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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Crowne Rules was another delicious story by CD Reiss in her Crowne (standalone) series. This story between Mandy and Dante flowed like poetry because as usual the writing felt like we were reading something other worldly at times. It was just amazing and had me tingly at certain parts as Reiss’ words painted such vivid images. I enjoyed Dante and Mandy’s connection and the heat between them.
Boy oh Boy.. Dante Crowne’s story definitely followed in Byron and Logan’s respective footsteps as the chemistry and connection between him and Mandy was palpable. I enjoyed the fiery attraction between them and how deep their feelings ran for one another.
Overall, this was a great addition to the Crowne siblings and highlighted this author’s storytelling ability! 4 stars! ~Ratula
Let me start by saying that Dante Crown is my favorite brother of the Crown’s and this book was so much more that I was expecting, I wish I could give this book more that 5 stars because this book was just perfection in every page.
Dante is reserved, he lives a quite life, he is controlling and his sexual desires are of a particular kind. When he was young he felt in love with an older marry woman who died and this shape the life he is living now. Since then he hasn’t able to really move on with his life.
Mandy needs to get away from a scandalous situation. She is just tired of the decisions she has made on her love life. When she gets to the Crown’s Cambria house to have a breather on her life she comes face to face with Dante, the one guy that many years ago made her feel something she didn’t know she desire, “submission”.
Dante and Mandy under one roof ARE EXPLOSIVE!! Their chemistry is just super steamy and hot and while they have a deal, things and agreements changed. Would this couple have what it takes to move on together or will the scars of the past teared up this relationship before it even starts?
Definitely enjoyed reading this book so much and CD Reiss is and always will be one of my favorite authors.
Ok so we all know that this author will absolutely light your kindle on fire with her heros. But Dante is the hottest of the hot!! I mean holy moly! I absolutely devour everything this author writes and Dante did not disappoint!! This author manages to write filthy things in such a beautiful way. One of my favorite authors of all time! I highly suggest this title and every other book she’s written!
Just wow there’s so much more to Dante Crowne and Mandy then they seem, this was full of emotion, loneliness and banter that will have you laughing. I Loved Dante’s dominance and his groucy sexy ways these two are pure fire having a past that has never left their mind.
The writing is amazing it comes to life and you feel it all.
A reticent, aloof Dom whose games kept him emotionally remote.
A breezy socialite with more bad headlines than Fiona Drazen.
A remote cabin with the promise of solitude
Forced proximity.
A story so hot it should come with its own fire extinguisher.
I’M BEGGING FOR IT.
Dante Crowne is the black sheep brother whose ONE BIG THING is a chain of exclusive, chic clubs, the wreckage of of a tragic illcit affair. Mandy’s a socialite designer, who’s been branded a homewreckeer in a celebrity breakup that isn’t quite what it seems.
Mandy’s best friend, Logan Crowne, offers the use of the Crowne family cabin – it’s the perfect place to hide out from the press and find herself again in solitude and peace. The only problem is that it’s Dante’s favorite hideaway and he isn’t in the mood for company.
There’s been an attraction smouldering since a kinky interlude during high school game of Hoodat, and it explodes when Dante’s plan to drive her away from the remote cabin they had both retreated to backfires and Mandy agrees to submit to him. But what starts out a lascivious, kinky game turns emotional and tender. I haven’t had this giddy, electric feeling from a story in ages. That shiver up your spine when you hear the characters’ voices in your head. That tight feeling in your chest when you get so invested in the characters’ heartbreaks and breakthroughs. I’m speechless and full of love for this story.
It is classic CD Reiss. Elegant, emotionally taut and filthy. I’m weeping at the beauty of it.
#TopReadof2020
#Swoonyfilth
#onehandedoneclick
#JonathanonSteroids
I have Ten Million words that I want to shower on this magnificent story like rose petals, all choked full in my heart. A perfect story with holy hot, steamy passion to fog up your senses and enough emotional ammunition to destroy your heart.
