This is an entertaining, well-written, steamy, historical romance novel. It has likable characters, a strong and capable female protagonist, an intelligent and caring male protagonist, an engaging quest, wit, a touch of humor, supportive friends, a quirky valet, a heart-warming romance, and a happily ever after ending. Ms. MacGregor's loyal readers will appreciate the nod to her outstanding Cavensham Heiresses series. This is an excellent addition to the fabulous The Widow Rules series, and can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, but it is even better when read in order. Ms. MacGregor never disappoints her readers!
Many thanks to Ms. MacGregor, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, who kindly provided me with an ARC of this wonderful novel. This is my honest opinion.

* received a copy for review.*
The final book in this trilogy finds Beth struggling to move forward. Her terrible brother is determined to marry her off. Her diary is still missing and now the man she loved is back in her orbit.
It has road trip, forced proximity, 2nd chance, and hunt for treasure.
Julian is such a big cinnamon roll. He just wants to build his steam engines and restore his family fortune. However, Beth needs help and so he goes.
Beth is strong and very stubborn.
Solid finish to a great series.

After her husband married her—and two other women—Beth Howell is socially and financially ruined. If Beth fails to acquire her lost dowry, her brother will force her to marry. But her now-deceased husband absconded with her money days after their illegitimate marriage. 

Julian Raleah, Marquess of Grayson, is cash strapped and has had a heart of stone since his engagement to Beth Howell ended when her brother refused him. But now she’s asking for help to find her lost dowry and will split it with him. She’s afraid to marry but he wants a family.

I hoped for a faster pace than book 2 with a road trip/second chance romance but I couldn’t get into this one. On one page they agree hooking up is a bad idea and they’re kissing in the next scene. What? Why? Beth was all over the place and I’m surprised Grayson didn’t get sick of her.

The pursuit of the missing money couldn’t hold my interest either. I kept leaving this book and coming back to it and the resolution felt rushed. If there’s a new series with Lord Pelham and his sisters I wouldn’t be surprised. We spent enough time with him to make it possible.

How to Best a Marquess by Janna MacGregor is a fitting end to The Widow Rules trilogy. It's Beth's turn and she needs to find her dowry. She enlists the aid of her neighbor and former fiance, Julian Raleah to help her trace her deceased husband Meri's footsteps to see if she can figure out where he spent it so she can get it back. Julian agrees under duress, as he still has feelings for Beth, which she may or may not share. But will she be able to get her dowry back?

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

The story opens with a window in to Beth's past and her true love Julian whom her father won't allow her to marry. This is the third in a trilogy of a man who has married three women and they've all become friends. I like that (I've read a contemporary series like this and it is a nice premise of women standing with each other).

Beth's brother is trying to marry her off to an old man and of course she is against that. She enlists Julian's help to recover her dowry, which she promises to share with him, so she can live an independent life.

The premise is great but the execution left me flat. They never talked about the past or if they were about to, something external happened. It was frustrating.

This book had a lot of parts that I enjoyed - historical setting, rekindling a thwarted romance, what is essentially a 'treasure' hunt, that kind of thing. And of course I'm always a sucker for a happy ending. But I really struggle with how/why Meri would leave things as he did/profess to care for Beth when he was a trigamist. That part just has never lined up for me, throughout this series. And the ending of this one just piled on that disbelief.

But again, I read this kind of thing for brain-candy, happy-ending romance, and it fulfilled on those levels very nicely.

How to Best A Marquess is book 3 in The Widow Rules series by Janna MacGregor and it was such a delightful read!
I thought the author did a very good job writing this story.
The story immediately draws you in and doesn’t let go, I read the book straight through and couldn’t put it down.
I loved book 2 Rules for Engaging the Earl and this was no different.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

