This book is SO GOOD! Every time I picked up “Rules for Engaging the Earl”, I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this story.

Janna MacGregor is such an incredible writer! Her writing style is visceral, moving, vivid, detailed, authentic, and amazing. The various elements of the story she writes all jump off of the page before the reader’s eyes, and her hero and heroine seem like such real people. You truly understand their wants, fears, and desires, and I could not put this book down. They have real and deep emotions, and this book, full of heart-wrenching, heartwarming, and romantic moments (among so many more), was such an amazing read.

(Possible Spoilers!)
I so found myself pulling for Constance and Jonathan! They truly bring out the best in each other and help one another to heal from the past. They are able to understand each other so deeply, and their relationship was very moving. Also, OH MY GOODNESS! Regina and Aurelia!

If you enjoy historical romance, I highly recommend this book! It kept me turning the pages to see how everything would work out, and I look forward to reading what Ms. MacGregor writes next.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. These are my opinions.
This was a truly wonderful story. Jonathan and Constance had been childhood friends. When Jonathan comes home from the war he is broken, physically and mentally. When Constance asks him to marry her to save her reputation and provide a father for her daughter, he does. There are a lot of secrets on both sides in the story. I found this book a 5-star read. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Overall and what I liked:

At chapter 9, I’m loving the story. I love how Jonathan’s situation seems hopeless, it keeps me reading to see how it plays out. I love the obstacles the author keeps throwing in his path. The twist about the correspondence was great too.

You’ve done a good job with subtle gestures that mean a lot (more in that below). I feel like a lot of authors miss those opportunities, but this book gets it right.

I think there is a solid foundation to this book and it was an interesting read.

Writing:

Overall, this book is better written and paced than 99% of the kindle unlimited selections out there. It’s actually readable which is RARE. The first nine chapters are really great. It has a solid foundation, but I feel it needs more editing. Less over explaining to the reader and cutting some of the dialogue will go a long way.

In the scene where Jonathan meets Roth and finds out his idea was stolen, it says he adjusts his glove as a way to deflect what he overheard. I don’t think readers need to the explanation of why he is adjusting his glove. I think that simple action is enough for us to gather his feelings. It’s a good, subtle hint at how he feels and can stand on its own. There are other passages like this one, too many to list.

In the scene where it’s a year later and Constance is chatting with her friends/sisters, it is a bit lengthy and could be cut down some. I like the subtext going on, the glances downward are a great visual for their awkwardness.

Things that didn’t quite add up:

I felt the fact that the baby called Jonathan “Da,” so soon was odd. Especially when there’s no mention that’s how he refers to himself or how anyone else refers to him as her dad. Seemed like a forced way to create a connection.

One detail kinda left hanging is if Constance sleeps through Aurelia’s crying after she separates from Jonathan. Does she go back to waking up when she cries? Maybe too small a detail to worry about, but I wondered.

And how is Jonathan’s pain suddenly not mentioned toward end? I was hoping for him to find a doctor who could do some sort of like, early form of physical therapy that would help. But it’s left hanging out there. Will he just be in excruciating pain forever? Does the pain improve? If we are going full HEA, I think some pain reduction would be a good addition.

The Confrontation scene:

The last 20% was a bit of a slog. There was a lot going on in the book and the way it gets resolved is a bit far fetched. I felt like Faladen wasn’t a formidable villain. The whole build up of the tension could be increased throughout. It was also stuffed with scenes and events, making it feel rushed and more confusing than need be.

The HEA:

The sentimental stuff at the end was overkill. The grand gestures were stuffed in. I felt beat over the head with all the…

“you’ve changed my life, I love you,”

“I love you so much too, I’m so glad you figure it all out.”

I know this is a romance novel and we all want an HEA. But I feel like some of the scenes could be cut or combined.

The Characters:

I think Constance was a bit too perfect while Jonathan is disproportionately messed up.. I understand opposites attract, but I don’t personally enjoy a story where the woman is perfect and gets walked over by a man (in this case, several men). Almost everything happens TO her, not from her own mistakes or missteps. She has a lot of pride and a sense of independency, yet none of it leads to her in a tough situation (except when she cleaned Jonathan’s space).

