Review: RULES FOR HEIRESSES by Amalie Howard

We’re so happy to be celebrating the release of RULES FOR HEIRESSES with our lovely author friend Amalie Howard. Amber was the lucky one to read this follow up to THE PRINCESS STAKES.

Author: Amalie Howard
Series: no series name, #2
Release Date: October 26, 2021
Pages: 312
Review Copy: NetGalley*

Blurb:

Sometimes, finding love means flouting the rules…

Born to a life of privilege, Lady Ravenna Huntley rues the day that she must marry. She’s refused dozens of suitors and cried off multiple betrothals, but running away—even if brash and foolhardy—is the only option left to secure her independence.

Lord Courtland Chase, grandson of the Duke of Ashton, was driven from England at the behest of his cruel stepmother. Scorned and shunned, he swore never to return to the land of his birth. But when a twist of bad luck throws a rebellious heiress into his arms, at the very moment he finds out he’s the new Duke, marriage is the only alternative to massive scandal.

Both are quick to deny it, but a wedding might be the only way out for both of them. And the attraction that burns between them makes Ravenna and Courtland wonder if it’ll truly only be a marriage of convenience after all…

Initial Thoughts/Expectations:

We met Raveena, our heroine, in Amalie Howards previous book The Princess Stakes where she played a minor role, but in my opinion, she completely stole the show and had me clamoring to get my hands on her story. She was brash, bold, opinionated, and hell bent on never getting married. I love my historical romance novels to include unconventional women who buck tradition, and I knew that Lady Raveena Huntley was going to do just that!

What I Loved:

I couldn’t get enough of Raveena in The Princess Stakes, and I love her even more after finishing Rules for Heiresses. She is a woman of means and privilege, but she is also a woman living in a man’s world with rules she detests. However, unlike stereotypical storybook heroines in her predicament, she isn’t content to sit around and let life happen to her. Her impulsive nature often gets her into trouble, which is how she winds up in the last place she wanted to be… the alter. I shouldn’t laugh, but her adventures and antics were hilarious and her knack for causing mayhem anytime she entered a room never got old. Courtland and Raveena were an intense couple right from the start. I’m finding that Amalie Howard writes an amazing moody hero with a heart of gold and Courtland is one of my favorites to date. The way these two stubbornly resisted their attraction to one another drove me crazy and kept me turning the page because I couldn’t wait for their next contentious encounter!

This story had a lot of heart and emotion outside of just having two people fall in love. Both Courtland and Raveena were looking for acceptance in a world that they didn’t feel they belonged in. They had their own personal demons to conquer and I thought it was beautiful to see them start to let down walls and confide in each other.

What I Didn’t Love:

Rules for Heiresses was a solid historical romance and there wasn’t anything I didn’t like about the story.

Final Thoughts/Recommendations:

This book brought me a lot of laughs, a few tears, and made me remember why my favorite genre will always be historical romance with a fearless heroine. Rules for Heiresses can be read as a standalone, but for the full Raveena experience I would highly suggest starting with The Princess Stakes.