How to Dance With a Duke (Ugly Ducklings 1) by Manda Collins

Summary:

What’s a wallflower to do when she’s suddenly in need of a husband? Use all the pluck and moxie she can muster to get what she wants…

Miss Cecily Hurston would much rather explore the antiquities of Egypt than the uncharted territory of marriage. But the rules of her father’s exclusive academic society forbid her entrance unless she weds one of its members. To clear her ailing father’s name of a scandalous rumor, Cecily needs to gain admission into the Egyptian Club—and is willing to marry any old dullard to do it.

Lucas Dalton, Duke of Winterson, is anything but dull. He’s a dashing and decorated war hero determined to help Cecily—even if that means looking the other way when she claims the dance card of Amelia Snow, this season’s most sought-after beauty. But Lucas has a reason for wanting Cecily to join the Egyptian Club: His brother went missing during one of Lord Hurston’s expeditions to Egypt. An alliance with the explorer’s bluestocking daughter could bring Lucas closer to the truth about what happened…or it could lead him to a more dangerous love than either he or Cecily could have imagined….

Reviewer: Fashionta
Lovers of Julia Quinn will fall in love with this historical series from debut author Manda Collins, who I personally believe will become a star. Three cousins have a lot to live up to after their mothers and step-mother were called Fabulous Featherstones because their beauty set the ton tongues waging in their debut season. It's not that the girls aren’t pretty, it's because they are more interested in intellect and this gains them the name Ugly Ducklings. However, these girl get their moment to shine after an encounter which brings something that will fulfill all of their dreams and wishes.

This is an interesting book. There's a twist of mystery in the novel, a rather engaging one which brings the hero and heroine together and soon it's will they won't they after they set the ton alight with their frequent outings and the promise the heroine makes to the hero. I have to give this 4 stars and hope that we will see more of this writer in the coming years. This author is truly a gem and goes straight on my favourite shelf on goodreads and authors to watch list.

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Review Courtesy Of: NetGalley

Legally Yours (Lawyers in Love #1) by Manda Collins

Summary:

When Julie Streeter dropped out of law school to care for her little sister, one of the things she missed most was her crush worthy classmate, Matt Ellis. Now, he's visiting the firm where she works as a paralegal and is just as sexy now as he was then.

Matt Ellis never expected to run into Julie again--certainly not at the law firm where he's been sent to investigate leaks to the opposing team. When he finds the list of things she'd like to try before her thirtieth birthday, very sexy things, on the office copier he offers to be her list buddy while he's in town. And to his surprise, Julie agrees.

Will their mind-blowing chemistry lead to more than just a fling, or could what started out as a crush turn into something neither one of them expected? .

Reviewer: Fashionta
I have to put a little disclosure here. I love this author and was surprised to find out that she has written a contemporary book when she is known for historical romance. I love her characters and her style of writing so I was excited to discover whether she would convey the same style and characters as she does in her historical settings.

Legally Yours is the first in a new series from this author. This is her debut into contemporary romance and I must say this book is hot and steamy and something I didn’t expect from her.

Julie is a paralegal for a corporate legal firm in Birmingham. She makes the most of her life since dropping out of law school to care for her sister, Lily, after their parents died. Her one regret with leaving law school was leaving too her crush on Matt. She never told him how she felt about him and does not keep in touch.

Well Matt is back in her life after the company he works for sends its legal team down to Birmingham to uncover a corporate spy. There, he uncovers more than that. Julie has a secret list of kinky desires she wants to experience before she hits 30 and Matt discovers the list in the printer after she prints it out and mistakenly leaves it behind. He decides he wants to be the one to help her fulfill them.

I have to give this novella 4.5 stars. It was the perfect mix of sex and story and the novella had the elements that I love from this author: strong female characters and non-stereotypical characters. Oh! and the little unexpected scene that leaves you hot and wondering.

Publisher: Manda Collins

How to to Romance a Rake (Ugly Ducklings #2) By Manda Collins

Summary:

You can lead a wallflower to the ball, but you can’t make her bloom—unless one daring young bachelor turns up the heat…

What’s a nice girl like Miss Juliet Shelby doing at a place like Lord Deveril’s ballroom? With her shy demeanor, she’s a total stranger to the dance floor and a source of mockery for the ton. So imagine her surprise when Deveril gallantly comes to her defense—and offers to teach her to dance! Juliet can hardly believe the most handsome bachelor in London would notice her, until he takes her in his arms and sets her heart ablaze…

Lord Alec Deveril has never felt such a spark of attraction for an unmarried lady before. Unlike the “fashionable” ladies he’s accustomed to, Juliet possesses a generous spirit, a fiery intelligence—and an explosive secret. Deep in the London underworld, a dear friend has vanished, and Juliet fears the worst. Deveril insists on helping, escorting her through the darkest alleys in town. But he too is hiding a shocking secret—and the only way he can defeat the devil in his past is to seduce the angel in his arms…

Reviewer: Fashionta

The sequel to How to Dance with a Duke starts off a few weeks after the conclusion of the book. Once again, we see ourselves in similar circumstances as the previous book. A ball is taking place at the house of our dashing hero, Lord Alec Deveril, and two young girls making cruel remarks about the three heroines of the series aka the Ugly Ducklings. This book concerns Juliet who was once the most outgoing girl of the trio but now is silent, albeit resilient. But all is about to change with a mystery involving a dear friend of Juliet's and the seedy underworld of London.



Okay, I’m falling in love again with this author! Yes, there are details of this book that readers of her first will say are similar, such as the mystery element and another missing person but I must say this is another little gem from this author. In the previous book, we were introduced to Juliet who is the youngest of three girls. Her mother, Lady Shelby, happens to be a tyrant and we saw examples of it in the first book. The actions in How to Romance a Rake take the cake and puts her in the company of some of the worse cads and rogues of society. However, we have a rake in the midst of all this who is more of a gentleman than the ton knows and thinks to believe.



Lord Alec has an unsavoury reputation as a rake. His father's and uncle’s position in the ton have left the family reputation in tatters. Both rakes, they had a number of flings with maids and sired children out of the union. (In fact, one of the characters in this book is thought to be a child of the uncle's.) Alec has managed to steer his family name back in the good books of the ton but he needs a wife to cement his position and protect his sisters. He searches for a wife from a favourable background that he no interest in or is attracted to. He carries a secret that known could blacken his family name forever.


Juliet has a secret stemming from an accident when she was fifteen that would cause the ton to be in uproar and would probably lead to her name being blackened. As a result of her accident, she has become shy and withdrawn. Alec can’t help being drawn to her and Juliet feels the inexorable pull to him as well. Sparks are flying but will that enable Alec to change his mind about his ideal wife?


I’m craving more from this author and can’t wait until her next book comes out which, blessfully, is a short wait as one is due for release in June. Manda Collins is not a author you want to miss in historical or contemporary romance. 4.5 stars. You can’t help falling in love with these two and avidly following them through all their trials and tribulations.



Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Review Courtesy Of: NetGalley