Rules for Ruin | Review
The first in a new series from my queen of historical romance Mimi Matthews.
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Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews
400 pages | Published by Berkley
The Set Up: Effie has been promised a future of freedom and independent, if she can bring down Lord Compton, a London politician, at the request of the woman who raised her. She arrives in London to find herself thwarted at every chance by Gabriel - his plan to reform the slum he grew up in relies on the continued success of that same man. As Effie attempts to dig up the secrets of Lord Compton, she and Gabriel grow closer and realize the solution to their problems might be one in the same.
Another winner from Mimi Matthews!! This is a fun and romantic read, and felt distinctly different than her previous works.
Rules for Ruin is a wonderfully written book, as I’ve come to expect from Mimi Matthews. She leaves no detail spared - from the clothes they’re wearing to the laws they’re fighting for. I always feel like I come away from her books with a bit more knowledge about this time period.
“He was no good at comforting people. But this was important. She was important.”
A lot of Mimi’s books have a very light and sweet tone; This one is darker. but no less romantic. Rules for Ruin has more tension and a bit more danger to it.
These characters are some of her best, I think. I loved Effie and Gabriel, separately and together. Their romantic chemistry was amazing from the start. Effie was fierce and independent, but open and pragmatic. And Gabriel - I’m always a sucker for the tough guy who has a soft spot for our heroine.
This was the start of a new series, and I am now eagerly awaiting the rest. I can’t wait to who else we meet, and what else we learn about the Crinoline Academy!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced eBook!
