As a reader obsessed with the sexy men of the MMA world I was immediately drawn to the unlikely romance between two people from very different worlds who get to know each other all over again. Keep reading to get a tantalizing taste of Breaking Her Rules by Jennifer Snow, the first installment in her Beyond the Cage series, along with my impressions of it. In honor of this series starter make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $20 Amazon GC, swag, and 5 e-copies of this book too!
MMA fighters go the distance in this all-new series from Jennifer Snow, author of the Brookhollow novels.
Walker Adams was supposed to follow in his lawyer father’s footsteps, but instead he’s training to be an MMA fighter. And while he works for his chance to make it in the Maximum Fight League, he’s bunking on his baby sister’s best friend’s couch. Gracie Andrews is all grown up—in all the right places. But she’s engaged to the fight match-maker who holds Walker’s career in his hands...
Gracie had almost convinced herself that she’d put her silly childhood crush on Walker to rest. But the sight of him sleeping in only a pair of boxer briefs makes it clear that some things never change. And as old sparks turn to flames, Gracie is forced to decide between the future she thought she wanted or the man she’s never stopped loving…
Walker Adams was supposed to follow in his lawyer father’s footsteps, but instead he’s training to be an MMA fighter. And while he works for his chance to make it in the Maximum Fight League, he’s bunking on his baby sister’s best friend’s couch. Gracie Andrews is all grown up—in all the right places. But she’s engaged to the fight match-maker who holds Walker’s career in his hands...
Gracie had almost convinced herself that she’d put her silly childhood crush on Walker to rest. But the sight of him sleeping in only a pair of boxer briefs makes it clear that some things never change. And as old sparks turn to flames, Gracie is forced to decide between the future she thought she wanted or the man she’s never stopped loving…
EXCERPT:
“Whoa…occupied,” Walker Adams said, quickly reaching for a towel as the bathroom door swung open.
“Shit, sorry.” Grace shut her eyes as she slammed the door, but not before seeing much more of her best friend’s older brother. Something her fifteen-year-old self would have gone to extreme measures to see.
Well, that image was going to take a brain injury to forget.
“I’ll just be a second,” he called through the door as she turned to leave.
“No worries-take your time.” She checked her watch. She had fifteen minutes before she had to leave for work. They would need to come up with a better routine if they were going to be roommates for several weeks.
Several weeks. Holy shit. How had Kylie talked her into this? When her best friend had called from California to ask the favor, she wished she hadn’t answered the call because Kylie had asked her a question she’d been unable to refuse.
“He’s desperate,” Kylie had said.
Desperate was one word that failed to come to mind when she thought about Walker. She was pretty sure he’d never wanted anything too long before getting it. “Really?”
“Yes. I mean, he will never admit it, of course, but he’s left himself zero options. If he’s not attending classes, Dad says he’s not paying his rent or helping him financially until he wakes up and realizes he’s ruining his future.”
That sounded like Judge Adams. He saw one future for his son and Grace didn’t expect the man to ever support the fighting career Walker had dropped out of law school to pursue. She’d sighed. “All I have is a pull out sofa-no spare room.” She cringed at the thought of someone sleeping in her living room…even for a few weeks. She’d never had a roommate, preferring her privacy and space.
Roommates were messy and loud and…messy.
“Trust me-he’s not picky right now. He’s been sleeping in his Jeep for the last few weeks. He finally told me and I’m a little worried about him living on the streets in Las Vegas.”
Her resolve melted. The idea of Walker Adams down on his luck was a completely foreign one. The high school valedictorian and football star was not exactly lacking in the ‘good fortune’ category. Not when it came to success or brains or looks…so how had the guy voted ‘most likely to succeed’ in high school end up needing her pull out sofa?
“Okay, he can stay here…but you know I’m moving in three weeks, right? July 31st my lease is up and I’m moving in with Erik.”
“I was kinda hoping you’d come to your senses…” her friend had mumbled.
“Nope, still planning a future with a successful, gorgeous man.” She didn’t take offense at Kylie’s attitude toward Erik. The one and only time her friend had met her boyfriend, the Christmas before, they hadn’t exactly hit it off. Erik was kind of an acquired taste. His abrupt manner could be a little off-putting to those who didn’t know him well. Normally, if her best friend and boyfriend didn’t get along, it would be a cause of stress for Grace, but with Kylie a thousand miles away in L.A. and their visits rare these days as they both climbed their respective corporate ladders, her friend’s opinion seemed to matter less.
