Throwing Rules to the Wind

A complicated office romance is not what scrupulous travel writer Zara Castillo has planned for, especially not when her career is finally taking off, but her easygoing colleague Matthew Villanueva is everything she wants in a man. When their relationship is tested by distance, issues she thought she had long buried emerge once again. Zara delves into her past in a quest for answers. Now she must face her demons or lose the love of her life.

With trips to tropical islands boasting beaches, rolling hills, and windmills, Throwing Rules to the Wind explores the lights and shades of seeking closure, forgiveness, and love.

*I received an e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars 

Office romance and secret relationships are not my favorites especially combined, but I liked Zara. I could relate to her easily—her insecurities and fears when it comes to relationships. I understood why she did what she did. Her growth, trying to overcome her past and own demons, was my favorite part of the story.

Throwing Rules to the Wind is a quick read even though the beginning was a bit slow for me but after their relationship slightly went off rail, you wouldn’t want to put the book down. It’s not just about the romance. It would give you a tour around the Philippines, the scenery, the view, the culture, and the food. Plus Zara’s friendship with the other three women was amazing. I think it would be just right to include Matt as another bonus of the book. Many girls would swoon over him and pitch him as the ideal boyfriend/partner.

I wasn’t much fan of Matt, but I couldn’t deny that he was a man that any woman would be lucky to meet. He’s good in his job, he’s thoughtful, he went out of his way to assure Zara, and he’s in the band. On top of it all, he’s the vocalist. I usually go gaga over the lead men of bands, but most of my affection went to Zara. I know it’s hard to deal with someone who has trust issues and in some ways, I was a bit disappointed in Matt, but that also made him more rounded as a character rather than being so perfect.

The only thing that kind of bothered me while reading it was the internal thoughts of Zara as it was written in third person’s POV. It distracted me a bit. Other than that, Throwing Rules to the Wind is a bumpy ride that would take you around the Philippines along with your heart, cheering for Zara and Matt.

If you like romance, a fan of office romances, travelling, Throwing Rules to the Wind is a perfect fit. Go and give it a try. Pre-order now here. It is $0.99 on Amazon Kindle until November 17.

Throwing Rules to the Wind is the book two of Of Heads and Hearts in the Metro which I haven’t read yet. It is also serves as a standalone book. You can read an excerpt here: www.thessalim.com/works/of-heads-and-hearts-throwing-rules-to-the-wind-zara/

About the Author

Thessa Lim is a Filipina writer of new adult fiction. After growing up in the bustling city of Iloilo and working as an IT consultant in Metro Manila, she relocated to Singapore. While her linguistic repertoire includes Hiligaynon, Bisaya, and Tagalog, she only writes in English. Her paltry Singlish vocabulary consists of lah, leh, and ayo. She moved to Sydney, Australia, recently, where she looks forward to café-hopping while working on her next book.

With the Of Heads and Hearts series, Thessa wants to inspire ladies with themes of family, friendship, and love.

To get the latest updates on Thessa and her writing, sign up for her mailing list in her website or follow her Facebook page ThessaLimOfficial. Check her out as thessalim on Instagram or Twitter.