Break of Day by Mari Madison – Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

 

 

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Description:
There’s a chance of a heat wave for the crew at News 9 San Diego…
 
Asher Anderson is an amazing surfer—with a body to match—but he’s pretty much the world’s worst weatherman. He’d prefer to catch the perfect swells in the morning so he tapes his forecasts in advance—it never rains much in San Diego anyway. The suits at News 9, however, would love to fire him, but since he’s the son of the station owner, they’ll just have to get creative…
 
Piper Strong thinks she’s scored her dream job when she’s promoted to weather producer. Glorified babysitter is more like it—she’s now responsible for bringing Asher back to shore. The problem is she’s afraid of the water, and she wasn’t counting on her growing attraction to Asher. But if Piper can just weather this storm, she’ll be able to carve out a career to be proud of—and maybe even a place in her heart for love….

 

Review:

Break of Day by Mari Madison is the 2^nd book in her Exclusive Romance series.  Having read the first book in this series, Just This Night, I wasn’t sure how this book would continue with the TV News background  theme.  Gladly, I loved Break of Day and the wonderful characters Mari Madison has created.

Piper Strong is our heroine, and a good friend of Beth (our previous heroine).  Piper is counting on a promotion at News 9 to give her career a boost, and is devastated when someone less deserving is given the promotion.  Piper also has a phobia of the ocean, and at Beth’s wedding on the beach with the ocean so close, it will be Asher Anderson, who will come to her rescue. Asher is our hero, and the News 9 weatherman.  Asher is also the playboy son of the TV station’s owner.  Asher finds himself attracted to Piper, not to mention curious as to why she has a fear of the ocean, since he is a surfer.  Piper tries to stay clear of Asher, as his reputation precedes itself.  Asher learns about Piper losing the job she counted on and the following day, she is called to the producer’s office with a promotion to be a producer for the weather, and writing scripts for Asher. 

What follows is a friendship that will turn into a sweet romance.  It was a slow build romance, since each of them had their own issues.  Asher’s mom is demanding and wants him to be with a high society girl, and will stop at nothing to ensure Asher does not become serious with Piper. Piper comes from a poor family, with a mother who is a drug addict, not to mention uses her daughter for money. Despite each of their issues and different backgrounds, both Asher and Piper find themselves falling in love, with each willing to do whatever is necessary to help the other, even if it means pulling away.

Besides this sweet fun romance, the story was very well written by Madison, with a number of different and interesting subjects.  Piper worked off hours helping homeless children, especially a young troubled boy.  Asher, having met the children, will train the boy how to surf, which leads to something that he enjoys as a possible change to the better for his future.  Piper’s phobia of the Ocean; Asher’s mother;   and Piper’s mother are also subjects that make this story fun to read.  Most of all, I loved Asher and Piper together, as they were a wonderful couple.   If you enjoy a sweet romance, great couple, TV News theme, and family turmoil, than I suggest you read Break of Day.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Ever since I was a teen myself I’ve been a fan of John Hughes films. From Breakfast Club to Some Kind of Wonderful, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off to Sixteen Candles.

But it’s Pretty in Pink that gets me every time. A simple story about a poor girl and a rich boy – and how their class differences make it almost impossible to get together, despite how much they like one another.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. She should have chosen Duckie. Jon Cryer really stole the show with his loveable dork character that’s stood the test of time. 

But let’s put Duckie on the back burner for a moment. Cool as he is, he’s also kind of a distraction to the real issue Hughes was trying to explore in the film. Namely whether two people can overcome class differences and have a chance at a real relationship.

It would have been easy to make Andie a bit of a loser. But she’s actually not if you watch the film closely. She’s poor. She has a lot of family issues. But she’s cool in her own way, even if she doesn’t quite realize it. She works in a record store. She goes clubbing with her friends. She’s just as cool in her circle as Blaine is in his.

And what I think Hughes does really well, though people miss it because they’re so focused on Duckie, is that Andie’s friends are just as mean to Blaine – if not more so – than Blaine’s friends are to Andie. The rich kids don’t want him to date a poor girl. But the poor kids really don’t like this rich dude encroaching on their territory either.

With Break of Day, I wanted to explore this trope – rich boy, poor girl – in much the same way. Piper has had all the disadvantages in life. Her mother is an addict, she’s grown up in foster care, she’s had to deal with the tragic death of her brother—which may or may not have been her fault. Any one of those things could destroy a person. But Piper refuses to let them crush her. If anything it only makes her more determined to break free of her past and become her own person. And Asher can’t help but admire this, even if he can’t personally relate to her problems, having grown up rich and privileged.

But Asher has issues of his own. Which he disparagingly dismisses as “First World Problems” even though they are anything but. Even though he’s suffered just as much as Piper in different ways, it’s hard for anyone to sympathize, due to his economic advantage. It takes someone like Piper to see the true pain in his heart. Pain that can’t be solved by writing a check.

We don’t know what happened to Blaine and Andie after the prom. Whether their class differences eventually became too much or if they stayed together for the long haul. But I like to think of them having a happy ending, just as Piper and Asher are able to do in Break of Day. Shutting out the noise and staying true to their feelings. Realizing love is far better than gold.  

 

 

Mari’s publisher is offering a paper copy of BREAK OF DAY to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE us on FACEBOOK and click GET NOTIFICATIONS

4. Please LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

5. Please LIKE us on GOODREADS  for an additional entry.

6. Please LIKE Mari Madison on FACEBOOK.

7. Giveaway is open to USA only

8. Giveaway runs from August 26 to August 29, 2016

 

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