Rules for Engaging the Earl

The Widow Rules #2

by Janna MacGregor

Get ready for lost wills, broody dukes, and scorching hot kissing all over London.

Constance Lysander needs a husband. Or, so society says. She’s about to give birth to her late husband’s child―a man who left her with zero money, and two other wives she didn’t know about. Thankfully, she has her Aunt by her side, and the two other wives have become close friends. But still―with a baby on the way, her shipping business to run, and an enemy skulking about, she has no time to find the perfect match.

Enter Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston. Returned war hero and Constance’s childhood best friend, his reentry into society has been harsh. Maligned for an injury he received in the line of duty, Jonathan prefers to stay out of sight. It’s the only way to keep his heart from completely crumbling. But when a missive from Constance requests his presence―to their marriage ceremony―Jonathan is on board. His feelings for Constance run deep, and he’ll do anything to make her happy, though it means risking his already bruised heart.

With Constance, Jonathan, and the new baby all together, it’s clear the wounds―both on the surface and in their relationship―run deep. But when the nights come, their wounds begin to heal, and both come to realize that their marriage of convenience is so much more than just a bargain.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Friends To Lovers, Historical Fiction, Marriage Of Convenience, Regency Romance

359 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 26, 2022

About the author

Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs. She loves to hear from readers.

Visit her at www.JannaMacGregor.com.
Twitter: @JannaMacGregor
Facebook: Janna MacGregor
Sign up for her newsletter at www.JannaMacGregor.com

Reviews

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Society dictates that Constance Lysander find a husband so her unborn child will be legitimate. Constance was left penniless by her late husband - a trigamist who married her and two of her now best friends and then disappeared with their dowries. Constance turns to the only honest man she knows - her childhood friend who marched off to war and hasn't returned to see her even though he's been home for some time. Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston returned from war with some dark shadows threatening him. His injuries, both physical and mental, have left him a cold, dark hermit - a man suffering from PTSD that avoids contact with others at all cost. And yet he can't resist responding when the only woman he's ever loved summons him with a request for his hand in a marriage of convenience.

Rules For Engaging The Earl is the story of two former friends who secretly desire one another and yet both are hiding dark secrets with misguided thoughts of protecting the other. They embark on a marriage of convenience while trying to deny the fiery attraction simmering between them. I greatly enjoyed these characters with all their flaws and hangups as they tip-toed their way around each other. MacGregor does a brilliant job manipulating them both through a plot line that sees them going toe to toe with each other even as they fall more deeply into love. The support cast added so much depth and reinforcement to the story as readers get to see more of the characters from book 1 which I love. The author takes this story to another level by tackling issues like PTSD, abandonment and societal prejudices prevalent of the time period. Sexy, sizzling chemistry that threatens to explode keeps the heat turned up on this spicy historical romance. Highly recommended to fans of romance, especially historical romance and the friends to lovers trope.
*Special thanks to St. Martins Paperbacks for an arc of this book.
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS STORY!! Janna MacGregor has won me over with this poignant second chances romance. The characters are multifaceted and both leave a memorable impression long after the story is complete. MacGregor skillfully blends some of my favorite tropes including beauty and the beast, friends to lovers, first love gets second chance, and marriage of convenience turns to love match. The story immediately draws you in and doesn’t let go, I read the book cover to cover straight through…couldn’t put the book down. One aspect I enjoyed was a heroine who was passionate, enjoyed the marriage bed, and wasn’t afraid to fight for her man. This was a nice switch from the typical “frightened maiden” usually included in historical romances.

I highly recommend this book and am happily placing it on my best books of 2022 list!!

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥


**Full RTC**

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rules for Engaging the Earl was a delightful read featuring a marriage of convenience romance between childhood friends.

Constance Lysander needs a husband and quick. About to give birth to her late husband's child, Constance has no way to provide for her child as her husband left behind no money and two other wives. Desperate, Constance writes to her childhood friend, the Earl of Sykeston, asking him to marry her. Jonathan has avoided society since returning home from the war with an injury, but he finds he can't ignore Constance in her hour of need. But what was supposed to be a marriage of convenience becomes so much more as Constance and Jonathan spend time together in his country home.

I really enjoy marriage of convenience romances as well as second chance romances so I was looking forward to reading Rules for Engaging the Earl as it has elements of both. Constance and Jonathan had feelings for each other in their youth before Jonathan went off to war. Before he left though, Jonathan made Constance promise not to wait for him despite their feelings for each other as they had no idea if he would make it home. When the pair meet again, there's an immediate spark between them showing those long ago feelings never really went away. Initially after the marriage, Constance remains in London to recover from giving birth before eventually joining Jonathan at his country estate. I enjoyed the scenes after Constance arrived and how she put her mark on the home. The tension between these two is great and I loved when their relationship progresses beyond the convenience aspect. I will say that Jonathan did frustrate me at times as he had a tendency to keep things bottled up rather than talking to Constance. Thankfully he does overcome that in the end but there were several moments throughout the book that I wanted to shake him.

Overall Rules for Engaging the Earl was a fantastic read and I will definitely be continuing on with the series when the third book releases.

**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

[Hannah B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts were super cute and I continue to like Janna’s writing but this one was simply endless. I wanted light and fluffy cute kid moments and we got a few but I wanted them all. I rounded up to three for Goodreads because it wasn’t a bad book it just really did not appeal to me.

If you like military men with hearts locked up in titanium bank vaults, heroes who like guns, heroines who like ships, and former best friends still in love with each other after one kiss ten years ago, then this is for you.

I was just very taken aback that after they got married, the story didn’t really start. He made a horrible decision and ghosted her for a year and some change. I really thought the story was taking a different turn and then he locked himself up even more and it discouraged me. He didn’t even spend the first year with the baby and that made me SO SAD. Because he was super cute with her down the line but it took too long. I think I wanted something a little lighter.

Plus the villain was unsavory and annoying and I wish the main characters would’ve just talked everything out. And when something major was revealed at the end I was…unamused.

The next book sees the main heroine believe her wastrel brother “isn’t that bad” and I simply can’t handle that at all so if you even CATCH me sniffing around that book no matter how good the summary sounds, kindly punch me in the face.

Full review to come!

⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced decries copy via NetGalley! All opinions are honest and my own.

[Becky (romantic_pursuing_feels) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥
Humor: Some
Perspective: Third person perspective from both the hero and heroine

(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )

Should I read in order?
It’s not totally necessary, though the heroine’s background is established in that book, so it might make this one more enjoyable.

Basic plot:
Constance has found out her dead husband was a trigamist. Pregnant, and trying to sort through the disaster of her marriage with the other wives, she arranges a marriage of convenience to give her and her child stability. Jonathan is her childhood friend, last sharing a kiss at 15 years old. Returned from war broken, he’s become a recluse, but is ready to step up and help Constance, as long as he doesn’t have to involve his heart.

Give this a try if you want:
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Child in the story – heroine has a young daughter
- Disabled hero – his knee was shattered while serving and he walks with a limp
- Marriage of convenience/necessity – the heroine is pregnant and facing the scandal of having a dead trigamist husband. The hero marries her to give her stability
- Ex-soldier hero – he was a marksman and this is a large part of his character/story
- Working women – heroine works at Lysander & Sons Refitting Company

Ages:
- Heroine is 25, hero is 28

My thoughts:
I feel badly that I struggled with this book. Because it has a lot going for it that I think could have really worked. I love the unique plot problems of recovering from a trigamist husband the series is following. The fact that they were childhood friends on the cusp of more and were ready to rediscover those feelings was enticing. The plot lent itself to plenty of close proximity at their country estate together.

But..I ended up getting bored. It felt like they were always dancing around each other but never really interacting. I kept waiting for them to talk to each other and be together but Jonathan was so determined to save his heart by keeping everyone at a distance and it got annoying to me after awhile. Maybe I have just read too many plot devices of the hero has been hurt and must protect himself so he holds everyone at a distance. But for me, it just wasn’t working. There was also a number of other things going on that could have brought them together but instead seemed to keep them separated – the heroine’s business I feel like was hardly discussed except to add in the coercion drama – though I will say I enjoyed the hero finally getting it together at the end and saving her from that situation. The hero’s worry about being punished for the lies regarding his career. The fact that he had secrets about the letters that got his wife on his door step but he chose not to address them….ever – not until he was forced to. Secrets are hard for me and I’ll admit I can be harder on books that have this and unfortunately these secrets were kept until the very end. Probably just a me problem.

I am still curious about the series though. I did rather enjoy the prior book. I’ll consider giving the next in the series a try too. But I also wasn’t a fan of 2 of her Cavendish series so honestly she just might not be for me, and that’s okay.




Some random parts noted

This explains the hero perfectly

He’d learned over the last year that life so much easier if nothing was ever at risk. He’d become an expert at keeping his feelings and memories organized and separated much like the jar of spices in his cook’s well-organized kitchen. If such sentimental foolishness was never opened and examined, you never had to taste disappointment. It was easier to keep life bland.


And this is how he’s going to protect himself from getting hurt

“I’ve given quite a bit of consideration to these rules of...shall we say, ‘engagement between us.’” With a sureness, he continued, “They’re designed to protect both of us.”
“Protect us from what?”
He glanced away. “Misunderstanding. Misinformation. Mishap.”
“All right.” She straightened in her seat. “To help me better understand, tell me how you see our life together.”
Without picking up his parchment, Jonathan nodded. “We shall be supportive of each other’s goals and dreams. We shall keep clean boundaries between the two of us.” He waved a hand between them. “Kind of the castle and all that. Same goes for queen of the castle.”
“I accept.” She nodded once. “Here are a few of mine.” She cleared her throat and glanced down at the paper. “We make our marriage a priority. I’m not a mind reader. If something is bother you, tell me. We have weekly meetings to share these things.”


But then….he doesn’t tell her anything. And if fact, keeps the lies of omission going for the entire book. :(

And then she….cleans his study. Which was disgusting. And he gets mad at her? Whyyyy

He’d not allow his wife to wreck such havoc. He’d not allow her to destroy his study. If she changed it, then she changed him.

I just felt so bad for her here.


Content Warnings:

Cheating - heroine finds out her dead husband was a trigamist and married two other women other than her


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes (it’s possible I could have missed one, I was skimming some parts!):

3% - kiss
14% - brief wedding kiss
46% - kisses that are interrupted, followed by a masturbation scene for the hero (brief)
56% 🔥 - kisses in the bath leading to blow job for him followed by her on top
68% 🔥 - oral for her, missionary

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww so much love in the second chance romance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Second chance romances are one of my favorite genres to read so I was delighted that we get to experience all of the history and back story between these two sad souls.

MacGregor sets the perfect stage with Constance and Jonathan. Their history growing up together, young and enamored with each other, is the key to their strong connection years later. Bruised hearts but still deeply connected, they are attempting to build a family when Constance needs a husband to maintain her business and reputation.

Jonathan is stubborn but in love with her. He has many issues, including a physical one that makes him feel like a lesser man who is not good enough for Constance. There are so many layers in this character. He is fighting for his honor among men and her. He is battling war wounds and thievery. He is battling for his self-respect.

MacGregor loaded these two with issues, spark, heat, and stubbornness that make you shake your head. Jonathan was too much inside his head most of the story. I really wanted him to enjoy his marriage and child so much sooner. The fire was there, but we had to get through a lot of stuff to enjoy their connection.

Rules for Engaging the Earl is a powerful look at acceptance, society rules, strong friendships and connections, and great characters like North. Laced with heat, humor, and a full swing of emotions, it will captivate you.

* copy received for review consideration
Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/rules-for-en...

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rules for Engaging the Earl (The Widow Rules, #2) is a well-written story from beginning to end. This is the story of Constance Lysander, who we found out in book one was the legitimate wife of Lord Meriwether in all his “trigamist” ways. Constance and Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston were best friends who shared just about everything. They were each other’s first loves and dreamed of one day having a future together. Unfortunately, Jonathan decided to serve the military but prior to leaving, he wrote what he wished for her in a husband and did not want her to wait. It was then that they shared their first kiss. Years later and a ruined reputation, Constance is due to give birth to her late husband’s child and proposes a marriage of convenience to her first love to keep her child legitimate. Upon his arrival to marry, she finds out that her station has changed, and he no longer needs to marry her.

Constance is still in love with Jonathan and still wants to marry. He has been the only man she will ever love, and she still dreams of having a future with him. Unfortunately, the war has changed Jonathan. He has become hard, harsh and believes he is broken physically and mentally….he only sees himself as a cripple and that is all everyone would see when they look at him. The years have changed something in both characters and only time would tell if they could overcome it. Jonathan’s character took some time to grown on me and a third way through the story you start to see his warmer side. However, I wasn’t quite sure how this marriage of convenience would play out because both were coming into it with secrets and lies…Jonathan wanting to protect her from rumors of his dereliction of duty, and she not wanting his interference in her business dealings with a foe. As their relationship began to grow, they gradual started to heal from their past wounds. When things are going well, drama rears its head into the relationship in the form of the Marquess of Faladen, and the secrets they hold from one another comes to light.

