Customer Reviews

Fallen from Grace

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

So, I started reading this book because someone else from a review for a different book recommended it, so I went ahead and bought it. I am so glad that I did.

First off, the book starts really good, with the point of view of "Kevin" or, in reality, Ryan, as he is doing a "trick" with a woman, since his job is to be an official "escort". He is only aiming to please, and we get his feelings on his job and the fact that he is not in it for his pleasure.

Then we meet Sara, who is very sad that her career is not as stable as it used to be and she feels as if she has to start from scratch (even though she has been writing a successful mystery series) since her publisher doesn't want her anymore.

As the story unfolds, we start to see that Ryan and Sara have feelings for each other, but Ryan holds back, not wanting to get too close to her since he knows that once she finds out the truth, that he is a male prostitute, she will never see him the same way.

So, eventually, when things get hot and heavy, he tells her. I don't want to reveal too much, but, she accepts him, regardless of his choice of career that he can't seem to get away from (since everytime he does, Catherine makes him feel guilty and reminds him that she is the one that taught him everything and saved him after he was brutally beaten and raped by a man). We get to see the pain he lived through, as a child, adolescent and now as a man. Leone did a great job in depicting the broken and desperate lives kids of the street live and the struggles that they have to endure and face. She even introduces Adam, a child that pickpockets, lives off the street and was lucky enough to steal Ryan's wallet, only to have him find him, get it back and help him live a better life. I actually cried or got teary eyed a couple of times, especially right after Ryan and Sara have mind-blowing, all-night sex and he gets a call from Catherine.

Great book! I just bought Fever Dreams by her, hopefully it's as good as this one, the excerpt given at the end of this book sure was.

This is a read that will pierce your sense of morality versus romance. At times I thought this should read, `Fallen From Social Grace' because it deals with the side of life that many of us have not personally experienced yet do empathize with those who overcame growing up on the rough side of the tracks.

The main plot is a romance story of an apparent washed-up writer and older woman, Sara, and a handsomely sexy younger male prostitute and truly tortured hero, Ryan. The subplot deals with a distressing look at the dark humiliating actions inflicted by successful people who exploit less than fortunate males (particularly for this story) who are in dire need to survive on the dangerous streets of San Francisco. Ryan was one of these young males: a runaway who would do just about anything to obtain money to eat. However, sadly enough, one night after performing a `highly paid' intimate act on a man, his `trick' brutally rapes him and leaves him for dead in a dark alley. Alas, his only true friend comes to his rescue - a high class female "solicitor" who takes personal interest in grooming him for a career in prostitution; thus, giving him the name of "Kevin".

Years later Ryan meets a new next door neighbor, Sara. During the beginning of their budding relationship, Sara believes Ryan is a professional "model" and is away from home so much due to his photo shoots. Eventually Sara finds out his true occupation, Kevin, and is morally and emotionally challenged to accept or reject him. She is in an emotional whirlwind because now a family secret is about to be revealed, which will cause her to struggle even more with or compromise her deeply rooted social beliefs and unconditional love in acceptance of others.

This is an emotionally stirring and compelling read vs romantic. Although it was a tear jerker for me, it has a happy ending which ties together both of the main characters rather nicely.

Kudos to Ms. Leone for having the courage to write a romance where the characters were forced to deal with a truly gritty conflict with no easy answers. More publishers should be willing to let authors explore such fascinating, dark, and gripping sides to love. Both characters were well-drawn and easy to root for; as a reader, this book made me examine my own feelings about forgiveness and understanding. This is a romance novel that makes you *think* and *feel*. A story with real substance!

Without giving too much of the book away, let me just say that at first I was wary to read a book about a male prostitute, but after thinking it over for a while, I decided to try it.

I'm so glad I did.

This was one of the most poignant stories of unconditional love, friendship, and forgiveness that I have ever read. The redemption of the hero's character is something unlike I've ever seen in a romance novel. Any of you out there who know anything about writing romance know that CONFLICT is where it's at. Every writing seminar I've even been to has pushed me to ask myself "How can I up the stakes?", "How can I make it EVEN worse for my characters?" The end is so much more satisfying when we do that. And Laura Leone's book does it in spades. She pens for us a beautiful story of one man's struggle to become worthy and the woman who knows he already is.

Simply beautiful, and so worth the time it takes to read it.

When a female author moves into a San Francisco apartment, she discovers her new neighbor is single, young and hot- and also a male prostitute. Ryan has never met anyone like Sara and their friendship blossoms into uncontrollable attraction. Can Sara help Ryan quit being an escort and escape his abusive pimp?

Wow. This was a great book. I really loved Ryan and his unique outlook on life and the physical attraction between these two is rich and deep. The author described Sara's family with love and humor and Ryan is a hottie hands down. I also thought Ryan's animal menagerie was very cute, particularly the dog, Macy.

There were a few times I felt a tad chagrined by Sara's behavior. At times I thought she was a bit insensitive to Ryan. I realize the goal was to get him to quit hustling but she seemed to go about it wrong. This was a decision *HE* has to make.... And she seemed to push him into it. I'd preferred he chosen that path himself rather than her issue an ultimatum.

At times the child abuse in Ryan's flashback was too strong for me. There were elements of suism in Sara's behavior (she is an author, has trouble with editors, is an older woman etc.) There was also a touch of Suism in Ryan's behavior... He cooks, cleans, loves animals, listens to women talk, is the perfect lover etc. This bothered me less though in Ryan's case because he was trained to be that way.

There is also a bit of peachiness which got a bit tiresome towards the end, in regards to shelters, getting off the streets, therapy, going back to school etc. All valid worthy and goals, but a little too sermony for my taste. Not everyone needs therapy, college, to work with homeless kids to feel fulfilled and happy. I would've been satisfied if Ryan and Sara were married and employed and left it at that. Giving them a fairy tale perfect ending seemed a bit too treacly for my taste.

Overall, while I had a few nits to pick I thought this was an excellent book with a unique and fascinating hero. I hope there is a sequel. I would love to see this couple 4-5 years in the future.

I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the love story between Ryan and Sara. They were very honest, very caring people who find each other at a critical time for each. I loved their conversations; there was no game playing for the most part or histrionics. I really liked the delayed reveal of Ryan's feelings for Sara.
SPOLERS...
My problem with this book is there were too many distractions form the main couple's story. I went back and read the book a second time because with one reading, I came away feeling I had really spent very little time with this couple, and the second reading confirmed this fact. So much of the book delves in back story on Ryan, his relationship with Adam, Sara and her sister's relationship and her coming to terms with finding out her sister is a lesbian....all of these things took up a full two-thirds of the story and I am left feeling how did the two main characters fall so deeply in love when they had spent so little time together? Their story unfolded so beautifully that it needed more of the author's attention.

I also had a complaint with how Sara chose to deal with Ryan pulling away from after his near rape. To have been so clever in how Sara dealt with Ryan on all of his issues, there is no way that she would have dressed like a hooker and threatened to prostitute herself to get him out his "funk." This scene started a downward spiral that was the end of the book especially with the silly banter in the epilogue. And the idea that Ryan would hit up his former clients for donations to his charity really very creepy.

When I picked up this book I just figured it would be another hot and spicy read, but I never counted on it being so romantic. The male character is everything you would want a man to be - sweet, caring handsome, strong, intelligent, polite... but he's also a prostitute, bummer.

The female protagonist in this story is not nearly as developed as her male counterpart, but I did appreciate that the author made her into a more "normal" type of lady. None of that long, lean, rail thin, perfect ten carp here! Sara is self conscience, she is rash, she jumps to conclusions, speaks out of turn, AND she looks completely normal for her age! Who says a woman in her thirties can't be hot?!

The heat and passion between these two characters was very well written and I was delighted when they finally burst through the obstacles standing between them in order to be together. The story about how Ryan changes his life because of his relationship with Sara is quite moving. The experiences Ryan endures as a young man are heart breaking and all too believable.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that this book is PERFECT. (As many of the other reviewers have already pointed out, it does have a few flaws in the way of believability and lack of some character development.) HOWEVER, as I have been known to say in the past - who says every book HAS to be believable?? Sometimes suspending reality is a little fun in a romance - and I found this one to be provocative, powerfully funny at times, and very moving! If you want a book that is romantic, funny, and moving than this would be a great read for you!

*WARNING TO MORE CONSERVATIVE READERS: There is some pretty explicit sex scenes in this book, although not as many as I had anticipated based on the back of the book. However, if you are easily offended by sexual scenarios, then you may want to pass on this semi erotic read.