Wonderful, Angsty, HEA.

This must be my week for reading angsty books as this is my second one in a row. 😊 I love a good angsty story with an HEA and this one is fantastic. While I have a couple of other audiobooks in my library performed by Michael Stellman, this is the first one I've listened to. His voice was absolutely perfect for this story.

Josh is a homeless teenager whose mother has just died. He's despondent but decides to go to New England to see the fall leaves like his mother always wanted to do. He ends up under a bridge near Mark's cabin.

Mark is a veteran of the Marine Corp where he served in Afghanistan. He's always felt like an outsider in his family; he's not the macho guy his brothers are and his time in the Corp didn't change that. He's finally come to terms with being gay but there's no way he can admit that to his family.

This story grabbed me from the beginning and broke my heart. Fortunately, it has an HEA but let me tell you, getting there was not easy. This is probably the most painful story I've ever listened to and at the same time one of the most beautiful.

Mark takes Josh under his wing, hiring him to help him paint a house he needs to get finished. The two grow closer together and become lovers. Josh has a very sensitive soul and he begins to feel close to the old woman whose house they are painting.

The book carries a warning for suicidal thoughts. Sometimes I think warnings are over done for books but I think it was appropriate for this one. If you've ever felt depression, and wondered if life is really worth hanging around, be forewarned that this story may be too intense for you.

A copy of this audio book was provided to me at no cost but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

8 people found this helpful

Well written/spoken - but hard to listen to

First, let's start with the fact that I am a HUGE fan of Eli Easton and Michael Stellman. The love story itself was well written and grew steadily with the reader truly pulling for both the MCs. I would caution those that have had thoughts of suicide, or know someone who does/has - this book may be a trigger for you as the author took an incredibly difficult subject matter (suicide, thoughts of suicide, etc.) and wove it into her story.

The voice over work was well done with just a few odd technical errors but nothing that would distract from the book itself. Michael brought the MCs to life and kept the earnestness needed through-out the entire novel.

3 people found this helpful

This was good, but not great

I do really like Easton's work, but I feel like she strayed from what makes her writing enjoyable with this one. Or at least what I find enjoyable about her writing. I understand wanting to try something different, but this was just a bit too predictable and melodramatic for me. The characters were decent enough which saved it from being flat out bad, but it was VERY predictable and the characters, though likeable, didn't seem to be as effectual and worthwhile as her previous characters.

Typically what makes her works great are that her books either have fabulous characters (Robby Riverton / Tender Mercies), interesting plots (Mating of Michael / Trouble with Tony), or both (The Mad Creek Series / Stolen Suiter). But in this work none of the characters were very compelling and the plot is as predictable as they come. The predictablility could be her going for the whole 'watching a train wreck and not being able to stop it' vibe, but because the characters are just decent I found that it made the story fall flat.

This is purely my opinion, but it feels more like a modern Hallmark winter special than the quality M/M romance book that I would expect from someone of her caliber.

I did like the book, but I didn't necessarily enjoy it.

2 people found this helpful

my favorite eli easton audio

When I first read this book, it totally blew me away. Those characters just burrowed deep in my heart and didn't let go. I have listened to this audiobook several times now, and it is just as good each time.

2 people found this helpful

Heartfelt romance between two lost individuals

Falling Down is quite a heartfelt romance between two lost individuals, pretty low in drama except for some sensitive thoughts. I love the style of the narrator, which sounds pretty mellow throughout, which really suit the tone of the story.

Josh is a homeless young guy. Just turned 18 with no one and nowhere to go. He had a very close relationship with his mum and thus decided to head to Hampshire, the place she long to go, but didn't manage to. Josh is a very pessimist guy, understandably due to his childhood situation.

We usually see homeless people around, they seems so inconsequential, like their are just the background among the busy metropolitan. But the author really makes me see homeless people in a new light.

Mark is in his mid twenties, just finished 4 years as a Marine. Although is not a pleasant experience for him, the story didn't delved much into his psych. But Mark is as aimless as Josh. Still in the closet and refuse to stay close with his own family. He can't even make a concrete future plan for himself.

Mark came upon Josh when he found out Josh was a homeless kid sleeping under the bridge near his cabin. His inner kindness can't ignore Josh that obviously need a helping hand. Mark took it upon himself to invite Josh into his cabin, offering food, a job and friendship.

The romance development is slow burn, with Mark not wanting to take advantage and Josh too unfeeling and couldn't care less about the world around him. But once the trigger happened, it development quite fast into an easy companionship.

After the half way mark, things seems to mellow out, the pacing was slow down a little. But it was still quite enjoyable, with their little engagement with old Mrs Fischer and the sudden appearance of Mark's family. The story pick up again near the ending with Josh's reaction towards Mark's attitude.

All in all, a pretty decent and heartfelt read about a lonely guy who finally found someone to live for. I couldn't be happier for Josh.

2 people found this helpful

Hauntingly Beautiful Journey

Falling Down, by Eli Easton, delivers an emotionally draining yet stunning interpretation of how low a person can descend. The intense depth and strong characterization in the story enhance the overall experience and I sat staring at my iPhone for the longest time, lost in thought when it was over.

A powerful plot, along with Michael Stellman’s masterful, if not chilling, use of inflection, takes us on this hauntingly beautiful journey. Each character is easily identifiable, just by the spoken word, and every emotion radiates through your entire being. As you listen, Stellman submerses you into their world and as you experience their pain and struggle, it morphs into ultimate peace, acceptance and a happy-ever-after.

Unlike his brothers, Mark is not brave and is often harassed by them. His military career was his attempt to toughen up his closeted gay self. After four years and suffering the loss of fellow soldiers, he isn’t any tougher. Actually, in all honesty, he feels much weaker. Unable to bear the scrutiny of his family, Mark settles in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Suffering from PTSD, taking refuge in a somewhat secluded cabin, and working as a handyman, Mark distances himself from further anguish.

Josh is one dark and troubled young man. His life has been far from easy, but the loss of his mother ultimately extinguishes his internal flame. His plan is to peacefully release himself from the pain, and a calm settles over him. He has one more purpose in life and it is time to fulfill his mother’s dream.

The road to salvation for Mark and Josh begins on a cold October night under a bridge that Josh has chosen for the shelter it provides. Falling Down’s dual points of view enlighten us to each man’s story, as these random strangers slowly confide in each other.

A visit from Mark’s brother is the catalyst that unleashes a series of consequences neither man is willing to accept. Insecurities take a backseat as Mark and Josh fiercely defend what they have. And for a change, they fight instead of giving up. Facing an uncertain and potentially heartbreaking outcome, the pace of the story accelerates as a race to discover the outcome follows.

Falling Down is a magnificent story of self-discovery and acceptance with a sensitive depiction of some dark situations and thoughts. Side by side, Mark and Josh share their stories until the epilogue pulls their individual journeys together. It is then that this truly becomes their story giving them new purchase, focusing on future and family.

2 people found this helpful

An audio masterpiece... 5+ stars!

Eli Easton is a go-to author for me, and what started my adoration for her writing was my first-ever read from her: Falling Down. When I learned that it was being released as an audiobook, I simply knew I had to add it at the very top of my must-listen-to list. As an eBook, there was a whole lot of introspection going on, and now as an audiobook, I found myself falling in love all over again with the story of eighteen-year-old Josh and twenty-four-year-old Mark, two men who know what it's like to spiral downward and hoping to find some way to get back up.

It goes without saying that the Eli Easton's story was already a winner for me. Her writing is impeccable, with a heartrending yet hopeful tale that had me in a contemplative state throughout. Michael Stellman's narration, however, did the near impossible: it elevated what I had already considered a masterpiece and made it the product of two geniuses: Easton and Stellman. I simply cannot imagine giving voice to Easton's words here other than Stellman; if you've never experienced either one, then you're sadly missing out. Five-plus stars go to Falling Down. ♥

2 people found this helpful

A lovely story

I have yet to get a book by this author that I didn’t enjoy. I love her writing style. They give me the warm fuzzies.

1 person found this helpful

A great angsty story.

Let's start by giving high marks to Michael Stellman - great narration. He really enhances the story.

Then there's the story. The premise revolves around Josh, a homeless 18 year old who finds his way to Vermont with his mother's ashes, and Mark, a 24 year old recently discharged marine who is trying to start his life. The story deals with depression and thoughts of suicide, as well as trust issues and insecurity. Easton is quite fearless with these characters - Josh has a lot of baggage that often doesn't find its way into traditional formula romance, so kudos there. The initial slow burn is good. There are a few well placed supporting characters who help keep the story moving, but the first 2/3 of the book is smartly focused tightly on Josh and Mark. Things go a bit astray after the page 180 break. IMO, it goes on way too long, and didn't have to go as far as it did for the resolution. Not saying terrible, just too much.

The one area where I do have a gripe is the family whitewash. Very often writers will keep a main character in the closet because of an abusive family situation, only to have it all be a misunderstanding, or a case of not realizing what they were doing - and presto, all better!. This isn't really a spoiler, but if you're concerned, stop here. Well into the story, one of Mark's siblings brushes off all the name calling and bullying as "just the way they are with everyone." I don't think Easton goes far enough to address this here. Any kid growing up being called sissy and fairy and gay, while feeling physically threatened in the family unit would be expected to carry major baggage and highly unlikely to feel safe around that family in the blink of an eye. For the sensitivity given to Josh's life experiences that nearly push him to the brink, Mark deserved similar treatment. That aside, I really enjoyed this book, highly recommended.

Not as dark as I expected

I thought there would be more angst and sadness and hurt/comfort in this story since it deals with suicide but it wasn't quite as serious as all that. Maybe a few emotional bumps in the road but not much else. The situation at the end was interesting at least