ARC Review: A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) by Janna MacGregor
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Series: The Widow Rules #1
Author: Janna MacGregor
Published June 29th 2021 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Goodreads Synopsis
Get ready for lost wills, broody dukes, and scorching hot kissing all over London in A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor.
Katherine Vareck is in for the shock of her life when she learns upon her husband Meri's accidental death that he had married two other women. Her entire business, along with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a royal supplier, is everything she's been working for and now could be destroyed if word leaks about the three wives.
Meri's far more upstanding brother, Christian, Duke of Randford has no earthly clue how to be of assistance. He spent the better part of his adult years avoiding Meri and the rest of his good-for-nothing family, so to be dragged back into the fold is…problematic. Even more so is the intrepid and beautiful Katherine, whom he cannot be falling for because she's Meri's widow. Or can he?
With a textile business to run and a strong friendship forming with Meri's two other wives, Katherine doesn't have time for much else. But there's something about the warm, but compellingly taciturn Christian that draws her to him. When an opportunity to partner in a business venture brings them even closer, they'll have to face their pasts if they want to share each other's hearts and futures.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
After her husband died, Katherine Greer, Lady Meriwether, is hoping that her brother-in-law, Christian, Duke of Randford, will return her dowry to her, and she can get on with her business at Greer's Emporium, and hopefully win the contract to outfit the bedchambers for the royal family. But, at the reading of the will, it's revealed that Katherine is not the only 'Lady Meriwether', and that Meri had in fact married three woman. As the 'official' wife, Katherine's life would be ruined if anyone found out the truth, so she takes the other wives, Constance (who's pregnant) and Beth (the sister of a Viscount) into her home, and hopes that with Christian, they'd be able to get to the bottom of it all, without the scandal breaking. However, Katherine is hiding an even bigger secret, and as she grows closer to Christian, it seems that her heart isn't the only thing she is risking losing.
I really liked this book. Recently, I'd read another series with a similar premise - scoundrel marries three woman, and then dies, and leaves the widows, and extended family/friends to pick up the pieces. The concept is definitely an intriguing one, and was really well done in this case. Katherine has been hiding the fact that she is the illegitimate daughter of a Yorkshire actress, and recreated herself as a lady, and owner of a popular linen emporium, catering to the tastes of rich society ladies, when she met Meriwether, the younger son of the previous Duke of Randford, and they had a whirlwind courtship. But when he leaves her on their wedding day, after the Breakfast, but before the wedding night, she deals with the abandonment, and is on track to being hired by the royal family. Now that she is widowed, she only cares about getting her paltry £200 dowry back, to help the business, and the added issue of the other wives isn't helping matters. I loved how Katherine and Christian interacted with each other. Admittedly, they didn't hit it off right away, but they soon had a grudging respect for each other, that blossomed into affection, and finally love. They had lots of hurdles to overcome, but I found how it was dealt with was perfect. Towards the end, there's a little bit of drama, and I couldn't see how it would be resolved, with our couple being able to be together, but it was resolved amazingly, and I can't wait for book 2, Rules for Engaging an Earl, which looks to be Constance's story.
Dates Read:
June 4-6, 2021
Rating
4 Stars
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