One of my favorite types of historical romance is when the author breaks the “rules” of a stereotypical story. Our female main character has a job. As a member of the working class, she finds herself in a unique position when a duke catches her completely by surprise and becomes a client. Sparks fly and so do the pages!

There are so many wonderful qualities that Haymore has added to this story. Good friendships, for him and her. Hot romance, which is selectively found in this genre. Delightful atmosphere and details that fill the heart as you turn the pages.

The Duke’s Rules Of Engagement is authentic and factual with a balance of lightness, humor, romance, and spice that will capture your attention and leave your heart happy. I look forward to reading more from this author!

This was a new to me author and I absolutely enjoyed this book! It was a slow burn but oh so wonderful! I loved the dynamic and banter! The two MC’s were a perfect match! Jo is our tall, curvy, spinster match making heroine! She loves her job and works hard to match each client to their possible love match. She highly believes in love but hasn’t experienced it herself. Matthew, Duke of Crestmont, is looking for a wife. Someone who is going to be the perfect duchess and doesn’t want a love match. He’s had a traumatic past but really has a heart! Jo and Crestmont have an instant attraction. They do become friends as they start working together. Although things do start to heat up! I loved watching these two come together! Such a great read! It had some nice steamy parts as well! I look forward to what’s next from this author!

Miss Joanna Porter has made a living for her and her family by being a matchmaker. She enjoys finding a real love match for her clients, and is excellent at it. At twenty-seven years old she has long given up on the idea of love for herself. Our heroine is an independent young woman who treats everyone as an equal.

Matthew, the Duke of Crestmont needs a wife. He doesn't want to bother with all the nonsense of the normal marriage mart of society, and doesn't need love. Once bitten twice shy for that emotion. A "Perfect Duchess" is what he wants.

It was very easy to be drawn into to the lives of our characters in this historical romance. They are fascinating people, even the secondary characters. I really wish I could have gone to Vauxhall Gardens in it's time. It sounds like so much fun.

I think this is a solo book but the Duke's friends are very interesting and would make good heroes.

Great fun.

A sweet love story laced with some angst and longing, "The Duke's Rules of Engagement" is a predictable journey that managed to also surprise me in unique ways.

My favorite aspect of this entire story was the friendship that Jo and Matthew formed.
Matthew, Duke of Crestmont, is in need of a bride, and the only qualification he needs matchmaker Jo to satisfy is that the woman is "duchess" material. Jo finds Matthew to be a bit uptight and unimaginative until she begins to interview him in preparation for bride hunting for Matthew.

What unfolds is a beautiful relationship that is founded on mutual interests and ease in spending time with one another. The building of a friendship amidst the attraction and angst that Jo would never be considered duchess material as a working class woman, made this relationship balance on the edge of my nerves. Even though I knew the guaranteed outcome, I was still asking myself: how is this going to work? Add in Jo's selflessness and doubt, and I was rushing towards the finish line for that happily ever.

I would recommend this book to those who like some angst thrown into their love story. I am a lover of angst and would consider this to be about mid-range in it's frequency. I think that people who read historical romance and see aristocratic men with the usual hobbies would enjoy this fresh take on a duke who has unique interests. Lastly, if you like strong heroines who are focused on taking care of others and genuinely kind, I think you will enjoy Jo (although I did advise her to be more selfish a few times throughout the book...I couldn't help it).

3.5-4 ⭐️'s

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced eARC of this book thanks to Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#TheDukesRulesOfEngagement #NetGalley

The Duke of Crestmont has a problem - he needs to marry and produce an heir. He comes to matchmaker extraordinaire Jo with a set of rules (none of which includes love). What happens when the Duke starts falling for the matchmaker who decidedly doesn't fit any of his rules?

What is not to like about a historical romance. I love those so much. the way they spoke and how they acted. This book was not disappointed. Will read more. this is why i like Historical Romance. They are super yummy and hotness

Loved it!!

This book is the first one I read from this author and am super impressed!!

An interesting storyline and its development, the list of characters and their HEAs - all well done.

Though in between it felt as if the MCs were a bit slow to understand their feelings for each other and at times the story was predictable, it was a very interesting read.

Definitely looking forward to read more by this author (have already lined up few of her previous books in my tbr list 😀)

Overall, this book scored a 4.25 stars in my calculator!!

Note: Received an ARC in exchange of honest review.

I love the matchmaker trope in historical romance books, and The Duke's Rules of Engagement did not disappoint. It didn't redefine anything in the genre, but was a fun, spicy, romantic read with enjoyable characters with chemistry and heart.

Joanna Porter is a spinster matchmaker who is content with her lot in life. She works hard for the people she loves. Matthew, Duke of Crestmont, needs an heir so that his jerk of an uncle or his cousins don't inherit the dukedom. Matthew wants the "perfect" duchess, one with manners, grace, poise, pedigree, and most importantly, one he will never ever fall in love with. Of course, he meets Jo and all bets are off. She's not want he wants on paper, but she's exactly what he needs. Jo wants to make sure her friends are happy and content, even if it means sacrificing her own wants. Of course, the attraction between Jo and Matthew, sunshine and grumpy, can't be contained.

