Breaking Away (Assassins, #5)

by Toni Aleo

[Cocktails and Books]

Toni Aleo has done it again in her newest novel, Breaking Away. I laughed, I cried, and truly enjoyed the story between Phillip Anderson and Reece Allen. Phillip has had a rough time lately, with the death of his sister and his struggling relationship with the niece he is trying to raise. Reece is a serial dater, who looks at relationships like a man, but this is tested when Phillip and Reece enter a friends with benefits relationship that seems to never end.

Mrs. Aleo has a way of creating characters that makes you believe that you know them. Reece has always come off as a bit cold, but discovering some of her backstory gives a better understanding of why she approaches relationships systematically. Phillip gets nothing but sympathy. He was able to make the best of a horrific childhood, and always seems to keep a smile on his face despite everything that is going on, including dealing with his sixteen year old niece Claire. The relationship between the two was priceless, ranging from hilarious to heartbreaking, made better by their interplay with the secondary characters. This book is amazing, embodying themes such as second chances, redemption, and the healing power of love.

Reviewed by Lucy for Cocktails and Books