DESCRIPTION:
Twenty-four-year-old Charlotte Stahl would do anything for her older brother, Ian. After all, he’d done everything for her growing up. He played Burken with her—a hide-and-seek game they made up as kids.

He comforted her when their mom deserted them. He raised her when their dad went to prison for murder. To Charlotte, Ian is the only reason she’s still alive—he’s her rock. So when Ian asks her to play Burken in the isolated woods of Cadillac, Michigan, Charlotte feels she could use the nostalgia and agrees. Besides, they haven’t played this game since childhood. Burken—it’s the one thing that never changes … …until Ian threatens to kill her in the middle of the game.

More than the rules have changed as Brother turns to Predator, Sister turns to Prey, and she’s navigating the forests of Northern Michigan on foot with nothing but the clothes—and a target—on her back. If Charlotte wants to stay alive, she knows she has to untangle the web of her haunting past to find out where things went wrong, and at what point she lost sight of reality. With no other choice but to reopen old wounds—and with Ian hot on her trail—Charlotte learns that sometimes evil has to manifest in order for good to succeed. Which makes her wonder… Is Ian really a monster? Or her savior?

MY REVIEW:
The Rules of Burken by Traci Finlay is no joking matter. If you want an intense hold on to your seat kind of book then this it..

Knowing now what I know about this book, it's easy to see how it grabbed me right from the first sentence. It is a great read and one I highly recommend.

This book was provided to me for free in exchange for my honest opinion. Well, let you tell you I give this a 5 star.

When a seemingly innocent game goes terribly wrong. This book starts off with a bang from the very beginning. It doesn’t take long for it to take a serious turn to that has you gasping and your heart pounding. I didn’t know what to expect going into this one... and I think that’s for the best. This is one that I think everyone should go in mostly blind.

The Rules Of Burken kept me invested the whole way thru the book. I was never bored, skimmed or got ditracted. There were parts of the book I didn't necessarily understand but it still sucked me in.
As creepy as Ian was... He interested me. I wish Charlotte had been a bit stronger but I guess if she had it would have been a totally different book.
The writing was great for a debut author. It kept my anxiety level up there. I just didn't understand why they were doing what they were doing. It was frustrating and I carried it through out the book. It killed about of the joy for me.

What a creepy, thrilling read! This book was one I was not really sure I would enjoy, but actually blew me away! Siblings always interest me, and this one definitely was one of the most intriguing, but also dark ones I’ve came across. A must read for those who love deliciously dark thrillers!
Will let the members of Chapter Chatter Pub know about it’s relwase!

This book was just okay for me. It had some great on the edge of your seat moments, but a lot of it was slower paced. She finds out stuff that I had already guessed. I think this book was less thriller and more psychological. Maybe if they had promoted it that way I would feel different.

2.5 stars

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I alternated between loving this story and absolutely despising it. Plot holes, suspension of disbelief so high it’ll give you vertigo, and the most infuriatingly insipid and ridiculous main character I’ve encountered in years.

Ian and Nikka were the only characters who made any sense. And Ian tried to kill his sister with an axe.

This storyline had some serious potential, and there were parts of it I enjoyed. Like Ian trying to kill his sister with an axe. For no particular reason.

Charlotte had some nice snarky one-liners in this. Almost as if she knew she was a ridiculous character in an unbelievable story.

Jack was...well, Jack was Ian. Except without an axe, and with a sister who actually wasn’t a total moron.

Like Jack, I wanted to punch everyone in this book for being stupid. Except Ian. And maybe Nikka sometimes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the ride that was reading this book. It was SO bad, that it was nearly good. Would recommend for people who like disturbing, who like plots that are actually aware of their own ridiculousness, and people who don’t mind wanting to set characters on fire just to knock some sense into them...and yet loving the experience.

Actual rating 1.5, but rounded up to 2 for the giddy enjoyment of its WTFness.

I received an ARC of this from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you, Netgalley.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. That applies to reading books and to the main character of this book.

Charlotte always seems to lose, both at Burken and in life.

I wanted to get into this book. I did. However, at 70% I'm throwing in the towel.

