Breaking the Rules [Kindle Edition]

Cat Lavoie (Author), Samantha March (Editor)

Book Description

When twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule’s best friend and roommate accepts a glamorous new job overseas, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been—carefree and easy—until they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working for an intolerable boss at a dead end job, creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef.

While things become more complicated between her and Ollie, Roxy is sure that nothing can come between two lifelong best friends—not even mild jealousy over a thriving career or a silly little kiss that meant nothing. In fact, it was such a meaningless and forgettable kiss that she convinces herself that it’s not even worth mentioning to her fiancé, although it is all she can think about.

Roxy’s already topsy-turvy life only gets more complicated when her sisters Steffi and Izzie suddenly become her roommates. Steffi is six months into a pregnancy she refuses to discuss and Izzie is in the throes of a premature midlife crisis. Roxy tries to take control of her career, her love life and her sisters – but can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family keep it together – or break under the pressure?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Cat Lavoie was born in the small town of Jonquière in Québec, Canada. At the age of nineteen, she packed up her things (mostly books) and moved to the big city of Montreal where she currently lives with her tempestuous cat Abbie—who is both adorable and quite possibly evil. An incurable Anglophile since her university days where she studied English Literature, she can often be found daydreaming about her next trip to London. Since she’s an expert at the art of procrastination, Cat is easily distracted by cooking and home improvement shows—even though she’s not particularly good at either. Cat grew up watching soap operas and legal dramas and—had she not decided to be a claims analyst by day and write chick lit by night—she would have probably become a designer suit-wearing lawyer. Or a character on All My Children (which is what she really wanted to be when she was twelve). Cat is not sure whether she’s a geek or a nerd—and is afraid she might be both. Breaking the Rules is her first novel. Cat blogs about the writing life and posts adorable pictures of Abbie over at the Catenabi Chronicles. Come say hello at: www.CatLavoie.com and follow @Catenabi on Twitter.

Product Details

• File Size: 461 KB
• Print Length: 368 pages
• Publisher: Marching Ink LLC (August 7, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008UZYPLW
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,779 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not my thing, but still good August 25, 2012

By Jenn Booksessed

Format:Paperback

I have been thinking about this book ever since I finished reading it. I can't get it out of my head. What drew me to the book was that I thought that the synopsis sounded really cute, (I was in the mood for a light read) and that it would probably be a fast read as well.

It is a fast read, but I'm not completely sure how I feel about the book. The part of the story that I could really relate to was Roxy's relationship with her sisters. There is some tension there, but it's obvious that she really does love her sisters. I don't fully agree with all of the decisions that both of her sisters made, or at times how they treat Roxy, but having a sister myself, I related to those scenes the most.

One of the things I had trouble with was how Roxy was kind of a pushover and never stood up for herself. I really didn't like how Oliver and her fiancee treated her. I really wish that she had more of a backbone. I was completely thrown by the plot twist. I literally gasped out loud when I read that scene. I was a brilliant twist, but I was a bit surprised at how easily forgiveness was given.

All that being said, I cannot get this book out of my head. Even though there were some things about the book that I wasn't a big fan of. The fact that it's sticking with me shows how good of a book it was. I think that alone means more to me as a reader than if I had absolutely loved the entire book. (I'm a bit weird like that).

Though parts of this book weren't exactly my cup of tea, I would be interested in reading another of Cat's books. I am curious if others would stick with me as much as Breaking the Rules has.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Autumn Review for Breaking the Rules August 9, 2012

By The Autumn Review

Format:Kindle Edition

When I first read the synopsis of this book, I thought it sounded really cute. What I wasn't expecting was to stay up until 2am reading it. Once I started, I didn't want to put it down.

I felt like I connected with Roxy pretty quickly. Not because we have similar personalities, but because of her friendship with Ollie. I had a guy best friend like that. We shared everything and there was always something that was silently underneath the friendship. In my case, our timing never worked out. For Roxy and Ollie, it takes Ollie moving for those feelings to come to the surface. Roxy feels like she's a bit lost and frustrated. She begins doubting her career and her relationship with her fiance (who I couldn't stand). I found that I was really pulling for Roxy to make the right choice and end up, not only with Ollie, but make a break in her career and follow her dreams. And Ollie....I loved Ollie. He truly was a gem of a guy. There was only ONE part that upset me about him and it was something I wasn't expecting AT ALL. That said, he does redeem himself in my eyes. I was pulling for him to win Roxy's heart.

Then to make things more hectic for Roxy, both of her sister's move in. One sister is unexpectedly pregnant and the other has just broken up with her long-term boyfriend. The family dynamic cracked me up.

This was a really great story about a woman trying to find her way. She has career choices to make, family issues to deal with, and she needs to be true to her heart. These issues are things we can all relate too. Cat Lavoie makes a great debut. I look forward to reading more from this new author!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Still thinking about it 24 hours later September 4, 2012

By Meredith G. Schorr

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

4.5 stars!

When Ollie, Roxy Rule's best friend forever and roommate for the past several years moves from NYC to London for his dream job, Roxy is beyond sad but ever certain that their friendship can withstand the distance until he plants a knee wobbling kiss on her right before heading to the airport leaving her stunned and speechless. Deciding a kiss is just a kiss, Roxy tries to move on. She is engaged to Ethan and Ollie is moving to London with his perfect yet bitchy girlfriend Rachel. Everything is how it should be, so why can't Roxy stop thinking about Ollie and why is their friendship suddenly strained? While Roxy is trying to figure out her own life, her younger sister Steffi and older sister Izzy both show up at her apartment in the midst of their own personal crisis expecting Roxy to be their rock. As the middle sister stuck between gorgeous yet impulsive Steffi and brilliant overworked Izzy, it's always been Roxy job's to maintain the sanity. This time, however, it will take everything Roxy has to not lose her mind as secrets are revealed and her life spirals out of control.

Wow. Usually I write my reviews immediately after finishing a book, but I had to wait on this one for a bit because I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about it. While I was drawn into the story of Roxy and Ollie immediately and really liked the character of Roxy, I kind of hated her sisters. I did not like the way they barged in on Roxy's life and did not seem the least bit appreciative of her hospitality. They assumed it was completely ok to relegate Roxy to the couch while they took over her two bedrooms - and we're not talking for just one or two nights. As the youngest of three girls, I would never treat my sisters this way and so I was a bit taken aback and a bit angry by Roxy's casual acceptance of this behavior. However, once I got about half-way through, I moved on from my annoyance at the Rule sister's treatment of the middle sister and I couldn't put the book down. And after the twist, holy crap, I finished the book in an hour! The twist both angered and saddened me but WOW, I did not see it coming. I really wish I could say more without giving anything away but the twist had such an effect on me, I was crying. I really liked the way the author tied things up to make everything OK but even hours after finishing the book, I was still saddened and a bit angry about the twist.

The second half of this book is amazing. I think the author took quite a risk and, in my opinion, it paid off. It's not often that I am still thinking about a chick lit book 24 hours after I finish reading and so my hat goes off to Cat Lavoie.

More About the Author

Cat Lavoie was born in the small town of Jonquière in Québec, Canada. At the age of nineteen, she packed up her things (mostly books) and moved to the big city of Montreal where she currently lives with her tempestuous cat Abbie--who is both adorable and quite possibly evil.

An incurable Anglophile since her university days where she studied English Literature, she can often be found daydreaming about her next trip to London. Since she's an expert at the art of procrastination, Cat is easily distracted by cooking and home improvement shows--even though she's not particularly good at either.

Cat grew up watching soap operas and legal dramas and--had she not decided to be a claims analyst by day and write chick lit by night--she would have probably become a designer suit-wearing lawyer. Or a character on All My Children (which is what she really wanted to be when she was twelve).

Cat is not sure whether she's a geek or a nerd--and is afraid she might be both. Breaking the Rules is her first novel.

Cat blogs about the writing life and posts adorable pictures of Abbie over at the Catenabi Chronicles. Come say hello at: www.CatLavoie.com and follow @Catenabi on Twitter.