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Bound to Fall
With so many fences between them and happily ever after, two men wonder if it’s worth opening the gate.
Ten years ago Eddie Crane, an actor on the rise, loved his costar and dreamed of the day they could be together. But his love, with his submissive nature, couldn’t handle fame, and before Eddie could help him, he died in a car accident—with Eddie at the wheel.
Now, guilt-ridden, Eddie buries himself in bad decisions and prays that a stunt—on or off camera—will go wrong.
Teenaged fantasies about the actor on his wall distracted Arthur Pike from real life—his dead father, runaway mother, gruff grandparents, and his unrequited love for his cousin’s straight husband. Now grown and off the farm, Pike is a horse stuntman hired to teach a reluctant Eddie to ride.
Pike is drawn to Eddie’s dominant nature despite the sadness clinging to the actor. Eddie let one lover down, but in Pike’s submissiveness, he sees the possibility for redemption.
Ten years ago Eddie Crane, an actor on the rise, loved his costar and dreamed of the day they could be together. But his love, with his submissive nature, couldn’t handle fame, and before Eddie could help him, he died in a car accident—with Eddie at the wheel.
Now, guilt-ridden, Eddie buries himself in bad decisions and prays that a stunt—on or off camera—will go wrong.
Teenaged fantasies about the actor on his wall distracted Arthur Pike from real life—his dead father, runaway mother, gruff grandparents, and his unrequited love for his cousin’s straight husband. Now grown and off the farm, Pike is a horse stuntman hired to teach a reluctant Eddie to ride.
Pike is drawn to Eddie’s dominant nature despite the sadness clinging to the actor. Eddie let one lover down, but in Pike’s submissiveness, he sees the possibility for redemption.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2015
11 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
Jaime Samms
106 books276 followersJaime Samms is a plaid-hearted Canadian who spends the too-long winters writing stories about love between men and the too-short summers digging in the garden. There are dust bunnies in the corners of her house—which she blames on a husky named Kai. There are dishes on the counter—which is clearly because teenagers! There is hot coffee in the pot and the occasional meal to keep her from starving—because her husband is remarkable and patient.
A multi-published author whose work has been translated into French, Italian, and German, Jaime delights in the intricate dance of words that leads her through tales of the lost and broken hearted men she writes about to the love stories that find and mend them.
And when the muse is being stubborn, she also makes pretty things with yarn and fabric scraps because in her world, no heart is too broken to love, and nothing is too worn or tired it can’t be upcycled into something beautiful. All it takes is determination and the ability to see life a little bit left of center.
A multi-published author whose work has been translated into French, Italian, and German, Jaime delights in the intricate dance of words that leads her through tales of the lost and broken hearted men she writes about to the love stories that find and mend them.
And when the muse is being stubborn, she also makes pretty things with yarn and fabric scraps because in her world, no heart is too broken to love, and nothing is too worn or tired it can’t be upcycled into something beautiful. All it takes is determination and the ability to see life a little bit left of center.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 25, 2015
@ 40%
Dear Book,
I think we should take a break. It's not you, it's me. I hope we can be friends.
Alisa
(I lied....it's totally Book's fault. I just don't want to hurt his feelings)
@60%
Ok this was my 3x trying to finish this book. I just can't do it. I hate both of the MC's. They act like teenage girls. There's so much fabricated drama. There's a dead lover trope that just goes on and on (& on). There's the guy in love with his straight best friend trope. (complete with pushing chairs back from the table and storming out of a room....like a teenage girl....when straight guy looks lovingly AT HIS WIFE). There's some wonky kind of bdsm plotline. Uugg....I don't really know what was supposed to be going on here. All I know is I can't take another minute of it.
Dear Book,
I think we should take a break. It's not you, it's me. I hope we can be friends.
Alisa
(I lied....it's totally Book's fault. I just don't want to hurt his feelings)
@60%
Ok this was my 3x trying to finish this book. I just can't do it. I hate both of the MC's. They act like teenage girls. There's so much fabricated drama. There's a dead lover trope that just goes on and on (& on). There's the guy in love with his straight best friend trope. (complete with pushing chairs back from the table and storming out of a room....like a teenage girl....when straight guy looks lovingly AT HIS WIFE). There's some wonky kind of bdsm plotline. Uugg....I don't really know what was supposed to be going on here. All I know is I can't take another minute of it.
April 17, 2016
all done, but I need to mull this one over before I rate and review. This one fucked with me. Big time.
July 10, 2015
3.5 Stars
Eddie Crane has been on a downward spiral for the past 10 years. Once a rising star in Hollywood, the death of his co-star and secret lover Cory in a car accident where Eddie was the driver has left him drowning in guilt and regrets. One bad decision follows another, from binging on coke and alcohol to hang gliding and heli-skiing with the hopes that things will go wrong, and he has almost decimated the career he once loved. Arthur Pike is Eddie’s stuntman on his new film and a horse rancher tasked with the job of teaching Eddie how to ride and interact with the horses they will be using. He is also wallowing in unrequited love for his straight best friend Ryan, who now runs the ranch he grew up on and is married to Pike’s cousin. Pike knows Ryan will never be his, and would never do anything to hurt his cousin, but he is unable to move on from Ryan, the ranch or the stigma of a family known for violence and abandonment.
