Fallen from Grace [Paperback]

Laura Leone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2004

While trying to save her spiraling career, Sara Diamond befriends her new next door neighbor, Ryan Kinsmore. A soft-spoken younger man with charm and good looks, Ryan leads a mysterious double life which becomes increasingly hard for him to conceal from Sara as their intimacy grows.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When Ryan meets Sara, his new next-door neighbor in a rickety old San Francisco apartment building, both are in a state of emotional turmoil. Ryan, a high-priced prostitute, is trying to break free of his old life, but his handler, Catherine, won't let him. Sara's medieval mystery series has just been terminated by her publisher, and she is now trying to write a historical thriller. Sara doesn't dare make the first move toward deepening their relationship because she is older than Ryan, not as physically attractive, and halfway convinced he is gay and that if she pushes him she will lose his friendship, which she values. In this realistically gritty, sometimes violent, and gripping tale, Leone reveals the seamier side of society's maneuvering while she spins an unconventional romance between two unhappy people who find that love, like respect, can grow out of friendship and shared experiences and that new beginnings are indeed possible for those with the determination and courage to pursue them. Lynne Welch
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"...strong, emotionally charged...For an honest story with an unconventional look at love, Fallen From Grace is a must for your bookshelf."
-- Romance Reviews Today (UNKNOWN )

"... [a] realistically gritty, sometimes violent, and gripping tale...an unconventional romance..."
-- Booklist (Booklist ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Five Star Trade (June 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410401812
• ISBN-13: 978-1410401816
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,195,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There should be more romances like this one, July 30, 2003

By 

S. Raines - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Five Star Expressions - Fallen From Grace (Hardcover)

Sara is a writer who had to move into a cheaper apartment because her publisher decided to discontinue her mystery series. She meets the boy next door, who seems to be everything a woman could want. He's younger, considerate, smart, sweet, gentle, and gorgeous to boot. The more time they spend together, the more obvious it is to each of them that the other is what they want.

But Ryan hasn't been totally open with Sara, and before they get too serious he has to tell her that he's a high priced prostitute. Ryan ran away from an abusive home when he was young and was rescued from the streets after being raped; his rescuer was a madam, who trained him to be just what women want. He sees sex as business, completely different from making love.

Sara obviously sees it another way. She loves him and wants him, but can't stand the thought of receiving him from another woman's bed.

That's the main conflict between the two. The wonderful thing about this novel is that when I heard the premise I thought it unbelievable, but in reading the characters Leone created I completely fell into the story and believed it. Sara and Ross were real people, with real feelings between them, too strong to ignore. And their conflicts weren't contrived, but part of who they were.

This is probably the best romance I've read this year - not just because it's original, but because it's genuine. There are no secret babies, no uber-villains, no big misunderstandings, just two people who really need each other and all the problems they have to work through before they have a life together and love. How they do that is one of the more romantic stories I've read.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unconvential romance with biting edge- gritty, October 17, 2004

By 

K. J. Blake "Super Reader" (Phoenix,AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fallen from Grace (Paperback)

Laura Leone has risen above the formula that is the hallmark of standard romantic fiction. This is a novel of grit and depth. The frank sexuality and situations depicted do not leave much the imagination- they are supposed to shock and even repulse.
Ryan Kinsmore is a handsome young yuppie from initial appearances and his new neighbor Sara Diamond is impressed by his gentle nature, big heart and warmth. She is shocked when she finds out he was a teenage runaway who ended up a male escort- something he stil is 10 years later. Ryan as "Kevin" is a highly paid prostitute and even though he loves Sara he feels unworthy of her love and has little true self-value. His madam Katherine saved him from the streets and groomed him into the suave man he presents to the world but on the inside he sees himself as a scared kid who did anything for money.
This book is very much a book of discovery and finding the courage to make a big change as it is a romance. I found Ryan to be an empathetic character and believable. Most stories with prostitutes are women- few are men, yet more and more men work as sex workers today servicing men and women ( watch Law and Order SVU any episode to verify this) and the whole objectification of the service provider and the way they see themselves was done well here. Sara is an interesting woman- she is a writer who is in the midst of her own career turmoil so these two meeting at a critical crossroads is no accident.
The love making between Ryan and Sara is sweet once it happens- the emotions and trust issues rule their heads and hearts and bodies.
This is an adult story with very adult themes- not for the faint of heart. Story is set in San Francisco and there is a secondary subplot involving Sara facing that someone close to her is gay and her having to accept this. Again- if you are offended- read something else. If you are open to what is in a person's heart and body- this is a great read with many unexpected touches of humor as well as driving pathos as Ryan finds a way out of the life he has lived for so long.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Read....., September 29, 2003

By 

M. I. "krushedvelvet" (Old Bridge, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Five Star Expressions - Fallen From Grace (Hardcover)

Wow. This is not like any story Ive EVER read. In the front of the book, the author mentions that romance readers are more interested in a great story than a safe one. She really nailed it when she said that. What a book! "Fallen From Grace" had great characters in its h/h, Sara and Ryan. This book , however, belonged to Ryan. I loved the story. The way it didnt apologize for itself when it got gritty..didnt try to gloss itself over..it was blunt, to the point, real, and so achingly romantic. The main draw for me though ,was definitely Ryan. What a genuine HERO. The things that he overcame..his gentle and sincere treatment of others...his compassion..all of this wrapped up in such an appealing package. He was a bit damaged from his secrets ,yes, but so Wholly a MAN. I LOVED this book..I read it in a matter of hours it was so unputdownable. This is a book that is a keeper for me for sure.