Three Rules I'd Never Break

Never Say Never #5

by Remi Carrington

How can a good guy make me want to break all my rules?

I have three rules. My dad taught me one, and the others I learned running my lingerie store. But even following my rules, I can’t seem to meet the right kinds of guys. I only attract bad boys, and I’m sick of it.

When the gorgeous but incredibly shy deputy has me inadvertently breaking rule 3, I change my dating strategy.

If bad boys seek me out, maybe it’s time I set my sights on a good guy. And, yes, the deputy with dazzling green eyes and heart-melting smile qualifies. As for the rule-breaking, it was a one-time thing.

Eli barely speaks to me, but I’m up to the challenge.

Then I break another rule for him and start to question my assumption about good guys.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Clean Romance, Contemporary

169 pages, ebook

Published August 26, 2021

About the author

Remi Carrington is the figment of Pamela Humphrey's imagination. She loves romance & chocolate, enjoys disappearing into a delicious book, and considers people-watching a sport. She was born in the pages of the novel Just You and then grew into an alter ego.

She writes sweet romance set in Texas. Her new series, Bluebonnets & Billionaires, will launch in Jan 2019. Her books are part of the Phrey Press imprint.

Reviews

[Kathy Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. Gosh! You guys! I know I keep raving about the Never Say Never series but I can't help it! It's just SO good!

From the moment I started reading this book, I was transported to Tessa's bakery where I sat at the back table eating donuts, drinking hot cocoa and listening to Delaney and Eli tell me their love story. And oh what a story it was! I was in heaven! 😍

Y'all, there are no words to describe how much I love Delaney and Eli. These two are pretty perfect for each other. I absolutely adored watching their relationship develop.

With Eli being the strong, silent type, I was curious to see how Delaney would wear down his defenses and get him to actually talk to her. Let's just say that, when it comes to love, Delaney doesn't hold back and will use anything and everything in her power to get the man of her dreams. 😉 All I can say is... you go girl! 😂

Now. Can we take just a moment to talk about their off the charts chemistry?! Wowzers! Y'all. Lots of swooning happening in this book. And I'm not just talking about their sizzling kisses. Although, that first kiss was a doozy... 😍😂

*dreamy sigh*

Y'all. I know this book is just releasing, but I have to ask. When can I get Tessa's story?! I need it like right now! I'm going to cross my fingers that her book releases early as well. Wouldn't that just be the BEST?!

If you haven't given this series a try yet then you are definitely missing out. It will have you laughing out loud (literally), getting teary eyed, and letting out all kinds of little dreamy sighs. It's seriously one of those series that just sucks you in and refuses to let you go until each book is over.

Ms. Carrington has officially been added to be favorite authors/auto-buy list. I have loved everything I have read of hers so far and I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!

And we all know that my reviews just wouldn't be complete without my casting. Y'all. I. Am. In. Love! What do you think?

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another fun installment in the Never Say Never series. Delaney was perfect for Eli and I was glad she had enough confidence to keep trying with him cause once he warms up, he's great. I thought they had a lot of fun chemistry and some swoony moments. This is a fun, pretty conflict free romance. It stands well on its own, but also fits into the series well. It's nice if you're just looking for a quick lighthearted read.


Content Rated PG
Romance: Kissing
Language: None
Violence: None

[Mirjam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my cup-of-tea, definitely not. IMO, it's a book my mom would have gotten me to when I was twelve. It was just sweet, no drama and more importantly no sex before marriage.

I've giving it 2.5⭐ and not lower, because I could not fault the book/story, I needed a clean romance for a challenge and I knew what I was getting into.
Three Rules I'd Never Break is told from Delancey's POV, with only the epilogue from Eli's. If you're looking for a clean romance, nothing hot and steamy, you should pick this up.


While part of the Never Say Never Series, each can be read as a standalone

[Tricia Anson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eli might be one of my all time favorite book boyfriends—what a sweet, strong, shy, rule-follower! I loved Delaney and Eli’s dynamic, it’s a slow-burn, sweet love story and feels realistic, with plenty of swoon. And I am so ready for Tessa’s story next! It has been so fun how all of these characters intertwine through the two series.

[Miranda Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh. I just finished this story and already can’t wait for the next one. This was my first book to read of this series (so this can be read as a stand alone with no problem) and I was pleasantly surprised. I had no idea what to expect from this book and I just loved it!

