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หลังจากใช้ชีวิตอยู่ในคุกมา 15 ปี แจ็กสัน รูล จำต้องเริ่มชีวิตใหม่นอกคุกทั้งที่อยู่ว่าหนทางข้างหน้านั้นแทบไม่มีให้เดิน สังคมจะตราหน้าเขาว่าเป็น “ไอ้ขี้คุกใจชั่ว” ที่ฆ่าพ่อตัวเองได้ลงคอ ความผิดบาปใหญ่หลวงนี้ได้กักขังแจ็กสัน รูล ไว้จากโลกภายนอก และเมื่อเขาก้าวออกมาสู่อิสรภาพอีกครั้ง หัวใจของแจ็กสันยังคงไม่หลุดจากพันธนาการ เขาเริ่มต้นชีวิตใหม่ ซ่อนหัวใจอ่อนโยนไว้ภายใต้หน้ากากอันเย็นชา กระทั่งพบดอกไม้กลางทะเลทราย...รีเบคกา ฮิล รีเบคการับแจ็กสันเข้าทำงานทั้งที่รู้ว่าเขาเคยต้องโทษสถานใด เธอให้โอกาสเขาและวางเดิมพันครั้งนี้ด้วยหัวใจของตัวเอง
310 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
81 people are currently reading
1477 people want to read
About the author
Dinah McCall
20 books162 followersDinah McCall is a pseudonym for author Sharon Sala.
It was a job she hated that drove Sharon Sala to put the first page of paper in an old typewriter, but it was the love of the craft that kept her writing. Her first efforts at writing came in 1980 when she began a book that wound up under her bed. A second book followed in 1981 and suffered a similar fate, but she claims the writing bug had bitten hard. However, she let life and the demands of a growing family delay her from continuing until a tragedy struck.
Her father died in May of 1985 after a lingering illness, and then, only two months later, her only sister died unexpectedly. She vowed then and there that she was not going to wind up on her deathbed one day with regrets for not following through on her dreams.
She joined writers' groups and attended conferences, and she slowly learned her way around the written page. By 1989, she decided she had come far enough in her writing to attempt another try at book-length fiction and began a book that would later be entitled Sara's Angel. As fate would have it, the first publisher she sent it to bought it, and she hasn't looked back.
As a farmer's daughter, and then for many years a farmer's wife, Sharon escaped the drudgeries of life through the pages of books, and now, as a writer, she finds herself often living out her dreams. Through traveling and speaking and the countless thousands of fan letters she has received, Sharon has touched many lives. One faithful reader has crowned her the "Reba of Romance," while others claim she's a magician with words.
Her stories are often dark, dealing with the realities of this world, and yet she's able to weave hope and love within the words for the readers who clamor for her latest works.
Her books repeatedly make the bestseller lists, including those of The New York Times, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly, and the Waldenbooks mass market fiction list, and she's been nominated for a RITA® Award seven times, which is the romance writer's equivalent of having an Oscar or an Emmy nomination.
Always an optimist in the face of bad times, she finds that many of the stories she writes come to her in dreams, but there's nothing fanciful about her work. She puts her faith in God and still trusts in love and the belief that, no matter what, everything comes full circle.
It was a job she hated that drove Sharon Sala to put the first page of paper in an old typewriter, but it was the love of the craft that kept her writing. Her first efforts at writing came in 1980 when she began a book that wound up under her bed. A second book followed in 1981 and suffered a similar fate, but she claims the writing bug had bitten hard. However, she let life and the demands of a growing family delay her from continuing until a tragedy struck.
Her father died in May of 1985 after a lingering illness, and then, only two months later, her only sister died unexpectedly. She vowed then and there that she was not going to wind up on her deathbed one day with regrets for not following through on her dreams.
She joined writers' groups and attended conferences, and she slowly learned her way around the written page. By 1989, she decided she had come far enough in her writing to attempt another try at book-length fiction and began a book that would later be entitled Sara's Angel. As fate would have it, the first publisher she sent it to bought it, and she hasn't looked back.
As a farmer's daughter, and then for many years a farmer's wife, Sharon escaped the drudgeries of life through the pages of books, and now, as a writer, she finds herself often living out her dreams. Through traveling and speaking and the countless thousands of fan letters she has received, Sharon has touched many lives. One faithful reader has crowned her the "Reba of Romance," while others claim she's a magician with words.
Her stories are often dark, dealing with the realities of this world, and yet she's able to weave hope and love within the words for the readers who clamor for her latest works.
Her books repeatedly make the bestseller lists, including those of The New York Times, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly, and the Waldenbooks mass market fiction list, and she's been nominated for a RITA® Award seven times, which is the romance writer's equivalent of having an Oscar or an Emmy nomination.
Always an optimist in the face of bad times, she finds that many of the stories she writes come to her in dreams, but there's nothing fanciful about her work. She puts her faith in God and still trusts in love and the belief that, no matter what, everything comes full circle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
July 19, 2010
If you are looking to read a book with a hero who has really, really gotten a bad break in life, look no further! Poor Jackson. He went to prison for fifteen years. He was sixteen years old. I cannot imagine how that must have been. Only to serve his time and go out into a world where few people are willing to look past what they think he is: ex-con, murderer, trash. I like to think that a person should be given a clean slate in life. I guess that doesn't really happen in real life. I don't want to get into my beliefs about the criminal justice system, because I don't think anyone wants to hear them. But, I will say that I think a person who serves their time and is willing to live an honest life, should get the opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, that's harder than it seems. For people generally take things at face value, and let their fears and suspicions rule them (I am not excluding myself from this).
I was surprised at how narrow-minded and judgmental Rebecca's reverend father was. I do realize that many Christians (but not all) are true to this portrayal of Reverend Hill. They are goody-goody and never miss church, but do not show their true beliefs through their actions. I was glad that Rebecca tried to live true to his teaching and her faith, and she called him on his hypocrisy. And Reverend Hill is forced to search his own heart and realize his own actions do not show what he preaches and believes.
In contrast to Reverend Hill, Rebecca and a few others were willing to give Jackson a chance. In fact, Rebecca was more loving and understanding to Jackson than he was to himself. He had a huge case of self-hatred! It was hard to deal with at times, but given his awful childhood and the fact that he spent almost half his life in prison, I could see why he was this way.
The cynical reader would probably find Jackson's continued shows of goodness a bit too much. Let's count:
1)Saves Rebecca by pulling her out of the path of an oncoming vehicle, and fixing her truck which had overheated for free.
2)Saves his next-door neighbor child from his abusive father, and later from a fire
3)Does CPR on Pete (a coworker and friend of Rebecca) when he has a heart-attack, thus saving his life.
4)Reads to, spends time with, and counsels young children who live at the shelter where he volunteers.
5)And there's a big whoozy, which is a major spoiler, so I won't say, but I'm counting it.
This wasn't an issue for me. I liked that his actions showed what a good person he was, even though people assumed the worst of him. He was very innocent in many ways. A sweet boy who had been weighed, judged, and found wanting, and given no first or second chances in life. This book made me cry a few times. I'm the kind of girl who likes to believe that people are good and good things happen to good people. Deep down, I'm an optimist, which is why I do like feel good romances (disguised as deeply angsty and sad romances with deleriously happy endings). So, this book did not fail to impress me. I know that some people will find this book too sappy. I can't speak for them. I loved this book, and I wanted to give Jackson a big, huge hug. I'm glad that he has Rebecca and other loved ones to do that for me.
I was surprised at how narrow-minded and judgmental Rebecca's reverend father was. I do realize that many Christians (but not all) are true to this portrayal of Reverend Hill. They are goody-goody and never miss church, but do not show their true beliefs through their actions. I was glad that Rebecca tried to live true to his teaching and her faith, and she called him on his hypocrisy. And Reverend Hill is forced to search his own heart and realize his own actions do not show what he preaches and believes.
In contrast to Reverend Hill, Rebecca and a few others were willing to give Jackson a chance. In fact, Rebecca was more loving and understanding to Jackson than he was to himself. He had a huge case of self-hatred! It was hard to deal with at times, but given his awful childhood and the fact that he spent almost half his life in prison, I could see why he was this way.
The cynical reader would probably find Jackson's continued shows of goodness a bit too much. Let's count:
1)Saves Rebecca by pulling her out of the path of an oncoming vehicle, and fixing her truck which had overheated for free.
2)Saves his next-door neighbor child from his abusive father, and later from a fire
3)Does CPR on Pete (a coworker and friend of Rebecca) when he has a heart-attack, thus saving his life.
4)Reads to, spends time with, and counsels young children who live at the shelter where he volunteers.
5)And there's a big whoozy, which is a major spoiler, so I won't say, but I'm counting it.
This wasn't an issue for me. I liked that his actions showed what a good person he was, even though people assumed the worst of him. He was very innocent in many ways. A sweet boy who had been weighed, judged, and found wanting, and given no first or second chances in life. This book made me cry a few times. I'm the kind of girl who likes to believe that people are good and good things happen to good people. Deep down, I'm an optimist, which is why I do like feel good romances (disguised as deeply angsty and sad romances with deleriously happy endings). So, this book did not fail to impress me. I know that some people will find this book too sappy. I can't speak for them. I loved this book, and I wanted to give Jackson a big, huge hug. I'm glad that he has Rebecca and other loved ones to do that for me.
August 30, 2013
Opening Line: “The urge to run was overwhelming. But Andrew Jackson had not survived the last fifteen years in a maximum security prison by running so he walked through the last set of locked gates leading to the outside world.”
Now I know this is a favourite read for many people and I really wanted to love it. Based on reviews I expected to love it and I did fall pretty hard for the hero Jackson but due to the high cheese factor and melodramatics of the heroine I can only give it 3 stars.
The story was good enough, I mean convicted murderer and preachers daughter hooking up, okay you’ve got my attention, sounds intriguing. And the hero was kinda awesome; all emotionally tortured and misunderstood, riding around on his Harley, looking sexy and just wanting to be loved. But the heroine, jeez she drove me crazy with her gasping, feinting, sobbing and over the top tantrums. How do these TSTL women keep getting all the great guys?
Yes the melodramatics were high here which was too bad. Ultimately I could have overlooked those moments but then we also had the stilted and phony dialogue to contend with. I mean who talks like this…
“When she tried the lights she found to her dismay that they didn't work. “Pooh" she said, (really, Pooh?!) but she wasn't afraid of the dark. She knew this place like the back of her hand."
And the love scenes, I actually eye rolled and cringed my way through those because of the clichéd sappiness…
"The room was dark, but they didn't need light to see with their hearts."
“Their dance was timeless and yet for them all too new.”
Part of my problem may have stemmed from the fact that I went into this expecting a somewhat darker read. Where I got that idea I’m not entirely sure (the back blurb?) but this is definitely not dark, some of the themes sure, but not the writing.
Jackson Rule has just been released from prison after serving a fifteen year sentence for manslaughter. Convicted at the age of 15 he lost his youth inside the walls of Angola State Pen. Now at 31 Jackson has a lot of catching up to do, but society doesn’t give many breaks to an ex con and in the first few chapters we watch as he frustratingly tries to reconnect with his sister and build a life for himself. Getting a job proves the hardest, especially without a driver’s license and it’s just dumb luck that sees him filling out an application at Rebecca Hill’s nursery. For some reason she see’s something in him others don’t and is willing to look beyond his past mistakes. After all he’s done his time. Her father the preacher however is another matter entirely.
Of course the sparks fly between our couple, Rebecca knows that Jackson is a good man –probably because he keeps rescuing people (from burning buildings, from would be rapists, from heart attacks) but Jackson is emotionally scarred from the violence in his past and tries to keep his distance, feeling that his reputation would ruin Rebecca. Really though it’s just a matter of time.
Lots of readers love this story so don’t take my word for it, this isn’t a bad book and Jackson is worth putting up with a silly heroine and some corny dialogue for. Cheers.
303jb3
Now I know this is a favourite read for many people and I really wanted to love it. Based on reviews I expected to love it and I did fall pretty hard for the hero Jackson but due to the high cheese factor and melodramatics of the heroine I can only give it 3 stars.
The story was good enough, I mean convicted murderer and preachers daughter hooking up, okay you’ve got my attention, sounds intriguing. And the hero was kinda awesome; all emotionally tortured and misunderstood, riding around on his Harley, looking sexy and just wanting to be loved. But the heroine, jeez she drove me crazy with her gasping, feinting, sobbing and over the top tantrums. How do these TSTL women keep getting all the great guys?
Yes the melodramatics were high here which was too bad. Ultimately I could have overlooked those moments but then we also had the stilted and phony dialogue to contend with. I mean who talks like this…
“When she tried the lights she found to her dismay that they didn't work. “Pooh" she said, (really, Pooh?!) but she wasn't afraid of the dark. She knew this place like the back of her hand."
And the love scenes, I actually eye rolled and cringed my way through those because of the clichéd sappiness…
"The room was dark, but they didn't need light to see with their hearts."
“Their dance was timeless and yet for them all too new.”
Part of my problem may have stemmed from the fact that I went into this expecting a somewhat darker read. Where I got that idea I’m not entirely sure (the back blurb?) but this is definitely not dark, some of the themes sure, but not the writing.
Jackson Rule has just been released from prison after serving a fifteen year sentence for manslaughter. Convicted at the age of 15 he lost his youth inside the walls of Angola State Pen. Now at 31 Jackson has a lot of catching up to do, but society doesn’t give many breaks to an ex con and in the first few chapters we watch as he frustratingly tries to reconnect with his sister and build a life for himself. Getting a job proves the hardest, especially without a driver’s license and it’s just dumb luck that sees him filling out an application at Rebecca Hill’s nursery. For some reason she see’s something in him others don’t and is willing to look beyond his past mistakes. After all he’s done his time. Her father the preacher however is another matter entirely.
Of course the sparks fly between our couple, Rebecca knows that Jackson is a good man –probably because he keeps rescuing people (from burning buildings, from would be rapists, from heart attacks) but Jackson is emotionally scarred from the violence in his past and tries to keep his distance, feeling that his reputation would ruin Rebecca. Really though it’s just a matter of time.
Lots of readers love this story so don’t take my word for it, this isn’t a bad book and Jackson is worth putting up with a silly heroine and some corny dialogue for. Cheers.
303jb3
December 5, 2010
This was a disappointing read for me. I had been super excited to read it based on the unusual pairing of a preacher's daughter and an ex-con, but as I was reading it I could swear I heard the story's squeaky little voice begging to be heard from under a mountain of plot and bland telling.
Andrew Jackson Rule, newly released from Angola prison after serving 15 years for the murder of his father, heads to New Orleans to start putting his new life together. After walking into town when a short run-in with a woman at a country store causes him to miss his bus, he sets himself up in a dingy apartment in a bad part of town. Now 32, he's determined to keep his head down and work hard to make a living for himself and his mentally ill sister. He buys an old Harley from a junk shop and sets out to find himself a job.
Just outside the city, Rebecca Hill runs a garden shop and nursery, with her father's friend as her lone employee. Looking for an additional set of hands around the place, she'd taken out an ad in the newspaper. When the man who had saved her from falling into traffic outside a country store walks in to apply, she's intrigued by the gruff stranger. Even after he divulges his history, she decides to take a chance and hire him on, remembering her preacher father's exhortations to judge not lest ye be judged.
So I think your average romance reader can predict how the story goes. They'l be wildly attracted to each other. He'll push her away boorishly because he thinks he's not good enough. The preacher father will disapprove of Jackson then have a crisis of faith over being judgemental. She'll be feisty and martyr-like, becoming more and more enthralled with him the more he withdraws. Circumstances will change, some sort of truth will out and the HEA bursts onto the scene.
But, whatever. I don't necessarily begrudge a formula. I read Harlequins by the milk crate. What I do begrudge is a formula plainly told to me. I don't like being managed.
What McCall failed to do was make her idea for a story come to life. She was constantly telling me what people did and what exactly they were thinking. Lest I ever wonder what anybody might be thinking at any point, she liberally hops from head to head to let me know. No character is spared, no matter how ephemeral their presence.
As a result, the plot is just so obvious. I had started to wonder early-on if maybe he'd be a virgin, since he'd been in custody since he was 16. No sooner had I wondered than I was informed on page 35 that he wasn't.
Unfortunately, the whole of the book's character development is engineered in this bloodless sort of way. Jackson's goodness is displayed by saving Rebecca from two bizarre near-rapes, performing CPR on his co-worker, romping with a homeless shelter full of woefully undeveloped plot moppets and so on and so forth. Since it's all just told to me, I felt rather beaten over the head with it. "Yes, I get you, he's the hero and has a heart of gold. Can we get on to giving these people personalities yet?" Unfortunately, talking to 15 year old books does not yield results, and the characters ended the book the shallow plot vehicles they began.
I'm not sure why I was so turned off by this book when so many people list this as a favorite. I can see the potential, and I'm more than aware of what the author was going for, but the propensity for telling and the over-obvious symbolism completely prevented me from connecting to the characters. What a shame.
Andrew Jackson Rule, newly released from Angola prison after serving 15 years for the murder of his father, heads to New Orleans to start putting his new life together. After walking into town when a short run-in with a woman at a country store causes him to miss his bus, he sets himself up in a dingy apartment in a bad part of town. Now 32, he's determined to keep his head down and work hard to make a living for himself and his mentally ill sister. He buys an old Harley from a junk shop and sets out to find himself a job.
Just outside the city, Rebecca Hill runs a garden shop and nursery, with her father's friend as her lone employee. Looking for an additional set of hands around the place, she'd taken out an ad in the newspaper. When the man who had saved her from falling into traffic outside a country store walks in to apply, she's intrigued by the gruff stranger. Even after he divulges his history, she decides to take a chance and hire him on, remembering her preacher father's exhortations to judge not lest ye be judged.
So I think your average romance reader can predict how the story goes. They'l be wildly attracted to each other. He'll push her away boorishly because he thinks he's not good enough. The preacher father will disapprove of Jackson then have a crisis of faith over being judgemental. She'll be feisty and martyr-like, becoming more and more enthralled with him the more he withdraws. Circumstances will change, some sort of truth will out and the HEA bursts onto the scene.
But, whatever. I don't necessarily begrudge a formula. I read Harlequins by the milk crate. What I do begrudge is a formula plainly told to me. I don't like being managed.
