Breaking Boundaries

Breaking Boundaries #1

by M.A. Lee

Heartache and Anger seem to follow Melanie wherever she goes. Melanie used to be the beautiful college student from a wealthy Lexington, Kentucky family that everyone admired. She appeared to have the perfect life; a loving family, great friends, and a fairy tale engagement to her soulmate, Brody. Everything was wonderful until one tragic night left her broken and caused a devastating car accident that took the life of a close friend and ended her engagement to her once thought of soulmate Brody. Cole is a twenty-two-year-old mechanic who was bounced from one foster home to the next all his life. He is still mending from a tragic car accident two years ago that changed his life forever. This once angry, brooding alcoholic turned his life around after witnessing the death of Alice, a young woman involved in his car accident. After a chance encounter, Melanie and Cole find that their lives are bound together by one tragic and unforgettable night that transformed the way they viewed themselves. As they begin to embark on a complicated and at times, volatile friendship, Cole falls madly in love with Melanie. Refusing to be damaged again, Melanie fights her growing feelings for Cole, only furthering her decent into a dark depression. Can Cole bring light to Melanie's life again? Will Cole be able to share his secret with Melanie? Will Melanie allow herself to break.through the barriers she has created and find happiness?

Genres: Contemporary Romance

Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2020

Reviews

[Colleen (The Book Lover Blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*Stars
MA Lee’s romance, Breaking Boundaries, had some pleasant qualities, but overall it was just a satisfactory/okay read. The main issue that took away from my enjoyment of the novel was the heroine and her repetitive actions. I won’t give details, I don’t want to spoil anything for other readers, but I felt like I was reading the same action and reaction over and over.

I really couldn’t connect with Melanie, she frustrated me to no end. While I understand why she has trust issues, the constant hot-n-cold and back-n-forth with Cole was really getting on my nerves. On the other side of the character coin, we have Cole. He was patient, kind, protective, sweet, and swoon-worthy. You can’t help falling in love with his character. But loving Cole could not change that fact that I was not feeling Melanie, therefore I wasn't "rooting" for their romance.

Breaking Boundaries was a quick, one time read for me.

[Jennifer Richey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet read

Melanie & cole both felt they were damage and were not meant to love another person. Fate changes everything and brings these two together

[Autumn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Melanie needs to grow up.

Melanie ("Mel") has survived a horrible car accident, and is just gliding through life going through the motions. She lives with her bff, Lauren, while they finish college.
While at a tattoo parlor, Mel accidentally meets Cole, and is instantly smitten. She and Cole start hanging out, both wanting more, but Mel promptly puts Cole in the friend zone, mostly due to trust problems stemming from issues she has with her ex.
Cole grew up in the foster care system, and never really had a supportive family. He's had to work for everything he has. Melanie comes from a posh background, but complains because her parents weren't there for her growing up.
This book goes from the present, told from Mel's poverty to flash backs of her life leading up to and right after her car accident. It's little confusing at first.
Mel irritated me so badly! She's got a great thing in Cole, but she won't take it further. She teases him, kisses him, but won't commit to dating him. For all intents and purposes, they are dating without the "boyfriend/girlfriend" label and that's all Mel's doing. I wanted to throttle her throughout the book.
Once she finally got her head on straight, her and Cole's relationship bloomed tremendously, but she started to think too hard about things and once again acts like a spoilt child.
This book had somewhat of a cliffhanger, as it hints to Cole wanting to propose to Mel, they are supposed to take a vacation to California, she's supposed to apply for a job while they're in San Diego. All of this is talked about, but nothing is ever fleshed out. The author makes mention of Cole having a scar on his abdomen, it's mentioned twice, and nothing is ever said about it. I guess one could infer it came from the car accident he was in.

I'm on the fence about this book, I'm not sure I would read another book if this turned into a series.

This book needed a better editor as well.

I reviewed this book for Kylie's Fiction Addiction.

[Michelle Areaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Cole in this book. While he has the perfect combination of sex appeal and edge, he is also funny and caring. Melanie reminded me at times of Bella in Twilight with her back and forth behavior with her relationship with Cole. However, the love between the two characters was undeniable. This is definitely a swoon worthy read.
My friend and I reviewed this book together.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/5/2020)! 🎁

[S.C. York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Awesome! Breaking Boundaries was everything I could hope for when I'm craving a romance. The romance was a slow build and sweet but had just the right amount of steam when you needed it. I love reading new adult and college genre stories and M.A. Lee gives you everything; romance, and spice but the part I most enjoyed was the growth of Mel and also that you can choose yourself and the one your with. Sometimes I think women have the tendency to give up too much of themselves to be in a relationship and put our own dreams on the back burner. In Breaking Boundaries, M.A. Lee reminds us that we can love with our whole heart and still want more for ourselves too! Well Done and I can't wait for her next release Chasing US!

[Karry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing read.

This story had great potential. Unfortunately, for me, it fell flat. It was difficult to get past all the errors and inconsistencies that dominated throughout the entire story. With the main character being a literary editor it made it all the more frustrating. I think with better editing, and maybe a final read through by the author, this story would have been really good.

[Kathleen Bradbury (Bulfon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great storyline! Hard to put down! Intense and Emotional! Hot Chemistry! I truly enjoyed this read! Get it and Read it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebecca Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Melanie Lee Averman is 22 and for the past two years has lived with guilt and in a constant state of depression/sorrow since an accident took the life of one of her best friends. She denies herself happiness and will not let anyone in to help her deal with the emotions she still has from the accident. Her best friend Lauren has been there for her but Melanie still doesn't open up fully to even her.

Cole is 22 years old and an auto-mechanic who turned his life around two years ago. When he meets Melanie he recognizes the pain in her eyes and wants her to give him a chance at showing her real happiness.

Melanie only wants a friendship with Cole but her true feelings are something deeper. Yet she continues to push Cole away when they get close. Will Melanie finally come to terms with her own unhappiness and allow herself a real chance at happiness or will her "yo-yo" attitude towards Cole finally push him away for good?

I enjoyed this book but at times I found Melanie almost too much with the way she almost pitied herself and wouldn't allow herself a chance at happiness when she knew that what happened was not her fault. It was almost like she had to stop living when she lost so much already and everything that happened was out of her control.

Cole was such an amazing guy with how he tried to get Melanie out of her shell and teach her to start living her life again. He was always there for her and protected her from her ex-fiance, Brody, when he would make comments or go near her. Yet she constantly pushed him away when they got to close and I have no idea how he could deal with everything.

I loved Lauren, Melanie's best friend, and the honest conversations she would with Melanie. I really loved when she had enough and gave Melanie hell over how she was acting towards Cole and in life. That finally woke Melanie up and she could see what she had to lose.

I was super pissed at Melanie towards the end for not coming clean with Cole when she knew what she wanted to do with her life and what her dreams were. She definitely lucked out with finding a guy like Cole that truly loved her.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book but like other readers, I had a hard time loving Melanie. It took some thought after finishing the book to decide my review and what I wanted to say. Melanie is a very complex or multi-layer character. I thought at times she needed to grow up and get on with life but then I had to think back and remember that this is a girl that was at the top of the social scale and has fallen to the bottom which helped me give her a chance. Cole on the other had stole my heart. He is everything that one looks for in a man. Both characters have a tragic past that makes it hard for them to move forward but with a few challenges they both get there but not without a few bends in the road.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cynthia Tatum reichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melonie and Cole are very strong characters. It is not hard to get behind Cole and want him to win. Melonie has a lot of hate and sorry that follows her. She builds a friendship with Cole and she is oblivious of the feelings he has for her. She makes him fight for her and work really hard to get her to change the friendship into something else. Cole didn't give up and kept fighting and and finally won her over.

Very strong writing and it was a book that I didn't want to put down. I really didn't like the ending. I felt we could have had more however it was still sweet. I can't wait to read more from her.

This review is written for KFA

[Cynthia Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two years ago Mel's life was shattered in every way possible. He boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend. She was in a car wreck and her friend got killed. She was in a bad place for a long time her only friend she had had Lauren who took care of and was by her side thur it ally. When Lauren meets Isaac they start a relationship Mel starts to hang out with Cole. Isaac's best friend. Has they start to have feelings and emotions for each other will they be able to let go of things that held them in the past or will they let the past rule them. Beautiful story will make you laugh and cry and break your heart for what Mel has been thur.

[Dana Busenbark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who are Lauren and Melanie? What happened in Melanie's life before today? What does she do or what is she? Where does Lauren drag her to on this particular day in the book? Who are Smalls and Kat? What happens to Melanie that isaac has to come to her rescue? When Melanie sees Cole, what happens? Who is Brody? What is he like? Wow, when we learn from Melanie what happened during a storm one night, we get a whole new insight to Cole. I like Cole. I loved watching Melanie learn to live again. How far will she go to do that? How do Lauren, Isaac, Cole, Kat, and Smalls push her? What does she do? You really need to see what happens in this story!

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first, I thought I'd enjoy this book, but I was wrong. The characters are immature and the dialogue is choppy. I felt like I was reading a forced discussion. The back and forth between past and present was enough to throw me out of the story. I did feel bad about her accident, but I couldn't like her character. And please, tell me what best friend is going to mock you for not doing something.
There were a few errors throughout the story that I felt should have been addressed by an editor.

Overall, I think with this story had some potential, but it was hard to read.

[Mary Fazzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie once was happy and full of life till one day her boyfriend/fiancé took it away and she lived in fear. Fear of letting people in to her life and a fear of being loved again and letting herself love someone again. Till she met Cole. Cole was a strong man and would help her through the storms that would happen due to the fear she has created. Little by little her friendship wasn’t the norm kind of friendship but it work for them. Till she had to let him go and letting go was the hardest thing for her to do.

[Renee Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! Breaking Boundaries is a fantastic story by a new author, MA Lee. Cole is every woman's swoon-worthy dream! Though the plot can be heart-wrenching at times, Lee has the unique ability to mix angst, sweetness and heat in perfect proportions throughout the entire book. I'm definitely recommending this one to all of my friends! I received an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

[Christine Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

am voluntarily reviewing this arc of this book. They met by chance and are becoming best friends. She has been broken by catching her ex in bed with her best friend who when she runs away from the cheater the best friend gets into the car with her. There is an accident and some horrible things happen. Their relationship grows n becomes stronger with time. I loved how he kept her on her toes and did the right thing to provoke her. He has helped her alot. I loved reading this book

[Tammy Deighan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really well written. The Author kept me wanting to keep reading. Melanie the main character had major life situations thrown at her and the way she got over them or should I say moved forward was one you wont forget. What a terrible car accident can do to bring people together. You won't be sorry if you pick up this book to read. I"m looking forward to reading more this author has to offer.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good story of a damaged man and woman who find out that the same event damaged them both. They fall in love, but her emotional damage and lots of dumb mistakes stand in their way. For once, not everyone is rich and uber-professional. The romance itself and the characters are all fun to read, have enough conflict and sorrow to be believable.
However! The writing is stilted in the extreme. People do not talk like that! Please, hire an editor!

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved this book from start to finish. There is so much raw emotion coming through every page. Mel and Cole have both been through so much yet fate brought them together. They both lived through the same accident bit both have totally different views on it both taking the blame although it was no fault of either of them. In their mind they didn't deserve to live when someone else lost their life. They didn't know at the time they'd both been through it but saw it differently to each other. Can Cole pull Mel back from the edge she's barley hanging onto with her fingers. He wants to make her feel again, wants her to live again and not just go through the motions. I couldn't put this book down and cried so much reading it. I had a connection to Mel although I'm not sure why but I could see it how she did. She'd never told anyone what happened that night and why she was there or what had happened before she ended up there. She was as much a victim as everyone else but she just couldn't see a way out of the darkens that had taken her over. The emotion in this book was amazing, you could tell the author had written it from the heart putting everything into it. This is a book i will re read again and I'll probably read things i didn't the first time around when I was so emotional, although I don't think you can ever read this book without being emotional. I'd recommend it to anyone that enjoys a love story, but I'd read it in one go because i think you feel it more than if you have a break whilst reading it. Be prepared to have your emotions wrung out whilst reading it though. This is one great author and I can't wait to read more of her work.

