This is a really weird premise, at least it's one that I had not read. Lord Meriweather liked geting married so much that he did it with three different women. When he dies, all 3 widows are reunited to see about the will. Meri's brother, who didn't have the best relationship with him, tries to help the widows, especially Katherine, the first wife.

Unfotunately I wasn't in love with this couple, I never really bought into their chemistry, it felt a little forced. I liked the character, including the other two wives, quite a bit but Christian and Katherine together just were not a good couple.

I still want to read the other books in the series because like I said, I liked the other characters, I just hope that I like the relationships in the next novels.

A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor is the first in a new series and it was such a delight to read. First, I should mention that you should read the free, short and sweet prequel prior to starting this book called Where there’s a Will. It introduces you to the characters and the plot of the story. It’s not necessary but it definitely will whet your appetite for jumping right into the story.

Could it get any worse when your husband leaves you on your wedding day? Yes, yes it can. Katherine Vareck, Lady Meriwether, has gone to her husband’s solicitor for the reading of the will and encounters not one but 2 wives who make the same claim as being Meri’s wife. And one is pregnant! Katherine was the first wife and befriends the other ladies because they’ve really nowhere to go since and were hoping that this meeting would set things right. Now enters their brother-in-law, the Duke of Ranford, Christian Vareck, who’s just returned from the Napoleonic wars, a hero, and the last member of Meri’s family. Unfortunately, Christian doesn’t want anything to do with Meri’s troubles since he’s been dealing with them all his life. Katherine isn’t going to be dismissed by the Duke and is persistent in getting him involved. That persistence leads them both down a path they both didn’t see happening. They realize that they aren’t all what they first thought and before you know it their acquaintance turns to friendship, then business partners and eventually to lovers. With better understanding and knowing what true love feels like they want to protect those they love at all cost. With a few twist and turns both Katherine and Christian find their happy ending. I love it when a smart women doesn’t need a man to fix her problems and is willing to do it on her own.

The author has written quite an intriguing tale with bits of humor, interesting characters and anover the top romance which will have you swooning. Oh, the things Christian says to woo a girl. Christian grew on me over the course of the book and I was happy to see his vulnerable and compassionate side as well as his formidable Duke side. The side characters of the other wives, Beth and Constance, and Katherine’s companion Willa brought a bit of humor when needed. I believe the author has a hit on her hands and it pleases me that I have something to look forward to with more stories in the Widows Rule series.

As an avid reader of historical novels, I confess that after reading thousands of books by different authors, many of the plots end up looking similar. Always something that revolves around: a female character in trouble who needs help or gets married/ or a bankrupt male character who needs a rich wife/ or a female character ahead of her time who refuses to marry but gets caught in a compromising situation and has to get married... With some variations, the stories always seem the same.
Obviously I still want to read them.

So when the prequel Where There's to Will was published, I was very excited to read the next book, after all, the male character who is already dead, not satisfied with having a wife - that he never loved -, has married two others.
Trigamy? Does it exist?
Perfect plot.

On the other hand, one of the widows, Katherine Vareck, who without being rich and without connections managed to marry someone so important, was eager so that in reading her late husband's will she could get her dowry money back, because she had plans for her future. And then, the news arrived like a bomb.

Add to that the fact that her late husband's stepbrother is a more thoughtful, calm... and mysterious person, setting off all the danger alarms in her head - and heart - that could derail her plans.

A wonderful plot, but while I was reading I couldn't feel swept away by the couple's romance. It made me feel frustrated. And while I was curious to find out how this whole situation would be resolved, I wanted more chemistry between the couple.
3,5 stars

I adore this author & this story! I loved the dynamic and how this was so different from all the historical romances I’ve read! The characters were wonderful and well written! Our heroine Katherine is nice and also works! After her husband dies, she finds out that he was married to 2 other ladies! *He used them for their dowries!* Shockingly one of them women is with child! But Katherine takes in the ladies to help them. Christian is a sweet & now Duke. He’s hard working, a soldier, & a war hero. He plans to help fellow soldiers who are less fortunate. Katherine and Christian create a charity together! I loved how these two overcome their pasts to make the world around them better! I also love how these two start out as friends & work their way up to lovers! The tension is real! They were so perfect for one another and I loved watching these two fall for each other! Katherine and Christian have so much steam too! Such a great read and I can’t wait for what’s next!

A Duke in Time, book 1 in Janna MacGregor’s new series The Widow Rules, is a passionate, emotional, and romantic regency period historical romance with intriguing characters and story and unexpected twists that will keep readers glued to the pages. I love the development of the characters’ relationships and how characters maturely handled conflicts in the novel, and the conflicts faced are not the result of pointless manufactured drama.

