What do you think?
Rate this book
Breaking All Her Rules
Buttoned-up financial consultant Grace Song lives life by her own strict rules. Spontaneity leads to chaos. Always play it safe. So when she shares a Manhattan cab with a handsome stranger and they accidentally swap cell phones, her first instinct is to track him down and put things right. Stay on track. Stick with the plan.
But when beyond-gorgeous Zack Camden answers the door draped only in a towel, Grace is suddenly inspired to ditch her rules for a day…and a night. Indulging in one delicious encounter with a perfect stranger is just the break she needs. But one turns into two, then three mind-blowing nights�and soon Grace is in danger of breaking the biggest rule of them all�never fall in love….
95 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
63 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Maisey Yates
1,161 books2,997 followersNew York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.
She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
August 11, 2014
This is a whole lot of angsty hero to fit into one novella. It's a fairly long one...a little over half the length of a standard category.
Grace Song is a people pleaser. She spends her life trying desperately to conform to what she believes everyone around her wants. Her parents, broken hearted by the not so responsible other daughter. The boss, whose sexism and racism she ignores in the interests of keeping her job...and that's pretty much it really. No men and a best friend she hasn't talked to in months.
So sharing a taxi with a hot cowboy in the middle of Manhattan shouldn't be too difficult for a girl with her life under control. It's a pity an accidental phone swap takes her to his hotel room straight after another demeaning episode with her boss leaves her with no outlet for her frustration. Enter that hot, sexy, now bare chested cowboy. Really, you know where we are going from here.
Zach is, well I think I used up the usual superlatives for big, brawny guys with big hands and big thighs and big...no Zach doesn't actually have an ego. Sure that's what I was going to say all along.
Where was I...looking for batteries...no...of course not. *cough*
Zach is one yummy mannolicious babe and Grace is just perfect for him. It goes without saying he is perfect for her. There is lots of angsty backstory to make our little hearts go pitterpat.
The redeeming moment was lovely and the ending very sweet.
Grace Song is a people pleaser. She spends her life trying desperately to conform to what she believes everyone around her wants. Her parents, broken hearted by the not so responsible other daughter. The boss, whose sexism and racism she ignores in the interests of keeping her job...and that's pretty much it really. No men and a best friend she hasn't talked to in months.
So sharing a taxi with a hot cowboy in the middle of Manhattan shouldn't be too difficult for a girl with her life under control. It's a pity an accidental phone swap takes her to his hotel room straight after another demeaning episode with her boss leaves her with no outlet for her frustration. Enter that hot, sexy, now bare chested cowboy. Really, you know where we are going from here.
Zach is, well I think I used up the usual superlatives for big, brawny guys with big hands and big thighs and big...no Zach doesn't actually have an ego. Sure that's what I was going to say all along.
Where was I...looking for batteries...no...of course not. *cough*
Zach is one yummy mannolicious babe and Grace is just perfect for him. It goes without saying he is perfect for her. There is lots of angsty backstory to make our little hearts go pitterpat.
The redeeming moment was lovely and the ending very sweet.
August 12, 2014
Maisie Yates is so hit or miss for me, I wonder if she's really more than one person. This story was so meh.
First, I appreciated the POC main character and that her identity seemed authentic, if a little bit stereotypical. But in this case, I think the stereotypes are based the values of a culture that promotes excellence - and Grace Song is all about achieving. Sure, she has deeper reasons for wanting to be the good, successful daughter, but I found her portrayal fairly nuanced. Some authors make a character a POC and then ignore all of the cultural realties that come along with being non-white in this country and I love that Yates didn't do that.
My problems with this story came from the fact that both main characters had terrible attacks of verbal diarrhea. I mean they Talked. All. The. Time. Where you would normally have some kind of inner dialogue, with these two it was all external - and it was so unnatural I couldn't ever sink into the world of the story.
I also never got a good mental picture of either of them. Asian-American woman. Man in cowboy hat. That's kind of all they were. I never felt the love - I never understood what took these two from lust to love and that always bothers me. And once they were in love, Grace never shut up about it. Jeez.
I actually finished it, so that's something. Maybe others won't be bothered as much as I was by the forced dialogue, but I really couldn't get past it.
First, I appreciated the POC main character and that her identity seemed authentic, if a little bit stereotypical. But in this case, I think the stereotypes are based the values of a culture that promotes excellence - and Grace Song is all about achieving. Sure, she has deeper reasons for wanting to be the good, successful daughter, but I found her portrayal fairly nuanced. Some authors make a character a POC and then ignore all of the cultural realties that come along with being non-white in this country and I love that Yates didn't do that.
My problems with this story came from the fact that both main characters had terrible attacks of verbal diarrhea. I mean they Talked. All. The. Time. Where you would normally have some kind of inner dialogue, with these two it was all external - and it was so unnatural I couldn't ever sink into the world of the story.
I also never got a good mental picture of either of them. Asian-American woman. Man in cowboy hat. That's kind of all they were. I never felt the love - I never understood what took these two from lust to love and that always bothers me. And once they were in love, Grace never shut up about it. Jeez.
I actually finished it, so that's something. Maybe others won't be bothered as much as I was by the forced dialogue, but I really couldn't get past it.
July 3, 2014
Cute story. Loved Zack. I hate that it felt so rushed and I wish it was longer for sure. Glad the author didn't rush to get them married or having a baby which is a total plus In my book.
November 7, 2018
Eh.
I was bored. These two liked each other? I thought they just joined forces because they were both lonely and tired of being alone.
I was bored. These two liked each other? I thought they just joined forces because they were both lonely and tired of being alone.
Read
August 13, 2014Great premise. Nice setup. Uncomfortable 'cast' of characters. My main problem was the (I'm so sorry to say this) author's voice. The characters, who were all two-dimensional, were modern. However, at times their internal monologue and dialogue slipped back a couple of generations. Each time it took me out of the story. I DNF'd when I noticed people on the commuter bus staring at me because I was grimmacing the whole bus ride.
ARC provided by Netgalley
ARC provided by Netgalley
April 28, 2015
This was a fun read. It didn't change my life, but it was a tasty morsel that went down smooth. I liked the uptight heroine. I liked the wounded cowboy hero, and the fact that he didn't screw everything with a heartbeat (he hasn't had sex in six years!!!). The ending is a little rushed (this is a novella), but the emotional angst flying around at the end is extremely well done. A solid read, enjoyable.
October 6, 2014
See my short review here.
April 9, 2019
Buttoned-up financial consultant Grace Song lives life by her own strict rules. Spontaneity leads to chaos. Always play it safe. So when she shares a Manhattan cab with a handsome stranger and they accidentally swap cell phones, her first instinct is to track him down and put things right. Stay on track. Stick with the plan.
But when beyond-gorgeous Zack Camden answers the door draped only in a towel, Grace is suddenly inspired to ditch her rules for a day…and a night. Indulging in one delicious encounter with a perfect stranger is just the break she needs. But one turns into two, then three mind-blowing nights—and soon Grace is in danger of breaking the biggest rule of them all—never fall in love
Heather's Notes
I did not realize this story was so short. Still it was a nice story. It felt like Grace acted very out of character, but that was the point of the story. Zack came to epiphany quickly but it was a short story. The story was cute and the characters likable. A nice easy read.
But when beyond-gorgeous Zack Camden answers the door draped only in a towel, Grace is suddenly inspired to ditch her rules for a day…and a night. Indulging in one delicious encounter with a perfect stranger is just the break she needs. But one turns into two, then three mind-blowing nights—and soon Grace is in danger of breaking the biggest rule of them all—never fall in love
Heather's Notes
I did not realize this story was so short. Still it was a nice story. It felt like Grace acted very out of character, but that was the point of the story. Zack came to epiphany quickly but it was a short story. The story was cute and the characters likable. A nice easy read.
September 10, 2023
The whole thing felt rushed and parts were underdeveloped for my taste… but the biggest issue I had was with the editing! If you cannot handle grammatical errors, do not read this book! It is so distracting & hard to focus on the story line when words are spelled incorrectly & they use the wrong “new” and “they’re”.
May 26, 2024
Grace is buttoned up and straight laced. She wants to prove to everyone that she isn't the wild child like her sister.. But when she shares a cab with Zack things change.
This is a fast HOT read.. There is so much chemistry between these two characters. You are going to love it.I read it in one day as it was a page turner..
Broken hearts healed for both of the characters!
This is a fast HOT read.. There is so much chemistry between these two characters. You are going to love it.I read it in one day as it was a page turner..
Broken hearts healed for both of the characters!
May 21, 2019
Light, light, sweet and a little bit real but mostly just a lot of fun. I enjoyed this odd couple’s interaction and dialogue. The format was short— like a short novella —so, insta-love, or at least insta-sex, and not a deep exploration of life, just a quick fun sexy romance.
January 3, 2020
This is a lust at first sight turning into love story. Tackles some serious subjects in just three hours: losing a child, divorce & sexual harassment. Well developed taking into consideration the length. Good narration as well. Hot story.
August 2, 2024
Grace needed to meet someone like Zack. She was unhappy in her work and life. Zack was still trying to emotionally recover from the death of his daughter. Meeting each other was the best thing that happened to them as they were both healed from their issues and found their happily ever after.
May 21, 2018
Not any spicier than the Outlander series but they sure don't describe them as heaving bosoms anymore :). Typical woman meets man, her love heals him sort of tale in a very short, very steamy story.
January 29, 2021
Nice easy romance.
July 17, 2022
Had dit verhaal eigenlijk in 1x moeten uitlezen, want ik had steeds minder interesse om het verder te lezen. De scenes zijn niet eens hot ofzo lol
August 20, 2014
Zack felt like being in New York was a chore, part of what he had to do as a successful artist. Not that he really cared much about being successful. He was glad it paid the bills, but it was just something he did. Pretty much what his entire life consisted of for the last few years. He just walked through it, doing what he had to in order to get through it. And then - for some unknown reason - he told his cabbie to pull over and pick up the woman who couldn't get a cab, and things took a very weird turn.
-------------------------
It was like the first hit off a potent drug. She imagined. She'd never done drugs. Because drugs were for the other daughter. The bad one. Just like she'd never done a stranger. Because this wasn't something for the good daughter, either.
Because it was wrong. Because there was a chance that the drugs and the men would be addicting, and that she would never get enough.
That she wouldn't be perfect. That she would be ruined.
He flexed his hips and thust up fully inside of her, and then she knew. She was ruined. For sex. For all other men. Forever.
-------------------------
A fox in her henhouse. That's what Grace called Zack Camden that day in the cab. And he drew her a sketch of a fox just before she got out, taking his phone with her. Then she suffers through a humiliating meeting with her boss, so the idea of exchanging her phone with the intriguing cowboy sounds like a good idea. Or a bad idea - or some kind of weird, new, rebellious, idea. Well, she does it anyway - and boy howdy - who cares about her stupid boss.
Zack and Grace want the same thing - which is sex with no strings. Grace has a career that doesn't include complications like a relationship, and Zack simply doesn't want any ties whatsoever. But dammit, they find themselves actually talking and becoming friends. No, more than friends. Zack hasn't confided in anyone about his pain and loss, and Grace has never felt free enough to talk about her insecurities.
Why couldn't it stay simple? Zack ends up pouring his frustration into an unfinished work - and it stays unfinished until he understands that Grace may be what he needs, even if it wasn't what he wants. And Grace finds out after she takes action that living up to other people's expectations was something she should have asked about instead of assuming - a long time ago.
-------------------------
"Sorry," he said. "Normally I'd consider this rude but it's work-related so..."
"What did you think my phone usage was - unicorn-related?" she asked, curling her lip.
"Funny," he said, hitting the accept button. "Yep. Uh-huh. Landed about an hour ago. Going to the hotel. Nope. Nope. Not going. Nope. Hotel. 'Bye." He hung up, then set the phone on the seat between them.
"Business, huh?"
"Yep."
"What sort of business?" she asked, completely unsure as to why she was bothering to play his little let's-be-friends game.
"The business kind," he said. "The kind you don't wanna do, but have to because...business."
-------------------------
'Breaking All Her Rules' is on the cusp of being a full-length book, and I'm glad. I adored it, and I could've read more. Grace and Zack (Zack especially because... RAWR!) were lovely, and also amazingly hot together. Zack's the kind of guy you want to fix - and then you just want to sit and watch him weld shirtless the rest of the time. because again - RAWR!! .
I digress, because they both had some pretty heavy issues, and they also both got resolution through talking things out while they became friends. Yeah, I said it - friends. They were super hot in the sack, but the talking part? It was all about them getting deep into a one-on-one, I understand you and your pain friendship. And that's why they ran. Also why they figured themselves out.
So yeah, great book, great story, great characters - it's all good. The epilogue was the cherry on top of the whipped cream (not literally - it's a metaphor in this case). And you won't be disappointed if you're looking for a unicorn reference, it's right up front.
-------------------------
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay. You're beautiful."
