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The Rule #2
Believing in Hope
Beth and Josh befriend a young couple. Whitney and Mason's life was perfect. When Beth explained her Seven Year Theory. They scoffed at the idea of the seventh year of marriage being the make it or break it year for most couples. That theory didn't apply to them. They were the perfect couple. Their brand new house overlooked the lake. Their brand new cars were state of the art. Their careers were taking off at an accelerated rate. Their sex life was incredible. Their lives were exactly the way they intended. Perfect.
When Whitney's widower brother-in-law dies, leaving them three small children, their perfect lives are torn apart. Raising children was never part of their plan. Raising children requires sacrifice. Sacrifice they never intended to make. Sacrifice that could bring an end to their perfect way of life. Sacrifice that could bring an end to their perfect marriage. Sacrifice, that if not done correctly could bring an end to a child's life.
When Whitney's widower brother-in-law dies, leaving them three small children, their perfect lives are torn apart. Raising children was never part of their plan. Raising children requires sacrifice. Sacrifice they never intended to make. Sacrifice that could bring an end to their perfect way of life. Sacrifice that could bring an end to their perfect marriage. Sacrifice, that if not done correctly could bring an end to a child's life.
- GenresAudiobook
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2013
4 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 26, 2015
ABR's original Seven Year Rule audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Seven Year Rule by Alaina Stanford is the second novel in the series called The Rule. This novel begins by explaining the seven year rule of marriage, that after seven years, marriages begin to falter. This story follows three couples who are all best friends as they deal with and support each other as their lives change such as with children and custody concerns. The primary couple is now in their seventh year of marriage and there does not seem to be any issue, but then their lives are changed forever by an accident. The other two couples have their own marital issues that they must struggle through.
This novel is in the realistic fiction genre and I thought that the story was good. The challenges that the families had to deal with were realistic and the range of emotion that the characters showed were also believable. The focus of this novel was on one of the couples in this novel with the other couples’ story lines mixing in. It’s possible than the primary focus changes from one couple to another from from book to book in the series. In general, the story lines of the other two couples were not as well developed. One part of the novel that I found difficult was that there were so many characters with three couples and then their children and dogs. At first it was difficult to keep track of who was who.
The narration by Paul Woodson was decent, but I found the voices for most of the characters to be somewhat annoying. One aspect of the narration that I thought was well done was through his acting in combination with the vocals. For example, whenever the words were described as coming with some action, such as “she said, laughing”, Paul Woodson was able to relay that in the way that he said the line. I thought that was excellent. The production quality was good. I would recommend this novel to readers who like reading about the challenges and terrifying aspect of the lives of married couples in the child-rearing part of their life.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
Seven Year Rule by Alaina Stanford is the second novel in the series called The Rule. This novel begins by explaining the seven year rule of marriage, that after seven years, marriages begin to falter. This story follows three couples who are all best friends as they deal with and support each other as their lives change such as with children and custody concerns. The primary couple is now in their seventh year of marriage and there does not seem to be any issue, but then their lives are changed forever by an accident. The other two couples have their own marital issues that they must struggle through.
This novel is in the realistic fiction genre and I thought that the story was good. The challenges that the families had to deal with were realistic and the range of emotion that the characters showed were also believable. The focus of this novel was on one of the couples in this novel with the other couples’ story lines mixing in. It’s possible than the primary focus changes from one couple to another from from book to book in the series. In general, the story lines of the other two couples were not as well developed. One part of the novel that I found difficult was that there were so many characters with three couples and then their children and dogs. At first it was difficult to keep track of who was who.
The narration by Paul Woodson was decent, but I found the voices for most of the characters to be somewhat annoying. One aspect of the narration that I thought was well done was through his acting in combination with the vocals. For example, whenever the words were described as coming with some action, such as “she said, laughing”, Paul Woodson was able to relay that in the way that he said the line. I thought that was excellent. The production quality was good. I would recommend this novel to readers who like reading about the challenges and terrifying aspect of the lives of married couples in the child-rearing part of their life.
Audiobook provided for review by the author.
April 28, 2015
3•5 ☆
The seven year rule.
I was gifted this audio book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Now here is the thing before we start, I received this book from Audiobookblast, unfortunately I didn't know it was a 2nd book in a series!
Even so I didn't find that I needed to read book #1 to find out what is going on, although it would have helped some.
Whitney and Mason are that annoying couple that you know, they are both young and gorgeous, have brilliant jobs, and shag like bunnies at every opportunity (and you just know that their sex life is amazing too!)
Mason is in love so much with Whitney, and their life is as wonderful as he always imagined, they don't have any baggage, kids etc. and they don't want it thank you very much!
Unfortunately there is an accident and Whitney's brother in law (widower) is killed, leaving the 3 young children with no one to look after them, thus leaving them in Whitney and Masons charge.
