Rule Breaker

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 07 Nov 2016 | Archive Date 20 Sep 2017

Description

Racial Tensions Flare as Hot as the Passion in RULE BREAKER, a Modern-day Romeo and Juliet Story

Leilani Kealoha wants to be set free. Of family expectations. Of generations of prejudice.

Chafing at rules made by the proud Hawaiian men in her family, she yearns to discover herself and hungers to explore the world. Her adventuresome heart? Longs for something even greater, deeper.

The last thing she expects is an East Coast haole surfer to hold the key to everything.

Mason Price is done walking his parents’ path. Done with social acceptance—with cold politics.

On a surfing quest to reinvent himself, Mase finds an exotic beauty standing on his towel. But it’s her feisty bargaining that catches him off guard. When he challenges her with a “Truth or Shots” drinking game, she unwittingly reveals more than she’d intended about herself...and him.

The raw truth stuns him: She’s suffered like he has, is lost like he is—keeps secrets like he does.

But will young love and shared situations be enough to conquer racial and cultural divides?

Lines in the sand...were meant to be crossed.

***RULE BREAKER is a standalone, full-length new adult romance told in dual POV. Due to mature themes and adult language, this book is for those 18 and older.***

Racial Tensions Flare as Hot as the Passion in RULE BREAKER, a Modern-day Romeo and Juliet Story

Leilani Kealoha wants to be set free. Of family expectations. Of generations of prejudice.

Chafing at...


Advance Praise

5 Stars ~ "It's not often I read books that make me recall the racial tensions I experienced growing up as a Filipina adopted into a white American family in a small, backwards farming community. But, this book makes me recall it all. It was a little painful to recall while reading Rule Breaker, but it was such a beautiful story that it still left me with good feelings after reading. "
~ Valeen, NetGalley reviewer

4.5 Stars ~ "A beautifully written novel, that left me philosophical and touched my heart...that resonated with me deeply. My FAVORITE novel by the Bastions so far."
~ Closet Geek Books

5 Stars ~ "Oh wow, what an outstanding read. I didn't just enjoy, I LOVED it! I feel for the books I read after it because after reading Rule Breaker I felt as though every book should be measured against this one."
~ TJLovesToRead

5 Stars ~ "I have recommended this series to everyone in my office. I can't stop talking about it...this one will stay with me."
~ Blagica, Goodreads Reviewer

5 Stars ~ "I tend to avoid books that are set in Hawaii like the plague, it’s a little quirk of mine and has to do with the fact that I am a born and raised Hawaii girl and am a little picky with how my islands are portrayed...as I kept turning the pages my wariness faded away and I before I knew it I felt like I was home. The sights, smells, tastes and sounds were right there in front of me..."
~ Books-n-Wine

4 Stars ~ "I’m a sucker for a good Romeo & Juliet type story and this one delivered on that, in a pretty phenomenal way."
~ Winchester Book Reviews

5 Stars ~ "This book is perfection!
~ Coyote Ugly Swagger Book Blog

4 Stars ~ "This is my first book by Kat and Stone Bastion and I was very taken by their writing style. The story is captivating and richly detailed... the character development and the sense of place was fantastic...kudos to the authors for their wonderful description of Hawaii life and language!"
~ The Book Bellas

5 Stars ~ "This book is so beautifully told and had so much heart thrown into it! I've read quite a few books this year, but this one struck a chord in me. The story...the intimacy between the characters! Just go one click it!"
~ Bitches N' Books

5 Stars ~ "Rule Breaker is a compelling and poignant story that pushes boundaries and challenges the reader in so many ways. About love, your own prejudices, and even feelings on the environment. These authors have an innate ability to write like no one else. They deliver and craft stories that do not fit the mold and for authors like them in this world, I am grateful."
~ Biblio Belles

5 Stars ~ "It's not often I read books that make me recall the racial tensions I experienced growing up as a Filipina adopted into a white American family in a small, backwards farming community...


Marketing Plan

~ Weekly giveaways on the Mase on Maui Facebook page, as well as other events on various romance blogs leading up to release. Link to Mase on Maui provided below.

~ InkSlinger PR is coordinating the November 7th Release Day Launch. Link provided below.

~ Weekly giveaways on the Mase on Maui Facebook page, as well as other events on various romance blogs leading up to release. Link to Mase on Maui provided below.

~ InkSlinger PR is coordinating the...



Average rating from 108 members


Featured Reviews

Breaker,  Kat Bastion with Stone Bastion

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  New Adult, Romance

I love Kat and Stone’s stories. full of fabulous characters so real I could ( and in my mind do ) talk to them, they feel like friends. Mix them up with some very real tales, things that happen, snippets from real lives and they’re books I can’t resist. Oh – and the HEA, thats essential for me ;-) I’m a sap!

I couldn’t remember much about Mase at first, he’s in the others books but very much a secondary character. It took a while for me to mentally place him in the pic I have of all these folks.
He’s a gem, feels far more mature than his years, been through a lot, is very self reliant. I love his ethos on the environment, the phrase “leave nothing but footprints” was really made for him, and as someone who’s also concerned and at times angry about what we are doing to the planet I found myself nodding when he was talking about issues.
Its interesting, I know nothing of Hawaii, but felt after reading this that I’d absorbed a bit of their culture, the island and islanders and their history along with the story being told. Subtle education but something I love when it happens, and it feels very well researched unlike many novels where “facts” get thrown at the reader, pronouncements about morality and legality are made without searching for the truth or the wider picture.

He’s surfing, happy in his own little world when his peace is shattered by a gorgeous girl, but we can see from the way he reacts to her just how tired, how jaded by everything he’s become.
Leilani (Lani) brings him to life though. there’s something about her, they way she’s so uncompromising, doesn't do the fan/adoration thing he’s used to, but makes it clear she really doesn’t want to be there...Mase is intrigued.
So starts a beautiful, slow burn romance, full of tensions, snippets of humour, some very real issues about race, culture, history and the environment, but done in such a perfect way that I didn’t feel Preached at, just made me think, and wonder at how thoughtless humans can be, how we take gifts of nature as our right. Aannd sorry, I’m almost off on another rant :-)

Lani is a lovely girl but its clear from very early on she’s got secrets, that she’s very cautious, that she doesn’t want to be attracted to Mase.
Tough luck though as she’s no way to hold out from the gentle, thoughtful steamroller he is.
She’s the only girl as mum died young and only she’s her dad and four brothers left. I did feel the about face from them needed a bit more looking into – given how strong their feelings were I didn’t feel that events that occurred were enough to bring forward this sudden volte-face. Small niggle though and its the only one I can think of.
BTW I wish I’d looked at the back first, there’s a really handy glossary of not just the Hawaiian and Pidgin words but surfing terms too....I worked out most from the context but it would have been handy to refer to ;-)

We catch up briefly with characters from the other books, and I really enjoyed seeing them, bringing together that peaceful, quiet, gentle island life with the fast moving, anything-goes, cutthroat, immoral and power hungry world of politics. Really does show two extremes.

Its a lovely story, not in-your-face- sex but a very sensual slow burn romance, where we can appreciate how thoughtful Mase is, how he’s taking his time not to scare off Lani, he knows she’s worth the effort.
I loved the bigotry ( well, loved in that it was so real, not loved for the sake of). Sometimes I think all the bars we put on love, gender, race, religions, class etc its a wonder anyone ever finds someone to suit.
Its very sensual but its not IMO an erotic read, just one that's so perfectly balanced. For me its got a very different feel to the other stories, less intense on the romance/sex side, not but more complex on the personalities, on what they share and how they can be together. It got sex in it, just in a more subtle way that the other books, and it fits Mase and Lani, the characters they are.

Its a beautiful story that made me think: about our world and the environment, history and its impact on the planet, bias and bigotry, politics and morality – yeah, I know, that's sounds like an oxymoron, but I have to believe at least Some politicians are there for what they believe, not what they can get. Am I an optimist or just gullible?

Mase says at one point “We can’t even begin to fix everything happening around us, let alone political issues happening globally. But we can be the best selves we were meant to be. We can be pure and good. Forgiving and relentless.”
That's such a wonderful statement and is how I try to live my life, doing what feel right for me, pushing for change trying to lead by example and one tiny step at a time.

Stars: Five, lovely sensual story full of real romance.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and publisher 

NB: A portion of the proceeds from all Kat and Stone’s stories go to charities who support victims of human trafficking. Horrible to think its still happens in this century but it does, too much. You can find out more on their website and blog

Was this review helpful?

I admit to being a huge fan, so I was thrilled to see Mase get his HEA. This was a fabulous book, with a good story, interesting characters, and a wonderful message. Beyond being a romance, which this totally is, it was a book about family, and home, and identity, as well as touching on ecological and cultural respect. I was pleasantly surprised at how thoughtful Rule Breaker was. Another great read! Can't wait for the next one!

Was this review helpful?

First and foremost, I want to thank Kat and Stone Bastion for my ARC of Rule Breaker which I received through Negalley! Before I tell You how much I loved Mase and Lani I want to tell you that if you have yet to pick up a Kat and Stone Bastion book I want you to invest some time and read not only Rule Breaker but Heartbreaker the first in this series it is so well crafted and introduces you into such a fun writing style that you will not want to put the books down.
If you are a fan of a feel-good romance that reads so well you can picture it as a movie this is hands down the book for you! Mase and Lani’s relationship is so dynamic that it keeps you drawn to the pages when you should be sleeping or in my case working (so worth it thought)
Lani is this beautiful island girl who struggles with herself over family obligation and living a life and seeing and experiencing the world she lives in. Mase is a guy who wants to create his own future his own way and not be forced to be a poster child for obligation. This novel is so well crafted not only did I want to see the couple get their happy ending but I felt like I could vividly see the island where they were having their romantic adventures.
What Kat and Stone do well with every novel is they create such a set of imperfectly perfect characters that at the last page you feel like a cheerleader for the couple. The details make it relatable and most importantly for me they make you want to share your enjoyment with others. If you haven’t found an author to break some RULES for yet make Kat and Stone your one exception and enjoy the waves of excitement and so much more with this one! My only question now is I’ve broken a heart and the rules what’s next?

Was this review helpful?

Rule Breaker is beautiful and poetic, just like the islands where it's set. I must confess to only knowing Hawaii from when I went to Maui for my honeymoon 13 years ago, but every word about the Hawaiian culture felt and sounded authentic. Leilani is a woman who has been raised from birth to know that she must live and breathe her Hawaiian heritage. She must act a certain way and be a certain way. And she's alright with that, sometimes. But, she wants more, she wants to experience more. She wants to travel and experience the world, not just the islands she calls home. Then she meets Mase when her brother calls on her to cash in a huge favor she owes him. He's so different than she is. He's an adventurous soul who is laid back with a charming personality and he's intrigued by this fierce, beautiful woman he sees in front of him.

Their journey is a hard one, though, set amongst racial and social tensions from her family and his. Her family is traditionally Hawaiian and a haole boy is certainly not someone they approve of for Leilani. Just as a beautiful Hawaiian woman is not one Mase's high brow, political family approve of for their son. Their love is fierce, though, enduring. I knew they could make it through all the obstacles they faced. And the way they did it is so poignant and so beautiful. I love the two of them and their relationship.

It's not often I read books that make me recall the racial tensions I experienced growing up as a Filipina adopted into a white American family in a small, backwards farming community. But, this book makes me recall it all. It was a little painful to recall while reading Rule Breaker, but it was such a beautiful story that it still left me with good feelings after reading. Kat and Stone Bastion have a fan for life in me and I am looking forward to reading so much more from them.

Was this review helpful?

I haven’t had the pleasure of reading the first book in this series, or even previous works by these authors, but what I do know is, I’m a sucker for a good Romeo & Juliet type story and this one delivered on that, in a pretty phenomenal way.

It’s even better when like within this story, what takes place brings forth every conceivable emotion and feeling imaginable.

Before I get into that though, I first want to say that knowing next to nothing about Hawaii, I went into this story blind to the language and culture, even mannerisms, but through it was taken on one of the most visual and descriptive journeys. It was as much a learning experience (which I love when I’m reading) as it was an escape, the way reading is always meant to be. That aspect adding something to my reading that as of late has been lacking. So my hat is off to both authors for creating such a rich atmosphere for me to learn and fall in love with.

I’ve never been where Leilani and Mason find themselves. I probably never will walk the same road that they do, but what I did get from their journey walking it together, I think it will stay with me long after the book is done. The strength they both show, along with the very real weaknesses as they face what to some would be insurmountable odds, was a beautiful thing to witness. Equal parts breathtaking and heartbreaking because I just felt for each of them, together and apart. These were incredibly likable characters, put in one hell of a situation. I will say that I felt more of a kinship or connection with Mason, but I had a feeling right from the beginning I would.

When I mentioned before that I ran the gamut of emotions, it’s because of the very real issues presented throughout and the connection that the authors built for these characters. It made it impossible not to feel. Not to sympathize. But more than that, not to understand. My heart melted at the same time as it took a hit. It laughed at the same time as it wanted to cry. It was a book that I was in no way prepared for, but one I’m so glad I took the chance on.

Was this review helpful?
Not set

This is a story that will touch your heart, give you all the good feelings, while showing the struggle between two cultures and finding a place within it all.
I loved this story. Mason is strong and when Leilani needs his strength, he is right there to fight his way to stay and win her.
Mason/Mase is a competitive windsurfer and estranged from his rich parents. He has been traveling the world living off his very generous trust fund. During his travels he is approached by Leilani. Leilani is helping her brother Makani, by seeking out Mason and offering sponsorship for Mason to use Makani's surf boards, etc. Mason makes a counter offer to Leilani...
The story is one of two broken people, how they help heal each other and find love even through the odds were against them. They fight the prejudice of families and cultures. They fight for what they want and won't give up.

This was a complimentary ARC/e-copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

Not set
Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: