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Rules of the Heart
"Perfect for the time-constrained reader, a quick read, jam-packed with action, adventure and emotion."
Abandoned on her wedding day, Constance Chambers flees the humiliation and goes on her honeymoon with her bridesmaids in tow. Falling for the handsome innkeeper was not exactly on the honeymoon agenda.
The owners of the family-owned inn go out of their way to make the jilted bride’s heartache lessen, including shoving their eligible brother Dance McCagan at her as a heart-easing distraction.
Dance wants nothing to do with being a distraction for the distraught bride, even as Constance’s bridesmaids convince her that a little harmless flirting is just the thing to get her mind off of her no good ex-groom. The ex-groom who shows up wanting her back just as Constance's heart is turning toward Dance.
All books in this series can be read as standalones and out of order.
Abandoned on her wedding day, Constance Chambers flees the humiliation and goes on her honeymoon with her bridesmaids in tow. Falling for the handsome innkeeper was not exactly on the honeymoon agenda.
The owners of the family-owned inn go out of their way to make the jilted bride’s heartache lessen, including shoving their eligible brother Dance McCagan at her as a heart-easing distraction.
Dance wants nothing to do with being a distraction for the distraught bride, even as Constance’s bridesmaids convince her that a little harmless flirting is just the thing to get her mind off of her no good ex-groom. The ex-groom who shows up wanting her back just as Constance's heart is turning toward Dance.
All books in this series can be read as standalones and out of order.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2024
214 people are currently reading
514 people want to read
About the author
Clover Autrey
37 books92 followers“Clover Autrey’s books are perfect for the time-constrained reader. They are a quick read jam-packed with action, adventure and emotion.”
A high school English teacher by day, Clover Autrey writes the kind of stories she loves to read; strong and smart characters who are willing to fight for what they believe and the people they love. She is the author of the HIGHLAND SORCERY series and the CHAPEL PINES series with a new series about ARMY RANGER BILLIONAIRES coming soon.
Clover has served as the president of the Keller Writers Association and the North Texas Romance Writers of America.
Inspired by her love of Louis L'Amour historical romantic heroes, Clover (yeah, that's her real name), packed up and moved to Texas where she found a real live Texan of her own. She's been there ever since where she and Pat (who else would a Clover marry but a Patrick?) listen to the coyotes howl at the trains each evening.
Find her at cloverautrey.com
A high school English teacher by day, Clover Autrey writes the kind of stories she loves to read; strong and smart characters who are willing to fight for what they believe and the people they love. She is the author of the HIGHLAND SORCERY series and the CHAPEL PINES series with a new series about ARMY RANGER BILLIONAIRES coming soon.
Clover has served as the president of the Keller Writers Association and the North Texas Romance Writers of America.
Inspired by her love of Louis L'Amour historical romantic heroes, Clover (yeah, that's her real name), packed up and moved to Texas where she found a real live Texan of her own. She's been there ever since where she and Pat (who else would a Clover marry but a Patrick?) listen to the coyotes howl at the trains each evening.
Find her at cloverautrey.com
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 3, 2026
Rules of the Heart by Clover Autrey is a warm, sweet contemporary romance about Constance Chambers, a woman abandoned at the altar who decides to go on her already planned honeymoon with her bridesmaids and ends up in the cozy, welcoming small-town world of Chapel Pines, Texas, where the local inn’s owners hope to mend her heart by introducing her to their eligible brother Dance McCagan and perhaps helping love find her again. It’s a clean, heartfelt story full of Southern charm, tender emotions and quirky characters.
What touched me most about this story was how gently it carries you through Constance’s vulnerability and quiet resilience, watching her step from embarrassment and heartbreak into laughter, connection and even hope amid the friendly bustle of Chapel Pines. Constance’s bridesmaids and the townsfolk feel like people you’d run into on Main Street while sipping sweet tea, and Dance’s patient, genuine kindness toward her made me feel a soft warmth settle in my chest each time they shared modest moments of care and conversation.
The novel’s pacing makes it feel like lingering in a slow, breezy afternoon rather than racing through a plot, and the small mysteries and town gossip that follow them made me smile in all the right places. The simplicity and sincere sweetness of Constance and Dance’s connection kept me turning pages with a quiet smile.
I’m giving Rules of the Heart 3 out of 5 stars because it made me feel comforted and uplifted by its gentle romance and small-town camaraderie, exactly the kind of story that feels like a friendly hug after a long day.
What touched me most about this story was how gently it carries you through Constance’s vulnerability and quiet resilience, watching her step from embarrassment and heartbreak into laughter, connection and even hope amid the friendly bustle of Chapel Pines. Constance’s bridesmaids and the townsfolk feel like people you’d run into on Main Street while sipping sweet tea, and Dance’s patient, genuine kindness toward her made me feel a soft warmth settle in my chest each time they shared modest moments of care and conversation.
The novel’s pacing makes it feel like lingering in a slow, breezy afternoon rather than racing through a plot, and the small mysteries and town gossip that follow them made me smile in all the right places. The simplicity and sincere sweetness of Constance and Dance’s connection kept me turning pages with a quiet smile.
I’m giving Rules of the Heart 3 out of 5 stars because it made me feel comforted and uplifted by its gentle romance and small-town camaraderie, exactly the kind of story that feels like a friendly hug after a long day.
August 16, 2024
Big ol’ heart of Texas. This is a sweet story about a jilted bride and a Texas gentleman. If you are left at the altar, what would you do? Of course go on your honeymoon! This story follows a bride that does just that. There are some great characters that are developed in this story and if a bit predictable that’s ok because you won’t put it down until you are done. The small town atmosphere is fun and the way word travels is lightning fast! Loved this tale!
November 11, 2024
Quirky and cute
I like this story because it has Southern charm, a great inn, and even a little mystery with an antique comb. I'm not sure I believe the part where she would fall in love with the first guy she sees after being leftvat the alter but I'd like to think it could happen. I especially enjoyed the parts where mom was trying to find words. Don't get me wrong. It is sad that she had a stroke, but I like the way the story shows her struggles and how she is still able to get her point across. Those struggles made the story more believable because not everything was all peaches and cream.
I like this story because it has Southern charm, a great inn, and even a little mystery with an antique comb. I'm not sure I believe the part where she would fall in love with the first guy she sees after being leftvat the alter but I'd like to think it could happen. I especially enjoyed the parts where mom was trying to find words. Don't get me wrong. It is sad that she had a stroke, but I like the way the story shows her struggles and how she is still able to get her point across. Those struggles made the story more believable because not everything was all peaches and cream.
July 7, 2025
Had to DNF a few chapters in because the MMC’s name is Dance like who the fuck is called Dance, such a horrible name for character and it irritates me every time I saw it. The final nail in the coffin for me was the FMC giving Dance some aspirin for a nosebleed. Like that actually really pissed me off. A simple google would tell you that aspirin is an anticoagulant/blood thinner so taking aspirin for a nose bleed would make it bleed even more and that is just part of the story like an anticoagulant does stop your bleeding nose. Like that’s so beyond dumb that someone would write that incorrectly and put it into a book.
November 27, 2025
This book was a super sweet, light, highly romantic read. just fyi to my smuttyfan readers... this is not that. this one is like reading a Hallmark movie. The characters were interesting, and the author sets up the world well for the rest of the series, but some.of the plot jumps seemed a little too movie magic for me. conflicts kind of "went away" magically, or were resolved super easily...more easily than real world. But it made for a nice read.
July 19, 2022
I really liked this book. Constance deserved the best kind of love and Dance was the perfect man for the job. They both had feelings for the other but didn't think it was appropriate so they tried to hide it but no luck
February 23, 2025
Hearts Mended
Very sweet and fast read. Emotional and well written. Entertaining and clever with good dialog and interesting characters. Looking forward to more books from this author.
Very sweet and fast read. Emotional and well written. Entertaining and clever with good dialog and interesting characters. Looking forward to more books from this author.
April 7, 2025
Great bedtime story in this contemporary clean read about a bride jilted at the altar only to go on her already paid honeymoon. Meeting up with the inn's owner causes sparks to fly, but is it too soon? Only love can tell!
September 1, 2024
Guys with girl names come on people.
What a great read. Well rounded characters and siblings too. Through in some Texas gentlemen and some wine. Sold. Cheers.
What a great read. Well rounded characters and siblings too. Through in some Texas gentlemen and some wine. Sold. Cheers.
September 21, 2024
Cute
This was a cute story that helped to end my reading slump. It has good banter, fun characters, and a mini-mystery within its pages.
This was a cute story that helped to end my reading slump. It has good banter, fun characters, and a mini-mystery within its pages.
October 12, 2024
Super cutesy- 3.5!
October 24, 2024
Super cute book
January 24, 2025
Clean second chance for a jilted bride. This had way mor angst than plot.
March 7, 2025
Jilted but not hurt
Loved the story and characters. Wish the mystery of the comb was revealed. Dance and Constance were perfect for each other.
Loved the story and characters. Wish the mystery of the comb was revealed. Dance and Constance were perfect for each other.
April 11, 2025
Each chapter is crazily long, with lazy writing and editing. Finished it to get to the predictable ending, but no desire to read any more of this series.
April 29, 2025
cute story
This was a fun, quick read with likeable characters. I enjoyed it very much. Recommend if you like sweet romances.
This was a fun, quick read with likeable characters. I enjoyed it very much. Recommend if you like sweet romances.
July 17, 2025
cute little story!
had fun reading it
some small typos and things that weren’t all that realistic but it was so fun
had fun reading it
some small typos and things that weren’t all that realistic but it was so fun
August 7, 2025
This is book is probably cute but I couldn’t get into it and kept forgetting what had happened, had to DNF.
September 10, 2025
cute
Loved this book of love blossoming from a tragic and embarrassing day. I would love to work in this town and meet the people.
Loved this book of love blossoming from a tragic and embarrassing day. I would love to work in this town and meet the people.
November 2, 2025
Sweet, cute, quick read. It had a couple of sub-plots that were interesting. I'm really looking forward to reading the stories about the other characters introduced in this book.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews