As Tampa Bay’s star center, Mark Carmelo’s life was hockey, and after a bitter and public break up, all he wanted to do was focus on the game. Until he saw her. The one that got away. The one he thought he’d never see again.For thirteen years, Stevie West drowned in her lackluster life. Recently divorced from her “roommate” with passionless benefits, she was ready to start over. On her own.Until … over. On her own.
Until she ran into him.
The same man she’d met one year ago.
The temptation that had finally given her the courage to find herself again.
When lightning strikes twice, there’s no way to deny the chemistry it creates.
But with both of them still nursing old wounds, Mark and Stevie will have to find a way around the other’s defenses, a way to breakaway and score the one thing they never expected… love.
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OMG! I am so in love with this book. Breakaway is such a sweet and sexy read. Max and Stevie were so amazing and made this book so hard to put down. I felt so connected with these characters and their insecurities and feelings were so real and genuine. A.M. Johnson is such a smooth and poetic writer, making all her books so addictive. Breakaway was no exception. Mark and Stevie battle with their own issues, but their feelings are so raw. Stevie’s struggles with her body image and Mark is there to show her how beautiful and sexy her curves are. Mark seriously stole my heart. I loved his battle with trust issues from a cheating ex and while in most sports romances it turns them into a manwhore, Mark was the exact opposite. Even the way he carried himself as an athlete was so unlike most jocks. This endeared him to me even more.
Breakaway is a book about happenstance meeting where two people who connect in an indescribable level, but are unable to act on the emotions brewing between them, and one day they meet again when those circumstances have changed. Its like Serendipity or the one that got away type feel and those are the stories I love the most. Every moment Mark and Stevie spend with each other is so sweet. It gave me chills and that all consuming joy you get when you know two people were meant for one another.
I also want to note that Amanda did a kickass job with all her hockey knowledge and explaining to sports to those who don’t know much about hockey or any sport period. I think she did an amazing job with her approach and shedding a different light into the sport. There were also some great tropes, one of which is the fact that Stevie is 7 years older than Mark. I was like hell yes when I found this out. It was done so great.
Female accountant who divorced a man after 13 years of marriage is out looking for a new man to date. NHL player meets her at a local sports bar. He has been trough a bad breakup in the past, an does not want a repeat performance of his mistakes.
Great story about getting to know each other’s families both good and bad sides.
I really enjoyed this. Mark was super sexy. I love when the hero is all in.
Audiobook Review:
Overall 4.5*
Performance 5*
Story 4.5*
“Second chance at a second chance.”
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Oh yes, for sure! I loved the story and Tracy and Aaron are perfect! They did a really terrific job giving life to Stevie and Mark. Aaron is a new-to-me narrator, but now that I’ve found him I’m going on a binge!
What did you like best about this story?
I had no idea going in that this was an older woman/younger man story, (one of my very favorite tropes), if I had I would have jumped on this book when it first released! I love when I find a book with this trope, and the woman doesn’t spend the majority of it thinking she’s not worthy of being with a younger man. Stevie may have been a little leery at first, especially after just getting out of her only relationship, but the age difference wasn’t something that was treated as a major conflict between her and Mark. And that made me so happy!
Mark is such a sweet, swoon-worthy character! For someone his age, and in the profession he’s in, he really had his act together. Playing around, having a different woman in his bed each night, while that may be what was expected of him, that’s not the kind of guy he was. He wasn’t interested in the bunnies, that wasn’t the life he wanted. From the first moment he met Stevie he knew there was something special there.
I really liked that this was a sports romance that didn’t skimp on the sports aspect of it, too!
Which scene was your favorite?
I really enjoyed Stevie and Mark’s first meeting! There was so much chemistry between them, but because she was married they had to keep themselves in check. I liked that as much as Mark would have liked things to have gone a different direction, he respected Stevie and didn’t push her. And then when they saw each other again after a year- I loved that Mark wasn’t afraid of going right up to her, even as she sat at a table surrounded by a bunch of men he didn’t know. A year later and that spark was still there between them.
Any additional comments?
Mark and Stevie were so perfect together! They both kind of brought each other back to life, after their respective break-ups. With Mark, Stevie was able to shine once again. She didn’t have to hold herself back, or make herself into someone she wasn’t, if that makes sense! And Mark, Stevie was just the woman for him. I love how much he adored her, even with his little lapse when he let his insecurities get to him.
