Lyon of the Highlands (The Lyon’s Den Connected World)

 Rules for Engaging the Earl by Janna MacGregor

Title:  Rules for Engaging the Earl
Series:  The Widow Rules, book 2

Author: Janna MacGregor 
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre:  Romance
Format:  Kindle
No. of Pages: 378
Date of Publication:  26 April, 2022
My Rating:  4 Stars

My Thoughts 

What an incredibly swoony, spicy, and fun, second chance romance this one was! 

I’m not usually drawn to “wounded warrior” type stories but while I wasn’t always crazy about the MMC’s actions, I understood the reasoning behind them and ultimately, really enjoyed this highly readable novel. 

The slow burn here was satisfying and the heat level was more explicit than I tend to read in historical romance (not a complaint).

This is the second of Ms. MacGregor’s works that I’ve read (and enjoyed), I’m planning on reading more of her back catalog, starting with the first book of this series, and look forward to her upcoming titles as well. 

eARC kindly provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. Opinions shared are my own.

Description

Get ready for lost wills, broody dukes, and scorching hot kissing all over London in Rules for Engaging the Earl by Janna MacGregor.

Constance Lysander needs a husband. Or, so society says. She’s about to give birth to her late husband’s child—a man who left her with zero money, and two other wives she didn’t know about. Thankfully, she has her Aunt by her side, and the two other wives have become close friends. But still—with a baby on the way, her shipping business to run, and an enemy skulking about, she has no time to find the perfect match.

Enter Jonathan, Earl of Sykeston. Returned war hero and Constance’s childhood best friend, his reentry into society has been harsh. Maligned for an injury he received in the line of duty, Jonathan prefers to stay out of sight. It’s the only way to keep his heart from completely crumbling. But when a missive from Constance requests his presence—to their marriage ceremony—Jonathan is on board. His feelings for Constance run deep, and he’ll do anything to make her happy, though it means risking his already bruised heart.

With Constance, Jonathan, and the new baby all together, it’s clear the wounds—both on the surface and in their relationship—run deep. But when the nights come, their wounds begin to heal, and both come to realize that their marriage of convenience is so much more than just a bargain.