Soren Green is a good man. An ex-MMA fighter, single father, and a lawyer helping to better the lives of LGBT teens. But his life isn’t as simple as it seems, and things get turned a little upside down when he stumbles on a troubled man on the side of the road, making his way through a snowstorm. Soren knows one of his biggest problems is his bleeding heart, but how can he turn away when he was … was once that man out in the cold?
Kane Winters once had it easy. Rich parents, silver spoon, everything at his disposal. But Kane was never a lucky man, and nothing is proof of that more than his abusive boyfriend dying in a freak accident, and his uncontrollable anger sending him into a tailspin. He returned to Fairfield with a chip on his shoulder, felony on his record, and no hope of recovering himself as the man he once was. Kane was certain that he was condemned to this life—cold, alone, and unloved. Then, in the middle of a storm, a stranger pulls over to offer him a ride. Kane took a blind leap once, and it almost destroyed his life, but he’s not so sure the bald man with the walking cane and kind eyes would be anything like his ex.
Will the two men figure out a way to make it work, or will their pasts continue to leave them to a future without hope?
Renegades is the first book in the series, Breaking the Rules- an Irons and Works spin-off. Each book contains no cheating with an HEA.
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**Audiobook Review**
Wonderful characters. Love how both how Soren and Kane were determined to overcome their past and work on the future. Second chance romances are great and these two really deserved it. The narrator was good…he did real well bringing out the different characters personalities. First time with this author and don’t think it will be my last.
I loved this start to a new series!
I’ve read all the Iron and Works books, but you can definitely still enjoy this book without reading them. A few years have gone by since the previous series, and we only get tiny glimpses at how the couples from Irons and Works have developed. I do think there are some spoilers for those books, so if you’re thinking about reading the other series I’d do that first.
This book deals with heavier topics than some of the others Elaine has written. While all the Iron and Works books have characters who deal with various types of trauma, it’s mostly set in the past and not described in detail. This book begins with a present-day abusive scene, so please take the trigger warnings seriously!
Warnings aside, I adored Kane and Soren’s journey in this book. Compared to some of Elaine’s other books, this was a slower-burn romance, but I felt like it fit Soren and Kane. If they had rushed into sex it would have felt fake. Soren is such a protective caretaker, and it melted my heart every time he worried about Kane or gave him a ride to work so he wouldn’t get cold or bought him a sweater because he doesn’t have the right clothes for winter. I love reading about couples who have a deep emotional connection before things get physical, and this is a perfect example.
Another aspect of this story I appreciated was how realistic the world is. Kane struggles to accept help from others because of his past and doesn’t throw himself into a new relationship that magically fixes everything. Soren’s surgery isn’t a miracle cure but he is better afterwards.
I really can’t wait for the next books in this series to come out. We were introduced to so many new characters and I’m excited to see which will get their own stories!
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
If you enjoy Irons and Works you will enjoy this book in the new spin-off series Breaking the Rules. I love Kane and Soren’s story and I couldn’t put it down. It has raw emotions that tug on my heart. What starts out as a random act of kindness turns into so much more. Kane finds himself back in Fairfield to serve his community service, at Ted House, and finds Soren and the others in the town really do want to help him. This is a beautiful story full of tragedy, loss, love, acceptance and trust.
I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait for more.
This is a new series by one of my favorite authors. Both of these men have difficult pasts to get through. It was great seeing Soren and Kane learn to trust each other enough to get through the hard times they both had from their past. The chemistry between these two was amazing. I also loved that we got to cameo appearances by some of the Iron and Works guys. I cant wait for the next book in this series.
After reading Irons and Works, picking up the spin off series was a total no brainer. I am glad to report, that the quality the previous books were known for is well and truly carried over to this new venture! True to form, we get another couple of brilliant MCs, intense and amazingly depicted emotions, and a plot that will leave you invested to the very last page.
Soren and Kane totally stole my heart and I am sure this story will demand at least one re-read at some point. A job well done and as usual, I need more!