When Eddie arrives on the ranch with his best friend and agent Margaret, he is still coming down from the effects of his latest coke binge, but even that doesn’t stop him from seeing the pain and sadness Pike is feeling and the knowing looks between him and the others on the ranch. Eddie is immediately moved to protect the man. Pike has long had a crush on the actor and knows the public person, but the broken man he gets to know, the one who has panic attacks and shuts down when his public life gets to be too much, is also the one man who sees the need in Pike to give up control in private and the man that Pike imagines can make him submit.
This was a bit of a slow read for me. I enjoyed Eddie and Pike as a couple. The unlikely pair actually fit well with each other, but they are so wrapped up in their pasts and have been unable or unwilling to move forward for so long there were times I wondered how they could really make something together. I liked the play of Pike being the strong one to the outside world and shoring Eddie up then looking to completely surrender in the bedroom. The BDSM aspect is there, but does not overwhelm the story and Eddie’s desire to build trust before giving into everything Pike wants was something nice to see.
There is a lot more going on though and there some scenes where the author told instead of showed while others I felt were repetitive. There are so many dynamics at play outside of the growing relationship between Eddie and Pike, almost all of them based in dysfunction and codependence that sometimes it was almost too much and I felt it slowed the story down. While the main problems of Pike’s feelings for Ryan and Eddie’s for Cory are fully explored, not all of the other issues brought up are well fleshed out, including Pike’s anger issues and Eddie’s previous 10 years of alcohol and drug abuse.
I enjoyed the epilogue and while not all the relationships in this story are completely repaired, there is hope that they will be. I’d recommend this if you enjoy a story that isn’t about getting to the sex, but is about two men really working hard to shed their past mistakes and move forward, even if it means giving up the things they have convinced themselves they never would or could.
Full review originally posted at Sinfully...Addicted to All Male Romance
Eddie Crane has been on a downward spiral for the past 10 years. Once a rising star in Hollywood, the death of his co-star and secret lover Cory in a car accident where Eddie was the driver has left him drowning in guilt and regrets. One bad decision follows another, from binging on coke and alcohol to hang gliding and heli-skiing with the hopes that things will go wrong, and he has almost decimated the career he once loved. Arthur Pike is Eddie’s stuntman on his new film and a horse rancher tasked with the job of teaching Eddie how to ride and interact with the horses they will be using. He is also wallowing in unrequited love for his straight best friend Ryan, who now runs the ranch he grew up on and is married to Pike’s cousin. Pike knows Ryan will never be his, and would never do anything to hurt his cousin, but he is unable to move on from Ryan, the ranch or the stigma of a family known for violence and abandonment.
When Eddie arrives on the ranch with his best friend and agent Margaret, he is still coming down from the effects of his latest coke binge, but even that doesn’t stop him from seeing the pain and sadness Pike is feeling and the knowing looks between him and the others on the ranch. Eddie is immediately moved to protect the man. Pike has long had a crush on the actor and knows the public person, but the broken man he gets to know, the one who has panic attacks and shuts down when his public life gets to be too much, is also the one man who sees the need in Pike to give up control in private and the man that Pike imagines can make him submit.
This was a bit of a slow read for me. I enjoyed Eddie and Pike as a couple. The unlikely pair actually fit well with each other, but they are so wrapped up in their pasts and have been unable or unwilling to move forward for so long there were times I wondered how they could really make something together. I liked the play of Pike being the strong one to the outside world and shoring Eddie up then looking to completely surrender in the bedroom. The BDSM aspect is there, but does not overwhelm the story and Eddie’s desire to build trust before giving into everything Pike wants was something nice to see.
There is a lot more going on though and there some scenes where the author told instead of showed while others I felt were repetitive. There are so many dynamics at play outside of the growing relationship between Eddie and Pike, almost all of them based in dysfunction and codependence that sometimes it was almost too much and I felt it slowed the story down. While the main problems of Pike’s feelings for Ryan and Eddie’s for Cory are fully explored, not all of the other issues brought up are well fleshed out, including Pike’s anger issues and Eddie’s previous 10 years of alcohol and drug abuse.
I enjoyed the epilogue and while not all the relationships in this story are completely repaired, there is hope that they will be. I’d recommend this if you enjoy a story that isn’t about getting to the sex, but is about two men really working hard to shed their past mistakes and move forward, even if it means giving up the things they have convinced themselves they never would or could.
Full review originally posted at Sinfully...Addicted to All Male Romance
July 9, 2015
This was a hard book to review, but I gave it a shot. Check it out here, at Boys In Our Books.
January 11, 2021
Eddie is a famous actor who has to learn riding horses. Stuntman Arthur Pike will be the man to teach him. Only, it isn’t that easy... Eddie is hurt and sees also hurt in Pike.
The physical tension between both men was palpable and well written.
In short, the blurb says it all. Eddie is struggling to live life, Pike’s feelings are all over the place, he has needs that go deep. Can they find what they want and need with the other.