“You’re beautiful and sexy, but you’re the only thing standing in your way. You’ve stuffed your needs into a bag and thrown them into the river because they scare you. But I see them, because I am the river.”
Every book of Reiss is a promise of literary equivalent of tasting Beluga Caviar with a gold spoon. I try to eat spoonful at a time, tasting them on my soul, savoring it a tad bit longer than usual, swirling them in my brain, they’re just bursting with nuanced emotions. She isn’t called Shakespeare of smut Romance for nothing!!
I’m a frequent re-reader of her lines. More often than not I repeat the words in my head, staring at the wall, stunned with disbelief that reiss has used only 26 alphabets, yet the Molecular Rearrangement that creates magic is something science and logic can’t describe. You have to feel it to believe it.
“Our encounter was supposed to stay in Cambria, but she’d followed me to Los Angeles, where I never thought about her unless I was breathing.”
This book has Reiss continuing the Crowne Saga. The third Crowne sibling, Dante, is stuck in the rescuer mode since his teen years. The love spark he felt in Hoodat Closet with Amanda Battencourt gives his confused psyche a route on which to start his journey as a lover. He takes control, spins dreams, plans an escape and then his world falls apart!!
There’s bias, there’s skepticism, there’s obnoxiousness on his part.
There’s confusion, there’s humiliation, there’s erosion of confidence on her part.
“Even sure that I deserved to be loved without boundaries or limits, I didn’t know what to do with being accepted.”
They both get stuck in a cottage in rain and the walls come tumbling down, ceiling falls on them, literally and figuratively.
The quest for acceptance and forgiveness drives this odd, mismatched couple in each others arms. He finds control in his dominance and she finds relief in her submission
“Your emotional thermostat’s broken,” he said.
“I turned mine off.
But CD turns the tables in the penultimate chapter. The Revelation which had me sobbing hard, I’m still teary eyed writing this review.
Mandy starts out as a scared dove and rises like a Phoenix. Her Discount personality is metamorphosising in Couture personality, but she finds inner peace in neither. I was FLOORED by the subtle yet remarkable change CD so carefully brings about in her.
“My hand fell away from the glass, and 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.”
Dante is filled to the brim with detached ambitions, frustrating stubbornness. His cold & hard demeanor hiding a vulnerable boy who lost his reins somewhere in his teens.
“You’re gravity,” he said.
“No matter how high I jump, I come back.”
I’m rambling…I wanna spell out every sentiment hiding in billion folds of this complex story..seriously it’s hard to stop myself. But I’ll say this- Pick. This. Book. Up. Period!
It’ll make more sense if you read this standalone series in sequence cause characters are introduced on their turn
5 stars for Variables of Binary Love
Dark and delicious. CD Reiss weaves her magic!
I was looking forward to Dante’s story, wondering how it would turn out. I was not disappointed. There was more than meets the eye and many layers to Dante Crowne. Dante was brooding, commanding, kinky, demanding, dominant, and delicious. He took control and it was hot! Dante is a loner and he is okay with it until Mandy comes along. He is not prepared for her. She is the complete opposite of him. He knows who she is and has a preconceived notion of her and wants no part of her. In fact, he wants her gone sooner rather than later, but Mandy convinces him to let her stay one more day. The longer she is there, the more he can’t deny that he finds her sexy and attractive, and he just may find her useful. The only problem is that things in his past that affect his present.
Mandy was so unexpected. I loved her sass and determination. Like Dante, there is so much more to her than meets the eye. She is much more than just a pretty face and pretentious rich girl/socialite, and she is determined to show Dante what she’s made of. She is fresh off of a disaster relationship where she is publicly shamed in the tabloids. She is heartbroken and just needs an escape. Thanks to her BFF, Ella, and her BFF’s husband (Dante’s brother, Logan Crowne), she is heading to a secluded cabin that belongs to the Crowne’s. No one ever goes there and the seclusion is exactly what she needs to reset and get back to herself. Little did Mandy know that the sexy, mysterious Dante Crowne would be crashing her plans. The only problem is that she can’t help the attraction she feels for Dante, and she’ll do anything he wants if he allows her to stay.
