Standalone M/M romance.I was afraid to fly.He made me soar.After years of climbing the ladder of success in the music industry, I finally had everything I could want. Yet I still found myself wandering through life alone.Captain Evan Roth was the one man I never saw coming. Tall, dark, mysterious… Straight. We were both damaged beyond repair and searching for something so elusive we weren’t sure … searching for something so elusive we weren’t sure it even existed.
But, when two broken souls collide in midair, falling is a given.
I just never expected to crave the spiral down.
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~Evan & Henry~
I couldn’t get enough of this book! I can’t believe I’ve had it for so long and never read it. I totally thought I had!
It was beautiful to see two broken people come together and put each other back together like these two did.
Evan has such a good heart, and Henry (also having a good heart) is hilarious!
There were several parts I had to read twice just to fully appreciate it. I can’t wait to do another read through at some point.
As a fan of Aly Martinez’s writing, I am not sure why it took so long for me to read The Spiral Down, especially since I am also a fan of M/M books. I can say that now that I have read it, I will most definitely be reading it again!
I absolutely loved Henry and Evan. I loved how scarred Henry was- it just made me love him all the more. I loved how strong Evan was- and how he had overcome so much.
The Spiral Down was a hit for me!
Been seeing this book circulating for a while and decide to give it a listen. I loved it. Henry is quirky and loveable with a fear of flying and being loved. Evan has his own set of issues. Despite the real life struggles, their chemistry is off the charts real. Aiden Snow and Teddy Hamilton together is amazing. Aiden’s growly voice was perfect for Evan and Teddy’s swoon worthy voice was perfect for Henry. The emotions they put into this book, along with the inflections, simply perfection.
What can you possibly complain about!?! The sexy pilot with a chip on his shoulder and more than just a carry-on of baggage (terrible joke but apt). Or the smart-ass rockstar with his set of demons dragging him down. They may not seem like the best combination due to my description but Henry and Evan are a delightful whirlwind of romance, baggage, and unstoppable chemistry.
The Spiral Down is pure romantic gold. And not to sound creepy but Aiden Snow and Teddy Hamilton can whisper, groan, and demand anything in my ears, anytime they want!
Feel the angst, feel the love, and relish the feeling of finding HOME in the one!
I love Henry and Evan. Especially Evan. Evan stole my heart from the beginning. How he was carving his own way in life doing what he loved. How he loved his stepdad and his mother to bits. How he was comfortable with who he was. He just took my heart from the beginning. Especially with how he helped Henry on the plane with his fear of flying. Swoon city.
Henry. He you feel for with his fear and and you hear why he has the fear you just want to hug him and say it will all be alright. I didn’t always like how he treated Evan. It was tough to watch at times. I think because Evan was confused at first about his feelings for Henry and Henry just wanted Evan. When Evan gets all in Henry is a little wishy washy and I think this is more out of fear and what is going on personally. I love how Evan gets all in and helps Henry with what is going on. He is there for him and supports him.
The story is sweet, loving and tender but also has some very deep and serious issues it confronts. Aly Martinez does a great job balancing this into the story and weaving it in so we see how the relationship plays out and how Evan is there for Henry no matter what. He doesn’t back down. We see these two men learn about each other and themselves as they explore their feelings and a relationship and grow and help each other through fears and problems in life itself. You fall in love with these two from the beginning and want more of them after you finish. A great book with two sexy characters with sizzling chemistry and a romance that has you aww and swoon for the characters to the end.
Gah this book! I adored Henry in The Fall Up where he was a secondary character as the heroine’s best friend, so when I found out The Spiral Down was his story I had to dive straight in!
Henry is a singer/song writer, a huge star in the public eye and one very much afraid to fly. He loves fiercely but he goes after the wrong men, straight men. So when Henry has to take a flight for his tour and requires a last minute pilot change he encounters Evan Roth and the chemistry is instant.
