Fall Into the Sun (Alejo and Bobby, #1)

Feb 09, 2012 Lauraadriana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: cried-like-a-baby, kids, m-m, love-conquers-all, loved-it, this-book-needs-its-own-shelf

I really loved this friends to lovers story. It was very well written, the use of flashbacks, I thought was done BRILLIANTLY, and gave the story so many layers, which made for such a great connection with the characters, it was just so GOOD.

Bobby Gallegos and Alejo Sandoval had been in love since they were six years old. They were soul mates, they knew it too. But life, family obligations, religion, fear, circumstances, all got in the way. At 40 years old after they had finally found a way to b...more

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Mar 31, 2012 BarkLessWagMore rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, romance

4 ½ stars

I’ve read and reviewed two of Val Kovalin’s m/m romances and enjoyed them both but this one is hands down my favorite. It’s sweet, romantic, sexy and perfectly angsty. Just the way I love a great romance!

Bobby and Alejo met when they were six years old and became best friend and secret lovers when they figured out they were attracted to each other as teens. But life and Alejo’s fears pulled their lives in two very different directions and they have spent the bulk of their adult lives li...more 4 ½ stars

I’ve read and reviewed two of Val Kovalin’s m/m romances and enjoyed them both but this one is hands down my favorite. It’s sweet, romantic, sexy and perfectly angsty. Just the way I love a great romance!

Bobby and Alejo met when they were six years old and became best friend and secret lovers when they figured out they were attracted to each other as teens. But life and Alejo’s fears pulled their lives in two very different directions and they have spent the bulk of their adult lives living separate lives. Alejo took over running the family restaurant at eighteen, married a woman and raised twins who are now eighteen. Broken hearted Bobby became a successful attorney and has tried to live a life without Alejo in it. Though he has had several male lovers, his relationships never seem to work out for very long because Alejo, even after all this time, is the one he truly wants. The two get together occasionally over the years, unable to resist the pull of each other, but Alejo’s obligations and guilt always pull them apart. Even with Alejo’s children nearly grown and his now ex-wife on the verge of remarrying he is unable to admit out in the open what he truly wants. And all he wants is Bobby.

Oh the beautiful angst! Can you feel it? I’m getting all bleary eyed just recalling it.

Alejo is the guy who lives to please everyone except himself (and of course poor Bobby who loves him so much it hurts). Raised in a strict Catholic family, those values stuck and he constantly worries about what people will think if he comes out and how it will affect others around him – especially his kids. He coddles his surly son Carlos who has turned into a headstrong, spoiled brat who can’t seem to get out of his own way. Alejo is always there making excuses and smoothing things over so his son won’t hurt. As a parent I can understand why Alejo acts the way he does and my heart breaks for him even when it’s clear he is making things worse for Carlos. Alejo’s daughter Josephina brings a nice balance to all of the Carlos drama. She is intelligent, intuitive and only wants to see her Daddy happy. She is an easy character to love and I thought these two kids were very well developed and played important roles in the story.

The love story which spans decades is told through flashbacks. I admit that in the very beginning I was a little leery of the setup and feared it wouldn’t work for me. Alejo and Bobby start out the story as occasional sex buddies with a long past. Alejo can’t seem to fit Bobby into his life and I felt terrible for Bobby who is happy with scraps he can get because he is obviously madly in love. But as the author exposed bits of their tumultuous past and advanced their current relationship, I began to understand both of them, love Bobby even more, and felt that achy pain in the chest that only comes when reading an amazing romance. The heat between these two is something rare and beautiful to behold, and their love is 100% believable. The only slight niggle is that the story came to an end too fast and ended on a flashback. I wanted more current day happiness but I’m greedy like that! If you’re in the mood for some well written angsty love I highly recommend adding Fall Into The Sun to your ereader.(less)

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Feb 09, 2012 Vio rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Vio by: Simsala*is getting slow*

Shelves: brilliant, wonderful, sweet, beautiful, dreamy, love-story, favourites

First off I need to say this was a beautiful and fulfilling love story and one that I will treasure for a long time to come, this is what I call a true romance.

It had me thinking about the what ifs, the lost opportunities, about being stubborn and in denial, silly hurtful words, petty behavior and of course nothing good can come of it only heartbreak, grief and lots of regrets it very nearly ruined their lives. Bobby and Alejo they had this deep connection it started when they were little kids...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Arthur rated it 5 of 5 stars

5 stars

Bobby (Roberto) and Alejo met when they were six years old at an Easter Mass in Albuquerque New Mexico in 1972. Since then, they grew up together. By age 14, they found out their attraction to each other. In 1984, at age 18, they had to split because Alejo's father died and he had to follow the tradition: continuing his father's restaurant, get married, have kids, etc. Alejo told Bobby not to see him again. They fought hard, and broke up in really bad terms.

Broken heart, Bobby left the to...more 5 stars

Bobby (Roberto) and Alejo met when they were six years old at an Easter Mass in Albuquerque New Mexico in 1972. Since then, they grew up together. By age 14, they found out their attraction to each other. In 1984, at age 18, they had to split because Alejo's father died and he had to follow the tradition: continuing his father's restaurant, get married, have kids, etc. Alejo told Bobby not to see him again. They fought hard, and broke up in really bad terms.

