Janna MacGregor
⭐️⭐️⭐️/🔥
True love never dies, it just takes a detour…and Janna MacGregor brings readers along on this slow burn journey in Rules for Engaging the Earl. From the outset, the author draws us in with an opening between two childhood friends so touching that the reader feels compelled to turn the pages simply to see if and how our main characters will reach their happy ending. Unfortunately, the road to that happy ending is an old country dirt road, with wet Georgia clay…meaning…it wasn’t an easy road to travel. Although written very well, there were times when the story seemed to stall.
Jonathan, our hero is broken, moody and at times downright unpleasant. In fact, his constitution is such that he was often filled with self-loathing. Constance, his equivalent, however, is compassionate, unassailable, and loyal to a fault. These two characters are resplendent. The chemistry between the two is undeniable, but it takes forever for the passion to build which is kinda frustrating considering these two have such a touching history. The spice level is a bit mild for my taste, but the story was engaging enough to hold my attention, despite seeming to have a lull at times.
A decade after enlisting, Jonathan returns home, wounded, mentally broken and simply looking for solitude. But when the only woman he’s ever loved asks for his help, he cannot resist and immediately goes to her, despite not laying eyes on her in over 10 years.
Pregnant by her recently deceased trigamist husband, Constance must remarry and soon to protect her unborn child from scorn and scandal. Who better to help protect her than the Earl of Sykeston, her very best friend and the man of her dreams. As the two enter a marriage of convenience, they soon realize that time and circumstances have changed them. As if this wasn’t enough to deal with, both must deal with the threat of a villainous foe who is threatening not only their freedom and livelihoods, but everything they love and hold dear.
Aside from reading a short, VERY STEAMY story from this author in an HR anthology, this book was an introduction for me to her work. I enjoyed it and can’t wait to read some of her other work.
Tropes: Second Chance, Childhood friends, Marriage of Convenience, Friend to lovers
Kesha Young 