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Once Upon a Crime Family #2
Break Me Like a Promise
Magnolia Vickers' fairy tale happiness was ruined five months ago when her boyfriend, Carter Landlow, was killed. Now she's stuck watching as Penny Landlow and Char Zhu, the heirs of the other two black market organ crime families, come out in favor of H.R. 197 (The Organ Act) which would legalize a private industry of organ and transplant trade . . . and destroy the Families' business.
All Maggie's ever wanted was Carter, and to follow in her father's footsteps and head up the Vickers Family. Then she messes up big time: she accidentally downloads a virus onto her father's computer, allowing freelance IT guy, Alex, to make a copy of confidential Family information when she sneaks the computer off-estate for him to fix. He'll only return it in exchange for a kidney transplant, which he desperately needs. Finding a match takes longer than Maggie expects, and as Alex's health declines, she's surprised to find herself falling for him. Like it or not, Maggie must accept that her first love and the Business as she knew it are gone forever. She's not going to be handed a happily ever after. If she wants to save Alex's life and carve out a place for herself in the business of legalized organ trade, she's going to have to fight for it.
With searing romance, thrilling tension, and mystery perfect for fans of Holly Black and Kimberly Derting, this second book in the stunning Once Upon a Crime Family series will hold readers spellbound.
All Maggie's ever wanted was Carter, and to follow in her father's footsteps and head up the Vickers Family. Then she messes up big time: she accidentally downloads a virus onto her father's computer, allowing freelance IT guy, Alex, to make a copy of confidential Family information when she sneaks the computer off-estate for him to fix. He'll only return it in exchange for a kidney transplant, which he desperately needs. Finding a match takes longer than Maggie expects, and as Alex's health declines, she's surprised to find herself falling for him. Like it or not, Maggie must accept that her first love and the Business as she knew it are gone forever. She's not going to be handed a happily ever after. If she wants to save Alex's life and carve out a place for herself in the business of legalized organ trade, she's going to have to fight for it.
With searing romance, thrilling tension, and mystery perfect for fans of Holly Black and Kimberly Derting, this second book in the stunning Once Upon a Crime Family series will hold readers spellbound.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2016
32 people are currently reading
1935 people want to read
About the author
Tiffany Schmidt
12 books582 followersTiffany Schmidt is the author of acclaimed books for young readers, including the Bookish Boyfriends series, I'm Dreaming of a Wyatt Christmas, Once Upon a Crime Family duology and several others.
She’s found her happily ever after in Pennsylvania with her saintly husband, impish twin boys, and a pair of mischievous puggles.
You can find out more about her and her books at: TiffanySchmidt.com
She’s found her happily ever after in Pennsylvania with her saintly husband, impish twin boys, and a pair of mischievous puggles.
You can find out more about her and her books at: TiffanySchmidt.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 12, 2017
Grade: A-
An ARC was provided by Bloomsbury in exchange for review consideration.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: I didn't realize how much I wanted to return to the Once Upon a Crime Family world until I started reading Break Me Like a Promise. It's a world of medical and technological jargon, but still altogether fun because how many of us are part of organized crime families? (Don't answer that.)
I definitely felt like the two main plots stayed strong throughout the entire book. I loved how a lot of things resolved...and how certain things remained open for Maggie, Penny, and Char to deal with. It felt a lot like a strategy, people maneuvering where they needed to be and fighting for the top, but it wasn't as dirty as in, for example, The Fixer. The Family is a close unit and they use reason and authority to get what they want instead of blackmailing.
I actually really enjoyed Maggie as a character. She is strong yet broken, and she's flawed but she grows and learns. She's motivated and a bit calculating - definitely a Slytherin. Despite that, she cares and loves deeply. She loved Carter Landlow, and she is mourning him. The back story development we get on them felt necessary, and I just wanted to hug Maggie so much during those scenes (except she probably wouldn't be too receptive of those hugs). I was a little less connected to Alex, and I wanted more in-depth connection to him. He felt a bit one-dimensional at times.
Which brings me to the romance; I knew an attraction would form between Maggie and Alex, and I didn't buy into it beyond that. I'm very critical of romances, and they've got to be really good to get my approval. I needed a few more scenes earlier on with romantic tension just so I could ship Maggie and Alex.
Violence, sexual content, and language were all extremely mild; I didn't catch more than one or two curses.
The Verdict: Better than Hold Me Like a Breath, but because of the romance, this is only a 4-star read.
An ARC was provided by Bloomsbury in exchange for review consideration.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: I didn't realize how much I wanted to return to the Once Upon a Crime Family world until I started reading Break Me Like a Promise. It's a world of medical and technological jargon, but still altogether fun because how many of us are part of organized crime families? (Don't answer that.)
I definitely felt like the two main plots stayed strong throughout the entire book. I loved how a lot of things resolved...and how certain things remained open for Maggie, Penny, and Char to deal with. It felt a lot like a strategy, people maneuvering where they needed to be and fighting for the top, but it wasn't as dirty as in, for example, The Fixer. The Family is a close unit and they use reason and authority to get what they want instead of blackmailing.
I actually really enjoyed Maggie as a character. She is strong yet broken, and she's flawed but she grows and learns. She's motivated and a bit calculating - definitely a Slytherin. Despite that, she cares and loves deeply. She loved Carter Landlow, and she is mourning him. The back story development we get on them felt necessary, and I just wanted to hug Maggie so much during those scenes (except she probably wouldn't be too receptive of those hugs). I was a little less connected to Alex, and I wanted more in-depth connection to him. He felt a bit one-dimensional at times.
Which brings me to the romance; I knew an attraction would form between Maggie and Alex, and I didn't buy into it beyond that. I'm very critical of romances, and they've got to be really good to get my approval. I needed a few more scenes earlier on with romantic tension just so I could ship Maggie and Alex.
Violence, sexual content, and language were all extremely mild; I didn't catch more than one or two curses.
The Verdict: Better than Hold Me Like a Breath, but because of the romance, this is only a 4-star read.
June 16, 2016
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Tiffany Schmidt's Break Me Like a Promise is the sequel to Hold Me Like a Breath and the second installment in her Once Upon A Crime Family series. This time around the story revolves around 19-year old Magnolia Grace Vickers, the daughter and heir apparent to her families black market organ business. In this world, there are only THREE main families who control the black market organ business; Vickers (Maggie), Landlow (Penny), and Zhu (Ming).
With a major plot hole still not filled, I would think that here will be another book in this series.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews 06/16/2016*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Published* June 7th 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Tiffany Schmidt's Break Me Like a Promise is the sequel to Hold Me Like a Breath and the second installment in her Once Upon A Crime Family series. This time around the story revolves around 19-year old Magnolia Grace Vickers, the daughter and heir apparent to her families black market organ business. In this world, there are only THREE main families who control the black market organ business; Vickers (Maggie), Landlow (Penny), and Zhu (Ming).
With a major plot hole still not filled, I would think that here will be another book in this series.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews 06/16/2016*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Published* June 7th 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
July 12, 2016
Wow. WOW. That hurt. Like, suck-you-in-and-give-you-stomach-ulcers-because-you-care-too-much hurt. (Figuratively. I have a healthy stomach.) I liked the first book, but this is a whole different level.
