Member Reviews
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I have been putting off this read but after just finishing Bryant's new book and falling in love I needed to read more from this author. Two hours later and this book is finished and I am experiencing regrets of reading too fast. This was outstanding, the hilarious and realistic experiences that Kennedy went though when she first arrived to Alaska kept me enthralled in the plot line. The animals and the amazing Wally and of course Brynn, made this novel a great romantic read.
"I was no match for her. I was a city girl through and through"
* * *
3 / 5
Breakthrough is a classic story: city girl is sent to the "wilds" of Alaska and meets a rough and tough ranger girl. They fall in love. It's a sweet and readable story, but the writing is somewhat rough and awkward to read in places.
Kennedy Wells writes for a celebrity magazine. After a bit of a rough time at work, Kennedy is sent to the wilds of Alaska to cover stories about local fishing. As you might guess, this is not exactly her area of comfort or expertise, and when she gets into a few spots of trouble she is saved by Brynn Coleman, a park ranger. Whilst neither woman is looking for a relationship there are undeniable sparks of attraction flying around left and right.
"I had nothing planned but you today"
The romance itself was sweet and rather slow-burn. Like any romance novel there are bumps in the road in their progression from strangers to partners; most of these bumps involve Kennedy having the worst luck in the world and being rather helpless. This gave their relationship a fun dynamic, but it did feel a bit overdone when Kennedy was in trouble for the fifth time.
I loved the setting of the book: Alaska sounds like such an amazing place to visit. The plot really takes advantage of the location to add a little heat and drama to the novel. What I wasn't so fond of was the writing - lots of sections read quite rough and the scenes didn't really flow together very well. As a reader, I got the impression that I was being told everything, rather than being shown, which detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
I have read all,of Kris Bryant’s books but this is by far my favorite. The main characters are sexy. The scenery is to die for. The predicaments that Kennedy gets herself into are fun. I loved the drama about the poachers. The sex scenes were sizzling yet you could feel that they had a real connection. This was an all around excellent read. Kudos!
This is my 6th book by the author and I have enjoyed every single one of them. Bryant is an author I don't have to think twice about before picking up her book. I just know I will enjoy it. Bryant checks all my favorites: Alaska, hot butch, and a LOT of chemistry. Kennedy the city girl sent to Alaska, where the super hot butch, Brynn, comes to the rescue. So much chemistry but Kennedy can't wait to get back to the city life, while Brynn loves the wilderness. Excellent story and fantastic writing. This one may be my favorite of Bryant's books. The descriptive writing will make you think about visiting Alaska, and the romance will make you happy you picked this one up. This one is going on the favorites list to be reread at a later date.
I desperately tried my best to read through this whole book, but I admit I was not able to get past chapter 6. The flow of the story went rather well, I'll give it that, but there were a couple of things that particularly irked me. The introduction threw me off immediately was how important she placed clothing and her appearance. I actually had to google what some of the clothes she wore looked like instead of leaving it to my imagination. The attraction was described, to me, much like a teenage boy of a trashy harlequin esque-like novel seeing an attractive woman for the first time. It just wasn't believable and in some cases, rather embarrassing. The ranger lady seemed like a good love interest, and I would've liked to have read more of her involvement in the story but the main character was not someone I would wish anyone to be with, let alone with a woman who obviously cares more about others than the latest fashion statement. Overall, this book had great potential but it's summary was very misleading. I suggest on some more world building in future novels and showing, not telling, what goes around in the characters' lives and setting.
Celebrity journalist Kennedy Wells' ends up in Anchorage, Alaska after her magazine editor sends her out to write a cover article on a new reality show. The idea smells like rotten fish, but Kennedy won't give up a shot at regaining her former beat rubbing elbows with performers and the famous-for being-famous.
Much of the novel's humor plays off Kennedy's unfamiliarity with Anchorage's great outdoors. She's more at home on the bustling city streets of LA, dining on catered cuisine and dashing off to her next interview in designer heels. A near-disaster on her first day exploring the area's scenic byways requires calling in the rescue squad--- in this case, a strapping butch park ranger named Brynn Coleman.
Alaska’s Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary, located outside Anchorage, provides refuge for more than just injured animals. As its director, Brynn finds peace within its lands and her mission to help rehabilitate creatures that cannot take care of themselves. Wally the racoon is a surprisingly endearing character, though readers-as-Kennedy are informed that wild animals, no matter how friendly, are still wild animals.
The two women cross paths as Kennedy finds herself in the thick of misadventure time and again. As the journalist discovers the appeal of her new environs, she also comes face to face with firmly entrenched body image issues, commitment aversion, and an unexpected career crossroads. One of the main issues at play is how much Kennedy and Brynn, who harbors a closely guarded past, are willing to confront within themselves before they can discover a deeper fulfillment. A small cadre of queer friends (including a local librarian) and colleagues ground the women throughout the story and give Alaska a small town feel, despite the nearly 740,000 population of Anchorage.
Overall, Breakthrough is delivers satisfying romance, amusing adventures, and a surprising, thrilling change of pace in the latter half of the story. The novel's primary drawback is rooted in telling rather than showing the reader what is happening. There are times when a character's thoughts are repeated aloud after she thinks them. Recommended for fans of "fish out of water" stories, butch/femme pairings, Great Outdoors immersion, and the television series Northern Exposure.
Another great read by Ms Bryant. Kennedy Wells is working her dream job writing for Mainstream, a celebrity magazine. That’s until a giant lawsuit re a tiny indiscretion forced her to be put back writing mind-numbing articles about current events. Finally her boss decides to give her another chance. Her assignment is to cover a story about fishing in Alaska. Kennedy is not by any means a country girl. Thankfully Brynn Coleman, director of Alaska’s Wildlife Rescue keeps rescuing her. Falling in love is one thing but giving up her dream job to live with her new love in Alaska is a whole other problem. I usually like Ms Bryant’s writing and I’ve yet to be disappointed. A very nice read.
eARC via NetGalley
Kennedy Wells is sent to Alaska to write an article on fishing for an outdoors magazine as final penance for liberties she took while covering the celebrity beat for Mainstream magazine. Take a city girl out of LA and plunk her into the rugged outdoors and you know there is going to be a steep learning curve involved. Add in Kennedy’s talent for finding trouble mixed with a good deal of naïveté and you just know this damsel in distress is going to require saving by the handsome local ranger, Brynn Coleman.
I enjoyed this fish out of water tale and the charming moments shared between the two mains when a series of misadventures force Brynn to come to Kennedy’s rescue. I liked the mix of humour, Brynn’s adorable pet and Kennedy’s talent for getting herself into trouble. There is some intrigue to add weight to this romance but I found myself smiling throughout the read. Some books have HEA written all over them and Breakthrough is one of them. What added to my enjoyment of this read was the author’s confession that some of the events in the book may have had more basis in fact than fiction following a vacation she had taken to Alaska. Kept me turning pages and making guesses.
ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.
Breakthrough was an awesome story. It’s about Kennedy who is sent to Alaska for a story about deep sea fishing. She runs into Brynn when she needs rescuing from a Mother Moose. It’s hilarious the trouble that Kennedy gets into and rescued from by Brynn. The writing flows so well together. The chemistry between them burns red hot. Add a pet Racoon and you’re in for a great read. I highly recommend the story, another hit for Kris Bryant.
The book is basically a city mouse meets country mouse and they fall in love story. Basic romance novel formula.
Kennedy (the city mouse) arrives in Alaska and is immediately met with a series of unfortunate events. (I know that is the name of another book.) It is on the first of these misadventures that she meets Brynn (the country mouse) and is subsequently saved by Brynn many times over.
There was something about the chemistry between the two main characters or their dialog or something that I just could get into. Overall the story was okay, not great just okay. It was fun entertainment I will give it that. The trouble that Kennedy gets into can be funny. Perhaps it is just that the author spent so much time on letting us know that Kennedy wasn’t going to be there very long that it got tiring and made their getting together less exciting. I don’t know.
I was really surprised by this book - I ended up really enjoying this book!
When Kennedy is given a feature aricle to write up in Alaska, she's horrified. She’s a city girl through and through. Alaska tests her time and again but the sexy and lovely Brynn is always around to lend a hand. The two women grow closer as the weeks go by. But are their worlds too different?
I loved the whole cast of charachters and of course, Wally was adorable. Brynn was amazing, wow. She was so strong and confident and you couldn't help but to fall for her big heart. Kennedy tested my patience at times but she really grew as a person and was very self aware. She’ a fighter too and It was insoiring. I ended up rooting for her a lot. I loved how good she was at her job, and she owned it. That kind of confidence is so sexy. I think this was Kris Bryants best book in terms of her chrachters and their depth she portrayed through a 1st person narrative.
Brynn and Kennedy together was just the sweetest romance. I found myself racing to the end, eager to soak up evey single moment of sweet gestures and sexy moments.
This book was beautifully balenced between romance and sex and a little intrigue and community and personal growth. I can't stress how much I enjoyed this.
I recieved an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Huh, another book set in Alaska, I seem to be on a roll with those sorts. But, it's a really interesting place to read about, so I think I'll try and roll with it.
I liked this book. It's the story of Kennedy and Brynn. Kennedy was brought low in her job as a celebrity reporter for Mainstream. But, her boss Erin gives her a chance to get back on her prefered beat if she first does a story for another magazine in the company. An outdoor one. The story is in Alaska. And Kennedy is definitely not in any way ready for Alaska (to be fair, I'm pretty darn sure I wouldn't be either, and I've lived in the not exactly tropical New England area my whole life).
Luckily for Kennedy, Brynn, the director of Alaska's Rescue and Sanctuary, comes to Kennedy's rescue first when she has a close encounter with a Mama Moose, and then after that, Brynn saves Kennedy on a pretty regular basis.
They both have doozy backstories. I had guessed that Brynn's was going to be crazy, but, it was even more intense than I thought it would be. Yikes.
Oh, and then Kennedy gets mixed up as a witness in a poaching thing too, and that means that Kennedy and Brynn are thrown even closer together.
The question being, will Kennedy choose career or love? I liked everything about the book, from the characters to the thriller-y intrigue too. The twists were pretty usual, but, I really really liked some of the Alaskan descriptions for sure.
It was a fun book, oh, and as an aside, let's boil all the poachers in the world in hot oil 'kay, okay.
I received this book via Netgalley thanks to Bold Strokes Books.
I’m not sure I’ve read a book like this one before. I do not mean anything good or bad by making that comment, just making a note about it. I’m specifically referring, here, to the main character – the solo point of view character.
I’ve read many books that involved players or people with play reputations. Oddly, or not, most of those involved non-femme characters (or, at the very least, not high femme). Have I seen that character in books? Yes, but not high femme player.
Going over to the player side of the characterization I tend to find three versions: 1) players wanting to stop being a player and to settle down (most of the time I see this in the form of rakes in historical fiction who have spent the good portion of their early adult lives sleeping around with every woman they could find, but now they’ve decided they need to be responsible); 2) people with player reputations who were never players but that reputation got stuck to them for one reason or another (I’m reminded of two characters: Brayden has a character with a player reputation who feeds that reputation, not because they are specifically a player, but because they use it as a shield against . . . I forget now what; and Galli has one who got that reputation by being seen going home with different women every night from a bar, except she was driving them home as a designated driver type, not for romance); 3) players who have no intention of being anything but players (rarer character to find as main character). Well the character in this book is something of a fourth type. A woman who lives in a world, a situation, in which being a player is the norm, and she doesn’t even realize that she lives in a somewhat ‘different’ type of world. She knows she’s a player, but everyone is a player.
Kennedy Wells has spent her life going from one party to another, drinking, partying, sleeping around, and getting paid to do it. Quite well paid. She works as a celebrity journalist. The kind who writes articles about ‘her friend the actor’, instead of hit pieces. Her life was tossed off-course, though; when one of her flings with a random woman, her interview subject, lead to a lawsuit. So she was moved off the high flying celebrity circuit and wants back on. Her boss, Erin, promises that she’ll be put back into her old position if she helps her brother, Erin’s brother, Travis settle in at another magazine – one that’s more about fishing, hunting, and the like. Help by writing a feature article, not help in person with Travis. Travis makes no appearance in this book (other than via one or two emails).
The feature article involves interviewing a jerk asshole reality star type person who has a fishing show. In Alaska. And she has to leave immediately. All mentioned because she heads off with barely adequate clothing and without even reserving a room. Which is where I get back to reminding people that the main character is a high-maintance high femme princess type – who, upon arrival in Alaska, proceeds to disdain the offer of an SUV, takes instead a luxury sedan, then drives around in high heels somewhat randomly. Until getting lost. Because she’s a city girl and stuff.
This reminds me of my initial problems with this book. Very early on there was a very strong vibe of ‘my gosh, I can’t believe how nice and helpful these folks are out here far from the big city; they’ll help without wanting something in return’ (very early on? This goes on, at least the vibe about ‘help without an agenda’, throughout the book) compared with the city dweller who only helps if they have an agenda. I’m not really sure why that particular trope comes up so often. I live in New York, I’ve helped people and people have helped me without needing to be blackmailed into it, or with an ulterior motive. But, eh, I’ve never lived in Los Angeles, where Kennedy is based, maybe it’s as hellish as Kennedy describes.
Got distracted by tropes. Where was I?
So, Kennedy, the main and only point of view character, heads off to Alaska to write some articles. While there she bumps into several people, some nice (all of whom, weirdly, are described as super thin), some less than nice (from a waitress who isn’t as helpful as Kennedy would expect, up to . . . people with guns and evil intent). Stuff happens. Personalities change. Etc. etc. I really hope Kennedy is supposed to be seen, how to word this, as a not tremendously likable person. She does grow, though, so that’s good.
Four things I wish to note before wandering off and doing whatever else: 1) there’s a bunch of sex in this story, lots and lots of sex; 2) I like Wally the pet raccoon; 3) it is hard to get a handle on Brynn, the other main character, since her point of view is not present; 4) thinness. As in, every bloody person meet is described as being super thin. From the 40+ year old librarian who is described as eating a mountain of food, but is just so thin despite that; to the main character Kennedy who is described as being 30 pounds underweight (Kennedy describes herself as being thin, too thin, because she needs to be for her job; Brynn describes her somewhat more negatively as needing 30 more pounds on her); to Brynn herself who is tall, lean, and all muscle; I do not specifically recall if Lara, the police officer, is described as thin or not, but she is described as being gorgeous by vain Kennedy so, since it’s a thought by Kennedy that probably means Lara’s super thin also.
Oh, a fifth thing: Kennedy is really into the fact that she’s a high femme, and likes that Brynn is butch. Though it gets slightly confusing at times – what with Kennedy thinking to herself how Brynn is exactly her type, shortly after making note that everyone she normally sleeps with are all high femmes. Eh, whatever.
Rating: 3.89
May 10 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I found myself laughing and crying and utterly engrossed in the story. It was a sweet heart warming romance that kept the pages turning. The characters, the chemistry and the plot were simply charming. I highly recommend.
It’s hilariously funny, romantic and oh so sexy. Set in Alaska and as different from Kennedy’s pampered celebrity-obsessed life in California as it is possible to be, ‘Breakthrough’ is the best Kris Bryant has ever written. The backdrop of beautiful scenery, cute wild animals and the most adorable butch ever encountered makes it utterly perfect in my eyes. I couldn’t put it down.
When Kennedy is sent to Alaska she is none too pleased. What seems like disaster after disaster befalls her, but her knight in shining armour in the form of wildlife sanctuary director Brynn just might make up for all that. Seeing Alaska through the eyes of Kennedy was wonderfully done. The scrapes she gets herself into are not all light-hearted though and the dangers of living and working in such remote landscapes comes across really well. But it is the romance between Kennedy and Brynn that stole my heart. The passion and emotion in the love scenes surpassed anything Kris Bryant has written before. I loved it.
I was given this ARC in return for an honest review.
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest revietw.
I like Kris Bryant books and this was a nice story. I was intrigued by the Alaskan setting because I traveled through there (and stayed in Anchorage) a few years ago. Bryant makes good use of the Alaskan setting, it made me want to go back, although the way she referred to Anchorage as a ‘town’ was a bit off-putting, parts of the book make it sound like some hick town with a couple of cops, but it’s actually a fair sized city.
Anyway, that aside, I did like both characters, though I very much wish this story hadn’t been in first person, and that the first person perspective wasn’t Kennedy ‘the helpless’. Lord, did this woman have bad luck. If I was Brynn I’d have stopped coming to the rescue after the second time, but god love her, she hung in there. Due to the first person POV I felt like I didn’t get as much of a handle on Brynn and what she was feeling, but that’s the limitation of first person.
Due to the series of unfortunate events, the two leads do spend a large amount of time together, but again, outside of Brynn’s big trauma, the shelter and Kennedy’s work, don’t really discuss anything of substance about each other. Wally was a cute addition and not your typical ‘pet’, and the few secondary characters weren’t very fleshed out.
The ‘mystery’ was ok, but really only there to ensure the two characters maintained constant contact. The ending was also a little too twee for me, but overall it’s a fairly sweet romance, and I appreciated the lack of any contrived drama between the main characters. 3 stars
A funny, romantic book that definitively gives the warm fuzzies. The plot is nothing new, a fish out of water storyline. A high maintenance, celebrity reporter ends up in Alaska to write an article on fishing as penance for an earlier indiscretion. She meets a gorgeous, park ranger and they fall in love. The characters are genuine and like able. The writing is bright and full of energy. I left smiling and wanting more book. Would definitely recommend for the people who love HEA stories.
For me, Kris Bryant’s Breakthrough is the perfect romance. The characters are vividly brought to life, the setting is gorgeous, and the plot is exactly what I want in a romance.
Celebrity journalist, Kennedy Wells is relegated to Alaska to do a piece on deep-sea fishing for an outdoors magazine as a result of a past indiscretion. She is all gorgeous and glamorous and looking to get in and out of Alaska as quickly as possible. On her first day she meets Ranger Brynn Coleman who is the quintessential tall, dark and handsome leading lady. Brynn is capable and gallant. The only things she is missing is the suit of armor and white horse. Kennedy is completely out of her element in Alaska, but Brynn comes to her aide time and again and introduces Kennedy to the beauty and contentment of a simpler life in rural Alaska. Kennedy is immediately drawn to Brynn, but Brynn tries to keep things platonic until she can’t. The question is, can this city girl find her happiness north of the lower 48?
The descriptive prose Bryan conjures up paints an Alaska that this city girl is dying to explore. The book is full of supporting characters that are each distinctive, which isn’t always the case. The dialogue is natural while making both Kennedy and Brynn very relatable despite the fact that they are almost polar opposites. Oh, and there is the best pet I have ever found in the pages of a romance.
The book is told in the first person, past tense from Kennedy’s point of view. I generally don’t care for first person narration, but Bryant made this feel natural and I didn’t feel like I was shorted on learning about Brynn’s character. There is something about this pair that transcends most characters I have encountered. They are perfectly imperfect, but they make a wonderful matched set.
I love this book and highly recommend it. I plan on reading everything in this author’s body of work.
I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Romance story with the beautiful setting of Alaska. Kennedy Wells is an LA based showbiz journalist sent to Alaska to write an article on fishing after a scandal almost finished her career. Feeling completely out of her comfort zone, she gets into trouble almost immediately and is saved by sexy ranger Brynn Coleman who introduces Kennedy to the vibrant wildlife and breathtaking landscape of the 49th state. Kennedy slowly falls for both Brynn and Alaska but her home and career are back in LA. Will they have a happily ever after?
Written in first person from the point of view of Kennedy, Brynn appears as the epitome of the stoic butch and enigmatic knight in shining armour ready to save Kennedy from her blunders but at the same time, unwilling to open up to her. Ms. Bryant plays well with a few contrasts such as butch - femme, outdoors girl - city girl, hot LA - cold Alaska, all done with wittiness, humour and sizzling chemistry. Nature takes a big role in this book sometimes acting as a beautiful background of the romance, other times at the forefront raising issues such as illegal hunting, wildlife conservation or environment protection. Even though this is mainly a romance novel, there is a mystery subplot that adds a bit of fast-paced action that keeps the reader turning pages. Add a cute atypical "puppy" to the mix and the result is a very enjoyable story.
Overall, a very entertaining romance with a bit of fast-paced action. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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Kris Bryant is one of the more reliably good writers out there. This latest book by her is no different, however I found myself a little underwhelmed by the originality. The romance is simplistic and not filled with as much drama as I would have expected with them being from California and Alaska. They fall in love simply and then it gets wrapped up quickly.
That leads to my two biggest gripes. The first being the length of the book is pretty short and the second that they fall in love in 2-3 weeks. Everything seemed rush. My favorite book of hers so far is Taste, and that’s because she did so well with more of a slow burn relationship. Even if these two did get to know each other by a lot of conversations, Kennedy being there for only two weeks made me feel like everything is headed toward Lesbian U-hauling. And conversations between the two weren’t fleshed out to help with that feeling. Brynn and Laura had a relationship once and Kennedy asks about it but gets no further details on why it didn’t work out. Brynn basically avoids the question….I’m still curious!!
I personally wish that Kris Bryant ventures out into territory that she hasn’t gone to yet. Supernatural? Unique tragedy? Sci-Fi? I think it would help to go outside the box that her books have geared toward.