Breakaway by Kelly Jamieson

Story: 7

Presentation: 6

Total: 13
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Contemporary erotic romance
To Purchase

Blurb: Jason and Remi want the same thing—no-strings-attached, screw-their-brains-out, burn-the-sheets-up fun. Pro hockey player Jason just broke up with his girlfriend because she got too serious. Schoolteacher Remi just saw the last of the younger siblings she raised leave the nest. Jace isn’t ready for responsibility. Remi’s had enough responsibility. They’re perfect playmates.

But fun and sexy games get complicated when emotions get involved. Then responsibility and commitment crash the party when Jason’s past comes back to haunt him. Like it or not, Jason and Remi both have to figure out what they really want.

Review: I have to score this book in two parts. And the presentation score (scoring the publisher is lower for reasons I’ll explain. The cover is hot so that’s not it.) I love Ms. Jamieson’s writing style and can read anything she writes. And for the most part, I loved the romance in Breakaway, with all the hesitations and situations between Jason and Remi. I suspect Jason’s issues and fears are the same for many men in that situation (don’t want to give any spoilers) and while he struggles initially, he man’s up to his responsibilities by the end of the story and for that I was satisfied as a reader. Remi didn’t come together as well for me. I think she made amazing sacrifices for her family. But I lost some of my love for her with the situations with her brother and sister. I think the way Ms. Jamieson wrote the scene was very believable. I hated the way Remi handled her siblings when they were being unreasonable irresponsible brats and I didn’t cheer for her as a character the way I would want to. If by the end of the story, she had come around and stood up to them, I would have cheered. I don’t think she does. I still found the book to be an enjoyable read and a book I didn’t want to put down.

Now for my issues with BREAKAWAY and why the score on the publisher is lower, because I did like the story. But if you’re going to name drop actual teams, they should be accurate. As a hockey lover, I had to scratch my head. I don’t know if it’s oversight or intentional, but the Wolves are an AHL team. The Blackhawks are the NHL team in Chicago. The Stars play in Dallas, not Phoenix. If you’re in Phoenix, you’ll want to cheer for the Coyotes. Maybe for those who don’t follow hockey won’t care. But it was like reading road bumps along the way for me and I stumbled over them every time.