Beth Howell is in search of the dowry that her first husband stole, and she needs assistance to do it. She asks Julian Raleah, Marquess of Grayson, to help her. The only problem is he was the one who broke her heart before. Can Beth find her dowry and the truest love at the same time?
This was a sweet romance with so much twist and turns that I was sad when the book ended. Beth and Julian are great romantic characters who have idiosyncrasies and flaws that make them interesting and worthy of love. I loved how this series has bucked the normal view of the "ton" in historical romance novels. These women have made their own way and achieved their dreams. I will definitely read another story from this wonderful author. I want to thank St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review contains my honest opinion.

London, England 1808 & 1816
Blythe Elizabeth “Beth” Howell is trying to become independent. She wants to find the dowry her late husband illegally obtained. Beth is trying to overcome the scandal and find a way out from under the undesirable marriage her brother wants her to enter. Julian “Grayson” Raleah the Marquess of Grayson has been in love for the last ten years. When she comes to him for help, it’s his chance to hopefully win her heart again. Grayson will become the savior she didn’t realize she needed. As the attraction grows and their adventures to find her dowry can she figure out How to Best a Marquess.

How to Best a Marquess is the third book in the Widow Rules series by Janna MacGregor. A scandal rocks the lives of three women who unbeknownst to each other marry the same man. The las to work her way through the scandal is Beth Howell who wants to have her independence from living with her brother who doesn’t care and wants her to marry again for his benefit. Julian Raleah the Marquess of Grayson has been trying to get over the woman he lost for ten years. When she comes to him as a friend to help her on the journey to find her dowry it just maybe the chance, he needs to get her back. How to Best a Marquess is a Regency romance that brings together former sweethearts on an adventure to bring her independence. Trust, passion, determination, and a look at their past just help them find the answers to the mystery her former husband left behind. Can they find the answers they’re looking for? A man determined to protect the woman he loves, a woman who wants nothing to do with a man wanting to be independent. A friendship may turn into more as their journey continues. Janna MacGregor takes reunited lovers and puts obstacles of their own making as well as others in their way as they look for a missing dowry. How to Best a Marquess by Jann MacGregor is the final book in the Widows Rule series. She writes a story of unrequited love and finding trust after a bad relationship. A wonderful story that brings the reader into the lives of Beth and Grayson and their friends. That women can be independent after a scandal even with the men who love them keeping the save. A great Regency Romance that takes the reader into the lives of Earls and Marquess and the women they love. A must read for MacGregor fans and a wonderful ending to her Widows Rules series.

I really wanted to like this book but the pace was too slow and I struggled to get invested in the characters. If slower-paced books are your speed this could be a great second-chance romance for you 😊

I did try very hard to get into this book, but I just couldn’t. There were so many threads and I’m not sure all the ends got woven back in, if you’ll allow a knitting comparison. I especially hated the third act break up. I never like it - but it feels especially off in a second chance romance. One break up is something that can be worked through but two starts to show a pattern.

I ultimately was unable to get into this book. I have seen good reviews of other books by this author and look forward to trying another series.

⭐️⭐️ this series did not do it for me. I was bored in much of the books and in this one, I never grew to like Beth. Also, The premise of finding her dowry and asking Julian to accompany her on a road trip through the countryside didn’t fit with the time period.

Unfortunately I've stalled on this one for too long, it's been month.s When I first started it I was into the historical romance and was excited to find out what happened to the dowry. But the pacing just came to snail's pace and nothing was going on. I lost interest in it and couldn't find it in me to pick it back up. I want to be fair seeing as it's not the author's fault really but being a mood reader I just have to move on from this.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Janna MacGregor

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.

Thank you for letting me read this book I couldn't put it down. I was so excited to see Beth and Julia's story come to life. It was also interesting to see and follow Meri's life through the things that he left behind. This story was a very refreshing and I liked how strong and independent Beth was. I look forward to reading more stories by this author

Overall, I enjoyed this third visit with Janna MacGregor's Widow's Rules series. In this one, wife #3 to the trigamist Meriwether, is off to find what he did with her dowry. Without it, she will have trouble withstanding her waste-of-air brother's demands that she marry a letch 50 years her senior just so he can top up his funds. I was BEYOND annoyed with him! First, he refuses to give his blessing when the love of his sister's life asked for her hand, THEN, he marries her off to a man who, come to find out, was already married. Twice. She was the third woman married to the same man at the same time. I was happy when Beth finally told him off, but wow. He deserved so much worse!

Beth Howell fell in love with Julian Raleah in her first season, and agreed to marry him. Unfortunately, her brother refused citing the lack of funds Julian is experiencing. Instead, he gives her to Lord Meriweather. After less than a week of marriage, Meri leaves and never returns. When he dies in a riding accident, Beth learns that two other women also claim him as their husband. The scandal is awful, but these three women become the best of friends, even starting a business together. Now that she's been widowed for a time, her brother is making noises again about marrying her off. His choice this time is old enough to be her grandfather. The man's only 2 recommendations are: he's wealthy, and he's willing to overlook the scandal of Beth's first marriage. The fact that he makes her skin crawl is immaterial.

Beth knows that the only way out of her dilemma is to find her dowry. Her friends both had bequests from Meri, so what did he do with hers? She asks Julian, Lord Grayson, to travel with her, offering part of whatever she finds in payment for his services. At first he refuses. After all, he's never really gotten over her. Beth is offering him a way to restore his estate while continuing to create his steam engines. He just doesn't know if his heart can handle being with her as they travel.

Julian was by far my favorite love interest in this series. He's smart, principled, and feels things deeply. The fact that he's gorgeous besides is just icing on the cake. Beth was strong-willed, but with a brother like hers, she had to be. She was also very smart. I liked that these two could laugh together in addition to the steamier bits.

All in all, this was a satisfying end to the series, although, I think I would have stopped before the book's epilogue. If you like a fun Regency that's not afraid to poke fun at itself, this is a good one to pick up.

Didn’t love the love story of this one unfortunately. The only thing that kept me going was the mystery of what happened to the dowry! The puzzle box was a nice touch, and the ending bringing it all together was unexpected.

I did not finish. The pacing was too slow, I did not feel excited or really care about their shared goal.

This is my first Janna MacGregor book and it will NOT be my last. I enjoyed this book so much! Incredible pacing that kept me engaged from start to finish and a very captivating story line. I truly loved Beth and Julian but mainly Cillian. He deserves his own book! A great read!

I enjoyed this last in the trillogy, though I do not like the Meri revisionism. I think he's a shitty husband and a bad person, and I will not hesitate to say that I think giving him any credit for taking care of the women he married is stupid. It's a no from me.

I like Beth a lot, and I relate to her struggle for independence and means of her own. She's also not just looking for what her husband left her, but an indication that she matters, that she has meaning in the story of her own life.

I think Julian is a worthy suitor as well, and I think he makes a lot of sense as a character. I like the way he and Beth interact and I think they work well together. I also think the course of the plot makes sense for the two of them, and I like where they end up.

I will say that I think their initial romance being so long ago is sticky, given the passage of time in this series. I feel like not enough happened to either of them in an almost ten year span. It doesn't seem believable to me. I also feel like Beth did not have a compelling reason to marry Meri, given what we learn from her in this book. Since she was so hung up on Julian still, and wanted love, I would have thought there would need to be more impetus than "my brother likes him" given how little stock she places in her brother's opinions. I think it would have made more sense if Beth had at some point given up on a love match, and decided to marry to escape her brother.

I do think this series has been a fun one, and I will enjoy all of them upon rereading, though this one is firmly in last place for me.

This is the third book in The Widow Rules series. I haven't read the first two books, and I feel I need to remedy that because the premise of the series follows three woman who, unbeknownst to each other, marry the same despicable man. They don't find this out until his death, but having each being betrayed similarly by him, become fast friends. This book follows the third woman, Beth. Her husband absconded with her dowry before his death, and now she is left in financial ruins. Her brother is forcing her to remarry, and to avoid that fate, she goes in search of her missing money. Beth cannot do this alone, so she goes to the one person she hopes will agree to help her, her former fiance, Julian. Julian has never forgotten Beth, and in fact he continues to long for her, so how can he say no when she needs his help? But helping her is not his only goal. Having never gotten over her, his mission is to also try to win her back.
Beth and Julian were a great match and they had sizzling chemistry. The story was entertaining and engaging and kept my interest all the way through. Although I was easily able to read this as a standalone, I definitely want to go back and read the prior books.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a complimentary copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This was entertaining, engaging and fun but had so many emotional moments as well, I definitely teared up at certain points. Especially how two people finding their other halves in the arms of each other. I found myself crying happy tears for the main characters almost more than I felt warm fuzzies. Adored this book.

Finally, we get around to Beth and her history with the Marquess of Grayson. This entire series has been so much fun, and the build-up to Beth and Julian's story was wonderful. This book didn't disappoint.

Beth is off to find her dowry, and she's taking Julian with her. I really enjoy a road trip romance, and this one is filled with humor, passion, and peril.

I love Beth's confident and headstrong nature. She and Julian are a perfect match.

How to Best a Marquess is a great ending to a highly inventive and entertaining historical romance series. Seeing all three wives get their happily ever after was beautiful!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

How to Best A Marquess by Janna MacGregor is sure to captivate Regency romance fans. With a clever and engaging plot, endearing characters, and the perfect blend of humor and heart, this novel is a must-read for those who appreciate the intricacies of love in the early 19th century.

Our heroine, Beth Howell, is a resilient and resourceful woman whose life has been turned upside down by a deceitful first husband. In the wake of her disastrous marriage, she faces a bleak future unless she can reclaim her lost dowry. The stakes are high, as Beth's alternative is to marry a man of her brother's choosing. Her quest for financial independence leads her to seek assistance from Julian Raleah, Marquess of Grayson.

Our hero, Julian, is a brooding and enigmatic figure who has been nursing a broken heart since his engagement to Beth ended abruptly years ago. When she reappears in his life, seeking his help, he is faced with a dilemma. He cannot resist her plea, despite the unresolved feelings that have lingered for a decade. Thus begins a captivating journey filled with unexpected twists as Beth and Julian embark on a quest to locate her stolen dowry.

What sets "How to Best A Marquess" apart is its ability to balance lighthearted moments with deeper emotional connections. The novel skillfully explores themes of trust, forgiveness, and second chances. Readers will find themselves rooting for these two characters as they navigate the intricacies of their feelings and the challenges that stand in their way.

This is the third entry in The Widow Rules series and tells the story of Beth Howell and Julian, Marquess of Grayson, engaged years ago but broken abruptly, with both bearing the scars years later. How they find their way back to each other is a journey worth taking and a fitting end to this entertaining saga.

Years ago, a young Julian, Marquess of Grayson, proposed to Beth, but her brother denied the match because of the poor finances of the Marquess' estate. Julian accepts this decision, leaves Beth suddenly and without answers, and throws himself into improving the finances of his estate. Years later, and still on the cusp of securing finances, Beth arrives at Julian's doorstep to ask for help. Julian is reluctantly helpless to her pleas.

Beth is recently widowed and has discovered her low-life husband had married two other women, unbeknownst to all. Beth's brother is trying to force another marriage upon Beth, who is more determined than ever to gain financial freedom from all men and have true independence for herself. To do that, she needs to hunt down her dowry. Knowing Julian is in need of money, Beth agrees to split the money with Julian if he helps her retrace her former husbands steps to find her funds. Beth has vowed against another marriage, but Julian still hopes for a family when he can finally restore his estate's funds, and together they must deal with still being attracted to each other on their carriage ride across the country.

When I picked up this ARC and began reading, I did not know it was part of a series. When the other wives appeared with their new husbands, I got an inkling that there was a previous story here, and so I found out this is, indeed, book 3. It works perfectly fine as a standalone, as all the necessary information is presented in this book, but it was a surprise to me.

I particularly liked that Beth never had any resentment towards Julian for leaving her without explanation. Both characters were fairly level-headed, sometimes argumentative, but never did they bring up the past hurt of being proposed to and then dumped. Beth was simply determined to take control of her future for herself, and there wasn't time spent being angsty about a past that is done and over with now - including about Beth's late husband and his infidelity. The main conflict really was just that Beth and Julian were so obviously still in love with each other, and needed to fight harder for each other.

However... I struggled to remain interested in this story and to finish reading it. At 25% in, I didn't find that much was happening or that I was especially interested in reading the story. But I think my biggest complaint was that Beth and Julian have a conversation one night in which they agree they will not become lovers and engage in an affair, because they share a social group and it would be unfair to each other and Julian's future wife to have that awkwardness between them at social gatherings, and they value their friendship with each other. THAT SAME NIGHT, Beth tells Julian to kiss her, and he does. And then the next morning he proceeds to talk about how they need to be comfortable with each other and making her burn the next time he kisses her. I'm really disinterested in reading a story where both characters go from hot to cold to hot to cold again and again, verbalizing why they can't be together and then flirting with each other all day like they didn't just talk about abstaining from a relationship.