Six Month Rule

Kingston Ale House #2

by A.J. Pine

She created the game, but the rules are about to change.

The second I met Will Evans in his three-piece suit with that hot as hell British accent, I wanted him.

That is...until he insulted my shoes and stole my corner office.

Now I have to work side-by-side with the surly British arsehole who just set my career back six months.

It's fine. That accent won't get to me, no matter how sexy it sounds when he asks permission to do things professionals shouldn't do. On the couch. In the corner office I still wish was mine.

Maybe we can't keep our hands off each other, but I'm sure as hell not falling for a guy who lives an ocean away. Because in six months, he's leaving for good.

I don't do broken hearts, but you know what they say...

There's a first time for everything.


Each book in the Kingston Ale House series is a standalone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Workplace Romance, Ebooks, Chick Lit

280 pages, ebook

First published July 18, 2016

About the author

A teen librarian by day and a romance writer by night, A.J. Pine can’t seem to escape the world of fiction, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s the author of the If Only series (Entangled Embrace), the Only You series (Berkley/Intermix), the Kingston Ale House series (Entangled Select), and the Crossroads Ranch series (Forever Romance). When she finds that 25th hour in the day, she might indulge in a tiny bit of TV where she nourishes her undying love of vampires, superheroes, and a certain high-functioning sociopath detective. She hails from the far off galaxy of the Chicago suburbs.

Reviews

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}


He wasn’t supposed to find anything to make him happy in Chicago, yet here was this woman who was as brilliant as she was maddening. A woman he loved more every second he was with her. And a woman who believed she couldn’t love him back—not for the long haul.







ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!!


I have to say that I had never heard of AJ Pine before reading this story, but now she is one that is going on my must read shelf. I’m so delighted with just how much I ended up falling in love with this book! We all have our favorite types of heroes, but the one that tops them all for me is a GORGEOUS BRIT!! As soon as I read in the blurb that the Hero was a Tall, Dark and Handsome Brit, there was no way I could pass this one up. Ladies get ready to fall in love with Will Evans!!! I challenge you to not finding him utterly irresistible.



Holly Chandler is very much driven by her career. She’s looking to make partner at Trousseau. On the day she thinks that her aspirations of becoming a partner are about to come to fruition, she runs into a sinfully sexy Brit in the elevator and let’s just say their first meeting wasn’t a glowing one as far as Holly’s concerned. To her utter dismay, she later learns that she will be working with him on a project for the next six months and that her shot at making partner rides on the success of this latest project. Holly and Will are attracted to each other but each have issues that make them a less than desirable candidate for a romantic attachment. Holly doesn’t believe in love. She’s never dated anyone beyond six months because she has learned from experience that six months is as long as that honeymoon phase lasts.






Will is only in Chicago for the next several months, after the project is over he will be going back to London where his six-year-old daughter lives with his ex. His daughter, Sophie, is everything to him and being a good father to her is his number one priority. His life doesn’t have room for a girlfriend. That doesn’t mean that he isn’t extremely attracted to the maddening and vivacious Holly.



Holly is also unable to deny the extreme attraction that is developing between the two of them and so she proposes that they try out her six-month rule. Which means they spend the next six months enjoying each other’s company in and out of the bedroom, no strings attached, and once their time is up, they each go their separate ways. It has worked out great for her so far and she honestly believes that this proposition will work out for them as well. She didn’t take into consideration that Will would completely steal her heart. As they spend more time together and deep feelings start to develop, will they be able to change the terms of their agreement?? Or can Holly and Will simply walk away without any regrets and their hearts in tact when the six months are up?





This story had me so wrapped up in it, I barely got up from my reading chair all day! It had everything I crave from a good book; angst, an endearing heroine, a hero that’s going on my top ten list, and incredible panty melting steam!!



If you love romances between a British book boyfriend and a delightful American heroine, this one is definitely up your alley. Oh and I promise when you meet the adorable little Sophie, your heart is going to burst!!!


Six Month Rule is currently available!! Make sure you one-click!!



Amazon: http://amzn.to/2asrIAl
Paperback: http://amzn.to/2af6xFo
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/29TZDTY
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/29SxC1Y
B&N: http://bit.ly/29NdJoL
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2af6WHO
iBooks: http://apple.co/2a9sztH

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Rules are Made to Be Broken Stars
* * * * It's Live!!!
Sometimes you just feel like reading a book you know will be fun, snappy and make you feel good in the end. It doesn't matter if the premise has had different variations... you have read the blurb and something unique calls out to you and you say- Yeah, I'm up for this. That was exactly what happened to me when Six Month Rule by A.J.Pine came across my sight...I am glad I did.

This happens to be part of a series, however, I never felt like I was missing anything... the only thing that happened after reading the entire book was interest to see what the other installment held.

There are a couple of unique parts to this love story... the guy is British with a capital B. He is extremely charming and also has that true difference from our American Chaps. These differences are there from the start and add to the story big time. The other part of this which adds a twist is the ploy of reading one's Horoscope and the stars in the galaxy. These hooks are part of our gal's make up and each chapter has her checking on what her Gemini guide tells her.

All of these elements are then used with the backdrop of driven career people.

He has been working non stop in publicity representing top fashion icons and new up and comers... and it has taken almost 6 years to realize he has been missing out on his adorable daughter's life. All the traveling, all the success cannot make up for all he has missed and his ex has made it clear he needs to make changes before it is too late. This last contract with this new designer for her show in Chicago will be for six months and then he will be a full time dad to his little angel, finally.

She has been doing events and shows, focused on becoming partner as soon as possible. In order to reach her goal, she has set up a six month rule for "relationships" if you can call them that. After seeing much and having her partners becoming demanding and not understanding her need to put her career first...she has decided...

Six Months...All the thrills, sex, fun and did I say sex....
Yes, all of that told in the beginning...with no broken hearts or trauma ... just fun, fun, fun till the six months are done...Clean breaks, no moping, no mess....and it also leaves her able to reach her business partner goal without any obstacles.

These two meet; first in a chance situation which leaves an impression on both...and then in the conference room with her boss to learn her partnership will depend on how well she does this new event with HIM. They have about six months to arrange everything and make it a huge success...
Both are about as opposite in their communication styles...and both are fronting their personalities... protecting their inner minds from each other...yet both also are hugely drawn to each other too....

So what to do, hmmmmm....

Why not do that six month thing...she thinks...after all he is leaving and this way they both can enjoy what is happening with them...Yeah... that is the way to go with this...nice and clean...

Except we all know that isn't what happens... and it is the reading all about it that makes this enjoyable. Both of these characters have their own hang ups but also have a sweetness and charm. I happened to love all the fun made at the Brit's expense...His dialogue seemed authentic and the references to Chicago landmarks felt so, as well. We even saw both of them stumble and then right themselves in this relationship. I am always a sucker for a man owning up to his shortcomings.

If you are in the mood for something not too heavy and love the idea of a British man asking "May I" , in that way to make your skin pebble and heart beat... then I would say this is your fun read.

A gifted copy was provided by Entangled Publishing, LLC via NetGalley for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[NMmomof4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Overall Opinion: This was a cute, pretty light read. I enjoyed the characters, and I enjoyed their connection...I just wanted a little bit more. More in-depth connection, more banter, more grovel, more epilogue...more! I'm sure lots of readers will enjoy this one, as it was pretty light and sweet :)

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Holly and Will's story. They first meet with a not so great encounter in an elevator to later find out that they are working on a big work project together. Holly has found in her other relationships that things fizzle out at around 6 months, so she thought that Will would be a great candidate for her "6 month rule". Holly propositions Will to give her the 6 months of working together to a no-strings relationship, and he agrees. Stronger feelings develop and as time is running out, they find that they might not be done at 6 months. There is some career and family drama, some sexy times, and a few sweet moments...and they get a HFN ending.

POV: This alternated on focusing on Holly and Will in 3rd person narrative.

Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed pretty well, but there were a few times that I was easily distracted from my reading.

Instalove: No, they take a while in developing stronger feelings.

H rating: 4 stars. Will. Tall, dark, handsome, and British....need I say more?!? ;)

h rating: 4 stars. Holly. I liked her. She was a strong, independent woman. I really liked the way she instantly bonded with the H's daughter.

Sadness level: Low. No tissues needed.

Push/Pull: Yes The H pushes the h away when he has a scare with his daughter, but he is the one to seek forgiveness. I would've liked more grovel tbh.

Heat level: Moderate. They have some good chemistry and scenes.

Descriptive sex: Yes

Safe sex: Yes. Condoms are mentioned. I don't remember any mention of past practices for either of them.

OW/OM drama: No

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: No

Separation: Yes They are separated for about a month. There is no mention or suggestion of other partners during the separation.

Possible Triggers: Yes, but mild The H has a daughter from another relationship

Closure: This had pretty good closure, but I would still call it a HFN ending. I would've loved a big jump ahead epilogue to see them down the line with their own family.

How I got it: I paid the $3.99 on Amazon.

Safety: I'd say this should be Safe for most readers.

- Does Not have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have the H pushing the h away
- Does have a ~1 month separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse
- Does Not have OTT sad parts
- Does Not have a HEA ending

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review



May I, just say that I adore A.J. Pine and her heartwarming second installment to The Kingston Ale House Series. And “May I” also just say that Pine has truly proved to romance readers out there that she can indeed write a love story that has chemistry, heart, raw emotions, and playfulness.

Six Month Rule is not your typical office romance trope. First, Pine doesn’t write a love affair that centers on the forbidden aspect of office mingling but instead she highlights and brings forth a love story that centers on two emotionally flawed individuals.

“He spun slowly to face her, and Holly’s heart leaped. His hand rested lightly on her cheek, and then his lips were on hers. There it was. That inexplicable warmth, but Holly knew what it meant now. It meant this was real. What she felt wasn’t fading, and instead of relying on the fact that it would, she let those words loop over and over again along with the rhythm of the kiss.”

Will Evans is British. Yes, I think that alone is enough reason to read this book. Well if being a hot British hero is not enough encouragement for you to read this book then how about HOT BRITISH SINGLE DAD WITH A HEART OF GOLD AND HAS THE CHARM TO LEAVE YOU A BLUBBERING MESS AND WET THOSE KNICKERS. Will’s life has consisted of work, work, and more work. And he is well aware that he is missing these important crucial bonding moments with his daughter, Sophie. And so when Will decided that after this six month project in Chicago that he will slow down and dedicate more time with his daughter. Six months only… well that was the plan until he met Holly Chandler.



When it comes to love, Holly Chandler has these rules. Six months that’s it. Love has never been in the forefront when it comes to Holly’s life since she has plans of moving up in the workforce. And so when she meets Will Evans, the new guy that she will be temporarily working with, she never thought she would find herself breaking her own rules.

“Just because you make the rules doesn’t mean you can break them. Or does it?”

May I just say that Holly and Will are too cute for words. Yes, this couple gave me that warm fuzzy feeling and made my heart burst with so much love. Seriously these two, had chemistry and love that was sweet and sticky as molasses. And then to top it off with an adorable seven year old daughter who stole my heart right off the opening pages as she understood that Holly was special. Also, AJ Pine incorporates the aspect of astrological signs into the story line as Holly is obsessed with daily horoscopes. So will the stars and fates aligned for Holly and Will? Or will their six month rule come to an abrupt end? Or are rules meant to be broken? Does love come with an expiration date?

May I just say that AJ Pine has perfectly layered Six Month Rule with so much depth, beauty, charm, and playfulness that readers like myself can FEEL the stars are indeed aligning for Holly and Will. I loved that Pine allowed readers to see this thing blossoming between Will and Holly is real and like any real relationships there are few bumps and hiccups that they must overcome. So if I may say if you are looking for a book that was smart and beautifully well-written, then I urge you to break all the rules when it comes to love because in love there are no rules when it comes to listening to your heart. And of course you get the added bonus of having a British hero who will having you smiling big.



Review can also be found on Four Chicks Flipping Pages: http://fourchicksflippingpages.weebly...A.J. Pine

[sraxe · Rating 2 out of 5]

How I feel about this book is pretty much how I felt about the first. I wanted to like it, and at times I thought I might, but then I didn't. It's not like the characters were horrible people—because they weren't—but I just didn't care about them for the most part. I think that was because the characters not only felt inconsistent at times, but also that they don't have much to them beyond the surface.

Holly Chandler is most work and some play. She wants to concentrate on her career and not be bothered with the whole relationship thing. Holly tends to stick to 6-month long partners—mostly for the companionship and not the relationship development. She has career goals and doesn't want a relationship distracting from that. She also feels that, after putting in all that work in her actual job, she just wants to come home and relax, feeling that a relationship will just be more work on top of her day job.

There [making partner at work] was a sobering thought. Work. Career. The reason for the rule in the first place. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy having someone to come home to at night. She quite liked that part. It was just that after the honeymoon phase—the part where everything was rainbows and puppy dogs and great sex all the time—then it became work. There were expectations that Holly couldn’t meet. Can you stop bringing work home with you? Do you have to work on the weekend? What comes first, work or me?

The answer was always the same. Holly’s passion for Trousseau always trumped her passion for other people or things.

And:

“Holls—maybe if you put in the work with one of these relationships, you’d feel differently.”

That was just it, though. If something was right—if it was meant to last—it shouldn’t be so much effort. At the end of the day, after the hard stuff was over, Holly wanted easy. She wanted a neutral zone where she didn’t have to prove herself or where her priorities lay. With the six-month deal up front, she could come right out with it. Everything else comes first, but I’d sure like to enjoy you for a while.

I was totally cool with this. In fact, it was nice to read something that was a gender flip on the regular ol' commitment-phobe hero. I also liked that Holly actually had a good reason for why she's so commitment-shy. I mean...seriously. How many times have we read those Hs who don't do relationships because REASONS? Not saying that it's not allowed at all, but most of the time you can tell it's an excuse for a lot of nonsense when it comes to the H. It was nice to actually come across an actual reason behind it.

The other thing I liked was that it was Holly who propositioned Will, not the other way around. They both knew they liked one another, but she was the go-getter in the situation who knew what she wanted and went for it. I also liked how they were pretty even in regards to their pasts, with very little to almost no information being there. While "Holly was having a bit of a drought," Will says that "it had been so long since he’d been with anyone like this" when he's with Holly. (But, to be completely clear, I don't know if he means here that he hasn't been with someone at all in a long time, or that he hasn't been with someone who's really gotten him going like Holly does. He follows the previous line by saying that "the way she responded to him was enough to drive him mad," so take it to mean however you want. I choose to read it as he's having just as much of a drought as she is, but since it's not stated outright that he's been celibate for however long, I'm not shelving this book on my "celibate hero" shelf.)

