Fall by Kristen Callihan Series: VIP, #3
Publication Date: October 23, 2018
Also in this series: Idol, Managed
Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org
Find on: Goodreads
The first time I met Jax Blackwood things went a little sideways.
In my defense, I didn’t know he was Jax Blackwood—who expects a legendary rock star to be shopping for groceries? More importantly, a blizzard was coming and he was about to grab the last carton of mint-chocolate chip.
Still, I might have walked away, but then he smugly dared me to try and take the coveted ice cream. So I kissed him. And distracted that mint-chip right out of his hands.
Okay, it was a dirty move, but desperate times and all that. Besides, I never expected he’d be my new neighbor.
An annoying neighbor who takes great pleasure in reminding me that I owe him ice cream but would happily accept more kisses as payment. An irresistible neighbor who keeps me up while playing guitar naked–spectacularly naked–in his living room.
Clearly, avoidance is key. Except nothing about Jax is easy to ignore—not the way he makes me laugh, or that his particular brand of darkness matches mine, or how one look from him melts me faster than butter under a hot sun.
Neither of us believes in love or forever. Yet we’re quickly becoming each other’s addiction. But we could be more. We could be everything.
All we have to do is trust enough to fall.
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
I’ve enjoyed this series, but Kristen Callihan gives us something special with Fall.
If you’ve read this series, you know what happened with Jax two years ago and what that did to Kill John. Finally, we get to see how John is dealing with his life and trying to make changes. It’s clearly not as easy for John as he wants everyone to think, but he’s trying. Enter Stella.
Stella has her own baggage, dealing with her sudden lack of a home and the abandonment of her father, but when she fights with John over a pint of mint chip ice cream, she has a connection with him. A connection neither of them can deny.
The setup to get these two connected again seemed hokey, but I let that go to continue on with the witty dialogue these two had with each other. It was clear Stella gave John that bit of grounding he needed to turn off his dark thoughts, but I kept wondering as I read on what was going to be the tipping point that was going to set John off.
Mental illness is such a tough topic and the author does it justice by giving us a realistic view on what people go through and what it means to love someone with it.
AMAZON | APPLE BOOKS | B&N
Excerpt
I clear my throat. “While I was eating my ice cream—”
He snorts, but remains tense.
“I thought about how you looked familiar to me.”
“It was the guilt haunting you.”
“Or … And I’m just throwing this out there. You’re Jax Blackwood.”
He actually flinches. “Fuck. You recognized me.”
“It was bound to happen. John? Really?”
His chin tips in a pugnacious angle. “It’s my name. John is … me. Jax is who I am onstage.”
I picture him performing, all electric energy and raw passion and sheer talent. It’s a sight to behold. Hell, a couple of really hot fantasies have been induced by that sight.
While I’m lost in a teen fantasy, his eyes dart around like he’s expecting someone to pop out from behind a snow mound and take his picture. Then his gaze snags on me. My expression must be slightly punch drunk, because his entire body leans away from mine. Not exactly flattering to realize he’s afraid I’ll try to lick his face or something.
I snap my gaping mouth closed. “Oh, calm down. It’s not like I’m going to start squealing and try to grab your junk.”
His expression lightens a little. “I think if you grabbed my junk, I’d be the one squealing.”
“True. I have surprisingly strong hands.” When he stares at me in horror, I hold them up and wiggle my fingers. “Yoga. It’s highly effective.”
“My balls just flinched in terror.”
“Consider yourself warned.”
He snorts but then glances at our building. “You really live here?”
“Do you really think I hunted you down?”
John—because I can’t seem to think of him as Jax—runs his hand through his damp hair, which makes his biceps bunch and twitch. “Yeah … that does sound crazy.”
Crazy. This whole situation is. One day, I’m offered a four-month home in a dream condo, the next I’m standing on my stoop talking to a rock star. The biggest legend of my generation. I honestly don’t know how I’m not stammering right now.
“I can’t believe we’re neighbors,” I say without thinking.
His green eyes glint in the afternoon light, but he pauses and looks at me more closely. “You know, not to sound conceited here, but you’re kind of leering at me right now.”
My chin snaps up like I’ve been hit, even as my body flushes with embarrassment. Shit. I totally had been leering. No, not leering. But I had been staring at him in awe. Ugh. “Well, you do sound conceited. I was simply making polite eye contact.”
Liar McLiar-Face.
Kristen Callihan is an author because there is nothing else she’d rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewer’s Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and the Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book FIRELIGHT received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher’s Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.
WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
Shannon
Latest posts by Shannon (see all)
- Release Blitz: The Surrogate – Penelope Ward - February 26, 2024
- ARC Review: Tempting Promises by Corinne Michaels - February 13, 2024
- ARC Review: My Anti-Hero by Tijan - February 8, 2024
- ARC Review: Legacy of Temptation by Larissa Ione - February 2, 2024
- Release Blitz: The Renegade Akseli Cyborg – Diana Duvall - January 26, 2024
