Break the Rules

A Single Dad, Baseball Romance (Vancouver Tridents, Book 1)

By: Julia Jarrett

Narrated by: Angelina Rocca, Connor Crais

I live by one simple rule: my daughter and baseball are all that matter. Until I get traded to the same team my unforgettable vacation fling works for.

I wanted Willow Lawson from the first second I saw her, and once we gave in to temptation on the sunny beaches of Hawaii, I knew I’d never forget her.

But our fling was meant to be just that. A hot vacation hookup and nothing more. After all, she’s got a rule too:

Never date a baseball player.

When my agent lands me the deal of a lifetime with the Vancouver Tridents, it seems like the perfect move.

Until Willow walks into the conference room on my first day, and I realize maybe this time, our rules were meant to be broken.

©2024 Julia Jarrett (P)2024 Julia Jarrett

Great read! Loved it!

I really enjoyed this story! It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention the entire time. I had a lot of fun with it and loved the baseball aspect. I loved the way that Ronan pursued Willow and how he didn't give up on her and them but it didn't go too far and was done right. He makes it known that he is interested and not giving up but it was all very respectful and still following cues from Willow. It never went to creep factor but someone that was interested and was working on winning her over. It made me root for him and for Willow to take that chance and break her rule in order to be with him. He really went about it all so well with being flirty and open about wanting more and a chance but not pushing too far or too hard. He is a great father as well and that was another well done aspect of the story. Being a father takes priority for him, as it should, and that showed throughout the story and was really great. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed watching them figure things out and find their way to their happy ending and I can't wait for the next book in the series. We get some twists through the story with what is happening and how Willow and Ronan come together and bring their relationship out into the open. I loved how Ronan respected Willow throughout the story in the way that he listened to what she had to say and really heard her. We also get to know the other players and I am super excited for their stories as well! Great start to a new series!
The narrators did a great job with the story and brining it to life. They showcased the emotions and action happening really well and added that extra dynamic to it.

Great Story & Narration🎧Captivating & Enjoyable!

This is a fantastic single dad workplace sports romance novel, one that captivates your attention and tugs at your heartstrings. Julia Jarrett is a gifted author, and I enjoyed her wonderful writing style and the fabulous characters and storylines she created. This first book of the “Vancouver Tridents” series is Ronan and Willow’s story, and what a story it is. The two met while on vacation, with Ronan spotting her at the airport on the way to Hawaii, and he felt an instant attraction to her. Willow works public relations for the Tridents, a professional baseball team, so she knew who Ronan was, a professional baseball player for another team, but he had not known who she and she did not share that information. With Willow’s boss is retiring soon, and her wanting that job, but only on her work merit, not because of nepotism and her relations, since her uncle runs the team. Because of this she is hesitant to get involved with another player, but seeing Ronan again at her hotel and then him coming to her rescue, it was hard to resist the undeniable chemistry between and she figures they would never see each other again, so giving into their passion for one another they had a memorable and steamy encounter. Except they see each other again, when he gets traded to the Tridents, and it surprised him to see her there and working for the team. Ronan was happy to see her again, but she did not share his sentiment because she saw him as a threat to everything she was trying to accomplish. Ronan respected her wishes, but he was not giving up on her. It was great to watch these two together and see them navigate a relationship that morphs into something more. He was amazing with his daughter and Willow was great with her, too. There is never a dull moment in this wonderfully plotted story, a story that has drama, a touch of angst, some charming moments, heartfelt emotions, and steamy romance. Julia Jarrett, thank you for this wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧  Connor Crais and Angelina Rocca are absolutely fantastic and they did an amazing job bringing the characters to life, and humanizing them with voices that were fitting. I loved how they took each role and owned it, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. Rocca nailed it as Willow and was a natural in the role, grasping all aspects of her personality, her strength, determination and fierceness. Crais did the same in his role as Ronan, and was just as amazing, showcasing his personality perfectly. Both were fantastic voicing the secondary/side characters and performing their roles, including Rocket, Ronan’s little one. These two are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to.

Cute Story!

Cute story! I love reading a baseball themed book! This one has adorable characters and a interesting story. I like the introduction to all the characters, those in Hawaii and the mainland. The MC are nicely developed and have issues to overcome. I look forward to the next in the series. Angelina Rocca and Connor Crais do a wonderful job narrating this one. They are very good and pleasant to my ears.

Romantic, sweet and heartfelt

It might not be baseball season right now but it is always in the romance world. “Break the Rules” is a romantic, sweet and heartfelt single dad baseball romance that was a great start to this series.

For the last four years, baseball and his daughter is all that Ronan has cared about. Finally taking a vacation for himself, he makes eye contact with a woman at security and ends up running into her on the plane and at the resort he’s staying at in Hawaii. Willow is on a much needed vacation and is determined to relax. Having a vacation hook up was the last thing she was looking for her but the pull between her and Ronan is strong. After their night together, he leaves before the morning. And Willow is shocked to find out he’s been traded to the Vancouver Tridents, the baseball team she works for. Ronan wants more from her but she’s always had the rule to not hook up with baseball players.

I loved the opening of this book and how Willow and Ronan first meet at the airport. It started off their romance in a fun way. Them being at the same resort was kismet and I loved the instant attraction they had for each other. It was apparent from the start that they had something special. Ronan is an amazing dad and truly puts his daughter first in all things. She’s an adorable little girl who was a lot of fun in this story. I loved Willow and how she wanted to make it on her own with the help of her uncle who owned the team. She works hard and wants to be the best she can be for the team. Ronan and Willow have romantic chemistry and I could feel it as I listened. The steamy scenes were great, especially the stolen moments at the office and on the road. Ronan has the biggest green flag because he listens and communicates. He doesn’t shut down and is there for Willow when she needs him the most. The ending was so sweet and I loved the epilogue.

Connor Crais and Angelina Rocca narrated this audio and I loved listening to them bring this story to life. Connor’s narration was genuine and caring, just like Ronan. I loved Angelina as Willow, she brought her passionate personality alive perfectly. Since this book is based in Canada, I definitely heard the Canadian accents as I listened.

Ronan is the perfect book boyfriend

Willow is a Media/PR executive for the Vancouver Tridents baseball team and she is on her way to a solo vacation in Hawaii when her eye catches the most handsome stranger in the airport. Ronan is the handsome stranger and professional baseball player that practically breaks his neck to catch another glimpse of Willow as they pass each other in the airport. But fate had other plans and they end up sitting next to each other on the flight, in the same hotel and constantly run into each other the entire trip. They give in and have a hot one night stand before Ronan has to leave early and they never see each other again.
Fast forward months later and Ronan is traded to the Vancouver Tridents! Putting Willow and Ronan in the forbidden romance of their lives because they both know how strong their connection in Hawaii was and fighting those feelings becomes increasingly difficult the more time they are forced around each other. Ronan is determined to convince Willow that he is worth the risk and Willow is determined to put her career first and her heart last, but slowly he breaks down her barriers and they fall into love that is so pure and true. Ronan is such a perfect book boyfriend, considerate of her apprehension and feelings and intentional with every gesture he makes for her big and small. He remembers everything she mentions in passing and gives her the space to catch up since he's already head over heels for her. The patience of this man and navigating everything so that she is comfortable was so dreamy. And watching Willow with Ronan's daughter was beautiful and made him fall even harder for her.
This story was a great balance of fun, sweet, and spicy!
Angelina Rocca and Connor Crais were fantastic on this title. They both delivered wonderful performances, embodying the characters well and bringing to life a fun love story. Angelina always delivers an emotionally charged performance that is enthralling and Connor has a way of embodying the best parts of his characters and his spicy scenes are definitely a gift to all our ears. I have heard them both separately on titles but this is my first time hearing them together and they were great!

Great start to a new series - funny, touching

Author Julia Jarrett is a new-to-me author but this will not be the last book of hers I read/listen to. I already cannot wait for the next book in this new spectacular Vancouver Tridents baseball team series. It you are looking for fun and sweetness and steam then you have come to the right author.

Willow Lawson is strong and independent, determined, beautiful, funny, excellent at her job. But with some sadness in her past and some concerns in the present. And a hard and fast rule for the future: don’t ever date – much less fall for – a baseball player. Well, you know what they say about rules, though? They are made to be broken, even if you didn’t mean to, even if you didn’t even realize you were breaking your rule, because fate is sometimes just that – fate – and there is nothing you can do about it.

Willow is the assistant director of media relations for the Vancouver Tridents professional baseball team. A job she is really, really good at, and has in fact been performing the duties of the director for a while now, since the current director is planning to retire and has pretty much checked out. Willow is looking to move up, but in her mind it’s tricky. Because she’s also the niece (well, he’s just like an uncle to her) of the team’s owner. She doesn’t want any hint of nepotism, favoritism, getting ahead on anything other than her own merit, hence the no dating a player rule. Because that’s against the rules, isn’t it? So far, so good. Willow is off for a much-needed vacation in Hawaii. And suddenly at the airport she sees . . .

Escalator God. There is no other name for him. Stunningly attractive, mesmerizing. She can’t take her eyes off him and the feeling seems mutual. If she hadn’t been hurrying to catch her flight she would have followed him. Yes, he’s that good looking and the instant attraction is that strong.

And here’s where fate steps in: Escalator God is Ronan Sinclair and he just so happens to be seated right next to her on the flight to Hawaii. They lightly flirt, each taken with the other, but she refuses his dinner invitation, instead wanting to see if or where fate will take them next. Fate takes them lots of places, throwing them together over and over, making the connection stronger and stronger. Ronan is an all-star first baseman, and Willow recognized him when she saw him up close and personal, but he’s not on “her” team and while it’s maybe bending the rules, a little fling in Hawaii won’t hurt, will it? He’s a single dad, struggling to balance life and the job he loves, not looking for a serious relationship because doing what’s best for his little girl always comes first, but along comes Willow and shakes that up. His daughter Peyton will still always come first, but has his heart suddenly expanded and make forever room for Willow? Before things can lead to serious discussion, though, he’s called back home due to a family emergency and that’s that.

Or is it? Guess who’s been traded to the Tridents? And who can’t fight the attraction to Willow? Break the Rules is delightful right from the start, and once Ronan shows up as the new guy on the team it becomes so sweet and charming, making you laugh and making you need ice to cool you down after their steamy encounters and also making you want to sit down with them and work out a plan to make this a happy-ever-after instead of a can’t-break-that rule.

Jarrett has written a story that moves smoothly along, with a well-constructed plot, strong characters you want to know better, love and heat, lots of good times and some that aren’t so good. I was lucky enough to receive an advance listening copy of Break the Rules via Home Cooked Books. Jarret’s story would be captivating and marvelous on the written page but listening to talented voice actors Connor Crais and Angelina Rocca bring the story to life was perfect. Rocca makes Willow real, a little breathy, some little chuckles, and makes Willow’s fears as well as strength come through, along with her fast-blooming love for Ronan. Crais has a straightforward, sincere voice and delivery that sounds like it should be boring but is anything but. He just slides Ronan’s full personality into your head – and ears – and heart little by little until you feel like the Escalator God with those devastating dimples is standing right before you. I loved this book and am eager for the rest of the series. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

Loved!

one night stand, workplace romance, sports romance (baseball), single dad, he falls first, no third act break up.
This single dad baseball romance was just perfection! I love these narrators so so much! They are really good at their craft! I love this author and I can’t wait to read/listen the next book in the series

Our Friend Fate

Yes! I absolutely love this book. I literally couldn't stop listening. Connor Crais and Angelina Rocca's performance is amazing and they truly brought these characters to life. I want more Ronan, he is so real and honest. As of right now he is my favorite book boyfriend of the year. Willow is so strong and independent, yet she can't hide the soft spot she has for Ronin and his precious little girl. Ronan and Willow meet in an airport on the way to vacation. Fate has decided these two must be together and they keep crossing paths till finally they give in and have a vacation fling. These two have such amazing chemistry and a real connection. I enjoyed every moment of their story and that epilogue is fantastic. I am now a huge fan of this author and will be reading or listening to more of her books.
I was sent a free audiobook from HCB and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

hot baseball single dad

Willow is finally off on a vacation to Hawaii and she runs into a hot man at the airport but can’t place his face. Well Ronan sits next to her in the fight and she has to say no after he asks her out for dinner as he is a baseball player. Fate just keeps having them run into each other, they give in for a one night stand. Then Ronan gets traded to her team. These two decided to try it out- chemistry and everyone finds out. Cute single dad so we get a cute kid! Spicy start and end!

This audio was dual narration and they did a great job with it! Enjoyed both voices and fit the characters. Narration by Angelina Rocca and Connor Crais.

Thank you to Home Cooked Books for the ALC - All thoughts and opinions are my own

Return of the Vacation Fling + Single Dad

This is my first Julia Jerrett and I want more. I loved this first in series book and there are so many great threads leading to future stories I need to get more info on.

Ronan and Willow have a vacation fling when they are both in Hawaii. He falls first and pursues, ( which I love!!) but she resists. But fate keeps throwing them into each other's path until they finally give in and it is everything you want in a one night stand vacation fling.

Then, he's traded and becomes part of her organization and it's workplace slow burn as they resist but get to know each other. His kid is adorable, his mom is a hoot at times, and Willow is beating herself up over wanting him even though she it's a bad idea professionally (the players are more important to the organization right?). Ronan is right there, slowly winning her over, making her fall... keeping it secret, until... well you should read to find out.

The audiobook is performed by Angelina Rocca and Connor Crais. I love love love Angelina. I will always say yes to a book she has narrated. Her performance of Willow gutted me at times. She was all over the map emotionally. Fighting herself, her self doubts, her fears over family connections to the organization, then being super cute and sweet with Ronan's daughter, her giving in to her feelings and desires for Ronan, it was so well done. Connor was adorable as the devoted single dad. He was all in on his family even while fighting his own guilt over wanting to be selfish with Willow. The way he brought the swoon factor, trying to win over Willow, to concur her fears and prove that they would be able to make things work... I loved it.

I requested and was provided with an advanced copy of the audiobook. These are my honest opinions.