We also meet an ex on both sides, but they were so far in the past, and because it was even, it didn't bother me at all. Charlie, with whom she had a six month fling two years ago, is a co-worker and wants a do-over with the six month deal, but neither Holly nor Charlie have feelings for one another. They just enjoyed each other's company and had fun. On Will's end we have Tara, who he was in a relationship with years ago and who's also the mother of his child. but she left him for someone else when he kept putting more and more hours in at work. He says he loved her, but it was in a young love sort of way, which is different than how he loves Holly.

His chest tightened now just as it did every time he thought of that night, because he couldn’t remember feeling that way about anyone before [Holly]. Yes, he had loved Tara, Sophie’s mum, but he’d been young and stupid and way more in love with being William Evans, rising star in the world of publicity for the most high-profile clients in England. She was his first love, but the younger version of himself hadn’t known the first thing about what that meant or how to be a proper boyfriend.

Tara and Will aren't exactly the best of friends, but they're amicable enough for their daughter's happiness. Despite the fact that exs are present, there is absolutely no OW/OM drama.

I know there are some readers who don't like when protagonists are on friendly terms with exs (or just someone a character has had a passing fling with), but I don't mind that at all. I also liked it in this case because it was pretty even on both ends. I dislike it a lot when the heroine ends up having shitty exs and sex lives, so I liked how she and Charlie ended things well and were still on pretty decent terms. Will and Tara's relationship is a bit more tenuous, but I couldn't blame her for being bitter towards him. I was also glad that she's written to have found happiness with someone else and isn't the bitter witchy ex who's out for the poor innocent male protagonist.

Anyway. Will is up for the six month deal because, after working his ass off for years and neglecting home life, he's finally been promised a year-long sabbatical if he takes this Tallulah Chan account. He wants to use that time to give his six year old daughter, Sophie, his undivided attention after neglecting to do that for years. He's not a deadbeat dad or anything, but he kept getting roped into putting more and more time in.

If he pulled off this event without a hitch, he’d have enough time with the firm to take that yearlong sabbatical he’d promised himself. Time to spend with Sophie and be the father he should have been all along. But he had been too young and stupid when she was born to see past the money and the allure of travel, too afraid to step away from a competitive industry that would only replace him with the next up-and-coming young bloke.

Sophie had been an unexpected surprise, but it hadn’t been enough to save their already failing relationship. Tara wanted stability, and Will had wanted the world. So she found Phillip, who loved Sophie as his own, and Will became a third wheel in his own daughter’s life as the work kept piling on.

Give us another year, and we’ll give you six months’ leave.

Come on, Will. You’re on fire. Another year and we’ll up it to eight months.

Sign this contract, Evans. Five years, and you’ll have enough in the bank to retire before you’re thirty-five, mate. We’ll even hold your position for a full year.

And so, like an arsehole, he’d signed on the bloody line.

Before he knew it, time had gotten away from him. Tara was happy with Phillip. Sophie was happy with them.

Will wasn't terrible, but I really didn't know him. Aside from the fact that he's British, I don't know much about him. While we meet Holly's family, some friends, an ex (who she did this six month thing with two years ago), and co-workers, we only meet Will's family. Aside from his mom, daughter, and ex (Tara), who else is in his life? He can't possibly have no friends or co-workers or associates or anything else, right? It's not that I think everyone should have an extended network of relationships, but come on. We know nothing about him outside of handling this account (Tallulah Chan, with Holly's firm), not even what company he works for or his boss' name (unless I missed those) or anything else.

We know he's English, but what more? That's pretty broad—to just say someone is English and leave it at that. His Englishness seemed a big exaggerated to me, with him throwing around "brilliant," "blimey," "mum," "telly," "wanker," "bloody," "shite," etc. (They even discuss fish and chips!) He says he's from London, but what else? Which part of London? His accent is "English," but there are a ton of different accents that fall under that umbrella. Honestly, he felt like a cardboard cut-out stamped with exaggerated stereotypes to me.

I know, I know...why am I taking it so seriously and being so critical?? I just wish there had been more to him rather than this one-dimensional characterization. Holly wasn't that well fleshed-out either, but he felt like he had absolutely no depth.

The other issue I had with him was his past. When it comes to Sophie, I did side-eye how the author made it out to be. What I mean by that is this: If someone tells you that they were "too young" when it came to becoming a parent, what age comes to mind? How about when Will's mother says this:

“As I was saying, you are my son and a good man who became a father before he was prepared for what that entailed, but you did the best you could then, and you’re doing even better today. Just look at that beautiful girl you helped create.”

I know that no one can really be fully prepared for becoming a parent for the first (or second or third or whenever else) time. I'm under no illusion that you're automatically prepared to become a parent after a certain age; some people never are, others never want to be. However, the book talks about how Will wasn't "prepared" to become a father, that he was "too young." So, again, what age comes to mind when you read that? For me, it definitely wasn't twenty-six, which is the age Will was when he unexpectedly became a father. The reason I side-eyed this is because we often read about the babying of men.

Seriously...how many memes or articles (or whatever else) have you read talk about how the woman needs to take care of her man? That he's one of her children along with her actual toddler kids. How many ads/commercials have you seen about how men react to a cold versus how women (or, more specifically, mothers) do. (I mean...man-child is a word that is often used because this is a thing.) I just really rolled my eyes at how, even at 26, Will—a man—was still considered "too young" to be a father.



And then there's Tara. How old was Tara? Was she not considered "too young" to become a mother? She actually had to carry and birth said child. And then proceed to raise her pretty much on her own because Will was always working. But like Will, she's pretty much a one-dimensional character. She seems to have some lingering bitterness towards Will, but we don't really get much past her occasional passive-aggressiveness towards him.

And then we should consider Holly. If Will, at 26, was considered "too young," what about 27 y/o Holly? Let's remember that he had time to adjust to the thought of a child from when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant to the moment of Sophie's birth, and even afterwards when he took on assignment after assignment instead of being home. If Will was unprepared for a child, how can Holly be considered prepared to have a fully-grown child pretty much foisted upon her? Or is it just a foregone conclusion that women, like Holly and Tara, are always prepared for children though a man, even in his mid-to-late 20s, is still considered "too young." I know that's not what the author was saying or trying to portray, and I may just be having an overly critical reaction, but I really side-eyed the entire thing so hard. The bar is just set waaay too low and it really sets me off.

I had another issue with this book too, and that's Will and Holly's relationship. I didn't feel there was enough build up between them before something happened. The book is sectioned by months, so it felt really abrupt in how it jumped from one month to the next. With their actual relationship, only two weeks and handful of meetings go by before something happened. That might seem like enough if the chemistry is off the radars, but I felt the meetings we're shown really lacked in building chemistry between these two. Both of these reason is why, when it came to major events between them, there was not much of an emotional punch there when things happened.

