With the paparazzi hot on her heels, Mandy Bettencourt is desperate for a place to hide, and her best friend has just the place.It’s perfect. No Internet. No phone. A deep bathtub she’s soaking in when HE shows up.Her best friend’s brother, Dante Crowne. Rich as a cardinal sin and handsome enough to piss off the devil. A man with a reputation for unforgettable bedroom games. Mandy got an early … got an early taste of them in high school–for seven minutes in a closet. She can tell you, the rumors are all true.
Dante knows he’s got a reputation for a lot of things, including a love of solitude.
But there’s a beautiful socialite in his bathtub, and the memory of those seven minutes isn’t inspiring him to kick her out.
So he offers her a deal.
If she wants to stay, she has to work.
If she makes a mistake, she’s corrected with pink hand marks on her backside.
That’s the deal.
Beg for it or leave it.
He’s surprised when she gets on her knees, and he’s even more surprised when she likes the punishment.
The most shocking thing, though, is how much he’s starting to like her.
They can’t stay in paradise forever.
Los Angeles awaits.
But an old nemesis sets his sights on tearing them apart, and Dante may be the one left begging.
—
Crowne Rules is a complete STANDALONE. You don’t have to read any of the Crowne Brothers books to pick this up, but you might want to once you’re done with Dante.
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I simply devoured this book! I’m a huge fan of CD Reiss and this story is one of my favorites. The characters have such a deep connection, and the steam is off the charts. Also, it gave me that swoony feeling so I rate it a perfect read.
I didn’t realize how much I needed Dante’s story until I started reading Crowne Rules. From the first pages, CD Reiss kept me spellbound with this passionate and emotional story of iron-willed control and the freedom of giving it up to the right person.
Dante and Mandy have a rocky relationship, held together only by mutual family and friends. A brief teenage encounter shaped their worlds in ways they never imagined. As an adult, Dante has a preconceived notion of who Mandy now is–a vapid and vain woman of little substance and questionable purpose. When Mandy’s world comes crashing down very publicly, the Crowne family offers her an escape in the form of their small drama-free, internet-free Cambria cabin, unbeknownst to Dante. She’s an unwelcome guest in his life, and he does his best to drive her away, though the pull of Mandy is so hard to resist. Lord have mercy, we all need a Dante in our lives! He is alpha-male perfection.
Mandy is floundering in the chaos that’s become her life. Reinventing herself is one option, but is that even an option, and where does she begin. Until their forced proximity, she never realized that Dante may have the broad shoulders and firm hand that could help guide her into becoming the best version of herself. She’s stronger than she thinks, and she gives back as good as she gets.
This couple wades their way through misconceptions and doubt, through acceptance and self-discovery. Neither character finishes the story in the same way they started, and I loved their evolution. I especially loved their epilogue…swoon…
This is a standalone in the Crowne family series, and can absolutely be read on its own. But why would you not want to meet Dante’s brothers!
3.5.
I picked this up to cleanse my pallet (I was reading too much of a specific sub genre so needed a little pivot) and this did it’s job. The writing is there and um hellllooooo ZADDDY DANTE. Man is fine!
I will say while I enjoyed the read it felt a little long and somehow not long enough? lol is that a thing?
I also didn’t realize this is book 2 of a series (lmao I always do this somehow) I will say I’m curious about the other two books and am looking forward to reading them.
Dante Crowne and Mandy Bettencourt in Crowne Rules
Every time I read a book by CD Reiss I am amazed by her talent to tell a story, to draw us in, to envelop us in her talent to the point nothing else matters but reading the words on the pages she fills. This book is no exception. I was transported into the world of Dante and Mandy and held there until the last page. Separately their lives are in turmoil. They find peace in each other but don’t trust it. Can they find their happily ever after? Check it out and let Ms. Reiss take you away with her exquisite words.
I also enjoyed listening to the audible book through whisper-sync as I read along. I love Emma Wilder in everything I’ve heard her narrate. Christian Fox is new to me but his voice is smooth and easy to listen to. I’ll definitely be searching for more of his narrations in the future.
I am a fan of CD Reiss and highly recommend her work to anyone who is interested in finding a talented author.
I really enjoyed the Crowne series, they are all stand alone books however you get a glimpse of all of the brothers in each of the stories. Both characters are strong and have a great chemistry together. The story line keeps your interest from the beginning to the very end.
Dante and Mandy are a match made in disintegrating hell. Together they withstand stormy weather, crumbling ceilings and sheetrock raining down on them. But they cannot withstand the scorching heat between them.
She’s running from her sorted past that isn’t as sorted as it seems. He’s looking for answers to release him form his. They both know it is a bad idea to cross lines but sometimes bad ideas have amazing results!
I really loved these two and their snarky, arrogant ways. The story was a page turner and fun to read!
Hands down, Dante is my favorite Crowne! Those of you who have read Logan and Byron’s stories know about their mysterious younger brother, Dante, the apparent black sheep of the family. Crowne Rules is his story, the third featuring one of the Crowne brothers, men who live and love with incredible passion. This romance is definitely one you don’t want to miss, it does not disappoint. The writing is whip-smart as usual, the dialogue between Dante and Mandy is sheer joy to read, and it’s what we’ve come to love and expect from Ms. Reiss.
What is the appeal with gorgeous and domineering heroes? Obviously this is a rhetorical question; they’re so much more fun to read about and when they fall in love, they fall hard. Case in point: Dante Crowne.
“Without her, my skin didn’t fit around my soul.”
Dante has known Amanda Bettencourt for years, they all moved in the same social circles in LA, and had many of the same friends. Not to mention, his brother had been engaged to her sister, Samantha, until her tragic death. While he secretly liked her, Dante thought of Amanda as a spoiled and jaded socialite. When he runs into her, he’s not inclined to have her around. Until he discovers he needs her, more than she needs him.
“She’s not who I expected and now I’m not either, because she’s infected me and I can’t tell if I’m sick or if I’m cured.”
Mandy Bettencourt’s life was in turmoil. She was being hounded by the paparazzi, on the cover of the gossip rags, for a scandal she wasn’t guilty of. Well kind of. And as usual, people wanted to believe the worst when it came to Mandy. When she’s offered a place to stay, that’s off the grid, she jumps at the chance to escape and try to regroup. The last thing she expected was for Dante to show up, insisting she leave immediately.
“…The version of myself I’d nailed together out of dominance and self-reliance fell apart as if it had spent years rotting away from the inside. That shell had kept me apart from other people, and only when it broke did I realize what it meant to be alone.”
So, Dante’s story is officially my favourite. Why? Well, he’s a alpha dominant, rather than just an alpha (which pretty much always does it for me) and I like the fact that he’s not afraid to go after what he wants. The sex is off the charts steamy hot and had me purring throughout.
I would have loved to have know a little more regarding his relationship with the older woman and had some background story on that, but that’s just me. I’m greedy!!
Love, love, love.
Oh how I love the Crowne series! Fabulous characters woven into interesting, complex and dynamic stories. CD Reiss pulled out all the stops and we, the readers, reaped the benefits.
Dante Crowne is a solitary man with a lot on his mind. He craves solitude and a lack of entanglements. Amanda Bettancourt is one such entanglement who has invaded his space. She needs a place to refocus and regroup after becoming tabloid fodder. He keeps trying to chase her away yet invents reasons for her to stay. She’s determined to take back her power from the men she keeps falling for and Dante could be her test case. Once she’s gone he realizes how important she’s become in such a short time. Winning her back could be problematic especially if she wants to keep him at arm’s length.
Oh my wow! C.D. Reiss once again delivers another binge worthy novel from her Crowne series. Crown Rules is the third novel in the series of interconnected standalones.
I loved Dante and Amanda together. Their chemistry and connection was palpable and dripped from the pages. Dante didn’t disappoint and lived up to the standard his brothers’ set as book boyfriends I fell head over heels for. He’s a multilayered character and his story was one of my favorites from the series.
If you’re in the mood for some angst, passion, great chemistry, secrets, and a great story then make Crowne Rules your next read. 4 stars.
I started to read this book weeks ago and when I got to the part where Dante makes Mandy kneel and beg to stay in the cottage; I got an ick feeling and stopped reading the book. Then I felt compelled to finish the book and write my review, and try to be as positive as possible, given this author is one of my favorites and I’m LOYAL to my authors!
