Rules of Engagement

I rarely laugh so much with a romance novel. The book reads like a Summer comedy with an over-the-top cast of characters. Eliza and Grace's meddling old maid aunts, Letitia and Viola, have poor eyesight, and are therefore convinced that one of their late father's last book purchases, "Rules of Engagement" was meant to help them find husbands. While the single life agreed with them, they're now ready to help their grandnieces find and capture their perfect matches, a difficult task as neither Eliza nor Grace has a dowry. Unable to read the finer print, they easily reinterpret the militaristic intent of each chapter's heading. Beginning with the first rule, "Those whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious" they lay out an at times absurd yet cunning trap to wed the reluctant Eliza to the equally reluctant Lord Magnus, a fortune-hunter determined to find a wealthy bride to save his family's legacy. The romance was drawn out yet believable. The dialog was witty and flowed well with the story, and the scenes the author portrays were so vividly detailed that I still believe they must have truly happened in some alternate universe. Even 8 months after I first read this book, the details remain remarkably fresh in my mind. Kathryn Caskie's debut novel teaches us that some things are worth fighting for, and reminds us that "all's fair..." Receiving two nods for the 2005 RITA award, and winner of the RWA's prestigious Golden Heart Award in 2002, this book makes an excellent addition to any romance-lover's collection.

I am a military wife with two kids with a husband over in Iraq. Worrying about him fills my days and nights. My mother wanted to cheer me up and bought a copy of Rules of Engagement. She told me it would make me laugh. I have to say that it really did.Rules of Engagement is the story of an artist who wants to study art in Italy. Her aunts want her to marry the way every high class lady should. Since the two old aunts are spinsters they do know how to go about getting engaged so they pull out their father's old book on the subject called Rules of Engagement. What they don't know is that the book is not about how to get engaged. It is about military rules of engagement.I laughed so hard every time the old ladies used one military tactic after another to find a husband for their nieces. Early on they find a Scottish lord and decide he is the one to marry their oldest niece. Eliza, the niece, uses a trick of her own and asks the Scottish lord to pretend to be interested in her so the aunts will leave her alone. He agrees when she offers to find him a rich bride which he needs to cover his dead brother's gambling debts and save his home.Eliza and the lord called Magnus were perfect for each other. They are both intelligent and have a great sense of humor. I loved how strong their attraction was for each other. It made me remember how I felt when I first met my husband.If you are one of those people who only read romances where people cry all the time then this book isn't for you. If you like fun romances that make you laugh and smile when the couple comes together at last, then you will love this book.I recommend this book with five stars. I would give it ten if I could. Read it then give this book to someone who needs to smile. I am glad my mother did.

Just finished reading Rules of Engagement. I am a huge romance fan and I stayed up all night to finish this book which to me is a sign that it is a wonderful book. The hero, Magnus is very sexy (I love Scotsmen/quilts!) and the heroine is an independent lady whose tries very hard to follow her pre-arranged plans with little success. They have great chemistry and her funny aunts only added to the flavor of the book. There are times when this author reminds me of bestselling authors Cathy Maxwell and Julia Quinn. If you like these authors and others, you'll love this book. Happy reading!

If you like a story that makes you laugh, then this is the book for you. We have 16 women in our book group ranging in ages from 19 to 73 and we all just loved it. We put it on our list for best romance of the year. The bookstore where we meet posts our recommendations each month and other readers use our list when choosing books.This book is a lot like Julia Quinn's books and just as funny. Sometimes more! The hero is a sexy Scotsman named Magnus, who has a great sense of humor and knows what he wants in a woman. That woman is Eliza. She's a very intelligent and clever artist who has her heart set on going to Italy to train as an apprentice with master artists. Marriage is not in her plans but it is the number one goal of her two old aunts, Viola and Letitia, who decide they need to get serious about marrying Eliza off. They turn to their father's old book Rules of Engagement. But the book isn't about getting engaged to be married like the aunts believe, it's full of military strategies. Eliza soon realizes her aunts mistake, but doesn't want to hurt their feelings since they are so thrilled with their matchmaking plans. So she uses a strategy of her own and asked an earl new to London to pose as her suitor so her aunts will stop using military strategies on her from the war manual. In exchange she will help him find a bride with a large dowry, which he needs to save his home Somerton Hall. I don't want to give it all away, since there are a lot of very funny parts and twists. One part that made a few of us cry too.We recommend this book to anyone who wants a moving romance plus a lot of laughs. Most of us read the book in two nights and not just because we were meeting on Thursday! Book groups will especially love this story because there are a lot of layers and emotions that are dealt with in the book. Eliza has a deep love for her family and has to choose between what is best for them and what her heart tells her is right. Also between her art and the love of her life. Her sister Grace wants to marry more than anything in the world and Eliza's deal with Magnus might hurt her chances to marry into a good family. The two aunts are my favorites. They are always up to something. The people in the book were so real that I even dreamed about the two aunts and Magnus! Rules of Engagement is a wonderful romance that all 16 of us recommend to readers and book groups.

Kathryn Caskie is a writer who has a long career as an author ahead of her if this book reflects even a fraction of her overall talent. Her characters sparkle with life, and I truly regretted leaving the aunts, Letitia and Viola, behind when the story ended. However, I am happy to hear they will be back for the second book. The main characters, Mangus (great name) and Eliza, are definitely headed in different directions at the beginning of this amusing tale, but Ms. Caskie's wit and sense of fun keeps the lovers and the readers guessing, though the aunts have no doubt at all that the lovers are meant for each other. Speaking of characters, Eliza's sister was a favorite of mine, and the interactions between the sisters tell me that she has a well-developed sister experience for they were amusing, real and especially wonderful. I urge anyone who wants a bit of fun to escape into this delightful Regency world Ms. Caskie has created. It is a marvelous book. It certainly made me laugh, but the romance and the depth and care she put into each of her characters made it a definite keeper and one of my favorite reads. Now I can't wait for Kathryn Caskie's next book.