This is a spoiler-free review! Rule is currently available for free on iBooks and Kindle.
I told myself I should take a break from an arranged marriage book and yet here I am, reading the third one in a row. What can I say, the heart wants what the heart wants. Willow is thrust into a marriage that neither she or Maddox want to take part in, but Maddox understands that it is just one more thing to do in order for his family to stay in power.
The tension between Willow and Maddox is brewing in the beginning of the book, but as their story goes on, it becomes astronomical, even if Willow is still going against everything Maddox tells her to do. Stay in the estate? Willow thinks not. Not speaking to his uncle, Asher? Willow just wants to chat! Her survival skills are subpar to say the least, and marrying into a powerful and deadly family is such to knock some sense into her quick.
Ever the playboy, Maddox is still running around town acting like a fraternity brother who thinks he runs the school. At first, maybe charming in the "his ego is too big for him" kind of way, but it quickly grows old as he continues to leave his wife sitting alone at every chance he gets. The smut scenes definitely build up as the story progresses, and were pretty typical of what is scene in darker romance books.
Willow is a 21-year-old who is book smart and curious, leaving nothing to rest until she knows exactly what is going on. Unfortunately for Maddox, he does everything to avoid answering her questions as he tries to keep her in the dark and away from his family's business. Compared to Maddox's 28 years, she has some growing up to do -- her naivety is refreshing to Maddox, but only for a short time until it becomes detrimental to her survival in their house and being a part of his family.
There is a suspense aspect to this book that deeply reminds me of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, in the sense that all of a sudden there is a new character introduced that has now become the Big Bad of the book. However, I am a sucker for the "Where is my wife?" line, so I was happily turning each page hoping for something to happen -- and boy did it.
Everyone loves keeping secrets in this book, especially when it came to figuring out why Willow was so special and the perfect choice for Maddox to marry. Her father owed a debt, yet she is the price he had to pay -- with no regret, I might add. His role of concerning father could have definitely used some more tears or resistance if he actually cared about what was happening to his daughter.
I would have loved to see more of Maddox and Willow's relationship when they actually communicated with one another -- as much as I loved the tension between them, they felt disconnected from each other during the third act of the book. I do think they made a lot of progress in their relationship, especially considering they did not know each other when they were married.
For fans of The Ritual by Shantel Tessier that are looking for a tamer arranged marriage or forced proximity trope, Rule will certainly fill the void. A quick read for anyone in need of a steamy read to get back into romance and take a ride on the more taboo side of the genre.
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