The main characters are very different people, but know of one another as they live in a small town. Delaney is an owner of her own small business and Eli is a cop. Their personalities balance each other out perfectly... I felt like their relationship developed at a realistic pace and showed things from day-to-day. I had to finish the book in one sitting so I could know how their story ended! From meddling friends, surprise visits, and surprise furry friends, the author has you rooting for these two.

This story is told solely from Delaney’s perspective and the author does a great job of letting you get to know her and her three rules... and how she eventually lets go of such rules!

Thanks to the author for providing an advanced reader copy. It made my night! Highly recommend if you’re looking for a sweet realistic short read.

[Kimberley Mcclintock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joining Bookstagram this year has been the best thing for finding new books (and the worst thing for my budget). It was only in the last month that I discovered Remi Carrington. As soon as I read a Teaser Tuesday quote for this book, I knew I had to read it. And then I discovered ARC’s were available. I am very thankful that I was given the opportunity to read this book.

This was a fantastic book. It was completely clean (only some great kisses) but you could feel the passion and the romance dripping off the page. I was hooked immediately into Remi’s fantastic writing style. There was just so much I loved about this book. Page after page is filled with relatable characters, swoon-worthy romance and witty dialogue.

All I need now is to find myself and Eli. Those texts, the protective tendencies, everything *sigh*

You do not want to miss this book. If you are a lover of Emma St Clair, Sarah Adams, and other similar authors, then jump onto Amazon and grab this book. I know I will be heading back to read the rest of the series.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. This book. It was cute cute cute. Eli is a total dreamboat. The shy strong silent type is so my type. (Exhibit A: my husband 😍😍)
This is such a fun one and there is so much growth which is one of my prerequisites for re-readability. 😉 and this one absolutely fits that bill.
.
Book Notes!
- Eli and Delaney
- check ins are cute
- all the coffee
- I love donuts, so so much
- her pursuing him so hard is entertaining
- the jaywalking 😅
- the knock
- this book goes through a lot and it makes you feel all the feels
- steamy, clean romance
- Sherlock is a great name for a dog
- I didnt take a ton of notes because I was too distracted by reading it!
- Eli is adorable and I now plan to go back and read the rest of the series

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this latest installment from the Never Say Never series. This is the story of Delaney, the lingerie store owner, who seems to always attract the wrong men. She has some strict rules for herself so she can make sure not to turn into someone like her mom. Then she met Eli, an extremely shy policeman who barely said a word to her and yet made her feel like she was valued. I loved how Eli controlled his passions and did not push the limits. It was a slow burn type of romance with some swoony kisses. Oh for more men like Eli! I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.

[Adrianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite book ever!! A thoroughly good guy (the kind you hear about, but never meet,) a woman who is sick of going on dates with creeps just so she doesn’t get called an old maid, and the journey that brings them together like two taxi’s on Broadway to borrow a line from Rear Window. A story that leaves you laughing, crying, wanting to wring a neck or two, and finally sighing because it ended and you wished it went on forever.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good, and enjoyable sweet romantic comedy read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Arceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book by this author. All her romance novels have great heroines. This heroine by far is the greatest. There are so many awesome scenes. I loved the kissing scenes. There was tons of chemistry. Loved the characters. I highly recommend this book.

[Kaziah Mustard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never Say Never is such a charming series. I am going to be sad to finish the series. Each book is a quick, lighthearted read. If I had to pick a favorite Eli and Delaney's story would be one of my top two.

[Lucia Valenzuela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story. Delaney has to dig deep to find the patience to wait for Eli to overcome his shyness with her. They are both great characters, and we get a glimpse of some of the characters from previous books in this series. But this is a standalone. Remi Carrington writes great RomComs.
I received a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary, honest review.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good that once you start reading it you can't stop. It's a sweet clean rom-com that was an absolute joy to read. I loved it!

[Laramee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Remi's romcoms, but I think this one is my favorite! I adored this sweet romcom! This series is fantastic and can be read as standalones so you can jump in wherever!

I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delaney and Eli are such an adorable couple. Loved their texts and seeing their relationship change and grow. One of the most romantic endings.

[Vibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) - No more looking for love in all the wrong places!

Delaney is looking for love, but she keeps finding losers. Until Eli comes along.

