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Taking the Fall #1

Taking the Fall: Vol 1

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Layla O’Leary has had enough. For years she has been haunted by the night she can’t remember. When she learns the only man she's ever loved has betrayed her, she escapes and crafts a new identity. She's finally free...

Carter has waited eight years to claim his woman. Locking him up only fueled his obsession. The day he gets out he's coming for her. Taking the Fall was just the start. Now he'll stop at nothing to possess what's his.

Warning: this book contains a hero who grunts and growls his way through life, a heroine nicknamed Cherry looking to lose it, and instalove so fast and hard your panties might disintegrate. Note: Not responsible for exploding panties.

Taking the Fall is a four-part story. Please note the endings are NOT relationship cliffhangers. Layla is Carter's.

128 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 6, 2015

138 people are currently reading
2513 people want to read

About the author

Alexa Riley

281 books16k followers
Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, donuts, and obsessed book heroes.

They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something SAFE, short, and always with a happily ever after, then Alexa Riley is for you!

Feel free to follow us each on twitter @smut_sasshole & @SassNSmut

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 324 reviews
Profile Image for Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️.
2,053 reviews35.7k followers
September 23, 2015
4 Smut Filled - Not So Substance Filled - But I Don't Care - Stars

This book was exactly what I was in the mood for today.

A quick, fast paced read with a high smut factor and an I-don't-really-care-about-much-outside-of-the-smut-factor factor, this definitely delivered what I have come to expect from Alexa Riley:

A story that gets right to the sexy point:

description

An over the top - and I mean OVER THE TOP - possessive alpha male.

Example:

"I don't want to be sleeping next to you tonight thinking about how much I hate that fucking pillow for holding my girl's head when that's my job...Your pillow and blankets had their turn. I take care of your body now."

description

Fuck yes, you.

Don't get me wrong.

If a guy said that shit to me in real life?

I would be parting the sea of red flags like fucking Moses on my way to the courthouse for an restraining order, but in my smutty fic?

description

Per Riley's usual, there is a decent - if shallow - storyline in place.

Just enough to act as the cracker vehicle upon which my peanut butter goodness transports itself to my mouth.

But I don't pick up Alexa Riley hoping for "world-building" and intricately woven character minutiae.

My only nay-say here is that I didn't know this was more of a serial format and not just a standalone short; which usually makes me..well...less than enthused.

description

But in this case I was actually happy when I got to the end and saw there would be another book as I wanted more from these characters.

And because the next one is already out.

And because they are free via KU.

All in all, not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

description


Merged review:

4 Smut Filled - Not So Substance Filled - But I Don't Care - Stars

This book was exactly what I was in the mood for today.

A quick, fast paced read with a high smut factor and an I-don't-really-care-about-much-outside-of-the-smut-factor factor, this definitely delivered what I have come to expect from Alexa Riley:

A story that gets right to the sexy point:

description

An over the top - and I mean OVER THE TOP - possessive alpha male.

Example:

"I don't want to be sleeping next to you tonight thinking about how much I hate that fucking pillow for holding my girl's head when that's my job...Your pillow and blankets had their turn. I take care of your body now."

description

Fuck yes, you.

Don't get me wrong.

If a guy said that shit to me in real life?

I would be parting the sea of red flags like fucking Moses on my way to the courthouse for an restraining order, but in my smutty fic?

description

Per Riley's usual, there is a decent - if shallow - storyline in place.

Just enough to act as the cracker vehicle upon which my peanut butter goodness transports itself to my mouth.

But I don't pick up Alexa Riley hoping for "world-building" and intricately woven character minutiae.

My only nay-say here is that I didn't know this was more of a serial format and not just a standalone short; which usually makes me..well...less than enthused.

description

But in this case I was actually happy when I got to the end and saw there would be another book as I wanted more from these characters.

And because the next one is already out.

And because they are free via KU.

All in all, not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

description
Profile Image for Sophie's Reading Corner .
890 reviews405 followers
December 13, 2015
Layla aka Cherry is visiting her old bodyguard in the prison. She is in love with him and she needs explanations about the night he was arrested. A night she can't remember and no one will speak about it to her. Carter is out of the prison after 8 years. His only aim is to get back to her and help her feel safe and free from her cruel past that she's running from.

Maybe this is a case of 'This is not you, it's me'. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for something like that. The thing is if I could describe this book in one gif, it would be this one.



Usually I don't mind posessive, alpha males. On the other hand, I have a thing for fictional characters being like that. This one though didn't work for me though. Specifically, Carter screamed 'rapist' from a far. Don't get me wrong, I like dark reads and I don't mind when I know that in my story there's going to be a love story with a rapist [Stockholm Syndrome, I know, I still don't mind it, don't judge me.], but I get enraged when this is a love story with someone treating you like a shit, not respecting when you protest and say no and even though you seem to struggle he knows that deep inside you want this. And we're talking about someone who claims that he has deep feelings for you.



"I knew how much she loved me bossing her around."

"You like the struggle, don't you?"

"I know you want it."

"Did.He.Ever.Touch.My.Property?"

"I'm gonna do a lot of things to you tonight. I'm gonna do them because I want to, not because you let me. Because you're mine to do with as I please."




NO. When someone tells you no, it means NO. Especially when you haven't seen this person for years and you suddenly show up and attack her, forcing her to accept what you give to her.

Even worse, the heroine actually was turned on and she did wanted that. Where is the brain in that? I know this is a fictional book, but I didn't enjoy it. I saw red flegs in every page I turned. I'm sorry but can't accept this kind of 'love'.



I wish the plot had captivated me, but sadly it was poorly written and other than the sexy scenes and dirty talk, the storyline isn't interesting enough for me to continue with the series.
Profile Image for SueBee★bring me an alpha!★.
2,417 reviews15.3k followers
Want to read
September 13, 2016
 photo Free Re xB by sb_zpsiu4dgdux.gif

FREE on Amazon US today (9/12/2016)
Book 1 in serial. Serial complete and sold in box set: Taking the Fall The Complete Series (Taking the Fall, #1-4) by Alexa Riley

BLURB:
Layla O’Leary has had enough. For years she has been haunted by the night she can’t remember. When she learns the only man she's ever loved has betrayed her, she escapes and crafts a new identity. She's finally free...

Carter has waited eight years to claim his woman. Locking him up only fueled his obsession. The day he gets out he's coming for her. Taking the Fall was just the start. Now he'll stop at nothing to possess what's his.

Warning: this book contains a hero who grunts and growls his way through life, a heroine nicknamed Cherry looking to lose it, and instalove so fast and hard your panties might disintegrate. Note: not responsible for exploding panties.

Taking the Fall is a four part story. Please note the endings are NOT relationship cliffhangers. Layla is Carter's.


FREE: https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Fall-Vo...


FREEBIES are often good for MORE than one day, I have gathered all my FREEBIES on a special shelf: Kindle-freebies (currently over 500 books)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
Profile Image for P .
692 reviews345 followers
March 1, 2016
I started reading this book without knowing much about the story, so I ended up liking it.

“Your body is mine. Nobody sees it but me. Nobody touches it but me.”


Taking the Fall is all about a man released from jail and chasing after his woman. The story is so instense I can't believe it's from Alexy Riley. Her normal works seem plotless to me, but this one have worked it out very well.

Carter is a possessive guy, he takes what's his and never lets his heart go. Sometimes I felt like he was too domineering but sometimes I didn't. Layla is a bleak character tho, I could't connect with her and it almost failed this book. By the way, the book is fun if you like a possessive man and don't ask about something sensible.
Profile Image for Aisling Zena.
634 reviews516 followers
February 22, 2016
3.75

I find that there is a fine line between a ridiculously over the top book that's good and one that is bad. And I'm the first to admit that my mood at the time of reading plays a big part of whether I like a book or not. Luckily for this one I actually quite liked it.
description

The heroine is naive and sweet, maybe a little silly and the hero is so possessive and exaggerated he's jealous of sheets and pillows!

"I don't want to be sleeping next to you tonight thinking about how much I hate that fucking pillow for holding my girl's head when that's my job...Your pillow and blankets had their turn. I take care of your body now."

description

It was a smutastic, quick read with a bit of a cliffhanger, but since the next books are all out I didn't mind. The sex was outrageous and yet I enjoyed it. What's that? I'm a perv? Yes I know!

description
description

The plot and world building was pretty non-existent. We do see some glimpses of information but not much.Fair shout though to everyone that didn't like it. I see your points but what can I say? I like some no-brainer, smut filled, extremely possessive neanderthal men in my books when I'm in the mood for them.

description
Profile Image for Anish Kohli.
210 reviews291 followers
July 12, 2018
Yes, yes! Another one! And no, this wasn’t even a dare. I picked it up all by my lonesome bcz I am feeling a little too cuckoo these days, what with my exams over and all :D
But overall, why I am reading these remains to be answered. Guess we’ll find out soon!

First off, thanks to Sade for this recommendation. It wasn’t half bad and I can see how it might work for people. Here’s my review of it.

Ever seen a dog going around marking his territory? This exactly that. The dog is Carter, territory is Lyla’s body and the way of marking it is:
“I’m marking what’s mine” I growl, and jerk my c*ck off fast and hard. “It may be between your legs but it belongs to me.”
Yep. Masturbating on her. Just so much love between the two, I tell you! :P

Funnily, this book was far better than the last one in terms of writing but just as ludicrous in terms of setting. It’s very short, unlike the hero’s thingy, which is quite sizeable! :D


I am thinking this genre is not for me but I’ll be reading a couple more to be sure and also bcz it makes me snort!! I mean the dialogues in these books are just soo awesome for me to not laugh out loud! I don’t judge anyone who can get hot on these books but I really just want to know how bcz I can’t seem to stop laughing at these! Here’s a few amazing dialogues that cracked me up good :D :P
“Your body is mine. Nobody sees it but me. Nobody touches it but me.”

“These lips are just as sweet as your pu*sy lips aren’t they, baby? It’s okay, you don’t have to answer that. I’ll find out myself.”

“Listen, Cherry,” I start again, ignoring her. “We’ve got a lot to cover tonight, so I expect you to shut that pretty mouth of yours unless my c*ck is in it.”

“I'm gonna do a lot of things to you tonight. I'm gonna do them because I want to, not because you let me. Because you're mine to do with as I please.”
And the one that I loved the BEST…
I’ve waited years for this. If I want to lie here and smell your pu*sy all night I will. Hell, if I want to order a pizza and have my fucking dinner while I keep my nose on your c*nt, that’s what will happen. Now shut up and let me have my moment.”

Wonderful day spent snorting in office while my boss was pissed with me. Basically I pissed him off even more with my constant chuckling and snorting and thus NO REGRETS! Yeah, screw you boss man!
Profile Image for Dino-Jess ✮ The Book Eating Dinosaur ✮.
660 reviews18 followers
September 6, 2016
Not my favorite, yet I couldn't stop reading.

The deliciously weird quotation from this one is as follows:

I’ve waited years for this. If I want to lie here and smell your pussy all night I will. Hell, if I want to order a pizza and have my fucking dinner while I keep my nose on your cunt, that’s what will happen. Now shut up and let me have my moment.


LOLWOT

I will keep reading, because AR is like wine, even when it's not great, it's still wine.

3 pizza-pussy Stars
Profile Image for ♡kitten♡.
213 reviews356 followers
April 25, 2015
What a pleasurable read and a great start to a series. An alpha hero who served 8 years in prison, now coming to get his girl when he was finally freed and will stop at nothing to completely own what was his. I loved that he was hell-bent on going after the heroine the minute he was out of prison to claim her. Yep, obsessed alpha male here! I wish there was more, my mind is filled with questions. Beware: ends with a major cliffy.
Profile Image for Sher❤ The Fabulous BookLover.
940 reviews582 followers
August 30, 2016
My first Alexa Riley book and it did the job. I wanted smut and that's what I got!

*Dominating, dirty talking, I've got 10-inches (wowza!) and will-spank-you-if-you-misbehave alpha male.
*Virginal, hopelessly in love heroine.
*Fast paced, but believable plot
*Soak your panties sex scenes

This book was filthy, dirty, smutty and I loved it! The perfect in between read. #noshame
Profile Image for Lisa (Two Bookish Brits).
879 reviews164 followers
April 9, 2017
Book Description

Layla O’Leary has had enough. For years she has been haunted by the night she can’t remember. When she learns the only man she's ever loved has betrayed her, she escapes and crafts a new identity. She's finally free...

Carter has waited eight years to claim his woman. Locking him up only fueled his obsession. The day he gets out he's coming for her. Taking the Fall was just the start. Now he'll stop at nothing to possess what's his."






Carter is an absolute asshole and too damn demanding but I LOVE him so much omg. He's hot and broody and where do I get me a Carter?

Layla is beautiful and scarred but she knows what she wants. Escaping her past life did her good.

The SEX scenes god damn they were scorching hot, a few panty changes are gonna be needed or even a cold shower when reading this sexy book.

I loved this storyline, Layla and Cater could be the most amazing couple if only the timing was right. I can't wait to read the next part of the story.

Alexa Riley did amazing with this, the characters, the storyline, everything was great.

Warning: this book contains a hero who grunts and growls his way through life, a heroine nicknamed Cherry looking to lose it, and instalove so fast and hard your panties might disintegrate. Note: not responsible for exploding panties.

Taking the Fall is a four part story. Please note the endings are NOT relationship cliffhangers. Layla is Carter's.
Profile Image for ~ Cariad ~.
1,924 reviews54 followers
April 15, 2015
4.5 hot, dirty, sexy, yummy stars for me!!

description

Oh yeah!! THAT worked very nicely!! Next please!!




Profile Image for Diana's.
1,051 reviews125 followers
April 10, 2015
Need the next one ASAP..
This one was a Quick Super Hot read!!!
But these men need to learn how to communicate...
Profile Image for Diksha.
224 reviews123 followers
January 28, 2016
What i did not like:
There were times i felt that the heroine deserved much better treatment from the H, he told the h to shut up several times...i did not like that. Also i think he should have been more gentle with her for their first time...
I think he was just too much for my liking.

What i liked:
Hero was faithful like crazy and was truly in love with h. yeayyy *big smile* :D

-Entertaining read tho
Profile Image for  Linathebookaddict  .
1,546 reviews407 followers
May 9, 2015
This was such an enjoyable read. I consumed it all in one sitting!

Layla is a young woman who has experienced betrayal. After realizing that the man she has feelings for doesn't want her, she escapes her father's tight clutches and starts anew. But she never forgets the tall, dark and handsome bodyguard of hers, Carter. Pushing the disappearence of her mother and her father's coldness behind her, she begins a new life.

Carter has spent years in prison and when he is finally free. he goes after what he really wants and craves; Layla. After pushing her away years ago, he realizes it is finally time to go after his heart's desire.

Layla doesn't expect to see Carter ever again, so when he shows up uninvited into her new life, time freezes. Her feelings come back in full force and she knows she cannot deny him anything. But will he fix her or break her all over again? Will he stay or leave? Will he protect her from the past that's still haunting her or will he abandon her when she needs him the most?

I loved the writing. The story flowed smoothy and the insta-love didn't really bother me because the storyline was developing quickly. Carter is one of those dark heroes who simply takes what he wants without apologizing for it. He is dark and possessive and Layla's innocence draws him in. Layla is the young woman who cannot resist him. Their chemistry is explosive and their attraction pulsates throughout the book. Their scenes will leave you breathless.

My only complaint is that the book ended on a terrible cliffhanger!!!! Why??? I want the next book now!

3.5 to 4 Stars from me!

*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
Profile Image for ★¸. • * ° * ༺*Blanka*༺*°°*•.¸. ♥★.
2,358 reviews315 followers
November 2, 2015



Besides being one of the most unrealistic things I have ever read, it's not the worst...


....
The book just throws you in the middle and you leaves you confused...




It starts of with 20 year old Layla visiting 30 year old Carter in prison. Carter was her body-guard when he was out but.. while she visits him, he kisses her and then rudely kicks her out.. the next thing you know she is fingering herself to a book thinking about Carter...




Four years later... Carter is out, and looking for Layla...



2 weeks later she is pregnant and hates him. tada!




Profile Image for Alexa Riley.
Author 281 books16k followers
Read
April 8, 2015
She's LIVE! Hope everyone enjoys.

Taking the Fall is a four part story. A new part will come out every two weeks. Please note the endings are NOT relationship cliffhangers. Layla is Carter's.
Profile Image for Emily.
5,810 reviews543 followers
December 20, 2017
Layla O'Leary watched as her mother disappeared, her father rejected her, and the man who she loved was in prison. Layla tries one last ditch effort to connect with Carter, but the reception she receives while visiting him in jail is chilly to say the least. Deciding that enough is enough, she leaves and builds a quiet life for herself. Four years later Carter is back and he is ready to claim Layla, but a man who has spent eight years keeping his thoughts to himself has Layla confused about what she truly means to him.

Exciting beginning to this new series. Carter is a man of little words and although Layla is a spitfire, he manages to claim her but leaves her confused on what it means in the broad spectrum of things. I am anxious to read the next in series.

Profile Image for  B.E.Love.
1,371 reviews131 followers
June 21, 2015
4 1/2 stars, I really, really like this one, I flew through it and didn't want to put it down. The book(volume) ends and all I can think about is starting volume 2 which I will be doing in a few seconds. Carter is over the top possessive, jealous, demanding and centered around Layla. I can't wait to see what happens next and to read all 4 volumes of this book. This is a really fun read that is perfect to escape with.

Layla can't remember the night that changed her life. In one night she lost her mother and Carter, the man her father hired to protect her and the man who she fell in love with even if he didn't feel the same way. When Layla gets the courage to go see Carter in prison and ask why he has ignored all her letters, Layla see's how different Carter has become in prison and with him telling her to leave Layla finally breaks away from her life and leaves. Now years later Layla has a new life but Carter is still with her and because she can't forget him she also hasn't been able to fully move on. Carter kept his feeling from Layla knowing he wasn't good enough he also kept his plans for Layla and him from her as well as the fact that he has never been far away. Now that he is finally a free man Carter plans to make it all right.
Profile Image for Raj.
1,514 reviews8 followers
May 11, 2015
4.5 stars!!! I so did not expect this book to be great!

I've been reading not so good stories this past few months, even books from my favorite authors.
I've been wanting to read this novel since it was released, but when I saw that it was a part by part novella, I shied away from it. So, I waited and book 3 was released and I thought that it's the right time for me to read it, if there's book 4, well, that sucks.

This novel is written in 1st Person DUAL POV!!!! Heck yeah! I've been so sick of reading 3rd Person POV that made me feel NADA towards the characters!

Anyways, I love how the story started, it's intriguing, exciting and I got attached to the characters... from the very start.

I like Carter's ALPHA ways, it's hot, he's a freaking brute!
It's kinda fast-paced and I like it. I skipped a few, very few words.

I love the story, I love the characters, there's only a few which is great, not much characters to memorize, I love the transition of the scenes or the story flow... and the best thing is......

The Heroine got PREGNANT!!!! It has been awhile since I've read about a heroine who got prengnant... thank god for this book.

Profile Image for Brianna (The Book Vixen).
677 reviews6 followers
February 14, 2016
There was a sneak peek for Taking the Fall at the end of Mechanic . As soon as I finished reading the preview, I one-clicked that book so fast. (The first volume in this 4-part series is a freebie, so I decided to go with that over purchasing the box set to make sure it was going to work for me.)

Carter is bossy, extremely possessive and dominating - though he does give Layla an out, which proves she wants him as much (if not more) as he wants her. There's an interesting back story between Carter and Layla. I'll need to get the box set so I can devour the rest of the story.

There's also a secondary romance between Saint (Carter’s buddy) and Jeanette (Layla’s friend).
Profile Image for Jeynna ( The Romance Junkie).
207 reviews6 followers
March 18, 2016
WHAT.THE.HELL.DID.I.JUST.READ.

Dnfed!!

I couldn't keep up with the story after 3 pages. Sure thing, submissive male is new to me but the story did not do anything to my feelings other than to ditch this. gosh! I'm slapping myself for picking this up. Sorry Ms.Alexa this one is not my cuppa.
Profile Image for Trish.
2,357 reviews3,733 followers
January 20, 2016
OK, OK. After first dipping my toe in Mint chocolate chip this genre some time ago and liking a book by this author, I thought I'd give it another try ... well, it went well. I think. I'm still not convinced this genre is for me because I kept thinking this or that is unrealistic or whatever when CLEARLY the focus was on something else (surprise)! Anyway, it was fast-paced, actually exciting (because the author made me care about the protagonists) and, yes, hot.
Profile Image for Orange.Is.Happiness.
79 reviews45 followers
January 29, 2017
“Carter, what are you doing?”

“I’m fucking worshiping your pussy, Cherry. Just lie there and enjoy it.”

“Are you going to kiss me there?”

“Cherry. Goddamn it, do not rush me. I’ve waited years for this. If I want to lie here and smell your pussy all night I will. Hell, if I want to order a pizza and have my fucking dinner while I keep my nose on your cunt, that’s what will happen. Now shut up and let me have my moment.”

Hahahahahaha fucking spectacular
Profile Image for Hana ♡.
347 reviews199 followers
April 10, 2015
A quick and hot read with a delectable Alpha male. Major cliffhanger with a lot of unanswered questions, but a good read nonetheless. I love Alexa Riley's Alphas so I did not hesitate to pick this one up :)
Profile Image for Miri.
556 reviews66 followers
May 4, 2015
I need the next book !!!!
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