Author Janna MacGregor has a wonderful way with words. Her stories are always very entertaining. This holds true in A Duke in Time, the first book in her new The Widow Rules series. In this story the heroine, Katherine finds out that her recently deceased "husband" Meri had two other wives. The best thing that happened for her from this crazy situation was that she met the Duke of Randford, Meri's half-brother. I enjoyed reading about the relationship which develops between the two. The resulting Happily Ever After was fun to read about.

I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I read many, many romance novels. I have not read too many with the the polygamy trope up until now. I found the problem refreshing after having read so many typical storylines. I found the main character likeable as well as the other women in the story. There seems to be room for spin off s from this. I do enjoy a steamy romance as well and this was not too much. It gets tied up nicely at the end. All in all, I would recommend this for a light, fluffy read on the beach or on a plane.

A decent historical romantic read. The characters had an ok on page chemistry but nothing that really stood out. The story was fairly typical but the “barriers” that kept the two main characters apart seemed mediocre in the long run and began to irritate me greatly near the end of the story.

Christian, the Duke of Ranford doesn't have time for nonsense. After returning from war, he is determined to spend his time away from the frivolities of society and instead interested in helping displaced soldiers find lodging and work. Katharine who is determined to build her business to royalty standards, marries on a whim to Meri, who dies tragically young. She soon finds out there her husband had 3 other wives and countless other secrets. After turning to the Duke to help her sort everything out, will they find love in the midst of secrets?

This was a fun read for me. Janna MacGregor always delivers, and this time was not different. I will admit that it took me a little while to get onboard with the Duke and I didn't find myself liking him too much at the beginning, but as the story went on he definitely grew on me. This was a solid romance novel and one that you will be glad you picked up!
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinions.

Janna MacGregor has created compelling characters with this wonderfully romantic story. I couldn't wait to see what Katherine would do when she discovers, after her husband's death, that he had married two other women. Her brother in law is also at a loss and thrown into a mess of his half-brother's making. This is a great first book in the series and I can't wait to read the next one.

Meri must have been real charming.

Poor guys. Good for Christian.

Is it hot in here?

Grayson is a good friend.

Isabelle is adorable.

I have never heard of that rose.

Who are you Meri, Mike Tyson?

I like Venetia.

Dang, Sykeston.

Oh good, Meri's mother was a pedophile.

Mr. FitzWilliam was a good man.

Just desserts, Skeats.

A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor
Rating: 4-stars
Summary: Katherine “Kat” Vareck gets a nasty surprise when she is informed her “husband” has passed away. At the solicitor’s office she discovers that her husband, Meri, has three wives. The story unfolds are Kat tries to decide how to proceed, not just with her life and reputation, but also the two other wives, one of whom is due to give birth any day. Christian, Meri’s older half-brother, wants nothing to do with Meri’s wives of the ridiculous mess he left for Christian to deal with (I do not blame him, he is not a brother I would want). The book focuses on settling the three wives without ruining their reputations.
Overall opinion: I was skeptical about this trope at the beginning, it seemed a little crazy to me; however, Ms. MacGregor delighted me with a story that was entertaining, romantic, and just a little over the top. I could see how Christian and Kat fell for each other, it felt like a real relationship developing, even with all their respective Meri baggage. There are two reasons why I rated this 4-stars and not five. Primarily, the conflict felt contrived and ongoing. Kat is convicted of stealing an apple (which she did not even do, just in the wrong place at the wrong time) and while stealing is not a small thing, it felt like this was blown out of proportion (she did not murder anyone for goodness’s sake!). When her competitor comes back again after Kat and Christian share all their secrets and still decide to be together, it annoyed me that she hied away to the countryside without even talking with Christian. I know she did not want him to fix her problems for her, but I think their relationship was strong enough that he would have respected her wishes and she would have saved him some very agonizing days. This really bothered me, hence the 4-star rating.
Aside from this plot issue, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to a friend.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Three wives, one dead husband

A Duke in Time is the first book in the Widow Rules series but can be read as a standalone.

This first book tells the story of Katherine, who, while attending the reading of her husband's will, discovered that he had also married two other women.

Katherine owned a linen shop and had ascended in society after her marriage to the fun but elusive Lord Merriwether Vareck.

Their marriage was short-lived as Meri disappeared a few hours after the ceremony and died a few months later, having fallen from a horse.

The situation that was already bad became worse when Katherine found out that Meri had married two other women and spent all their dowries.

The premise is intriguing, and it was nice to see how Katherine and Merri's other wives Beth and Constance, chose to place blame in the right place and join forces to weather the scandal.

Christian, the hero, was Meri's older brother and a Duke who had spent years soldiering. He was compassionate and loving—an excellent match to the loyal and independent Katherine.

There were a few skeletons in their closets, but no big misunderstandings. The relationship was well developed and based on their mutual attraction and similar interests.

