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I volunteered to review Rules of the Game because I was finding the other books I have for review unpalatable. The first couple of chapters in, I decided I hadn’t done myself any favors because it looked like this was going to be an unbelievable pretend-lovers romance with lots of fluff and no substance. Happily, I was proven wrong – very wrong.
Kathryn West is living the high life in New York City. She’s a confident, popular author with lots of money and a beautiful home. Except, Kathryn West is a pseudonym for insecure Maddie Sawyer, the misfit girl whose high school years were a nightmare. When she agrees to attend her high school reunion, Maddie decides to attend as Kathryn West, to show her old peers how well she’s doing. The book opens on the night that Maddie goes bar trawling for a Kathryn West style, bad-boy date to take to the reunion with her.
When Maddie finds Scott Brady playing pool in a dive, she believes she’s found just what she’s looking for. He’s big, he’s tattooed, he’s dressed in leather, and he even rides a motorcycle. Scott eventually agrees to attend the reunion as her date, but only if Maddie will agree to be introduced as his girlfriend to his friends and family, so his loved ones will quit trying to matchmake. But Scott and Maddie get much more than they bargained for. Scott, the supposed deadbeat, is not what he seems, and Maddie has a lot of baggage.
The chapters leading up to the reunion are an enjoyable read, even if they appear to not have much depth. Scott insists upon seeing Maddie and getting to know her before the event, and the planned introduction to his friends occurs. As they spend time together, their attraction grows, but all is not perfect. They’re both keeping secrets, Maddie especially. These secrets come out at the reunion in a huge and unexpected way, and here both Maddie and Scott show their true colors.
Scott is a great romantic lead. He proves himself over and over to be a strong, caring man, and he’s not afraid to express his feelings for Maddie. When events blow up in their faces, he takes charge and makes a miserable situation a little more bearable. My one complaint is that his backstory isn’t explored more fully. Maddie starts out insecure and only gets worse. The things that occurred during her teens have obviously stunted her emotional growth, and she alternately relies completely on Scott or repudiates and insults him. One can almost understand why she is the way she is, but her road to emotional adulthood made me impatient. She does eventually wise up, but not before she almost loses one of the best things to ever happened to her.
The blurb would make you think this book is light-hearted, a romantic comedy, but it’s not. A lot of issues are explored, including personal trauma, grief, prejudice, and others that would spoil the story if I mentioned them.
Rules of the Game is a well written, emotional book and I recommend it.
Grade: B
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 17/04/12
Publication Date: 2012/04
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.