Hard Rules
Author: Lisa Renee Jones
Series: Dirty Money
Release Date: August 9, 2016
My musings…
4.5 Crowns
Hard Rules follows the story of Shane Brandon as he tries to purge his family’s company of the duplicity and immorality that has plagued their family business and Emily as she attempts to run from her past for an unknown reason. They are truly two characters that are right for each other but are meeting at the wrong time.
The characters of this story are interesting. All of them are battling between good and evil. Shane desperately wants to purge his family’s company, but he may have to cross some lines to get it done. So, he is left with the question, do the ends justify the means? Then he struggles with his emotions for Emily. He wants to be with her, but will she become a causality of the Brandon war? His dilemma with the company and Emily develops his complexity as a character. The heroine of the story, Emily, is an interesting character as well. She is described as being sweet but is clearly hiding a secret. This secret has the potential to rock Shane’s world, so she tries to sever ties with him. The reader is given snippets of information that draws him/her into her character. These two are clearly right for each other but are meeting at the worst time. The main aspect of their relationship that I like is that they are both dominant and submissive, which is really an accurate reflection of a relationship. They both stand up to each other and give into each other when it is necessary. Everything they do is for the benefit of the other, even if it seems ridiculous to the reader. Jessica, Shane’s secretary, is another character I truly enjoyed. Her sass and strength and her ability to stand up to Shane while supporting him is fantastic. I completely love the scenes she is a part of. Overall the characters are intriguing, as the good guys aren’t all good and bad guys are truly heinous individuals.
The plot of this story is complex. The whole way through the story I was trying to figure out who was on whose side, what Emily’s secret is, and what would be the outcome of Emily’s secret. Usually, I am able to figure out the plot of stories based on foreshadowing or a general understanding of basic tropes, but I haven’t figured out the major plot points of the story. I honestly have no idea what is going to happen, and this makes the book that much better! I will be anxiously waiting for the second book in this duet to see how this chess game is going to play out.
I really enjoyed Hard Rules by Lisa Renee Jones. The reader feels just as embroiled in this war to save Brandon Enterprises with Shane as he/she is trying to figuring out who to trust and what information every is hiding. I definitely cannot wait for Damage Control.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis:
Wall Street meets the Sons of Anarchy in Hard Rules, the smoldering, scorching first novel in the explosively sexy new Dirty Money series from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones.
How bad do you want it? The only man within the Brandon empire with a moral compass, Shane Brandon is ready to take his family’s business dealings legitimate. His reckless and ruthless brother, Derek wants to keep Brandon Enterprises cemented in lies, deceit, and corruption. But the harder Shane fights to pull the company back into the light, the darker he has to become. Then he meets Emily Stevens, a woman who not only stirs a voracious sexual need in him, but becomes the only thing anchoring him between good and evil.
Emily is consumed by Shane, pushed sexually in ways she never dreamed of, falling deeper into the all-encompassing passion that is this man. She trusts him. He trusts her, but therein lies the danger. Emily has a secret, the very thing that brought her to him in the first place, and that secret that could that destroy them both.
Get your copy today:
Kindle ♦ B&N ♦ iBooks ♦ Amazon CA ♦ Kobo ♦ Google Play
UK Edition (releases same day as US!)
Kindle UK ♦ Kindle AU ♦ iBooks UK ♦ iBooks AU ♦ iBooks NZ
Amazon ♦ B&N ♦ Other links ♦ Goodreads
Enter Lisa’s Giveaway:
Win a $50 Amazon Gift Card
Teasers:
Early Praise:
“Angst-y, sexy contemporary romance with big emotional and financial stakes set against the backdrop of two dynamic families. Sure to leave readers desperate for the next installment.”
-Kirkus Reviews
“High-octane romance set above the glittering lights of Denveris enhanced by the dominance of a powerful man and the cunning sweetness of a woman who isn’t cowed or swayed by his wealth…a fascinating mystery and characters with distinct voices.”
-Publishers Weekly
A NOTE FROM LISA:
This series will have FOUR full-length books in it. The first four will be Emily and Shane’s story and there will be a fifth for a secondary character’s story (more information to come soon). I don’t have covers or buy links for books 3 and 4, but I DO have a little information on book 2, DAMAGE CONTROL!!
- Book One – Hard Rules – August, 9, 2016
- Book Two – Damage Control – February 2017 (more info here: http://lisareneejones.com/damage-control-release)
- Book Three – Bad Deeds – August 2017
- Book Four – End Game – February 2018
I am SO excited for this series to come out, because it is so unlike my other series. I am hoping my readers love it just as much as I did when I was writing it! PLEASE be sure to sign up for my TEXT LIST (link below). That will be where/how I communicate when these titles, and others, are available for pre-order, on sale or when I have a big giveaway!
