Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert

Horses, mansions, tea parties, and lies are twenty-year-old Hannah Taylor’s life. To others, her family and her relationship with Eric is perfect. But she knows the truth. She lives it.

After a fire takes her grandma's life and kills her horse, Hannah's immaculate life spirals out of control. Her father disapproves of her decision to run her grandma’s ranch instead of focusing solely on learning the family business; Animal Control brings her Argus, a mistreated horse that she can't turn away even though she's not ready for another horse; and her boyfriend, Eric Bennett, a world famous polo player, becomes possessive and authoritarian. Despite her best efforts to disguise it, Hannah grows wary of him.

Then, Leonardo Fernandes struts onto the polo scene. A cocky rookie with a messy life of his own, he’s drawn to Hannah and isn’t afraid of showing it, even when Eric makes it clear she is his and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Hannah suffers for Eric’s jealousy. The abuse only gets worse when Leo steals the title of best polo player in the world from Eric.

But the title isn’t enough for Leo. He wants Hannah too, and she can’t deny her attraction to him either. Somehow, she must find a way to break free from abusive Eric before he breaks every bone in her body.

I absolutely loved Breaking the Reins. Maybe because I'm a huge fan of cowboys and horses in general and this book is quite centered on those themes. Polo players, ranches, the horse life. Add some intense emotions and off the walls chemistry with a foreign cowboy and, well, PERFECT. The chemistry between Leo and Hannah is undeniable (yep, even Hannah can't deny it, though she tries...) and it's hard not to really root for them to to work out when Eric is such a jackass.

There's a bit of "disturbing" content so if you're more of a light-hearted-romance type, this book isn't for you. It does contain some more graphic scenes of violence and abusive behaviour. It's a bit hard to stomach that someone could do that to another human being but it really brings to light that these types of people do exist in our world and they truly can be anyone--even the nice, charming, good-looking guy. Creepy. 

I read these books out of order (I read Breaking Fences first) but it wasn't a big issue. I actually ended up liking Hannah and Leo's story more than Bia and Garrett's. That being said...I'm totally loving this series so far and I hope Juliana continues on with it--there are more brothers, afterall!!

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Blog Tour: Breaking Fences by Juliana Haygert

All Beatriz “Bia” Fernandes wants is to prove herself—to her family and friends—though it’s hard to prove anything with an overbearing father and three famous polo-playing older brothers. After her acceptance into college results in a heated family argument, the Brazilian girl leaves everything behind to find her own American dream.

College life away from home is perfect until the people she believes to be her friends turn on her. With lies and rumors threatening to suffocate her, Bia turns to her only freedom. Riding.

But one thing gets in the way of her escape. Garrett Blackwell and his bad cowboy attitude. Working at the ranch is his obligation, bugging Bia is his newfound hobby. His thick skin and easy grin don’t hide what Bia already knows—this misunderstood and lonely cowboy fights his own demons. Brushing horses’ coats and mucking out stalls shouldn’t be this sexy, and it isn’t long before he becomes a part of her distraction.

However, escaping won’t solve her problems, and it’s up to Bia to break down the fences around her and prove her strength—not to her family and friends, but to herself … and for Garrett. Because standing on her own doesn’t have to mean standing alone.

** Companion novel of Breaking the Reins. Can be read out of order.**

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I can totally relate to Bia's character which, I think, made this book so enjoyable for me. In the quest to stretch her legs in a world away from her family and all she's ever known, she learns that the world is not necessarily a nice place. I totally agree with her. It's not as cracked up as they make growing up to be. People are cruel and for no good reason. Anyways, it took a bit for Garrett and Bia's relationship to really get serious but I liked that about it as I'm not a huge fan of insta-love situations. I was a fan of the fact that Bia wasn't a pushover. I hate it when female characters have no backbone. Aside from that, have I ever mentioned that I have a soft spot for cowboys!!? Hah. Garrett was an instant hit in my books. The book was a good one--easy to want to read in one sitting. It worked well as a standalone, though, I did put the companion novel on my TBR list straight away!

About the Author

New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

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Book Blitz: Breaking Fence by Juliana Haygert

Breaking Fences (The Breaking Series, #2)

by Juliana Haygert 

Release date: June/2014

All Beatriz “Bia” Fernandes wants is to prove herself—to her family and friends—though it’s hard to prove anything with an overbearing father and three famous polo-playing older brothers. After her acceptance into college results in a heated family argument, the Brazilian girl leaves everything behind to find her own American dream.

College life away from home is perfect until the people she believes to be her friends turn on her. With lies and rumors threatening to suffocate her, Bia turns to her only freedom. Riding.

But one thing gets in the way of her escape. Garrett Blackwell and his bad cowboy attitude. Working at the ranch is his obligation, bugging Bia is his newfound hobby. His thick skin and easy grin don’t hide what Bia already knows—this misunderstood and lonely cowboy fights his own demons. Brushing horses’ coats and mucking out stalls shouldn’t be this sexy, and it isn’t long before he becomes a part of her distraction.

However, escaping won’t solve her problems, and it’s up to Bia to break down the fences around her and prove her strength—not to her family and friends, but to herself … and for Garrett. Because standing on her own doesn’t have to mean standing alone.

