Review: Breaking the Rules

Breaking the Rules by Ember Leigh
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sweet and frustrating, Amara's love life is a bit of a roller coaster ride. Amara is all grown up and when she returns home to help care for her ailing mother, the last thing she expects is to stay in LA. Amara is an independent woman who has made a good life on the East Coast. She has a job where she provides value and it is something that gives her meaning. Coming home to LA feels like several steps back, but she gets to spend time with her brother and mother. She has missed them.

This story's conflict is Amara's love interest. She is attracted to her brother's best friend, Travis. She's always had a bit of a crush on the guy. Now that she's curvaceous and his is sexy hawt, sparks fly. I liked these two characters. They are relate-able and show the stresses of trying to create a life together when they have been single for so long. It isn't that they are set in their ways. It is more they have future plans that do not take into account another person who has different priorities. And really, this story comes down to priorities - including work life balance.

This story did feel as though there was a bit of an agenda pushing in a social justice warrior manner. I get that Amara wants to help battered women. I admire her gumption and drive. Her priorities and forcing others to do the same is a bit of an arrogant attitude that rubbed me the wrong way. The way she guilts Travis into giving away free workshops annoys me. It's the difference between asking someone or making suggestion and demanding. Travis must really love Amara to give into her demands. Yes, Travis does have a past where he could have been more supportive of battered women and offer women's focused self defense classes. The way Amara approached it shows a lack of maturity and self centered attitude that I don't like. This is probably why in the end, I didn't really like Amara and felt sorry for Travis. These are personal pet peeves from a jaded conservative who understands that giving something for free generally devalues the worth. Without an even exchange or a barter system if we are to bypass monetary dealings, free classes, free products are treated with little regard. I digress.

The additional conflict with dating a friend of a sibling is humorous. It felt like a making a mountain out of a mole hill but it rings true. The running around trying to be discrete and trying to resist the "forbidden fruit" helped create more sexual tension. When the deed is finally done, it is delightful. The sex is tame and vanilla compared to my usual erotic fare. For those who enjoy contemporary romances, this is a sweet one not to be missed.

* Review copy provided via Reading Alley for an honest review.