The Rule Maker by Jennifer Blackwood (The Rule Breakers #2)
Released: January 16, 2017
Contemporary Romance
Entangled

Reviewed by Mandi

I adored The Rule Book last year and was excited to try another from Jennifer Blackwood. This one is just as good – maybe even better. And just to put out there – there are sex scenes this time! I know a few people who didn’t read the first book due to fade to black scenes. That book had such great sexual tension it was a bit of a let down to have the door close in our face! But we get all the sweaty abs, and everything underneath this time *wink*

Zoey is an interior designer who has done work for Jason Covington in the past. But Jason is not our hero – Ryder, his brother is. Ryder is a professional snowboarder with a lot of sponsors, who has recently broken his leg. This at the time is the least of his worries. His best friend and brother, Jason, was snowboarding in a charity event, and ended up paralyzed from the waist down. Jason is the head of the family’s real estate company, and is mentally not doing well since the accident. He bought a run down ski resort property his late parents enjoyed years ago, and has now hired Zoey to transform it. It’s going to be a big job, as this resort is stuck in the 70’s.

Zoey is all about it except for one thing – her and Ryder had a one night stand a few months ago and it didn’t end well. Zoey didn’t realize it was going to be a one night stand. and Ryder slipped out in the middle of the night without saying a word. #naughty. This really upset Zoey who had a great time on the date. So when the injured Jason hands over design control to the inexperienced Ryder – Zoey is thrilled (sooooo not thrilled). But she has a job to do and she is going to do it! She also falls hard for Ryder, and him for her and they have the most adorable romance ever.

Zoey is so darn cute in this book I want her to be my BFF. Her inner monologue is fabulous as she has to deal with the fact that her new client slept with her and left her in one night. But he is so sexy and charming, and her brain tells her heart all of this but her heart has its own ideas.

Ryder may be scared of picket fences and the 2.5 kid commitment, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t into Zoey. He is deeply attracted to her – not only her beauty but all of her.

“You still have half of your Tom Collins left.” I liked the fact she turned into a fumbling mess around me.

She cocked her head. “How do you know what drink this is?”

The fact was when it came to Zoey, I remembered everything. I remembered the first words she spoke to me besides an introduction: I like your shirt. I remembered the first time I heard her laugh – she liked my joke about the Oregon Ducks; Zoey was an OSU girl after all. I remembered how soft her hair was, brushing against my chest as she fell asleep in my arms. Suffice to say, everything about her was memorable.

And for Zoey’s part, her inner-monologue was so cute. From choking on a chocolate, to trying to keep her attraction to Ryder in check – she made me smile.

Brain: But he’s your client. And you know exactly what will happen if you sleep with him again.

Body: I do what I want.

Brain: Seriously? Are you an idiot? The dude is a player ad this could jeopardize your job.

Body: Dayummm. Did you see those forearms flex when he grabbed the elevator rail?

Their courtship is cute and sexy and everything you want in a contemporary romance. Really enjoying this author’s voice.

Grade: B+

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