{Review + GIVEAWAY} Breaking Fences by Juliana Haygert


Title: Breaking Fences
Series: The Breaking Series #2
Author: Juliana Haygert
Published: 13th June 2014
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5

BLURB:
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 **
** For mature readers (17+) **


Vibrant & Sexy - Can't Wait For More In This Series! 

REVIEW:
The story:
Bia is going through a real time of self discovery, trying to find some independence away from her parents and out of the shadow of her successful Polo playing brothers. Moving away to go to college, she has plans of becoming a vet, making new friends, and having a fantastic adventure. But it doesn't all go according to plan. She catches the eye of one very persistent frat guy, Jonah, along with the wrath of his ex girlfriend Audrey. In hopes of winning him back Audrey makes Bia's life hell, spreading rumours and lies, purely because of her Brazilian background. Bia struggles with the unwanted attention and questions everything she says or does, worried how everyone will perceive her usually fun and carefree personality.

Her only escape is on the range with the horses, where she actually feels like her old self again. But even there she can't completely escape realty with horse trainer,  Garrett making her feel so confused about everything. Bia has to ask herself what being independent and finding herself truly means, and if Garrett fits into her new life?

The characters:
Bia, the happy, outgoing Brazilian girl with a passion for horses. She's such a vibrant character when we first met her in Breaking the Reins, but we get to see another side to her now. She's vulnerable and afraid to truly be herself for fear of being labeled a 'slut'. Bia does a lot of soul searching in this book, trying to discover who she is away from her family, while not letting the ignorant rumours affect how she acts. It was great to see her grow into a person she was comfortable being.

Garrett is quite a mystery early on, and we only leaner little snippets of information about his past. He's very closed off and doesn't open up easily to anyone. He has he's reasons and it takes a while for him to open up, but when he did it was clear why he acted the way he did.

There are quite a few supporting characters, Creepy Jonah, Queen Bitch Audrey and her loyal followers, Garrett's father, Wise Tom the Stable Manger and Bia's brother & his girlfriend - Leo & Hannah make a few appearances too. And while Audrey and her sorority friends where a little cliched, it didn't effect my enjoyment of the story.

The romance:
With very few people in his life who actually love and care about Garrett, he doesn't share he's secrets easily, but when spending time with Bia he starts to find happiness that he never thought possible. With their shared love of horses, they connect and start to fall for each other - these two where really good for one another.

The writing:
This is my third book by Juliana and I just love her writing. She has a fluid and very natural writing style that makes her stories flow very smoothly. They are also filled with emotion and passionate characters.

FINAL WORD:
After reading Breaking The Reins,I  immediately started begging for a companion novel because I loved it that much! And I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed! I will now pester Juliana for Hilary's book, because I just know there is an awesome story to be told there!!! 

CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / sex scenes, discussions of sex and slut-shaming 
Violence: mild / some minor animal cruelty (more verbal than physical)
Language: medium / several f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild / some drinking at parties 


GIVEAWAY:

3 comments:

  1. I love horse and wish to see a zebra some day. I have not read any book about horse but I love the movie "War horse". Thanks for the giveaway.

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  2. I like the characters in this one already. Bia just sounds like the kind of MC I would easily like and connect to, and Garrett has the mysterious closed off personality I find really compelling in a book. Great review, Amy!

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  3. Thanks for participating on my blog tour :)

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