Review: New Adult Fan?  This one's for you!!!!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2014
Many characters and steamy scenes.Even more story lines, plots, and settings.All from the great authors we read every day.I'd never read an anthology...I'm glad BREAKAWAY was my first!A breezy 4 ***** from a virgin anthology blogger!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~It's true!  I've never read an anthology...until Breakaway!  And I'll be honest...it was hard for me to get through because every story is a piece of a story.  But not necessarily cliffhangers.  But some of them are.  I want to read a whole book.  Not part of one and that's what I feel like I got.  Parts of a whole.  That said, when I was finished, I LOVED it!!!  Crazy right?!  I don't want to take up everyone's time trying to touch on each story so I'm going to highlight the couple that really caught my eye.  I've rated the book as a whole - that rating includes my previously stated hang-ups regarding anthology's.  It's just not really my cup of tea - but the stories were really great!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Alana Albertson's Invaluable was just that!  The whole premise that an ex-NFL player would quit his very lucrative job for a chance at catching our nation's bad guys is, in itself, fantastic!  One of my favorite things is a good storyline written in a male's POV.  Again, this author produces an excellent POV through Kyle.  Kyle is a Navy SEAL and although he doesn't flaunt it - he's really proud of his job."I wasn't just your average sailor - I was a Navy SEAL and a former NFL linebacker.  I'd left behind money and fame to make a difference in the world, do something I believed in.  Something I'd die for."I was drawn to his sense of duty, his sense of teamwork with his SEAL brothers.  He was a stand up guy looking for a good time while on leave.  The author gives us a sort of time frame.  And we start out in 'Late Summer, San Diego'.  Kyle meets Sara.  While out with a 'wingman' Kyle sees and is immediately interested in Sara.  They dance and talk and flirt.  What's interesting is I found myself intrigued with Sara because after he mentions a part of his past and even I would have asked some follow-up questions but she doesn't.  She's content and even says something like, you have to keep yourself happy.  Right after this conversation - Kyle becomes intrigued with her as well...for the same reasons I did!  I love it when the character and I follow the same thought process as long as the story isn't too predictable.  This was NOT at all predictable!!  As time progresses to 'Springtime Iraq - Nine Months Later', I'm wondering where this is going.  That is until Kyle is shocked by what comes walking off a plane his Team goes to greet."Kyle, what are you doing here?  You're on the USO tour too?  ...I looked you up, but all I could find was that you'd quit football.""SEAL Team Seven sweetheart - I don't play ball anymore."Not only are they both shocked to see one another but Kyle is excited to see her as well.  They didn't part on bad terms so he's more than ready for her to 'entertain' him.  Only to find out that she's now taken.  So now I'm thinking, 'ok she has a boyfriend so how is she going to break-up so that she and Kyle can 'entertain' OR will she just cheat?'  Kyle mentions he doesn't believe in fate - but he's baffled at how they can meet in San Diego and then end up in the same place, halfway around the world, nine months later.  GREAT!!  The strange part is that every time they communicate - it becomes palpable.  The honesty that comes from Sara is raw.  I felt like I was there.  Could see her opening the box she thought was shut - but only because she couldn't find him.  It was surreal to both of them.  Like a second chance - but would they both take it?  I had so many questions.  I can smell that she doesn't care about whose back home for her.  She wants to be with Kyle.  But how?  How will they get alone?  Will his brothers help?  Although there are no actual intimate scenes in this story - it's very HOT when they are in the same room.  Sparks fly!!  I don't want to spoil the end.  So I'll leave you with this... He's a really bad-ass, African-American, Navy SEAL who find himself caring for a smart, sexy NFL cheerleader.  More than he even realizes."I promised Sara I'd keep her safe."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Missy Johnson's Ricochet was the other I still find myself thinking of!  A fun-flirty mix of rebound girl meets mystery boy while on vacation.  But I was NOT expecting what was in store for me!!  I found it was a spicy concoction!  Jenna is a girl with a few, well deserved, insecurities.  Her long-term boyfriend, whom she thought was working up to a proposal, was just found cheating.  Not only was he cheating, but he is glad to be caught.  Thus giving her thoughts that maybe she just not good enough.  While on a trip to Barbados - courtesy of her best friend's dad - she finds herself being pushed to move on.  I saw a little of every woman in Jen.  She was girl-next-door.  Someone you want to be friends with.  A girl who knows deep down she's worth it but just needs a little encouragement."Claire was right - I needed to move on; but the last thing I wanted was more rejection."The first meeting between Jen and Ryan is cute and flirty.  They immediate back and forth between them - I found myself smiling and wanting them to just converse or the rest of the story.  It was smart and quirky.  It was witty and fun.  Yet is raw and honest.  Ryan picks on her but she pushes right back.  It's incredibly refreshing.  There was a point when I was thinking - I even made a note in my kindle - 'Is he going to actually just chat all night or...'  I hoped Ryan would stay true to his word but the sexual tension was through the roof.  From the moment they first met!!"We've been here for over an hour and you haven't tried anything on me.""Because you said you didn't want me to...""What kind of girl would I be if I openly admitted I was coming back to your place hoping you were going to make a move on me?""Okay.  How about you tell me what you want?"When they finally get to it...Holy Hotness Batman!!!  It's scorching!  The whole situation between them is, in one word, free.  Ryan and Jen talk about everything - and it's easy to see that it's as if they've known each other forever.  Even when put in a situation that I never dreamed - they are really put to the test.  Jenna finds out some startling facts about Ryan and wonders what the heck she's doing.  Even my jaw was on the floor for a minute!  The whole story was exciting and I had this huge smile on my face when I was finished!  I kept wishing there was more!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~All in all, I enjoyed them all just as much.  These are the two I keep thinking about.  Wishing for more than just my imagination to finish.  The writing styles were all different and unique.  The contrasting character developments were a great way to stay engaged while reading them all back to back.  Otherwise, I might find myself with my laptop trying to write down what my theory's were for what happens next for them all!  Really great way to spend a few hours!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***This book is $.99 at the time of post! Get it! Read it!! NOW!!!!