You really have to suspend disbelief with this one. The duke in question needs a wife so he can get an heir and a spare. But he’s determined not to love his future wife, because….reasons. His parents really loved each other but died tragically and he had a bad teenage romance so he’s sworn off love forever. I guess I’m really tired of the protagonist swearing off love, especially with such weak sauce for reasons. We all know that the protagonist will change his or her mind just in time for the HEA and it seems like such an artificial plot device.

So the Duke hires a matchmaker, a charming, smart, and kind woman who comes from the very minor gentry. She has to work to support her family. But somehow this woman living on the very outskirts of society can make money matching up people in the society that she barely inhabits. How is she supposed to compile lists of possible mates? I guess that she decides that the best idea is to match the duke with a woman whose marriage will help her best friend make her desired match. I bet you can predict what is going to happen from there.

I just didn’t buy the plot and was impatient with how seemingly blind everyone was to what was happening.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Matthew, Duke of Crestmont has decided to wed. He dislikes going to social occasions, so decides to hire a Matchmaker to help him find a bride.
Joanna loves her job and loves love. She has had much success matching couples up. Not just to be husband and wife but to be love matches. When the Duke of Crestmont asks her to find him a bride, Joanna is thrilled. But when he rattles off the qualities of his perfect Duchess, it's like reading a grocery list, with no mention of love.
So the challenge has been given. She is determined to find him a love match, and he wants nothing to do with it.
Little did they know that the challenge would end up being with each other..
I enjoyed this story. I thought the two main characters were perfect for each other. They had shared interests and a very definite attraction.
5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

There's a little bit of a sunshine and gloom dynamic going on here with upbeat Joanna Porter as a matchmaker whose newest (and very cynical) client is Matthew Leighton, Duke of Crestmont. She believes in true love, he wants an expedient way to find his duchess. What starts as Jo's attempt to find love for Matthew while also making it possible for her best friend to marry the man she loves obviously gets complicated when the two of them start to catch feelings for each other beyond irritation. There is a lot of humor, especially in the interviews between Joanna and Matthew as she tries to get more information about what he wants in a bride (good hostess skills but not taller than him), but also a lot of tenderness, both between the two MCs and within their respective friendships. The focus on Joanna and Matthew's individual passions and interests, as well as those of the secondary characters was a nice touch since it contributed to making them feel more fully realized. I very much enjoyed the secondary characters and hope Haymore has plans for their stories (at least the ones who didn't get resolved by the end, anyway) sometime soon!

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

The Duke’s Rules of Engagement is a very entertaining historical romance.

Joanna Porter is a matchmaker, and she believes in finding The One. She wants all of her matches to be perfect love matches. Jo believes she will never find a true love match so she is determined for everyone she helps to have what she will not.

Her new client, Matthew Leighton, Duke of Crestmont, Matthew needs a perfect bride who will make a fine duchess and provide him the required heir and spare. Jo is a bit surprised that he feels love is not important to finding him a duchess who will fit society’s standards. When asking questions about what he feels is important for a wife the answers are somewhat bland and vague. Jo will meet with him several times before providing him with a list. Jo has a problem she has realized she has feelings for the Duke. Unbeknownst to her, the Duke has the same problem. How will these two get over their beliefs and let down their defenses in order to find one another.

This is a sweet and fun story of two very strong-minded people who learn what they believed to be true about their future have a lot to learn. I love it when the story has women in non-typical roles. It makes the story so much more interesting and entertaining.

Barbara’s rating: 3.7 of 5 Stars

Joanna Porter is in love with love. She lives it; she breathes it; she even makes her living at it. So, when the Duke of Crestmore shows up at her door requesting that she make a match for him – but without love involved – she is totally aghast. At first, she is at war with herself because making a match without love would shatter her matchmaking reputation. On the other hand, matching someone like the duke – love or not – should do wonders for her business. What to do – what to do? The solution is simple, she’ll match him, but she’ll assure that it is a love match. Simple – right – especially since he is so very handsome and attractive.