“Fine…Well at least he hasn’t proposed yet, so there’s still hope.”
Grace rolled her eyes. “So when is Walker getting here?” Changing the subject was always the best course of action whenever their talks turned to her relationship.
“I’ll text him right away with your address and he’ll be there soon. He can’t be that far away.”
Fan-fucking-tastic. Her best friend’s brother, a guy she’d been completely in love with at fifteen, and a man she hadn’t seen in almost five years would be her new roommate in a matter of minutes. “Can’t wait to see him,” she’d lied.
And boy, in less than twenty-four hours, she had certainly seen him. Every last perfectly tanned, sculpted inch of him. From the short dark hair, chiseled chest and shoulders to his drool-worthy abs and-ahem-everything else. Everything else.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
It's common knowledge that we often can't see what's right in front of us and that perfectly sums up the relationship between Grace and Walker since they were young. It's an emotional journey as these two people from very different worlds reunite to admit feelings that will change their lives forever. Along with a slowly burning romance readers get a glimpse into the gritty world of MMA fighting and all the behind the scenes machinations that combine to make this a compelling read that races to an exciting conclusion.
Grace came from a life of just struggling to get by. With a flighty mother constantly working to make ends meet and who repeatedly gave her heart away to men who quickly walked away set Grace on a path where she was willing to settle for a life of comfort over happiness and emotional support. She always loved Walker but had to stand by watching him go from one beautiful woman to the next all the while convinced that he'd never want someone as plain as her. She's tried to forget him throughout the years, forging a relationship with a man of importance in the MMA community, but coming into contact with Walker once again reignites the feelings she once had for him. With a proposal in her future from a man who takes her for granted, cares more about work than love, and makes her feel unimportant left me frustrated and hoping she'd take a second chance on love when Walker's eyes are finally opened. Grace is a strong-willed woman in many respects but being with Erik makes her spineless. She puts up with his ignoring and forgetting about her as well as his lack of passion with a serene smile on her face that made me want to punch some sense into her. Before Walker arrived she was bland and fearful of taking chances for fear of failing, but Walker brings out a sassy side to her, a much braver one that I vastly preferred.
Walker came from a family of wealth that seemed picture perfect and with everything coming easy to him as he was seen as the Golden Boy. His father had plans for him to be a lawyer but with graduation looming large he throws it all away to fulfill a dream he's had since he was young. Wanting to be an MMA fighter has him cut off financially and ending up on childhood friend Grace's couch. She's not what he remembers though and when certain truths and feelings are revealed not only will he fight for the career he wants but he'll be fighting for Grace's love too. I adored Walker from the moment I laid eyes on his glistening, freshly-showered body. Once he finally admitted what he wanted out of life he didn't let anything hold him back. When he realized how he truly felt about Grace he was loyal, never letting other women sway him, despite Grace being with Erik. Walker always held out hope, believing in dreams that he could one day claim Grace. Walker could be cocky at times but he was always caring and supportive despite being made to feel like a failure by his father, and with many doubting his ability to win a life-changing fight. Through it all I was cheering him on.
This is a story that started off slowly with Grace a pushover in interacting with Erik who I found smarmy. Walker was a breath of fresh air lighting up every scene he was in with his charm, sexiness, and flirty nature. As the story progressed, and as he and Grace grew closer, their interactions became more flirty with witty banter that was teeming with sensuality. That sensuality didn't add up to many sexual moments though until very late in the book which further frustrated me. The concluding chapters is when the action really picked up which had me on the edge of my seat watching Walker fight for his life and his love. Surrounding these memorable main characters is a unique and colorful cast of secondary characters that make this MMA world larger than life and who I'd love to see more of. From bar owner Maria with her take no prisoners attitude, to former fighter Tyson with a mysterious past of his own who gives Walker the knowledge he needs to get what he wants, these characters helped immerse me in this story even more and have me excited for the next installment set in this gritty world of broken dreams. Readers looking for a delicious hero who will sweep you off your feet need look no further than Walker Adams and this series starter from Ms. Snow.
