Wallflower most wanted - Manda Collins

A dedicated painter, Miss Sophia Hastings is far more concerned with finding the right slant of light than in finding Mr. Right. But when an overhead conversation hints at danger for another local artist, Sophia is determined to get involved. Even it means accepting help from an impossibly good-looking vicar who insists on joining her investigation—and threatens to capture her heart…

Reverend Lord Benedick Lisle knows that Sophia is no damsel in distress. But he won’t allow her to venture into peril alone, either. . .especially since he finds Sophia’s curious, free-spirited nature so alluring. But protecting her from harm is becoming more difficult than the vicar could have expected as he and Sophia confront their fiery mutual passion. Who could have known that the art of love would prove so irresistible? 

Kindle Edition, 304 pages
Published January 30th 2018 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Studies in Scandal #3
Historical romance
NG

My thoughts:

There once was a castle given to 4 remarkable women. They all also got letters telling them to do certain things.

Sophia is an artist and she does not care for silly things like portraits or whatever nice things women should paint. She stumbles upon a strange plot including ill deeds and painters and is in the case. Just as the heroines in previous books had their plots to uncover. Whatever that old lady thought I do not know. THis is dangerous business!

Lord Benedict is a hot vicar. I know right, whaat. I do not come across many vicars in historical romance. And he does not do one single reverend thing to be honest. Which I also liked. And he was nice, hot and fell for her hard.

So there is the suspense plot. There is these two falling in love. We meet the previous heroines and the future one (I think that will be a fun one, heads will fall!).  We meet the most annoying man, grrrrr, *hits him over the head*. And in the end, I did not see things coming.

A cute romance.

Duke with Benefits - Manda Collins

Lady Daphne Forysthe is a brilliant young math prodigy with a burning passion for puzzles. When she learns that the library belonging to her benefactress houses the legendary Cameron Cipher a mathematical p that, once solved, holds the key to great riches Daphne is on the case. Unfortunately, her race to unlock the cipher s code is continually thwarted by a deliciously handsome distraction she hadn t counted on. . .and cannot resist.

Dalton Beauchamp, the Duke of Maitland, is curious as to why Daphne is spending so much time snooping around his aunt s bookshelves. He s even more intrigued by her bold yet calculating manner: she is unapologetic about her secret quest. . .and the fiery attraction that develops between them both. But how can they concentrate on decoding a mathematical mystery once the prospect of true love enters the equation?

My thoughts:
I am not saying that I was lost, but for once in a HR series it did feel like I had missed out. I think it was how it started. One of the women being rushed back to the house. And I was all, what has happened? There was this whole murder plot that I got the end of and the couple in this one already knew each other so well. So yes for once I say read book 1 first. But of course it is still HR so it worked fine reading book 2 first too...just, yes I felt like I had missed the beginning.

Daphne was something else. She spoke her mind, and not in a good way. She said whatever came to mind, however wrong that was. I do not want to say it was cos she had not had any schooling in social graces. No, I would rather give her a diagnosis.

Dalton was hot, she sure thought so and how she was smarter. Yes I am glad he did not run away cos she sure said what she liked.

They fall in lust, and live happily ever after.

But before that there is a secret that Daphne want to figure out. Someone is lurking in the shadows and it gives a bit of suspense to the book.

Conclusion:
A nice romance with a couple that fits each other well despite being so different.

Cover
nice

Kindle Edition, 320
Expected publication: June 27th 2017 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Studies in Scandal #2
Historical romance
Netgalley