There is a lot of conversation and sometimes a bit vague. The rage, the submission, the domination, the redeeming was well pictured.
Two broken men with a lot of stories. I loved the big picture, only for me a bit too extended and too slow. It's killing me and hard to handle, sorry to say I skipped pages and try to pick up further on but it was a bit difficult.
I did enjoy this story.
The physical tension between both men was palpable and well written.
In short, the blurb says it all. Eddie is struggling to live life, Pike’s feelings are all over the place, he has needs that go deep. Can they find what they want and need with the other.
There is a lot of conversation and sometimes a bit vague. The rage, the submission, the domination, the redeeming was well pictured.
Two broken men with a lot of stories. I loved the big picture, only for me a bit too extended and too slow. It's killing me and hard to handle, sorry to say I skipped pages and try to pick up further on but it was a bit difficult.
I did enjoy this story.
September 16, 2020
With two men who are equally confused, messed up, and at a loss as to what to do with their lives, this story is bound to be depressing before it gets better. Eddie makes one bad choice after another to try to ignore/overcome/not have to deal with the fact that his submissive lover died in a car crash ten years ago – a crash where Eddie was at the wheel. Pike comes out of an awful, abusive childhood and a bad family situation only to fall hopelessly in love with his cousin’s husband. Neither man can move on, and I spent about the first third of the book tearing my hair out and almost losing the will to live. The utter hopelessness of both men ever finding happiness, never mind with each other, was really getting to me.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.
September 16, 2020
With two men who are equally confused, messed up, and at a loss as to what to do with their lives, this story is bound to be depressing before it gets better. Eddie makes one bad choice after another to try to ignore/overcome/not have to deal with the fact that his submissive lover died in a car crash ten years ago – a crash where Eddie was at the wheel. Pike comes out of an awful, abusive childhood and a bad family situation only to fall hopelessly in love with his cousin’s husband. Neither man can move on, and I spent about the first third of the book tearing my hair out and almost losing the will to live. The utter hopelessness of both men ever finding happiness, never mind with each other, was really getting to me.
Please find my full review on on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on on Rainbow Book Reviews.
September 8, 2020
I've got a hangover that started before I finished the book. It's beautifully written prose with nuanced characters that grow throughout the story. Apparently other reviewers haven't been so kind regarding these guys, but I loved them, so I urge you to read the sample and make your own decisions.
There's kink, though, so it's probably not for everyone. A smattering of bondage, a bit of S & M, and a good-sized helping of power exchange, much of which is expressed through sex. Hot, hot, sex.
This book is a re-release (as of 15 September 2020) of a 2015 Dreamspinner novel, so if it looks familiar, that may be why. While I'm not glad for the reasons behind the re-release, I am glad to have gotten an arc of it because I probably wouldn't have found this gem otherwise.
For those who look for tropes, this one is hurt-comfort that goes both ways, out for you, actor bad boy Dom meets stunt-man cowboy sub who's pining for his married straight best friend, and because actor has to stay on the ranch so the stunt man can teach him to ride, you can add forced proximity to the trope list. But these elements are so skillfully woven into the fabric of the book that I feel bad reducing the entire work to a list of tropes. It's a damned good story and one I'm sure I'll read again.
Scanning other reviews simply reinforced my conviction that reading reviews isn't the best way of determining whether you'll enjoy and appreciate a book, despite the process being critical to a book's visibility. I highly recommend reading the sample when it's available and making your own decision.
There's kink, though, so it's probably not for everyone. A smattering of bondage, a bit of S & M, and a good-sized helping of power exchange, much of which is expressed through sex. Hot, hot, sex.
This book is a re-release (as of 15 September 2020) of a 2015 Dreamspinner novel, so if it looks familiar, that may be why. While I'm not glad for the reasons behind the re-release, I am glad to have gotten an arc of it because I probably wouldn't have found this gem otherwise.
For those who look for tropes, this one is hurt-comfort that goes both ways, out for you, actor bad boy Dom meets stunt-man cowboy sub who's pining for his married straight best friend, and because actor has to stay on the ranch so the stunt man can teach him to ride, you can add forced proximity to the trope list. But these elements are so skillfully woven into the fabric of the book that I feel bad reducing the entire work to a list of tropes. It's a damned good story and one I'm sure I'll read again.
Scanning other reviews simply reinforced my conviction that reading reviews isn't the best way of determining whether you'll enjoy and appreciate a book, despite the process being critical to a book's visibility. I highly recommend reading the sample when it's available and making your own decision.
July 1, 2015
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
4.75 Stars
Bound to Fall goes straight onto my shelves of books I love. I am yet to find a book written by Jaime Samms that I don’t like. 350 pages was just not enough for me when it came to Eddie and Pike as I could have greedily and happily continued to read about them.
Eddie is a film star that has hit hard times. Dealing with the demons from his past which include a dead lover his life has spiralled out of control on a journey of drugs and booze. A new film offer may be his last chance at recovery and he moves onto a farm to learn how to ride a horse but more importantly clean up his act. As the story progresses it is clear in the years since his partner’s death he hasn’t dealt with his grief or his guilt and to some extent his poor choices have been enabled by his best friend and manager Margaret.
Pike grew up watching Eddie’s films and crushed on the man from afar. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to meet the man and help him overcome his phobia of horses. Pike has been searching for ‘something’ for years but has never found anything to meet his expectations. In love and with a lot of hero worship towards his best friend Ryan who he works alongside daily he holds a lot of anger and confusion over where his life is going and he is constantly hiding a large and important part of himself.
Jaime Samms gives us two very mixed up men but oddly the one thing that doesn’t seem mixed up is their relationship. They quickly recognise in each other what they need but this is by no means a conventional D/s relationship. Eddie may be dominant but he is also world shy and falling apart and often it is Pike that takes control. Pike on the other hand may be submissive but he doesn’t gift Eddie with it easily. He needs to trust and is often so overwhelmed with how he feels that he becomes angry and scared. The beauty of this story for me was watching the two men build their trust and understanding of each other and not blindly jump into a power exchange where one of them could be hurt.
There is a lot of enabling in this book both from Ryan and Margaret of which neither man has been able to see clearly until they take a step back and help each other see their reality. Each of them helps the other, they almost have to deconstruct their current lives before they can move on but their support for each is impenetrable as they plan for a future together.
Beautiful story which I cannot recommend enough!
4.75 Stars
Bound to Fall goes straight onto my shelves of books I love. I am yet to find a book written by Jaime Samms that I don’t like. 350 pages was just not enough for me when it came to Eddie and Pike as I could have greedily and happily continued to read about them.
Eddie is a film star that has hit hard times. Dealing with the demons from his past which include a dead lover his life has spiralled out of control on a journey of drugs and booze. A new film offer may be his last chance at recovery and he moves onto a farm to learn how to ride a horse but more importantly clean up his act. As the story progresses it is clear in the years since his partner’s death he hasn’t dealt with his grief or his guilt and to some extent his poor choices have been enabled by his best friend and manager Margaret.
Pike grew up watching Eddie’s films and crushed on the man from afar. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to meet the man and help him overcome his phobia of horses. Pike has been searching for ‘something’ for years but has never found anything to meet his expectations. In love and with a lot of hero worship towards his best friend Ryan who he works alongside daily he holds a lot of anger and confusion over where his life is going and he is constantly hiding a large and important part of himself.
Jaime Samms gives us two very mixed up men but oddly the one thing that doesn’t seem mixed up is their relationship. They quickly recognise in each other what they need but this is by no means a conventional D/s relationship. Eddie may be dominant but he is also world shy and falling apart and often it is Pike that takes control. Pike on the other hand may be submissive but he doesn’t gift Eddie with it easily. He needs to trust and is often so overwhelmed with how he feels that he becomes angry and scared. The beauty of this story for me was watching the two men build their trust and understanding of each other and not blindly jump into a power exchange where one of them could be hurt.
There is a lot of enabling in this book both from Ryan and Margaret of which neither man has been able to see clearly until they take a step back and help each other see their reality. Each of them helps the other, they almost have to deconstruct their current lives before they can move on but their support for each is impenetrable as they plan for a future together.
Beautiful story which I cannot recommend enough!
lost-interest
July 12, 2015I want to read this so much. But it contain one of my pet peeves. Dead lover. I hope the MC did not wallowing in grieve for most of the book.
July 14, 2015
3.5 Heart Review by Amber
Eddie Crane has let his life and career spin dangerously out of control. Having once been a very successful actor the loss of longtime lover has left him drifting. His alone, guilt ridden, and in pain. His manager/best friend gets him a movie deal to play a gay cowboy. The thing is, Eddie is deathly afraid of horses. In order to put in the best performance of his career all while trying to salvage his professional life he knows he’ll need help.
Arthur Pike is a professional stunt men, specializing in horses. He’s contracted as Eddie’s stunt double in his upcoming movie and also to help him get comfortable riding and being around horses.
The attraction between these men is pretty immediate. They both are hung up on the past and have to get over that in order to move onto the future.
I am so completely torn with this story. The things that worked, were done really well. Like the writing for instance, this is a quality author, there is no denying that. The plot structure, character development, and pacing of the story was good. I was interested in these characters and truly enjoyed watching things play out.
On the other hand, the things that didn’t work for me were pretty big issues mostly because they were recurring things. I honestly felt like I got whiplash from the D/s personality switches that kept happening between the main characters. There was a point at the beginning that I had to go back and re-read the blurb because I couldn’t remember who was suppose to be the dominate because their personalities shifted so many times. To clarify, I understood Pike needing control in the business setting but his struggling with being submissive happened in the bedroom and at his apartment too. And I actually liked the characters and even though Eddie was the “damaged” one I liked him more than I liked Pike. Pike was very quick to blow a fuse and that was a turn off because it came off as childish, like a temper tantrum that kept happening over and over again. I love angst in my stories but his reactions were so over the top and that put me off. I also had issues with the Ryan/Cory not letting go, constantly pining thing. It almost felt like I couldn’t enjoy these two men as a couple because we were constantly bombarded with Cory/Ryan talk.
I do have to admit there were a couple of BDSM scenes that were well done. When Eddie actually came off as a capable and confident Dom the scenes turned out pretty damn good. The problem was he was unsure quite often so it just made for some frustrating moments.
I always enjoy a good “movie star” story. I like all the glitz and glamour and paparazzi this story had all of that plus the slimy good for nothing Producer. I also enjoyed the interactions with the horses. They are almost treated just like a human actor, I really liked that.
Overall, I did enjoy the story although some things just didn’t work for me but like I said the things that did work were done very well. Plus, the ending was pretty much the definition of perfection.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Eddie Crane has let his life and career spin dangerously out of control. Having once been a very successful actor the loss of longtime lover has left him drifting. His alone, guilt ridden, and in pain. His manager/best friend gets him a movie deal to play a gay cowboy. The thing is, Eddie is deathly afraid of horses. In order to put in the best performance of his career all while trying to salvage his professional life he knows he’ll need help.
Arthur Pike is a professional stunt men, specializing in horses. He’s contracted as Eddie’s stunt double in his upcoming movie and also to help him get comfortable riding and being around horses.
The attraction between these men is pretty immediate. They both are hung up on the past and have to get over that in order to move onto the future.
I am so completely torn with this story. The things that worked, were done really well. Like the writing for instance, this is a quality author, there is no denying that. The plot structure, character development, and pacing of the story was good. I was interested in these characters and truly enjoyed watching things play out.
On the other hand, the things that didn’t work for me were pretty big issues mostly because they were recurring things. I honestly felt like I got whiplash from the D/s personality switches that kept happening between the main characters. There was a point at the beginning that I had to go back and re-read the blurb because I couldn’t remember who was suppose to be the dominate because their personalities shifted so many times. To clarify, I understood Pike needing control in the business setting but his struggling with being submissive happened in the bedroom and at his apartment too. And I actually liked the characters and even though Eddie was the “damaged” one I liked him more than I liked Pike. Pike was very quick to blow a fuse and that was a turn off because it came off as childish, like a temper tantrum that kept happening over and over again. I love angst in my stories but his reactions were so over the top and that put me off. I also had issues with the Ryan/Cory not letting go, constantly pining thing. It almost felt like I couldn’t enjoy these two men as a couple because we were constantly bombarded with Cory/Ryan talk.
I do have to admit there were a couple of BDSM scenes that were well done. When Eddie actually came off as a capable and confident Dom the scenes turned out pretty damn good. The problem was he was unsure quite often so it just made for some frustrating moments.
I always enjoy a good “movie star” story. I like all the glitz and glamour and paparazzi this story had all of that plus the slimy good for nothing Producer. I also enjoyed the interactions with the horses. They are almost treated just like a human actor, I really liked that.
Overall, I did enjoy the story although some things just didn’t work for me but like I said the things that did work were done very well. Plus, the ending was pretty much the definition of perfection.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
January 21, 2016
3.5 stars, rounded to 4
What I loved most about this book were the two main characters. They are both flawed, closed up, lost, and in need of something to encourage them to hold on. In different ways, these two are broken and whatever faith brings them together is a saving grace for the both of them. Eddie needs to dominate, Pike needs to be convinced to submit, giving each other the grounding, the balance they require.
A movie start with a past, a stuntman with a less famous, yet equally haunting past of his own, Eddie and Pike find their way out to a life of hope and love without ever asking each other to deny past loves or past events. This is a story about embracing who and what you are, what you most desire, and then grabbing it with both hands. It is not an easy, fluffy-sweet love story, it’s rough, real, and as romantic as any more vanilla relationship.
The supporting cast, from the understanding, to the selfish, tot he passive or not so passive aggressive of the bunch, is a wonderful mix of characters that hold their own and bring out the best and worst of the leads.
I did feel at times that the story was a little drawn out, that things could have progressed a little faster, but in that repetitive revisiting of the past, of what holds them back and cripples them, therein lies the key to these men’s future happiness. So stick with it and enjoy this unfolding love story.
What I loved most about this book were the two main characters. They are both flawed, closed up, lost, and in need of something to encourage them to hold on. In different ways, these two are broken and whatever faith brings them together is a saving grace for the both of them. Eddie needs to dominate, Pike needs to be convinced to submit, giving each other the grounding, the balance they require.
A movie start with a past, a stuntman with a less famous, yet equally haunting past of his own, Eddie and Pike find their way out to a life of hope and love without ever asking each other to deny past loves or past events. This is a story about embracing who and what you are, what you most desire, and then grabbing it with both hands. It is not an easy, fluffy-sweet love story, it’s rough, real, and as romantic as any more vanilla relationship.
The supporting cast, from the understanding, to the selfish, tot he passive or not so passive aggressive of the bunch, is a wonderful mix of characters that hold their own and bring out the best and worst of the leads.
I did feel at times that the story was a little drawn out, that things could have progressed a little faster, but in that repetitive revisiting of the past, of what holds them back and cripples them, therein lies the key to these men’s future happiness. So stick with it and enjoy this unfolding love story.
July 24, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
The review for Bound to Fall posed something of a quandary for me. I’m a fan of this particular author, but while this book was certainly written well from a stylistic point of view, the plot and the characters never really clicked for me. The pacing is okay but it tends to drag during a handful of expositional sections and I think about a quarter of this book could have been trimmed and none of the essential plot information lost.
I enjoyed both of the characters but not necessary together. Eddie likes to pretend he could care less about his work or anyone around him. The death of his best friend and lover left a terrible wound, one that Eddie refuses to let heal. So he turns to drugs and alcohol, but it’s obvious that while he wants to escape his pain, he doesn’t know how to surrender fully to self-destruction. His desperation comes through clearly and it makes the character relatable. That he has survived in spite of himself speaks to his inner strength and his unspoken desire for something more from his life. As a reader, it was easy to warm up to Eddie and his actions are often easier to understand than Arthur’s.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
The review for Bound to Fall posed something of a quandary for me. I’m a fan of this particular author, but while this book was certainly written well from a stylistic point of view, the plot and the characters never really clicked for me. The pacing is okay but it tends to drag during a handful of expositional sections and I think about a quarter of this book could have been trimmed and none of the essential plot information lost.
I enjoyed both of the characters but not necessary together. Eddie likes to pretend he could care less about his work or anyone around him. The death of his best friend and lover left a terrible wound, one that Eddie refuses to let heal. So he turns to drugs and alcohol, but it’s obvious that while he wants to escape his pain, he doesn’t know how to surrender fully to self-destruction. His desperation comes through clearly and it makes the character relatable. That he has survived in spite of himself speaks to his inner strength and his unspoken desire for something more from his life. As a reader, it was easy to warm up to Eddie and his actions are often easier to understand than Arthur’s.
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
September 7, 2020
FYI:This is a republished book.
I am reviewing the republished version.
Dual POV
Pike and Eddie.
Eddie is an actor and is a very heartbroken person at the start. Very vulnerable. Pike is his stunt man on the movie and is also nursing a broken heart in his own way. His trauma is being in love with someone he will never have.
Their balance of power is a perfect blend of give and take. Very symbiotic and even parasitic at times. Feeding off each other.
This is a very intense journey of a VERY unconventional relationship. At times, I was very frustrated with both characters. I liked them but didn’t love them.
The filming of the movie took a back seat to every thing. It was weird the actor that played Eddie’s love interest was never even mentioned. There were a surprisingly large amount of plot holes like that for a 6 hour read?!?
I’m not sure I liked the ending. They built up this one thing that I won’t mention SO much but it ended up being nothing but a half page thing. SO dissatisfying and disappointing. It left me feeling bitter about the whole reading experience.
I am reviewing the republished version.
Dual POV
Pike and Eddie.
Eddie is an actor and is a very heartbroken person at the start. Very vulnerable. Pike is his stunt man on the movie and is also nursing a broken heart in his own way. His trauma is being in love with someone he will never have.
Their balance of power is a perfect blend of give and take. Very symbiotic and even parasitic at times. Feeding off each other.
This is a very intense journey of a VERY unconventional relationship. At times, I was very frustrated with both characters. I liked them but didn’t love them.
The filming of the movie took a back seat to every thing. It was weird the actor that played Eddie’s love interest was never even mentioned. There were a surprisingly large amount of plot holes like that for a 6 hour read?!?
I’m not sure I liked the ending. They built up this one thing that I won’t mention SO much but it ended up being nothing but a half page thing. SO dissatisfying and disappointing. It left me feeling bitter about the whole reading experience.
November 30, 2015
Three stars is probably generous, but I liked the characters and loved the setting but Holy Confused Plotlines. Could have easily eliminated half the little subplots to make for a cleaner story because the main plotlines and characters were big enough to carry the story. Other problem I had was the way the D/s aspect was handled. It made me feel uncomfortable on the consent/willingness aspect. MCs had major communication issues and that in a BDSM setting is not good/healthy. I had to stop reading all of those scenes and skip forward. Free download from Dreamspinner today.
July 17, 2015
It was ok. All over the place though. Too many tropes that got dropped or not thought out. Stick to one or two
June 12, 2016
God, the melodrama just goes on and on. DNF at 70% - just couldn't anymore. An editor seriously needed to prune this baby down. the characters were really kind of meh.
Read
February 5, 2017Too damn long. And BDSM. Neither MC worked for me.
One of these days I'll remember to check the reviews instead of downloading because a book is free.
One of these days I'll remember to check the reviews instead of downloading because a book is free.
February 23, 2022
The easiest takeaway from this book to start this review is that it is extremely long—but it’s one of those stories that supports its weight and deserves every scene. The most difficult takeaway is that this is truly a tale of redemption, like it says on the tin. Redemption is not the same as a second-chance romance. There will be no second chance for Eddie with Cory, whose memory is very much a complete character in this book, just like there was never a real first chance for Pike with Ryan. Both of these men could have overcome the pain in their hearts on their own; however, the twist of fate (or at least the movie producer) that brings these characters together allows them to support each other along the journey.