** Companion novel of Breaking the Reins. Can be read out of order.**

Available from:

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Companion Book:
(cover linked to Goodreads)

Excerpt

I entered through the back door and halted. Robbie wasn’t kidding. They had a tall shelf filled with bottles, a mini fridge, and three coolers in the back of the stand.

I threw the beer in a garbage can, found one of the many bottles of whiskey, poured a good dose in a red cup, grabbed a can of Coke from inside the fridge, and dumped half of it with the whiskey.

“My kind of girl.”

I jumped and nearly dropped the cup. Bah, if I had dropped it, my boots would have been ruined and I would kill the jerk who—I turned around, ready to yell at whomever, but shut my mouth when I found myself face-to-face with Garrett.

He sidestepped me and poured himself a healthy dose of whiskey. No Coke. He extended his cup to me. I just watched it. One side of his lips twitched up, and he wrapped his finger around my wrist and moved my arm, until our cups bumped into each other. “Cheers.” He let go of my arm and took a sip from his cup.

I cleared my throat and drank a big gulp.

In silence, we watched the guys lining up to kiss random girls through a small glass window in the center of the front door. One of them walked away from his turn wiping his mouth, and I laughed.

However, when I heard Garrett’s low chuckle, I remembered I wasn’t alone and shut my mouth again. I hadn’t been this nervous around a guy in so long. But then again, I hadn’t been alone with a guy in so long.

“I like your boots,” he said, breaking the ice.

I glanced at him. Meu Deus, the guy was tall. His hazel eyes fixed on me. All right. Wasn’t I just complaining that I missed flirting?

“I like them too,” I said. These weren’t my favorite, but they were close. Seeing he was wearing cowboy boots, I pointed to his feet. “I like yours too.”

He glanced down and shrugged. “Are you a real cowgirl, or is it for show?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Are you a real cowboy, or is it for show?”

“Do you always answer questions with more questions?”

I smiled. “Do you?”

His lopsided grin faded, and the shine behind his eyes darkened. My heart skipped a beat and I held his stare. I wouldn’t be the one to break this showdown.

“You—”

“There you are!” Jonah barged in the stand. “Oh, the Brazilian girl.” Really? I suppressed a groan. “Good to see you again.” He grabbed a beer from one of the coolers.

“Hey,” I said, feeling like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He put an arm around Garrett’s shoulders. Garrett had about two inches on him. “I see you met my bro.”

I frowned. “Your bro? As in big brother, little brother from the fraternity thing?”

“No. Garrett isn’t in the fraternity, not anymore. He’s my half-brother.”

Garrett took a long swallow of his drink and looked out the window to the front.

About the Author:

New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

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Blog Tour: Playing Pretend by Juliana Haygert

As the Governor’s daughter, Charlotte McClain is an expert in playing pretend. High society, the men her mother shoves in her direction and a Pre-Law major are all a part of her perfect pretense. But when she pretends to be a nobody during Spring Break, she meets someone who rocks her world.

Mason Rowell knows heartbreak and Spring Break don’t mesh well, so he allows the mysterious Charlotte to seduce him. What should have been a fling, results in something deeper. After Spring Break has long since passed, he moves to Washington to pursue his graduate degree, but what he never expected to find living among the rich and pompous, was the girl who gave him the strength to change and the desire to start anew.

When the guy Charlotte can’t forget goes from a sensual memory to temptation in the flesh, her facade is put to the test. If she surrenders to his charms, she risks ruining her mother’s perfect career and master plan. Playing pretend is what Charlotte does best, but how long can she pretend she doesn't love the man who made her proud of her true self?

*          *          *          *          *          *          *

If you've watched the movies The First Daughter or Chasing Liberty then Playing Pretend should be a familiar plot line (the book doesn't have the same storylines, of course). The story starts off with Charlotte, pretending to be a nobody, having made her way down (after deceiving her strict mother) to California for Spring Break with her (real) best friends. She's having the week of her life with a sexy and DDG she met, Mason. Their fling ends on a simple goodbye with no promise of any further contact but the forces of destiny (oooh yeah, I used THAT term) brings them back together in Washington. In Washington, Mason finds out who Charlotte really is and why she was so adamant about keeping their fling so temporary and why she left him with no personal details at all (not even her last name!)--she's the daughter of a governor who was planning on running for presidency! Unsure of what to think and what to do with his feelings, Mason follows his heart and pursues Charlotte despite her pleas for him to leave her alone to live the life her mother has set out for her...and the book goes on.

I'm fond of the strong female storyline as I don't love the damsels in distress (they whine a lot, no?). I was cheering Charlotte on throughout the novel. The whole double life thing was so unnecessary. Watching her battle with her own wants and needs vs those of her mother seemed familiar and it was refreshing to watch her find herself. This was a light and decent read--not too heavy on the serious stuff. Charlotte and Mason's relationship started off as "just a spring break fling" but their attraction to each other and the chemistry between them is off the walls and makes for a hot, hot read! 

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

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About the Author

New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Connect with Juliana Haygert on:

    


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