Book Review: Falling by Barbara Elsborg

Reviewed by JustJen

Title: Falling
Author: Barbara Elsborg
Series: Fall or Break #1
Heroes: Harper/Malachi
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 325 Pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Release Date: March 24, 2015
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Falling is easy. Landing without breaking your heart? Impossible.
Harper is no longer behind bars, but it doesn’t feel like it. Ten years serving time for a crime he didn’t commit have left him shut down, numb, and a frozen wreck over the simplest of choices.

He’s acutely aware of the dark-haired young man checking him out in the supermarket, but he’s too deep in panic mode to even meet the guy’s gaze. Afraid the slightest move will trigger a fall that will never stop.

Fresh off a long-term relationship with a controlling man, Malachi is stuck living with relatives who think he’s a waste of oxygen. The tall guy in the long, gray coat is the first bright spot he’s glimpsed in a long time…though the man’s unblinking stare at a bottle of shower gel is a touch alarming.

Hard experience tells both of them to turn away before lust turns to hopeless attraction, and inevitably to disaster. But once their sparks connect, the arc of electricity is too strong to deny. Even if the cost is too much to bear.

Warning: Contains an ex-con with disaster written all over him, a boy toy who’s trouble with a capital T, a damp old British house, compulsive meddling, and enough hot sex to cure the severe case of nervous babbling.

Review: There were so many things I loved about this book. The blurb called to me right away and it didn’t take long for this to really grab my attention.

First, you have Harper, finally out of prison for doing a crime he didn’t commit, labeled a sexual predator forever. These stories always sort of fascinate me in a way. Not the sexual predator side, but the ones about those accused but not actually guilty. Their lives are forever changed, and I guess I enjoy seeing how they overcome those obstacles. Harper is starting by trying to fix up his father’s old house, a father who hasn’t acknowledged him since his incarceration and who now has the beginning signs of Alzheimer’s.

Then we have Malachi, who finally separates from his controlling ex, Conrad, only to be forced to live with his sister and her jerk of a husband after losing his journalist job. He now has to sleep in basically a big junk-filled closet, is only allowed to use the rest of the house (kitchen, shower, etc.) at certain times when said jerk husband sees fit. So, he is struggling a bit. After a fruitless job search due to his lack of skills, he finally finds work with a general contractor. This is how he meets Harper.

I absolutely loved these guys together. Harper, while angry and depressed over his situation, is still somewhat cool and collected, seemingly having it all together, even after everything he’s been through. He is really just trying to lay low and get his life back on track. Malachi is a crazy hot mess. He’s a chatty Kathy on crack the more he gets nervous, anxious, etc. I chuckled out loud more than once at his antics and banter. They also had great sexual tension that just exploded when they actually got down to it.

Malachi uses his journalist skills to try and uncover the mystery surrounding Harper’s set up. There is a lot going on here with this, along with the ramifications involved for Harper if anyone finds out he is in any way investigating. There are some twists and turns, intense moments and steamy sexual chemistry. Speaking of interesting twists, I’d love to see a further story with Conrad.  This was a very enjoyable and memorable read and one that will keep Ms. Elsborg on my auto-read list.

Overall Impression:  I loved it

*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for a fair and honest review.*