Matthew Leighton, the Duke of Crestmont, was NOT in love with love and wanted no part of it. He would marry because it was his duty to marry and produce an heir – if only he had a more acceptable heir than his uncle, he’d forego the whole thing. What he wanted was a ‘perfect’ duchess with a perfect pedigree and lineage. One who could flawlessly run his homes, host his parties/dinners/soirees and produce his children. It wouldn’t be amiss if she were passably attractive so bedding her wouldn’t be a chore. He didn’t think he was asking the matchmaker for too much – a match for him should be fairly straightforward. Why was she staring at him agape? Even with her mouth hanging open she was an attractive woman – too bad she wasn’t perfect duchess material.

When a crisis within her own household and the duke’s request for a ‘perfect’ duchess (without love) converge for the perfect storm, Jo knows just what she needs to do. Yes, she’ll match the duke. Yes, she knows the perfect candidate. Yes, she’ll contrive to make him love that candidate if at all possible. That will solve everything – the problem within her own household will be solved; the duke will have his required match, and her romantic soul will be satisfied. Ah! The best-laid plans …

I really enjoyed meeting Jo and Matthew and getting to know their joys and their vulnerabilities. While Jo didn’t have any deep, dark secrets, it was poignant to see someone who was so in love with love facing a future without it. Then, there was Matthew who had such close friendships, yet he couldn’t open himself to having a happy loving family in his future. Their journey was a lovely one and I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this well-written story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Dukes Rules of Engagement is a lovely historical romance with great messages and a wonderful love story. Jo works as a matchmaker and is happy to pair others though she’s resigned to being alone. Her newest client Matthew Leighton, the Duke of Crestmont, hires her to find him a wife who will do her duty and provide him with an heir. However, he does not want a love match, and his requirements for a wife are vague. As Jo assists Matthew in procuring a duchess, she finds herself falling for him.

Jo and Matthew have a wonderful love story filled with great banter and chemistry. Jo believes in love, though she hasn’t found it for herself. She works hard to provide for her family and often puts others needs ahead of her own. Matthew, too, often thinks of others and not himself. Reluctant to fall in love again, he is more bound by obligation and duty. He was wounded by love in the past and doesn’t want to risk having his heart broken again. I like how Jo slowly changes his feelings toward love and marriage. She shows him that not everyone is after his title and wealth. They have so many fun and heartwarming moments, and their growing feelings for each other are positively swoon-worthy!

Something else I really enjoyed in the story is the protagonists shared interest in the weather. The scenes where Matthew opens up to Jo, especially when talking about weather and showing her new weather-related technologies are fantastic. They are able to connect on an even deeper level because of their unique shared interest.

The story has many messages about friends, family, classism, loss, grief, gender inequities, and more. I like that the author weaves such important themes into the story in an organic and natural way and thought these messages added even more depth to the story. It’s a well-paced and layered read and one I’d definitely recommend to historical romance readers.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Entangled Publishing, and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

A wonderful story that is witty and oftentimes funny. Matthew, the Duke of Crestmont is ready to be married and has a list of requirements. Joanna Porter is a spinster and a successful matchmaker. There are many characters mentioned in the story, but the author makes it easy for the reader to keep track of them. The plot is interesting as Matthew and Jo get to know each other and realize where their goals align. Multiple matches are being made but the most important is that of Matthew and Jo.

THE DUKE'S RULES OF ENGAGEMENT is a delightful historical romance. Jo has resigned herself to being alone, but she works as a matchmaker, firmly believing in love for her clients. She is surprised by her newest client, the Duke of Crestmont, a wealthy man who does not want a love match but desires to do his duty as a duke to produce heirs. When her close friend who is like a sister to her has a broken engagement due to financial reasons, she sees the Duke as a potential solution, and maybe he will find love in the process.

However, along the way, the love she finds for the Duke is her own. Though she would never be a match for the Duke, they cannot seem to stay away from each other, and the feelings that are growing between them are too big to imagine.

This was such a delightful romance read. It was impossible not to cheer for Jo and Matthew to get together, as it is clear that they are a great match from the start - with plenty of banter and wit exchanged between them. Their conversations really develop their relationship, and while it seems slow at the start, it was easy to believe it was love because of it. They have some really steamy scenes and plenty of tension that is quite a thrill.

