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Otherworlders #2
Falling Apart
Jessica Grant liaises with Otherworlders for York Council so she knows that falling in love with a vampire takes a leap of faith. But her lover Sil, the City Vampire in charge of Otherworld York, he wouldn t run out on her, would he? He wouldn t let his demon get the better of him. Or would he?
Sil knows there s a reason for his bad haircut, worse clothes and the trail of bleeding humans in his wake. If only he could remember exactly what he did before someone finds him and shoots him on sight.
With her loyalties already questioned for defending zombies, the Otherworlders no one cares about, Jess must choose which side she s on, either help her lover or turn him in. Human or Other? Whatever she decides, there s a high price to pay and someone to lose.
Falling Apart is the sequel to Vampire State of Mind.
Jane's Please Don't Stop the Music won the 2012 Romantic Novel of the Year award.
Sil knows there s a reason for his bad haircut, worse clothes and the trail of bleeding humans in his wake. If only he could remember exactly what he did before someone finds him and shoots him on sight.
With her loyalties already questioned for defending zombies, the Otherworlders no one cares about, Jess must choose which side she s on, either help her lover or turn him in. Human or Other? Whatever she decides, there s a high price to pay and someone to lose.
Falling Apart is the sequel to Vampire State of Mind.
Jane's Please Don't Stop the Music won the 2012 Romantic Novel of the Year award.
- GenresParanormalVampires
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2014
19 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Jane Lovering
40 books227 followersJane Lovering was born in Devon, England but, following extradition procedures, now lives in Yorkshire. She has five children, four cats, two dogs and doesn't believe in housework so the bacteria and dust are approaching sentience and now rank among the pets. Incidentally, she doesn’t believe in ironing either, and the children all learned self-defensive cookery at early ages. She works in a local school and also teaches creative writing, which are extreme ways of avoiding the washing up.
Published since 2008, she writes romantic comedies which are often described as ‘quirky’. One day she's going to find out what that means. Jane is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and has a first class honours degree in creative writing. In 2012, her novel Please Don't Stop the Music won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the RNA.
Published since 2008, she writes romantic comedies which are often described as ‘quirky’. One day she's going to find out what that means. Jane is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and has a first class honours degree in creative writing. In 2012, her novel Please Don't Stop the Music won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the RNA.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 9, 2017
4.5 stars.
I love this series. I hope, one day, there'll be another book.
I love this series. I hope, one day, there'll be another book.
October 19, 2014
Like several other reviewers on Goodreads, I couldn't quite imagine how Falling Apart would live up to the promise of Vampire State of Mind. So Jess and Sil are fabulous characters, but hey, once you've saved the world from demons the first time, then anything else starts to look a bit tame in comparison. Shoes and paperclips are all very well, but they just don't set the heart beating in quite the same way as magic and mayhem.
However, Falling Apart has all the magic and mayhem a girl could wish for. From the start, it's obvious to the reader that there's a good reason for Sil's bad behaviour (and I don't just mean the flirting with anything in skirts variety, more the dangerous blood-letting sort), but it's equally clear why Jess assumes the worst of him. There's high drama both in the relationship stakes and on the streets of York, and Jane even manages to sneak in the odd political point (I think, although that may have been an accident) in the form of the highly comic scenes involving unionised zombies (yes, really!).
Like Vampire State of Mind, this is a highly enjoyable romp through the streets of an alternative York (with a brief but significant excursion to Whitby). It also made me cry. In a good way.
However, Falling Apart has all the magic and mayhem a girl could wish for. From the start, it's obvious to the reader that there's a good reason for Sil's bad behaviour (and I don't just mean the flirting with anything in skirts variety, more the dangerous blood-letting sort), but it's equally clear why Jess assumes the worst of him. There's high drama both in the relationship stakes and on the streets of York, and Jane even manages to sneak in the odd political point (I think, although that may have been an accident) in the form of the highly comic scenes involving unionised zombies (yes, really!).
Like Vampire State of Mind, this is a highly enjoyable romp through the streets of an alternative York (with a brief but significant excursion to Whitby). It also made me cry. In a good way.
May 14, 2014
Jess and Sil are back. This time bigger and better. “Falling apart” picks up where Vampire state of mind leaves off. I thought Vampire state of mind would be a hard act to follow, but Jane Lovering expands her original world with new characters and new problems.
This latest instalment of an alternative history, York introduces zombies, like you have never seen before and new foes like the the “Britain for Humans” movement. As always, Jane Lovering brings new meaning to the phrase demon seed.
What made this book stand out for me, is that Jess and Sil's relationship is of a realistic nature. Love does not always conqueror all when there are impossible issue to overcome. “Falling apart” never sugar coats or pretends that things will magically work out without putting in the hard graft.
Sil struggles with his demon symbiote and it is a constant fight for him not to let it take over and this creates the tension with his relationship with Jess. While Sil is “off doing vampire things”, Jess is torn between the man she loves and her job.
This is not your ordinary Vampire story. “Falling Apart”will make you laugh out loud and engage with the characters to the point where you yell at the book; willingly them to stop being so stubborn and do what their hearts tell them is the right thing to do.
Jane Lovering infuses her story with her trademark witty and sarcasm with Lovecraftian influences and creates a world that is so unique, that it makes Falling apart un-put-down-able. It is my suggestion that you read “Vampire State of mind” first before “Falling apart- I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
This latest instalment of an alternative history, York introduces zombies, like you have never seen before and new foes like the the “Britain for Humans” movement. As always, Jane Lovering brings new meaning to the phrase demon seed.
What made this book stand out for me, is that Jess and Sil's relationship is of a realistic nature. Love does not always conqueror all when there are impossible issue to overcome. “Falling apart” never sugar coats or pretends that things will magically work out without putting in the hard graft.
Sil struggles with his demon symbiote and it is a constant fight for him not to let it take over and this creates the tension with his relationship with Jess. While Sil is “off doing vampire things”, Jess is torn between the man she loves and her job.
This is not your ordinary Vampire story. “Falling Apart”will make you laugh out loud and engage with the characters to the point where you yell at the book; willingly them to stop being so stubborn and do what their hearts tell them is the right thing to do.
Jane Lovering infuses her story with her trademark witty and sarcasm with Lovecraftian influences and creates a world that is so unique, that it makes Falling apart un-put-down-able. It is my suggestion that you read “Vampire State of mind” first before “Falling apart- I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
June 7, 2014
Truth be told, I could not remember much from book 1. My memory is always bad, so in a way, yes it could work as a stand alone ;)
We are thrown right in. Something has happened to Sil. But what? Is he evil now? Should he be hunted down? Most of the book is about Jessica trying to find out what is going on. And we also learn some interesting facts about..things.
This is the world were everything was normal and then otherworlders showed up. You can understand the tension. Even if it has been quite some time.
We did not see much of Sil, a shame really. But we did see Zan instead, the leaders of the vampires and I must say, I quite fancy him more.
Jessica, oh I do not know. I think it was the constant Sil business, she could have thought about other things too. Even though she did but still, a bit lovesick.
Anyway we have, vampire demons, zombies, werewolves, angry humans, two lovers torn apart in good old York.
We are thrown right in. Something has happened to Sil. But what? Is he evil now? Should he be hunted down? Most of the book is about Jessica trying to find out what is going on. And we also learn some interesting facts about..things.
This is the world were everything was normal and then otherworlders showed up. You can understand the tension. Even if it has been quite some time.
We did not see much of Sil, a shame really. But we did see Zan instead, the leaders of the vampires and I must say, I quite fancy him more.
Jessica, oh I do not know. I think it was the constant Sil business, she could have thought about other things too. Even though she did but still, a bit lovesick.
Anyway we have, vampire demons, zombies, werewolves, angry humans, two lovers torn apart in good old York.
August 16, 2018
This is great fun, if decidedly darker than the first book. While the humour and gags are all still there, Jessica and her loyal underpaid and overworked assistant, Liam, are bantering with a slightly desperate edge. The situation has gone from difficult to grim and it doesn’t help that the local newspaper is definitely gunning for Jessica, while the Council are as much help to their put-upon staff as a lead balloon.
I really enjoyed the sense that things have moved on since the first adventure – and that has left its mark on Jessica. I get a tad fed up when protagonists in series deal with knee-buckling events only for them to spring back to action in the next book as if nothing has happened. While obviously, the author needs to take into account that some readers (like me) regularly crash midway into a series, there should also be a payoff for the loyal followers who read all the books in the correct order. Lovering achieves this. We also get an insight in Liam’s growing problems with the long hours and poor pay – he is frankly unable to afford to keep working in the job as he is now supporting a baby daughter. It is refreshing to have a shaft of realism penetrate this essentially escapist adventure – because far too many people in this country are in exactly the same situation.
As Sil struggles to put together the holes in his memory, I was completely caught up in the story and found the plot progression worked well – I certainly didn’t see the plot twist coming or the major change in their fortunes at the end.
I notice on Goodreads that these are the only two books in this series – a shame. I do hope Lovering considers writing more. Recommended for anyone who enjoys quirky urban fantasy with a Brit twist of humour.
9/10
I really enjoyed the sense that things have moved on since the first adventure – and that has left its mark on Jessica. I get a tad fed up when protagonists in series deal with knee-buckling events only for them to spring back to action in the next book as if nothing has happened. While obviously, the author needs to take into account that some readers (like me) regularly crash midway into a series, there should also be a payoff for the loyal followers who read all the books in the correct order. Lovering achieves this. We also get an insight in Liam’s growing problems with the long hours and poor pay – he is frankly unable to afford to keep working in the job as he is now supporting a baby daughter. It is refreshing to have a shaft of realism penetrate this essentially escapist adventure – because far too many people in this country are in exactly the same situation.