What McCall failed to do was make her idea for a story come to life. She was constantly telling me what people did and what exactly they were thinking. Lest I ever wonder what anybody might be thinking at any point, she liberally hops from head to head to let me know. No character is spared, no matter how ephemeral their presence.
As a result, the plot is just so obvious. I had started to wonder early-on if maybe he'd be a virgin, since he'd been in custody since he was 16. No sooner had I wondered than I was informed on page 35 that he wasn't.
The memory of his fifteenth birthday and an older and obliging woman who'd lived in a trailer near theirs came swiftly, along with the lessons she had taught him. By the time he'd reached sixteen, Jackson had been well-versed in the ways of making love.Right then, we'll just have to take her word that he's a great lover. He also had a comfortable bank balance sitting around from when he was working at a grocery as a 14 and 15 year old. Could she have contrived any more obviously to fit him to the genre standard for heroes?
Unfortunately, the whole of the book's character development is engineered in this bloodless sort of way. Jackson's goodness is displayed by saving Rebecca from two bizarre near-rapes, performing CPR on his co-worker, romping with a homeless shelter full of woefully undeveloped plot moppets and so on and so forth. Since it's all just told to me, I felt rather beaten over the head with it. "Yes, I get you, he's the hero and has a heart of gold. Can we get on to giving these people personalities yet?" Unfortunately, talking to 15 year old books does not yield results, and the characters ended the book the shallow plot vehicles they began.
I'm not sure why I was so turned off by this book when so many people list this as a favorite. I can see the potential, and I'm more than aware of what the author was going for, but the propensity for telling and the over-obvious symbolism completely prevented me from connecting to the characters. What a shame.
February 17, 2014
3.5 Stars!
The story's been done before, although since Jackson Rule was published nearly 20 years ago, it might well have been the trendsetter for this plot line. There were times when Jackson Rule, the man, was little too good to be true, and his story started to ooze sap. For a man who spent 15 years locked away I would have thought he would be more bitter, I wanted him to have more of an edge, but he softened up awfully quick. He was everyone's hero, which I found charming at first and then the exaggerated heroics nearly became too much! I wanted to slap Rebecca's father upside the head! For a preacher man he wasn't one to easily forgive, he didn't "practice what he preached" and his dislike of Jackson got on my nerves.
If I had one major issue it would be . I found it hard to grasp. Then again stranger things have happened.
As much as I'm complaining I did love Jackson, there is something about the underdog, the man who's been wronged, that grabs my heart every time! I also liked that Rebecca never judged him, and gave him the time and space to find his way to her.
For the most part, I enjoyed the book and found myself flipping through the pages towards the finish, and was left feeling good!
*Thanks for the rec Crista!*
December 22, 2014
Overall rating: 5 +++ stars!!!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
HEA:
My review:
Where do I start with this gem! I absolutely adored this book from start to finish. I didn't want to put it down! It was such a breathe of fresh air.
In this story we have Jackson Rule who has just finished his 15 year sentence in jail for killing his father. Jackson was severely abused as a child along with his sister Molly. He meets the lovely Rebecca with the fiery red hair pretty much right away. Their meeting was priceless. I don't want to give too much away in regards to the plot but basically they meet again a few days later and sparks are flying all over the place. Rebecca is the preacher's daughter - so she is fighting her feelings for that reason, even though she does stand up for and except Jackson for who he is. She is the only person to really give him a chance and Jackson doesn't know how to deal with that. He does push her away quite a bit, but it is hard for him to let someone so pure love a man like him - a murderer, a killer. He is also guarding a huge secret that he cannot let go of. Watching their love blossom was just beautiful. Even though Jackson could be a prick when he would push Rebecca away, I loved her fiery attitude and how she pushed him right back. They were perfect for each other. I also loved that even though Jackson JUST got out of jail after being celibate for over 15 years, he DOES NOT go right out and screw the first woman he sees. Quite the opposite actually. He just isn't that type of person and doesn't WANT to become that person just because he is out of jail. I don't want to say anymore or give any of the plot away, but this is such a wonderful love story. I just ate it up!!!!
Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
HEA:
My review:
Where do I start with this gem! I absolutely adored this book from start to finish. I didn't want to put it down! It was such a breathe of fresh air.
In this story we have Jackson Rule who has just finished his 15 year sentence in jail for killing his father. Jackson was severely abused as a child along with his sister Molly. He meets the lovely Rebecca with the fiery red hair pretty much right away. Their meeting was priceless. I don't want to give too much away in regards to the plot but basically they meet again a few days later and sparks are flying all over the place. Rebecca is the preacher's daughter - so she is fighting her feelings for that reason, even though she does stand up for and except Jackson for who he is. She is the only person to really give him a chance and Jackson doesn't know how to deal with that. He does push her away quite a bit, but it is hard for him to let someone so pure love a man like him - a murderer, a killer. He is also guarding a huge secret that he cannot let go of. Watching their love blossom was just beautiful. Even though Jackson could be a prick when he would push Rebecca away, I loved her fiery attitude and how she pushed him right back. They were perfect for each other. I also loved that even though Jackson JUST got out of jail after being celibate for over 15 years, he DOES NOT go right out and screw the first woman he sees. Quite the opposite actually. He just isn't that type of person and doesn't WANT to become that person just because he is out of jail. I don't want to say anymore or give any of the plot away, but this is such a wonderful love story. I just ate it up!!!!
May 29, 2011
Jackson Rule has been released from prison after 15 years. He went in as a 16 year old boy and has spent his youth inside but he has no regrets. Prison released him and his sister from a horrific father and it was worth the price. The only thing he wants now is never to lose his freedom and to see his sister Molly who has spent her time in a hospice with no comprehension of her past.
He finds a place to live and a bike, but finding a job with his ex-con status is difficult. Rebecca is a preacher's daughter who runs a nursery. She does things her way and loves her father, but hates his interfering ways.
She gives Jackson a job and slowly over-time they both develop feelings for each other but Jackson's time in prison has changed him, he is pretty closed off, does his job and leaves, but that starts changing. Jackson tries to put distance between himself and Rebecca by calling her mam and avoiding her since he knows her father doesn't approve of him and so will the others.
Rebecca is very accepting of Jackson despite not knowing his past fully. She calls out her father on his hypocrisy. Seeing Jackson save a child like himself and work at a shelter was a joy. Even when both of them confess their feelings for each other, Jackson keeps a part of himself aloof.
In the end when the details of the past come out, it was painful to read.
I really loved the book.
He finds a place to live and a bike, but finding a job with his ex-con status is difficult. Rebecca is a preacher's daughter who runs a nursery. She does things her way and loves her father, but hates his interfering ways.
She gives Jackson a job and slowly over-time they both develop feelings for each other but Jackson's time in prison has changed him, he is pretty closed off, does his job and leaves, but that starts changing. Jackson tries to put distance between himself and Rebecca by calling her mam and avoiding her since he knows her father doesn't approve of him and so will the others.
Rebecca is very accepting of Jackson despite not knowing his past fully. She calls out her father on his hypocrisy. Seeing Jackson save a child like himself and work at a shelter was a joy. Even when both of them confess their feelings for each other, Jackson keeps a part of himself aloof.
In the end when the details of the past come out, it was painful to read.
I really loved the book.
April 19, 2013
Even better the second time around .....
Original review.....Just discovered this author - absolutely loved this book. The tortured hero Jackson is so lovable and love the heroine also. Will be checking out more by this author.
Original review.....Just discovered this author - absolutely loved this book. The tortured hero Jackson is so lovable and love the heroine also. Will be checking out more by this author.
November 2, 2015
Dinah McCall, aka Sharon Sala, is a hit or miss with me. Sometimes her characters are flat and the plots are commonplace. This is not true of JACKSON RULE. Andrew Jackson Rule has just been released from prison. He served his sentence for murdering his father, something he has never contested. All he wants to do is get settled and try to lead a normal life as possible. He needs to find a place to live, acquire a piece of transportation, get a job and then take care of his only sibling, his sister Molly. He would do anything for her.
When he briefly meets Rebecca Hill, her truck is giving her trouble. A preacher's daughter, she wants to believe there is good in everyone. Unexpectedly, Jackson comes to her rescue, fixing her truck AND saving her from accidentally being run over. Then he leaves her just as quick but they will meet again.
Just when you think you know what will happen next, Ms. McCall interjects another element. You learn that Jackson has always been a solitary type of guy. Rebecca thrives on being around others. They slowly come to a middle ground. I enjoyed that the romance built slowly between these two. I liked that each of them became a better person with the other's assistance.
There was a couple of reasons why I didn't give this romance five stars.
I also understood Jackson's hesitancy in talking about Molly to Rebecca but I wish it would have happened sooner than it did. Otherwise I relished his romance. If you are looking for something with a twist, try JACKSON RULE. There was a reason that this book won the 1995-96 RT Reviewers' Choice for Contemporary Romance.
When he briefly meets Rebecca Hill, her truck is giving her trouble. A preacher's daughter, she wants to believe there is good in everyone. Unexpectedly, Jackson comes to her rescue, fixing her truck AND saving her from accidentally being run over. Then he leaves her just as quick but they will meet again.
Just when you think you know what will happen next, Ms. McCall interjects another element. You learn that Jackson has always been a solitary type of guy. Rebecca thrives on being around others. They slowly come to a middle ground. I enjoyed that the romance built slowly between these two. I liked that each of them became a better person with the other's assistance.
There was a couple of reasons why I didn't give this romance five stars.
I also understood Jackson's hesitancy in talking about Molly to Rebecca but I wish it would have happened sooner than it did. Otherwise I relished his romance. If you are looking for something with a twist, try JACKSON RULE. There was a reason that this book won the 1995-96 RT Reviewers' Choice for Contemporary Romance.
July 6, 2010
This is still one of my all time favorite DM books...evah! I read and re-read this book so many times, I had to go buy another copy. Jackson is an ex-con, looking for a job. Is there anyone out there that is going to give him a chance? A preacher's daughter decides that everybody needs a second chance. Once she begins working with this silent, dark eyed taciturn man, she realizes there is more here than meets the eye. Will she give her heart a chance to discover all of his hidden depths? An awesome story that gets better with age.
October 28, 2019
New ish twist on everyday romance, man from prison learns to live free again and to accept love. Just well written.
September 6, 2016
3.5 stars. In contemporary New Orleans, a cynical ex-convict with a marshmallow heart falls for a warm-hearted, strong-minded, red-haired preacher's daughter named Rebecca. He works at her nursery and saves her life twice. Saves a few other lives, too -- an old man and a child. I liked Jackson and his staunch-hearted, courageous Rebecca. Glad that Jackson got his HEA in the end.
However, the plot is far-fetched and problematic on several counts. 1) Jackson saved too many lives, by always being in the right place at the right time. Four different times he played the hero. 2) Also, I couldn't buy into the fact that cynical Jackson asked a judgmentally harsh old man -- that mean-spirited minister -- to counsel severely abused little Tyler and teach him about God's love? Jackson knew what the preacher was like, so it felt like a breach in his characterization and a plot contrivance to involve Rebecca's father in the story. 3) Also, since Jackson was convicted of manslaughter when he was only 16, under extremely obvious extenuating self-defense circumstances, I don't believe they would put him in an adult prison -- or certainly not for 15 years. 4) I also doubt that hysterical amnesia lasts 15 years, but I can accept that. However, I doubt that it is "healed" in one afternoon, with the retrieved new memory fully accepted by officials, with no lengthy questioning.
Sigh. I wish the plot had not had me rolling my eyes so frequently, but the romance was somewhat gripping. Some scenes were great. I liked the storm and the scenes with Pete, the scenes at the Jesus Shelter, with the homeless children. I thought the nightmares, and the disturbing images in the mirror were pretty cool, too.
The epilogue was sweet, but no mention of little wretched Tyler. Disappointing, when authors use secondary characters as mere hero props. My heart was engaged in his plight, but we never find out what comes of him.
Contents: sexual molestation, murder, a few fairly explicit sex scenes, a little swearing, a few typos.
However, the plot is far-fetched and problematic on several counts. 1) Jackson saved too many lives, by always being in the right place at the right time. Four different times he played the hero. 2) Also, I couldn't buy into the fact that cynical Jackson asked a judgmentally harsh old man -- that mean-spirited minister -- to counsel severely abused little Tyler and teach him about God's love? Jackson knew what the preacher was like, so it felt like a breach in his characterization and a plot contrivance to involve Rebecca's father in the story. 3) Also, since Jackson was convicted of manslaughter when he was only 16, under extremely obvious extenuating self-defense circumstances, I don't believe they would put him in an adult prison -- or certainly not for 15 years. 4) I also doubt that hysterical amnesia lasts 15 years, but I can accept that. However, I doubt that it is "healed" in one afternoon, with the retrieved new memory fully accepted by officials, with no lengthy questioning.
Sigh. I wish the plot had not had me rolling my eyes so frequently, but the romance was somewhat gripping. Some scenes were great. I liked the storm and the scenes with Pete, the scenes at the Jesus Shelter, with the homeless children. I thought the nightmares, and the disturbing images in the mirror were pretty cool, too.
The epilogue was sweet, but no mention of little wretched Tyler. Disappointing, when authors use secondary characters as mere hero props. My heart was engaged in his plight, but we never find out what comes of him.
Contents: sexual molestation, murder, a few fairly explicit sex scenes, a little swearing, a few typos.
January 21, 2013
3.75-4 Stars
“Be careful, lady.” His voice was harsh as his hands raked through her wet, tangled hair, bringing her face closer to his own.
“Of what?”
“Of this.” He cupped her hips with his hands and lifted her off her feet. “Of that.” His groin had swelled in one huge ache and was pressing into her flesh. “Of me.”
I needed a break from my current read and decided to pick this up. I’m not really sure why I decided to, but I think I just needed some good ole fashioned predictable drama, especially one that involved redemption and second chances. I love these types of stories. Yes, this involved an ex-con/murderer, but I knew that there was something else to our Hero’s story and I was determined to find out.
And the facts were that he was an ex-con and the woman he wanted was the daughter of a man of God. It was an impossible situation, and Jackson knew it.
An ex-con and a preacher’s daughter. Yea, you know there was going to be some drama in this book. Jackson Rule was just released from prison after serving fifteen years for shooting his father. The thing about it is, if you’d ask him if he’d do it all over again, he’ll tell you without a doubt, yes, he would. His father was very abusive to him and his sister. One day, it all came crashing down. Now he’s out, he wants nothing more than to make a life for himself and hopefully rekindle the relationship he had with his sister, who has been in a mental health facility all these years after the murder. He is determined to find a job, but being an ex-con, he knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
He lowered his lips and she forgot to move. And when they connected with her lips, she forgot to breathe.
Gently. Coaxing. Taking. Giving.
His mouth moved from one pleasure to another until Rebecca lost all track of place and time.
Who was this man that suddenly appeared in Rebecca’s life. She’s never met such a contradiction. Jackson doesn’t seem to be at all what he’s pegged to be. A murderer? An ex-con? Yes and yes. However she saw something more in Jackson, especially after he saved her life more than once. Her father is always preaching about forgiveness and after his heroic display, she easily decided to take the risk and hired Jackson to help around her greenhouse. The fact that was what he was didn’t faze her. Nope, she’s as strong willed as they come. She wasn’t surprised that he was a model worker, hardworking and honest. What she didn’t expect is the chemistry brewing between her and Jackson.
Jackson however, knew he was never going to be good enough for a woman like Rebecca. He wouldn’t risk the type of scrutiny she would endure if they decide to make their working relationship into something more. No. He would stand his ground. He will fight his feelings. He could never live with himself if her reputation was to be tainted by a man like him. So begins the battle of wills.
“I love you, Rebecca Hills, more than you will ever know.”
He wasn’t certain, but he imagined that he heard her whisper “thank God” right before the kiss.
Like I said, I really enjoyed stories like this. I’m happy Rebecca believed in Jackson and never gave up on him no matter what her father or her friends say. There were only a couple drawbacks that prevented me from loving this read. One: Needs more steam. (Yes, I have issues, but you already knew that.) Two: It seemed like it took the two forever to finally get together. The story wasn’t slow or anything, but it really could’ve helped if things moved along faster. As for the ending, well, that was a bit of a shock, but no worries, it ended happily. Overall, a very good contemporary read.
“Be careful, lady.” His voice was harsh as his hands raked through her wet, tangled hair, bringing her face closer to his own.
“Of what?”
“Of this.” He cupped her hips with his hands and lifted her off her feet. “Of that.” His groin had swelled in one huge ache and was pressing into her flesh. “Of me.”
I needed a break from my current read and decided to pick this up. I’m not really sure why I decided to, but I think I just needed some good ole fashioned predictable drama, especially one that involved redemption and second chances. I love these types of stories. Yes, this involved an ex-con/murderer, but I knew that there was something else to our Hero’s story and I was determined to find out.
And the facts were that he was an ex-con and the woman he wanted was the daughter of a man of God. It was an impossible situation, and Jackson knew it.
An ex-con and a preacher’s daughter. Yea, you know there was going to be some drama in this book. Jackson Rule was just released from prison after serving fifteen years for shooting his father. The thing about it is, if you’d ask him if he’d do it all over again, he’ll tell you without a doubt, yes, he would. His father was very abusive to him and his sister. One day, it all came crashing down. Now he’s out, he wants nothing more than to make a life for himself and hopefully rekindle the relationship he had with his sister, who has been in a mental health facility all these years after the murder. He is determined to find a job, but being an ex-con, he knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
He lowered his lips and she forgot to move. And when they connected with her lips, she forgot to breathe.
Gently. Coaxing. Taking. Giving.
His mouth moved from one pleasure to another until Rebecca lost all track of place and time.
Who was this man that suddenly appeared in Rebecca’s life. She’s never met such a contradiction. Jackson doesn’t seem to be at all what he’s pegged to be. A murderer? An ex-con? Yes and yes. However she saw something more in Jackson, especially after he saved her life more than once. Her father is always preaching about forgiveness and after his heroic display, she easily decided to take the risk and hired Jackson to help around her greenhouse. The fact that was what he was didn’t faze her. Nope, she’s as strong willed as they come. She wasn’t surprised that he was a model worker, hardworking and honest. What she didn’t expect is the chemistry brewing between her and Jackson.
Jackson however, knew he was never going to be good enough for a woman like Rebecca. He wouldn’t risk the type of scrutiny she would endure if they decide to make their working relationship into something more. No. He would stand his ground. He will fight his feelings. He could never live with himself if her reputation was to be tainted by a man like him. So begins the battle of wills.
“I love you, Rebecca Hills, more than you will ever know.”
He wasn’t certain, but he imagined that he heard her whisper “thank God” right before the kiss.
Like I said, I really enjoyed stories like this. I’m happy Rebecca believed in Jackson and never gave up on him no matter what her father or her friends say. There were only a couple drawbacks that prevented me from loving this read. One: Needs more steam. (Yes, I have issues, but you already knew that.) Two: It seemed like it took the two forever to finally get together. The story wasn’t slow or anything, but it really could’ve helped if things moved along faster. As for the ending, well, that was a bit of a shock, but no worries, it ended happily. Overall, a very good contemporary read.
July 29, 2015
2.5-3 stars. I know I am in the minority but this book just did not do it for me.
The story idea was a good one and it had so much potential. Overall, I like the heroine. Wish she had taken a firmer stand later in the book. But she got this book the few stars I gave it.
I was so bored for well over half the book. Slow build would be an understatement! The MCs barely spoke to each other and I felt no chemistry. Attraction yes. Chemistry, heat or love - not a bit. Their inner dialogues were repetitive and, at times, strange. I felt the author was so concerned with showing social injustice and proving the Hero to be a good man she got lost in it. Personally I also do not like hearing everyone else's thoughts. I guess when you have so little dialogue you need it. But it only made me dislike many of the characters even more.
The reverend was a bit OTT. I get his initial reaction, though I would certainly stop going to church with a hypocrite. But for him to continue for months and months. It was frustrating. At least the heroine took none of his crap.
The Hero's inner dialogue made no sense. I could tell the big secret that was coming early on. So the thoughts he had made no sense. Those who have read the book will understand this. Those who have not, it is too big of a spoiler.
The Hero had his head firmly planted up his ass for the ENTIRE book. He never let the heroine in. He never told her about his life, present or past. And she was a pushover for thinking that as ok. Especially at the end!!! But his reaction to her big secret was unforgivable! Even if he changed his mind quickly, it showed that he still was not ready to have a relationship because he thought about the fact that she still did not know him. Seriously?! You have been f'ing her for months and you still have told her NOTHING!!!
The fact that the author totally dropped the homeless kids storyline when they started f'ing was upsetting. She invested us in the kid and then you just get a minor passing comment from the reverend later. To me that proves it was just filler - a plot device meant to show the Hero's worth as a person. But I am not a stupid reader. I got that point very quickly. Like 10% in. So why did you feel the need to bash me over the head with it for another 60%?
The resolution with his sister was ridiculous. Totally.
The epilogue was blah.
Yes this is a totally safe read.
The story idea was a good one and it had so much potential. Overall, I like the heroine. Wish she had taken a firmer stand later in the book. But she got this book the few stars I gave it.
I was so bored for well over half the book. Slow build would be an understatement! The MCs barely spoke to each other and I felt no chemistry. Attraction yes. Chemistry, heat or love - not a bit. Their inner dialogues were repetitive and, at times, strange. I felt the author was so concerned with showing social injustice and proving the Hero to be a good man she got lost in it. Personally I also do not like hearing everyone else's thoughts. I guess when you have so little dialogue you need it. But it only made me dislike many of the characters even more.
The reverend was a bit OTT. I get his initial reaction, though I would certainly stop going to church with a hypocrite. But for him to continue for months and months. It was frustrating. At least the heroine took none of his crap.
The Hero's inner dialogue made no sense. I could tell the big secret that was coming early on. So the thoughts he had made no sense. Those who have read the book will understand this. Those who have not, it is too big of a spoiler.
The Hero had his head firmly planted up his ass for the ENTIRE book. He never let the heroine in. He never told her about his life, present or past. And she was a pushover for thinking that as ok. Especially at the end!!! But his reaction to her big secret was unforgivable! Even if he changed his mind quickly, it showed that he still was not ready to have a relationship because he thought about the fact that she still did not know him. Seriously?! You have been f'ing her for months and you still have told her NOTHING!!!
The fact that the author totally dropped the homeless kids storyline when they started f'ing was upsetting. She invested us in the kid and then you just get a minor passing comment from the reverend later. To me that proves it was just filler - a plot device meant to show the Hero's worth as a person. But I am not a stupid reader. I got that point very quickly. Like 10% in. So why did you feel the need to bash me over the head with it for another 60%?
The resolution with his sister was ridiculous. Totally.
The epilogue was blah.
Yes this is a totally safe read.
October 26, 2014
Wow, what an amazing story of good triumphs over evil and love conquers it all! We first meet Andrew Jackson Rule as he exited doors of a maximum security prison where he spent 15 years for killing his father. Surviving abusive childhood and prison, he is on the verge of fighting another battle: re-entering into society which scorns at ex-convict. His life can't catch a break . He is rejected again and again and the only thing that keeps him going is the thought of his sister Molly. Jackson would do anything to help her regain her life back. The only person who is willing to give him a chance is Rebecca, a preacher's daughter. She is a proud owner of green house- her striving business. Rebecca hires Jackson despite warnings of well-meaning people around her. The more they see and know each other, the more they like each other. Their attraction grows reluctantly to love. But there is no future together between ex-con and preacher's daughter or is there? What I love most about the story is the characters - strong, mature, full of goodness. The hero is one of these real men in romance that is worthy of the word "Hero".
October 2, 2016
¡Cómo me hubiese gustado que esta historia me hubiese encantado! Si la autora hubiese sido más valiente… o si el final hubiese sido menos despampanante… porque son las únicas pegas que le he encontrado, la verdad… por lo demás ha estado muy bien, bastante realista y con detalles encantadores para poder asimilar algunos aspectos más oscuros…
Pues tenemos a Jackson Rule, recién salido de la cárcel donde ha cumplido la mitad de su vida por asesinato. El de su padre, un ser violento y desalmado que no se merecía otra cosa… Jackson, que vuelve a su pueblo porque allí está aún su hermana, ingresada en una institución, y necesita estar cerca de ella. Ya te puedes imaginar como las pasa el hombre para adaptarse a la vida fuera de la cárcel…canutas.
La pega que le encuentro es que la señora McCall se ha pasado un poco heroizándolo, un poco…un pelín…
Por otro lado tenemos a Rebecca, hija del cura del pueblo, que es igual de guapa que obstinada y que decide darle una oportunidad a Jackson. A pesar de este personaje tampoco tiene ningún fallo, sí ha sido más creíble que el de Jackson.
El romance ha sido muy bonito, y realista, las razones que ambos protagonistas esgrimen para estar separados son reales y sensatas y la atracción que sienten el uno por el otro casi que se palpa.
Me ha encantado.
Y por último tenemos a los secundarios:
Pete, amigo de la familia y padre subrogado de Rebecca que trabaja con ella y con Jackson. La relación que mantienen los tres es especial y nos deja momentos muy tiernos…quizás demasiado tiernos, pero como ya dije anteriormente, un poco de azúcar para poder asimilar las situaciones más desagradables no está tan mal.
También está el padre de Rebecca, Daniel el cura, y digamos que la humildad y la capacidad de perdonar no están entre sus cualidades. Y desde luego no da pie con bola con la hija, se llevan más tiempo enfadados que bien. Por decirlo suavemente, ninguno de los padres que aparecen en la historia van a ganar el premio a padre del año. Esto me ha resultado llamativo…
Y también tenemos a la hermana de Jackson, Molly, que podría haber sido un personaje fantástico pero ha acabado siendo uno de cartón piedra…una pena.
Así que en líneas generales, si la autora hubiese sido más valiente con el final y menos melodramática le hubiese dado una estrellita más. Pero ese desenlace me dejó un poco desilusionada.
***
How I wish I would have loved this story! If the author had been braver ... or if the end would have been less OTT ... because, to be honest, they are the only faults I have found, otherwise it has been a lovely and realistic story with some charming details to compensate some darker aspects ...
So we have Jackson Rule, newly released from prison where he has served half of his life for murder. That of his father, a violent and callous man who, should I dare to say, deserved his fate... And Jackson has to return to his hometown because his sister is still there, hospitalized into an institution, and he needs to be near her. You can imagine how the man suffers to adapt to the life outside prison. It´s so sad…
But I think that Mrs. McCall has gone a bit too far idealizing the hero. A bit…
On the other hand we have Rebecca, daughter of the town´s preacher, who is as beautiful as stubborn and decides to give Jackson a chance. Despite the heroine being (too) flawless, her character has been more believable than Jackson´s.
The romance has been so lovely and realistic, both MC´s reasons to keep their distant are real and sensible and the attraction they feel for each other is almost palpable.
I loved it.
And then we have the secondary characters:
Pete, a family friend and surrogate father to Rebecca who works with her and Jackson. Their relationship is special and leaves us very tender moments ... maybe too tender, but as I said before, a little sugar is good to swallow some miserable stuff that happens.
There is also Rebecca´s father, Daniel the preacher, who doesn´t know the meaning of humility and the ability to forgive is not among his qualities. And certainly he is off form with his daughter, they spent more time angry at each other than not. To put it mildly, none of the fathers in this story will win the prize “father of the year”. This has bothered me ...
And we also have Jackson's sister, Molly, who could have been a fantastic character but has ended up being a cardboard one ... a pity.
So in general, if the author had been braver with the final and less melodramatic I would have given it one more star. But that outcome had left me a little disappointed.
Pues tenemos a Jackson Rule, recién salido de la cárcel donde ha cumplido la mitad de su vida por asesinato. El de su padre, un ser violento y desalmado que no se merecía otra cosa… Jackson, que vuelve a su pueblo porque allí está aún su hermana, ingresada en una institución, y necesita estar cerca de ella. Ya te puedes imaginar como las pasa el hombre para adaptarse a la vida fuera de la cárcel…canutas.
La pega que le encuentro es que la señora McCall se ha pasado un poco heroizándolo, un poco…un pelín…
Por otro lado tenemos a Rebecca, hija del cura del pueblo, que es igual de guapa que obstinada y que decide darle una oportunidad a Jackson. A pesar de este personaje tampoco tiene ningún fallo, sí ha sido más creíble que el de Jackson.
El romance ha sido muy bonito, y realista, las razones que ambos protagonistas esgrimen para estar separados son reales y sensatas y la atracción que sienten el uno por el otro casi que se palpa.
Me ha encantado.
Y por último tenemos a los secundarios:
Pete, amigo de la familia y padre subrogado de Rebecca que trabaja con ella y con Jackson. La relación que mantienen los tres es especial y nos deja momentos muy tiernos…quizás demasiado tiernos, pero como ya dije anteriormente, un poco de azúcar para poder asimilar las situaciones más desagradables no está tan mal.
También está el padre de Rebecca, Daniel el cura, y digamos que la humildad y la capacidad de perdonar no están entre sus cualidades. Y desde luego no da pie con bola con la hija, se llevan más tiempo enfadados que bien. Por decirlo suavemente, ninguno de los padres que aparecen en la historia van a ganar el premio a padre del año. Esto me ha resultado llamativo…
Y también tenemos a la hermana de Jackson, Molly, que podría haber sido un personaje fantástico pero ha acabado siendo uno de cartón piedra…una pena.
Así que en líneas generales, si la autora hubiese sido más valiente con el final y menos melodramática le hubiese dado una estrellita más. Pero ese desenlace me dejó un poco desilusionada.
***
How I wish I would have loved this story! If the author had been braver ... or if the end would have been less OTT ... because, to be honest, they are the only faults I have found, otherwise it has been a lovely and realistic story with some charming details to compensate some darker aspects ...
So we have Jackson Rule, newly released from prison where he has served half of his life for murder. That of his father, a violent and callous man who, should I dare to say, deserved his fate... And Jackson has to return to his hometown because his sister is still there, hospitalized into an institution, and he needs to be near her. You can imagine how the man suffers to adapt to the life outside prison. It´s so sad…
But I think that Mrs. McCall has gone a bit too far idealizing the hero. A bit…
On the other hand we have Rebecca, daughter of the town´s preacher, who is as beautiful as stubborn and decides to give Jackson a chance. Despite the heroine being (too) flawless, her character has been more believable than Jackson´s.
The romance has been so lovely and realistic, both MC´s reasons to keep their distant are real and sensible and the attraction they feel for each other is almost palpable.
I loved it.
And then we have the secondary characters:
Pete, a family friend and surrogate father to Rebecca who works with her and Jackson. Their relationship is special and leaves us very tender moments ... maybe too tender, but as I said before, a little sugar is good to swallow some miserable stuff that happens.
There is also Rebecca´s father, Daniel the preacher, who doesn´t know the meaning of humility and the ability to forgive is not among his qualities. And certainly he is off form with his daughter, they spent more time angry at each other than not. To put it mildly, none of the fathers in this story will win the prize “father of the year”. This has bothered me ...
And we also have Jackson's sister, Molly, who could have been a fantastic character but has ended up being a cardboard one ... a pity.
So in general, if the author had been braver with the final and less melodramatic I would have given it one more star. But that outcome had left me a little disappointed.
June 10, 2018
Rated 4 Hard Life Stars
I enjoyed this book, but also disliked parts of it. I didn't feel the character's connection as much as I would have liked. It was frustrating at times, then others were awesome. So 4 Stars it is.
I would still recommend it to read though.
I enjoyed this book, but also disliked parts of it. I didn't feel the character's connection as much as I would have liked. It was frustrating at times, then others were awesome. So 4 Stars it is.
I would still recommend it to read though.
December 9, 2011
Jackson killed his abusive father at sixteen. Now, after fifteen years he is trying to build a new life. Rebecca, a preacher’s daughter and owner of a garden shop, is going to help him.
The premises of the story are good, but the author doesn’t take advantage of them. Jackson, once he is out the prison, is an angel: he keeps saving lives, first Rebecca’s and after of two little boys, and the other Rebecca’s employee. He is absolutely devoted to his sister, who isn’t able even to see him (I’m really not sure what happens to her), and he is sure he isn’t good enough to Rebecca, so he stays apart from her. Rebecca is a hard worker and seems nice, but then it seems that no normal man has ever wanted her. In fact it is her father who finds dates for her, but he seems to have no idea to judge people and her dates are creepy (either married or abusive).
So mainly, the story is about the author convincing us how good Jackson is, and when Rebecca’s father doubts him, it is her father who looks bad. I would have liked to fall in love with Jackson without being so obvious that he is good. This novel could have been much better.
The premises of the story are good, but the author doesn’t take advantage of them. Jackson, once he is out the prison, is an angel: he keeps saving lives, first Rebecca’s and after of two little boys, and the other Rebecca’s employee. He is absolutely devoted to his sister, who isn’t able even to see him (I’m really not sure what happens to her), and he is sure he isn’t good enough to Rebecca, so he stays apart from her. Rebecca is a hard worker and seems nice, but then it seems that no normal man has ever wanted her. In fact it is her father who finds dates for her, but he seems to have no idea to judge people and her dates are creepy (either married or abusive).
So mainly, the story is about the author convincing us how good Jackson is, and when Rebecca’s father doubts him, it is her father who looks bad. I would have liked to fall in love with Jackson without being so obvious that he is good. This novel could have been much better.
October 3, 2010
Lovely book. Good strong characters. I loved Jackson, convicted of murdering his abusive father and vigorous in his assertion that he was glad he killed him and would do it again a hundred times. Rebecca is a preacher's daughter who lives by the judge not lest you be judged rule who gives him a job after prison. Her father, the preacher, is a more realistic portrayal of a preacher as a failable man not all goody two shoes as many preachers are written. Even though some of the things that happened in the book were not real surprises, the book as a whole was well written. One of the best parts for me was when Rebecca decided she loved him, she was firm in her love and didn't continually doubt him and his worth. I did find it a bit of a stretch that a 16 year old boy went to prison for 15 years for killing his abusive father when both he and his sister were beat bloody. Self defense anyone? I also thought that 15 years seemed a bit long for hysterical amnesia but I really don't know about that as I'm not a doctor. But for good romance I loved it.
July 23, 2014
I read this years ago and I liked it. I read it again more recently and still liked it. It was my first read by this author and made this author go on my auto-buy list.
Jackson Rule is out of prison and trying to start his life over. He gets a job working for Rebecca Hill, a preacher's daughter, who runs a nursery business.
Jackson Rule is out of prison and trying to start his life over. He gets a job working for Rebecca Hill, a preacher's daughter, who runs a nursery business.
January 11, 2008
Very heartwarming and satisfying. Even though the criminal justice aspect of the story didn't ring true for me, Jackson Rule was a thoroughly enjoyable read!
June 23, 2015
First read 18/12/2013
Reread 23/06/2015
Reread 23/06/2015
February 14, 2021
We still in the middle of a romance book binge, and I can't see light at the end of the tunnel yet.
Solid 4 star romance for me, had the longing, the waiting, the emotional turmoil I seem to live for in heroes/heroines relationships.
I just wished it was longer, that it delve deeper into the emotions of the main couple and drrrrrraaaaaagggggggeeeeedddd it out!
It's a beautiful 200-page odd read, fast and impactful but I'm out here wanting a 21st Century "The Outsider".
Solid 4 star romance for me, had the longing, the waiting, the emotional turmoil I seem to live for in heroes/heroines relationships.
I just wished it was longer, that it delve deeper into the emotions of the main couple and drrrrrraaaaaagggggggeeeeedddd it out!
It's a beautiful 200-page odd read, fast and impactful but I'm out here wanting a 21st Century "The Outsider".
September 12, 2018
I first read this book many years ago now and was totally wowed. It was always in any top books lists in the top 25. I read it a few times and loved it every time.
It was with a great deal of fondness that I finally got in as an ebook and reread it again, something I hadn’t done in a number of years now and I will confess this time I noticed the flaws that others have complained about. But know what? Even though I noticed them, I didn’t care and still love this book.
Jackson is one heck of a tortured hero. He grew up with an extremely abusive father and went to prison when he was young for killing his old man. The book opens with Jackson getting out of prison and trying to deal with the outside world after being in prison for so long. His number one concern is his sister. She had a breakdown when their father was murdered and is living mostly in her mind in an assisted living home. Jackson really wants to see her but he is afraid seeing him will make her worse as he looks a lot like their abusive father.
He also needs a job but is having an extremely difficult time finding anything once the employers find out he was in prison. But he finally is hired by a young woman who he coincidently saved from being hit by a car.
Rebecca Hill is grateful and hires him when he shows up at her nursery. Even when he tells her he’s just out of prison for killing his father, while taken aback, Rebecca is still willing to give him a chance. They slowly fall in love, but Jackson fights it every inch of the way thinking he’s not nearly good enough for Rebecca, the daughter of a preacher.
This is the book that started my love of heroes who’ve spent time in prison when they shouldn’t have. That’s all I’ll say in order to avoid spoilers. I love Jackson but he’s just a bit too tortured and too heroic. He saves people from fires, rescues young boys from the same kind of treatment, and reads to kids at women’s shelters. The point is hammered home a wee bit to heavy but I didn’t care. The book makes me feel good and that’s how I judge a book by, the way it makes me sigh at the end.
Rebecca is also a wee bit too good. Her preacher father is a judgmental, interfering parent who is trying to keep Rebecca from growing up yet she puts up with it. She does get annoyed but never to the extent a more regular type of person would, it seems to me. When he finds out about the growing relationship between Rebecca and Jackson he is horrified and does not follow what he preaches.
But despite the flaws I see, I still love this one and I’m only taking it down ½ a star.
It was with a great deal of fondness that I finally got in as an ebook and reread it again, something I hadn’t done in a number of years now and I will confess this time I noticed the flaws that others have complained about. But know what? Even though I noticed them, I didn’t care and still love this book.
Jackson is one heck of a tortured hero. He grew up with an extremely abusive father and went to prison when he was young for killing his old man. The book opens with Jackson getting out of prison and trying to deal with the outside world after being in prison for so long. His number one concern is his sister. She had a breakdown when their father was murdered and is living mostly in her mind in an assisted living home. Jackson really wants to see her but he is afraid seeing him will make her worse as he looks a lot like their abusive father.
He also needs a job but is having an extremely difficult time finding anything once the employers find out he was in prison. But he finally is hired by a young woman who he coincidently saved from being hit by a car.
Rebecca Hill is grateful and hires him when he shows up at her nursery. Even when he tells her he’s just out of prison for killing his father, while taken aback, Rebecca is still willing to give him a chance. They slowly fall in love, but Jackson fights it every inch of the way thinking he’s not nearly good enough for Rebecca, the daughter of a preacher.
This is the book that started my love of heroes who’ve spent time in prison when they shouldn’t have. That’s all I’ll say in order to avoid spoilers. I love Jackson but he’s just a bit too tortured and too heroic. He saves people from fires, rescues young boys from the same kind of treatment, and reads to kids at women’s shelters. The point is hammered home a wee bit to heavy but I didn’t care. The book makes me feel good and that’s how I judge a book by, the way it makes me sigh at the end.
Rebecca is also a wee bit too good. Her preacher father is a judgmental, interfering parent who is trying to keep Rebecca from growing up yet she puts up with it. She does get annoyed but never to the extent a more regular type of person would, it seems to me. When he finds out about the growing relationship between Rebecca and Jackson he is horrified and does not follow what he preaches.
But despite the flaws I see, I still love this one and I’m only taking it down ½ a star.
January 3, 2015
Title: Jackson Rule
Series: No
Author: Dinah McCall
Rating: 2.75 stars
POV: Dual
HEA:
Heat/Steam fade to black
Triggers?
Cliffhanger: . No.
Intolerable Heroine .No.
Über Douchebagery .No.
Taboo Subject Matter .No.
Cheating:
Love Triangle
3 stars for the plot but only 2 for the romance. First half of the book was fantastic but the second half was just a major disappointment. I also ended up feeling indifferent towards the hero. Everything I want and seek from a hero in a book were there..:it was just the heroine doing it. It felt like a total role reversal where the heroine is the one to make you swoon. Not my cup of tea.
I think the main thing this book was lacking was passion. I felt none. I had no idea what they loved about each other because they so rarely even spoke to one another. He was constantly trying to ignore her and more than half the book was spent on them just staring longingly at each other when the other wasn't looking. I felt like I spent more time reading about them working on various tasks in her gardening center than I did anything else in the book. Days, week, or months would pass by with them...just working in her gardening center.
I also felt like the book was filled with unnecessary drama just to fill the story. Between assaults, fires, storms, health scares, and a miraculous recovery of his sisters sanity the only other thing that happened in the book was a whole lot of gardening.
Oh and the instant press conference? LOL. Oh gawd. So dang unrealistic I couldn't help but skim right through the entire scene.
April 19, 2008
(Actually, I give this 3.5 stars)
I liked the book for the most part, but for some reason, it just didn't completely capture me. It had sort of a slow, lackadaisical pace that left my mind wandering as I read.
But still, I did enjoy it. The characters were good, the premise interesting, and I liked the romance. It just need a little more...oomph...to it for me.
I liked the book for the most part, but for some reason, it just didn't completely capture me. It had sort of a slow, lackadaisical pace that left my mind wandering as I read.
But still, I did enjoy it. The characters were good, the premise interesting, and I liked the romance. It just need a little more...oomph...to it for me.
October 6, 2012
เป็นเล่มที่ทำให้เสียน้ำตาอีกแล้ว
รู้สึกแปลก ๆ ที่เรื่องที่ชอบมักเกี่ยวกับพวก ex-con อยู่เรื่อย
เหมือนมีความผูกพันกันแบบห่าง ๆ อย่างห่วง ๆ
ยิ่งถ้าเกี่ยวกับความสัมพันธ์ครอบครัวด้วยแล้ว
ยิ่้งซึ้งหนักเข้าไปอีก
เป็นอีกเล่มที่เป็นประเภทเดาได้ แต่เสียน้ำตาอ่ะ
ชอบมาก ๆ เลยทีเดียว
ปล. มีจุดที่ไม่ชอบเยอะเหมือนกันนะ
แต่ยังซึ้งอยู่เลย .. ขี้เกียจบ่น
รู้สึกแปลก ๆ ที่เรื่องที่ชอบมักเกี่ยวกับพวก ex-con อยู่เรื่อย
เหมือนมีความผูกพันกันแบบห่าง ๆ อย่างห่วง ๆ
ยิ่งถ้าเกี่ยวกับความสัมพันธ์ครอบครัวด้วยแล้ว
ยิ่้งซึ้งหนักเข้าไปอีก
เป็นอีกเล่มที่เป็นประเภทเดาได้ แต่เสียน้ำตาอ่ะ
ชอบมาก ๆ เลยทีเดียว
ปล. มีจุดที่ไม่ชอบเยอะเหมือนกันนะ
แต่ยังซึ้งอยู่เลย .. ขี้เกียจบ่น
August 12, 2013
มันจี๊ดดีเหมือนกันนะเนี่ย พระเอกก็ไม่กล้ารัก นางเอกก็ชัดเจนในความรู้สึกดี เหอๆๆ
July 15, 2013
It really is hard rating there books because I have spent many hour reading there books. Sharon or Diana really know how to entertain. Enjoy reading there books.
February 11, 2019
Heart wrenching
I have been a fan of Sala's for years and this is one of her best books. It speaks to the heart. I would recommend it to anyone who likes an emotional read.
I have been a fan of Sala's for years and this is one of her best books. It speaks to the heart. I would recommend it to anyone who likes an emotional read.
September 27, 2013
อ่านเล่มนี้เพราะเห็นรีวิวในนี้เลยคิดว่าน่าจะสนุก แล้วก็เห็นว่าร้านนายอินทร์ลดราคาอยู่ด้วยก็เลยคิดว่าอยากจะไปสอยมาอ่าน ตอนแรกก็ไม่ได้คาดหวังอะไร แต่รู้สึกว่าอ่านๆไปแล้วติดอยู่กับความรู้สึกของตัวละคร คือเนื้อเรื่องเรามองว่าเดาได้แต่ไม่รู้ทำไมเราอ่านแล้วรู้สึกชอบมาก เหมือนกับว่ามันลุ้นในความสัมพันธ์ของพระนางว่าจะดำเนินไปแบบไหน ไม่รู้ว่าเป็นเพราะว่าชอบพระเอกมีปมอยู่แล้วด้วยหรือเปล่า อ่านแล้วบอกเลยว่าหลงรักแจ็คสันเข้าอย่างจัง
แจ็คสัน ออกมาจากคุกหลังจากที่ติดคุกฐานฆ่าคนตายมานาน 15 ปี ระหว่างที่เขากำลังมองหาที่อยู่ เขาก็ได้เข้าไปช่วยรีเบคก้าโดนบังเอิญจากการเกือบโดนรถชน แจ็คสันตั้งใจจะเริ่มต้นทำงานเก็บเงินเพื่อพี่สาวของเขาที่รักษาตัวอยู่แต่ไม่ว่าจะไปสมัครงานที่ไหนก็โดนปฎิเสธ จนได้มาเจอกับรีเบคก้าเจ้าของร้านขายต้นไม้ที่เขาได้เคยช่วยเธอไว้ รีเบคก้ารับเขาเข้าทำงานทั้งๆที่รู้ว่าเขาเคยติดคุกมาก่อนโดยไม่สนใจเสียงคัดค้านของพีท เพื่อนร่วมงานที่เป็นเหมือนคนในครอบครัว เป็นเพื่อนของพ่อรีเบคก้าด้วย และนั่นเป็นจุดเริ่มต้นที่ทำให้เส้นทางของทั้งสองคนมาเจอกัน
ก็อย่างที่บอกว่าไม่รู้ว่าเพราะชอบพระเอกมีปมหรือเปล่านะก็เลยชอบเรื่องนี้ จริงๆตั้งแต่ครั้งแรกที่เจอกันพระเอกก็น่าจะชอบนางเอกแล้วล่ะ แต่อาจเป็นเพราะความรู้สึกว่าติดคุกมานานห่างผู้หญิงมานานพอมาเจอกับความรู้สึกแบบนี้ก็พยายามบอกตัวเองว่ามันเป็นความต้องการทางร่างกายไม่มีอะไร แต่เราก็ชอบความรู้สึกของนางเอก ชัดเจนดี เธอรักเธอก็บอกว่ารัก มองเห็นความรักในแววตาของเขาเธอก็พร้อมจะเชื่อมั่นว่าเขารักเธอ เรื่องน่ามันติดตามก็ตรงที่พระเอกมีปม ออกมาจากคุก พยายามจะปฏิเสธนางเอก อ่านแล้วก็แอบลุ้นว่าตกลงว่าจะมีเหต���การณ์อะไรที่ทำให้พระเอกยอมทำตามใจตัวเองบ้าง
ต่อไปสปอล์ย
ซึ่งเหตุการณ์มันก็เริ่มจากที่ห้องข้างบนห้องของพระเอก พ่อของเด็กเป็นพวกชอบทำร้ายร่างกายลูกเหมือนกัน ทำให้แจ็คสันทนไม่ได้ต้องเข้าไปยุ่ง แล้วพ่อของเด็กคนนี้มีอยู่วันหนึ่งมันสูบบุหรี่แล้วหลับไปทั้งๆที่ยังไม่ดับทำให้ไฟไหม้อาพาร์ทเม้นต์ที่พระเอกอยู่มีคนเจ็บและคนตาย แต่พระเอกก็เข้าไปช่วยเด็กคนนั้นออกมาได้ ขณะนั้นเองนางเอกเราดูข่าวทางโทรทัศน์ก็จำได้ว่าเป็นย่านที่อยู่ของพระเอก แต่ก็พยายามใจเย็นคิดว่าเขาคงไม่เป็นอะไรจนสุดท้ายพระเอกไม่มาทำงานสักทีก็ทนรอไม่ไหวก็เลยไปที่เกิดเหตุถามหาพระเอกก็ไม่มีใครรู้จนสุดท้ายหันไปเห็นพระเอกยืนอยู่ขณะเดียวกันพระเอกหันมาเจอกันก็โผเข้าหากัน นางเอกพาพระเอกไปอยู่ที่บ้านในระหว่างที่ยังไม่มีที่อยู่ แล้วก็ทุกอย่างก็เป็นไปอย่างใจปราถนาของทั้งสอง แต่กระนั้นพระเอกก็ยังไม่ยอมที่จะคบจริงจังคือเหมือนกับว่านอนด้วยกัน รัก แต่ไม่กล้าที่จะให้นางเอกมาพัวพันกับตัวเองและพระเอกไม่เคยบอกอะไรนางเอกเกี่ยวกับสิ่งที่ตัวเองกำลังทำอยู่เลย นางเอกก็คิดว่าเมื่อถึงเวลาเขาอยากบอกเขาก็จะบอก ทั้งๆที่ก็เสียใจแล้วก็ท้องอยู่ด้วยแต่ไม่บอกพระเอก เพราะคิดว่าพระเอกไม่อยากจะมีลูก ยังไม่พร้อมจะฟังเรื่องที่ว่านางเอกท้อง จนตอนหลังพี่พระเอกหายจากอาการป่วยทางจิตความลับเปิดเผยว่าจริงๆแล้วพี่พระเอกต่างหากที่เป็นคนฆ่าพ่อ ทำให้พระเอกกลายเป็นผู้บริสุทธิ์
แจ็คสัน ออกมาจากคุกหลังจากที่ติดคุกฐานฆ่าคนตายมานาน 15 ปี ระหว่างที่เขากำลังมองหาที่อยู่ เขาก็ได้เข้าไปช่วยรีเบคก้าโดนบังเอิญจากการเกือบโดนรถชน แจ็คสันตั้งใจจะเริ่มต้นทำงานเก็บเงินเพื่อพี่สาวของเขาที่รักษาตัวอยู่แต่ไม่ว่าจะไปสมัครงานที่ไหนก็โดนปฎิเสธ จนได้มาเจอกับรีเบคก้าเจ้าของร้านขายต้นไม้ที่เขาได้เคยช่วยเธอไว้ รีเบคก้ารับเขาเข้าทำงานทั้งๆที่รู้ว่าเขาเคยติดคุกมาก่อนโดยไม่สนใจเสียงคัดค้านของพีท เพื่อนร่วมงานที่เป็นเหมือนคนในครอบครัว เป็นเพื่อนของพ่อรีเบคก้าด้วย และนั่นเป็นจุดเริ่มต้นที่ทำให้เส้นทางของทั้งสองคนมาเจอกัน
ก็อย่างที่บอกว่าไม่รู้ว่าเพราะชอบพระเอกมีปมหรือเปล่านะก็เลยชอบเรื่องนี้ จริงๆตั้งแต่ครั้งแรกที่เจอกันพระเอกก็น่าจะชอบนางเอกแล้วล่ะ แต่อาจเป็นเพราะความรู้สึกว่าติดคุกมานานห่างผู้หญิงมานานพอมาเจอกับความรู้สึกแบบนี้ก็พยายามบอกตัวเองว่ามันเป็นความต้องการทางร่างกายไม่มีอะไร แต่เราก็ชอบความรู้สึกของนางเอก ชัดเจนดี เธอรักเธอก็บอกว่ารัก มองเห็นความรักในแววตาของเขาเธอก็พร้อมจะเชื่อมั่นว่าเขารักเธอ เรื่องน่ามันติดตามก็ตรงที่พระเอกมีปม ออกมาจากคุก พยายามจะปฏิเสธนางเอก อ่านแล้วก็แอบลุ้นว่าตกลงว่าจะมีเหต���การณ์อะไรที่ทำให้พระเอกยอมทำตามใจตัวเองบ้าง
ต่อไปสปอล์ย
ซึ่งเหตุการณ์มันก็เริ่มจากที่ห้องข้างบนห้องของพระเอก พ่อของเด็กเป็นพวกชอบทำร้ายร่างกายลูกเหมือนกัน ทำให้แจ็คสันทนไม่ได้ต้องเข้าไปยุ่ง แล้วพ่อของเด็กคนนี้มีอยู่วันหนึ่งมันสูบบุหรี่แล้วหลับไปทั้งๆที่ยังไม่ดับทำให้ไฟไหม้อาพาร์ทเม้นต์ที่พระเอกอยู่มีคนเจ็บและคนตาย แต่พระเอกก็เข้าไปช่วยเด็กคนนั้นออกมาได้ ขณะนั้นเองนางเอกเราดูข่าวทางโทรทัศน์ก็จำได้ว่าเป็นย่านที่อยู่ของพระเอก แต่ก็พยายามใจเย็นคิดว่าเขาคงไม่เป็นอะไรจนสุดท้ายพระเอกไม่มาทำงานสักทีก็ทนรอไม่ไหวก็เลยไปที่เกิดเหตุถามหาพระเอกก็ไม่มีใครรู้จนสุดท้ายหันไปเห็นพระเอกยืนอยู่ขณะเดียวกันพระเอกหันมาเจอกันก็โผเข้าหากัน นางเอกพาพระเอกไปอยู่ที่บ้านในระหว่างที่ยังไม่มีที่อยู่ แล้วก็ทุกอย่างก็เป็นไปอย่างใจปราถนาของทั้งสอง แต่กระนั้นพระเอกก็ยังไม่ยอมที่จะคบจริงจังคือเหมือนกับว่านอนด้วยกัน รัก แต่ไม่กล้าที่จะให้นางเอกมาพัวพันกับตัวเองและพระเอกไม่เคยบอกอะไรนางเอกเกี่ยวกับสิ่งที่ตัวเองกำลังทำอยู่เลย นางเอกก็คิดว่าเมื่อถึงเวลาเขาอยากบอกเขาก็จะบอก ทั้งๆที่ก็เสียใจแล้วก็ท้องอยู่ด้วยแต่ไม่บอกพระเอก เพราะคิดว่าพระเอกไม่อยากจะมีลูก ยังไม่พร้อมจะฟังเรื่องที่ว่านางเอกท้อง จนตอนหลังพี่พระเอกหายจากอาการป่วยทางจิตความลับเปิดเผยว่าจริงๆแล้วพี่พระเอกต่างหากที่เป็นคนฆ่าพ่อ ทำให้พระเอกกลายเป็นผู้บริสุทธิ์
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