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Review: Rule (Marked Men #1) by Jay Crownover


Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight--A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want--and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.


Rule has always been very sure of what he wanted in life, it might have not been what other people wanted or expected from him, but he doesn't care. His brother was the golden boy, so Rule could do what he wanted. Ever since his brother died though, things between him and his family have become more troublesome. His mother blames him for the death and the things she dare say to him are just awful. If it wasn't for Shaw picking him up every week, he probably wouldn't even talk to them. Honestly when you hear what is going on, you can't blame him. 

While Rule's brother was the golden boy, Shaw could be considered the golden girl. It seemed these two were meant for each other, except they weren't and Shaw has had a crush on Rule from the first moment she saw him when she was fourteen. Though his family became her family, as her parents might be rich but they're a real piece of work. When her best friend died, she didn't want to lose her family, even if that means waking up Jet every week and driving over to his parents house. She already had no family to begin with and doesn't want to lose another.

At first it seems Rule and Shaw just rub each other the wrong way, but after one very dronken (on her part) night, it seems they rub each other just the right way. Rule doesn't really know what to do with this sudden revelation. Feelings he never had before start bubbling up and though they scare him, he is willing to give this thing a chance. We all know how Shaw feels, so even a bit hesitant (afraid of getting hurt) she agrees to explore this further. It's both new for them and things might not go as smoothly as they would like.

I loved these characters. Not just Shaw and Rule, though they are awesome, but all these other guys and her girlfriends are pretty great. They all have a very unique personality and voice. I liked how Rule always tried to push the envelope, he was never meant to fit a certain mold and is happy figuring out his own way. He makes some decisions I could not agree with, but the growth he goes through and this new side of him we get to explore was very interesting. There is definitely more than meets the eye, when it comes to Shaw. It seems Rule didn't know her as well as he thought, so she often takes him by surprise and that was fun.

There is definitely plenty of drama going on, on all fronts. It was not just between Rule and Shaw. Her parents set in a certain way and her mom did something I could not forgive, but his just took it to a whole new level. Yes, they are devastated by the loss of his brother, but that does not condone that type of behavior. His mom, seriously, argh! Then there is also an annoying ex-boyfriend, that just keeps popping up and no matter how many times I wished him away, he would not disappear. 

All that drama and meanwhile they still need to make this brand new thing work between them. It definitely is not easy. They both have such strong personalities, they are bound to clash once in a while. Luckily that means plenty of opportunities to make up. The chemistry between them was of the charts. Those smexy scenes were intense, I loved it.

Rule was an awesome read. I am so excited each of the guys is getting their own book and we can get to know this crazy group of friends even better. They deserve their version of happy endings.

4.5


Marked Men - Reading order and purchase links

    


  

Rowdy: Amazon - Kindle (Oct. 21)

The Author
Being native Coloradan is a source of pride if you ask Jay. She loves all the things her home has to offer, and that is why she set her books in this familiar place. Writing about what she knows is why her stories feature plenty of rock and roll and body modification.

Jay has been a bartender since she was in college, spending over forty hours a week watching interactions between men and women. This 9 to 5 job offered great insights into relationships - how they start and how they evolve in a social setting.

This cutting-edge author likes to write New Adult novels because she remembers being in her early twenties and thinking she had it all figured out, only to be proven wrong time and time again. When she looks back, she see's that those years defined who she is today, and, good or bad, those decisions ultimately set her current path.

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