Title: Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary
Details: 400 pages, released August 14th 2013
Source: Blog Tour with Xpresso Book Tours

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Horses, mansions, tea parties, and lies are twenty-year-old Hannah Taylor’s life. To others, her family and her relationship with Eric is perfect. But she knows the truth. She lives it.

After a fire takes her grandma's life and kills her horse, Hannah's immaculate life spirals out of control. Her father disapproves of her decision to run her grandma’s ranch instead of focusing solely on learning the family business; Animal Control brings her Argus, a mistreated horse that she can't turn away even though she's not ready for another horse; and her boyfriend, Eric Bennett, a world famous polo player, becomes possessive and authoritarian. Despite her best efforts to disguise it, Hannah grows wary of him.

Then, Leonardo Fernandes struts onto the polo scene. A cocky rookie with a messy life of his own, he’s drawn to Hannah and isn’t afraid of showing it, even when Eric makes it clear she is his and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Hannah suffers for Eric’s jealousy. The abuse only gets worse when Leo steals the title of best polo player in the world from Eric.

But the title isn’t enough for Leo. He wants Hannah too, and she can’t deny her attraction to him either. Somehow, she must find a way to break free from abusive Eric before he breaks every bone in her body.
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Well...I actually have no idea how to start off this review. I have been sitting here thinking and thinking and NOTHING I say is really expressing how much I enjoyed this book. Just know that I absolutely, 100% fell in love with Breaking the Reins.

Breaking the Reins is hands down, the best New Adult novel I have read so far (and I have read a good number of them). This book had me completely enraptured in the story from the very beginning till the very end, and left me on quite the book high. Juliana wrote characters that stole my heart, that made me really feel.

I don't cry during books often, it's something that rarely happens. While reading Breaking the Reins though, there was a part that shattered my heart into a bunch of tiny pieces and really made me get choked up and teary eyed. Juliana wrote her characters so well, that when they were being beaten down. and at a point where I wasn't sure if they would make it out okay, I found myself very upset, and insanely worried for them.

With that said, I think characters was the strongest point with Breaking the Reins, and I honestly cannot see how someone could not find themselves falling in love with this cast. You have Hannah who was stubborn, caring, and strong. People wanted her to sell her late grandmothers ranch, but she would never. She has a horse Argus that she is suppose to save, even though the horse seems impossible, and dangerous she still won't give up on him. You have Leo who has a rough past, but has turned a new leaf. He is caring and patient and wants nothing more than to be with Hannah and make her happy. Then you have Argus, who is the horse that was abused by his past owners, and while the progress is slow, he is very slowly warming up to Leo and Hannah. Those were easily my 3 favorites characters (yes the horse is a character in my book! He is someone readers will find themselves very attached to)

Besides Hannah, Leo and Argus though I did rather enjoy Bia (Leo's sister). I also in the end found myself liking Hillary who is Hannah's sister, I wouldn't mind seeing Hillary get her own story. A story telling how she deals with the aftermath of Breaking the Reins, learning to trust again.

Breaking the Reins, was a little slow paced in the beginning. But even though it was slow paced readers will still find themselves on the edge of their seats during the whole novel. You never know when Eric is going to show up, or what he is going to do, which made the whole reading experience rather stressful, but exciting. Leo would be helping Hannah train Argus, and I would always find myself worrying "omg...what if Eric shows up?!?! WHAT THE HELL WILL THEY DO?!" With Eric being such a roller coaster of a character you never know what to expect from him.

Overall, Breaking the Reins was such a good read. If you are a fan of New Adult contemporary novels, then I highly recommend it. I read this book in one sitting, just a few days ago and am already looking forward to the next time I pick it up to re-read it. If you want an edge of your seat, heart stirring, contemporary romance, then you need to read this.

"Say the word and I'm there. Please...say it." ~Leo to Hannah

"You're mine, Hannah, and only mine. Nobody, no other man will lay hands on you. You hear me?" He pressed his mouth to my ear. "You're mine." ~Eric to Hannah

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