I can't believe I never read this book before. I really enjoyed it. I love the feel of a modern western. I'm addicted to this theme. I thought Rule was such an intense, rugged, sexy, appealing hero. He was raw and dominant, like many of Linda Howard's heroes. But he never stepped over the edge to domineering bully, for me. He had a vulnerability and a need for Cat that made my heart flutter. Cat is a heroine that I could sympathize with. She spent so many years running scared from her overwhelming attraction for Rule, a man who swooped in and took control of her father's ranch after he died. And he took control of her, stepping in as a sort of surrogate guardian. Although he feelings for her were far from avuncular. Their interlude when she was seventeen and he was in his twenties didn't strike me as wrong (although legally it is), because there was a deep connection there that seemed to spark out of control. It didn't have a sleazy, Lolita vibe for me. I think it was handled very well by Ms. Howard.The western ranch setting appealed to me. I loved the descriptions of working on a horse-breeding ranch. But it didn't overshadow the love story, merely forming a backdrop that helped to better characterize Rule and Cat. I so wanted to be there on that ranch, as I read this story.Cat's marriage wasn't delved into overly much, but it sounds like it was a happy one. It is nice to have a character have been happily-married, and the deceased spouse not treated as the bad guy. And the fact that she was fated to love Rule so much more didn't mean that she couldn't have loved her husband. Rule's intense love and feelings towards Cat really won me over. There are few types of heroes that I love more than heroes in pursuit. He was really intent on getting her to stay, and somewhat ruthless in his seduction, but that was just fine with me. It makes the romance all that more thrilling for me. I love a man who goes after the woman he wants.The reviews for this one by others are kind of low. I guess I'm in the minority here. I would actually add this to my list of faves by Linda Howard. Sometimes her alphas can be domineering brutes to me, and that makes some of her books less enjoyable. In the case of Rule, he was done so well, that his alpha and dominant nature was a highly enjoyable part of this book. It might be that Cat didn't come off as being bullied by him. She was susceptible to him, no question about it. But he was probably just as much in her thrall. Their relationship had a mutuality in the level of love and attraction they held for each other that made the alpha/possessive tendencies of Rule feel right. And Cat definitely showed some jealous/possessive tendencies towards him, as well.The sensual elements were well-done. Something about the way the category romances that were written in the 80s that I love. The books had the chemistry and the fiery love scenes that I like, but they aren't over the top, where you wonder, are these people really in love, or they just having some explosive sex? You can feel the love in the private moments. But that's just my opinion, and you know how much opinions are worth.I'm really glad I had the chance to finally read Against the Rules. It's worth its weight in gold for this reader. It's going on my Linda Howard keeper shelf.
At this point, I've read almost all of Linda Howard's books, and I've really enjoyed most of them. Needless to say then, when I found a copy of this one at my local library, I was pretty excited to read it. The verdict: it's not bad. Unfortunately, it's also not great.As other reviewers have stated, this is one of her older works and it shows given how dated some of the references are. It is also typical Linda Howard, in that the hero is alpha to the core. Rule is not a bad guy; he just knows what he wants and can be aggressive when it comes to holding onto it. He's short on patience, but he makes up for that in his devotion to Cat, which is clear to the reader from the very beginning. He is, however, a noted womanizer, and references to that abound throughout the book. Normally, a little of that goes a long way with me, but in this case, it was tolerable (even understandable), given the ages involved and the passage of time. He is dealing with a great deal of emotional baggage and scars, due to his wartime experiences and what befell him upon his return home. In short, he's a tough guy who feels things very intensely - sometimes that can make him overbearing; at other times, it's proof positive of how much he loves Cat.Cat is okay, as far as characters go. Ultimately, she's not much more than a standard, stock heroine, who is lacking in the backbone department. (That seems to be something of a running theme throughout some of Ms. Howard's books, and it also probably has a lot to do with the time period in which this was written and the formulas and tropes that were popular in romance novels at that point.) So, Cat is generally bland, though there are several times when she butts heads with Rule that, while understandable, also grow to be a little irritating, in my view, as it seems to be little more than immature posturing, given how quickly and completely she backs down. Toward the end of the book, she finally displays some real strength, which is enjoyable to read, as she truly comes into her own as a character.Most of the book hinges on Rule and Cat's history and their present interactions, obviously. I liked them together, since they have a lot of chemistry, and he is utterly focused on her. However, so many of their conversations follow a pattern in which they begin to talk, he gets a little high-handed, she responds angrily, and an argument ensues. This grew to be incredibly repetitive and a little bit boring to read. That said, when things finally come together for them (as they are wont to do in romances), the scene is highly emotional and well-done, and it really brought the book up a few notches, in my opinion.Final thoughts: it's repetitive, both in terms of its formula and many of its scenes, but Rule is a complex, interesting hero, and things start getting really good near the end. Fans of Linda Howard (particularly her earlier works) will probably like it, as will those who like their romances lacking in unpredictability, but full of emotional intensity.
What do You think about Against The Rules (1998)?
I liked this one for one reason and one reason only which is this : hallelujah finally a hero truly and literally grovels to keep the heroine. He actually cried. GOOD!
—Books reader
Sometimes there is nothing like reading an older romance, things were simpler in the 80's or at least they seem like it in romancelandia Catheryn/Cat (h) had ran the first chance she had, ran from her home on the ranch, ran from her feelings and ran from Rule. Now she's home for the first time in years, but only for the holiday weekend. Rule (H) has had it rough, if it wasn't for Cat's father bringing him to the ranch when he was younger he didn't think he would be alive rough now. He is indebted to her father and he loves the ranch but not as much as he loves her,now that she's come back there is no way that he can let her leave again.******************SPOILERS******************SPOILERS*********************SPOILERS**********************************This is a straightforward and sweet romance, no mystery to be solve in this one. The hero is fighting to keep what he feels is his and the heroine has to figure out if she's wanted for herself or for what she owns.
—Noelle
AGAINST THE RULES was originally published in 1983, by Harlequin or Silhouette. I kept expecting some suspense, as we see in Howard's more recent publications, but no. (view spoiler)[The fire in the stable? No suspense there. The sinister horse buyer? Nope. The horseback riding "accident" and broken leg? Nope. (hide spoiler)]
—Kathleen
