S.L. Jennings

4.5 mind blowing, skin crawling stars! I burned my kids dinner when I decided I would read for a bit while that simmered. I seriously got so engrossed in the story at a pivotal point that I could not smell the disaster until it was too late! Wow! I didn't think I was going to love this story. I resisted even liking Kami until about 60% in. I loved Blaine from the first page and so wanted him to get his HEA. I hate spoilers and this story screams for major reveals. I am going to resist that show more urge to replay it all here because I think this story reads better if you don't know what is coming. I hated Blaine at one point. I hated Kami and her "in her own head" bullcrap so much until this one point up on a stage and I loved them both. The epilogue was amazing and frustrating because I need to know more. I need to know what happens in 2 years not in 2 months. The first time in a long time I'm hoping, finger crossed, begging that Angel and Dom will get a book and I can revisit these characters again. show less

This book is aggressively misogynistic from the first sentence. (May be an exaggeration but not much). It seems to be told from the Hero's point of view, but in all honesty, I couldn't read past 5% so I don't know. I like alpha males, but not a-holes. From the intro, it seemed I was in for the latter. I barely met the heroine, but it didn't matter. Because the first pages were filled with "how are we going to save your marriages because your husbands are cheating or about to because you are show more terrible at sex," it lost all appeal. Look, I know the blurb probably made this a book that wasn't likely to achieve its aim. However, as a reader, I feel like there's a way it could've worked-been empowering and so on. I put this down with barely any hesitation

The author seemed worth trying again, but the male POV and storyline were pretty terrible for me for this one. show less

I have to say that I fell for Kami and Fear of Falling very hard. I've been reading a lot of books like this lately. I just really enjoy the range of emotions stories like this can elicit within me and greatly appreciate stories about people finding happiness after pain, light after dark and redemption. Fear of Falling can proudly stand amongst the best books I've read that deal with these topics. I just want to say that this book is probably not for the faint of heart. It deals with some show more major subjects such as abuse, child abuse and rape and like the author states, for people who may have experienced these things this book could act as a trigger but I'd urge you to throw caution to the wind on this one and give it a try because I feel that it's message is so much more important than the tough subjects it tackles. And tackle these subjects S.L. Jennings does with a very deft hand. She states that this story was inspired by true events and I can't help but feel that the author has a personal deep knowledge of the subject matter whether she or someone she knows has gone through similar things because Kami and her pain are just too real and too raw. You never once for even a second doubt that her past was horrible. You can feel it in her every thought, every breath and every action she takes. Even when Kami is happy her happiness is tinged with pain. S.L. Jennings does a fantastic job with her characters, allowing us to live within them. To see, feel and touch everything that they do.

Kami is a broken woman. She's tortured, in a lot of pain and doesn't believe in love. She doesn't want love, nor does she really know what love is.

"Daddy's love hurts me. I don't want him to love me anymore."

Kami goes through most of her life going from man to man and always running away if they get too close. Once they utter the L word she runs. She is deathly afraid of love and doesn't believe anyone can love her. She's settled into her life of pain with her two best friends Dom and Angel who both have their own issues but the three of them form a dysfunctional family and they are the only two people she will allow herself to love. And then she meet's Blaine - her scary beautiful man. There is a chemistry between them from the first moment that they meet which was probably one of the hottest scenes I've ever read. As Blaine works his way into her heart Kami does everything she can to push him away and deny herself the love that she deserves.

No matter what my body felt, my head knew that I could never give myself to Blaine. And my heart? It never got a say. It was buried under years of mistrust and apprehension. It had been broken far beyond repair before it ever got the chance to open itself enough to love.

But Blaine's different and slowly Kami feels more than just sexual attraction and those feeling scare her but Blaine is persistent, kind, caring and does everything he can to try and show her that love doesn't have to hurt.

"Because, Kami, when you know, you know. And you don't fight it. You don't deny the inevitable. You free fall because you know there's someone there to catch you on the other side." His face inched closer to mine, close enough for the scent of mint and spice to intoxicate me as his earnest words entranced me. "You don't have to be afraid of falling. Just close your eyes, let go, and know that I'll always be here with arms outstretched ready to catch you."

There is much truth in honesty in Fear of Falling and I can only hope that every woman who has ever suffered from abuse can find their Blaine and allow love back into their lives. This truly is a remarkable book that is not only very well written but also felt very real. You will cry. You will feel anger, frustration and then joy and probably cry some more but it is so worth it. I hope that everyone is able to take the same message I received from this book. To allow yourselves the courage to find love and to be loved because no matter who you are, how broken you might think you are there is always somebody out there who will be willing to help put you back together again. To pick up all those little pieces of your soul and glue them back piece by piece one kiss at a time. show less

How Buffy would deal with this chick....



I am dead sure of it. She would simply swoop in, kick her ass without braking a nail or batting an eyelash for that matter and just bounce. And all would be well deserved too.

I got past the hundred page mark and can say that nothing happened. Literally nothing. This novel is confused with itself. It doesn't know what it wants to be. It is supposed to be a PNR, but the PN is nowhere in sight. It is so very subdued and inconsequential I had to remind show more myself of the genre every so often. And why is it that the author chose the biggest possible cliches to hang on to, like the age of her MC. So Gabriella finds out her otherworldly heritage and she will forever be 21? Seriously? Either 21 or 18 every time in these types of novels, no fail. Never mind that we are supposed to deal with ancient magic and that being 21 a few hundred years ago would make you a grandmother. There simply wasn't medicine or the security needed for a long lifespan as we enjoy today. Plus I don't get this 21 bullshit anyway. You are an adult and could get life should you commit a crime, but hey! No beer! Cuz that makes sense...


The romance is weirdly intense to that point that it gives you the heebie jeebies. She meets this guy named Dorian (original name BTW) in a nightclub (original setting BTW), and he is instantly captivated by her (original scene BTW). There is this insta-lust brewing between them as they are pulled together not by common sense and attraction, rather supernatural vibes (original plot twist BTW). Long story short, he makes her very horny, and wet...all the time.

What takes the cake however, is the writing style. I wouldn't call it waxing poetic. I wouldn't call it OTT either, just simply of the mark. I am not saying that I don't appreciate eloquence, or that by being twenty years old a person is unable of speaking correctly, but this.... godamn...

When she's talking about Dorian, “..he coos”, or every time he wants to say something, “ ..he breathes”. Once or twice I can stand, but if you use it constantly I keep imagining him panting like a dog, or talking like that kid in a wheelchair from Malcolm in the Middle.

Then you have this...
“I pull out my curling iron and commence to fashioning dangling ringlets...I pull my tresses up with a silver clip” Cuz that's just how college kids talk these days.

Honestly, I got a feeling I needed to ring for the butler every time I wanted to turn my pages.


It simply taken away from the entire experience so drastically, it made it unreadable. Maybe there is an ending buried in there. Maybe something finally happens. Maybe he breathes her panties off....I simply couldn't care less. show less