This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
About The Book
Some matches are made in hell…
Joanna Porter loves being one of London’s hottest up-and-coming matchmakers. But her heavenly vocation is about to turn into a nuptial nightmare—thanks to the Duke of Crestmont. He’s as handsome as he is insufferable and obsessed with all things proper. Matching him would cement Jo’s status as England’s greatest matchmaker. Except, of course, the impossible-to-please duke refuses all of her most eligible ladies…confirming his status as a complete and utter pain in her petticoats.
The Duke of Crestmont can’t believe he needs a matchmaker—let alone this spitfire of a woman whose kissable mouth and dancing, impertinent gray eyes tease him ruthlessly. But the people are counting on him to find a duchess. A proper lady with a flawless pedigree and immaculate deportment. So why can’t he stop himself from wanting his pert, lively matchmaker… instead of the perfect duchess?
Now the entire ton is watching as this determined, audacious matchmaker takes on the most powerful man in London in USA Today best-selling author Jennifer Haymore’s lively new Regency romp. And this show might just be the most outrageous one yet…
My Review
First Impressions
The Duke’s Rules of Engagement is the 1st book in a new series by Jennifer Haymore. Jennifer Haymore was once one of my all time favorite historical authors. I just adored the charm that she delivered in her books. I think readers that love historical romance will really enjoy this story. I really enjoyed the story as a whole. I do kinda wish that I had read this physically instead of audio format. I think with historical’s I want to just listen to the beginning and once I am into it then switch to physically reading it. Because I think the accents can get to be a bit too much sometimes and too distracting.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Matthew, Duke of Crestmont
The hero is a Duke, and is just wanting to get married to get his heir. He isn’t interested in love. He lost his parents at a young age, and was traumatized by how his uncle always has worked on demeaning his role as a Duke and his influence with his properties and those depending on him. Which is where his motivation for getting an heir is coming from.
The Heroine: Joanna Porter
She is a matchmaker, she believes in love and wants to bring people together. When a friend of her gets put into a situation where she and the man that loves her won’t be albe to find a way to be together unless she can find someone to marry one of his sisters. So when she has the Duke of Crestmont come into her office, she hatches a plan that will fit all parties. Joanna is strong and intelligent and creative.
Summary
Joanna Porter is one of the most elite matchmakers of London and with the Ton. She is well renown for her talents in making the best matches and how well they work together. But when the Duke of Crestmont shows up in her office, she knows this might be the most difficult challenge she has faced yet. There is a lot of conflict between these two from the get go. Matthew needs to marry to get an heir but Joanna is determined to make them be a love match but what she doesn’t expect is that she would fall in love with her client and that when the truth comes out, Joanna will have to work at proving her genuine heart to her Duke….
My Outlook
I had a fun time with this one, I do think I probably would have enjoyed it more if it had been physically read to be honest. After the first 1/3 of the story, the accent used just became so distracting and just not fun to enjoy as a whole. But this is a common complaint for me, I used to love the British accents in historical audiobooks but lately it just seems to distract me from enjoying it as a narration to be honest. I have no clue why it has changed so much. But I found the plot of the story to be such a delight. It was so wonderful to see the way it was developed throughout the story. And if you enjoy the more “forbidden” feels to a story then it will really work for you. I was charmed by the story but didn’t quite fully connect with the romance itself.
Overall View
I found the Duke’s Rules of Engagement to be a stunning story that was endearing in its quaint historical charm with some light touches of laughter and notes of the forbidden. Eager to see this author develop this series.
Book Details
Title: The Duke’s Rules of Engagement
Author: Jennifer Haymore
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Length: 11 Hours and 21 Minutes
About the Narrators
The narrator is Ashford McNab, no bio available.
Book Links
Amazon| Barnes & Noble| Kobo| Goodreads| Storygraph| Literal Club| Audible
Book Evaluation
Storytelling Quality: 4
Story Itself: 3.5
Character Development: 4
Writing Style: 3.5
World Building 3
Feels + The Romantic Heart 3
Pacing 4
Plot 4
Narration= 3
Cover Art 4
Ending 3.5
Book Ratings
Rating of the Book
Steam Level
Simmering cup of tea—soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin’ by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin’ up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
About The Author
USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Haymore is the author of sexy historical and contemporary romance.
You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel
That’s interesting! I never find accents distrcting but adding a layer to the story. Anyway I am glad that she delivered once again Renee!
That sounds lovely. I don’t read a lot of this genre anymore but I have liked it in the past.
This really does sound fun. I have only been distracted by a couple of accents, but usually I can move past it.
I have not tried Haymore before. The accents won’t bother me, but you do have me curious. Wonderful review!
I’ve had to stop listening to a book and read it instead because the narration was ruining it for me. Sorry to hear it diminished your enjoyment, but glad to hear you liked it overall. The cover is so pretty. 🙂
I love Historical Romance novels, but it has been a while since I read one. I put this one on my TBR. It sounds wonderful.
I’m definitely not an audiobook listener myself, not that I don’t like it.. But I just don’t get to listen to books often. And accents are so hard for me. Even in my own language. LOL!!
So I’d definitely like to read a kindle version of this book.
Lovely review.
You know now that I think of it, I don’t think that I have ever listened to a historical romance. I wonder why and if this is just a genre that i want to read with my eyes.