Katherine after a quick courtship turned marriage her husband wasn’t who she thought he was. Upon his death she learns she isn’t his only wife. Meri actually married two other women which she learns at the reading of his will. She’s not only in shock but one is also on the brink of giving birth. Cristian Meri brother is also there unhappy especially when he learns what his trouble maker brother did. He just wants to run away but the ladies need help. It was a great story about three woman pushed together under crazy circumstances. They work together to prevail because Katherine won’t let them suffer alone with this scandal that threatens everything she worked is hard for. It was also push pull relationship between Christian and Katherine struggling with growing feelings. Great story line between all the characters. I’m looking forward to the next book. I was given an a ARC from Netgalley and my review was based solely on my options.

I started reading the book thinking that, this is going to be a decent read but the book turned out pretty good and I throughly enjoyed reading it. If you are looking for a breezy read, before your bed time, you can totally pick this one up.

Initially I thought this book was too similar to a series that had just released from Jess Michaels, but I feel like Ms MacGregor has put enough of her fingerprints on this story to make it stand out on it’s own. I am very excited to see how the series will turn out (even if the pairings of the couples are a bit obvious in book #1).
I loved how Katherine had her own company and was very independent. It was a nice flavor to add to the book, and I quite appreciated it.

I enjoyed this book very much. The writer definitely grabbed my attention with a plot that involves a tough, independent and somewhat of a stubborn lady. Kate works hard at proving to Randford that she can manage things on her own. I liked Ranfords character for his inability of not turning his back on the ladies and working hard at amending the rights for them. I found this story to be a fast pace read. The story definitely has realistic issues in it. I think that the writer also worked hard at having the readers focus on the growing love match between Kathleen and Randford. I liked the tit for tat the two played with each other while flirting. I had a good time reading about the passion and the romance among the two. I truly had a great time reading this book.

Really enjoyed this book! A historical romance that has twists that you are not expecting. I found the cast of characters interesting. I look forward to reading the next book.

This is an entertaining, well-written, steamy, historical romance novel which pays a wonderful tribute to veterans. It has likable, engaging characters, a duke who is a war hero, an intelligent, strong and capable female protagonist, a heart-warming romance, drama, intrigue, and a happily ever after ending. I appreciated the nod to Ms. MacGregor's outstanding Cavensham Heiresses series. I am looking forward to the next entry in this series with great anticipation. Ms. MacGregor never disappoints her readers!
Net Galley kindly provided me with an ARC of this novel, and this is my honest opinion.

A great Regency Historical romance ,love all the characters and story.
Katherine and Duke just seem to fit together.
Really enjoyed reading.
Voluntarily Reviewed.

Katherine is a strong female lead. She has worked to become th premier linen provider in London. Widowed by the 2nd son of a Duke...she discovers that she is one of 3 women he married. In walks Christian, the new Duke. Katherine demands help for the other wives...and then the story develops. No spoiler here, but the characters in this story are so interesting, the plot devine, and the love simply perfect.

Ohhhh I enjoyed this book a lot! Katherine and Christian's story was sweet, and there was a good amount of steamy scenes that really illustrated their passion. I thought the addition of the other wive's storylines was a bit much, and wish that their stories had been entirely left for separate books, but otherwise this was a great read.

I love the premise of this series! I don't remember ever reading a series based on multiple unknown wives. It opens up all kind of issues to be addressed and I love the interactions of these characters. This is a great new series and I am looking forward to reading the stories of the other wives.

You don't want to miss this story. You won't want to put it down. What a shock to find out that your husband has died only to find you are not his only wife. It just gets better from there. There are more twist and turns. You will laugh and be surprised. Plenty of sexy bits too. I'll be waiting for the next book just imagine what's next.

A Duke in Time swung back and forth between wildly overdone in the romance department to excessively boring in the good cause department. The book tells the story of Katherine, who is married for all of six hours before her husband disappears and then dies on her, and his half-brother Christian, a war hero trying to help fellow soldiers while reacclimating to society. Plus Katherine has two fellow brides, which she takes under her roof because she also happens to be a very successful business woman. Both Christian and Katherine are very altruistic, the author wanting to make characters who do more than linger around their homes and attend balls. But there's point where MacGregor just does this part of the book to excess. It's meant well, but it gets boring and takes away from the romance. The other problem is the language around the romance is over the top and excessive. When a romance is written well I feel like I'm devouring the words, and these words make me nauseous and want to get through those parts of the book as quickly as possible. Both aspects of this book go overboard, and there's just way too much going on to keep the reader engaged in the book.

*3.5 stars*

This is the first book that I've read by Janna MacGregor. I enjoyed it, and would definitely try other books by her. She has a good style of writing, that was easy to read.

While I did like the book, I would say that I didn't find it the most memorable... it took me about a week to get through, and I didn't find myself thinking too much about it when I put it down. That being said, I did really like the main characters. Katherine was independent, classy, and always ready to take matters into her own hands. It was a nice modern twist on the historical romance genre, and I definitely enjoyed that aspect of it. The other two wives, and the companion Willa, were all great. I liked how they got along and became such good friends. They were really great supporting characters!

Christian was also an interesting character... I wasn't sure if I really liked him at first but he grew on me! I came to realize that he was actually very kind, and I love love loved the dedication to war veterans! It was such a unique aspect to add into this genre and I think other authors should take note - I was very pleased with the way it was incorporated into the story.

Overall, the book was good and I did enjoy reading it, but it didn't leave me reeling. It's something I'm glad I read but I wouldn't say it's one that I need to read more than once. I definitely encourage you to give it a try and form your own opinion though!

I received an ARC and chose to give my honest opinion - thanks NetGalley!

"A Duke in Time" starts right off by introducing us three widows - all were married at the same time to the same man, The Duke's brother. Through the book, we get to know particularly well Kat and Christian while they fall in love.

Kat being an independent and empowered business owner was an amazing twist that we don't usually get to see on Historical Romances. Christian being supportive of her working was definitely heartwarming.
The relationship between the three widows was central and fantastic. The author avoided the usual steriotype that they'd all hate each other and be bitter and mean. Women supporting women was written in such a beutiful and strong way. I fell in love with all of them and with their bond.

Also in the front of the stage was War and Veterans. Christian was a Captain in the War and when he came back he decided he had to help the men that fought and returned home to nothing. I'm not doing it justifice but the author did. I loved it.

On the whole, "A Duke in Time" was such an entertaining and thoughtful book. I enjoyed it thoroughly and can't wait to read the stories of the other two widows!!!

I devoured this in one sitting --- I couldn't put it down! I instantly fell in love with Katharine and her endless acts of kindness. I loved the business + romantic relationship that blossomed between her and the Duke -- a true partnership in every way.


The other characters of this book were a delight too --- excited for future books in the series!

This is the first in The Widow Rules series from a new-to-me author.

While I found the premise original, the writing was a bit over-the-top and I never connected well with the characters. I found both mains somewhat out of the “norm” for the time period/societal rules.

Katherine, a successful linen designer with her own business (perhaps an overreach for a woman at this time?) discovers that her dead husband was also married to two other women and left all three without their dowries (and one 8 months pregnant). In a bizarre twist he was either looked at with anger as a villain or with amusement for collecting odd objects in his life (tigers?).

His half-brother Christian, a war hero and a duke steps in to make amends and try to mitigate scandal, and of course, love ensues. His character struck me as being overly sappy and over-the-top love struck. It almost felt as if his and Katherine’s roles were reversed, and I just couldn’t buy into it.

In the end, it was an interesting plot, but I felt the characters needed work.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for providing me the free early ARC for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Okay, this book blew me away. Dang, I hate giving away so many spoilers!!! But I am not sure how to sum up the book in any other way, but I will try.
The heroine is a lady who has opened two charities that run like businesses. She is very smart and she offers women, who have fallen on bad times, a chance to earn money. She offers the widows of fallen soldiers a chance to learn a trade and support their families. She has a dormitory where they can temporarily live until they get an apartment on their own. She trains them to do embroidery, customized by a client or generics embroidery, on linens for bedrooms and other uses. She is trying to get a commission with the Prince when she meets her brother in law (the hero). Her husband has died and left her in a pickle. The hero is not the nicest because he has recently returned from war and his half-brother passed away. He doesn't want to get involved at first and then he decides he should, as duke and the head of the family.
This story was not what I expected and I enjoyed reading it. It was a book that I could not put down until it was finished. Thank goodness my kids are old enough to cook. This story pulled me in and I felt that the author was able to put me in the story as I read it. It was very descriptive and I am wondering if the next books in the series will answer my questions raised about characters from this book. This book was well written with likable characters who developed as the story was read. There were no errors in grammar or spelling. The manner of speech was what I would expect from that time period. I give this book a recommendation to read with 5 stars.

