WOW! This book has heart pounding intrigue and romance... like panties on fire scenes!
The intensity of what Shane is dealing with and the secrets that Emily is hiding, not to mention the heat between them keeps you turning the page. I literally lost sleep reading this because I didnt want to put it down. Now I'm dying for the rest of the story.... when this book ended I scared my dogs because I shouted "Nooooooo"

Hard Rules is the first book in the Dirty Money series and what a way to start! The suspense In Hard Rules is perfect! I was hooked into the story fairly quickly and didn’t want to put it down while I was reading it. Both Shane and Emily have secrets, and that just adds to the depth of the entire situation in my opinion.

This review is one that is hard to write because I am worried that I am going to give something away and I don’t want to do that. I am going to keep this review short and sweet so I don’t spoil anything. Hard Rules does end with a cliffhanger so be prepared but I wasn’t upset because I just wanted more. Hard Rules is a suspense filled romance that once you start you won’t want to put it down and another great read from Ms. Jones. I think fans of hers will love this one.

It took me to the halfway mark before I found my way into this book. It is a good book that will keep you guessing until the end. Be prepared to read the next book as this ends on a cliffhanger. My full thoughts is posted at Scandalicious Book Reviews.

WHY???? You CAN'T leave it there. Whats her secret? Ahhhhh give me the next one NOW. Fab book and story line.

Rated 3.5 Stars

Hard Rules was an ok read for me. I usually love mafia themed romances but this one fell flat for me, neither the information dump at the beginning nor the fact that I could not connect with the characters helped matters. That said I would still read another of this author's books.

3.5 STARS~ Hard Rules by Lisa Renee Jones

*REVIEW POSTED ON CGBG BLOG*
WARNING THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

While the story is set at a slow pace (a little too slow for my liking) it didn't suck me into the story. Regrettably I can't say that it was a novel that I just had to read in one sitting. I couldn't help but to compare Hard Rules to Fifty Shades of Grey or Industrial Magic. Have you ever had one of those reads that you can't help but to compare it to previous reads?

Here's a few reasons why...

1) Shane is very controlling of his environment while Emily comes off as this shy innocent. Someone who shouldn't be tainted (see the connections?)

2) In Industrial Magic Lucas is strongly moving away from his family's business which is a hard thing to do when they are a cabal similar situation with Shane. A close call for his father has him in a power struggle with both his father and brother.

3) Where Lucas is you're fall on sexy geek, the same cannot be said for Shane he is out and out another Christian Grey.

(Apologies for the comparison but it's the only way I could describe how Hard Rules made me feel. All in all it had me comparing notes and finding it wanting in comparison)

Lisa Renee Jones had me intrigued with the development of Shane's and Emily's relationship. How their supposed differences would change the way that they act around the other.

Would I recommend Hard Rules It's a likeable read. Its missing that certain plot twist or that spark which is difficult to describe.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! Perfect balance of romance and plot!! Possibly my favourite of Lisa's books so far! Full review going up on my blog within the next few days!

I really enjoyed this book. It was very well written. It sucked me in really beautifully. If you like this kind of thing, you'll be really into it. The cliffhanger at the end made me go running for the follow-up book.

"And you were right. Alone is better, which is exactly how I planned to spend this night. Until I saw you and alone wasn’t better anymore. And now I know why. You want what I want."

Hard Rules is a sexy, suspenseful, and downright confusing at times, story of family, loyalty, and the ties that bind. It’s the first book in the Dirty Money series, a series that, from even just this first book, is shaping up to be quite the Brandon family saga. Secrets and lies, mystery and intrigue, passion and betrayal…sounds just like all the things to love about a soap opera, doesn’t it?

Shane Brandon- the lawyer, the good son, the one who plays by the rules and does things by the book, has returned to Denver to help turn the family business around. Actually, “turn the family business around” is not quite accurate- he’s there to make sure business is, and stays, on the up and up. He’s in for a fight not only with his brother, but with his father as well, both of whom have no problem straddling, and more often than not, crossing the line into some shady situations. At times it was hard to understand exactly what was happening- how the dots were connecting. There was so much going on I honestly found myself a little lost at different points in the story. The prologue had me intrigued right from the start, but then it seemed either I got off course, or the story did, at least as far as what was happening with the Brandon family empire. I never quite figured out how the prologue related to the rest of the book. And that could just be on me, and maybe I need to go back and read that part again.

What I really enjoyed the most about Hard Rules is the relationship between Shane and Emily. They started with a “meet cute” but from then on nothing about their interactions was cute…and I’m so okay with that! These are 2 lonely people who just, luckily, happen across each other, at a time when both could really use some human connection. Things heat up pretty quickly between them, but that’s not all there is to them. They’re both very intelligent, and Emily is able to hold her own with the very alpha and dominant Shane. But Emily is a mystery. As much as she opens up to Shane there are still things she’s hiding- she’s got secrets that so far she’s not comfortable sharing, and that may be just what ends these 2 before they can really begin.

And can you say holy cliffhanger?!? That ending has left me with more questions than answers! And I need answers, desperately!

*Reviewed for The Book Enthusiast.

In the begining it was hard to get into this book, but when I did get caught up in the story I was captivated. I truly enjoyed it, and in typical fashion there were so many twists and turns, and I was left with so many, SO MANY questions.

I'm not a huge fan of suspense mystery reads with romance or not but Lisa Renee Jones has a way with writing all three into a story and I love it. I don't find myself getting board I get swept up with the characters, their love, and the mystery of everything. This story is no different, although slow a bit in the begining, I was captivated all the same through till the end.

Emily and Shane wont disappoint, you'll love them for sure. Shane is hot and powerful and Emily can't seem to resist him, and you wont be able to either. Just like all the Hero's Lisa Renee Jones writes you'll swoon over him. Emily is very much a mystery and part of the reason that I wish to continue reading this series.

I can't wait for the next book. I need it immediately I can't, CAN'T wait to read it!!

I desperately wanted to love this book and I did enjoy it. I love Lisa Renee Jones as an author and I was thrilled to get this book on NetGalley. With that said, I miss the spark that her "Inside Out" series had. I could relate to the characters & I loved seeing the intensity in the story line.

Hard Rules is a good novel and I loved the concept and for the most part, I enjoyed the characters. Unfortunately, it just didn't live up to her other series. I'm hoping that that changes with the next installment.

I did have one major issue with the book but that is on the triple shot latte. Seriously, a triple shot latte is not that strong of coffee. I know that it is a very small part of the book but all I could think of is "what a whimp" when it came to the description of how strong the coffee is. Seriously, three shots of espresso & the rest steamed milk is simply a large latte with an extra shot. (Yes, my coffee rant is over).

All in all, this was a fun book that has a nice little cliffhanger ending.

4-4.25 stars. This was really good! Beware of the cliffhanger, though. I knew it was coming though, so I was okay with it. Just know going in, that it's not a complete story. It reads like a serial. But I was wrapped up in the story so much that I didn't care.

This is Emily and Shane's story. Shane is in a fierce battle with his father and brother over control of their family company. Shane's father is dying and his brother is dragging the company into illegal activities. Shane has left his job as a lawyer to come fight his family to push the company towards the legal side of business. He meets Emily is a coffee shop and is intrigued. She is clearly on the run from something or someone. It is not revealed yet who or what. She just moved to Denver with hardly any belongings and a burner phone. She gets a job at Shane's family company, unknowingly. Shane and Emily feel a deep connection to each other and begin a relationship despite both of their misgivings to drag each other into their problems. But Shane's family and their criminal activities and Emily's past look like they are going to put a big wrench into their burgeoning feelings for each other.

I really liked both Emily and Shane. They are both really good characters. You can tell that they are both good people caught up in bad circumstances. We don't know what Emily is running from or much about her past, but we know she is not a "bad guy". Ms. Jones is very good at creating chemistry and connection, a sense of suspense and sexiness, and great complex characters. Her writing is so good. There was not a lot revealed in the story. It is very mysterious and not a lot of action happened, but I was still enthralled.

Overall, this was a very good start to a serious and I can't wait to find out more about Emily and see her relationship with Shane develop. Luckily, I only have to wait a few weeks for book 2, Damage Control.

I read this in one sitting and it was really really good!!!! Shane and Derek's interactions and relationship were awesome! Gripping and fast paced for me to hold my attention! I liked the descriptions of the world and there were a lot of different things going on at once, and I loved that too! Well written and I will recommend to anyone!!!

Hard Rules: Dirty Money Series by Lisa Renee Jones is the first book in this series and is full of suspense, mystery and romance. It will keep you on the edge of your seat full of twist and turns that make you want more. I can’t wait for the next book!!!

Here you have the beginning of another wonderful series from Lisa Renee Jones. There wasn't a dull moment in this book. Plenty of chemistry and action with a terrific backstory. Lisa really knows how to keep you wanting more. Hard Rules is going to be a hard one to top! I am now really looking forward to reading Damage Control as soon as I can!!

Hard Rules by Lisa Renee Jones is book one in the Dirty Money series.
And believe me there is Dirty Money involved. And also Hard Rules.
I´m a Lisa Renee Jones newbie and I was very excited to read this book. And what can I say I was so not disappopinted.
This book has all the things I like in a good read.
A drug cartel, a lawyer, brothers- good and evil, and sweet sweet love, sacrifice and stupidity of men.
What I didn´t like but would endure is the cliffie.
Please I can´t wait till the next book in this series.
5 Stars and Thank you Lisa Renee Jones !!

This novel is fantastic... I can't wait to read the next book in the Dirty Money series. Much like the Careless Whispers series, I was sucked in completely.

I love organised crime/mafia books. It's always interesting what an author will do with a story of this genre.
After seeing that the author mentioned in the blurb that this book was Wall Street meets Sons of Anarchy, it really got my interest going. I love Sons of Anarchy, the ruthlessness, the war, the whole messed up world, so I thought that this may be a good read for me.

Going into this story, I was kind of let down fast. The story is extremely slow moving throughout the whole book. I found the book quite boring and I could feel my mind wondering while reading. I was expecting more suspense, twists and turns to the story.
Shane and Emily connection wasn't something I felt at all. The seem to fall quick and fast, but it didn't do it for me. I didn't feel they had a deep connection at all.

I am interested to see what Emily's secret will be. I have my predictions but I want to see if I will be right. I will continue on with this story for now and hope it get's better!

Hard Rules is the first book in the three book trilogy - Dirty Money. Be warned - there is a cliffhanger here. Although I hate cliffhangers, it works well here and I loved Hard Rules.

Shane Brandon is trying to straighten out his crooked family when he meets Emily Stevens. She seems like a light in his sometimes-dark world, and he wants her. What he doesn’t know is Emily is hiding something from him and isn’t who he thinks she is.

Hard Rules is steamy romance and a family drama mixed with an engaging romantic suspense story that will have you counting down the days until the next book, Damage Control, is released.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1CMD35687GT5/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B015WAHK2I