The story is raw, angsty, and sometimes intense. There is heartbreak, passion, secrets, and revelations. The chemistry between Dante and Mandy was sizzling hot! The passion and love were palpable. The banter between them was funny and entertaining. Dante was definitely an alphahole, initially, but he redeemed himself in the end and I loved him. He knew how to push Mandy’s buttons and there were a few laugh out loud moments. I loved how their relationship evolved. The epilogue was the icing on the cake. I loved it! CD Reiss is definitely in her element here, and it shows. I recommend reading it!
****ARC for an honest review.****
Crowne Rules
What an incredible read! From start to finish, this book is everything and I adored it!
It has all the best elements of a romance novel, with heart warming, real, amazingly beautifully written characters, a truly compelling story and oh so much steam, passion and intensity.
Amanda (Mandy) has so many pressing issues to contend with, so many complexities and so much history but you can’t help falling on love with her. Dante is stoic and raw and for want of a better word, scary. The fire between them is palpable and all consuming, both having to look at themselves in order to make room for the other. Both of them have pasts that have shaped them and affected them greatly, making for an interesting journey.
This story was the perfect slow burn in some places and incredibly pacy in other places, keeping me on my toes the whole time. I don’t think I’ve met two characters who were deserving of closure and peace than Dante and Amanda and this story offers one of the most satisfying conclusions I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a long time!
I couldn’t put this story down. Just brilliant!
4 Stars!
Mandy Bettencourt is a fashion designer in L.A. whose life has suddenly been thrown into chaos. She needs some solitude and a place to think. No phone, no internet, and no connection to the outside world. When she’s offered a place to stay for a week alone, she jumps at it. Then there’s a roadblock that throws a wrench into her plans, and his name is Dante Crowne.
Dante Crowne was known as the intimidating, confident, cold, guarded, mysterious, brooding Crowne brother. They were all wealthy and seriously handsome, and she’d lived in the same city and traveled in the same circles for years. She found him intriguing, but wanted to have a place off the grid to figure out her problems. It was time to take control of her life and pave her own path, and she was the only one standing in her way.
Dante is looking forward to some down time at the Cambria estate when he learns Mandy has invaded his personal hideaway. Wires got crossed and now he’s stuck with what he remembers to be a self absorbed socialite. She’s having a hard time, but he has issues of his own, and babysitting isn’t on his to do list. Soon he realizes she can be helpful to him as an assistant, but he just has to use that self control he prides himself on, and ignore the chemistry between them.
Mandy starts to find it hard resist Dante. He makes her feel wild and desperate when he’s near. When they touched it was overwhelming and he left her breathless, but would she spend time with a man that was emotionally unavailable? If she let him fulfill all her deepest fantasies would she leave paradise with a broken heart?
Crowne Rules by C.D. Reiss is a sexy, forced proximity, enemies to lovers standalone romance where opposites attract and ignite. It’s a fabulous story about heartbreak, self discovery, girl power, undeniable connections, secret desires, and unlimited possibilities.
Welcome to the addictive brand of kinky and swoonworthy by CD Reiss. Crowne Rules was a powerful story of passion and love with the brilliant writing of CD Reiss. It was filthy and kinky. It was heartaching and beautiful. Another mindblowing performance by the queen of alpha heroes.
Dante Crowne needs rules and control. Inside bedroom. Sometimes outside too. And Mandy Bettencourt has thrown him out of the loop by appearing uninvited in the secluded cabin he owns. And she needs to have some control of her own as her personal life is out of control right now. The dynamics is about to get very twisted and very interesting. May be Dante needs someone who will defy him and challenge him. May be Mandy needs someone to keep her grounded.
