{The Lions and The Lilies Review} A Lady’s Rules for Ruin by Jennifer Haymore

A Lady's Rules for Ruin by Jennifer Haymore
Series: The Lions and The Lilies #2
Published by Entangled: Amara on November 28th, 2023
Genres: Fiction, Adult, Romance, Historical
Pages: 384
Source: Netgalley
Buy on Amazon, Amazon Australia, Available with KU Subscription, Barnes & Noble, iBooks

She’s found the perfect plan to avoid marriage...

Miss Frances Cherrington has long been criticized as independent and prickly. And she’s fine with it. Truth be told, she’d prefer to be a spinster--damn her family’s desires. But it’s a conversation with the devilishly handsome yet highly infuriating Earl of Winthrop that inspires the perfect escape from her nuptial troubles. Frances could ensure that no one will marry her--by happily ruining her own reputation...

The Earl of Winthrop knows more about ruin than anyone suspects. He’s just uncovered a secret that would tear his name--and everything he’s worked for--to the ground. Certainly, marriage is out of the question...to say nothing of his growing attraction to the forthright and delectable Miss Cherrington.

Though all London is abuzz with Frances’s “disgrace,” she’s determined to use her freedom however she sees fit. Even if it means spending more time with a man who sets her body on fire. But when Frances’s misdeeds catch up to her, the ruinous disaster she finds herself in blazes out of control, taking all of her options with it.

I received A Lady's Rules for Ruin for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

My first read by Jennifer Haymore and I’m already hooked! She gave us two dynamic characters with hardships to overcome while they fell in love.

Miss Frances Cherrington is the last of the Cherrington siblings still on the marriage mart. At the age of twenty-five, she’s close to spinsterhood, but not close enough. When she bumps into Evan Locke, The Earl of Winthrop, at a masquerade, the idea of ruining herself sparks. She knows her twin sister wants her to explore a relationship with a friend of theirs, Mr. Salt, but he will be leaving for a year long archeological dig the next morning. Frances strikes up a conversation with Mr. Salt, kisses him where she knows she’ll be seen and walks away. The next day, the gossip rags draw a caricature of her kiss and she is firmly ruined. Some unexpected consequences arise when her brother learns of the travesty.

All while Frances deals with her problems, Evan digs into his own. He is alerted that his philander of a father has at least one blow-by that he was supporting. When he goes to meet seven-year-old Bobby, the lad is with Frances who just started volunteering at the boys home. Once they meet Bobby, they learn about another blow-by, twelve-year-old Jasper. At eleven, the boys are kicked out of the home and sent to work. Jasper works delivering coal throughout the city of London, but Evan finds him and brings both of his brothers home. Through it all, Frances becomes more involved in Evan’s growing family, but more secrets keep the pair from declaring their feelings and making things permanent.

While some might characterize Frances as a wallflower, I would not. All of her siblings have found their passions in life and someone to share them with. While Frances is knowledgable in many things, she is aimless when it comes to her passion. The idea of volunteering at the boys home was the only thing on her list of possible passions she felt a spark for. Meeting Bobby brought out her maternal side and when she met Jasper, her passion began to build. The fact that these charming boys were Evan’s brothers ignited her passion for him.

While Evan fumbles through his duties as an older brother, he explores his feelings for Frances. I loved Evan’s charm and dedication. His erupting passion for Frances had me pining for their happily ever after. Of course, more bumps in the road came to halt their happiness.

Haywood gives us one twist after another. Tears are likely a good idea to keep close while reading. The last several chapters are a road I never saw coming. I woke up at five am just so I could finish reading it. This is the second book in the series so I’m excited to see who Haywood will choose next to find their happily ever after.