Making Rules

Davey's Rules, Book 6

By: Susan Hawke

Narrated by: Michael Dean

Length: 1 hr and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Davey’s Rule Number 53: Daddy shouldn’t be afraid to let his boy top.

Before Davey came to work at Daddy’s Lap and began that crazy list of rules, his future bestie, Sammy, was already living happily ever after with his own Daddy-dom. From the moment they met over a gas pump to the day they were legally able to wed, leather Daddy Raphael Robustelli adored his linebacker-sized boy. This is their love story, as seen through a series of six short vignettes. Witness the moment they met, see the first time Davey came to the club, and so much more. This is a short 20k volume, filled with emotion and backstory for the entire series.

Note: This is not a full-length book and does not contain a new couple. This can be listened to as a stand-alone but will be most enjoyed by those who have read the series.

This is the sixth book in a series about not-so-perfect Daddies, adorable “boys”, and one sassy brat with an insane list of rules. Grab your fan and tissues because this series comes with both a high heat advisory and all the squishy feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book.

©2020 Susan Hawke (P)2020 Susan Hawke

Making Rules

Omg this audio book was absolutely positively amazing. I would highly recommend this audio book.

Added Depth to Series

This book was a little bittersweet for me since we know what ends up happening to Sammy and Raph; yet, I loved getting the background story on their relationship. Even though, we know how the couple ends up, it's a great addition to the series and it's filled full of life, love and sweet moments. I enjoy listening to this narrator as he knows how to distinguish characters and bring them to life.

Lovely book

This was a great book! I honestly was not sure how these two would work out together but the author did a great job. These two are funny and adorable!

Short but full of heart and poignancy

When I’d read the eBook edition of Making Rules by Susan Hawke, I’d admittedly gotten teary-eyed, but listening to it was a whole ‘nother matter. I already knew how Raphael and Samuel Robustelli’s story would end, yet I was affected all the same, moreso when I experienced it through the audiobook. Am I even surprised at this point, considering the combination of Hawke and the one and only Michael Dean as her narrator of choice has consistently left me impressed? I’m hoping this twosome continues with Hawke’s future projects, whatever they may be because why would you mess with a combination this fab?

Hawke’s series about Daddies and theitir boys has gotten better with each new release—well, okay, save for Rules for Santa since I felt that faltered a tad—and with the series coming to an end right after this particular book, it feels as Hawke’s truly saved the very best for last. That’s saying something considering I’ve liked one, loved most, and adored another one. This latest one? Well, I’m quite smitten with it! There’s more poignancy to this one, and you’ll understand why if you’re familiar with the series and Raph and Sammy as a couple in particular. Of course, there are humorous moments, as well as ones with lots of heat and heart to them. I laughed and I cried and I fell in love with these two characters as Dean brought them to life. We only got snippets of them in the past, and while their story is “only” told through several vignettes, they’re enough to show how much these two loved each other. Five-plus stars for Making Rules. ♥

So emotional!

Disclaimer: I received these audiobooks as part of my participation in a blog tour with Gay Romance Reviews. The tour is being sponsored by Grape Ape Productions. The gifting of these audiobooks did not affect my opinion of them.

So these two books ended up being the final two books in this series and I feel like I’m missing out on a bunch of backstory – which of course I am – but it was soooooooo nice to see how this story ended. Now, I know very, very little about the daddy-dom / baby-sub world but I have heard of it and have talked to some people involved in those relationships. So it was really interesting to see it played out in these books and see how Hawke was able to take a kind of relationship that isn’t so “mainstream” and make people like me that aren’t knowledgeable about it understand the appeal.

I hope I phrased that correctly.

I also get why it’s so important to have some rules in a world like this, but from what it looks like, Davey sometimes has way too many rules! Whether it’s for him to follow or enforce, there’s just too many. It’s like he has to relinquish some of that control so that his lovers can show him exactly what they can do when they have some wiggle room to work with. Too many rules can be such a downer, right? And in this world, I don’t know how bad it would be to break some of them.

Michael Dean did an amazing job with the narration for these two novels, and it’s so sad to see this series end when he has been able to bring all of these characters to life. I’m curious to see what other work Dean does, and if he and Hawke will be able to collaborate again with another series. The words that Hawke brings to the world are brought to life even more with Dean’s voice, and I feel like that’s so important with audiobooks! You can’t just have any narrator, you know? And when it’s a pairing like this, it’s almost magical.

Good story but short

Story: 4 stars
I waffled on this one a little bit. If you are expecting a complete story, you sort of get it. They are quick snippets into the life of Raphael and Sammy, brief glimpses of memories and times that were monumental to this couple. It goes by quick doesn't get into too much detail. Honestly, I kind of wished it included more moments and was longer. But be prepared for the ending. No, I won't tell you, you have to read/listen to it yourself.

The story is good, but I wish it were longer and had more snippets, I also wish what we did get was a little more. I feel like we were lacking something in certain spots as well as being slightly choppy. But this does introduce you to Sammy and Davey, who are featured in book 7, and you get to meet Raphael. The characters made the whole story. They were a joy to read/listen and they pulled me into the story. I waffled between 3.5 and 4 stars, but I enjoyed the book, so I rounded up.

Narration: 4.5 stars
Michael Dean has done a great job of bringing all of the characters to life and giving each one their own voice. Each transition is smooth and seamless, and their voice fits each character. However, my one critique is sometimes Sammy sounds a little more like someone from the Valley (valley girl/guy) than not. 4.5 stars for the narration.

Overall: 4 stars
This book moves quickly, and if you are wanting something more flowing from one minute to the next, this one might not be for you. However, the story is good, the characters were great, and if you listen to the audio, Michael Dean did a great job. This is just a glimpse into the life of Raphael and Sammy. 4 stars overall and I suggest you one-click now!

Oh how I loved this book!

Confession: I have not read all of the books in this series. Now, after reading Making Rules, I really, really want to go back and read or listen to the ones I've missed. I suspect that this book was written as a special treat for fans of the series. If you haven't read any of the books you might want to stop reading now because this review might contain a spoiler.






From the books that I have read, I already knew that Sammy's Daddy dom passed away. I knew that reading this short group of scenes from their life would bring out a lot of feels and boy was I right. I loved finding out how Sammy and Raphael met and getting glimpses of their life together.

Have tissues handy.

Michael Dean (formerly Michael Pauley) did a wonderful job with this audiobook, as he has done with all of the ones in this series that I've listened to. I love his voice and how sexy and growly it is when needed.

A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

Heartbreakingly good

This was short, sweet and very emotional. The story is excellent and the narrator is awesome. Very much recommend this one!

Making rules

Making Rules by Susan Hawke
Thank you for the Audio,I voluntarily give this book an honest review
I loved this short little audio of snippets of when Sammy and Raphael first meeting to the sad emotional part at the hospital. I laughed so much throughout this whole story with Sammy's humorous and rapid fire speaks. Michael Dean did a wonderful job of narratingfor Sammy and Raphael.  Tissue is highly recommended

Great addition

Making rules is a great addition to the Davey’s Rules series, and though it is not a “new” story/couple, it adds so much to the series. I loved the extra looks that we get into Sammy and Raf’s story. Though it is a shorter book, there is a LOT of emotion in these few pages/couple hours, that you will absolutely need tissues at the ready!
Michael Dean does another outstanding job bringing Hawke’s men to life! He really brings out the emotions that this story contains, and gives it an added sense of reality. He truly makes me feel that he IS the one going through everything!
Another outstanding read/listen!!!

lovely if bitterweet

I was nervous to read this collection because of what we know what will happen (no spoilers). I shouldn't have worried though as each story is wonderful and add another dimension to this excellent series. Michael Dean is awesome as always.

