Falling Away

Falling Into You Series- Book 4

By Jasinda Wilder

Synopsis

My name is Benjamin Dorsey. You know my mom and dad’s story. You know Kylie’s parents’ story. You even know Kylie’s story.

You don’t know mine, yet.

You don’t know what a broken heart is until you’ve loved someone your whole life, only to have her slip through your fingers because you waited too long. That’s heartbreak. That’s regret. And how do you live with that? How do you go through the motions when she’s there as a reminder of what you lost, of what you could have had but were too damn chicken to go after? I couldn’t. So I left.

That’s right, I ran away. I found myself across the continent, playing minor league football. I mean, at least I still had football, right?

Nope. That got taken away from me too. A career-ending injury left me down-and-out, scraping the bottom of the barrel, hating myself and hating life. And then I met Cheyenne Leveaux, my physical therapist, who became my one and only friend, the one bright light in the darkness of my messed up life.

But of course nothing is ever simple, or easy.

Tragedy struck, and the rug was swept out from under me yet again, and this time the guilt, the doubt, the secrets, and the old heartbreak may threaten my one chance at true happiness, my one shot at my own happily ever after.

Reading Order: Falling Into You, Falling Into Us, Falling Under, Falling Away

Buy: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / ITunes

Michel’s Review

Falling Away is the epic ending to the Falling Into You series by Jasinda Wilder.  It was a bittersweet moment opening this book and knowing that it was the last in one of my all time favorite series.  The characters in this series have lived in my heart and are unforgettable.

After reading the last book, Falling Under, I was devastated for Ben.  He was a great kid that had his heart shattered.  He showed the ugly and uncontrollable side of his personality.  He acted out in the worst possible way.  His soul was wounded and he was reacting the only way he knew how.  He had carried so many pent up emotions that when the door opened it was a floodgate of pain, betrayal, regret, and anger.  I ached for this boy.  I felt his deep pain.  I wanted him to find the peace and love he so richly deserved.  Ben found more than that.  He found himself.  He found a man that had honor, compassion, and hope.

The book starts a year after Ben left Nashville trying to run from his heartbreak and despair.  What Ben didn’t realize at the time is that he was running from himself.  It took many miles,  odd jobs, new experiences, and new heartbreaks to open his heart once again. He finds his passion for football once again.  He finds a place he may want to call home for a spell. He finds that he can be attracted to another woman other than Kylie.  He finds a true friend that understands his heartbreaking journey.  Just as things are looking bright in Ben’s life he is thrown into despair once again.  He loses his only passion and he loses his only true friend.  This time around Ben has grown emotionally and matured.  He hasn’t come completely into himself but is much stronger than he was a year ago.  He also recognizes that a new door is opening and that this time he doesn’t want to slam it shut.  He’s not quite ready to welcome the new people & experiences at the door, but he isn’t turning them away.  He is opening that door.

Ben meets Echo through a very tragic circumstance.  She is unlike any girl or woman he has ever met.  He sees a very beautiful woman that has a very wounded soul.  Although he doesn’t understand all of her pain, he knows without a doubt he wants to ease it and help her cope.  What starts out as a pain easing hookup turns into a soul searching friendship to a passionate love affair that stands the test of time.  But first Echo and Ben have to face their pain and allow others into their soul.

Echo is a very troubled young woman.  Her life experiences have led her to a self destructive and abusive path.  She has trust issues, self worth issues, and loads of regret. Her escape is through music.  When music isn’t enough to ease the pain she will have to face herself or destroy herself.  Ben shows her a different look at life.  He shows her that healing doesn’t erase the person you are, it makes you stronger and better.

Ben and Echo both have their journeys to travel but destiny has thrown their paths together.  Now they have to learn to open their hearts and travel that path together.

I loved this book.  The reader got to experience Ben’s transition from a wounded boy into a strong and steady man.  A man with a bright and shiny future.  He was given something better than he ever could of dreamed of having with Kylie.  He was given himself as well as a love of a lifetime.

There were a few things in this book that I struggled with but did not affect my overall reaction to the story.  There was an excessive amount of references to songs, the performers, and musicians.  While I understand the importance of music in this series, I found it distracting in many passages.  Another thing I found I disliked quite a bit was that Ben’s parents, Becca and Jason (from Falling Into Us- book 2 ), played a very small role in the overall picture. Jasinda emphasized Colt and Nell’s presence throughout the second part of the book.  I understand that they are the foundation of the series but quite honestly I felt like Jason and Becca importance was slighted.  They were both powerful characters that overcame advisory in a very positive manner.  They experienced pain, heartbreak, abuse, and the hard knocks life had to offer.  They overcame their plights and became very strong admirable adults.  I feel like they had so much more to offer their son Ben than Jasinda allowed them to.

I am happy that Ben became the man he is today.  I am happy that he found the peace in his life.  I am happy that he found Echo.

I am very sad that this series has ended but am looking forward to the spin off series coming in the future.

I have nothing but pure praise for Jasinda Wilder.  She writes a powerful and emotional reading experience that stays in your heart long after the book is finished.

Read this book.  Read this series!

Author Bio:

NEW YORK TIMES, USA TODAY, WALL STREET JOURNAL and international bestselling author Jasinda Wilder is a Michigan native with a penchant for titillating tales about sexy men and strong women. Her bestselling titles include ALPHA, STRIPPED, WOUNDED, and the #1 Amazon and international bestseller FALLING INTO YOU. You can find her on her farm in Northern Michigan with her husband, author Jack Wilder, her five children and menagerie of animals.

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