Audible: Narrators – Tracy Marks and Aaron Shedlock
Both of these narrators do an exceptional job of bringing to life Mark and Stevie. Their voices give deeper characterization to A.M. Johnson’s words and I loved how they were never monotone or flat but always flowing, always sharp and clear and always perfect. I’m a huge fan of Tracy Marks but now I’m adding Aaron Shedlock to my list of favorites.
A year ago, Stevie was struggling with a huge life decision. After spending a platonic evening with Mark she finally has the push she needs to make changes that should’ve been made years ago. Reuniting with him again, Stevie is finally coming to the realization of who she is and what she wants in life and taking the steps to get it.
Mark had a very public relationship and then breakup years ago. Now the only thing he’s dedicated to one hundred percent is his team and playing hockey. When he sees Stevie again and learns of her current life status, he’s amped to take the step that they walked away from a year earlier. However, the shadow of both their pasts lurk at the edges ready to push them at the first available moment.
I loved this couple! Usually, I don’t like an older woman/younger man trope but this one didn’t even hinge on this point of their relationship. Mark was mature and caring and all he wanted was to give Stevie everything she had been missing out on. Stevie struggled with some self-esteem issues due to her own past, but the longer she is with Mark, the more her confidence grew.
This was a story of second chances, finding yourself, and learning to trust. I loved how Stevie was everything to Mark and that his dedication had switched to include her in his life. She deserved someone who could show her the world around her in technicolor where everything before him had been flat and gray. The secondary characters were perfect and I hope we get more about them in future books!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This story was amazing!! I just adore Mark & Stevie. They had such an instant connection from the first time they met, sparks definitely flew, but timing was not on their side. Fast forward one year, they meet again, and the chemistry between them was still there. Loved how patient Mark was with Stevie – he knew she was something special and didn’t want to rush her into something she wasn’t ready for. Even though they truly were at different places in life (Mark, a young, star NHL player; Stevie – early 30’s, recently divorced, new job), Mark truly was the perfect person to help her move forward in life and love, telling her, “….you should get to feel everything, to have everything you want.”
Her second chance on life and love, a second chance with the one he couldn’t forget, one random meeting in a bar ending with separation and longing a year ago sets them on the path to their own forever. Stevie is given a new lease on life, an opportunity to rediscover herself and become who she was meant to be when her over-a-decade marriage comes to an end. She met Mark on a quick trip home once and they made a connection that she never forgot. While she was faithful to her husband on that trip, seeing him again reminds her that she’s free to pursue the man who clearly wants to get to know her. Whether she can actually take that step is another question entirely. Mark is made to be loyal but the woman he was with years ago shows him that maybe there’s no hope to find someone built the same way. A chance meeting with a captivating woman shows him that maybe there’s more, someone who can be a partner to him in all the ways he craves. It helps that she’s smokin’ hot, and now a year after their first fateful meeting, she’s no longer attached to anyone else. It’s his turn to show her what she’s been missing. But when drama interferes, he’ll have to decide of their pasts have the power to trump their love.
There are almost no words. Well, really, I’m going to annihilate that sentence with the rest of the review, but that was the feeling I had so many times while I was reading this story. I felt so connected with Stevie because I’ve got some similar parallels in my own life that I’m struggling with. Watching her come out fighting, emotionally devastated and exuberant in turn, and find her own happily ever after with someone who saw, valued, and treasured each and every part of her gives me hope.
Stevie lost herself along the way when she chose safety, stability, and honestly, boring in her husband, Ben. When she begins to question who she is anymore, what she wants, and if all the years she’s invested in her marriage are worth staying when she’s fading more and more each year, a trip back home while he’s away gives her a little insight. From here she makes proactive choices, lifestyle changes, and courageous moves to get her back on her own track. And just like before, the bar brings her Mark. I really loved seeing her open up to him, explore her own self, and come to realize that her future is her own and it sure is wonderful to have a man see her for who she really is and encourages her to celebrate it. She had a good sense of self that she was getting reacquainted with and even though she falters when Ben shows up again, she knows she never wants to go back. Her open honesty gives Mark everything he wasn’t sure he was ready for. Despite her meltdown at the silence from Mark, she had good reason. Her continued faith in him, their love, and being willing to fight for it and not let it fade away allowed Mark to have a way back in, to fix what needed fixing, and to get back their future.