Eli's a knight in shining armor - but very much the strong, silent type. He clams up around her. You can sympathize with Delaney's impatience as she tries to figure out how to get past that armor, but you also want to see what finally causes him to open up.

And when she finally finds the key... well, it's amusing! The story is as sweet, swoony and enjoyable as its companions in the series!

(And that teaser for Tessa & Garrett's story really has me looking forward to it!!)

*Romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Than a Pair of Jeans, #1 - Lovely. Funny. Cute. I had so much fun reading this sweet romance. Wonderful characters and interesting story lines. Written by a lovely Texan and set in Texas, complete with horses, cattle and goats. Cannot forget about the mice and kittens. Plenty of social media, too. Has a preview of the story. 5*

More Than a Pretty Face, #2 - I just love this series. This story has such cute and sweet characters with plenty of humor. No silly mind games, just people trying to make a life with the person that they love while taking care of their friends. Living well, working hard and loving with all their hearts and souls. 5*

Stargazer Springs Ranch series:
Wrangled by Lilith, #1 - I love this sweet, funny story, even when the last page came too soon. Everyone was good people whom I met before with the Stargazer Cowboy series. The dialog between Beau and Lily had me hurting from all the belly laughs. Ava added her share to the mix. Good story lines. Texans will especially enjoy this book, location and dialog. 5*

Enchanted by Joji, #2 - I love the books Remi writes. Well-written, romantic, funny, and nice characters you wish were real. Actually, you'll find people like them all over Texas. This second chance romance for a couple of 40-somethings is another fun read in this series. It is without the typical drama found in other books where she's a nut job and he has no backbone. Both work through their pasts to reach their future without the stupid formula problems, drama and actions. A feel good story. 5*

Helped by Ava, #3 - Ava is so strong in all the other books, yet, here was a bit of a headcase with her lack of self-confidence. But all worked out in this sweet, funny marriage-to-dating romance. That lil youngin Mason shared some good advice. The Mrs. Kravitz church member met her Samantha, mean ole biddy. 4*

Inspired by Mindy, #4 - You're never too old to change. Sweet. Romantic. They are both headcases, they get better once the ball gets rolling and they're working towards the same goal. The route they take is old fashioned and I love it. It is one of the best ways to learn about the other. Sir had his act together. 4*
Stargazer Springs Ranch series end.

Never Say Never Series:
Three Things I'd Never Do!, #1 - I read Enchanted by Joji when I discovered this series featured characters that would later appear in the Stargazer Springs Ranch series. Skid to a halt and shifted to reading this sweet, funny romance. I love all the characters, the interesting story lines, and the fact the author does not do the typical stupid formula, nut jobs and immature, stupid drama and decisions. It is easy to slip into one of Remi's well written books and not come back to reality until the last page. So have the next book on hand. Spoiler: The last bathroom scene is original and just as great as the first bathroom scene. Sweet and clean, nothing nasty. 5*

One Guy I'd Never Date, #2 - They have been in love for twenty years but did not know it. Big Brother keeps his Little Sister and his Best Friend apart while he did not follow that rule with her friend and co-worker. Carrot is a bit silly and Zach is not perfect. He puts beans in chili but he did have Moon Pies and RCs (RahC and chocolate or banana Moon Pies, best dessert mix back in the 60s). Waldo is a hoot. 4*

Two Words I'd Never Say Again, #3 - This is so much fun to read. There is a lot of humor, along with one of my favorite characters, Joji. Joji teamed up with Nacha's mom is a continuous hoot. Mix in the rest of the cast and it is just a sweet second chance romance story. 5*

One Choice I'd Never Make, #4 - I love Lilith and Joji, and now I love Cami. This was so much fun to read. No head games, just someone who knew she was good enough; no lack of self-confidence for Cami. Harper is so romantic and has a good head on his shoulders. Man, it is difficult not to go into book report mode. Fun. Romance. Wonder support characters, just like a large family or old-fashioned neighborhood where everyone had your back. 5*

Three Rules I’d Never Break!, #5 - All the guys in these three related series are great. This is a cute romance complete with a dog, a goat and a '71 Datsun. 5*

Two Risks I’d Never Take Again!, #6 - Sweet. Funny. Relaxing little romance with the same fun gang and a new story line. There are several chapters giving updates on the whole gang two years later. 5*

One Whopper of a Love Story, #7 - A fun tale about a mermaid and 21 frogs and the guy who rescued her. Layla is a fun person and Nico is another of the perfect guys. 5*
Never Say Never Series ends.

