Book Review – Breaking His Rules

22 Monday Dec 2014

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Alison Packard, Book Review, Breaking His Rules

Losing fifty pounds is an incredible achievement. But for Melissa Atherton, progress doesn’t come with praise—a scathing comment from an evil cousin at a bridal shower threatens to crush her new self-esteem. Who will she bring to the upcoming wedding? Showing up without a date would be humiliating. It just isn’t an option.

Personal trainer Jake Sawyer was attracted to Melissa before she lost weight, but her progress has him floored. When she admits she plans to hire a male escort—and why—his heart all but breaks. Melissa’s come too far to be knocked down, especially by her own family. He’ll go as her date…and figure out a way to keep his hands to himself.

But when a steamy hotel room encounter takes them both by surprise, Jake balks. He’s sworn never to date one of his clients, not again. And Melissa can’t bear to be just friends with the man who treated her so tenderly, even if it was only for a weekend. Jake’s helped her see she’s strong enough to stand up for herself, but will she find the strength to pursue the only man who’s ever seen the real her?

I somehow missed the first book in Packard’s “Feel The Heat” series (and I just realized I missed a novella from last December as well) but the three that I’ve read have all been fantastic. I started with The Winning Season which was fantastic and next came Catching Heat, another winner. Now we get JT’s bother, Jake, and the awesomely sweet Melissa, both of whom made appearances in Catching Heat so if you read that story you knew their romance was coming … and I couldn’t wait!

I loved Jake and Melissa together. They’ve developed a wonderful friendship over the last few months and it makes a naturally transition to something more. Because of their shared history of being overweight, and having to deal with the public perception of it, they get each other (and have that special empathy for others) in a way that is very special.

I will say I had a little trouble with the ending – I kinda understood Jake’s reasoning but I’m not sure I quite got his change in attitude. With everything else that happened in the book, you totally get where he’s coming from but he’s typically male if he thinks that it can work out the way he’s thinking it will. Overall, though, it was a minor gripe and the rest of the story and the fantastic characters make up for it.

A warm and emotional look at two people moving cautiously from friends to more, and all of the problems that come with it, Breaking His Rules is a wonderful, feel-good read. And just because it is part of a series doesn’t mean that you can’t start here. Packard does a fantastic job of giving her returning readers that feeling of connection that they want, without alienating new readers. She also gives us that tantalizing peak into the next story that will cause you to wait impatiently for the next book to release 🙂

Book Review – Catching Heat

12 Thursday Jun 2014

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Alison Packard, Book Review, Catching Heat, The Winning Season

Life has taught Angie DeMarco that all baseball players are womanizers, and her incredible one-night stand with sexy San Francisco Blaze back-up catcher J.T. Sawyer seemed to prove it. Determined not to give in to their sizzling chemistry a second time, she’s kept her distance ever since, focusing on her accounting job with the team. But now she’s laid off…and pregnant.

J.T. was hurt by Angie’s rejection, but with one more year with the Blaze, he has no time for love. He needs to spend the off season training hard so he can negotiate a better contract with a new team at the end of the year. But when Angie shows up on his doorstep, he’s overwhelmed by wanting to not just do right by her but pursue a relationship with her. Hoping for a second chance, he proposes.

Angie agrees to marry J.T. on one condition: the marriage will be purely a business arrangement. But as Angie spends time with him and his family, and J.T. neglects his training to spend time with her, what begins as a union in name only slowly grows into something more—something that looks a whole lot like love and friendship.

When I read The Winning Season I was super excited about the possibility of J T’s story and Packard doesn’t let me down. Unlike the Matt & Kelly’s story, this one isn’t quite as angst ridden but it still packs an emotional punch.

J T has felt a connection for Angie from the first time he met her but she refuses to give him the time of day … until one fateful night that changed their lives. J T was such a standup guy in TWS that I was hoping to see that continue and we do – he’s got a lot of heart and character, dependable, honest and hardworking. He loves his family and was brought up with respect and love that he carries on to the rest of his life, regardless of the crazy world of baseball. Angie on the other hand did not have such a solid upbringing and her parent’s history has led her to make assumptions about all ballplayers, including J T. Once he gets her in his home though and makes her a part of his family, Angie quickly realizes her mistake. The only problem is that because of their rocky start neither is sure of the other’s feelings.

I adore Packard’s writing style – it’s tight without a lot of unnecessary drama (which she could have easily done based on J T and Angie’s troubles) and it flows very smoothly. I was so engaged I didn’t even notice how quickly I worked my way through Catching Heat and I was very sad to see it end, although very happy for J T and Angie. He has three brothers though so I’m expecting to see more of the Sawyers and I’m super excited to see what Packard brings us. Based on how much I’ve loved the two I’ve read, I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.

The Winning Season

06 Sunday Oct 2013

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Alison Packard, Book Review, The Winning Season

New review is now up.

*****

Kelly Maxwell has finally landed her dream job as publicist for the San Francisco Blaze. But the team’s newest member, handsome bad boy catcher Matt Scanlon, is refusing every interview. She’s got to get him to open up before the season ends, or she may not be back next year. And after everything she overcame to achieve her dream, Kelly’s not about to let that happen.

Matt Scanlon just wants to be left alone to rebuild his life and his career. After a year of masking the pain of a recent loss with hard partying and fast women, he finally hit rock bottom and was traded to a team he’s loathed his entire life—a team with little to no chance at the post-season.

Butting heads is getting Kelly and Matt nowhere but annoyed, and with the team’s schedule on the road, they can’t avoid close quarters—or their surprising attraction to one another. As the season winds down, Matt finds his growing feelings for Kelly have brought his numbed emotions back to life. But when betrayal shatters their fragile trust, winning it all seems more impossible than ever.

The Winning Season is the follow-up to Love in the Afternoon, which stars Kelly’s twin sister Kayla. I’m guessing, based on this book, that Kelly and Matt actually meet in Kayla’s book but if, like me, you haven’t read it that’s ok too. Packard does a fantastic job of giving her readers a smooth transition – the necessary back story doesn’t seem too detailed for those who are familiar with their history but it has all the information (delivered in a realistic fashion) for those who are new. I would think that would be the hardest part of writing a series – balancing the needs of new readers with those of returning ones – and I think Packard handles it perfectly.

Both Matt and Kelly have their demons. Matt’s life has hit rock bottom and the Blaze is his last chance, but he has his reason for self-destructing and it is a doozy. It is easy to understand his downward spiral and he works very hard to turn things around. Kelly has self-esteem issues that go back decades – a very tall and athletic woman (with a cute, pixie sister), she doesn’t fit society’s mold for beauty, and working in a man’s world doesn’t help. She may have made peace with who she is but she still struggles. Watching these two start out fighting like cats and dogs only to end up fighting their attraction for each other was quite entertaining. I think that Matt may be one of my favorite heroes of all time and having him meet his match in sassy Kelly was perfect.

There are a few loose ends but I’m hoping to see them come up in future books. I’m guessing that J T’s story is next – there were plenty of hints about it here and I’m definitely intrigued – but there are a lot of possibilities and I’m looking forward to all of them. Packard has a fun, tight writing style that brings to life characters who will touch your heart and your funny bone.

If you love stories about big, strong, hot, and troubled athletes, then The Winning Season is the book for you. I had a hard time putting it down and was looking for more when it was over.