Breaking All The Rules is all about going against the rules to find your own happiness. It begins when ad exec Beatrice Archer throws a dart at a map and moves to Credence, Colorado. She is determined to get out of the rat race of LA and to get away from people who will never respect her. She also wants to get away from all the rules she has forced herself to follow and spends her day in Colorado binging television shoes, eating pie whenever she pleases, and drinking beer for breakfast. She discovers just how comfortable sweatpants are; and finds the perfect distraction and ally in local cop Austin Cooper.
This book is such a good time! While Bea thinks that breaking the rules is answer to all of her problems, that is only the beginning of her journey. She is on path to self discovery and realizing that all the bumps along the way are just a part of life. One of these unexpected bumps comes in the form of Austin. Their first meeting is such a meet-cute moment – even if he does put her in a jail cell! Right from that first meeting, he is beyond enthralled with Bea even when she hasn’t showered in days and is eating ice cream in her bunny slippers. I loved them together.
Part of Bea’s growth as a character is finally figuring out exactly what she wants. Even though she’s determined to break all the rules, there is still a strong pull to who she was before and what she thought she wanted to accomplish. She also finds herself questioning her relationship with Austin because there is an age gap between them. Actually, she doesn’t just question it, she obsesses over it and finds herself believing that she is a bad influence and that he would be better without her. That was a little annoying but also easy to understand as you get to know the character of Bea more. I loved that although Austin may have been hurt by some of Bea’s actions, he never fully gave up on her.
Breaking All The Rules is set in the small town of Credence, Colorado which is not a new setting for author Amy Andrews but you don’t have to be familiar with it to enjoy it. It is such a welcoming little town with residents who embrace new comers with a smile. Plus, it appears to have the most delicious pie! Each time Bea described a piece of pie that she was trying, I wanted to try it too. I could definitely see myself living in Credence, befriending Bea and Austin, and being the one to help pet sit their adorable snaggletooth cat named Princess. I hope we see them appear in another one of the books that are set in Colorado.
Raing: 4 Stars
**I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
welcome to the zoo! 