Rules for Engaging the Earl

Rules for Engaging the Earl (The Widow Rules, #2) is a well-written story from beginning to end. This is the story of Constance Lysander, who we found out in book one was the legitimate wife of Lord Meriwether in all his “trigamist” ways. Constance and Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston were best friends who shared just about everything. They were each other’s first loves and dreamed of one day having a future together. Unfortunately, Jonathan decided to serve the military but prior to leaving, he wrote what he wished for her in a husband and did not want her to wait. It was then that they shared their first kiss. Years later and a ruined reputation, Constance is due to give birth to her late husband’s child and proposes a marriage of convenience to her first love to keep her child legitimate. Upon his arrival to marry, she finds out that her station has changed, and he no longer needs to marry her.

Constance is still in love with Jonathan and still wants to marry. He has been the only man she will ever love, and she still dreams of having a future with him. Unfortunately, the war has changed Jonathan. He has become hard, harsh and believes he is broken physically and mentally….he only sees himself as a cripple and that is all everyone would see when they look at him. The years have changed something in both characters and only time would tell if they could overcome it. Jonathan’s character took some time to grown on me and a third way through the story you start to see his warmer side. However, I wasn’t quite sure how this marriage of convenience would play out because both were coming into it with secrets and lies…Jonathan wanting to protect her from rumors of his dereliction of duty, and she not wanting his interference in her business dealings with a foe. As their relationship began to grow, they gradual started to heal from their past wounds. When things are going well, drama rears its head into the relationship in the form of the Marquess of Faladen, and the secrets they hold from one another comes to light.

I thought the author did a very good job writing the hero’s dealings with PTSD and the heroine’s feelings of abandonment. I loved how she developed their character throughout the book. I love the tropes of marriage of convenience as well as friends to lovers. As with all historical romances, I love a bit of steamy between the H/h and there was romance, passion and love. The inclusion of the supporting characters Kat, Beth, Mr. North the butler and Regina the mastiff mistress were nice additions. Although there were some minor misses for me, Ms. MacGregor produced such an enjoyable story with a lovely HEA. Recommend the read and looking forward to Beth’s story in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

If you enjoy friends to lovers than this is the book for you. Constance and Jonathan were childhood friends until he became a spy/sharpeshooter and returned home a tortured man and needs Constance to help him heal.

This is a well-written, enjoyable, romantic read.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

Constance and Jonathon’s love story was beautifully told and I greatly enjoyed watching them fall in love.

I really enjoyed that Constance was a strong independent women with a business. She didn’t let Jonathon steam roll her and instead pushed back respectfully. I also enjoyed learning about her business and mystery behind the missing money.

Jonathon was a little bit harder of a character to love. He did grow on me at the end. He was a little frustrating due to having that pity me mindset. I did understand where he came from with that and would have liked to see a little more back story so I could understand him better.

Overall the book was beautifully written and I enjoyed the constant back and forth between Constance and Jon. The author did a wonderful job adding the daughter into the storyline. I enjoyed that there were other plot points then just Constance and Jonathon’s love story.

The second book in Janna MacGregor’s Widow Rules series, Rules for Engaging the Earl is a good read. Constance, along with two other women, found out they’d all married the same man upon his death. Heavily pregnant, Constance writes to her old friend, Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston to ask him to marry her and save her reputation.

Injured in the war and with the nebulous threat of a court martial hanging over him, Jonathan is reclusive but would do anything to help the girl who had meant so much to him.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and thought this one was good as well. MacGregor uses this book to tackle some heavy issues. Jonathan has a lot of trauma from the war and from trying to find his footing both literally and figuratively. Constance is almost unbelievably cheerful and kind-hearted. While she eventually finds her voice, there were several points that I was upset she was allowing herself to be treated in the way she was. This book felt heavy, and the HEA was very hard-won.

I did enjoy Rules for Engaging the Earl and can’t wait to read Beth and Grayson’s story!

Just love Janna MacGregor's books and this one was a delight. The grumpy male MC + ever-optimistic, sunny female MC trope is one of my favorites and Constance and Jonathan are a great couple.

Best friends in youth, their paths diverge at seventeen when Jonathan is recruited for special military service. He returns with many mental and physical scars and does not seek out his friend Constance as she hopes he would. Constance ends up marrying the infamous Meri, who leaves her alone and pregnant alongside his OTHER two wives, Kat and Beth. So she asks her true love to marry her to give her and her daughter a name and protection.

Jonathan doesn't want a wife and daughter ruining his very carefully crafted isolation routine. But he is able to resist the woman who's spent so long imagining a future alongside. Filled with moments of tenderness, laughter, heartache and growth, watching their marriage of convenience blossom into something more is a beautiful thing.

Can't wait for Beth's book!

This is an entertaining, well-written, steamy, historical romance novel. It has likable, well-developed characters, a strong and capable female protagonist, a wounded war veteran, sizzling chemistry, a heart-warming, friends to lovers romance, intrigue, a touch of humor, a cute baby, a darling dog, supportive friends, quirky household staff, and a happily ever after ending. Ms. MacGregor's loyal readers will appreciate the nod to her wonderful "Cavensham Heiresses" series. This is the second entry in Ms. MacGregor's outstanding "The Widow Rules" series, and can easily be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, but it is even better when read after reading "A Duke in Time". I am looking forward to reading Beth's story with great anticipation. Ms. MacGregor never disappoints her readers!
NetGalley and St. Martin's Press kindly provided me with an ARC of this novel, and this is my honest opinion.

Book 2 in the series and this one was good. Jonathan and Constance were a good match and they both had their struggles to overcome. It was nice to see a hero who has some physical flaws due to injury and how he was dealing with it all emotionally.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins for the arc.