Breaking the Mold

The Gray Eyes Series #2

by Martine Lewis

A girl stuck in her father's mold.
Olivia Kendall looks forward to her senior year of high school. But her world is shaken when a new boy walks into school, a boy she cannot help but be drawn to. But her father's ideas for her life don't include Alex.

A boy with a gift, desperate for a real home.
Alex Parker begins his senior year in yet another school. The only person he looks forward to seeing again is Olivia Kendall, a girl he knew in second grade, a girl who never made fun of him. One touch, and he knows what he's suspected all along: there is something unearthly about their connection.

Can the two stay together despite Alex's secret, despite a town that seems to conspire against them?

366 pages, Paperback

Published September 20, 2016

About the author

Martine Lewis is a forty something who was born and raised in the French speaking province of Quebec, Canada. She spent her childhood looking forward to her summer vacations at the farm, which were a nice escape from the suburbs where she lived.

Her first written endeavor was a 200-page handwritten Duran Duran bandfiction which she wrote when she was eleven years old. Of all her written work, this is the only one she no longer has.

All throughout high school, Martine wrote more bandfictions and some original work, then she went to write fanfictions in the Star Wars, Buffy and Harry Potter universes. Her fanficiton in the Potterverse are mostly centered on characters of her own creation and can be found on fanfiction.net.

Following her viewing of Roswell on Netflix in 2012, Martine wrote book two and three of the Gray Eyes Series, then went on to create the Gray Eyes Series universe in which she has been playing ever since. She writes contemporary coming-of-age romance fiction (young adult/new adult) with a twist.

Martine is an avid reader and rollerskater. She loves sushi, hot chocolate on a cold day, and the beach. But what she loves above all else is to curl on her chair with her computer and write more stories for her readers.

Martine currently lives in Houston TX with her two cats.

Reviews

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking the Mold is the second book in the Grey Eyes series and is set in a different town, with different characters (mainly). This book is darker than the first, with a creepy, psychotic powerlifter who thinks he can have what - and who - he wants as just one of the 'bad guys'. Olivia has always been a Daddy's Girl, but things are changing and she can no longer adhere to his rulings completely. Luckily for Olivia, her mother is on her side, and helps her every which way she can. Alex is the gentle but strong hero, who wants nothing more than to reconnect with Olivia after 10 years apart. Will she be the same girl his memories show him, or not. Will she even remember him?

This book is exceptionally well written, with a storyline that drags you in and won't let go. Violence is a part of the story, and it wouldn't be the same without it. It is there by design and is not gratuitous. With mystery and suspense, this book will keep you on your toes. It is pretty obvious just who the other 'bad guys' are, but the how and whys remain unknown until you read further along.

With a similar cliff-hanger ending, this book is a complete story in itself, whilst whetting your appetite for the next book. Although I thoroughly enjoyed Crossing the Barrier and loved Malakai and Lily as characters; there was something about this book, that indefinable 'something' that just pips it to the post for me. A well deserved 5-stars and a need for the next book along. Highly recommended by me.

* I received this book from YA Reads in return for a fair and honest review. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in The Grey Eyes Series, I really enjoyed it. Be warned though its full of lots of feels of both the happy and sad kind.
Alex has longed for a stable home for as long as he could remember since his parents split up. He has lived with his mother and twin sister Ella most of his life but he's sick of changing school and not making any friends. After asking his father and his girlfriend if he could move back in with them the year before and getting a no, he decides to try again determined to start and finish Senior School at the same high school.
Olivia the only girl who stood up for Alex when he was younger is still at the same school and has just broken up with Carl who she dated due to her dad's influence but Carl is only out for himself and won't take no for an answer. Drawn to Alex she doesn't realise who he is at first until the are assigned to be lab partners in Science. Their friendship blossoms much to both Carl and her dad's annoyance. Friendship turns to love but there are some in town not happy with this and set about savaging the relationship and Alex especially.
Can their relationship survive and how far will these people go to get what they want.

I can't wait for the 3 book in this series - I highly recommend it

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

After we were introduced to a rather special girl with powers we learn that there is another with the same power. The empaths are recognized by their eye color and we learn that the mother of the hero in book one is involved with tracking down and observing these teenagers. This book focuses on Alex and Olivia and I gotta say while I loved the match up in book one this one is even better! Alex moves back to a small town that he had lived in ten years before and he has always remembered this girl he felt a special connection with despite the fact that they were in elementary school. Now as a senior in high school he's looking forward to seeing her again. (See, adorbs right?!)

Olivia is this girl who is struggling with trying to follow her parents expectations but to balance that with finding out who she is and what her goals are. (Ahh that struggle I know it well! Never an easy time of a young girl's life let me tell you!) but Martine really plays this up and you can really experience the conflict with this character.

There is some tension going on with Olivia's ex Carl and that begins to bleed over into her entire life with him continuously showing up harassing her at work and school. He is seriously creeptastic! We find out that he also had experiences with Alex back in elementary school. The incidents escalate and it all comes to one intense confrontation!

This story is even more fast paced and complex than the first book in the series that it begs you to keep reading and experiencing the thrill ride that is this story. When a series just keeps getting better and better it is a joy to discover.

[Kathleen Hill Weeden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

Loved Book 1 and can't wait to read book 3. So happy to follow the journey of the incredible characters. Definitely recommend.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book for Fallen for Books.

Breaking the Mold is the second book in The Gray Eyes Series by Martine Lewis. I thought the first book was great, but this one blew me away! There were so many emotions in this story and I loved the characters!

Olivia Kendall is at a point in her life where she wants to make her father happy, but also wants to be able to make her own decisions. The most important of which being who she dates, or doesn’t date. On the first day of her senior year she sees the new boy before school. From then on she can only hope that he will notice her. Eventually she realizes that she has actually met him before.

Alex Parker is special. He has a gift like no one he has ever known, except his twin sister. For his senior year of high school, he asked his Dad if he could live with him and his new family. He has never forgotten Olivia from elementary school and is looking forward to seeing her again. He is hoping that she is just as kind now as she was back then.

Once Olivia and Alex start to get to know one another the trouble starts. Olivia’s ex is the star athlete and the police chief’s son basically making him invincible. Olivia and Alex have to decide for themselves if their love can make it through everyone’s negativity and discouragement.

This book made me feel real emotions. It was easy to connect with the characters. The hints from the end of the first book are hinted at again. I cannot wait to find out what the heck is going on there! Seriously a great read!

[Amber Ballard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breaking The Mold by Martine Lewis

I received this book for free in return for a honesty review!

First off I really enjoyed this book! It wasn't quite what I was expecting but it was wonderful! I thought it might have been a follow up with the characters from book one but it wasn't and I fell in love with these new characters! It had a lot of twist and turns that kept me hooked! It was till towards end that I figured out that these books are leading up to one big story with all the character!!! This is such a well written book that once I thought I could predict it it would change!!! I loved that! I can't wait to read more from this author and see what she has in store for all these characters! I want to know so much More about the book store owner I think she had a much bigger part in it all!!!

[Kalli Kounavong · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one better than the first one. The pace was a little faster, the story was a little darker, and I liked the plot development. I'm still wondering where it's all leading though. Hoping to find out something by the third book. I definitely would (and have already) recommend this book to my fellow readers!! I am definitely interested to see how their abilities play into the plot-line of the story.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story line. Flows much better than the first book. Good paranormal aspect of it. It's subtle and doesn't put it into the sci-fi category. Love the characters. Great drama and angst. Will for sure be reading the rest of the series once it comes out.