Mark is coasting. He’s good at what he does, sure of who he is, and stunned by the woman sitting at the table. A year prior he met a woman that he knew would change his life forever but didn’t think he’d ever see again. Fate had other plans, though, and gave them another chance to pick up where they left off. He loves getting to know Stevie and while I’m not a fan of the constant comparing he does of himself against Ben, I believe that his heart is in the right place concerning Stevie. All he wants is to show her everything she is is perfect. His youth sometimes led to immature moments, but those were few and far between, save his big blowup when their pasts tried to derail their relationship. Mark’s heart is so good, so big, that I couldn’t help but admire everything he stood for. I especially like that he wasn’t a manwhore. The way he viewed sex and relationships is such a breath of fresh air from many, many other sports romances and romances in general that I was won over right from the start.
The story itself was engaging, the couple endearing, and the passion was hot. Mark’s freak-out near the end was a bit disappointing but not all that unexpected because of his romantic history. His response to it showed his youth, immaturity, and proved shortsighted. Instead of trusting and communicating he ran and isolated himself from everyone that mattered. I wish he were made to grovel a bit more, but I can’t deny that the lead-up and the ending more than made up for the too-short apology.
My heart was full by the end, I loved their journey and am totally gone for this author. This is the first book I’ve read by her and if any other stories of theirs are as good as this one, I’m sold. There were emotional highs and lows and everything in-between that made me cheer and want to cry. The side characters are rock solid and interesting in a way that makes me want to follow each of their stories. I eagerly await more from The Rule Book Collection.
I love sports romances. In this story I followed Mark Carmelo, the Tampa Bay’s center hockey player. Having his life torn apart by his ex he knows all he needs to do is focus on his time on the ice, not off. When Stevie West runs into the man who she has a history with she wonders if this is their second chance or did their first chance and only chance already happen. I loved this story and how strong these two characters are. Their chemistry jumps off the page. This is definitely a must read romance.
4.5 stars for this stunning book!
“The weight that held my heart broke free and fell into my gut, raising every last one of the butterflies from the dead.”
I was lucky enough to be on the receiving end of an ARC of Breakaway, even though I’ve never read one on Amanda’s books before. So actually I had no idea what I got myself into. But reading about a hot NHL player can’t do any harm, or so I thought….
“His touch was breath and I needed to inhale it.”
Do you know the feeling of having a stressful week and on the weekend you go and pamper yourself at the spa. The feeling you get when you enter the hot whirlpool, sitting down closing your eyes and let the bubbles wrapping you in a relaxing warm blanket. And all the stress just melts away.
THAT’s exactly how I felt reading Breakaway.
“She was stealing my breath, and I wanted her to have it.”
Stevie is this kind of girl you want to have as your best friend. She’s fiercely loyal, her feelings run deep, she’s intelligent, honest, caring, funny, trusting. Beautiful inside out. I really love that Amanda made her so real. Not only because Stevie is a full figured girl who scored herself a ridiculously hot NHL player who sees her for who she really is and loves all her curves. But because the way she acts, interacts, reacts. Amanda gave Stevie a beautiful soul shining through all the pages.
“Mark had the uncanny ability of making me feel at home in my own skin. Even if I was on fire and smattered with a million goose bumps.”
And don’t let me even start to write about Mark. How comes a 26/27 year old NHL top player can be so HOT, grown-up and down to earth? He’s a man I’d totally fall for and not because he’s a hot star player. He was actually too cute for his own good. I’m lost for words when it comes down to describe him. The way he made Stevie feel, the way he opened her bottle and set her free was simply amazing.
“It was in him I was able to find myself again.”
Stevie and Mark’s chemistry sparkles from every page you turn. They fit together right from their first encounter. They work together like a well oiled machine. Like old loving souls meeting again on earth.
Thank you Amanda for this wonderful written love story! I’m happy I didn’t miss out on this beauty! And thank you for making Stevie so damn real! I adore her <3
"To those who dream ... find what gives you passion, light that match and ignite your soul." I can't even tell you, what this dedication means to me!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
GOOAAL!!!! AM Johnson did it again, Breakaway is a knock out hit! There is a level of greatness that has been consistent in regards to this author and just when I feel that it can’t get any better, she tops herself. Mark and Stevie will steal your heart, falling for them together and separately happened instantly. I adore how genuine Mark Carmelo, he was a refreshing change from the normal alpha that tends to be in a sports romance. His lack of desire to live the player life in hopes of finding something, someone, real just melted me. I was a goner pretty fast. And Stevie! Her insecurities and doubts about where she wants to go in life and the struggle she goes through to find herself again is so relatable! I love reading a character that is starting a new leaf and finding where they were meant to be.
For sports romance loves this will be a no brainer love, and for those that don’t read much sports romance I recommend you take a chance on Breakaway. It is addictive, explosive, and oh so satisfying. Once you start you won’t be able to stop!
-Mackenzie
Breakaway (A Rule Book #1) I’m torn as I really wanted to love this audio sports and love but I didn’t. Where did it go wrong, I just didn’t connect with the characters or their second chance romance. I didnt get the right vibes with the chemistry with these two characters. I do love that it was dual pov naration which gives you a sense of the characters. This is the right length of audio I like listening to but this one dragged.
I’m hoping to listen to another audio by this author with other narators.
Narators Tracy Marks, Aaron Shedlock did not fit with this audio for me. I personally don’t think Tracy Marks should narate sports romances. I don’t get the right aura from her. I really enjoy her inflection when she narrates romantic suspense, thrillers, but I don’t think she is right for sports romances. I didn’t enjoy Aaron Shedlock’s inflection. It was characterless. I prefer seductive deep baritone voices when listening to sports romances and his was just flat. His female tone was alright though.
Overall, just a alright listen. I didn’t love it but I didn’t hate it.
Audiobook version:
I loved this one~ Great characters, plot and the perfect blend of sports and romance. Narration was fantastic, really no complaints at all. I thought this was a wonderfully written sweet romance that left your heart lighter for reading it. Great book!
I love a good Hockey romance, Mark and Stevie’s story did not disappoint. This is a complete page turner from beginning until the end, their story goes to prove that what’s meant to be will be. Stevie, a woman that has no knowledge of Hockey at all comes to learn the sport in a way that I would love to learn it myself. The events that take place go from having you smiling to gasping. Great read.
Breakaway is a sweet hockey romance that will make your heart skate and your soul fly. It is the first book in what is promising to be a fantastic series from A.M. Johnson.
Stevie married her high school sweetheart and had been with him for thirteen years. She’s been a shell of the person that she was meant to be and finally made the decision to divorce. Newly moved back to her hometown, Stevie comes face to face to the man she met a year ago. The one who made her realize that her life could be more. And this man wants everything to do with her.
Mark is the star center for Tampa Bay. He’s been hurt in the past and is guarded but from the moment he met Stevie a year ago, he knew there was something about her he would never forget. Now that she’s back in his life and available, he makes it known what he wants. When her past catches up to her future, Mark is forced to relive some old feelings that could jeopardize the good thing they have going on. It’s up to them to see if they can get through the emotional battle thrown at them.
First and foremost, I must say that Mark is absolutely one of the sweetest and swoon worthy heroes from a sports romance story. One person does hold my top spot but Mark certainly gave it a good battle. From the second he meets Stevie, he lets her know how amazing she is and wants her to be free and happy.
I think my favorite part of it is the set up of all the supporting characters. I loved each and every one of them and I was left wanting to know all of their stories. And Poppy….yeah. I need her in my life ASAP.
Breakaway gives us a sweet and sexy romance with just the perfect balance of angst to get your blood flowing and your heart pumping faster. If you are looking for sweet and swoon-worthy, then Breakaway is for you!
Breakaway is the perfect hockey romance thanks to Mark and Stevie. They have amazing chemistry. I really enjoyed the seven year age gap between them. Yes, Mark was young but very mature for his age. Their relationship took time to develop but it was done with so much attention to their chemistry and attraction that I enjoyed them being on dates and discovering one another.
The hockey games and references were great too. Stevie’s BFF Reagan caught my attention as did Mark’s team mate and friend Bryson. I hope they get a book too. Breakaway was my first book by A.M. Johnson and I’m very excited for more from her. Her writing is flows beautifully and is definitely one of the reason I’m coming back for more.
4 Us Stars
It’s been a while since I’ve read a good sports romance and A.M. Johnson nailed it!!! Her books are always filled with so much depth and meaning. Breakaway was no different. It’s one of those books that you can’t stop reading because you can’t wait to see what happens next. Breakaway appealed to me in so many ways and is heart warming and sweet. The circumstances of how Mark and Stevie met intrigued me and peeked my interest. Mark and Stevie are really good together are definitely meant for each other. They have a great connection and their chemistry is sizzling!!
