A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!! I really enjoyed this book; definitely something I will tell my friends about!

This love story was at once lighthearted, sexy and angsty. If you love a compromised/ruined and forced proximity trope, you should check this book out. I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This was such a lovely story! This was my first book by Jennifer Haymore - I enjoyed her writing in this book and cannot wait to pick up another one.

I really liked Frances and how determined she was to make her own way, even though she was constantly being pressured by her family.

While I thought the storyline with Evan’s brothers was very sweet, I do wish the romance between Evan and Frances had been the forefront of the story.

I loved this book! I haven't read any other books by Jennifer Haymore, but am interested in looking through her backlist to find more to enjoy!

A Lady’s Rules for Ruin was a wonderful romance with found family and a planned ruin. I loved how the MMC accepted all of his half brothers and wanted to raise them, so they could benefit from his title. I also loved how the FMC was treasured and loved by all the brothers especially the MMC.

I did get kind of annoyed how long it took for him to figure out that the FMC didn’t want to get married to the other guy just because he was being stubborn, but luckily, his best friends rallied around him and told him what was really going on.

Also, I really hated the FMC’s family and how they treated her throughout the book. I’m glad they finally figured out they were harming her more then helping her, but it took a big horrible event to happen for her family to figure that out.

Absolutely perfection! A great historical romance that ticks all the right trope boxes. I highly recommend you check it out.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Evan and Frances have been in each other’s social circles for a long period of time. Frances considers him a friendenemy, while Evan has always admired her..
Frances is that crossroad in her life where she has to decide what she would like to do, but knows that she does not want to become a wife. Evan finds out some things about his past that has shaken him to doubt who he is. Along the way, they continue their friendship and they start to connect.
One aspect of the book that I struggled with is the tribulation of their relationship. I felt it was too overdone. But overall I really loved the nature of their relationship and how they were able to come together and fight for their happy ending.

This is the second book of the series.

Frances Cherrington at five and twenty, is a spinster and has no desire to marry. At a masquerade ball, the Earl of Winthrop unknowingly gives her an idea how to stay a spinster, ruin her reputation. Picking the right gentleman is the key. Once the gossip floods Society, Frances begins the pursuit of finding her vocation and again meets the Earl. This time at an orphanage. Evan Locke, the Earl of Winthrop, has his own problems that convinces him not to marry. Frances resolves to help him with his problems. The two grow closer, but happiness is short lived when Frances is forced to marry the man who ruined her. I found this a very entertaining book from one end of the rollercoaster to the other. Laughing one minute and crying the next.
Very steamy descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

A Lady’s Rules for Ruin by Jennifer Haymore

Published: November 28, 2023
Entangled: Amara
Genre: Historical Romance
Pages: 333
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

I loved Frances from the beginning. Strong-willed and independent, she would not be forced into anything she didn’t want, including marriage. Using a clever ruse, she hopes she has freed herself from the entanglement that comes with her family trying to marry her off.

Evan was charming, compassionate, and swoon-worthy. I loved his heart. He did what he felt was right in all situations and had a sweetness to him that was unexpected for men at that time.

I almost forgot at times that this was a romance, and the majority of the story was essentially drama within the families. Still, the slow-burn love story was a fantastic addition.

This was a pleasant read with excellent characters. I loved the development and, of course, the spice. A charming read, perfect for lovers of historical romance!

A fantastic historical romance! A Lady's Rules for Ruin is the second book in the Lions and Lillies series. I haven't read the first book, but I understood this one just fine - it can be read as a standalone.

This novel tells the story of Frances Cherrington, an independent woman living as a spinster at 25. She doesn't wish to marry, and realises that the best way to prevent it, is to "ruin" herself. However, she starts to reconsider her decision and her view on matrimony after spending time with the male lead, Evan, the Earl of Winthrop.

In a time of arranged and often forced marriage, I can't blame Frances for avoiding it. I'm not sure if her plans was the best; I did feel bad for her though. Her journey to happiness was fraught but I'm glad she made it out to the end happily.

The book was quite sensual and with interesting twists. Side characters and family dynamics were well developed (which I always love!) I also enjoyed the main couple's dynamic and how they shared their lives together.

Thank you so much to Entangled Publishing, Jennifer Haymore and NetGallery for the ARC, these are my honest thoughts!

Haymore's romance novels never fail to delight and her latest is no exception. Great characters. Good chemistry. And a fresh plot. Highly enjoyable.

Just finished 'A Lady's Rules for Ruin' by Jennifer Haymore and it's a solid 4-star read for me. The characters are fantastic – they're dynamic, engaging, and their chemistry leaps off the page. It's the kind of book where you really get invested in their story.

The plot mixes romance and a bit of intrigue perfectly, keeping things interesting without being overly complicated. It's a great book for anyone who loves a good historical romance with strong characters and a captivating story.

I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley. As always, my opinions are entirely my own.

3.5 stars

A Lady's Rules for Ruin is the second book in the Lions and Lillies series. I didn't read the first in the series and felt like this one read just fine as a standalone. Frances is known for being difficult and independent. She decides that in order to take her life into her own hands she'll get herself ruined before she can be married off to someone she doesn't want. She chooses to kiss a man in the garden during a masked ball knowing full well he'll be off on a ship the next day. Unfortunately, her scheme doesn't quite go as planned. She begins spending time at a school for boys and quickly realizes that her brother's best friend seems to be collecting half brother's from his father's indiscretions. Frances can't leave well enough alone and inserts herself into the boys and Evan's life. Evan can't ever sire children for his own reasons but also can't seem to help himself when it comes to Frances.

This book was fun! It took a while for the chemistry but once arrived I could see it. I liked Frances as a person and her desire to help those boys and protect them was so sweet. I definitely want to go back and read the first in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Haymore, and Entangled Amara for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.
#netgalley #jenniferhaymore #ALadysRulesforRuin #entangledamara

This is the second book in the series The Lions and the Lillies. I have not yet read the first book, but I had no trouble reading this as a standalone.
Despite her family's wishes, Frances prefers to remain a spinster. One evening at a ball, she meets Evan, Earl of Winthrop, and while talking with him comes up with a perfect way of getting herself out of marriage - she decides ruining herself is the best way out. But now that she's met Evan and has spent more time with him, she's beginning to think marriage wouldn't be such a bad thing after all. But she has ruined her own reputation, so what are her chances now?
Evan knows a little something about ruin as well, having come across a secret that would tear his name to shreds. Marriage would be out of the question for him. But he can't deny the growing attraction he feels to Frances every time they meet. These two will definitely have to face some hurdles before they are able to reach their happy ending.
This was a wonderfully lighthearted and angsty read and kept my interest from start to finish. It had the perfect amount of romance and humor and the characters were great together. A delightfully charming read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing LLC for providing a complimentary copy. This is my honest and voluntary opinion.

I am a big fan of Romance books and I found this one to be a very enjoyable read. I will be looking for more books from this author.

An earl who any marriage-minded woman would set her sights on falls for a woman determined to remain unmarried in A Lady’s Rules For Ruin. Jennifer Haymore’s second Lions and the Lilies story follows a dashing earl with secrets and a “ruined” young lady embracing her freedom.

Frances doesn’t want to marry and she sets about making sure she ruins her reputation. With that accomplished, she’s free to find what actually interests her in life. But her outings keep putting her in the path of the Apollo of the ton, the Earl of Winthrop. The dashing earl should be shallow and irritating…and yet he’s anything but. Evan has been charmed by Frances from the start; her prickly exterior doesn’t faze him. But then his life takes a turn when he discovers his deceased father’s secrets. Not only does he have half-brothers he never knew of, but what he has learned about his father makes him determined to remain unwed.

While Frances and Evan both claim to never want to marry, it’s clear to see that they’re made for each other. They simply click and Evan’s newfound brothers help bring them together. Jasper, Bobby, and Mark are endearing and I loved seeing Frances and Evan bond with them. The romance is slow to build as much of the story is focused on family drama, but Haymore still made Evan and Frances’s connection strong. It did take me a while to get into the story because of the slow start, but once things got moving I was hooked.

A Lady’s Rules For Ruin is an entertaining romance with a hero and heroine who are easy to like. Frances and Evan are both at a crossroads in this book, but they find their way together, making a family before they are even aware of it. All in all I enjoyed this entry in the Lions and the Lilies series and I am very much looking forward to seeing Evan’s remaining friends find love.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Frances has decided she would rather be a spinster than marry however she is years away from being on the shelf. The only solution, ruin herself. Now that she is ruined she has no idea what to do with her life.

Evan's world has been shattered and now he has brothers he never knew about. And eveytime sometime big happens if seems like Frances is around.

I liked the relationship between Evan and Frances even if her plan to ruin herself was stupid. I also liked the addition of Evan's brother who were real characters and not just thrown away plotlines.

Frances entire family also seemed ridiculous but Evan was great.

4 stars.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience

The second in the series, and I couldn’t put it down. It was humorous, angsty, and boiling over with romance. Frances and Evan were absolutely made for each other, and their happily ever after was well deserved.

I highly recommend this series to kick-off your love of regency romances #massmarketpaperbacks

Thank you Entangled Publishing for the advance reader copy.

Thank you @entangled_publishing for the review copy!

*A Lady’s Rule for Ruin can be read as a standalone.*

This was my first book by Jennifer Haymore, and I can guarantee that it won’t be my last! But…it might be my favorite because so many of the elements are tropes that I just love every time….at least when they are done well!

First, we have the female main character, Miss Frances Cherrington, who would rather ruin herself than have her family keep making plans to get her married off. I love a strong female character, and one who is focused on her passions or business instead of looking for love…until she finds the right guy and can’t help herself. So this premise just screams that I will love it. (See the comments for the full plot synopsis!)

The guy was great. He was charming and sweet and did his job of being absolutely in love with the female lead. BUT where he really shined was in a mild spoiler…so if you don’t mind those you can finish this paragraph... The Earl of Winthrop always knew his father was a philandering dirtbag…but after his death was shocked to find out that he left behind illegitimate children! Winthrop’s main goal in this book is to make amends for his father’s actions and provide for these children - to the point that he isn’t sure that he wants to get married and father children of his own because he wants to focus on them!

My absolute favorite characters though were some street urchin type orphans that you meet along the way. Imagine a baby Kaz Brekker who gets treated better. I absolutely love a book where there are children who behave badly until they find a safe and loving environment that they can thrive in. There are THREE little boys in this story that literally had me crying with joy.

Jennifer Haymore does a wonderful job bringing together several plot lines in a super satisfying way, and I highly recommend this one! If you haven’t tried historical fiction yet, this might be a good one to start with since the main characters have pretty modern sensibilities.