Review: HARD RULES by Lisa Renee Jones

Release Date: August 9th, 2016

Type: Contemporary Romance, Series, Book one,

My Review: I was twenty five percent into the book, and I was stuck between being confused and therefore unsure about the book, and being intrigued and therefore desperate to keep going. And the further I got, the more I was enjoying it. Sure, not everything is clear - there are still a lot of questions, but it's a good story. It really drags you in. But as I saw the percentage of the book left dwindling, I knew there was no way this story would wrap up in this book alone. So I expected a cliffhanger, but I didn't expect such a big one! And the next book isn't out for what feels like a million years - I don't think I'm going to make it.

The biggest concern I had about this book was some of the dialogue just felt so.. off. Cheesy, maybe? Shane was almost sappy a time or two, and it didn't feel like it went well with his character. The further I got into the story, the more things smoothed out, but that beginning was a bit rough. Trust me - stick with it. The family drama alone is worth the price of the book.

So here we are - I'm desperate for the second book, and I have to wait until 2017. But considering how much happened, I might have to make sure I re-read Hard Rules before I move on to the next one!

Cover Lovin': It definitely caught my eye!

Recommendation: First in a new series, so no prior knowledge necessary!

Final Rating: FOUR out of FIVE stars (4/5). The cliffhanger ending made me want to knock it down some, but the rest of the book definitely deserved four stars.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~  

About Hard Rules: 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.
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Other links found here: http://lisareneejones.com/books/hard-rules/  
Add it to your GOODREADS SHELF: http://bit.ly/HardRulesGoodreads 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 Denver is 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 fir 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 Renee Jones 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 BENSEN series, 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   Enter Lisa’s Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway   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

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.