Rules of the Game

by Nora Roberts

AVAILABLE DIGITALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME

Television director Brooke Gordon thinks that major league baseball player Parks Jones is a major pain - an insufferable bad boy with an inflated ego. Unfortunately, he's also brilliant... and her client's spokesman. Booked to direct a series of commercials together, Brooke is irritated to find herself intensely attracted to the sports start. She's determined to ignore her feelings - but Parks is just as determined to prove that love is more than a game to him...

Includes a preview of Whiskey Beach , published in April 2013

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Sports, Chick Lit, Sports Romance

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1984

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in the '80's, the years of the "Bodice Rippers" it is a good book with some bodice ripping, but strong characters nevertheless. Our heroine directs commercials. Her first love used and dumped her in a terrible fashion. She also grew up in foster homes. So this is a strong lady with tons of baggage. Our hero is a 'love 'em and leave 'em' baseball star. His career is coming to a close so he is branching out into acting. He's beginning with commercials. Enter our heroine. The attraction is quick but the romance takes longer. She convinces herself to agree to the sex but doesn't plan to fall in love.
Good romance by the Queen of Romance.

[paige (ptsungirl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would do anything to read an entire baseball game told from Nora's point of view she just knows how to write!!!!!! Sub par plot, but the way I could understand every second of the baseball game she wrote into this.... it's like I could see it right in front of me.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I read many years ago. I was (and still am) a fan of Nora Roberts' writing, including her books as J.D. Robb, and gave this one a quick re-read when I ran across it while redoing some shelves. It's one of the few print books I've read within the last couple years, being a diehard Kindle user, but I have many more that I hope to have a chance to revisit before too long.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old skool romance, but a good one. With Nora's fanciful prose. She's one of the best at purple. This one is about give and take, challenge and response, and balance. I liked it. Good read.

[Evelyn alfonzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora Roberts nunca me decepciona
Bonita historia entre un beisbolista famoso Para Jones y la productora de comerciales Brooke

[Samira Salimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is talking about marriage intension. Maybe it is a good idea to recommend it to every couple to read and fine tune their marriage, especially if the marriage is moving towards post-years.
One valuable sentence from the book: Love is needed to start a life, then you need to sustain it.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! Good premise and enjoyable characters!

[Fernanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

:)
não sei porquê tenho sempre algum "pudor" em atribuir menos de 3 estrelas, acho que o autor merece sempre pelo esforço apesar de historia não ser exactamente "the one"!

bem, apesar de ser NR, nota-se perfeitamente que foi escrito nos anos 80, mais ou menos no incio da sua carreira.
esta historia pouco ou nada trás de novo. recheada de "clichés" o que acaba por condicionar algum envolvimento maior com os personagens.
apesar de ser uma historia "cute" fica um certo vazio porque não houve um amadurecimento dos personagens e consequentemente a historia fica "deslavada".

a trama acaba por ser basica, temos uma estrela do baseibol que foi contratado para fazer propaganda a uma marca de roupa e temos a directora/publicista da dita propaganda.... envolvimento amoroso super previsivel, nada de dialogos fantásticos, mordazes e com atitude.

posso considerar que foi mais uma "palhinha"....

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a baseball fan and a Nora Roberts fan, I thought a Nora Roberts book with a baseball theme would be a treat. Sadly, my knowledge of baseball actually hurt my ability to enjoy this book. I know it wasn't meant to be a guide to understanding the game, but the baseball parts should have been reviewed by someone who knows the sport (like winning a World Series isn't the same as winning a pennant). Oh well, I guess it's not realistic to expect to like every book an author writes!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another of Nora Roberts older novels with lots of romance, hot loins and heavy breathing! If you love those kinds of romance stories, you'll definitely enjoy this one.

Parks is a well known, great baseball player hoping to win the pennant and then the World Series. He plans to retire in another year and is looking for his next career. Women fall over him, but he has yet to find "the one".

Brooke is a self made woman, who grew up in foster care and never owned much of anything till she bought it herself as a grown woman. She longs for a family and has been working hard to make herself a success. Her older friend, Claire, took a chance on her when she was 18 and Brooke has worked her way up to becoming the best TV commercial director in her field.

Brooke has been chosen to work with Parks for a men's clothing line, where she will direct him on the commercials. She goes to a ball game with Claire and Parks' agent, and without meaning to, catches the eye of Parks. He has no clue he will be working with her when he first spots her. Their eyes connect and he's taken by her look-long red hair, lovely face and serious expression.

The story goes about as you would expect with lots of back and forth, arguments and passionate making up. It's nice to read these older books now and then and the steamy romance is a break from murder, mystery and mayhem!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book to read about love and giving yourself a second chance at love and moving on from painful pasts. Brooke Gordon is a successful commercial director for Thornton productions. She’s worked for Claire Thornton for over ten years. Brooke is given a new assignment a series of commercials featuring an athlete to sell clothing by a very successful designer De Marco. She has to work with third base baseball player Park Jones. She has a strict rule never mix business with pleasure. The only stable thing in her life is her work. Especially because of her childhood she was abandoned by her family and went into fostercare and she’s been burned badly in the past by love. everything she is, is because she made herself. But that changes when she comes face to face with Park Jones both are instantly attracted to each other but She is reluctant to act on it, but Park is determined to win her over, love isn’t a game to him it’s everything and he’s willing to prove that to her, slowly she gives in to him she especially enjoys her banter and quick witted spars she has with him. This is another wonderful novel by the talented storyteller Nora Roberts I highly recommend reading this book

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brooke Gordon bounced around foster homes growing up and has finally found a sense of family with her team at Thorton Productions, working her way up to director. She's happy making commercials and uses her skills from every previous job to be the best director she can. But now, she's having to work with a baseball player who will be modeling high-end clothes. Brooke knows nothing about baseball but, she she watches third baseman Parks Jones, she feels something.
Parks is immediately attracted to the redhead watching his game. He immediately wrangles a date but is then offended to find out that she was watching his game for more reasons than to just see him. Luckily, the two figure out how to work together and eventually fall into an HEA.
Since this book was originally published in the 80s, Parks is definitely an alphahole but could have been worse. And I did appreciate the glimpse of them together after the marriage had started; that we know that a wedding is not necessarily always the start to a perfect HEA.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

It all seemed too familiar to me, as if I had read it before, yet I had not. Then I decided to watch and old Kevin Costner movie, one I had not seen since 2000 For Love of the Game, and suddenly the book made perfect sense as to its familiarity! This book is almost a rip off of the movie! Or it is a major coincidence.

Almost word for word in some sections it seemed to be taken from the movie. Although some of the main characters story was different it was too much like the movie where the girl is afraid to love due to being dumped and let down. The man is a strong character unwilling to let her go.

Yet again another punishing tale of love and lust. I only have maybe 20 more of Nora's books to get through! The stock standard romance of the 80's and 90's she wrote seem always to have been ripped off by someone else.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parks Jones is a baseball player whose team is headed to the playoffs. And Parks is having an exceptional year. Which has just earned him a contract doing commercials for de Marco menswear.

Brooke Gordon is a self-made woman, who after spending her youth in foster homes is now working as a successful director. She isn't too happy to be working with a jock on the latest commercial series she's shooting.

Luckily Parks turns out to be a natural with charm that easily comes across in the ads. He works well with Brooke.

Another pleasant book in the Language of Love series. I didn't think I had read this Roberts' story before, but a fire right at the end of the book seemed vaguely familiar. Also, Brooke's boss, Claire, gave me Dr. Mira vibes from Nora's "In Death" series. As Claire is definitely a surrogate mother to Brooke.

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable fun read. This is a new cover on one of NR's older books. It was originally written in 1984 - you can tell because there's no cell phones or internet searches. However, it holds up very well. Both the male and female MCs are strong and interesting. Brooke is a respected tv commercial director who is asked to work with Parks (yeah, that's his first name) who's a star third baseman. He's in the final years of his career and is expanding into endorsements. There's a lot of chemistry and sparks fly on and off camera. Brooke had a rough childhood and doesn't like to give up control. Parks works his way into her heart. He's not your stereotypical jock - he's thoughtful and intelligent.

This is a quick easy read with just the right amount of steaminess. Great February read.

[Pallavi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this novel to enjoy a slow & romantic read which is the general theme of Nora Roberts books.
Brooke is a top-notch director of a commercial producing company. Her boss, Claire, is her mentor and her friend who decided to hire her when no one else would.
Claire picks up a famous baseball player, Parks, to star in the commercial.
Sparks fly when Brooks & Parks meet leading to an instant, erotic chemistry.
Fighting for dominance, the couple struggles through the shoot.

I give it 2 stars only for the amazing steamy scenes. Made me lose my cool few of them did!
The sheer physical demands was a huge no no for me.

[Wanda Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

two strong willed people find a love as strong as them

Raised in foster care and abandoned by the man she fell in love with seventeen Brook built a life from nothing and worked hard to become successful and respected. When she learns she is to direct a baseball player in a commercial she is unhappy to be working with someone who isn't a professional. When she attends a ball game and his eyes meet hers from his position on the field she knows nothing will ever be the same. From two different backgrounds but matching personalities create interesting interactions as their interest turns to love.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parks Jones, professional baseball player is the new spokesman for a clothing line and he isn't that excited about it. But, when he meets his director, Brooke Gordon, sparks fly immediately. Parks is attracted, Brooke is intrigued but doesn't want to get involved and both are not ready for the relationship that seems to develop overnight. While Parks shoots for a World Series championship and Brooke contemplates branching into directing more than commercials both have to open their eyes to the love they've developed together and the lives they can share.

[Ashley Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one.
It felt like I was reading a more recent novel she wrote, instead of one written in 1984. Park was an outstanding leading man, and Brooke was the perfect leading lady- standard Nora, with a strong female protagonist.

I also thoroughly enjoyed all of the side characters, as I usually do in her novels.
I’d love to know what happened with Brooke and Park, if he went off to be an actor and she went off to direct films. I guess that’s the sign of a good book- wanting to follow the characters more.

[Vona Karns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical short Nora romance. The interesting thing about this one was instead of immediately living happily ever after it showed an end chapter where they actually had difficulty adjusting to being married and living together instead of it being instant perfect. They worked through it of course but it was nice to see that yes, two completely independent people have to adjust to being married where you have to recognize the other person's POV.

[Charlotte Griggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a difficult time getting into this novel. I didn't like the topic of Brooke being a commercial producer. I'm also not a baseball fan, so I didn't particularly like the parts about Parks in the field. But, the romance, like most of Robert's novels, was perfect. I overly enjoyed "the game" being played between Brooke and Parks. They were perfectly compatible even if Brooke didn't want to see it. Luckily for her, Parks wasn't one to give up on love.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rules of the Game had Nora Roberts’ usual banter and chemistry, but I really struggled with it. The story is heavily centered on baseball, with pages of games being played out. Since I don’t follow or understand baseball, those parts dragged and felt hard to get through.

The romance between Brooke and Parks was there, but it took a backseat to the sports, making this feel more like a baseball novel with a touch of romance. If you’re a baseball fan, you’ll probably enjoy it more than I did.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't know anything about baseball before this book, no more knowledge now - that doesn't detract from the romance in my opinion. Unfortunately, similarly to others of her early books, I found the consent issue tricky - her early male leads are not good at taking no for an answer and instead see it as a challenge.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's nothing particularly wrong with this book. It just fell a little flat for me. The characters were superficial, the descriptions were a little boring, and the conflict just didn't hold my attention. I've been reading Nora's books for most of my life, but this is the first time I've read one of the early ones. It's fascinating to see how her writing style has changed over the years.

[MissKitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

An early Nora Roberts, under silhouette intimate moments. The sex scenes are pretty risqué for its time period, 1984. The story line is quite contemporary and it still lives up to the present. I liked the main characters, both were strong personalities and the author did a good job of showing how this could cause tension between the couple.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the Best Nora Roberts I have ever read. The Baseball angle is what drew me to the book, and that part was very well written however the relationship between the main characters was flat with no dimension. And the End of the story didn't come to a good end it just stopped, like the book was unfinished.

[Taylor Barron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nora's writing is always solid. Her characterization is always on point. However, this relationship seemed rushed and the ending was overly dramatic and entirely too fanciful. There was something missing in terms of the foundation of this relationship. There needed to be more: more time, more getting to know one another, more heartfelt discussions.

[anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really liked it. it was so much better that all those early standalones. i’m not sure about the ending with the fire and brooke never telling him about her villain origin story - clark but otherwise it was very good. it was steady and nice. i enjoyed the characters. mmc and fmc were equal with their ambitions and strengths.

[Rosie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to stop reading this book. The forced relationship really hurt the whole thing. I read most of it in about 2 hours, but the conflict really didn’t matter to me when it finally came. I guess this kind of writing just isn’t my style.

[Dorothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a quick romance novel this one was pretty good. It is about Brooke who produces TV commercials and Parks a good looking third baseman for the cities ball team. Of course there are hurdles to cross for this romance to happen.