A Novel with Thoughts and Ponderings

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

Author: Kathryn Caskie ISBN: 0446614388 5/2004 HISTORICAL Publisher: WARNER FOREVER
Time Period: April 1814

Rules of EngagementWe, the undersigned, confined to spinsterhood through no fault of our own, hereby declare to guide our beloved niece Eliza Merriweather through the upcoming season and secure for her one, if not several, offers of marriage. We vow to consult the magnificent handbook Rules of Engagement and follow its advice to the letter.

Our mission will be difficult, for Eliza is a very independent-minded young woman and a worthy adversary. Already she has hatched a scheme of her won and persuaded Magnus MacKinnon, possessor of mesmerizing silver eyes and a shockingly sexy brogue, to play the role of attentive suitor. But with our help, it is only a matter of time before their "pretend" affections blossom into the real thing.

And so we pledge to remain steadfast and to accept nothing less than complete victory: our dearest Eliza walking hand in hand down the aisle with Magnus Mackinnon.

With true hearts and strong purpose,

The Ladies Letitia and Viola Featherstone

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:4 Rose Read

Hmmm....I am still trying to figure out (as I write this review) if I really like Kathryn Caskie's RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, or if I truly only like parts of it. The premise of it is really quite amusing: Two matchmaking aunts employ a war strategy book in order to secure their nieces' futures. This book is quite confusing because one moment I was in stitches with laughter, and the next moment I was skipping ahead several pages trying to find something to hold my interest.

The heroine, Eliza Merriweather, knows her own mind and is sure of her future. That presumed future does not include marriage and children, but the wonderful world of artists in Paris. She has a natural talent for painting everything and anyone, so, after witnessing her mother's heartbreaking marriage she decides that painting is the only thing she truly wants for herself. Alas, she never counts on love entering her life in the form of our hero, the powerful impoverished Scotsman, Magnus MacKinnon.

Due to circumstances beyond his control, Magnus finds himself in the perilous position of losing everything he holds dear. To ensure that his entire world does not fall apart, he has decided to take a rich heiress as a bride should his last ditch gamble on a shipping line fail. Unfortunately for Magnus, the woman he falls in love with (Eliza naturally) possesses no great fortune but everything else he truly desires.

Eliza and Magnus are a couple that I wanted to see come together very badly. So many obstacles stand between them, though most of them could be overcome with a little less pride and lot more communication.

With Eliza's selfish sister and those loveable but a bit loony aunts helping her, it's a wonder they make it at all. Despite the couple being likeable, the story lacks something I cannot pinpoint. The humor is wonderful but Eliza's sister, Grace, has tantrums that still rub me the wrong way. Magnus is, well, magnetic, but Eliza is way too inflexible. Since it seems I am on the fence for this one, this book must be good to have me thinking so hard about it!

Shannon Johnson

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