Overall, THE DUKE'S RULES OF ENGAGEMENT is a lovely and captivating historical romance that I highly recommend picking up! Please note that I received an eARC. All opinions are my own.

As a whole, this book was a fun time! I didn’t quite know what to expect, but the steam was nice and the main characters were lovable. Matthew was a starchy duke who didn’t know what he wanted until he met Jo. I’m excited for the rest of the series, and I definitely think you should give this a shot, especially if you like matchmaking plots! I had some issues which I’ll expand upon below, but the writing and tone of the book did help make my experience a positive one.

I especially really liked that Jo had curves and that Matthew went absolutely 😍kachow😍 for her (but I hate that the cover doesn’t really show this at ALL). I also liked that his special interest was weather! I was wondering how weather was calculated back then and I learned a lot. It was also just so cute seeing him realize that she was genuinely interested in his interests.

My main issues were the self sacrifice from Jo and, on a lesser scale, the familial duty from Matthew. Jo kept saying she was doing everything for Lilly and her happiness, when I really don’t think Lilly deserved anything Jo gave her. Jo literally supported her financially and Lilly couldn’t keep her trap shut. Maybe I’m just a terrible person but Lilly had a main character complex and I wasn’t reading the book for her, just saying.

**Mild Spoilers** I thought Lilly was going to be a heroine in a future book (Cole’s maybe?)—because Charles was NOT it—but the more I went along I realized Lilly definitely deserved Charles. Jo never understood that Lilly was kind of the worst (she wasn’t that bad but she was annoying at every turn). All I wanted from the end of the book was for Jo to realize that Lilly got a LOT from that friendship.

Matthew’s familial duty wasn’t as annoying, but I think I realized matchmaker plots aren’t necessarily my favorite thing. The fundamental part of the book was Jo actively pushing Matthew to other women and yes, that’s matchmaking Hannah (!), so I just don’t really like it. That being said, the two still spent a great amount of time together and I’m happy with how it ended for Harriet.

This was my first book by the author, and I’ll definitely be reading more. While the main plot forces weren’t my favorite, I liked the writing style and was so happy with the steam!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶🌶🌶*/5

*He didn’t go down on her which I found odd, but I liked his mildly dirty talk and overall “come for me” mentality. We got three or so scenes and I was definitely pleased, since I had no clue what to expect.

The Duke’s Rules of Engagement by Jennifer Haymore was a fun romp of a historical romance. We have impoverished families needing to marry for money, a match-maker who struggles with the knowledge of being alone.

Joanna Porter was a matchmaker as a way to earn money for her family. She is able to help people find each other and hopefully fall in love. She luckily is successful and people seek her out. She was in no way prepared when the Duke of Crestmont strolls into her office looking for a wife. The Duke struggles to identify what traits would be appropriate for his needs in a wife. Jo finds herself attracted to the Duke, Matthew. They have interests in common and find spending time together interesting. However Jo is not Duchess material as she is common.

Jo has ideas to help him and in another way might help a friend. Only information gets a little twisted and before you know it - they have fallen for each other, but secrets hurt people in so many ways. The Duke’s Rules of Engagement by Jennifer Haymore was a fun read.

To say I loved so many aspects of The Duke's Rules of Engagement is an understatement. From Jo's need to find love for everyone (but herself) to doing whatever she can to cement the happiness of a friend who is more like a sister to desperately trying to find a love match for someone she herself becomes more and more attracted to every time they meet.

I huge highlight for me personally was the Duke of Crestmont's friendship with Coleton, Winthrop and Jameson. I loved the honesty between these four men and how much they supported Crest. Their views on trying to stay as far away from marriage as possible are only circumventing when they realize who Crest has fallen in love with, and find themselves attempting to support him down the aisle instead of away from it.

Jennifer Haymore's writing was witty and captivating. I was completely drawn into the story and did not want it to end. That being said when we were nearing the third act breakup I was having such anxiety about what was going to happen that I did something that I NEVER do. I skipped to the epilogue so my heart could be content in knowing what was to come.