Maggie is so much more than the brash Texan we met in HOLD ME LIKE A BREATH. She's fierce and loud and pushy and so incredibly lonely. I'd hug her, except neither of us do hugs, so that attempt really wouldn't end well at all. I LOVE that she's business-minded and so focused on profits. I love that she eschews feminine things to get her way but also uses them when the time is right. I love that Alex is a Christian, but without the crazyiness, paranoia, or shaky morals that seem to get attached to stereotypical YA Christians. I love how many different kinds of "strong" women are in this book. There's Maggie-strong, but also Mama-strong and Lupe-strong and even Penelope-strong. Some are louder and more forceful and more traditionally "masculine" forms of strength, but they're all strength, just like there are different ways for male characters to be strong. I loved that Char and Penelope get to be a part of this story without a) taking it over or b) being relegated to set dressing. They're secondary characters, as it's Maggie's story and not theirs, but they're still developing and growing like real people, both as individuals and as a couple.And OW OW OW did all the emotional stuff hit hard. Ow.
High-fives and gold stars and a ton of how-could-you's for Tiffany Schmidt, everyone. I can't wait for it to be 2016 so you all can read this book.
Maggie is so much more than the brash Texan we met in HOLD ME LIKE A BREATH. She's fierce and loud and pushy and so incredibly lonely. I'd hug her, except neither of us do hugs, so that attempt really wouldn't end well at all. I LOVE that she's business-minded and so focused on profits. I love that she eschews feminine things to get her way but also uses them when the time is right. I love that Alex is a Christian, but without the crazyiness, paranoia, or shaky morals that seem to get attached to stereotypical YA Christians. I love how many different kinds of "strong" women are in this book. There's Maggie-strong, but also Mama-strong and Lupe-strong and even Penelope-strong. Some are louder and more forceful and more traditionally "masculine" forms of strength, but they're all strength, just like there are different ways for male characters to be strong. I loved that Char and Penelope get to be a part of this story without a) taking it over or b) being relegated to set dressing. They're secondary characters, as it's Maggie's story and not theirs, but they're still developing and growing like real people, both as individuals and as a couple.And OW OW OW did all the emotional stuff hit hard. Ow.
High-fives and gold stars and a ton of how-could-you's for Tiffany Schmidt, everyone. I can't wait for it to be 2016 so you all can read this book.
August 14, 2016
I liked BREAK ME LIKE A PROMISE a lot more then HOLD ME LIKE A BREATH. It's situations like these where I'm glad I pursue a series until the end. While I didn't hate book one in the Once Upon a Crime Family series, I had rated it a perfectly acceptable three stars, it also was a bit of an up and down adventure. Where this one, barring a few moments, was consistently excellent. I liked the bit of overlap between plot and characters but this one stood on it's own and didn't mirror the plot or direction of it's predecessor while still feeling very connected to the world and the Families introduced the first time around. It's quite an interesting and unique set of circumstances without feeling exaggerated or too unrealistic. I loved the main characters, especially Maggie's personal journey, and am really looking forward to the next in the series.
June 7, 2016
Join us at Tales of the Ravenous Reader for 5 Days of Boldly Bookish, which includes a review of Break Me Like a Promise, an event recap of the Boldly Bookish Tour, and giveaways!
Inspired by the fairytale, The Frog Prince, Break Me Like a Promise is sure to shoot to the top of your favorite list in 2016. Within the first 5% of the book, I was utterly and completely sucked in and just could not put it down. I went to a music festival…Didn’t matter, I was reading. It’s THAT good.
Break Me is the second in the Once Upon a Crime Family series but it is not your typical sequel. While the world is the same as Hold Me Like a Breath, we see new and returning characters set after the events of the first book. You do not need to have read Hold Me to understand what’s happening in Break Me. In fact, Schmidt does an excellent job of outlining the important elements without feeling tedious. Indeed, this is a sequel that keeps fans and new readers engaged till the end.
We open the book to find Maggie, a strong girl who’s gone through the tragedy of losing the love of her life, Carter, in a space where she needs to process her loss. She’s definitely not over it and her grief is very real. The way she describes their relationship will make you feel all of the things she does, the good, bad, and ugly. Without being pun-y, this book will break you.
Enter Alex, the computer tech who is the perfect complement for Maggie. One caveat, he’s deathly ill and in need of a kidney transplant. Did I mention that Maggie’s family is in the black market organ trade? Oh, they are, and even that feels ok because while the implications of the Business being illegal are there, it’s hard to argue that everyone deserves access to lifesaving measures. Alex is not above blackmail to get what he wants and manages to finagle himself a kidney. Maggie’s father, who leads the Family and the Business, is not thrilled that Maggie let their secret out and wants to teach her the softer side of the Business, which she will some day take over. She ends up tasked with keeping Alex contained while they search for a donor.
While all this is going on, the Families are working on legalizing the organ trade business, which compromises Alex’s chance of getting a kidney. Maggie is not thrilled with being sidelined from this work while also being forced to spend her days with Alex while she’s trying to grieve. As with all fairytales, there are lessons learned and the inevitable HEA, though I won’t spill on what that really means. Plus there’s another book coming out so anything is possible!
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t absolutely love this book. I would have never picked it up if I wasn’t moderating the upcoming Boldly Bookish Tour and what a shame that would have been. The cover itself conveys so much about the story from the computer chip to the destroyed, bloody flower. Being in a crime Family is not all rainbows; there’s a certain risk and none of that is shielded in the book. There’s a lot of moral questioning that will have you thinking. But not too much thinking, because remember, we are on a deadline to get Alex a kidney here. I loved Maggie through all parts of her process, from the can’t-get-out-of-bed to the denial parts to the place where she eventually moves through it. The romance is believable and there are FEELS allllllll over this book. Schmidt’s writing is strong and engaging; it never misses a beat. There’s never a slow or dull moment in the book. If you look closely, you can see the elements of The Frog Prince but this is not a simple retelling; more-so that the themes and personality elements are closer to the original.
***Bloomsbury provided me a copy of Break Me to prepare for moderating the upcoming Boldly Bookish tour. My thoughts and SQUEEs are all my own and not influenced by this.
Inspired by the fairytale, The Frog Prince, Break Me Like a Promise is sure to shoot to the top of your favorite list in 2016. Within the first 5% of the book, I was utterly and completely sucked in and just could not put it down. I went to a music festival…Didn’t matter, I was reading. It’s THAT good.
Break Me is the second in the Once Upon a Crime Family series but it is not your typical sequel. While the world is the same as Hold Me Like a Breath, we see new and returning characters set after the events of the first book. You do not need to have read Hold Me to understand what’s happening in Break Me. In fact, Schmidt does an excellent job of outlining the important elements without feeling tedious. Indeed, this is a sequel that keeps fans and new readers engaged till the end.
We open the book to find Maggie, a strong girl who’s gone through the tragedy of losing the love of her life, Carter, in a space where she needs to process her loss. She’s definitely not over it and her grief is very real. The way she describes their relationship will make you feel all of the things she does, the good, bad, and ugly. Without being pun-y, this book will break you.
Enter Alex, the computer tech who is the perfect complement for Maggie. One caveat, he’s deathly ill and in need of a kidney transplant. Did I mention that Maggie’s family is in the black market organ trade? Oh, they are, and even that feels ok because while the implications of the Business being illegal are there, it’s hard to argue that everyone deserves access to lifesaving measures. Alex is not above blackmail to get what he wants and manages to finagle himself a kidney. Maggie’s father, who leads the Family and the Business, is not thrilled that Maggie let their secret out and wants to teach her the softer side of the Business, which she will some day take over. She ends up tasked with keeping Alex contained while they search for a donor.
While all this is going on, the Families are working on legalizing the organ trade business, which compromises Alex’s chance of getting a kidney. Maggie is not thrilled with being sidelined from this work while also being forced to spend her days with Alex while she’s trying to grieve. As with all fairytales, there are lessons learned and the inevitable HEA, though I won’t spill on what that really means. Plus there’s another book coming out so anything is possible!
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t absolutely love this book. I would have never picked it up if I wasn’t moderating the upcoming Boldly Bookish Tour and what a shame that would have been. The cover itself conveys so much about the story from the computer chip to the destroyed, bloody flower. Being in a crime Family is not all rainbows; there’s a certain risk and none of that is shielded in the book. There’s a lot of moral questioning that will have you thinking. But not too much thinking, because remember, we are on a deadline to get Alex a kidney here. I loved Maggie through all parts of her process, from the can’t-get-out-of-bed to the denial parts to the place where she eventually moves through it. The romance is believable and there are FEELS allllllll over this book. Schmidt’s writing is strong and engaging; it never misses a beat. There’s never a slow or dull moment in the book. If you look closely, you can see the elements of The Frog Prince but this is not a simple retelling; more-so that the themes and personality elements are closer to the original.
***Bloomsbury provided me a copy of Break Me to prepare for moderating the upcoming Boldly Bookish tour. My thoughts and SQUEEs are all my own and not influenced by this.
May 31, 2016
Thanks to Bloomsbury for providing me with an e-ARC!
I really liked this--it was a lot more than Hold Me Like A Breath.
I found the portrayal of grief so accurately written and reading about someone as strong as Magnolia go through bouts of it throughout the book... It was really heartbreaking, but it also felt so real. Schmidt doesn't gloss over it, doesn't pretend that it's gone. If anything, it made Maggie an even stronger main character.
And, honestly, I loved Maggie on her own. She was always strong, always capable. She had the respect of the guys, which was something that needed to be worked for, especially in Texas and with the type of mother she had--a southern belle, who was completely okay with being the doting housewife and everything that comes with the role (this includes pottery making and other clubs) (also note that I find nothing wrong with this but I am emphasising it due to the fact that Magnolia vastly differs from her mother in this area). She didn't pretend it was easy and didn't take it lightly, because it's not. She refused to be walked over, thrown aside. She was stubborn and she would do everything she could--even if it wasn't the right thing--to help her friends out. She cares, so deeply, so much, that it could consume her, but she's way too strong to let it have all of her. I loved her insecurities and her battles. She was a really inspiring character.
I also liked the romance! It was more gradual, happening naturally and over a period of time. Alex and Maggie got to know each other, care for one another. They also handled it like mature people, understanding the difficult circumstances they were in! In the previous book, romance was the problem I had a huge problem with: it happened too fast to be believable. And I know that many readers awaiting this book would think that Maggie moved on too fast: that is NOT the case and I think many of you guys will love how Schmidt wrote it.
And, I also have to mention: the plot. It was really unique, for me, to read something about this. Honestly, I couldn't even tell this was a retelling. (I still can't so if you guys know, help a girl out.) But the plot itself was intricate and complex. Maggie was very against the Organ Act but as we see her coming out of her phase of broken grief, we also witness her coming into another part of herself. She begins to change her mind, learn more about what it means to be a friend and to stand up for both her own beliefs and what people have to say about her. Schmidt combines some political intrigue along with tiny bits of tech problems and grief and also some sort of self discovery in this novel.
It's amazing.
My only big issue with this book was that... the ending felt a little off. We end with a kind of a cliffhanger, something that insinuates another book (and, as far as I know, this was a two-book deal!). The author had set this up throughout the book--the tiny bits of tech--but it didn't have a resolution, so I'm completely expecting it to be dealt with in a third. I really hope it happens! Anyway, 4 stars overall.
-----
Wow. I really liked this! Definitely a step up from the first book.
Review to come later.
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Love the cover & title, but ever so wary of the content.
I really liked this--it was a lot more than Hold Me Like A Breath.
I found the portrayal of grief so accurately written and reading about someone as strong as Magnolia go through bouts of it throughout the book... It was really heartbreaking, but it also felt so real. Schmidt doesn't gloss over it, doesn't pretend that it's gone. If anything, it made Maggie an even stronger main character.
And, honestly, I loved Maggie on her own. She was always strong, always capable. She had the respect of the guys, which was something that needed to be worked for, especially in Texas and with the type of mother she had--a southern belle, who was completely okay with being the doting housewife and everything that comes with the role (this includes pottery making and other clubs) (also note that I find nothing wrong with this but I am emphasising it due to the fact that Magnolia vastly differs from her mother in this area). She didn't pretend it was easy and didn't take it lightly, because it's not. She refused to be walked over, thrown aside. She was stubborn and she would do everything she could--even if it wasn't the right thing--to help her friends out. She cares, so deeply, so much, that it could consume her, but she's way too strong to let it have all of her. I loved her insecurities and her battles. She was a really inspiring character.
I also liked the romance! It was more gradual, happening naturally and over a period of time. Alex and Maggie got to know each other, care for one another. They also handled it like mature people, understanding the difficult circumstances they were in! In the previous book, romance was the problem I had a huge problem with: it happened too fast to be believable. And I know that many readers awaiting this book would think that Maggie moved on too fast: that is NOT the case and I think many of you guys will love how Schmidt wrote it.
And, I also have to mention: the plot. It was really unique, for me, to read something about this. Honestly, I couldn't even tell this was a retelling. (I still can't so if you guys know, help a girl out.) But the plot itself was intricate and complex. Maggie was very against the Organ Act but as we see her coming out of her phase of broken grief, we also witness her coming into another part of herself. She begins to change her mind, learn more about what it means to be a friend and to stand up for both her own beliefs and what people have to say about her. Schmidt combines some political intrigue along with tiny bits of tech problems and grief and also some sort of self discovery in this novel.
It's amazing.
My only big issue with this book was that... the ending felt a little off. We end with a kind of a cliffhanger, something that insinuates another book (and, as far as I know, this was a two-book deal!). The author had set this up throughout the book--the tiny bits of tech--but it didn't have a resolution, so I'm completely expecting it to be dealt with in a third. I really hope it happens! Anyway, 4 stars overall.
-----
Wow. I really liked this! Definitely a step up from the first book.
Review to come later.
-----
Love the cover & title, but ever so wary of the content.
February 6, 2018
Thank you to Bloomsbury for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Break Me Like a Promise is the second novel in Tiffany Schmidt’s Once Upon a Crime Family series and is a delightful companion to the first novel Hold Me Like a Breath that is quite possibly even better than its predecessor.
Magnolia Vickers always had her future mapped out; run the Family business and finally announce to the world she was in love with Carter Landlow. Then Carter was murdered, leaving her a broken shell of who she was and now new legislation to legalise organ donations is threatening to destroy everything her family has ever worked for. Her recent actions have shattered her reputation within the Family, so when Maggie accidently downloads a computer virus onto her father’s computer she seeks outside help to fix the issue hoping to keep it from the Family. Enter tech wiz Alex, the computer programmer recommended to Maggie who takes one look at what's on her father’s hard-drive and offers Maggie an ultimatum; get him a kidney or he’ll destroy what he’s found permanently. The last thing Maggie wants is to give in to her blackmailer, but when Alex turns up at her Family’s estate with the news the kidney is actually for him, Maggie and the Family may have no choice but to help him….lest their hard work be destroyed forever. Maggie is determined to have as little to do with Alex as possible, but when her father puts her in charge of his care while he’s staying with them, Maggie can’t help but see a different side to Alex than she first thought, something that makes her feel things she’s terrified of feeling. As Alex’s health deteriorates, Maggie is going to have to fight if she wants to save his life and secure her part in the Family’s future….
To date this is the third novel by Tiffany Schmidt I was read and I have to say I’ve been impressed every time. Schmidt is definitely becoming an author I’m looking out for as I know I will discover a solid, highly entertaining story within her novel, something evident in Break Me Like a Promise and then some. While I really enjoyed Hold Me Like a Breath, I have to say I think I enjoyed this companion tale even more!
The concept within this series is so very interesting; our main characters thus far, Penny and Maggie, have been members of families who trade and specialise in the acquisition and distribution of illegal organs. It’s very Mafia-esq with these Families essentially operating outside the law and conducting what is a criminal business. Yet the Families feature honourable and loyal individuals and a closeness that I really like. They have strong and true connections to those around them. Monetary growth aside, their moral reasons for doing what they do are sound….and I can’t help but genuinely like them all, especially those within the Vickers Family.
We met Magnolia Vickers in the first novel as the secret girlfriend of Carter Landlow who faced the heartbreak of losing him. In Break Me Like a Promise, five months have passed and Maggie is still struggling with her loss. There is a lot of emotions for Maggie to process in this novel including her pain and devastation over losing Carter to the hope and fear she experiences when she begins to open herself up to Alex.
I really liked Maggie. She had passion and gumption that shone through the pain she was experiencing. Tiffany Schmidt wrote her with a big heart and a lot of fire. I liked that she was quick thinking and didn’t hesitate to fight for what she wanted. I also found myself feeling for her loss; not just of Carter, but the future they had planned and I couldn’t help but be genuinely hopeful to see her to experiencing small moments of happiness as she learnt to live again, something that was very much because of Alex.
Personally I found Maggie’s journey to new love to feel believable and genuine. My only thought was that perhaps five months had been a little too small a time to allow someone to adequately grieve the loss and be ready to move on from the person they had loved and had secretly been seeing for seven years. I think I would have believed it just a tad more if more time had passed, but that being said the sincerity of this story was never impacted because of this.
As a main part of the story Alex himself was very endearing and my heart just broke for him and all he had been through. This Spanish speaking tech wiz won my heart (alongside Maggie’s) and as the story progressed, I fell for him more and more. Something I especially adored about this novel is that Maggie’s growing feelings for Alex never discount all she had felt for Carter, though the guilt Maggie experienced and insecurity Alex felt over his place in her heart was very believable and understandable.
Break Me Like a Promise was a truly brilliant read. It was wonderful seeing Penny and Char make an appearance and I only hope that Tiffany Schmidt may have other stories in mind because there are characters including Cayleigh, Garrett and James that definitely leave me intrigued. I highly recommend this novel and am still thinking about its brilliant storyline even after I’ve turned the final page—simply wonderful!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Break Me Like a Promise is the second novel in Tiffany Schmidt’s Once Upon a Crime Family series and is a delightful companion to the first novel Hold Me Like a Breath that is quite possibly even better than its predecessor.
Magnolia Vickers always had her future mapped out; run the Family business and finally announce to the world she was in love with Carter Landlow. Then Carter was murdered, leaving her a broken shell of who she was and now new legislation to legalise organ donations is threatening to destroy everything her family has ever worked for. Her recent actions have shattered her reputation within the Family, so when Maggie accidently downloads a computer virus onto her father’s computer she seeks outside help to fix the issue hoping to keep it from the Family. Enter tech wiz Alex, the computer programmer recommended to Maggie who takes one look at what's on her father’s hard-drive and offers Maggie an ultimatum; get him a kidney or he’ll destroy what he’s found permanently. The last thing Maggie wants is to give in to her blackmailer, but when Alex turns up at her Family’s estate with the news the kidney is actually for him, Maggie and the Family may have no choice but to help him….lest their hard work be destroyed forever. Maggie is determined to have as little to do with Alex as possible, but when her father puts her in charge of his care while he’s staying with them, Maggie can’t help but see a different side to Alex than she first thought, something that makes her feel things she’s terrified of feeling. As Alex’s health deteriorates, Maggie is going to have to fight if she wants to save his life and secure her part in the Family’s future….
To date this is the third novel by Tiffany Schmidt I was read and I have to say I’ve been impressed every time. Schmidt is definitely becoming an author I’m looking out for as I know I will discover a solid, highly entertaining story within her novel, something evident in Break Me Like a Promise and then some. While I really enjoyed Hold Me Like a Breath, I have to say I think I enjoyed this companion tale even more!
The concept within this series is so very interesting; our main characters thus far, Penny and Maggie, have been members of families who trade and specialise in the acquisition and distribution of illegal organs. It’s very Mafia-esq with these Families essentially operating outside the law and conducting what is a criminal business. Yet the Families feature honourable and loyal individuals and a closeness that I really like. They have strong and true connections to those around them. Monetary growth aside, their moral reasons for doing what they do are sound….and I can’t help but genuinely like them all, especially those within the Vickers Family.
We met Magnolia Vickers in the first novel as the secret girlfriend of Carter Landlow who faced the heartbreak of losing him. In Break Me Like a Promise, five months have passed and Maggie is still struggling with her loss. There is a lot of emotions for Maggie to process in this novel including her pain and devastation over losing Carter to the hope and fear she experiences when she begins to open herself up to Alex.
I really liked Maggie. She had passion and gumption that shone through the pain she was experiencing. Tiffany Schmidt wrote her with a big heart and a lot of fire. I liked that she was quick thinking and didn’t hesitate to fight for what she wanted. I also found myself feeling for her loss; not just of Carter, but the future they had planned and I couldn’t help but be genuinely hopeful to see her to experiencing small moments of happiness as she learnt to live again, something that was very much because of Alex.
Personally I found Maggie’s journey to new love to feel believable and genuine. My only thought was that perhaps five months had been a little too small a time to allow someone to adequately grieve the loss and be ready to move on from the person they had loved and had secretly been seeing for seven years. I think I would have believed it just a tad more if more time had passed, but that being said the sincerity of this story was never impacted because of this.
As a main part of the story Alex himself was very endearing and my heart just broke for him and all he had been through. This Spanish speaking tech wiz won my heart (alongside Maggie’s) and as the story progressed, I fell for him more and more. Something I especially adored about this novel is that Maggie’s growing feelings for Alex never discount all she had felt for Carter, though the guilt Maggie experienced and insecurity Alex felt over his place in her heart was very believable and understandable.
Break Me Like a Promise was a truly brilliant read. It was wonderful seeing Penny and Char make an appearance and I only hope that Tiffany Schmidt may have other stories in mind because there are characters including Cayleigh, Garrett and James that definitely leave me intrigued. I highly recommend this novel and am still thinking about its brilliant storyline even after I’ve turned the final page—simply wonderful!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2016
break me like a promise broke. my. feels.
April 6, 2021
3.5 stars
I was going to give this book 4 stars because I enjoyed it more than book 1. Maggie was a more complex and likeable character and the mix of mafia drama and romance worked well. However, I was waiting for something exciting to happen towards the end and it never came. In book one we got lots of thrilling moments, from murders to shootouts to near death experiences. This book felt more like a mild drama about a guy waiting for a kidney transplant. That was fine, but sometimes I want something a bit more exciting, and this book needed that.
We don't learn much about the mafia and transplant business in book 1, but Penny was more clueless than Maggie so I could forgive it. I expected Maggie to know more about transplants if she was in training to take over the business since she was 14. Again, it didn't feel like a realistic mafia family. Would they really give in to blackmail so easily? I hated most of the male mafia characters in this book, particularly Maggie's dad. What he did to Alex was so frustrating and reprehensible and then we're supposed to just forgive and forget. I had lots of emotions reading this book, sometimes good and sometimes bad, but I guess that's a positive thing. Books should make you feel, and I liked the complexity of Maggie and her feelings for her first love vs a new love. A good read overall.
I was going to give this book 4 stars because I enjoyed it more than book 1. Maggie was a more complex and likeable character and the mix of mafia drama and romance worked well. However, I was waiting for something exciting to happen towards the end and it never came. In book one we got lots of thrilling moments, from murders to shootouts to near death experiences. This book felt more like a mild drama about a guy waiting for a kidney transplant. That was fine, but sometimes I want something a bit more exciting, and this book needed that.
We don't learn much about the mafia and transplant business in book 1, but Penny was more clueless than Maggie so I could forgive it. I expected Maggie to know more about transplants if she was in training to take over the business since she was 14. Again, it didn't feel like a realistic mafia family. Would they really give in to blackmail so easily? I hated most of the male mafia characters in this book, particularly Maggie's dad. What he did to Alex was so frustrating and reprehensible and then we're supposed to just forgive and forget. I had lots of emotions reading this book, sometimes good and sometimes bad, but I guess that's a positive thing. Books should make you feel, and I liked the complexity of Maggie and her feelings for her first love vs a new love. A good read overall.
October 2, 2022
Now playing: ♫ Goodbye ♩♫
My true rating: 3.5 stars
Loss and humility
I think if I'd read Book 1 of this series, Break Me Like a Promise would have been more emotional for me. I thought it'd be darker/grittier (because, well, black market organ trade and all), but it turned out to be a more heartfelt story about healing from loss and finding compassion. She has a huge arc: from haughty princess who lashes out to someone who genuinely treasures the people around her.
Writing
Contains more creative figurative language than a lot of YA from its time. I was pleasantly surprised by some of it, actually! And although the dialogue sometimes got a bit cheesy, there was no over-the-top cringe bantering, and THANKFULLY no unrealistic "witty" text conversations. I felt the author was pretty aware of not making exchanges between characters overly cliche.
Characters
Magnolia Grace Vickers is written to be an unlikeable person. She's moody, entitled, and very spiteful. She comes to really care for Alex, which is what her arc is centered around, and becomes a more compassionate person for it. Although I still don't particularly like her even after being done with the book, I like that she matured and grew some self awareness.
Alex Cooper is a rather typical sick "angel" type of guy. Needs a kidney. Also very into computers and has a dream to go to MIT. He's a real softie, and, although a bit boring, he brings out the better side of little Miss Maggie Grace.
James Byrd was easily my favorite. He has just the right amount of snark dealing with Maggie Grace as her bodyguard. Their complicated relationship was one of the highlights, and James's maturity really shines through starting about halfway through the book when he shows he can have a level-headed conversation even when he's boiling mad. He could've made a fascinating main character as well.
Plot
Mostly character-driven, and I was sympathetic to Maggie Grace's struggle to heal from her boyfriend's loss. I thought her arc was good in theory, but the execution felt a bit rushed. I would've preferred there to be no romance because she had enough going on as it was. Maybe this would've all made more sense to me if I'd read Book 1...
What happened to the rest of the series?
This was published in 2016, and with the way things ended, there could've been more books in the series, perhaps featuring different characters. I think the setting for the series is prety unique, and I wish it would've gone more in-depth about the shadowy side of black market organ trading. Makes me wonder what it's like in real life...
My true rating: 3.5 stars
Loss and humility
I think if I'd read Book 1 of this series, Break Me Like a Promise would have been more emotional for me. I thought it'd be darker/grittier (because, well, black market organ trade and all), but it turned out to be a more heartfelt story about healing from loss and finding compassion. She has a huge arc: from haughty princess who lashes out to someone who genuinely treasures the people around her.
Writing
Contains more creative figurative language than a lot of YA from its time. I was pleasantly surprised by some of it, actually! And although the dialogue sometimes got a bit cheesy, there was no over-the-top cringe bantering, and THANKFULLY no unrealistic "witty" text conversations. I felt the author was pretty aware of not making exchanges between characters overly cliche.
Characters
Magnolia Grace Vickers is written to be an unlikeable person. She's moody, entitled, and very spiteful. She comes to really care for Alex, which is what her arc is centered around, and becomes a more compassionate person for it. Although I still don't particularly like her even after being done with the book, I like that she matured and grew some self awareness.
Alex Cooper is a rather typical sick "angel" type of guy. Needs a kidney. Also very into computers and has a dream to go to MIT. He's a real softie, and, although a bit boring, he brings out the better side of little Miss Maggie Grace.
James Byrd was easily my favorite. He has just the right amount of snark dealing with Maggie Grace as her bodyguard. Their complicated relationship was one of the highlights, and James's maturity really shines through starting about halfway through the book when he shows he can have a level-headed conversation even when he's boiling mad. He could've made a fascinating main character as well.
Plot
Mostly character-driven, and I was sympathetic to Maggie Grace's struggle to heal from her boyfriend's loss. I thought her arc was good in theory, but the execution felt a bit rushed. I would've preferred there to be no romance because she had enough going on as it was. Maybe this would've all made more sense to me if I'd read Book 1...
What happened to the rest of the series?
This was published in 2016, and with the way things ended, there could've been more books in the series, perhaps featuring different characters. I think the setting for the series is prety unique, and I wish it would've gone more in-depth about the shadowy side of black market organ trading. Makes me wonder what it's like in real life...
January 3, 2023
I enjoyed this book so much more better than the first one. I realised that this author likes to give her girls TWO love interests and it’s rlly all about the reader deciding which one deserves to be w the girl and if it isn’t the pairing we hoped for in the end then we probably won’t like it. Luckily I loved Alex and Magnolia together despite the bits w magnolia crying over carters death and memories she shared w him etc. I liked how the author rlly touched on the second love thing w Alex where he was doubting and a magnolia had to reassure him because that whole experience is so raw and real and not rlly touched on as much in the books I read so to read something like that was just refreshing. I also rlly enjoyed the progression I saw in Magnolia as a character. I’ll admit at first I found her irritating since it felt like she was just picking a fight w every little breathing thing esp w Alex?? Like hello… even ik when I should stop 😶. But it’s the way we saw them go from enemies to lovers, like the way alex slowly but surely softened her edges (all that shit Yk) idk it worked rlly well. Shame about carter n garret tho. Both didn’t get the girls but that’s just the way life goes 🙏🏼
December 7, 2017
If you don't want an emotionally wrenching read, avoid this book.
If you don't like learning new things, avoid this book.
If death bothers you, avoid this book.
If you can't fathom a loved one dying, avoid this book.
I loved Hold Me Like a Breath, so reading this was an easy decision. Still, this book hit pretty close to home and it was a quick yet difficult read. Death is a tough subject, and Schmidt captures it rather well.
If you don't like learning new things, avoid this book.
If death bothers you, avoid this book.
If you can't fathom a loved one dying, avoid this book.
I loved Hold Me Like a Breath, so reading this was an easy decision. Still, this book hit pretty close to home and it was a quick yet difficult read. Death is a tough subject, and Schmidt captures it rather well.
May 15, 2016
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book was such a pleasant surprise. I wasn't that fond of the first book in this series, so I hesitated to request the second one. The main reason I did was because it involved different characters. One of my issues with the first book was that I didn't like the main character of Penelope very much. I thought there was a possibility I would like different characters and I was right.
One thing that was different from the first book was that there was a LOT more political talk and a lot more about the actual criminal element regarding the black market of organs. I loved that. The main character is Maggie Vickers. Maggie was kind of in the last book, but she had a very small part. She was in a secret relationship with Penny's brother, Carter. The book starts with Maggie grieving over Carter's death. No one she knew had any idea about the relationship, so it's hard for anyone to understand her feelings.
Maggie was so strong and very determined. She is the heir to her father's organ harvesting business and she manages to pull herself out of her funk to start. She's not the easiest character to like at first, mainly because she doesn't care at all about the patients at first. She only sees numbers and profits; she doesn't see the behind the scenes stuff and she doesn't get that some people actually die without a transplant . . . that is, until Alex. Alex desperately needs a kidney transplant. I don't really get the reason why he was dropped off the government list. This author has taken some liberties with the real organ transplant system so it seems like the government goes out of its way to deny people a transplant for stupid reasons. Then he finds out about Maggie's family business and of course he blackmails her.
The relationship between Alex and Maggie is slow and very sweet. They have good chemistry and of course, they have the whole hate at first sight thing going on. Besides the whole blackmail thing, their relationship is also dampered by the fact that she is still grieving and he is very sick, getting sicker by the day. There is a lot of character development and growth with Maggie. Thanks to Alex, she slowly realizes how important the transplants are to people and that getting people an organ isn't always about the profit margin.
Another thing I liked about this sequel was there was a lot more explanation about how the black market organ harvesting worked and the political ramifications of the new Organ Act being debated in Congress. Maggie is against the Act and her dad starts realizing that it may be a good thing. After reading this, I kind of get both sides of the issue. It was annoying that Maggie had such a hard time seeing the bigger picture and she refused to research it to see both sides of the coin.
There was a lot of action going on and a couple of subplots that never got resolved, so I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Yes, I do intend on finishing this series. I definitely recommend this one.
This book was such a pleasant surprise. I wasn't that fond of the first book in this series, so I hesitated to request the second one. The main reason I did was because it involved different characters. One of my issues with the first book was that I didn't like the main character of Penelope very much. I thought there was a possibility I would like different characters and I was right.
One thing that was different from the first book was that there was a LOT more political talk and a lot more about the actual criminal element regarding the black market of organs. I loved that. The main character is Maggie Vickers. Maggie was kind of in the last book, but she had a very small part. She was in a secret relationship with Penny's brother, Carter. The book starts with Maggie grieving over Carter's death. No one she knew had any idea about the relationship, so it's hard for anyone to understand her feelings.
Maggie was so strong and very determined. She is the heir to her father's organ harvesting business and she manages to pull herself out of her funk to start. She's not the easiest character to like at first, mainly because she doesn't care at all about the patients at first. She only sees numbers and profits; she doesn't see the behind the scenes stuff and she doesn't get that some people actually die without a transplant . . . that is, until Alex. Alex desperately needs a kidney transplant. I don't really get the reason why he was dropped off the government list. This author has taken some liberties with the real organ transplant system so it seems like the government goes out of its way to deny people a transplant for stupid reasons. Then he finds out about Maggie's family business and of course he blackmails her.
The relationship between Alex and Maggie is slow and very sweet. They have good chemistry and of course, they have the whole hate at first sight thing going on. Besides the whole blackmail thing, their relationship is also dampered by the fact that she is still grieving and he is very sick, getting sicker by the day. There is a lot of character development and growth with Maggie. Thanks to Alex, she slowly realizes how important the transplants are to people and that getting people an organ isn't always about the profit margin.
Another thing I liked about this sequel was there was a lot more explanation about how the black market organ harvesting worked and the political ramifications of the new Organ Act being debated in Congress. Maggie is against the Act and her dad starts realizing that it may be a good thing. After reading this, I kind of get both sides of the issue. It was annoying that Maggie had such a hard time seeing the bigger picture and she refused to research it to see both sides of the coin.
There was a lot of action going on and a couple of subplots that never got resolved, so I am looking forward to the next book in the series. Yes, I do intend on finishing this series. I definitely recommend this one.
December 25, 2016
Magnolia wants nothing more than to be the head of her family's organ transplant organization. She's doing everything she can to be a worthy successor of her father. She didn't expect to be facing her future alone though. Carter was the love of her life. They were childhood sweethearts and spent every possible moment together. Now that he's gone she misses him terribly and nobody seems to understand what she's going through. Together with the new rules the government wants to accept for organ donations she's under a lot of pressure. She doesn't want things to change, but unfortunately she doesn't have much of a choice.
Magnolia meets Alex because she badly needs something and he's the only one who can help her. He blackmails her as he knows about the family business and they can give him what he can't get anywhere else. At first they don't get along and Magnolia is still mourning, but in her heart there might be a place for something new, someone who's still alive. She doesn't want to have her heart broken again and she fights with everything she has to prevent that from happening.
Break Me Like a Promise is a beautiful emotional love story. Magnolia is sad and depressed because she's lost the person who mattered to her the most. She doesn't expect to be able to love again, but she slowly opens her heart and I enjoyed witnessing that process. Tiffany Schmidt describes Magnolia's feelings in such a great detailed way, which makes her very approachable. Magnolia has her dark moments, but she also learns to see some light again. I loved that about this book, there's so much hope. Not only for Magnolia to be happy again, but also for people to get the organs they need.
Alex is ill and Tiffany Schmidt writes about it in a brilliantly sympathetic way. His health problem is something that's very present, but she doesn't forget that he's a regular guy with a wonderful personality and an abundance of talent. Illness and organ donations is something that Break Me Like a Promise and Hold Me Like a Breath have in common. Break Me Like a Promise is more sensitive and there's less action. Both stories are fantastic and I love that they are very different while there's still an obvious connection.
I really liked Break Me Like a Promise. The main characters are going through so many different emotions and they have to face plenty of difficulties. They don't run away and deal with whatever comes their way. They make mistakes and are willing to take responsibility. The story is layered and it has quite a bit of depth. I loved everything about this book, it's original and fascinating.
Magnolia meets Alex because she badly needs something and he's the only one who can help her. He blackmails her as he knows about the family business and they can give him what he can't get anywhere else. At first they don't get along and Magnolia is still mourning, but in her heart there might be a place for something new, someone who's still alive. She doesn't want to have her heart broken again and she fights with everything she has to prevent that from happening.
Break Me Like a Promise is a beautiful emotional love story. Magnolia is sad and depressed because she's lost the person who mattered to her the most. She doesn't expect to be able to love again, but she slowly opens her heart and I enjoyed witnessing that process. Tiffany Schmidt describes Magnolia's feelings in such a great detailed way, which makes her very approachable. Magnolia has her dark moments, but she also learns to see some light again. I loved that about this book, there's so much hope. Not only for Magnolia to be happy again, but also for people to get the organs they need.
Alex is ill and Tiffany Schmidt writes about it in a brilliantly sympathetic way. His health problem is something that's very present, but she doesn't forget that he's a regular guy with a wonderful personality and an abundance of talent. Illness and organ donations is something that Break Me Like a Promise and Hold Me Like a Breath have in common. Break Me Like a Promise is more sensitive and there's less action. Both stories are fantastic and I love that they are very different while there's still an obvious connection.
I really liked Break Me Like a Promise. The main characters are going through so many different emotions and they have to face plenty of difficulties. They don't run away and deal with whatever comes their way. They make mistakes and are willing to take responsibility. The story is layered and it has quite a bit of depth. I loved everything about this book, it's original and fascinating.
July 6, 2016
I read this for a book club and while it was an easy read, it was just too full of spoiled teen angst. The plot was fairly obvious, the "problems" resolved easily, and the characters weren't terribly engaging. I can see how some early teen readers might like this but it's not as engaging for an adult, IMHO.
December 30, 2017
This one was definitely more steady than the first. I didn't hate the second half, like I did with the first one. A lot of moping around, but the MC's grief is understandable.
If you read the first and enjoyed it, or even was so so about it like me, give this one a shot, too. It's a worthy sequel.
If you read the first and enjoyed it, or even was so so about it like me, give this one a shot, too. It's a worthy sequel.
July 18, 2016
Can't wait!!!!!!!!
Read
June 12, 2016My want for this book knows no limits. #INeedItNow
June 26, 2016
I LOVE these books so much. The feels are strong, the tension is intense, and the characters are just the absolute best. So much fun, want more please!!!
June 9, 2016
This review was originally posted on In Wonderland My Thoughts
Number 1. I have not read the first book in this series. Thankfully, that's not a big deal. Because each book deals with different characters. I've been told the characters in BREAK ME LIKE A PROMISE were in HOLD ME LIKE A BREATH but they played very, very small parts. So, if you haven't read the first book, you can easily read and figure things out with the second book. Normally, I don't like to read a book without reading the first book (even in companion series) however, I didn't mind it with this one.
Number 2. This book has a lot more higher reviews than the first book. I can't compare the two, but I did really like this book. I loved how it dealt a lot with the criminal activities. I liked the politics. And I really liked the characters within this book.
Number 3. Speaking of characters. I loved Maggie! She was such a strong character! She was super focused. I can see people not liking her because she mainly cares about profits and numbers rather than patients and people. But, what do you expect from an heiress to an organ harvesting business? I would imagine anyone in her position, and who wanted the business, would care about the numbers. I really loved seeing her growth throughout the book.
Number 4. Alex. I loved the chemistry between Alex and Maggie. It was great. I loved how he's the reason for a lot of Maggie's growth throughout the book. Because if it weren't for him, Maggie would still be all about the numbers.
Number 5. I loved it! I will definitely be going back to read the first book in this series and I cannot wait to read the rest of this series! At least I hope there are still more books after this one!
Tiffany Schmidt is the author of Send Me a Sign, Bright Before Sunrise, and Hold Me Like a Breath (Once Upon a Crime Family book 1).
She’s found her happily ever after in Pennsylvania with her saintly husband, impish twin boys, and a pair of mischievous puggles.
You can find out more about her and her books at: TiffanySchmidt.com, TiffanySchmidtWrites.Tumblr.com or by following her on Twitter @TiffanySchmidt.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Instagram
1 set of the BOLDLY BOOKISH 2 Tour books (US Only)
Books include: Hold Me Like A Breath & Break Me Like A Promise by Tiffany Schmidt, The Fixer & The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, & The Leaving by Tara Altebrando
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Week 1 ~ BREAK ME LIKE A PROMISE by Tiffany Schmidt
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Week 3 ~ THE LEAVING by Tara Altebrando
6/21: Literary Lover - Review
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May 27, 2017
Having read two books by this author I can now safely say that I'm addicted. Tiffany Schmidt creates such unique storylines and her characters are vivid and detailed in ways that give me goosebumps. If you haven't read Hold Me Like a Breath I really suggest reading that first. There's enough backtrack in this story that you can get the gist of what happened, but then you miss the whole comparison of the main characters. Penny was a character considered to be fragile, unaware of her own capabilities. In this tale, Magnolia Grace KNOWS that she can be a badass. She knows that she can be strong and fierce, and when she's motivated enough she can pull herself together to portray her old self. But she's broken, she's grieving, and everybody around her is so used to seeing her as strong that they can't find it in themselves to support her. Maggie's pain is undermined and ridiculed and reduced more times than I can count, and it utterly broke my heart every time it happened. Penny's grief was soft and sad and frightened, but Maggie's is a tidal wave of emotion, and then a quiet curse of apathetic emptiness that is utterly haunting and so accurately portrayed. Everyone else tries to tell her how and when and why she should put herself back together, but what I love is that she shrugs that off as best as she can and waits for her heart and mind to heal at their own rate. It's gradual, and beautiful, and meanwhile even broken she is kicking ass and taking names and saving a life. And in that moment when she gets her closure and saves the day and finds that she can be not the old Maggie but a newly devised version with grief as a puzzle piece that made her up, it's glorious. I wanted to stand up and applaud, but I didn't because I was clenching the book too hard. And of course there's intrigue, mystery, dark gritty black market organ drama, betrayals and fight scenes, the plot is rich and interesting and lively, but for me the character's journey was the best part.
July 3, 2017
This book started off a good note for me. Just two young kids planning a life together. They try to run off and have that life, only to get caught by the parents and the plan is put to a halt. But nothing will stop them. A few more years down the road and they finally meet up after years of calls, texts skype, etc. Only moments with each other and they were happy. But that was cut short when one of them dies.
Fast forward a few years and the story is still going well, but once it hit the halfway point, it started to lose me. The whole black market and organ thing just wasn't my thing. It took away parts of the story for me and the whole how did we even up here part? Basically it was the downfall for me.
Fast forward a few years and the story is still going well, but once it hit the halfway point, it started to lose me. The whole black market and organ thing just wasn't my thing. It took away parts of the story for me and the whole how did we even up here part? Basically it was the downfall for me.
October 7, 2018
I loved this Once Upon a Crime series (#2 book) and totally rooted for Magnolia Grace as she struggled first with Carter's sudden death and then her father's crime family demands to give a patient a kidney (remain with Alex through his journey to a new kidney). Maggie was one tough girl; going against everything to be a part of her father's crime family business of black market organs. This book kept me riveted because Maggie was difficult, grieving, insensitive, and against the new Organ Bill, which her father now seems to endorse. As Maggie comes to know Alex, she learns more about the patient side of the business, and decides to live again. Against all odds Maggie tries to return to the world of the living, fighting for the organ law and the patients. Awesome read!!!
June 7, 2016
*Break Me Like a Promise is the second book in Schmidt's Once Upon a Crime Family series which begins with Hold Me Like a Breath. This review features spoilers for book one*
Magnolia Vickers has spent years convincing her father and the other Family men that she is much more than a decorative young woman destined to spend her life on the periphery of their Business in illegal organ trafficking.
After a staggering loss, the future Maggie has been planning as her father's successor is precarious at best. Worse, Maggie's recent behavior has ruined her carefully constructed reputation with almost everyone in the Family--not to mention her parents.
Maggie is forced to set her grief and loneliness aside when a computer virus brings trouble to the Family. When Alex, the computer expert hired to fix the virus, brings his demands for a new kidney to the Family he quickly becomes Maggie's problem.
As she learns more about Alex and the changing legislation, Maggie realizes that Alex can be more to her than a source of constant frustration--a lot more. But first Maggie will have to use everything she's learned about the Family Business to help them move forward in a world with legalized organs and make sure Alex survives long enough to get his new kidney in Break Me Like a Promise (2016) by Tiffany Schmidt.
Break Me Like a Promise is the second book in Schmidt's Once Upon a Crime Family series which begins with Hold Me Like a Breath. This novel features a different narrator and is set months after the events of book one. Although it contains spoilers for the first book in the series, it largely functions as a contained story. In this unconventional retelling, Schmidt incorporates elements from "The Frog Prince" into her unique world where organ transplants are largely illegal.
Given the premise (fairy tale retellings with organized crime!), I always knew this series was going to become one of my favorites. I wasn't surprised when I enjoyed reading about Penny in Hold Me Like a Breath and I wasn't surprised when I realized Break Me Like a Promise was easily one of my most highly anticipated 2016 titles.
Some reading experiences are more personal than others and such was the case here. Schmidt completely surpassed my expectations with her careful plotting and thoughtful writing. Every single piece of Break Me Like a Promise matters and every piece works to make the whole even more powerful.
