A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor (The Widow Rules #1) | ARC Book Review
A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor is the first book in “The Widow Rules” series set for release on 29th June 2021. Featuring a heroine who comes to know after her husband’s death that he married two other women apart from her, and a hero who happens to be her brother-in-law, this historical romance is spicy, and suspenseful with a daring heroine who wants to make her independent identity and hero who wants to help battle return soldiers. Read the book summary, publication date. genre, quotes and book review of A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor in this post below.
About A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor:
No. of Pages: 384
Publication Date: June 29th 2021 by St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Series: The Widow Rules Book 1
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Adult Romance, Romance Novel
Buy From: AMAZON.IN | AMAZON.COM
A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor Book Summary:
Imagine what would happen when, after your husband’s death, you come to know that he had two other wives?
Was your marriage even legal?
What would you do, considering that you required money urgently but now would not, in all probability, get any?
Katherine Vareck gets the shock of her life when she comes to know of her husband’s polygamous marriages. In desperate need of money, all her hopes are squashed and fear of public ridicule also lingers over of her head if anyone comes to know of this perfidy. A proud owner of a textile store, she married for respectability but everything will be taken away if society gets wind of her uncertain marriage status and if she doesn’t get money to pay her debts soon.
Enter Christian, the Duke of Randford, who has just returned from battle and who had a tumultuous relationship with his brother, Katherine’s husband. As her brother-in-law, she seeks his help in getting her dowry back but Christian doesn’t want anything to do with his brother’s scandalous affairs. What starts as a rocky first meeting, soon turns to something else as they comes to know each other.
Both are hiding secrets, past hurts, loneliness, and a yearning for love. She wants to expand her textile business, he wants to help the battle returned soldiers get their life back. With hidden enemies looking to harm them, and their attraction blossoming into love, will they get a happily-ever-after?
A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor Review:
Janna MacGregor has taken many liberties in terms of society rules in the Regency era in this book. At that time, women didn’t go into trade, those who did were ostracized from society. Also, risk of gossip and public censure ran high so decorum was strictly maintained. In this book, Katherine is in trade and a nobleman’s wife. She is welcomed in society and no one comments on her being in trade. While this may cause a bit of contention to readers who are sticklers of maintaining details of world building in a book, I could overlook it because I loved the characters and the plot.
What I liked:
The plot is uplifting, inspiring, and a strong slap on the face of the patriarchal society. The heroine came from a poor background and rose above her circumstances through sheer grit and determination. She, in turn, helps other women stand on their feet. The hero, though born as heir to a Dukedom, is passionate about helping the unfortunate, especially the soldiers who fight for their country and return home to poverty and neglect.
The side characters also intrigued me. I loved Katherine’s companion Willa who carries a dirk and is loud and brash but extremely protective of Katherine. Both the other widows too are interesting characters, whose story base has been set in this book and I am so intrigued to read their stories. Christian’s valet Morgan is another intriguing character I would love to see more of. This is one book where the protagonists as well as the side characters had me interested.
I loved the initial scene where Christian almost meets Katherine. His yearning for companionship, love, and a home is so strong that it brought tears to my eyes.
There are no guarantees that any of us will experience or even find love. But if we’re lucky enough to obtain it, we must protect and nourish it, much like a seedling until it can stand on its own and weather the elements. Love, if allowed to grow, develops deep roots, whether from a father, mother, husband, wife or even our own children, that will last for a lifetime and beyond.”
A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor Quote
Final Thoughts:
The romance is spicy, heartfelt, and almost taboo what with him being her brother-in-law but this dilemma is solved later on in the book and I seriously rejoiced that they could be married!
The author brings to light the importance of family and their love and support to small children. A stable and happy childhood does wonders to make a person into a well rounded and decent human being. Both Christian and his brother had a different yet similarly negligent and loveless childhood that formed them into the men they are shown in the book. It was an interesting character study and will appeal to readers interested in such aspects of a book.
There is danger, suspense, secrets, past traumas,and red hot romance in this new historical romance from Janna MacGregor. I enjoyed reading it and give it 4 out of 5 stars. Njkinny recommends this book to all adult lovers of historical romance, and eagerly await the next book in this intriguing series.
Buy From:
Previous book in The Widow Rules by Janna MacGregor:
Where There’s a Will by Janna MacGregor
AMAZON.IN | AMAZON.COM | Book Review
Read the next book in The Widow Rules Series by Janna MacGregor:
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