Both Dante and Mandy needed to get out of LA. Mandy was going through heartbreak and betrayal; her boyfriend, who was married for appearances to a lesbian A-lister in Hollywood, broke up with her publicly and the wife publicly accused her of being a home-wrecker. Pursued by paparazzi and torn with the bad press, she flees to the Thorne’s cabin in Cumbria. Logan Dante is her best friend, and he offered this escape to her.
Likewise, Dante is dealing with a problem of another sort, and when he arrives and finds Mandi there, he’s not pleased; he wanted peace and quiet to read some files and determine a course of action regarding some businesses he owned with a deceased lover.
Both had bad experiences in their love life, both were looking for some surcease to their moping. Dante asked Mandy to leave, she accepted, then he made an about face and offered a bargain; kneel and beg to stay and he will let her. Since she was desperate to stay away from LA she did as asked and stayed and they start a very kinky and steamy fling.
I liked that they filled a need in each other. Dante needs to dominate and Mandy needed to submit. In learning about submission, Mandy learned about a woman’s power when she’s in bed with her lover.
Dante helped Mandy deal with her issues and in a way find herself. She lacked self-esteem and made herself a doormat for her lovers. With Dante she explored all her kinkiness and self-assertion.
Dante, in turn, faced some issues arising from his adolescence. As he saw how Mandy loves with her whole heart and how open she is with her feelings, he took a hard look at his locked in feelings. Relations he cherished as true love change form into another reality and he struggles with that. With his family’s support and Mandy’s loving, he comes to terms with his past.
I loved some parts of this story. I loved the relation between Dante and Mandy but didn’t appreciate when Dante called Mandi “his slut” or “his little whore”. I understand this was done with consent and it excited both of them during sex play but it didn’t please me at all! I understand bedroom plays and kinkiness but don’t accept any kind of disrespect to a woman, and especially a woman for whom Dante was developing feelings for.
I loved the family interaction between the Dantes. The Bettencourts seem to be a lost cause, broken by Samantha’s suicide and financial ruin, plus their social pretensions. I loved that there was a lot of growing and evolving and a break through from their past. I love this author’s writing because she challenges me. Her writing is not easy for me to understand but I love her processes and thought connections.
There’s a house in Cambria with no phone, no internet, no connection to the outside world.
Dante and Mandy are stuck there together. He needs a live-in assistant. She needs a place to hide.
I really enjoyed this book the story line was very interesting and a little complicated like the chemistry between the two characters. This was a look into two different different lives that both wanted to change but were unsure how to until they get thrown together in a vacation home for a few days. The sex is hot but very dominant which I do enjoy although I don’t enjoy women being called Sl*t or wh**e as a term of endearment. All over this was a very emotional and deep romance.
When I first was introduced to Dante I knew, absolutely knew, that his story was going to be the best. And Man! Was I right. Dante and Mandy’s story is a must read! The level of hotness of this book is off the charts! Oh! And go ahead and prepare yourself for that book hangover because that struggle will be real!!
Overall: 4/5
Steam:
Feels:
~REVIEW~
The Quick and Dirty: Socialite escapes to a friend’s family cabin to avoid paparazzi only to run into one of the brothers. She’s desperate to avoid going back to LA and agrees to his conditions.
Overall a decent read but I felt like if you had taken out the steamy scenes, the storyline needed more on its own. The story arc and character development was a bit weak — Mandy is running from a scandal in LA and runs into Dante at her friend’s (who happens to be Dante’s SiL) cabin. Dante demands she leave since it’s his family’s cabin but she insists on staying because she’s not ready to face the shitstorm back home. Dante tells her if she stays she basically has to do everything he says. Mild sub/dom relationship ensues. Obviously, they end up together, but of all of CD Reiss’s books, this one felt lighter in substance and development than some of her others. There was a lot of emphasis put on Mandy and Dante’s childhood “seven minutes in heaven” moment together that was meant to set the stage for their proclivities but it fell kind of flat for me. All that being said, if you’re a fan of West Coast/SoCal romances and seriously steamy scenes, this was a quick and easy read.
