Dallas
He was the beginning of my heart . . . and the end of it.
I was only fifteen years old when he claimed it and twenty when he took it with him.
They say what is meant to be will find a way. But when you have changed to the point of no return, how can anything ever be the same?
Seven years later, Dean Martin waltzed back into my life in hopes of resuming what I had fought so hard to forget, … so hard to forget, but he was in for a wake-up call.
I was no longer the naïve woman he had left . . . and I was no longer his.
I met the love of my life and my soul mate when I was fifteen. I knew that; he knew that. He wanted that girl back. I wanted to forget she ever existed.
Dean
What I thought was my pre-destined path was very much an illusion. Living seven years with regret, I realized too late that I was broken, and that I only had myself to blame.
I thought love could wait . . . but it didn’t.
We’d had it all those years ago, and then I foolishly left it behind.
She was all that mattered. She was all there ever was.
There was no life without Dallas, no reason . . . except her.
No matter how hard she tried to convince me, I knew I had to once again make her mine, to make her remember . . . the fall.
Mature audiences only. Explicit sex and language
more
just so so
This book was amazing! It had all the angst and feels that you come to expect from a Kate Stewart book. I hated and loved Dean. I admired Dallas’ strength, mourned her losses. The love between these two is forever, but timing is everything. It definitely hits home with the fall and losses of first love!
The only reason I gave this book a 4 star rating was because of Dean and the secondary characters if it had depended on Dallas, it would have gotten 2 stars from me.
I’m gonna start with the good stuff!!! Dean…..swoon worthy, good guy, lover, would be partner, Dr. Dean, Dean Martin!! I loved him! He was soooo precious!! I also felt very sorry for him because HE’S the one that was hurt beyond belief, HE’S the one that had his heart smashed into a million and one pieces long before he ever left for Columbia!!!
RoseJesus….did my heart break for her!! I loved her and can’t wait for her book! She is the ultimate sister!!! She had Dallas’ back even when she was being a complete idiot (unbeknownst to Rose mind you). Rose is the perfect romantic, she isn’t cynical and hard and rude like Dallas, she was refreshing to read. The parents!!!!!!!! OMG! They were the best and reminded me so much of my own!!! They made me laugh out loud! Beatriceshe was beyond fab and everyone needs a person like that in their life!!
Dallas…she was rude, bitchy, heartless at moments, a complete asshat, sarcastic, a complete IDIOT and I wanted to like her in parts but I couldn’t! To be honest, she deserved everything she got. I hated the way she treated Dean when they finally got to college. Ugh…and then the way she did Josh (not that i liked him either) but she was wishy washy and got on my complete nerves! The secrets she kept…uncalled for man…not cool. She had every opportunity to come clean and she didn’t, and I didn’t feel sorry for her one bit! Close to being one of my most despised leading ladies I’ve ever read!
I absolutely love Kate and this is not a reflection on her writing at all! Her writing is beautiful and for her to illicit such feelings about a character means she does it so right!! This is a story of second chance love and I struggled to really like this book mainly because of Dallas and her personality. By the end though I was so glad that I read it! I will read anything that Kate writes and she has become one of my faves!!!
Angst
Cheatingmeh
Sexy Time(this was meh for me too)
Epilogue
Plot
I suspected Kate Stewart was a talented writer when I read Loving the White Liar, but reading The Fall has made me a true believer. The Fall is a second chance love story that well exceeded my expectations.
The story switches between the past and the present, and it spans a period of over a decade. Dallas and Dean first meet in high school, and what begins as friendship turns into a slow burn romance of epic proportions. It’s the type of delayed gratification that I adore, and the payoff is so worth it. They are young and in love; naïve and ambitious. Promises are made, hearts are broken, and the two separate. You know that saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone”? In the present (seven years later), with all his career goals met, Dean finally realizes how empty his life is. He returns home determined to earn back Dallas’s love. One problem: Dallas has moved on with another man.
Here’s what I love about Kate Stewart. She isn’t a lazy writer. She’s patient in her storytelling, unpredictable, and she takes the difficult—and sometimes painful—path to revealing her characters’ authenticity. Nobody is the villain here. There is no right or wrong. Dallas’s new boyfriend treats her well, he has a great career, and even the sex is good. Of course I was rooting for Dean and Dallas to get together, but the decisions aren’t cut and dry.
Dallas and Dean are complex and aggravating characters at times; however, I fell in love with both of them. They are magnetic in their chemistry, their love is palpable, and Kate Stewart gifts them with countless heart-melting quotes.
The story is rounded out by Dallas and Dean’s interesting and entertaining family members. I’m really looking forward to reading about Dallas’s sister, Rose, in the next book in the series.
The Fall stirred up a wide range of emotions in me: tenderness, frustration, heartbreak, and joy. Why not five stars? The pacing drags in the second half as Dallas battles indecisiveness for—in my opinion—an overly extended period of time. Still, I highly recommend this one.
This is why I love Kate so much. Can I finish my review with just that one statement? Lol maybe not.
The Fall is right up there with Room 212 which is one of my favorite books ever.
I was emotionally invested into The Fall. I felt every painful moment right down to my toes. My gosh, Kate can write! She gives her characters a voice and when they start talking there is no way you aren’t sucked into the world she created. I loved loved this story.
If you have read Room 212, this book is about Seth and Laura’s daughter Dallas. You see her other daughter Rose a lot and I loved both of their personality. This story was more of a Second Chance romance and the author did it beautifully. Both Dallas and Deans (love the names by the way) were in love when they were younger, events happened that tore them apart. Seven years later Dallas sees that Dean is back but can she forgive everything that happen in the past?
The Fall tugs at your heartstrings. There is so much heartbreak there but the love that was incorporated . Kate commands your attention with all these characters and at times I found myself blown away, it was unbelievable.
I must admit that Dallas got on my nerves with some of her choices however I was able to get pass that and fall in love with her 🙂
Another amazing story by Kate that was well written in both past and present tense. The characters like I said before are likable, funny and love hard. This is falling into my re-read worthy category.
A must read!!
Wow….this book seriously wrecked me, but in the most amazing way possible. I loved it!
I truly went on the roller coaster ride of emotions that Dallas went through over the course of the story with Dean, both then (NYC…ugh, that killed me) and now. He was her first love, true love…..and there was no way possible for her to deny it. Dallas knew something was lacking in her relationship with Josh, even though she did love him. She just didn’t have that all-consuming, passionate, deep love that was embedded in her soul with Dean. Do I think she should have broken up with Josh sooner? Of course….but her mind needed time to catch up with what her heart was feeling. She only ever had stars in her eyes for one man.
And Dean….what can I say? He was a man that knew he had made mistakes in the past, but once he had his mind set on getting Dallas back – there was nothing that could stop him. He was such a true romantic and spoke to her from the heart…..especially when he spoke to her in Spanish. Loved the angry Spaniard.
So many amazing supporting characters, both new and old. Loved seeing an older Laura and Seth and how they were still madly in love after all these years. Beatrice – she has got to be one of my favorites of all time. I don’t know what I can say about her without spoiling it. Just know you will love her.
I’m sitting here sniffing and smiling at the same time. This was one hell of a story. Kate Stewart knows how to pull out the big guns. She gutted me all the right places and I loved it. I didn’t expect any less of her since I’m addicted to her writing and storytelling.
She’s an expert in creating interesting, layered and lovable characters. Damn! How I loved Dallas and Dean. My heart loved and broke with/for them. There’s so much history between them. Some of it amazing and beyond life altering. And then some contains the most hurtful and devastating experiences of their lives. Dean and Dallas have so much heart and love. For each other and that’s what gave this story life and most definitely also soul.
I don’t know what to say about Dean. One of my favorite male characters I’ve ever read. My God! He loved so fiercely and wanted to do right by Dallas and himself. At times I wanted him to just suck it up but I felt and understood where he was coming from. His patience and love for Dallas was heartbreaking at times but most definitely also the most intense and captivating I’ve ever read. I fell in love with him right along with Dallas. Lucky girl;-)
Then there’s Dallas. The sassy and outspoken chick who doesn’t give a damn. I loved her equally as much as Dean. Because of her heart and strength. The things and experiences she’s been keeping to herself was just thought provoking and my respect for her raised even further. It was no wonder that she was afraid of being hurt again, let alone let love in. Because when it comes to love she jumps in wholeheartedly. Her love towards Dean was real and intense as hell. She relied and was dependent on Dean and shared everything with him.
The fight she had with herself was an emotional journey as was Dean and Dallas’ relationship.
But also her relationship with her sister, Rose and her parents were important to the story and to Her and Dean.
Their journey from best friends to lovers felt true and the pace of the story worked perfectly. I was with them every step of the way. Their connection was mesmerizing and their love so captivating that I couldn’t control my emotions. I went through all of it. I laughed, cried my eyes out and cheered liked crazy.
These characters, not just Dallas and Dean but also their parents and Rose will forever have a place in my heart. This was truly a one of a kind story. I loved every moment, every page. Can’t say enough good things about The Fall. Except once you read it, it will stay with you for a long time.
Kate Stewart you’ve done it again! Gave me a book hangover.
5 BadAssDirtyTeQuieroStars