Love is a battlefield for a quirky matchmaker and the cocky football star who hires her to find him a wife.As the owner of Perfect Pairings matchmaking service, Maddie McRae earns her living helping others fall in love. And one thing the sweet Southern belle knows for sure is that the foundation of wedded bliss is built on similarities: opposites might attract, but they don’t stay together. Enter … don’t stay together.
Enter Mason Spark.
Rude, arrogant, and notoriously allergic to monogamy, the hottest quarterback in the NFL is Maddie’s polar opposite. He’s also her new client. Her gorgeous, infuriating new client who’s paying her an outrageous sum of money to find him a wife. With his multi-million dollar contract on the line due to his behavior on and off the field, bad boy Mason is willing to pretend to settle down.
But when he starts to fall for the adorkable matchmaker who can’t stand him, the playboy finds himself in the game of his life to keep something he never thought he’d lose—his heart.
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What a light fun story I could not put this down it was filled with witty banter, steamy encounters, and a large amount of push and pull that kept the story flowing and pages turning I was looking for a bright, funny, and overall enchanting rom-com as a way to shrug off this awful chilly weather/season and boy did i find it this is a charming story you do not want to miss
It’s not an oversell to state that this book is a laugh out loud comedy. I was dying, from just pages in. This is a fast, fun romp of a love story and the characters in it are hilarious, real and so fun to watch interact.
Mason. Oh, Mason. Your cranky is epic and it’s so much fun to watch you squirm. Maddie, your uptight is in a league of its own and watching your head explode when you have to deal with Mason is as funny as it is relatable. You two have no idea what you’re in for!
So good. If you need a laugh, read this!
Wow, I had a wonderful time reading this awesome romantic comedy. I really needed it after all the heavier books I have been reading and I definitely feel much lighter after finishing this one. I still have a huge smile on my face…
This is one of the funniest “opposites attract” stories I have ever read and I fell in love with both the main characters.
Maddie runs a matchmaking business, and being a believer in “true love”, she really enjoys her job, helping people finding the love of their life. It’s a bit sad she hasn’t found her own prince yet, but she isn’t bitter about it…there is still plenty of time.
Mason is a famous quarterback and he is looking for a wife to clean up his image…all his womanizing and causing trouble is finally catching up to him. So his agent, Dick, signs him up at a matchmaking agency…Perfect Pairings, which is owned by Maddie of course.
The banter between these two left me in stitches. I still have some muscle cramps from all the laughing I did. Both of them were hilarious. This book was the perfect amount of “funny” without getting to the point of being ridiculous or OTT.
If you enjoy slow-built romances with a huge amount of fun, sarcasm, and chemistry, then you should definitely give this one a go !!
I also want to give some extra credit to Maddie’s aunt Waldine and Mason’s agent, Dick. They were pretty awesome in their own way 😉
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
Rules of Engagement is an enjoyable and fun-filled read, with the occasional more serious moment involving Mason and Maddie. So much snark and banter between these 2, and the slow burn was SO GOOD!
Maddie is the owner of a matchmaking agency, and has the impossible task of finding Mason a suitable match. Mason is the very definition of difficult client, he can be rude and arrogant, and he needs to find himself a wife. The chemistry and attraction between Maddie and Mason is strong, lots of fun moments across the story as these 2 incredibly stubborn individuals do their best not to give in to their feelings.
Maddie’s Aunt Waldine was a very entertaining character, she added some quirk to the storyline with her big personality. The majority of chapters are told from Maddie or Mason’s POV, but there were a few entertaining chapters with the POV from other characters.
Rules of Engagement by J.T. Geissinger was an opposite attracts sports romance. Maddie runs a matchmaking service. One she is very proud off. Enter Mason Spark, one of the hottest quarterback’s to play the game, but with a reputation he needs to fix. Which is how he finds himself looking for a wife. What can go wrong?
