Falling: A Homecoming Romance

by H. Leslie Winters

Recently divorced Mark makes his way back to the town he grew up in to help his aging father with the family business. He had no intentions of a relationship so soon after his divorce, but the heart doesn't always listen to the intentions of the brain does it?

Molly is a single mother. She has been on her own since Her teenage daughter, Claire was just a toddler. Molly dated guys through the years, but none ever really gave her the spark she was looking for. She wasn't looking for "the one" (are we ever?) In fact, she had given up on the whole idea years ago and dedicated her life to raising Claire.

A community social event
A cup of coffee
A misstep
Had they met before?
Yes.

They knew each other a long time ago. Feelings were buried then. The insecurities of a high school crush were to blame for opportunities missed. Seeing her again brought a rush of memories, a pang of regret, and a desire to make up for the blown chances of his youth.

Before they knew it, Mark and Molly were falling. Neither planned it. Neither sought it out. Still, here it was. They reveled in the excitement of being together now, twenty-five years after their near miss.

Will Molly be able to give all of herself after focusing on the needs of one person for so long? Will Mark be able to step back into the role of a father since his children were grown and living their own lives?

What are Good Reads readers saying?

"...a sweet 2nd chance contemporary romance..."

"...Leslie Winters can certainly tell a story."

"...love this sweet romance book..."

121 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 16, 2017

Reviews

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't care for short stories. They are like snacks, that leave me more hungry than when I started and then I have to search for something with more substance to appease my appetite. This book is longer than a short story; does that make it a novella?

This is a second chance story. His marriage had been over for a long time, but they waited to divorce until the boys were grown and on their own. Now Mark, at the age of 45, was going back to his home town to help his widowed father with the fmaily hardware store. There he runs into Beth Denton, a single mother with a fourteen year old daughter. Despite being 4 years older than her, he had had a crush on her in high school, so decides to pursue her. She works two part time jobs and her daughter is going through that horrible teenage angst, but she realizes that she also deserves a life. A very nice story.

[Penny Leidecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falling is a second chance romance between Mark and Beth. Mark's boys are grown, but Beth has a teenager, Claire. Beth has always had to put Claire first and that doesn't change when Mark returns to town after twenty years. They attended high school together and Mark had a crush on Beth, but didn't pursue it because he was older than her. They are reunited when Beth spills coffee on him at the football game. I enjoyed reading this book about second chances with real life issues. I won't leave any spoilers, so one-click your copy and read about the issues they face. This is a fast enjoyable read.

[Jennifer Woodrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet 2nd chance contemporary romance about Mark who stayed in his marriage until his children were grown. Beth had left her husband when his emotional abuse started falling on their daughter, Claire. Both Mark and Beth moved back to their hometown and started over.

The characters were genuine and never seemed as if they were perfect. As they started dating, they both made some major mistakes. Beth was raising her teenage daughter while trying to develop a relationship with Mark. This caused its own drama and suspense.
While the author had some occasional grammar difficulties and tense (past, present and future) tsunamis, I never had a problem with losing my train of thought. To me that means the plot line was solid and seamless.
Some of her sentences were lovely and invoked the tentative beauty of starting a new relationship. For instance:
"The sparks were like one hundred woodsmen sharpening one hundred axes on one hundred sharpening wheels in a fireworks warehouse."
This was a beautiful visual of the developing passion between Mark and Beth as far as I was concerned.
I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading Ms. Winters next one. Grammar and tense is easily fixed, but if a writer can't tell a story they have no hope. Leslie Winters can certainly tell a story.

[Mel Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this romantic story about two divorced people finding love again. Mark mo Ed back to his home town to help his dad out in the family hardware store, living with his dad as well not wanting to get back in a relationship so soon he didn't expect to fall for Molly the girl he had a crush on in school when she spills coffee on him.
Molly is raising her daughter alone she's working the food booth at the football game like always she never expected to meet so when she spilled coffee on him. When Mark shows up at her part time job to as her in a date she is nervous she hasn't let anyone get close to her since her divorce, accepting Marks dinner date she never had a chance love crept up on them but when Molly push Mark away and he ends there relationship can she find it in her heart to forgive him. Mark made the biggest mistake end his relationship with Molly he can't get any right at work and all he hunks about all day is Molly and Claire getting up the courage to go to Molly and talk will she forgive him and get there happily ever after. Read to find out.

[Laura ~Passion flower]

Falling (ARC) was graciously provided to me by the author, H. Leslie Winters, for an honest review. Review to follow.

[Nancy Ku · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second chance love story of Beth and Mark it is the first book I have read by Leslie Winters and I am looking forward to reading more of her books. She contacted me and I received a ARC for an honest review ...I was happy to do this and have no problem recommending this book.