[Samantha Waldow · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book pulls at your heart strings. I did tear up in a couple of spots. These 2 characters are both going through a tragic event that they don't know are the same thing. They both work so hard to hide their true self from people.  They work together to make themselves while again. I didn't like the ending to much. It left thing up in the air. I give this 4 stars

[evieo17 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really didn't care for Melanie at all. What happened to her was terrible but I couldn't find any sympathy for her at all after her accident. I also didn't care for the flow of the story. At times it was stitled, at times it dragged on too long, and the characters all had a habit of yelling and screaming when they needed to express themselves. It got tiresome.

[Mardell Bonasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breaking Boundaries by M.A. Lee was good. I love the storyline. Cole and Melanie were in the same accident and never truly met until later. An accident for which Melanie carried an extreme amount of guilt. The story was well told, but I felt that Melanie's character came off needy and selfish at times and I did not care for that. All in all, I liked the story but it fell short of my expectations.

[Chasidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love finding new to me authors!!! I really enjoyed reading Breaking Boundaries and look forward to reading more from MA Lee.

Cole....when he loves, he loves fiercely!

Both Cole and Mel were damaged from their past. Fate has brought them together.

My emotions were taken on a ride and I felt raw after reading the story. I loved the storyline and the characters. Great read.

[Mona williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a awesome book that was heart breaking too! its about a young woman who was in a accident . lost her best friend and the love of her life. now she meets a young man who might just help her heal. will she give him a chance? read to find out. thanks for giving me a chance to read this book!

[robin Ann thistlewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie and Cold are a super sweet couple. Their friends Lauren and Isaac keep throwing them together. Melanie was in an accident that killed another friend named Alice. Her entire life got all screwed until she meet Cole. This is a super book to read.

[Ruth Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a delima

I loved the story but got so mad at Melanie and her treatment of Cole. He had to love her so much to get with her after so many times she treated him so badly.

[Jackie Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

. Melanie used to be the beautiful college student from wealthy Lexington, Kentucky family that everyone admired. She appeared to have the perfect life; a loving family, great friends, and a fairy tale engagement to her soulmate, Brody. Everything was wonderful until one tragic night left her broken and caused a devastating car accident that took the life of a close friend and ended her engagement to her once thought of soulmate Brody.

Cole is a twenty-two-year-old a to mechanic who was bounced from one foster home to the next all his life. He is still mending from a tragic car accident two years ago that changed his life forever. This once angry, brooding alcoholic turned his life around after witnessing the death of Alice, a young woman involved in his car accident.

After a chance encounter, Melanie and Cole find that their lives are bound together by one tragic and unforgettable night that transformed the way they viewed themselves. As they begin to embark on a complicated and at times, volatile friendship, Cole falls madly in love with Melanie.

Refusing to be damaged again, Melanie fights her growing feelings for Cole, only furthering her decent into a dark depression. Can Cole bring light to Melanie's life again? Will Cole be able to share his secret with Melanie? Will Melanie allow herself to break.through the barriers she has created and find happines?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure that I even know where to begin writing a review for this because it is truly an awesome experience.

The author did such a great job developing the characters, that I feel like I really know them, and not just the major two characters, but the minor ones too.

I loved everything about it - the characters, the plot, the emotion, the writing, and the ability that the author had to tell me a story that had me wanting this book to go on and on.

I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was taken with this emotional story filled with so many secrets that I was unable to put this book down. I was surprised by how much I bought into the story. The author does a wonderful job of keeping you on the edge of your seat hoping for these two characters to make things work. Good story.