Solomon Sanders doesn’t have time to fall in love.Until a stunning, skittish, single mother forces him to pause and recognize just how empty and hollow his busy life has become.From the start, it’s been ingrained in Solo’s DNA to fight.Fight for what he believes is right.Fight for the people he loves.Fight for the traces of good in a place which tends to be filled with a variety of bad.Fight for … tends to be filled with a variety of bad.
Fight for survival, so at some point, his life will quiet down and find a normal pace.
He wasn’t ready for the impact his secretive, shy, obviously out of place new neighbor was going to have on him. And never in a million years was he prepared to fall head over heels for her and her young daughter.
Now, he’s facing the most important, and the hardest fight he’s ever fought… the battle to win Orley’s damaged heart.
Orley Vincent’s heart is full of fear, leaving no space for love.
Until a big, brash, brawler of a man forces his way in and makes her realize facing her fears is the only way she can ever be free.
From the start, Orley was groomed to believe she wasn’t good enough.
She wasn’t the perfect daughter. Or student. Or girlfriend.
But, she has always been the best mother she could be to her daughter, Noble.
Keeping Noble safe has always been the one thing she was determined to do, which ironically, is how she ended up on the wrong side of the tracks, living next door to an unlikely hero. Orley’s a woman on the run. She had no idea her frantic sprint was going to land her in the tattooed arms of a man ready to teach her how to fight for herself… and for love.
more
Downfall would have to be one of my top ten reads so far this year. This book captivates you from the start and has you totally enamoured by the characters and their story. Solo will show you that sometimes heroes live in the dark but their hearts are full of light. A man who walks the fine line of good and bad to pay back the one woman who put her life on the line for him. Orley and her daughter are hiding in the dark but what scares them the most and has them running, is a person who lives in the light and wears the mask of good. This is a beautiful love story that shows us that sometimes what you consider to be your downfall will be the thing that saves you, gives you hope and ultimately gives you the love and protection that both your heart and soul deserve. A book that will teach us that bad places and situations do not always make bad people. This is a story that will own a piece of your heart and soul by the end.
Jay not adding the city and some of the character’s name made it more real. For me this was and is one of her best ever and I loved it.
I adore Jay Crownover’s writing, I love her characters and her stories, I love how she makes me feel and think. She draws me into her characters’ struggle with edgy, gritty, deeply emotional stories intermingled amid a steamy, hard-fought romance. Her stories consume me, her characters stay with me, and I look forward to a new story from Jay with kid-in-a-candy-store anticipation. I know she’s going to wreck me in the best way, and while I may not walk away from the experience unscathed, I will be satisfied, fulfilled and hungry for more.
Downfall is a complete standalone, and while set in the same world as The Point series, Jay Crownover has taken great care to ensure that this book will not spoil those books and that it can truly stand on its own. Sexy, suspenseful and heartfelt emotion, Downfall was an engrossing story about right triumphing over wrong—even if the good guys had to do a little bad along the way.
Solomon ‘Solo’ Sanders—aptly nicknamed for the loner he was—was the quintessential Crownover hero. Tattooed, rugged, rough-around-the-edges and blunt, he was a bad boy with a heart of gold from the wrong side of the tracks. He had his limits, though, and his morals, an unwavering sense of justice and right versus wrong usually won out. He did test those boundaries, and he also wasn’t averse to using his fists to make his point. Solo’s plate was full caring for everyone around him, so it’s not really surprising that he had a knack for being in the right place at the right time, especially where Orley was concerned. Their connection was instant, buzzing and electric from the start, the kind of chemistry that is impossible not to act on. In Orley and her sweet daughter, Noble, Solo found things he didn’t even realize he’d been missing or even wanting.
Orley Vincent, a young single mom from the right side of the tracks, was on the run and hiding in plain sight in the one place she thinks her past won’t think to look for her. The problem was that it was obvious to everyone that she didn’t fit in. But there, amongst the perceived dregs of society, on those mean, unforgiving streets of the city, she learns her life’s most valuable lessons. Born and bred into a life of privilege in a place most would consider safe, secure and civilized, Orley was surprised to find so much good in a place that she had always considered bad. It took giving up everything and starting over in the city for her to learn how to appreciate the things that mattered most in life and to find real love.