St. Martin's Press
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

Blythe “Beth” Howell has weathered the ton’s cruel and callous ridicule. She refuses to tolerate her brother’s selfish intentions of marrying her to an aging nobleman. If she wants to gain her freedom, Beth needs to find the dowry that her triagamist husband lost. She approaches the only man she can trust with the endeavor. Beth even promises to share her dowry with Julian if he would just accompany her. Can Beth manage to maintain an emotionless distance with Julian during their trip? Or will Beth find more than what she bargained for?
Julian Raleah, Marquess of Grayson, struggles to keep his marquessate from financial ruin. He hopes that the consortium will invest in his steam engines to keep that from happening. However, Julian first needs money to build the necessary protype to seal the deal. He reluctantly agrees to Beth’s ludicrous plan to search for her missing dowry. Julian has never really gotten over Beth. He intends to use this trip to win her heart again. Can Julian entice Beth into marriage? Or will his carefully laid plans go awry?
Beth pleasantly surprised me. She never really “stood out” in the first two books to me, except for the tension with Julian. I like how Beth’s mindset changed when she met Kat and Constance. They helped her discover a purpose in her life, a skillset that could help her be independent. What I admire the most about Beth is her intentions for her dowry. She wanted to use it to help others who face similar situations as she did.
Julian is a total sweetheart! He shoulders the burdensome responsibility of restoring his marquessate’s finances. I admire Julian’s determination to accomplish that onerous task with his own merits than asking for his friends’ assistance. He does not care what his peers think of him entering into trade. What I love the most about Julian is his protectiveness towards Beth. He hated how their peers treated Beth over something she had no control over. Julian even jeopardized his financial security to defend her honor. He refused to let another besmirch her.
HOW TO BEST A MARQUESS is the third book in Janna MacGregor’s historical romance series, THE WIDOW RULES. The story can probably standalone. However, I would strongly recommend reading the first two books to better understand Beth’s closeness to Kat and Constance. The author does a superb job highlighting the important parts from the prior books.
I hope (crossing my fingers here) that the author considers a spin-off series focusing on Pelham and his sisters. Something about that duke utterly captivated me. He deserves a story. Okay, maybe I selfishly want to see the woman who brings him to the altar! And I want to see how Pelham will deal with his sisters’ men.

“No matter how you change, I’ll know your heart” Oh Grayson!

How to Best A Marquess is a steamy, second chance romance in which two former sweethearts reunite for a road trip of a lifetime. I enjoyed the first two books, but How to Best A Marquess is my favorite of the series, hands down! Not only does it contain two of my most favorite tropes (second chance and road trip), but the sparks and tension between Beth and Grayson leading up to this book had me hooked. It was worth the wait! Please read series in order for a full and satisfying effect.

I admire Beth for her resilience and courage. She does not trust men and has a strong aversion to marriage. And why not? The man she wanted to marry, did not fight for her. The man she did marry, or thought she did, absconded with her dowry. And her brother is a jerk! Beth also suffers the most out the three heroines in this series. Hence, I could empathize with her situation even though she frustrated me at times. I think I even yelled at her once or twice. However, her concerns were valid, and I couldn’t fault her for trying to protect herself from heartache. Beth’s character growth is done with great care and thoughtfulness making her relatable and earnest.

Similarly, Grayson is a wonderful hero. Kind, patient and honorable. He is definitely my favorite Janna MacGregor hero! Furthermore, he is exactly the hero Beth needs and deserves. I love that he refuses to give up on her and gently break downs the walls she built around her heart. I also love that he doesn't hesitate to tell Beth when she’s being stubborn. Their romance was emotionally satisfying considering of all the obstacles they had to overcome.

I really enjoyed the road trip. Each destination had its own little adventure. There are a bunch of goofy secondary characters in this book. Notably, Cillian (Grayson’s butler/valet/coachman), the highwayman, and the Duke of Pelham—added humor to the story. I do hope we will get Pelham’s book. Moreover, Beth and Grayson had the chance to confront the past and rekindle their romance. There are poignant moments. There are also playful, sexy moments. I was happy to catch up with the characters from the previous books, too. The ending worked for me. Although I still don’t know if I want to beat up Meriwether or not. I probably do.

Overall, it’s a great conclusion to a unique series about love, resilience, healing, and a second chance at life. I look forward to Janna MacGregor’s next book.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

How to Best the Marquess by Janna MacGregor is the third and final book in The Widow Rules series and it ends on a high note. Beth Howell needs to find her dowry if she is ever going to show herself in public after she was ruined by her polygamist husband. She’s in need of an escort and her only recourse is to ask Julian Raleah, Marquess of Grayson, to escort her, retracing Meriwether’s last days. Their journey together was both enlightening and rekindled their passion for one another and made it a very entertaining discovery.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and how the author can take me along for the ride of the many highs and lows both Julian and Beth encounter along their way. Beth hasn’t been able to count on the men in her life to do right by her and finds that she can do okay all by herself. She has plans for that money if it is found, and if not, she’ll have a nice life working at the linen shops she and her friend Kat own. Julian is such a swoon-worthy heroine because he is taking this trip as his opportunity to finally woo her back into his good graces and hopefully she’ll become his wife. He let her down 8 years ago when he was denied permission to marry her by her brother, but he’s not going to do that now. The author has poured her heart into this story because I felt each hurt and disappointment, and the grand gesture made it a beautiful ending. It was an interesting series when one man marries three ladies, and how they overcame this travesty and became the best of friends. You can read this as a stand-alone but I think it would be best to start with book one. Fans of historical romance she absolutely make this a must read.

*Review contains content guidance*
Finale of The Widow Rules series which saw three women become friends when they find out that their dead 'husband's will was read and they found out that he had cheated them all.

How To Best A Marquess sees Beth finally get her HEA with her good-hearted, impoverished inventor, and former love of her life, Julian. Beth is on the hunt for her dowry which disappeared together with her fake, now dead, husband, and asks her former finance for help as she travels across the country.

> Quote: 'By the time we're finished, your entire body is going to be smoldering and aching for me... get ready to burn.'
> Memorable scenes: shared sexy times in a bathtub, the city of Bath as a location, and Julian’s epic, heartbreaking declaration of love when he wants to fix a wedding date
> Tropes: second chance, friends to lovers, road trip
> Heat level: 3.5/5
> Overall: 3.5/5

While the setup of the story was intriguing, and I loved the 2nd book in the series, this one surprisingly left me feeling a bit 'meh'. The conflict between both Beth and Julian was dragging and on the lighter side of things. I would have wished for either more depth for that length or to be resolved earlier at this surface level.

The story can be read as a standalone but I'd actually recommend checking out the first two books in the series which are wonderful. And you'll get lots of glimpses into the other character's lives with their partners and loves.

I enjoyed Julian's servant Cillian immensely and found him delightfully entertaining. Here's to hoping he'll get his own HEA soon.

Content guidance: manipulation, deceit, cohesion, attempted kidnapping and murder, victim shaming

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advance copy of the story in exchange for a review.

How to Best a Marquess is book 3 in The Widow Rules series by Janna MacGregor. The premise for this series has been so interesting: it follows 3 women who all found out, upon his death, that they were married to the same man. The 3 ladies became fast friends and each book has followed their journey. In this one we get a second chance romance between the heroine and the man she was engaged to 8 years ago that she left heartbroken!

Beth was left financially ruined after her late husband, who ended up being married to two other women as well, lost her dowry. Now with her brother pushing for her to remarry an almost-80 year old aristocrat, Beth is determined not to marry again and sets out to get back her fortune. She shows up at the Marquess of Grayson’s front door asking for Julian for his help. Beth and Julian have a past together, 8 years ago they were almost engaged! Beth ends up asking Julian for his carriage and for him to join her in her search for her lost dowry.

This one I was hoping to love more, the premise sounded so good, I love second chance, and the prologue had me falling in love with the hero (his proposal in the past, swoon and so sweet)! But sadly the rest of the story kind of dragged for me. The couple goes on a road trip to find her dowry and retraces the steps her late husband took. They really just needed to talk and could have solved all their issues from the past easily, they get interrupted a lot by others when they’re either about to talk or make a move (which every now and then is fine, but over and over made it get old). She’s determined not to marry again but is fine with them being lovers, while he wants a marriage and children one day. I wanted more of a focus on their relationship and got tired of all the side characters and adventures that came into the story. Not sure how I feel about the ending and epilogue in regards to the bigamist who married the heroines of this series.

2.5 stars (rounded up). Thank you to the publisher (St. Martin’s Press, SMP Romance) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. How to Best a Marquess has a pub date of April 25, 2023!

ARC Review (thanks NetGalley!)

What the hell is her name?! Sometimes it’s Beth and sometimes it’s Blythe? Is Beth and old timiey shortening of Blythe? Does it need to be shorter? Anywho, I thought the plot sounded interesting so I took A chance. Their conflict could have been resolved if they just spoke to each other for 5 minutes! It’s so frustrating to keep reading when the obvious just makes more sense. Book didn’t read like a typical historical romance and that’s what I usually come for when reading a historical. I may Give the other books in the series a try because the entire plot line is very interesting, just not this one.

Janna MacGregor is one of the best historical romance authors I have had the pleasure of reading. I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC of How To Best A Marquess from Netgalley. This is the story of the third woman that Meriwether had married, Beth Howell who is trying her best to find what happened to her dowry. She asks Julian Raleah, Marquess of Grayson, a former almost fiancée, who was also her best friend to accompany her on this journey. Both are down and out on their luck with money but have big plans to help others if they find some. The journey becomes an exciting adventure full of suspenseful intrigue with a crescendo building up to why did Meri do what he did by being married to three women at the same time. Trying to solve this puzzle together while never having stopped loving each other creates a beautiful love story of never giving up hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance digital copy of this title for review. All opinions are my own and are honestly given.

In the final entry in The Widow Rules Series, Beth Howell and Julian Raleah, Marquess of Grayson, team up to track down her missing dowry after her wastrel not-quite-husband absconded with it before his death, pledging to split whatever funds they are able to recover. Tensions are high for these former lovers, as each has a lot to lose— Beth needs the money to get out from her brother’s control and live life on her own terms, and Julian needs the money to fund his inventions and destitute marquessate. However, their roadtrip across the country rekindles old feelings they thought long-buried, and they wonder whether they should give their love another try.

After reading and loving the second book in this series— Rules for Engaging the Earl— I was so excited to get this ARC from St. Martin’s. Initially, this one took me a little longer to get in to, but I love Janna MacGregor’s writing so this was still a fun regency romp. Although Rules for Engaging the Earl might have a slight edge as my favorite, I really liked fiery Beth and steadfast Julian, and, without giving too much away, the narrative also took an interesting turn toward magical realism in the epilogue. All in all, there are so many great tropes here for historical romance lovers: road-trip romance, second chance, forced proximity, and I think MacGregor’s fans will enjoy this one. 3.5 stars

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 3 in The widow Rules series. I have to say it was just an okay read. I was just not a fan of Beth in this one. She was annoying but okay story overall.

An excellent end to the series, it was great to see Beth pick up the trail of her wastrel not-quite-husband and search for answers. And decide to forge her own path! I liked Julian a lot, he was such a cinnamon roll, I just wanted to hug him. The adventures they got in to while chasing down leads were truly impressive and made me laugh (and caused new a bit of anxiety)! All in all, a fun book!

This was the third in a series, and the ending was like eating dessert with too much sugar. With so much eagerness to show off the happy endings for everyone, it got a little much, and failed to satisfy. The romance itself was good, it was a fun road trip romance complete with robbers and kidnappings. Two things bothered me, one that Beth was so ignorant of her brothers terribleness and bad dealings, and 2 that they ended up giving a job to their robbers. The end was the worst though, too much wrapping up the series in a sweet little bow.

I have been very much enjoying this Widow Rules series from Janna MacGregor. The premise was so intriguing – three women meet on the day they assumed they would be attending the reading of their late husband’s will, only to find out all three women were married to that same late husband!

Beth Howell’s story intrigued me quite a bit. Through the series she has made it well known that she plans to find out exactly what Meri did with her dowry. She’s desperate for it, so that she doesn’t have to get married off to the man her brother has picked out for her. And she plans to get her old friend Julian Raleah to help her.

I really loved Beth and Julian together. It was so obvious throughout the story that old feelings these two had for each other have never gone away. They danced around them the entire time. Once they finally succumbed to their desires, the story was oh so steamy! Their sexual chemistry together is off the charts.

I really enjoyed the adventure these two embarked upon, and trying to solve the mystery of exactly what Meri did with her money. It was almost a game of cat and mouse deciphering the clues left in the receipts Beth was working from. And the bit of danger they encountered along the way made for fun reading!

I was waiting the entire way through this book for Beth and Julian to address the elephant in the room of their failed engagement and why Julian walked away from her all those years ago. It was a case of both of them being too stubborn to bring it up over the past eight years. I became a bit frustrated with Beth and her over the top determination to be an independent woman who was never getting married again and her stalwart stubbornness of not needing anyone to love or be loved by. At the same time, several people treated her very poorly and demeaned her character, but she brushed it under the rug and wouldn’t let Julian step in and defend her honor. This contradiction of behavior was confusing to me and didn’t really work for me in the story.

When Beth and Julian finally had the necessary talk and Julian explained exactly what happened all those years ago, I was so happy! Finally, they clear the air and Beth now knows exactly how Julian felt, and still feels about her! And they could have another chance, but Beth still maintained her need to be independent and never remarry. I wanted to shake her!

I was very happy to see that Beth finally got all the answers she’s been seeking across the three books in this story, and I loved the beautiful relationship between her and Julian. I also loved seeing him finally get the life he truly deserved and getting his Marquessate back to its original glory.

I loved Cillian, Julian’s valet, and it was wonderful seeing the whole cast of characters back. The ending was perfect, with Beth, Constance and Kat getting the answers they needed, and the rewards they deserved.

I’m sad to see this storyline end but it was so fun to see each of these ladies find their happily ever after's!

I loved this book! Sweet, sassy, and a bit sexy, it is a fitting conclusion to the series. Beth became ruined in society when she became Meri's third wife. With her standing in society gone, she is forced to rely on herself and her new best friends, Meri's two other wives.

When she begins a quest to find her lost dowry, she has the man she's always loved accompany her. The journey is filled with twists and turns that challenges them and teaches them more about themselves and each other. The characters are endearing and engaging. I found myself invested in their story and wanting them to get a HEA ending.

If you enjoy the genre, you will love this book. While part of a series, this is a stand alone novel, however, it's so good that you really owe it to yourself to read them all. The author is on my must read authors' list.