The Rules of Matrimony (Matchmaking Mamas, # 4)
By: Anneka R Walker
Expected Publication: May 6, 2025 by Shadow Mountain
304 pages
Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)
*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.
Goodreads description--An unexpected marriage. A forbidden kiss. A love worth fighting for.London, England, 1823
Ian has vowed never to marry, steadfast in his resolve to shield himself from the heartache his father’s infidelity brought upon his mother. Instead, he dedicates his heart and soul to reforming criminal law with his Rebel group. A chance encounter in a country graveyard with the infuriatingly bold Miss Amie Tyler only solidifies his resolve to remain single. That is, until his life descends into chaos when rumors of his engagement—an engagement he had no part in or prior knowledge of—force him and the vexing Miss Tyler into a calculated marriage, a mutual scheme to protect Miss Tyler from her lecherous cousin and to save Ian from a political marriage he dreads.
Amie never imagined her unsophisticated life would lead to an entanglement with Lord Ian Reynolds. Living on her relatives’ charity, she is resigned to remaining a wallflower. But when her mother concocts a wild lie of her engagement to Lord Reynolds, she chooses to trust a gentleman she hardly knows with her future. Amie is thrust into a whirlwind marriage and is overwhelmed to find herself falling for Ian despite their agreement to maintain independence.
As they navigate their charade, Ian’s political ambitions clash with his growing affection for Amie, and Amie’s courageous attempt to help Ian’s family heal threatens to unravel their bond. However, a forbidden kiss and unexpected acts of kindness kindle the spark between them that neither can ignore. In a desperate race against societal expectations, the two must decide whether a future together is worth breaking their earlier vows of independence.
Ian is determined not to fall into the same trap as his rebel friends. Each of them has fallen in love and gotten married. But not him. His father wasn't faithful to his mother, and he's seen how hurt his mother has been to bear the shame over the years. Amie and her mother have been thrust upon family members one after the other to depend on their generosity. They have finally landed with an aunt, uncle, and cousin. Amie's cousin has made remarks about wanting her for himself. And Amie's mother tends to say whatever she wants regardless of who is around. Amie's mother, seemingly randomly, comes up with the idea that Amie is engaged to Lord Reynolds out of the blue. Amie doesn't initially contradict her mother because doing so would be an end to them, socially. Amie also doesn't know that Lord Reynolds is a real person. One whom she has encountered previously.
Ian's father has been pushing him into a marriage that would benefit him politically. But Ian isn't interested. Instead, he chooses a marriage of convenience with Amie. Amie wants stability. A home that she and her mom can settle into without having to move around and wonder how long before they will need to leave again. Ian wants his father to get off his back about getting married, and he can't force him to marry a woman of his choosing if Ian is already married.
Of course, Ian and Amie develop feelings for each other. Ian shares his goal of reforming criminal law, and Amie provides helpful insight. Yet Ian rushes back to London shortly after the two are married. He leaves Amie with exactly what she said she wanted, but she is no longer satisfied with stability alone. She wants a full life with her husband who she has come to love. Yet Ian still has baggage about his parents' marriage. When his father falls ill, Amie risks the progress they've made in their relationship to push Ian into reconciling with his father. And of course, all is not as it seems.
Favorite quote:
-To be loved was to be known, and no one had ever truly known her.
-"God doesn't sit back in His throne in heaven, measuring our acts of kindness. He celebrates each one, because even the smallest spark can dissipate the darkness in another's life."
-She refused to be jealous of a dog--
-"Trust me when I say, it would not take any effort at all for me to fall madly in love with you."
-"Even as you grew and drew yourself away from me, I vowed to give you all a father should give his only son with the hope that someday you would see my efforts for what they were."
-"But while our scars affect us, they do not need to consume us. Not anymore. Let it be a lesson to us: We will never stop trying to rise about our circumstances."
-Marriage didn't have to be a man fighting against his desire to love and be loved in return. When done right, it was beautiful.
And from the author's note:
-I hope you enjoyed this story and were reminded that each of us has the power to change ourselves and influence the world for good. God bless you in your efforts!
Since becoming a mother, I find that I relate to the parents in books so often. And my heart broke for the relationship between Ian and his father. Even Ian and his mother. It's not always easy to see where communication is lacking and what's gone wrong in our relationships, but doing the work to find out is never without benefits. It's always worth the effort.
The Rules of Matrimony gets 4 Stars. I enjoyed the journey and all the aspects. I felt for Amie and her desire to be known and loved. I understood her battle between knowing that she got what she asked for and yet still hoping for more. I felt for Ian and his misunderstanding of his parents. Yet so often our relationships with our parents guide our view of ourselves. The criminal law reform was also an interesting piece. Have you read The Rules of Matrimony? What did you think? Let me know!
