Breaking up is hard to do.It’s even harder when you’re not expecting it.Brooke Jensen is a planner. Not only in her personal life but also professionally as one of the most sought after event planners in Chicago. But, when the ideal life she built for herself, complete with handsome, long-term boyfriend and perfect apartment crumbles, she realizes there are some things you just can’t plan for. … things you just can’t plan for.
While trying to start anew from her best friend’s guest room and discovering the best doughnuts in the city, an idea sparks to life when she meets Levi. He’s intriguing, funny, and shockingly good-looking, and what had been a few stray thoughts becomes a new passion for Brooke, a blog detailing learning how to be single. The project introduces Brooke to new people and experiences, and keeps returning her back to Levi.
But, Brooke learns kismet may have been wrong when she learns Levi is the last person she should be interested in.
Falling for the wrong guy once has Brooke hesitant to start a new relationship, but Levi is quickly proving that The Fallback might be even better.
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“He’s like a flame, and I’m the damn moth. I can’t stop circling him and getting closer and closer, and you know if I do, all that’s going to happen is I’m going to end up getting burned.”
Mariah Dietz brings us a book about second chance romance with an absolutely perfect hero!
The Fallback is the story about Brooke, a wedding planner, whose job consumed so much of her life, her relationship of six years suffered the brunt of it and now single with no idea how to wade the new waters, she figures out how to be single and experience everything solo while discovering her likes and dislikes.
A life that was once orderly and predictable is now up in the air as Brooke lives with her best friend, her husband and two kids, while she works on herself until she meets Levi
She isn’t ready to date and he will do anything to have her and go out with him.
Just one date.
But soon enough Brooke finds out that Levi is far more unattainable than she could have possibly imagined.
“Prepare yourself. Prepare your walls of defence and your excuses because I’m ready. I’m ready for all of it. I’m going to be here to break down every brick you build and shatter every lie you try to believe.”
While Brooke fights her attractions towards Levi due to professional reasons, she starts a blog — Tales of Being Single — which was my absolute favourite part of Brooke’s journey. I really enjoyed reading about all the adventures she went on and how for some adventures Levi was there, even offering to help her out.
Levi was the absolute best! Patient, fun, charming and talented, there wasn’t a single thing I disliked about this guy.
Brooke is trying to re-discover herself and there are bound to be ups and downs, which she definitely goes through, but there were a few instances where she felt a tad flat to me, even a little emotionless. Aside from that fact and understanding that not everyone deals or reacts the same way I really enjoyed Brooke and Levi as a couple. They really balance each other out.
Apart from Brooke, Levi and Brooke’s best-friend who was an absolute sweetheart, I really enjoyed the arch of Catherine’s character (Brooke’s boss), especially at the end. I had a few suspicions about her and I was so happy that they were proved right.
Finding oneself, adventures, second chances and first chances at love, finding your family is what makes Mariah Dietz The Fallback.
4 Stars!
Brooke is a successful event planner whom works lots of hours for her evil, demanding boss, Catherine. She has worked for over a decade for her and still finds it annoying how her demands create more work for her. But she always stays on top of it and never met a event challenge she could not handle. That is until the event came in the form of her live in boyfriend Gabe, getting caught in the act of cheating. Yep! Her bad. She wasn’t supposed to come home early.
Now homeless, broken hearted and blindsided she goes to the one person who won’t judge or question why she is there, Grammy. One night with Grammy and she is ready. Picking up the pieces won’t be easy, but with the help of her bff Felicity, things will get better with time. Naturally Felicity takes charge and moves Brooke in and mothers her in her own way that best friends do.
After the cool off period Felicity suggests a night out. It is during this night out that Brookes life takes a turn in a new direction. All inspired by meeting a complete stranger. It helps said stranger is sexy hot and named Levi. In a moment of clarity she embarks on an adventure.
During her new adventures she starts a blog called “The Tales of Being Single”. Writing about these adventures has gained her some attention and others seeking inspiration. It is on this journey that she begins to understand that she is on the path to self discovery and healing in ways she is yet to understand. But she will….
I loved the characters in this book. Each one with their own backstory, that gave us a big picture of who they are and how they came to be. Levi and Brooke have such amazing chemistry. Together the journey seems more bearable. But there are many ups and downs amongst several twists and hurts. But all of this just makes for an awe inspiring love story of sorts.
This book was an amazing journey of self discovery and learning to stick up for yourself and do what you want. This book has a powerful message behind the story and it is truly inspiring. Don’t rely on books and seminars to find happiness in your life. Do what your heart tells you, only you can make your own happiness. Don’t wait for that perfect moment, because if you do, it may never come and life will pass you by. When this happens you will miss out on the best part of life…..living.
Overall this book was a sweet romance and not on the dirty side either. Yes there are some steamy moments but not to in-depth, leaving your imagination to fill in the blanks. And man did it. The book was steady paced and very meaningful. It had amazing and lovable characters. You won’t help but fall in love with “The Fallback”.
““If you give me your heart, you’re never getting it back.”
Intelligent and funny
Though this author has been on my TBR for a while now, this was my first book by her so I really didn’t know what to expect going in.
Brooke is a great character, smart, funny, and competent, though not without some issues, and I identified with her and felt strongly for her from the beginning. I loved the character growth Brooke showed over the course of the story as Levi proves to be just what she needs, in spite of her reluctance to let him in and all the reasons she has to avoid getting involved with him.
There are great secondary characters here as well; I particularly loved the relationship Brooke had with Felicity and how the support went both ways between them. Brooke‘s boss was also an intriguing character. Wondering how that relationship was going to evolve as well as just how Levi was going to win Brooke over added some suspense to the storyline, which had more than one twist I didn’t see coming.
A slow-burn romance, it was the relationships and character growth that really made the story for me. Intelligent and funny, I can already tell that this is going to be one of my favorite reads of the year, and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author. 5+ stars
B2B Kelly
I knew this book was going to be amazing from.The moment I read the blurb. Brooke and Levi are everything you want in a couple. They both have their ups and downs and both come with pasta but from the get go the attraction is instant. I really enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read more from this author.
Absolutely amazing.
I can’t even begin to explain how much I adored this book. This is my favorite now from the author.
Let me say that I didn’t know what to expect from the story since I hadn’t read the blurb but had only fallen in love with the gorgeous cover. And I’m so happy to say that the words written in those pages were magic.
I started turning the pages, falling deeply in love with the characters and with their story as well. Brooke is an amazing woman. She is smart, strong, driven and fun. I love how fierce and kind she is, how she pushed herself forward when scared or hurting. And Levi? That man made me swoon from the very first moment. He is smart, charming, caring and has an amazing sense of humor. I love how understanding he was with Brooke, how he tried to support her even when she denied his help or wasn’t aware she needed it. He is so dreamy.
The chemistry between these two is off the charts, and is there since moment one but they have to deal with some life surprises along the way. I love how while fighting their feelings, they fall for each other, as they get to know each other and kind of become friends. They are supportive of one another. Building each other up, and being there when needed. They made me laugh out loud, giggle and shed a tear or too. They made feel like I was falling in love for the very first time, while enjoying their delicious slow burn romance.
Another thing that I loved with my entire heart from this story is the beautiful friendship Felicity and Brooke share. The bond between them is strong, they care deeply for each other and even when in pain they are constantly worrying for the other one. Felicity, Dan and the kids warmed my heart so very much.
Captivating, adorable and completely swoon worthy.
It was easy to quickly get invested in Brooke’s life. This book gives you the full range of the feels. From the tears to the laughter, I loved every minute of it. All the characters have so much depth. This is not my first book from Mariah Dietz and it certainly won’t be my last. She writes such memorable characters and stories that stay with you long after the last page is read.
Oh. My. Gosh. This book is so damn amazing.
When I seen the cover for The Fallback it instantly pulled me in so I quickly searched and read the description and it grabbed me and I knew instantly it was a book I needed to read and my instincts were right because this book, this book was simply amazing.
It’s everything I love in a romance. Cute, adorable, supplies you with so many feels and breaks your heart a little. What’s a romance book without a little heartbreak at some point? Hah
Brooke and Levi are the perfect couple. From the moment they meet there’s an attraction and as the story comes along so do they. The sexual attraction between them is so damn panty melting hot.
These two go through their fare share of ups and downs and not everything is easy. There’s trust issues and painful parts but everything that happens is 100% worth it.
I’m so in love with this book, with the story and how well everything mixed together. Mariah did amazing with this book and I’m so damn honoured to have read it.
I’ve read a couple books from this author and they’ve always gripped me but this one is by far my favourite, I can’t wait to read more books from this author.
The Fallback
5++ Stars
Mariah Dietz did an excellent job on this book as I absolutely LOVED it! I love the cover and the story!! Kept my interest throughout. Loved the characters. They had great chemistry! So many twists and turns made me keep on guessing on what will happen.
“Sometimes perfection is what we didn’t see. What we didn’t know. Sometimes, perfection is the fallback.”
Very highly recommend! A must read!
This book was amazing!!
This book was everything!!
Full of heart, full of friendship, it was just beautiful..it tugged at my heartstrings.
Brooke and Levi are such a wonderful couple to get to know..their love is beautifully written and their story is learning to fallback into love and life.
So my first read of 2019 and I loved it!!
Mariah Dietz has given us a fabulous slow burn romance that will knock your socks off. Everyone needs a Levi in their life as far as I’m concerned. I was hooked from the very first page.
When Brook arrives home to discover her boyfriend has been cheating on her she’s heartbroken. She takes shelter in her bestfriends spare room and decides she’s needs to embrace the single life. When she unexpectedly meets Levi there are lots of reasons she should keep her distance but with his sexiness, sweetness and good looks that’s going to be easier said than done.
A great read from Mariah Dietz and one I would highly recommend to anyone.
This story isn’t one to miss!
Brooke, and event planner, and completely dedicated to her job, maybe too much so that she doesn’t see what’s going on at home with her boyfriend. As she prepares to start her life over, can she trust her heart to guide her and make the right decisions?
Enter Levi, a guy she meets on New Years Eve. He sparks her interest, but she’s not ready to date yet. Can they be friends? And what happens when she finds out exactly who he is?
This book was so good! The story kept me interested, I hated to put it down! 5 stars for this one, grab it asap!
Oooooh the book gave me all of the feels!! It was sexy and sweet…..and swoonworthy!! It has everything that romance lovers could ever want in a story. It was impossible to put down once I started.
The Fallback by Mariah Dietz was simply amazing and I read it in one sitting! This happens to be only the second book I have read from this author, but I have a feeling I will be changing that soon because if all of her books are this good then I have been seriously missing out! While I really liked Brooke, I have to admit that Levi completely stole my heart!
My heart broke for Brooke because of her cheating ex, but if it hadn’t been for that experience she never would have met her prince charming, and holy moly Levi is just that! Their relationship was a slow burning one and my heart was set on fire…I legit got the warm fuzzies in my stomach as I devoured every inch of this story!
This is a heartwarming tale that will captivate every inch of your soul, and leave you head over heels in love with these characters. It was beautiful and unique…a definite MUST READ!
OMG! I have found a new author to swoon over! Yes, Mariah Dietz just has that eye-catching writing that simply draws you in and keeping you so spellbound till the very end!
THE FALLBACK is just that one book that will keep you wanting more and more! You will not be able to let go of the chemistry and that oh so fun banter!
When Brooke Jensen arrives earlier from work and surprises her boyfriend in bed with another woman, her world collapses and she goes to her grandmother’s house. After the relationship ends, she goes to live with her best friend Felicity and her family.
At the same time she continues her work as one of the most sought after event planners in Chicago and decides to create a blog to report her experiences as a single woman.
In one of her outings with Felicity, she meets Levi, who quickly catches her eye. They begin to get to know each other better, but when the lines between relationship and work begin to blend, Brooke chooses to leave things just professional.
As time goes by, the attraction and feelings between Brooke and Levi only increase, but when Brooke comes across a secret that Levi hasn’t told her, will they be able to overcome it or will it destroy their relationship?
I loved the story and the characters. The interactions between Brooke and Felicity were great, as were with Felicity’s husband and children.
I highly recommend the reading.
Oooh, such a great slow burn romance. Brooke and Levi….there are no words. This was such a good book and I loved the twists and turns. Brooke’s journey was such an interesting one and the way she interacts with Levi is just adorable. Their relationship is so sweet and such fun to read.
The Fallback is my first Mariah Dietz book, but it won’t be my last. I loved how rooted in realness the story and characters are. Brooke was so easy to relate to and I felt the pain of her heartbreak and cheered for her as she picked up the pieces to rebuild her life and herself even stronger. The side characters are phenomenal, but I think one of my favorite aspects of the story is the fact that Brooke turned to blogging as an outlet. When I found myself at a crossroad in my life, I started a blog too – it gave me a way to connect with the outside world and sparked some inner growth for me. Levi is just the icing on an already awesome cake. His understanding and patience was everything. The slowburn-esque build up is so realistic and worth it. The Fallback was a refreshing story after reading a slew of instalove-lust books that were a lot of fun, but lacked the substance that Mariah Dietz served in spades. I can’t wait to read more from the author! 4 out of 5 wine glasses.
This was my first time reading a book by this author and this definitely won’t be my last. I absolutely loved this book. This author hooked me from the first page until the last and I didn’t want this one to end. The author threw a few things in I for sure didn’t see coming. This was completely different than most books I’ve read. I laughed so much while reading the banter between all the characters, it was always such good banter. I fell in love with Brooke and Levi and definitely all the other characters. Everyone needs to read this book.
THE FALLBACK
By Mariah Dietz
4
New to me author Mariah Dietz brings a story of love, betrayal and journey to self-discovery.
Brooke, an event planner meets Levi, bar owner/chef one night while clubbing. Recently single from a long term relationship Brooke doesn’t allow Levi to penetrate her walls. Determined and ready to tear down her walls Levi stays persistent. The chemistry between the two is undeniable. When Brooke finally opens her heart to Levi she finds that her past has a way of biting her in the ass and those walls Levi torr down come back up solid as ever.
This book is a fantastic read. Levi is so swoon-worthy If you haven’t read anything by Mariah I recommend 1-clicking this today! I’m looking forward to reading more of her work.
4.5 Stars
This is my favorite book by Mariah Dietz. It had the perfect mix of sweet and sexy. I enjoyed this book and the characters.
Brooke is a wedding planner and very good at her job. She is living the life she always dreamed of. That changed the day she came home to find her boyfriend with someone else. Now she doesn’t know what to do with her life besides work. She moves in with her best friend while she figures out what to do next.
After some time has passed Brooke finally gives in to her best friend and they go out. She never expected to meet Levi. He is sweet and handsome and makes her feel special. She decides she going to start a blog on learning how to be single. Levi is the perfect guy to help her with checking off some of the things she wants to do.
Levi was the perfect hero and will have you swooning. I liked the slow build of the relationship between Brooke and Levi. If you are looking for a sweet romance this is the perfect one for you.