Fallen from Grace

May 16, 2011 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gift-from-friend, format-kindle-or-kindle-compatible, starts-with-e-thru-h, ebook-own-have-read, 2011-reads, 4-5-stars, abuse-forced-prostitution, abuse-sexual, rape, rape-attempted, writer, prostitution, reviewed-by-me

This is an amazing story, and not at all what I thought it would be. For whatever reason – and I can’t recall how or where I came by this idea, I was expecting another run-of-the-mill erotic read. Well, I was wrong, and not just a little wrong, but completely wrong.

Fallen from Grace is a contemporary romance novel, and one of the best I’ve read in a long while. This isn’t a light, carefree story but even though it does show some of the harsher sides of reality, it’s not dark or depressing. In fa...more
This is an amazing story, and not at all what I thought it would be. For whatever reason – and I can’t recall how or where I came by this idea, I was expecting another run-of-the-mill erotic read. Well, I was wrong, and not just a little wrong, but completely wrong.

Fallen from Grace is a contemporary romance novel, and one of the best I’ve read in a long while. This isn’t a light, carefree story but even though it does show some of the harsher sides of reality, it’s not dark or depressing. In fact, given the subject matter, it’s pretty inspiring. In addition to a great story, the characters are wonderful people who are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but they are the kind of people I’d like to have as friends and neighbors, because they’re honest, good and caring people, men and women who struggle to make the best of their lives.

The very nature of this story is controversial, but Laura Leone did a fabulous job tackling the issues that Ryan and Sara had to face in this book, without copping out and ignoring the harsher aspects of life on the streets for a teen age boy. Minor spoiler - (view spoiler) She didn’t glamorize the life, nor did she try to make excuses for Ryan’s choices. What she did do, though, was prove why we mere mortals have no business casting judgments on each other because without having all the facts, we can’t possibly understand why someone like Ryan would make the choices he did, and Ms. Leone did so without being preachy! No small accomplishment, that.

So, the bottom line? If you’re looking for a thought provoking contemporary romance that isn’t shaped from the same cookie-cutter that so many in this category are, I’d strongly suggest giving Fallen from Grace a try. I bet you’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

A big hug and thank you to my friend, Autumn, for this wonderful birthday present. This story will stay with me always!

4.5/5
(less)

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May 31, 2012 Michelle, the Bookshelf Stalker rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Made our Badass Hidden Gem list..

http://badassbookreviews.com/badass-h...

First, I hate this cover. It seems cheap and not very appealing at first glance. It doesn’t do the book justice and that is a shame. So, to help this book along. I am going to put a guy on the cover much more suited for the story. I think the very beautiful (Rest In Peace) Matthias Streitwieser is perfect for the cover.

Ok, now onto the story

First, a few formalities to get out of the way. This book is not light and fluffy....more

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May 30, 2011 KarenH rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of tortured heroes and the inevitable angst that comes as part of the bargain.

Shelves: excellent-love-story, heart-wrenching, keep-the-kleenex-close-by, keepers, sexy-with-a-capital-s-hero, top-5ish-favorites, tortured-hero, older-woman-younger-man, kindle-books-5-stars-plus, male-prostitute, new-adult

This book is absolutely amazing, but be forewarned... it will not fit into the perfect, orderly, sunshine and roses fairy-tale world that many of us read to escape to. In fact, it steps way out of the box. It is shocking, it is heart-wrenching, and it will take you to a very dark side of real life that you might not know much about and are probably better off for it. Yet despite all that - or because of it - the sweetest love story takes root from the very beginning of the story, grabs you heart...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, steamy

3.5 Stars!

Completely different read then I'm used to, although, insightful, facinating and tragic. The hero, "Ryan" and his heronie, "Sara", are from two very opposite worlds. Sara, who is a struggling writer and 9 years Ryan's senior, becomes infatuated by his grace, supportive nature and good looks. Ryan, a 27 year old former teenage runaway and now high-priced male prostitute, falls for Sara's beauty, kindness and wit. Together they endure several lifetimes worth of hardship, painful revelati...more

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May 19, 2011 Auntee rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans looking for something a little different in their romance

Recommended to Auntee by: Julie (Mom2lnb)

Shelves: contemporary-romance, 2011_reads, tortured-hero

Wow. What a wonderful, thought-provoking, compelling story. I was looking for something different, and I found it with this little gem. This book pulled me in from the first page and never let up. Fallen From Grace is not your typical romance--I mean, how many romances do you know where the hero is (view spoiler)

It's going to be hard to write a review and do this book justice without revealing any spoilers, but I'm going to try.

The main characters of th...more

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Apr 29, 2009 Julie (Mom2lnb) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Romance Readers Who Are Looking for Something Unique

Shelves: contemporary-romance, desert-island-keepers, read-2009

Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" “..... romance readers want a good story more than they want a safe one.” This is a portion of the dedication in this book, and I can honestly say that while this story is anything but safe, it is indeed exceptionally good. I've read so many romances over the years that it is extremely difficult to find one that I can truly call unique, but Fallen From Grace turns traditional romance on it's proverbial ear, with nary a cliché to be found. It has an older heroi...more Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" “..... romance readers want a good story more than they want a safe one.” This is a portion of the dedication in this book, and I can honestly say that while this story is anything but safe, it is indeed exceptionally good. I've read so many romances over the years that it is extremely difficult to find one that I can truly call unique, but Fallen From Grace turns traditional romance on it's proverbial ear, with nary a cliché to be found. It has an older heroine (by nine years) with a younger hero, a multi-cultural relationship between a heroine who is Jewish and a hero who was raised Catholic, a heroine who essentially rescues the hero, and most surprising of all a hero who is a prostitute (yes, you read that right;-)). While all these elements might make this sound like the oddest of stories, in fact, everything worked together to create a very fascinating and compelling novel that was a pleasure to read. Ryan and Sara developed a very strong bond of friendship long before becoming lovers, which I found to be incredibly beautiful. They exhibited a depth of trust in one another that is a rare treasure. Ryan initially hid his real profession from Sara, but I was shocked at how quickly even that was revealed. Aside from that one thing, they always communicated with stark, naked honesty, never really holding anything back from each other which I found utterly refreshing. They share many scenes together that are laced with emotion and sexual tension, and when they finally do make love, those scenes were so incredibly sweet and sensuous, they made my heart do flip-flops. All in all, I thought they were a perfectly matched couple.

I never would have thought that a prostitute would make a good hero, and while Ryan was certainly not the typical romance hero, he was a very appealing one in spite of his profession. He was an extremely complex character especially in an emotional sense, but it was easy to see why Sara fell in love with him. Outwardly he had to project a certain toughness to survive and he definitely had a strong, courageous spirit that was his saving grace through all the horrible things that happened to him over the years. Inwardly though, he is a deeply wounded individual who sees himself as not good for or at anything but sex. There were a few times that Ryan was relating things to Sara from his past or things that he had to do for survival, where he seemed almost dispassionate, and he exhibited the same attitude towards sex with his clients as well. This bothered me at first until I realized that for him, these things had become “normal.” It was Sara who shook up his life and showed him the kind, compassionate, intelligent man he truly was. When Ryan finally took his life in hand and confronted his pimp, it was a very poignant moment and I was cheering him on all the way. I also loved that Ryan took in homeless, abused and neglected animals, and demonstrated the patience of Job with all of them, especially his psychotic bird. He later also befriended a homeless teen who had lifted his wallet. No one may have rescued Ryan (until Sara), but it didn't stop him from spreading kindness in the world by rescuing others. The amount of growth that Ryan went through from the beginning of the story to the end was phenomenal. He was probably the most atypical hero I've ever read, but one that has definitely made a lasting impression on me.

With Ryan being a little “softer” than most romance heroes, one might think that he would need a spitfire heroine to balance him out, but that was not the case at all. Sara had plenty of spunk, but at the same time was one of the most gentle, nurturing and understanding heroines I've ever read. Every time I thought that Ryan had disclosed one sordid thing too many, Sara always responded with grace and dignity. At times, it took her a while to process some of the bombs that Ryan dropped, but she always came back still loving him unconditionally. She also sometimes had angry reactions which I thought were very realistically rendered and understandable, especially when Ryan seemed unable to give up “the life.” I also really appreciated that she stuck to her guns, telling Ryan that they couldn't have a “real” relationship until he got out of the business. Sara was a highly intelligent woman who was also very intuitive of Ryan's needs and feelings, and in the end it was her pluckiness and determination that won the day. Even though Sara was the “rescuer” in this story, theirs was not a one-sided relationship. Sara had some difficulties of her own to face with a writing career on the skids and some unexpected family issues to deal with, and Ryan was always there offering his advice and a shoulder to cry on. He was a loving, supportive, understanding friend who was every bit as intuitive of her needs as she was of his. Even though Ryan struggled mightily with his past, he recognized the precious gem that he had in Sara, and that she was his for the taking whenever he was ready to meet her one and only demand.

Although this book belongs to Ryan and Sara, primarily Ryan in fact, there were a few notable supporting characters. Sara's father added some humor in his scenes, while Sara's sister challenged her notion of traditional romance in yet another way and gave Sara an additional opportunity to show her big heart and unconditional love. I thought both presented the picture of a loving, close-knit family. Adam, the homeless teenager, added a lot of depth to Ryan's character by allowing him to show how loving and caring he really is and how much he was willing to do to save someone else from the same fate he experienced. Ryan's pimp, Catherine, is not someone I trusted even from the beginning, but I thought that the author's portrayal of her was excellent. I understood exactly why Ryan felt indebted to her, and initially wondered if she possibly had a good side. I couldn't have been more mistaken though, as her true nature becomes abundantly clear in the end, at which point I felt nothing but loathing for her just like Ryan.

While I absolutely loved the plot of Fallen From Grace, I thought that the writing could have been a little smoother and more even in places. There were some fairly significant time jumps between chapters which at times made the narrative a little choppy. Also, while there were plenty of chapters that had a great balance between descriptive prose and dialog, there were also large blocks or even whole chapters of wall-to-wall dialog that were a little exhausting for an introvert like me to read. In my opinion, they could have been pared down a bit in favor of more character introspection especially from Sara. Sensitive readers should know that this book contains a fair bit of strong language and some very frank discussion of various forms of child abuse, the sex trade, and homosexuality as well as one scene of physical and sexual abuse that plays out in real time. Overall though, this was a wonderful novel that told a powerful story of redemption and the depths of unconditional love at its finest. For the last hundred pages or so, I could barely put it down. Readers who prefer “safe” romances should probably think twice before reading Fallen From Grace, but for readers who are looking for something really unique and don't mind challenging the notions of conventional romance, I highly recommend it. I only wish that more authors would write stories like this and more publishers would take a chance on them. In my opinion, Fallen From Grace is a little known gem of a book by an apparently not very well-known author which deserves more attention from romance readers than it seems to have gotten. It took me quite a while to track down a library copy of it borrow, but I will definitely be looking for a copy for my keeper shelf and will also be open to checking out other works by Laura Leone. It appears that she is a multi-talented writer who has not only penned several romances, but has also authored or contributed to a number of traditional fantasy, urban fantasy and non-fiction books under her real name of Laura Resnick.(less)

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Feb 27, 2012 Aestas Book Blog rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked this book. The couple who fall in love are a 26 year old male prostitute and a 35 year old female writer.

The author's writing flows really nicely and she writes really great dialogue. Lots of funny and cute scenes (Mrs. Thatcher!!!! Lol!!).

The subject matter though is very gritty and doesn't really hide anything. But the story is very heart warming and the HEA is very sweet.

The book didn't make me cry at any point - which usually is something I want in a 5-star read (happy tear...more

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Sep 03, 2011 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporany, romance, re-read, prostitution

Sara has just moved to a small apartment where she hopes to rebuild her writing career. Her new neighbor - Ryan- is a handsome, charming, class man, nine years younger than her, and he seems to enjoy sparing time with her. But nothing can be perfect, and Ryan is not a model, he is a prostitute.

Wonderful book with marvelous characters. I couldn’t put it down. I wouldn't have been able to understand Ryan if not for the first chapter, when you see "Kevin" in action. Wow. He is the perfect whore. B...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Judi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, 2011, may, contemporary-romance, tortured-hero

4.5 Stars!

Fallen From Grace is the perfect example of how looks can be deceiving.

Ryan seems to have it all. He’s gorgeous, a "model", sweet, generous, caring, lovable, a perfect gentleman and Sarah’s new perfect neighbor...he’s also the perfect tortured hero. The reality is Ryan is living a lie and hiding a deep dark secret that will just make your heart break for him as mine did several times while I was reading it.

In a seemingly unbearable and what Ryan sees as an inescapable situation, he...more 4.5 Stars!

Fallen From Grace is the perfect example of how looks can be deceiving.

Ryan seems to have it all. He’s gorgeous, a "model", sweet, generous, caring, lovable, a perfect gentleman and Sarah’s new perfect neighbor...he’s also the perfect tortured hero. The reality is Ryan is living a lie and hiding a deep dark secret that will just make your heart break for him as mine did several times while I was reading it.

In a seemingly unbearable and what Ryan sees as an inescapable situation, he is forced to prostitute himself daily, in a high-class manor if that makes any difference to a clientele of wealthy woman. Ryan sees himself as beholden to a woman Catherine who saves his life when he was a troubled, desperate teen and now basically Katharine controls Ryan’s life.

But one thing Catherine can’t control is Ryan’s growing attraction for his new neighbor Sarah.

Saran’s a women whose life is in flux. I loved that she was a writer whose career had taken a bit of a downturn when she’s dropped by her current publisher. So she decides to sell her condo, move to a much smaller apartment and continue to write. Maybe not the best decision and not one her family supported, especially her sister, but I liked that she took the risk and believed in herself. Not sure I could have been so brave given the same circumstances. On the plus side she did meet Ryan.

As Ryan and Sarah spend more time together and their friendship grows, Ryan won’t let himself pursue Sarah because of the secrets he is keeping from her - he just doesn‘t feel worthy of her *sniffle*. And although Sarah is captivated by her new younger neighbor, she’s convinced he would never give her the time of day or a second glance. Not that Sarah is anywhere near old - mid thirties, but Ryan’s younger, a major sticking point for Sarah and he’s a model for goodness sake with women throwing themselves at him daily or so Sarah thinks. Ha! If only she knew the truth.

Ryan’s a saviour and a survivor. I think because he figured there was no hope for him to save his own soul, he turned his attention to saving a variety of two and four-legged animals. Like the crazy parrot he adopted when the previous owner left it behind, the big oaf of a dog Macy who can’t even make up two flights of stairs without being carried and then there’s shy Cat. Ryan’s love of his animals is just one more reason he’s perfect!

Fallen From Grace was a beautiful love story that developed from a solid friendship between two people fighting their own issues. It was filled with many poignant moments and I wasn’t only routing for Ryan to conquer his demons and escape from beneath Catherine’s financial thumb, but I cheered all the way to the end for Ryan and Sarah’s HEA. (less)

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Jun 28, 2011 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, favorites, kindle

What a beautiful love story this book is. It reached out to me and made me feel the anger, anguish, hurt and love of this wonderful couple. It was thought provoking and wonderfully written - I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Sep 28, 2010 Jane Stewart rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, 5-star-romance

This is a beautiful love story. I give it 4.5 stars, rounded up for Goodreads.

Don't expect a lot of hot, sizzling, sexual buildup. It is more about loving relationships. It is wonderful. I enjoyed the conversations between Ryan and Sara. I liked these two characters. Ryan was beaten by his father as a teen and ran away from home. He became a prostitute to survive on the streets. He was taken in by Catherine and trained to be a high priced escort/prostitute where he worked for ten years. Reading...more

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May 25, 2011 Saly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Saly by: UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish

Shelves: older-woman, single-titles, rom-contemporary

Fallen from Grace is such an awesome book and Ryan the hero is so damaged.
He lost his mother and was sent to live with his abusive father, he escaped and went to live on the streets. The system never helped him and instead sent him back to his father. After a brutal rape, he is taken in by Catherine, a woman so manipulative that she managed to make Ryan into "Kevin" her favorite escort boy. She preyed on a damaged terrified teenager and turned him into a man who got business for her, she used hi...more Fallen from Grace is such an awesome book and Ryan the hero is so damaged.
He lost his mother and was sent to live with his abusive father, he escaped and went to live on the streets. The system never helped him and instead sent him back to his father. After a brutal rape, he is taken in by Catherine, a woman so manipulative that she managed to make Ryan into "Kevin" her favorite escort boy. She preyed on a damaged terrified teenager and turned him into a man who got business for her, she used his gratitude and his feelings for her against him and tied him to herself. Ryan tried to get out but every time he couldn't since that was the life he knew and Catherine was very good at manipulating him and making him feel that he owed his life to her. He lives two lives one as Ryan, that is the real him, taking in stray animals and Kevin, the one who romances and beds women and gives them whatever they want.

Sara has changed her entire life, her book contract has been cancelled and she has just moved in, to a place opposite Ryan. She has a wonderful family and friends and well is still reeling from the knocks life has give her.
Ryan and Sara become friends, she helps look after his pets and he consoles her when he sees her crying, there is more underneath but Sara is 9 years older than Ryan and then there are the secrets Ryan is keeping.

Seeing them together was a joy, for Ryan, Sara was the light of his life, who liked him for who he was, he found it incredible that she enjoyed the company of someone like him who was not that well-educated and had led the life he had and the things he did on the streets. He wanted more with her but he had such a low sense of self-worth.

He tells her about what he does before they can go to the next level and that was not an easy conversation for him, he doesn't want to lose Sara and her friendship but he also doesn't want to lie to her. The conversations are painful and the emotions behind it gut-wrenching. Sara's reactions are every believable and she asks him why, how and the specifics. Ryan is honest without wanting to tell her but he does, when he tells her something knowing that would help him lose her forever, he does it since he can't just stand being her friend. He knows he can seduce her but doesn't since he wants her to want him and accept him.

You can feel both of them hurting, Ryan wants acceptance from her and Sara wants to give it but it so difficult for her. The emotional conflict was so well done. I liked how Ryan helped Sara with her family and her sister's sexuality.

Sara and Ryan love each other and say the words to each other as well but his profession and what he feels he owes Catherine stands in the way. I liked the resolution, it was so heart-breaking to see Ryan confront the rape and how he finally cut the strings from Catherine. Sara gives Ryan love and acceptance and what she does in the end for him, to get him out of his emotional state was so lovely.

I loved this book, it was heart-breaking in parts, it doesn't gloss over what Ryan did and does but Sara helps Ryan see that he could help people and that he deserved love.

5 ++++(less)

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Jun 11, 2011 Shabby Girl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: five-star-books, top-50-fave-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book is a real find. Recommended by KarenH on a forum, I don't really know why I bought it really as it has two particular themes I can't usually stand in my romances; prostitution and cheating. Although the prostitution thing usually relates to the heroines, not the heros. Yet, I loved it! Having said that, this is a one of a kind book type of read for me, can't see me rushing out to buy any more books on male escorts, even though this book really did it for me.

I really liked the story, it...more This book is a real find. Recommended by KarenH on a forum, I don't really know why I bought it really as it has two particular themes I can't usually stand in my romances; prostitution and cheating. Although the prostitution thing usually relates to the heroines, not the heros. Yet, I loved it! Having said that, this is a one of a kind book type of read for me, can't see me rushing out to buy any more books on male escorts, even though this book really did it for me.

I really liked the story, it really made me think. I certainly don't have anything against prostitution, I believe it's needed in society so people who need sex can have it, so long as the people providing it are doing it of their own free will and are not forced into it. But I suppose it made me think because when I read, I put myself in the heroine's shoes and I felt like I just so identified with her and my own feelings, were I in her position, pretty well mirrored hers. I kept thinking, this can't work out because how can you love him and yet let him trot off to work knowing what he's going to be doing and then be able to live with that. I couldn't do it! As I was reading I really felt her dilemma and her pain; she loved him so much, but could she live with what he was doing. I felt it was so real, the push me, pull me that she was going through. In the end, I would have done the same as the heroine.

I loved the way though that the h gave the H unconditional love, I thought she treated him wonderfully. The honesty between them was brilliant, although his honesty was at times very hard to take, just as it was for the heroine. I know he did it sometimes to shock her to push her away, however, as what he told her happened to him, that just made it harder to read. As I was reading along, I was shocked that he could be in love with the h and yet trot off to work doing what he was doing and could separate it. I was thinking, yep, men really are from Mars and women are from Venus, but thank goodness, in the end even he couldn't keep that up. What a relief that was.

Well, the hero was to die for. Not my usual type of hero, him being a beta, as I love and prefer to read about the alpha types, but I suppose in stories the alphas are great, but for real life, the H in this book is just the type of guy you'd love to have at home loving you. God, the things he went through and came out the other side being such a loving, giving man. He was so lucky to find her, she was just what he needed, and she was lucky to find him. He was such a mix of strength to have gotten through what he did in his life and to have come out so well, and yet he was so vulnerable at the same time, like a puppy you just have to cuddle and protect. I don't think I've ever felt so much for a H in any other book I've read. Talk about a damaged and tortured hero; lonely and thinking he was not worth much because of what he'd done and what he'd become and what he was doing, but reaching out for her anyway, all the while thinking he was going to get severely burned. Really gutsy guy.

I loved this book, it hooked me right from the first page and as it went on I couldn't put it down, even though at times it quite shocked me. I highly recommend it. I had to really think about what star rating to give this book, as I reserve my five stars for books that I think are the best of the best, top of the tree, and my four stars are for above average and really memorable books. If I could give half stars I think I'd land in the middle of four and five, but since I can't, after much thought I decided it really is worth five stars. A lot of people I notice give five stars quite easily, but I don't. After much thought I decided it was worth more five than four. Yeah, this book is one of those unexpected little gems you come across every now and then, and I live for those! (less)

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May 28, 2011 Steffi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, favourites, prostitution

5 stars for Fallen from Grace

This is a perfect example for why I love goodreads. I never would have picked this up if it wasn't for the raving reviews of some of my GR friends.

Ryan 'works' for an escort service. He wanted to get out many times but feels indebted to his employer because she saved his life twice and took him off the streets.
Sara is a writer and just moved in next door to Ryan. The two of them become friends very quickly but there is always this underlying attraction and tension...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Lex rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Lex by: Dani

Shelves: adult, contemporary, stand-alone

Um... Dan made me read this book since she's asking me to read it with her. So I said yes and read it. I didn't even know it was Adult Fiction, found it later after reading the first pages of it, I just WOW.

Fallen from Grace is totally out of my comfort zone. I haven't tried reading adult fiction much, um, okay I've read Danielle Steel (have some sex scene but not detailed) and one Sidney Sheldon and a book about faeries (forgot the title and the author, but slightly erotica).

The difference was...more Um... Dan made me read this book since she's asking me to read it with her. So I said yes and read it. I didn't even know it was Adult Fiction, found it later after reading the first pages of it, I just WOW.

Fallen from Grace is totally out of my comfort zone. I haven't tried reading adult fiction much, um, okay I've read Danielle Steel (have some sex scene but not detailed) and one Sidney Sheldon and a book about faeries (forgot the title and the author, but slightly erotica).

The difference was Fallen From Grace was not really all about sex. Well, okay. It was about sex, about prostitution. But it is not always about it, I mean, if you're waiting for them to get it on everyday and read it in detailed, then you're waiting in vain. Sure, some parts are semi-detailed but that's it.

Ryan, as the blurb said, is a high-priced prostitute when he met Sara, his next door neighbor and a writer. (view spoiler) I like Ryan not because he's good at sex or anything. I like him because he tried to separate his prostitute life and his personal life. He's charming, good looking, well, a prostitute needed those qualities. But what I like the most was that he didn't push Sara. I mean he could definitely ensnare her so he could make love to her but he didn't. Cause Sara's special to him.

The story mostly revolves about Ryan. How he met Sara, wanted out of the prostitution business, but his b*tch of a boss wouldn't let him because of personal reasons. And how he wants to save Adam, a kid who pick pocketed his wallet, and get him away from the streets. (view spoiler)

So I think I'm spoiling it too much. I just want to say that you should read it. Cause this book is full of emotions, you really would want to know why Ryan's like that, why he choose to be a prostitute, how he wanted Sara so much and how Sara handled Ryan. I love Sara because she's so supportive to Ryan, she shows how much she loves him. Willing to go to anything just for him.

Yes, okay. I'll stop. Just read it. :) I liked it very much. And btw, if you'll have theories like we, Kingston and I, have, you might want to prepare for it. Cause what we have in mind didn't even appear on the book. LMAO! :P

Btw, again, I really don't like the cover. It's not that catchy. It's not like I'm picking up a book because I saw that there's a hot abs in the cover. LOL! I wish the cover could be changed to more appropriate one.(less)

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Mar 22, 2013 Isabel rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: did-not-finish, bitch-of-a-heroine

Sara is a judgemental old bitch. I don't like Sara I find her too newsy (nosey) for someone that just wants to be friends. Ryan is way more mature than her.

This is from when Sara pries into his past as a street kid.
“And then there are a lot of adults who prey on homeless kids."
"Such as?"
"Such as perverts and sadists whose tastes and habits I refuse to describe to you” Sara

My question is where the fuck has she been living that she has no idea what he's talking about ?

“How could he tell her such...more Sara is a judgemental old bitch. I don't like Sara I find her too newsy (nosey) for someone that just wants to be friends. Ryan is way more mature than her.

This is from when Sara pries into his past as a street kid.
“And then there are a lot of adults who prey on homeless kids."
"Such as?"
"Such as perverts and sadists whose tastes and habits I refuse to describe to you” Sara

My question is where the fuck has she been living that she has no idea what he's talking about ?

“How could he tell her such personal things… and then behave since then as if none of that had occurred between them?

He didn't tell you , you kinda force him to tell you with your pushy self .

She wondered if her reaction had hurt him, if she'd offended or distressed him that evening in the bar. She'd tried to broach the subject since then, but—on the rare occasions when he deigned to be in her company—he kept shifting the conversation, evading the topic, and avoiding another serious discussion.”

Well you kinda implied that he would introduce another street kid to prostitution , so what do you expect ?

So after this he visits her and calls out her name and somehow this "startles" her at this point the coffee mug falls out of her hands and shatters , then she tells him that it was his fault and he should help her clean it up . She then hands him the broom and stands there with her arms cross while he cleans up everything and starts to interrogate him about his whereabouts .

Sara sister tells her that she's a lesbian and that she moved in with her girlfriend and Sara asks her if they sleep together.
No, Sara what do you think they do if they are lovers ?

Ok I give up I can't stand Sara , I never could but she's become unbearable and Ryan is just a pushover . No matter what Ryan did or is doing Sara has no right judging and demanding answer like she's his mom or the cops and then judging him I wish that Ryan would have told her to fuck off and do something else constructive with her life instead of judging others but he never did ( as far as I got in the book it never happened) . They didn't even seems to have chemistry between each other. (less)

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Mar 21, 2012 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: lent

I think this is one of those books that might have been stronger as a non-romance - too much heavy stuff had to be simplified to work in the HEA. Honestly, I would love to see Ryan in something by Megan Hart.

Sara, ugh. She lives in the Bay Area for all her adult life, has tons of wildly interesting, eclectic friends, and yet has decidedly conservative and prejudiced views regarding sexual orientation - and sexuality in general. She is also kind of a bitch, and admittedly self-absorbed and gossip...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Diana~ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Diana~ by: UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish

Shelves: contemporary-romance, erotica-romance, amazon-kindle, 2011-reads, made-me-cry, life-changing

Fallen From Grace is a story about two people coming from two separately different backgrounds in life, in which they end up meeting one another and falling in love. This book was truly a spectacular read and I'm really glad that I decided to go buy it and read it. Ryan was such an endearing character and an amazing hero. What he went through and the decisions that he made towards to end just shows how great and loveable he is. Sara sort of bothered me in some areas because she was so... judgeme...more

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May 16, 2011 Autumn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemp-romance, recomended-to-me, deep-complex-ansty-plot, personal-favorites

"DN" AAR.

Laura Leone dedicates this book to her editor at Five Star who agreed that “romance readers want a good story more than they want a safe one.”
Fallen From Grace is a fast-moving, compelling read, albeit one that might not appeal to more traditional romance readers.

Sara Diamond is the published author of a discontinued medieval mystery series who is aggressively pursuing a fresh start. Despite a barrage of concerned chastisement from her father and sister, she impulsively sells her San...more "DN" AAR.

Laura Leone dedicates this book to her editor at Five Star who agreed that “romance readers want a good story more than they want a safe one.”
Fallen From Grace is a fast-moving, compelling read, albeit one that might not appeal to more traditional romance readers.

Sara Diamond is the published author of a discontinued medieval mystery series who is aggressively pursuing a fresh start. Despite a barrage of concerned chastisement from her father and sister, she impulsively sells her San Francisco condo to take a second-floor apartment in an eccentric, old Victorian situated in one of that city's less posh neighborhoods. There are two features that recommend her otherwise questionable living quarters to her worried relatives: the large balcony overlooking Glen Canyon Park, and the hunky but very nice neighbor who shares it.

Ryan Kinsmore is ostensibly a male model, but actually makes his living as a paid escort - with all that that implies. He leads two very separate lives by living where he does - the only connection his employer is allowed to his personal life is the cell phone that he always carries. He finds himself seeking out more and more time with Sara, whose friendliness and simple sincerity beckon like an oasis in the midst of an emotional wasteland. He knows that she is as drawn to him as he is to her, and while he cannot make himself avoid her, neither is he heartless enough to encourage feelings between them that can only lead to disaster.

Given the subject matter of this book, I was pleasantly surprised at how it speaks so well to the evolution of emotional intimacy. The beauty of the love story between Ryan and Sara, as well as Sara's conflicted relationship with someone close who has just announced (view spoiler), is what it tells us about real love. That it protects, rather than harms. That it nurtures, rather than manipulates. That it accepts, not because that is the easy course, but because it is the only course possible when it comes to those we love unconditionally. And the very nature of Ryan's work serves to throw into bold relief the physical intimacies between Ryan and Sara, where ravenous desire meets more tender emotions, where a man who has been taught total control allows himself the "free-fall that any other guy in love wants." These scenes perfectly capture the synchronization of lovers who succumb to complete mutual immersion, both in the bedroom and out.

Leone's characters are richly drawn and fully human, and she displays extraordinary skill in showing how Ryan and Sara, both individually and together, work through the complexities of their situation in a believable way. Sara can't imagine what Ryan sees in someone as physically ordinary as she is, never realizing that, while she came to love the gentle soul beneath his beautiful exterior, he started by loving her soul and worked his way outward. It's not surprising that Ryan would come to yearn for Sara and what she represents, with her loving family and the vast array of friends she attracts, her intelligence and her wry humor. Nor is it surprising that Sara understands the impossible choices Ryan had to make even while insisting he no longer has to make them. Even the villain of the piece is not totally black and white; there are sufficient gray areas to leave the reader wondering about the minute possibility of redeeming qualities in this individual's past. I dearly loved Sara's sister and father, who fret and fuss about her choices but are always a solid presence lending their support; the gentle bickering between Sara and Miriam is as real as their shared amusement over their father's quirks. And, finally, there's Adam, a homeless, teenaged pickpocket who inadvertently opens the possibility for his own salvation by stealing from Ryan.

I loved the many nuances of this story, those subtle details embedded so faultlessly that you almost overlook them. One scene that captured my fancy has Sara preparing to go out while Ryan is updating her on how he spent his day. While she's listening and asking questions, she's also absent-mindedly searching for her purse, then her keys, never noticing that Ryan has not only correctly interpreted her distraction, but knows her habits well enough to locate the missing items and stuff them into her hands without a pause in their conversation. It's a scene so ordinary that any couple can immediately relate. But it's also the kind of detail that convinces cynical readers like me, more than a thousand protestations of love ever could, that Sara and Ryan meld together in a way that is enduring, that plays out in hundreds of such day-to-day scenes stretching into infinity.

I applaud the willingness of small publishers, to question conventional wisdom (which can be so unerringly wrong) and take a risk. And, being an optimist. I have every hope that their risk will be rewarded; truth will out, as they say, and the simple truth is that Laura Leone is a writer who can craft an interesting and emotionally compelling love story that resonates on many levels. (less)

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Feb 16, 2011 D.G. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, reviewed

Horrible cover notwithstanding, this is one of the best contemporary romances I’ve read in a long time. With a topic like this, you expect the book to be somewhat sordid but nothing farther from the truth. The story was romantic, tender and real enough that I was able to understand the circumstances of a person in the life. How the author was able to balance a real love story and a background of prostitution, rape and abuse is beyond me but she did a great job at it.

The relationship between the...more Horrible cover notwithstanding, this is one of the best contemporary romances I’ve read in a long time. With a topic like this, you expect the book to be somewhat sordid but nothing farther from the truth. The story was romantic, tender and real enough that I was able to understand the circumstances of a person in the life. How the author was able to balance a real love story and a background of prostitution, rape and abuse is beyond me but she did a great job at it.

The relationship between the hero and heroine was really beautiful. Love came first and expressions of lust second, which I think it was really appropriate given the hero’s profession. This is a romance in the true sense of the word so there’s a lot of internal dialogue about their relationship and feelings, balanced in such a way that there are not overwrought declarations or maudlin dialogue.

The author did an amazing job unfolding the details of Ryan’s life and his reasons for staying in the life. I really cannot fault him for thinking he couldn’t get out. Given where he came from and what he had to endure, his reasons made perfect sense. I was also glad that the author took some time to illustrate why people in his situation are so distrustful of The Man. You may think that a lot of these situations can be solved by involving the establishment without realizing that sometimes the laws of the land have helped create these problems in the first place. It was good to see a different perspective.

The heroine was really a good fit for Ryan. We don’t get to know much about her past except about the problems with her career. I cannot imagine what it must be to lose a job you love but as you can imagine, her issues where not as dire as Ryan’s so they didn’t grab me as much.

I usually don’t talk about the secondary characters in reviews but the ones in this book were really great; enough that they illustrated something about the hero and heroine but not so many that they took over the book.

So please, if you are looking for a great romantic story and don’t mind the tough theme, please pick this one up. Even with that cover (what were they thinking?) it’s a book you wouldn’t want to pass up.(less)

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Apr 02, 2013 Lu rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: keepers

I have a thing for rock star books and male escort books. This falls into the latter category. Ryan is a high priced male prostitute who has never felt real love or a connection with a woman during sex. He tries to live a quiet live apart from his job but when Sara moves in next door to him he finds himself falling for the older compassionate woman and for the first time he is looking at his life and job with uncertainty. More than anything he wants a connection with her but is afraid that once...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Bonni rated it 5 of 5 stars

I stumbled on this book by accident, and I never ever once regretted it!! I was touched, moved, and so enthralled that I could not put it down! The book’s description was uniquely intriguing (and all of the GREAT reviews didn’t hurt either) so I decided to buy it for my Kindle, paying nearly $5.00 for it.

I am a big fan of Contemporary Romance so this was the perfect book for me. I like stories that take place in the “today”. It’s hard for me to care for and relate to the characters when they are...more

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May 19, 2012 Regina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-contemporary, favorites, romance

Ignore the cover of this book. The various covers are all equally horrible and do not give the reader any indication what this book is about. Ignore the title, nobody in this book fell from grace, so again the title tells the reader nothing. Despite the title and the cover, this book is a solid contemporary romance novel. If you like witty dialogue, a slow building romance which develops out of a friendship and books that touch on social issues in an intelligent way, then you will enjoy Fallen F...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Sofia Grey rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, top-picks-2012

I loved this. Loved the opening premise, the characters and the whole setup. At barely 27% I emailed a friend to say, ‘you have to read this’ and I gobbled it up, unable to put it down apart from when I had to sleep.

