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Breaking the Mold
Karla Brandenburg takes readers back to Hoffman Grove with Book 4 in her series of small-town romance and a family of friends.
After spending her life manipulated and belittled by her codependent family, Kayleigh Cragin is fired by her sister from the job she’s “lucky” to have. Eager for an escape, Kayleigh attends her ten-year reunion while she plans a reboot of her life, but some things never change. Upon her return to Hoffman Grove, false friends she had back in the day indicate they are eager to repeat old patterns, until a knight in shining armor steps in to rescue her.
Rafe Martin’s family moved to the suburbs from the city after a gang-related shooting disabled his mother. Now, with the fortune he earned from his Shark Tank invention, he’s taken it upon himself to make a better life for his family, even if his family doesn’t appreciate his efforts. When he overhears people talking behind Kayleigh’s back, he rides to her rescue and volunteers to be her pretend boyfriend for her reunion weekend.
Bolstered by unexpected support from her classmates, Kayleigh chases her dream to open a ceramics studio in Hoffman Grove, an expansion of the Etsy store she’s secretly been running from her home. Riddled with self-doubt, she must find the courage to live life on her own terms, especially when old frenemies bring trouble to her doorstep.
After spending her life manipulated and belittled by her codependent family, Kayleigh Cragin is fired by her sister from the job she’s “lucky” to have. Eager for an escape, Kayleigh attends her ten-year reunion while she plans a reboot of her life, but some things never change. Upon her return to Hoffman Grove, false friends she had back in the day indicate they are eager to repeat old patterns, until a knight in shining armor steps in to rescue her.
Rafe Martin’s family moved to the suburbs from the city after a gang-related shooting disabled his mother. Now, with the fortune he earned from his Shark Tank invention, he’s taken it upon himself to make a better life for his family, even if his family doesn’t appreciate his efforts. When he overhears people talking behind Kayleigh’s back, he rides to her rescue and volunteers to be her pretend boyfriend for her reunion weekend.
Bolstered by unexpected support from her classmates, Kayleigh chases her dream to open a ceramics studio in Hoffman Grove, an expansion of the Etsy store she’s secretly been running from her home. Riddled with self-doubt, she must find the courage to live life on her own terms, especially when old frenemies bring trouble to her doorstep.
- GenresContemporary
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2022
About the author
Karla Brandenburg
36 books156 followersKarla Brandenburg is an award-winning author of contemporary romance novels which include paranormal elements. Now that her children have settled into lives of their own, she loves to go out into the world on adventures with her husband, from Milwaukee to the French Riviera, but the Chicago suburbs have always been “home.” She is an avid reader across multiple genres and is a card-carrying cookie-holic (we all have our vices). Sign up for her newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 2, 2022
This is the first book in the series that I've read and will definitely read the first 3 now. Rafe's family survived a horrible injury. His Mother was shot and paralyzed while defending her youngest so Mig. Since then the family has had a difficult time dealing with it. Mig has nightmares, Gigi dedicates her life to caring for her Mother (no one knows what she is doing at night), the other sisters struggle as well. Rafe, after making big money selling an invention, is determined to take care of his family - whether they want him to or not.
Kayleigh has been controlled her whole life by her Mother. Who she was friends with, who she dated, where she worked, what she did. She felt like her lawyer sister's lapdog, coming when called and doing what she was told. She didn't even want to be a paralegal. After a tense argument with her sister, she quit her job and left for her high school reunion.
Wanting to see her ex-boyfriend, but not wanting to see him. She froze when she did and it was Rafe to the rescue. Things heated up from there. But will Rafe's controlling ways end the relationship? Will she continue to stand up to her Mother and sister and run her own business, a ceramic shop she has dreamed of owning? We know there's going to be a lot of fireworks - good and bad. You will have to read the story to find out how the characters deal with their individual burdens.
A wonderful story about learning to trust and grow as an individual. It is possible to start over again.
Kayleigh has been controlled her whole life by her Mother. Who she was friends with, who she dated, where she worked, what she did. She felt like her lawyer sister's lapdog, coming when called and doing what she was told. She didn't even want to be a paralegal. After a tense argument with her sister, she quit her job and left for her high school reunion.
Wanting to see her ex-boyfriend, but not wanting to see him. She froze when she did and it was Rafe to the rescue. Things heated up from there. But will Rafe's controlling ways end the relationship? Will she continue to stand up to her Mother and sister and run her own business, a ceramic shop she has dreamed of owning? We know there's going to be a lot of fireworks - good and bad. You will have to read the story to find out how the characters deal with their individual burdens.
A wonderful story about learning to trust and grow as an individual. It is possible to start over again.
February 16, 2022
A delightful Cinderella story. Following a fraught 10 year high school reunion, closet artisan Kayleigh Cragen decides to move back to her hometown of Hoffman Grove. She desperately needs a do-over, to leave behind the stifling remains of her hated career, her domineering mother, and her manipulative sister.
Raphael Martin, a man with a large and caring family is quite taken with Kayleigh but family troubles make it difficult to have a relationship with her.
Kayleigh and Rafe’s story kept me turning the pages. Author Karla Brandenburg’s characterization drove the story and had me rooting for this couple to have their happily ever after.
Raphael Martin, a man with a large and caring family is quite taken with Kayleigh but family troubles make it difficult to have a relationship with her.
Kayleigh and Rafe’s story kept me turning the pages. Author Karla Brandenburg’s characterization drove the story and had me rooting for this couple to have their happily ever after.
September 2, 2022
I usually read Romance between other genres for an alternate reading experience. The story flowed well for me! Nice to see the main character develop and make choices and stand up for herself. I have read the other books in the series and will continue to read the next.
March 4, 2024
When Kayleigh decides she has had enough of her family's control she moves to Hoffman Grove and starts a new life. She finally finds the time to have friends, pursue her craft and find romance. This story has fun, interesting characters and was very entertaining.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews