So, I was super excited to receive an ARC of Fear of Falling by S.L. Jennings for many reasons. First, I LOVE S.L. Jennings' Dark Light Series - both books in the series are definitely two of my absolute favorite books that I've ever read. Jennings' writing is unique and emotion-evoking, and The Dark Prince is one of only a handful of books that has made me cry; that's just how beautiful and deep her writing is.
I don't read too much contemporary for the fact that so many contemporary romances all sound EXACTLY the same to me, and don't pique my interest. Fear of Falling is not your typical contemporary, and it immediately caught my attention. If you haven't read the synopsis, here it is:
I can’t remember the last time I felt completely safe. Security seemed more like a luxury to me, reserved for those who were fortunate enough to have picture perfect childhoods. For those who didn’t bear the ugly scars that keep me bound in constant, debilitating fear. I’ve run from that fear my entire life. But when I met him, for once, I couldn’t run anymore.
He scared the hell out of me in a way that excited every fiber of my being. It wasn’t the tattoos or the piercings. It wasn’t the warmth that seemed to radiate from his frame and blanket me whenever he was near. It was just…him. The scary beautiful man that threatened to alter 23 years of routine and rituals, and make me face my crippling fear.
My name is Kami and I am constantly afraid. And the thing that scares me the most is the very thing I want.
***Inspired by true events***
Now if that doesn't intrigue you, then I don't know what will. Before I get to my review, here is a short excerpt and character collage to get your imagination going.
Excerpt:
Handing her back the eReader, I let my fingers linger against her hand, brushing tiny circles against her knuckles. “Life may not be pretty, but it’s always beautiful. We may only see the ugliness on the surface. The shit that only the world chooses to notice. But, if we dig deep, if we get to the heart of life, where there’s no pain or fear, where we can just be who we are and love freely without judgment, it’s really beautiful.”
She cocked her head to one side and narrowed those dazzling green eyes. “There you go with the words, Blaine Jacobs. Always tempting me to break my own rules.”
“What’s the fun in following the rules?” I shrugged. “Breaking them has always been much more appealing, if you ask me.”
“That’s the problem; you may end up breaking me instead.” The slight smile on her lips didn’t match the intensity of her gaze. She was serious. She actually thought I had it in me to hurt her when all I wanted was to protect her.
“I could never break you, Kami. Not unless you wanted me to."
My review:
I don't want to give too much of the story away since it doesn't release for another week, but I will say this - it is a must read. Even though Kami's background is darker than most, the reader can still relate to her. Throughout the story I felt for her and wished for her to find the light in the darkness that has been overshadowing her whole life.
The true star for me was Blaine. I loved Blaine, plain and simple. He fights for Kami when she doesn't even want to fight for herself. He doesn't give up when the odds are against him. Oh, and did I mention that he's covered in tattoos and has a tongue-piercing? Yeah, he is. I told my hubby he needed to get his tongue pierced like ASAP after reading about Blaine ;P
Fear of Falling is rooted in pain and suffering, but it shows that love and happiness can still be found after tragedy. That even though life can be downright cruel, it can also be absolutely beautiful.
Let me end with one of my favorite quotes from Blaine <3:
"The storm doesn't last forever. It can scare you; it can shake you to your core. But it never lasts. The rain subsides, the thunder dies, and the winds calm to a soft whisper. And that moment after the storm clouds pass, when all is silent and still, you find peace."
4 stars
Author Bio:
Most known for her starring role in a
popular sitcom as a child, S.L. Jennings went on to earn her law
degree from Harvard at the young age of 16. While studying for the
bar exam and recording her debut hit album, she also won the Nobel
Prize for her groundbreaking invention of calorie-free wine. When she
isn’t conquering the seas in her yacht or flying her Gulfstream,
she likes to spin elaborate webs of lies and has even documented a
few of these said falsehoods.
Some of S.L.’s devious lies:
THE DARK LIGHT SERIES
Dark Light
The Dark Prince
Light Shadows (Fall
2013)
FEAR OF FALLING- July 18th,
2013
Meet the Liar:
authorsljennings.wordpress.com