I thought the author did a very good job writing the hero’s dealings with PTSD and the heroine’s feelings of abandonment. I loved how she developed their character throughout the book. I love the tropes of marriage of convenience as well as friends to lovers. As with all historical romances, I love a bit of steamy between the H/h and there was romance, passion and love. The inclusion of the supporting characters Kat, Beth, Mr. North the butler and Regina the mastiff mistress were nice additions. Although there were some minor misses for me, Ms. MacGregor produced such an enjoyable story with a lovely HEA. Recommend the read and looking forward to Beth’s story in this series. 4.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up because I'm a sucker for childhood best friends getting together

Oh how I love a good friends-to-lovers story! I am still in awe of the friendship these unlikely allies have formed, and I love how they have formed a chosen family that would do anything for each other. This has to be my favorite part of this series, that three women who found out that they had been married to the same man bonded the way they did and decided instead of growing bitter and resentful, they would forge new paths and claim the happiness they deserve. I wish there were more admirable heroines like this.

Now for this book:

Constance and Jonathan were childhood best friends. They were each others' first love, shared their first kiss, and dreamed of a bright and rosy future together. Until the war came. Jonathan left and returned a shadow of his former self, while Constance fell for a man who left her without anything and ruined her reputation by also marrying two other women. While the women bonded in the first book and tried to find out which of them was the only lawful wife, Constance, pregnant and about to give birth, wrote a desperate letter to the only man she every truly trusted and begged him to marry her so she and her baby would at least be respectable. Jonathan dropped everything to come to her, only to discover that she had learned shortly before giving birth that she was her husbands true wife. She still wants to be his wife, though, so she can have the future she once dreamed of with the man she has always loved. Only how to convince the man who believes himself broken and doomed, better of alone, that even though they changed and became different people, they still belong together...

I really loved the first half of the book. Seeing them as teenagers, being all sweet and hopeful, and then having the contrast of who they turned into was bittersweet and lovely. I adored how sensibly they tackled their marriage of convenience, how they set ground rules and stated clearly what they expected and wanted from each other. I thought YES! Finally, sensible people!

But then the drama came and took over with a vengeance. Now me, I loathe fabricated drama, so my enjoyment of the second half was significantly lower. For people who said they would communicate because after all, neither of them could read minds, they sure spent a lot of time keeping secrets and not talking to each other, which I found a bit disappointing. But how else would we have DRAMA. Sigh. But after that was over, I did enjoy how they got back together again in the end. I loved seeing Jonathan come out of his self-imposed exile and starting to live again, and how they tackled the villain in the end was also lovely to see. I just wish they'd planned it together that way from the start...

As with the first book, the sex scenes took me a bit by surprise (the women in this series are extremely sex-positive, know what they want, and go for it), but while this doesn't work for me personally, I still think it's admirable and other readers will enjoy this level of heat.

All in all, I loved the beginning, found the middle a bit too dramatic, and enjoyed the end. An enjoyable read and a strong addition to a wonderful series about strong men and women who work together as true equals, friendship and chosen family, and a lovely set of secondary characters who make the series highly enjoyable.

*I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

About to give birth to her late husband’s child, Constance Lysander learns that he was actually married to two other women and has left her with no money apart from her family business which he was unable to take. She’s grateful for the support of her aunt and the two other wronged women who have now become her dearest friends, but she must marry to save face in the eyes of society.

Jonathan Eaton, the Earl of Sykeston, has just returned from war scarred and with a debilitating limp. He’s not the man Constance grew up with, preferring to hide away at his estate and avoid society, but when she says she needs him to marry her, he’s there for her. His strong feelings for her have never abated, but he’s determined to keep his heart locked down to protect both himself and her from any pain.

When Constance and Jonathan finally find themselves living under one roof, the heartache they’ve both suffered causes problems for them right away, but the attraction and connection between them is strong and their relationship has the potential to become so much more than the convenient alignment it started out as.

I really wanted to love this book so much more than I did. Typically, scarred or tortured heroes are my absolute catnip, but Jonathan was kind of a pill. I think mainly his brooding just went on way too long and his reasons for pushing Constance away didn’t make much sense, neither did his reasons for leaving for war in the first place, and his inner monologues about his fears and reasons to keep Constance at a distance just became repetitive for me very quickly. I was so looking forward to an emotional scarred hero redemption story and I just wound up feeling bored instead. I think Constance put up with too much ridiculousness from Jonathan but also gave him too hard of a time in other ways. He definitely needed a large shove back into life, but I didn’t care for the fact that one minute she was encouraging him to confide in her and telling him that they would face any challenges that arose together as a team and in almost the next thought, she’s talking about her shipbuilding company’s problems and how she’s not going to tell Jonathan because she’d rather deal with them on her own. Yet, she couldn’t see how she also needed to work on things herself to make their marriage better.

I think a lot of times Jonathan was emasculated and Constance wasn’t as sensitive to that or helpful in those terms as she could’ve been. A lot of his issue was his loss of pride and sense of self-worth as a man and she and her friends didn’t always help with that. Much of his improvement and ultimate handling of his PTSD issues and taking back of his life occurs off page and with him separated from Constance and while I understand why his character needed that time to work on himself, I’m still not sure why she couldn’t have also been a part of it and been there to help him more. It also still doesn’t quite make sense to me why he was so determined to be indifferent to Constance; yes, he’d been betrayed and let down by others but not by her or even a woman, so I just never really got the source of his turmoil beyond trying to protect her unnecessarily and I think that made his behavior seem more repetitive to me.

I did like this book much better than its predecessor, but I still find this almost instantaneous friendship between these three women who were married to the same man to just be so odd and cringy. Also, I’m sure this is just me and will be an unpopular opinion, but I could’ve done with way less cooing over the baby. I think that has everything to do with where I am in my personal life, but she is mentioned a lot, and it got old fast for me. I think Constance and baby Aurelia might actually have more page time together than Constance and Jonathan did, so I think this definitely was something that hurt the romance for me. It didn’t help that they had this dark cloud of a potential enemy hanging over the whole story and it could’ve easily been avoided if these two had gotten together and talked everything out and used their heads to realize that the situation didn’t quite make sense.

On the whole, I think Jonathan’s surliness was a bit overdone and Constance’s portrayal as this super mom who works all the time, likes cleaning, has time to play with her baby, and somehow still has energy for sex was off-putting to me. I’m not sure if this made me dislike her exactly, but I wasn’t as prone to rooting for her as I thought I’d be. I also never understood why Constance even married Meri in the first place. She’d been in love with Jonathan and talked about how she couldn’t really find anyone she wanted to marry so she just settled for Meri. Why? She had her own business which, if anything, would’ve been enticement not to marry, and she never mentioned a strong desire for children as a motivation, so I just didn’t really get it.