Broken heart, Bobby left the town to Houston, TX, for college. They had never met each other again for years. Not even in their high school's 10th reunion, which Bobby skipped since he still couldn't face Alejo. A year after, Bobby visited the town and the two met. Alejo had been separated from his wife (although not yet complete divorce) and wanted to have an experience again with Bobby, to remember him by. They had steamy night together after so many years. After that, Bobby returned to Houston. When several years later Bobby's brother died, he came back for the funeral with Quinn, his partner at his side. Alejo's heart ached, but he knew he had made his choice years ago, as had Bobby now.

Fast forward, the year was 2006. It's been 22 years since they first split. They're both 40 now. Alejo had been officially divorced from his wife. The ex was getting re-married to a nice guy. His children were teenagers (with all troubles they brought) and about to graduate from high school. Bobby was single again after Quinn left him. Whenever he was in town, like this weekend, Bobby and Alejo enjoyed steamy nights together. Brokeback Mountain had just lost the Oscar but was still playing. Could Bobby convince Alejo to watch the movie? And more importantly, could they manage to avoid the fate of Ennis and Jack?

It's a beautiful book. It's sweet, but surely is not sugary sweet. Sometimes, it's heart wrenching, but it's never really too angsty since the author didn't make the MCs swim in agony or emotional distress. They have broken heart, but they understand and accept the reasons and live with it.

Both characters are Hispanic, and as it is two institutions are integral parts of their lives: family and the Catholic Church. Yet, the book manage to avoid the stereotypes that people who go to church must be ready to lynch the gays. No, it's not portrayed as Kumbaya-style of loving everybody either. There's balance between those who disapprove, approve, and are indifferent. Neither does the book dive into quasi-theological question. It simply depicts the cultural influences that the church has in the lives of Hispanic living in New Mexico.

The characters are likeable. Even the sad action that Alejo had to take (breaking up with Bobby, and not in a nice way) doesn't make me hate him. Disappointed yes, but not hate. The supporting characters, including Alejo's ex wife and children, are also interesting.

Bobby's use of Brokeback Mountain movie to convince Alejo is really nice and sad at the same time. After watching the movie, Bobby asked, "Doesn't it remind you of something?" Serious spoiler: (view spoiler)

The book goes back and forth between the present and the past. Sometimes, it's a bit distracting but I got over it since each represents an important event in the characters lives.

Recommended.(less)

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Feb 05, 2012 MsMiz (Tina) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: glbt-all, kindle-mobi

4.5 rounded up! 4.5 only because I really could have used more scenes between Bobby and Alejo alone.

This book....man.....I am not sure I will be articulate enough. It just hit right. Soul mates from the age of six. Separated by life brought together again by love.

You will follow Bobby and Alejo through their journey present and past - revisiting the moments that make them who they will ultimately be together.

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Feb 09, 2012 Td rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angst, friends-to-lovers, sniff

4.5
There are some couples who you need with every fiber of your being for them to make it. That's how invested I was in Bobby and Alejo and their story. I admit there were a few times I worried where the story would turn. Would I get a lecture in homophobia? Would it get religion heavy and preachy? Would I get sappy, unrealistic, overall acceptance? Absolutely not. It touched on several issues, enough for me to get it and understand, but not get pounded. What I felt the most was the fear, the co...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Simsala*is getting slow* rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, contemporary, aftertaste-warm-and-fuzzy, comfort-reads, could-see-the-sparks-fly, favorite-m-m-couple, favorites-2012

Idiots!
Stupid,stubborn,jealous,beautiful,adorable morons! So much wasted time...

...and so much more than a simple romance this was the emotional story of Bobby and Alejo - falling in love as little boys,breaking up as young adults and being seperated for the next two decades.How these two men who were so in love and tune with each other managed to make all the wrong decisions over family affairs,kids,marriage,jealousy,insecurity and fear that kept them apart instead of being together...incredibl...more

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May 08, 2012 Violetta Vane added it

Shelves: mm, multicultural-or-interracial

I'm really not into slice-of-life contemporary stories, but I'm so glad I took a chance on this book, because it was incredibly enjoyable, emotionally resonant and deeply satisfying. Everything was just a little larger than life, exciting, enough that my jaw dropped in several places—that scene with Bobby and his three brothers and the dogs and the love letters!—but the realistic details always kept it anchored.

