Breakaway
Author: Deirdre Martin
Publisher: Penguin Group/Berkley
Pub. Date: February 7, 2012
ISBN-13: 978-0425243688
Pages: 432
Digital Price: $7.99
Print Retail Price: $7.99
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They had it all planned out: college, marriage, happily ever after. But it didn’t quite work out that way…

Erin O’Brien was everyone’s favorite in Ballycraig, while Rory Brady was the town’s golden boy: the local lad who moved to America and because a professional hockey player. Rory promised to return to sweep Erin away to the life of her dreams in New York. But the bright lights and late nights turned his head and he never came back.

Two years later, Rory realizes he’s made the worst mistake of his life. Heading back to Ballycraig, he’s confident that all he needs to do is flash his winning smile and Erin will fall back into his arms. But Erin’s moved on.

Racing the clock, Rory needs to prove to her that the man she fell in love with is still there. But can happy-go-lucky Erik risk it all and give another chance to the man who broke her heart?

~*~*~

REVIEW

Breakaway is a romance about second chances. Erin and Rory were once the “it” couple and had their future all planned. Then everything fell apart and Rory broke Erin’s heart. She has moved on and has found her own path in life. Now Rory is back and Erin’s world is once again turned upside down by the sexy Irish hockey star.

This story worked for me on some levels and didn’t on others.

The things that worked:

I loved Erin. She has been hurt and she let it get her down for a while, but now she is back and better than ever. She is moving forward no matter what anyone says. I love how she doesn’t cave to Rory like everyone expects her to. She makes him work to get back into her good graces.

I loved the community that surrounds Erin. The people in her town are there for her 100%. They don’t want her to be hurt by Rory again and aren’t going to give him a chance.

I loved Erin’s best friend, Sandra. She knows what Erin needs and wants almost more than Erin does. She makes sure that Rory gets the opportunity to be around Erin and work toward patching things up with her.

The writing is fantastic. Deidre Martin is one of my top ten contemporary writers and I love the way she tells a story.

What didn’t work for me:

The story seemed to go on and on. After the HEA is achieved there are several “misunderstandings” that felt as if they were just for the sake of prolonging the book and adding words. I would have liked the story more if it had ended without the silliness.

I also didn’t like Rory much. He dumps Erin because of his ego. He doesn’t need his hometown girlfriend now that he is a big shot hockey player in New York. I didn’t feel that he had really changed enough to realistically be back in Erin’s life. He still thinks he’s God’s gift when he comes back to Ireland. I didn’t see any growth in the character.

As an addition to the NY Blades series I found this book lacking. There wasn’t the interaction with the hockey team until the end of the story and it just felt as if the vibe from the first books in the series wasn’t there.

Rating: 2.5 (Fair)

Heat-Level: 3 (Sensual)

Reviewed by Carrie

Comment and enter to win your own copy of BREAKAWAY.

2.5 Starscontemporary
By Berkley, Giveaways, Reviews36 Comments on Review & Giveaway: Breakaway by Deirdre Martin

36 Replies to “Review & Giveaway: Breakaway by Deirdre Martin”

  3. Wow, sounds like a great book! I think this has happened to some of us – a guy who’s realized he’s walked away from the best thing that’s ever happened to him and he wants her back. Not every guy gets her though! I’d love to see how this fella manages it!

    Thank you for the giveaway chance!

  6. Always enjoy reading Deirdre Martin’s New York Blade series. Great contemporary romances. Thank you for the review and the contest!

  7. Thank you for the review. Deirdre Martin is a new author to me and I love to read books that are part of a sports series, so I will definitely have to check her books out.

  8. I’m a huge fan of second chance stories and a hockey fan. It looks like I’ll have to keep my eye on this book.

  11. Would like to win this one-I have read the other books she has written about the hockey players.

  13. i like read contemporer series,, so i hope i win this book…
    thanks for review and the give away ^^

  15. Thanks for the review. I enjoyed your review. Make me want read book.
    Thanks for review and the give away ^^

  18. I like your review, your likes and dislikes. I think this story would get under my skin, there is no way I want Erin to forgive him. I think I will pass on this read, but I enjoyed reading your review!

  20. Thank you for the review. It is a bit disappointing when the hero doesn’t deserve the heroine. If he had flaws to start with, he needs to grow and improve. Since it is part of a good series, it has expectations to meet. Had it come on the scene on its own, you might have enjoyed it better.

  24. I haven’t read any of this series, but I don’t mind to read this one. Btw, thanks for reviewing this book.

  25. I would like to read BREAKAWAY to see if I agree with your assessment of Rory. Thanks for the chance to ry a Deidre Martin hockey book.

    johnslake at usa dot com

  26. Sounds like a great book. Can’t wait to read it. I love second chances books. Thanks for the giveaway.

    e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

  27. I have not read any of Deidre Martin’s books . As a fan of hockey books, I would like to read this one. Thanks for the great giveaway.

  29. Thanks for the review Carrie! This book looks good, I like books with hockey players in them.

  32. The blurb sounds like it would be a good read. Would be interesting to see if it is. Thanks for the giveaway.

  33. I would like to read this book. The first half of your review makes it sound good, and like I’d like it. But now I’m a little iffy because of the rest. I sometimes don’t mind when the hero acts like a jerk, but he has to realise his mistake, and change before I’m willing to accept him returning to the herione.

  35. I really enjoy Deirdre Martin’s novels and have been looking forward to this one. I also love sports related stories.

  36. Love the cover of this book. I am Irish and love St Patricks Day and love the color green. Plus a hockey lover. Would love to win and read this book. This is a new author for me and always looking for new authors to check out.

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