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Nashville Assassins #12
How We Fell in Love
Option One: Wham, Bam, Thank You, Ma’am.
Option Two: Till Death Do Us Part.
Grace has only ever believed in Option One. But James makes her question that belief from the moment she meets him.
James has only ever believed in Option Two. But Grace goes out of her way to shake his belief from the moment he meets her.
He’ll move heaven and earth to convince her she’s the only option he wants for the rest their forever.
Option Two: Till Death Do Us Part.
Grace has only ever believed in Option One. But James makes her question that belief from the moment she meets him.
James has only ever believed in Option Two. But Grace goes out of her way to shake his belief from the moment he meets her.
He’ll move heaven and earth to convince her she’s the only option he wants for the rest their forever.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2018
178 people are currently reading
647 people want to read
About the author
Toni Aleo
86 books6,728 followersWALL STREET JOURNAL, NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BEST SELLING AUTHOR TONI ALEO IS AN AUTHOR YOU CAN'T MISS!
make sure to Join my Mailing List: https://www.subscribepage.com/toniale...
My name is Toni aleo and I'm a #PredHead, #sherrio, #potterhead, and part of the #familybusiness!
I am also a wife to my amazing husband, mother of a wrestler and a gymnast, and also a fur momma to Phoebe, Gaston el Papillon & Winston.
You can usually find me hollering for the whole Nashville Predators since I'll never give my heart to one player again. When I'm not in the gym getting swole, I'm usually writing, trying to make my dreams a reality or being a taxi for my kids. I'm obsessed with Harry Potter, Supernatural, Disney and anything that sparkles! I'm pretty sure I was Belle in a past life and if I could be on any show it would be supernatural so I can hunt with Sam and Dean.
Also, could I LOVE hockey anymore?
make sure to Join my Mailing List: https://www.subscribepage.com/toniale...
My name is Toni aleo and I'm a #PredHead, #sherrio, #potterhead, and part of the #familybusiness!
I am also a wife to my amazing husband, mother of a wrestler and a gymnast, and also a fur momma to Phoebe, Gaston el Papillon & Winston.
You can usually find me hollering for the whole Nashville Predators since I'll never give my heart to one player again. When I'm not in the gym getting swole, I'm usually writing, trying to make my dreams a reality or being a taxi for my kids. I'm obsessed with Harry Potter, Supernatural, Disney and anything that sparkles! I'm pretty sure I was Belle in a past life and if I could be on any show it would be supernatural so I can hunt with Sam and Dean.
Also, could I LOVE hockey anymore?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
February 7, 2021
Read: 12/28/2020
I read this as part of the Hockey Anthology written by eighteen authors with one theme in mind: Hockey romance during the holidays. The proceeds from the book went to USA Warriors Ice Hockey. It was only available during Christmas 2018 as the anthology, but some of the stories, such as Aleo’s How We Fell In Love, may be seen later by the author separately within a series. Following was my review specific to How We Fell In Love:
I’m a huge fan of Aleo and had read almost every book she’s written; however, I wanted to avoid this one. If you’re an Aleo fan, you already knew about Grace (Shea Adler’s twin) and James Justice; however, Aleo had not told the full story until now in How We Fell In Love. Be prepared for the tissues. And don’t avoid it, it was well worth the read. And for those just meeting Aleo, we met Grace and James through the Assassins series, which are all hockey HEA’s.
I read this as part of the Hockey Anthology written by eighteen authors with one theme in mind: Hockey romance during the holidays. The proceeds from the book went to USA Warriors Ice Hockey. It was only available during Christmas 2018 as the anthology, but some of the stories, such as Aleo’s How We Fell In Love, may be seen later by the author separately within a series. Following was my review specific to How We Fell In Love:
I’m a huge fan of Aleo and had read almost every book she’s written; however, I wanted to avoid this one. If you’re an Aleo fan, you already knew about Grace (Shea Adler’s twin) and James Justice; however, Aleo had not told the full story until now in How We Fell In Love. Be prepared for the tissues. And don’t avoid it, it was well worth the read. And for those just meeting Aleo, we met Grace and James through the Assassins series, which are all hockey HEA’s.
May 18, 2019
Rating: 4.25/5
Such a cute story! Wish it was longer, i really enjoyed young Grace and James. But i have to admit that reading this while knowing how their story end was heartbreaking :(
Such a cute story! Wish it was longer, i really enjoyed young Grace and James. But i have to admit that reading this while knowing how their story end was heartbreaking :(
February 28, 2019
No me gusto
El inicio de la novela fue muy bonita y me estaba gustando mucho, hasta el momento en el que comenzó con sus sentimientos de "no soy suficiente" "nadie me va a amar" aaaarrgggghhh me enoja, me hace querer darle con un sartén en la cabeza 😡😡😡 Desde ese momento en adelante no me gustó para nada, NADA y para acabar el final rompe mi corazón. Con este tipo de novelas no puedo
El inicio de la novela fue muy bonita y me estaba gustando mucho, hasta el momento en el que comenzó con sus sentimientos de "no soy suficiente" "nadie me va a amar" aaaarrgggghhh me enoja, me hace querer darle con un sartén en la cabeza 😡😡😡 Desde ese momento en adelante no me gustó para nada, NADA y para acabar el final rompe mi corazón. Con este tipo de novelas no puedo
January 3, 2019
Ugh this book! Didn’t think a short story like this could make me cry but it did its job and now I just want to reread all of the assassins books.
March 18, 2019
I really liked this prequel to Amelia's book.
Wow.
Wow.
March 5, 2019
Heartbreaking beautiful story!!
Read
December 19, 2019DNF. This one started out with two major red flags in terms of the slut shaming/internalised misogyny from the main character, and didn't do much to recommend itself after that. Definitely not for me.
ETA: I skimmed/flipped ahead just to see how it ended so I'm also gonna add content warnings for firstly it 'ending' with the initial protagonist grieving at the funeral of her eventual husband as a "twenty years later" and THEN it goes on to suggest the whole story till then was a journal being read by their daughter a few years later, which is used to try and argue her into leaving a completely unwarned and not telegraphed at all domestic violence situation. If the tone of the story had been more to my taste in the first place this would have been an unpleasant shock on several levels.
ETA: I skimmed/flipped ahead just to see how it ended so I'm also gonna add content warnings for firstly it 'ending' with the initial protagonist grieving at the funeral of her eventual husband as a "twenty years later" and THEN it goes on to suggest the whole story till then was a journal being read by their daughter a few years later, which is used to try and argue her into leaving a completely unwarned and not telegraphed at all domestic violence situation. If the tone of the story had been more to my taste in the first place this would have been an unpleasant shock on several levels.
January 2, 2019
As a fan of the Assassins series, I had always wondered how Shea Adler's twin sister, Grace, met and fell in love with her husband, James Justice, and I'm thrilled that Toni Aleo has finally answered that question!
Grace and James have always had a fantastic relationship throughout the Assassins books, so I was happy to see how they met and what they went through early in their relationship. This book definitely gave me all the feels. I ran the gambit of emotions as I read, but to me, that is the signal of a great story.
I loved getting to experience this couple falling in love and it also does a great job of setting up their daughter Amelia's book, which we will soon get to read. Stick taps to Toni Aleo for a great book!
Grace and James have always had a fantastic relationship throughout the Assassins books, so I was happy to see how they met and what they went through early in their relationship. This book definitely gave me all the feels. I ran the gambit of emotions as I read, but to me, that is the signal of a great story.
I loved getting to experience this couple falling in love and it also does a great job of setting up their daughter Amelia's book, which we will soon get to read. Stick taps to Toni Aleo for a great book!
April 25, 2020
I’ll just say it’s a quick read but packed with all the feels, laughter, and ugly crying I wasn’t ready for; we’ve always had a glimpse of their love story from the beginning of the Nashville Assassin’s series and touches throughout Aleo’s crossover hockey series. However, nothing prepared me for Grace Adler (twin to Shea) & James Justice story. The highs of their journey to HEA and all the rawness and pain. Love isn’t always rainbows and HEA’s and the aftermath had me (seriously) Kleenex grabbing, ugly crying, thinking l read something wrong. But alas, l didn’t. I would give this 10 stars if that was an option, instead I’ll just say I have no words for how Toni Aleo pulled all that emotion out of me. Now on to the Justices kids story, I’m ready for Ryan & Amelias journey.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2019
Love like it should be, Beautifully Raw but sometimes Painful
How does Toni Aleo pack so much emotion into one novella?
I knew going into this I was going to cry. I’ve adored Grace and James since book #1 and I’ve always wanted their back story. After Ryan’s book I knew it was not going to be the Happily Ever After that I dreamed of for them but life is messy and hurts and Toni did a beautiful job of reminding me that love doesn’t have to fade just because the doesn’t have an HEA.
This gave us a small glimpse of Amelia’s story and I’m already preparing myself and my tissues.
How does Toni Aleo pack so much emotion into one novella?
I knew going into this I was going to cry. I’ve adored Grace and James since book #1 and I’ve always wanted their back story. After Ryan’s book I knew it was not going to be the Happily Ever After that I dreamed of for them but life is messy and hurts and Toni did a beautiful job of reminding me that love doesn’t have to fade just because the doesn’t have an HEA.
This gave us a small glimpse of Amelia’s story and I’m already preparing myself and my tissues.
February 14, 2019
This book is related to the Assassins series. This qualifies as what could be a prequel for said series. I recommend reading the amazing series in order, if possible.
Grace's POV is where we begin reading this quick read. She is the kind of girl that wants forever. The kind you take home to your mother.
James has never been the forever kind. For Grace, he will learn how. This is a small piece of how they get together. Tugging on our heartstrings, he chases the one he loves.
This was a small and simply sweet read. Sexy tension is in the room whenever these two are. Learning how they got together, when we can appreciate it later in their son's story.
Grace's POV is where we begin reading this quick read. She is the kind of girl that wants forever. The kind you take home to your mother.
James has never been the forever kind. For Grace, he will learn how. This is a small piece of how they get together. Tugging on our heartstrings, he chases the one he loves.
This was a small and simply sweet read. Sexy tension is in the room whenever these two are. Learning how they got together, when we can appreciate it later in their son's story.
January 3, 2019
Oh my. I have no words right now. This story grabbed my heart and made me feel all the feelings. Grace is stubborn and strong. She accepts what she things she deserves and that’s not the case. James is odd and good looking, but such a romantic. It makes me want my own James and it makes me see where Ryan got his romantic side from in End Game. James makes you root for him and Grace to work it out. This was a story filled with humor, romance, and tears of all feelings. You should definitely read this story to get see where it all began for Grace and James.
January 6, 2019
Terrific!
Who would ever have thought option two would be your forever! Tears, of joy and sadness. I love the Adler, Justice families. Grace and James love story is what we all dream of, Love is so precious and Toni wrote their story in a way that expressed such a powerful love. Grace was so overwhelmed with the fear of having James give his love away that she never planned on the unimaginable. Years later when all she has are her kids and, her memories of her greatest love. She has to pull it together to be the Mother her kids need.
Who would ever have thought option two would be your forever! Tears, of joy and sadness. I love the Adler, Justice families. Grace and James love story is what we all dream of, Love is so precious and Toni wrote their story in a way that expressed such a powerful love. Grace was so overwhelmed with the fear of having James give his love away that she never planned on the unimaginable. Years later when all she has are her kids and, her memories of her greatest love. She has to pull it together to be the Mother her kids need.
February 19, 2019
I very rarely give five stars for a novella as I find with most of them the story feels rushed as if trying to keep the story under a certain word count, and there often seems to feel pieces of the story is missing. Not this one!! This was beautifully written and even knowing the outcome of the characters from reading the previous stories in the series and connecting series, it didn't take from the story at all. I still got invested in the characters and was still heartbroken for them with their last chapter bringing me to tears, a rare thing for any book but especially a novella.
February 20, 2019
Conocimos a Grace y a James en Taking Shots, Y me pareció una linda pareja pero nunca supimos como se dio su amor más allá de lo que Shea dijo.
Ahora aquí tenemos su historia, y me pareció tan linda y tierna, James es un amor de hombre, se enamoro a primera vista de Grace y le tuvo paciencia para que ella superara las inseguridades que le causaron son relaciones pasadas.
Me dolió ese final, que en realidad es el principio de las historias de sus hijos Ryan y Amelia.
Ahora sí podré comenzar con la historia del sobrina de Shea, Ryan que siguió los pasos de su tío
Ahora aquí tenemos su historia, y me pareció tan linda y tierna, James es un amor de hombre, se enamoro a primera vista de Grace y le tuvo paciencia para que ella superara las inseguridades que le causaron son relaciones pasadas.
Me dolió ese final, que en realidad es el principio de las historias de sus hijos Ryan y Amelia.
Ahora sí podré comenzar con la historia del sobrina de Shea, Ryan que siguió los pasos de su tío
July 26, 2020
I love this story... even though I know who their story ends. What a fun look into how James Justice stole Graces's heart and built the strong foundation of a loving relationship. It was a nice peek into his character that we are introduced to in Ryan's story from Bellevue Bullies. The epilogue was a shocker and sets up the first book in the new series. I'm starting that one now and I can't wait to read Amelia's story. This author does an amazing job taking us on an emotional journey of highs and lows.
This is another great book to add to your book collection.
Happy Reading...enjoy!
This is another great book to add to your book collection.
Happy Reading...enjoy!
October 5, 2021
I absolutely LOVE Toni Aleo’s books and this novella, How We Fell In Love was no different. Throughout the 15 books which proceed it, the reader knows a lot about the Adlers including Grace and James. In fact, you even know how Grace and James’s story ends, however I loved getting to see how they met and fell in love (and truth be told, I read the others so long ago, I honestly forgot). As I find with most novellas I read, i wish the story had been longer. Definitely read this one, but bring your tissues.
#ToniAleo #HowWeFellInLove #AssassinsSeries #Romance #Fiction #October #2021
#ToniAleo #HowWeFellInLove #AssassinsSeries #Romance #Fiction #October #2021
December 18, 2022
4.5✨️
“You tell me you’re scared, that you think you’re not worthy of anyone’s love. But Grace, you, all of you, is priceless. No one can put a value on you because there isn’t one.”
It's been sooo long since I've read Toni and I forgot how much I loooved her books. I fell in love with How We Fell in Love from the get-go. I enjoyed the relationships, the banter, the characters, and all the swoony moments. This didn't feel like a novella to me at all. I don't even know if a novella evoked all these feelings from me before. I even teared up!!
“You tell me you’re scared, that you think you’re not worthy of anyone’s love. But Grace, you, all of you, is priceless. No one can put a value on you because there isn’t one.”
It's been sooo long since I've read Toni and I forgot how much I loooved her books. I fell in love with How We Fell in Love from the get-go. I enjoyed the relationships, the banter, the characters, and all the swoony moments. This didn't feel like a novella to me at all. I don't even know if a novella evoked all these feelings from me before. I even teared up!!
December 31, 2018
I am so happy that I got to read Grace and James' story. They have been a part of the Assassins since the beginning. They have had an amazing relationship, but the learn about the beginning just made it so much better.
Just a warning the epilogue will gut you if you care for the characters. I bawled like a baby and I am not ashamed to admit it. So touching. So beautiful. So devastating.
Just a warning the epilogue will gut you if you care for the characters. I bawled like a baby and I am not ashamed to admit it. So touching. So beautiful. So devastating.
January 10, 2019
This short story absolutely blew me away and did some emotional damage in the process. I absolutely adored learning about how Grace and James met and fell in love. James is so awkwardly adorable, romantic and sweet. Having read End Game, you can totally see how their son Ryan got his capacity to love. He is so much like James. It was just beautiful!!! I can't wait to see what lies ahead for their daughter Amelia in Juicy rebound.
January 1, 2019
Love Grace & James
Loved the insight into Grace and James early relationship. I read their son, Ryan’s book earlier this year and I had forgotten about one piece of the plot, and this book brought it all back. Queue all the tears. It tore me up. But that’s how you know you have read a good book when it evokes emotions like that.
Loved the insight into Grace and James early relationship. I read their son, Ryan’s book earlier this year and I had forgotten about one piece of the plot, and this book brought it all back. Queue all the tears. It tore me up. But that’s how you know you have read a good book when it evokes emotions like that.
January 26, 2019
Thank you, Toni, for giving us the story of Grace and James'.
Grace and James' story is one I didn't even know I wanted/needed, but am so thankful Toni Aleo knew, and it's a story that is funny, as well as heartwarming, and also even heartbreaking, but it's real and the characters are ones that I won't soon forget.
Grace and James' story is one I didn't even know I wanted/needed, but am so thankful Toni Aleo knew, and it's a story that is funny, as well as heartwarming, and also even heartbreaking, but it's real and the characters are ones that I won't soon forget.
January 2, 2019
Just what I needed!
This is the story I’ve been waiting for. Grace and James, and their incredible romance, come alive in How We Fell in Love. Thank you Toni Aleo for yet another masterpiece.
This is the story I’ve been waiting for. Grace and James, and their incredible romance, come alive in How We Fell in Love. Thank you Toni Aleo for yet another masterpiece.
March 11, 2019
Here I was thinking I was reading a fun and quick story about grace and James, whom I both loved from the previous books. Then bam! A knife to the chest. So heartbreaking and real, totally real. I loved it and at the same time I hate it.
August 19, 2020
There is nothing more worse than falling in love with a couple and living their journey to their HEA. Then to have an ending like that will gut you to the core. Why make me fall just to trip me up and leave me devastated? What was the point?
January 2, 2022
This was a hard one to read. If you’ve read the first Assassins novel (and any others) and the. Any of the next generation, you know how this ends. James Justice is husband goals. This was the perfect quick read and the perfect intro to Amelia’s story (their daughter).
March 4, 2022
A love for always
Incredible emotional romantic love story of two characters,one who loves with his soul and the other who fights true unconditional love.Thank you this soul searching short and a million tears
Incredible emotional romantic love story of two characters,one who loves with his soul and the other who fights true unconditional love.Thank you this soul searching short and a million tears
January 4, 2025
Why did I torture myself reading this knowing the ending from previous books? It’s been awhile since I cried over a book. That was probably one of the hardest parts of this series. You fall in love with these characters. I felt as if Grace and James were part of my family.
April 11, 2025
What a great love story
Grace and James have quite a story. It’s something to admire how he doesn’t give up on her even when she’s as stubborn as she is and won’t admit her feelings. It’s a great story and so well written!
Grace and James have quite a story. It’s something to admire how he doesn’t give up on her even when she’s as stubborn as she is and won’t admit her feelings. It’s a great story and so well written!
December 29, 2018
So so many feels! Grace and James’ story was bound to be good but Toni about ripped me up with this. So beautiful. Love how it sets up the spin into Amelia’s book too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews