Bonds We Break by Paula Dombrowiak {a review}

If you know me, then you know that a little over a year ago I read a book called Blood and Bone. It is a rockstar romance that reads more along the lines of Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with a little Daisy Jones & the Six mixed in. We learn about Jack's life, and relationships, through an interview he is doing with Erin. I absolutely adored that book. Then when I heard Breath to Bear was being released and it was also about Jack and Erin, I had to read it. That book was also fantastic. Which brings me to today. Today Paula Dombrowiak has released Bonds We Break. Bonds We Break is Mia's story.  If you've read the previous two books in the series, then you know how Mia's story ends. Bonds We Break takes us through her time with Mogo, fills us in on what happened with Cash and Jack, and answers a lot of questions. We also learn more about her final moments.

Having already known how Mia's story ends, I was a bit hesitant to go into Bonds We Break. Yet I felt the need to know what happened between Mia and Cash, as well as more about the relationship between Mia and Jack. I knew it was going to be intense. I knew it was going to be dramatic. I knew it was going to be a bit emotional. Paula Dombrowiak did not disappoint in her storytelling.

Throughout the story I found myself fully captivated by everything that happened. I have a better understanding of who Mia Stone was, and the impact that she had on those around her. Not just Jack and Cash, but those who she worked with during her writing career.

Mia was a creative woman who was passionate about music. She loved with everything she had. While she thought she would ruin everyone, it was actually quite the opposite. She left a mark on everyone she met. All of whom would remember her for years to come.

As for her relationship with Cash, while it was meant to be, it was also doomed from the start. There was love, friendship, and desire there, but trust was missing. In a way it was as though a true respect was also missing. I wonder if that doesn't come back to Mia thinking she'd ruin everyone.

Nothing new was really shed about Mia and Jack's relationship, but what I am now curious about is Wade and Adam. Part of me wants their origin story, and to see how that time at Berkeley affected their relationship. Of course I am also anticipating Cash's story so that I can see things from his perspective when it comes to Mia, Jack, and the band.

Mia was fortunate to find love twice in her life. These relationships were all encompassing. They were intense. They were passionate. They were life altering. One was similar to an addiction, the other had the potential for forever. Life events affected both of them, and that lead to their demise. Of course Mia also had her love of music, and that truly was her lifeline. It was her blessing. It was her passion. Music was her outlet for all the pent up anger, frustration, heartache, and love. 

Books like Bonds We Break can be a bit difficult to read. Especially knowing how the story ends, and not getting to see this person grow into something more. Into the person they had the potential to become.

This book was absolutely wonderful. Paula's storytelling drew me in, and had me craving more of the characters. I cannot wait to see how she tells Cash's story in Bound to Burn. Based on the blurb on her website, it is sounding like a character from Breath to Bear is going to be a love interest. Bring it on!

I gave Bonds We Break 4 stars over on Goodreads.  The storytelling is fantastic, the characters draw you in, and the entire book is so filled with passion. 

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on the book. If you enjoyed Seven Husbands or Daisy Jones, I highly suggest you pick up the entire Blood and Bone series from Paula Dombrowiak. 

Laura

Breath to Bear by Paula Dombrowiak {a review}

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to read a debut novel by Paula Dombrowiak. She had been busy writing a rockstar romance called Blood and Bone. It featured Jack O'Donnell, the band Mogo, and Erin Langford. Erin was a journalist who was writing a piece about Jack, but it suddenly became more than that assignment. What happened next was a whirlwind romance, followed by a bit of heartache, and ultimately another project was born. Honestly I thought that was it for Jack and Erin. I thought they had their moment, and it was nothing more than a fling. I assumed we were going on to Hayley's story (Jack's daughter), and that would be that. Oh how wrong I was! Fast forward quite a few months, and suddenly I see Paula talking about her new project, Breath to Bear, and she's once again talking about Jack and Erin. My ears immediately perked up, and I knew that I needed to read this book as soon as possible. The only issue was that it wasn't scheduled to be released until November 30. THANKFULLY I was able to receive an advanced copy, and I dove right in.

If you read Blood and Bone, which I highly suggest that you do before reading Breath to Bear, then you know how that ended. It ended with Erin and Jack working together to write a book about his life, and that obviously included bits and pieces of the band's story as well. Erin agreed to write the book as a ghostwriter, so she obviously wasn't named anywhere in the book, nor did she need to do the promo for the book. Erin poured her heart and soul into this book, and along with everyone else involved, the book turned into a major success. Erin and Jack still make time for each other as schedules allow, but there is something holding Jack back. Or rather some one. Mia Stone. His ex. The woman he loved. The woman he lost. His everything. After a lot of back and forth, Erin finally tells Jack that she can't be second place anymore. She needs more, and he clearly cannot give that right now. Meanwhile Jack is holding on to the past. He has this final album that he, Mia, and the band created. It needs to be released, but Jack knows that it isn't ready yet. It's missing something, but he doesn't know what that something is. As a result he is pushing away the woman he has come to care for, and possibly even love. Why can't he move forward? Why can he not leave Mia in the past? What is it about that woman that she still has a hold on his life? Then there's his friendships with  Cash and Wade. Those are suffering a bit also. Not to mention the turbulent relationship with his daughter! What will it take for Jack and Erin to find their way back to each other? What will it take for Jack to release Mia, and move forward with his life? 

I said it in my original review of Blood and Bone, but if you enjoyed Daisy Jones & the Six, or even The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I think you'll enjoy these books by Paula Dombrowiak. They are so easy to read, and just immerse yourself into the world right next to the characters. You can sit right by them and witness their highs and lows, their heartache and their love, their passion, their creativity, their connection. And oh is it ever worth it. From the very first page of Breath to Bear, to the studio scenes, to Erin traveling for work, to the reunion, to the press junket, to the studio session where Erin lays it all on the line, to Cash coming in to be with Jack, and everything that happens because of that moment, it was all so worth it. Every moment of this book had me drawn in, and I did not want to leave the world I was in. Whether it was reconnecting with Wade, Adam, Cash, Amber, and Hayley, or it was being introduced to new characters (Sasha, and the band No Cover), it was all just fabulous.  I am happy to say that Jack and Erin have finally gotten their happily ever after, and it was quite the battle for them to get it. From the heartache, to the grieving, to the destruction, to the creation, to the birth of something new, the characters have all come out the other side that much better. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, Bonds We Break. This is actually a companion novel, so it will be interesting to see what Cash has to say about everything that has happened with Mia. It looks like that book wont be released until May 2022, so we have a bit of a wait.

If you are a fan of rockstar romances, then PLEASE go grab the first two books in the Blood and Bone series. I think you'll fall for the characters and enjoy the story.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Breath to Bear. Paula did a fabulous job with this book, and it is safe to say she is on my auto-buy list now.

Laura

Image: Michelle Lancaster
Design: Lori Jackson
Model: Giorgio Torelli

These chains that weigh me down, my guilt I wear like a crown, SHE is my Breath to Bear

Jack O’Donnell

I thought telling my story would purge my demons, but it didn’t. If anything, it brought them closer to the surface.

Now, they’re threatening to drag me back into the darkness and stop me from moving on with the journalist who captured my story and my heart.

The guilt I bear is heavy, the road I’ve traveled long and littered with scars that run deep.

I’ve been down this road before, in love with two women at the same time.

It didn’t end well.

Erin’s running scared - for good reason - but I won’t let her get away that easy.

Am I strong enough to get rid of the ghosts from my past in order to have a future with Erin?

Erin Langford

Journalists are supposed to be objective, to look at a story as if you’re outside a window looking in.

That’s what I was taught.

That’s what I should have done.

Instead, I fell through the glass and right into Jack O’Donnell’s bed.

The memoire I was supposed to write turned into more than I bargained for.

I’m in too deep.

So far gone.

He’s like a bad drug, making his way through my veins, and stopping my heart.

Yet, I still want more.

There’s just one problem - he’s still in love with someone else. She’s the ghost in the room, the girl that ruined him for all others.

Am I strong enough to be the one to help him heal?

*This book is not a standalone. You will need to read Blood and Bone in order to fully enjoy Breath to Bear.

Add Breath to Bear to your Goodreads TBR!

Ready to read Breath to Bear?
Grab a copy here!

Did you miss reading Blood and Bone, and want to start from the beginning?

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Meet Paula Dombrowiak

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, right on beautiful Lake Michigan. The Chicago lakeshore is my favorite place in the whole world. I currently live in Arizona.

I'm a '90s girl but love discovering new bands, just as much as I love writing. So why not combine the two?  That was how Blood and Bone, my debut novel, was born. 

I am a sucker for a redeemable villain, bad boys and the tragically flawed.

My wardrobe consists of band T-shirts and leggings that are perpetually covered in pet hair.  

Animals are my homies and I don't eat my homies.

 

Music inspires my storytelling

 

Have you always dreamed of being a Rock Star? Well now you can be. Join my Reader Group and be a Rock Star too.

Connect with Paula Dombrowiak here! 

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Thank you to Paula Dombrowiak, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced copy of Breath to Bear.

January Top 5

Hello my fellow book lovers!

Now that January is officially over, I want to take a moment to take a look back and recap my month. I will also be sharing my top 5 reads for the month, and believe me it was very difficult to make that selection.

Let's start with the stats.

In January, I read:

• 19 books, all of which were e-books
• 5,776 pages
• 8 advanced reader copies 
• 1 library e-book
• 10 books I own and/or purchased

My average rating was 3.95 out of 5.

Speaking of ratings, my breakdown looks like this:

• 3 books received 5 stars
• 12 books were 4 stars
• 4 books were given 3 stars

Not too shabby!

The longest book I read was One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London, and it was 424 pages.

The shortest book I read was One Night with the Rebel by Kendall Ryan, and that was 67 pages.

I also read 8 new to me authors! So that's pretty darn amazing.

Weekly Wrap Up

The first full week of 2021 is officially in the books, and what a week it was! I think my eyes were glued to Twitter for more hours than I'd care to admit. (and we all know I'm, unfortunately, not talking about books.)

As for my reading this week, well this is where my illness messed with my reading time. Like I said last week, I was dealing with exhaustion and body aches. So I was passed out for the first few days of the week. It is what it is, and thankfully whatever bug I had did not affect anyone else in my family. From January 3 through January 9, I managed to read 4 books. 

So what did I read? One new release, one book from my local library, one 2020 release that was provided to me by the author, and the fourth was an ARC for one of my anticipated January reads. (the ARC was also author supplied.)

Let's start talking books!

My first read of the week was High Risk Rookie by Odette Stone. Now if you're in her Facebook group, you already know that this book has been HIGHLY anticipated. Odette would be asked multiple times daily when High Risk Rookie was coming out. On January 2 the Vancouver Wolves fandom gasped, and then ran to Amazon to purchase the much anticipated book.

Now if you're a hockey romance fan, and you've read the first three books in the Vancouver Wolves series, then go read this book! Well technically you don't have to read the first three books, but it gives you backstory on some of the other characters. Plus if you've read those books, then you know who Krista is. Krista is given a mission to fly to Mexico, find Levi Ziegler, and bring him back to Vancouver. Scouts say he is an amazing hockey player, but off the ice he has issues. Trouble seems to just follow him It doesn't really matter though because the Wolves are interested. Can Krista convince Levi to go back to Vancouver with her? If so, can she keep this rookie in line? Could he sign a contract with the Wolves, and become a professional hockey player? Can what happened in Mexico, stay in Mexico? 

You are probably waiting for me to say that I loved this book, and I totally did. I was all in, and could not get enough. Plus there is a bit of a mystery to be solved as you read. Who is messing with Levi's career? There are a handful of options, that's for darn sure. Oh, and Krista's family is the worst. 

Next, I decided to go with what I thought would be a cute, geeky romance novel. I was expecting something along the lines of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, or even Geekerella by Ashley Poston. Believe me, those two books were ah-maz-ing. I fully embrace my geeky tendencies, and love my fandoms, so needless to say, I had pretty high expectations for Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade. I mean, how could I not? Spoiler Alert if fandom based, it mentions fanfiction, and it's a romance. It's three of my favorite things!

All that being said, something was a miss for me with this book. I loved that April is a professional, yet geeky, plus sized woman who is confident in who she is. She owns who she is, and the interests that she has. As for Marcus, he is an actor on a popular TV show, but struggles with his identity. Plus imagine being an actor who is writing fanfiction for his own show? LOVE IT.  Plus both these characters are closer to my age, and so that is relatable. I also loved the relationship that April and Marcus had online, and in person. 

I think the aspect of the book that I didn't like, was all the excess. There were parts of the show written in, then add in the snippets of their fanfiction stories, and then even the message board communication between April, Marcus, and others in the community. I mean, I love all those things, but there was too much of it for me. A story every few chapters, or a message written into the chapter, that would have been better in my mind. The scenes though while Marcus is filming? Where it is like a recap of the script? That I could have done with out. That's just me though! Ultimately I did enjoy the story, but it was just okay.

My third book was a surprise read. Paula Dombrowiak had reached out to me on Instagram, and asked if I might be interested in reading her debut novel. After heading over to Amazon to read the blurb for Blood and Bone, I decided to go for it. Paula then sent the file to my kindle, and I was all set.

Now there is so much I want to say about Blood and Bone, but I also don't want to ruin the story! In these pages we learn Jack's side of how the band Mogo came to be. We follow the band's rough beginnings, their rise to fame, Jack's substance abuse issues, relationships (pregnancy, marriage, dating, infidelity), and ultimately the breakup. We also learn about the song writing that Jack has collaborated on with Mia Stone, and how personal their songs are. All of this comes out when journalist Erin Langford arrives on the scene. She came to write a story on Jack, and it ends up being so much more than that. After a situation with her boss, Erin cannot move forward with the article. She's devastated. Ultimately though she preservers, and what was once an article is now a book. Can Jack heal his relationship with his daughter, Hayley? Can they find common ground? What happens with Jack and Mia? Jack and Amber? Cash and Mia? 

This book alternates between time periods, and it just felt right. I DM'd Paula and told her that Blood and Bone was giving me major Evelyn Hugo vibes, with a little Daisy Jones mixed in. So if you are a fan of those two books, pick up Blood and Bone. Oh and good news, there is a second book coming that will follow Hayley's story! Now I just need to wait until the end of November to get my hands on that. 

My last read for this week was Connectivity 2.0 by Aven Ellis. It doesn't release until January 27, but I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an e-ARC. (thanks Aven!) When one of your favorite authors say "hey who would like an ARC for review?" you know my answer. 🤣

Connectivity 2.0 is the second book in the British Isles Billionaires series, and here we are introduced to Lauren and Oliver. Lauren has been accepted into an internship program in London where she will be working side by side with Mary Kate Cumberland! MK is someone that Lauren looks up to, and to say Lauren is excited for this adventure is a bit of an understatement. When Lauren gets on the plane she is shocked when someone wants to change seats with her! Upon arriving up in FIRST CLASS (!), Lauren sits down next to a stunningly handsome man. After a long flight filled with conversation, Lauren mentions her internship, and it is then that she learns the true identity of the man sitting next to her. He is the one and only Oliver Pratt, the famous billionaire who just sold his business to William Cumberland! There's an issue though as he initially told her that his name was something else. So it causes a fight between the two. Flash forward to the first day of work, and Lauren finds herself getting "introduced" to Oliver. Even though the two have hit it off, Lauren cannot get over the fact that he lied to her. 

Now I want to tell you more, but I also don't want to ruin the story for you. What I will tell you is that I literally laughed out loud a few times. I also swooned, and aww'd. These characters, I tell ya, they are my kind of people. 

Here's what I posted on Instagram:

From their initial meeting, to the first date that wasn't a date, to the helicopter ride, to Lauren fixing Oliver a plate (if you know, you know), and the dates that lead us up to the scene at Big Ben, I have had a gigantic smile upon my face.

The Big Ben scene could have been so romantic, but this was where the relationship issue pops up and shreds any chance of romance. Oh my heart. 

Read Connectivity 1.0 and 2.0! Fall for the characters, and then try not to hound Aven about when 3.0 will be available. I mean she teased Aoife and Jack's relationship, so we know we're getting another book in the series! (my gut tells me we're looking at 2022 for this book, if we're lucky. Oh how I hope we don't have to wait until 2023.)

What books did you read last week? Anything I might enjoy? I'm always open to book recommendations. 🙂 No matter what, I hope you enjoyed what you read, and that it has you searching out more from the author.

Happy Reading,

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