That earned him a blush. "Thank you."
"And you Smell Nice."
"Also good."
"And I think I've been hard since you left the other day."
Her lips folded in and her smile widened, like she was trying to hold something back. "One too far," she said.
"I sensed it might have been. But then I went with it."
"Your instincts are broken, don't trust them."
-------------------------
September 20, 2014
To read this review and others like it check out my site at www.homelovebooks.com
I'm a big fan of Maisey Yates, so even though I don't normally love novellas, I decided to give this one a try, and I am really glad that I did. This was a short romance, so normally I wouldn't expect to form strong connections to the characters in them, but I did, and I loved both Grace and Zack.
I do love the way that Grace and Zack met, in a NYC cab where they have a couple of minutes of awkward conversation followed by the accidental swapping of cell phones. Since Grace is crazy obsessed with her job and losing her phone is basically the same thing as having her office blown up, she has to get it back from the strange cowboy-man she met in the cab. And when she shows up at his hotel to switch the phones back, he of course, answers the door in a towel, so you know what is going to come next right?
So the reason why I like the two of them so much together is that they both carry their own set of baggage, but are still making their ways through life in spite of it. Grace is working at a job that really doesn't appreciate her, and there is even one conversation with her boss early on in the book where basically she is blamed by her boss for not making her client feel appreciated, even though he was basically sexually harassing her. I don't think I would want to work for a company like that ever, and I don't think Grace wants to either, but she feels a sense of obligation so she sticks it out with them.
Zack on the other hand is dealing with much more heavy baggage, I'm not going to go into specifics but I will say that it is truly a tragic past that he is living with. I thought it was kind of great how Grace starts to open him up to life again. They find a comfortable rhythm with each other, even if he is not willing to go into anything more series or with any more feeling then the casual relationship they have.
I think the reason why I liked this book so much is that these two people helped each other move on with their lives and start to really live life again (more so for Zack than for Grace). It was an easy read, and the chemistry between them is really nice too. It definitely left me a heartwarming feeling at the end of the book, so if that is the kind of book you are looking for then you should totally check out Maisey's latest novella.
I'm a big fan of Maisey Yates, so even though I don't normally love novellas, I decided to give this one a try, and I am really glad that I did. This was a short romance, so normally I wouldn't expect to form strong connections to the characters in them, but I did, and I loved both Grace and Zack.
I do love the way that Grace and Zack met, in a NYC cab where they have a couple of minutes of awkward conversation followed by the accidental swapping of cell phones. Since Grace is crazy obsessed with her job and losing her phone is basically the same thing as having her office blown up, she has to get it back from the strange cowboy-man she met in the cab. And when she shows up at his hotel to switch the phones back, he of course, answers the door in a towel, so you know what is going to come next right?
So the reason why I like the two of them so much together is that they both carry their own set of baggage, but are still making their ways through life in spite of it. Grace is working at a job that really doesn't appreciate her, and there is even one conversation with her boss early on in the book where basically she is blamed by her boss for not making her client feel appreciated, even though he was basically sexually harassing her. I don't think I would want to work for a company like that ever, and I don't think Grace wants to either, but she feels a sense of obligation so she sticks it out with them.
Zack on the other hand is dealing with much more heavy baggage, I'm not going to go into specifics but I will say that it is truly a tragic past that he is living with. I thought it was kind of great how Grace starts to open him up to life again. They find a comfortable rhythm with each other, even if he is not willing to go into anything more series or with any more feeling then the casual relationship they have.
I think the reason why I liked this book so much is that these two people helped each other move on with their lives and start to really live life again (more so for Zack than for Grace). It was an easy read, and the chemistry between them is really nice too. It definitely left me a heartwarming feeling at the end of the book, so if that is the kind of book you are looking for then you should totally check out Maisey's latest novella.
September 4, 2014
For this review and more visit my blog
Breaking all her Rules was a grower. When I started it I was pretty sure I was going to hate it but the more I read the more I started to enjoy myself. In the end despite the shaky start I really enjoyed this short and charming romance.
It is hard get short romances right but Maisey Yates has done a really good job of it. She has a really nice writing style which I found easy to read and did well with the world building. The writing was good but it was the story that impressed me. Normally with these short romances the emphasis is put on the characters and their relationship. Breaking all the Rules did things a little differently I thought the story was important and that it had something to say. What the characters went through past and present mattered to the reader and each other. Yates did a great job at providing her characters real problems, real fears and real motivation.
The strong storyline was backed up by the characters. At first I had a problem with Grace she was too hectic and I found her a bit ridiculous but she grew on me and by the end I adored her. she developed throughout the story and her hectic nature turned to courage which I really admired. Zack was impossible to dislike and he is my type of man. He is masculine without being arrogant and caring without being soppy. I commend Yates for giving him such a deep and touching storyline, she tackles a subject that I haven’t seen much in this genre and does so very well.
I loved the romance between them it was full of chemistry that jumped off the page. I liked the way their feelings developed from lust to friendship and then to something more. I liked the honesty of it all, there was no dramatic hiding of feelings between them. When things changed they were honest about it, especially Grace.
I really wasn’t expecting much from Breaking all her Rules but it turned out to be a really nice surprise. I cannot wait to read more from Maisey Yates.
The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
February 6, 2016
This book was so short, I should have flown through it, but I didn't. There were so many issues about this book that drove me insane. The amount of typos, spelling errors, grammatical errors drove me crazy. This wasn't a free book I got off of Amazon (that I sadly expect with those) - I got it from my library and usually library books have been edited. This one has not.
The story itself is typical. Zack I liked - quite a lot. Grace irritated me. I also don't like when characters falls in love too quickly. Within a week, Grace had fallen in love with Zack and told him, and gushed over and over about how amazing he was because she had changed - her ENTIRE PERSON had changed. So eye-rolling ridiculous.
The blurb on this book states that Zack answers his door draped only in a towel. This couldn't be further from the truth. In actuality, he drops the towel on the floor and makes a big deal about looking for pants to put on, which he then does. It makes me wonder if the person who wrote the blurb even bothered to read the book, or if the author initially wrote it (or expected to write it) where he did answer the door in only a towel, but then later changed it and somehow forgot that she changed it.
Lastly, Maisey Yates has this awful habit of having one character say something or ask a question that warrants a response. However, before the other character can answer, Yates then goes on a three page tirade about some past memory or something that one of the characters is thinking about. They think about it for so long and in such depth that by the time an answer or response is spoken, you have already forgotten what the hell they were talking about and you have to back track to re-read and get back into the conversation.
The good thing is that this is such a short book that you at least feel like you didn't waste too much of your life reading it.
The story itself is typical. Zack I liked - quite a lot. Grace irritated me. I also don't like when characters falls in love too quickly. Within a week, Grace had fallen in love with Zack and told him, and gushed over and over about how amazing he was because she had changed - her ENTIRE PERSON had changed. So eye-rolling ridiculous.
The blurb on this book states that Zack answers his door draped only in a towel. This couldn't be further from the truth. In actuality, he drops the towel on the floor and makes a big deal about looking for pants to put on, which he then does. It makes me wonder if the person who wrote the blurb even bothered to read the book, or if the author initially wrote it (or expected to write it) where he did answer the door in only a towel, but then later changed it and somehow forgot that she changed it.
Lastly, Maisey Yates has this awful habit of having one character say something or ask a question that warrants a response. However, before the other character can answer, Yates then goes on a three page tirade about some past memory or something that one of the characters is thinking about. They think about it for so long and in such depth that by the time an answer or response is spoken, you have already forgotten what the hell they were talking about and you have to back track to re-read and get back into the conversation.
The good thing is that this is such a short book that you at least feel like you didn't waste too much of your life reading it.
September 21, 2014
Slick‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
I really love these novellas from Cosmo Red Hot Reads/Harlequin; they are well written, smart, and sexy. Breaking All Her Rules features a career minded heroine who meets a most unlikely hero who changes the way she looks at her life while she tries not to lose her heart.
Financial guru Grace Song has a plan for her life that includes being successful and making her parents proud. One cab ride with a cowboy claiming to be an artist, mixed up cell phones, and a one night stand that turns into more makes this one entertaining story yet despite its short length it isn’t without emotion and an obvious connection between the two main characters. Problem is Zach Camden has no interest in feeling anything for anyone again and after being with Grace he knows he’s in trouble.
I thoroughly enjoyed the interplay between Grace and Zach despite the fact that Zach has some serious issues and Grace has some mixed up loyalties. When they shut the world out and explore each other they had an intense connection that was hard to deny. The more time they spend together, the more they share and feelings begin to develop; feelings one refuses to deny and one refuses to accept.
While not an easy love story Breaking All Her Rules was poignant and sexy and I am so impressed by how much author Maisey Yates was able to pack into this novella sized book.
4 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
I really love these novellas from Cosmo Red Hot Reads/Harlequin; they are well written, smart, and sexy. Breaking All Her Rules features a career minded heroine who meets a most unlikely hero who changes the way she looks at her life while she tries not to lose her heart.
Financial guru Grace Song has a plan for her life that includes being successful and making her parents proud. One cab ride with a cowboy claiming to be an artist, mixed up cell phones, and a one night stand that turns into more makes this one entertaining story yet despite its short length it isn’t without emotion and an obvious connection between the two main characters. Problem is Zach Camden has no interest in feeling anything for anyone again and after being with Grace he knows he’s in trouble.
I thoroughly enjoyed the interplay between Grace and Zach despite the fact that Zach has some serious issues and Grace has some mixed up loyalties. When they shut the world out and explore each other they had an intense connection that was hard to deny. The more time they spend together, the more they share and feelings begin to develop; feelings one refuses to deny and one refuses to accept.
While not an easy love story Breaking All Her Rules was poignant and sexy and I am so impressed by how much author Maisey Yates was able to pack into this novella sized book.
August 18, 2014
*I received an ARC of this book free from NetGalley on behalf Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Harlequin in exchange for an honest review*
Grace starts out as a very uptight business woman whose only goal is success. Success she intends to gain by working hard and not giving her clients dessert. So why is it that a certain out of place looking cowboy, who was attempting to be nice by sharing a cab with her even though it was completely out of his way, both irritate and arouse her?
Zack is an emotional basket case. He hasn’t flirted with a woman let alone had sex with one in entirely too long, and he has no intention of doing either, yet there’s something in Grace that naturally brings it out of him.
Committed to living the rest of his life heartbroken and alone Zack doesn’t realize the miracle he’s found in Grace until it’s too late. Like most good relationships…you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. But Grace isn’t going to let him leave without letting him know how much she cares.
Breaking All Her Rules is an overly emotional read that’s broken up by the hot as hell sex scenes. In all honesty I think this had too much heartbreak and not enough happiness. However, it is well written and the sexy artist cowboy does a great job of distraction…that is if he’s not being all broody.
My Favorite Moment: When Zack attempted to give Grace a series of compliments and went one too far. Damn instincts!
Grace starts out as a very uptight business woman whose only goal is success. Success she intends to gain by working hard and not giving her clients dessert. So why is it that a certain out of place looking cowboy, who was attempting to be nice by sharing a cab with her even though it was completely out of his way, both irritate and arouse her?
Zack is an emotional basket case. He hasn’t flirted with a woman let alone had sex with one in entirely too long, and he has no intention of doing either, yet there’s something in Grace that naturally brings it out of him.
Committed to living the rest of his life heartbroken and alone Zack doesn’t realize the miracle he’s found in Grace until it’s too late. Like most good relationships…you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. But Grace isn’t going to let him leave without letting him know how much she cares.
Breaking All Her Rules is an overly emotional read that’s broken up by the hot as hell sex scenes. In all honesty I think this had too much heartbreak and not enough happiness. However, it is well written and the sexy artist cowboy does a great job of distraction…that is if he’s not being all broody.
My Favorite Moment: When Zack attempted to give Grace a series of compliments and went one too far. Damn instincts!
August 11, 2014
Wow! What an unexpectedly emotional, heartfelt, and sexy read. Where do I start?
First things first: hurray for an Asian heroine! I read a lot of contemporary romance and finding an Asian who's not a supporting character is akin to finding an actual unicorn. Secondly, although Grace is rather neurotic and twitchy at the beginning of the story, I really love the growth that she shows as the story progresses.
As for the hero, Zack is basically sex in a pair of cowboy boots. Yeah...that pretty much sums him up. Seriously, though, he's a character with a surprising level of depth that I didn't see coming. There's quite a bit of angst in his past; however, like Grace, Zack really goes on a journey as a character. By the end, I was proud of the place where they both wind up.
For such a short novella, the author really packs a heavy emotional punch here. But it's not all drama--there's also a nice balance of comedy and banter, which serves well in keeping the subject matter from getting too dark.
This is the first book I've read by Maisey Yates and I can't wait to read more. Yates created characters who I connected with easily. I found myself rooting for them, both as individuals and as a couple. I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
First things first: hurray for an Asian heroine! I read a lot of contemporary romance and finding an Asian who's not a supporting character is akin to finding an actual unicorn. Secondly, although Grace is rather neurotic and twitchy at the beginning of the story, I really love the growth that she shows as the story progresses.