XOXO,
Lisa Renee Jones
About Lisa Renee Jones:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa ReneeJones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series, which is now in development for a television show to be produced by Suzanne Todd of Team Todd (Alice in Wonderland). Suzanne Todd on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy – a modern girl we all can identify with. I’m thrilled to develop a television show that will tell Sara’s whole story – her life, her work, her friends, and her sexuality.
In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSENseries, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is presently working on a dark, edgy new series, Dirty Money, for St. Martin’s Press.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Lisa loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at www.lisareneejones.com and she is active on Twitter and Facebook daily.
Connect with Lisa:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLisaReneeJones
Twitter – https://twitter.com/LisaReneeJones
Instagram – http://instagram.com/lisareneejones
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/LisaReneeJones
Text List and Newsletter: http://bit.ly/LRJTextList
Release Week Blitz Schedule
August 8th
Chatterbooks Book Blog Review
Bad boys and Bedtime stories book previews Review
Sassy Book Lovers Excerpt
Lustful Literature Review
Wild Wordy Women Excerpt
Read Love Blog Excerpt
Reading Between the Wines Book Club Excerpt
Sassy Moms Say Read Romance Excerpt
Ellesea Loves Reading Excerpt
blissfully bookerized Excerpt
For the Love of Books & Alcohol Excerpt
Fly Away on the Wings of a Book Review
Curvy and Nerdy Review
Maari Loves Her Indies Excerpt
My Slanted Bookish Ramblings Review
Musings of the Modern Belle Review
JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC Excerpt
Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog Excerpt
Wicked Babes Blog Reviews Review
The Book Sirens Review
She Reads New Adult Excerpt
August 9th
Reading Past My Bedtime Excerpt
Inner Goddess Review
A Taste of Sin Excerpt
Book Angel Booktopia Review
KT Book Reviews Excerpt
BFD Book Blog Review
Four Chicks Flipping Pages Review
Devilishly dirty book blog Review
The Book Hoarders Review
BFD Book Blog Review
Socially Awkward Book Nerd Excerpt
Oh My Growing TBR Review
City of Fandoms Review
Novel Addiction Review
Confessions From Romaholics Review
Naughty Book Blog Review
Ficwishes Excerpt
Pink Lace & Silver Buckles Book Blog Review
Smut Book Junkie Book Reviews Review
Just Let Me Read Review
Making it Happen Review
August 10th
REVENGE OF THE FEELS Review
The Fairest of All Book Reviews Review
Southern Vixens Book Obsessions Excerpt
we stole your book boyfriend Excerpt
Books, Books, The Magical Fruit Excerpt
Literary Dust Excerpt
Talking Books Blog Excerpt
The Book Avenue Review
Ramblings of a Bookworm Review
Book Bitches Blog Review
Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog Excerpt
Bookalicious Babes Blog Review
My Favorite Things Review
Whispers from the Mountains Excerpt
Book Chauffeur Excerpt
Escape Reality with Books Review
One Book Boyfriend At A Time Excerpt
A Sky Full of Stars Blog Excerpt
TBR Book Blog Review
Night Owl Reader Review
2 Girls & Their Kindles Review
August 11th
Four Chicks Flipping Pages Review
MrsLeif’s Two Fangs About It Excerpt
PBC Review
Friends Till The End Book Blog Excerpt
Alpha Book Club Review
Nobel Grounds Review
HEA Bookstore Review
Sharing My Book Boyfriends Excerpt
Reviews by Crystal Excerpt
Reading Is My Superpower Excerpt
CherryRed’s Reads Review
Once Upon a Book Blog Review
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Book Boyfriends Review
Romance Book Nerd Excerpt
Krista’s Dust Jacket Review
Amazeballs Book Addicts Review
Dog-Eared Daydreams Review
August 12th
Book Lovers Hangout Review
Teatime and Books Excerpt
booksshelived Review
The Opening Hook Review
Renee Entress’s Blog Review
Tricia Review
Wild and Dirty Book Blog Excerpt
Reading Bliss Review
Captain Reads A Lot Excerpt
2 girls who love books Excerpt
Two Book Pushers Review
Crazy Cajun Book Addicts Review
Lina’s Reviews: A Book Blog Review
Loves Great Reads Blog Review
TBR Book Blog Review
Nice Ladies, Naughty Books Excerpt
Book Bitches Blog Review
Books Need TLC Review
Happy reading,
Great review! I am looking forward to reading this!
Congratulations!!! You are the new release winner! I’ll be emailing you shortly.
Love the review 🙂
Love the review 🙂 sounds interesting
Love Lisa Renee Jones books!
She is fantastic author!
Can’t wait to read Hard Rules 🙂
This is another to add onto my need to read list. Gosh there is so many!