Basically, this was by no means a bad story, it just wasn’t quite the pining scarred hero story I was wanting. I was bored by the near constant three steps forward, two steps back nature of the relationship between Constance and Jonathan as they were each insensitive to the other’s feelings and insecurities. I also think Constance’s friends mostly just made the situation worse and we got too much of their interactions as meaningful dialogues when I’d have rather seen that between her and Jonathan, rather than most of the relationship development and character growth seeming to occur off page. Nonetheless, this is still something I think is worth reading and I’ll continue on to Beth’s story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was delightfully surprised and honored to be invited to receive an advance review copy through Netgalley. I had never read anything by Janna MacGregor before, so I decided to immediately get my hands on the prequel novella and book one in the series before starting Rules for Engaging the Earl (The Widow Rules #2). I am so glad I did as I enjoyed all three stories. This series may not be for everyone. The fulcrum is a gambling good-for-nothing second son of a Duke who 'marries' three women, takes all of their dowries, and then dies. Only at the reading of his will do they meet each other. The author does a good job of making these three women likeable and not seem stupid and gullible. They have good character and kindness and quickly become like sisters. Each one of the three books has one of the three wives as the heroine.

Constance Lysander, wife number 2, was about a month from giving birth when her husband passed away. She asked her childhood love Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston, to marry her so that her child would be legitimate. He, who had promised to be there for her, agreed.

These two gave each other their first kisses. He was 17, and she was 15. The start of chapter one began a decade later. This was a story of healing and second chances.

When Jonathan left to be a spy/assassin/sharpshooter (because he was fluent in multiple languages and the best shot) in the war against Napoleon, he told Constance not to wait for him. However, she promised to save a dance for him every time until he returned and wait for him to marry. She did actually wait until he returned to England before she met and married her first husband.
When Jonathan returned from war, he was damaged and tortured both physically and mentally. He did not believe himself good enough or brave enough to see the woman whose image pulled him through. Constance tried to visit him many times, but she could never get in contact with him until the summons to request him marry her in the emergency situation. I did not fault her at all.

I enjoy a well-written hero with PTSD. I had hoped he would be a virgin since he had not even a kiss before Constance and had no sex since the injuries. However, the story did make it clear he did not wait and obviously had meaningless sex while in Europe. All of their relationship and individual insecurities developed well over an almost two-year period throughout the book. It was a sweet story with some hot erotic scenes.

I enjoyed the characters, the author's writing style, and the story itself. Now I just can't wait for book three!

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea why I agreed to read this book after the first one in the series was not that good. Maybe I was curious as to how these three women were going to fair with the scandal they found themselves in after they each married the same man and he dies leaving them, well, not in the best of situations. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this series and the plot of the first two books, the writing leaves a whole lot to be desired. 50 to 100 pages could have easily been cut from the narrative, but I'm not sure it would have made much difference.

Constance Lysander was the more fortunate of the three widows. She was actually really married to the louse, Merri. And that turned out to be a good thing because he left her not only high and dry, but pregnant, to boot. Still she feels she needs a husband and has prevailed upon a longtime child friend to become her new husband. Running her family shipping business is all she has to cling to and there are problems she has to face there.

Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston has returned from the war lucky to be alive, but with a serious disability. He has shut himself off from society and has what I'm sure is depression. He also has some nasty business hanging over his head from his war experience. Business he is more than willing to hid from.

Constance and Jonathan find out real soon, will not really, Jonathan takes off for the country an hour after the London wedding, telling Constance to stay put. A year later, they are both in residence at Sykeston Gardens in Portsmouth, but not because Jonathan really wants her there. Anyway, they both find out that you can't always have what you want. Jonathan can't hid from the world forever when he has a wife and child to consider and Constance can't have the husband and family she wants. Well, not without a lot of effort on both their parts.

My thanks to St. Martins Paperbacks, Publisher, and Janna MacGregor, author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Constance Lysander needs a husband. Or, so society says. She’s about to give birth to her late husband’s child―a man who left her with zero money, and two other wives she didn’t know about. Thankfully, she has her Aunt by her side, and the two other wives have become close friends. But still―with a baby on the way, her shipping business to run, and an enemy skulking about, she has no time to find the perfect match.

Enter Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston. Returned war hero and Constance’s childhood best friend, his reentry into society has been harsh. Maligned for an injury he received in the line of duty, Jonathan prefers to stay out of sight. It’s the only way to keep his heart from completely crumbling. But when a missive from Constance requests his presence―to their marriage ceremony―Jonathan is on board. His feelings for Constance run deep, and he’ll do anything to make her happy, though it means risking his already bruised heart.

With Constance, Jonathan, and the new baby all together, it’s clear the wounds―both on the surface and in their relationship―run deep. But when the nights come, their wounds begin to heal, and both come to realize that their marriage of convenience is so much more than just a bargain.’
__________________

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

Rules for Engaging the Earl is the second book in Janna MacGregor’s The Widow Rules series and is a historical romance with an underlying mystery.

This was a sweet story and the first Janna MacGregor book that I have read. This is the second book in the series, so I wasn’t sure whether starting here would impede my reading at all. I don’t believe it did, I didn’t feel like I was missing any key information at any point and so I would say that this can easily serve as a standalone book.

Individually I liked the two main characters, but together they annoyed me. I do think that they were a sweet pairing and it’s lovely that they got their second chance, but sometimes throughout the book I really wondered if it was worth it. To start the marriage really only comes about as a request to help the other, before the vows can happen the circumstances change and that help is no longer necessary. But just go for it anyway, I guess? He then abandons her for a year and the worst part is that she is under the impression that it is for noble reasons, which results in a horrible revelation for her down the road. The patience she showed was commendable, but it made the hero distinctly unlikable for me. Like maybe this is being too forgiving. I felt that he should have had to work so much harder to prove himself after that crap.

I found the book quite slow to start and the page time with the two main characters together to be quite limited, extremely so in the whole first half. So a slow start the the plot felt pretty stationary, but once these two started interacting regularly it picked up the pace a bit and the plot felt like it was working toward something-bringing these two together and discovering who is responsible for slandering Jonathan’s reputation regarding his conduct during the war.

Despite the slow stat, I enjoyed the book and think that I will be reading the next book in the series.
_____

I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for sharing an eARC of Rule for Engaging the Earl with me. This is my honest review.

[Elizabeth McFarland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the premise of this series. Three women find out they have married the same man at the reading of his will. The first book was great and this one had some really nice moments. It started off strong and then dragged a bit. I liked Constance, but Jonathan drove me crazy. I enjoy a grumpy hero usually, but he came across as a jerk most of the time. I was also sad that Constance's Aunt Vee was barely in the book after how much I loved her in the first one. Still I'm definitely looking forward to Beth and Grayson's story!