The thing that really shines in this novel are the characters--especially Maggie. I identified a lot with Maggie and was deeply affected by her journey in this novel. That (along with the stellar plot and writing) is what made Break Me Like a Promise a standout novel for me.
I've talked before about hitting a rough patch a couple of years ago. I wrote a guest post about that overwhelming feeling of being over my head and feeling lost. I even talked about seeing some of that struggle mirrored in a different book. I've started thinking of that time as triage because I was just going day-to-day and trying to get through because it was too hard and too scary to try and think further ahead.
Things are better now. Things are actually good. But while I was reading Break Me Like a Promise and watching Maggie work through the initial shock and grief of Carter's death, I realized that I had been holding onto a lot of my stress and anxiety and mindsets from those bad years. I'm often too hard on myself and don't treat myself very well as a result. I keep asking myself, "What else can go wrong? What if something happens?" It's easy to think that once a traumatic event is over, that's the end. It's time to move on. But recovery--even for the person who was physically fine throughout, like me--doesn't work that way. I have realized that I don't remember who I was before my rough patch. I don't know who I could be moving forward. I lost track of that somewhere.
My situation isn't at all like Maggie's but I identified so much with her throughout Break Me Like a Promise. It's incredibly moving and powerful to watch Maggie's growth during her story arc and to see her make sense of herself without Carter and as she makes her way in the world.
I recommend this series to fans of fairy tale retellings as well as sleek mysteries like White Cat or Heist Society.
Break Me Like a Promise is one of my favorite books I've read this year and it's also one I needed badly. I don't think words can ever truly convey how much this book means to me but I hope the words in this review might convince you to check out Break Me Like a Promise for yourself. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt broken and wondered how to be anything else; for the people who have moved on and for the people who are still trying to find their way.
Possible Pairings: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, White Cat by Holly Black, Strings Attached by Judy Blundell, Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan, Heist Society by Ally Carter, The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, Lock & Mori by Heather W. Petty, It Wasn't Always Like This by Joy Preble, Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan, Vicious by V. E. Schwab, All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Be sure to check out my interview with Tiffany about the book starting June 2 on the blog!
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
Magnolia Vickers has spent years convincing her father and the other Family men that she is much more than a decorative young woman destined to spend her life on the periphery of their Business in illegal organ trafficking.
After a staggering loss, the future Maggie has been planning as her father's successor is precarious at best. Worse, Maggie's recent behavior has ruined her carefully constructed reputation with almost everyone in the Family--not to mention her parents.
Maggie is forced to set her grief and loneliness aside when a computer virus brings trouble to the Family. When Alex, the computer expert hired to fix the virus, brings his demands for a new kidney to the Family he quickly becomes Maggie's problem.
As she learns more about Alex and the changing legislation, Maggie realizes that Alex can be more to her than a source of constant frustration--a lot more. But first Maggie will have to use everything she's learned about the Family Business to help them move forward in a world with legalized organs and make sure Alex survives long enough to get his new kidney in Break Me Like a Promise (2016) by Tiffany Schmidt.
Break Me Like a Promise is the second book in Schmidt's Once Upon a Crime Family series which begins with Hold Me Like a Breath. This novel features a different narrator and is set months after the events of book one. Although it contains spoilers for the first book in the series, it largely functions as a contained story. In this unconventional retelling, Schmidt incorporates elements from "The Frog Prince" into her unique world where organ transplants are largely illegal.
Given the premise (fairy tale retellings with organized crime!), I always knew this series was going to become one of my favorites. I wasn't surprised when I enjoyed reading about Penny in Hold Me Like a Breath and I wasn't surprised when I realized Break Me Like a Promise was easily one of my most highly anticipated 2016 titles.
Some reading experiences are more personal than others and such was the case here. Schmidt completely surpassed my expectations with her careful plotting and thoughtful writing. Every single piece of Break Me Like a Promise matters and every piece works to make the whole even more powerful.
The thing that really shines in this novel are the characters--especially Maggie. I identified a lot with Maggie and was deeply affected by her journey in this novel. That (along with the stellar plot and writing) is what made Break Me Like a Promise a standout novel for me.
I've talked before about hitting a rough patch a couple of years ago. I wrote a guest post about that overwhelming feeling of being over my head and feeling lost. I even talked about seeing some of that struggle mirrored in a different book. I've started thinking of that time as triage because I was just going day-to-day and trying to get through because it was too hard and too scary to try and think further ahead.
Things are better now. Things are actually good. But while I was reading Break Me Like a Promise and watching Maggie work through the initial shock and grief of Carter's death, I realized that I had been holding onto a lot of my stress and anxiety and mindsets from those bad years. I'm often too hard on myself and don't treat myself very well as a result. I keep asking myself, "What else can go wrong? What if something happens?" It's easy to think that once a traumatic event is over, that's the end. It's time to move on. But recovery--even for the person who was physically fine throughout, like me--doesn't work that way. I have realized that I don't remember who I was before my rough patch. I don't know who I could be moving forward. I lost track of that somewhere.
My situation isn't at all like Maggie's but I identified so much with her throughout Break Me Like a Promise. It's incredibly moving and powerful to watch Maggie's growth during her story arc and to see her make sense of herself without Carter and as she makes her way in the world.
I recommend this series to fans of fairy tale retellings as well as sleek mysteries like White Cat or Heist Society.
Break Me Like a Promise is one of my favorite books I've read this year and it's also one I needed badly. I don't think words can ever truly convey how much this book means to me but I hope the words in this review might convince you to check out Break Me Like a Promise for yourself. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt broken and wondered how to be anything else; for the people who have moved on and for the people who are still trying to find their way.
Possible Pairings: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, White Cat by Holly Black, Strings Attached by Judy Blundell, Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan, Heist Society by Ally Carter, The Brokenhearted by Amelia Kahaney, Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, Lock & Mori by Heather W. Petty, It Wasn't Always Like This by Joy Preble, Daughter of Deep Silence by Carrie Ryan, Vicious by V. E. Schwab, All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Be sure to check out my interview with Tiffany about the book starting June 2 on the blog!
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration*
March 21, 2022
Some of the same characters from the first book are still in it. However, I do not like how Maggie is narrating the book, and would much rather have a second book where Penny is the narrator. Although I grew to like Maggie more as a character, this book has a much less intense plot than the first book, and is a useless read. If you read, and liked, "Hold me Like a Breath" don't bother reading this book and find something better.
May 26, 2017
I really like this one. <3 This one is a beautiful book. I like how strong, brave and interesting heroine she is. I hope there's a part 2. But well, it's open-ended. Sigh. So I guess it's still okay if there's no part 2. But I would have loved to have one. Pretty please, author? xD
August 17, 2017
OMG!!! I LOVE LOVE the series!!! Book 2 is AMAZING!!! Maggie is AMAZING!!! This series
just keeps getting better!!! Iam so hooked!!! I want ro know: What is Garrett up too, Penny being
left in the dark about Garrett, & Char KEEPING SECRECTS.
just keeps getting better!!! Iam so hooked!!! I want ro know: What is Garrett up too, Penny being
left in the dark about Garrett, & Char KEEPING SECRECTS.
July 30, 2021
This book is so awesome! Just like the cover, this book and its title attracted me to it when I picked it up. I never regretted my choice. This book speaks about family, friendship and love. If you enjoy books like Wonder, this book is for you.
June 15, 2017
I really liked this! Great follow up. I'm anxious to find out how it all ends up, so I NEED a third book!
June 22, 2017
While she may have loved Carter, Magnolia and Alex are soul mates. He makes her a better person.
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