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Rules of Refinement #2
Shameless
As the daughter of a well known madam, Juliet Thatcher knows more about men than she cares to—which is why she has no intention of following in her mother’s footsteps. Juliet agrees to her mother’s request that she attend Lady Peddington’s School for Young Ladies to prepare her for life as a courtesan. She hopes that the school year will give her time to convince her mother to allow her to pursue a career as a dressmaker, instead.
When Lady Peddington extorts from Juliet a game of cards with notorious rake Duke Hamilton, Juliet knows there’s only one way to deal with a man like him: beat him at cards, then disappear.
Carrick Hamilton, the Duke of Hamilton does not sustain long romances. But Sir Stirling James knows he simply hasn't met a woman hot blooded enough to set his blood--and his heart--on fire. When Stirling challenges him to meet the woman Stirling swears he will marry, Carrick can't resist the challenge.
The original Marriage Maker romances
A Lady of Worth
The Marriage Wager
A Lady By Chance
How to Catch an Heiress
Other Rules of Refinement romances
One Good Gentleman
Redemption of a Marquess
A Scandal By Any Other Name
When Lady Peddington extorts from Juliet a game of cards with notorious rake Duke Hamilton, Juliet knows there’s only one way to deal with a man like him: beat him at cards, then disappear.
Carrick Hamilton, the Duke of Hamilton does not sustain long romances. But Sir Stirling James knows he simply hasn't met a woman hot blooded enough to set his blood--and his heart--on fire. When Stirling challenges him to meet the woman Stirling swears he will marry, Carrick can't resist the challenge.
The original Marriage Maker romances
A Lady of Worth
The Marriage Wager
A Lady By Chance
How to Catch an Heiress
Other Rules of Refinement romances
One Good Gentleman
Redemption of a Marquess
A Scandal By Any Other Name
- GenresRomanceHistorical
138 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 22, 2018
I do love the Matchmaker stories & always enjoy how Sir Stirling James will plot & succeed his next match. Juliet Thatcher is out heroine & the daughter of a well know madam/owner of a pleasure palace in London. Juliet has no in intention of following in her mother's footsteps & she attends Lady Paddington's School for Young Ladies. Juliet's Mother hopes a year at the school will prepare her for a life as a courtesan, but Juliet needs to convince her Mother to allow her to open her own dressmaker shop in London.
Carrick Hamilton, the Duke of Hamilton in our hero & is the true meaning of a rogue - he does not do long romances with mistresses nor does he ever say the word love. His marriage plans are way down the road when he has to do his duty for an heir to carry on the Dukedom. Sir Stirling James knows Carrick has just not met the right woman that is as hot blooded as he is & she will capture his heart. Stirling makes a wager that Carrick will marry the lady Stirling has chooses - he will get Carrick's stallion if he wins & Carrick will get Stirling's roan mare he has want for 2 years if he loses. Carrick can't resist the challenge & knows he will not succumb to any woman - we'll see. This was a short, fun & romantic story which I recommend to you.
Carrick Hamilton, the Duke of Hamilton in our hero & is the true meaning of a rogue - he does not do long romances with mistresses nor does he ever say the word love. His marriage plans are way down the road when he has to do his duty for an heir to carry on the Dukedom. Sir Stirling James knows Carrick has just not met the right woman that is as hot blooded as he is & she will capture his heart. Stirling makes a wager that Carrick will marry the lady Stirling has chooses - he will get Carrick's stallion if he wins & Carrick will get Stirling's roan mare he has want for 2 years if he loses. Carrick can't resist the challenge & knows he will not succumb to any woman - we'll see. This was a short, fun & romantic story which I recommend to you.
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April 24, 2021Chose not to finish. No stars awarded.
Book 6 of the Marriage Maker series (Book 2 of the Rules of Refinement series). From reading the blurb, one could already get a knot tied in the pit of their stomach. A daughter of a madam, who was trying to improve her life by attending a school of refinement for young ladies so she could avoid becoming someone's mistress...or worse. A Duke who cannot stay with a woman longer than 6 months, the owner of the young ladies' refinement school (a former brothel madam herself) "helping" young women to find husbands or, if they couldn't, become mistresses themselves, except in this instance, she was extorting the main female character into a card game with the Duke. And once again Sir Sterling James (except now, for the first time in this book he is addressed as the Marquess of Roxburgh) steps in to wield his marriage-making skills. Does the even remotely sound appealing?
Nope...just could not finish it and chose to not continue with the rest of the series. So far there has been little to no appeal and nothing worth finishing the very long series.
