Review: Pushing the Boundaries by Stacey Trombley

Myra goes to Haiti with one goal: take the photograph that will win a scholarship and prove to her uber-traditional family that she has what it takes to be a photographer instead of a doctor. Her camera has always been her shield against getting too close to anyone, but she didn’t expect the hot teen translator who has an ability to see past her walls.
Elias needs his job as a translator to provide for his siblings. He can’t afford to break the rule forbidding him from socializing with a client. Except this girl Myra insists on going outside the city to capture the perfect picture, and he steps in as her guide in order to keep her safe.
The deeper they travel into the country, the harder they fall for each other. Now they’re both taking risks that could cost each other their dreams.
If they get too close—it could ruin both their lives.

Disclaimer: Caution! Reading this book will open your heart and inspire you to take risks. Only those searching for true love should proceed.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication: January 16th 2017 by Entangled: Crush
Series: Off Limits #1
Genre: YA/Contemporary/Romance

Kristine's Thoughts:

** I received an advanced readers copy from Entangled: Crush in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

Myra went to Haiti on a mission trip with her mother to help in a medical clinic for a week. She didn't really want to go because medicine was her mother's gig and not hers. She didn't want a future in medicine like her mother was pushing her towards, instead she wanted a future as a photographer even though she knew her mother would never approve. She thought that winning a photography contest could give her the money for tuition that she would never get from her mom and she could finally be free of her. One good shot in Haiti would give her that freedom she was looking for. She didn't count on the cute translator that was assigned to her group and the things he would make her feel. Running hot and cold, she couldn't figure him out.

What she didn't know was that Elias needed his job. His entire family depended on him and his income. Without it his younger siblings could not go to school and gain the possibility of a prosperous future. He had to remain professional and abide by the one big rule of his employer. Stay away from the clients. Easier said than done when he found himself drawn to Myra and caught in situations that brought them close.

I finished this book last night and I wanted to take a few hours to think about it before putting my thoughts in writing. There was something about it, I wasn't sure what, that I couldn't put my finger on. After taking the time I finally figured out what it was about the book that had me unsettled.

I didn't like Myra at all, not even a little bit. Regardless of her circumstance, I found her to be selfish, self centred, thoughtless, entitled, careless, oblivious and completely immature. OK, I said it. Perhaps it sounds harsh but I knew there was something that was bugging me and that's what it was. She was on a mission for a picture that put herself and Elias at risk and she didn't seem to care. At her age there was really no excuse for not knowing the impact of her actions on Elias.

I did however like Elias. He was working hard to provide for his family in a country where opportunities are limited and few and far between. His devotion to his family was heart warming. I have not had the opportunity to visit Haiti but I have visited many underprivileged countries where poverty is at the forefront and opportunities are extremely limited. I have seen first hand some of the struggles. That is why I found it hard to understand the insta-love and why Elias couldn't stay away from Myra. He had too much at stake to get involved, yet he did.

Perhaps it was my maturity and experience that tainted this story for me...I don't know. All I know is that it bothered me a lot. Even the ending was way too far fetched and unrealistic for me. I think Pushing the Boundaries is best suited for the younger of the YA audience. They may think it's cute whereas all I could think about was the bigger picture. There was nothing wrong with the writing, I just couldn't get behind the story.

 





About the Author

Stacey Trombley lives in Ohio with her husband, new baby boy and the sweetest Rottweiler you’ll ever meet. Any chance she has she’s off doing or learning something new. She went on her first mission trip to Haiti at age twelve and is still dying to go back. Her “places to travel” list is almost as long as her “books to read” list.

Connect with Stacey

Website/Goodreads