This story is kinky and dirty. Straight up. If you have been a CD Reiss reader for some time, you will know that she delivers the power play of dominance and submission so perfectly. This is always a delicate balance for me. The author needs to keep it balanced and believable. And CD Reiss can do it so beautifully. Dante is a complicated man. And his needs for dominance goes deeper than sexual needs. God he is so infuriating and arrogant and bossy. And I won’t mind submitting to his orders at all because he oozes that power in him. And the truly gorgeous part is watching this regal man getting unsure, vulnerable and getting unravelled by Mandy. She is just like her favourite colour. Shiny, cheerful, impulsive, overly emotional and reckless. I love her warmth and fire. And like any sunny day, she has shadows. She is so done with being thirsty for approval and running away from her problems. Controlling Dante should be bane of her existence. But on contrary, he helped her found herself.The tension was high. The emotions were wild. And the sex was unapologetically depraved. I was so far gone for their power plays and sexual games. And then CD Reiss piled up my plate with romance goodness. What a tasty ride!
Crowne Rules by CD Reiss was the dangerous balance between dark and swoony. And it was achingly beautiful. I am craving more alpha hero greatness from her!
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily.
From Dante Crowne’s first word you know exactly where C.D. Reiss is taking you and it’s to a place that she writes so well. It’s a little dark and a little rough (because that’s how we like our alpha A**holes) and 100% decadent. She knows what we like and she doesn’t disappoint. Dante and Mandy end up at, by chance, at the house in Cambria. He’s trying to control aspects of his past that ended badly and she’s trying to hide from bad decisions made recently which are far too close to home. So the dance begins. Initially, it’s one of attraction, desire and lust which begins to turn into an emotional one of want, need and love. They find in each other what they have been looking for in all the wrong places. It’s a fabulous read, hard to put down and as always beautifully written. If you asked me what Crowne Rules reminded me of I’d have to say a bar of organic dark chocolate….rich, dark and decadent, leaving a multitude of sensations on the tongue.
You can never go wrong with anything written by C.D. Reiss! In Crowne Rules we meet
Dante and Mandy. Dante is a man used to being in control and can be a bit domineering. Mandy needs to escape her reality for a while. Dante can give her that, but she must do whatever he dictates. There is some history there and a whole lot of chemistry. Their journey was sexy and steamy and pushes boundaries. And the epilogue gave me all the best feels! Another great read by this author!
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
When Mandy decided to get away from the paparazzi intent on splashing her latest horrible breakup for the world to see, to her friend’s family home, she certainly didn’t expect his brother, Dante to be there, and she certainly didn’t expect him to lay out a proposition in exchange for her staying there: do every single thing Dante orders her to do, without complaint, or she ends up with some nice pink lines on a certain part of her body. That the proposition leads to feelings, decidedly unwanted feelings on Dante’s part (or so he acts like) is the least of their problems, though, when Mandy’s past comes back to bite them both in that same part of her body.
Whew, this one is H O T!!!! Like 5 alarm hot! There is some serious electricity between these two who don’t start off on that great of a foot at first. Dante is cold af on the outside, in stark contrast to Mandy’s all over the place mess of a personality. Opposites attract is afoot here, in a hot, entertaining way. These two may not have been my favorite Crowne couple (that honor is reserved for Logan and Ella in Crowne of Lies), but I still really liked these two and their sexy game of begging and control.
Another impressive addition to the Crowne series! C.D. always tells a suberb story, full of lyrical prose and metaphoric images that manages to pull me deeply into the lives of the characters.
Dante has been an enigma since the beginning of this series. The loner of the family, a black sheep per se? I’ve long wondered what he was like and what his story was going to be. And let me just say, C.D. is a master at writing the Dom character. Dante is that in spades.
Mandy Bettencourt got shafted by the guy she’s been in love with for far too long, and she needs to escape Hollywood and the media firestorm that’s portraying her as a husband stealing whore. And having to spend time at a secluded house with Dante is not exactly what she had in mind. She’s come across in the previous books as the typical superficial rich girl, but her character really grew and developed into someone with a backbone and resolve.
Dante and Mandy together pretty much starts out like oil and water. It took me an extremely long time to warm up to Dante because I was really not on board with how rude and mean he is to Mandy initially. There were several times where I said, “girl, just walk away” but this was where her steely determination kicked in and I admit, the “punishment” sessions between them are hot!!
I admit initially I was really more intrigued with Dante’s history and what was going on with that whole sidestory, but ultimately I fell into the Dante and Mandy love trap and super enjoyed how these two play off each other. And the epilogue gave me huge smiles.
C.D. really is a master storyteller and readers are going to eat this book up!!
I haven’t read the other 2 brother books so I’m glad this was a standalone. Yikes on bikes was this hot! I made the mistake of starting it late at night and it was hard to put down to get some sleep. Whew the steam was strong with this one. I enjoyed every single second of this ride!
“We can Air Drop.”
“Is that the one where your phone touches mine inappropriately?”
“Only with consent.”
Yet another reason I love CD Reiss’s books – the sharp sense of humor. Plus Dominant male heroes who steal the breath in all the right ways, while remaining very human. CD’s incredibly well-written love stories are entertaining and yet powerful. They mean something, touching my heart and mind deeply enough to keep me thinking about them afterward. So far every full length book of hers I’ve read (4 to date) has ended up on my keeper shelf. I still need to read Crowne of Lies, but if it’s as good as Iron Crowne and this one, I’ll have the fully trilogy to re-read from here forward.
Holy kittens that was bloody fantastic. I liked Byron Crowne, I loved Logan Crowne but I absolutely want to worship at the feet of Dante Crowne. Oh my goodness, oh my goodness.
CD Reiss’ writing, as always is perfection stuffed in a book. The way she commands the letters of the alphabet into words and words into phrases is exemplary. Mesmerising. I could just write a review chock full of her quotes and it would be enough.
I even love how she spells out sounds. Plink and plop and hm.
I’m not going to regurgitate the blurb other than Mandy Bettencourt and Dante Crowne were not meant to be together in a run down house, but they are and the electricity current between them is enough to light every bulb in Vegas for fifty years. They sizzle.
The quotes:
“You’ve stuffed your needs into a bag and thrown them into the river because they scare you. But I see them, because I am the river.”
“His mouth was a vandal, kicking the door open and wrecking the place, corner to corner.”
“We were a puzzle piece missing, and she didn’t even want to check under the table or between the cushions. She was going to leave this unfinished, with me here on the floor next to the chair leg, because I was the missing piece, panicking at the thought of being left behind.”
“She was so rare and beautiful in a world of charmingly armored emotions that I wanted to stand between her tender heart and the world’s betrayal. Her protector. Her safety.”
“We kisses for a month, through spring into summer’s heat, and the winter’s damp chill, unwilling to let go of each other and deal with the inevitable, until he pulled away a few inches to yank us back into the moment again.”
“Without her, my skin didn’t fit around my soul.”
Kittens! And now I need to beg CD Reiss very nicely, because I really, really, really want a Lyric book. That girl is FUN! Please, please, please, please Christine. Please can I have a Lyric book?
Dante Crowne needs control. Mandy appeared uninvited to the secluded cabin he owns. When I started reading I couldn’t put it down.C.D. Reiss is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can’t wait for the next book.
I would give this book all the stars! Written with confidence, flair and wonderful verbal dexterity, Crowne Rules has lived up to every expectation that I have when I pick up a book by CD Reiss. Mandy and Dante are both deliciously complex and carry their pasts so very differently. Initially, it is hard to see where they will form that spark, but, as the two voices reveal their characters, understanding arrives.
I always feel as if I have been rewarded for something when I read/ listen to, any of CD Reiss’ books and, at this moment, this is how I feel…. With scenes of intense heat and moving insights, I am a very satisfied reader though I am double checking my review for typos as we speak..and the epilogue is simply wonderful
This is one where the ending is what stole the show for me. I didn’t really like Dante or Mandy at first. They start off as not very likable characters, but then the author starts to peel back layers to their true character. Some of it was there but some of it was them growing and changing. By the time it got towards the end, I actually really liked both of them and wanted to see that happily ever after. The best part was the epilogue. I just love seeing a few years in to the future and how happy and content a couple is. Especially when they were both far from content in the beginning. The Crowne’s are a very interesting family to follow. I’m hoping the sister is next.