3.5 stars

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

A Duke in Time is the first in a new series by Janna MacGregor, and it’s off to a pretty good start. I would recommend reading the prequel novella, Where There’s a Will, to provide some additional context for the situation the major characters are in with the “trigamy.”

I’m loving that this very unlikely concept has been getting love, and we’re seeing more stories across subgenres where the women bond over being betrayed by a scumbag of a man. I loved seeing the bond that forms in this one between Katherine, Constance, and Beth as they came together after their lives imploded and helped each other, including setting up future romances. I did think it was a bit jarring to introduce Beth with a completely different name, Blythe Howell, then later saying to call her Beth as her middle name is Elizabeth, but that’s a minor quibble.

The romance itself was cute, but I felt like the stakes melted as the story went on. I did feel that Kat and Christian had a believable transition from being a bit at odds to falling for each other, but any obstacles that could have stood in their way were removed upon further investigation. The concept of falling in love with one’s late husband’s brother/brother’s widow is loaded with taboos and stakes, but I feel like the historical legal standpoint was barely acknowledged, and then, surprise, it doesn’t matter, because of a Big Reveal! I had seen the execution of it done so much better, and given she was the first wife, I didn’t want it all tied up with plot conveniences.

This book had a big job to do, even with a prequel short doing some of the setup. Ultimately, it was enjoyable, but I couldn’t help but feel some of it was a little lacking. But it’s a fun historical romance that includes as much emphasis on friendship between women as it does romantic love, and one I’d recommend to longtime fans of Janna MacGregor’s work and newcomers who love historical romance.

Delightful, engaging, heart warming and steamy. Some of the emotions I felt while reading A Duke in Time. Christian and Kat make this regency romance something special. Their journey includes honour, friendship, helping those in need and an undeniable passion and love that slowly simmers to the surface. An entertaining, well crafted and wonderful start in the new Widow Rules series by Janna MacGregor.

This is a classic if disappointing example of a book that failed to live up to its catchy premise. I had to acquaint myself with some wine to power through this one, so let's proceed.

The story here is that Kat aka Katherine aka Lady Meriwether was married for a year but only spent six hours in the company of her husband before his untimely death. When she goes to hear the reading of his will, she must come to terms with the shocking and uncomfortable truth that he got married two more times during his year of gallavanting around. The three wives band together as they try to get access to their dowries and avoid the scandal left by their husband's duplicitous and impulsive actions. Oh, yeah. And Kat falls in love with her deceased husband's half-brother.

First, let me say that I was not impressed with this one, but I'm not saying it's an objectively terrible book. For one thing, the author put consent in the forefront, and I am always here for that. I'm going to share what didn't work for me, and you can decide if it's up your alley.

My main issue was the characters and how they are presented. Christian is the basic "broody and misunderstood with a heart of gold" hero, who it is suggested no one can resist, and any woman would swoon at his charms, etc. I am not amused by the concept of universal attractiveness for the obvious reason that it erases a lot of identities and experiences in doing so. Kat is sweet and kind-hearted but also classically "she's the only one who's ever challenged him." I don't care for this trope because it paints all other women as these terrible sycophants. It's creating false exceptionalism rather than an exceptional character in her own right, without comparison. So to sum up, we have a man anyone could love and the only woman who has ever been born with a spine. Extraordinary.

A specific irritant was the focus on Christian's military history. There is a wooden recitation of war's horrors and social consequences for returning soldiers. I think the topic's inclusion was well-intentioned but maybe not well-researched because it lacked depth and emotion. Worse, Christian led his troops "without a casualty," which seems like a dangerous romanticization of war just to make a character seem talented. The term "war hero" is used 13 times as a character trait in addition to several other references to his battle prowess.

A final, petty remark: I don't need to know the exact height of every good-looking man in the story down to the inch (all over 6' since we wouldn't want to skimp, apparently).

Kat is more generous than many might be if they discovered that their husband married two other women. Wow. Turns out she's the "official" wife but that doesn't make it better for her or for Constance or Beth but the three of them band together. The scandal might imperil Kat's nascent business and it's that she's most worried about. Christian, the Duke of Randford, is her husband's half brother and while their relationship starts off adversary, well, you know what's eventually going to happen. This is set in the Victorian era and blends attitudes of the period with heroines who seem, ahem, ahead of their time. I liked Kat, enjoyed the risposte between Kat and Christian, and rooted for all of them. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read and I'm looking forward to the stories of the other women.

DNF at 23%

I liked the start of the book, but it all started to go downhill for me about 15%

Sorry, this one wasn't for me

This book started out quite intriguing. A widow finds out her husband had 2 other wives and the scandal begins. This was a different type of trope I’ve never read in an HR before and I’m curious to read additional in the Widow Rules series.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC. What a great read. The characters are just marvellous. Three wives for a rather odd wastrel, a newly appointed duke who has to deal with it all. So many poignant pasts that all come together to fill these pages with wit and angst and a hope for happy futures. I recommend it highly.

This looked promising but it didn't deliver. The story was odd and the writing style did nothing to render it charming or enjoyable. Everything was flat, I didn't care about any of the characters and the writing was awkward enough to trip me up several times in just a few pages. Sometimes a book just doesn't click with a reader, and this is one of those times.

*Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an e-arc for review.

It took me a while to get into this book, but once I got going I finished it very quickly. I actually started the book and then found and read the short prequel Janna released a few weeks ago and then restarted the book. A Duke in Time tells the story of Katherine who upon the death of her husband finds out that he has not one but two other wives. The Duke’s half-brother, Christian the new Duke, comes to sort out his brother’s estate including the three wives and falls in love with Katherine.

I liked both Katherine and Christian. Katherine was very independent and competent. I liked that she was a businesswoman as it put her on more equal footing with Christian because she was not as financially reliant on him as she would have been without her business. I really enjoyed Christian’s humor and friendship with is valet. I felt that Katherine and Christian were well matched and genuinely loved each other.

I was concerned based on the premise of this book that it would ignore English marriage laws about marrying a brother’s widow, but the book was able to resolve this issue. (Seriously the knowledge I gained from Lorraine Heath’s The Earl Takes All had me stressing during this book, but it all worked out.) I will happily read the next book in the series and will probably go back and read some of Janna’s other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. It was an enjoyable read, it just didn’t blow my socks off or anything. Would be willing to give this author another try.

This is not a usual genre for me, but I make an exception for Janna MacGregor. Her heroines are always strong. They may have their moments, but the strength is always there underneath it all. In A Duke in Time, Kat has her own business. Not a normal occurrence for that time for sure. She is also very generous and caring. When two women need her help, she steps up even though the circumstances are not such that you would think she would want to.

Christian is an interesting hero. He has definitely been hurt in the past. However, he also shows great moral fortitude in helping those less fortunate than himself. I thought he and Kat were wonderful together. My heart was definitely engaged with the two.

A great historical romance!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in the series and what a way to start it.
Katherine's husband has just died but even more shocking, he has 2 other wives.
Christian has just returned from war and not only does he have a duchy to care for, he has to clean up after his brother's death.
I really liked how spirited and independent Katherine was including inviting the other wives to live with her.
I also really liked Christian who is infatuated with Katherine immediately and wants to do the right thing for the wives and his fellow soldiers.
I especially liked Katheine and Christian together.
Can't wait for book 2.

The story begins when Katherine Greer, Lady Meriwether, finds herself at the solicitor’s office for the reading her late husband’s will and discovers she was not the only woman in that position. Then she expects her brother-in-law, recognized war hero freshly returned from the war to assist them, but Christian Vareck, the Duke of Randford, doesn’t want anything to do with this new mess created by his late brother.
Being an honorable man, Randford will reconsider, but typical Meri’s mess, there isn’t an easy solution to 3 wives, a lost will and the never ending parade of bequests constantly arriving at his doorstep.
As with my previous reads by the author, I found the main and supporting characters interesting enough and the premise more than intriguing, but it was all lost in the delivery. I found the story telling dragged and had too many inconsistencies as well as a lot of things remained in the air and I don’t expect they’ll be resolved in the other books of the series.
IMO, this could have been a great story and I find its potential lost.

This is such a great book, very different from a lot of Regency Romances. This book starts off with a Hugh bang. Lady Katherine Vareck learns at her late husband's solicitor's office that he also had two other wives !! If that was not a big enough shock, he also has taken or stolen all of their dowry's.
The Duke of Ranford (Christian) is 1/2 brother to their husband, Meri. He is a war hero, and very imposing. He has stop cleaning up after Meri years ago and wants nothing to do with this latest scandal. After Katherine tells him the women need his help to come up with a way to solve all of their problems before the scandal gets out and ruins them all ! He gets in his carriage and leaves!
He should stay out of this whole affair for his own sanity but he just can't leave the ladies with nothing. It was none of their fault. Miss Constance Lysander is pregnant and due to deliver is weeks. Blythe Howell is the sister of a viscount who just wanted to marry her off.
As the women form a strong bond becoming like sister's helping each other out. Christian and Kat try to find out where the money went and what can be done to stop the scandal. As they work together the growing attraction is hard to deny. Both wonders how to deal with her being his brothers' late wife and her with Christian being her brother-in-law ? Also, she has secrets about her marriage and past.
The many things that these two have to get thru, all the stuff that Meri throws at them from the grave and an evil person who wants to stop them no matter the cost.
This is an exciting, intriguing, steamy romance mystery. I loved it so much going on, so much drama and emotions.
The other characters in the story are so important to the story too, the companion Willa who is so much more. The Valet Jacob who also adds so much. One can't forget the endearing and love able Aunt Venetia.
I hope you get a copy and find out how it all turns out. This is a great start to a new series, and I can't wait to read the second book.
I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

This book had such a unique and intriguing beginning abd premise that I was hooked right away! The first chapter was really well done at setting up the plot and introducing the characters of Lady Katherine, recently widowed, and her deceased husband's half brother Christian, the Duke of Ranford.

Katherine attends the reading of her dead husband's will oy to receive the shock of her life: her husband has two other wives. Christian shows up to try and sort out the trouble only to leave and wash his hands of it while Jatherine takes the other two wives home with her to support them and give them jobs.

However, Christian is a very moral and upstanding man and can't bear the thought of the women suffering alone so returns to try and make amends.

Like I said, the beginning chapter had me so hooked I was really looking forward to this read! I loved the idea of Katherine's business and how she took in women down on their luck, and I ADORED Christian and how he tried so hard to provide a good life for men he served in the war with once they returned home.

But the romance was VERY insta love and honestly...a bit cheesy. I did not believe it at all. And there were definitely some plot threads left hanging and a too quickly wrapped up ending.

Dang, have I been sleeping on Janna MacGregor books! A few of her books have been on my TBR forever but I am so happy that this was my first as I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. 

You know me, I do not like doing recaps or longer synopsis's in my reviews. So the one sentence synopsis would be that Katherine, Lady Meriwether, goes to the reading of her dead husbands will to find out that he is also married to two other ladies and yet his brother, The Duke, catches her eye. 

I mean, if that's not enough to get you to want to read it, you have no sense of adventure! I don't recall in recently memory reading any polygamist men in historical (well there is the Wescott series from Mary Balogh) but from the first page I was hooked. 

I loved the friendship between all three of the widows Meriwether and how despite this despicable situation, these three ladies found a sisterhood and camaraderie. 

But let's get to the good stuff. Christian, The Duke of Randford, is an absolute delight. Typically I like my heroes a little more broodier and borderline morally gray, but he is a man of courage and honor. I loved how the attraction and feelings between Christian and Kat played out. I was eagerly anticipating all of their moments together as they were rife with passion and promise. 

The only reason I am giving this a 4 is just because it was at times a little too sweet for me. And Katherine's own behavior when it came to sexual relations seemed a little more forward that I would have expected. Not that I can blame her, but it just seemed out of place at times. 

But that is not to say a 4 stars is bad, because it's not. I really enjoyed devouring this over the course of two days as it kept my attention and I was eager to see how it played out. And knowing the next book will be Constance's story has me extremely excited because I can't wait to see how her HEA plays out.