Mason must now change his whole life, he now has a life filled with messy screaming kids and a wife that turns from a gorgeous being to a bit of a slob.........Welcome to my world beeaatches !!!!
The change in them both was very funny to listen to.
Other things like when Zack, Jake and the dog go missing was so scary, and hearing how the children and the adults were feeling was truly terrifying!
The author does a good job of letting you see into all of the characters world's and how they are feeling.
Narration was very good, I enjoyed the characters and the voices were very easy to distinguish.
The seven year rule.
I was gifted this audio book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Now here is the thing before we start, I received this book from Audiobookblast, unfortunately I didn't know it was a 2nd book in a series!
Even so I didn't find that I needed to read book #1 to find out what is going on, although it would have helped some.
Whitney and Mason are that annoying couple that you know, they are both young and gorgeous, have brilliant jobs, and shag like bunnies at every opportunity (and you just know that their sex life is amazing too!)
Mason is in love so much with Whitney, and their life is as wonderful as he always imagined, they don't have any baggage, kids etc. and they don't want it thank you very much!
Unfortunately there is an accident and Whitney's brother in law (widower) is killed, leaving the 3 young children with no one to look after them, thus leaving them in Whitney and Masons charge.
Mason must now change his whole life, he now has a life filled with messy screaming kids and a wife that turns from a gorgeous being to a bit of a slob.........Welcome to my world beeaatches !!!!
The change in them both was very funny to listen to.
Other things like when Zack, Jake and the dog go missing was so scary, and hearing how the children and the adults were feeling was truly terrifying!
The author does a good job of letting you see into all of the characters world's and how they are feeling.
Narration was very good, I enjoyed the characters and the voices were very easy to distinguish.
June 28, 2014
Incredible! The story of the two main couples continue and grow. A new couple Whitney and Mason are introduced who are childless career minded but end up with her sisters 3 children.
Whitney adapts quite quickly and steps into her mom role with grace but Mason is resentful and yearns for the freedom of their past. He considers an affair as Whitney struggles to love and cherish the children while keeping her marriage alive.
I love the mountain scene when the boys get lost and are stalked by a preditor. Will Mason step up to the plate and save his new son or sink into an easy affair and leave them all behind?
Whitney adapts quite quickly and steps into her mom role with grace but Mason is resentful and yearns for the freedom of their past. He considers an affair as Whitney struggles to love and cherish the children while keeping her marriage alive.
I love the mountain scene when the boys get lost and are stalked by a preditor. Will Mason step up to the plate and save his new son or sink into an easy affair and leave them all behind?
October 29, 2013
Sequel to Three Year Rule. Our main characters return in this sequel centering around a young childless yuppie couple who inherit three young children when her sister dies.
June 19, 2014
Great book
excellent story. good read,have to read both books. cannot wait for number three. go for it. buy it now
.
excellent story. good read,have to read both books. cannot wait for number three. go for it. buy it now
.
April 25, 2015
Excellent book! I loved it!
May 9, 2015
Review posted on Audible
May 1, 2015
** I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book the "The Rule" series. While not having read the first book, this definitely can stand alone. The characters are well written, the interaction between families and friends is believable and you get caught up in the whirlwind of tragedy and happiness as their lives unfold around you.
Whitney and Mason are people we all know, and can relate to. As the story unfolds, they are a happy couple, don't want to have children, climbing the corporate ladder and enjoying their freedoms. When tragedy strikes, and their lives change, we see their friends(who are not free of turmoil)help them through their struggles.
I am looking forward to grabbing the first book to "catch up" and will definitely continue the series.
This is the second book the "The Rule" series. While not having read the first book, this definitely can stand alone. The characters are well written, the interaction between families and friends is believable and you get caught up in the whirlwind of tragedy and happiness as their lives unfold around you.
Whitney and Mason are people we all know, and can relate to. As the story unfolds, they are a happy couple, don't want to have children, climbing the corporate ladder and enjoying their freedoms. When tragedy strikes, and their lives change, we see their friends(who are not free of turmoil)help them through their struggles.
I am looking forward to grabbing the first book to "catch up" and will definitely continue the series.
July 12, 2015
The author makes you feel part of the family as you meet Whitney, Mason and their three children and their good friends. And when tragedy hits them on more than one occasion, you feel for them as do their friends and their friends are there for them in their hour of need.
All romances has its ups and downs but this one has more that its fair share of downs, mixed with some action that makes for a good read.
All romances has its ups and downs but this one has more that its fair share of downs, mixed with some action that makes for a good read.
June 30, 2014
Seven Year Rule
This book was quick and fun read. This is the second book from this author and I will be reading more.
This book was quick and fun read. This is the second book from this author and I will be reading more.
May 12, 2015
My first audio book by Audible!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews