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Breaking Barriers
Breaking Barriers follows Declan and Alex, two people carrying the weight of their pasts and trying to figure out what kind of future they deserve. Declan has sacrificed his dreams for family, building walls around himself while trying to find meaning in his work and his life. Alex is fiery, bold, and fiercely independent, but underneath that strength is a woman scarred by her own struggles and wary of letting anyone close. When their lives collide in what begins as a one-night encounter, they’re both unprepared for the connection that sparks. What starts as chemistry soon turns into something deeper, tangled with family ties, secrets, and the need to finally stop running from themselves and each other.
This book left me feeling a lot of things at once. I’ll be honest, at times I wanted to shake both Declan and Alex for being so stubborn, but I also couldn’t look away. The writing pulls you into their heads, showing not only the heat between them but also the doubts and scars they’ve carried for too long. Author Nikki Lamers has a knack for making the banter sharp and funny, then hitting you with a moment of raw vulnerability that catches you off guard. Some of the dialogue feels a little over the top, but in a way, it matches the heightened emotions of two people who’ve lived with walls up for years. I liked how messy and imperfect they were, because it made them feel real.
I liked the push and pull between independence and needing someone. Alex especially jumped off the page for me. Her mix of sass and fragility, the way she covered hurt with boldness, hit close to home. Declan, too, felt achingly human in the way he struggled between being the family protector and admitting he wanted more for himself. The book isn’t shy about showing both their flaws, and that’s what made their eventual growth satisfying. It’s not just a romance. It’s about forgiveness, breaking cycles, and finding the courage to build a life you actually want instead of one you think you’re stuck with.
Breaking Barriers is perfect for readers who want more than just a love story, who want to see characters wrestle with family, identity, and their own fears. If you like strong heroines, protective but flawed heroes, and romance novels that balance heat with heart, this one is worth picking up.
Pages: 352 | ASIN : B0F9Z4FQDS
We All Deserve Love
Breaking Cycles follows a motorcycle mechanic with a dark past who, after an accident, crosses paths with a kind-hearted woman who changes his perspective on everything. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I write, I tend to fall in love with the supporting characters and want to know their story. Grant’s younger brother, Matt, had his story told in Unforgettable Mistakes. After I wrote that, Grant’s story was begging to be told.
I’ve spent some time in the Carolinas over the years and I love the area. The town is made up but based on a picturesque area along the Carolina coast. It was the perfect setting for both characters and was definitely my inspiration for the location.
Was the character’s backstory something you always had, or did it develop as you were writing?
The character’s main backstory was something I always had in mind, especially Grant, since his story started in Unforgettable Mistakes without him ever being introduced in the book. I wanted him to have his chance to find his peace, which drove me to write his story. Some of the questions I asked myself when I started writing Breaking Cycles include: What happens when someone has been running from a dark past for so long and he can no longer run? What could stop him from running when he doesn’t let anything or anyone stand in his way? And what kind of woman could help him change his perspectives and heal? I believe the answers become apparent as you get to know Ella and the story unfolds.
I do think some parts of the backstory developed naturally as I wrote, especially when it comes to Ella since she was a completely new character, even to me. The small details filled in as I wrote, Ella coming to life as an equal for Grant and a perfect match.
As part of the backstory, the title Breaking Cycles is something that I was excited about too because it says so much. It started with dual meanings, but by the time I was finished, there were at least three explanations for the title and how it helped bring the story together.
There is so much to be said about love in this book. What do you hope your readers take away from your story?
That’s an understatement. This story has some bad and good sides to love or at times what is disguised as love. I want readers to take away that sometimes when we’re at a low, it’s hard to see or feel the love, but even in tough times, real love is always there. We all deserve love. If you’re struggling on the wrong side of love, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Lean on your support system and more than anything, love yourself. It all starts with self-love.
When will book 2 be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
I don’t have a date yet for book two, but I have high hopes that it will be out later this year. Book two moves to new main characters, and will also be a stand-alone novel, but it will start where Breaking Cycles left off. Book two focuses on Declan, Ella’s older and protective brother. It will be our chance to see a side of Declan we’ve never seen before. The female MC that emerges in this story is new, but the two do know someone in common. This is a very different story, addressing a variety of issues fitting to the characters and I can’t wait to share it with you.
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Over a decade ago, motorcycle mechanic Grant Young made a daring escape, fully convinced he’d never look back. A shadowed history propelled him into the abyss, ensuring he mastered the art of detachment. However, destiny takes an unforeseen turn when Ella, a stunning, intelligent, and courageous woman, steps in to rescue him from the aftermath of a catastrophic accident.
Ella’s compassion and strength force Grant to reevaluate his perceptions about life and love. She becomes the catalyst for him to confront his past and embrace the unfamiliar territory of vulnerability. Can Grant break the cycle of self-destructive patterns and embrace the possibility of something more?
Breaking Cycles is a captivating romance transcending the boundaries between a wayward rebel and a virtuous spirit. Navigating trials, heartaches, and moments of elation, the journey of Grant and Ella unfolds as a poignant quest for redemption and love. The burning question lingers: Will Grant overcome his past and find happiness with Ella, or will his demons keep him running? Immerse yourself in Nikki A Lamers’ enthralling masterpiece to uncover the destiny that awaits.
Breaking Cycles
Breaking Cycles by Nikki A. Lamers marks the inaugural entry in the captivating Mending Shattered Hearts series. This contemporary romance novel intertwines the destinies of two individuals, crafting an entrancing narrative centered on passion, bravery, and longing.
Ella, having spent a significant portion of her life shuttling in and out of hospitals, finally finds herself in the embrace of freedom, poised to discover the myriad experiences life holds for her. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she encounters Grant Young right in the aftermath of a devastating motorcycle mishap brought on by a raging hurricane. Without a moment’s hesitation, Ella’s innate compassion propels her to save him. With Grant’s lack of a safety net becoming evident, Ella pledges to stand by him during his recovery. As the two strangers, drawn to each other with intensity from their first meeting, spend time together, a blend of passion and vulnerability unfolds. Yet, as Ella discerns Grant’s hesitancy to unveil his shadowed past, she grapples with the dread that the love she’s yearned for may prove to be temporary.
Narrated through the dual perspectives of Ella and Grant, readers gain intimate access to the protagonists’ psyche and their undeniable magnetism. From their first encounter, the electric connection is palpable. While Ella finds herself irresistibly drawn to Grant’s allure, he perceives her as the beacon illuminating his once-clouded existence. The noticeable tension between them weaves a tapestry of anticipation, leaving readers eager to uncover the trajectory of their evolving relationship.
Lamers paints her characters as beautifully complementary figures. Grant’s audacious spirit provides Ella the gateway to embrace the adventures she’s longed for, urging her towards a life devoid of regrets. In contrast, Ella’s boundless compassion offers Grant a chance to tear down his emotional barriers, immersing himself in the depths of genuine love. The novel’s adept pacing, coupled with a riveting romance, ensures readers are treated to a tale replete with passion, intimacy, and intrigue, ensuring they remain engaged till the last page.
In Breaking Cycles, Lamers delivers a romance rich in depth, ticking all the boxes for ardent fans of the genre: a beguiling and enigmatic lover, a seemingly insurmountable love, fervent connections, and challenges that threaten to overturn all preconceptions. Enhanced by its meticulous narrative and characters with compelling backstories, this book promises to captivate from its opening lines.
Pages: 403 | ASIN : B0CKFB8K7X
LITERARY TITAN 