Fall Guy ~ Felice Stevens

Oh wow!

I honestly don't know where to begin with this one! This is an emotional rollercoaster of a story, and there is an excellent chance you will need tissues. Still, I must say it has one of the most beautiful endings I've read in a long time!

There is only a relatively small cast: our two main characters, Ronan and Gabriel, and a small cast of more important secondary characters. There are also a few people who just pop up here and there that add to the story, but only in a limited way. As such, the focus is very much on Ronan and Gabriel, and boy do they shine!

Both Ronan and Gabriel have sadness, betrayal, and heartbreak in their past and present lives, but I think Ronan is the more tragic of the two. He calls himself a man 'too stupid to live' because of a single choice. Howver, despite it being a stupid thing to do, it shows the strength of his character: his loyalty, his unselfishness; and the depth of his love that led him to make the ultimate sacrifice. The fact that he still desperately wants a relationship with his sister, despite her betrayals, shows his capacity to forgive and displays an almost innocence of character.

Ronan and Gabriel meet because Ronan needs help with the physical threats to his safety, but that doesn't mean he's weak. Instead, his iron core is used not for himself, but for Gabriel, who is fighting and confronting his own demons.

I loved Ronan and Gabriel equally; they balanced each other: when one was weak, the other was strong, and together they were strong enough to face anything. I don't think I've read a Felice Stevens book yet where I haven't fallen madly in love with the characters, Fall Guy was no exception. Both Ronan and Gabriel had to face terrible situations, but they came out the other side as loving, good people. As such, it wasn't hard to be wholly invested in their HEA.

A small cast of secondary characters that play a relatively small part on the page, but were vital to the story, added an extra layer of emotional intensity, love, and humour. These characters really can't be discussed in any depth without giving away plot points, but suffice to say, they balance the story out beautifully and make it a rich and complete experience.

Felice Stevens' writing once again flows, and it is easy to become lost in the pages. I stayed up until 2am, reading until my eyes blurred because I just didn't want to put it down. Fall Guy is a captivatingly addictive, character-driven story that will grab you from the first page and not let go.

It is an intensely emotional read, with all the romance and passion you could possibly want. It is not a heavy or overly angsty despite its emotional nature. Angsty moments come from what has happened/does happen to Ronan and Gabriel, rather than any issues from within their relationship. There are also many instances of humour and many lighter moments that stop the story from becoming a heavy read.

Yes, you may need tissues, but the ending of this story is one of the most beautiful things I’ve read in a while. So although Ronan and Gabriel are emotionally tested at every turn, they have a glorious ending waiting for them.

Highly recommended!

Fall Guy is available in ebook and paperback