Book 6 of the Marriage Maker series (Book 2 of the Rules of Refinement series). From reading the blurb, one could already get a knot tied in the pit of their stomach. A daughter of a madam, who was trying to improve her life by attending a school of refinement for young ladies so she could avoid becoming someone's mistress...or worse. A Duke who cannot stay with a woman longer than 6 months, the owner of the young ladies' refinement school (a former brothel madam herself) "helping" young women to find husbands or, if they couldn't, become mistresses themselves, except in this instance, she was extorting the main female character into a card game with the Duke. And once again Sir Sterling James (except now, for the first time in this book he is addressed as the Marquess of Roxburgh) steps in to wield his marriage-making skills. Does the even remotely sound appealing?
Nope...just could not finish it and chose to not continue with the rest of the series. So far there has been little to no appeal and nothing worth finishing the very long series.
August 15, 2018
O.k. Skip the research, but apply common sense please
At Lady P's School for Young Ladies, students exit the ballroom before the Midnight Ball. The ladies must never know what occurs with the local noblemen and merchants who... ah, are probably relatives of students? Perhaps enrolled them at the respected school, run by ex-courtesean Lady P?
In that era - it was just fine!!
As long as young Ladies stayed upstairs, and men didn't wander from ballroom. Old noble society would never raze the school and shun them all - not like uptight modern day parents!
Unfortunate that incredulous premises, situations drowned out the potential within story.
* Note! * Rye's latest historical book was impressively better. Will read more of her work in future. Wish some others would follow her example.
[Also a Duke- addressed as Your Grace, referred to as His Grace, not my lord or sir. (Sorry, drove me crazy, had to point it out)]
At Lady P's School for Young Ladies, students exit the ballroom before the Midnight Ball. The ladies must never know what occurs with the local noblemen and merchants who... ah, are probably relatives of students? Perhaps enrolled them at the respected school, run by ex-courtesean Lady P?
In that era - it was just fine!!
As long as young Ladies stayed upstairs, and men didn't wander from ballroom. Old noble society would never raze the school and shun them all - not like uptight modern day parents!
Unfortunate that incredulous premises, situations drowned out the potential within story.
* Note! * Rye's latest historical book was impressively better. Will read more of her work in future. Wish some others would follow her example.
[Also a Duke- addressed as Your Grace, referred to as His Grace, not my lord or sir. (Sorry, drove me crazy, had to point it out)]
April 20, 2022
A real love
Carrick is very difficult to please and as a Duke he is used to getting his way! Juliet is beautiful and talented seamstress and does not want to enter the family business. Sir Sterling gets wind of her card room activities and bets Carrick his prized stallion he has not yet met the right woman! The wager is made and Juliet is strong at first but chemistry is powerful! Carrick's mother has invited a bevy of suitable women as it is time to pick his bride!
Juliet realizes too late her heart is engaged and she can't bear to see Carrick with another!
But a man nah Duke can not wed his mistress can he? Maybe with a lot of help from Sir Sterling?
Carrick is very difficult to please and as a Duke he is used to getting his way! Juliet is beautiful and talented seamstress and does not want to enter the family business. Sir Sterling gets wind of her card room activities and bets Carrick his prized stallion he has not yet met the right woman! The wager is made and Juliet is strong at first but chemistry is powerful! Carrick's mother has invited a bevy of suitable women as it is time to pick his bride!
Juliet realizes too late her heart is engaged and she can't bear to see Carrick with another!
But a man nah Duke can not wed his mistress can he? Maybe with a lot of help from Sir Sterling?
August 14, 2022
I enjoyed Juliet and Carrick. Carrick was bored with life and the ladies being thrown at him. Sir Stirling found Juliet to tempt him as she was so different than the others. I loved it when Carrick finally realized that Juliet meant more to him than a mistress and how he went about proving it to her. Juliet wanted Carrick, but her family history would keep them apart, so she ran when confronted with the change in him.
This is my unsolicited review.
This is my unsolicited review.
September 29, 2019
Tart
Once a tart, how sad the author totally lacked the forethought to allow the girl to work a little harder. This novel has more sex than the typical Regency romance novel. More than necessary to tell the story. Very disappointed.If the next one is the same, I will quit the author.
Once a tart, how sad the author totally lacked the forethought to allow the girl to work a little harder. This novel has more sex than the typical Regency romance novel. More than necessary to tell the story. Very disappointed.If the next one is the same, I will quit the author.