As Sil struggles to put together the holes in his memory, I was completely caught up in the story and found the plot progression worked well – I certainly didn’t see the plot twist coming or the major change in their fortunes at the end.
I notice on Goodreads that these are the only two books in this series – a shame. I do hope Lovering considers writing more. Recommended for anyone who enjoys quirky urban fantasy with a Brit twist of humour.
9/10
June 12, 2024
Kept reading till end.
Great story, they loved and loved again. So enthralling tale that she never gave up on him and the end genius.
Great story, they loved and loved again. So enthralling tale that she never gave up on him and the end genius.
October 30, 2019
(8) I did manage to get further into this that the first book on the series but I still had issues with the narrator and the humour. Just couldn’t find the energy to finish so unable to recommend to the normal crew.
June 23, 2014
First, a disclaimer. I'm a fan of Jane's books. She's a friend now, but I've had that fan girl moment when you introduce yourself to someone whose work you love and they stare blankly at you (although, in Jane's case, I think she'd had too much wine to focus on anything at that time). Anyhoo. Falling Apart.
Jess and Sil are back. Sil's been a very naughty boy and he's in trouble. Jess is trying to help him. Zan is still neurotic and weirdly sexy in places.
I think I have a crush on Liam. There's something very attractive about a man who produces chocolate biscuits (from a tin, not from his armpit of anything grim like that) at a time of crisis.
Falling Apart is a Sequel to Vampire State of Mind. This time there are zombies as well. Some of the zombie scenes are very funny. I have a great time reading it. It's not quite as exhilarating a read as VSOM, but it's pretty darned close.
Jess and Sil are back. Sil's been a very naughty boy and he's in trouble. Jess is trying to help him. Zan is still neurotic and weirdly sexy in places.
I think I have a crush on Liam. There's something very attractive about a man who produces chocolate biscuits (from a tin, not from his armpit of anything grim like that) at a time of crisis.
Falling Apart is a Sequel to Vampire State of Mind. This time there are zombies as well. Some of the zombie scenes are very funny. I have a great time reading it. It's not quite as exhilarating a read as VSOM, but it's pretty darned close.
August 9, 2014
A further excursion into the murky world of Jess and Sil as they attempt to keep a sense of order between humans and the otherworlders. This time the Zombies make a welcome appearance.
Jessica, as a heroine with a full bucket of failings and phobias, and every inch the Local Government Officer, with Liam as her trusty office sidekick, and Sil as her uber-cool vampire lover find themselves involved again with plans to disturb the peace that has existed uneasily between humans and the otherworld for several decades.
Again written in Jane's fast-paced and amusing style, with a plot full of twists and perils make this another really good read, Nothing is as it seems.
I loved this one too, and I'm waiting for the next one in the series (he said hopefully)
Jessica, as a heroine with a full bucket of failings and phobias, and every inch the Local Government Officer, with Liam as her trusty office sidekick, and Sil as her uber-cool vampire lover find themselves involved again with plans to disturb the peace that has existed uneasily between humans and the otherworld for several decades.
Again written in Jane's fast-paced and amusing style, with a plot full of twists and perils make this another really good read, Nothing is as it seems.
I loved this one too, and I'm waiting for the next one in the series (he said hopefully)
October 27, 2015
Another cracking book from Jane Lovering! The vampires are brilliantly characterised, while quirky Jess, lover of Hobnobs and a certain Otherworlder, is easy to like and a lot of fun to read.
Well-written, with great dialogue and a fun and engaging narrative, this novel was hugely enjoyable from start to finish.
With plenty of unresolved questions and newly-revealed secrets, I really hope book three will be written soon!
Well-written, with great dialogue and a fun and engaging narrative, this novel was hugely enjoyable from start to finish.
With plenty of unresolved questions and newly-revealed secrets, I really hope book three will be written soon!
October 17, 2014
It’s important to note that this is the second book in the series. Miraculously (it seems) for the Urban Fantasy genre, it stands very well on its own.
Read full review in the 2014 September issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2014 September issue of InD’tale Magazine.
June 13, 2015
Not usually a vampire book reader, should have read vampire state of mind first, apparently this is the next book on. I loved the zombies (tongue in cheek) especially losing there parts, and gluing back on again, think more could have been made of the twelve, and Molly's part in them.
February 7, 2023
couldn't stop reading this!! Loved it. I hope there will be a book 3 in this wonderful series. Jess Grant is my kinda heroine!
December 2, 2023
it was a good story with a very interesting set of characters. especially the main character with her snarky attitude and a good heart. The story left you hanging to the end to a great conclusion.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews