Reviewed by Amber

TITLE: Falling

SERIES: Fall or Break #1

AUTHOR: Barbara Elsborg

PUBLISHER: Samhain Publishing

LENGTH: 335 pages

BLURB:

Harper is no longer behind bars, but it doesn’t feel like it. Ten years serving time for a crime he didn’t commit have left him shut down, numb, and a frozen wreck over the simplest of choices.

He’s acutely aware of the dark-haired young man checking him out in the supermarket, but he’s too deep in panic mode to even meet the guy’s gaze. Afraid the slightest move will trigger a fall that will never stop.

Fresh off a long-term relationship with a controlling man, Malachi is stuck living with relatives who think he’s a waste of oxygen. The tall guy in the long, gray coat is the first bright spot he’s glimpsed in a long time…though the man’s unblinking stare at a bottle of shower gel is a touch alarming.

Hard experience tells both of them to turn away before lust turns to hopeless attraction, and inevitably to disaster. But once their sparks connect, the arc of electricity is too strong to deny. Even if the cost is too much to bear.

Warning: Contains an ex-con with disaster written all over him, a boy toy who’s trouble with a capital T, a damp old British house, compulsive meddling, and enough hot sex to cure the severe case of nervous babbling.

REVIEW:

Holy Mother, Mary, and Joseph….where to begin?!?!? This book is exceptional. It’s so friggin good. My only complaint and it’s a minor one is the British-slang that threw me off at times. Not enough to take me out of the story because nothing less than a nuclear attack would have done that but enough to make me do some research throughout what I was reading.  This author knew exactly what to throw at a reader and when to do it to keep them interested. Not that it was hard, because holy crap this writing was phenomenal. The mystery, the intrigue, the side relationships, side characters, everything in this book was perfect. PERFECT.

Harper Shaw has spent the last 10 years of his life in prison for the rape and abuse of one of his former students. Needless to say it is apparent from the get go that he never did these deeds. It’s also apparent that there are many factors at work that are keeping the truth from coming out. Only having been out of prison a short time he comes across a man that he is immediately attracted to. He doesn’t know what to do with the feelings and sets them aside figuring he’ll never see the man again.

Malachi Jones is about as low as one person can get. Having left a relationship that wasn’t fulfilling his needs he’s been forced to stay with his sister and her homophobic husband. Once he gets a new job he thinks things are looking up. When he accompanies his boss to the new house they plan to renovate he’s pleasantly surprised to find the owner is the man that he recently saw and was very much interested in.

Harper and Malachi embark on a very tenuous relationship. Their attraction to each other was visceral but they were able to rein it in so they could tell each other their secrets. I really loved that. I loved how Harper always thought of Malachi before himself and Malachi showed Harper that same consideration. The love, even though it came later, was very apparent throughout most of this book.

The investigation to the past, the introduction of Conrad, Brady, stalking, Ben, obsession, Rory, lies, manipulations, ulterior motives all culminates in this wickedly delicious tale.

I would be remiss to say that I’m on the edge of my seat for book two. Not that it’s a continuation of book 1, because it’s not. This one wrapped up very nice and sweet. I just want more of these people, these intrigues, and this authors amazing writing.

In my mind…a MUST read!! Loved it.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Samhain

Amazon