Ryan is a handsome, cultured and polite young man living alone, apart from a number of rescued pets that he lavishes affection on. He doesn’t appear to have any female entanglements, and his new next door neighbour Sara even begins to wonder if he might be gay. She’s a writer who’s j...more

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May 27, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-contemporary, reviewed

I don't usually read contemporary romance, but after reading such great reviews (thanks Michelle!) I bought this one on impulse and did not regret it a bit. I have enjoyed Resnick's books in the past so I knew I'd like her writing style despite the fact it was Urban Fantasy I had previously read from her.

This book was straight romance, however, and for that I was glad. Sometimes contemporary romance starts to bend into chick-lit territory for me and that's when I really start to dislike it. Not...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Dinjolina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: angst, best-romance, favourite-books, hero-that-can-have-me-24-7, out-of-this-world-revelations, older-but-cool-woman

Well.

I read this book in like...2-3 hours without even trying to go to the bathroom.
And it was not a light or fast read.
In order to start I have to say that Ryan is officially the cutest little darling ever!
I loved how strong and smart he was and it pissed me royally off that all those bad thing happened to him.
Ok,the bad childhood,the rape all of it was horrible, but what hurt me the most was that he lost perspective along the way.
He had a distorted stockholm syndrome for sure.
I did not for one...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Dottie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am a romance junkie who is not a fan of romance novels, their vulgar covers and gratuitous sex. I would rather read a book that has a strong plot with a side of romance than the other way around.

I am an angst junkie who loves broken heroes almost more than anything. The more manpain the better. That's probably a screwed up thing to say, but to each her own. I love reading about lost souls and how they find their way back to redemption.

If it isn't obvious by now, I love my stories a little dark...more

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May 19, 2010 Crista rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-star, contemporary, tear-jerkers

Child abuse (emotional, physical, sexual), child endangerment, child exploitation, pedophelia, prostitution, sodomy, homosexuality....this book has it all. If any or all of these topics is especially offensive or too close to home for you, I wouldn't recommend this book. If you are one who doesn't mind a bit of "cold hard reality", then I can recommend this book highly.

Ryan Kinsmore was raised on the streets after his mother dies and his father is too abusive to stay with. He begs, borrows, and...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Tessamari ♥Many Waters...♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, must-re-read-again, highly-emotional, kindle-lendable

4.5 Stars :)

I couldn't put this book down. It was a beautifully written story. Our hero, Ryan (a.k.a. Kevin to his clients), is a high-priced escort. He tries to keep his job and his private life separate. He's very unhappy with his career and has tried to leave, but his madam, Catherine, has a tremendous hold on him. His obligation to Catherine is what keeps him line. Our heroine, Sara, is going through a lot of life changes. She's a writer who has just been let go by her publisher and agent. S...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Kristina rated it 3 of 5 stars

I just finished reading Finding Homeand was excited to find another book about a male prostitute and his struggle to get out of "the life." This book was somewhat disappointing to me.

The author really rushes through building a relationship between the main characters. She tells us through conversation that they had breakfast the day before or did some other activity together, but we don't get to read their conversations and see their sexual tension grow. On the other hand, the author spends an...more I just finished reading Finding Homeand was excited to find another book about a male prostitute and his struggle to get out of "the life." This book was somewhat disappointing to me.

The author really rushes through building a relationship between the main characters. She tells us through conversation that they had breakfast the day before or did some other activity together, but we don't get to read their conversations and see their sexual tension grow. On the other hand, the author spends an inordinate amount of time on conversations between Sara and her sister and descriptions about book publishing which seemed to serve no real purpose, and which I mostly just skimmed. I found myself wishing the author had skipped those scenes all together and focused her energy on developing the relationship between Ryan and Sara because even though they don't get together until the last quarter of the book, it feels rushed. I never understood what Ryan saw in Sara because there isn't enough description of their time together. In fact, when they say 'I love you' the first time, it seems wholly unbelievable. I actually made a face and thought "Where did that come from?"

I also felt that the author didn't spend enough time describing the inner-workings of Sara's decision to finally sleep with Ryan. It was a huge decision, and it read like she just decided in the moment that she had changed her mind about being with him. It seemed like Sara would have been torn up over her decision to sleep with him, but it isn't presented like that because there's no narration describing it. One day she is pulling away, telling him no, and the next it's "Happy Birthday! Take me to bed!" with no explanation as to why she changed her mind.

And, though there weren't many sex scenes, I found them somewhat confusing. There was a couple of times where it seemed like they were doing one thing, but a paragraph later I realized they were doing something else. It's important to me to be able to read a sex scene from start to finish and have a clear understanding of what's going...otherwise what's the point?

Overall, I'm glad I read the book. I'm very quick to put down a book that isn't working for me and I read this all the way through (though I did some skimming). But I wouldn't recommend it to a friend. So, I guess I am saying you should read Finding Homeinstead.(less)

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