You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️1/2
The taste of her is incomparable. In this moment, I’m certain I could kiss her for the rest of my life and never get tired of it.
This was a great read! It was high on the angst scale, but it became a sweet romance when these friends-turned-enemies-lovers finally figured things out.
As a fan of the Sports Romance sub-genre, I was already sold on this book. It then sold me on the fake marriage of convenience trope. Throwing in a baby and the trials of parenthood gave it a sense of realism. Little Sammy stole the show.
I was skeptical of Daire in the beginning but came to love him. When he fell, he fell HARD! He was determined to show Rosie that they were end-game, not a relationship with an expiration date.
This is a medium-burn and mildly spicy MF romance. The emphasis is firmly on the plot, but there are some spicy bits.
Rosie and Daire's story ends in a HEA. Rule Breakers Fall Hardest is a standalone in The Boys series. While there are character crossovers, it may be read as a complete standalone.
Highly recommended!
🌶️🌶️1/2
The taste of her is incomparable. In this moment, I’m certain I could kiss her for the rest of my life and never get tired of it.
This was a great read! It was high on the angst scale, but it became a sweet romance when these friends-turned-enemies-lovers finally figured things out.
As a fan of the Sports Romance sub-genre, I was already sold on this book. It then sold me on the fake marriage of convenience trope. Throwing in a baby and the trials of parenthood gave it a sense of realism. Little Sammy stole the show.
I was skeptical of Daire in the beginning but came to love him. When he fell, he fell HARD! He was determined to show Rosie that they were end-game, not a relationship with an expiration date.
This is a medium-burn and mildly spicy MF romance. The emphasis is firmly on the plot, but there are some spicy bits.
Rosie and Daire's story ends in a HEA. Rule Breakers Fall Hardest is a standalone in The Boys series. While there are character crossovers, it may be read as a complete standalone.
Highly recommended!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Rule Breakers Fall Hardest is a childhood friends to enemies to lovers mix in a marriage of convenience and a surprise baby and you’re in for a hell of a ride. Darie, a popular hockey player sees a professor that he had a fling with holding a baby at the start of the year. In his heart he knew that baby was his and he wanted to be apart of his life. His lawyer told him that he needs to be stable and possibly married, and that gives him the idea to approach Rosie. He figures since they’ve known each other since childhood she would be able to play the part as well, even if they were currently enemies. Reluctantly, she agrees to help him, even after he made the rule for her not to fall in love with him. But you know how it goes he falls first. And when he finds out that no guy has ever gotten her there ✨ he sees it as a challenge! Rosie is amazing and kind and even though Daire broke her heart years ago she’s willing to help him for the sake of the baby. Watching these two grow up and together was the best part of the whole book.
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Happy Release Day to Rule Breakers fall Hardest, the sixth book in Micalea’s The Boys Series! Can’t wait to add their couple painting to my collection 🥰
“I broke my own rules for you, baby, and fell hard. I never want to come back up.”
I love this series since it’s what introduced me to M.S. work. I binged the series in like 3 days, and finding out we were finally getting Daire’s story after seeing him lose his sh*t in Good Fuys & Broken Boys. And this book didn’t disappoint! I loved his enemies to lovers/ marriage of convenience with Rosie, and Sammy, the secret baby was just *chefs kiss* they both mature so well in this book, and while the relationship with the bio-mom was weird and quiet (& oddly sad) I loved them becoming parents of their own. The drama with both of their families was so sad and not really having the other couples in this book as much made me miss them more, it all made sense for this book!
🩵Marriage of Convenience
💙 Childhood Friends to Enemies to Lovers
🖤Secret Baby
💙College Hockey MMC
🩵Character Series
Final Rating: 4.25⭐️, 3🌶️
Thank you @micaleasmeltzer & @valentine_pr_ for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unpaid review! It was an absolute pleasure to read this book 💙
“I broke my own rules for you, baby, and fell hard. I never want to come back up.”
I love this series since it’s what introduced me to M.S. work. I binged the series in like 3 days, and finding out we were finally getting Daire’s story after seeing him lose his sh*t in Good Fuys & Broken Boys. And this book didn’t disappoint! I loved his enemies to lovers/ marriage of convenience with Rosie, and Sammy, the secret baby was just *chefs kiss* they both mature so well in this book, and while the relationship with the bio-mom was weird and quiet (& oddly sad) I loved them becoming parents of their own. The drama with both of their families was so sad and not really having the other couples in this book as much made me miss them more, it all made sense for this book!
🩵Marriage of Convenience
💙 Childhood Friends to Enemies to Lovers
🖤Secret Baby
💙College Hockey MMC
🩵Character Series
Final Rating: 4.25⭐️, 3🌶️
Thank you @micaleasmeltzer & @valentine_pr_ for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unpaid review! It was an absolute pleasure to read this book 💙
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was so good! Definitely worth the read in my opinion!
Rule Breakers Fall Hardest is an enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience romance that really hits the mark! I absolutely loved Daire and Rosie. Each has their own traits to make the reader fall in love with these characters. This book really takes you on a journey through their life and give you all the feels.
I definitely enjoyed this book and I enjoy this series! I would 100% recommend it for others to read. Can’t wait to see what Micalea Smeltzer has next!
Star Rating: 4/5
Heat Rating: 3/5
What to Expect:
- Hockey Romance
- Childhood Friends to Enemies to Lovers
- Marriage of Convenience
- Second Chance Romance
- Cinnamon Roll MMC
- Reformed Playboy
- Forced Proximity
- Found Family
Rule Breakers Fall Hardest is my first read by Micalea Smeltzer. I find so much joy in discovering ‘new to me’ authors, and I will definitely be reading her other books. I enjoyed this book so much! Daire and Rosie’s story pulled me in from the start, and I couldn’t put this book down.
Daire and Rosie were childhood friends. Their families were very close, and they spent a lot of time together. Rosie had a huge crush on Daire, but miscommunication ended their friendship. When Daire needs a favor, he asks Rosie for her help. Although they have not communicated for years, she is the one person he knows hates him enough to make his plan work.
I loved Daire and Rosie! Their relationship development was beautiful, and they had amazing chemistry. Daire is so much more than a rich hockey player. I loved how he was ready to step up and take on a huge and important responsibility. Rosie is a sweetheart, fiercely loyal, and super supportive. Even though they had a strained friendship and Rose was hesitant, she was truly all in once she decided to help Daire. I loved how they were able to work through their unresolved issues, confront their true feelings, and grow together. Their relationship was tested, but they approached everything as a team.
Rule Breakers Fall Hardest is well-written and has amazing characters. It has a good balance of sweet moments, humor, tension, banter, swoony moments, drama, and heat. Reading this story took me on a wild emotional ride, and I loved every moment. This was a really good read, and I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Thanks to Micalea Smeltzer and Valentine PR for the gifted eARC. Opinions expressed are my own.
Heat Rating: 3/5
What to Expect:
- Hockey Romance
- Childhood Friends to Enemies to Lovers
- Marriage of Convenience
- Second Chance Romance
- Cinnamon Roll MMC
- Reformed Playboy
- Forced Proximity
- Found Family
Rule Breakers Fall Hardest is my first read by Micalea Smeltzer. I find so much joy in discovering ‘new to me’ authors, and I will definitely be reading her other books. I enjoyed this book so much! Daire and Rosie’s story pulled me in from the start, and I couldn’t put this book down.
Daire and Rosie were childhood friends. Their families were very close, and they spent a lot of time together. Rosie had a huge crush on Daire, but miscommunication ended their friendship. When Daire needs a favor, he asks Rosie for her help. Although they have not communicated for years, she is the one person he knows hates him enough to make his plan work.
I loved Daire and Rosie! Their relationship development was beautiful, and they had amazing chemistry. Daire is so much more than a rich hockey player. I loved how he was ready to step up and take on a huge and important responsibility. Rosie is a sweetheart, fiercely loyal, and super supportive. Even though they had a strained friendship and Rose was hesitant, she was truly all in once she decided to help Daire. I loved how they were able to work through their unresolved issues, confront their true feelings, and grow together. Their relationship was tested, but they approached everything as a team.
Rule Breakers Fall Hardest is well-written and has amazing characters. It has a good balance of sweet moments, humor, tension, banter, swoony moments, drama, and heat. Reading this story took me on a wild emotional ride, and I loved every moment. This was a really good read, and I look forward to reading other books in this series.
Thanks to Micalea Smeltzer and Valentine PR for the gifted eARC. Opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed Rosie and Daire's story! Thank you, Micalea and VPR for sending me the ARC.
I dunno about you, but a muscly man who is a goner over his baby...please gimme now. This is a college hockey romance where our MMC Daire has a surprise baby (not with the FMC). He's concerned that he's not going to get any custody, so he's trying everything he can. His lawyer suggests that if he was in a serious relationship, it would help. He strikes a deal with an old friend that he hates...Rosie.
I really enjoyed the way the two characters figured things out and gave things a real try. I also really enjoyed the side characters and the roles they played in the story. Rosie's character was great-she didn't jump in and act or expect to be Sammy's mom, but really stepped up to the plate.
Tropes:
College Hockey
Surprise Pregnancy (not on page and not FMC)
Second Chance
Single Dad
Marriage of Convenience
🌶🌶🌶
I dunno about you, but a muscly man who is a goner over his baby...please gimme now. This is a college hockey romance where our MMC Daire has a surprise baby (not with the FMC). He's concerned that he's not going to get any custody, so he's trying everything he can. His lawyer suggests that if he was in a serious relationship, it would help. He strikes a deal with an old friend that he hates...Rosie.
I really enjoyed the way the two characters figured things out and gave things a real try. I also really enjoyed the side characters and the roles they played in the story. Rosie's character was great-she didn't jump in and act or expect to be Sammy's mom, but really stepped up to the plate.
Tropes:
College Hockey
Surprise Pregnancy (not on page and not FMC)
Second Chance
Single Dad
Marriage of Convenience
🌶🌶🌶
challenging
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶
💙 Marriage of convenience
💙 Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
After years of their friendship being broken, Daire needs a favor from Rosie. But it's not a simple one – he needs them to get married.
Even though they say they hate each other, it's clear they still have a connection and unresolved feelings. I really liked how their relationship developed. It was a well-done slow burn.
At first, I didn't have a positive opinion of Daire, but I think his character growth was great. Seeing him with Sammy was heartwarming. As he started letting himself get closer to Rosie again, he showed a sweet, protective, and even jealous side.
Rosie is a character I liked from the start. I loved everything about her. Her friendship with Bertie was wonderful, and I'm excited to see more of them in the next book.
Overall, it's a good read, and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
Thank you so much, Valentine PR, for sending me this ARC!
🌶🌶
💙 Marriage of convenience
💙 Childhood friends to enemies to lovers
After years of their friendship being broken, Daire needs a favor from Rosie. But it's not a simple one – he needs them to get married.
Even though they say they hate each other, it's clear they still have a connection and unresolved feelings. I really liked how their relationship developed. It was a well-done slow burn.
At first, I didn't have a positive opinion of Daire, but I think his character growth was great. Seeing him with Sammy was heartwarming. As he started letting himself get closer to Rosie again, he showed a sweet, protective, and even jealous side.
Rosie is a character I liked from the start. I loved everything about her. Her friendship with Bertie was wonderful, and I'm excited to see more of them in the next book.
Overall, it's a good read, and I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
Thank you so much, Valentine PR, for sending me this ARC!
This is my first Micalea Smeltzer book, but now I'm excited to go back to the start of this series and read more! RBFH is the 6th book in the series "The Boys", but I don't feel like I missed a ton by not having read the others first. It's a virtual buffet of some of my favorite romance tropes: marriage of convenience, second chance, friends to enemies to lovers, it was always you... *chef's kiss*
I enjoyed the character development for both Daire and Rosie. The writing showing us inside Daire's head as he falls so hard and grows up so much, so quickly is really well done. Without giving the game away, it gets complicated quickly for our MCs, and everything takes on new stakes. Rosie is a complicated girlie, and watching Daire try to take care of her in the way that makes sense for her is so sweet. The hockey part of this hockey romance is kept to the background of the book for the most part. It's there, but it's far from the main focus. My only teeny gripe is that I wanted a little more drama before Daire gave in. I love a good grovel. He does ultimately become a gooey cinnamon roll of a man for Rosie.
If you have sensitivities, check the content warnings, but nothing feels gratuitous to me in the writing. Thank you to Micalea Smeltzer and Valentine PR for the ARC opportunity!
I enjoyed the character development for both Daire and Rosie. The writing showing us inside Daire's head as he falls so hard and grows up so much, so quickly is really well done. Without giving the game away, it gets complicated quickly for our MCs, and everything takes on new stakes. Rosie is a complicated girlie, and watching Daire try to take care of her in the way that makes sense for her is so sweet. The hockey part of this hockey romance is kept to the background of the book for the most part. It's there, but it's far from the main focus. My only teeny gripe is that I wanted a little more drama before Daire gave in. I love a good grovel. He does ultimately become a gooey cinnamon roll of a man for Rosie.
If you have sensitivities, check the content warnings, but nothing feels gratuitous to me in the writing. Thank you to Micalea Smeltzer and Valentine PR for the ARC opportunity!
💕Marriage of Convenience
💕 Friends to Enemies to Lovers
💕 College Romance
Daire and Rosie
Rule Breakers Fall Hardest is the sixth book in “The Boys” series. I’ve been waiting for Daire’s book and I have to say its’s my favorite of the series. Daire and Rosie were once best friends and after something that happens in their past their friendship falls apart. Years later in college Daire finds himself in a bit of a predicament, he was sleeping with his college professor and after she brings her new baby up to the college and he sees him for the first time Daire knows that’s his son. After Daire talks to his lawyer about pursuing finding out if that is his son and getting parental rights she tells him it’d be best if he were married, has his own place, and has a stable home life to present to the courts. Daire comes up with this crazy idea and he goes straight to the girl he trusts most but they hate each other and haven’t talked in years. I loved Rosie so much, she is so strong and had to endure of a lot things she didn’t deserve. She was the best kind of friend, I loved watching her story unfold. She deserved her happy ending. Daire, my god… book husband material. I could not get enough of him, the way he did everything possible to make Rosie happy once he got his head out of the sand. It’s the little things, and he paid attention to the little things. Not to mention he was an amazing dad, his love for Sammie had me melting. 🫠 I love that Teddy made a little appearance, he is my favorite of all time.
This series has a special place in my heart and I love every single one of the characters. I can’t wait for the next book is the series. Another amazing book by Micalea Smeltzer.
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Oh, Daire. You dumb, dumb man. I really hated Daire in the beginning of this book. He was just cruel. Rosie was doing something to help him, and he just threw her to the side like she was nothing. And then to make it even worse, he was recorded and shared on social media saying how much she hates her. I wanted Rosie to make him pay, but she's a much better human than I am. But by the end, I loved Daire. He would do anything for his son, and by the end of the book, Rosie. I mean, their Valentine's Day date? *swoon*
One of my favorite scenes, though, is when Daire and Rosie first move into their house, and she thinks there are ghosts and runs into his room and finds him sleeping...naked. I was cracking up. But throughout the whole book, we see both Daire and Rosie starting to become best friends again, and then eventually fall in love. And it's just so sweet. There's some spice, but I really feel like it's not the main reason you should want to read this.
I didn't realize this was part of a series when I requested an ARC, but you don't need to read the other books in the series to fully enjoy this one. But I will say that seeing bits of the guys from other books, does make me want to go back and read them. And I will definitely be reading the next book if it ends up being about Luke and Bertie.
Thank you Micalea Smeltzer and Valentine PR for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.
One of my favorite scenes, though, is when Daire and Rosie first move into their house, and she thinks there are ghosts and runs into his room and finds him sleeping...naked. I was cracking up. But throughout the whole book, we see both Daire and Rosie starting to become best friends again, and then eventually fall in love. And it's just so sweet. There's some spice, but I really feel like it's not the main reason you should want to read this.
I didn't realize this was part of a series when I requested an ARC, but you don't need to read the other books in the series to fully enjoy this one. But I will say that seeing bits of the guys from other books, does make me want to go back and read them. And I will definitely be reading the next book if it ends up being about Luke and Bertie.
Thank you Micalea Smeltzer and Valentine PR for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.