PJ's Thoughts:

I enjoy a mix of mystery with my romance and Manda Collins is one of my favorite authors skillfully blending the two in a historical setting. As with the first book in this series, A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem, Kate and Caroline are at the heart of another crime, this time the disappearance of a talented actress who also happens to be a dear friend; a friend who happens to be secretly betrothed to the cousin of the only man Caro has ever loved. The man who broke her heart.

Collins uses one of my favorite tropes, second-chance romance, with a bonus of enemies to lovers, in this book and I am there for it. There's emotional baggage to unpack, opportunities for growth, witty banter, and just plain fun as Caro and Val reconnect. I like that Collins goes slow with them and doesn't rush their romantic reunion. Deeply emotional issues need to be addressed, between Val and Caro as well as within each of their families. Watching Val evolve, take ownership of his feelings, and control of his life is immensely satisfying and makes forgiveness, when it's finally given, all the more sweet. Caro has a necessary growth arc as well, with the deeper understanding of her parents, especially her father, especially poignant. These are well-developed characters with layers that give them depth and make them interesting.

On the mystery side of the book, Collins once again crafts a tightly-woven scenario with well-placed twists and turns that keep me guessing pretty much right up until the reveal. That aspect of her storytelling adds additional depth that always keeps me flipping pages. 

An Heiress's Guide to Deception and Desire is unabashedly feminist while still staying true to the time and place in which it is set. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Caro take the reins (both figuratively and literally) in her pursuit of justice as well as love. There are definitely no wilting lilies among this group of female friends. I've thoroughly enjoyed the first two books of the series and am already giddy with anticipation for the next, especially if the two secondary characters who practically set the room on fire with their sparks in this book are ready to take center stage in book three.

Review - - A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem

A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem

by Manda Collins

A Lady's Guide - Book 1

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: November 10, 2020

Reviewed by Santa

A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins is a five star read for me. I was beyond excited when I first learned that Manda Collins had written a mystery romance. I was happy to discover it was much more than simply that. Elements of both a mystery and a romance are masterfully interwoven throughout the book making it a winner for readers of both genres. 

Lady Katherine Bascomb is a widow whose unhappy marriage gave her ownership of her husband’s newspaper, The Gazette. Some of the men of her circle see women as too delicate for such an enterprise. To their minds young ladies and women should be shielded from life’s more demanding and, at times, uglier side. To encourage women to be strong and able to take care of themselves would only  lead to mischief and mayhem. 

Lady Katherine could not agree less and she finds a like-minded woman in Miss Caroline Hardcastle. Together they create a new column for the paper that will instruct women on how to better look out for themselves. They name it A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Mayhem. Their first column is a massive hit. It provides a description of, what some believe to be, the Commandment Killer. 

This revelation has a ripple effect which throws Lady Katherine into the direct path of Detective Inspector Andrew Eversham who - thanks to the article - was removed as chief inspector on the case. A man is arrested which Andrew thinks is a mistake. Lady Katherine and Andrew clash but soon realize two keen minds are better than one as they together pursue clues which bring them closer to danger and a killer. 

Manda Collins’ writing will keep you on the edge of your seat. The dialog is witty and crisp. Inspector Eversham is both a sigh-worthy and a sharp-minded investigator. He is very different from Lady Katherine’s unlamented late husband. Their passionate exchanges spark an undeniable attraction between these two characters that will keep you turning the page for more.

 

Review - - One for the Rogue

One for the Rogue

By Manda Collins

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Release Date: June 26, 2018

Reviewed by Janga

In the fourth novel in her Studies in Scandal series, Manda Collins gives her readers the story of Gemma Hastings, a geologist and the only remaining single bluestocking among the four young women to whom Lady Celeste Beauchamp bequeathed her estate, and Lord Cameron Lisle, another younger son of the Duke of Pemberton and the fossil-hunting brother of Reverend Lord Benedick Lisle (Wallflower Most Wanted, Studies in Scandal #3).