Maddie finds Mason infuriating and cocky, but she has a job to do. Mason was not looking for marriage, but what is a guy to do, even when he does not believe in love? But something about her calls to him. The chemistry is there from the start, but Maddie has a job to do! Rules of Engagement by J.T. Geissinger was a fun and charming slow burn romance.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
The gloves come off and a war of words breaks out over love in this nose to nose, then lips to lips, opposites attract, relationship angst, romantic read by J.T. Geissinger. Maddie and Mason, the main couple, seemed to have their minds made up on the meaning of matrimony and those opinions do not match, folks. Lucky for us, Mason’s jaded, very outspoken view doesn’t stand a chance against the simple truth and shining example Maddie sets for him. She makes him start to want things he never thought possible.
Ill tempered, quick to curse/fly off the handle, and speak before he thinks, Mason even seems to have had enough of himself. Yeah, this guy is getting on his own nerves. Maddie is like a life line he didn’t realize he needed until now. Not that he plans to let her know that. You’ll have to put up with his bimbo point of view though until he completely sees the light. He obviously has earned his previous manho reputation, btw. We are eventually given the full scope on his hard luck past that made him this way. Maddie has a sad past, as well, which makes Mason admire her even more.
I’d consider this a slow burn read as the hilarious at times bickering and banter steal the show for quite awhile as these two knuckleheads barb back and forth heatedly as they fumble their way into love.
As usual, this author’s writing flowed and kept me fully engaged. I couldn’t help but think of Anna from the movie Leap Year (played by Amy Adams) as the sassy, quick with a comeback heroine. Chris Hemsworth as Mason, of course, because, well, he can play any manly role, in my opinion.
So if you are up for a womanizing hero set straight by a sassy, doesn’t back down lady love, you might want to consider this new release by J.T. Geissinger. Brace yourself though for frequent use of the f-word in the very beginning. It was funny yet rather crass at the same time.
Title: Rules of Engagement, Author: J.T. Geissinger, Pages: 290, stand-alone, ill tempered/gruff on the outside NFL football player hero, sweet/sassy matchmaker business owner heroine, manho until her, lots of back and forth banter/bickering, opposites to in love, some steamy scenes, slow burn, ex tries to cause trouble, sad pasts.
(I read and reviewed an ARC version of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/PR firm.)
5 ++++ Stars for Rules of Engagement by J.T. Geissinger
ARC received from author in exchange for an honest review
Opinions expressed are my own & have not been influenced in any way …
This book was just what I needed – an absolutely perfect ROM-COM with plenty of laugh out loud moments. Some of the dialog between the characters was just SO funny I found myself going back several times to re-read dialog so as not to miss anything & honestly who couldn’t use to laugh more
Read in one sitting & this book ticked all my boxes !!!
Here is why I TOTALLY LOVED this book
Really attractive cover – it caught my attention right a way & had me thinking about it thru out the story ….
Great main characters in Maddie & Mason ( or M2 as I began to think of them ) – angst & more angst , amazing chemistry , laugh out loud super funny moments & gut wrenching heartache on the way to their HEA
Sizzling off the charts chemistry – especially when some whiskey is involved !!!
I’m a football fan here & yes I proudly support the New England Patriots – thank you ! However, Mason does give Tom Brady a run for his money A bad boy that’s just SO GOOD !!!!
Super funny & insightful secondary characters as well ….
This love story is not perfect – far from it – I really liked however that not only did the characters have flaws but recognizing them causes them both to learn & grow individually … then eventually as a couple ….
If you are looking for a “feels SO GOOD story” I highly recommend this book.
I have not laughed this much reading a book in some time & know that even though now it’s on my READ list I’ll be revisiting this book – a re-read is definitely going to be in order at some point!!
Awesome work by this author who as we learn in the acknowledgments was going thru an extremely difficult time while writing the book. The heartfelt dedication brought tears to my eyes as I reflected on my own recent loss. This author always writes with such wonderful emotion.
Highly recommend this book & author !!!
This was my first book by this author, and I must say that I quite enjoyed it. A quirky opposites attraction rom com that’ll tug at your heartstrings and have you laughing out loud.
Mason was just so heartbreakingly sad, and his own worst enemy. Angry, lonely, self-destructive, and a borderline alcoholic, he uses meaningless hookups and booze to keep himself numb so that he doesn’t feel how empty his life is. He’s not had much to be happy about, and don’t even get him started on the ridiculous notion of love. But he’s wicked smart and is a big snuggle bunny underneath that gruff exterior. It was fun watching him slowly evolve into someone who cared not only for himself, but also for Maddie.
