Member Reviews
This series was really good. This one in particular was not my favorite. It wasn't as cute or swoony as the others. It was a romance but not my favorite.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.
Logan Balanchuk had everything he always wanted, but in his first NFL game he suffered a career ending injury, and is in recovery. Being around other hockey players is not what he wants right now, and when he finds a position at a small summer camp, albeit in a town obsessed with hockey, he jumps at the chance. Meeting Dawn, the only person in town not enthralled by the game, was not in his cards, but a no strings attached romance can't hurt, can it?
When I started this, I didn't realise it was the fourth part to a series, but even though I hadn't read the other books, it wasn't that hard to catch up. Dawn had been with a talented hockey player, who was bound to be selected in the draft, and just before senior year broke up with him. Her mother hated that she flung away her chance to riches as the girlfriend and later wife of an NFL player, but that is not what Dawn wants. She hates hockey, and can't wait to escape her town, even working three jobs to save up ready for college in the big city. She and Logan had a connection in hockey, though I didn't like that Logan hid his true identity from her for so long. I did understand it, however, and understood how difficult the decisions they had to make during the book were. This was a solid contemporary read, perfect for sports fans.
4 stars — This one was such an easy and compelling read, I started it at bedtime and stayed up to finish it in one shot.
I loved the frank and honest discussions about feelings and struggles that Dawn and Logan constantly had. I loved that they didn’t beat around the bush, but were blunt and forthright. I also loved that they truly tried to listen to the other person and try to understand from the other person’s perspective what they were going through. It made for less drawn-out angst for no reason, and I appreciated that.
I also appreciated the way Dawn could know when she was being unreasonable, but be unable to pull herself out of it. Because that’s kind of real. Things don’t change on a dime. I loved that she was torn between what she couldn’t help but feel, and not wanting to hurt the guy she had feelings for…being genuinely happy for him at the same time as being super sad for herself. I also appreciated that part of the reason she couldn’t get over it was because she didn’t quite understand what was underlying her feelings, and needed to figure that out first. It was very real.
Logan almost bent over backwards for Dawn at times, and I was worried about that, so I was happy when he would get upset with her and understand she wasn’t being fair…but it didn’t stop him trying to find a solution. I appreciated that his Dad was worried about him fixating on things, even if by the end he was still kind of one track minded (or two track as the case may be).
I thought their relationship and feelings moved pretty darn fast, and it felt a teensy bit unbelievable…but on the other hand, I don’t know if I actually cared because I really liked them together. I loved their bantering and how adorable they were with their crushes and all of that. It was both unrealistic and realistic, because sometimes those crushes do move quickly through the stages.
I kinda forgot about the previous stories and the previous characters, and wished I’d refreshed my memory a bit more. It’s totally readable without that, but it definitely adds more to know the other stories beforehand (particularly Toby and Nat’s). I loved the different kinds of friendships Dawn had with different people, from the totally odd Scott, to the adorable Oliver, to the rest of the Sisterhood of Awesomeness. I forgot about the sisterhood. I loved the way they truly talked through things, and were like sounding boards, trying to encourage one another to be better.
I LOVED Mrs. McMann. She was delightful. I loved that even though it was an employer/employee relationship, I could really feel the friendship that developed between Mrs. McMann and Dawn, and I loved how they complemented one another, how she helped Dawn work through her problems.
I really love this series. The characters are always sassy, but they also have some very thoughtful conversations about interesting topics. I love that. Kinda sad it’s probably finished.
This book was a cute, fast read. I really felt for Logan and how he didn’t want to be around anything Hockey releated after what he had gone through. I love Logan’s character arc in this book and how he comes to be in a place where he is happy with himself. Dawn was a little much for me, I understand how she felt like her whole life revolved around Hockey and that wasn’t necessarily something she wanted but also she kind of got on my nerves a bit. I understand that she didn’t want to feel like her whole identity would forever be wrapped up in that but I think the characters just talking to each other and setting boundaries is something that should have been obvious.
I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars.
While the heroine drove me a little nuts - I adored the hero's grand gesture and I had a lot of fun spending time with these two
Here is a book that I have been looking forward to for a long time! Can't wait to read more by this author!
Breakaway by Cate Cameron is the fourth book in the Corrigan Falls Raiders series. I had not read any of the other novels in the series, but that did not hinder my enjoyment of the book. Fans of the series will love the appearance of the main characters from the other books, but the author explains who they are well enough that you do not need to read the previous books. Anyway, Breakaway stars Dawn, who is tired of being in the shadow and wants nothing to do with hockey, and Logan, who injured himself in his first NFL game and has been forced to give up the sport he loves. This is a pretty short book, so the romance heated up very quickly. It was definitely a case of insta-love, but the characters did exhibit growth and acted maturely in their relationship instead of blaming the other person and causing unnecessary drama. I recommend this series for fans of Miranda Keneally's sport romances!
Breakaway by CateCameron is a delightful YA contemporary romance. I love this genre, but Dawn, the female lead got on my nerves. I understand why she was so set in her beliefs, but it went on a little too long for me. Loved Logan, the male lead, which made it worth reading.
This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Review first published on Realm of the Sapphired Dragon on Monday 21st August 2017
I love this series! I always devour each book in one sitting and i am so glad that Dawn finally got her own book. We had met Dawn before in the previous books, first as Toby's girl friend and then as his ex and it only seemed right that we got to read her story too. Dawn has vowed to never again date a hockey player. After being the other half of a rising hockey star in a town where hockey is everything, Dawn has always wanted to shine for her herself rather than who she was dating and she thinks she has found that with summer newcomer to Corrigan Falls, Logan. However Logan is actually an ex NHL player who had a career ending injury in his first NHL game and is still coming to grips with his new reality without hockey.
I really liked Dawn and her determination to make something of herself under her own steam rather than of the back of who she is dating and she made for an incredibly likeable and strong character who was immensely readable and intriguing to learn more about. Logan was charming and complex and sweet and also compelling to read about as he dealt with his new reality of his life and was finally starting to put the pieces of his life back together. As a couple I felt the chemistry from the start and liked the way their romance unfolded. As always the peripheral characters were all well developed and vibrant and it was nice to check in previous characters of earlier books as well as meet some brand new characters as well.
One of the things I love about this series is the emotional journey they take me on. Ms cameron's writing really connects you to her characters and makes you care what happens with them and follow their steps for better or for worse. This story was no different and left me satisfied at the way the story turned out.
Overall this was another great instalment of an incredibly enjoyable series and author i look forward to reading more of.
Happy to give this book 4 stars.
Sapphired Dragon xx
Fantastic! New story and new characters for me to love and adore. Couldn't get enough of this book!
Dawn is in crisis because of all the pressure her parents are putting on her for breaking up withToby, star of her town's hockey team. She finished because she tired of just being Toby's girlfriend, she wants to have her own identity and strength, does not want to live in the shadows of her boyfriend and is tired of just talking about hockey in her city. Getting ready to go to college, she works in 3 different jobs to have money to afford her dream.
Logan is in town to work in a summer camp, after he was seriously injured in a hockey game, he does not want to talk about the tragic way that his dreams was destroyed .
The two end up getting to know each other and the attraction is strong, as they know each other they discover that this summer romance may be something more. But when a news reaches them, everything can change.
I really enjoyed the plot, the characters and the way Logan fights for what he really loves, but Dawn got me a little tired with her idea of not dating a hockey player.
I loved the epilogue and the title.
THE BOOK HAS GREAT MESSAGES of strength, love and resilience.
I'm a huge fan of contemporary teen titles and CRUSH books rarely disappoint. I was excited to get a hold of this book and I loved that it was also based around hockey and hockey players. The way the book started immediately drew me in and I wanted to know more about the main characters. It did take me a bit to figure out what the conflict was, but all in all a decent read.
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After weeks of toiling, it’s always nice to unwind and curl up with a short and straightforward book. Much better if the said book doesn’t need a lot of mental gymnastics. Thankfully, Breakaway managed to be the perfect book to curl up with. It was a pleasant surprise considering that the book’s premise screams loudly of cliché. Well, it is. We’ve got a female heroine who’s struggling to make her mark in the world after realizing that she had spent a large part of her life being the shadow of her famous boyfriend. And a male protag who already had the world at his feet but due to an injury, he’s back to finding his new purpose in life. And you know what happens next.
There was the usual angst, the I’ve-got-issues-let’s-breakup scenario, the soul searching moments…yada, yada, yada…But hey, the wonderful execution compensated for all of that. Breakaway is also fast-paced and the drama was kept to a minimum.
There are, however, some things that I need to nitpick. For example, I would have loved to explore Cate’s world of Hockey because this book just gave us glimpses of what hockey is from her perspective. I suddenly missed Miranda Kenneally’s way of writing sporty books. Second, I was left hanging with the way Cameron handled Dawn’s relationship with her parents. That scene where Dawn and her mother had a confrontation in the kitchen felt so awkward… like it just came out from nowhere and the book ended without giving it some sort of closure. And lastly, Corrigan Falls seems a very lovely place, it’s sad that Cate’s writing wasn’t able to entice me, even in my imagination, to visit the place.
All in all, Breakaway’s a pretty good book and I’m looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
Dawn, she is an adventurous person, she wants to discover more in her life and try something new. Living in a city who are so into hockey games makes her want to move into a new place. Whilst, Logan, a hockey player who is currently injured wants to escape from the sadness he holds for not able to play has taken a summer job in Corrigan Falls where he meets Dawn. Dawn is very excited to someone new, someone she taught was not a hockey player but when the truth surface, she is afraid to have that relationship again.
Well, it is a cute, sweet story which I do think it is very interesting to read but unfortunately, I did not feel the chemistry between Dawn and Logan. I feel that it should be more. The characters need to expand more in terms of how they communicate, how they want the relationship to work. But I do still enjoy reading the book and it does make me feel like I'm in Corrigan Falls when I'm not. Thank you again for making me feel that way.
when logan balanchuk shows up in corrigan falls he believes a knee injury has destroyed his chance for a career in the nhl. when he meets dawn, a hockey hating local girl who plans to move out of town first chance she gets, he's drawn to her. and part of the appeal is that she isn't hockey mad. but she's also fun and sexy and real. being with her makes him forget his disappointments.
because dawn wants something more for herself. she's constantly challenging herself to try new things. leaving behind a steady summer job for one that will teach her something new every day. this appeals to logan because he is also figuring himself out. at first the disappointment of losing hockey keeps him away from the sport. but he's volunteering as the golf instructor at a local hockey camp, and it's only a matter of time before he gets sucked back in again.
what he learns is that hockey is a fundamental part of who he is. and dawn isn't sure how she feels about that. she already did the hockey girlfriend thing once, and it felt like all things hockey consumed her then and she wants something more for herself.
but she also wants logan. because he is sweet and funny and the way he loves her feels so right. and logan knows that dawn is who he wants with him as he figures out where hockey will end up in his life. and the connection between dawn and logan is so strong you know that they will work it all out. hockey doesn't have to be the thing that kills their relationship. and how they commit to being together is so perfect. i pretty much loved everything about breakaway.
Dawn is a recent high school graduate waiting out the summer until she can start her first year at McGill University. She wants to leave behind her small town life in Corrigan Falls, her dysfunctional relationship with her parents, and all things hockey related. Logan is a former NHL star who after getting hurt in his first game has had to find a new passion in his life. When the two meet sparks fly but they will have to find a way to get pass their issues to get to their their happily ever after.
This book was all sorts of swoon-worthy. It's just a nice little romance. I'm sure some people will say that it was predictable and to that I say "Maybe a little...but I don't care!". Sometimes I just want a nice little romance that's not filled with unnecessary drama. Sometimes I want something simple and sweet and just a little sugary like the best of cookies and "Breakaway" is the book equivalent of a cookie. Not super filling but still completely enjoyable and exactly what a good summer romance book should be. The plot is fast paced and zips along so that it is possible to finish this book in one sitting. Our love interests are likeable and surprisingly well developed for what could have been a cheesy romance. I happily followed Dawn's journey of trying to overcome her prejudice of hockey guys. Logan was easy to like with his perfect blend of damaged mystery boy and flirty lover boy. Plus, the romance focused on the ahhhhh sweet moments while having just the right amount of sparks to make this a great read for teens or adults who like teen books. This is apparently the fourth book in a series that I completely missed but I am planning on revisiting Corrigan Falls very soon.
Bottomline: If you're looking for a fun and flirty romance to read this summer I highly recommend you give "Breakaway" a try.
Final Rating: 4 out of 5
I received an eARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed Breakaway and I am sorry that it may be the last of the series. (I honestly want a story about Scott being somewhat reformed.) Anyway, this is a fun and sweet YA Romance and it was a pleasure to read.
Dawn deserved her own HEA and she got it with Logan. Both characters were well written and likable. The secondary characters were also great. One of the things I like about the entire Corrigan Falls Raiders series is the fact that the characters, although primarily young, are people who are just trying to be better human beings.
I wouldn't say that this book is terribly memorable, but it is a YA romance and it was a light fun read and a great way to spend an afternoon.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA or NA romance.
I love Cate Cameron and the fourth book in her "Corona Falls Raiders" series did not disappoint. I was worried at first because the summary of the book didn't sound that interesting. I was also worried when the book started out a little slow, but Cate did not disappoint. I loved the ending, I loved the characters, and I am happy to give the book 5 stars.
Also, Cate needs to make sure she writes about Oliver and Scott next, because I need to see that pair together.
Sweet and fun romance! I have read all of the Corrigan Falls Raiders books and this one is just as fun as the rest. Romance and hockey, strong characters and good storyline
I have mentioned before that my so-called ‘guilty pleasure’ when it comes to reading is ice hockey romance so when the opportunity came up on NetGalley to request a YA ice hockey romance, I was sold and hit the request button straight away. It slipped my mind that this was the fourth book in a series at the time but I thought I would give it a go anyway (due to my self imposed book buying hiatus) and then if I liked it, I would buy the rest.
The love interests met through a near disastrous skinny dipping incident and, having not seen that scenario in a book before, it made me chuckle and smile whilst reading it which was nice. We have Dawn, a girl who recently dumped her childhood sweetheart that was being drafted into the NHL because she was fed up of being known as only being the hockey players girlfriend, and Logan, an ex-NHL player who in his first game had a massive knee injury that took him off the ice making him have an identity crisis at eighteen years old but he is a massive cinnamon roll and I loved him. It was meant to be a summer romance until a thing happened which caused some drama - like all good romance novels! - but I found it really refreshing that, even though they are in their late teens, they dealt with it like adults and a lot more maturely than I have seen in other books of this ilk.
There is insta-love in this which I usually cannot stand but for some reason, I actually liked it here! There is a first time for everything! I think it might be because the characters are in their late teens and it was just believable. You always hear of people getting into summer flings and it just made sense.
It isn't an explicit book by any stretch of the imagination and it was a nice, easy read. I definitely will be buying the earlier books in the series once my hiatus ends but, take it from me, you don't need to as it is easily read as a standalone - kudos to Cate Cameron for making it that way!
The thing that made this book, for me anyway, was the side characters and I would urge you to read it for them alone. Mrs McCann is the best 86-year old that I have ever read and I want to be her friend, and I wouldn't expect her to pay me to do so either! Every book needs a Mrs McCann.