Customer Reviews

Falling In Love

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I hate to be a spoiler, so I won't say anything more lest I let something slip, but the headline says it all. Escapism at a time when a stressed, lonely girl needed it most, this debut romance left me eager to see what Ms. Trent has in store for us next. She can only get better, and that's a thought to make me grin with anticipation!

I started out liking this book, but the phrase "Hand to God" was distracting and annoying after the 100th time. Being brought up in the South, I have two issues -
#1. I have NEVER heard a Southerner use that phrase in any way shape or form.
#2. The author used it even when it wasn't part of the dialog.
Didn't anyone else get sick of it??
Other than that, it was a good little story.

On her way to work at the local diner in Lambert Falls, North Carolina, Angie Kane notices the smell of a fire in the air. Smoke is coming out of the chimney from the old Montgomery place. In a small town like Lambert falls, little goes unnoticed. Even the local sheriff Bobby Granger notices and goes out to investigate and meet the newcomer. Chris Montgomery has returned to his grandfather's home to get a bit of rest and relaxation after a hard life in the military. When he accepts a dinner invitation from Bobby, he can't help but notice Angie, a woman so natural and full of life. Angie has always felt like second best compared to her sister Carter Anne when it comes to men. When Chris starts paying attention to Angie, she knows that hurt is only around the corner but she can't help herself. Angie has made a good life for herself in Lambert Falls. Everything she ever wanted is right here --- friends, family and a way of life she treasures. When Chris steps into her life, Angie's life becomes full of laughter and fun, but is heartache just around the corner? Just as Angie discovers the hidden talents within herself, will she have to choose between herself and the man she loves? Can two wounded souls find their way through the laughter and joy of being together to something more permanent? Does true love make a woman sacrifice all that she holds dear?

Pauline Trent's debut romance FALLING IN LOVE sweeps the reader right into the heart and charm of small town Southern life. FALLING IN LOVE whisked this relocated North Carolinian away to the days of my youth not only with her ever so carefully chosen descriptions of place but more importantly with the personalities of her characters. She captures perfectly the balance between Angie's competition and closeness with her sister Carter Anne. The widower Bobby adds an element of special charm and depth as his wisdom sheds nature on the nature of love. His struggle to raise two girls alone adds a delightful humor to the romance.

Pauline Trent captures the wonderful changes within a person falling in love for the first time --- the laughter, the excitement and the joy that even simple moments bring. Life takes on a different, more magical hue. From the first moments, the reader feels the chemistry between Angie and Chris and yet, the beauty of this romance is in the author's ability to capture all the more subtle, quiet moments between the initial attraction and the growth of a deeper love within as the hero and heroine get to know one another. Love from Chris and her family fills Angie with a new-found confidence to come out of her protective shell in exciting new ways she never could have imagined. As outside events enter into the safe circle created by the love Chris and Angie share, Pauline Trent does an excellent job at making the reader feel the tension that threatens the magic of love. It isn't just a past hurt that motivates Angie. Love has changed Angie so that she is different woman, a woman who knows herself more deeply. In FALLING IN LOVE, Pauline Trent leaves the romance reader with more than a wonderful vision of love. By the surprising twist at the end, Pauline Trent creates a happily-ever-after that will last thanks to the character's self-knowledge and their ability to communicate with one another.

Plain and simple, FALLING IN LOVE is a beautiful contemporary romance. Wonderful characters make a reader look forward to being able to visit in Lambert Falls with them every time one picks up the book. FALLING IN LOVE is a romance that grabs the heart before a reader even realizes it and then, just when the reader takes Chris's side, not really understanding Angie, suddenly everything switches. Her values, motivations and choices emanate, not from insecurity, but from depth and inner strength. If you love a tender romance that transports you into a different but contemporary world or a sweet romance with a rich emotional depth and characters you will want to visit time and time again, Pauline Trent's FALLING IN LOVE is a great choice. A stunning debut romance!

COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS

I purchased this book based on a review in Kindle Cheap reads. The review from Amazon and the actual book are not correct. If you want to buy based on the Amazon review at the top of the page! Don't do it! The review is from a book by Katherine Garbera - Bare Facts.

Having said all that I found this book warm hearted and charming. I agree with the other reviews and enjoyed it overall.

Falling In Love is a descriptive and quick read. I found it lighthearted, and enjoyed the simple, direct dialog between characters. Very engaging; I did not want to put it down.

Pauline Trent has written a very good first novel. The characters are interesting and the story carries the reader until the very last page which ends the suspense of the book with a somewhat philosophical ending.

What a wonderful gentle Romance! I got the book in the mail on Tuesday, started on it the next day, and finished it the following morning!

STORY BRIEF:
After several years as a Green Beret, Chris leaves the military and moves to a small southern town. He inherited wealth and a huge house which stood vacant for many years. Angie works as a waitress in the local diner. She is afraid to date because a former boyfriend hurt her feelings. Chris is immediately attracted to her and hires her to help him clean and repair his home as a way to spend time together. When he sees she has an eye for beauty, he asks her to decorate his house. After the decorating, many people (including a famous person) want to hire her to decorate their homes, and she begins that career. Throughout the story, Chris only has eyes for her. He is patient and does all the right things to woo her.

REVIEWER'S OPINION WITH SOME SPOILERS:
This is a wishful thinking story. Gorgeous wealthy man comes to town, falls in love with a local girl, improves her life and marries her. The conflicts in the story were minor. She's worried about getting her feelings hurt, she's not a good cook, and he must leave town at times for work. The main conflict occurs when he gets a job offer out of town, and she doesn't want to move. I assume there are readers who would like this, who want to feel like they are living an idyllic life in a small town. Not me. There was a collection of small town characters who were nice, but predictable. I'd prefer more flaws or oddities among some characters to make things interesting. I'm also looking for more interesting dialogue and/or the unexpected. This book did not do it for me. It was too gentle.

DATA:
Story length: 312 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: none to mild. Number of sex scenes: 1. Total number of sex scene pages: 3. Setting: current day Lambert Falls, North Carolina. Copyright: 2009. Genre: contemporary romance.