3.5 ☆ review.

This is my first Janna MacGregor novel, and I found her "voice" engaging and her writing style pleasant to read.

I loved the cast in this story - main and side characters alike. Katherine was likable, brave and industrious, with a kind heart and softness for women in difficult circumstances as well as the down-and-out. Christian's gruffness hid his inner kindness, and I liked seeing his compassionate side. His interactions with his closest friends and military comrades were fun to see unfold - whether he displayed care on their behalf or bantered with them. Meri's wives were also lovely ladies.

As an aside to any potential readers, there is a fair amount of open-door sex (in case that isn't your cup of tea).

This is also why I couldn't go with a 4-star rating - not because of the sex, but the seemingly out-of-character locations it was indulged. For Katherine to be wary of society (ie having personal appointments with female clients, not going out in society) yet sets herself up for possible scandal by sleeping with a man and sneaking out of his bed in the middle of the night....? Anyone could've witnessed her leaving his home! It just didn't gel with me. Nor did their romp in another location designed for business. These scenes felt almost too contemporary in conversation and lack of inhibitions in such a "proper" society. Hey, I know sex happened out of wedlock back then but such indiscretion with someone as principled as the duke? One can be overcome with love/lust yet keep their clothes on until the appropriate time. It's doable, people!

Apart from that, I enjoyed the storyline and the cast of characters - evil ones and all, ha ha.

NB I received an ARC of this novel.

Janna MacGregor has done it again with A Duke in Time, her latest novel! Katherine Varek is shocked when she discovers at her late husband Meri's will reading that she was not his only wife...she was one of three wives! And he had squandered all of their dowries! Being a kind woman, she brings them all back to her home where they become fast friends, linked by these tragic circumstances.

Christian, Lord of Randford and Meri's older brother has no idea what to do about his reprobate brother's wives, but he does know that he's never met a woman who has an effect on him like Katherine. But can he really be thinking about a relationship with his brother's widow? Well, one of them? Especially one who is a successful businesswoman and is working to secure a contract with the monarchy?

A Duke in Time is a great beach read, a fun love story and another winning novel from Ms. MacGregor. Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

4+ stars

A Duke in Time, by Janna MacGregor, is a lovely tale filled with lovely characters, and I had a hard time putting it down.

It starts with an uncomfortable discovery: Katherine, a young entrepreneur (elegant linens) learns from her deceased husband's solicitor that she was one of three wives and that said husband (Meri) has apparently squandered the dowries of all three women. Katherine takes her fellow wives in as they have nowhere worry to go, and the women quickly become good friends.

Meri's half-brother Christian, the Duke of Randford--a recently returned war hero-- does his best to help financially, but the reputations of the wives are harder to protect. While trying to figure out the mess that was Meri's life, Christian also tries to find a way to help less fortunate war veterans get back on their feet; Katherine helps him get his venture off the ground. In the meantime, he forms first a friendship with Katherine and then an attachment and finally love.

Katherine, however, has secrets in her past, and she fears that Christian might turn away if he discovered them. She also knows that her business depends on her secrets staying buried. Of course, secrets always come out, and Katherine's are no exception.

The secret really isn't that big of a deal when push comes to shove; neither Christian nor Katherine is shallow. Instead, the story focuses more on the pair's developing relationship and also on, I think, setting up the next two books. (I have suspicions about where the series' climax is heading...)

Christian and Katherine are both so incredibly kind and lovely, and their developing romance is more sweet and sturdy than tempestuous. It's impossible not to root for them.

If I had any cons, it would be that I would have liked to know more about Katherine's business and how she started out, and I'm very curious to know more about the women who work there. Instead, we find out about it mostly third hand.

If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller, it isn't this story. But if you're looking for a story to savor, a story with heart, definitely give A Duke in Time a shot.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!