Just under the halfway point, Will, tired from travelling between Chicago and London, comes over to Holly's place after arriving at the airport and crashes there. Holly notes that they've slept together three times by this point, but that this is the first time he's staying over. Big event, right? I wanted to feel this milestone moment, but I didn't. Before this, we only saw them sleep together once (the very first time they get together)...and then it cut out right afterwards. It's not that I wanted an erotica-fest or anything, but how could I find myself feeling her emotions, in finally having him stay over and actually sleep, if I never got to see or feel the rejection before that? We never even know that he's up and rolling out of bed once they're done until the very moment he's staying over. Like the above, there wasn't build up there.

Will also came off as an idiot to me near the end. When he goes over to her family's place for Thanksgiving and shows her family pictures of his daughter, Holly feels hurt because he's never shown her any photos of Sophie during their entire "relationship." He says:

“But I don’t really know you at all. Do I? You’re a fixture in my professional life. My personal life. And now you’ve filtered into my family life. You’ve seen it all, and you’ve shown me nothing.”

Will climbed into his jeans and let out a sigh.

“That’s not true,” he said, and she opened her mouth to argue. But he would have none of that. She didn’t get to play this card. “Yes, we’re brilliant as business partners. And we have done things in that conference room that would get us both fired, and I don’t even work for Trousseau.” He couldn’t help but smile at that last remark, but Holly’s expression remained impassive. “I’ve had dinner with you and your sister and friends, and it’s been lovely. And it was equally lovely to meet your parents. But come on, Holly. That’s hardly me seeing it all. It’s me seeing snapshots of you through other people’s eyes, a distorted view. And do you want to know what a distorted view is?”

She closed her eyes and shook her head.

“It’s safe, Holly. Bloody safe. It’s no different than the way I compartmentalize for you. It’s just your own particular method.”

Wait...what?? You're in her workplace, you're meeting her family, and you're also in her bed...but she's still considered to be "compartmentalizing"??? It just came off as an excuse to have him win here, or at least be on even footing, because what he's saying is stupid, plain and simple. How is that "safety" similar to Will's, who hasn't even so much as shown a photo of his daughter to Holly? It was such a ridiculous thing to say. (When she finally does get to meet his daughter, it's because it's a forced meeting, not something he plans and arranges himself. He doesn't have to bring a temporary relationship into his daughter's life, but it certainly says something when he doesn't even bother to tell Holly that his daughter will be visiting him.)

And then the ending I found equally ridiculous. The conflict and separation felt like conflict and separation for the sake of it. Their separation? I thought it would be over the fact that he was hiding stuff from her, but that ended up getting brushed under the rug and another reason for their break up was presented. I was waiting for the secret he'd been hiding to finally get revealed so he would have to grovel, but he just says it at one point and finds another reason to break things off. And then they're apart for a month before they're back together again.

Ugh. It really sucks that I didn't end up liking this. Just like the first, I enjoyed the writing and the character's weren't terrible, but I wish there was more depth and reasoning there. I might end up reading the other two and see if things improve, which I'm hoping is the case!

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I loved Six Month Rule, so many happy feels :)

The storyline was sweet, fun and very romantic.
Will and Holly were truly perfect for each other. They both made me laugh, swoon and I just couldn't help falling in love them and their love story.



I'm a huge fan of A.J. Pine's writing and once again she has delivered a well written, entertaining story with wonderful characters that will leave you with a heart full of happy feels.

Thank you Entangled ~ Select Contemporary via NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww I loved this read.

It is so true to life, how we try to compartmentalize our feelings and yet when you finally find the one, it is all blown to hell.

This book is loaded with all of the things we love in a sweet romance. A steamy hot guy - with the English accent to boot; a hardworking gal trying to have it all; and a great group of friend that support and care. Plus lead you to other books in the series.

Sexy and steamy, loaded with delicious scenes that titillate and make you even sweat a bit, this book delivers the goods in a lighthearted, fun read you will enjoy!

[~Kristin~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh...

[Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4 Stars***

I really liked this! For the blink of an eye this started out as an enemies(ish) to lovers story, but then quickly turned into "Listen. We have amazing chemistry and seriously want to bone each other so let's do that until you have to return to England."

Holly was a heroine I quickly fell in love with. She was funny, and confident, and smart, and career driven and all kinds of great. She didn't see charming Will Evans coming...and he hit her like a freight train.

Will was the type of hero I swoon for. Smart, a little snarky, charming, walls up but ooey gooey in the center, and all wrapped up in three piece suits by day and henleys and jeans by night. Coming to Chicago to work on a deal with Holly's company was his last big assignment before finally doing what he's been wanting to do for years....focus on his 6 year-old daughter.

Holly has always put her career first and has lived happily with her rule of relationships only lasting six months. So refusing to fight the attraction she feels for Will, which is obviously returned, feels silly since he's only in town for her perfect six month window.

"I'm a sure thing. Right here. Right now. I know you don't want me to think you came here just to shag me, but good Lord, please tell me that you are going to shag me, because I so want to shag you."

And my favorite part of books with this set up....when those pesky feelings arrive. Here, Holly and Will's secret pining for more was seriously pulling at my heartstrings. But how would things work? Holly's life and career are in Chicago? Will's life is in England with his daughter?

I loved Holly and Will's chemistry. There was such a great balance of tenderness and care with humor and snark, and from their first time together you could tell something special was starting.

Will would go home to be with his daughter (she lives with his ex-girlfriend who has since married) as often as his scheduled allowed and how much Will and Holly would miss each other without telling the other gave me all the feels! Because obviously they couldn't say anything, right? That's against the rules.

"I miss your eyes, especially when you look at me with your brow all furrowed thinking I'm crazy. I miss eating ice cream with you, looking at the stars with you, and hearing what kind of prediction your horoscope has for you and the way you claim it's utter bullshit when I know you buy into it just a little bit.

I miss you, Holly."

Little by little the book built to the inevitable expiration date of their relationship and Will's time in the States and my anxiety built with it wondering how AJ Pine was going to work her magic.

I needn't have worried. The resolution was everything I wished it would be. There was some manufactured drama towards the end that felt kind of forced, but looking at the bigger picture I can see what the author was trying to achieve. So even if it had me rolling my eyes, I get it.

Overall, a book that I very much enjoyed with a hero and heroine I quickly fell in love with, all wrapped up in a romance that I was rooting for from the very first encounter.

"But here's the secret no one ever tells you."

"What's that?"

"You can't choose it. Or plan it - the person you fall for. It just happens, like a slap upside the head. A wake-up call."

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

I loved the first book in author A.J.Pine's Kingston Ale House series, but I like LOVE, LOVE, LOVE with cherries on top Six Month Rule. Two very different people at two very different points in their lives working together on a project that will give one the partnership she desires and give the other the opportunity to change his life completely embark on a six month relationship with no strings and very little sharing of information outside of their interactions leads to one hell of a sexy (like melt your panties off) romp until they both discover they can't control their growing feelings. Pure, raw chemistry, a whole lot of sexy banter, a man with a British accent, a driven woman determined to succeed, made this an outstanding romance and one that I know I'll read again and again.

Holly Chandler is riding high on the success of her latest fashion show and is hoping to be handed the partnership she's worked so hard for so even the "stuck-up British areshole" in the elevator can't get her down until her boss tells her she'll be working with Will Evans (aka the areshole aka "Billy") on an international show and if it goes off without a hitch the desired partnership will be hers.

