Rules of Survival

by Jus Accardo

A new adult novel from Entangled's Embrace imprint...
If you want to survive, you have to follow the rules…

Mikayla Morgan is wanted for her mother's murder. She's been on the run for almost a year now, avoiding not only the police but the real killer. Tired of running and desperate to clear her name, she breaks one of the most sacred rules: never return to the scene of the crime.
Every bounty hunter on the Eastern Seaboard is after the Morgan girl--but Shaun Denver and his partner snagged her. She's a piece of work, and Shaun can't decide if he wants to kiss her or kill her. When things take a sharp turn south, Shaun does the only thing he can think of to keep her close--he handcuffs them together.
As the danger mounts and the killer closes in, the chemistry between them threatens to explode. Shaun and Kayla will need to break all the rules if they hope to get out of this alive.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Mystery, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult, Romantic Suspense

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2014

About the author

JUS ACCARDO spent her childhood reading and learning to cook. Determined to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps as a chef, she applied and was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America. But at the last minute, she realized her true path lay with fiction, not food.

Jus is the bestselling author of the popular Denazen series from Entangled publishing, as well as the Darker Agency series, and the New Adult series, The Eternal Balance. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

Reviews

[Sammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Handcuffed stars



Thrill- Action - Fun : Thats exactly what this novel is made up of >>>



This is such a fresh piece of young adult , I loved reading it ...

Heroine is a runaway girl , part of a fraud yet an innocent , Classic beauty with Brains , follows her mom's set of rules for survival , which is strictly against :
1> trusting anyone ... especially Bounty Hunters
2> Do not get attached
3> falling in love is out of context
I really admire her strength so much , and even amidst all the chaos , she is one hell of a fighter. She's definitely one bad-ass chick!

Hero is a quirky , arrogant , handsome bounty hunter , some times quite impulsive , yet sweet & caring , & fiercely protective .

I meant what I said. I like you. A lot. I want to get to know you…all of you. Every stupid little detail about your life. You don’t have to run anymore. You can give this a chance.

The story works in days , but the development in love is so detailed and precised , never felt rushed , progress in their relationship is layer by layer , step by step, not like We saw each other , kissed , fall in love ... that's what i felt was the best part of this story.

Rules of Survival is just constant speed, constant action and filled with two awesome main characters that light up the book with their chemistry. I could not put this one down.

[Nemo · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a full and edited review go to: Blame it on the book

The Rules of Survival took me on a ride! Not only was it suspenseful and thrilling, It was also very sexy. We follow the story of Kayla, whose mother had died and she was being blamed for it.



While trying to clear her name she get caught by bounty hunters who had been chasing her for years. The only thing Kayla hadn’t noticed was the bounty hunter had a new apprentince. Shaun, who was as deadly as he was hot. Not to mention the fact that there are other people trying to kill her.

“Tricks of the trade?” I snorted. “That’s fancy talk for hunting people down like dogs, right?”

The entire book takes place in barely two days, it’s pretty action packed. It was an easy read, and there were a lot of characters but it never got confusing. What did get annoying very quickly was how we kept hearing about how hot Shaun was. Even though she was trying to escape with her life and find evidence of her mothers killer, she had time to mention on every other page that he was extremely attractive

“I had an overwhelming urge to hit him—or kiss him. I wasn’t sure which. With lips like those, a girl would have to be dead not to notice. Mortal danger or not.”

Also through a decision made on pure adrenaline Shaun and Kayla were handcuffed together, they were basically handcuffed through out the entire book even though they had many chances to get out of them or break them. Even though it was action packed, don’t be fooled, most of the book is romance with drizzles of suspense and plot twists.

The romance was well written and swoony, if a bit cliché.

“I saw his resolve breaking apart. Watched the wall crumble, brick by brick, until there was nothing left between us but what we obviously wanted. “

Shaun was cocky but not so much that produced an eye roll. The same for Kayla, she was confident in her ability to survive as a fugitive but she able to admit she wasn’t the best. Which is good since she got captured two chapters in.

We did get to see the whole backstory to Kayla, which was fun because she had a seriously messed up childhood. Not only was it morally degrading since basically everything she owned was either stolen or bought with stolen money, but her stories were mixed with both bitterness and wistfulness which sounds like an oxymoron but it worked.

All in all it was a supremely fun read and a great pick for anyone whose looking for a romance that holds a punch.

[Elodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

He let go and raised our cuffed hands. "This is kinda the best thing that's ever happened to me."


Finally a romance/thriller novel where I don't guess the whole intrigue within the first few chapters, thank god! Oh aaaad Shaun... Shaun, Shaun, Shaun...

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. Mikayla has been on the run her whole life. First with her mother, then after her mother was murdered, on her own. She returns to the scene of the crime to get evidence to clear her name but is captured by bounty hunters. Then in a twist, Shaun one of the bounty hunters also becomes the hunted when he joins her in her pursuit of the truth. This had non- stop action and the two really had to use their wits to survive. I really liked this story, it was unique. 4 stars.

[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The universe exploded, and for the first time in my life, I was at peace.

This book was okay. Jus Accardo is one of the best authors out there. Her 'Denazen' series is one of my favorites and i love them, but 'Rules of Survival' just didn't work for me as the other. I guess i had way too high expectations for this book. Probably because 'Denazen' series was so great. But I don't regret reading this one, because it was worth the time. Mikayla Morgan was a great character who was strong and independent and was really, really smart.

Shaun's eyes widened, and for a minute, he was speechless. It was a nice minute. When his mouth wasn't messing things up, he was serious eye candy. Unfortunately, it didn't last long.

Shaun Denver was a cute young man, and i liked him. He was sensitive and nice to Kayla and other people but if your his enemy then he'll snap. He like a 'beat the crap out of you' kind of guy. Shaun was almost a schizo, but he just had a painful past and its totally an understandable reaction for him. Kayla and Shaun was adorable together, and i do wish we get more of them :)

“I meant what I said. I like you. A lot. I want to get to know you…all of you. Every stupid little detail about your life. You don’t have to run anymore. You can give this a chance”

[Melliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mon avis en Français

My English review

I heard several times about Jus Accardo but it’s true that I never tried one of her books so far. I did not read a lot of New Adult novels, but this book gave me the opportunity to return to the genre and I must say I took a lot of fun with it.

Kayla ran away all her life with her mother without really knowing why. Never staying long in one place and following a bunch of rules established to not get caught. But now it’s been a year since her mother was killed, and Kayla is now alone and is still running away from the police who is convinced that she is the killer and from the bounty hunters who want to recover her against money, but she comes back home. Yes, because the young woman knows that her mother left her some information in their old house, and Kayla is determined to clear her name and prove her innocence. However, nothing will be easy and by breaking the first rule, she discovers a letter but looses it when Patrick and Shaun, two bounty hunters who pursued her her entire life, manages to stop her. But they do not seem to be alone in wanting to catch her and when others are ready to bring her dead, the young woman will soon have to find a solution. But by an unfortunate chance, the irresistible Shaun and she are found tied up, and for the first time in her life, she will have to learn to trust someone to discover the truth about her history and her mother’s.

From the beginning of the story I understood certain facts which are subsequently confirmed thereafter, but we also have many revelations throughout the novel and I really enjoyed discovering more about Kayla and Shaun. The story of the young woman intrigues us and keeps us in suspense throughout the novel as we want as much as she to discover the truth. It is difficult to know who she can trust and with the life she had, we understand her distrust. She has a lot of assets in terms of survival and at the same time, we perfectly feel that her solitude weighs on her. But Shaun is also something different. It is quite difficult at the beginning of the story to understand what he really wants. Yes because he always seems arrogant, always explaining how handsome he is, and at the same time there is much more than that. Of course, he is charming, but he will also do anything to help Kayla to find the truth of what happened. They go out together in a mad rush, attached to one another by handcuffs. You can imagine that we will find them very quickly in completely comical situations. Oh yes, because I was surprised that the handcuffs remained throughout the whole story. A nice relationship appears between them then evolves throughout the novel and it is true that it was quite touching to see all that.

Throughout the chapters, we will discover the truth about the Kayla’s existence, Shaun’s past and the history of the mother of the girl. Everything was really interesting and it’s true that I did not put the book before knowing everything. A great surprise for me!

[M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Rules of Survival was a good book but nothing Wow. I was disappointed with the writing. It was a bit choppy and it was hard to keep up. Sometimes it was even hard to figure it out who was saying what and the book is told from one POV only. The story was underdeveloped, everything was rushed by. It felt like the author was writing in a hurry. Because of that the plot suffered and the big secret was kind of cliched and juvenile.

Three things bothered me the most in this book. The first were the shackles. The characters could have gotten rid of them at any time. How hard would it be to buy something to cut the chains when they stopped several times to buy food and other stuff. Second, the first time they have sex. Kayla is a virgin and as usual her first time was absolutely amazing. There was not even a slight attempt to make the situation believable. Third, the characters showered, peed, but during the several days there were shackled together no one had to poop? I'm sorry, but it was funny how the author didn't even mention that very embarrassing situation.

Okay, I get it. This is not the type of book to expect common sense. It's pretty much a love story that needed an exciting backdrop. The characters were likeable and had crazy chemistry. It was a fast read despite the flaws. Recommended for lazy afternoons or when you need a palate cleanser.

[Tee Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a clever and captivating story, with a heroine who was on a fast track to nowhere thanks to a rather twisted childhood and the tragic loss of her mother. Mikayla’s life had been a covert operation of chaos, with her mom keeping them on the move in order to stay hidden from her past. But when the gorgeous swindler’s past caught up with her, Mikayla was then left to fend for herself…and wanted for her mother’s murder. The rules her mom had taught her over the years became her bible, until the day she decided enough was enough. She wanted to know who killed her mom, and she was willing to risk it all to find out. Turned out there were a lot of people who were thrilled with that decision, and her life instantly kicked into high gear!

Bounty hunter Shaun Denver had learned from the best--his partner, the man who essentially saved his sorry ass. Snagging Mikayla Morgan was going to be a big catch for them, but neither of them expected the shitstorm that followed her everywhere she went. Dodging bullets and running from the bad guys would be hard enough, but these two had the added challenge of being handcuffed together in the process. It sounds like a corny twist, but I really got a kick out of the way they had to maneuver around the fact that they really only had one arm to work with while they played escape artists. Their adventure was full of thrills, with the occasional bouts of laughter, whether from their awkwardly linked arms or their snarky comments to each other.

As much as Mikayla’s mother certainly prepared her for life in the shadows, she didn’t give her much to look back on in terms of happy memories. With her world being uprooted every time she turned around, she never really had the chance to make friends or just be a normal kid. So when she was forced to spend every minute of her day within arm’s distance of a hottie with an attitude, Mikayla was kind of out of her league. But that didn’t stop her from staying on the same page as they gradually went from enemies to begrudgingly accepting of each other to lusting after one another like nobody’s business. It was a believably smooth transition, and they were definitely hot together. And of course, the good old handcuffs did come in handy from time to time…

With were some clever twists that were kind of expected but still entertaining, I really enjoyed this latest of Jus Accardo's work. Rules of Survival was a sassy, sexy, thrilling read and it gets an enthusiastic thumbs up from this reader!



Quotes:

I started walking right. Shaun went left. We each got about one and a half steps before our arms jerked back, sending us off-balance and colliding into each other.
This wasn’t going to end well…. ~p.45

Shaun’s eyes widened, and for a minute, he was speechless. It was a nice minute. When his mouth wasn’t messing things up, he was serious eye candy. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. ~p. 54

Brutal honesty. Raw and stark. Being around Shaun made my brain malfunction. My secrets were slipping out, and my feelings bled through. It was anarchy and peace all in the same chaotic package, and at that moment, I would have given anything to make it last forever. ~p. 151


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[Madiha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The real blurb
If you want to survive, you have to follow the rules…

Mikayla Morgan is wanted for her mother's murder. She's been on the run for almost a year now, avoiding not only the police but the real killer. Tired of running and desperate to clear her name, she breaks one of the most sacred rules: never return to the scene of the crime.

Every bounty hunter on the Eastern Seaboard is after the Morgan girl—but Shaun Denver and his partner snagged her. She's a piece of work, and Shaun can't decide if he wants to kiss her or kill her. When things take a sharp turn south, Shaun does the only thing he can think of to keep her close—he handcuffs them together.

As the danger mounts and the killer closes in, the chemistry between them threatens to explode. Shaun and Kayla will need to break all the rules if they hope to get out of this alive.

My blurb
Mikayla, the girl who has been on run for the last 18 years
of her (18 year old) life, returns to the cabin where her mother was murdered; the murder for which she is a suspect. She carelessly enters the crime scene and is caught by bounty hunters. Shaun , the "hot" hunter ( because what else could he be?? ), shackles her to himself when they are attacked by some unknown people. The couple is then on the run. They try to find the guy who killed Mikayla's mother at the same time trying to learn about the said mother's past...

My thoughts
I was expecting a fast paced thriller with a nice amount of romance thrown in it. To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement.



Mikayla has been on run since she was born but still she makes a stupid mistake and gets caught. I know it was her first mistake and I should cut her some slack but I won't *stubborn me crossing my arms*. She is always like mum would have been so disappointed in me because she is always breaking some of her mother's precious rules . OMG! If you are so worried about the darn rules then don't break them. And then there is the thing where she thinks herself SO smart but is always making some stupid mistake.
There was no suspense. I do not consider a book good when you can see the end coming from the first 15 pages or so. The moment Mikayla read her mother's letter, I knew who her father was.
I like a good looking hero as much as the next person. But does the author really had to emphasize Shaun's handsome face like 30 times.



I wanted to hit Mikayla on the head after the third time she mentioned the green streak in Shaun's purty eyes .

Rule of Survival could have been good but it was not . I just could not bring myself to like it. A good looking hero and a sizzling chemistry between the MCs is not enough for me to rate a book 4 stars.

[Mikky · Rating 3 out of 5]

12/05/14

FINALLY!!

It happened...

-grins from ear to ear-

That's my name with ALMOST the 'correct' spelling in a BOOK! Mine is spelled Mikaella. It's even by an author I know and love!!

-runs away skipping and laughing, while throwing confetti every which way-

________________________

Update:

25/05/14

Review to Come!

_______________________
Originally posted at:



*I was provided an eARC by the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

I'll start this review by being honest: I don't usually read thriller/mystery books. With that said, please bare with me. I wanted to read this book because of TWO things: a) My name is used as the main characters name, but (of course) the author misspelled it (LOL, I just had to throw that in there C:); b) I LOVE Jus Accardo as an author, so I will give anything she writes a chance.

I would consider this more mystery than suspense and add a pinch of overwhelming frustration and you get this novel! The whole time I was waiting for something of EPIC proportions to happen and it never did. Well, the 'events' happened, but it was ALWAYS pure coincidence. That they even managed to find the guy responsible for everything was a miracle.

Mikayla (I still think it should be Mikaella like my name, BUT....) AKA Kayla was an adventurous, not-easily-trusting person. In her short life she has been around the world and back. All that because of her mothers past coming to bite her [mother] back in the a** for all her [mother] wrong doings. After doing something so out of character is hurts, she get caught (didn't see that coming, right?) and the story starts off from there.