Evan is an ex Air Force pilot, but flying has remained his life and now flies commercial and private flights. His love life is less than stellar and we see that from the very beginning. As the story progresses we learn Evan isn’t what Henry expects him to be and here stems the drama.
What I loved about The spiral Down was the banter between Henry and Evan. I knew Henry had sass from The Fall Up and it was great to see more of that and I grinned my way through a lot of the book from Henry and Evan’s back and forth quick wit. Both characters have so much depth and emotionality attached to their sexuality, a fear of letting labels define who they are and who they love and let them love them. I really enjoyed exploring that aspect of a relationship, Aly’s writing brought an intensity and a vulnerability to Evan and Henry’s love story I wasn’t expecting. The passion and the chemistry between them was off the charts, like holy moly I needed a cold shower after a few of the scenes! Another great aspect was seeing Sam and Levee too, how Henry is still a huge part of their relationship too was awesome to read.
The spiral Down was so much more than I was expecting, if you are new to MM romance or even if you aren’t I cannot recommend this book enough!
First full disclosure, I didn’t actually read this one, I listened to the audiobook. Also, I was delirious with fever parts of it, so that may have affected my perception of the story.
This is a very, very sweet M/M romance well worth reading/listening to. It’s an altogether feel-good story of two damaged men learning to trust and love again. It also has that super important component of humor which lifts it from severely angst-y to fun, sweet and entertaining but with severe undertones. Which is exactly my speed.
The main characters appears to be polar opposites. Henry Alexander is a music superstar, openly gay and cripplingly afraid to fly. Evan Roth is the pilot who loves the sky and who has sworn off ever dating a man again. When Evan is forced to stand in for Henry’s regular pilot, something sparks between the two. Which is the start of a complicated relationship going from boss and employee to maybe friendly to more. Henry loves the chase, but Evan has no intention of ever getting caught. Not for real anyway.
I’d say that the smut-factor of this story is a bit below average. And that’s somewhat of an achievement considering the attraction between Henry and Evan, and their meetings, are the sole focus of the story. The book revolves completely around their hook-ups and strangely secluded interactions. Meaning there is very little world-building going on. That doesn’t have to be a bad thing though, and Martinez totally gets away with it, but still. With a bit more inspired sexytimes and some expansion on the side-plots that are mostly just hinted at, this story could have been awesome!
But either way, I truly enjoyed this story. However, I must bitch a little about a certain aspect of the book that had me quite annoyed. You know how they say that feelings can never be wrong and you have the right to your feelings? Well, that may be true, but when those feelings manifest in utterly stupid ways, I’d say I do have the right to be irritated at least. Both Evan and Henry carries emotional baggage. I get that. It wouldn’t be an interesting story otherwise. But – spoiler alert! – when that baggage makes Evan act like a selfish jerk in bed, it’s not the best of times being a reader. Or when Henry’s insecurities has him freaking out over Evan not being straight. That’s silly AF! So. That lowered my overall enjoyment of the story.
But when all is said and done, this is a beautiful story by a talented author. Perfect when you’re looking for a light romance and some pick-me-up.
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The Spiral Down was an emotional angsty masterpiece from Aly Martinez that had me hooked from beginning to end. This M/M story was given to us in dual POV and we are able to get a look into the minds of both characters and experience the emotions they are both feeling. Both characters were complex with their own issues however together they were absolutely perfect. Their steamy scenes were hott without detracting from the story and the banter between them had me amused. I absolutely loved this page-turner and would highly recommend it to all lovers of MM romance.
The audiobook was narrated by Aiden Snow and Teddy Hamilton. Together these two were fabulous. They brought out the personalities of the characters and placed the right emotions in the story. It was a pleasure listening to them narrate this novel.
Really a very sweet and believable love story, I enjoyed every minute of reading it
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this delicious AF book! It was sweet, it was sexy, gave me lots of smiles, but most of all, it was a beautiful love story that made my heart flutter.
Full of so much heart and passion – loved it!
I don’t even know where to begin with ALL the love I feel for not only the story itself, but the voice and style of Aly Martinez!
Read 2016 … My very first Aly read and still one of my all time favorites!
One of my favorite M/M books..loved it..
I have read books of this author before and loved her writing. I like reading M/M reads and this one just blew me away! I loved it from beginning ’til end. The chemistry between Henry and Evan was off the charts. This book was a hot and sexy read; and just so smooth to read that you just couldn’t put it down. I loved how the story was written. Definitely worth the read if you love a good M/M…
I loved the gay man having a thing for straight men, talk about being conflicted. It’s the chase for Henry, his ego of being able to turn a straight man into fucking a man.
Henry’s a musician and an irrational drama queen.
Evan is his pilot. I’m a fan of M/M and I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Henry and Evan.
I must admit reading some parts I got lost with whom was speaking as it’s told in both male POV.
There are such beautiful sweet moments and bantering between the two. They are definitely attracted to each other and their chemistry and hot sex sesh, whoa.
They both have their issues with being together I wanted them to stop being pussy, man up and fight for their relationship. Give it a go and just see where it ends.
Eep. This book made me so happy. I love Henry and Evan so much! Loved seeing Sam and Levee again. I don’t know what else to say except I loved every minute of this story.
These two were my favorite quotes.
“I was terrified to fly. But, right then, wrapped in his arms, Evan made me soar.”
“Life is a struggle, but it’s who you chose to take on the journey with you that matters the most.”
I absolutely loved this book! That’s the only way that I can start this review. I knew going into it that I would like it. I just didn’t know how much I would love it. This is my second favorite standalone M/M book of all time. This series also introduced me to Aly. The Fall Up was the first book of hers that I read and I just read it last week because I had this book in my sights and I have a weird OCD reading order problem.
Henry Alexander is the hottest recording artist out on the market right now. Right next to his best friend, Levee Williams. One would think that he has everything. Yet, he doesn’t. He constantly feels alone and thinks that he is searching in the right place for the right man. Unfortunately that isn’t working out for him. He desperately wants a love like his best friend has and it has him seeking out men that will never work out for him. Until one man enters into his life and changes things up.
Captain Evan Roth is probably one of the best pilots out there. He’s confident in his career but knows that there is something missing in his life. He just doesn’t know what it is. His past has made him just a little bit jaded when it comes to relationships and causes him to protect his heart with everything he has. What he wasn’t prepared for was the whirlwind that is know as Henry Alexander to tilt his wheels.
I don’t even know where to start with Henry and Evan. These two are just fantastic. Henry is confident yet insecure. He’s hilarious and boisterous. His quirks are adorable yet annoying. Most importantly, he’s loyal to those close to him and loves fiercely. Evan is confident, vulnerable, patient, funny and seems to be a bit more spiritual. He’s also fighting everything in him to not fall for a man.
The tension that Aly built up during their cat and mouse chase had me on the edge of my seat. Shit, I wanted to be the cat and the mouse. I wanted to be both. I wanted to be chased like they chased each other. I get that I totally just made this all about me. I’m fine with that. What is it with me and my desire to throw myself into a fabulous M/M relationship? I just love a good story and get selfish and try to turn it around to me. So what?!?!
I think I pretty much swooned over anything either one of them said about the other.
“I was terrified to fly. But, right then, wrapped in his arms, Evan made me soar.”
Yes! That’s some epic shit right there. Seriously.
“You’ve been a whirlwind who has stripped me bare and brought me to my knees more than once.”
Seriously, Aly. You gave us some great lines.
The added bonus of this book for me was the banter between Henry and his bodyguard, Carter. Big burly Carter who they call a robot. He seriously puts up with some crazy things from Henry but he isn’t afraid to call him out on it. Henry loves to tease Carter and try to get him annoyed and flustered. It’s hilarious.
I really don’t know what else to say other than GO GET THIS BOOK! I seriously cannot recommend it enough. Well done, Aly. You are quickly becoming a go to author for me. Just keep them coming!