Helpful Score: 1
I did not care for this book at all. I could guess from the beginning exactly what was going to happen. I did not connect with the characters. I love Deidre Martin and will continue to read her books.
I actually enjoyed this one quite a bit up until the end. I didn't like how Erin's insecurities were just glossed over. Rory did a decent amount of groveling but his cockiness wasnt sexy, just a bit annoying. He was definitely someone you would want to take down a few notches. I think the main problem was that he didnt have much redeeming qualities. He was just okay. I never understood why they fell in love with each other in the first place other than that they were kids.
I really liked the relationship between Sandra and Erin. Those bits made the book worthwhile. I especially love it when Sandra gets drunk and tells off Wendy, a swanky NY literary agent. It was all the side characters and their reactions that made the book fun.
There is a bit more Irish Brogue in here than the regular Blades novel. I think its even more pronounced here than in Ashlinn and Liams story. But I didnt mind and I think it added to the story. There is not much on the Blades themselves so if you are looking to revisit some of the other players, you will be disappointed. You just get one short scene with them.
So in general it was an okay read. The main two characters didnt really lite it up for me but it was a fun little story.
I really liked the relationship between Sandra and Erin. Those bits made the book worthwhile. I especially love it when Sandra gets drunk and tells off Wendy, a swanky NY literary agent. It was all the side characters and their reactions that made the book fun.
There is a bit more Irish Brogue in here than the regular Blades novel. I think its even more pronounced here than in Ashlinn and Liams story. But I didnt mind and I think it added to the story. There is not much on the Blades themselves so if you are looking to revisit some of the other players, you will be disappointed. You just get one short scene with them.
So in general it was an okay read. The main two characters didnt really lite it up for me but it was a fun little story.
Love this author, but this wasn't as good as her other books about the Blades. Story was okay. The Irish brogue took some getting used to as compared to her other books. Good but not great.
This was a pretty good book. Rory had grown up in Ballycraig with Erin where the were sweethearts. He and his parents moved to America when he was fifteen, but he still spent summers in Ballycraig. They had their plans all made for their future until Rory became a professional hockey player. Then the lifestyle sucked him in and he broke things off with Erin. Two years later he's finally figured out that he messed up and he wants Erin back.
Rory really bugged me at the beginning of the book. He had left Ballycraig behind, never coming back, even to see his grandmother. He broke up with Erin by phone, and totally blew off his friendship with his best buddy. He showed up in town driving a fancy car and behaved like nothing had ever happened, expecting to be treated the way he always had been. He was dead certain that a heartfelt apology will be enough to have Erin forgive him and get things back on track. I loved his surprise when his reception was less than welcoming by the townspeople, Erin told him to get lost, and his buddy Jake punched him in the nose. He finally started to get the idea that it wasn't going to be as easy as he had thought.
Erin had been devastated by Rory's actions and it took awhile for her to get over it. One thing she was determined about was that his departure wasn't going to stop her from following her own dreams. My early view of Erin was that she had built up her independence, her backbone and her sass. She has been working on getting her art history degree while at the same time helping at her parents' B&B. Her mother hasn't exactly been supportive of her plans, and has done everything she can to keep Erin at home. Erin isn't happy when she discovers that Rory is back. She feels that she finally has her life back in order and she doesn't want him tempting her into risking her heart again.
Once Rory got the idea that he was going to have to prove that he had changed, the story got a bit better. I really liked the effort that he put into showing Erin and the others that he had learned his lesson. He was determined to show Erin that he still loved her, so he kept trying in spite of her resistance. I liked the fact that Erin didn't cave in right away, but made Rory work for her forgiveness. I liked seeing them repair their relationship and begin to build their future.
In the later part of the books, the roles suddenly reverse and Erin turns into an insecure idiot. Things had been going very well between she and Rory until a chance meeting with a visiting New Yorker. Suddenly Erin is sure that she isn't good enough for Rory, and when a friend sees Rory in suspicious circumstances, Erin is certain that he's regretting their renewed relationship. She makes accusations of cheating, doesn't want to listen or believe his explanation, and flounces away in a huff. Even after she realizes she was wrong, she still has issues that reappear a short time later. I was really impressed with Rory at this point, because he understands what is happening and gives her what she needs to overcome her fears. I really liked the ending and the surprise Erin had for Rory.
The secondary characters were also really good. I loved Erin's friend Sandra. She and Erin had a great relationship and I loved how they were there for each other in times of trouble. Sandra was pretty blunt at times and some of the things she said were pretty funny. I also like Rory's friend Jake. He didn't have any trouble telling Rory off, but he was also there when Rory needed him. Erin's mom was also an interesting character. I didn't like her much throughout most of the book because of the way she treated Erin, but she did redeem herself somewhat by the end.
Rory really bugged me at the beginning of the book. He had left Ballycraig behind, never coming back, even to see his grandmother. He broke up with Erin by phone, and totally blew off his friendship with his best buddy. He showed up in town driving a fancy car and behaved like nothing had ever happened, expecting to be treated the way he always had been. He was dead certain that a heartfelt apology will be enough to have Erin forgive him and get things back on track. I loved his surprise when his reception was less than welcoming by the townspeople, Erin told him to get lost, and his buddy Jake punched him in the nose. He finally started to get the idea that it wasn't going to be as easy as he had thought.
Erin had been devastated by Rory's actions and it took awhile for her to get over it. One thing she was determined about was that his departure wasn't going to stop her from following her own dreams. My early view of Erin was that she had built up her independence, her backbone and her sass. She has been working on getting her art history degree while at the same time helping at her parents' B&B. Her mother hasn't exactly been supportive of her plans, and has done everything she can to keep Erin at home. Erin isn't happy when she discovers that Rory is back. She feels that she finally has her life back in order and she doesn't want him tempting her into risking her heart again.
Once Rory got the idea that he was going to have to prove that he had changed, the story got a bit better. I really liked the effort that he put into showing Erin and the others that he had learned his lesson. He was determined to show Erin that he still loved her, so he kept trying in spite of her resistance. I liked the fact that Erin didn't cave in right away, but made Rory work for her forgiveness. I liked seeing them repair their relationship and begin to build their future.
In the later part of the books, the roles suddenly reverse and Erin turns into an insecure idiot. Things had been going very well between she and Rory until a chance meeting with a visiting New Yorker. Suddenly Erin is sure that she isn't good enough for Rory, and when a friend sees Rory in suspicious circumstances, Erin is certain that he's regretting their renewed relationship. She makes accusations of cheating, doesn't want to listen or believe his explanation, and flounces away in a huff. Even after she realizes she was wrong, she still has issues that reappear a short time later. I was really impressed with Rory at this point, because he understands what is happening and gives her what she needs to overcome her fears. I really liked the ending and the surprise Erin had for Rory.
The secondary characters were also really good. I loved Erin's friend Sandra. She and Erin had a great relationship and I loved how they were there for each other in times of trouble. Sandra was pretty blunt at times and some of the things she said were pretty funny. I also like Rory's friend Jake. He didn't have any trouble telling Rory off, but he was also there when Rory needed him. Erin's mom was also an interesting character. I didn't like her much throughout most of the book because of the way she treated Erin, but she did redeem herself somewhat by the end.
Meet Erin OBrien, she lives at home with her parents helping them run the family B & B. Her longtime childhood boyfriend broke her heart. She emerged stronger. Meet Rory Brady, Player for the New York Blades. He now realizes what a mistake he made by letting Erin go. He is back in Ballycraig to win her back.
This book was not one of her best. It was very dry. It started off good then went downhill.
Deirdre Martin stories are based around a fictional Hockey team called the New York Blades and a Pub called the Wild Harts. Some of her books have now branched out into Ballycraig, Ireland. Most of her characters in her books interact through the different books. It is best to read them in order but not necessary. If you do read them in order you will get a background story of the characters you may meet in future books.
1. Body Check (2003): Ty Gallagher, New York Blades Captain & Janna MacNeil, Publicist
2. Fair Play (2004): Michael Dante, New York Blades Player & Theresa Falconetti, Publicist (co-worker Janna MacNeil BK Body Check)
3. Total Rush (2005): Gemma Dante, Store Owner (cousin Michael Dante BK Fairplay) & Sean Kinnealy, Firefighter
4. The Penalty Box (2006): Paul Van Dorn, Former New York Blades player/ Bar Owner & Katie Fisher, Sociology professor
5. Same Rink, Next Year (2006) (in the book Hot Ticket): Tierney O'Connor, concierge at a Hotel in Chicago & David Hewson, Buffalo NY Herd Hockey Player
6. Chasing Stanley (2007): Jason Mitchell, New York Blades Player & Delilah Gould, Dog Walker
7. Just a Taste (2008): Anthony Dante, Dante's Ristorante Co-Owner (brother Michael Dante BK Fair Play) & Vivi Robitaille, Vivi's Owner
8. Power Play (2008): Eric Mitchell, New York Blades Player (brother Jason Mitchell BK Chasing Stanley) & Monica Geary, Soap Opera Actress
9. The Luck of the Irish (2008) (in the book Double the Pleasure): Maggie O'Brien, Waitress at Wild Hart Pub (sister Sinead OBrien BK Ice Breaker, brothers Quinn O'Brien BK With a Twist & Liam O'Brien BK Straight Up) & Brendan Kelly, Carpenter
10. Breaking the Ice (in the book Double the Heat)(2009): Lennie Buckley, Fashion Major (designer for Sinead OBrien BK Ice Breaker) & Sebastian Ivanov, New York Blades Player
11. With a Twist (2009): Natalie Bocuse, waitress (sister Vivi Robitaille BK Just A Taste) & Quinn O'Brien, reporter (sister Sinead OBrien BK Ice Breaker, brother Liam O'Brien BK Straight Up)
12. Straight Up (2010): Liam O'Brien, Bartender Wild Hart (NY)/ The Royal Oak (IRL) (brother, Quinn O'Brien BK With a Twist & sister Sinead OBrien BK Ice Breaker) & Aislinn McCafferty, Sheep Farmer
13. Icebreaker (2011): Sinead OBrien, Lawyer (brothers Quinn O'Brien BK With a Twist & Liam O'Brien BK Straight Up) & Adam Perry, New York Blades Player
14. Breakaway (2012): Erin OBrien, Art Student (Cousin to the OBriens who own the Wild Hart bar in New York) & Rory Brady New York Blades player
This book was not one of her best. It was very dry. It started off good then went downhill.
