Review: Rule Breaker by Lily Morton

Rule Breaker by Lily Morton
Self-Published
Novel: 302pgs

3 Pants Off

Blurb: Is it really wrong to want to murder your boss?   

Dylan has worked for Gabe for two years. Two long years of sarcastic comments. Two long years of insults and having to redo the coffee pot four times in the mornings to meet his exacting standards.   

Not surprisingly he has devoted a lot of time to increasingly inventive ways to murder Gabe. From stabbing him with a cake fork, to garrotting him with his expensive tie, Dylan has thought of everything.   

However, a chance encounter opens his eyes to the attraction that has always lain between them, concealed by the layers of antipathy. There are only two problems - Gabe is still a bastard, and he makes wedding planners look like hardened pessimists.   

But what happens when Dylan starts to see the real Gabe? What happens when he starts to fall in love with the warm, wary man that he sees glimpses of as the days pass? 

 Because Gabe is still the same commitment shy, cold man that he’s always been, or is he? Has Dylan had the same effect on Gabe, and has his solid gold rule of no commitment finally been broken? With his heart taken Dylan desperately needs to know, but will he get hurt trying to find the answers?  

 From the author of ‘The Summer of Us’ comes another scorchingly hot romantic comedy, showing what happens between two men when rules get broken.

Review

All the ways I was excited to read this, because there is nothing more I enjoy in a book than an authentic asshole. Gabe had the potential to be that asshole and there were moments his assholery (owning this word) shined but I felt like he was playing a character instead of being the character. he had the potential to be meaner and I just didn’t feel it. He was soft, like a cinnamon bun. 

Not to delve too deep into the plot because the blurb pretty much shares what the book is about. Man is in love with boss, boss is an asshole, and boss also has an asshole boyfriend. They do this back and forth dance while remaining professional towards each other but at certain times I found Gabe very unprofessional and insensitive (cough- f*cking in his office). He’s like food you didn’t microwave properly. Hot in some parts and cold in others.  

The story itself is something we’ve all read already. I know I’ve read the same scenario in many a books and this one didn’t excite me. I’m not saying it was horrible, I’m saying there was no “wow” factor and it all played out like you would expect it to. I did like the relationship between Dylan and Gabe. I think that was one of the seeking points in the book. Their relationship felt natural and I could feel the respect they have towards each other (unless Gabe was feeling petty and took his big boy pants off). 

Overall, it was an alright read for me. The story was engaging, some of the characters were likeable and it kept me entertained. Honestly and truly it could have been better, some characters could have been less stupid and the ending could have been less predictable. Alas, I enjoyed it and really am looking forward to reading the series and new to me author Lily Morton.