From their very first interaction, I knew this was going to be an entertaining story filled with the playful, snarky, and sexy banter I love in my romances. I loved these two characters so much in the fact that they seemed to understand each other early on despite not sharing much of their personal lives and history with one another. Will impressed me with how he saw Holly's talent from the start and knew that she was the perfect fit for his design client. I liked that Holly began to understand how hard Will's life was with his commuting back and forth to London every week and tried to make life easier for him. I appreciated that once they decided to act on their attraction and they entered into their agreement of 6 months, no strings that they went for it and didn't look back. While there were a few bumps in the road that gave them both reasons to pause, re-evaluate and step back when working things out they didn't skirt the issues they confronted them head on, talked about them and went forward. Despite the fact that Holly was only 26 and had some pretty messed up views on love and relationships she was very mature in the way she handled everything between her and Will. I also want to get a nod to Will's 6 year old daughter Sophie for her incredible insight and commentary on life and love.

Six Month Rule was simply a well thought out, well written, funny, endearing and sexy romance.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Jessica Alcazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the blurb for this book I immediately thought .... oh, this is going to be disastrously fun! AND IT WAS :) But there was really no disaster lol just very sweet, romantic FEELS! :)

A.J. Pine wrote two very likeable characters as individuals but also as a couple, which made for non-stop reading from me. They made me happy. They made me smile. And they made me laugh out loud. You can't really ask for very much more than that! :)

Copy provided for blog tour review

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for something lighthearted and “feel good”, then Six Month Rule is right up your alley. I’m finding that I really enjoy these “relationships with an expiration date” stories. The expiration date seems to add an intensity to when the hero and heroine identify and come to terms with their feelings towards each other, and by the time we reach the end, I’m all wrapped up in warm fuzzies and tiny heart explosions of happiness.

That’s what happened here.

I was a little nervous in the beginning that maybe Holly—who has decided she doesn’t date men and won’t entertain the idea of a relationship that lasts longer than six months—might grate on me a little. I was worried she might get too hung up on her “rules” and push me towards a Kindle smashing moment. Only, that never happened.

The relationship she built with Will was a slow build (at least emotionally) and, by the time she realized her feelings, I felt like she handled them beautifully. Her reluctance to commit herself to anything long term was less about the rules and more about the logistics—and that was an internal conflict I could identify with. I loved Holly more than I expected to; she’s a workaholic with a soft underbelly that she doesn’t expose to very many people. Her soft spots were heartwarming and adorable, and as she slowly let Will see them, she set my heart into a tailspin.

Speaking of tailspins…

Will Evans. *Fans self* It’s crazy how a British accent can relay itself in written word, right? Like, the power of the accent should be auditory, but I guess that’s why the imagination is such a beautiful thing. Because this British hunk completely stole my heart. The things he says. The things he does. I was swooning all over the place for him, hoping that Holly would soon follow.

This didn’t play out exactly the way I expected it to—and that’s a good thing. It was emotional and sweet and completely rewarding, and I wound up loving everything about the way it ended. Six Month Rule is a super cute, super sweet, and a super perfect pick-me-up for a world weary heart. ~ Shelly, 4 stars

[Jennifer Blackwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book so much that I blurbed it! :-) But really, this is AJ Pine's work at its finest. Will, a British single father is the true definition of UNF. Let me tell you, he is sweet, swoony, and he knocked me ded with his "May I's"



Here, Will, you can have the key to my heart.
The way he treated both Holly and his daughter is both heartwarming and provides sufficient amount of ovary explosions.

And Holly. Oh, man. She was HILARIOUS. Her inner monologue was so funny, and I loved how she stood her ground with her job and her feelings for Will. They both were so fun to watch grow as a couple. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a hot office romance and also loves to laugh. A lot.

[Liza Wiemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, romance readers, this is such a smart, fun, sexy read! I loved getting lost in this story and the HEA! If you haven't checked out AJ Pine's books, definitely do! I will be adding more to my TBR list!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Six Month Rule is the second book in the Kingston Ale House series by A.J. Pine. I had no problem jumping into this book, even though I have not read the first book. (They each follow a different couple.) I have read several books by this author, so I feel like I pretty much know what to expect going in. I know it is going to be a good romance, I know there are going to be flawed, complex characters that make for an interesting read, and I know that there is probably going to be drama thrown in. And I was right on all of the above for the Six Month Rule.

I have always found horoscopes to be very interesting, so I really liked that each of the chapters start out with the horoscope of one of the characters. Holly is a big believer in them, and I loved seeing her reactions to some of them. It helped me get to know her better. Holly has a very strict six month rule, meaning that she will do a six month, or less, no strings attached relationship- but no longer than that. So yes, I know that means the book is going to be fairly predictable...you know the Holly and Will are going to fall for each other and threaten the six month rule, bu knowing that doesn't take anything away from the reading the story. I really enjoyed watching Will and Holly dance around one another. I didn't love Holly's reasoning behind the six month rule however...it made her seem lazy. She thinks that after six months have passed the fun parts of the relationship are outweighed by the work that now has to go into the relationship, and she doesn't seem to think it is worth it. That my friends, is what had me interested to see what was going to go down with Will. How would he change her?

And now for Will. Will is British. That may not be worth mentioning, but I loved his British accent and terminology. And he is rather snarky, so I liked that he immediately gave it right back to Holly. Will is only in the states for Six months....are you starting to see where this is going. The Six Month Rule is a rather predictable read, but I really enjoyed it. I thought the characters were well developed, the writing is great and their relationship felt super natural. It felt like they each fell into the others gravitational pull and just kind of stayed there getting closer and closer. The six month rule felt like a book that slowly built up over time. Like a smile that just keeps growing.

Bottom line: If you don't mind a book that is a little predictable, but nonetheless very well done, the Six Month Rule is a great one for you to check out. It is a very character driven read with a lot of sass and a lot of heart.

P.S. please, someone give me Holly's wardrobe. I was having serious fashion envy while reading!

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

A.J Pine is back with a new book in the Kingston Ale House Series , the first book saw Jamie Kingston finally reunited with Brynn Chandler and getting the "one that got away". In Book #2 Six Month Rule, we meet Brynn's sister Holly. Holly is on the fast-track to making partner finally for the event planning PR firm that she works for , she just has one more account to pull off before she can get out of her cubicle and into the corner office and have her name on a plaque adorning the door. Six months is all it is going to take and Holly thinks she has this in the bag until she meets her British counterpart Will Evans. Will has only six months left on the job and then he can finally leave this world behind and become the one thing he has missed out on the past years - to become the father he should have been to Sophie. Will and Holly get off on the wrong foot, after he insults her style of clothing and he seems to be abrupt and rude. Can Holly get through the next six months of Will ? As the book goes along though we watch the chemistry starting to sizzle and heat up between the two as they move from co-workers to good friends and then eventually with the introduction of Holly's six month rule into boyfriend/girlfriend stage. Holly has always been focused on her work and finds her relationships tend to go down south fast after the first six months are up, so she invented the six month - no strings attached rule and it has worked wonders and perfectly for her so far. What will happen though when she proposes the deal to Will who graciously accepts and they both find themselves falling in "actual love" with one another? Will this relationship work and will they make it past the six month rule - even more so that they both have plans for the after "six months" ?

Find out in another awesome New Adult read by A.J Pine "Six Month Rule".

