Against the Rules

By: Linda Howard

Narrated by: Lesa Lockford

When Cathryn Ashe was 17, she ran away to the anonymity of the city after a romantic encounter with Rule Jackson, the manager of her father's ranch. Now, eight years later, her father has passed away, leaving her the ranch, and Cathryn returns to claim what's hers...and to challenge Rule like never before.

©1983 Linda Howington (P)2015 Dreamscape Media, LLC

1983 Linda Howard Classic

Audible Escape
If you are new to Ms Howard, check out After the Night, Up Close and Dangerous, and Heart of Fire for heroines who are strong, focused, and know their own minds. I do use 1.25x speed to match their spunk.
This classic has the writing of the times,, which many young women today have no idea what mature women went through during that period. Romance writers have evolved and of course so has Ms Howard. But if like me you have waited over 20 yrs to even get to listen to this classic, then this is for loyal Ms Howard fans.
Publishers summery is spot on so no need to add to it.
Producers Dreamscape is an avenue to get hard to find books from some classic Romance authors eg Ms Howard. Unfortunately at $24.95 and NOT telling potential customers the original book publish date is a real failure on their part. Hence the poor reviews of this book from other reviewers.
Dreamscape used narrators that deliver good heroine voices, but fail to capture the male essence of the hero who always gives you a HEA ending, hence my rating and my recommendations above. Ms Ross and Ms Eby deliver what Ms Howard intended, strong female characters and Male voices that are masculine and believable. I have re listened to those 3 books many times over the years and they will not disappoint.
Were my comments of help?

Another Linda Howard charmer.

A realistic, multifaceted story with compelling, well developed characters. The romantic relationships are interesting and captivating without the many pseudo pornographic scenarios present in most contemporary romance novels. Very enjoyable.

Disappointed

I like Linda Howard. She's written some books that I thoroughly enjoyed. This wasn't one of them. Her writing style works for me, the characters, how they are introduced, setting the scene...all good. Unfortunately in this story, her female lead spent too much time whining and throwing tantrums for me to ever like her. I spent all my time rolling my eyes and thinking "this again?". The male lead was stoic and gruff and "unreadable" and spent all his time chasing her and ignoring her pleas of no. The man-handling and constant no's into uncontrollable yes's rubbed me wrong for a modern day romance. I kind of expect that in my 80's romance but in current it just felt misogynistic. I haven't given up on Linda Howard's books but I chalk this one up to a loss.

Great Cowboy Romance

Would you consider the audio edition of Against the Rules to be better than the print version?

Yes, can enjoy while driving or doing anything else.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Rule, a manly man.

Have you listened to any of Lesa Lockford’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Rule finally came clean by what he felt.

Any additional comments?

No

Boss Lady Comes Home~ early Howard~ good~

PLOT: Cathryn comes home to inherit her ranch and Rule her former lover is now firmly the foreman and boss.

Rule Jackson is now the foreman and "official" Boss of the Ranch. He was the official "town bad boy" in his youth. Abused and neglected he was picked up from a ditch by Cathryn's father and he became a part of the family. The abuse shows in the form of a very SILENT restless adult. Cathryn and Rule became lovers when she was 17. Now years later Cathryn is returning to inherit her Ranch. She is "resents" Rule's hold on the ranch and HER. She also has do deal with her slutty step sister who wants Rule for her own. When Rule is injured his RECOVERY becomes mingled with her own ..... she slowly feels the Ranch is finally her "home." This is a very early Linda Howard. Still a good solid early romance. She has NOT added the "mystery" elements we have in her more current novels. I would label this one a CLASSIC early Howard ROMANCE. She was honing her craft and we still enjoy her early works. The reader is good and I give it 4 STARS~

Against The Rules

I really like the story, but I didn't really like the narrators voice. It didn't fit with the characters. Linda Howard is one of my favorite authors!!

like the story

good story content! 👍 I think it has a good story line.I believe a lot of people will like it.

Couldn't Finish!

I have been using Audible for many, many years and have NEVER failed to finish a book. Today was the first time. Kat was such a weak and pitiful character at the beginning of the book, I couldn't listen long enough to see if her character got stronger and less of a dormat. For the benefit of other readers, I hope she evolved.

Creepy

It's her ranch, but he's the only one who can run it. He also knows she belongs to him, and until she surrenders, he will mock her, treat her with contempt and arrogance, and kiss and handle her with or without her consent. But it's ok, because as much as he frightens and enrages her, his touch makes her mindless. Maybe if I'd been able to hack it past the 6th chapter the author would have found some excuse for the hero's misogynistic behavior, but I kept hoping the heroine would grow a spine and get a restraining order.

Older Linda Howard

What was most disappointing about Linda Howard’s story?

Bimbo woman can't speak when gruff primitive male oozing testosterone comes close or forcefully grabs and gropes bimbo.

Did Lesa Lockford do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Narrator does a decent job.

Any additional comments?

Not the first book Linda Howard has done where the woman is helpless in the presence of primitive male. Will have to read the reviews more closely in the future to avoid the silly books.