Maddie was an adorable spitfire. Smart, successful, and quick witted, she was more than a match for the lumbering football player. I loved that she was able to keep Mason on his toes, and wouldn’t tolerate bad behaviour from him. Her heart was so big and tender, and she just couldn’t help looking after the big lug.
I wasn’t a fan of the additional Points of View from Dick and Waldine, and don’t get me started on the coven. Nor was I able to buy the idea that a woman “just over five feet tall” would tuck under the chin of a guy standing 6’5″. (Seriously, editors. You’ve got to do better on this recurring theme.) But the banter between Mason and Maddie is seriously off the charts. And I loved the way Mason actually listened to Maddie and was able to apply it to his life easily. He just needed some guidance in order to learn how to behave in a civilized manner, and she was just the woman to do it.
When they were sharing the painful parts of their histories, I got teary-eyed. In fact, when Mason insults Maddie in the church parking lot after she hits too close to home with an observation, I teared up. Was I sad for him or for how his biting comment affected her? Who’s to say?
But the parts where Maddie imagined stabbing someone or hurling objects at walls had me chuckling. Very reminiscent of the TV show Ally McBeal. My imagination isn’t that vivid in everyday situations so it was funny, without going over the top.
Overall this was a fun and fresh story, with a bit of a Beauty and the Beast feel. I’ll definitely be looking for more by this author.
4 ‘Pink halo’ Stars!
ARC provided via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn’t expecting this surprise from J.T. Geissinger! I discovered and got hooked to her writing after reading her Wicked Games series which happen to be amazing contemporary erotic romances, full of sexiness and drama. What we got this time though it’s a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romcom, written in different perspectives, that made me laugh and fall in love with these hilarious characters!
Rules of Engagement is, as I said, a standalone romantic comedy and it focuses on Maddie McRae, a Southern belle and quirky matchmaker, and Mason Spark, a hot and grumpy football star and Maddie’s new client. According to his agent, Mason needs a wife immediately to redeem his public image. Mason is so not having it. Enter Maddie. She is stubborn as hell and she is decided to find Mason’s soul mate. But what happens when chemistry starts burning between them instead? Read this and find out!
The heart-shaped sign out front reads “Perfect Pairings. Because You Deserve Your Happily-Ever-After!”
Sweet Jesus. I’ve wandered into hell.
I really enjoy a good romcom and J.T. Geissinger did a very good job with this one! I loved the different (and hilarious) POVs and how the love story was developed, especially towards the end. I did find this a bit slow at the beginning but after pealing the layers of Maddie and Mason’s personalities, I fell in love with them (individually and as a couple). The chemistry was there from the very start but it was definitely a slow burn romance. But it surely got HAWT when that exploded!
“You’ve both got a lot of broken pieces. But if you give it a chance, you might find that all your broken pieces fit together perfectly to make a beautiful whole.”
I loved these two together and I loved how they are so funny and so vulnerable at the same time. There is so much more than what the eye can see, especially when it comes to Mason and his past. You truly understand why he is the way he is and why it takes him a while to accept his feelings for Maddie. But, trust me, when that happens that beautiful connection is unstoppable. I really did love this couple (together with Auntie Waldine and Dick), they were so funny and so adorable!
“You can’t hide. I see you. I see you, do you hear me?”
“I see you, too.”
Therefore, I am rating Rules of Engagement with 4 STARS because it was a very enjoyable read that made me laugh so much, melt all over and swoon. I love me a good hate to love story with hilarious comedy and fantastic characters! J.T. Gessinger did a very good job with this one. Definitely different from what I’ve read from her before but still so addicting! I do recommend this to anyone who enjoys romantic comedies!
I think this may have been the first book I have read by this author and now I need to go and find more! I absolutely, positively LOVED this book. I couldn’t put it down once I started. I loved the back and forth between Maddie and Mason. It was everything I want in a romcom. I wouldn’t call this an enemies to lovers story per se it was more of a “I can’t figure out how I feel about you so I am going to be sarcastic”. And that was on both of their sides, and Dick and Aunt Waldine were absolute hoots and I loved their part in the story. The banter that was between Maddie and Mason was epic and I am sooo happy that it went through the entire book. I would very highly recommend this book and I know it will be one that I reread!
I adored this read! I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers book. This book had sexual tension galore, not to mention fun, flirty banter and as a bonus, a quirky auntie! I was very quickly lost in Maddie and Mason’s story and found myself laughing out loud. Their conversations were funny at times and sometimes things were lost in translation. Mason was the opposite of what Maddie was. They were constantly butting heads and it was GLORIOUS! And of course, J.T. brought heart in this book. I was giddy with the feels! Please don’t miss this book.
I loved this book! It was so fun and refreshing! Although Maddie and Mason appeared to have nothing in common “on paper” in actuality they were perfectly matched. Their witty back and forth banters just kept me smiling and laughing throughout. I truly can say that J.T. is the queen of dialogue! I also loved that this story was full of light and fresh air. I don’t enjoy evil and darkness and so many authors think that is the story they want to tell. So I highly recommend this book, especially to anyone who wants an escape from all the darkness in the world. I loved Rules of Engagement!
Rules of Engagement was a fun, opposites attract, standalone romance that will have you rooting for Mason and Maddie to go the distance.
Mason Spark is an NFL quarterback who’s managed to get himself into enough trouble as of late that one more slip up will cost him quite a lot and possibly his job. His answer to this problem? Find a wife, who cares if she’s only one in name, to give the impression he’s turned over a new leaf.
Poor Maddie McRae is the matchmaker of Perfect Pairings hired to do the job. What this sweet, well-mannered woman doesn’t realize is that she has been given an impossible task since Mason is one rude, arrogant and impolite grump that doesn’t want to find a wife after one look at her.
“Honestly, I’ve never met a man with such a serious case of resting bitch face.”
Opposites attract stories are so fun because they often have the greatest banter between characters who rarely see eye-to-eye. Maddie has the patience of a saint when it comes to the antics of Mason. She’s actually quick to forgive and actually starts to coach him out of his ill-mannered ways, even if it often comes with some sarcasm on her part!
I admit that I am a fan of the f-word myself and use it frequently. For some reason it’s the perfect word to convey my frustration sometimes, so the fact that we have the first few pages of this novel taking us into a deep dive on the varied uses of the word, I was hooked. I approved of each use of the word by Mason in this novel.
There’s more to Mason under his gruff exterior which we slowly got to see as the story unfolds. He was like a stray dog – quick to mistrust, misjudge and react negatively since he has never had anyone to actually see him and look out for his interests (with the exception of his agent). But Maddie could see beyond his roughness and recognized that there was actually someone hurting inside and someone who didn’t have the self-love to realize he deserved love in return. He kind of broke my heart.
Both characters were wonderful though I would have liked to have learned even more about them or seen more heart-to-hearts between them. We got so many tidbits about each and I would have loved a deeper look into some.
I adore all of Geissinger’s books because they are so well written and have such depth, and yet I felt like Rules of Engagement was missing that “suck you right in and consume you” feeling I usually get from her novels. It was definitely a great read and a cute story, but I’ve come to expect each of her releases to become my next all-time favorite when Rules of Engagement was good but probably not a reread for me.
Thank you to J.T. Geissinger for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Adorable! I absolutely loved this story! Mason and Maddie were adorable! this is one of the best stories I have read in a while. I don’t even know what troupe it is! Fake Relationship, enemies to lovers, opposites attract? It is all of them! J.T. Geissinger is an amazing author! I was not able to put this book down! FIVE STARS!
If you’re looking for your next laugh-out-loud, sexy, opposites attract read, look no further because Rules of Engagement is a MUST! J.T. Geissinger works her magic and delivers a story that will hook you from the first page and make you fall in love right along with the characters. And let me just say, these are some of the most colorful characters that you will ever meet! Maddie, Mason, Dick and Auntie Waldine will leave you in stitches—they truly are unique!