The biggest stumbling block for these characters on the road to their relationship was communication. Assumptions are made at almost every turn, for everything from interior décor to the extent of their physical connection. These points of conflict worked well for everything except the inherent aspects of the relationship dynamic Eddie and Pike try to build, in which communication is a must-have for elements of power exchange. While I think I understand why the author went in the direction they did, I sometimes found the lack frustrating more often than compelling.
Overall, this is a solid stand-alone novel that I have no regrets about spending my time on. It is a book that does not need a sequel, but I’ll certainly keep my eye out for more works by this author that appeal to me and give them a chance.
The biggest stumbling block for these characters on the road to their relationship was communication. Assumptions are made at almost every turn, for everything from interior décor to the extent of their physical connection. These points of conflict worked well for everything except the inherent aspects of the relationship dynamic Eddie and Pike try to build, in which communication is a must-have for elements of power exchange. While I think I understand why the author went in the direction they did, I sometimes found the lack frustrating more often than compelling.
Overall, this is a solid stand-alone novel that I have no regrets about spending my time on. It is a book that does not need a sequel, but I’ll certainly keep my eye out for more works by this author that appeal to me and give them a chance.
January 20, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It kept my attention. One thing I appreciated was the dialogue transitions were not too on the nose. For example when Pike and Eddie are having a conversation it moves from person to person but there’s no obvious signposting like, ‘hey, pike is talking now and then Eddie is talking now.’ It made it a seamless read for me.
I am also very impressed with Jaime Samms for doing a good job with the ‘waiting to have sex’ plot line. I have read books where it came across as the author trying to prolong the MC’s sex scene in order to grab your attention and have you wait till the end of the book. It usually doesn’t work for me because I end up loosing interest and being dissatisfied with the eventual sex scene at the end of the day. But JS did such a good job of it that I found myself not waiting for the major sex scene as I was interested in the story as it progressed. In addition, the MC’s had intimate moments until the major one, so it was all well planned really.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book was the slight nod to BDSM. It wasn’t the central point of the book but it was an important factor but it was done so well that I didn’t feel stifled by it’s inclusion.
All in all, I would say that the book packed a good amount of emotional tugging. You felt for both Eddie and Pike in terms of the difficulty of letting go of old loves and forgiving ourselves in order to make the choice to move forward. It was well written in my book 😊
I am also very impressed with Jaime Samms for doing a good job with the ‘waiting to have sex’ plot line. I have read books where it came across as the author trying to prolong the MC’s sex scene in order to grab your attention and have you wait till the end of the book. It usually doesn’t work for me because I end up loosing interest and being dissatisfied with the eventual sex scene at the end of the day. But JS did such a good job of it that I found myself not waiting for the major sex scene as I was interested in the story as it progressed. In addition, the MC’s had intimate moments until the major one, so it was all well planned really.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book was the slight nod to BDSM. It wasn’t the central point of the book but it was an important factor but it was done so well that I didn’t feel stifled by it’s inclusion.
All in all, I would say that the book packed a good amount of emotional tugging. You felt for both Eddie and Pike in terms of the difficulty of letting go of old loves and forgiving ourselves in order to make the choice to move forward. It was well written in my book 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2020
This is a great story with amazing characters and a very intriguing storyline. I really enjoyed it for the most part but at times the story dragged a bit and I think some of it could have been more condensed. Other than that I absolutely loved Pike and though it took me a while to warm up to Eddie I love how determined he is to change his attitude and life as well as how perfect he is for Pike. They are complete opposites that are better when they are together and I love how accepting they are of each others needs and wants. They both are still dealing with issues from their pasts that could derail the relationship they are building if they aren't careful. Their relationship has some ups and downs due to Eddie's insecurities and Pike's temper but they always try to talk through whatever issues come up and I like that they don't give up even when it seems hopeless. There are several great secondary characters that add so much to this story and my favorites are Lilly and Ryan as they didn't turn their backs on Pike even though they had good reason to. The ending is perfect and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
September 15, 2020
A surprisingly good read from an unknown to me author
I will admit to being a bit worried when I first sat down to read this book. This author, while not unknown, is unknown to me and as I was not familiar with their style, I was nervous about the depth of the D/s aspect and how much it would overtake the storyline of the book. While this book does focus a significant amount on the D/s aspect of Eddie and Pike’s relationship, it also does a wonderful job building the backstory and on the development of the relationship itself. Eddie needs a man who can calm his inner turmoil while still dealing with the outward pressure that comes with his celebrity status. Pike, with his own battle scars, needs a man who makes him an equal in all aspects of their relationship except in the bedroom where he craves the need to surrender and let go. These two men, from opposite walks of life, shouldn’t fit, but they do. It was beautiful to see them conquer their own fears so that they could begin to build a life together. This review is written as an unbiased and honest reflection of my thoughts after reading an advanced readers copy.