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Rules for Engaging the Earl is a marriage of convenience story and the second in the Widow Rules series by Janna MacGregor. Constance Lysander needs a husband since she is about to give birth and her reputation could be in question. Her dead husband, the polygamist, left Constance and his other two wives in a lurch. Needing help, she sends for her childhood friend Jonathan, the Earl of Sykeston and he answers her request. There isn’t anything that he wouldn’t do for his childhood friend whom he loves dearly, but doesn’t see how getting married to him is going to help. He was hurt in the war and was threatened with being court-martialed. It has made him a recluse and not very hospitable. He’s afraid of bringing her down with him if things really get bad. His butler North has other ideas and meddles with Jonathan and Constance’s lives and gets them both in the same place at the same time. His hope is that they can make a go of their marriage. Constance was a strong woman and knew things would be good with Jonathan if he’d only try. For every two steps forward with them getting closer, there was a horrible one step backwards that just broke her heart. However, having a common enemy, bolstered Jonathan to work at getting her back and having a life with her.

The author is one of my favorites in this genre because she creates such imperfect characters that develop into better people over the course of the story. There is depth to their emotions and feelings. You can feel the hurt and disappointment both Constance and Jonathan are going through. Both Jonathan and Constance are prideful and want to be independent. How they overcome makes the journey of the story a slow progression but very satisfying in the end. Their sexual encounters were steamy and it was nice to see a woman who knows what she wants. The secondary characters added humor and just made the story even better.This story has all the emotions in play and I love that they found their way back to one another. I love her writing and can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Julie - One Book More · Rating 4 out of 5]

Constance Lysander, pregnant and about to give birth, needs to marry immediately to preserve her and her child’s reputation. She reaches out to her childhood best friend Jonathan for help even though she hasn’t seen him since he enlisted in the military a decade ago. Jonathan isn’t the same man he once was, but when Constance asks for his hand in marriage, he agrees. Can these long-ago friends find happiness together after all the trials and tribulations they’ve faced?

Rules for Engaging the Earl is a lovely childhood friends-to-lovers, second-chance historical romance. The characters are layered and dynamic, the themes are poignant, and the love story is slow-building and wonderful. The story begins with a flashback to Constance and Jonathan right before he leaves for military service. This is such a great scene and shows how deep and true their feelings for each other are. Constance and Jonathan share a life-long bond, and that bond is solid even years after last seeing each other.

Jonathan is a broken man who does not feel worthy of love. A recluse in his country home, Jonathan faces questions about his actions while in service, and he’s struggling with a war-time injury and the emotional and physical disabilities he received during the war. Jonathan doesn’t want to be a burden, and he fears breaking Constance’s heart if the military accusations come to fruition. Though he has always loved Constance, he holds her and his future happiness at arm’s length. Luckily for him, Constance is determined to break through all of the walls he put up.

I love Constance! She’s been through so much and faced insurmountable obstacles, yet she remains steadfast and resilient. I love her determination, her sincerity, and her kindness. She’s the type of person who will do anything for the people she loves, and she proves this when with Jonathan. I love this couple and so wanted them to find their happiness together. Both Constance and Jonathan have had a lot of tragedy in their lives, and their relationship often suffers because of past trauma and fears. Miscommunication, self-sabotage, secrets, and more stand in the way of their happiness, and I enjoyed seeing them try to find their way back to each other.

Themes of friendship, family, redemption, preserving one’s reputation, and fighting for those you love are prevalent throughout the novel, and I love the development of an unlikely found family. All three women who were married to the same man, each of whom are the focus of the novels in this series, become each other’s strongest supporters, and their relationship is a lovely result of a terrible situation. There are other great secondary characters too, including Constance’s adorable daughter, Jonathan’s butler, and Regina, the ever-loyal and incredibly large dog. I love that all of these people, and even the dog, contribute to Jonathan and Constance’s story.

The story also has a bit of intrigue, as Jonathan must prove his innocence, and Constance is still trying to learn more about her mysterious, deceased husband. It was interesting to see how these situations developed and were resolved, and I’m curious to see how some of these situations continue to unravel and develop as the series continues.

This is a great addition to The Widow Rules series and one I was eager to read since reading the final pages of the previous book. I would definitely recommend the book and the series to historical romance readers, and I’m excited to read Beth’s story in the next book! Special thanks to NetGalley and Darcy Burke for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #2 in The Widow Rules series by Janna MacGregor. Pub. date 4/26/22

This is such a DELIGHTFUL second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance between Jonathon, the Earl of Sikeston, and shipping business owner Constance Lysander.

Jonathon leaves behind his childhood friend and first love Constance to fight in the British army against Napoleon for the next ten years. During that time, Constance unknowingly marries a trigamist, Lord Meriwether, who disappears then passes away one month before giving birth to his child. Jonathon returns to London a war hero, and she asks him to marry her to legitimize her daughter.

I love the hearttouching wounded-grumpy sunshine trope. And in this story you can’t help but root for our hero Jonathon. He’s a recluse due to his physical war injuries and PTSD, and if that isn’t sad enough, he thinks he’s no longer good enough for Constance. Unfortunately he’s also become involved with someone trying to blackmail him (which is also keeping him further from her.) That same person is also causing serious problems for Constance’s business. Neither knows. There’s a lot more going on but I won’t be a spoilsport. I will say that I loved the interesting dynamics between the H’s; their getting reacquainted, Jonathon becoming an instant father, Constance helping Jonathon open up to her and the world around him. This is my first book from this author and won’t be my last (enjoyed it so much I just purchased book #1!) 5 stars. 📚😍

*Thanks so much for the NetGalley widget, Sara La Cotti via St. Martin’s Press! All opinions are my own.

[Romancing the Duchess - Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary
Constance and Jonathan are best friends from childhood, who were separated when Jonathan went to war. Ten years later, they reunite when Constance is left pregnant and in need of a husband. Jonathan reluctantly agrees as he is both physically and mentally scarred from his time in the military. Between Jonathan’s issues and him possibly being court marshaled and Constance’s new baby and a threat against her family business, they have to work really hard to make their marriage work! But, with feelings they locked away for a decade, they find a way to be there for each other and overcome.

Tropes
Bluestocking heroine, Titled hero, War hero, Childhood crush, Second Chance, Beauty and the Beast, Trauma, Friends to lovers, Widow, Tortured Character, Recluse Hero

The Plot
The story was very well written and the little side stories/drama played in with the main love story wonderfully. I couldn’t handle it in every book, but I loved the dramatic rise and fall of the plot line. From the moment they married and he left, then when she joined him at Sykeston Gardens to the climax of her realizing his lies, I could feel the fall coming and I couldn’t put the book down. Then, of course, as everything between them gets sorted out, I had to read to make sure Constance was going to be okay!