Maddie was such a fun character. She’s quirky and insecure but feisty as all get out. She wasn’t afraid to say what was on her mind and go toe-to-toe with the gorgeous Mason. One minute she was the sweet Southern belle and the next she was taking down this alpha man with her sharp tongue. It was pure perfection! Mason is a wild card. He has hair-triggered anger issues, an ego the size of a small country but he oozes sexuality from every pore. This man has layer upon layer and Geissinger peels them back slowly revealing the unexpected underneath. The sparks between Maddie and Mason are nuclear. These two push each others buttons and spar like no other and it’s completely entertaining. The witty banter between these two will have you laughing out loud. Their chemistry is fantastic and the slow-burn build is executed perfectly. I adored them!
Rules of Engagement is the kind of book you can’t put down. I devoured every page and couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Geissinger is one of my absolute favorite authors and with this book, she shows just how versatile her writing can be. She proves once again that no matter the genre, she is a true queen when it comes to penning the perfect story. As with all of her other books, this one is a 5-star MUST READ!
Rules of Engagement is a cute and fun read. You will love Maddie. She just has this way about her that will make you smile. Now her auntie Waldine will just make you giggle. How can you not love a good matchmaking book? Seriously Rules of Engagement has everything you should be looking for. It has laugher, heat, those adorkable moments and heart. Mason will make you all gooey by the end. He comes along way in the end from when we first meet him and you are going to love the changes. I love the chemistry between Mason and Maddie. This book is fantastic and I couldn’t put it down.
Rules of Engagement is a fun to read enemies to lovers romance. I loved the intense chemistry and constant bickering between Mason and Maddie – it all made this book a steamy and entertaining read.
This was such a fun book to read. Maddie was stuck in her ways, but it was the way she was coping with pain. Mason thought that he deserved all the bad in his life, and didn’t try to fight for anything good.
Watching these two come together was so intriguing. Their fighting and bantering had me laughing so hard, and you could feel the chemistry coming off the pages. It was only a matter of time before they combusted.
This slow burn romance it a must read if you love witty banter, broody heroes, and sassy heroines. I honestly couldn’t wait to see what they said to each other next!
-An Arc was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-
A funny, lighthearted romantic sports romance with a hot tempered football player and the hot pink matchmaker that drive each other crazy! And the rest of us!
An easy read with a little past darkness on both sides that definitely defines how they live their lives and makes for a more interesting storyline.
Well written and worth the read. The eccentric cast of characters definitely helped!
Rules of Engagement is a stand alone romcom by J.T. Geissinger. Usually in a review I would tell you how much you are going to fall in love with the Hero, and yes, you definitely are going to. But even more so, you are going to fall in love with Maddie. Maybe most of all, you will fall in love with Maddie and Mason together, because these two are like toast and jam, bread and butter, or maybe more like oil and water. I’ll let you decide.
Mason Spark is a quarterback for the Pioneers. He’s been with the team for six years and has spent those six years gaining the reputation of being quite the bad boy. Drinking, womanizing, and just general bad behavior. His agent, Dick, who I also loved by the way, is determined not to let his client ruin his life. So he has decided that Mason needs a wife and has hired a matchmaker to find him his perfect mate.
Maddie McKee believes in love. She owns her own matchmaking business, Perfect Pairings and spends her life helping people to fall in love. Only it never happened for her.
When Mason and Maddie first meet, sparks are flying, but maybe not in a good way. They both seem to have the immediate ability to push each other’s buttons. Maddie’s business is love, and Mason doesn’t believe in love. He’s grumpy and rude, she’s a southern lady, all prim and proper. They couldn’t be more different.
“I’ve already ruined too much in my life, I don’t have to ruin her too.”
These two don’t seem to be able to be in the same room together without driving each other crazy. But they also don’t seem to be able to walk away. This book made me spontaneously laugh out loud so many times. And the rest of the time, I was smiling. Maddie’s Auntie Waldine was so much fun. The whole book was just adorable. As you can imagine, there is so much more to these two and I loved discovering what they kept buried so deep while they navigated the mine field between them.
“If gentlemen are wolves, does that mean ladies are bunny rabbits?”
“Don’t be silly! A true lady is the most ferocious creature you’ll ever meet.”
“I’m beginning to get that.”
I really did love everything about this. It was fun but not in an over the top way. Just a pure pleasure to read. J.T. Geissinger continues to amaze me with every single book she writes. Each is so different from her others. If you want a sweet, fun, feel good book that just makes your world a little bit brighter, or maybe in this case, I should say, pinker, than I highly