My favorite side character was Willa, and I'm hoping she gets a novella or a side story, preferably paired with the charming Morgan (Christian's valet).

As sometimes happens in a series first installment, some points were not fully clarified, especially regarding the circumstances of the marriages. As the series progresses, I imagine things will become more clear.

I'm looking forward to the next book as I loved Constance, and I'm a sucker for marriage of convenience stories.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 06/30/2021*

Spicy little number!!
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This is one story that has some awesome twists. This author throws it all out there and holds nothing back. I love that about her writing.

Not one but 2 other wives? Can you say big scandal not to mention that burning desire for the step brother-in-law… oh yeah! Our heroine has some big issues hanging over her head. Not only is she now a widow, but her background has some slight issues that could prove to be a problem.

Enter Christian, said step brother-in-law and her hopeful savior. I loved his character and the fact that while he could have been a jerk, he was so sweet and really fell for her. Their connection was immediately sweet and hot with an extra serving of spice! MacGregor does not hold back with her spicy romance!

A Duke in Time is entertaining, unique, and a delicious spicy romp to dive into! Cannot wait for the next in the series – ladies we have already met!

A good start to a new historical romance series. Plenty of fun characters and I love the subplots and how the author encompasses some social issues within the storyline. It's lighthearted and addresses important themes at the same time. I look forward to the next one in the series. For historical romance fans.

Net Galley Feedback

After the death of her husband, Meri, Katherine Vareck is shocked to find out she wasn't his only wife. At the reading of the will she meets the two other Lady Meris. As the owner of a successful linen business she is worried that if this news spreads her chance to become a royal supplier will vanish. Christian, Duke of Randford and Meri's brother, is called in to help sort out the mess. He hasn't been involved with his family for years and has no idea how to right his brother's wrongs. He does, however, know he has feelings developing for his brother's widow. Kat has no time for the Duke what with trying to keep her business afloat, helping to care for her new sister wives, and trying to keep her past in the past...but as she finds herself in Christian's company time and time again she realizes maybe she does have room for him after all.

What I liked about this book was that even though it was a historical romance the historical aspect wasn't heavy handed. This easily could have been a modern day rom com. I also enjoyed Katherine's character. She was very independent and it was nice to see female characters (the other wives and Kat's companion) with agency. In this book what can go wrong will go wrong and it's not until the very end that the reader can take a breathe. It was a nice escape and all aspects were well written.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

#netgalley #adukeintime #stmartin'spress

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

Three ladies find themselves "married" to the same man after his death, and they band together to support each other. Unfortunately, Katherine Greer has a secret that she needs the title of lady to help cover up. She enlists the new Duke of Randford to help her and the other women in their predicament.

So, I liked the beginning and the end of this book. I found the beginning to be strong, and the ending to be very sweet and romantic. It was the middle that ending up getting bogged down. It felt slow, and at times unnecessary in moving the plot along. I really enjoyed Katherine and Christian's relationship with each other. I think in the beginning their interactions were stilted and their dialogue a little boring. Once Janna hit her groove i thought there was somr very funny dialogue. I really loved Christian's sense of humor.

I think that all first books in series tend to be a little harder and more difficult because of the buildup and introduction of the plot and the characters. This wasn't any different. I still think true fans of Janna Macgregor will enjoy this book, and the setup for rest of the series.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

I enjoyed this story very much! Katherine is a strong, kind, and pragmatic woman who finds herself in the oddest, potentially ruinous predicament-widowed by a polygamist. Three women thought each was Lady Meriwether until they met at the solicitor's office. The Duke of Randford thought his days of cleaning up his half-brother's messes were over when he delivers Meriwether's will to the solicitor. Christian, the Duke, is recently returned from war and has to settle into his recently inherited dukedom, not to mention civilian society. The last thing he wants to deal with are three widows and his half-brother's shameful actions. Katherine and Christian both have deep emotional wounds they have to work through to achieve happiness in their present lives. I enjoy how Katherine is not a pushover, and how Christian is open to her help. Their flirtatious exchanges are witty when they're on a roll and trying to one up each other. I enjoyed their arc from barely tolerating one another to loving one another. I am eager for the next widow's story!

What happens when the man you married dies...and at the will reading you find out that he not only has another wife, he has two of them! Katherine Vareck finds out after her husband’s accidental death that he had married two other women. None of them had known about the other and if this gets out they are all ruined, it doesn’t help that the other two women are in difficult situations that only complicate the matter. The only person Katherine can turn to to help sort out this mess is her husband’s half brother, Captain and Duke of Ranford, Christian. Christian is freshly returned from the war and has always disliked his brother and his family, but when he meets Katherine he knows he has to help her. Katherine has a business to run and is competing to be the royal supplier for the Prince and while working she also must now find a way to not only solve the issues that her dead husband left behind but the fact that she might be falling for his dashing and caring half brother Christian. Christian must now find a way to convince Katherine that he is the one for her while they both work to solve the various obstacles in their way including Katherine’s secret past, Christian’s half brother’s debts and the owed dowries, and figuring out how to not only help Beth and Constance(the two other wives) but Christian’s charity. The romance was sweet and this was such a fun steamy read! I loved that you got to read from both character’s POV and I can’t wait to read the next book following Constance and her romance partner!! I NEED IT!!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

