Caffeinated Reviewer

Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews delivered a delightful historical romance filled with banter and intrigue. If you like enemies to lovers, witty banter, feminist themes, strong heroines and morally gray heroes, you’ll want to grab this one!

No one betrays the Academy. But now Euphemia must decide: break the rules for her enemy, or let the rules break her heart.

On the outskirts of London sits a seemingly innocuous institution with a secretive aim—train young women to distract, disrupt, and discredit the patriarchy. Outraged by a powerful politician’s systematic attack on women’s rights, the Academy summons its brightest—and most bitter—pupil to infiltrate the odious man’s inner circle. A deal is struck: bring down the viscount, and Miss Euphemia Flite will finally earn her freedom.

But betting shop owner Gabriel Royce has other plans. The viscount is the perfect pawn to insulate Gabriel’s underworld empire from government interference. He’s not about to let some crinoline-clad miss destroy his carefully constructed enterprise—no matter how captivating he finds her threats.

From the rookeries of St. Giles to the ballrooms of Mayfair, Euphemia and Gabriel engage in a battle of wits and wills that’s complicated by a blossoming desire. Soon Euphemia realizes it’s not the broken promises to her Academy sisters she should fear. . . . It’s the danger to her heart.

We meet Miss Euphemia Flite with her dog, Luc, as she stands at the gates of the Academy outside of London. It seems after five years in Paris; she has been summoned home to the orphanage by Miss Corvus for an assignment. I was immediately drawn to Euphemia, “Effie,” to her friends, and excited to see her take on the assignment. She has been tasked with infiltrating the ton and finding the dirt needed to take down a politician who strongly opposes women’s rights.

Gabriel Royce pulled himself up from the rookeries of St. Giles and owns a betting shop. While he dabbles in morally gray areas, he also cares deeply for the people in the Rookery and hopes to gain backing to improve life there. He too needs something from the politician and is determined to keep Effie from getting in the way.

Fans of historical fiction, strong female leads, enemies-to-lovers tropes, and sharp dialogue should definitely add Rules for Ruin to their reading list. I loved both Gabriel and Effie. The back and forth, mutual respect and chemistry left me smiling. The author offered points of view from both, enabling me to draw closer to them. Their cat-and-mouse game was perfection.

The history of the Academy, Miss Corvus’s past and even that of Effie’s added to the story and the cause. I devoured their story, hoping for a happily ever after, and closed the book while grinning. Ms. Matthews reminded me why I love historical romance. I look forward to reading The Marriage Method, the next story in the Crinoline Academy series.

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About Mimi Matthews

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper historical romances set in Victorian England. Her articles on nineteenth century history have been published on various academic and history sites, including the Victorian Web and the Journal of Victorian Culture, and are also syndicated at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties, and two Siamese cats.

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About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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