The Heroine
Constance Lysander had her heart broken when Jonathan left for war, then her husband left her without a word leaving her pregnant and with a family business to run! My heart broke several time thought the book for her, but she is incredibly strong and resilient. She was a wonderful character to follow along with as she overcame the betrayals and the heartache she was dealt. I have a soft spot for Constance!

The Hero
Jonathan was a good man, but he bothered me because he couldn’t seem to read the writing on the wall as it were. He left Constance to go to war even though she clearly had feelings for him. Then, when reunited, he just seem to get past himself. He wasn’t too bad a suppose but I usually cringe when characters just can’t seem to do the right thing that seems so obvious to everyone else. I suppose I should go easy on him, he’s been through a lot, but marrying her and then disappearing for a year!?!?

The Steam
Not a whole lot in this story, but, as in the previous book in the series, PLENTY of swooning! Surprisingly, Jonathan can be very sweet when he wants to be,

Stand Out Moment
Probably the scene where she confronts him about the letters and leaves him. It definitely had tears in my eyes.

Who Would Like This
Someone looking for a good, sweet second-Chance love story!

Final Thoughts
this was a great continuation of the saga Lord Meriweather left behind. I can’t wait to read Beth’s story!

[Luz T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rules for Engaging the Earl
Book 2 in The Widow Rules series
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

Rules for Engaging the Earl is a second chance at romance story. Jonathan and Constance have known each other since they were children and were very close friends, but then Jonathan leaves to serve his country and leaves behind Constance with a young broken heart. They meet again 10 years later and she is now a pregnant widow who's husband married her while at the same time had married two other women.
She calls on Jonathan to come back and to marry her to help her. He's always had feelings for her and she for him, but Jonathan is not the same man from 10 years ago. He is battle torn physically and emotionally. He's become such a grump and feels he doesn't deserve to live happily. He still agrees to marry her but they both establish a set of rules for their marriage. Some were broken and others were honored thanks to his sweet match making staff ( I really loved them!) and her friends.
Why the 3 stars?
I'll be honest and say that there were times that I was bored. There seemed to be too much internal dialogue and Jonathan seemed a little to mopey and grumpy, even when Constance put so much effort to make her marriage a happy one. I really liked her. She was such a strong and independent character that I think she really didn't need to marry Jonathan...sorry, but she was too good for him. I loved how she handled her business, her home and even her baby when it was customary to just have other people carry out those tasks.
Secondary characters stole some of the scenes, especially Regina! I could easily picture her sitting at the table with very good manners.
I look forwards to Beth's story!

[Michelle Rupe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Constance Lysander needs to marry and fast, but who would marry on such short notice after she gave birth to another man's child? Constance decides to make an offer to her old friend Jonathan, the Earl of Sykeston. Unfortunately, he isn't the boy she remembers, but a recluse filled with grief over the injury to his leg that has emasculated him. He can't be what she needs, but Constance has other ideas. Add in a matchmaking servant staff convinced that love will help Jonathan learn to live again, a sweet daughter that teaches Jonathan that there is so much more to life, and a love that brings out the best in you. It's a recipe for a winning book.

I really loved this, and while there were some things I think that could have been edited out, it was a great story! I found Constance and Jonathan a great match, and was really rooting for Jonathan. He had such a bad life after leaving the army, withdrawing from his friends and family, spending all this time alone suffering from feelings of depression and inadequacy. I just couldn't wait to watch love change him. It was sweet and super fulfilling. Janna really knows how to pack on the romance. The lines she has her characters say, the way they treat each other, and the things they do just convey such a real life romance. Her books feel more rooted in reality rather than them having a plot full of unrealistic problems. It's kind of nice to see a couple solve real life issues that couples face.

[eyes.2c · Rating 3 out of 5]

Widow Rules continue!

Marriage of convenience trope given an interesting twist. Childhood friends reunite under strained circumstances. Constance Lysander had married a scoundrel who committed not bigamy but trigamy. Pregnant Constance needs a husband and friend Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston, agrees to marry her to legitimise her child. A decorated sharpshooter in the Napoleonic wars, Jonathan was badly injured and is very much a recluse. Alongside that he’s been unjustly accused, at this stage by the rumour mill, of action unbecoming a gentleman, very much against the military’s rules of conduct.
Jonathan is loathe to marry but this is the friend he’s loved forever.
Constance operates a ship building company and has her own worries. Neither is able to confide in the other. Unbeknownst to each they’re facing a common enemy, and that plays havoc with the restoration of their relationship. Their coming together, hard won, has the hermit leaching out of Jonathan, but is their love going to be strong enough to face another enemy closing in on their hard won life together?
A predictable but pleasant read.

A St Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley

[i_hype_romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect distraction from a shit week. I loved the mutual mesmerization of the hero and heroine, the sweet promise and redemption of their second chance romance, and the fireworks that unfolded between them.

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rules for Engaging the Earl by Janna MacGregor is a friends-to-lovers and marriage of convenience historical romance about best friends Constance Lysander and Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston. I must confess that Rules for Engaging the Earl was nothing like I expected. It was so much more. Instead of a typical friends-to-lovers romance, MacGregor used that relationship as the basis for the character’s willingness to commit to a marriage of convenience. So, it’s more of a marriage of convenience romance between friends. If you thought that would make things easier for them, you’d be wrong. She excellently explores how years apart, life’s ups and downs, scars, and secrets impact people and their relationships, changing how they relate to each other. Their friendship is the most crucial relationship in both their lives.

Nevertheless, Constance and Jonathan have to start fresh as adults before they can regain the comfort of their childhood friendship and use it as a foundation for the well-founded, adult partnership a lasting happy marriage requires. MacGregor keeps that journey emotionally compelling with serious tumult along the path. The novel’s pacing is a bit slow at first but picks up once the hero and heroine start interacting more. It’s a bit of a slow-burn romance that will draw readers in immediately.

After Constance’s husband dies, leaving her penniless and about to give birth to their child, with the scandal of two other wives of whom she had no knowledge hanging over her head, she needs to marry to preserve her child’s legitimacy. Constance isn’t alone with it all because her aunt and the other wives, with whom she’s become close friends, are by her side. However, she has no time to look for the perfect husband with a shipping business to run, a new baby coming, and someone threatening her livelihood. So, she asks her childhood best friend Jonathan to marry her. Though Jonathan has returned home a war hero, he doesn’t feel like one. His re-entrance to society has been challenging, with lingering severe and disabling war injuries and secrets about a mission burdening him and his outlook on life. His feelings for Constance remain deep, drawing him from the safety of his self-imposed seclusion. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for his best friend and the woman who owns his heart. Will this marriage of convenience give them the chance to explore the feelings and attraction simmering between them as they help each other heal from the wounds and scars neither can see nor are ready and willing to share?

Though it’s told in dual POV from the heroine’s and hero’s POVs, in a nice change of pace, much of the novel is written from the hero Jonathan’s POV. MacGregor takes her time developing Jonathan’s and Constance’s relationship with sweet, angsty, tender, deeply emotional, steamy moments/interactions, furthering their characters’ and the story’s development. Constance is serious, intelligent, stubborn, kind, and spirited. After her father’s death, she took over the family’s business, and it became her passion, which she continues growing and increasing in profitability. However, Constance’s responsibilities make it easy for Jonathan to fulfill his promise of marrying her and then hide away from society and her. A man of honor, Jonathan is brave, courageous, reliable, and frustratingly set on having things his way, even if it doesn’t make sense. Jonathan and Constance often clash but are meant for each other. If only Jonathan could believe and accept it.

Rules for Engaging the Earl is an angsty, steamy, humorous, romantic, and captivating historical romance that should appeal to marriage of convenience fans.

Advanced review copy provided by St. Martin’s Paperbacks via Netgalley for review.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonathan returns from service a broken man. Constance has had her world turned upside down but a false marriage. The two together need to find their childhood friendship to heal as well as move forward into an adult one. At times it was very emotional and others quite humorous.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy for review; this is my freely given opinion.

This is the second story in The Widow Rules series, about Constance Lysander, who was first seen in A Duke in Time; the second wife of the trigamist, Meriweather Vareck. She is pregnant with his child, and when she found out what he did to her, Kat, and Beth, was in fear of the scandal and having her child bear the burden of being born illegitimate. This would also ruin her reputation and smear her family business, as shipwrights in Plymouth. Her solution, in the first book was for the Duke of Randford, the brother of Meriweather, get the Earl of Sykeston to marry her.

The second book opens up in the past, when we find out that Jonathan and Constance were very good childhood friends, that were on the verge of more when he left to go to war. They were very young, with Constance being on the verge of being. They love for each other was obvious, but Jonathan did not want to ask her to wait for him, and gave her a very sweet list of what he wanted her to look for in a husband, as that was what he wanted for her.

During the war, he is critically injured and when he returns home, he is traumatized by his experiences and his injuries, and isolates himself from his friends and tenants. He seems to be struggling on finding himself, his worth and value in the world. In the meantime, Constance connects with Meriweather, and while she did not love him, felt that he would make a good husband. Unfortunately she was incredibly wrong in that, and when she found herself pregnant and in a bind, called on her former best friend to rescue her.

Jonathan does marry her, but still runs off back to his estate, and isolates himself there, thinking that his issues, including a risk of being court martialed for something he did during the war that could be interpreted as an abandonment of his mission, would just bring down those around him. As such, he distances himself physically and emotionally from Constance, despite wanting more. Thanks to some seriously interfering, though well meaning, people in his life, Constance shows up with her baby, and moves into his home, after a year of being apart.

I was very frustrated with Jonathan as a hero; his lack of communication and isolation were so very crippling and self destructive. I think he was very lucky to have the friends and staff that he had, who cared enough to overcome his walls, especially when he actively pushed them away in such obnoxious ways. Constance would have good reason to not trust men, after her experience with her first husband, and it says a lot for their prior friendship that she was willing to give so much of herself to work on a true marriage with Jonathan; which made her disappointments that much more difficult in the end. I felt that this story was very contemporary, despite being a Regency historical, since it was about the struggles of a woman finding her strength and independence managing a business, being a mother, managing a household, and trying to work on a meaningful, fulfilling relationship too, in the context of her own emotional trauma, and his PTSD and sense of his own lack of self worth. I liked her character that much more, because she was strong enough strive for what she wanted, and willing to invest and open up of herself to Jonathan, despite her experiences with her previous husband.

There were some plot inconsistencies which I found a bit irritating. Such as not mention of how Constance found out about the court martial. That there was no mention that Jonathan's sister was murdered... and there seemed to be a lot more to Beth and Grayson's relationship than was alluded to previously (and I do presume the next novel will be about the two of them, so that may be purposeful...). But they were minor issues. Otherwise I quite enjoyed this installment of the series. I am loving the female characters and the dynamic the three Meriweather widows have with each other.

Four stars out of 5.

Oops.... forgot to mention that there is a dog. A big drooly mastiff... two technically. So add another half a 🌟 because you can always steal a piece of my heart with 🐕.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rules for Engaging the Earl is the second installment of The Widow Rules series. If you've read the first book, you would know all the girls who ended up marrying the same fellow. At first, you followed Katherine navigating her life after Meri's untimely death. She eventually fell in love with his brother, Christian, Duke of Randford.

In this book, you are now following Constance. Just like the other two wives, she was left with no money. Unlike them, she had her aunt to help pitch in when she needed help the most. It also doesn't hurt that her and the other ladies formed a fast friendship either. Now all she needs is the man of her dreams to come back into her life.

Enter Jonathan. Now these two definitely had feelings and crushes on one another before he left for the war. Before leaving, he told her to not wait for him to return because he didn't know if he ever would. Low and behold, he's back and their feelings for one another are still strong and thriving.

These two had great chemistry but I didn't like how negative he could be. I get that he got hurt during the war, but the lack of communication drove me bonkers. Eventually things got better between them, but I honestly wanted more groveling from Jonathan.

In the end, I'm very happy that I got the chance to dive into this. It was hard to put down once things really started to get good. Other than that, I hope there's a third book because I want to see Dahlia fall in love. She definitely needs it and to get away from her brother.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonathan has been in love with Constance his whole life, but going into the military separates them. When they finally come together again, his heart and soul are broken and believes he is unfit for…well, anything but especially for Constance. The fact that he marries her to provide a safe space for her means absolutely nothing, he can keep her away from him, right?

I loved Constance, a woman who has been knocked around a little bit by life but is strong and steadfast. And I love that she has her own business!! How cool is she?? And to befriend the two other women who thought they had married her first husband…well, her heart is every bit as strong as her will. But breaking through Jonathan’s armor may be too much for her. Truly she was a brilliant character. I thought Jonathan was a little frustrating, but dealing with PTSD and being blackmailed for something you didn’t do is hard, whatever time period you are in. Overall, very enjoyable. Especially love North! And Aurelia!!

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, what have we here? the perfect (for most) angsty read of the spring.

We have a loving pair of young best friends, Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston, and Constance Lysander. Jonathan is leaving to become a sharpshooter with the army. He leaves, but promises have been made! Constance is going about her life learning about her father's business.