[Heather in FL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story. Maybe a little predictable, but still good. I mean, when you start off with a girl who has a six-month rule and a guy who is only in the country for six months, and their chemistry is off the charts, what do you think is going to happen? Of course, they both want more, but they think the other probably doesn't, either because of the six-month rule (i.e. they're just messing around) or the logistics of living in another country (and having a daughter there who will not be moving to the US). But it was still a cute story... to watch them get closer while trying not to get closer, watching her wow him work-wise while he did the same to her... the holidays spent together... it was just really cute, and the resolution was good, too. My heart was breaking for them a bit near the end, but thankfully, it all worked out to a nice HEA.

[A.J. Pine]

SIX MONTH RULE will be here in six weeks! This is the second book in my Kingston Ale House series (ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE) but can be read as a stand alone. If you like fashion, sexy British single dads, and of course...beer, then I think you're going to love Holly and Will's story!

Also, since people have been asking if Jeremy's book is coming...IT IS. His story will be book 4 following his sister Annie's story in book 3. ;-)

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Month Rule is the second book in the Kingston Ale series by AJ Pine. The first book, The One That Got Away was a friends to lovers romance that was a hit and miss story for me, but I’m happy to say that this one was a winner for me from the very start.

Holly has a tried and true relationship plan – date a guy for six months, which is the honeymoon stage of dating, and break things off before anyone gets too emotionally involved. This has worked out well for her in the past and she sees no reason to change things now. It keeps her from getting hurt. Besides, she’s too busy trying to make partner at Trousseau, an event planning company, to worry about getting stuck in a long-term relationship. She just needs to prove to her boss that she can handle an international client and she’ll be set.

Will is in Chicago from England for six months to bring his client, a haute couture designer, to the attention of the American market. He’s the parent of a six-year-old daughter, Sophie, for whom he hasn’t been around enough and has vowed to change things for the better. She lives with his ex-wife, but he’s making a concerted effort to fly home every weekend to spend time with Sophie. He knows it will be exhausting, working full time in the US and making transatlantic flights home and back again, but she’s worth it.

When Holly and Will meet, it’s not quite love at first sight. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Holly is annoyed to be working with this uptight British man (who had the nerve to dish her shoes when they first met) but she’s got no choice if she wants to show her boss that she’s up for the challenge of an international client. But as is often the case, those initial sparks of annoyance are really masking an attraction that goes both ways and soon enough, they’ve come to an agreement – have a working with benefits arrangement for as long as Will is in Chicago and when he leaves they’ll amicably end their agreement. It’s a perfect way to spend their long hours together with no hard feelings at the end. But things rarely go as planned and soon enough Will and Holly find themselves in a mess of their own making.

I really enjoyed this story! The characters were refreshing and fun to read about. Will is the quintessential Brit, with a dry sense of humor, a solid character and, in this particular case, a loving and devoted parent. I loved seeing him with his daughter on his trips home and his singular goal of being there for her whenever possible despite his long distance job was quite lovely to see. Holly is a workaholic with a good heart. She’s been reaching ever closer to her goal of making partner at Trousseau and despite her disappointment at not being there yet, she’s not going to give up on her dream. I really appreciated how once Will and Holly got over their initial meeting, he clearly appreciated and respected her talent and was willing to work with her to achieve their mutual success. Holly is a confident and strong woman who knows what she wants. Well, until she realizes that what she really wants is to somehow keep Will in her life and the idea of him leaving for good makes her feel things she shouldn’t. It takes some bravery on both their sides to own up to their feelings for each other, and there are definitely some emotional times in the second half of the story as they come to grips with how deeply they are involved. Plus, these two are really hot together! There are some steamy scenes between them, and it’s easy to see how after a few months they’ll be hard pressed to give up what they’ve got between them.

We see a few scenes with Sophie, Will’s daughter, who is an absolute delight. While I’m not always a fan of children in romances, she definitely adds a lovely tone to the story with her insightful view of her father and how Holly makes him happy, on a visit to the US with her mother. She’s present just enough to remind the reader about Will’s role as her father without overtaking the story.

Overall, I found this story to be a wonderful contemporary romance. It’s got characters with heart, challenges for them both to overcome without going too far on the angst scale, sexy and fun scenes and a plot that is unique and appealing. It’s definitely one of my favourite reads so far this year. 5 stars.

Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.

This review appears as a blog post at: https://straightshootinbookreviews.co...

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find this and other reviews at Ramblings of a Daydreamer.



AJ Pine has done it again! Pine became one of my favourite authors last year, and with her newest book, Six Month Rule, she continues to make me fall for her characters and stories. Six Month Rule has sexy, funny, feel-good romance written all over it, and it was exactly what I needed. Plus, can I just say: hot British guy in a three-piece suit? SOLD.

I appreciated that Six Month Rule took a familiar trope - office romance - and made it different from the norm by not focusing on the ‘forbidden romance’ aspect. Even though there were stakes involving Holly’s job in particular, the conflict was focused elsewhere, which was a nice change. Holly and Will were both driven people, focused on their careers and their futures. Because of that, and because Holly has discovered relationships fizzle out quickly for her, she created the six month rule - no relationship can go past the six month mark. In those six months, she can have great sex, have fun with the guy, but not develop serious attachments or have romance get in the way of her career. Then Will came along. Will, who's charming, a bit distant and mysterious, and as passionate about his job as Holly is. And sexy. Let’s not forget sexy. (Did I mention the whole hot Brit in a three-piece suit thing?) I loved how their relationship progressed from reluctant colleagues to something more, then something much more. There were so many layers to the story and to these characters, which made them easy to root for individually and together. I couldn’t imagine how things were going to work out for them, which made for an extra element of tension that kept me captivated.

Holly is hilarious and adorable. She's this mixture of single-minded businesswoman and quirky girl next door. She said and did things that made me laugh and shake my head (in a good way - that affectionate way you do with your closest friends when they’re being weird and you’re reminded just how much and why you love them), but then she’d think or say something that made me want to hug her really tightly. I loved how she opened up to Will and slowly let him see parts of her true self, even when he held back. Will was a fantastic character, too. I loved that he wanted to make up for past wrongs without being the tortured, brooding hero. He was exactly what Holly needed.

If you’re looking for a charming, lighthearted, feel-good romance with real emotion, plenty of steam, and swoons aplenty, you need to read Six Month Rule. Even though this is technically a standalone and you don’t have to read The One That Got Away, I highly recommend that one as well. Jamie and Brynn are great characters, and it was like reuniting with old friends when they appeared in Six Month Rule.

[Cátia · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more reviews click HERE

*I was provided a copy by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed The One that Got Away a few months ago but this one was so much better. I really liked the story and the characters in this one. I really liked Holly in the first book but I loved her in this one. Holly knows what she wants to do with her life and she knows she has to work a lot to get what she wants. She’s also a lot like her sister Brynn, a little less frustrating but she did remind me of Brynn a lot. Will is just amazing. If you describe a guy as a hot, british single dad chances are that I’m going to love him and that happened. I loved Will and how much she cared about being a good father. Like Holly, he had his priorities straight. While Holly wanted to be made partner in the company she worked Will wanted to be able to be a good father to his 6 year-old daughter and I loved it. I also loved their relationship and their chemistry. They were great together and I really enjoyed that it took some time for them to have feelings for each other.

I also really enjoyed to see the characters that were introduced in the first book but also the new characters. Sophie was a cutie and I loved her. She was a great daughter. But talking about characters from book one, I’m still waiting for a certain engagement. Can that happen please?? I want a wedding in this series :P.

