The Marriage Method

The Academy always comes first . . . which makes marriage to its most formidable adversary an exceedingly inconvenient arrangement.

Well removed from London's more curious eyes, the Benevolent Academy for the Betterment of Young Ladies strives toward one clandestine goal: to distract, disrupt, and discredit men in power who would seek to harm the advancement of women-by appropriate means, of course.

When intrepid newspaper editor Miles Quincy starts to question the school's intentions, the Academy appoints Penelope "Nell" Trewlove, one of their brightest graduates, to put this nuisance to rest. An easy enough mission, she supposes. Or it would be, if Miles wasn't so fascinating-too fascinating to resist-and if Nell's visit to London didn't perfectly coincide with the murder of one of Miles's reporters.

When the inexorable claws of fate trap Nell and Miles in a compromising situation, they agree to an arrangement that will save their reputations while enabling them to investigate the story that led to a man's death, as well as the surprising chemistry between them . . . Praise for Mimi Matthews

"Shiveringly Gothic…For best effect, save this one for a windy night when trees scrape against the windowpanes."-New York Times Book Review on The Belle of Belgrave Square

"Mimi Matthews never disappoints."-Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Mimi Matthews has become one of my favorite authors. She never disappoints."-Mary Balogh, New York Times bestselling author

"No one writes Victoriana like Mimi Matthews!"​-Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author

"Thrilling, poignant, and romantic, Rules for Ruin is a delight!-Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author

"Rules for Ruin is the ultimate cat-and-mouse romance with witty banter, sizzling attraction, and twists of excitement-a perfect first installment to kick off Mimi Matthews's new Crinoline Academy series."-Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Booklover's Library

"A delicious crumpet of a novel: sparkling characters, lush romantic chemistry, and a woman on a mission made me fly through the pages!"-Evie Dunmore, USA Today bestselling author on Rules for Ruin USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, a miniature poodle, and two Siamese cats.