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.
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4.5 stars
I love the fact that people can jump right in and read this one without having read The Point books, but that fans can figure out who all the players are making the story more fun.
Orley is the new girl in a run down apartment complex in The Point. It is obvious she does not belong there and is running from something. She just cannot seem to catch a break until Solomon Sanders comes to her rescue…literally. And he just seems to keep showing up for her.
Solo does not think he has time for anything else in his already crazy, busy life, but somehow he ends up being there when Orley needs him. And soon he starts wanting to be there more and more. On the one hand Orley is timid and fearful, but she is also a protective, mama bear ready to do whatever she has to in order to protect her child. And Solo starts adding an extra layer of protection over both of them. I loved Solo. He is big, intimidating, loyal, and has a good heart. They have great chemistry and a connection that just sparks.
They come from different worlds, but are living in the same one now. She had no idea she could find good in such a dark place or dark time. But the Point is a scary and unpredictable place and she can’t hide forever. And what happens if her past catches up to her?
This is a sexy, heartfelt, suspenseful read about finding hope and love when least expected. It’s about fate, home, and fighting for a future. At first they have to fight for time together, but then trust, and eventually he will have to fight to be able to keep her as well as keep her safe. They never saw the other coming, but really saved each other in ways. His life was full of obligations, but no joy until she came along. And he really is her and her daughter’s hero and protector, and at least has some connections in the Point. It never hurts to have a hero who has some villains on his side. I loved being back in this gritty world again.
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Downfall by Jay Crownover was previously published in her monthly newsletter and is now available in an ebook too. I loved that you don’t have to read any of her books to understand what happens here. For reader whom wants to know the story behind the story, read The Point series.
This is Orley and Solo’s story.
Orley is a young single mother. She works hard to make ends meet and she just vhad the day from hell. To make matters worse she needs rescuing. And Solo is a right time, right place guy. He helps her and now he van’t get her out of his head anymore. He’s a good man with a lot on his plate. He has no time for relationship et al. Both are a bit battered from life but not broken.
Downfall is an excellent written, beautifully thought out and told story. I loved the writing and the characters and give 5 stars.
Jay Crownover is an incredible author and one of my favorites because of the unique way she manages to create worlds that readers never want to leave! She brings us back to the Point with a brand new cast of characters and a few familiar faces that you might recognize. Of course if you haven’t had an opportunity to read Welcome to the Point and The Breaking Point series yet don’t fret because you can still totally enjoy every moment of this story without them!
Downfall is Solomon “Solo” Sanders and Orley Vincent’s story, but I feel that sweet little Nobel Vincent stole the show! They come from two different worlds…Solo has lived in the Point his entire life and Orley’s running from the gates that have kept her captive her entire life. He’s perfectly content with his life and has no plans of getting involved with anyone until this beautiful woman and her little girl move in next door. She doesn’t belong there and it’s easy to recognize that. Suddenly he’s their protector and will do anything to protect them…no matter the cost.
This was a breathtakingly captivating, sexy and heartwarming story with suspense intertwined throughout each page. My heart is still beating in overdrive after devouring this amazing read and it’s certainly one of my favorite reads of 2019! Jay Crownover is an extraordinarily talented author and she never disappoints when it comes to her storytelling ability! I strongly recommend picking up this book right now!
4 stars. This was a good book! Downfall is Orley and Solo’s story. Orley is a good girl, from a rich family who was brought up in loveless household. After some terrible family drama, she finds herself on the run from her cruel father. Orley has a three year old daughter, Noble. In order to keep her safe, she takes Noble to hide her and moves to a very rough, crime-ridden neighborhood. Orley is struggling to scrape by with very little money and to keep them both safe. One night, she is saved from being attacked on her street by Solo. He lives in her apartment building and works restoring cars at a chop shop. But he is a very good guy and he sees that Orley really needs help in life, so he steps in. As he helps her, he falls for the young mother and her sweet daughter. But can he keep them safe when their past comes back to haunt her?
