Rules to Break

Davey's Rules, Book 2

By: Susan Hawke

Narrated by: Michael Pauley

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Davey’s rule number 91: Daddy never loses faith in his boy.

Bryan Miller is satisfied with his uncomplicated life. He’s a discipline daddy who’s not in the market for any kind of permanent relationship. And why should he be? Like the waves he surfs in the small beach town he calls home, there’s always another body available to warm his bed when he tires of the current flavor of the week.

Preston Wallace is a snotty rich brat with enough attitude to keep all the daddies from giving him a chance. He gets it. People are jealous of him for being rich, hot, and fit. It would take a strong daddy to take him in hand.

A casual conversation on the night of Preston’s 25th birthday ties these two stubborn men together in a bet right out of the musical My Fair Lady. Can daddy Bryan turn the obnoxious brat into a dateable boy within a 90-day time frame?

Strap in for a roller coaster of emotions as Bryan takes firm control of a brat who might just need to know someone cares enough to try.

This is the second book in Davey's Rules, 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. Possible trigger for the death of a background character.

©2019 Susan Hawke (P)2019 Susan Hawke

Loved It

I loved this book. I was listening to it while traveling, and this book got me through long delay and lots of turbulence. Preston's sassy behavior and Bryan's reactions made me smile, other characters made me cry on a plane full of people. I enjoyed following how their relationship based on a bet developed and grew. Narrator did a great job, his voices for all the characters were amazing. I liked the first book in Davey's Rules Book, but this one is even better. Can't wait for the next story. Highly recommend.

Great

Very wonderful book! I loved Preston and his bratty self. Daddy Brian was a perfect partner!

Good Continuation of Davey's Rules

Preston is a bratty, spoiled rude boy who is badly in need of a Daddy to take him in hand. When Daddy, Bryan, takes a bet to tame Preston within 3 months, he becomes that Daddy. Both men are not interested in a permanent partnership/relationship. But Preston's bratty nature gets under Bryan's skin, and he has lots or reasons to discipline him.
This is the second book in the Davey's Rules Series and it fits well in with the previous book in the series. The characters are fun and well written. The storyline is one that is a little predictable, but is still enjoyable and entertaining. My biggest problem was with Preston's bratty behavior and how rude he is to Bryan (and yes I understand that he's a brat - but there were times it seemed like too much). Despite that, there are some moments that are heartwarming, lots of laughter, and overall, it was a good read!
Michael Pauley did an amazing job bringing these characters to life. He makes a this book a great listen, with Preston's brattyness and Bryan's authoritative and disciplining nature come through with every word. This book is a good continuation of the series, and I can't wait to listen to more, both from this series, and from this narrator!

Surpassed my expectations! 5+ stars!

Don't you love it when a book surpasses any and all of your expectations? That's exactly what happened while and after listening to Rules to Break, the second book in Susan Hawke's Davey's Rules series. Those expectations of mine have remained consistently high, all thanks to my previous listening experiences with this current series and her previous one, Lovestrong, from Hawke. All of those audiobooks were narrated by none other than Michael Pauley, and dare I say that this latest audiobook is quite possibly one of his best ever, which is saying a lot considering he's one of the most in-demand romance narrators around.

Rules to Break is the story twenty-five-year-old Preston Wallace, a brat who lives a life of privilege, and thirty-five-year-old Bryan Miller, a Daddy who has no boy of his own, but when Bryan is challenged to make Preston the perfect boy any Daddy would want, they find themselves in each other's company for the next three months. They seem to have a knack for pushing each other's buttons and frustrations pile up, but there can also be no denying the scorching hot chemistry between them. The time they spend together brings them closer, but while Preston knows he wants nothing more than to have Bryan claim him as his boy, Bryan hasn't made his intentions, if any, known. By three months' end, will Preston have a Daddy and will it be Bryan?

Susan Hawke's managed to pen a story that's more than just about a particular sex kink, i.e. Daddy-boy. There's humor here, but there's also angst, especially from Preston's end, who isn't some good boy pretending to be a brat, but the guy has a good heart and is simply craving affection and approval from someone other than the three household staff members who have become more like family than his actual parents and the owners of Daddy's Lap. There were times both Preston and Bryan frustrated me with their stubbornness, but goodness, these two were so darn entertaining and, ultimately, endearing. Michael Pauley brought them both to life, and the range of emotions he showcased, particularly during one scene of Preston's at the seniors center, made me want to stand up and applaud the man. Hawke and Pauley have done it again with Rules to Break, and this one gets five-plus stars. ♥

Oh, just a quick note: The prologue comes after the last chapter in this audiobook, which isn't how it is in the eBook (i.e. the eBook opens to the prologue). I don't know if it was a mistake made during the production of the audio version, but it is a wee bit weird, so maybe there's a chance it can still be fixed, but I doubt it's as simple as just switching it around. So, if you've listening to the audiobook for the first time, chapter 28 is where you can find the prologue.

Bryan and Preston are perfect!! Lots of love!!

Beautiful story with lots of love and a touch of humor, a little heartbreak and lots of growth for both characters.  You feel their hearts and you will smile as they get to really know each other. 

I love this narrator and this story!   He really captures the characters of Bryan and Preston and he made them so real for me
I really enjoyed Preston and Bryan!!  They were fun and likable characters that you wanted to get to know. The writing was wonderful and i stayed up listening way too late, but it was well worth it!   

I really am enjoying this family of characters.   Rules to Break is the second book in the Davey's Rules series and i am looking forward to reading the next one!  

Love it!

Daddy Bryan and Preston are absolutely perfect for each other!! I can't get over how amazing Susan Hawke just pulls me into this story and I didn't want to be let go. Then Michael Pauley just makes me really not want to let go. He does such an amazing job in bring all the emotions in this story to life. I couldn't help but fall in love even more!! Love this one so much!

Davey Knows Best(sometimes😉)

Loved that this book had everything you could ask for in a well rounded romance book: funny times, sad times, super steamy times, and best of all the HEA. Michael had a great performance as the narrator. I can’t wait for the story in the series.

So sadly, sweet and sassy

I laughed and cried and then did it all over again. I really didn't want to like Preston but Like Bryan you just can't help it! Pauley does a fantastic job giving voice to these characters this listen was just as sweet as the read.

Rules to Break

I was super skeptical of this book at first, I wasn't sure if I would like the characters. But I ended up really liking it way more by the half way point.

Great addition to this series!

I just knew there was more to Preston then what he portrayed. Daddy Bryan isn't into relationships & cuddles. One night a bet is placed, can Daddy Bryan turn Preston into the perfect boy. Bryan sees past the major bratty behavior to the bratty boy that just wants so love. Preston's parents are total POS. He is only good as a buffer at some of mothers' society parties, when they are even in town. There is something that happens that just broke my heart & brought me to tears. It also is a turning point to Preston when he sees that life is too short. Same with Bryan. I loved seeing Preston let his walls drop & lets Davey, Adam, Marcus and Jeff in and he sees that he can have friends who don't want to be friends because he is rich but because they truly like him. My only issue is the use of sweet pea, that was a little annoying and I would have liked more of "boy" then "brat". A great addition to this series & I can't wait for more.

Audio ARC provided by LesCourt Services in exchange for an honest review.