I love that all the characters were so three dimensional. We've got an ex-wife who is...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Heather C rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Heather C by: Lauraadriana

Shelves: pdoc, contemporary-romance, ebook, book-challenge, m-m, read-2012

4.5 Stars...I think...maybe?

I'm really on the fence on how to rate this book...I mean,it wasa beautifully written love story and I feel like I really got to know Alejo and Bobby, but the flashbacks kept filling me with and overwhelming sense of dread to the point I just wanted the book to be over with! It was so angsty for me! I understand the need for all the flashbacks since that was the way the story needed to be revealed to the reader, but that just isn't the style I like to read.The story s...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Charly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sweet story about two men who finally get their happy ending

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 7/10

PROS:
- Kovalin makes it interesting right from the get-go. Along with a strongly established physical attraction between the two men (which didn’t feel forced to me because of the characters’ history together), there are also numerous references to some vague occurrence “in Texas.” After about the third mention, I REALLY wanted to know what the heck had...more Sweet story about two men who finally get their happy ending

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 7/10

PROS:
- Kovalin makes it interesting right from the get-go. Along with a strongly established physical attraction between the two men (which didn’t feel forced to me because of the characters’ history together), there are also numerous references to some vague occurrence “in Texas.” After about the third mention, I REALLY wanted to know what the heck had happened in Texas. So I was hooked.
- I loved that Alejo is so quiet and restrained. Not that I mind reading about characters who are totally open about their sexual desires, but it’s nice to encounter characters who are a little on the shy side now and then, too. “You’re so hot for me…It’s nice,” he says at one point, and Bobby’s responding thought is, “For [Alejo], that passed for raunchy sex talk.”
- It may be because the story spans such a long time, or it may be simply because Alejo and Bobby’s connection is so strongly established, but I was convinced by the end of the book that these two guys couldn’t possibly be 100% happy without each other. Sometimes I read stories in which I like the two guys together, but I’m not convinced that they’re MEANT to be together. Not so in this story: these two struck me as soul mates.

CONS:
- Much of the story is told in flashbacks that provide background information that is necessary to understand Alejo and Bobby’s complicated relationship. They’re not badly written, but I think the flashbacks could have been woven into the story a bit more smoothly.
- I found the story to be a little too angsty for my taste. Most of the flashbacks--as well as some of the scenes that occur in the present--relate heartbreaking scenes in which the two men are like ships passing in the night: desperately in love with each other but kept apart by a variety of external circumstances.
- The transition from “Alejo’s worried about coming out to everyone and admitting he’s in love with Bobby” to “Alejo’s asking Bobby to move in with him” struck me as rather sudden. I also thought the ending was a little abrupt. It’s not a bad ending by any means; it’s just that I’m not sure I liked the specific scene the book ends on. I thought that particular part of the story could have been told a little earlier, and the final scene could have been something different.

Overall comments: This is the third story I’ve read by this author, and she’s growing on me. I’m not sure whether she’s improving measurably with each book or whether I’m simply growing fond of her writing style, but I thought this was a sweet story despite the angsty moments. Good characterization, men who have faults rather than being perfect, and sex scenes that are tender and passionate.(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Dumbledore11214 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay-romance, multicultural

I love this author's stories, but when I bought this one for some reason hearing that this work was inspired by "Brokeback mountain" made me put it aside and only pick it up today. Oh I had no doubt that this author will give all the necessary credit to the work of art that inspired her and will create something original based on it, no what worried me is the ending of Brokeback mountain. I was worried that this work may also have overload of angst and the ending I usually do not care for (of co...more

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Mar 20, 2012 clear skies rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love best friends to lovers stories, however more often than not my favourite trope leaves me with a 'meh' feeling. That's how this book left me. I have tried one book from this author before and I find her prose dense. Her ideas are there and well thought out; but her prose does not flow well.

Bobby has loved his best friend since he was six. However, Alejo has grown up wanting to please his religious family. Alejo can't be what Bobby needs him to be: proud and out. At 18 they split and Alejo...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Jess Candela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, read-in-2012

I'm leaning toward 4.5 stars, but I'm not quite sure. I loved it, and found the characters to be memorable, but...but what? I appreciated that she avoided most of the annoying ways of differentiating two male characters - the taller/shorter one, blond/brunet one, older/younger one, etc. But then, these guys were the same height, hair color, and age, so none of those would have worked anyway!

What she did, instead, was over-use "his friend". It wasn't as obnoxious as some books I've read recently...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-contemporary, mm-romance-or-erotica

What a beautiful story!! I don't know if "Brokeback Mountain" is the inspiration (considering that the movie is used at one time in this book, for Bobby to remind Alejo about their own relationship), but like that book (and movie) it portrays a long-time yearning and deep love between two men, who cannot be together because one is too afraid to acknowledge it.

The writing is profound, and I care so much about the two characters (Bobby more than Alejo) and what they've been going through. I so wa...more What a beautiful story!! I don't know if "Brokeback Mountain" is the inspiration (considering that the movie is used at one time in this book, for Bobby to remind Alejo about their own relationship), but like that book (and movie) it portrays a long-time yearning and deep love between two men, who cannot be together because one is too afraid to acknowledge it.

The writing is profound, and I care so much about the two characters (Bobby more than Alejo) and what they've been going through. I so want them to be happy because they could have been happy for the past 20 years or so, instead of being apart. Yes, there are times I want to shake some sense into the characters, especially Alejo, for not having enough faith ... but these men come from a different time, where being gay has serious repercussion (well, it still happens now too, sadly) with tight religion, that actually only breaks my heart. Isn't is sad, that these people cannot be together because they choose to be with someone with the same sex? It should not happen that way, at all. In any place at any time.

However, I need to point out a couple of technical issues for me, which sort of distracting me from the whole story:

One, I'm a bit annoyed with the time pointers -- in chapter 1 alone, it's around 8 times I encouncer words like "months ago", "one year ago", "after ten years", "early last year", "twenty-six years ago", "twenty-two years ago" ... At one time, I actually put it aside, before starting again after reading all the high praises from my friends. It's distracting, and I wonder if I should draw somekind of timeline on a paper to keep track.

Two: each chapter is written with this structure: present then flashback. All seven chapters. While each flashback marks one important event in both Bobby and Alejo's life before coming to present, I'm always been a 'future' kind of gal. I can appreciate the flashback UNTIL the last chapter. Personally, I prefer to have the book ends with something in the future, rather than ending it with something that happened in the past. Again, it's just personal thing.(less)

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Feb 08, 2012 Sadonna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: friends-to-lovers, gfy-ofy, mm, pdf

This was a really really good book. It is sad and hopeful. The story is told in the present as well as in flashback and there are alternating POVs of both MCs, but I think that it actually enhances the way the story unfolds.

There were times when my heart was racing and I just wanted to read faster so I could get through the difficult parts of the past between these two men who so obviously belonged to each other. The flashback scenes were amazing. The immediacy of the conflict, danger and viole...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Ari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-romance

I'm afraid I couldn't write a proper comment, all I wanna do is squee all over the place...

Alejandro Sandoval and Roberto Gallegos, or Alejo and Bobby, that how they called each other. Met when they six, having first sex experience at fourteen but painfully broke up at 18. Years later, when they 28, Alejo is a successful business men, married and have 2 kids. While Bobby is a successful lawyer, they met again for the first time after years of separation, try to smoothing up their broke up, but n...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Jody rated it 5 of 5 stars

Val Kovalin has created an intensely emotional story greatly influenced by the movie Brokeback Mountain. Not only is the movie mentioned often but the rollercoaster relationship between Alejo and Bobby is very reminiscent of the main characters from the movie. Their love story has an epic feel to it as the reader is shown the first spark of their feelings for each other as youngsters through their turbulent teen years to their realizations that they're wasting the time they have left apart. At e...more Val Kovalin has created an intensely emotional story greatly influenced by the movie Brokeback Mountain. Not only is the movie mentioned often but the rollercoaster relationship between Alejo and Bobby is very reminiscent of the main characters from the movie. Their love story has an epic feel to it as the reader is shown the first spark of their feelings for each other as youngsters through their turbulent teen years to their realizations that they're wasting the time they have left apart. At every turn this story tugs at your heartstrings and even after the last page is turned, the lives of these two men stay with you.

Alejo had a difficult upbringing with brothers that were violent with numerous addictions. He was mentally and physically abused and his unplanned coming out led to violence and him leaving town and never looking back to make a future for himself. Being with Bobby gave him a sense of safety and feelings of being valued and loved. In contrast, Bobby's family were loving but extremely religious so coming out was not an option for him so he tried to live his life as his religious beliefs warranted. He treated Alejo as his dirty little secret, drawn to him yet never showing the truth in public. These differences carried through the years as Alejo embraced what they had while Bobby fought things every step of the way but ultimately coming back every time. I felt sympathetic towards Alejo throughout the entire story. Coming from the background he did of constantly having to clean up his family's messes to desperately wanting to be acknowledged by the only man he truly loved and constantly being kept a secret made me resent Bobby at times for his unknowingly callous treatment of Alejo. Bobby was a coward when it came to matters of the heart and his religion definitely kept him shackled to his life built on lies.

Alejo and Bobby's early sexual interludes were fumbling yet sweet. As they matured and with each encounter being but for a fleeting moment there was always a sense of longing and desperation in the intensity of their coming together. These interludes, once they ended, made me ache for what they could have if Bobby only let himself be happy.

The Mexican culture is beautifully on display with its beliefs and expectations of of how a man should act greatly affecting both Bobby and Alejo. The descriptions of the city and culture fully immersed the reader in the story and added an extra layer to the story. There's an intriguing number of secondary characters that greatly influenced the relationship between Bobby and Alejo with many of them appealing and one or two extremely exasperating.

This was a wonderful story that pulls you in from the very first page and stays with you long after the final page is turned. Every up and down these two men experienced, I felt right along with them. Readers wanting a realistic story full of rollercoaster emotions should definitely give Fall Into the Sun a try.(less)

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Feb 04, 2012 Edina Rose rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

Childhood best friends and lovers get reunited in their forties.

I liked:
- The jealousy: not excessive, just enough to stir up trouble, oh yeah!
- The macho possessiveness and hot temper: so much passion! I'm sitting in the front seat, waiting for them to kill each other...softly.
- The hot sex: these men are STARVED for each other and they make up for the 20+ years they were separated.
- The family mess: uber-religious or all-criminal, they don't do things in half.
- The grown up kids:...more

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Feb 10, 2012 MandyM rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance

A story of two men who were best friends and more in their youth but events and relationships tore them apart. Many years later one of the men, Bobby, survives a hostage taking situation which makes him rethink his life. He no longer wants to keep his love for Alejo hidden and is prepared to fight against Alejo's reluctance and fears, as well as the beliefs of his friends and community to get what he wants.

The story is well written. My favourite part is actually Bobby and his criminal brothers a...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reviewed for JoyfullyJay blog on 4/10/12:

Rating: 4.75

Bobby Gallegos and Alejo Sandoval met when they were 6. It was 1972 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. Alejo was being picked on by three boys who had stolen his marble. Bobby came to his rescue and into his life. From that time forward, they were inseparable even though their families were so different. Bobby came from a rough family of four boys whose dad was in prison. His older brothers were petty criminals following in their fathers...more Reviewed for JoyfullyJay blog on 4/10/12:

Rating: 4.75

Bobby Gallegos and Alejo Sandoval met when they were 6. It was 1972 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. Alejo was being picked on by three boys who had stolen his marble. Bobby came to his rescue and into his life. From that time forward, they were inseparable even though their families were so different. Bobby came from a rough family of four boys whose dad was in prison. His older brothers were petty criminals following in their fathers footsteps who only saw the youngest boy as a punching bag. Alejandro's family were strict, ran a family restaurant and was devoutly Catholic. But none of that mattered as the years passed and their connection deepened into love.

The summer of 1982 changed all that with a series of devastating events that would separate the boys for 22 years. Over time, Alejo got married, and had a family and ran the family restaurant, his bisexual tendencies buried deeply in the closet. Bobby moved away, went to law school in Houston, Texas where he was now a gay successful criminal lawyer. Only once did they try to reconnect but bad timing and distance interfered.

Now they are both 40, their lives at an impasse. Alejo is divorced and Bobby has returned to Albuquerque to persuade Alejo to make a change so they can finally get their happily ever after they have been denied for so long. Bobby has seven days. Will it be enough time?

Let me say right from the start that I love stories about first loves getting their second chance at happiness so this pushed all the right buttons. Val Kovalin also did such a wonderful job with her characters that identifying with them was easy. There is never any doubt as to who these men are and how their pasts molded them. Both men have real depth and layers to their characters, including their flaws which help drive them apart.

Bobby was the easiest of the two to empathize with. His obstacles to overcome are so clearly black and white, starting with an abusive family that he managed to escape from while staying true to who he is. Alejo had it much tougher in a way. His parents love, expectations and strict adherence to the Catholic church buried Alejandro's own career choices and sexuality under a blanket of guilt and parental love. Now at 40 and getting ready to attend his ex-wife's marriage, his children, especially his wayward son, keep him from reaching out to Bobby and a new future. The reader's frustrations with Alejo's indecision and inability to parent his son mount with Bobby's . Yet, so skillfully is Alejo drawn that his rational is clear and in keeping with his history. Both the reader and his lover understand his actions even if you don't like them. It's your flaws that make you vulnerable and oh so human. So you are never ready to give up on Alejo and neither is Bobby. I thought their entire relationship realistic as it grows and adjusts from ages 6 to 40.

I really enjoyed this book and notice that it is called Fall Into The Sun Bobby and Alejo #1. I am hoping that means we will be seeing more of these two and their hard won future together. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Cover: I loved this cover. The models were perfect for Bobby and Alejo. Just wonderful from the expressions in their eyes and that they seem more in keeping with the age of the characters. Great job.

(less)

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Feb 13, 2012 Nikyta rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: closet-cases, contemporary, in-sickness-and-in-health, m-m, angst, a-sweet-cute-read, unrequited-yearning, tear-jerker, stayed-up-all-night-to-read, existing-relationships, older-couple, self-published, friends-or-enemies-to-lovers, lawyers, kids-or-dependent-family, deception-betrayal-lies-omissions, published-on-amazon, second-chances

4.5 stars

To say I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. It was a well-written, engaging story that I just did not want to put down. The connection these two men have is awe-inspiring and captivating.

This is a story about Bobby and Alejo. Friends from the age of six, they've reached all aspects of a relationship in the decades they've known each other. From friends to lovers, breaking up and drifting apart, to getting reacquainted and becoming lovers all over. The feelings they've had fo...more 4.5 stars

To say I enjoyed this book would be an understatement. It was a well-written, engaging story that I just did not want to put down. The connection these two men have is awe-inspiring and captivating.

This is a story about Bobby and Alejo. Friends from the age of six, they've reached all aspects of a relationship in the decades they've known each other. From friends to lovers, breaking up and drifting apart, to getting reacquainted and becoming lovers all over. The feelings they've had for each other for over two decades never disappeared or lessened. Their lives have been made of love, heartache and missed opportunities but now both men have reached a point in their lives when being friends with benefits is no longer acceptable. Bobby's ready to move forward but Alejo might be too set in his ways to finally grab hold of what he desires most. And that's Bobby.

I absolutely adored these characters. Bobby and Alejo have such a great connection that I felt like I could feel it. They are both stubborn men and that stubbornness sometimes causes tension between them but their love always brings them back together. They are two completely different people. Bobby is an out and proud lawyer who doesn't much care what people think of him or how it'll effect his family. Alejo is a family man. He's divorced with two kids, owns a restaurant, a devout Catholic and can't have much of a life because of his troublemaker son who's desperate for attention. Bobby's forgiving and understanding but even he gets frustrated by Alejo's constant need to coddle the boy especially when it interferes with the limited time they have together.

One of the things I loved about this story was the use of flashbacks. Normally, I don't like flashbacks because when they're not done properly I feel like I'm getting whiplash. Ms. Kovalin, however, has an amazing way of smoothly transitioning the story between the past and the present. We get to see Bobby and Alejo then as teenagers and lovers, we get to see them years later when they meet for the first time after a long silent absence. We get to experience the simmering desire when they realize they're both at a time in their lives when they don't have obligations to other people and that they're once again able to explore what's between them. It's a beautiful story filled with love, hate, desire, and grief and it all shows us who Bobby and Alejo are and how they've come to be in the place they're in.

My only fault with the story is I wished there had been more of Bobby and Alejo in the here and now. (view spoiler) I felt like, while the story did good in transitioning between the past and present, there wasn't enough of them alone together in the present.

Overall, this was an amazingly sensual story about second chances. The characters are lovable and interesting while the plot is captivating. Seeing these older men finally able to grab hold of the love they've had for each other was simply amazing and had me staying up late just so I could finish their story in one go. It's definitely a book I'd recommend especially since I know I could never get enough of Bobby or Alejo. (less)

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Mar 24, 2013 Rissa (an M/M kinda Girl!!) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, battle-of-the-books, m-m, xxmarch-2013, read-m-m

Sometimes it's a nice change of pace to read about some over 40 fellas!

Bobby & Alejo meet when they are 6 years old and they've loved each other since almost that long. While this story starts at the current time and place and moves forward, we also get to have flashback memories of things that have happened throughout the years since they met. So we can see them become friends, lovers, circumstance come up that tear them apart and how they come back together. This story was beautifully wri...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Sophie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, reunited-lovers, m-m, adult, first-in-series

♥
A modern day Brokeback Mountain (Minus the ending)

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Mar 24, 2012 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: rainbow-gay, glbt, contemporary, romance

4.5 stars.

I adore the re-united lovers theme, especially if their parting was dramatic. I like to see the awkward moments of the re-union and how the protagonists find the things that brought them together again and overcome their past. The story begins a little after that, and then it develops alternating flashbacks of the most important moments since when Alejo and Bobby first met and it goes forward, while the two men have to decide if they really want to be together during a stressful week f...more 4.5 stars.

I adore the re-united lovers theme, especially if their parting was dramatic. I like to see the awkward moments of the re-union and how the protagonists find the things that brought them together again and overcome their past. The story begins a little after that, and then it develops alternating flashbacks of the most important moments since when Alejo and Bobby first met and it goes forward, while the two men have to decide if they really want to be together during a stressful week full of events concerning Alejo's family.

Bobby seems to have the role of the pursuer: he is the one who has never hidden his sexuality, he has showed his love for Alejo to the point of looking pathetic, he accepts the reticence and the priorities of Alejo. Alejo is stuck in his role of family man. He knows Bobby is his ticket to happiness, he regrets what brought them apart, but whenever Carlos, one of his twins, has a personal crisis, Alejo is there, putting his own family first.

For a long time I was a bit mad at Alejo, because I didn't think he really deserved Bobby's devotion, and I really think he mistreated his friend, but Bobby didn't do everything right either before they parted (badly) the first time, because he tried to win Alejo with a lie and he was so possessive of Alejo that he didn't even realize how Alejo was hurting for his father's illness. So while Bobby is a sort of open book, because he doesn't seek to please, Alejo keeps his feelings guarded, because there are so many people he doesn't want to disappoint.

There are a couple of things that were done perfectly in my opinion:

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It took me a little while to really get into the book, because flashbacks usually take me out of the story, but the sections in the present and the sections of flashbacks follow a sort of rhythm, so I got used to them. I also think the twins were cut into characters that were a bit stereotypical in their differences. On the other hand, I think Bobby's family was depicted with incredible vitality and the character of Isidro was fascinating in his complexity.

The writing was effective, I liked how sometimes it zeroed in on details, especially during the sex scenes (the first one was very hot, by the way, but jock straps are my weakness).

If you like re-united lovers, this is a very good and recommended story!(less)

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Nov 06, 2012 Lasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: darkdivasreviews, coming-out, first-time, kids, five-stars

I love reunion stories and Fall Into the Sun is a beautiful example of when an author gets it perfect! Alejo and Bobby (Roberto) are children when they meet. They experience everything together: first times, love and the discovery that they are gay. However, due to their culture and religion, Alejo decides he cannot come out and leaves Bobby when they are eighteen to marry a woman. Bobby, heartbroken, moves away to try and rebuild his life, but still harbors love for Alejo. This book tells the t...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourites, mm-read, z-2012

This is a story about real life getting in the way. Alejo and Bobby have been friends since they were 6 years old and in love with each other for just about as long. The book tells the story of their relationship through its ups and downs to the present where the men are 40 years old. Circumstances and split-second decisions forced Alejo and Bobby apart when they were 18 years old and although their lives briefly intersected again over the years it has taken them a long time to get to where they...more

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Jan 30, 2012 UrbanFirefly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Have you ever read a story and thought, "wow, I know these people"? That's how I felt reading Fall Into the Sun. Bobby and Alejo felt alive. They aren't perfect. They did some messed up stuff to each other due to immaturity and anger. They did screwed up stuff to other people and wasted a lot of time, but they aren't totally nonredeemable.

Alejo is a kind man, a loving father that spoils his man-child of a son, he's a devout catholic who seems to have a hold on his understanding of his religion...more Have you ever read a story and thought, "wow, I know these people"? That's how I felt reading Fall Into the Sun. Bobby and Alejo felt alive. They aren't perfect. They did some messed up stuff to each other due to immaturity and anger. They did screwed up stuff to other people and wasted a lot of time, but they aren't totally nonredeemable.

Alejo is a kind man, a loving father that spoils his man-child of a son, he's a devout catholic who seems to have a hold on his understanding of his religion and his lifestyle. Alejo played his part in allowing all of the time that was lost between him and bobby to pass, but when it came time for him to make the right decision, he did. Fearlessly at that.

Bobby is the man that made it out. He did what he needed to do to have the life he wanted, but he also took risks to protect his family. He never denied what he was and after it was unceremoniously revealed, he never tried to hide it. Bobby is a tough dude.

There's this air of longing through out the story that made it really intense for me. I was so relieved when they allowed themselves to express their love for each other after so many years apart. These two have been through some hell together and I could believe that they would allow themselves to have permission to love each other openly and make up for lost time somewhat quickly.

Kudos to Val Kovalin for not taking some of the easy routes with this story. For one thing, both characters are Hispanic and their culture is present throughout the story without being stereotypical or demeaning (to me at least). Another thing is Alejo's religion. He doesn't allow it to become a conflict with this sexuality. He is what he is and that's all. He has his internal conflicts, but there are multiple factors and reasons for his actions. Eugenia, Alejo's ex wife is a strong, tough woman who is on his side. She’s the one who takes care of business when he's too guilt ridden to get it done. She could have easily been written as a bitter harpy and while there was one point where to me she seemed a bit cold, at the same time I understood her. Her kids are grown, it's time for her to have her life.

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With all that being said, I think Fall into the Sun is worth a read. It's not tremendously long but there's a lot of substance in it. (less)

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Feb 06, 2012 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

I Loved this book. I Loved everything about it. 4.5

My first concern was the fact that this title was not long enough to accumulate the details and angst of 20 years. Separations, reunions, heartaches, marriages and kids is something very few authors are capable of composing in eloquence. This however was weaved with smooth elaborations and such refined anamnesis that I was left with an exquisite savoring I craved over and over through my read. There were no confusions during reminiscences of pas...more I Loved this book. I Loved everything about it. 4.5

My first concern was the fact that this title was not long enough to accumulate the details and angst of 20 years. Separations, reunions, heartaches, marriages and kids is something very few authors are capable of composing in eloquence. This however was weaved with smooth elaborations and such refined anamnesis that I was left with an exquisite savoring I craved over and over through my read. There were no confusions during reminiscences of past vitals and how they were embedded beautifully with the running present. I was taken by the writing and the engulfing story line.

For me, it was not the kind of book I couldn’t put down. I found myself putting this title aside many times after finishing a chapter so I can let the latter seep in and ground me to the plot. I took breaks and relished the time I spent thinking about the two MCs and how I felt assimilative by the inundating force with which they dealt every ordeal in their lives.

I felt their anguish, their denials, their love and their sacrifices and it’s very rare for me to feel such potent positivity for a title. Some scenes were written with such reverence that I read them again and again just for sake of savoring the bitter dilemma I have been craving in my day to day readings. Their reunion was maturely laid out, enunciating their eccentric partition. This was a pivotal point in the story and I loved the way the author congealed a decade of desolation transforming these boys to men.

Some personal aspects I would like to state: I don’t think Bobby should have perused Alejo with such forbearance. A person putting you second in everything and anything and trying your patience is not a reliable lover in both long and short term. Bobby made himself. He literally carved himself from the ashes left of his family into a pillar of concrete, a pillar only as strong as wax, melting, molding, and flowing in any direction Alejo choose. A person of such harsh character with brutal acknowledgement of life should have gone for someone balancing out his motivation for sustenance.

Alejo, even though elaborated as a much grounded personality, lacked conviction. Conviction towards his own thoughts, and maturity towards his perception of life. In my opinion, I think he often took Bobby for granted. Using and abusing Bobby comes naturally to Alejo. He whines about Carlos but sometimes he behaves exactly the same way as his son. Like, pleading for a continuance of affiliation knowing well that it will bring much undeserved grief to his ex lover.
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Jan 31, 2012 Feliz rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, jw

4.5 rounded up to 5

Bobby and Alejo first met when they were six years old, after a Sunday mass at the church both their families went to on a regular basis. Both grew up in Albuquerque, both are of Hispanic origin, but that’s about all they have in common. Alejo’s parents owned a Mexican restaurant, they were among the pillars of their Catholic parish. The Sandoval children were raised to traditional middle-class values; Alejo’s older sisters married and had families of their own, and Alejo got...more 4.5 rounded up to 5

Bobby and Alejo first met when they were six years old, after a Sunday mass at the church both their families went to on a regular basis. Both grew up in Albuquerque, both are of Hispanic origin, but that’s about all they have in common. Alejo’s parents owned a Mexican restaurant, they were among the pillars of their Catholic parish. The Sandoval children were raised to traditional middle-class values; Alejo’s older sisters married and had families of their own, and Alejo got into the family business when his father became ill. Bobby had three older brothers, all good-for-nothings like their father who died in prison when Bobby was fourteen; their mother worked two jobs, drank a lot and mostly left her children to their own devices, except for making them go to church on Sundays as long as they’d listen to her.

Still, Bobby and Alejo were best friends all through high school, fell in love with each other and even shared their first sexual experience with each other. But while Bobby was able to embrace his identity as a gay man pretty much from the beginning, despite the fact that his brothers’ violent homophobia posed a very real physical threat to him, Alejo had a much harder time coming to terms with his feelings for another man.
At eighteen, they split up over a vicious fight, and although Bobby wasn’t entirely without blame, it was mostly Alejo’s fault that their lives drifted apart. Bobby went to Houston, became a criminal defense lawyer and finally went into a relationship with another man. Alejo married, fathered twins and took over the family restaurant.
Over the course of the next two two decades or so, their lives touched several times, but they never found back to their former closeness, even though they reestablished a friendship-with-benefits after Bobby’s relationship broke up and Alejo got divorced.
Now, at forty, and after a traumatic event that changed his view of life, Bobby is back in Albuquerque and determined to try and make a change. Question is, are Alejo’s feelings for him strong enough so Bobby will be able to win Alejo over? Or is Alejo still too caught up in family ties and social expectations to give them a real chance?

The reader meets Bobby and Alejo at this critical point in their relationship and walks with them through the following week, learning about their history together and about past events through flashbacks. This narrative style worked for me, although, by its nature, it made for some gaps in the story I’d have dearly wished to see logically filled, particularly with Bobby’s transition from standing beaten up and penniless in a bad corner of Albuquerque to living in his own apartment in Houston. (not to mention his dogs Tank and Killer – dog lover that I am, I’d have loved to see more of them!)

The narrative alternates between Bobby’s and Alejo’s viewpoints, as do the retrospective parts, so we get to know both characters pretty well. I haven’t read many books with Hispanic characters yet, but for all I know, their characterizations rang true to me. Both were, in a way, firmly rooted in their respective traditions that were based mostly upon Catholicism and a strong sense of family.
Bobby’s familys’ hot-blooded machismo led his brothers to making bad choices that cost two of them their lives and landed the third in deep trouble, but it also fueled the stubborn intent with which Bobby went about his goals. Alejo was all about honor and duty and doing the right thing, which in a way, made him prone to be guilt-tripped into things. (By the way, Carlos, Alejo’s son, was a first-class selfish, immature whiner. I found him the best-drawn secondary character, although I thought him a bit too juvenile even for a lovesick eighteen year old. Well, and I hated him.)
But Alejo was also able to look at things differently, which made him considerate to Bobby and eventually, towards his own needs and dreams. I came to like both guys, even though I could’ve smacked Alejo once or twice for how he stood in his own way. I enjoyed watching them grow up with – and despite – each other, and grow together.

The Brokeback Mountain motive is evident in this story; in fact, the movie is referred to several times. Bobby even exploited it as part of his strategy to win Alejo over for good. However, I think this is anything but fanfiction; I’d rather call it a homage.
Still, the Brokeback Mountain movie scene didn’t work too well for me, as I’m generally not a fan of detailed citations and references in books. Viewed impartially, this scene forwarded the plot and fit the narrative, though, so this is probably only me and mostly a matter of taste.

All in all, I found Fall Into The Sun a well-thought-out tale about coming to realize what counts in life, and a romantic, emotional and very enjoyable read. Recommended.(less)

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Feb 10, 2012 Lily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, ebook, free-arc-gifts-contest-wins, m-m, what-i-read-in-2012, friends-to-lovers

I totally loved Bobby and Alejo's story. They were childhood friends, then young lovers torn apart by family circumstances and now twenty years later they've reconnected as friends with benefits. Can they overcome everything that's kept them apart; family obligations, children, exes, religion and work, and finally get their HEA?

The use of flashbacks to bring the MCs and their family to life worked really well. The cast of characters is varied, the story flows well and there's a lot of emotion co...more

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Fall Into the Sun (Alejo and Bobby #1)

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