As for the hero, Zack is basically sex in a pair of cowboy boots. Yeah...that pretty much sums him up. Seriously, though, he's a character with a surprising level of depth that I didn't see coming. There's quite a bit of angst in his past; however, like Grace, Zack really goes on a journey as a character. By the end, I was proud of the place where they both wind up.
For such a short novella, the author really packs a heavy emotional punch here. But it's not all drama--there's also a nice balance of comedy and banter, which serves well in keeping the subject matter from getting too dark.
This is the first book I've read by Maisey Yates and I can't wait to read more. Yates created characters who I connected with easily. I found myself rooting for them, both as individuals and as a couple. I highly recommend this book.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
August 31, 2014
See more of my reviews on my blog Thoughts At One In The Morning.
My Thoughts:
My adoration for these books keeps going strong, no doubt about it. This one rocked my socks so much because it was a gem in a sea of ordinary stories. If this is how Maisey Yates always writes, I'll definitely need to get my hands on another one.
Grace and Zack have obvious attraction, but she isn't the type to give in to something like that on a whim. Or could she be? She blossoms in Zack's presence, though, and that's not something she can deny herself. There's more to him than meets the eye--he may seem like just another guy, but he has a depth to him that a lot of stories don't have. Their romance feels natural, and lively, and honest. And holy first kiss! Wow... just WOW.
Breaking All Her Rules had it all--from romance to learning to find yourself. It may be short, and take place over a short amount of time, but you can feel the build for a future on the pages for the characters. It creates that little feeling of jittery happiness in your chest. I can't wait to read more by Maisey Yates!
My Rating: Exceptional
My Thoughts:
My adoration for these books keeps going strong, no doubt about it. This one rocked my socks so much because it was a gem in a sea of ordinary stories. If this is how Maisey Yates always writes, I'll definitely need to get my hands on another one.
Grace and Zack have obvious attraction, but she isn't the type to give in to something like that on a whim. Or could she be? She blossoms in Zack's presence, though, and that's not something she can deny herself. There's more to him than meets the eye--he may seem like just another guy, but he has a depth to him that a lot of stories don't have. Their romance feels natural, and lively, and honest. And holy first kiss! Wow... just WOW.
Breaking All Her Rules had it all--from romance to learning to find yourself. It may be short, and take place over a short amount of time, but you can feel the build for a future on the pages for the characters. It creates that little feeling of jittery happiness in your chest. I can't wait to read more by Maisey Yates!
My Rating: Exceptional
August 31, 2014
I thought this book was really cute. I want more of Zach the Cowboy!
Grace is somewhat of a workaholic. She's obsessed with being successful at the cost of all other things in her life. Including her own happiness and a relationship. Zach and Grace meet in the back of a cab and right away they have such cute banter. After accidently switching cell phones, Grace shows up at Zach's hotel and they end up spending a really hot and unexpected night together. Something Grace would never do.
Zach is a tortured artist, just in town for an art show. He's had to deal with loss in his life, so a relationship is just not an option for him. But that doesn't mean they can't spend their nights together. I love that there was so much emotion packed into this short story. It was hot but so heartfelt at the same time. It really makes me want to check out Maisey Yates' other books.
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
Grace is somewhat of a workaholic. She's obsessed with being successful at the cost of all other things in her life. Including her own happiness and a relationship. Zach and Grace meet in the back of a cab and right away they have such cute banter. After accidently switching cell phones, Grace shows up at Zach's hotel and they end up spending a really hot and unexpected night together. Something Grace would never do.
Zach is a tortured artist, just in town for an art show. He's had to deal with loss in his life, so a relationship is just not an option for him. But that doesn't mean they can't spend their nights together. I love that there was so much emotion packed into this short story. It was hot but so heartfelt at the same time. It really makes me want to check out Maisey Yates' other books.
"I want...you. All of you."*Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
August 18, 2014
‘This wasn’t about changing things, or finding deep feelings. It was about letting go, exploring this completely unknown level of chemistry. That was all.’
Breaking All Her Rules is a fast and flirtatious Cosmo Red Hot Reads novella by the one and only Maisey Yates.
Every time I read one of these short stories I know I’m in for a super hot romance, but the rest of the plot remains to be seen. This time around, we get two very different characters, both of whom were searching for their place to belong and for something that would make them feel content. I thought the premise behind Zach and Grace’s chance meeting by sharing a cab and grabbing the wrong cell phones was a nice place to start a romance. The complex feelings and intense love scenes that followed were just a bonus for us readers.
Read More
Breaking All Her Rules is a fast and flirtatious Cosmo Red Hot Reads novella by the one and only Maisey Yates.
Every time I read one of these short stories I know I’m in for a super hot romance, but the rest of the plot remains to be seen. This time around, we get two very different characters, both of whom were searching for their place to belong and for something that would make them feel content. I thought the premise behind Zach and Grace’s chance meeting by sharing a cab and grabbing the wrong cell phones was a nice place to start a romance. The complex feelings and intense love scenes that followed were just a bonus for us readers.
Read More
January 22, 2019
A short, steamy tale about two people from two totally different worlds.
First and foremost, you should go into this story with very low expectations. At least, I did. After all, it's published from Cosmopolitan, so I figured the same people who recommend revenge on your boyfriend who forgets to text back wouldn't be so good at picking out a book to promote.
I was kind of right.
LIKES: I really enjoyed the trope of country boy/city girl. The sex was pretty good, too. That's pretty much it, though.
DISLIKES: The synopsis is misleading. For what is supposed to be a cell phone mix up actually is solved within two chapters. So, quite disappointed in that. The characterization was also not too strong. I get that it was short, but I've seen the likes of E L James create more believable characters.
FINAL VERDICT: 3/5 ⭐️
WOULD I RECOMMEND: Sure, if you need something quick and steamy on your lunch break. Otherwise, read something more character driven.
First and foremost, you should go into this story with very low expectations. At least, I did. After all, it's published from Cosmopolitan, so I figured the same people who recommend revenge on your boyfriend who forgets to text back wouldn't be so good at picking out a book to promote.
I was kind of right.
LIKES: I really enjoyed the trope of country boy/city girl. The sex was pretty good, too. That's pretty much it, though.
DISLIKES: The synopsis is misleading. For what is supposed to be a cell phone mix up actually is solved within two chapters. So, quite disappointed in that. The characterization was also not too strong. I get that it was short, but I've seen the likes of E L James create more believable characters.
FINAL VERDICT: 3/5 ⭐️
WOULD I RECOMMEND: Sure, if you need something quick and steamy on your lunch break. Otherwise, read something more character driven.
November 3, 2014
This was another Cosmo Red-Hot Read that I enjoyed. It was hot and sweet and pretty heartbreaking as well. I really loved Zack. I loved that he pushed Grace and he made her see what she was missing in life by being such a people pleaser. Nothing in her life, she did for herself. She was who she was because she wanted others to be happy and not to worry, but it was slowly killing her. It wasn’t until she shared a cab with Zack that she realized that.
This book was more than their chemistry, which was off the charts; more than super hot sexy times. It was about two people realizing that they weren’t truly living. They had valid reasons, but none were strong enough to fight what was happening between them. This was short and sweet, but pretty perfect.
Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review
This book was more than their chemistry, which was off the charts; more than super hot sexy times. It was about two people realizing that they weren’t truly living. They had valid reasons, but none were strong enough to fight what was happening between them. This was short and sweet, but pretty perfect.
Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review
August 30, 2014
Book Summary
Published by - Harlequin
Release Date - 12th August 2014
Pages - 93
My Rating - 3 Stars
Review
I love a good cowboy meets city girl story, this one however just didn't hit the mark for me. The characters were too one dimensional. They had no substance, their back stories were pretty much the same as majority of characters in the New Adult genre that I've read lately, so pretty much it was same old, same old, the only difference was that this book was shorter, so everything was abbreviated. The ending felt too rushed to be enjoyable, but the writing was fairly solid, as is usually the case with anything that Maisey Yates writes.
July 20, 2014
I thought this book was really cute! I know it's meant to be a short love story, but I still felt like it was a bit rushed. I would have loved to see more of Zack and Grace as they fell in love. I liked the overall lesson that Grace had to learn, which was that you can't live your life trying to please everyone else at the sake of your own happiness. But I didn't quite like how it was handled in the end with her dad, something about what he said in regards to her sister didn't sit well with me. I loved Zack, our tortured artist, his story was very tragic and I was happy to him get the happily ever after that he deserves. Overall, this was a quick, cutesy love story that I very much enjoyed.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews