Book Description:
I wanted to jump.
He made me fall.
As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.
Until he found me.
Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.
But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.
Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?
Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up.
Buy Links:
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1ORMolI (paperback link, waiting for kindle)
Excerpt:
“Thank fuck!” Sam said, swinging the door open before Devon even had the car in park.
“Oh, this isn’t my place. We’re just dropping Devon off. I’m about twenty minutes across town?” I tossed him a sugary smile then boldly shifted my hand into his lap, purposely brushing the bulge under his denim.
Grabbing my wrist, he narrowed his eyes and called out, “Devon, I’m gonna need to borrow a bedroom.”
I burst out laughing as Devon cursed loudly.
“Fine. This is my place. No smoking inside though,” I snipped as I climbed from the SUV.
“You better have some seriously exciting extracurricular activities to keep me distracted, then.”
“I have Ping-Pong!”
“Not exactly what I was thinking.” He mischievously cocked his head. “But I guess paddles and balls are as good a start as any.” Dipping down, he hoisted me over his shoulder. “Point me to the Ping-Pong table, my lady.”
I didn’t. I laughed hysterically as he carried me inside. Then I directed him to my bedroom instead.
I heard Devon locking up the house as Sam deposited me on the bed.
“Jesus. This view.” He pushed the curtains back. “Why the hell would you ever go up to the bridge when you have this here?”
“I don’t know,” I answered, pulling my earrings off and placing them on my nightstand.
Oh, but I knew. It might not have been what had originally sent me up that bridge, but it was why my feet carried me back every night. And that very reason was currently standing in front of me with entirely too much clothing on.
“You want a beer?” I asked, sliding my shoes off.
“Nah, I’m good.” He faced me, and I could tell something was off with his demeanor. He didn’t inch any closer. Instead, his lips were tight and his eyes uncomfortably flashed around the room.
It suddenly didn’t feel like Sam standing in front of me at all.
He felt like a stranger who had just come face-to-face with Levee Williams.
Damn it.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Are you about to freak out?” I whispered, nervously moistening my lips.
He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m not really sure yet. But I’m gonna need you to stop licking your lips long enough for me to figure it out.” His mouth cracked into a wide grin, and my shoulders relaxed.
Now that was a flash of my Sam.
“Want to tell me what’s going on?” I asked.
“It’s just… I think this is the first time I’ve realized that you’re some big-time celebrity. I might be in over my head here, Designer Shoes.”
“I just make music, Sam.” I returned his smile and very slowly prowled in his direction. “Imagine how I feel though. You’re Samuel Nathan Rivers. A tough, tattooed furniture designer who makes six figures a year but is too afraid to tell his mommy he votes democratic.” I giggled as he frowned humorously. Stopping in front of him, I dragged a fingernail down his chest then teased the waistband of his jeans. “Have you considered that maybe I’m the one who’s in over her head here?” I leaned forward to nip at his lips, but he spun us around.
“Excellent point. I’m going to need you to try really hard to keep it together, Levee. You haven’t even seen my six-pack and huge cock, yet.” He smirked and attempted to return my nip, but I stepped out of his reach.
“You brought beer and chicken?” I feigned excitement.
That one corny joke was all it took to bring my Sam back completely.
With a sexy smile and a coy shrug, he seductively backed me toward the bed. “What can I say? I like to be prepared.”
“Clearly,” I breathed.
He moved in close so his lips were only a centimeter away, but for as much as I wanted him, it was agonizing. “Clearly,” he repeated, his smoky yet sweet breath breezing across my mouth.
His strong arm looped around my waist, tugging me against his chest, while I stared into his hooded eyes, eagerly waiting for him to make a move.
Any move.
Every move.
Our Review:
Reviewed by Donna ~ 5 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***
“You were never a distraction to me, Sam. You were always my reprieve.”
It has been a while since I have been so engrossed in a book that I have pulled an all-nighter and The Fall Up just didn’t let me go from the first page till the last. I have to say that I totally and utterly loved this book. From beginning to end, every word, every paragraph, every chapter had me either laughing or crying. Such a wide range of emotions conveyed through some magical words and two characters that you just couldn’t help fall in love with.
Both of these characters are dealing with loss in their own way and a chance meeting brings the unlikeliest of couples together. These two have an incredible bond, fantastic chemistry but most of all their story was believable, it was real and it was honest.
“Levee and I were in love – there was no doubt about that. But we were still getting to know each other on so many levels. Not our bodies though. They were sexual soulmates.”
Sam was a troubled character, but we all love a man that is “real.” Sam has demons, demons that haunt him all the time and demons that he cannot seem to escape. He hides behind his tattoos and his cigarettes, but underneath that façade was a man that just wanted to be found. He was lost in his thoughts and in his guilt…guilt that wasn’t warranted but sometimes, if you tell yourself something enough you actually believe that it is right. Sam had a good soul, he would do anything for anyone, he was a giver, not a taker. He was quite introverted with his thoughts and would often go to the bridge to brood and think, it was here that he could reflect and try to clear his head until one night, someone needed him more than he needed the bridge.
“…maybe even before that. It was love at first stalk, Levee.”
Levee was disillusioned with her life, on the outside she seemingly had it all…fame and fortune, but even that left her feeling empty inside. Levee too carried a huge burden of guilt, once again unwarranted, but Levee carries her burdens to the extreme. Levee is slowly burning herself out trying to make up for the past but trying to make a difference in the present. She uses her fame and fortune to help those needing it the most but she tries too hard. Helping others becomes an addiction and all addictions have their own negative repercussions and in this case it is to Levee herself. Seeking solace and escape from her hectic life and wanting to be in peace and quiet she too finds herself at the bridge alone at night, teetering on the edge with only her thoughts for company she reflects, but Levee is not alone.
One night, one bridge, one conversation is all it takes for the unlikeliest of couples to form a friendship that is borne through commonalities. These two were so alike, yet so different and sometimes all it takes is a few words to break through, to find that common ground, to help, to just be a listening ear. Night after night these two would meet in their spot, just talking, unloading, sharing, getting to know each other, but no names. But when the truth comes out, will their “pretend” lives be able to co-exist with the real?
“Levee, I’d like to struggle with you.”
Aly Martinez really delivered with this book, it is deep, it is emotional but so relatable. The banter really lightened up this read and balanced it beautifully. The banter showing another side to these two characters that only endears them even more. When these two began to fall, so did I, I fell in love with this book, with these words, with these characters.
“…but I’ll never be able to look back on those dark days with anything but a smile. I wanted to jump, Sam, but I never once expected the fall to go up.”
I have to say that the cover is genius and once you have read the story the cover is so on point it is ridiculous. While the cover is eye catching in its own right, once you understand the sentiment behind it, it grows in my appreciation. Absolute genius!
“I love you too, Designer Shoes.”
This is one of my favourite reads of 2015 without a doubt and I urge you all to pick it up. Sometimes you just know when a book is going to be a hit and I hope that this book gets the credit that it so richly deserves. As I said, every word meant something and it takes a lot for an author to create a story that resonates within your soul. Levee and Sam are in there and I just hope they are happy.
About the Author:
Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.
After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.
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