Breaking All the Rules

by Rachael Richey

This is an alternate cover edition for B06XPG88G9

Kate is getting married in a month. Richard, her fiancé, is a lawyer: rich, successful, and very good-looking. She’s definitely in love with him.

No doubt about that. So when Sam, a good friend and her high school crush, returns after eight years of travelling, she doesn’t care. After all, he never actually asked her out, and then he went travelling without her, contrary to their plans.

She only agrees to go to dinner with him in order to hear all his news, so why doesn’t she tell him she’s getting married? And is he still bothered by the tragedy eight years ago?

Sometimes life just gets too complicated, and Kate finds she keeps having Very Bad Ideas, which lead to even more complications. Just three days before her wedding, she finds herself in a situation that demands the biggest decision of her life.

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2017

About the author

I live in Cornwall with my husband and son and I write Women's Fiction and Romantic Comedy. I love walking, horses, Earl Grey tea, chocolate, pizza and Pinot Grigio. And I love reading.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard is everything a girl could want, a rich, successful, handsome, attorney who is going places. Her parents adore him and the wedding is a month away. So why is Kate getting so antsy? Why did she accept a sort of date with Sam? Sam, the guy who she had been crushing on since high school, when they had plans to travel together. It isn’t like they had dated or that he returned her feelings, but sometimes, that one that literally got away is never forgotten. Now, after eight years he is back, looking fabulous, and he makes her heart beat in double time. But she is getting married, because she loves Richard. Richard, the ever so proper barrister, the serious man who works hard and has no sense of adventure whatsoever, besides, it’s too late to back out now, everyone expects a wedding. Her family has paid a pretty penny to give Kate the wedding of her mother’s dreams. And Kate is determined not to disappoint anyone, no matter the cost to her. No matter that with one smile, Sam makes her forget everything but him, including to mention her upcoming wedding.

Four weeks, four long weeks, filled with tension, turmoil and a total eclipse of Kate’s heart, not that she will admit it. She becomes her own version of Bridezilla as she continues to sneak moments with Sam, just as friends and Richard continues to be absent in her life with work, play and who knows what else.

The calendar is counting off the days to the moment of truth and it is up to Kate to search her heart and soul to learn what her heart truly wants.

BREAKING ALL THE RULES by Rachael Richey is romantic comedy and then some! Talk about cold feet! Kate is caught between duty and her heart and the chaos going on within her mind is overwhelming. Possibly this is the reason she seemed almost too immature to marry? Rachael Richey has created the perfect atmosphere for the romantic chaos on each page. From sisterly rivalry to an overbearing mother, Kate is definitely the square peg in the round-hole family she lives in. Her father is a delightful ally, as is her grandmother (a former lovechild, turned polished lady). Sam rarely crosses any lines of propriety, avoiding making him a villain. Richard? Well, let’s just say he is a stick figure, perfectly matching his shallow relationship with Kate.

Rachael Richey had me laughing, had me angry and kept me balanced on the edge of my seat waiting to see what fiasco Kate could cause next, whether it is emotional, mental or physical. A fun read that could prove to be a must-read for brides everywhere with a lesson on simplicity and honesty versus appearance and complication, all while making one smile!

I received an ARC edition from Rachael Richey in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc (May 5, 2017)
Publication Date: May 5, 2017
ISBN-10: 1509213201
ISBN-13: 978-1509213207
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Paperback: 316 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantic, heartwarming and laugh-out-loud funny.

This is a charming love triangle about Kate, a spunky young woman in the final days of planning her wedding to the older, workaholic Richard who suddenly finds her world turned upside down when the ruggedly handsome, adventurous Sam returns to town and causes Kate to not only reevaluate her life and her career, but ultimately her happiness.

The writing is smooth and precise. The characters are sweet, quirky and appealing. And the plot is a wonderful blend of humour, familial drama, friendship, love and a little mystery.

I have to say that if you are a fan of well written, fun, lighthearted British chick-lit this is definitely the book for you.

All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate is absolutely playing with fire, in under a month she is due to marry Richard, and then Sam comes back into her life after 8 years, and suddenly Kate's brain has turned to mush.

Instead of being 100% convinced Richard is the man of her dreams she starts realising everything that has ever niggled her about him, and she even agrees to go to dinner with Sam, which is the start of a very slippery slope.

The entire way through I really wasn't sure which way Kate's heart would go, but I will say that by the end I was almost crying at the anguish that Kate is in, as she has to decide whose heart she needs to break - Richards, her own or Sam's.

Despite thinking that Kate is making some rather wrong decisions, I kind of liked her, and really enjoyed seeing her dilemma (which is perhaps a bit mean of me). I loved her conversations with Jenny her best friend, and yet I also found myself really warming to Sam, although whether that is because Richard really didn't sound that great is another thing.

I really enjoyed reading Breaking All The Rules, it is definitely funny in places, and was quite entertaining. There were a few hidden secrets which added a bit of flavour to a few of the characters, and I just found this to be a lovely way to escape my life for a few hours, while I was absorbed with Kate's problems instead.

