Rule #1 - Review

Rule #1 

By: Jay Crownover

Published: December 30, 2012

327 pages

Source: Personal Kindle Library

(Goodreads / Amazon)

Summary:
I had loved Rule Archer since the first moment I ever laid eyes on him. He was everything I shouldn't want and the only person I went out of my way to not try and please. He only saw me as a brat, and an entitled, stuck up princess but worse than that all he saw when he looked at me was his deceased twin's girl. It broke my heart because as much as I had loved Remy Archer there was never anything romantic between us and no matter how hard I tried to convince myself that loving Rule was a terrible idea, my poor heart just wouldn't listen. We tolerated each other, barely and had forged an uneasy alliance until one night I had too much to drink and changed the way we were forever. Suddenly life long secrets were no longer hidden and the one thing I always wanted for myself seemed obtainable as long as I was willing to go through hell to hold onto it.

Shaw Landon was a class act and I had no idea what to do with her. She was tied to my family, tied to the person that was my other half so I tolerated her and her haughty attitude when I didn't have any other choice. What I didn't know was that a short skirt and too many cocktails on her birthday was going to change my outlook on her for the rest of my life. Some people thought I hid behind all my tattoos and piercings, that I tried to distance myself from my dead twin, Shaw saw through it all and wasn't scared of what was underneath. We weren't supposed to be together, weren't supposed to be anything but uncomfortable acquaintances but that all changed in the blink of an eye. Now I had to figure out just how a girl like her and a guy like me were supposed to be in love without destroying each other. Add in her custom made ex and two disapproving sets of parents and the whole situation sounded like it was more trouble then it was worth.

Recommended for mature readers due to sexual content, language and drinking.

I think I am becoming slightly addicted to male characters who are edgy, rugged, have tats and a few piercings, who have the appearance of a bad dude but in reality have hearts of gold.  Yeah...that whole package is way H-O-T.  I absolutely loved all of the characters.  Rule, Remy - even though we never actually meet him, Rome, Shaw, Ayden, Nash, Cora - they are all amazing and add a lot to the story.  What is any good story without someone to hate too?  Don't worry there are those characters as well.

Meet Rule: "complicated, brash, mouthy, careless, thoughtless, often cranky", "charming, funny, artistically brilliant, and more often than not the most interesting person in the room"

Meet Shaw: "classy, sleek and expensive", platinum blonde hair, gorgeous green eyes.

I don't think I have ever rolled my eyes more while reading than in this book with the constant craziness and stupidity coming from both Rule's parents and Shaw's parents.  Wow, the gall of some people!

What more can I say really?  I loved it.  I ate it up, every stinking page and all of it's juiciness and angst.  Bottom line - if you love Beautiful Disaster, Devoured, Down to You, Fallen Too Far, etc...then this is a MUST read!  You won't be disappointed!  This is a story about learning to live beyond the expectations others have for you and living for you, it's about people loving you for who you are and not trying to change you into something they think you should be, and it's about learning to accept the love others are willing to give you.

Slight irritation that has nothing to do with the story itself...the cover model of the book...yeah he has one sleeve showing but where is the edible lip ring, eyebrow ring and mo-hawk we all come to love as we fall in love with bad boy Rule?

Favorite Quotes:

"Oh, maybe I should just dye my hair pink, tattoo every visible surface of my body, shove a bunch of metal in my face and sleep with everything that moves.  Isn't that your philosophy on how to live a rich and fulfilling life?"

"Are you, Mr. Manwhore of the Century, seriously trying to give me relationship advice?"

"Families are like anything else, they take work, patience and people willing to make it work."

"It felt like coming home, a feeling I don't think I had ever actually experienced before."

"I wasn't sure, but this slippery feeling in my chest sure felt...a lot like love."

"He was potent and went to my head fast."

"It's just something about all that angsty, moody swagger he has that makes you want to cuddle him up and make him feel better."

"...if Shaw was willing to be my light at the end then there was no way I wasn't going to try."

Final Rating - 4.5 stars!