Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free book and to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. These opinions are my own.

Yay for a new historical romance series! And I am absolutely delighted by this novel from Mimi Matthews.

Euphemia is an orphan who was raised at the Academy. Her education was unconventional, featuring not just reading and math, but also lockpicking and deception. She's been called back to pay her debt to the school by taking down a titled politician who wants to pass legislation harming women's rights. But Gabriel's position as owner of a gambling shop who has worked his way to the edge of the ton requires he protect the very man Euphemia needs to bring down.

I loved Euphemia so much. She is no one's damsel in distress. Instead, she can act as a tool sharpened and shaped to fight the patriarchy. And I also appreciated that she was half Indian and how the history of race was incorporated into the story.

I was on the edge of my seat throughout this book. It featured such a great balance of mystery, suspense, and romance. And it set up such a fascinating world in the Academy.

I loved the amazing authors note. It talked about inspiration from everything from Great Expectations to the history of the Married Women's Property Act. This book is historical romance at its best, an absolutely fabulous and engrossing story that weaves in historical elements. I didn't notice them all while reading but loved learning the context afterwards.

While I always love Elizabeth Knowelden, the audio format was not my preference for this book. Will Watt's narration seemed considerably quieter than hers, and I had to regularly adjust the volume.

4.5 stars rounded up

This story was absolutely amazing. I just love the way Mimi tells the story and the way she develops the characters. These two characters were some of the best I have read. I could really understand the flaws of the characters and the intent behind the character's actions. And Gabriel, oh Gabriel, he is the perfect MMC. A little morally grey but doing things for the right reasons and he loves so so hard. One of the best parts was when the two MCS are trying desperately to ignore and fight their feelings. You want them to get together so bad and wish they would see how perfect they would be together. Absolute chef's kiss. Cannot wait for the next in the series!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Mimi Matthews for a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Mimi Matthews begins a new series with Rules for Ruin.

Book stars Effie & Gabe. Both born into the slums but with different upbringing. Gabe has a little help but must pull himself out. Effie has more assistance in the form of a secret orphanage/girl's school. But this school...it's training girls...to disrupt the patriarchy through a form of espionage.

Story was interesting. If I hadn't been battling a head cold while reading I probably would have devoured it faster. 😄

The banner between Effie & Gabe might have been my favorite! They fight the attraction so hard but I was so cheering them on.

Was a little slow at the beginning with world & storyline building but the last bit was sooo good!

I look forward to more of The Crinoline Academy.

Rules for Ruin is a thrilling page-turner that has everything fans of Victorian romance could wish for: a smart, strong, yet vulnerable heroine you’ll adore, a tough as nails, self-made hero who proves to be her perfect match, swoon-worthy, sizzling romance, nonstop action, secrets to uncover, and a baddie to bring down, all wrapped up in Mimi Matthews’s rich, evocative writing and a gripping, impeccably researched plot. One of my favorite Mimi Matthews novels ever. I LOVED it and couldn’t put it down!

I loved the fiery FMC in Rules for Ruin. The gentleman that was caring and protective. I loved the setting and unique circumstances that the characters were in because it made for an intriguing plot. Well done and entertaining read.

"There you are," he said, with a husky scrape of trump. "I see you now."

Rules for Ruin was my first Mimi Matthews book and it certainly won't be my last. It begins as a wicked cat and mouse game that gets tastier with each chapter. Our two characters Effie and Gabriel are diametrically opposed. Effie's been tasked with bringing down Lord Compton. But Gabriel, Lord Compton's blackmailer, won't make it easy for her. Both Effie and Gabriel are written beautifully. They're essentially the same person but in different fonts. The only thing I wanted more of was Effie's brand of chaos. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the eARC!

There's plenty to like about this new book by Mimi Matthews. If you're already a fan of her historical romances, this one's a bit different, featuring a woman who's a trained spy, infiltrating the house of a powerful viscount to carry out a mission. Effie Flite is a graduate of what's known as "The Crinoline Academy". In this book, Matthews points out that crinolines, while bulky and limiting, are surprisingly protective and practical, and they allow a woman to take up space. Effie's mission takes a turn when she meets Gabriel Royce, a gambling boss on his own mission. This is a fun spy vs. spy romance with lots of action and emotion, and a loyal dog to boot.

I seem to be reading a lot of books about adventurous women lately, like Allison Goodman's Ill-Mannered Ladies series and Emma Newman's The Vengeance. If you liked these books you'll certainly like this one. I'd also recommend it for anyone who likes Evie Dunmore's books, as this book explores the need for the Married Women's Property Act. At this time in British history, a woman who married gave over complete control of her property to her husband. Many women were ruined by this with no legal recourse.

While I very much enjoyed Effie and Gabriel's story, I had a few small quibbles with this book. For one thing, Effie is a terrible spy. She makes mistakes at every turn, and I wished I knew more about what went into her years of training. It's all very vague. There's one great scene where she fights a guy, but otherwise it's mostly innuendo and a little dog. Even when it comes to information-gathering she's only somewhat effective.

I loved that Effie has a traumatic past that she has to deal with, but I wished she did a little more strategizing rather than running headlong into danger. She has one debilitating fear yet seems to run into situations that exacerbate this fear over and over again.

I liked the dual points of view because I loved Gabriel's character, and I loved the way this big tough guy basically turned to jelly around Effie. At the same time, though, it greatly reduced the tension in the story, because we knew exactly what he was going to do. I think more could have been hidden in this story. I did like how unsure each of the characters was of the other, although occasionally it bothered me that Matthews would have them look into each other's eyes and just know what the other was thinking (writers do that all the time but it feels so unrealistic to me).

I appreciated many of the side characters in the book, who were complex rather than one-dimensional. Miss Corvus, in particular, but also Miles and Miss Compton, who could have been written as just a brat but instead is given a mind of her own.

All in all, I don't think this book breaks any new ground, but I really liked the romance and the serious obstacles these two characters faced. Like Goodman's books, it's a fun, sexy read that includes serious historical issues and feminist politics, so it's very much the kind of book I enjoy. And if you're a reader who prefers "closed door" to "open", you'll appreciate Matthews' books. It's a good mix of romance, adventure, and history, a perfect summer read, and I look forward to the next in the series.

Effie was raised by Miss Corvus in an unconventional orphanage for young women. She was taught to think, defend herself, and be independent. Now she is called to London to bring down an evil man who intends on taking away the rights of women.

Gabriel has made his own way in the bowels of London. Now a powerful and rich man in the Rookery, he wants his home and its denizens to proposer. He seeks to gain investors for his improvement plans by blackmailing the seemingly honorable Compton, the man Effie is sent to destroy.

Rules for Ruin is a solid story featuring a strong-willed woman who seeks truth of her past and a better world for her future. The story of her quest, which is at odds with Gabriel’s plans, is interesting and exciting. Effie is smart and willing to take risks to help her foster mother and the female population. And even though Gabriel is her match in every way, she will not compromise her values and give up her mission to be with him. I love that she admits to herself that if she doesn’t put distance between them, she will falter. She recognizes her own feelings and makes decisions that are true to her goals.

Gabriel’s plans are equally as admirable, but in direct conflict to Effie’s needs. While I appreciate that his goals are worthwhile, he holds a power over Effie that creates a bit of an imbalance, and I find that he subtly tries to bend Effie. Additionally, the romance in the story is weak. Gabriel thinks he’s in love with Effie because he is contemplating giving up everything to be with her after only a few exchanges. They know nothing of one another, and I’m inclined to believe he is infatuated, but the author doesn’t create a strong enough connection to make me believe in love.

In the end, I enjoyed the adventure, but found the romance lacking.

My Rating: C+

This is the first in Mimi’s new series and I’m already feral to get to book two.

Ok, I am a slut for Mimi Matthews. I adore her books, her romances, her witty writing and her attention to historical detail. Rules for Ruin is party mystery, part romance and part a revisit of Dicken’s Great Expectations. I loved this start to a new series and these new characters.

We meet Euphemia (Effie) who has an unknown past, and has spent time at a mysterious academy on the outskirts of London. Effie is desperate for her freedom and the head of the Academy is promising her it, if she just finishes a task. The Academy is not what it seems, rather it is a training ground for young, victimized, girls to learn to get around the rules of society that are working to keep them down. Effie has been the star pupil. The head of the Academy asks her to take down a Viscount who’s threatening to stop the approval of a bill that would assist in women’s rights and that puts Effie on the path to cross with the mysterious Gabriel.

Gabriel also comes from nothing, and has made his living by having wealthy and important men owe him. Effie and Gabriel find themselves at opposing sides: if one of them succeeds in their goal with the Viscount, the other loses. Of course, neither of them wants to lose. And they can’t stop thinking about each other. Gabriel is a fabulous Mimi hero: he’s troubled, not always good, and pines for Effie. I don’t blame Gabriel. Effie may be the most fantastic heroine that Mimi has written: she’s fierce, smart, loyal and kind. She scares me a little in a good way. I loved watching Gabriel and Effie learn to let down their very high walls around their hearts and be vulnerable with each other. They both have so much to lose, but also are aware of how precious and fragile life is. There is a delicious tension every time they are on the page together.

This is a fast-paced book with an engaging plot and a strong cast of secondary characters whom I can’t wait to see more of. I loved figuring out the twists of the Viscount, Gabriel and Effie’s history, and learning more about what is actually happening at the Academy and why it’s so secretive. With her strong expertise in historical facts, Rules for Ruin is a dive into women’s rights during a tumultuous time. This book reads a bit darker than her past series: there’s a female rage that powers the book that complements the characters in the best way.

Such a wonderfully written book. I love historical romance, enemies to lovers, whitty banter and strong women. How relevant this story seems in today's world. Such a great premise.

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley!

This was my first Mimi Matthews book, but it definitely won’t be my last! I loved Effie and Gabriel so much. The setting was perfection, and I really loved this fresh historical romance that was filled with tension. I thought the orphanage and its less than conventional ways of educating young women was so inventive and made for a really intriguing smash-the-patriarchy-to-bits type story!

Now admittedly, historical romances with a mystery element tend to be hit or miss for me. But this one? This one did deliver!

What really stood out to me about this one was the romantic relationship development and chemistry. Gabriel & Effie were so perfect together and I loved seeing their interactions. I was also super invested in the mystery and was impressed with some of the reveals.

What makes this a 3 star and not a 5 star though is how badly things petered off near the end. The romance didn't feel particularly triumphant and the mystery was a total let down at the end. I'm not sure the book was really aiming to be a true mystery but regardless, the heroine didn't get to have her big moment over the bad guy. It was a weak ending for an otherwise very lovely book.

I would be interested to read more from this author in the future though, and perhaps the next book in the series!

Maybe not my FAVORITE Mimi Matthews book so far but still a really solid historical romance with great characters, believable conflict, and compelling historical context. She’s up there with Courtney Milan for me, and I do NOT say that lightly.

This was super fast-paced and I threw through it. The world really came alive, and it's clear that a lot of time and effort was put into this story. I loved the characters, and the plot. I don't read a ton of historically set stories, but I actually really enjoyed this. I found the secret society aspect, while a bit overdone in the genre, really interesting in this case. Overall, I really enjoyed this and I'm curious for more in this world/by this author!

I LOVED THIS. I devoured this book, and it got me out of a reading slump!! I will be thinking about this book and these characters for a long time. It had the perfect balance of plot and romance and the tension and slow burn were truly top tier!! I’m not always a fan of dual POV, but this is a book where it was done SO WELL and added to the tension and I didn’t feel like either mc outshined the other.

I loved Effie so much and the mmc reminded me of Thomas Shelby (Peaky Blinders) and John Thornton (North and South) which…😍. There was also so much depth to this book and the characters, but my peanut brain can’t let go of how fucking swoony it was!!!

tl;dr - loved it, everything I want in a historical romance, highly recommend, please scream in my DMs when you read it!!

<b>"On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim-train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy."</b>

Your heart will give a girlish flutter over Gabriel Royce. A hr must read!

✨ THINGS AND STUFF ✨
-dual pov
-London, 1864
-women’s welfare & equality
-confrontation edged with a hint of sweetness aka enemies to lovers
-oh no, you’re trapped! I’ll save you!
-I’ll find you again
-sweetheart 🤭
-franc, the indefatigable black poodle
-#IsThisAKissingBook closed door

Thank you berkley romance and Mimi Matthew’s for the free book!

4⭐️
No spice/ closed door

This book had so many good things!! There are huge themes of female empowerment/feminism and I loved the characters. Effie was strong and independent. I loved how both MCs go through some character development and there are some sweet romantic lines!

However, I think I wanted more overall from everything. We could have had way more rivals to lovers tension and mystery from the start, and just more build to the relationship overall.

Looking forward to seeing how the rest of this series goes!

♾️⭐️s!!! I’m obsessed!

Mimi Matthew’s writing is beautiful, captivating and atmospheric. It will have you swept into the story from the very first page.

I genuinely loved everything about Matthew’s writing but one of my favorite things was her ability to create interesting scenes. Whether it was romantic, thrilling or just informative, every single scene had me in a chokehold. Her descriptive writing is so on point that the words played out like a movie in my mind. The moment the match is lit while Effie is snooping in the study… so dang good!!!!!

The characters are well developed and multidimensional. Effie is intriguing, intelligent, quick witted and an FMC you can’t help but to fall in love with. Her backstory is sure to crack your heart wide open. Gabriel is a hardened businessman who was born in the slums but managed to pull himself out. He may have an icy exterior but watching him melt for Effie was the most romantic and endearing thing ever. Oh! And his dialogue was absolute perfection. Sometimes MMCs come in with these over the top proclamations of love that it’s hard to forget that they are written by women. Gabriel’s character and dialogue felt authentic to what would be expected from a man in the Victorian era. Every romantic statement from that man might have been short but packed a punch and left me swooning.

The side characters were equally just as interesting and well written. Every character was either someone to love or loathe and will leave you feeling alllll the different emotions while reading.

I went in completely blind and honestly I’m glad I did. Period pieces have never been a go to genre for me but this story had me completely captivated, heart and soul. Book 2 cannot come out soon enough.

If you are someone who has the time to sit and read a physical copy then I HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading this over audio. Turn on Tony Ann - ICARUS and allow yourself to be swept away to a different place and time. You won’t regret it.

This was such a great start to a new series! Effie is a strong character with a mysterious background. I was intrigued with her from the start. She was sent on a mission but had a personal mission as well. I love any story where a villainous nobleman gets his due at the hands of a lady and her handsome man from the wrong side of town.
Loved these two characters! They had very good chemistry and wit. Gabriel was dark and brooding and dangerous but she fell for him anyways. They both saw their shared past and hoped for a future. Still riding the high of this sweet romance.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the back and forth between Euphemia and Gabriel. I love how they are connected in ways that they don’t realize as they each try to accomplish their individual goals. I like how they each learn to give some for those they love. I also liked how they learned to trust each other and share things with each other that they wouldn’t with anyone else. I liked seeing them fall in love and how it was a struggle for them to come together. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.