Rafe & Sammy plus enter Davey

This is a lovely collection of short stories about how Rafe meets Samuel and helps him find his inner Sammy. Also, how Davey starts as the bartender at Daddy's Lap and unleashes his inner Diva with great effect. Michael Dean, one of my all-time favourite narrators does a wonderful job of giving voice to the guys. Highly recommended for all lovers of Daddy/Boy stories and of the Davey's Rules series in particular.

Bittersweet!

4.5 Stars!

I read this book 10 days ago and now I had the chance to listen to the audiobook and I loved them both. Michael Dean did a great job with this book and the whole series, providing each character with a distinctive voice and making them feel real to me. 

As I stated in my review of the book, Making Rules was bittersweet, mostly because if you're a fan of the series, we all know what happens and that made it an emotional story. But it was also great seeing how things started with Raphael and Sammy and how they met Davey, especially since the next book is his (whoot!). Very recommendable! 

The ultimate origin story

Davey’s Rules has quickly become one of my favorite series. I was gutted in the second book when Raphael died of a heart attack. He was a secondary character, but knowing he was leaving behind a young husband and two beautiful children broke my heart.

This book goes back a number of years to the moment when Sammy and Raphael met. Through a series of vignettes, we get a feel for the men and how their relationship develops. Daddy kink indeed. From the gas pump to surrogacy to Daddy’s Lap to legal marriage, the story unfolds. The high point of meeting Davey, to the low moments in the hospital, there was a little of everything. Some backstory was filled in, some lingering questions answered, and some little gems like how Samantha Jade got her name provided. I’m getting teary thinking about the final vignette. I mean, I knew Raph was going to die, but it didn’t make it any easier to endure. Man, if you’re anything like me, BRING TISSUE.

I have the final book set to go, and I’m glad it released on audio so quickly after this one so I won’t have to wait. I will leave you with this little nugget: “just because you’re on top, doesn’t mean you’re in control.”

Another shout out to Michael Dean who has brilliantly helmed this series. He and Ms. Hawke are magic together. Can’t wait to listen to the next one.

wow

just wow.. this was amazing.. it was sexy and fun. and i love this series anyways but hearing it come to life was freakin amazing! the narrator brought these characters to life so beautifully and brilliantly.. their emotions and their personalities and it was fun and made me curious to know what was next with the narrator. very good!

Loved it

I really loved this audiobook.
It was such a great story in one of my favorite series.
I loved this quick listen.

Heartbreakingly Beautiful!

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5 stars
🔥🔥🔥 Heat Level: 3.5
🎧🎧🎧🎧 Narration: 4.75

Heartbreakingly Beautiful!

I knew it would make me cry! Raf and Sammy’s relationship was just beautiful and I loved getting to go back and seeing where it all began and how their love grows and evolved. It was a lovely read and made even more emotional because we knew Raf is no longer with us. Reading this book was like looking back on a photo album of the best parts of the life a loved one you’d lost. It was sweet, a little sexy, and heartwarming to read the highlights of their life. It ends with love but also so much sadness as we know there were no more pages in Raf’s story. I loved Raf and Sammy and while I know Sammy has a new love on the horizon, Raf was is first Daddy and holds a very special place in his (and my) heart!

Thanks for reading!

Heartbreakingly tender

What a wonderful addition to the Davey's Rules series.
An absolutely tender insight into how sweet Sammy and his Daddy Raphael met and their life before tragedy struck.
Sweet, funny and poignant.
Michael Dean absolutely shredded my heart with his emotinal portrayal.

Wonderful but bittersweet.

If you’ve read the other books in the series you know how this relationship ends. These snippets of Raphael and Sammy were so touching and funny too. We also see Sammy and Davey meeting for the first time. As always with these books Michael Dean does a magnificent job even when you know this book is so bittersweet. I can’t wait for the last book (but I also don’t want it)in the series.

Brilliant

This is a brilliant bittersweet story of Sammy and Raphael. Showing how they get together. Brilliant narrator.