For What It's Worth


Monday, April 15, 2013

Review & giveaway: The Rules (Project Paper Doll #1) by Stacey Kade


116409571. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules. ~ Goodreads

Review:
Note: There are NO spoilers for The Rules in this review but I do refer to a few things that are already in the summary that may be spoilery if you do not read book summaries.

Ariane, an alien/human hybrid, needs to lay low in order to stay safe. Following her adoptive father's rules has always protected her from discovery but she can't stand to watch her one and only friend subjected to the cruel pranks of the resident high school mean girl, Rachel.

But her act of defiance puts her on the radar of GTX, the genetics lab she was raised in and escaped from. They will stop at nothing to find her and bring her back in. It also puts her in the path of Zane, the police chiefs son and Rachel's friend.

Ariane is a wonderful character. She's both shy and innocent but fierce in her loyalty to her friends and family. She may not understand the subtitles of human behavior but she does know right from wrong and isn't afraid to stand up and fight. After meeting Zane, she starts to long for a normal life and you want that for her. Ariane is a girl that you would want as your BFF.

There is quite a surprising amount of high school drama but IMHO no one writes high school drama better than Stacey Kade.

The Rules is The Breakfast Club ( the classic 1985 movie by John Hughes) meets Sci-fi/Paranormal.

Kade manages to have all the required high school character stereotypes - the mean girl, the outcast, the hot boy and infuse them with layers and complexity. You may not always love each character but you do understand their motivations which keeps the story from becoming a cliche. If you've read Stacey's fabulous Ghost and the Goth series, you'll know that all of her characters are on a journey. They evolve with each book and I can't wait to see where Ariane, Zane and even bad girl, Rachel end up. Even the adults are present and fleshed out.

The Rules was kind of sci-fi light. We got a glimpse of Ariane's origins, potential and what she's been through (it isn't pretty) but this installment has a more contemporary/paranormal vibe. If you're a hardcore sci-fi fan and that’s what you were expecting that might bother you but this book was a lot of fun with plenty of drama, action and shocking twists. The romance is slow, sweet and 100% believable.

Final thoughts: There have been quite a few alien hybrid stories released recently. I've read several but The Rules was my favorite. Ariane makes a very relatable and likable heroine. Zane is a brave, intelligent hero. A little more contemporary/paranormal than sci-fi. The pacing is excellent, the romance pitch perfect and there are plenty of twists to keep you on your toes.

Author: Website | Twitter
Source: Provided by the author for my honest review
Buy the book! The Rules (Project Paper Doll)

****

Giveaway!

I'm giving away one copy of The Rules (Project Paper Doll #1)

Just enter using the form below - extra entries are optional

International if The Book Depository ships to your country

Winner announced on 4/21/2013 a Rafflecopter giveaway

25 comments:

  1. OMG I love The Breakfast Club! I haven't seen that comparison before. I'm kind of happy it is sci-fi light. Can't wait to give it a read.

    I'm not much of a rule breaker these days. I have no idea what rule I'd break! Thanks for the giveaway! :)

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  2. I'm not much of a rule breaker but I would love to get away with not studying :)

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  3. Tired of the current trend of vampires and werewolves the 'alien hybrid' genre sounds like a great alternative.

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  4. To be honest, I don't think I would break any rules. I mean, they're probably rules for a reason right? Thanks for the giveaway!

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  5. Well, I'm not going to pretend I wouldn't break a couple of rules if allowed. >:}

    If it has to be some sort of law of physics or something, I'd like to be able to eat chocolate or something similar every day and never gain weight.

    If it's something truly insane and out there, whatever I want, no one gets hurt and there are no consequences ever, I'd want to be able to walk into a Honda dealership and drive off with a fully loaded 2014 Honda Pilot. Those are so awesome. *sigh*

    I have to embrace my horrible side once in a while, what can I say? Great review, Karen!

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  6. Good to hear you liked it! I just got this one in the mail yesterday. I wasn't sold on reading it yet but I think now I am. I'm not completely convinced if I'm a sci/fi fan, so I like to hear that it has more of a paranormal feel to it. And who doesn't love some drama?

    Thanks for the review. :)

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  7. I.. well. Actually, I don't know. Because I'm just home all day, and I don't have any rules to break :) But something silly, is that I want to break the rules saying a human can't fly. Like a bird :) I have always wanted to fly. Hih. <3 Thank you for the perfect giveaway :) And your amazing review! So glad you enjoyed this book :) I would love to read it as well, because it sounds pretty amazing.
    Love, Carina

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    Replies

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  8. Hm... good one. Maybe stealing some icecream? It's so over-priced!

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  9. Not sure about this one, I read a review and some things bugged me

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  10. Oh the characters sound very interesting, even with the cliques. I usually don't like that, but if they are fleshed out. Hm... Breakfast Club meets sci-fi? Right there had me curious. :)

    As for what rules? I have that meme in my head where the guy yells... "All the rules!" LOL

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  11. I can't wait to read this... it sounds so good!

    and for the rules... Don't fall in love or keep your head down... yeah I'd have troubles with those

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  12. I would love to break the rule of speed.

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  13. Thanks for sharing! This sounds awesome... ummm... the speed limit :)

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  14. I really can't wait to read this one because I love this author! I'm so glad you really liked it!
    I have to say I'm not a huge rule breaker but I would break the Don't fall in Love rule. What fun is life if you don't find love, lose it, cry over it and do it all over again! :)

    Thanks for the great review and giveaway!

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  15. With that set of rules in that world, I'd be bound to break the "don't fall in love rule"!

    - Jessica @ Book Sake

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  16. A sci-fi Breakfast Club? Count me in. I've seen several really great reviews for this, but I hadn't made it a priority. Need to remedy that.

    As for rule-breaking...hmmm. Well, I ALREADY bust the speed limit any time I'm behind the wheel, so that's a given. Maybe I'd stop showing up to work on time. Just work when I felt like it, ya know? I'd be like Peter in Office Space. That would be grand. :)

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  17. The Breakfast Club is my all-time favorite movie, and I sooo want to read this book :)
    I don't think I'd break any rules, though. Well, maybe I'd break into my favorite celeb's hotel room ;P

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  18. Something to do with time. Like Hermione playing with time in the Harry Potter saga!

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  19. This sounds really good! As for the rules... I'm sure I'd break don't get involved and don't fall in love!

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  20. I'd love to get away with not attending class! Sometimes we don't even learn anything new but just do our own stuff there..but those who miss more than 3 times will get called in. -____-


    Stacey Kade's Ghost & Goth series was great! I can't wait to read her take on hs+scifi. :)

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  21. Honestly? I'd probably rob a bank, I could use the money to buy more books lol.

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  22. Of the ones listed above, I'd break the one about not trusting people. That would be so hard!

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  23. Hi everyone I'm Sharon Stones and am here to share the wonderful work Dr ILASHE did for me. After 5 years of marriage, my husband started acting weird and going out with other ladies and showed me cold love, on several occasions he threatened to divorce me if I dare question him about his affair with other ladies, I was totally devastated and confused until an old friend of mine told me about a spell caster on the internet called Dr. ILASHE who helped people with relationshipS and marriages problem by the powers of love spells, at first I doubted if such thing ever exists but decided to give it a try, when I contact him, he helped me cast a love spell and within 48hours my husband came back to me and started apologizing, now he has stopped going out with other ladies and he’s with me for good and for real. Contact this great love spell caster for your relationship or marriage problem to be solved today via email: supersolutioncenter474@gmail.com or Call or WhatsApp: +2347055064262

    Read more about his good works on his website: https://supersolutioncenter.home.blog

    ReplyDelete
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