Bottom line:

I would read it again.

I think this author will eventually write some awesome historical romances and I’m interested in seeing how their writing will evolve and get better.

Thank you to Netgalley for the digital ARC copy!

When I read this, I hadn't yet started the first book in the series, and I'm still reading that, so my review is subject to change.

This was a fun, engaging, and sexy read! Hard-headed and traumatize hero, a self-sacrificing heroine who eventually stood up for herself...a pretty good time. I subtracted a star because the heroine just kind of blindly listened to her friend (who didn't have much context for the H/Hr's relationship OR much relationship experience herself) about leaving her husband rather abruptly, and because H seemed incapable of using words to a ridiculous degree. However, it was an enjoyable read and by the time I got there, the HEA felt earned. I enjoyed it enough that I'm currently reading the first book and I'll be keeping an eye out for the final chapter of this trilogy!

This book is what I’d call a slow burn, very sweet and detailed. I really enjoyed taking my time to read this book and soak in the dialogue. I definitely recommend this book- take your time and enjoy!

I am really enjoying this series. It is about three ladies who married the same man and he died. All of the ladies were in their twenties and had abundant doweries. One of the ladies was a titled widow, one was in trade, but very rich, and the third miss was sold to him because her brother didn't want to care for her. The women gave him their doweries and he took the money and ran. Only one marriage was valid and that lady was also pregnant with his child. It was worrisome because it wasn't proven that her marriage was valid until after her child was born. By then, she had already contacted her childhood friend (who was her first love) to come and help her out by marrying her. She is the heroine of this story. The widow was the subject of the first book in the series and she married a duke who she fell in love with. Her duke loved her back. The duke knows the hero because they fought in the war together. The hero shows up to find that the heroine, his first love also, had just given birth the evening before. The heroine greets him, happy to see him and tells him about the marriage being valid. The hero, who suffered a severe injury and walks with a limp, has a lot of trauma from the war. He was 17 years old when he was asked to go to war in Portugal because of his excellent marksmanship. The heroine, who was 15 years old at the time was upset because she had planned on marrying him. He tells her not to wait because he might not make it back and gives her a list of requirements for a husband. She is so happy to marry him at last that she doesn't care about his conditions for marriage, and they marry less than 30 hours after she gives birth. He asks her to go to London so she can run her business that was inherited by her. The heroine is a very smart and savvy woman. The hero tries to get back to a normal way of living, but has a confrontation with his previous superior officer who steals his idea, takes credit for it and then threatens him with treason. At this point, the hero is fully broken. The heroine has to climb his walls of depression, then break them.down so he can become his old self again.
I am enjoying this series so very much. It is a historical romance written in a fresh perspective. The story is very well written and just reads very smoothly and quickly, but the reader is not left out. The age of the characters show how they have dealt with life and are willing to work for what they want. The character development in this story is profound and insightful. I give this book 5 stars and a recommendation to read. I cannot wait to read the next book, which will be about the miss whose brother is trying to sell her in marriage to a 75 year old man. There is a friend of the dulce who is also the friend of the miss, but he is a poor aristocrat and has to marry a wealthy miss. This story talks about a mine that the trigamist owned, so maybe all three women will get their doweries back. These books make feel so good after reading them.

Rules for Engaging the Earl (The Widow Rules #2) by Janna MacGregor
I have waited almost a year for this second book in this series - it was well worth it. I want to give this book more than 5 stars. It caught my heart - broke my heart - put it back a little at a time - the tried to break it again. Constance Lysander and Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston were childhood friends. He went to war and was wounded and she married and was deserted by her her husband (who is now dead and has two other wives). She is about to give birth and asks Jonathan to marry her to save her name. This book has so much angst, deception, building trust, so many ups and downs, wonderful friends, some laughs and tears, a sweet baby, a faithful dog and employees and plenty of steam to get us to their HEA.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Wonderful characters Entertaining Steamy Romantic Page-turner Tear-jerker Happily Ever After Easy-to-read Witty

I love Constance and Jonathan. I can’t imagine dining out my husband had two other wives. Constance is so strong. Jonathan let’s face it who doesn’t want the injury soldier to win the girl. I really enjoyed the character and the plot. I can’t wait to read the next book.

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.

Rules for Engaging the Earl by Janna MacGregor is the second book of The Widow Rules. This book follows Constance and Jonathan. Constance is about to give birth to her late husband’s child. The husband who also had two other wives who knew nothing of each other. Society dictates that she must marry, so she decides to send a proposal to her childhood best friend Jonathan. Jonathan is a war hero who sustained an injury. He prefers to stay out of sight, but he simply cannot ignore Constance. Although he is afraid of getting hurt, he finds himself unable to keep his heart closed to Constance and her new baby.

I really liked this tender, big-hearted love story. The connection between Constance and Jonathan is achingly romantic. I adore the way he cares for Aurelia.

In Rules for Engaging the Earl author Janna MacGregor tells a delightful story filled with compassion, determination and love. Constance Lysander's circumstances after her deserting husband's death leads her to contact her childhood friend Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston to ask him to consider marriage. Jonathan, having been crippled in England's war with France, has fallen into a deeply dark hole of depression and feels unworthy of Constance. I liked how Ms. MacGregor set up the relationship between Constance and Jonathan with all the steps needed to make their marriage work. Both Constance and Jonathan have fears which need to be overcome to reach their HEA. The conflict was compelling to read about the resolution was the perfect response to the conflict. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

There was so much to love about this book. The second chance romance, the layered back story, and the characters are the top three things I loved about this book.

Jonathan is a broody but loveable male lead.
Constance is a savvy and a well rounded layered character.

The tension, the sparks, the brooding, navigating the society rules, and humor leave very little to complain about and leave the reader with nothing to want for.

Childhood love interests to strangers to marriage of convenience, all great tropes which were expertly executed by the author. Took a while to get to the rekindling of their relationship and romance. Then he married her, left her on her lonesome for a year and only saw her again due to great meddling by his staff. If that hadn’t happened he would’ve sufficed to live their married lives completely separate. Jonathan really resonates with me as misunderstood and stepped over by everyone. Like why are all of Constance’s friends allowed to barge in, insert themselves into their lives and he’s supposed to just take it ? No no no, I was riled up every time they talked down or threatened him. They overstepped his authority in his own house time after time. And the men say they’re ‘friends’ with him but true friends would know that at moments the best thing they could do is be quiet and leave you be. Quite infuriating. And Constance leaving at the drop of a hat?? She truly infuriates me at time, you stick with your husband especially when you see he’s fought through his trials and is being a better person for you and your daughter. And she’s angry with him for leaving when that’s exactly what she wanted to do? And he’s only leaving so you and the baby don’t have to travel and then she berates him to add insult to injury. I- I really don’t know what to say but the way everyone treats Jonathan is heartbreaking, like he may not have the most social or sunshine attitude but when you go through war and betrayal only to have the one good thing ripped from you what can you expect? Stand by Constance, do right by Constance…what about Jonathan? Is his life simply to make Constance’s happy? All in all it’s a good book but I despise how docile the MMC has been made out as a lap dog for his life wife simply because he’s been in love with her since childhood, she goes off and marries another while he’s fighting at war and injured and then he marries her to secure a stable parentage for her daughter. “Give Constance a happy life.” I could just scream.
Great book, excellent writing. My only grievance with this book is how everyone treated Jonathan, like they think they have his best interests at heart (and they do want him to succeed in love and life) but at the same time be compassionate about the fact he was gravely injured and is no longer the agile man as before and it’s taking a toll on his mental as he doesn’t see himself as quite the man any longer, he has to work through that himself and it’s great at the end that they let him take those 2 months and welcome him back with no hassle. But I guess we needed some sort of conflict . This all just made the book better and made me love it.

This Constance and Jonathan’s story. They were best friends from childhood. He was recruited by the military to be a sharp shooter. He doesn’t complete a mission. Then he gets shot and it cripples his leg. He is being blackmailed. Constance needs him. She was one of the Merriweather brides. Meri left her pregnant. She needs to marry. Jonathan marries her. He leaves her in London because he feels he is not worthy. She comes to his estate. There are many twists and turns in their relationship until they finally figure it out. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

The latest in the Widow Rules series, Rules for Engaging the Earl finds Constance Lysander in need of a husband due to society's constraints. Who better for this position than her childhood best friend, Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston? However, it's clear that Jonathan's wounds, both seen and unseen, run deep.
I really enjoyed this book and the arc of Jonathan's story as well as the interaction with characters from the first book in the series. I already can't wait for the next one!

Left penniless and pregnant by her late husband, Constance needs the help of her best friend from childhood, Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston. Jonathan has loved Constance their whole lives but the war left him physically and mentally crippled. He also has the added weight of a possible court marshal for something he didn't do. When Constance reaches out wanting him to marry her for the sack of the unborn child and her protection, how does he tell her no.
This is a great second chance romance from Janna MacGregor!

SCORCHING!

This was the book I was most looking forward to reading in MacGregor's new "The Widow Rules" series because it has the kind of romance hero I love to see get his girl -- a wounded war hero in need of a new beginning aka Jonathan Sykeston, an Earl. Constance is just the plucky determined heroine to change his world. Plus, she deserves a good guy after her polygamist first husband abandoned her whilst pregnant!

The book starts with the birth of the baby and their hasty marriage, but doesn't really get going until they are reunited a year later thanks to some endearing and interfering servants (also a favorite of mine when the servants are part of the family). He's been hiding from her and the world while she's been a single working mother.

This is a friends-to-lovers story with SCORCHING love scenes (I may have read them twice). Refreshingly, Constance is the instigator and doesn't let our damaged hero push her away easily. These two are fated to be together. They are each other's reward for surviving the last ten years apart.

It was a hard book to put down and will be hard to forget. Fans of the first book will get cameos from some familiar characters. The three ex-wives "sisterhood" is still strong. This book has a villain, but the real obstacles are Jonathan's insecurities.

I recommend "Rules for Engaging the Earl" for fans of MacGregor's books, Bridgerton, Tessa Dare and historical romance. Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

While I love a good period romance, this was tough to get through. Jonathan was one of the most frustrating characters to read as he was stubborn, rude, and lacked (any?) redeeming qualities. His inability to see any self-worth became exhausting to read through. I don’t understand what drew Constance to him as she was a wonderfully sweet character. I thought Jonathan’s turn at the end was a bit abrupt and I found myself asking why he didn’t come to this “aha” earlier. Hoping for more once we get Beth’s book…

Thank you to St. Martin’s press for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Widows Rule series by the Author and whilst reading the first book is not necessary I would recommend you do so .

Pregnant Constance was the 'true' wife to her deceased 'trigamist' husband and needs a husband fast ..... Society's Rules of Propriety demand she remarry- she calls upon her childhood friend Johnathon , Earl of Sykeston .
Whilst he is willing to marry her he has his own demons of inadequacy , PTSD , plus questions of his conduct in the war- but there is no immediate HEA here............. Constance is forever trying too hard to please her new husband , will she push him away or can their love for each other overcome all the secrets and miscommunications in their lives

This is yet another enjoyable historical romance from this talented Author and I look forward to reading the last in the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This book felt rather long. Constance and Jonathan were childhood friends who were very deserving of a HEA. Unfortunately, the road getting there is painful because they are both obstacles to their own happiness.
On the positive side, the story had lots of dry humor and wonderful secondary characters. Mr. North, the butler is an absolute treasure. The dog Reggie is lots of fun as well. Constance and Jonathan were great people and I was really rooting for them. I think that the two of them should have been able to sort out enough of the emotional baggage to fix their relationship much more quickly than they did. Both of them were also dealing with some real-world issues, but they should have been facing them together and not apart.
In conclusion, this was a good book but I did find it frustrating at times.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.