Charlotte WANTS to be a Mary Sue victim. At 23, she is still being controlled by a psychopathic older brother. She's not allowed to date and apparently the only female friends she can have are ones her brother will sleep with.

The plot holes are numerous - don't drive your car through them if you value its undercarriage.

Firstly - Ian, the brother, one day randomly decides he's going to kill Charlotte. With an axe.

She runs. Not to the police or anywhere with anyone capable of helping her but to another town to befriend a prostitute and HER brother, the love interest.

She leaves behind her cell phone, all her stuff, her home filled with physical evidence of the brother's axe attack and numerous ex-girlfriends of the brother who are willing to talk about his violent history with them. She also leaves behind a new, decent job as the high school gym teacher and coach.

The main reason I'm finally DNF'ing this is because, at 70%, both Charlotte and the prostitute keep referring to the prostitute's brother as "mean." He seems to be the only one with any sense and he's trying to save their Mary Sue asses from all this stupid nonsense.

"Jack's so mean." "Why is Jack being so mean to me?"

If Jack is being so mean, why is this twenty-three-year-old virgin about to have sex with him?

I can't read that. I can't take this anymore.

HOW OLD ARE THESE PEOPLE MENTALLY? 9????

Actual Rating: 1.5 stars
Format: Kindle eARC
Source: Netgalley
Current ebook price: $3.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited
Opinion of Price: If you are very, very new to YA or NA fiction and have no experience of real life and abusive situations, you *might* find this weirdly fun and romantic, I guess. Gack! The interior chapter headers and spiders are a really nice touch. So, not a bad deal, if it turns out you love it.
My Cost: $0.00

This story is all kinds of crazy. I don't even know how to say anything without giving stuff away. I loved that I could picture some of the towns being a Michigander. However I was taken aback by a jab at Yoopers, since I am one. I do recommend this read if you are into Psychological Thrillers.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

This book was fabulous. The premise was so exciting. It kept my attention the entire time. It was SO easy to read and follow.

Read it!

Full of suspense, this book will keep you reading straight through. The characters are intriguing and complicated. The plot is full of twists. I thought I knew what was going on and then I realized how wrong I was. This is a great read for thriller readers.

So glad I found this book! Wasn’t too sure about what direction The Rules of Burken was going to take when I started it, but so enjoyable.
Traci Finlay has written a must read, that had me on edge right from the beginning. Charlotte and Ian have a close relationship due to childhood. When they come together later, the rules of their relationship have changed. Is Ian out to hurt her? Or save her?

WOW! This book held my interest the entire way!

From Charlotte playing "Burken" (a type of hide-and-seek) at 6 years old with both her brother, Ian, and rarely a couple friends, to the conclusion - a great read!

Left essentially without parents; Ian became the default head of the household. He was just about to leave to begin college when their mom just up and left them and their dad so she could go to New York. Eventually, their dad winds up in jail.

On Ian's 29th birthday, he asks Charlotte to play Burken with him. He finally talks (now 24 years old) Charlotte, his sister to play. They complete their round three - the end. But Ian has something much darker in mind. He whispers to Charlotte, "If I catch you, I'll kill you" and 'If I see you back at the house - .I will murder you."
He also tells her - "This is not a joke - do you understand?" That is when Charlotte begins her journey of trials and tribulations; meeting unlikely friends Nikka and Jack and much, much, more.

So as to not leave a spoiler, I just want to say READ this one! It is a page-turner that will keep you in suspense right until the very last page. Excellent character development and really something different in the plotline...

RECOMMEND!!!

Many Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for a surprisingly superb read!!!

This book was, woah. There were so many twists, turns and WTF moments. The story resonated with me because of the subject matter. These people are real and live among us, charming their way into society. This book was creepy cause it can happen, has happened, and continues to happen. I really thought I knew where it was going about 22%, but that all went out the door. It was a book that is going to stay with me for a long time.

The premise of this book is intriguing but the overall story falls short. There were characters who made no sense. Fanny was a hot mess. Charlotte was not much better. I wanted this to be better than it was.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to.