The Downside of Falling Review

                                                           
This isn’t a story about a love triangle. There is no triangle involved. This isn’t a story about an accidental pregnancy. Although having a baby with her . . . I would. This isn’t a story about lies and deception, even though at times I’ve lied to myself. No, this is my story. A story about sacrifice. A story about a man who fell in love with the wrong girl. A story I wish I never had to tell. This is a story about the true meaning of the downside of love.  

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  Darra’s Review:

I must have been overly involved because I was so mad how the last chapter ended in The Upside of Falling. It was a moment “Really Meghan, you left me hanging???” I was Team Colby all the way. He did no wrong and I was rooting for him. I won’t tell you the ending of the first book just in case if you have not read it but I was slightly shocked that the main story line was about Colby’s best friend, Stryder. You know where this is going. Yes, Stryder turns out to be a amazing person and which Rory can’t help but want to be close.

The problem I had was despite Rory telling Colby he must leave, doesn’t justify how she changes her feelings only months later. I thought it was a true love. Colby would have given up his dream to be with her. And once I read this, I overestimated Rory’s feelings for him.

I won’t lie, I really did enjoy finding out who Stryder really was. He was an amazing guy. However I was disappointed with Rory. She wanted a fixer upper and I do not think that is a quality that someone should be looking when meeting a person.  

I rate the book a 4.3 out of 5.

Sunny's Review:

I don't really know what to say about this book. It is not one of my favorites but I can see why a lot of people will love it. If you have not read The Upside of Falling, please stop reading this review. It contains spoilers from that book. 

I totally fell for Colby in the first book and while the second book is Stryder's story, I just did not love him like I love Colby. I was not a huge Rory fan in the first book so it was really hard for me to like her in this book. Okay, so I think that Rory was a coward. She used her brother as an excuse to not live her life with Colby. I understand that it would have been hard but she could have made everything work if she really wanted to be with him. Stryder was a really good guy and I liked him once I got to see more about him. He had a rough life growing up and then did not get his dream because of his father. I am not a fan of insta-love and I think that is the biggest problem that I have with this story. 

Most people are going to read this duet and love the heartbreak and angst running through it. It is a good story and emotions are all over the place. I am giving this book 4.4 stars out of 5. If you need a summer binge, this could be the one for you.

                                                              
Tucked away at the base of the Rocky Mountains lived a little boy with one singular dream: leave this broken and battered home and become someone. Be somebody’s hero. That boy was me—Colby Brooks. Except I’m not that same little boy anymore. My dreams might still be the same, but my reality isn’t. I’m smarter. Stronger. A man. And I learned a long damn time ago, the only way to achieve my dreams was to avoid distractions—at any cost. Focus. Resolve. Determination. But all it took was one single night. One night and my entire life…changed. One night had me colliding head first with the biggest distraction of my life; Rory Oaks. Smart. Charming. Beautiful. Rory changed everything. Quickly, my one-track mind started to bend. Each kiss faded decade-long dreams. And with one single incident, I fly off course.   Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU                                                       

                                                         
 Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped. Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking. Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze! Facebook | Follow on Goodreads | Website | Amazon Author Page | Instagram | Follow on BookBub  

The Upside of Falling by Meghan Quinn

 
                                             

   

        

Tucked away at the base of the Rocky Mountains lived a little boy with one singular dream: leave this broken and battered home and become someone. Be somebody’s hero. That boy was me—Colby Brooks. Except I’m not that same little boy anymore. My dreams might still be the same, but my reality isn’t. I’m smarter. Stronger. A man. And I learned a long damn time ago, the only way to achieve my dreams was to avoid distractions—at any cost. Focus. Resolve. Determination. But all it took was one single night. One night and my entire life…changed. One night had me colliding head first with the biggest distraction of my life; Rory Oaks. Smart. Charming. Beautiful. Rory changed everything. Quickly, my one-track mind started to bend. Each kiss faded decade-long dreams. And with one single incident, I fly off course.

Darra's Review:

I am so used to Meghan's RomCom books, it is always surprising to read a Adult Contemporary. Colby was as sweet as you can get. Truly, you can't find a guy that treats you like that. He will be character that will make you say Aww after the huge decision he makes. He will sacrifice his dreams for a new one. Life is not perfect. And this story is imperfect. Just like everyone's reality. The ending, I did huff with aggravation. Damn you Meghan for that cliffhanger!

I rate the book a 4.4 out of 5. 

Sunny's Review:

This book took me a little longer to read then Meghan's book normally do. I prefer to read something that would not happen in real life and this book could totally happen in real life. Most of her other books could too but there is so much comic relief with those I can read faster. Colby is pretty amazing. He has had a really messed up life and when he finally opens up to Rory you think he will get his happily ever after. Rory is definitely not my favorite character and I just did not like her from the beginning. There was just something that was off with her for me. There is a cliffhanger but luckily the next book will be out soon. 

I did like this book but it is not my favorite. I think a lot of people will really enjoy this one. I am giving it 4.3 stars out of 5.