After Katherine Varek’s husband, whom she barely spent time with as his wife, dies accidentally, she discovers he has married two other women following his marriage to her. She has worked to build her business to provide linens and bedding to London society using her married name and the skills taught to her by her mother. Katherine was poor going up and looked down on by others. She longed to make a fresh start free from her past, but she had secrets that might make that impossible.

Christian, Duke of Ranford, has just left the military with plans to use his dukedom to help his less fortunate fellow soldiers. However, his spoiled and selfish brother Meri left his estate in disarray after his death giving no thought to the lives of those he left behind. After spending his adult life escaping his scandalous family, the last thing Christian has the time or inclination to involve himself with is cleaning up another of his brother’s scandals. But if word of Meri’s betrayal of Katherine got out, it would ruin each of the wives – especially Katherine’s business – as well as Christian’s plans.

Although initially, the pacing is a bit slow, MacGregor's description and character development helped balance this, making me care about the characters and drawing me into the story. Additionally, the relationships between the characters, primary and secondary, help their evolution as the novel progresses. Christian and Katherine are relatable and sympathetic characters who are easy to root for. Their attraction is intense, and both their interactions and relationship are steamy, refreshingly straightforward, mature, and drama-free.

A Duke in Time is a steamy, emotional, romantic, regency period read with relationships that touch the heart deeply. Historical romance readers who love stories of found families, true love, and second chances with independent heroines and heroes who deeply love those heroines should like it.

Great escapist reading for lovers of historical romance.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Duke in Time presents a very intriguing concept: Kat discovers that her dead husband, Meri, had two other wives. Meri's half brother, Christian, is a Duke and is left to clean up this mess. I've read a lot of historical romance, and I found this storyline to be quite unique. I was excited to see where it went... but somewhere along the way I found I was a bit disappointed.

I personally didn't connect very well with the characters. I wanted to! Kat and Christian both care deeply about people and work toward great causes. Christian wants to help veterans find work returning from war, and Kat created her business from scratch and employs women who need work. Their similarities made me eager to root for them. I am still confused about why Kat and Meri were ever married in the first place, and Christian himself asks this question a lot. Kat being married to Meri is a big obstacle for him simply because he hated his half-brother.

However the biggest inhibitor in my reading experience was simply the way this book was written. The prose is more flowery than I would like, and I found myself a bit bored by the repetitive nature of the plot and descriptions. There was one chapter in particular where Kat is debating going to a party. Her friend offers to loan her a dress, and Kat says it wouldn't fit. Her friend offers to send her a maid to tailor it, and Kat says it's impossible. Kat decides she will go, though, and that she will fix up her own, old dress with the help of Meri's other two wives. But when she tells the wives this plan, one of them insists that she borrow a dress. And then they tailor that... It was a very circular chapter all about a dress. I honestly wanted to beat my head against the wall.

And it was because of this that I ended up deciding to skim/DNF. I wanted to read the whole thing cover to cover to give it a fair shot, but I realized that this book just wasn't working for me... and even the best ending ever wasn't going to change that most of the book was a slog for me. There are good moments in here, but I can't help but feel like this book could've used another edit. Looking at other reviews, clearly many others enjoyed this work! But I personally cannot recommend it.

I have read Janna's romances since her first and this did not disappoint! The premise - three women married to the same man - is different and this first in the new series was a good start. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Katherine and Christian evolve no matter his desire to stay out of his late brother's business...

An excellent start for a new series!

Where There’s a Will sets up the first full length story of the Widow Rules series by Janna MacGregor by setting up the premise of the widows and how their lives will change in knowledge and possible scandal of a man married to three women who dies and leaves a predicament for his brother and the three women he married. A woman who married for legitimacy. A War Hero who has no interest in reliving the past scandals of his father and recently deceased half-brother. A woman who wants her secrets kept and will just decide to do about anything to make sure that happens.

Where There’s a Will by Janna MacGregor will begin your journey into the lives of these wonderful characters and her new series called the Widow Rules. A gruff man and a woman with secrets must work together figure out a way to avoid scandal and not fall in love.

A Duke in Time is the first story in Janna MacGregor’s new Widow’s Rule series. Katherine Vareck didn’t love her recently deceased husband. Her marriage was to give her business and life legitimacy. She’s hoping that her dead husband’s brother can help her by giving back her dowry. Christian Vareck is the Duke of Ranford, a war hero just returning to take his place as Duke of Ranford. He isn’t interested in any woman until he sees a mystery woman on his doorstep. Katherine and Christian will face scandal, blackmail, and the passion. A Duke in Time just maybe the answer to the all the trouble.

