Bending the Rules (Mass Market Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Anderson (Cutting Loose) creates a sexy, feel-good contemporary romance starring down-to-earth Seattle artist Poppy Calloway and handsome but rigid police detective Jason de Sanges. When three teenagers are caught defacing some neighborhood stores, Poppy suggests they clean up their mess and replace it with a mural. Jase, vexed by beautiful and unpretentious Poppy, scoffs at the mural idea, but his higherups agree to it and put him in charge of the teens. Poppy and Jase have met previously and seem perpetually at odds, but they can't deny sharing a visceral and intense chemistry. After some suspicious accidents, Jase leaps to protect the woman he once dismissed as a damn bleeding-heart liberal. Palpable escalating sexual tension between the pair, a dangerous criminal on the loose and a cast of well-developed secondary characters make this a winner. (July)
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Product Description

Tall, dark and intense, Detective Jason de Sanges excites all kinds of fantasies in Poppy Calloway. But when she suggests the three teens caught spray-painting a Seattle neighborhood be given art-related community service and he just wants to see them pay—all bets are off.

With the men in his family always in and out of the slammer, Jase was raised in foster care. He knows what it takes to walk the line. And his number one self-imposed rule? Avoid his hunger for sexy, irresistible Poppy, who challenges him on everything. But it's a vow that's getting harder and harder to keep.…

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (June 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373773935
• ISBN-13: 978-0373773930
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,748 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poppy Rules!, July 2, 2009

By	Deborah Verlen "dmverlen" (Park Ridge, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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After reading Cutting Loose which is Jane's story of the three friends: Jane, Poppy and Ava--I almost did not pick this book up as Cutting Loose was incredibly boring with very little chemistry between the hero and heroine.

I'm glad I gave Poppy's story a chance. The chemistry between Poppy Calloway and the hero Jason de Sanges is there from the beginning. As Poppy and Jase over come their first impressions of each other which had them thinking each other was hot, but not what they were looking for in a date; you find yourself involved in the story and caring about the two main characters as well as the secondary ones--not only Jane and Ava (her friends), but the troubled teenagers she is trying to save.

Jason de Sanges, a child of the foster care system, comes from a family where the men are in and out of jail. He is the exception due to the caring intervention of a crusty cop. Jase lives by the rules in order to manage his surroundings and in his mind not become like his father and brother. Enter Poppy Calloway, a free spirited artist, who challenges Jase's rigid unbending rules. When the two are thrown together overseeing three young artists who defaced public property, the sparks fly!

Throw in some mystery with the romance and Susan Andersen has produced a great read! This is Susan Andersen at her best.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A sizzling good book, July 1, 2009

By	Judy "book reader" (Cincinnati, ohio United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Susan Andersen pens an absolute delightful book in her latest story...Bending The Rules.

Poppy Calloway always believed in giving back to her community and letting others have a second chance. When some first time offenders spray paint some walls in the community, Poppy wants to give these teens a chance to make it right. This doesn't sit well with Detective Jason de Sanges.

Detective Jason de Sanges doesn't see much good in the world around him. The males in his family seem to spend more time in jail then out of it. Luckily Jase had a met a cop who took an interest in him growing up and Jason walks the straight and narrow 24/7. He tries everything he can to get out of helping Poppy with her little "community art project."

Jason grudgingly gets in the spirit of working with Poppy and her teens. But spending time with her has him rethinking some of his strict by the book rules. She gets under his skin and makes him think he can have it all. Poppy sees more in Jason then just the strict layman, can she help him to see that they have a chance to beat the odds?

Bending The Rules is a book you will want to re-read several times. It stays with you long after you are done. It is very sexy, sweet, and emotional and has well written characters. Susan Andersen books are keepers for me. I can't wait to read the next book in this delightful series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bending the Rules by Susan Andersen, July 20, 2009

By	jjmachshev "jj" (Grovetown, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

"Bending the Rules" is book two in Susan Andersen's 'Sisterhood Diaries' series about three unrelated women who have been best friends since childhood. When their wealthy benefactress dies, her will provides the impetus that eventually sees each woman finding just the right man for her.

Poppy was, and still is, the 'hippie' of the trio. Raised on a commune and the benefits of granola, she uses her talents to work with 'at risk' children. But even she isn't sure how to react when her latest project acquires an overseer...Detective de Sanges. This would be the same man who makes her girly parts not just hum, but break into full operatic arias! If only he wasn't so...by the book...frustrating...really, really HOT.

Jason comes from a family of cons and he's pretty sure the only thing keeping him from the same fate is his devotion to rules and regulations. So when his boss orders him to take part in Poppy's program for some 'good ink', he goes...but not happily. He's already had one run-in with Ms. Liberal and doesn't want another...no matter how smoking hot she is.

I like plots where the main characters are very different, yet manage to find a compromise. The electric attraction between these two almost singed my fingers and Andersen can definitely 'bring the heat' when it comes to love scenes. She also manages to focus on the problems of 'at risk' kids without preaching to the audience and that takes a fairly deft touch.

There were no real stutters or holes in Susan Andersen's latest. My biggest beef was with Jason's refusal to grow past his teen version of his character. There was a time or two when I wanted to smack him upside the head...or was praying that Poppy would! Other than that minor annoyance, it was a very fun read with a good bit of humor.