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

Title: Rule

Author: Jay Crownover

My rating: 4 hearts

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: July 3rd 2014

Pub. date: Harper Collins

Synopsis: 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. (synopsis from Goodreads)

I really liked this book. I did. The characters were amazing, the romance was intense and the chemistry between Rule and Shaw had me swooning on more than one occasion. The plot was great, and everything in the book just felt intense. I couldn’t put it down. But I have mixed feelings about the writing. It was good… and it wasn’t.

   Shaw is awesome!

   She has serious issues with her family, her parents are very judging of everything she does, and she always got to hear she wasn’t good enough when she grew up and never that she was just loved. This has left her with several problems, like being scared of doing what she wants, even when it isn’t what her parents wants (which it never is). Despite all this, Shaw is selfless and open and caring. I loved her! And seeing her growing through the book, figuring out what she wanted, and learning to do it, was amazing.

   I loved Rule.

   You all know how much I love a flawed character, and Rule is nothing if not flawed. His childhood wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, either. He grew up in the shadow of his twin, Remy. Remy was the perfect son, and Rule wasn’t. When Remy died, their mother blamed Rule, and ever since, the relationship between Rule and his mother has been more strained than usual. But instead of trying to live up to her expectations, like Shaw, he does whatever he wants, which is not what his mother wants.

   But as flawed as he was, I loved him. He really grew through the book, and at the end, he really was like a different man.

   Shaw and Rule are just so great together.

   First of all, the chemistry is seriously intense. It’s not there from the start, but comes along later, and I really liked the way things progressed between the two of them. It wasn’t too quick, and there were several bumps in the road, because both of them had issues, but the way everything built up to the end was just awesome. It didn’t feel rushed or unrealistic; it just felt real.

   The plot was great.

   Often in Romance books, the focus on the romance makes the plot really slow. That wasn’t the case in Rule. Even if the plot wasn’t exactly fast, there was always something happening. Not a chapter went by where something didn’t happen. But it wasn’t too much, either.

   I have mixed feelings about the writing.

   In a way, I loved the writing. The way Crownover captures the emotion with her words makes the book feel real and it makes you forget you’re reading. But, there were also some major flaws in the writing. Often, I missed commas and periods. Some sentences were just way too long, which made it harder to read.

   Despite this, I really enjoyed reading this book. I would recommend this for all fans of Romance, but especially to those who like a bit more focus on the characters and on their growth, because, while I loved mostly everything about this book, that was the best thing.

Jay Crownover is the International and multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Marked Men Series, The Saints of Denver Series, and The Point and Breaking Point Series. Her books can be found translated in many different languages all around the world. She is a tattooed, crazy haired Colorado native who lives at the base of the Rockies with her awesome dogs. This is where she can frequently be found enjoying a cold beer and Taco Tuesdays. Jay is a self-declared music snob and outspoken book lover who is always looking for her next adventure, between the pages and on the road.
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