NEW RELEASE and GIVEAWAY
Bending the Rules:
Breaking the Rules #2
Breaking the Rules #2
by L. K. Lewis
Description
Struggling to get her life back on track after being left suddenly and inexplicably by (secret) boyfriend-not-boyfriend and boss Drake Baylor Jr., Morgan Lane searches the globe to find Drake knowing that the only way to truly live the life she’s worked so hard for is with him by her side.
Banished to Zurich, Switzerland by his father after being caught breaking the rules, Drake has nine months to get the European Division of Baylor Industries back on track. Again, he must obey the rules so that he can hopefully return to his life with Morgan and take the helm of Baylor Industries.
Everything is going according to plan as usual for Adrian Thompson who has just gotten Drake banished to Switzerland as part of his plan to get Morgan (his college sweetheart and hopefully future trophy wife) back in his life for good. With a little help from Lana Lane, Morgan’s mother, Adrian is hoping to have Morgan wearing his ring by New Year’s Eve.
After a few months of being wooed by old flame and now boss Adrian, and without so much as a word from Drake, Morgan hesitantly accepts Adrian’s invitation to join him for New Year’s Eve in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Foiling Adrian’s plan, a “chance encounter” finds Morgan back in Drake’s arms.
Will Drake and Morgan be able to overcome the distance and time that is now between them along with a few of the hurdles that life has thrown their way? Morgan and Drake are once again faced with figuring out how to start their new future together - this time not breaking the rules, only bending them.
Excerpt
Morgan
We walk into a pub not far from Drake’s house, or I guess I should say our house, and find a booth in the corner. Drake helps me out of my coat and I can see Amanda’s eyes go wide. I’m assuming it’s the sight of my baby bump that I’m no longer hiding, but as I sit down she grabs my left hand.
“Holy shit, Morgan, we really do need to catch up! Something you want to tell me?” Amanda’s ever present enthusiasm causes a few people to look up from their meals and stare, but when they realize the restaurant isn’t on fire they return back to their own conversations.
I know she is obviously talking about my wedding rings, but I figure there’s no better time like the present so with my right hand I slowly start to rub my belly and say, “Oh yeah, I know… my baby bump is really getting big isn’t it?”
“Baby? Bump? Wha…..?” Amanda says with confusion as she looks down at my belly. “You’re pregnant? I was talking about your wedding rings!”
“Oh, yeah…I’m married too,” I say with a huge smile, and Amanda throws her arms around my neck and screams. Looking up I notice that every head in the restaurant has now definitely turned towards our table.
“I leave you alone for one week and you come back pregnant and married?” She beams, and then looks over at Drake. “What did you do to my girl?” She says with a huge smile on her face as she jokingly punches his shoulder.
“I just did what I should have done the moment I saw her. I made her mine forever,” Drake says.
Review
By Rachel
I read several versions of this book throughout the publishing process, and I am really impressed by how it came together at the end. Similarly to Breaking the Rules, L. K. Lewis' first book, we have a great story between two lovers. The complications these two face make the story very interesting and you are always wondering where they will end up as the story progresses. We see a lot of character development in this book in particular, as Morgan is faced with decisions she must make on her own. I think this a great, quick read, and I am looking forward to what LK has for us in her next book in the series.
Character Interview with Drake and Morgan
I recently sat down with Drake Baylor Jr. and the love of his life, Morgan Lane for a candid interview discussing love, loss, and the risks they’ve taken while bending or sometimes even breaking the rules.
Morgan, after his departure you searched the globe for Drake, hoping to find him and bring him home. What made you so determined that you would find him?
From the moment we met, Drake and I have had a connection; as cliché as that sounds. We tried to stay away from each other knowing what would happen if we were caught breaking the stupid rules Drake’s dad set for him. We were careless and we got caught by Adrian in Vegas. Within a matter of days my world had crumbled around me. I no longer had the job and career I had worked so hard for. Drake had dropped out of my life and I felt hopeless. Drake Sr.’s words tore right through me as he said Drake would already be off in the arms of someone else, but even as I heard them, I knew something wasn’t right. Drake Sr. tried to tell me that he had dissolved his son’s position and that Drake wanted nothing to do with me, but I still felt our connection. I knew he had been sent somewhere as a punishment, I just had to figure out where. Having nothing but time on my hands, I set out to find Drake and bring him home. It wasn’t so much that I was determined I’d be able to find him, more like I didn’t know how to move on with my life without him.
But you weren’t able to find him…
Sadly no. And I was able to find a way to continue living my life without him in it but I was devastated. I never gave up on him though, and now that I have Drake back, I never have to.
Drake, you were understandably miserable in Zurich. What kept you going during that time, and how did you manage not to repeat past behavior with women, drugs, and alcohol?
It’s not what kept me going, but who…this beautiful woman sitting right next to me. I made the selfish mistake of flying Morgan out to Vegas for the weekend. I missed her, and wanted her out there with me. If I would have kept my head down, and returned home to her when the weekend was over we wouldn’t have missed that time together. I am a big believer that what happens always happens for a reason though. Perhaps the time we spent apart reaffirmed what we already knew, which was that we wanted to be together forever. Knowing that if I stayed the course and did my job in Zurich I could be together with Morgan again kept me together and focused. Being with Morgan was all I needed to push through every day. As far as past behavior, I don’t need anything or anyone to make me feel complete. Using drugs and women in the past was my way of filling the hole in my heart left by my mother’s death and my father’s absence. Morgan makes me feel whole. She’s the only one I see. The way I dealt with things in the past is no longer on my radar.
Morgan, do you ever worry that the mistakes Drake has made in his past will come back to hurt him?
No, I’ve never worried about that. Drake has been completely open and honest with me about his past. There isn’t anything that could surface about him that I’m not already aware of. We’ve all made mistakes before and I’m so proud of Drake for turning his life around and not repeating that cycle of behavior. He lives his life determined to make each day better than the last. If any part of his past should try hurt his future I’ll be right by his side supporting him.
Drake, how did it feel reading Morgan’s emails, knowing you couldn’t answer them?
Morgan’s emails were heartbreaking. Knowing I was the one causing the pain and with just a quick email or phone call I could explain everything and put us back on the right path was soul crushing. Morgan knows what she means to me, and to see her so heartbroken that she was questioning whether or not I would come back to her was really hard to read. I appreciated her honesty though. Each email she wrote me, however hard it was to read, still renewed my focus to return to her without further breaking any rules because by writing to me, it meant she still cared.
Drake, how hard was it not to turn around when you heard Morgan calling your name in the airport in Paris?
I took that trip to Paris to get away from Zurich for the weekend and clear my head. I was missing my girl and needed to feel close to her without screwing up in any way. That is why I chose to go to Paris. Morgan loves it there and we’ve talked about spending time there together so many times that I thought a weekend in Paris would renew my focus in doing my job so I could go home to her. When I saw Morgan in the airport I felt completely gutted. I was twenty feet away from her as she walked around that mom tying her kid’s shoes. I wanted so badly to call her name, or run up to her and throw my arms around her and just hold on forever but I knew I couldn’t. Morgan knows I trust her completely. I knew she wouldn’t have told a soul that we saw each other, but even so, I couldn’t risk it. My dad was a very connected man, and it would have only taken one person to recognize me with Morgan and report back to him and it would have been over. I think it was even harder for me not to turn around that day when Morgan called my name than it was to leave for Zurich in the first place. I could hear the excitement and the sadness in her voice as she called to me. Watching her collecting her bag then hailing a cab completely defeated and heartbroken is a feeling I never want to have again.
Morgan, how did it feel to learn that Adrian lied to you and really was responsible for Drake being sent to Zurich?
Because of our history, it was a really crappy to learn Adrian had lied to me. I knew in my heart that we would never be together and that Drake has always been the one for me, but knowing that all of Adrian’s motives to get me back weren’t pure was disappointing because he’s always been a better person than that. I could go on and on about how Adrian is responsible for my separation from Drake, and how that makes him such an a-hole, but the truth is, Drake and I broke the rules. We knew the risks and we took them anyway because we love each other so much that any risk is worth it if it means we are together. Drake didn’t have to fly me out there and take such a risk, and I didn’t have to go. If we hadn’t broken the rules, we wouldn’t have been caught and it was our penance to pay. It was the worst time I’ve ever had in my life, but it brought us here today, so it was worth it in the end.
Drake, what is it that you love so much about Morgan?
You’ve been in this room the past twenty minutes right? (laughing) First of all, my girl here is a complete knockout. I get lost in her eyes daily. I have to ask her to repeat herself all the time and she thinks I’m not listening to her but the truth is, I’m so mesmerized by her beauty I completely zone out. Besides her undeniable beauty, Morgan is so bright, and determined, and she loves so fiercely. She doesn’t judge me and my faults, she loves me despite them. She has a smart mouth the fires me up like no other too. She’s the total package and I thank my lucky stars every day that she loves me just as much as I love her.
Morgan, now that you and Drake can be together as a couple out in the open, what are you looking forward to?
I’m just ready to start our life together. I’m excited to go on double dates with Amanda and Garrett, and to start crossing things off our bucket list. Drake and I both dream big, and have already started to see some of our dreams coming true and I can’t wait to live the rest of our lives as we want to. The only rules we want to live by are the ones we make for ourselves.
Drake, any final thoughts?
No, I think my girl summed it up pretty well. We have the world at our finger tips, and couldn’t be more excited to go explore. (Turns to Morgan,) By the way Babe, speaking of Amanda and Garrett, we have lunch plans with them … something tells me ours isn’t the only one we’ll be planning in the near future …
About the Author
L. (Lindsay) K. Lewis lives in Northern Michigan with her husband and three-year-old son.
Born and raised in Michigan, Lindsey spent her early twenties chasing the man of her dreams (now husband of eight years) around the country, residing in both New York, and Portland, Oregon. While living in Portland, Lindsay attended East West College of the Healing Arts, and is now a massage therapist, makeup artist, and spa/boutique owner.
When Lindsay isn’t working, writing, or chasing her son around, she enjoys boat days, playing in the sunshine, and giggling with her husband. You may also find her on Twitter most days, especially live tweeting when The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Sons of Anarchy. or The Walking Dead are on. Check her out, you may enjoy her colorful commentary!
Giveaway
Enter the giveaway for a chance to win an ebook copy of both Breaking the Rules and Bending the Rules by L. K. Lewis.
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