May 28, 2018
Excellent read
This book was a great find for $.99. It was a short novel with 2 great main characters & a male matchmaker, the 1st in any Victorian romance novel I've read. I loved how all the characters were brought to life & lives changed.
This book was a great find for $.99. It was a short novel with 2 great main characters & a male matchmaker, the 1st in any Victorian romance novel I've read. I loved how all the characters were brought to life & lives changed.
January 4, 2018
great read
Very sexy read. A lot of steamy scenes. True love pervasive I this rage. Loved the mother's. Such a great series.
Very sexy read. A lot of steamy scenes. True love pervasive I this rage. Loved the mother's. Such a great series.
January 10, 2018
Romance
Thank you for these romance novels series books. Please keep writing these books. Love reading your books. Thank you very much.
Thank you for these romance novels series books. Please keep writing these books. Love reading your books. Thank you very much.
March 17, 2018
Adore
I simply adore this series. I wish the books were longer because the characters are wonderfully written and the plot entertaining.
I simply adore this series. I wish the books were longer because the characters are wonderfully written and the plot entertaining.
April 5, 2018
I just couldn't get into this book tbh maybe I'll try again at a later date but it just wasn't there for me..
April 16, 2018
Dnf
It needed more details in some scenes. Instead of telling readers what happens, there needs to be showing. Okay rating if part of kindleunlimited, I did not buy.
It needed more details in some scenes. Instead of telling readers what happens, there needs to be showing. Okay rating if part of kindleunlimited, I did not buy.
April 28, 2018
These marriage makers are excellent!
I've been waiting most of these and I really enjoy them they're not terribly long but very enjoyable they're hot and spicy. I want more!
I've been waiting most of these and I really enjoy them they're not terribly long but very enjoyable they're hot and spicy. I want more!
October 12, 2018
Shameless
I love your books they are amazing the characters are exceptional the are witty, sexy .Thank you for a great book
I love your books they are amazing the characters are exceptional the are witty, sexy .Thank you for a great book
December 20, 2020
Too lust driven for me. Well, I should've guessed from the title alone😅
October 7, 2022
These stories are so short but so good. I thought Juliet and Carrick were so perfect for each other. I loved this story. On to the next one. Redemption of a Marquess. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰💜💜💜💜💜
September 17, 2019
Juliet Thatcher ~ recently 'finished' from Lady Peddington's School of Young Ladies and aspiring 'dressmaker of the ton' ~ has one last favor to do for her honorary aunt, Lady Peddington and her mother's bosom bow, before she leaves for London. She has to play cards during the Midnight Ball with Carrick, the Duke of Hamilton, who never lost at cards and beat him (by cheating), and so she did... then she left as planned (with His Grace's cravat as winner's trophy). Intrigued, the Duke pursued her to her destination and arrived first at Lady Aphrodite's House of Pleasure and signed a contract with Juliet's mother as the highest and only bidder for her virtue and value as a Duke's mistress. For before his pursuit and the drawing of Juliet's contract, the Marquess of Roxburgh (James Stirling and successful matchmaker affectionately dubbed The Marriage Maker by his successes) has already Matched them both and thus Carrick is not totally unaware of Juliet's origins, only of his own extreme reluctance to the leg~shackle. And so we have a Lady who does not want to be a courtesan despite her upbringing and parentage and on the other hand, we have a Duke who only wants a mistress not a wife. Guess who won? Another riveting and fun read from an author who has a knack of creating uncommonly unusual characters and situations without getting tawdry (at least as far as these series are concerned).
March 10, 2018
This was a short read for me. I did enjoy the story I wished it was a little longer. The characters meshed fairly well. My only wish is that there was more to the story. This book was provided to me by NetGalley for a honest review.
February 21, 2018
The novella “A Marriage of Necessity” explains the premise of the storyline with Kennedy Douglas, Viscount Buchanan, forced into marriage with Anne, Viscountess. Kennedy’s father has coerced him to marry otherwise his sister will be forced to marry an older, vicious man. Anne, desperate to keep the family home agrees to marry and produce an heir.
There were many great ideas in this story but did need to be expanded upon. With more attention to detail, the romance between the couple would have been more realistic. Both characters had some depth particularly Anne, who is never afraid to speak her mind.
A short but interesting read.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
There were many great ideas in this story but did need to be expanded upon. With more attention to detail, the romance between the couple would have been more realistic. Both characters had some depth particularly Anne, who is never afraid to speak her mind.
A short but interesting read.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2018
Publisher's Description:
He offered one night. She needs a lifetime...
When Viscountess Kinsley’s father lost all but their home and then drank himself to death, creditors stood ready to seize what remained. Anne’s only hope of saving her family is to find a husband through Lady Peddington’s School for Young Ladies. Only, upon graduation, Anne finds herself the victim of jealous gossip that claims she seeks multiple lovers. Now, no respectable man will have her.
Kennedy Douglas, Viscount Buchanan, has refused to marry—until his terminally ill father threatens to marry Kennedy’s younger sister to a known wife-beater unless Kennedy immediately weds and produces an heir. The man known as The Marriage Maker matches Kennedy with the ravishing Viscountess Kinsely, but time is running out. Kennedy’s father is declining rapidly, and he’s the only one who knows where Kennedy’s sister is being held against her will.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading this novella. It is well written and has characters that both baffled and intrigued.
Anne is looking to marry for money to save her home and family.
Kennedy's preference is not to marry at all. Instead he is looking for at best a long affair.
They meet when Anne and her friend stay overlong at a balk and end up at what is known as the Midnight Ball where men come to squire mistresses, not wives.
The following day after Anne gives him a set down, Kennedy's father calls him to make the demand that he marry now. He threatens him with marrying his younger sister to a man who is known to have killed his previous wife.
Although Anne is not the woman he would have as a wife, circumstances dictate a different scenario.
I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 2.75 of 5.0 flames.
Anne is untouched and Kennedy doesn't want to follow his father's dictate that he immediately get his wife with child.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book at NetGalley and also borrowed a copy via KindleUnlimited.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
He offered one night. She needs a lifetime...
When Viscountess Kinsley’s father lost all but their home and then drank himself to death, creditors stood ready to seize what remained. Anne’s only hope of saving her family is to find a husband through Lady Peddington’s School for Young Ladies. Only, upon graduation, Anne finds herself the victim of jealous gossip that claims she seeks multiple lovers. Now, no respectable man will have her.
Kennedy Douglas, Viscount Buchanan, has refused to marry—until his terminally ill father threatens to marry Kennedy’s younger sister to a known wife-beater unless Kennedy immediately weds and produces an heir. The man known as The Marriage Maker matches Kennedy with the ravishing Viscountess Kinsely, but time is running out. Kennedy’s father is declining rapidly, and he’s the only one who knows where Kennedy’s sister is being held against her will.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading this novella. It is well written and has characters that both baffled and intrigued.
Anne is looking to marry for money to save her home and family.
Kennedy's preference is not to marry at all. Instead he is looking for at best a long affair.
They meet when Anne and her friend stay overlong at a balk and end up at what is known as the Midnight Ball where men come to squire mistresses, not wives.
The following day after Anne gives him a set down, Kennedy's father calls him to make the demand that he marry now. He threatens him with marrying his younger sister to a man who is known to have killed his previous wife.
Although Anne is not the woman he would have as a wife, circumstances dictate a different scenario.
I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 2.75 of 5.0 flames.
Anne is untouched and Kennedy doesn't want to follow his father's dictate that he immediately get his wife with child.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book at NetGalley and also borrowed a copy via KindleUnlimited.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
February 27, 2018
I was given an ARC through Net Galley for an honest review.
An Arranged marriage a very reluctant bride and groom, a sister being held prisoner are just a few things that had me hooked and very much involved in this wonderful and exciting story. Anne and Kennedy's reluctant forced marriage involves so many different aspects. Kennedy's father is a real and nasty villain that I just wished would get his just desserts. The story was just not long enough for me as I had hoped there would be more of their love story. But all in all a very enjoyable read and I would recommend this book with 4 stars.
An Arranged marriage a very reluctant bride and groom, a sister being held prisoner are just a few things that had me hooked and very much involved in this wonderful and exciting story. Anne and Kennedy's reluctant forced marriage involves so many different aspects. Kennedy's father is a real and nasty villain that I just wished would get his just desserts. The story was just not long enough for me as I had hoped there would be more of their love story. But all in all a very enjoyable read and I would recommend this book with 4 stars.
March 3, 2018
A delightful quick read historical romance. While the plot is nothing new, the story is endearing all the same. The lead characters are likable and their actions make sense. Anne is a strong female lead in a time era where women weren’t allowed to be strong. Overall the story is enjoyable although, sometimes in these stories, the antagonist feels like a caricature. It is hard to imagine someone behaving in such an abominable way, but this is another time, another place so it is difficult to truly gauge.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews