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The Dating Playbook #2
Breaking the Rules
Sticks and stonesmight bruise my bones,but these rules are guaranteed to break me.The Romans have a famous "The stars incline us, they do not bind us."The words hold so much weight, and importance,They're stained on my skin.Just like she is.The ink may not be visible,But the binds are indisputable,Pulling me back to her like a rough tide.Impossible to leave.However, time has proven,freewill or not, it will take more than bending the rules to be with her,it will require breaking them.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2020
2285 people are currently reading
1354 people want to read
About the author
Mariah Dietz
33 books1,853 followersThe One-Night Scrimmage, A New Forbidden/Secret Sports Romance is Coming May 20th!
Mariah Dietz is a USA Today Bestselling Author and self-proclaimed nerd. She lives with her husband and sons in North Carolina.
Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent most of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.
She has a love for all things that include her family, good coffee, books, traveling, and dark chocolate. She's also been known to laugh at her own jokes.
Learn More:
→ www.mariahdietz.com
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Mariah Dietz is a USA Today Bestselling Author and self-proclaimed nerd. She lives with her husband and sons in North Carolina.
Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent most of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.
She has a love for all things that include her family, good coffee, books, traveling, and dark chocolate. She's also been known to laugh at her own jokes.
Learn More:
→ www.mariahdietz.com
→ Sign-Up to Receive my Newsletter
→ Join My Reader Group on FB
→ Follow me on FB
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
August 17, 2020
So I think that maybe 3 is maybe a little high... but that's what I am going to go with... Here's the thing... this duet didnt need to be 2 books. It could have been one fantastic book I think if you took out all of the back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth.... see where I am going with this.... I understand the whole brother's best friend - I like those books... but this was just a bit much - and let's talk about maturity level here as well... College - Rae acted like she was 15 in some parts in my opinion.. Girl if you get that jealous and that worked up over him talkin to people.... oye... I don't know I guess I have just read better books in this same genre. :0)
April 30, 2020
Strap on your seatbelt because you’re in for one heck of a ride with Breaking the Rules, the conclusion to Rae and Lincoln’s tumultuous love story. All the questions I was left with from book one are answered, and then some! If I thought the first book was angsty, it was nothing compared to this one. Secrets, lies, and deceptions are just some of the things Rae has to deal with, in addition to trying to navigate her budding relationship with Lincoln. Freshman year has thrown more at Rae than I think she bargained for, more than she could have imagined. Thank goodness for a strong support system, in her friends and siblings.
I’m very glad that we got Lincoln’s pov in this book. It was nice to see what he was thinking and feeling, and why there was so much push and pull with him when it came to Rae and his feelings for her. I liked getting to know him, through his eyes, not just hers. He’s not quite what you’d expect, from the impression we were given of him in book one, Bending the Rules.
I was happy with how things were wrapped up and resolved, but I wish we had gotten a glimpse a little further into the future for Rae and Lincoln. I’m left wondering if maybe we’ll be seeing them again, say in a book for Poppy? Or Paxton? I’m not sure what Ms. Dietz has in mind, but I wouldn’t mind seeing more of some of these characters!
I’m very glad that we got Lincoln’s pov in this book. It was nice to see what he was thinking and feeling, and why there was so much push and pull with him when it came to Rae and his feelings for her. I liked getting to know him, through his eyes, not just hers. He’s not quite what you’d expect, from the impression we were given of him in book one, Bending the Rules.
I was happy with how things were wrapped up and resolved, but I wish we had gotten a glimpse a little further into the future for Rae and Lincoln. I’m left wondering if maybe we’ll be seeing them again, say in a book for Poppy? Or Paxton? I’m not sure what Ms. Dietz has in mind, but I wouldn’t mind seeing more of some of these characters!
October 15, 2020
It was a little test of patience to get into in the beginning, but once I was able to overlook all the things bothering me, it was good. Overall general complaints from the duet:
- Introduction of ALL the characters and all their backstories off the bat; information overload and not necessary all at once imo
- Pages upon pages of internal dialogue in like the first half of the first book, maybe more. The lack of action and only diatribe made it VERY difficult to actually care
- The h can do no wrong. She's made of magic and stardust and happiness and unicorns and butterflies and she saves the day everyday - or something like that. Like, bitch please, fuck up already.
- The (white) saviour complex. (Don't come at me - or do) Is there a good way to do this or does history make this trope unsavable?
That's actually very minor compared to the laundry list I thought I was rounding up, but this is good. Definitely a solid story, albeit d-r-a-m-a-t-i-c, but what else can you expect from a 18 yr old? I'm being a bitch, but I finished it in one sitting and I'm definitely gonna read the rest of the series now. Does Pax also get a story? Really want to see him happy too!
- Introduction of ALL the characters and all their backstories off the bat; information overload and not necessary all at once imo
- Pages upon pages of internal dialogue in like the first half of the first book, maybe more. The lack of action and only diatribe made it VERY difficult to actually care
- The h can do no wrong. She's made of magic and stardust and happiness and unicorns and butterflies and she saves the day everyday - or something like that. Like, bitch please, fuck up already.
- The (white) saviour complex. (Don't come at me - or do) Is there a good way to do this or does history make this trope unsavable?
That's actually very minor compared to the laundry list I thought I was rounding up, but this is good. Definitely a solid story, albeit d-r-a-m-a-t-i-c, but what else can you expect from a 18 yr old? I'm being a bitch, but I finished it in one sitting and I'm definitely gonna read the rest of the series now. Does Pax also get a story? Really want to see him happy too!
December 24, 2020
OK -- more angst added to the storyline and a major surprise with Rae's family. Even the older crowd increases the angst this time around. Rae and Lincoln are still hiding their secrets -- and Rae takes a big dive after finding out about the cranes. These characters can't seem to get their acts together.
Oh but what an ending! Yep -- got my happily ever after. More books to come in this series, but I think I'm going to stop while I'm ahead.
Oh but what an ending! Yep -- got my happily ever after. More books to come in this series, but I think I'm going to stop while I'm ahead.
October 5, 2024
I’m dnfing for now. I have other books that are holding my attention more than this has done. May come back eventually.
April 25, 2020
Wow was that a ride! I honestly didn't think it was ever gonna end (and that's not a bad thing either!) There was so much push and pull, angst, frustration, and love. Thank you for giving us Lincoln's POV. There is just something about the male POV that I just love. These two... wow. At one point I was frustrated with both of them, separately and at the same time. Raegan had so many doubts and fears that I hated when she ran inside her head. But Poppy's voice of reason was always appreciated (fyi we need her story!!) Lincoln, well let's just say this man surprised me. I knew he was gonna be a jerk with his push and pull. But wow did he turn out to be a good jerk (though we could have lived without Nikki... I hate mean "I think I'm better than you" b***hes). This book kept me reading, not wanting to stop. I felt like I was living this life with all of them, walking right next to them. I cried with them, laughed with them, and had fun partying with them. We need more from this bunch! I definitely wouldn't mind reading a book on each of them. *I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.*
July 14, 2020
Annoying frustrating book.
Two books worth of come here, no get away from Reagen and Lincoln. Some good points and side stories. Alot chapters of nothing. Skipped several chapters to the end. No more from this author.
Two books worth of come here, no get away from Reagen and Lincoln. Some good points and side stories. Alot chapters of nothing. Skipped several chapters to the end. No more from this author.
February 7, 2024
wanted more
3.5 stars. Half the book I wanted to reach through the book and strangle Lincoln. He kept ghosting Raegan, only to show back up to fool around. I’ll be honest the first half of the book I low key hated him. It wasn’t until some of his truths were spilled that I liked him again.
3.5 stars. Half the book I wanted to reach through the book and strangle Lincoln. He kept ghosting Raegan, only to show back up to fool around. I’ll be honest the first half of the book I low key hated him. It wasn’t until some of his truths were spilled that I liked him again.
February 14, 2021
I read this book out of a sense of obligation so that Reagan and Lincoln’s story would be finished but it was not good.
They finally get together at the end of book 1 and by the beginning of book 2 they’re already not talking. There was so much back and forth with them. It was really frustrating. It felt so poorly developed. I don’t understand why this had to be 2 books. It would have been better to just shorten it and make it more about them being actually interested in each other without all the extra unnecessary drama. It became more about what was happening in Reagan’s life than about the brother’s best friend romance. That was just lost with the stalking, the family drama, the football drama.
Basically this was not very good
They finally get together at the end of book 1 and by the beginning of book 2 they’re already not talking. There was so much back and forth with them. It was really frustrating. It felt so poorly developed. I don’t understand why this had to be 2 books. It would have been better to just shorten it and make it more about them being actually interested in each other without all the extra unnecessary drama. It became more about what was happening in Reagan’s life than about the brother’s best friend romance. That was just lost with the stalking, the family drama, the football drama.
Basically this was not very good
September 14, 2020
And I thought Bending The Rules was a wild ride!! Breaking the rules had even more going on! What a conclusion! Breaking The Rules was the second part to Mariah’s The Dating Playbook Duet. It was explosive, sexy, and emotional!
Lincoln wasn’t good at following rules. Specifically the ones Raegan had said they needed to follow. He had tried to stay away but rules are meant to be broken, right?
I liked how there was a dual POV, it added so much depth with getting both sides. Their connection was even more intense than before, it was nice to watch the relationship grow while time went on. And I can’t lie, I am looking forward to Arlo’s story!!
Lincoln wasn’t good at following rules. Specifically the ones Raegan had said they needed to follow. He had tried to stay away but rules are meant to be broken, right?
I liked how there was a dual POV, it added so much depth with getting both sides. Their connection was even more intense than before, it was nice to watch the relationship grow while time went on. And I can’t lie, I am looking forward to Arlo’s story!!
August 27, 2021
Soooo, this would have been THE chance to redeem the hero but... his girlfriend nearly drowns and he doesn't text or call for two weeks? Wow... new low, my dear...
And then the heroine is the person who has to text first. I ... have no words for my disappointment.
And by 27% they still are NOT together! By then I had to stop with this.
Also because a lot of other issues were added to the existing ones and Rae turned out to be the same coward as the hero so maybe they are perfect for each other...
God, I really wanted that to work out...
And then the heroine is the person who has to text first. I ... have no words for my disappointment.
And by 27% they still are NOT together! By then I had to stop with this.
Also because a lot of other issues were added to the existing ones and Rae turned out to be the same coward as the hero so maybe they are perfect for each other...
God, I really wanted that to work out...
April 30, 2020
What a journey Breaking the Rules will take you on. This is a fantastic conclusion to Lincoln and Reagan's story.
Lincoln and Rea are about to face lots of bumps in the road as they navigate their way through life, but will it be as a couple or will things come to and end before they have even begun.
A fab duet from Mariah Dietz. Please make sure you have read Bending the Rules first.
Lincoln and Rea are about to face lots of bumps in the road as they navigate their way through life, but will it be as a couple or will things come to and end before they have even begun.
A fab duet from Mariah Dietz. Please make sure you have read Bending the Rules first.
April 23, 2020
Great conclusion to this duet! Lots of angst and drama in this one. Both Reagan and Lincoln grow so much in this book. There's a little bit of mystery that is solved and a whole lot of love that is found. This is book two, so you MUST read book one first!
February 9, 2024
I liked the overall story with Lincoln and Raegan but this continuation book was unnecessary. It was drawn out with just them back and forth. Unfortunately I skimmed most of it.
March 3, 2023
I liked it
Lincoln and Reagan had so much push and pull, angst, and all the back and forth. More so in book one than this one. In this one, it was almost like they were a couple that separated and sometimes worked it out. I still enjoyed their story. And things got pretty interesting near the end. I will say, I will definitely read this author again.
Lincoln and Reagan had so much push and pull, angst, and all the back and forth. More so in book one than this one. In this one, it was almost like they were a couple that separated and sometimes worked it out. I still enjoyed their story. And things got pretty interesting near the end. I will say, I will definitely read this author again.
March 14, 2021
DRAMA! LOVE! FOOTBALL!
Intense conclusion to Lincoln & Raegan’s story!
After finishing Bending the Rules I virtually ran to download this book. I needed to start Rae & Lincoln���s next book IMMEDIATELY! I had no idea going into book 1 that there was a cliffy and MAN was it a doozy!
I loved Rae & Lincoln! No doubt about it but I found myself getting irritated at the back and forth between these two. It was basically a one step forward, two steps back kind of thing and it did get old. Yet at the same time as their pasts, secrets and present situations unraveled around them I could understand their hesitation at jumping head first into each other. Especially when you truly consider who they each are and what they’ve already experienced and MOST ESPECIALLY what they HAVEN’T experienced!
This book was dual POV so I finally got that look into Lincoln’s mind and it’s what made this book so great for me. It would have been good with just Raegan’s POV but his thoughts just brought so much more emotion to the book and I feel that without his POV, it would have been so hard to see his “real” feelings for her if we only had his actions in her eyes to go by.
I racked my brain for both books trying to figure out the gifter of Raegan’s mysterious gifts. Mariah Dietz kept me on my toes while reading; the twist in this story was one that I definitely considered but never could decide for sure!
The friend crew for this series is great! The sibling connection between Raegan, Maggie & Paxton is one of my favorite things about this series! Paxton’s crew of friends & Poppy (Rae’s best friend) make the encounters in this series fun to read! I really hope that my theory of who Poppy’s own hero might be turns out to be true! Regardless if you love college age romances filled with football, drama and love!!! Start with Bending the Rules!
Below is the series! While I suggest reading the entire series to get the complete feeling of this great crew...I understand some might not. So book 1 and 2 need to be read together (same couple) and then the others in this series can be read as standalones!
The Dating Playbook
1. Bending the Rules (brothers best friend!)
2. Breaking the Rules (brothers best friend!)
3. Defining the Rules (Friends-to-Lovers)
4. Exploring the Rules (Enemies-to-Lovers)
5. Forgetting the Rules (Second-Chance)
6. Writing the Rules - COMING APRIL 29th! (Fake Dating)
Intense conclusion to Lincoln & Raegan’s story!
After finishing Bending the Rules I virtually ran to download this book. I needed to start Rae & Lincoln���s next book IMMEDIATELY! I had no idea going into book 1 that there was a cliffy and MAN was it a doozy!
I loved Rae & Lincoln! No doubt about it but I found myself getting irritated at the back and forth between these two. It was basically a one step forward, two steps back kind of thing and it did get old. Yet at the same time as their pasts, secrets and present situations unraveled around them I could understand their hesitation at jumping head first into each other. Especially when you truly consider who they each are and what they’ve already experienced and MOST ESPECIALLY what they HAVEN’T experienced!
This book was dual POV so I finally got that look into Lincoln’s mind and it’s what made this book so great for me. It would have been good with just Raegan’s POV but his thoughts just brought so much more emotion to the book and I feel that without his POV, it would have been so hard to see his “real” feelings for her if we only had his actions in her eyes to go by.
I racked my brain for both books trying to figure out the gifter of Raegan’s mysterious gifts. Mariah Dietz kept me on my toes while reading; the twist in this story was one that I definitely considered but never could decide for sure!
The friend crew for this series is great! The sibling connection between Raegan, Maggie & Paxton is one of my favorite things about this series! Paxton’s crew of friends & Poppy (Rae’s best friend) make the encounters in this series fun to read! I really hope that my theory of who Poppy’s own hero might be turns out to be true! Regardless if you love college age romances filled with football, drama and love!!! Start with Bending the Rules!
Below is the series! While I suggest reading the entire series to get the complete feeling of this great crew...I understand some might not. So book 1 and 2 need to be read together (same couple) and then the others in this series can be read as standalones!
The Dating Playbook
1. Bending the Rules (brothers best friend!)
2. Breaking the Rules (brothers best friend!)
3. Defining the Rules (Friends-to-Lovers)
4. Exploring the Rules (Enemies-to-Lovers)
5. Forgetting the Rules (Second-Chance)
6. Writing the Rules - COMING APRIL 29th! (Fake Dating)
July 23, 2021
An Awesome Read!!!
I enjoyed reading Breaking the Rules: A Brothers Best Friend Romance(The Dating Playbook Book 2)!!! All about Reagan Lawson a nineteen year old freshman @ Beckett University studying Cetology & Lincoln a twenty-two year old junior quarterback called the President @ Beckett University. Reagan was in a very serious drowning accident trying too save a dolphin! Good news the dolphin Blue is okay!!!! Bad news Raegan is fighting for her life!!! Her family & the entire football team is holding vigil’s around the clock, it’s touch & go has been since they brought her in four days ago!! Lincoln is going out of his mind with worry, because he loves her & he can’t express himself because she’s Paxton’s little sister & his BFF. Read Book 1, then this and find out if Raegan & Lincoln get a chance to express themselves!!!! You will feel every single emotion, as if you are part of the story!!! This author just pulls you in and does not let go!!! I loved reading book 1 & 2, and was very hard pressed to put it down!!! Can’t wait to read book 3!!! Take a chance, you won’t be disappointed!!!!
I enjoyed reading Breaking the Rules: A Brothers Best Friend Romance(The Dating Playbook Book 2)!!! All about Reagan Lawson a nineteen year old freshman @ Beckett University studying Cetology & Lincoln a twenty-two year old junior quarterback called the President @ Beckett University. Reagan was in a very serious drowning accident trying too save a dolphin! Good news the dolphin Blue is okay!!!! Bad news Raegan is fighting for her life!!! Her family & the entire football team is holding vigil’s around the clock, it’s touch & go has been since they brought her in four days ago!! Lincoln is going out of his mind with worry, because he loves her & he can’t express himself because she’s Paxton’s little sister & his BFF. Read Book 1, then this and find out if Raegan & Lincoln get a chance to express themselves!!!! You will feel every single emotion, as if you are part of the story!!! This author just pulls you in and does not let go!!! I loved reading book 1 & 2, and was very hard pressed to put it down!!! Can’t wait to read book 3!!! Take a chance, you won’t be disappointed!!!!
May 9, 2020
4 Stars!
↠ Buy Breaking the Rules (Kindle)
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September 4, 2020
All I have to say is that I hate it when the heroine is written to be this super smart girl only for her to turn around a say that the person sending her creepy letters and stalking her is “just playing a joke” on her. Gurl bye. I would have called the cops immediately because I don’t like playing games with my life.
April 30, 2020
This was an amazing follow up book. Rae and Lincoln are perfect for each other. They just need to get out of their own way to see it. The ending was a complete surprise and the big reveal at the beginning was unbelievable! Excellent story!!
May 11, 2020
Great conclusion to this duet!
Full review to come
Full review to come
July 23, 2023
I read this book in 2.5 days - phenomenal!! Do not read this one unless you have read book 1, but you will not regret reading both!! It is a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the whole thing and I am HOOKED. Excuse me while I jump to book 6 “Writing The Rules” to see what’s going on with Pax and Poppy, and then conclude with “Missing The Rules”!!
Read
August 22, 2023This was not good but also not bad. I was invested therefore I had to read both books. There was a lot of back and forth between Raegan and Lincoln. Like a lot. They got together at the end of book 1 only to break up (??) at the beginning of book 2 and then they finally got together together at like 75% of book 2. I wish more was done with the stalker storyline.
February 22, 2021
This book was slightly better than the 1st one because:
- Dual POV
- Drama within family, continuation of the stalker mystery
Why this book got 2 stars from me:
- LINCOLN AND RAEGAN'S story could have been told in 1 BOOK.
In the very 1st chapter, Lincoln and Raegan go back to not talking and ending whatever their "thing" was from the 1st book. I mean, WTF? THIS BOOK IS BASICALLY A REPEAT OF THE 1ST ONE. Once again, we get to see more push and pull between the 2 main characters on whether or not they should be together. I wish we could have seen more sweet moments between the two and how they complement each other. I honestly do not see the chemistry between the two. How do they make each other want to be a better person when most times they're just arguing? They don't even get together as a real couple until near the end. There's not much about how they are as a couple as I would expect in a SECOND BOOK.
- Filler, fluff scenes.
Besides Raegan's interactions with Lincoln, we get to see her time at the aquarium and her with multiple family members and she's always talking about boys with Poppy.
- Non-memorable characters.
I didn't connect with any of them. Lincoln kind of seems like an asswipe and fell flat for me near the end. He's no swoon-worthy boyfriend, especially when he could have done more to fight for Raegan. My impression of him was immediately ruined after he made out with a girl and then became defensive about it after Raegan expressed how it hurt her.
Raegan is still annoying to me, especially when witnessing her stupidity with how she constantly kept downplaying the stalker situation. I guess I should have expected her to be naive because she's only a freshman in college lol. Her thought processing makes her out to be a high schooler. Poppy seems like a ditz. The only contribution she made was boy talk. I guess I like Arlo and Blue, the whale........
- Dual POV
- Drama within family, continuation of the stalker mystery
Why this book got 2 stars from me:
- LINCOLN AND RAEGAN'S story could have been told in 1 BOOK.
In the very 1st chapter, Lincoln and Raegan go back to not talking and ending whatever their "thing" was from the 1st book. I mean, WTF? THIS BOOK IS BASICALLY A REPEAT OF THE 1ST ONE. Once again, we get to see more push and pull between the 2 main characters on whether or not they should be together. I wish we could have seen more sweet moments between the two and how they complement each other. I honestly do not see the chemistry between the two. How do they make each other want to be a better person when most times they're just arguing? They don't even get together as a real couple until near the end. There's not much about how they are as a couple as I would expect in a SECOND BOOK.
- Filler, fluff scenes.
Besides Raegan's interactions with Lincoln, we get to see her time at the aquarium and her with multiple family members and she's always talking about boys with Poppy.
- Non-memorable characters.
I didn't connect with any of them. Lincoln kind of seems like an asswipe and fell flat for me near the end. He's no swoon-worthy boyfriend, especially when he could have done more to fight for Raegan. My impression of him was immediately ruined after he made out with a girl and then became defensive about it after Raegan expressed how it hurt her.
Raegan is still annoying to me, especially when witnessing her stupidity with how she constantly kept downplaying the stalker situation. I guess I should have expected her to be naive because she's only a freshman in college lol. Her thought processing makes her out to be a high schooler. Poppy seems like a ditz. The only contribution she made was boy talk. I guess I like Arlo and Blue, the whale........
June 26, 2020
Love Lincoln
I loved the first book in this series and I loved this book until about 60%. I’m not sure what changed but I got really annoyed with the characters. I loved Lincoln in this series, and felt sorry for him in this book, he was constantly chased and pawed by girls and the girl he liked Raegan didn’t have any trust in him. I felt Raegan was too insecure and as soon as something upset her, she ran. There was a lot of drama in this book, Raegan’s ordeal in the Sound, Raegan’s supposed stalker, Reagan’s father. I think when everything came to a head it was a bit too much for me. Raegan’s Mum also ran at the first sign of trouble in her marriage so that must be where Raegan gets it from, which I thought seemed odd, but that seemed to be glossed over and there wasn’t much talk of her Mum, I was disappointed as I thought sh would talk to her children, they’d had a really good relationship up to this point. I get that she would have been hurt, angry and embarrassed but I just felt they’d missed something. I did enjoy this duet for the most part and will read more by this author. I was hoping for Poppy to get together with either Pax or Arlo, he seemed like a great character. Thankfully Arlo’s story should be released soon.
I loved the first book in this series and I loved this book until about 60%. I’m not sure what changed but I got really annoyed with the characters. I loved Lincoln in this series, and felt sorry for him in this book, he was constantly chased and pawed by girls and the girl he liked Raegan didn’t have any trust in him. I felt Raegan was too insecure and as soon as something upset her, she ran. There was a lot of drama in this book, Raegan’s ordeal in the Sound, Raegan’s supposed stalker, Reagan’s father. I think when everything came to a head it was a bit too much for me. Raegan’s Mum also ran at the first sign of trouble in her marriage so that must be where Raegan gets it from, which I thought seemed odd, but that seemed to be glossed over and there wasn’t much talk of her Mum, I was disappointed as I thought sh would talk to her children, they’d had a really good relationship up to this point. I get that she would have been hurt, angry and embarrassed but I just felt they’d missed something. I did enjoy this duet for the most part and will read more by this author. I was hoping for Poppy to get together with either Pax or Arlo, he seemed like a great character. Thankfully Arlo’s story should be released soon.
April 26, 2021
Breaking the Rules is the conclusion to Bending the Rules and the second book in The Dating Playbook. I have to say that Raegan & Lincoln have been through so much, and the rest of Brighton's Football team stood by the Lawson family. I cannot say enough about this series, young adult, college-age romance, sports, angsty, alpha male, strong female, and best friends. Looking forward to reading Arlo's story next. Highly recommended.
June 17, 2022
✨BOOK REVIEW✨
Ohhh the angst!! I love it!!
4/5 ⭐ OVERALL
2/5 🌶 STEAM
"I need you in ways I’ve never needed anyone—in ways that scare the shit out of me. I need you because I don’t feel like myself without you.”
If you enjoy:
- Brother's Best Friend
- College
- Sports (football)
- Slow Burn
- Angst
Lincoln Beckett has redeemed himself in such a great way!! 🙌 Breaking the Rules is the second book in the Dating Playbook Series and also the last book that follows Raegan and Lincoln through their trials to love. In the first book it was Lincoln to push away his feelings and in the second book it was Raegan and for good reason.
Raegan goes through A LOT, but she is fierce and comes out stronger at the end. Lincoln wants so bad to be her shoulder to lean on, but with any independent woman often comes stubbornness. 😉 I wanted to throw my Kindle a few times at her lack of communication (because she doesn’t want to be an inconvenience), but I really enjoy that. It's her character and her flaw.
Lincoln was book boyfriend material in this book. He makes a few mistakes, but again I love when an author writes more realistic characters. Nobody is perfect so why should characters be. I love that he didn't hold back in this book. Basically he said "screw everyone I'm going after my girl and I want stop until she's mine." ❤
If you love angsty college romance with some sports, steam, great character chemistry, and loaded plot (not kidding, a lot happens) this is for you!! Available with Kindle Unlimited!
Happy Reading! 💛
Ohhh the angst!! I love it!!
4/5 ⭐ OVERALL
2/5 🌶 STEAM
"I need you in ways I’ve never needed anyone—in ways that scare the shit out of me. I need you because I don’t feel like myself without you.”
If you enjoy:
- Brother's Best Friend
- College
- Sports (football)
- Slow Burn
- Angst
Lincoln Beckett has redeemed himself in such a great way!! 🙌 Breaking the Rules is the second book in the Dating Playbook Series and also the last book that follows Raegan and Lincoln through their trials to love. In the first book it was Lincoln to push away his feelings and in the second book it was Raegan and for good reason.
Raegan goes through A LOT, but she is fierce and comes out stronger at the end. Lincoln wants so bad to be her shoulder to lean on, but with any independent woman often comes stubbornness. 😉 I wanted to throw my Kindle a few times at her lack of communication (because she doesn’t want to be an inconvenience), but I really enjoy that. It's her character and her flaw.
Lincoln was book boyfriend material in this book. He makes a few mistakes, but again I love when an author writes more realistic characters. Nobody is perfect so why should characters be. I love that he didn't hold back in this book. Basically he said "screw everyone I'm going after my girl and I want stop until she's mine." ❤
If you love angsty college romance with some sports, steam, great character chemistry, and loaded plot (not kidding, a lot happens) this is for you!! Available with Kindle Unlimited!
Happy Reading! 💛
February 18, 2025
Man, I feel robbed. After Lincoln being so difficult in the first book and playing push-pull games with Raegan, I thought we’d see a new side of him in this one. You know… considering she almost died!!
But no, he ups the anti and is an even bigger asshole this time around.
🛑 SPOILERS 🛑
Raegan is going through the hardest part of her life - she’s recovering from a trauma, her family is falling apart, someone is stalking her, and Lincoln decides to ignore or maybe try to be friends!? Why?? I still don’t understand how we’re suppose to believe he cared for her so deeply, yet rejected her when she needed someone the most.
And don’t even get me started on the necklace! He gave Rae a necklace for her birthday… and we’re just suppose to be fine with it when he gives an ex a necklace for her birthday as well. “It didn’t mean anything.” So by extension, Raegans didn’t mean anything either. There is no good explanation for this. This was the deal breaker for me. What ruined Lincoln for me. How thoughtless could he possibly be? And instead of pointing this out and being true to her feelings, Raegan ends up apologizing for getting upset!? Holy cow, gaslighting at its finest!!
I was really looking forward to this book. And there were a few scenes where Lincoln was super sweet and I was starting to buy his devotion. But if my friend was dating him and he let girls do his laundry, partied with a house full of girls, bought jewelry for his ex…. I would be begging her to ditch his ass!
But no, he ups the anti and is an even bigger asshole this time around.
🛑 SPOILERS 🛑
Raegan is going through the hardest part of her life - she’s recovering from a trauma, her family is falling apart, someone is stalking her, and Lincoln decides to ignore or maybe try to be friends!? Why?? I still don’t understand how we’re suppose to believe he cared for her so deeply, yet rejected her when she needed someone the most.
And don’t even get me started on the necklace! He gave Rae a necklace for her birthday… and we’re just suppose to be fine with it when he gives an ex a necklace for her birthday as well. “It didn’t mean anything.” So by extension, Raegans didn’t mean anything either. There is no good explanation for this. This was the deal breaker for me. What ruined Lincoln for me. How thoughtless could he possibly be? And instead of pointing this out and being true to her feelings, Raegan ends up apologizing for getting upset!? Holy cow, gaslighting at its finest!!
I was really looking forward to this book. And there were a few scenes where Lincoln was super sweet and I was starting to buy his devotion. But if my friend was dating him and he let girls do his laundry, partied with a house full of girls, bought jewelry for his ex…. I would be begging her to ditch his ass!
March 26, 2025
I am honestly surprised at how many 4+ star reviews I’ve seen for this book. I don’t mind slow burn books but this was EXTREMELY slow. It was so much back and forth at one point I wanted them to not even get together. So many things in the book frustrated me. Rae is getting these Kranes with threatening notes written in them and she laughs it off, ignores them as they are getting worse and when she is confronted about why she hasn’t told anyone she just keeps putting it off. Lincoln just walks away from her after she jumped in the water but then oh wait no I do want to be with you.. like I get why she didn’t trust what he was saying. Dad’s cheating with a student and she again chooses not to tell anyone because her dad threatened her!! Then it all comes out and mom just runs away?? Like I get it you are hurt but you leave your kids to deal with the fallout and not check on them? There was just so much I couldn’t wrap my head around. Also as soon as the affair was revealed I knew who the stalker was. Oh let’s not forget the fact that Derek was the reason she almost died and she STILL talks to him?????? I just wanted the book to be over, since I paid for it I figured I’d have to see it through. I don’t think I will continue the series if the other books are anything like these 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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