Tasty Book Tours is organizing a Tasty Virtual Tour for THE RULE MAKER
THE TOUR WILL RUN ON JANUARY 16TH. 2017
The Rule Maker
Rule Breakers #2
by Jennifer Blackwood
Version: ebook | Pub Date 16 Jan 2017 |
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
RECEIVED AN ADVANCE READER COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR A FAIR REVIEW
Description
Ten Steps to Surviving a New Job:
1. Don’t sleep with the client. It’ll get you fired. (Sounds easy enough.)
2. Don’t blink when new client turns out to be former one-night stand.
3. Don’t call same client a jerk for never texting you back.
4. Don’t believe client when he says he really, really wanted to call.
5. Remember, the client is always right—so you can’t junk punch him when he demands new design after new design.
6. Ignore accelerated heartbeat every time sexy client walks into room.
7. Definitely ignore client’s large hands. They just mean he wears big gloves.
8. Don’t let client’s charm wear you down. Be strong.
9. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the client. You’ll lose more than your job—maybe even your heart.
10. If all else fails, see rule number one again.
Does the book engage you? Yes. It’s a classic uncertain girl with a super hot hunk with a dash of sports thrown in.
CHARACTERS
Are the characters convincing? Do they come alive for you? How would you describe them — as sympathetic, likeable, thoughtful, intelligent, innocent, naive, strong or weak? Something else? They do and don’t come alive for me. Zoey is likeable with a strong personality. Ryder is intelligent but self conscious that snowboarding is all he’s got going for him.
Do you identify with any characters? Are you able to look at events in the book through their eyes—even if you don’t like or approve of them? Do they remind you of people in your own life? Or yourself? Yes I can identify with the characters, unfortunately super sexy snowboarders are in my life at the moment.
Are characters developed psychologically and emotionally? Do you have access to their inner thoughts and motivations? Or do you know them mostly through dialogue and action? I didn’t see much of a character development for Zoey, she comes across as knowing what she wants from life while Ryder is scared to take risks that aren’t on the slope. You see the slow process he goes through to recognise what he has too loose if he doesn’t change his ways.
Do any characters change or grow by the end of the story? Do they come to view the world and their relationship to it differently? Ryder definitely grows and changes throw the plot. He understands that there’s more to life then snowboarding and that family doesn’t always know best.
PLOT
Is the story plot-driven, moving briskly from event to event? Or is it character-driven, moving more slowly, delving into characters’ inner-lives? The story is definitely plot driven, the author doesn’t detail the inner workings of the characters and the events that made them the people they are.
What is the story’s central conflict—character vs. character…vs. society…or vs. nature (external)? Or an emotional struggle within the character (internal)? How does the conflict create tension? There’s an emotional struggle for Ryder, can he be more than a snowboarder and succeed. His inner struggles make it difficult for him to make a decision quickly.
Is the plot chronological? Or does it veer back and forth between past and present? The plot is chronological, there’s not too much delving into the past in order to explain the characters reasonings.
Is the ending a surprise or predictable? Does the end unfold naturally? Or is it forced, heavy handed, or manipulative? Is the ending satisfying, or would you prefer a different ending? A little predictable hence picking it to read, I want a guy gets girl book, a happily ever after so too speak. The ending was adequate while I would have liked for Jason and Ryder to have stuck it to their grandparents!
POINT OF VIEW
Who tells the story—a character (1st-person narrator)? Or an unidentified voice outside the story (3rd-person narrator)? Does one person narrate—or are there shifting points of view? It’s a shifting point of view, swapping back and forth between Ryder and Zoey.
What does the narrator know? Is the narrator privy to the inner-life of one or more of the characters…or none? What does the narrator let you know? The narrators are privy to the inner life of the main characters as they ARE the main characters.
IMAGINATIVE DEVELOPMENT
What about theme—the larger meanings behind the work? What ideas does the author explore? What is he or she trying to say? The theme is well thought out, I thought there was an opportunity to develop the story further. Speed up parts and draw out others.
Symbols intensify meaning. Can you identify any in the book—people, actions or objects that stand for something greater than themselves? Yes. Ryder now knows that Zoey brings out the best in him, not snowboarding. He’s more than just a snowboarder.
SUMMARY
The Rule Maker is the second instalment to Jennifer Blackwood’s The Rule Breakers Series this time it centers around Ryder. A professional snowboarder who wants nothing to do with the family business. Then a snowboarding accident puts him out of action and bored clueless he offers to help his brother out on remodeling a property he’s purchased. This throws Ryder & Zoey together. One night with Ryder was all that she got…. no promises of more. Now Ryder’s back and Zoey has to protect her heart from non-committal Ryder.
Who knew a little time out was all that Ryder needed to put his life in perspective and Zoey right in his sights.
A really adorable, sweet romance with a sprinkling of sports to finish it off!
Score: 3.5/5
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS
Jennifer Blackwood is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She lives in Oregon with her husband, son, and poorly behaved black lab puppy. When not chasing after her toddler, you can find her binging on episodes of Gilmore Girls and Supernatural, and locking herself in her office to write.
Shelley B Reads 