EXCERPT:

 Head turned down, pushing the sleeves of his white Henley up his arms, he swaggers toward me. His jeans hang low on his hips, held up by the same brown belt he wore the other night. His narrow waist directs my eyes to the center of his jeans, and I can’t help wonder what might be behind the crotch of his pants. And then there is his chest. Barrel like, broad and prominent. His thick biceps showcase his strength, and the fabric of his shirt stretches over his shoulders and forearms. Having spent a lot of time at the gym, I’ve seen every body type, but Colby’s is different. He’s strong, built, but not like a body builder. His body seems to suggest the only kind of weight he’s been lifting is his own body, pushup after pushup. I can’t imagine there being barbells in his workouts, but I can imagine logs, cadets, and heavy machinery. He has working muscles, the kind you earn from hard, dedicated work on the field. In a word? Impressive. Walking up to Stryder, he grips his friend’s shoulder and says something into his ear. A smirk crosses Stryder’s face before he moves over to our side of the bowling alley and takes Colby’s place. Is he leaving? Already? Might as well at this point. It’s not like he’s going to talk to me, not after my pathetic attempt at a bet. I should have known I was going to hang out in the gutter all night. It’s where I usually am when I’m bowling. I blame the ball. The thing has a vendetta against me. Sighing, I prop my chin in my hand and watch Stryder expertly toss his ball down the lane, getting a strike . . . once again. And just like every other strike, he pumps his arm up in the air and celebrates. We get it, you’re good, no need to— “Hey.” That voice . . . Stunned, eyes wide, not able to move, not wanting to scare him away, I keep my eyes trained forward, soaking in that beautifully deep voice of his for a brief moment before saying, “Hey.” “Can I sit here?” Still keeping my eyes trained forward, I say, “Sure.” My body tingles with awareness of how close he is to me, that fresh laundry scent invading my senses, prickling the little hairs on my arm. My body leans toward his, wanting a little more, searching for anything else he might give me. I don’t know why he’s choosing to engage me in conversation, but I’m sure as hell not moving while he does. “Sorry about tonight,” he says and he actually sounds sincere. “Why are you sorry?” I mumble. Reaching around, he takes my cheek in his hand. The callouses on his palm rubbing against my skin is a welcome sensation. As I’m turned toward him, I steady my breathing. I’m having a hard time slowing my heart rate because of his close proximity, and the unexpected touch shooting a wave of heat through my veins. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to ask me any questions. I didn’t think you were going to suck that bad.” A playful smile tugs at his lips, and my heart sinks to the floor. Oh God, he’s so gorgeous, especially when he smiles. Matching his smirk, I say, “I didn’t think I was going to suck that bad either.” “I feel bad.” “You should.” That garners a laugh, deep and throaty, the sound cloaking me like a shield, protecting me from the outside world, bringing me into a little bubble where we are the only two that exist. “Ask me a question.” Shocked, I swallow hard and say, “Really?” He nods and holds up his fingers. “You get three.” “Oh, three? Wow, I feel like you just gave me the key to your soul.” Rolling his eyes, he adjusts his stance on the barstool and leans back, giving us some space, our knees still knocking into each other. “Easy killer; it’s just three questions.” “Yeah, three questions I didn’t have before.” Tapping my chin, I try to think of good questions, but now that I have him willing and waiting, nothing comes to mind. I wasn’t prepared for this, he caught me off-guard, and now I feel I can’t be strategic about my probing. “Hmm . . . what do you like to do on the weekends?” “Jump,” he answers. Searching his eyes, lips quirked, I say, “Uh, you’re going to have to be more specific than that. What kind of jumping are we talking here? Like jump roping? Because that seems kind of weird to do on the weekends, and if you tell me you’re in some kind of jump-roping club at the academy, I’m not going to believe you.” His lips curve up as he scratches the side of his jaw. “Jump out of airplanes.” Oh. Oh. That’s . . . Uh, that’s really hot. “So you just casually jump out of airplanes?” “I’m part of the Wings of Blue, the academy’s parachute team. We jump every day, at least two to three times a day after class and before dinner, depending on wind and ceiling limits. On the weekends, some of the guys, including Stryder and me, go to Springs East Airport and do civilian jumps. The more jumps we get in, the higher the chance we’ll be considered for big demonstrations, like parachuting into football games and major sporting events for the Rockies and Broncos.” Ummmm. Did anyone else just hear how many words he gifted me? And seriously? Does the man have no clue how incredibly sexy he is when he talks about something he loves? The expression on his face . . . “Wow, that’s . . . that’s really hot.” I chuckle. “Sorry, I don’t mean to fangirl over your parachuting, but I guess I wasn’t expecting that answer. You just jump out of planes?” He slowly nods. “Every day.” “Anything to get you up in the clouds, huh?” “Yeah,” he answers shyly, rubbing his jaw. “Okay, next question.”  

     

  

                                     THE DOWNSIDE OF LOVE – July 5^th    

    
    

                                                      

Born in New York and raised in Southern California, Meghan has grown into a sassy, peanut butter eating, blonde haired swearing, animal hoarding lady. She is known to bust out and dance if “It’s Raining Men” starts beating through the air and heaven forbid you get a margarita in her, protect your legs because they may be humped. Once she started commuting for an hour and twenty minutes every day to work for three years, she began to have conversations play in her head, real life, deep male voices and dainty lady coos kind of conversations. Perturbed and confused, she decided to either see a therapist about the hot and steamy voices running through her head or start writing them down. She decided to go with the cheaper option and started writing… enter her first novel, Caught Looking. Now you can find the spicy, most definitely on the border of lunacy, kind of crazy lady residing in Colorado with the love of her life and her five, furry four legged children, hiking a trail or hiding behind shelves at grocery stores, wondering what kind of lube the nervous stranger will bring home to his wife. Oh and she loves a good boob squeeze!

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