Sam Crescent is passionate about fiction. She loves a good erotic romance and so it only made sense for her to spread her wings and start writing. She began writing in 2009 and finally got that first acceptance in 2011 by Total-E-Bound. She loved creating new characters and delving into the worlds that she creates. When she’s not panicking about a story or arguing with a character, she can be found in her kitchen creating all kinds of havoc. Like her stories the creations in the kitchen can be just as dubious but sometimes things turn out great.
Some people create rules to protect their hearts. But sometimes the right person comes along and makes every rule feel impossible to keep.
Rules by Sam Crescent is a heartfelt, steamy small-town romance about a man who thinks he has love completely figured out—until one woman quietly turns his world upside down.
Axel has lived his life by three simple rules designed to keep his heart safe. No kissing women on the lips. No sleepovers. And absolutely no dating single mothers.
Those rules have worked perfectly for years. Axel has built a reputation for keeping relationships casual and uncomplicated, just the way he intended. The rules were taught to him by his father, a man who loved deeply and suffered greatly after losing the woman he loved.
So Axel promised himself he would never risk that kind of heartbreak.
Then there’s Joey Sinclair.
Joey is the hardworking owner of the town’s coffee shop and a devoted single mother who has already survived more than her share of pain. After standing up to an abusive ex-husband who eventually abandoned both her and their daughter, Joey has learned to put her child first and protect her own heart just as fiercely.
Romance isn’t something she expects anymore.
But when Joey’s parents take her daughter for the weekend and insist she finally take some time for herself, she decides to enjoy one carefree night out. A drink, a dance, and a little freedom from responsibility for a few hours.
That’s when Axel walks into the picture.
One dance turns into a kiss—and suddenly Axel has broken the very first rule he swore he’d never cross. From that moment forward, every rule he once believed in begins to crumble.
What follows is a story full of chemistry, vulnerability, and the realization that sometimes the biggest risk in life is refusing to take one at all. Watching Axel slowly confront the truth—that he doesn’t just want Joey, he wants a future with her and her daughter—is both emotional and incredibly satisfying.
Joey’s hesitation is equally powerful. She has more than just her heart to protect, and trusting a man with Axel’s reputation isn’t easy. The tension between what they want and what they fear adds depth to their relationship, making their journey feel genuine and heartfelt.
Sam Crescent creates a fast-paced but engaging story filled with strong characters, emotional growth, and plenty of sparks between two people who never expected to fall for each other.
If you enjoy romances featuring:
a reformed bad boy who falls first
a strong single mom heroine
small-town charm
emotional vulnerability beneath tough exteriors
steamy chemistry with a heartfelt story
then Rules is a romance that proves love doesn’t follow rules—it rewrites them.
Because sometimes the man who builds the strongest walls… is the one who ends up loving the hardest.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rules is a standalone story by Sam Crescent featuring around a small town, a strong single mom and a good hearted, woman loving, bad boy. Axel Rules is the local town handyman following in his fathers footsteps. Before his father sadly passed away he lived by a strict set of rules that he passed along to Axel. However, Axel didn't realise until his chat with his Uncle Rick that his father only made these rules after loosing the love of his life. Axel values the rules and abides by them strictly, they are made clear to all women he shows an interest in. They are as follows: Rule 1 - No kissing on the lips. Rule 2 - He never sleeps over. Rule 3 - Never ever dates single mothers. He successfully stays to these rules until he is gifted a smile from Joey Sinclair, the curvy beauty that is the owner of Adeline's Coffee Shop and single mother to her nine year old daughter Adeline. After an abusive marriage Joey has dedicated her life to her daughter and getting her coffee shop up and running to support them both. She lives for her daughter and has no real life of her own. When her parents Alice and Marshall offer to have Adeline for a weekend to give Joey a chance to relax and enjoy her life. All it takes is her to step into Uncle Rick's Bar and Axel breaks every single one of his rules, dancing with a single mother, he kisses her so deeply their toes both curl and then they spend a night together unlike they have ever experienced before. One night is not enough and Axel is becoming addicted to Joey and spending time with her and her daughter. He is experiencing what being part of a family is like and he soon realises that it is a feeling he doesn't want to lose. He just hopes Joey feels the same once he realises and understands the strength of his true feelings. This is a such a heartwarming story that is written so well. You cannot help but root for Axel to realise what he could share with Joey and for her to have a love she truly deserves. The characters are both strong and likeable and both develop in different ways as the story progresses. The story is really engaging from beginning to end and pulls you in and takes you on a spicy ride as these characters find their way together. I really loved it and Axel is one amazing book boyfriend. I also enjoyed the relationship between Joey and her sister Ashley, she is a great additional character. Happy Reading. Please note that I was given an arc of this book for my honest review which is exactly what I have given. 5 out of 5 stars.
Rules is one of those stories that quietly reminds you why Sam Crescent Rules never fits neatly into a single box, and why that’s exactly what makes her such a standout author.
This isn’t your typical romance, and that’s what makes it so compelling. From the very first chapter, Crescent builds a small-town world that feels lived-in and authentic, the kind of place where everyone knows your business, secrets don’t stay buried for long, and second chances are both risky and inevitable. You don’t just read this setting, you settle into it.
At the heart of the story are Axel and Joey, two characters who feel refreshingly real. They’re not over-the-top or manufactured for drama. They’re hardworking, grounded, and shaped by the kind of pasts that leave marks. Axel’s reputation and his self-imposed rules add a layer of tension that keeps you questioning what’s beneath the surface, while Joey’s history brings an emotional weight that makes you root for her from the start. Both are guarded, both are wary, and both are trying to protect themselves from getting hurt.
What really elevates this story is how it leans into the messy reality of relationships. As always, communication and assumptions play a central role. At the same time, the small-town dynamic, complete with watchful eyes and not-so-subtle gossip, adds both humor and momentum, often nudging the story exactly where it needs to go. The dynamic between Joey's father, Marshall, and Axel was hilarious, yet endearing, especially their first meeting.
The romance itself is undeniably intense, blending genuine emotional connection with a level of heat that fans of Crescent will appreciate. When Axel and Joey finally let their guards down, it feels earned.
While there are a few moments where the pacing dips and certain scenes feel a bit stretched, they don’t take away from the overall impact of the story. If anything, they’re small pauses in an otherwise immersive and engaging read.
Rules delivers grit, heart, and just enough small-town "in your business" to keep things interesting. It’s a story about vulnerability, healing, and the risk of letting someone in when it would be easier not to, and it’s exactly the kind of layered, genre-blending romance that Sam Crescent continues to excel at.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
He breaks his three rules for her, without even thinking about it
Rules is a standalone novella by Sam Crescent. It is the story of single mother Joey Sinclair and bad boy with a reputation, Axel Rules. Joey got out of an abusive marriage when she was pregnant with her now nine year old daughter, Adeline. She was able to buy a house and start her coffee shop from the settlement but her ex wanted nothing to do with their daughter. So Joey has spent all these years being alone, and also lonely sometimes. Axel was brought up by his widowed father, as his mother died in childbirth. In order to protect his heart his father may have had a lot of women in his life but he also lived by a number of rules. Axel has lived by 3 rules and that has also meant he is alone and never been in love. Things changed six months ago when he found her sitting at the local bar and she turned him down for a dance or anything else. Now he finds himself going to her coffee shop almost every day and even though he is not sure he likes it, he still cannot stay away no matter what he tells himself. When her parents take Adeline for the weekend both they and her older sister tell Joey to go out and have some fun, let her hair down and dance a little. So when she walks into the same bar and Axel is already there having a beer he knows it must be another chance to finally figures what this is he has been feeling. Joey knows about Axel's reputation and his rules so she thinks this is just a night...a weekend...a week...and then it becomes something a lot more. But can the man who never wanted commitment or family finally be trusted with her and Adeline's hearts?
Short but addictive so hang on you won’t put it down until the last page has been turned. Axel sexy as all get man with rules when it comes to women …well single moms that he lives by has never stepped outside of said rules, pride himself on being an oak when it comes to strength or keeping to the rules and he intends to continue to live by the rules they have served him well or so he tells himself until he meets a dance partner that turns his world upside down. Joey is a sweet, strong single mom who got away from an abusive husband she now owns her own coffee shop, raises her daughter, works too hard, or so everyone tells her, and when her parents give her a break with instructions to have fun because she works too hard she heads to the bar for a drink than much needed rest that one decision changes her path. The magnetic pull was just too much to ignore, add a little alcohol to the mix and he ignores all his rules well she just let’s go for one night, but when he wakes, she is gone he can’t stop thinking about her. So of course he is at odds with himself because he doesn’t care if he is breaking his rules he needs her, he welcomes the feeling of needing someone, needing to be her protector, caregiver, father to her daughter if she allows it all but will she is the question, and will take another chance on happiness again with him after all she has been through?
This book was suck a fun book to read. I devoured this book in one sitting and was sad when I reached the end. I thought this books storyline was original, page-turning and filled with a little drama, a set of rules, the perfect amount of grovel, angst and oh, the spice was spot on. I loved the slow to medium-burn romance that Sam Crescent created with this book. This book is a contemporary romance with tropes as he falls first and hard, she is a single mother, there are touch her and...vibes too!!! I thought the characters were complex and had interesting backstories that had me laughing, getting teary-eyed, and fist-pumping.
Axel was stubborn, determined, and set in his ways. I loved his resolve to adhere to a certain set of rules and how he refused to stray from them. Joey was loving, devoted to her family, and learning to live again. I loved the journey they both took in this book, especially Axel!!! The song Wrecking Ball by Miley Cyrus comes to mind when I read this book!!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Axel Rules has three rules. Problem with those rules is that Joey Sinclair is going to cause him to break each one. Joey and her nine-year-old daughter Adeline are making life work. She has a little coffee shop that she owns. Getting out of an abusive marriage was the best thing she did. She didn’t want any relationships. She was happy with her little girl. When she is given one weekend with no Adeline and is told to live a little, she takes a chance. What starts out as a one and done becomes more. Axel certainly didn’t expect Joey to be the one to break all his rules. He found a soulmate with her. And with that also a family. This was a romance that was slowly blooming. I love that his “Uncle Rick�� was always there to tell it like it is. I enjoyed this story.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was another fun read by this author and I love how Axel managed, for so many years, to live by his three rules to keep his heart safe. Joey, a single mother, has caught his eye and he doesn't know why he can't look away. Ha! Joey, making a life for herself and her daughter, after her abusive ex left them, knows she shouldn't get attached to Axel. His rep more than tells how things will end if she gives him a chance. However, her family is desperate for her to live her life and encourage her to be open to the attraction she feels for him. What follows is a wonderful romance with heart and heat. I got quite the kick out of how much Axel couldn't fathom why he'd break ALL of his rules for Joey, but he does know he's more than ready to be the man she needs and deserves. This was a fun fast-paced romance that gave them a fab and steamy HEA :D
There is nothing better than a book with a man who is a player as he is scared to fall in love and he finds that one woman who is worth breaking all his rules with. Since the moment Rules ran into Joey he found she was just the one woman he couldn't forget. He would go to her coffee shop each and every day just to see her and have a little bit of a conversation with her. When he met her at the bar when she had a break for a weekend he found he just couldn't stay away. The way these two came together made for a really good story. It was so well-written it keeps you hooked from the very beginning. There is nothing better then getting to read a heart-warming story that makes you smile and you can't put it down. This is a must read!!
From ladies man about town, commitment phobe to family man. Axel has rules regarding dating and sex. No breaking, no cross over, keep it clear and simple. Move on. His reputation is earned and talked about. Joey is a single mother to a nine year old daughter, owns a coffee shop and doesn't date. A bad marriage, now divorced made her wary, lives a solitary life withthe quiet of her child. The town's lothario is hardly on her list. One night changes it all for both of them..He breaks his rules all at the same time for her. She provides him with something and more than he hadn't realised he needed or wanted. She gains so much once she was prepared to take a chance. A blended family dynamic.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Axel Rule has three rules: no kissing, no staying the night at his place and no getting involved with single mothers. He starts to break all his rules when it comes to Joey Sinclair, owner of the coffee shop in town. He has no intention of getting involved with Joey but one night she shows up at his uncle’s bar and says yes. She is gone before morning; he decides to track her down. Can he convince this single mom to give him a chance? I do not fault Axel for rules, those were his father’s after he lost the love of his life, he almost finding his.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
So good! I have read other novels by this author and really enjoyed them. This novel did not disappoint. From the very first chapter this novel sucked me in and held on tight until the last chapter. My heart hurt for Joey and all she had been thru with her abusive husband. I loved Joey and Axel's story. Their chemistry was so good! I loved watching their walls and defenses come down and fall in love. Once I started reading I didn't want to put this novel down. I can hardly wait to see what this author has coming next. So good!
Axel has rules, to protect his heart like his father taught him and for single mum and coffee shop owner Joey he breaks every one of them. Joey knows love with her daughter, not her abusive ex who left. One child free weekend changes everything between Joey and Axel but he has a reputation and shes got her daughter to put first can they make a go of things for real? Well written the story is quick and fast paced but doesn't feel rushed, engaging characters, steamy scenes and more
When you know, you know and Axel is about to fall fast and hard in this exciting love story between himself and Joey.
I was hooked from page one and loved everything about this read. A full-on romance with a reluctant single man with rules that are meant to be broken and so much sizzle and heat you won’t be able to put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is another fantastic book by Sam Crescent! There is lots of spice and excellent characters. Axel has made it his rule not to get attached to any woman to protect himself from hurt. But that was before he met Joey. She makes him break every rule he ever made. Now they are getting closer and closer. This is an excellent short read with plenty of steam and the best happy ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A good short novella about a man and his rules for love. He meets a woman in town, a single mother and he falls hard for her. He breaks every rule and falls for her and her daughter. This is a sweet home town love story where the MMC falls hard and wants a life with the FMC. She is a little leery because of his rules and his reputation. However, they make it work for them.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved that Joey was the one that made Axle break all of his rules. I thought it was so awesome that she just was that ultimate one for him. And his night together with her was so steamy. But in the morning she was gone… I loved the way he was so attracted to her and wanted to break his rules for her. This was a great novella.
Axel and Joey’s story has them coming together after he breaks one of his and his late father’s rules, to never date single moms and never kiss on the lips. But after their night together, he sees what it can be like as a family.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Cute book. Fast read. Sometimes these quick stories of Sam Crescent are a little too predictable. The writing seems a little stilted and repetitive. Her Bravata series are always so much more in depth, that I look forward to reading that series. The quality of books in these short romances is definitely different.
Sam has done it again! This a great, well written fun read that pulls you in with interesting characters. As the saying goes, "Rules were meant to be broken ". Never was this truer than with Axel and Joey. Each have rules in place to protect themselves, but what happens when they break their own rules will change their lives. This is another Must Read!
Town bad boy and a single mom. Axel has a lot of rules about relationships or rather avoiding relationships. Joey seems to be the exception. The more time they spend together, the more Axel throws those rules out the window.
A short read but I loved it. Axel has rules for dating women and no one will make him break them.........................until Joey comes into his life. I loved that he fell for her and then they had to make it work. Wonderful little story!
I love books where he falls first. Alex has many rules he won’t change for women he sees to protect himself from heartache. Then he meets Joey and those rules go out the window. Love this short read!
Well rules are meant to be broken. And these were meant to be broken. What a great little short read hot, sexy, and a lot of spice. Great happy ending. And can't wait to read more.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved this Story!! Loved reading Rules, this book was so good I couldn’t put it down. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken and find out what can happen when they do. Joey and Axel’s story was beautifully done, the chemistry between them was amazing and loved the ending!!
This was a truly wonderful love story. It was heartwarming to see such a big change in our MMC, and I believe that's what love does. All of it is thanks to the FMC!.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another amazing book by this author. The story had a good flow and was well written. The couple has very romantic chemistry between them. I would recommend this book.