Falling Back

by Mercy Celeste

Laid off unexpectedly, Chase Breland found himself back in his small Alabama hometown. With few options in his field, he returns to the diner he’d worked at as a teenager. Waiting tables again was like rubbing salt in an open wound.
Resigned to his fate, Chase puts on a smile to greet his very first customer.

Divorced, children’s book author, Gavin Hayes was looking for a quiet place to write. The corner table at the diner down the street had the best afternoon light. He could grab a bite to eat and work on his manuscript in peace while he tried to salvage what was left of his life.
He never expected the friendly smile of the new blue-haired waiter to spark something inside him that had grown cold.

While Chase has no plans to stay. Gavin has no plans to leave.
Can love at first sight, bring them together?

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary

102 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 27, 2019

Reviews

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gavin and Chase are both at a crossroad in their lives. Chase is back at the diner he worked in years ago. Living with his mom is not what he wants his life to be. Gavin is living in his office, recently divorced and taken to the cleaners by his ex. Their first meeting isn’t exactly stellar, but they keep circling around each other until they have to give in to the inevitable, they are meant to be together.

This was a “make me happy” story. I’ve always liked this author’s books. This one was different in that it wasn’t her normal style of book. No mystery, no action heroes, just two men discovering their joy in each other.

[Shelba · Rating 1 out of 5]

For how short this is, it has quite a few editing issues. There are sentences missing words. There are commas thrown about willy-nilly. A few periods in the middle of sentences.

And the amount of ellipses is ridiculous. I'm sure they increase exponentially throughout the book and by the end, neither character is able to string together a complete sentence.

I don't understand why Chase was worried that he had told his mother the friend he was hanging out with was a guy when a) he has been out for like 14 years and b) his mother knows he is gay.

The pacing for this was horrible. The ended felt abrupt. There was zero chemistry between the MCs.

[Nichol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had potential but ........

This story had great potential starting out. Eccentric, outgoing Chase waits on shy, introvert Gavin at the diner he works in. Both characters recently had huge changes in their life. There are so many places the author could have gone with these two. After one night shacked up in a storm, and a very stilted sex scene that may as well have been “fade to black”, the two avoid each other and then randomly proclaim their love. Add that to the ending chapter where they’re basically mid conversation about where they stand with each other when the book ends, and the over abundant usage of ellipses, I leave this with two stars.

[Kazza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book because I had just finished rereading Beyond Complicated for about the tenth time. I looked to see what else the author had out recently. This was a different style of book for Mercy Celeste because it's low on steam, really low, as in one semi on-page blowjob. I'm not used to that with her books. I like to see people branching out but I missed her trademark steam.

I did appreciate the lack of full-blown drama or angst. That's also a tad, okay, a lot, unusual for Mercy Celeste. However, there was a depressed feel that wafted off the page.

The characters and storyline were potentially fantastic. Mercy Celeste didn't do a bad job, just not enough time was given to develop either of them fully. It felt like the author meant to make this longer but stopped short, or they're meant to be part of something more. Either way, it was stilted because of that.

The ellipsis drove me crazy, I know the author likes them but it was so over the top in this book I felt like finishing sentences before those annoying dots started. Exhibit A -

'I mean… you have nearly grown kids. And you’re still wearing your wedding ring… but I love you and I don’t know why I should and it hurts, you know. Because… I don’t want to be trapped in this goddamn town'.

I also appreciated the lack of southern speak, this being set in Alabama, because that rarely translates well in written form.

Overall this is a sweet book, and the characters are decent without being able to know them as well as I would have liked to. I wish it had been longer and the time given the characters.

[Hiridessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this

It was all over the place...
I finished it just because it was imperative to witness if it was going to be as bad from start to finish.
For more on this topic, visit my notes: from a bunch of typos and missing prepositions (just who edited this book?) to lausy dialogues, not one overly likeable character and the weirdest pace ever...

[joani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet!

Short but sweet. There were a few errors that made things a little confusing till you figured out what was actually happening. There isn't much else to say except it's not the same as the stories she used to write.

[Ankita Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cute Little Story!

Falling Back was a short, sweet tale and I had fun reading it. There were places with some punctuation errors, but overall the book was an easy read and I finished it in around an hour.

[Stephanie Agenbroad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awww!

This is seriously cute short story! I wish it was longer! I love how Ms. Celeste writes stories! Buy this book!

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay

Quick read, felt rushed at the end. The story was okay. Not sure there is a whole lot more than that to say.

[Jessica Dahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book until the characters professed love for each other without spending much time together. I often enjoy insta-love but this felt forced.