A story about learning to trust, about finding the good in wherever you may be, and learning to fight for what is right, Downfall was a passionate and sweet romance that drew me in from the first page. I devoured it in a day, and I simply didn’t want to put it down. I loved Solo and Orley and everything about their unlikely yet perfectly matched pairing. Five smooches from me for Downfall by Jay Crownover!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
Oh, how I loved this!
Orley and her daughter Noble are stuck in a bad situation in the bad part of town and more danger is heading their way. It’s a good thing that Solo is there to help Orley deal with her new life on the run.
Solo works as a car mechanic as well as fighter-for-hire and lives next door to Orley. If you have read any of the Welcome to the Point/The Breaking Point series from Jay Crownover, you might recognize some of the characters in Downfall. While the author doesn’t use their names, fans of the series will recognize The Boss and The Devil and Boy Genius. I really liked what Jay Crownover did there since you can still enjoy Downfall — it works well as a standalone.
Anyway, Solo is drawn toward Orley and Noble and he helps her out of a few serious situations, and things keep heating up. He’s setup for a disaster of a fight by someone who’s after Orley and Noble and Solo has to rely on his less than legitimate contacts to help both of them out of the jam they are in.
I really loved everything about this. The pacing is terrific and kept me interested until the final pages. I think I devoured this book in just a day or two because I just had to know what was going to happen next. Solo is quintessential bad-boy with a heart of gold, and there are both tender and scorching hot scenes between Solo and Orley that had me swooning over their happy ever after. A very enjoyable reading experience if you like your romance on the more gritty side.
An ARC was provided for review.
Awesome just as expected. This is a fantastic story of a young woman who grew up privileged finds herself living with her young daughter in one of the worst areas around. Learning to trust some of those around will be the hardest and best thing she ever does. Solo, Orley, and definitely Noble will steal your heart. Highly recommended read.
The author crafted her characters to be relatable. Orley is a single young working mom trying her best to keep a roof over her child’s head, food on the table, and keep her child safe. Solo is an overworked man with multiple responsibilities, working at the chop shop, boxing, online classes, and paying for his mother’s care. Noble is a rambunctious friendly three-year-old with an inquisitive mind. I loved it when she asked about the star tattoo on the “boss’s” face. As a mother, I’ve been there.
The settings were wonderfully executed. As a reader, I was on the streets, in the apartments, and at the warehouse. I felt the characters’ pain, anger, fear, despair, and happiness. And the plot twists and turns kept me pinned to the pages. Five Stars!
Another great book by this author. I enjoyed it, especially since it took place somewhere that I always enjoyed reading about. I definitely recommend this book, and this author.
Solo is strong and compassionate, and a natural protector. Orley is a single mom in a bad situation. It’s great to see some cameos, especially my favorite Jay hero, the devil! Another beautifully written story by Jay Crownover
Love all of Jay’s books. Did not disappoint!
I have read and loved everything Jay Crownover has written and Downfall did not disappoint!!
Solo and Orley were amazing characters and I loved finding myself back in The Point.
I highly recommend Downfall and honestly anything Jay has written.
Jay Crownover has done it again! I loved this book, I couldn’t put it down. She makes you fall in love with the characters. It’s a MUST read.
I never thought Jay would go back to The Point. Rough and wrong, these anti-heroes were and always will be my favorites of Jay’s characters but she had seemingly wrapped them all up in a bow. So when Jay began a new story within The Point my heart was 100% onboard. Solo and Orley are completely new characters in a well-developed world. Out on her own with a small daughter, Orley is in the hardest city. It’s filled with danger, addicts, murder, and all the wrong side of the tracks stereotypes. And six previous books worth of drama. But around every dark corner comes her dark night, Solo. Always there to save her or fix her car, or give her a place to stay; he’s the angel over her shoulder within her own version of hell. But the past she’s running from is now becoming entangled with Solo’s future.
Solo is just that, solo; he works as much as he can in order to take care of his mother. She’s his home and has always been there for him despite the hell they grew up in. He’s got no time for distractions as much as he’d like to help the pretty new redhead and her daughter in his building. He’s an unspoken protector of the lost and when Orley continues to need his help, he can’t help but step in to save her from destruction. Her innocence and unwavering trust in him is breaking down his walls. And the move then trust one another, the faster then fall.
While this book isn’t as dark as the previous Point novels, it’s solely due to how naturally good our hero and heroine are in suck a terrible world. Orley, though she’s young, has nerves of steel and isn’t afraid to do whatever it takes to protect her daughter. Even embracing the savior of the Point. Solo, while tough and a fighter, is there to fight for things that are right and good within the Point. It’s a lighthearted romance within a dark and terrifying world. Prepare for all the feels and all the love!
Jay has once again suck me in on a crazy ride that I didn’t want too get off of. I absolutely love Orley & Solo but Noble I think stoke the show lol. Amazing story with amazing characters that had me reading nonstop.
This was an enjoyable read. It held action, suspense, sexy-times, and sweet moments. I really liked that this was part of the Point series, yet not. We get to see some familiar faces (even if they never mention their names) so that makes me happy.
I liked Solo and how he stepped in whenever Orley needed help. It showed his character and had me loving him for it. Solo was strong, protective, had good morals (considering where he lived), and was patient with both Orley and Noble. I loved how he interacted with Noble! Precious!
Orley was a good female lead. She was protective, determined, a bit too judgmental there for a while but finally eased up some. I liked how she slowly began to love Solo.
All in all, I liked the story!
If you’ve never picked up a Jay Crownover book…do yourself a favor and PICK UP ALL OF THEM. Downfall was a much anticipated read for me as I did not keep up with it in the newsletter! I feel in love with Solo pretty much immediately while also gaining a ton of respect for Orley! It is a stand-alone though it has ties to her series that take place in a city called The Point.” Nevertheless it could stand on its own as your first Crownover read! After you decide you love it you should check out Welcome To The Point, and The Breaking Point! Because from the glimpse of the bad ass characters that you get from this novel…you’re going to want more!
Solomon, definitely is a hero even if he didn’t feel like one. Orley is such a strong women for her age. I loved these characters.
Solomon’s mom’s story was so sad. I wanted to give him a hug and try to make things easier for him. I was so happy that he was abel to trust Orley, with his mom.
Running away to the Point wasn’t a very smart idea when you think about it. But ending up living in the same building as Solo was the smartest thing Orley did, even if she didn’t know it know it at the time.
Things seemed to be perfect until it all blew up, like it always does in the Point. One of our beloved originals going missing was so heartbreaking. Seeing how much Bax has grown and knowing that he took Solo under his wing is awesome.
I love the Devil and Key and was so happy to see them and to know that Key is still so feisty.
I loved this book! I really recommend it to anyone!!!
Like everything else this author has written….. WOW!! Awesome return to the Pointe with some great new characters and some old faves. Loved every minute of Solo, Orley & Noble’s tale!
This is a complete stand alone, but you will see characters from Welcome To The Point series. But, don’t worry, you don’t need to read them first. If you haven’t read that series, you aren’t given their names in this book. They’re called “The Boss”, “Boy Genius”, and “The Devil and his wife”.
I really liked Orley. She’s a great mom and shows exactly what she will do to keep Noble safe. Safe from any and everything and everyone, including “family”.
She gave up everything and ran to the inner city to keep Noble safe.
She had a lot to learn.
Biggest was that there are some extraordinary people that live there also.
Solo is one of those people. He has lived in the city his entire life. He doesn’t have room for anyone else in his life. He’s a great guy. He helps everyone he can. He works his ass off to take care of his mom.
He is Orley’s hero in a dark place.
The biggest thing to remember is that there are good people there. And sometimes, even the bad guys will help protect the innocent from outside threats. Because the bad guys from the city are worse than the ones that hide behind gates.
This is a great read! Enjoy!
Downfall is that perfect combination of book which can pull in a new reader without knowledge of Jay’s previous novels while giving a million Easter eggs to those fans who’ve read her other books.
Orley, Solo and their Downfall are full of surprises and twists with classic lines like “It takes real strength to be the good guy in a bad place and still be respected and feared.”
Bravo Ms. Crownover and your brilliant mind.
Another 5 * read from Jay!! This book was sooooo good! Solo is a sexy tattooed alpha hero and I love that he falls for such an innocent girl and her daughter!