I've finished a series lately that is similar to this one. I enjoyed reading this first book in the series. We're given a brief idea of what the other two will be about. Now I'm looking forward to them.

I loved this book and I need the rest of the series immediately! Christian returns home from war as a hero because after his brother’s death he needs to deal with things and plan for an heir. His brother has left a huge mess - including three wives! Kat is his first wife and Christian finds himself drawn to her from the start.

Kat is an independent woman with a highly successful business. She needed her marriage to help her in society. She and Christian work together to keep themselves from scandal. The romance is sweet and hot and this book does a great job with the romance while setting up the rest of the series.

Fabulous read! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Upon the death of her husband of one year, Katherine discovers that he was a polygamist. While Kat was his first (and therefore legal) wife, she can't help feeling responsible for the other two women duped by him. She also enlists the help of his brother, Christian. Soon, she and Christian begin to fall for each other. But what will happen when he discovers the secrets about her past?

I really enjoyed the characters in this book. This story is well-paced and the plot never lagged.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This is the first in a new series. There is a prelude short story in Where There's a Will, and I do recommend readers check that out first.

Christian, Duke of Rankford, is not quite a cinnamon roll hero but his heart is all in the right place. As a war hero, he is concerned for his former soldiers, and he's fundamentally unable to walk away from those who need help. All he really wants to do is take care of his roses, a hobby he learned from his late mother. And on second thought, maybe that does make him a total cinnamon roll. Christian is faced with untangling the mess left by his late brother, Meri. And oh what a mess! The mess is part of the plotline for all the books in this series, but it is also an avenue for some laugh out loud moments and some bananas things tossed in along the way.

If you want a strong, competent heroine, Katherine is for you. Katherine is a smart and successful businesswoman. She runs a business embroidering and providing linens to the aristocracy. She has developed a unique shopping experience for the women of the ton, and provides jobs for single women who need to provide for themselves and their families. She is especially sensitive to women who have had children out of wedlock. She personally knows the burden and judgement that society places on these women, from her own childhood. She sees opportunity for expanding her business and takes calculated, reasoned risks. She battles a nasty competitor who wants to play dirty. And like other women of the era with her past, she tries to protect her life from her past by hiding facts, and creating the aura of respectability that is the only way she can maintain her success. Or so she believes.

These two come together through the mess left by Meri. At the same time, Christian and Katherine have an instant attraction and work to fight it, while inevitably falling in love. And falling in love they do. Much of the story is about them falling in love, not a short realization at the end after the dark moment, as in many romances. And I loved that! They have a chance to learn about each other, work together, learn to trust, learn to reveal their true selves. It's a romantic journey to happily ever after.

Sexy times are on the page and hot. Consent is fully present. Discussion of avoiding pregnancy is present.

Found family is the theme for both characters, and that's one of my favorite tropes. For both Christian and Katherine, the found family is in the support of those around them who work with them, and their peers and friends. These are the people who know them, the ones they rely on, and in Katherine's situation, those who are in the same boat due to Meri's mess, and will stand with her as they assist each other in finding a way out. I really liked this exploration of the family that supports you and has your back no matter what.

I was worried at the dark moment that what had otherwise felt like a pretty positive story, would fall into the familiar habit of a character running away to prevent something from the past being revealed. And while there was a little bit of that, the real point of the moment was for Katherine to take control of both her past and her future, and I loved that. On top of that, Christian believed in her and did not ride to her rescue. Again, thank you! A full partnership and Katherine was not suddenly reduced to a quivering mess who couldn't take care of herself, not was Christian simply the rescuer. I really appreciated it.

Set ups for subsequent novels in the series are present and it will be interesting to see how those develop. It's clear whose stories are coming and I felt vested enough in the women to be interested. The future heroes are more enigmatic, so there is plenty still to come.

Highly recommend this one. Janna MacGregor fans will enjoy this, and any historical romance fans looking for a new series will find a lot to enjoy.

CW for death of a parent, loss of a spouse, cheating spouses, sexism.