Six Month Rule

by A.J. Pine
Kingston Ale House #2
Publication Date: July 18, 2016
Genres: Adult, Entangled, Select Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis: She created the game, but the rules are about to change.

Taurus: Hold fast to your single-minded nature today—no matter how long her legs or how lush her red lips.
Gemini: You were a shining star last night, but reality can be a real—well, you get the picture. Just remember: Tall, dark, and British equals no corner office for you.

Will Evans never wanted a reason to stay.

Holly Chandler wants nothing more than for him to go.

But neither one is prepared for what can happen in six months. Because it doesn’t matter what you want when what you need walks out the door.

Holly’s been busting her butt to make partner at Trousseau and there’s no way she’s going to let some stuck-up British arsehole get in her way—no matter how drop-dead gorgeous he is. But that doesn’t mean she can’t have a little fun in the process. She has a six-month rule: date just long enough for the honeymoon phase to wear off, then walk away before anyone gets hurt. If they both know the rules up front, walking away will be a piece of cake. Or maybe not…

*SIX MONTH RULE is a stand alone book in a connected series.

REVIEW:

Initially, I want to say that I requested this book from Netgalley, because I’ve read and loved Pine’s other books. She’s got a knack for creating characters with unstoppable chemistry and putting them in situations where I’m desperate to see what happens. So I had a good idea what I was getting into with this book, and SIX MONTH RULE didn’t disappoint. 

WHAT I LIKED:

1. Holly and Will’s relationship unfolded naturally, from the initial meeting to the last page. I loved watching these characters grow and change together.

2. The pacing is spot on. Scenes flow seamlessly from one to the next, with every scene deepening their bond or giving insight into the characters. Even the conflicts made perfect sense within the context of the story.

3. All the characters are interesting and well-rounded, not just Holly and Will.

4. The plot contained some interesting twists. Nothing earth-shattering, but I always appreciate when an author does something unexpected that works. 

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE:

1. Trying to fit Kingston Ale House into the book seemed a little forced. Who has a business meeting to discuss a high fashion show in a pub wearing jeans? It didn’t detract much from my enjoyment of the book, and I get that this is a series, but it struck me as odd. The other visits to the restaurant seemed more natural.

2. Holly’s paid so little that she always shops the sales racks and buys off-season clothes, but she takes a taxi to/from work every day – despite owning a car? I understand the frustrations of city parking, but that’s financially irresponsible, and it bugged me. At the very least, let me see her taking public transit if she doesn’t want to lose her space.

(Am I nitpicking? Absolutely. The book is excellent, so there aren’t any major problems.)

OVERALL:

A quick, fun read. I was a little annoyed when my plane landed early, because that meant I had to wait an interminable hour before seeing how it ended. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance. Five stars.

***I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

BUY:

DON’T MISS THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY, THE FIRST BOOK IN THE KINGSTON ALE HOUSE SERIES!

Synopsis: How far will one man go for the woman he’s loved since high school?

Jamie Kingston has been Brynn Chandler’s best friend since middle school. Only once was their friendship tested—when Brynn gave Jamie a single kiss. Since then, they’ve had an unspoken agreement never to cross that line again, and she’s ready to let go of the past and move on.

But Jamie has loved Brynn for as long as he can remember, and now that he’s ready to tell her, she has her sights set on someone else. Knowing this is his last chance, he asks Brynn to go on a two-week road trip. But their time alone brings old hurts to the surface, and Brynn has to decide if the one that got away lies at the end of the journey or if he’s been by her side all along.

BUY:

ABOUT A.J. PINE

AJ Pine writes stories to break readers’ hearts, but don’t worry—she’ll mend them with a happily ever after. As an English teacher and a librarian, AJ has always surrounded herself with books. All her favorites have one big commonality–romance. Naturally, her books have the same. When she’s not writing, she’s of course reading. Then there’s online shopping (everything from groceries to shoes) and, of course, a tiny bit of TV where she nourishes her undying love of vampires and superheroes. And in the midst of all of this, you’ll also find her hanging with her family in the Chicago burbs.

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