I will admit to being a bit worried when I first sat down to read this book. This author, while not unknown, is unknown to me and as I was not familiar with their style, I was nervous about the depth of the D/s aspect and how much it would overtake the storyline of the book. While this book does focus a significant amount on the D/s aspect of Eddie and Pike’s relationship, it also does a wonderful job building the backstory and on the development of the relationship itself. Eddie needs a man who can calm his inner turmoil while still dealing with the outward pressure that comes with his celebrity status. Pike, with his own battle scars, needs a man who makes him an equal in all aspects of their relationship except in the bedroom where he craves the need to surrender and let go. These two men, from opposite walks of life, shouldn’t fit, but they do. It was beautiful to see them conquer their own fears so that they could begin to build a life together. This review is written as an unbiased and honest reflection of my thoughts after reading an advanced readers copy.
September 15, 2020
I admit that when I started this book, I wasn't sure either of these men could heal enough to make me believe in the long term success of their relationship. One carries such guilt for the death of a past lover when he was driving the car that his depression makes him take risks really in the hope that he too might die and the second is so wrapped up in pining for a married man that he can't see anyone else. Fortunately, two things converged in this book to make it a success for me. First, this author is an extremely skilled writer and can pull off a story like this and make me believe it. Second, the pacing of the growing relationship feels right for these two. While Arthur knows who Eddie, the actor, is and had fantasized about him as one will do with actors, there is no instant love here. These two have lots of issues to work through and nothing is rushed in accomplishing that. By the end, I was convinced the relationship could indeed work long term.
December 20, 2020
This is one of those books where I'm glad I jumped in without reading reviews. I'm writing this after a reread of the newer release of Bound to Fall, and it appears I am in the minority again. I loved Eddie and Pike just as much (if not more) than the first time I "met" them. The blurb gives the premise, and just as the first time I was pulled in by the slow build-up, slow burn, growth over time and the romance/love between them. This story is hurt-comfort at its finest, portrays BDSM and kink as part of a relationship, and shows the trust and faith required to succeed in an unconventional power exchange such as theirs. This is not a quick read and is not your regular romance, but if you have an open mind and let yourself, you'll fall in love with Pike and Eddie as they fall in love with each other.
September 9, 2020
Pike is infatuated with his best friend who happens to be straight and married to his cousin.
Eddie is still caught up in his feelings of guilt over the death of his lover and co star and is on a fast downward spiral of self destruction.
Eddie’s manager gets him a film deal, unfortunately it means he needs work hard to get over his fear of horses and also look like he is enjoying riding them. Pike is the horse owner, teacher and stunt double for Eddie. As they work together they find they need each other more and more.
I must admit I like a book that takes days to read rather than finishing in one day.
This is one of those books.
The turmoil both main characters are feeling are pushed a little to much in places but overall I enjoyed this book.
Eddie is still caught up in his feelings of guilt over the death of his lover and co star and is on a fast downward spiral of self destruction.
Eddie’s manager gets him a film deal, unfortunately it means he needs work hard to get over his fear of horses and also look like he is enjoying riding them. Pike is the horse owner, teacher and stunt double for Eddie. As they work together they find they need each other more and more.
I must admit I like a book that takes days to read rather than finishing in one day.
This is one of those books.
The turmoil both main characters are feeling are pushed a little to much in places but overall I enjoyed this book.
September 20, 2020
Unfortunately for me, I didn't fall in love with this story. The two MC's are both hurting, Eddie is lucky to even still be alive, and has such a tight hold on the past, and Pike on his obsession with his straight best friend/cousins husband, that it makes moving on practically impossible. Don't get me wrong, there are good moments in this story, and some of the bdsm scenes were good, but I felt more upset with the characters, and depressed about their lives, than I did celebrating any positives with them. I would have loved for them both to have been more of an actual couple, but it's hard to see them that way when it seems like there's a ghost and another man standing between them. While the story itself may not have won me over, the author did do well writing it.
May 24, 2020
I liked Eddie and Pike as they struggled to define so many things, like who they are, who they'll love, and how. To make that harder, they each have a past that they can't escape - events that seem to be what they've each used to define themselves so far. Meeting and working together begins the process of each man looking at and seeing themselves. They both find that growth and change are possible and painful, but that learning to trust is possibly the scariest thing of all.
September 20, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Eddie was on a downward spiral after losing his best friend and lover, Pike was searching for someone that could be what he needed. The book was very emotionally charged and told an incredible story of healing and learning to truly trust. Definite must read.
I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.
September 21, 2020
I received an advanced readers copy from Gay Romance Reviews for an honest review. This book is a slow burn book. Eddie is a bad boy actor who is trying to redeem his career. Pike is his horse trainer for the move. They begin a romance while working together. Eddie is also a Dom and Pike is a sub. If you like bad boy actors. Sexy Cowboys and some bdsm this book is for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2020
This was such a fantastic, heartbreaking, grab-you-by-the-feels, poignant, slow burning, emotionally charged, gripping, gritty, raw, amazing, and totally awesome story. Both Pike and Eddie's pasts broke my heart. I thought it would take a miracle for there to be a HEA ending for them, but the author delivered it with style. I would DEFINITELY recommend getting this marvelous gem immediately.
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