If you enjoy books where the main character seems deeply unhappy and some of it is entirely of her own making, and seeing them agonize over decisions which to a reader seem really obvious then you will absolutely adore Breaking All The Rules.

Thank you to Rachael Richey for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Nichole Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute love triangle

A cute story of love rediscovered at an impossible moment. The hero and heroine were adorable, but I loved the relationships Kate had with her family and friends too. A lovely story.

[Michelle Ryles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Rachael Richey's NightHawk series so I was delighted to get the opportunity to read an early copy of her new RomCom. I was equally delighted to see my quote from Cobwebs in the Dark featured in the front of the book - thank you Rachael.

Kate is about to get married to Richard but a chance encounter with her high school crush, Sam, has Kate thinking about IF she marries Richard in a few weeks time rather than when. Is she crazy to be thinking this way when Sam never even asked her out in Sixth Form? They say that the heart wants what the heart wants and Kate can't get Sam out of her head, so when Sam asks Kate out on a date she doesn't refuse but she neglects to tell him that she is engaged to be married in a few weeks. Clearly, she has doubts about the wedding but she doesn't want to let everyone down at this late stage.

After a few dates with Sam, Kate decides to make some effort with Richard and makes a spur of the moment trip to London. Richard isn't exactly overjoyed to see her and events lead Kate to have further doubts about the wedding. Spending more time with Sam puts Kate's head and heart in a tizz, although Sam now knows that Kate is about to married. How does Sam really feel about Kate? Does Kate really know Richard at all? This is one problem that cake won't solve although it doesn't stop cake-loving Kate from having a slice or two!

Breaking All the Rules is written in the same warm and easy flowing manner as we have come to know and love from Rachael Richey. I really felt as if I knew all of the characters and welcomed them as if they were old friends. I felt like I was part of Kate's family so I was willing her to wake up and think of herself for a change; you only get one shot at life so you need to make the best of it. I wanted Richard to man up a bit too as he just felt a bit like a deflated balloon, I think I would have preferred him to turn out to be a bit of a cad.

I do think that the cover could do with a makeover as I don't think I would have picked it up if I hadn't read the author's previous work. I know we are told that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover but unfortunately people often do, which will result in them missing out on this little gem. It's not often that you get such a page-turner outside of the thriller genre, but the pages turn effortlessly as Kate gets herself in so many scrapes as her wedding day rapidly approaches.

A superb RomCom with believable and likeable characters that I think is a bit of a modern fairytale - although I'm not telling you whether Kate gets a happy ending or not, but I'm sure she'll get some cake! If this doesn't leave you reminiscing about your own high school crush, you must have a heart of stone.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-six-year-old Kate’s marriage to Richard is in four weeks time, not the greatest moment for the man she loved as a teenager, Sam, to come waltzing back into her life.

Sam has been travelling for the last eight years, but has returned to settle down and find a job. The moment the two clasp eyes on one another a spark ignites, but can Kate put temptation and her feelings to the back of her mind, and marry Richard?

Breaking all the Rules, is a humorous chick-lit. It has characters that you will adore, and a flawless plot. Kate, or Katy as Sam calls her, knows that she shouldn’t be thinking about her teenage crush the way that she does. She is determined not to let these feelings get in the way of her relationship with Richard. But Richard is so boring, and never around, and Sam is adventurous.

She hates her ‘temporary’ job, lives at home still, and gets treated like a little child by her mother. She is fed up with being bored! She dislikes her younger sister Vicky, who feels the same. Her best friend since school, Jen, is the voice of reason, a voice that Kate rarely listens too.

Richard is a little snooty, and puts his career as a lawyer first. He even says that he will not turn off his phone when they go away on their honeymoon, much to Kate’s disapproval. His parents, his mother mainly, are very condescending, and don’t feel that Kate fits in with their family.

Sam is the hunk of the book. He is the gorgeous, tanned man back from his travels around the world. He clearly loves Kate, and I feel that he always has, but something made him run away all those years ago, unfortunately not everything was how it seemed. When he finds out that Kate is getting married, he doesn’t try to pursue her, as it is her choice to decide her own future, not his.

The book is warm and funny from the first page to the last, with lots of witty moments scattered throughout. There were some great twists in the book, and plenty of red-herrings to throw you off track. It is a lighthearted, easy read, but one you can really sink your teeth into. If you love chick-lit/romance books, then this will be the perfect book for you.

Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com

[L.B. Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like a light and easy read, then this is the book for you! This story centres on Kate and the run up before she is about to get married. I had my suspicions what would happen, and found I was right! I love to be right, for a change! If you want something to put a smile on your face. Perfect for the beach or cosying up on the sofa. LB Griffin

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaking all the Rules is the new standalone romcom from Rachael Richey. I adored Rachael’s previous books and was a little worried with this new novel and that I’d be missing my favourite characters Gideon and Abi from Rachael’s The NightHawk series. However, I needed no fear as I soon fell in love with the characters from this story, especially Sam and was captivated by the storyline.