The secondary characters (Reagan and Bryson) are hysterical and I hope to see books written about them. Breakaway is a definite must read!!
I love AM Johnson’s writing. She writes her stories with so much sensitivity, love and intensity. The cover is amazing. I love the story of Stevie and Mark. They are so great together! The secondary characters are also very interesting! Poppy is adorable! I want a friend like Reagan! Trent and David are so kind with Stevie. Unfortunately, Ben haven’t a good role, so it’s impossible to love him, but also difficult to really hate him. This story is all about the trusting and the ability to letting go the past to be able to live the present. The epilogue is beautiful. The narration was absolutely stunning. Aaron Shedlock and Tracy Marks are so professional and their voices are so beautiful. They built the narration in continuity and we can feel all the sentiments the author has so well written for us in this book. I’ll listen again this story.
I love AM Johnson’s writing. Breakaway (Book 1 in the Rule Book series) is a second chance sports romance with a ton of heart and heat set in the world of hockey. The story is well written with characters you can connect with and prose that captures the moment. It’s definitely a winner. Mark Carmelo, hockey star extraordinaire and Stevie West’s first meeting is Ill-timed. The attraction is intense but she’s not available. Their second meeting is totally accidental and happens when they both need it most. Mark is everything you want in a man – good looks with a beautiful heart to match. Stevie is all curves with a vibrant personality and caring soul. They both have been burned in relationships. Words on the page have you feeling all the insecurities and excitement. It puts you in the moment and lets you go along on the ride with them. The storytelling is so vivid it makes their world a believable and realistic place. The secondary characters are supportive and funny. It makes you want to know more about them. The romance is steamy with great dialogue. It’s a smooth, sexy read and an awesome start to what will be a fantastic series. I can’t wait for the rest!
A hockey romance? That’s my jam. With a hero born and raised in New Hampshire? Fresh ice on the rink’s surface. Add in a heroine older than the hero? HAT TRICK!! I mean any of these things individually probably would have had me picking up this book. But the three of them all together? Bumped it right up the top of my list. Couple that with the fact that it was authored by the super talented AM Johnson and I had a feeling I was in for a treat. I had NO idea that this hockey romance would be so unbelievably special.
Mark Carmelo is a twenty-five year old hockey player. In the prime of his life, and his career as a starting center for Tampa Bay. But there’s so much more to this inked, muscled hottie. He shows incredible loyalty to his friends and teammates. He is super close to his family and dotes on his autistic niece, Poppy. He runs a hockey camp for special needs kids and has a degree in education. And he’s been burned by love. Badly. Enough that he’s become a little cynical. Until one night, in a nothing-special sports bar, he sees the woman that could change his life.
Stevie West is just back in town for a few days. At thirty-two, she’s seeking something- escape from her stagnating marriage, possibly a new perspective and she’s drowning the drama in drinks with a friend. And hockey? She couldn’t tell you the first thing about the sport. So, Mark Carmelo is about the furthest thing from what she thought she was seeking.
The connection is instant. The chemistry is palpable. And the tension is divine. But the timing. The timing is way off.
But fate has a way of helping out true love. And man, is their love true. Bumpy? Sure. Separated by distance? Age? Absolutely. But the love is undeniable. And the story is incredible. The supporting characters bring the funny, and the sweet and all the feels. And at the end of this story, you’ll wish they were real. That they were your friends. And that the story would never end.
AM Johnson has scored another game-winning goal with this one. And I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
“You gave her back her bold.”
I love a story that does that! This is my first book by A.M. Johnson and will not be my last! This book was fantastic and I can’t wait to read more from this author!
This story is about Mark and Stevie (Love the name, and who she is named after!) The first thing that I really enjoyed was Stevie was older than Mark and it didn’t make a difference! I wish we could do away with the old fashioned notion that the man needs to be older than the woman….
Stevie was being held prisoner of a marriage that wasn’t right. I liked how A.M. explained the reason why she married and why so young, it made me understand and relate to the reasoning better. I loved the innocent connection Mark and Stevie had the first time they met and held onto even after time had passed until they saw each other again.
Mark! Hockey player, alpha male, old soul and romantical! What more could you ask for in a hero? He was a total gentleman wrapped in tattooed hotness! Even when his trust was shattered, he knew when he first met Stevie, she was different.
With just the right amount of angst thrown in, I couldn’t put this story down! This is a fantastic, fast read! I loved the secondary characters and hope to see more about their stories in the future!!