I loved the dynamics between Jo and Matthew and their friends. I was actually hoping Jo's friend Lilly would end up with one of Matthew's friends (maybe a second chance romance later on?). I loved the rowing scenes and the friendship between Matthew and his group. Great book and I can't wait to check out more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and freely given.

I enjoyed this book. I feel like I have read something like this premise before but it was nicely written and the characters weren't completely two dimensional.

I received an ARC of The Duke's Rules of Engagement from Netgalley.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  This is the first time I have read a story by Jennifer Haymore. I found her writing creative, and the words flowed smoothly to create a sweet romance.
Joanna Porter is a 27 year old match maker. She is an expert in aiding in matches that lead to love and marriage. Matthew Leighton, Duke of Crestmont has heard of Joanna's success in making matches in the marriage mart. He believes he is now at an age where he wants to marry for family progeny. However, he does not desire love in the marriage, having been deceived when he was younger. In this story, we learn that  we all have that one person who is meant for us. What we think we want is not always what or who is best for us and we deceive ourselves by ignoring that which is in front of us. An interesting book on self-evaluation.

Jo is a strong woman who owns her own business as a matchmaker and thinks she has a job that will make or break her career in finding Matthew, the Duke of Crestmont, a match. It is a difficult job as Matthew is analytical, not very conversational, and does not trust well. She does find him a list of ideal matches but the one he wants is not on the list at all.

This was a lovely romance with a fast-paced plot and great character development. There is the distinct separation of class that is the major battle, however, the battle is also in learning to trust again after being betrayed. I really enjoyed the unique interests of Matthew in meteorology and rowing. I do not think that I have read a regency romance where either of those were the main hobbies of any character.

I would recommend this book for adult fans of regency romances. It is a quick and easy read that still gave depth and character development.

Please note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you!

I really enjoyed this book. Mrs.Powell is a wonderful heroine. A woman who has found a way to make enough money to keep her mother and herself in good stead. She has become a successful matchmaker,so successful that a Duke comes to ask her help in.finding a wife. He has, of course, had a terrible life and has decided he wants nothing to do with love. So many young Dukes seem to have had terrible lives. This Duke lost his parents at the age of 17 parents who had a loving relationship .
Through many interesting twists and turns, lots of angst, some very excellent banter and some steamy scenes, true love wins out for several couples.
Strong women,some surprise historical figures, very nice male friendships and a lovely mother daughter relationship all combine to make this an excellent read. Thank.you netgalley and publisher for an eArc for an honest review.

This was such a good book! Honestly, I think it might be my favourite historical romance this year. I loved the writing, I loved the characters and I loved the premise and plot.

Jennifer Haymore knows how to write characters that hook you in. She adds layers of depth and development, not only for her MCs but also for the side characters.

Thank you to the publisher for kindly providing me with an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I am so happy to see a new release out from Jennifer Haymore. This book did not disappoint. I always like a romance when the characters are from different stations. I was pleasantly surprised that Jo was so honest in her feelings for Matthew. So often romances have to drag a character to admit to falling hard and admitting they are scared to be hurt. Being how much I loved Jo, I would have appreciated more groveling on Matthew's part, but that is a small gripe in what was an overall great romance.

Everyone wants to find one true love and live happily ever after. Jo wanted to find true love for others and give them a chance at HEA. She is truly selfless, kind and beyond wonderful. Matthew doesn't believe in love. Once upon a time, he had. But now, definitely not. He just wants to find suitable wife. When Matthew meets Jo, his definition of finding wife is total contrast of Jo's belief. Against all the odds and difference in beliefs, will they find a comfortable place in each other's heart?

The book was beautifully written in periodic romance telltale. Simon finding Daphne, Anthony finding Kate, Darcy finding Elizabeth; was not easy either, where they? Similarly an wonderful work by author, " The Duke's rule of engagement". The plot was good, description of the period was amazing. If the author labelled different point of views (pov) accordingly, it would have been better. The ones who love, love stories, this one is for you.

This little book! Such a nice quick read! Cute little romance with a splash of heat. The book was easy to read, simple and engaging. A comfort book with a happy ending, just what I needed right now. The storyline and characters were quite interesting and made me enjoy the reading time. Everything fits nicely in the setting and a job of a matchmaker suddenly sounds amazing.

I received a free copy for review from NetGalley but all thoughts are my own.

This book was delightfully angsty and heartfelt. I enjoyed the struggle the characters had in going against what society and their own rules set for them. I definitely look forward to reading the next one!

Whether you’ll like The Duke’s Rules of Engagement by Jennifer Haymore depends a lot on which kind of Regency romance reader you are. Do you like to read 19th century romances full of 19th century reserve? Gloved hands touching, chaperones in the room, a two-dance limit. Or do you prefer to read romances with contemporary behavior clothed in a Regency setting? Sex, kissing, more sex.

Haymore’s novel is definitely the latter. Nothing about these characters resembles the 19th century England that Austen and, to a lesser extent, Heyer wrote about. This story really applies modern mores to 1800s England, giving women freedom and power that they did not, in reality, have. That’s great and all but it’s pretty dismissive of the struggles that real women actually endured.

For example, our female protagonist, a poor spinster, works as a matchmaker but also oddly enough receives invitations to many of the exclusive balls throughout the season (although she does not have a voucher for Almack’s). Somehow she can also afford to clothe herself suitably to attend said balls, even though her family sometimes cannot afford to buy tea.

The incongruities simply don’t matter in this novel. Let’s remove all the limitations of being a woman in the 19th century because our story needs women to be able to hold down a job – as a matchmaker – and travel in the same circles as the peerage, somehow while none of the restrictions have any impact. Want to meet a Duke – or any other man – in private? Go ahead. No scandal there.

In fact, what the heck – let’s have women row on the Thames, too. I do have to wonder what kind of clothing women rowers are wearing but I’m sure the author has thought that through. She literally made her Duke a craftsman building boats in a workshop right on the bank of the Thames. She didn’t include any UFOs though. Missed opportunity, I think.

There are lots of great Regency era stories. This isn’t one of them. It’s passable as a romance but ludicrous in a Regency setting.

I received a digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I did enjoy it but expected a little more. I really enjoy Historical Romance, and the concept was wonderful. But I really really disliked the Duke of Crestmont and Charles, I mean the men in this book are so frustrating. Jo is a little bundle of sunshine and wants happiness for everyone, which I understand, but her stellar rate of success for all matched couples and extreme optimism, I cannot comprehend.
The Cover of this book is gorgeous though.
<spoiler>I mean, she needs to get a little more realistic. Jo was worried throughout the book about her reputation, I mean, in that era a female running an establishment is not exactly fitting to the norm. And yeah, I don't want to start with Matthew.
My favorite character is Lilly, she is the only one who proved she has backbone. But, she had to fall in love with Charles, like seriously? With her capabilities, beauty, and talent, she ends with someone who falsely led her on, and later on sabotages everything. Yeah, I fail to believe either of these marriages will be successful. </spoiler>

**I received a copy of this book from Entangled Publishing LLC and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions are my own and not solicited in any way. **

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.

Joanna Porter loves love and she is good at matching people up in loving marriages, so she has turned that into her trade. Oddly enough, despite being a talented matchmaker, she herself is a spinster, who has decided that she is unlikely to find a husband herself, and while she tries to find happy endings for other couples, she seeks to be happy living in her small household of friends and family.

The Duke of Crestmont is in search of the perfect Duchess to manage his estates and give him an heir, preferably by the time he is retire to retire from London to his country estates... ideally no more than a few weeks. Love does not figure into it, especially consider he was burnt once in the past and has no intention of seeking love in a marriage again. He is over doing it the traditional way, being fawned over at balls and socials by greedy, title seeking sycophants. He was given Joanna Porter's direction by one of her first satisfied customers and seeks her services to find him a suitable wife.

Of course what he considers a perfectly suitable duchess and what Jo considers suitable differ quite a bit, consider she seeks to promote love matches. Jo seeks to find out more about Crestmont to try to find him a suitable match, getting under his skin, and she is intrigued and warmed by the man that is hidden under his icy facade. Crestmont is annoyed by Jo and her insistence in finding out more about him... but then he is also intrigued by her, and comes to appreciate the fact that Jo sees him as a person, not as a rich duke. But he cannot let go of the fact that he has to marry an appropriate woman tp serve as his duchess, and is determined not to be vulnerable to a woman again.

I quite liked this story and the characters of Jo and the Duke, and several of the side characters. I found Jo to be a bright, optimistic, effervescent character that I really enjoyed. The Duke was cold and rather off putting, but then when you get glimpses of his past, his friendships with his Eton mates, and under that facade, you see the vulnerable and lonely boy who was hurt in the past and you start to see what Jo learns to love about him. On saying that, I do wish there was more of a resolution between the Duke and how his uncle treated him in the past, considering the present day interactions between him and his uncle were so bland, with minimal consequences for the uncle. My inner me demands justice! Lilly was a good friend and character I enjoyed too, and while she may have gotten the HEA she deserved in the book, I personally felt that the man she ended up with actually did not deserve her - he broke her heart initially, then almost screws things over between Jo and the Duke. Lilly proves to be the smarter, and more ambitious one in that relationship and I thought maybe she would have deserved to be with someone like the Duke's entrepreneur friend who seemed a better match for her.

This was a fun, well written read with humour, and romantic drama as well.

4.5 stars out of 5