Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Beautiful Broken Rules by Kimberly Lauren

What happens when you create rules to keep others out?

One thing Emerson Moore has come to terms with is that she is the school slut. She knows her way around a frat house and how to get what she wants. She doesn’t make any excuses for her actions and she doesn’t pretend to be anything different. She is who she is and with that she knows how to have a good time. She’s made rules to keep relationships at bay and avoid the demons of her past.

When her best friend, Cole, has his two friends from back home move in with him she begins to think she has met her match with Jaxon Riley. Jax is the perfect mixture of tattooed muscle and a sweet-talking outh. With “hand” written notes, a voice that exudes sex and knowing just how to get under his skin, Jaxon learns how to break all the rules. But will he just end up breaking her heart anyway?


*The author provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*





That was my thought when Kimberly offered me an ARC of Beautiful Broken Rules, and holy sweet Moses, I was not disappointed. In case you haven’t read any of my other reviews – well…first of all, why the eff haven’t you? Second of all, I love angst. I eat it up like Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream! I could eat a whole pint of that in one sitting, it’s fucking dangerous. I did the same with this novel – devoured it in one sitting.



Emerson is damaged. She is also the school slut and isn't ashamed or afraid to admit it. She doesn't want a relationship at all. She’s never had a boyfriend and just the thought of anyone calling her their girlfriend petrifies her. So, to make sure no one gets too close, she establishes a set of rules – one being, never sleep with the same guy more than three times. She has never made an exception to this rule and doesn't intend to; but she also doesn't intend on meeting Jaxon Riley – the one guy that makes her want to break every rule in her book, even if the thought of that terrifies the hell out of her.



Jaxon just transferred from a college in Texas and moves into an apartment with one of Emerson’s best friend, Cole. This apartment also happens to be right next to Emerson and her sister, Quinn. After a very exposed first meeting between Em and Jax, he can’t seem to shake her from his mind. He wants to be the one to show her that she doesn’t need rules, and she certainly doesn’t need any other guy occupying her time…or her bed. He is willing to help this broken girl cope with her past, but just how many times can she push him away before he decides to walk away on his own?

I was slightly worried after the first few chapters. I thought this was going to be a love at first sight-fall in love in a week- type romance, and I don’t usually care for those type of love stories. I am sooo happy to say it’s not. The connection between Jaxon and Emerson is instant, but the love isn’t. Kimberly did a fantastic job of expanding the story over a wide time frame, which allowed me to see the relationship between them grow stronger and stronger – with a few nice, big scoops of “are you fucking kidding me?!” thrown in there and some seriously steamy scenes sprinkled on top. One in particular involves the back room at the bar Emerson works at, and I mean…..JE-SUS CHRIST. It’s ridiculous. And I say that in the best way possible.

I couldn’t quite give Beautiful Broken Rules 5 stars for a couple reasons. Some of Jaxon’s actions irked me, and his constant threats to beat up every guy that talked to or touched Emerson got old. I also didn’t quite understand why everyone took Emerson’s side after one round of shit went down between her and Jaxon when it was entirely her fault. I thought the threats coming from Cole to Jaxon were kind of unnecessary – I mean, he’s best friends with both of them. But it didn’t seem like that most of the time.


Overall though, I loved this novel and I loved Emerson and Jaxon. If you want sex, angst, love, heartbreak, and quite possibly the sweetest fucking way to give someone a love note ever, read this book and read it now! I’d also highly recommend a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream…just because it’s fucking delicious and I guarantee you'll devour it, just like you will this novel. 




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