Gemma has determined that she will fulfill her own ambition and the expectations of her aunt, Miss Dahlia Hastings, and her benefactor, Lady Celeste, and win respect as a geologist despite her gender. Remaining unwed seems a necessary part of her plan. So too does unraveling the incomplete letter Lady Celeste left her concerning the Beauchamp fossil collection. Plagued by insomnia, Gemma is on her way to the workroom late one night to try once again to puzzle out the meaning of the letter when she notices an unexplained light bobbing about on Beauchamp property. The intrepid Gemma, armed only with a lantern, decides to investigate on her own and interrupts Lord Cameron trailing a suspicious figure.

Lord Cameron is attending a gathering of geologists and collectors at nearby Pearson Close where he meets Sir Everard Healy, a pompous bore with an inflated idea of his own importance. Cameron instinctively distrusts Sir Everard, and his distrust prompts him to follow the collector to the Beauchamp estate. Cameron is dismayed to be discovered by Gemma. Not only does her shout of recognition frighten off his prey before he learns anything, but his relationship with Gemma began in animosity because Gemma believes it was his prejudice against women that led to his rejecting an article she submitted to his journal. Although things have become calmer since his brother married her sister, feelings are still far from cordial.

Despite his unease, Cameron finds himself making more frequent visits to Beauchamp House, and his admiration for Gemma’s intelligence grows even though he still considers her far from the softly feminine woman he prefers. Gemma also begins to revise her opinion of Cameron. His good looks are harder for her to ignore, and she cares about his opinion of her. When Sir Everard lays claim to an interesting skull that Gemma discovered embedded in the cliffs on Beauchamp property, Cameron defends her rights. When they find the body of Sir Everard on the site, they become co-conspirators as they work at solving the murder and finding the missing skull. The friendship that develops soon includes an attraction they can no longer ignore. When they are caught indiscreetly kissing, a betrothal they agree will be temporary seems the best solution to protect Gemma’s reputation. But their hearts may prove wiser than their heads if they can only survive the threat of the murderer who is still at large.

Manda Collins completes her bluestocking tales with a strong showing. Gemma’s struggles to be recognized and respected as a scientist are engaging and credible as they play out against the strictures imposed on women. Even as she wins Cameron’s respect as a geologist, Gemma finds her choices limited by the social realities of a woman’s life in the nineteenth century. The stages of Cameron’s acceptance of Gemma as a fellow scientist and friend were far more convincing than the sudden epiphany that sometimes sparks such a change of heart. I liked these characters, and I wanted to see them achieve their HEA.

Collins offers her usual splendid balance between mystery and romance. Although this book can be read as a standalone, fans of the series will take greater pleasure in the appearances of the other three heiresses and their husbands, with Sophia and Ben playing the largest role. Lady Serena has become more interesting with each book in the series, and I hope she will get at least a novella so that she too wins an HEA.

If you like smart historical romance with a moderate degree of sizzle and an ideal blend of mystery, I highly recommend this book.

Review - - Wallflower Most Wanted

Wallflower Most Wanted

By Manda Collins

Publisher: St. Martin’s

Release Date: January 30, 2018

Reviewed by Janga

Sophia Hastings, an artist whose subject matter increases the prejudice she must confront as a woman artist, is one of the four bluestockings who has inherited Beauchamp House. However, as the story opens, she has been inspired by the coastal beauty of the Beauchamp property and is trying to capture her vision of it. So absorbed is she in her work that she is startled by the sound of men’s voices and falls off a cliff. She is doubly fortunate. Her only injury from the fall is a twisted ankle, and help is quickly available in the person of Little Seaford’s angelically handsome vicar, the Rev. Lord Benedick Lisle. But before the vicar can help Sophia back to Beauchamp House and medical help, the two overhear an ominous argument between two men whose voices they cannot identify. It is clear that they have stumbled into a dangerous situation. The vicar is determined to protect Sophia from involvement in the investigation, but both Sophia’s sense of justice and her curiosity make her equally determined to be involved.

Sophia has also been charged by her beloved Aunt Dahlia to do all she can to interfere with the plans of Little Seaford’s newest resident, one Peter Morgan, a corrupt industrialist who has moved to the area with the idea of using his ill-gotten wealth to secure a seat in the House of Commons. Soon Sophia and Ben discover that art forgery is another thread in the dangers that threaten the village. The more time Sophia and Ben spend together, the greater the attraction between them grows. Ben respects Sophia as an artist and admires her independent spirit, but the unconventional Sophia has doubts that she is a suitable match for a vicar.

Wallflower Most Wanted is the third book in Collins’s Studies in Scandal series. Like the other two, it combines romance and mystery in a balanced, satisfying blend and links the particular mystery to the bluestocking heroines’ benefactor. I always find artist protagonists interesting, and with Sophia, her history as the daughter of neglectful parents and the role Aunt Dahlia plays in her life adds to the interest, as does the close relationship between her and her sister Gemma. But it was Ben who made this book for me. I have a great fondness for vicar heroes, and I adore the Lisle brothers. I also enjoy series that belong to the same world as earlier series. I was delighted that Ben’s brother Freddie, hero of A Good Rake Is Hard to Find (Lords of Anarchy 1) and my favorite Collins hero, plays a role in this book. So, Ben was a winner for me on several counts. I also appreciated that he and Sophia genuinely like and respect one another. Their differences keep things interesting, and their commonalties make them a believable couple. I can easily imagine them enjoying a long, happy life together.

I count on Collins’s books to provide enough mystery to challenge me without ever letting that element overpower the romance. She does it again in this book. I’m also a big fan of clever twists, and I admit I cheered when the taboo-shattering murderer was revealed. If you like historical romance that combines mystery and romance with flashes of humor and some sizzle, I recommend this book.

Readers can expect to see more of another Lisle brother in Gemma’s story, One for the Rogue, scheduled for release on June 26. He is Gemma’s hero, and I’m sure he will prove to be as much of a heart-stealer as his brothers--although I’m not sure if his name is Cameron (Wallflower Most Wanted) or Camden (cover copy for the new book).

A SMP Christmas: Part Two - - With This Christmas Ring / The Christmas Cowboy Hero / Hope at Christmas

With This Christmas Ring

By Manda Collins

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press / Swerve

Release Date: October 3, 2017

Reviewed by Janga

Merry Parks has a mission. The final request of her friend Charlotte Smithson, dead of childbirth fever, was that Merry deliver Charlotte’s infant daughter into the hands of the child’s father. Friendship and honor demand that Merry honor Charlotte’s request even if doing so requires Merry to visit Wrotham House, the London home of the man she jilted. Merry may have spent the past five years working with her scholar father and out of touch with the London social scene, but she has not forgotten Alex.

Alexander Ponsonby, Viscount Wrotham, has recently returned to England, summoned home from Paris by his paternal grandmother. But the man who returns is less trusting than the one who left a year earlier. A reunion with the mother he believed had abandoned him for a lover and her second family has given him a different view of her and of his grandmother, who contributed to his mother’s flight. His new relationship with his mother has set Alex thinking about the other woman who abandoned him, wondering about her reasons, and hoping for a second chance with her. But even that hope does not prepare him for Merry to arrive on his doorstep with a baby in her arms and a question concerning the whereabouts of his cousin William on her lips.

The probability of William’s having left London to spend the holiday at the family seat in Kent provides Alex with just the excuse he needs to maintain contact with Merry. He persuades her to bring baby Lottie and her entourage and accompany him to Wrotham Keep. Even the weather cooperates; heavy snow forces Merry to remain in Kent for Christmas, to her secret relief.  Being in the place where they once celebrated their betrothal and where Merry left Alex with a ring and a note that explained nothing makes it easy to remember all they once shared. Fate may have given them the time they need to claim their second chance, but they must overcome formidable opposition to reach their HEA.

Manda Collins excels at the novella form, packing her stories with enough character development and action to maintain reader interest but restricting the focus sufficiently to give the sense of a finished work.  In this case, the reunited lovers trope helps because Merry and Alex have a history on which to build. With This Christmas Ring is a small jewel of a Christmas tale with seasonal themes of forgiveness, restoration, and love, familial and romantic.  I loved it, and if you are a reader who appreciates a historical Christmas novella that has both sweetness and sizzle, I predict you will too. The novella is part of the Lords of Anarchy series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.




The Christmas Cowboy Hero
By Donna Grant
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: October 31, 2017
Reviewed by PJ

  

Driven by guilt, grief, and a different dream, Clayton East left his family ranch to join the Navy as soon as he was old enough. Years later, only his mother's desperate call brings the former Navy SEAL home to a father in medical distress and a ranch on the verge of bankruptcy thanks to cattle rustlers and an embezzling accountant. Clayton is ready to have the book thrown at the only rustler who was caught but meeting the boy's sister and guardian, Abby Harper, then the sixteen-year-old himself has him taking a different path, accepting Brice's offer to work off his debt at the ranch after school and weekends. His hope is to convince Brice to tell him the identities of the rustlers while at the same time giving him the chance to atone for his part in the thefts. The more time Clayton spends with the Harper family, the more entwined he becomes with all of them. Especially Abby.

Abby would do anything for her brothers, including putting her dreams on hold since their mother abandoned them when she was only eighteen. Since then, Abby has devoted herself to them, doing her best to keep them clothed, fed, loved, and on the right path. When Brice's actions bring them to the East's ranch, Abby is grateful for her brother's second chance but has no idea of the impact it will have on her entire family. She is not prepared for the kindness shown them by Clayton and his parents, the heartfelt welcome into their family Christmas celebrations, nor for the spark between Clayton and herself that threatens to ignite into an inferno. As she and Clayton grow closer, the possibility of a forever love and a loving family for all of them looms on the horizon, but only if they can uncover the identities of the cattle rustlers and catch them before someone gets hurt...or worse. 

Donna Grant brings readers a feel-good story about family, love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. I fell in love with these characters and wholeheartedly embraced their journey. The story is well-paced, with plenty of action, a bit of suspense, heartwarming romance, a strong family dynamic, and a well-deserved happy ending. The mystery of the cattle rustlers is solved but there's a significant loose thread pertaining to the embezzlement of the ranch's funds which makes me wonder if this book will be part of a series. If it is, I'll happily return for any future stories.

Hope at Christmas

By Nancy Naigle

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press / Griffin

Release Date: October 10, 2017
Reviewed by Janga

Still reeling from her husband’s infidelity and their pending divorce, Sydney Ragsdale and her daughter RayAnne move from Atlanta to Hopewell, NC, where Sydney has inherited her grandparents’ house. RayAnne is ten, but hurt and anger over the changes in her life have given her a head start on a stormy adolescence. Volunteering at the Book Bea, a book store that still possesses the magic it held when Sydney visited it as a child, fosters needed mother-daughter bonding. It also restores Sydney’s self-confidence, helps her and RayAnne become part of the community, and instills the Christmas spirit in them.

Single father Kevin MacAlea, history teacher and baseball coach at the local high school, has an abundance of the Christmas spirit. He has found joy in being the local Santa for thirteen years. If only his twelve-year-old son, Seth, who associates the holiday with the mother who left him and his father on Christmas Eve, could share in his joy. Even amid decorations galore, Santa’s Village, and a caroling tradition that includes hot chocolate, disappointments and misunderstandings abound. But if these four people believe in themselves and each other, they may find that Hopewell holds all their hearts desire for a season--and forever.

Nancy Naigle returns readers to the charming small town where last year’s Christmas Joy was set for another sweet holiday romance. If you like your Christmas reading treats steamy and heavy on the spice, you will want to give this one a miss. But if your preference is for heartwarming with a dash of seasonal schmaltz or if Hallmark’s Christmas movies are one of your feel-good delights, you will likely enjoy this one as much as I did.

Have you read any Christmas themed romances yet?

Are there any in particular you're looking forward to?

Do you have any titles to recommend?