Quotes I loved:
"Of course, as a spinster firmly tucked high upon the shelf, she'd never experienced any of those things. Nor, most likely, would she ever. But her faith in happily ever afters was renewed again and again by the happy couples who walked out of her office."

"Was she daydreaming about him as he was about her?"

'She continued, "And my heart... it would be shattered." He closed his eyes. "My heart is a valuable thing, Your Grace. At least it is to me. I cannot―I won't―allow you to break it." His hands slipped from her waist. "I find your heart is valuable to me as well."

"She felt a brush of warmth and looked down. Their hands were both flat on the bench seat, Matthew's little finger touching hers in the barest of caresses."

Duke meets girl, Duke hires girl to find him a wife. While looking for said wife, they fall in love instead, but shes unsuitable for the wife of a duke, she doesn't have a pedigree, and she works for a living. A misunderstanding of motives occurs, they break up temporarily, Duke realizes he was being a big ol butthole, and they reunite to live Happily Ever After!

I enjoyed this story, the Duke is sutibly arrogant when we first meet him, he has a list of rules a mile long but horribly vague about what hes looking for in a duchess. Jo is immediatly intrigued by him, and makes a list of her own to find his perfect wife. Crest likes that Jo doesn't seem impressed that hes a duke, she treats him the same as she would anyone else. They have instant chemistry, but know that that it can't go anywhere... I like that once Crest realized that Jo wasn't going to be nice to him just because of his title, they could really grow close and share the things they both love. The relationship unfolded and was going pretty well, until we get the one thing that has to cause a breakup... I was just like really? its not that bad.... but I could see how being hurt in a similar way would cause a person to lash out first, and realize later it wasn't as bad as it seemed in the moment...

I loved how Jo would do anything for her friends and family. Crest had been hurt in a past relationship and she really helped him see that not all women are after his money and title. There are some great side characters that I was happy to see got their own happy endings, and a few I would really like to get their own books in the future. I also really enjoyed the epilogue.

I tried so hard with this book but I just didn't care about the characters and found myself bored. I kept making up excuses to not read which is usually a sign I'm not enjoying the story and has potential to send me into a slump. Out of fairness to the author and myself, I had to stop reading.

Duke hires a matchmaker to find him the perfect duchess (who he will not fall in love with). He falls for the matchmaker instead. Insta-lust, slowly building to true affection. These two can nerd out with each other over rowing and meteorology (it's actually pretty sweet). Overall, a fun read and the attraction between the two is amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Pub for this earc

This book was one of the best Historical Romances I’ve read this year. I flew through it and that hasn’t happened in a while.

I really liked both Matthew and Jo. They both had great personalities and things they cared about. I loved how they fell in love during the process of finding Matthew a match. Jo got to ask all the questions and totally got away with it.

Even though the issues of the story was a little predictable, I was totally okay with it because it was resolved well.

This book had a good plot, romance and good writing. Definitely look out for this one.

I just loved this book. This is the first time I have read anything by this author, and I do not know what took me so long to find her. This is why I love NetGalley, it lets you try new authors. Now she is on my top author list. This book is about Joanna (Jo) who makes her living as a matchmaker, but she is a matchmaker who believes in making love matches. Matthew is a Duke, he decides it is time to get married, so he goes to Jo so she can make a match for him, but he is not looking for love he is looking for the Perfect Duchess. Jo wants him to find love. What Matthew needs to learn, is the Perfect Duchess might not be the perfect person for you. The chemistry between Jo and Matthew is sizzling, I love them together. I enjoyed the epilogue and how the author wraps up Jo’s family and friends. I hope she writes about Mathew’s close friends next. I loved the bond they all had.
I received an ARC from Netgalley and am leaving my honest opinion.

Joanna Porter loves being one of London’s hottest up-and-coming matchmakers. But her heavenly vocation is about to turn into a nuptial nightmare—thanks to the Duke of Crestmont. He’s as handsome as he is insufferable and obsessed with all things proper. Matching him would cement Jo’s status as England’s greatest matchmaker. Except, of course, the impossible-to-please duke refuses all of her most eligible ladies…confirming his status as a complete and utter pain in her petticoats.
The Duke of Crestmont can’t believe he needs a matchmaker—let alone this spitfire of a woman whose kissable mouth and dancing, impertinent gray eyes tease him ruthlessly. But the people of his estate are counting on him to find a duchess. A proper lady with a flawless pedigree and immaculate deportment. So why can’t he stop himself from wanting his pert, lively matchmaker…instead of the perfect duchess?
Now the entire ton is watching as this determined, audacious matchmaker takes on the most powerful man in London.
Matthew and Jo are meant to be together. It's just a matter of time. This Duke just has to decide that she is the one he wants.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

The Duke’s Rules of Engagement is the newest book from Jennifer Haymore. I was actually a little wary going into this one because I wasn’t a fan of some of the books I’ve read from this author in the past (they were published around 2010). But I’m so glad I read this one because I really enjoyed it so much more!

Joanna Porter is one of London’s hottest up-and-coming matchmakers and she loves love. She wants all of the couples she sets up to be perfect, love matches. She wants everyone to find love, even if she herself will never have it since she’s a spinster firmly tucked high upon the shelf at 27. 😆 She ends up meeting her new client, Matthew Leighton, Duke of Crestmont, who comes to her office one day. Matthew needs a perfect bride who will make a fine duchess and provide him the required heir and spare. He is a bit flabbergasted that Jo wants to find him a love match, because he doesn’t believe love should be involved when finding him a duchess who will fit society’s standards. Matthew’s parents were very much in love but after their death when he was just 17 he felt very alone in the world, he was also burned in the past by a woman, and so he just doesn’t want love on the table going further.

Of course, Matthew and Jo end up spending a lot of time together and both start enjoying one another’s company and even looking forward to it each week. I loved seeing their relationship develop and how well they got along. Matthew is into rowing and meteorology, I loved seeing him share his passions for boat-building, rowing, and his charting of weather patterns with Jo. I enjoyed the side characters as well in this one and the people Jo tries to help find matches. This was just a delightful read and I liked how everything was resolved, it all felt like real reactions and I got where both characters were coming from when they did has issues arise.

Thank you to the publisher (Entangled) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. The Duke’s Rules of Engagement has a publish date of September 27, 2022.

I liked the book at first, sweet matchmaker meets Duke, good storyline, and romantic. Then we have pages of me skipping pages for utterly useless, no redeeming value sex, not romantic in the slightest, then it flips back to a good story about the Duke's hunt for a wife, the perfect Duchess. Then pages I refused to read of more sex, not sensual, just lust. I am sorry, I found the Duke to be a wimp, why does his friend have to suggest marriage to Miss Porter? Why did the stalwart Miss Porter sleep with a Duke, a man not her husband, who she was setting up with another lady? Joanna is IMO a hypocrite, she denigrates the aristocracy, yet marries the Duke, her friends who keep sending her business are a Lord and Lady, the aristocracy. There is no need to make readers look ignorant, I hate thinking that I am going to escape this Century, for a simpler time, where the aristocracy enlarged people's lives, took responsibility, expected no handouts from the government, kept their word, and went to church. What is wrong with that? I wish modern day feminist truly understood how people, the majority behaved two hundred years ago, actually, how people behaved until the hippy years of the sixties. Ladies were ladies, and men were men, and they went to church on Sundays.
Thank you, #Netgalley
carolintallahassee

I loved Jo and Crest’s story. Different than many regency romances, Jo is not from an affluent family and sustains herself and the other female family members from her matchmaking income. Crest, the Duke is in need of her services but of course they fall for each other.

While this isn’t your deep, complex years long series that will have you creating theories it definitely serves its purpose of a lighthearted palette cleanser.

Want something easy, spicy and with a HEA to read while soaking in the bath? This is it.

I want to thank Entangled Publishing, Net Galley and Jennifer Haymore for the ARC so I could provide an honest review.