Grace came from a life of just struggling to get by. With a flighty mother constantly working to make ends meet and who repeatedly gave her heart away to men who quickly walked away set Grace on a path where she was willing to settle for a life of comfort over happiness and emotional support. She always loved Walker but had to stand by watching him go from one beautiful woman to the next all the while convinced that he'd never want someone as plain as her. She's tried to forget him throughout the years, forging a relationship with a man of importance in the MMA community, but coming into contact with Walker once again reignites the feelings she once had for him. With a proposal in her future from a man who takes her for granted, cares more about work than love, and makes her feel unimportant left me frustrated and hoping she'd take a second chance on love when Walker's eyes are finally opened. Grace is a strong-willed woman in many respects but being with Erik makes her spineless. She puts up with his ignoring and forgetting about her as well as his lack of passion with a serene smile on her face that made me want to punch some sense into her. Before Walker arrived she was bland and fearful of taking chances for fear of failing, but Walker brings out a sassy side to her, a much braver one that I vastly preferred.
Walker came from a family of wealth that seemed picture perfect and with everything coming easy to him as he was seen as the Golden Boy. His father had plans for him to be a lawyer but with graduation looming large he throws it all away to fulfill a dream he's had since he was young. Wanting to be an MMA fighter has him cut off financially and ending up on childhood friend Grace's couch. She's not what he remembers though and when certain truths and feelings are revealed not only will he fight for the career he wants but he'll be fighting for Grace's love too. I adored Walker from the moment I laid eyes on his glistening, freshly-showered body. Once he finally admitted what he wanted out of life he didn't let anything hold him back. When he realized how he truly felt about Grace he was loyal, never letting other women sway him, despite Grace being with Erik. Walker always held out hope, believing in dreams that he could one day claim Grace. Walker could be cocky at times but he was always caring and supportive despite being made to feel like a failure by his father, and with many doubting his ability to win a life-changing fight. Through it all I was cheering him on.
This is a story that started off slowly with Grace a pushover in interacting with Erik who I found smarmy. Walker was a breath of fresh air lighting up every scene he was in with his charm, sexiness, and flirty nature. As the story progressed, and as he and Grace grew closer, their interactions became more flirty with witty banter that was teeming with sensuality. That sensuality didn't add up to many sexual moments though until very late in the book which further frustrated me. The concluding chapters is when the action really picked up which had me on the edge of my seat watching Walker fight for his life and his love. Surrounding these memorable main characters is a unique and colorful cast of secondary characters that make this MMA world larger than life and who I'd love to see more of. From bar owner Maria with her take no prisoners attitude, to former fighter Tyson with a mysterious past of his own who gives Walker the knowledge he needs to get what he wants, these characters helped immerse me in this story even more and have me excited for the next installment set in this gritty world of broken dreams. Readers looking for a delicious hero who will sweep you off your feet need look no further than Walker Adams and this series starter from Ms. Snow.
My rating for this is a B-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Jennifer Snow lives in Edmonton, Alberta with her husband and four year old son. She is a member of the Writers Guild of Alberta, the Romance Writers of America, the Canadian Author Association, and SheWrites.org. She is also a regular blogger on the Heartwarming Authors site and is a contributing author to Mslexia Magazine, WestWord Magazine and RWR. She has also taught RWA Chapters courses online. Her 2013 Holiday Romance-The Trouble With Mistletoe was a finalist in the 2014 Golden Quill Contest and the Heart of Denver Aspen Gold Contest.
Her publishing credits include two holiday novellas, previously published by The Wild Rose Press, now re-released or being re-released as self-published editions through Amazon. The Mistletoe Fever was an Amazon bestseller for two weeks in the category of Kindle Short Reads. Her six book small town, Brookhollow series is published through Harlequin Heartwarming and she has a new MMA sports romance series releasing through Berkley/NAL Intermix in 2015. RT Reviews has given each of her Brookhollow series books 4 stars.
She also hosts an annual SnowGlobe Award contest in recognition of holiday themed romance stories, with over forty entries each year, with participants ranging from new authors to NYT Bestselling authors, such as Brenda Novak and Sarah Morgan. More information about the contest can be found at www.snowglobeawardcontest.
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Congrats on the new release.
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