"Do it yourself because no one else is going to do it for you. That was one of her rules."

Shuan was the typical macho guy that starts out despising her and ends up saving her. Their story was just too stereo typical. I guessed a lot of it and the 10% I didn't wasn't at the level of epic that I was expecting.

"Of all the people on earth for me to be shackled to, the universe sends a cocky, know-it-all a**hole with a perfect body and face of a demigod, rocking an attitude?"

Over all, this was a nice and fast read. If I had been more of a fan of this type of book I would have enjoyed this more. As much as I wanted to love this, unfortunately it ended up being an average read.

Favorite Quotes:

"So, what do you want to do tomorrow? 'Cause I'm thinking if you haven't got any plans, maybe we could try pissing off the Mafia. That'd be a fun change of pace."

"There are just some things you don't do. Call it common sense, self-preservation, or simply intuition."

[Christine Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more reviews and GIVEAWAYS, do check out my blog:


Rules of Survival

Cover: 4
Plot: 5
Characters: 5

Overall Rating: 5

I meant what I said. I like you. A lot. I want to get to know you…all of you. Every stupid little detail about your life. You don’t have to run anymore. You can give this a chance.

Rules of Survival was a book filled with action and passion





Mikayla has been on the run for over a year already. Everyone believed she killed her mother but she knows the truth and the true killer is still out there searching for her to finish the job. Being on the run was what she was used to and her mother taught her rules in life in order to survive.

Never trust anyone and never return to the scene of the crime.

Every bounty hunter in the east coast has been looking for the Morgan girl and luckily Shaun Denver snagged her.

Mikayla wasn't like most of the female lead characters in action books who has fighting skills like Jackie Chan, she's kind of the opposite. Not that it means she's helpless, she was just the kind of woman who uses her brains instead of her brawns while fighting. Since her mother never wanted her to learn how to fight in fear of Mikayla wanting to stay in the "business" and end up with bigger shit to worry about.

Shawn was the brawns to Mikayla's brains. He exuded dumb jock vibes at the first parts of the book when Mikayla was right and he can't see what was really going on. Though throughout the book he ended up getting much more smarter with his decisions and I really loved what he did for Mikayla in the end.

Great plot filled with action which I love and I am wishing for more form this author!

Received digital edition from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, I just LOVED this book! I think this is Jus Accardo's best book yet, she just killed this one! Don't get me wrong, her other books are absolutely fantastic, but this one just takes the cake for me. Rules of Survival is filled with so much thrill, so much action, so much heat and I just couldn't get enough of it!

Mikayla Morgan is such a great character to follow. This girl has been place to place, never settling down and constantly on the run. When your mom was a "criminal" you don't really get much choice in the matter. I admire her strength so much too throughout this book. Kayla is eighteen and already had to deal with the death of her mother, being hunted down like a dog, and dealing with people trying to kidnap or kill her. She's definitely one bad-ass chick!

Then there's Shaun Denver....oh hello hot stuff. I adore when a guy is more than just looks and snark. Shaun has those, and the built arms and the sexy smirk, but he also has so much more behind all of that. He's loyal and protective and fierce and can throw one heck of a punch. I also love how he keeps his promises. I adored watching Kayla and him together and was rooting for them till the very end.

Another thing I loved was how Jus set this book up. She started off with an awesome opening chapter, introduced the important people and then jumped right into the story. That's one thing I adore about all of her books, there's no talking your ear off with back story, no lolly-gagging, just straight into the action and no going back. What I also felt was so great about Rules of Survival is that she revealed just enough and just the right points and I adored every moment.

This book was just all sorts of fantastic. Rules of Survival is just constant speed, constant action and filled with two awesome main characters that light up the book with their chemistry. I could not put this one down and it is definitely a must buy!

Find this review at Shortie Says

[CasPerfitz~SLiTsReaD · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars!

An action-packed, romantic-suspense novel...

My rating is really based on personal choice. I liked it but didn't love it... ;) I find it just a little too light for my thrill of romantic-suspense novel.

There is lots of action since they are mostly on the run thorough the entire book. When I say they, meaning the two lead character, Mikayla and Shaun.

Mikayla's on the run cause she is wanted for her mother's murder... and Shaun, an apprentice bounty hunter, together with his mentor Patrick. were the first to capture her. For Shaun, it all started with capturing Mikayla, handing her over and getting their bounty... but when men started shooting after them to get to Mikayla, everything's changed.... now it's all about protecting Mikayla. While Mikayla really have no choice but to trust Shaun and his help in finding who killed her mom.

All this mystery could have been avoided from the start had her mom told Mikayla everything... OR, all this could have been avoided if they went back to retrieve the letter her mom left for her. But, I guess there wouldn't be a story if all that happened. In other words, something simple is made complicated.

Mikayla's character is brave, smart and kick-ass.... And Shaun, well, he sounds hot and promising. Both lead character are equally likeable. I enjoyed their chemistry together.

And I appreciated it that there was none of that "insta-love" happening. Yet!!!! But there is that undeniable attraction. ;) (Not that I have anything against insta-love.)

It is well written and well delivered.... and there is also that extra twist in the story... BUT BUT BUT, it's this is just me, I need a little more oomph in my read... so I guess it's a matter of reference for me. I don't wanna say predictable, but... I was kinda anticipating that part in the end too. :-P

My first Jus Accardo read and definitely not the last. ;)

Review is also shared and posted here : SLITSREAD

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: 4 ½ out of 5 stars

I’m a huge Jus Accardo fan so the moment I saw Rules of Survival on Netgalley it was an auto click! I devoured this book from the moment it arrived on my kindle, I loved the thrill ride we were taken on, the amazing characters and wonderful romance; it was one of those books that I just couldn’t put down.

Eighteen year-old, Mikayla Morgan has been on the run for over a year, wanted for her con-artist mother’s murder and also by relentless bounty hunters it was go go go right from the beginning.

When Mikayla makes a big blunder by returning to the scene of the crime she ends up snagged by someone her mother had worked with in the past and Shaun Denver, his young partner in training. Shaun was fabulous from his first scene, I adored him and his interactions with Mikayla; he didn’t just hand her over but came to trust what she knew and her reactions. Mikayla was also pretty amazing, she knew how to take care of herself and was always one step ahead of everyone else, she wasn’t without her faults but she was extremely likeable. All of the secondary characters play a pivotal role in the overall story; some were nice enough but others you wouldn’t want to know.

The plot moved at a steady pace, I enjoyed the overall mystery and was keen to know who was after Mikayla and the reasoning behind it all and although some parts I found to be predictable it was entertaining getting to the big reveal. There were some twists I wasn’t expecting and the action sequences were done well and kept me flipping the pages wanting to know more.

Rules of Survival was a non-stop thrill ride filled with intrigue, suspense, romance and amazing characters that ooze chemistry; Jus Accardo never fails to entertain with her wonderful writing and witty dialogue, she’s definitely an auto-buy author for me.

Highly recommended for fans of Jus Accardo and of light-hearted romantic suspense.

[Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC of Rules of Survival from Entangled Embrace via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review*

Fast-paced, filled with action and some romance, Rules of Survival brought me on a whirlwind trip alongside Mikayla and her rules...

This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is prime material for a CW show about teenage bounty hunters. There is decent action, plausible suspense, an interesting back story, a smart heroine, a hero with a lot of swoon potential and a curmudgeon of a mentor. Someone get on this idea. Also make this into a book series too please.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars: An entertaining romantic mystery though a bit unbelievable.

Makayla knows she is breaking one of her mother's rules of survival by returning to the scene of a crime, but Makayla has no choice. It has been almost a year since her mother was murdered, and Makayla must return to the place where she died to try and find the missing information her mother left her that will supposedly help clear her name. Makayla has spent the last eighteen years, her entire life, on the run with her mother, constantly hiding, trying to help her mother prove her innocence. Unfortunately, the past caught up with Makayla's mom before she could reveal the truth. Men are still hunting Makayla, including the two men who come barging in the cabin door. Before long, Makayla finds herself shackled to an incredibly hot bounty hunter, Shaun, and running for her life. Can Makayla and Shaun find the evidence to prove she is innocent or will they die trying?
What I Liked:
*I appreciated that this was a fast paced, exciting, mystery NA thriller. It has drama, but not the gut wrenching type of drama that NA is famous for. Instead this is a deadly game of cat and mouse as Makayla and Shaun race to find the truth all while shackled together, and along the way some sparks fly between them. If you are looking for something fresh and exciting in the NA genre this is a fun pick.
*I liked that this book had plenty of suspense and mystery surrounding Makayla's mother and her past. I especially enjoyed the reveals and the twist at the end. I was surprised and pleased with the resolution. The mystery was entertaining and engaging throughout.
*Makayla and Shaun make an interesting couple. From the moment Shaun storms in the room, Makayla is attracted. However, Shaun is supposedly the enemy. When the two are thrust together, Makayla begs him to help her, and reluctantly Shaun agrees. To prevent Makayla from escaping, Shaun handcuffs her to him, and then the pair spend the next few days dodging killers and searching for the truth all while shackled together, talk about an awkward first day. During their time together, they must learn to trust one another, which is difficult since they have both had tough childhoods and plenty of baggage. I liked the way they learned to work together and connected emotionally.
*The relationship doesn't start off well. The two are constantly bickering and they have a very antagonistic relationship, despite the attraction. After a few near death misses, things begin to change, and then there are a couple of heated encounters. For those of you who don't like a bunch of detailed and explicit sex scenes in your NA reads, there are only a couple of encounters and one sex scene that is tame. The romance is fun to watch unfold.
*The ending resolves nicely, and all the questions are answered. Mystery solved. No complaints on my end. I got the answers I needed.
And The Not So Much:
*I had two big stumbling blocks with this book because both could have been avoided but they weren't for the sake of the story. The first being when Makayla retrieves the letter at the beginning of the book. This letter means everything and she has been dead set on getting her hands on it for almost a year. Just when she has the letter in hand, she is accosted and she drops the letter. Amidst gunfire, Makayla recovers the letter, and instead of tucking it in her clothes for safekeeping, she decides to try and read it while the bullets continue to fly. Say what? Then of course the important information is again dropped and left behind. Unbelievable. Second, the whole thing with the handcuffs. Shaun handcuffs Makayla to him early on to prevent her from escaping. After handcuffing her, he loses the key within five minutes. Who handcuffs someone to themselves and then promptly loses the key? Then the two of them spend the next few days running while handcuffed together. There were so many times when they could have and should have removed the handcuffs. They were even at a Home Depot so why on earth didn't they buy something to cut them off? It got to be ridiculous after awhile. Granted, there is a bit of a twist at the end regarding the handcuffs, but I thought the whole premise was unrealistic and a bit stupid.
*Of course being a NA romance, we have to have some heat and sex. I am all fine with that, but the moment the big sex scene comes it is right after another dangerous encounter. I struggled with the fact that they could just run and then stop and have sex when danger was hot on their heels. Not to mention the fact that it was Makayla's first time and it was amazing, and also that Shaun didn't use any protection.
*The overall plot is a bit predictable as far as the romance and Makayla's issues are concerned. At least there were a couple of good twists at the end.

Rules of Survival was an entertaining NA mystery, and I liked that it stayed away from the well known drama laden reads that are so prevalent in this genre. This was definitely different and I enjoyed it for the most part despite a couple of big flaws. Still if you want a quick, fun suspenseful read with an antagonistic romance that starts under inconvenient circumstances give this one a go. I enjoyed the reveals and twists at the end, which made it all worthwhile.

Favorite Quotations:
"Hacker' is such an ugly word. I prefer boundary tripper."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

[Jenea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rules of Survival is my second book from Accardo and this one pulled me right in just like Ruined did. The whole bounty hunter aspect is what caught my attention and something different. It center around Mikayla who has been on the run for a year now, and this suspect in her mother’s murder. Following the rules is what her mother always taught her. Not just any rules either. When you are a con artist, you live by a whole different set of rules. Mikayla of course goes back to the place her mother was murdered, and runs into two bounty hunters and the drama ensues.

Mikayla was a pretty badass girl. She could definitely take care of herself, and could kick some butt. I liked that she wasn’t whiney, she is strong even after everything that she has been through. She doesn’t trust anyone. At all. Enter Shaun, he was one of the bounty hunters after her. He is sexy, strong and isn’t quick to judge, especially when it come to Mikayla. The fact that he loyal and so protective of her as the story continued made me like him even more. There are a few people that popped up every now and then that all had important part in the mystery behind Mikayla’s mothers murder. Patrick was the bounty hunter that Shaun worked with, and questioned just about everything he said and did, couldn’t put my finger on why though.

The plot was fantastic! It was fast paced, jumping from from exciting fight, more people after Mikayla and running, hiding and more running. The who behind the whole hunt for Mikayla revealed some interesting twists and revelations for Mikayla. There was plenty of drama too. The interaction between Kayla and Shaun just added to the already intense story. They bickered at the beginning, and always seemed to find themselves in ever worse situations than the once before. The romance side to this was perfect for this type of story, sweet and steamy in all the right places. The ending was suspenseful and turning pages faster and I was happy with the way everything turned out, even if I was kinda biting my nails.

Rules of Survival was all kinds of entertaining, it has romance, action and mystery. Acccardo definitely did again with such great characters and a freakin awesome plot that I could get enough of. Pick this one up for sure.


For more review, check out Visit Book Live Forever

[Kirke · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I am not sure how to feel about this book. The whole setup was okay, being cuffed together, but it isn't the first time I've read a story that started of that way. For most part of the book, the focus was on trying to find out who was the real killer rather than trying to get those handcuffs off. Seeing the way Mikayla grew up and Shaun is a bounty hunter, you'd think they would have learned how to pick locks.

If you can see past that bit of weirdness than it is a good story, though it could have been better. Let's start with Makayla. She is now eighteen years old and her mom got murdered last year. Since her prints were all over the scene the authorities and apparently bounty hunters have been after her. Now being on the run is actually not something new for Mikayla, she and her mom have been on the run her entire life. Don't ask me how they did this and Mikayla still ended up pretty normal. I feel like this story would have worked better and had been a bit more believable if she had been a couple of years older.

Shaun is also young, only twenty and a bounty hunter, though it quickly becomes clear he should have chosen a different profession. He's had a terrible childhood, which he shares with Makayla, who as far he knows killed her own mother. I think he trusts her way too fast, way too early into the story. Pretty much from the moment they are bound together, secrets start spilling out from both of them.

There is some mystery and action in it, but it's almost a backstory for this growing romance between Shaun and Mikayla. Is this story believable? No. Is it enjoyable? Yes. As long as you don't think too hard about certain things, it is definitely possible to enjoy it.

[Emily♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jus Accardo’s books. She writes such fast-paced, action-packed, sexy romantic tales. Whether it’s Cain and Abel descended twins or a bounty hunter shackled to his hit, I’m never bored.

And she also writes some strong willed women. Women who don’t let no man decide their life choices. Women who fight for their lives and what matters most to them. Women who survive.

Thus, Rules of Survival.

I was hooked from the beginning. Barely wanting to put it down (although I was dividing my time between reading this, working, and season 4 of Downton Abbey).

Kayla is one of those strong girls I mentioned above. Left by a dead mother to live a life running from the inevitable. She has a will to live and I appreciated that she hardly let her vision get cloudy when it came to Shaun.

Shaun. (for some reason I thought of Dylan O’Brien. Not a bad thought, really).
“Moments of great kindness competing with glimpses of rage.” That’d be our Shaun. Smooth talking, joke cracking bounty hunter. I liked him a bunch. No complaints there.

And this book was full of moments that had me giggling.
“Because seriously, who pulled weeds in full makeup and loose hair?”
The same girls that go to the gym with prom ready makeup, that’s who, Kayla.

(I couldn’t help being distracted by the shackles. So many unanswered questions about how they got around. How they did certain things. I don’t know. I’m just very curious).

A quick read (woulda been quicker for me if I wasn’t hella invested in the drama going on at Downton), that won’t let you down.

[Romance Bound · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rules of Survival is a great story! As a New Adult book, it appeals to the 17 to 25 age range (and beyond!). This book is action packed and tension filled and oh so fun to read! I didn't see a lot of the twists coming, which brought a nice rush along the way. I absolutely loved the witty banter between Shaun and Kayla. When Kayla demonstrates her survival and evasive skills over and over again, I couldn't help but chuckle at Shaun's bafflement and sweet admiration. Throughout the story, bad boy turned bounty hunter, Shaun, continually mentions his impulse control issues, which makes it hot when he tries to reign in his sexual desires. With their hands shackled together, the scenes become much more dramatic as they try to outsmart the unknown killer and handle their mounting feelings for each other.

Rules of Survival is the first book I have read by Jus Accardo and I must say I really enjoyed her writing style. It was fast-paced, serious and funny in equal parts at appropriate times. Her dialogue between Kayla and Shaun really sold this book for me! I will definitely pick up another book written by her.

I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.

[Kirstyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being on the run for a murder you didn't commit must be hard; but add in the murder is your mom and I can't imagine what that would be like. That's Kayla's life, and it sucks. When she winds up being caught by bounty hunters Pat and Shaun (!), things start to change up fast!

The action in Rules of Survival is quick; other's have said it's a bit predictable, and it is in spots, but that definitely doesn't take away from the overall story! I definitely didn't see the last half of the book coming; I was too invested in the story by then. Kayla is sarcastic and feisty, she's been by herself for so long, she doesn't want to be around anyone else. Then she gets shackled to Shaun, and it gets interesting! He's learning how to be a bounty hunter, with a lot of baggage. I loved seeing where there story went and how it evolved. I think you'll love him too :)

Overall, great contemporary read! I needed to break up my usual dystopian/sci-fi reading schedule, and this was perfect! I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to Entangled Embrace and NetGalley for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

[CassandraG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suspenseful, with very likeable characters, that held your attention. You like Mikayla Morgan and Shawn Denver and they were an interesting couple. Especially when they try to discover the truth and stop a killer who just might try to stop them anyway they can. If you like fast paced action, you'll like this a lot

[Booknut 101 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was totally badass in every way possible. Jus Accardo has done it again!

Hopefully I'll get the chance to post up a full review once my end of term assessments are out of the way :)

[Barb Lie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by Jus Accardo. Rules of Survival had me hooked from the beginning to the exciting race to the climax. full review to follow soon.

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the characters. Love the plot. Love the banter between Mikayla and Shaun. Love this more than the Denazen series.

[Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Non-stop action from beginning to end!!!

[Jullie Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

As we know from the book's description, Mikayla "Kayla" Morgan is the only suspect in the investigation of her mother's murder, so she's been evading arrest...or worse...for as long as she possibly can. She already had experience with life on the run, though--even before her mom was killed--and that kind of lifestyle has taken its toll on Kayla. As a result, she decides to return to the scene of the crime and finally find some answers...Who was really after her mother, the notorious con-artist Melissa Morgan? And why were they really on the run for so long?

"I've been running for a year now by myself. I'm tired and I'm getting sloppy. I needed to find a way to end this before it ended me..."

Of course, the search for answers wasn't about to be an easy one. A couple of bounty hunters were keeping tabs on the place and interrupt Kayla. This is where we're introduced to Patrick, the bounty hunter that's been after Kayla and her mom for years, and his young protege Shaun. While Patrick is tending to the matter of reward money, he leaves Shaun in charge of their newly captured mark. However, a wrench is thrown into everybody's plans when unexpected company arrives. The two youngsters ultimately end up handcuffed together when Shaun refuses to let Kayla out of his sight, and this is when all the crazy fun begins.

Just because I couldn't see trouble didn't mean there wasn't any. I'd learned that ten times over the hard way.

Kayla is only 18 years old and her age certainly makes her vulnerable, but she's also a fighter and a quick thinker in her best moments. Clever. Instinct-driven. Fiery. Afterall, she's been completely on her own, surviving on the rules that her mother taught her.

I'd been forced to take things minute by minute. Less planning and more reacting. I liked it. I liked living in the moment. Needed it. There was a chance this would be the only freedom I would ever experience.

I liked the journey she went on with Shaun. With their flirty banter and some of Shaun's smooth lines, I did love having Kayla and Shaun handcuffed together! ;) It made for some light, amusing moments amidst all of the trouble and danger they were in.

I kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

I'd caught him off guard--I could tell--but after a moment, he recovered, lips parting in a devastating grin. He brought his face to mine, stopping just shy of touching, and whispered, "Your aim is a little off. I think you meant to get me several inches to the right."

I also started out with a certain opinion of Shaun, thinking I had him all figured out as this arrogant "I'm better than all of you criminals" jerk, but there was a lot more depth to his character. He revealed bits of his past and background to his father-son relationship with Patrick as the story progressed (...and tattoos *cough*). I enjoyed watching him and Kayla slowly open up and place trust in each other. I thought the scenes when their chemistry took over were written so well! They played up the raw attraction, curiosity, and thrill. Pre-tty stea-my.

"Say the word," he growled between kisses. "Say the word and I'll stop."

But I didn't want him to treat me gently. Not really. I wanted something real. Something raw. Bringing my free hand up, I tangled my fingers into his hair and pulled hard. He liked things on the rough side. That's what I'd give him.

For me, though, the romance was actually the background story. (Even as good as it was!) Rules of Survival was just more about Kayla's quest for the truth and for closure. I enjoyed that suspense/action aspect of this book. There was a lot going on, but the fast pace was exciting, not overwhelming! Shaun began to help Kayla uncover her mom's history and who the real killer could be!

What else hadn't she told me? Mom had always been my rock. My true north. The doubt seeped in like poison and hurt almost worse than losing her.

Although, certain scenes made me question...Could these kids really get out of this mess? (She's 18. He's 20.) It drove me a little nuts when Kayla would get slightly careless or certain details would fly right over her head, considering all of these rules that she had and details that she caught in other high-pressure situations. There were even a couple of instances when her teenage-girl side would show, and I had to roll my eyes...But then, the next crazy thing would happen to distract me, and you know what? This book was still fun to read! There were plenty of twists and turns!

Bad choices. That's what had brought us here tonight.

Bad choices had nearly destroyed us all.

The ending had a very satisfying "de-mystifying" feel to it. Even though some twists weren't exactly mind-blowing (just a tad predictable), I was still pleased with how everything unfolded. The pace felt right as those last pieces to the puzzle fell into place, and all of my big lingering questions were answered. It really wrapped up the last few years of Kayla's life and felt like her future was truly--at last--a fresh start.

"You don't know me."

"I know you better than you think I do...I've seen you at your worst. Angry and bitter and mean. And I've seen you be brave and stand up against things that would tear most people down. I don't think you're worried about me not knowing you. I think what you're really worried about is you not knowing you."

This was a quick, easy, but exhilarating read, with an interesting premise and compelling characters. If you want action and suspense, mixed with just enough wit and sex appeal, Jus Accardo can give you all of that in Rules of Survival! Not too dark or shocking, it was an entertaining take on New Adult!

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I didn't dislike this book.

I did find it a bit boring. For my first "hand-cuffed together" trope it really missed the mark for me. It reminded me why I disliked Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - it's just a long windy journey that managed to repeat itself.

I didn't enjoy any characters, she was unrelatable and he was not attractive to me. So keeping that in mind we can just assume that this book didn't suit my tastes.

The book did have some twists and turns, it just wasn't one that I loved. I found it sort of- boring? Maybe. We kind of looped back to the same characters, the same cat and mouse scenarios and a lot of nothing in between like 2 interesting scenes.

Not for me.

I will note this is probably fine for a young audience though I don't imagine a 12 year old into this ages 14-18 will probably enjoy it. Again, discretion folks.

[Lindsay Wendlandt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book a lot! It was a quick page turner, I finished it in two days, and the action was almost non-stop which i really liked. It kept the plot flowing towards somewhere, and the mystery woven throughout was intriguing enough to keep me reading. The main characters are pretty well done and I actually really liked the main character. She had enough survival skills coupled with idiot teenage brain to make her believable and real. Also Shaun was great!

I thought it had a lot of great plot twists and a good final reveal. The author did a good job breaking down the barriers between the characters and especially Kayla coming to the realization that her mother wasn’t perfect and realizing things about herself. Yay for self-discovery and beginning of trauma healing!

The one thing that did really detract the book in my eyes was just how freaking often Kayla talked about how hot Shaun was. Like good lord. We get it, he’s hot. Can you stop talking about it now? I mean, it was pretty constant throughout the whole novel which kind of slightly got in my way of enjoying it. Like yeah, mention the guy is hot a couple times, but not constantly. It felt very YA or juvenile to me in that way. Another thing which might have just been me was I felt like the first half of the book felt pretty YA and then all of a sudden there was a shift and things got more New Adult, which is what I think the book is marketed as, but it was a bit jarring when all of the sudden the characters started swearing all the time when they weren’t in the beginning and then there were sex scenes. It just felt a little inconsistent with the tone in that way. Like if Shaun was gonna swear with f bombs a lot, like start with that from the beginning. But overall, neither of those things were too terrible, just a little irritation with it!

So I would def recommend this book and the romance was very very spicy and steamy and I had to fan myself often 😝 also the handcuff trope? Love it with all my heart. It’s great, fantastic even. And it worked well with her setup and plot line! Great read! Glad I finally got it!