The story is set in Devon and Kate is 3 weeks away from her wedding to lawyer Richard. Kate and Richard have been dating 3 years and Kate was so happy when Richard proposed. However, when Kate bumps into Sam Somerville her life is about to get a whole lot more complicated. Sam was a good friend of Kate’s at school, secretly she had a massive crush on him. However, tragedy struck and Sam escaped the country and went travelling. It was led to believe that the reason Sam fled was due to his broken heart however, eight years on and he is back in the village wanting to catch up with Kate. Tragic events in the past are brought to the surface which go some way to explain certain directions that were made one fateful night.

Kate is gobsmacked to see Sam and her heart soon starts fluttering and she is left with feelings of nostalgia. Kate agrees to go for a catch up with him, as friends. After this catch up Kate is left pondering whether she actually still loves her fiancé Richard.

We follow Kate on her contemplative three week journey leading up to her wedding. Will her confused mind be clearer on the wedding day?

I loved this romcom. It was full of fun with some wonderful wit and humour in the storyline. There was a poignant side to the story full of miscommunicated feelings and it left you with thoughts of “what if.” Funny, heartwarming and very readable. A perfect read for fans of Lindsey Kelk, Carmen Reid, Helen Fielding and Sophie Kinsella.

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breaking All The Rules is a romantic comedy set in Devon, England. Twenty six year old Kate is soon to be married, when Sam returns from eight years of travelling and throws her life into turmoil. Sam the best friend with whom she was supposed to go travelling, who took off to escape from a situation for which he blamed himself.

In just four weeks Kate is due to marry Richard; safe, dependable and boring Richard. Surrounded by stifling wedding plans and an over-bearing mother, Kate finds herself agreeing to meet Sam for a drink. Neglecting to tell him that the hen night she’s going to on Friday is her own, Kate thrills at the escape from wedding preparations and yearns for the carefree opportunity Sam’s recent world travel offers. Convincing herself that seeing Sam is just wedding nerves and a last chance of freedom before she settles down, Kate continues to meet up with him. He opens her eyes to her relationship with Richard, yet she is deeply confused by her sense of duty to her family and the need to follow her own dreams.

Just how well does Kate know Richard? What secrets are they both keeping from each other and is Kate really the blushing bride to be? Can she transform from the petulant, down-trodden girl stuck in a temporary job, to a confident women who knows her own worth?

Recommended for those who enjoy #RomCom and the satisfying story ending you know you’ll get with this genre.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Never judge a book by its cover. That’s what they say but I think we all do. Now being honest, I don’t think I would have picked this book up based on its cover (apologies to the designer). It’s just not one which would have appealed to me personally. I read it because I have read the Nighthawk series by Rachael Richey and very much enjoyed them. (In fact, it was a real thrill to see part of one of my reviews quoted as praise for the author at the beginning of this book.) Never judge a book by its cover is a very true saying in this case, as I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Kate is in a muddy field buttering what seems like hundreds of scones for a village fete, when she hears a familiar voice say her name and looks up to see Sam, the man she had a crush on at school. I have to say here that I must be getting old as Kate says she’s never getting old if it means “spending one’s Sunday in a muddy field with over-enthusiastic tea-drinking women.” Doing exactly that at a village fete sounds an ideal way to spend a Sunday to me! I digress though. Sam still gives Kate all the feelings she had when she was in love with him at school. He’s been away in various places around the world for the past eight years and she hasn’t heard from him in that time. When he asks her out for a drink to catch up the following Friday she tells him she can’t because she is going to a hen night and they make other arrangements. What she doesn’t quite tell him, is that it’s her own hen night!

I really enjoyed reading about Kate and her dilemmas over the next few weeks. She gets herself into some awkward situations, finds herself telling lies to so many different people in the run-up to her wedding and has to make some really important decisions. I felt that Rachael Richey captured so well all the confusion and guilt that Kate was feeling. Like Kate, I couldn’t quite decide if she was just having last minute nerves or if Richard really wasn’t the man for her. He seemed perfect for her but was he the safe, reliable and let’s be honest, rather boring choice? To me Kate seemed so full of life, dreams and ideas and Richard just didn’t seem to understand her. I didn’t like Kate’s sister Vicky at all. She was so different from Kate and seemed to delight in being argumentative and putting her down. Now Sam, I did like very much but at the same time I felt he really shouldn’t be getting involved with another man’s fiancée, especially so close to the wedding. He was sweet and romantic, very attractive and really seemed to appreciate Kate for who she was. There were several other characters who I really warmed to, such as Kate’s grandmother who had wise advice to offer based on her own rather surprising experiences.

I had my suspicions about what might happen at the end of the book but the author did a great job of providing some surprises right up until the end and there were several points when I had a big smile on my face as I was reading. Breaking all the Rules is engaging, romantic, feel good reading and I really enjoyed it.