I really enjoyed this book. I liked both Orley and Solo. They are both good people, just trying to get by in the world. Especially Solo, he was tough guy on the outside, but turned out to be so sweet. He knew he wanted to help the struggling single mother as soon as he met her and never hesitated. Watching him fall for Orley and Noble such a treat. Noble was also fun to read about. She was adorable and age appropriate. The book was set in a rough, gritty neighborhood, so it does feel a little dark. But Noble, Orley and Solo were so sweet and such a light that their love for each other brightened their world and brought them hope. This was just a good story with great writing and deep, complicated characters. I did want a little more secure HEA, but that is just my personal taste in reading. Still, I did enjoy this book.
Overall, Downfall was a great read. It is gritty and sexy, but also sweet and full of emotion. There is an innocence in the way the characters fall in love that is disparate of the fact that they live in this rough and tumble neighborhood. There is also a hopeful feeling for their future despite the fact that many feel hopeless in the world they are living in. I very much enjoyed Orley and Solo’s journey to love and how their relationship developed. I look forward to more from Ms. Crownover in the future!
Such a great book. I really enjoyed revisiting some characters from the point series. Solo is what every hero should be. Strong, have a good sense of self,and loyal to his bones. I really enjoyed reading the story between him and Orley. The chemistry, the characters, including the secondary characters, all of it together made this story click.
There is angst, suspense, lust, love, laughter, and so much more in this book, it really is the whole package. The pace was perfection, as it should be. Jay Crownover has written yet another sure fire winner. Told in the dual pov she is so good at, this story was enjoyable. I couldn’t wait to read more, yet didn’t want it to end.
I love Solo a man who is a hero and a fighters lover and awesome man all around. Orley is a strong women who will do anything to protect her daughter. She is one sassy little girl. Three people is a very bad city make it work and save each other !! A really great read !!!
Welcome back to the Point. A city of sin, corruption, over indulgence, and danger; a place where villains run its streets, living by their own code and their own set of rules in order to protect their own and make their enemies understand that money isn’t everything when it comes to surviving its tattered and desolate streets.
But even in a place full of deviants and users, Solomon ‘Solo’ Sanders chooses to live by his own set of principles, doing what he needs to do to take care of his city and his obligations without completely crossing a line that he knows he can never come back from, and it’s for those very reasons that he lives an existence that is synonymous with his nickname.
It’s clear from the moment that Orley Vincent and her beautiful daughter, Noble, are introduced in DOWNFALL that they don’t belong in a city like the Point. Their beauty, their light, and their look don’t fit into the constructs of the setting, which means there’s a rather nefarious reason as to why they’re using this tarnished place as their sanctuary, especially because the Point seems to be anything but for innocent people like Orley and Noble.
BUT…for all the times the Point has destroyed people’s lives, turned them into a darker version of themselves, used and abused their innocence, I’ve never doubted that there are still people in this environment willing to go out of their way to help others…to lend a hand when no one else would…to make things right when everything seems wrong, which means that, in Solo and Orley’s story, the Point remains a pivotal character but the light within its darkest is what’s explored and illustrated…the side of the Point that besides its unlawful nature and the soulless people looking to get ahead any way they can, there still remain those, like Solo…like Erica…like Lester who do right by others and who deserve the trust of others even in a city like the Point. Solo and the other residents of Skylark Apartments are reminders that as dark, deadly, and dangerous the place they call home, there are those in the trenches putting one foot in front of the other in order to keep moving forward and doing so knowing that there are much easier, but corruptible ways to do so.
I’m all about the anti-heroes of the Point; they’re some of my favorite characters, but the fact that Solo remains honorable, protective, trustworthy, and willing to go out of his way to watch over an out-of-place red haired beauty and her adorably sweet daughter puts him above his Boss, the Boy Genius, and the Devil himself, and Solo’s nature does lead to his downfall, it’s one that he’d gladly take for the rest of his life.
4.5 Poison Apples
Gah!! Jay Crownover’s stories are like Candy for me. They are so delicious and addicting and you can never stop wanting more!! When I read the blurb to Downfall I knew I had to read it but the fact that it was a true standalone set in the world of The Point was the cherry on top!! Gah!! This story was absolutely fabulous. It was sexy, intense, compelling and so addicting. I never wanted it to end!!
When Soloman “Solo” Sanders met Orley Vincent and her three year old daughter, Noble, he could never have expected that his world was about to change. With Orley forced in hiding from a powerful enemy, she has nothing left in her but to trust the dangerous and intense people of The Point to help protect her daughter. What follows is a sexy story filled with all the amazing characters I fell in love with mixed with a hot and sexy hero and a single mother who would burn the world down for her daughter.
I absolutely loved being back in this world and seeing how once again Crownover delivered a story highlighting that hope, love, loyalty and trust can be found even in the most darkest people and places. Overall, this story was amazing and one of Crownover’s best! Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
Ce roman a été publié chaque mois dans la newsletter de Jay et je n’avais pas encore pris le temps de découvrir l’histoire de Solo et Orley. Je me suis régalée avec ce roman qui va nous renvoyer dans un univers qu’on connaît très bien et qu’on a adoré ! L’histoire de ces personnages est superbement menée et est très addictive.
Orley est une jeune femme très mystérieuse qui fuit son passé et le danger. Elle arrive dans le quartier de Skylar non pas par envie mais parce qu’elle n’avait pas d’autres choix. Ses moyens sont très limités et elle va faire de son mieux pour joindre les deux bouts et pour mettre sa petite fille à l’abri. J’ai adoré ce personnage car elle va se débattre comme elle le peut et heureusement elle pourra compter sur son voisin , tombé du ciel , pour toujours être là au bon moment et au bon endroit. On comprend qu’elle n’a pas vécu dans ce quartier auparavant et que son ancien univers est à des années lumières de celui où elle évolue actuellement. Elle n’est absolument pas hautaine et c’est uniquement par défiance qu’elle va refuser l’aide qu’on pourrait lui apporter. Elle ne sait plus faire confiance et quand on en découvre les raisons, on ne peut que la comprendre.
C’est donc une mère qui va tout mettre en oeuvre pour offrir à sa fille Noble la meilleure vie possible. La petite est adorable et elle ne peut que nous faire fondre. Quand on va la voir interagir du haut de ses trois ans avec les autres personnages, on a un sourire aux lèvres car elle arrive à alléger toutes les situations critiques. Noble va donc se lier d’amitié avec la petite Riley qui n’est autre que la fille d’Erica sa babysitter. J’ai aussi adoré sa “maturité” face à des situations très délicates. Elle sait pertinemment que sa mère met tout en oeuvre pour faire son bonheur Quand Solo va entrer dans la vie de ce duo, on va fondre encore plus car dans ce monde désoeuvré , le bonheur pourrait pointer le bout de son nez si les circonstances n’avaient pas transformé nos héros.
Solomon Sanders est un héros qu’on va adorer. Il est droit dans ses baskets et son emploi du temps est réglé comme du papier à musique. Il inspire le respect et dans son quartier , on sait qu’il ne faut pas se frotter à lui si on ne veut pas avoir de graves ennuis. Il sait être très attentif aux autres comme nous le prouve sa relation avec Lester, le SDF qui a élu résidence en bas de son immeuble. Il s’occupe aussi de sa mère et quand on découvre leur passé, on en est d’autant plus admirative. Cette relation mère – fils est tout simplement superbe et le lien est indéfectible. C’est quelqu’un qui entretient aussi son corps car c’est un outil important de sa vie et son utilité sera très vite révélée. Ses relations avec les autres personnages d’une saga que j’ai adoré sont très importantes et j’ai adoré les retrouver dans ce contexte. C’est aussi génial de le voir s’ouvrir autant aux autres au fur et à mesure des pages et ce ne sera pas une mince affaire.
Bref , je me suis régalée avec ce roman que j’ai dévoré en quelques heures. Jay Crownover a le don de nous offrir des personnages haut en couleur qu’on va adorer découvrir et à qui on va forcément s’attacher. L’histoire de Orley et Solo est superbe et parfaitement développée au fil des pages. Un nouveau sans faute pour Jay Crownover
I’m a big fan of Jay Crownover’s Welcome to the Point series, and Downfall is a great introduction to this sensual, gritty world. While it’s a complete standalone and not technically part of the series, it’s enough of a teaser that it makes you want to dive right in afterwards, and if you’re already a devoted fan, it’s fun to see glimpses of old friends and a familiar setting. A single mom is trying to start over and make it on her own in a dangerous city when her sexy, gruff neighbor comes to her aid and makes her yearn to trust again. Downfall is deliciously unique and eloquently romantic.
Recommendation appeared on Frolic on March 24, 2019.
ARC provided, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.