Customer Reviews

Jackson Rule

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Andrew Jackson Rule leaves Angola penitentiary after spending half his life there for killing his abusive father. He finds that the world is not too kind to ex-cons, except in the form of Rebecca Hill, a preacher's daughter who runs a nursery, the only person who'll give him a job. Together, they fight everyone else's prejudice, including her father's. Jackson must also deal with his sister, who was severely abused by their father, and the revelation of Jackson's sacrifice is a very touching one. This is a wonderful book. Jackson is a bit too nice at times, but you can feel his pain. My favorite book by Sharon Sala/Dinah McCall.

This is one of those rare finds. You read it and you are so caught up in the story that you lose track of time and place. A story that takes you right into the heart of what the writer was envisioning. Usually I am sadly not a big fan of this author's work, but this book blows her others far out of the water!
(I won't go into the details of what the book was about since everyone else has, so from here on my reviews will reflect my thoughts on the book itself because frankly that is what I look for in reviews myself.)
The touching and sometimes emotional story between the character of Jackson and the woman who saves him Rebecca is completely unlike any other.
Jackson is so real and so hurt and 'damaged' you as the reader find yourself wishing you could crawl inside the story and help. His secret is so overwhelming and charged with emotion, it's hard to imagine he would keep it.
Rebecca is the epitome of what a heroine should be. She is very good-hearted and strong. She sees the good in him even though no one else does and she stands by him with conviction and hires him on at her greenhouse even with the 15 year prison sentence in his past. She sees him for who he really is.
I was touched and in awe of Jackson. The love between him and the heroine is very real and seems almost destined. As if they do exist and are out there somewhere.
But the most awe inspiring moment is when his deep and dark secret is revealed to her...you will cry. Get the tissues, seriously, you will need them.

Tracy Talley~@

Jackson Rule is not only the name of this book, but also the name of the male lead. The story begins on a momentous day in Jacksons life...he has just been released from serving a 15 year prison sentence. We get to look in as Jackson little by little begins to adjust to his new freedom. It is touching to see how appreciative he is of small things, and I found myself feeling frustrated right along with him as he goes in search for work, but is turned down again and again because of his past. Then, he crosses paths with Rebecca Hill, the owner of her own landscaping business...and she decides to take a chance on him and give Jackson a job...and so the romance begins.

Jackson Rule is just the sort of story that I would normally swoon over. A big, tough, emotionally tortured and misunderstood man is finally comforted and given the love he so desperately desires by a woman that he is completely shocked will give him the time of day. I just loooove the idea of it, but here, it just didnt work for me...
There were a few things that bothered me about this story...first, while I felt that Jackson was well developed, I was left feeling unsatisfied with Rebecca...I wanted more from her. I didnt feel like I got to know her well enough. As for Jackson, I liked him. He was well written, but the trouble I had with him was that he was TOO good. I mean, no one is that good...and just the fact that he happened to be in the right place at the right time to save others over and over...well, it just didnt ring true IMO. The biggest nit pick I had with this story, however, was not about the characters or plot, but the writing...so saccharine! There were moments when I would cringe...whether it was something one of the characters said or thought,it all came across as too cloyingly sweet. This authors writing style was just not for me.
I have, however, heard a lot of great stuff about this story. A lot of other readers love it. I cant say Jackson Rule was a bad book, but this is not an author that I see myself reading in the future.

Dinah McCall/Sharon Sala scores big with her BEST novel!!! Jackson Rule spent most of his life behind prison bars for murder. Now he is out and trying to start over. No one wants to give him a break...except the daughter of a preacher who had been taught to give people a second chance. Jackson proves to be a hard worker - what she needs in her growing garden supply business. But she soon realised where there is smoke there is fire and the passionate looks between Jackson and Rebecca ignite the pages.

But Jackson is hiding a deep dark secret. Did he kill the man they said he did? Or was there a lot more to the story? As Rebecca decides to stand by her man, she find she has a lot more inner strength that she knew!!

A super read!!!

I found a copy of this book at a second hand store whilst on holiday and read it in the airport lounge - finished it before I got on the plane. It was wonderful! This is a story about love, acceptance, redemption, judgment and prejudice. Jackson Rule, a victim of abuse, is a loving and caring man whose story we gradually learn while he finds his way in life following 15 years in a maximum security facility. Rebecca Hill is a strong woman who accepts and loves him and gives him the strength to find a role for himself in society. A tremendously moving and emotionally wrenching story. I am so glad I found a copy and read it; definitely a keeper to be reread when a dollop of inspiration is needed.

An altogether satisfying reading experience. Strong, well-developed characters, and excellent plot, and very good writing. Re-reading this is also entertaining. It is a pleasure to have good triumph, and to find a novel not overburdened with explicit (and unecessary) sexual detail while still providing excellent counterpoint between protagonists.
Almost on a par with "Tallchief".

I have always loved Sharon Sala books, but this is by far my favorite. I couldn't put it down. I could picture everything as it was happening in the book. I have recommended this book to all of my friends! I just hope that you enjoy this book half as much as I did. I can't wait for the movie!

This is Sharon Sala at her best, we laugh alittle, but we cry alot.

Jackson Rule has been released from prison. He admitted he killed his father. Now he has to build a life. He was 16 when he was sent to prison. No one wants to trust a convicted killer.

Rebecca Hill is a preacher's daughter. Jackson saves her life and winds up working for her at her nursery. To the dismay of her friends and father.

But whatever a man is will come out, and Rebecca finds all the quiet strength and goodness in Jackson.

Jackson has many secrets and one by one they are revealed. This is one of Sharon Sala's best as far as I am concerned. Her books always give me hope for man's humanity.

Having worked with incest/abuse survivors, I often do not like to read it in fiction. It is either white-washed and trivialized and the characters heal much too easily and quickly, or it is done so graphically that I will not read it as I saw it enough in my counseling career.

I had heard high praise for this book and I loved McCall's Dreamcatcher. Then when I heard of the moving speech she gave at an RWA (Romance Writer's of America) National Meeting (I am a newbie romance author) concerning the origins of this book, I knew I had to try it.

This book was poignant and beautiful and heart-wrenching. McCall balanced the elements of the ravages of abuse with the fear and beauty of healing without being maudlin or trite. She is painfully honest in her graphic descriptions of the horror of abuse and its aftermath without being gratuitous. McCall does a superb job of showing that healing is hard and scarey and often painful while letting the reader know it is not ! ! impossible. She shows that the rewards of going from victim to survivor are numerous.

It hurt to read this book. I cried when I read this book. I laughed when I read this book. I felt wonderful and joyous - like I could soar when I finished this book.

Thank-you, Dinah McCall, for your insight and your talent and in combing the two in this masterpiece of a book!

Jackson Rule is definitely a bitter sweet lazy day easy must Read. A excellent source of any True Romantics constant cravings of love & an totured Hero doesnt hurt either..mmmmgood..yess indeed..makes for a quite nice recipe...;O) . A great storyline that looks into the window of harsh painful realties some of lifes hidden truths.