Once again I really liked the writing. I loved that it had a dual POV because for me it is important to know what’s going on with both characters. I also really liked that the book was set in a time period of 6 months because we can see their relationship develop even more. It was a really nice touch.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and even better than the first book. Once again I loved the characters created by A.J. Pine and I loved the story. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series (that I’m assuming it will be about Jeremy). I definitely recommend this book if you enjoy contemporary romances.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lot can change in six months! Will Evans is a British publicist who has negotiated himself a sabbatical year but to earn it he has to complete six months jetting between his UK home and the events organising company, Trousseau, in Chicago. He can't wait for the time to be up so he can spend quality time with his six year old daughter, Sophie. He never imagined meeting anyone like the feisty, work focussed, highly talented events organiser, Holly Chandler - let alone having to work with her. She's reticent to commit to any relationship, always planning ahead with a get out clause after six months. Neither were looking for love or for commitment but life rarely works out as you'd planned - sometimes something much better is waiting just when you least expect it. . . Sometimes rules are just made to be broken!

With two brilliant lead characters and a definite end date planned from the start, this is not a typical office romance. Add in that Will is handsome, with a delectable accent and way of expressing himself, as well as being a very caring father and you just know this is going to be different. Like in real life, things don't go smoothly, there are plenty of obstacles in the path to true love but this is a journey well worth following as AJ Pine takes the reader on the journey with her characters, encouraging empathy and understanding to develop between all concerned en route. This story also has the added horoscopes giving guidance and advice along the way.

It is part of a series but you don't need to have read the previous novels to appreciate this one. Altogether this is a thoroughly enjoyable read - there again, I've not read anything from this talented author that I haven't relished escaping into - so I highly recommend getting yourself a copy to enjoy, too.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hero(s) rating: 3 stars
Heroine rating: 3 stars
Sexual tension rating: 3.5 stars
Sex scenes rating: 3 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 3 stars
Plot rating: 3.5 stars
Dialogue rating: 3.5 stars
Storytelling rating: 3 stars
Story ending rating: 4 stars
Other woman/men drama: No
Cheating: No
Cliffhanger: No
HEA: Yes
**********************************************
Overall rating: 3 stars

[Sara (sarabara081) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between 4 and 4.5 stars!

[Anna lost in stories *A* · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got my hands on the ARC of this book and I quite enjoyed it :) yeah, I had some issues with it, but I will discuss it in more details in a moment :) first I need to tell you, that even though it's a second book in a series, it works perfectly well as a standalone :) although characters from that previous story appear here, you don't need to read their book to enjoy this one :) more about them a bit later :) for now let me tell you more about this book :)

I need to start with the main couple... because Will... *swoon* ;) I loved him... :) he's this charming guy with a british accent so naturally I was practically drooling whenever he was saying stuff even though I've read an e-book so I couldn't really hear him... ;) but I have a very good imagination :) and everytime he was saying "May I...?" I was like "yes, yes,,, all the yeses... " ;) don't judge me, you'll understand this reaction once you read the book :) he agreed to a contract, to spend six months in Chicago, so then later he can take time off to spend with his daughter, after missing the first few years of her life because of work... both he and Holly are PR specialists, and they need to work together to prepare a show for a client during that time... and about Holly... I couldn't really connected with her... I don't know exactly why, because it's not like I hated her, but... maybe it's because I wasn't really a fan of her "six months" rule... as in, every relationship she starts, she states at the beginning that it will last only this long at the latest... so that both sides can enjoy the "honeymoon phase" and split ways before the feelings sizzle out... I don't really get it, because in my opinion it's sort of a coward way out... to run off before things get to complicated... but she does grow as a person toward the end of the book, so... ;) I liked them together, although I think I would enjoy their story more if we would get a bit more actual interactions between them throughout the time this story takes place... cause we do a bit of skipping throughout the book, months go by pretty quickly, and I missed seeing a bit more development between them from this attraction to something more... :)

Now about some secondary characters... :) there's Brynn, Holly's sister and her boyfriend Jamie :) they are actually the main couple from that first book I mentioned before :) but like I said, it's not necessary for you to read their story if you want to start with this one instead ;) but after meeting them here I am definitely curious about how they got together so I'm absolutely checking that book out at some point... in the future... it will happen ;) hey, my #BookMountain is huge enough, and it definitely doesn't help when I only keep adding more and more books to it ;) as to some other people in this book Sophie, Will's six-year-old daughter was absolutely lovely :)

All in all I gave this book 3,75 stars, although I rounded it up to full 4 because, well... math ;) by all means, don't be discouraged from trying it out, just because I had some issues with it :) I absolutely loved the writing style of this new to me author, and I will definitely check out her other books :) because if I love the writing style, but have issues about the story or the character, it's usually just the case of personal preferences, and I always go back to read other books written by that person :) so if you are in the mood for a contemporary romance that will make you swoon in all the right places... ;) and yeah, who are we kidding, pretty much every time Will opens his mouth ;) if you want a book about a heroine who is afraid of falling in love but ultimately overcomes it... a story with a sweet ending, then definitely give this book a try :)

XOXO

A

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5, May I, Stars!!!

“You can’t choose it. Or plan it–the person you fall for. It just happens, like a slap upside the head. A wake-up call.”

“That’s not what loving someone meant. It wasn’t one-sided. Love was a give and take. And if you were lucky enough to earn the love of someone wonderful, you’d be willing to give more than you got–just for a tiny taste of that love.”

I absolutely adored this latest release by A.J. Pine. Six Month Rule is a delightful and captivating read, that will make you swoon, fall in love and wish on stars.

Told from dual points of view, Six Month Rule follows the story of Holly and Will. Holly doesn’t have time for relationships and believes that everything goes wrong after 6 months. So, she imposes a 6 month rule upon herself. She doesn’t believe that she is destined to have a lasting relationship and doesn’t have the time to put any effort into one anyway. She had no idea that when Will walked into her life, all her rules and everything she’s known is about to be thrown out the window…..Will has made a lot of mistakes in his life. He’s never gotten his priorities straight. So, when he finds himself in the states for work, he is determined to make things right. A relationship is the last thing that he is looking for. He needs to keep his eyes on the prize, but Holly might just be a distraction that he can’t ignore…….

Six Month Rule was a joy to read. I found the story so refreshing. I love the no strings attached/we can stop at anytime story-line. Those types of stories are so much fun and great for summer reading. A.J. Pine certainly knocked it out of the park with this one. From the moment I picked up this book, I had a smile on my face. I just knew that I was in for a real treat and I was not disappointed. Six Month Rule was a lot of fun. It was well written and you could tell that a lot of heart went into it. The characters were so likable and easy to connect with. When I first met Holly, I appreciated just how focused and determined she was with her job. Her six month rule, had me shaking my head and waiting in anticipation for her to finally meet “the one”. And Will….What’s not to love. He’s smart. He’s sexy. He’s broody. He’s got an accent. He’s just what Holly needed in her life, she just had to open her eyes to him. And with a line like this: “I might devour you, body and soul”, how could you not swoon over Will? And can we talk about the sparks between these two? Wow!! I couldn’t get enough of the two of them and wild horses couldn’t stop me from rooting for them to get a HEA!