Kissing Holly - A simply cute, sweet romance between two people who knew each other in school. He was dating her older sister in high school. They are perfect for each other with their large caring hearts, their sense of humor and their holiday names. There is a lot of joking about their names. Plenty of humor. Plenty of love. Plenty of feel good and happiness. 5*

[SourCandyOrNoCandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so incredibly sweet, but way too long. Chop out like 20-25% and this would've been a 5-star read.

I don't read many books with quiet men, but I'm most definitely going to change that because Eli was delightful.

My favourite quotes (from the first 75% because I stopped highlighting after that):

His one-word texts didn't make for great conversation.

"I'll stop bothering you so that you can work.

"You aren't a bother, Delaney."

I inched closer to him. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to get it to run." He bumped me with his hip.

"Oh, sorry. I'll get out of your way." I moved away.

He chuckled but didn't stand up. "You weren't in my way."

At the beginning of the book, Delaney didn't understand Eli much, so those quotes were so sweet in helping her (and us) to see that even though he was so quiet, he had his own way of expressing interest in Delaney.

I couldn't tell one part from the other. Collectively, it was an engine. I'd never bothered to learn about the different parts.

I've never related to a quote more.

"You asked how I knew. I assume you meant how I knew it was you standing in the garage. A few reasons. When you're near me, my nerve endings tingle as if lightning might strike at any moment. Your perfume wraps around me and reminds me of that morning in Tessa's shop. Also, I saw you getting out of your car and staring at my trailer."

Ummm... that's the most beautiful thing I've ever read. Especially coming from Eli who didn't verbalise his feelings much in the beginning.

With a towel wrapped around me, I answered, trying to sound dressed. "Hey."

"Sounding dressed" is the funniest phrase ever.

I stared at his text a long second before responding. "You know how to make a woman smile."

"Not all of them."

I narrowed my answer. "You know how to make me smile."

"Good."

The next morning I woke up to another text from Eli. "You're on my mind a lot."

I kept my focus on my sandwich because he was freer with his words when I wasn't staring at him.

I especially loved this quote because it showed how much Delaney was getting to know him and his mannerisms.

"When he called in the order, he told the woman I was average size. Average."

This is a hilarious quote to me because I like to imagine a husband shopping for his wife and when asked her size, saying "average." No small, medium, large, extra-large, extra-extra-large. Nope – average.

Would I reread this book? Certainly the beginning. The chemistry between Eli and Delaney was palpable. Getting to read as Delaney breaks through Eli's quiet demeanour and gets to know him was a treat. He is seriously one of the best male love interests I've read in a while. He's so sweet I wanted to squeal half of the time I was reading this book.

When I thought I was getting to the end, I checked how far along I actually was and I was 55% of the way there. FIFTY-FIVE PERCENT. My piece of unsolicited advice is if the book is this long, the couple shouldn't get together as early as they did, because then there's no incentive to actually read the rest of the book.

[Katja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Rules I'd Never Break is the story of Delaney and Eli. Delaney owns a lingerie shop and she has some rules. Never get caught with your pants down. Never model the merchandise. And never date a customer. She thinks of her mother's life as a bad example and wants to avoid men who are bad news.
Eli is a police deputy who seems nice, caring and protective but he gets awfully tongue tied whenever Delaney is near, and it seems quite difficult to get him to ask her out. Delaney thinks she has to resort to juvenile shenanigans to attract his attention. Eventually they do start dating and everything seems fine for a while but then there is a big misunderstanding and she jilts him based on her rules without giving him a chance to explain. He makes an offhand comment that she interpreted to be about her mother and I had to go back in the book to figure out why. The book contains no explicit scenes, one creepy guy and a housefire.
Overall it was a pleasant low angst read, nicely edited. I got an advance copy from Booksprouts and this is a voluntary review. It is part of a series that I haven't read but I didn't think it mattered, it functions well as a standalone.

[Barbara DeNamur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story of finding love where you would least expect it to happen. Delaney is from a broken home and had a rough childhood and teenage years. She owns a lingerie shop in a small town next to a bakery owned by her best friend, Tessa. Eli had a wonderful home with loving, doting parents. He is a deputy sheriff and very serious about following the laws. Though he is extremely shy, his mission in life is to keep the residents safe. Delaney seems to attract the wrong type of guy. The men seem to think that a woman who owns a lingerie shop will have loose morals. Delaney has three strict rules she lives by and all are honorable. Several situations throw Eli and Delaney together and none of them go well. Spilled coffee, unset alarms and well-meaning friends spoil the moment. Mrs. Carrington writes a fluid dialogue with ease and the surprise moments are truly fun. The town’s people are interesting and add another layer of interest. Throw in Boingo the goat and Sherlock the rambunctious puppy and you have some laugh out loud moments. Enjoyable, complete story even though it is part of a series. Highly recommend.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delaney is owner of a lingerie store, has three rules she will never break, famous last words. All the guys she seems to be dating are awful, the last she did even spend enough time for their drink order to arrive. One her way home she gets pulled over by that hot deputy, a nice guy, and has a melt down. The man is gorgeous but he hardly talks to her.

Eli is shy and has a hard time talking to women he likes, it takes him time to open up and by then neither he or her are interested any longer. He like Delaney but he keeps running the other way.

This is a clean and wholesome love story that has a HEA, not my usual choice or have I read any books by the author. The story was great the two are made for each other.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book in the series I have read. Also, the first book by this author. I loved the book and the storyline grabbed me from the start and could not put it down. Loved the characters in the story they were so well done and believable. Delaney had rules she lived by when it came to men because she did not want to be like her mom. Deputy Eli started Delaney breaking her rules. This book had everything romance, humor, great characters. It was fun to read. The author is definitely on my to read list and I want to read more of this series. Recommend this book for those that like a sweet romance with HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christe]

I laughed so much reading this story. I really enjoyed reading about Eli and Delaney, it’s so cute that Eli is tongue-tied in front of Delaney. Thankfully Delaney doesn’t make it hard on him, and she is understanding of him. It’s sad that her mom is the way she is which makes her doubt herself and have rules with Eli she understood that she doesn’t really need many strict rules, and he accepts her the way she is. Her dad does love her. Although a fictional story it’s nice to see a sweet and coherent family dynamic from time to time. It’s all about emotional connection.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review. Delaney is tired of dating the wrong men. She has set ideas about love but things do not always go as planned. Eli is a sweet guy who likes Delaney. Their story has plenty of humor between his shyness, her rules and life in a small town. It also gives us a love story that will make you feel good. These two are perfect for each other and finally get the chance to have a future together. I thought the story was well written with great characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bernadette Cinkoske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Rules I'd Never Break is a sweet, clean, swoon worthy, romantic comedy. Miss Carrington writes the best books. I love the characters and how the characters from two of her series cross over and reappear in other stories. They still work as stand alone books but it is fun when you know a minor character's back story! If you like slow burn romance, small towns, furry critters and more, then this is a book you will want to read. I have to start earlier ink the day or I will get no sleep because I can never put the book down!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remi Carrington has written a sizzling clean romcom. She blends witty dialogue, hilarious situations, and off-the-charts attraction to create the perfect read. There are definitely some of those sweet, tender moments as well. I adored the main characters. I would definitely read more of this series and more from this author. I highly recommend Three Rules I'd Never Break to clean romance readers and to clean romantic comedy readers.
I received a complimentary copy and am sharing my opinion of this well-written and truly funny romantic comedy.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delaney is having a hard time finding a decent man, she's been out with a load of frogs. She's very taken by Deputy Eli, but he hardly speaks to her, not that he can't as he's very chatty with other people, just not her.
Delaney owns a lingerie boutique and is often asked to model her wares, she also has a problem with men buying things for their 'mothers'. This causes a huge problem with Eli.
This is a great, entertaining read from Remi.

[Korkoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning To Love Together -
OMG! That was a truly refreshing read, that I just couldn’t put down, once I started reading it. I absolutely loved the storyline that grabbed my attention at the beginning and kept me hooked until the end. You will definitely love it too. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received an advanced copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of Delaney and Eli, from the beginning to end. She is a force with her rules and he is the quiet shy type trying to get a handle on her. Wonderful scenarios that keep putting them together and breaking her rules. Enjoyed this storyline and looking forward to the next in this series involving Eli’s cousin.

I am voluntarily leaving a review for this book that I received free.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.