What If We Broke The Rules By Tara Grace Ericson

What if We Broke the Rules

by Tara Grace Ericson

Publisher: Silver Fountain Press

Series: The Heart of Nashville

ISBN: 978-1949896800

I'm a Tara Grace Ericson fan. Hands down, I always enjoy her stories. I was a little worried I might not be able to get into this one as much as her others since I'm not a hockey fan. I don't dislike it, I just don't watch it or know anything about it. Well, I had nothing to fear! It got 5 stars from me! Thanks to the author for sending me her story for review.

Summary:

She lives by the rules. Falling for him would break every one of them.

Pierce Schumacher, Nashville’s favorite hockey bad boy, is used to winning with charm, talent, and a little recklessness. When a late-season injury threatens his playoff dreams—and his future—Pierce is benched, humbled, and stuck in rehab with the one woman immune to his smile. Healing was supposed to be physical, not a crash course in patience, self-control, and a faith he’s never taken seriously.

Physical therapist Lindsay Granger trusts rules because rules don’t lie. They don’t flirt, don’t make promises they can’t keep, and they don’t break your heart. When her partner goes on maternity leave, Lindsay is left fulfilling her clinic’s contract with the Nashville Nightcrawlers—an assignment full of loud arenas, fragile egos, and one dangerously charming hockey player she has no intention of trusting.

Confident, sarcastic, and relentlessly hardworking, Lindsay keeps her heart under lock and key—especially from athletes who look like red flags in skates. Overthinking is a habit she can manage. Crossing professional lines is not.

As playoffs loom and sparks fly, Pierce and Lindsay must navigate strict workplace boundaries, relentless media scrutiny, and feelings that refuse to stay professional—knowing one wrong move could cost him his career, her reputation, and the hard-won faith they’re both learning to trust.

A faith-threaded, heartfelt hate-to-love romance featuring an surprisingly deep hockey player, a snarky and secure heroine, and a story about grace and the growth of friendship and love in the rockiest ground.

My Review:

I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy a hockey player story. I was a bit "meh" about it. BUT (and that word should be bold) What if we Broke the Rules was about so much more than the sport. And clearly you can see that I gave it 5 stars.

While it strongly starts off with a lot of hockey lingo and information, it quickly turns to the main characters in the story! Lindsey is a physical therapist who ends up working with the the Nashville Nightcrawlers. One of their stars, Pierce Schumacher injuries himself during a game and she has to help him with rehab. 

I appreciated Lindsey's professionalism and the fact that she's not wowed by the fact Pierce is famous. Piece for his part has an incredible growth arc in the story: professionally, personally, and spiritually. Lindsey, for her part, has to learn to trust, but it's a fine line for her with the professional and personal and she's not interested in crossing that line. 

The story builds on the two of them working to rehab Pierce's injury. As you'd expect, Pierce is a bit cocky and all he wants is to get back on the ice. There are important games he needs to be in and he's willing to put his career on the line with his focus on the game.

Thank goodness Lindsey sees the bigger picture and does her best to convey that to him and challenge him when he overdoes it or thinks he knows better. You really feel for both characters as you read the story! Of course, there's one bad apple in the story and while I won't name the person, let's just say, they'll leave a bad taste in your mouth like it did me.

I appreciated how the romance part of their story grew. It was very sweet although a struggle at times. The faith thread is an important piece as well and is highlighted wonderfully in the story!

About the Author:

Tara Grace Ericson lives in Missouri with her husband and three sons. She studied engineering and worked as an engineer for many years before embracing her creative side to become a full-time author and mom. 

She loves cooking, crocheting, and reading books by the dozen. She also loves a good “happily ever after” with an engaging love story. 

That's why Tara focuses on writing clean contemporary romance, with an emphasis on Christian faith and living. She wants to encourage her readers with stories of men and women who live out their faith in tough situations.