There’s so much I want to say and just geek out on over this book, but I’m not going to ruin it for you. What I can tell you is, be prepared to fall in love. Six Month Rule is a fantastic read from beginning to end. It’s going to make you laugh. It’s going to make you swoon. It’s going to pull at your heart. But, most importantly, it’s going to make you fall in love. This book has a little something for everyone and is a great summer read. I loved every second of it and can not wait to get my hands on more of this series!

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*

[Kassiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

This review also appears on Pretty Sassy Cool.

Swoony British guy, a girl who wasn't a doormat, and enough chemistry to set off the entire city of Chicago--I loved this book!

PR Princess and commitment-phobe Holly Chandler's up for the promotion of her life and there's just one thing standing between her and total career fulfillment--an international account's show going off without a hitch. Enter enigmatic Will Evans, the British charmer who's in the States for six months to launch his client's foray into the US fashion world. Will has to finish this job before taking a year off to focus on his adorable six-year-old daughter, Sophie. Holly's married to her job and has a strict rule to enjoy someone's, ahem company with no strings attached for six months before cutting him loose. Six months is all Will's got in America and after flirting and almost-crossing the line too many times, they come to an agreement. Six months. No strings. Just sex. Time and distance are both working against them when they both realize they want more.

"I might devour you, body and soul."

I seriously loved everything about this book. Holly was a no-nonsense girl who thought she had it all figured it out. It was absolutely refreshing to have a girl take this role in a book, and I loved that even when she realized that maybe she wanted more, she was reluctant because of the rules she created herself. All too often, women say "one night is enough" but then whine and call the dude a bastard because he doesn't want more. /rant I love that Holly gets thrown for a loop when she realizes just one more kiss can't be enough for her.

And Will? *sigh*



He's hot and sexy and smart and has a British accent. And he's a dad who's looking for redemption. He's the best, and I love him. I loved the banter that he shared with Holly and the growth his character made. He's totally swoonworthy.

Of course, there's some predictability here and things are wrapped up maybe a little too neatly. But I'm not complaining about that. Besides, they had pizza from Lou Malnati's. I just wanted more of them.

"If life and love were so bloody easy, how would we ever know what was worth fighting for if there was nothing worthy of a fight?"

I had forgotten how much I love A.J. Pine, but Six Month Rule reminds me how much I relate to her characters and love the way their relationships progress. Give me more in the Kingston Ale House series because I can't wait!

[Cristina (My Tiny Obsessions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read full review HERE



As you can see above, this is the second book of the Kingston Ale House series, and although you don’t need to have read the first book of the series, The One That Got Away, to understand the book at all, it still helps to get a better understanding of Holly and her group of friends.

I was already kind of familiar with A.J. Pine’s writing, and although it’s not exactly my favorite kind, it’s still pretty good. I think the book would have benefited if it had a bit more dialogue and a little bit less internal struggles, because the dialogue that existed was brilliant and showcased the characters amazingly well.

I absolutely loved the two main characters. I think I loved Will and Holly even more than Brynn and Jamie – and those were BFFs turned to lovers, which is a favorite of mine. I loved how sure Holly was of her priorities, even if she was wrong, because she didn’t take shit from anybody and she truly did shine. Will… I loved Will, I mean, the dude is british, hot and a dedicated single dad who uses 3 pieces suits?! Yeah… I’m a gonner… I really liked how dedicated he was to be a better father, even leaving his own wants and needs aside for it.

I really liked the progression of the romance and how it didn’t happen in 2 seconds. Yeah, there is an almost instant attraction, but their feelings develop through time and so does their relationship. I think Pine did this in a very smart way, showing glimpses of their relationship in the several months they were together, instead of making the narrative completely linear. The time jumps still allow for a complete understanding of their relationship, without it becoming too overbearing and repetitive.

The plot and conflict were kind of predictable, and so was the resolution, but it was very well written, so much so that it actually hurt a bit.

In the end, I really liked this book, and I enjoyed it more than the first book of the series – Holly is slightly less frustrating than her older sister. I can’t wait to see who comes next, I’m hoping it’s Jeremy’s book, and that maybe we’ll finally get a certain engagement? I do recommend this series, it’s good!

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 "hot guy with an accent" Stars

Holly has been a fashion show director for the last five years, always with the promise of the next one being what will make her a partner. When the opportunity finally arrives, it is in the hand of her first international client and a New Year’s Eve show. The catch? She needs to work with said client’s publicist and he is one hunky piece of well-dressed Brit… a yummy distraction!

William has a lot riding on this last assignment. If everything goes according to plan, he’ll finally get the year off so he can do what he was meant to be doing all the years his priorities were wrong. So when he finds the cheerful, upbeat and incredibly sexy director he’ll be working alongside, he decides the only way for it to work and not get sidetracked, is to be a complete arse.

Holly and Will enter into one of Holly’s signature Six Month relationships: all the fun of a new couple but with an expiration date before things get complicated. So far, this has worked wonderfully for Holly, and Will doesn’t really need one more complication in his life now that everything is almost working out for him. Unfortunately for both of them, these pesky things called feelings begin to appear, and suddenly everything is not as simple as it should be. Now not only are their hearts at risk, but they can’t let their relationship get in the middle of work, or both of them might lose more than they bargained for.

Six Month Rule was a light, quick read with some steam to it. There were some really sweet moments, especially regarding Will that put a goofy smile on my face. Although I enjoyed reading it, Holly’s unwillingness to reflect on her own feelings grew steadily tiresome. In the end, I didn’t feel she was worthy of Will, when her actions didn’t follow her own “rules” but she’d rather bury her head in the sand like an ostrich than inspect her own heart.

Will obviously had some issues to overcome, but I felt that, if a bit blown out of proportion by his perception of himself, they still were weighty matters. He was beyond charming, adorable and really sexy and I wouldn’t mind one bit having to work with him.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book*

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Oh how I loved this story!! First of all, I totally love AJ Pine and her books. She gives me all the feels, while writing a realistic story that you can relate to. 6 Month Rule was no different. In this story we had Will Evans, an English hottie who is sent to work in Chicago and do what he does best, fix problems. He no longer enjoys traveling around the work working for companies and making tons of money.. all because the one person who holds his heart is in England. That person is his daughter. Will promises his little girl that this is the last job he takes being away from her. As it is, he is now flying back every week to see her in England. The father/daughter relationship melted my heart. Will was so sweet to her and she was adorable.

There is a little problem in Will's plan. In Chicago he meets Holly. They are rivals who turn lovers fast. Holly doesn't do relationships. All her focus is on her career. She barely has time for friends. It is the perfect 6 month relationship between Holly and Will. They have a fling while Will is in the US, knowing her is going back to English in 6 months and the couple will cut their ties at the end of his 6 months there.

Their plan is simple, until both of the fall helplessly in love with each other, and they both are too afraid to admit it. What is the point if they will be living on 2 separate continents ??
Holly has never been in love, so this is all scary for her and Will doesn't want to let his daughter down by not keeping his promise to her. He has to go back to England. There is a 6 year old depending on him.

I adored this story. Parts of this book had my heartstrings being pulled out one at a time. If you are a parent, you can relate to Will's guilt over leaving his daughter. Even for a second. You also get all the feels for Holly who is so commuted to her work, her life is passing her by.

AJ Pine has written another hit. I love her style of writing and her stories. They are all so different and yet each one is a fantastic read for me!