Title: Breakaway
Author: Sophia Henry
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept, Flirt
Date of publication: September 5th, 2017
Genre: Romance, Sports, Women’s Fiction
Number of pages: 276
POV: Alternating 1st person
Series: Pilots Hockey
Delayed Penalty – Book 1
Power Play – Book 2
Interference – Book 3
Unsportsmanlike Conduct – Book 4 (review here)
Breakaway – Book 5
Where you can find Breakaway: Barnes and Noble | Amazon
Book synopsis (from Goodreads):
In a stand-alone hockey romance that tugs at readers’ heartstrings, a broken ex-pro learns to live and love again—all thanks to the complicated, wonderful nurse who gives him a second chance.
Brianna Collins needs to break away from her overbearing family. Her parents expect her to “fix” her brother after a series of concussions derailed his hockey career. Unfortunately, no doctor will give him clearance to play, and she’s finished with being the person they rely on to perform a miracle that will never happen. For Bree, a six-month nursing assignment at a hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, is the perfect escape.
Luke Daniels, the former forward for the NHL’s Charlotte Aviators, has spent close to a year rehabbing a career-threatening injury—and distracting himself however he can. Worlds collide when Luke realizes that the girl from his latest one-night-stand happens to be the new nurse at the hospital where he volunteers in the pediatric unit. What’s more, Bree’s the only person who makes him excited about life again.
Despite her initial reservations, Luke can’t help pursuing sweet, beautiful Bree. Then he realizes it was her brother whose career he ended with an accidental hit, and he falls back on the thing that’s always helped suppress his demons: alcohol. But if Luke doesn’t kick his old habits, he just may lose the one thing he loves more than hockey.
Trigger warning: None
My review:
I was excited to read Breakaway. I had reviewed and liked Unsportsmanlike Conduct so I was expecting Breakaway to be just as good. So saying that I was disappointed in this book is an understatement.
The plot of the book was good. Hockey star gets injured, forced to retire and meets a girl who compliments him in every way while trying to adjust to life, not on the ice. I loved it and I loved that the book’s location…Charlotte, NC. I live an hour west of Charlotte and I really enjoyed reading about the different areas. I also was thrilled that the author made mention of The Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain. I have been to The Blowing Rock and fell in love with the legend. So when Luke was explaining it to Bree, I had a huge smile on my face. I like his explanation better than the actual legend.
What made me disappointed in the book was how Luke was. I totally could understand his anger and disappointment when he was told that he would never be able to play hockey. But everything after that, he came across as a man-brat. His temper tantrums when it came to being told that he wasn’t able to play rivaled my three-year-old when I tell her she can’t have another cookie. He was also self-centered. Everything revolved around him and it drove me nuts. But, he did have some redeeming qualities. He truly liked Bree and some of their interchanges were hilarious (the one at the U.S. National Whitewater Center where they were discussing instalove and instalust made me laugh my butt off). He also volunteered at the hospital in the pediatric oncology wing, where Bree was a nurse. The issues he had with his mother ran deep and I felt awful when he was in Vancouver visiting her.
Bree was hilarious and oh boy, did she know what she wanted. What she wanted was an f*ck buddy and Luke was more than willing to accommodate her. I was rolling at her and Luke’s interactions. She also wasn’t afraid of her sexuality and she liked experimenting with different toys/fantasies. Her wearing a vibrator and giving it to Luke to play with was awesome. As was the reactions of Pavel and Kristin when Bree told them that she was wearing one. But, with all her funnies aside, she also had baggage and she was afraid to settle down because of it. Honestly, I didn’t know what she saw in Luke because he was a man-brat with her too.
The sex scenes between Bree and Luke really didn’t do it for me. I just couldn’t move past Luke’s attitude. If I had to describe it, lukewarm would be the best way. Which is disappointing because I love totally hot sex scenes. Also, Luke liked to receive and not give, which made me feel bad for Bree because she seemed to always be on her knees. Bree’s fascination with experimenting almost made the sex to a warm rating but fell a tad bit short.
I did like the end of the book and I liked how Bree gave Mason the kick in the butt that he needed. I loved the epilogue was awesome and I wasn’t expecting what was revealed there!!
My Summary of Breakaway:
Breakaway was a bit of a disappointment for me. With a hero that I alternating between liking and wanting to strangle and tepid sex scenes, I couldn’t get into the book. I did like the heroine but wished the hero was, well not like he was.
How many stars will I give Breakaway: 3
Why: The hero ruined the book for me. While I enjoyed the heroine, the plot and where Breakaway 00, I couldn’t get in the book because of him
Will I reread: Maybe
Will I recommend to family and friends: Maybe
Age range: Adult
Why: Language and sex
**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**
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