It's my first Janna MacGregor's First Book and I absolutely loved it.
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The way situations look like something out of a current romcom but perfectly blended that seems perfect at the time. How the characters gradually create a connection between them and build their relationship in a fluid and natural way. I really couldn't stop reading it and finished it in a day and a half.
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The story of Katherine, a woman made herself, a businesswoman married to a lord who dies a year later, leaving her with many questions, a serious brother-in-law and two more widows. The story of the men who returned from the war to a country that did not expect them and find themselves in vulnerable situations, as well as the story of the women who had to survive with children and care for a family without anyone by their side gives meaning to the narrative and makes want to know more from everyone
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The synopsis was the first thing I captured and then the characters were taking me placidly through the plot.
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It is my first Janna book but not the last, I will keep an eye on her next books. Fans of Bridgerton and the magic of Jane Austen novels, this is your ideal book, you are going to love it
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Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for give me this great book in exchange for my honest opinion, I really enjoyed reading it

A Duke in Time ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Katherine Vareck is in for the shock of her life when she learns upon her husband Meri's accidental death that he had married two other women. Her entire business, along with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a royal supplier, is everything she's been working for and now could be destroyed if word leaks about the three wives.

Meri's far more upstanding brother, Christian, Duke of Randford has no earthly clue how to be of assistance. He spent the better part of his adult years avoiding Meri and the rest of his good-for-nothing family, so to be dragged back into the fold is...problematic. Even more so is the intrepid and beautiful Katherine, whom he cannot be falling for because she's Meri's widow. Or can he?

With a textile business to run and a strong friendship forming with Meri's two other wives, Katherine doesn't have time for much else. But there's something about the warm, but compellingly taciturn Christian that draws her to him. When an opportunity to partner in a business venture brings them even closer, they'll have to face their pasts if they want to share each other's hearts and futures.

I’ve read many other books by this author and have loved some, disliked others... this one hit somewhere in the middle.

An interesting plot line that unfortunately got bogged down in the middle and I found myself walking away for awhile. Eventually I returned late one sleepless night and was able to finish the rest of the book that surprisingly picked up again toward the end.

Im still sitting on the fence to continue the series or not.... I know there is at least 2, maybe 3 more romances to be squeezed out within this book alone. Who know maybe I’ll be happily surprised.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you NetGalley, Janna MacGregor and
St. Martin's Publishing

Characters: were ok, if a little unbelievable. I like strong characters and the women in the novel certainly are. I like that the female characters have backbone and not simpering misses, but it in this novel, it feels the women are way too independent for the Regency era.
On the other hand, the men are almost like "simpering misses". The hero is supposed to be this Napoleonic war "hero", but doesn't seem to have a strategic bone in his body once back from war. He is too emotional. He was an honored guest at a dinner party, but became overly upset that he had to leave in the middle of dinner, no apologies given. Aside from being completely out of character (nowhere else in the novel is the duke THAT rude), the hosts were not close friends and would have considered it a snub and probably not associate with both the hero and heroine again.
I did like the idea of the all women company, however unrealistic it would have been for the era.
For the most part the novel was predictable. All in all, it was ok. I was able to finish the book without cringing everytime I picked it up. but I don't know if I would recommend it as a keeper.

Katherine after a quick courtship turned marriage her husband wasn’t who she thought he was. Upon his death she learns she isn’t his only wife. Meri actually married two other women which she learns at the reading of his will. She’s not only in shock but one is also on the brink of giving birth. Cristian Meri brother is also there unhappy especially when he learns what his trouble maker brother did. He just wants to run away but the ladies need help. It was a great story about three woman pushed together under crazy circumstances. They work together to prevail because Katherine won’t let them suffer alone with this scandal that threatens everything she worked is hard for. It was also push pull relationship between Christian and Katherine struggling with growing feelings. Great story line between all the characters. I’m looking forward to the next book. I was given an a ARC from Netgalley and my review was based solely on my options.

I started reading the book thinking that, this is going to be a decent read but the book turned out pretty good and I throughly enjoyed reading it. If you are looking for a breezy read, before your bed time, you can totally pick this one up.

Initially I thought this book was too similar to a series that had just released from Jess Michaels, but I feel like Ms MacGregor has put enough of her fingerprints on this story to make it stand out on it’s own. I am very excited to see how the series will turn out (even if the pairings of the couples are a bit obvious in book #1).
I loved how Katherine had her own company and was very independent. It was a nice flavor to add to the book, and I quite appreciated it.