Janna MacGregor starts her new series called Widow’s Rule with the prequel Where There’s A Will and the first story A Duke in Time. A woman who is trying to leave her past behind will face a possible scandal when her recently deceased husband’s antics become known. A war hero who just wants to be left alone to rebuild the family Dukedom. When he reluctantly pulled into fix his half brother’s mistakes, only to be pulled into the situations left behind by his half-brothers death. A woman will face the mistakes of her husband and makes new friends. A Duke in Time will keep you wondering if secrets will be revealed, and the scandal can be avoided. These two people will have to face their pasts and have to work out how to continue when love and passion become part of the bargain. A historical story of love, passion and finding out that the person was the type of person you thought they were and only better. Lives will change and scandal that they may avert when these two characters work together. Janna MacGregor’s A Duke in Time is a wonderfully written story with love passion and secrets that transport the reader into the past. If you’re a Janna MacGregor fan it’s a must read and a good way to become of a fan of this wonderful author.

Free e-book review is my own.

This book had a little bit of everything and a whole lot of drama. Katherine is a bastard, convicted thief and savvy business owner. She is a survivor no matter what life throws at her and remains sweet and kind through it all. The hits just keep coming though even when her happily ever after is finally in reach.

This was a quick easy read. It was entertaining but it did have some issues with plot and keeping to a believable reality that took me a little out of the story. Worth the read though and for the most part the relationships were cute and based in reality.

A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor is simply delightful. The plot is involved and very entertaining, the characters are so easy to fall in love with and the chemistry between the two is absolutely amazing! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves historical romances.

I read another Janna MacGregor and loved it, unfortunately I don't think A Duke in Time grabbed my interest as much. I do enjoy MacGregor's writing and I think I would like this one if I was in the right mood. DNF for now, but I will try it again later.

Katherine was a bomb heroine for a historical romance. She truly did not need a man, or necessarily want one, but took care of herself and so many others and was open to partnership. After a truly shocking revelation upon her husband's death, she picks herself up and continues on. I loved this book!

Janna MacGregor has been hit or miss for me. This was a miss. I got to chapter 11 and realized I had skimmed the last 3 chapters. The premise was interesting. A dead husband. 3 wives. A Duke who’s left to pick up the pieces. Unfortunately, none of the characters gained my interest and I will leave the book here.

A Duke in Time is a recency era romance novel that keeps readers interested throughout the book with multiple twists and turns. Most books in this genre are formulaic but this novel managed to surprise me several times! I really loved the plot and how both main characters broke the mold of the era to pursue their ambitions. This book was obvious well researched and definitely set the scene for two sequels which I am looking forward to.

Very delightful story. I enjoyed the characters immensely. I always like a strong leading lady. The plot was kind of crazy and I had no idea how these 3 ladies were going to get out of their predicament. Definitely a fun story.

I did struggle reading this book. The story was just ok but I did struggle getting into it.
I am sure some would love this book but it just wasn’t one that I loved

What a fun little romp! We follow Katherine after the death of her husband Merri, where she discovers that he had two other wives. All of them left without funds or help band together to see if they can sort out the mess. Christian, Duke of Randford, Meri’s brother, has no idea what to do but steps in to help the women. Katherine, running a textile business, engages the other wives for help as they all fear the news getting out and ruining their lives. As they all slowly untangle the truth Katherine and Christian become closer and must face the truths of their pasts in order to move on into the future.
A very heartwarming read with past traumas coming back to haunt the two main characters. There were some spicy interludes, crossed wires, and an enemy trying to ruin everything but of course a happy ending is had. The next two books in the series will focus on the remaining two wives of Meri as they find their happily ever afters.

Christian and Katherine are not your typical ton couple. Christian, the Duke of Randford may have been the heir, but all his father's attention and caring was for his half-brother, a born scoundrel. The late Lord Meriwether Vareck married three women, which came to light at the reading of his will. Wife number one is Katherine, Lady Meriwether who quickly takes charge. She definitely does not fit the ton mold. She owns a successful business, however she has her secrets as well. Kat and Christian find a mutual attraction almost right from the beginning. Will he be able to accept her and her past? The tale to find out is a good one. Christian and Kat are marvelous characters who truly deserve each other and to be happy. I !ove Janna MacGregor's characters, they are so very unconventional. They make any story interesting and worth reading.

Really enjoyed this, and it is the first book I've read by this wonderful author. I look forward to recommending this, especially to traditional romance readers who like things on the spicy side. Great characters and fast-paced plot.