Constance marries a rake, a rogue, an all-around bad guy, who just so happens to marry two other women after he marries her. Steals her dowery and then drowns in a mud puddle. Oopsie!

Oh, and did I forget to mention that Constance is pregnant?

Since all of this has happened in the last ten years---I doubt that, but the timeline said: "ten years have passed."

Okay, here come my issues. It may be that I'm I've just had too many books dealing with self-recriminations, angst to the nth degree, and a lot of internal dialoguing. I just could not make it through this book.

Constance needs a husband so her baby won't be born out of wedlock ( since her first hubby was married three times at the same time). She sends word to Johathan, and here he comes to save the day-only he doesn't have to. If you read the book, you'll find out why; I don't want to add any more spoilers than I may have done already!

We deal with PTSD, physical disabilities, a frigid heart, and passionate leering thoughts. The lustful thoughts are on both sides of this farce. Of course, you can see the writing on the wall because, well, this is a romance, dammit! Things will go on in their own befuddled way, especially since the Earl has some pretty heavy accusations against him from his time in the army, so of course, there will be an evil, despicable entity thrown in the plot for good measure. Sex will come into the picture and save the day, the Earl will come to adore the baby, things will work out, and they will have a happy ending!

I just couldn't do it; I just couldn't find any compassion or empathy for these characters or sorrow for what Johathan had gotten himself into.

*ARC supplied by publisher and NetGalley.

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rules for Engaging the Earl is book 2 in The Widow Rules series. This series follows 3 women who all found out, upon his death, that they were married to the same man. The 3 ladies become fast friends and each book follows their journey. Constance is pregnant and in need of a husband quickly to save herself and her unborn child from ruin. She reaches out to her childhood best friend Jonathan and asks him to marry her. I did enjoy this one more than book 1 in the series.

Constance Lysander and Jonathan Eaton, Earl of Skyeston, met when they were growing up and became the best of friends. They had a lot in common and spent a lot of time together, up until he turned 17 and was recruited for a special, secret assignment for the Crown. He made her promise to not wait for him while he was away and they don’t meet up again until 10 years later. Jonathan was a top marksman who suffered an injury in the war, now his career is over and he was left with a badly injured leg and a colder attitude on life. He’d rather spend his days alone at his estate with his loyal dog and target practice. But when his childhood friend Constance asks for help and needs a marriage quickly, she’s the one person he can’t say no to.

This was a super interesting premise. Constance is pregnant and has another man’s baby while marrying her childhood best friend to save her reputation. I really loved Jonathan’s character, the wounded war hero who just wants to isolate himself away. I loved seeing Constance bring so much back to his life, his relationship with her daughter was so sweet, his dog Regina is featured a lot and I love a loyal pet, I also really enjoyed the meddling butler and staff trying to push Jonathan and Constance together. There was some drama/suspense/villain hanging over both Jonathan and Constance that I wasn’t as much of a fan over, I felt like they had enough to overcome together already and would have rather had more time with them. Other moments I liked: she makes the ointment for his injured leg and gives him massages, he introduces her to a shower, he lets her sleep and helps take care of the baby at night, she works and inherited her father’s business, the entire staff at his estate.

Thank you to the publisher (St. Martin’s Press, SMP Romance) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this honest review are my own. Rules for Engaging the Earl has a publish date of April 26, 2022.

[Heather Moll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marriage of convenience, childhood-friends-to-lovers

Jonathan Eaton, Earl of Skyeston, had been in love with his childhood friend Constance Lysander ever since he left for the continent during the Napoleonic wars at 17 for a dangerous mission. He told her not to wait for him, and ten years later she married a man who had two other wives. Now, she’s pregnant, her husband dead, and with her future child about to be illegitimate she asks Jonathan to marry her before it’s born.

Only she learns she was the rightful widow all along. No need to marry, but they decide to anyway. She wants stability and respectability for her daughter and her shipbuilding business. She still loves him, and he loves her but he’s returned a bitter, injured war hero who fears a possible court marital and won’t subject his new wife to his company. He exiles her and the baby to London while he stays at home in Portsmouth.

All that is in the first several chapters. Nothing has happened yet.

After a year’s separation, Constance thinks her husband has called her home after traveling the continent for the Crown, but actually he has ignored every letter, the butler was the one who invited her and replied to her letters, and Jonathan has actually been holed up at home trying to clear his name and shooting at targets and being miserable to everyone.

By now, we’re %25 into the book, nothing has happened AND I hate this guy.

By the %30 they finally got to establishing the rules for how they’ll live together. Maybe now we’ll see some interaction and hopefully some rules will be broken.

At the halfway point, since she’s come back, they’ve had 3 interactions and only 1 since establishing their rules.

It’s a slow start.

While Jonathan is a jerk who is unkind to his wife and who has been wallowing too long, at least he has some character. Constance is too patient and forgiving and placid in the face of Jonathan’s rudeness. I wanted to see him put in more work to redeem himself and save his marriage and realize on his own that he needed to change. I also thought Constance so desperate for any scraps he hands out that she put up with too much.

There is a good plot in here, if you can get through the slow beginning and the rushed resolution. I’d read this one if you liked the first book in this series.

I received an arc from NetGalley

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

After discovering that her husband had two other wives, and that her unborn child might be illegitimate, it would be understandable if Constance Lysander broke down. But she didn't. Okay, she might not have any money after her husband squandered it all, and society might judge her, but she knows that her fellow wives are there to support her, and her aunt would do anything too. But, giving into claims she 'needs' a husband, she begs her former best friend, Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston, to come and marry her, give her and the child his name, and she will be forever greatly. However, she doesn't realise that while she's always cared for him, he's loved her since they were children, and the wounds and scars he carries from war run deep. He'll do anything Constance asks, even marrying her, but as soon as the I do's are said, he's gone. Constance won't take this lying down, so when she arrives at their estate, and demands they spend time together, she has some rules for Jonathan to follow.

I, like most other people, couldn't wait to find out what the story was between Jonathan and Constance when we saw the final pages of book 1, A Duke in Time. And no matter what I expected, this book was so much more! I've loved Constance since we first met her, and she just grew stronger and stronger throughout this book. Now a mother, she will do anything for the people she loves, including Jonathan. She can see that he's hiding something, that his time in the military has affected him more than he says, and though it'll be hard, she won't stop until she finds out the truth, and show's him love. Jonathan, understandably I'd say, was difficult to warm to initially, but when we learn more about his actions in the war, and how the Marquess of Faladen has pushed him out and questioned his ability. He truly needed someone to talk to, but he was so strung up, it was hard for his walls to crack. This was such a good continuation of the series, and there's lovely scenes with all three 'wives' - I can't wait for Beth's book, she really needs her happy ending!