Deirdre Martin stories are based around a fictional Hockey team called the New York Blades and a Pub called the Wild Harts. Some of her books have now branched out into Ballycraig, Ireland. Most of her characters in her books interact through the different books. It is best to read them in order but not necessary. If you do read them in order you will get a background story of the characters you may meet in future books.
1. Body Check (2003): Ty Gallagher, New York Blades Captain & Janna MacNeil, Publicist
2. Fair Play (2004): Michael Dante, New York Blades Player & Theresa Falconetti, Publicist (co-worker Janna MacNeil BK Body Check)
3. Total Rush (2005): Gemma Dante, Store Owner (cousin Michael Dante BK Fairplay) & Sean Kinnealy, Firefighter
4. The Penalty Box (2006): Paul Van Dorn, Former New York Blades player/ Bar Owner & Katie Fisher, Sociology professor
5. Same Rink, Next Year (2006) (in the book Hot Ticket): Tierney O'Connor, concierge at a Hotel in Chicago & David Hewson, Buffalo NY Herd Hockey Player
6. Chasing Stanley (2007): Jason Mitchell, New York Blades Player & Delilah Gould, Dog Walker
7. Just a Taste (2008): Anthony Dante, Dante's Ristorante Co-Owner (brother Michael Dante BK Fair Play) & Vivi Robitaille, Vivi's Owner
8. Power Play (2008): Eric Mitchell, New York Blades Player (brother Jason Mitchell BK Chasing Stanley) & Monica Geary, Soap Opera Actress
9. The Luck of the Irish (2008) (in the book Double the Pleasure): Maggie O'Brien, Waitress at Wild Hart Pub (sister Sinead OBrien BK Ice Breaker, brothers Quinn O'Brien BK With a Twist & Liam O'Brien BK Straight Up) & Brendan Kelly, Carpenter
10. Breaking the Ice (in the book Double the Heat)(2009): Lennie Buckley, Fashion Major (designer for Sinead OBrien BK Ice Breaker) & Sebastian Ivanov, New York Blades Player
11. With a Twist (2009): Natalie Bocuse, waitress (sister Vivi Robitaille BK Just A Taste) & Quinn O'Brien, reporter (sister Sinead OBrien BK Ice Breaker, brother Liam O'Brien BK Straight Up)
12. Straight Up (2010): Liam O'Brien, Bartender Wild Hart (NY)/ The Royal Oak (IRL) (brother, Quinn O'Brien BK With a Twist & sister Sinead OBrien BK Ice Breaker) & Aislinn McCafferty, Sheep Farmer
13. Icebreaker (2011): Sinead OBrien, Lawyer (brothers Quinn O'Brien BK With a Twist & Liam O'Brien BK Straight Up) & Adam Perry, New York Blades Player
14. Breakaway (2012): Erin OBrien, Art Student (Cousin to the OBriens who own the Wild Hart bar in New York) & Rory Brady New York Blades player
This is the 11th book in Deirdre Martin's New York Blades Series. This series combines three of my favorite things: Romance,Hockey,and Ireland. In Breakaway Deirdre Martin combines characters from her Blades series and her Wild Hart Series. Breakaway takes place in Ireland where New York Blades player Rory Brady comes home to win back the girl he left behind. Another great entry in the Blades series. I will highly recommend anyone to read this series and the wild Hart series. You do not have to read them order but I recommend that you do.
