The Cromwell Rules

De: Ania Ray

Narrado por: Tiffany Vanlandingham

Lily Cromwell already knows the best way to prevent a life of tears and unnecessary heartache: be the player. She's cool. Calm. Collected. At 27, she's a successful New York City socialite and a software engineer on the brink of a major promotion. Trained by her mother's ten-commandment "Cromwell Rules," Lily has learned how to play the social game so that she always ends up on top. But when she meets Logan, she's thrown off. He doesn't even realize there are certain rules he should follow and, frankly, that's attractive. Nicholas, on the other hand, is just what her mother Anne would want. Can Lily be the daughter Anne's always wanted her to be and have the type of husband she was taught to stay away from? Will Lily be brave enough to rewrite the Rules?

©2019 Ania Ray (P)2025 Ania Ray

A Heartwarming Tale of Love and Women's Fiction

Lily is a software engineer at the top of her game, all thanks to her mother's rules. But what about love, and what happens when Logan, a financier and dancer-extraordinaire enters the scene? As their lives intertwine and fall apart, Ray takes us on an unforgettable journey of heartbreak and healing as Lily learns how to live by her own rules.

P.S. the narration by Tiffany Valandingham was a joy to listen to and brought the characters to life!

Sometimes You Have to Break the Rules

Lily has been raised to live by strict rules on how she presents herself to society. The rules ingrained by her mother have lead her to believe that her only option is to follow them if she wants to protect herself from heartache or being looked down on by other socialites. However, when Lily meets Logan, he challenges all the rules and she’s faced with dismantling the ones that no longer serve her. The road isn’t easy and she’s faced with multiple obstacles along the way.

The Cromwell Rules is a fun read/listen for anyone who wants to transport to NY and experience the inside of elite social circles. You’ll see why sometimes….you have to break the rules.

Rules are meant to be Broken

Intricately woven story of family, friends,love and the rules, spoken and unspoken that define them. Tiffany Vanlandingham narrates this tapestry of characters with authenticity and emotion. Over a dozen characters came to life distinctly as the rules are spoken. The story unfolds, holding me captive as rules meant to be broken!

The swooniest combo of prose + performance

Ania Ray has mastered the art of binge-worthy prose, but this audiobook did more than just leave me wanting more. I simultaneously wanted to linger in the many beautiful beats and soak up the juicy symbolism. There were some lines that beckoned me to pause and rewind because I HAD to write them down. (Trust me, you'll want the audio and a hardcopy so you can highlight!)

One might think "women's fiction" is synonymous with "romance." Sometimes it can be. And don't get me wrong--there are some dreamy moments in this book that will make your heart melt. BUT, Ray offers so much more. There's a hit-you-straight-in-the-gut backstory and a mother/daughter narrative that had me teary-eyed. This is why I would recommend The Cromwell Rules to romance lovers, literary fiction fans, and book clubs alike.

Ray crafts characters as dynamic as the women who are reading her work. All are so many versions of ourselves in a day--caregiver, partner, daughter, sister, employee, friend, etc. It only tracks that Lily, our FMC, has multitudes as well. She's smart as hell (Female coder! How cool!), she's a socialite, and she dates like it's an Olympic sport. She's also still so very much a young girl missing her father and she hasn't lost touch with her spunky seventeen-year-old self. But ever-present is the adult woman who is desperate for connection with her mother. Lily's evolving relationship with HERSELF will allow readers to buy into the journey. Sure, we get the *cutest* of meet cutes, we get the opposites attract trope, and, mercy, is Ania Ray a GENIUS at witty banter... Yet, it's Ania's attention to detail and the psychology of the character's inner lives that elevates her storytelling.

It was a gift to experience this world through the narration of Tiffany Vanlandingham. My oh my, is that woman a tour de force! If I didn't know any better, I would have thought this book was narrated by a full cast--her voices are THAT good. The distinct difference in cadence, rhythm, and inflection for each character was so beautifully executed. It's safe to say that I will be checking out all of Tiffany Vanlandingham's previous audiobooks and keeping tabs on her future works as well.

In brief, do yourself a favor and check out The Cromwell Rules. The bad news: You're going to get a book hangover. You WILL miss Lily and Logan and Anne instantly after hearing the words, "the end." But, the good news: Ania Ray has two more books in this universe... which are now at the tip top of my TBR!