The Ladies Rewrite the Rules

October 1, 2023

Widow Diana Boyle is tolerating her dour sister-in-law's company when two unknown gentlemen come calling. Diana's butler confiscates what they are carrying, a fortune-hunting directory for impoverished bachelors that lists Diana along with other wealthy spinsters and widows. Diana confronts the author of the directory, Maxwell Dean, berating him for his creation, and then warns other women in the directory to be on their guard. Many of those women meet and decide to hold a ball, embracing their single status and financial leverage over eligible men--and they refuse to play by high society's rules of conduct for proper, demure women and instead make their own rules. Meanwhile, Max is horrified to find that his directory is being used with less than honorable intentions by supposed gentlemen and tries to right his wrong while winning over Diana. VERDICT Allain's (Miss Lattimore's Letter) Regency romance engagingly features wronged women who empower each other to take control of their love lives. The power-play dynamics between Diana and Max offer enjoyable fun.--Eve Stano

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October 23, 2023
A shy widow, a grande dame, and a disgraced heiress join forces to turn the tables on fortune-hunting men in this innovative Regency from Allain (Mr. Malcolm’s List). Diana Boyle married a much older cousin to save herself from penury. Now a widow at 25, she’s surprised to learn she has been included in a bachelor’s guide to Britain’s wealthy widows and spinsters. Infuriated, she calls on its author, the surprisingly attractive Maxwell Dean, who is abashed by her anger, but intrigued by her beauty. Determined to expose the men who would exploit these women, Diana writes to as many others listed in the directory as she can find, including Lady Regina Townsend, who was rejected by society after a youthful indiscretion, and Lady Gordon, a gracious older woman still mourning her husband. The women decide to lead on the fortune hunters before rejecting them—but along the way, they must avoid falling for their suitors. The ensuing trio of romances are sweet, but Allain’s style is slightly stilted, making for some oddly wooden emotional beats. The novel’s true strength lies in the friendship between the bold heroines. These engaging women will appeal to fans of Mimi Matthews and Julie Klassen. Agent: Stefanie Lieberman, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc.

November 1, 2023
When a group of women discovers their names on a published list of eligible ladies, they join forces to wield it to their advantage. As a widow still expected to be in mourning after the death of her much older husband, Diana Boyle has little desire to entertain a new courtship, so when suitors begin knocking on her door, her suspicions are instantly aroused. Shortly after she politely sends them on their way, she discovers the reason the men have been calling on her: She's been included in a printed directory of wealthy women who are eligible for marriage, complete with names, addresses, and estimated fortunes. When Diana confronts the man who published this list, she's more than a little surprised, and not just because he happens to be a handsome bachelor himself. Maxwell Dean had no malicious intentions in printing up the directory. From his perspective, he was merely providing assistance to second sons trying to make auspicious matches. The directory's existence proves to be both a blessing and a curse for Diana. When she invites the other women in it to a meeting, they agree that they'll use it to figure out which men are worthy of their time and which are just fortune hunters, playing by their own rules instead of those established by men. However, Diana and Max have now been set on a collision course, and while Diana might not have envisioned herself getting married again before she found out about the directory, now she wonders if she's actually uncovered something much more meaningful: her perfect match. Allain's novel prioritizes friendship as much as romance, and although Allain doesn't sufficiently develop every aspect of the story, it has the benefit of more than one blossoming relationship to follow, including a second-chance love story that's just as charming as the main couple's. A fun, lighthearted Regency romp about changing society from the inside.

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