Review: New favorite in the series
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 9, 2014
I'm lying in my bed, it's 4:00 in the morning, and I just finished Breaking Away. This is going to be very different from my other reviews, mainly because my mind isn't where it normally is right now. Usually, I'd try to hit a few different points - An Erin-ified synopsis, the characters, the writing, etc. But I'll make this very short and sweet...This is my new favorite in the Assassins series. No one could top Shea and Elli for me. The others came really dang close and specific scenes from each always stood out in the other books, but something about their story, it was always my favorite. Until now.Reese and Phillip blew me away. I love that Aleo always has such creative storylines for each book. There is always a nice mix of humor and heartbreak. Angst and anger. Romance and sexiness. She's so good at writing these characters and their tales. Breaking Away has everything listed above, but something about this one... I just fell hopelessly in love with the characters and their story. You take two people who DON'T want a relationship and toss them together, what do you get? Not the casual fun they claim to share, that's for sure. They have a hot, "fun" relationship that should be no emotions involved. When both start feeling things they think they shouldn't, they're too scared to grab a hold and enjoy the ride.Watching the relationship between Phillip and Reese change and mature over the course of this book was the best part for me. It wasn't this crazy roller coaster of a relationship, where everything is roses one minute and a hurricane the next. It wasn't a constant up and down. This was so different. It was a slow burner (even as a "slow burner", this book is HOT. No shortage there) until they just...boom. Ya know? Plus it's so much more than just those 2 characters together. It's Phillip's niece, Claire, and her love of dance. It's Claire and the bond she forms with Reese. It's Phillip taking responsibility for another person and the pride he feels for her. It's family, love, support, and everything that goes with that. It's not just a "hockey book", along with all of the others in the Assassins series. Although they do revolve around a hockey team and their families, it's always more in depth than just their sport. I will say though, she has taken a girl who didn't enjoy hockey at all, and kinda made me go "Hmm..."Overall, I loved it. It's a new favorite, not just in this series but a new favorite as a whole. I can't wait for the next one and I desperately want this series to NEVER end. I wonder if that's do-able. Can I beg Toni Aleo to never stop writing about the Assassins? I'm gonna try. Her characters are like a drug, and I'm definitely addicted.<3 Erin