~QD STORY DETAILS~
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Location: California
MC age range: Late 20s, early 30s
Lead: Mandy
Love interest(s): Dante
Tear jerker: No
HEA: Yes (with epilogue)
~QD BOOK INFO~
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Paperback page count: 357
Publisher: Self published
Audible: Yes
Series: Stand Alone Series
1. Iron Crowne – released 11/15/19 – E2L
2. Crowne of Lies – released 2/28/20 – Marriage of conv.
3. Crowne Rules – released 9/29/20 – Forced prox.
~QD ~
Sex/kink type: manual, oral, penetrative, anal
Possible triggers: forced proximity, sub/dom, name-calling, rough sex
Crowne Rule is Dante’s story and one of my top favorite books this year so far!
The story is beautifully well-written, masterfully crafted, emotional and steamy hot. Dante and Mandy have scorching chemistry, and their connection is contagious. I absolutely loved following their journey and seen how this pull push relationship grows and intensifies, even though they’ve been trying to ignore it.
Dante is possessive, dominant, passionate, kinky, passionate, and a sexy dirty talker, but with a tortured past. Will Amanda be able to resist him, or would she be able to knock down his walls? They can’t stand each other, but since they’re stock together due to bad weather in a house they each though it’ll be all for him/herself.
I enjoying watching them give in into each other’s wants and needs stepping into the amazing Dominant / Submissive relationship with a loving and caring Dom as DANTE!!
Crown Rules is the third story in a series of standalones and it is the turn of Donte Crown to take centre stage. Dominant, masterful, and sexy. Donte has a particular reputation and is every bit the swoon worthy hero, matched perfectly with Mandy.
Mandy and Dante find themselves in close proximity which, fortunately for the reader, sets off passionate fireworks between them. There are rules, expectations, an agreement and lots of passionate, VERY HOT, encounters throughout which will be very pleasing to fans of sexy romance stories.
Oh CD Reiss . . . this series has been all that and a bag of chips and I love that you’ve brought out the dark side of the Crowne family in Dante’s book.
Dante is darkness and control. Mandy is light and impulsivity. They shouldn’t work but they do. And, they’ve both endured extreme heartbreak after being used by people they gave their hearts to.
Mandy needs to reinvent herself. To be who she wants to be and not who someone wants her to be. Dante needs to see the past for what it was so he can move on and be the man he is meant to be. He loves rules. She needs to submit to them to find freedom. But . . . is there a happy medium where he can also live without rules out of the bedroom and she can be her own person without losing herself in her need to please others and never herself?
I loved the complexity of these characters. I adored that the forced proximity aspect caused both to show pieces of themselves they typically hide from the world. And,it was ridiculously hot and steamy while also having an engrossing plot that sucked me in completely. 5 stars!
“Doing it fast is the enemy of doing it right.”
DANTE CROWNE is just everything you look for in an alpha male!!
If you’re in the mood for a sexy alpha male that will make you crave for more , Dante Crowne is the man for you.
I could not get enough of the relationship between Dante and Mandy, the ups and downs and many twists and turns of their emotions, it truly captivated me.
I loved couture Mandy and Discount Mandy and Amea.
Mandy is trying to escape the paparazzi after a messy break up. When she arrived at the cabin in Cambria with her bag full of her yellow clothes, Amanda thought she would be alone … until Dante Crowne appears with the intention to stay.
Dante and his love for language accuracy from punctuation to spelling made me swoon… I found this so sexy!! Yup, I’m a grammar geek.
Dante has demons to fight and Amanda wants to rebuild her life.
Logan’s worse nightmare is a relationship between his best friend and his brother…
No one could deny their attraction but can they make it last?
A fantastic read that shows how Love can change a person.
The story gets under your skin and you just can’t seem to shake the characters.
HOT HOT READ alert!
Dante Crowne and Mandy Bettencort have history but he’s closed off and she’s recovering from a bad break up. Both escaping to seclusion end up in the same place. Sparks, well, hot lava really, fly between them. Leaving seclusion brings back the problems there were running from and almost derails what they started when alone. Luckily, they both get their shit together and find their HEA.
Dante was hot, dominant, domineering, has to be in control. Mandy was hiding from the world, looking for a fresh start. Mandy came across as a little weak sometimes, but it was still an excellent book. And that may be the way she was intended to come across, but as I get older I just prefer my heroines to be stronger, feisty women! All in all, it was an excellent book though, especially if you like strong, arrogant men who enjoy dominating their women! 😉