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Grace #1
Falling From Grace
When you wake up in the morning and your eyes take in the first hints of light that shine through your window, the dust motes catching and reflecting the sun’s rays like little diamonds, the shimmering hues of yellow and orangey gold breaking through into your room, the first thing you think about usually isn’t how you’re going to make it through the worst day of your life.Unfortunately for Grace Shelley, that’s exactly what she’s facing as she ponders what to do now that she’s going to be starting out her last year in high school without her best friend. She’s not exactly the most popular girl in school - well, not the most popular girl in school to like, anyway - and everything seems to be hinting at another status quo year for her until she bumps into a stranger who leaves her stumbling for words and chasing after her heart.The new guy in school is different. Robert doesn’t care about the rumors he’s heard about her or that no one else seems to see her the same way that he does; he only wants to be her friend. That’s when things get complicated. When Grace learns that he’s not your typical high school boy and that he’s actually a wingless angel who’s looking for someone to trust, she’s thrust into his world where not all angels are meant to protect human beings, and where the changes she brings into his life changes everything in hers.
474 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2009
77 people are currently reading
12729 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Naeole
12 books492 followersS.L. Naeole has always loved the smell of books, the feel of books, and the destination that a book is guaranteed to take you. She knew from an early age that she was meant to write, to create those very same books she loved so much and vowed that one day, she would.
Now, after getting married and starting a family, she has finally made her dream come true. As the author of Falling From Grace, she's found a venue with which to allow her dreams to become the reader's, and transport them to worlds and lives where fantasy and reality blend seamlessly. With several more books in the works, including three sequels to Falling From Grace, she's hoping to give to her fans the same desire and affection for the written word that she had as a child.
S.L. Naeole writes from her home in Hawai'i, with her husband, four children, and cat by her side cheering her on and providing endless amounts of inspiration.
Her third book, Black Halo, book three in the Grace Series, is due to be released August 31st, 2010.
Now, after getting married and starting a family, she has finally made her dream come true. As the author of Falling From Grace, she's found a venue with which to allow her dreams to become the reader's, and transport them to worlds and lives where fantasy and reality blend seamlessly. With several more books in the works, including three sequels to Falling From Grace, she's hoping to give to her fans the same desire and affection for the written word that she had as a child.
S.L. Naeole writes from her home in Hawai'i, with her husband, four children, and cat by her side cheering her on and providing endless amounts of inspiration.
Her third book, Black Halo, book three in the Grace Series, is due to be released August 31st, 2010.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 253 reviews
December 5, 2011
So I cant tell you how excited i was to read this one. It had stellar reviews. At the time I ordered it, the average goodreads rating was something along the lines of 4.5 or more. Hell, with reviews like that this book couldnt possibly be a bad read. Right?
Unfortunately i was wrong. very very wrong. I hate writing less than stellar reviews but I think people should be warned before buying: this is not a 4 star book. I just wish someone had of warned me beforehand. But no, i bought it.
So.. reasons why this a 1 star book, in numerical form:
1. The main character and her "freakiness".
Watch out guys, Grace is a freak. Or so we are told, numerous times and from numerous characters. Why you ask? No freaking idea (pun intended). Literally everyone, including Grace, reminds us she is a freak at every freakin (too far?) opportunity. When explained why, it's because she is different, dresses for comfort, doesnt hang around the cool kids and her mum died in a car accident. Yeah, because apparantly that constitutes wierd and freaky.
2. Insta-Love
There is no build up in the relationship between Grace and Robert, nor is there much chemistry. He simply turns up as the new kid at school and has decided he cares very deeply for Grace. LITERALLY.
3. Descriptions Galore
The over use of descriptions that were completely irrelevant to the plot were not only frustrating but only pro-longed the amount of time I had to spend reading this book. At times, paragraphs were so boring i was skipping two at a time to get to the actual point. It was like watching the bold and the beautiful; i can miss 2 months+ of episodes to turn it on and know exactly what is going on, as if ive missed nothing in that 2month+ period.
4. Twilight reborn
Okay, so im not quite a Twilight hater, nor am I a Twi-hard fan. But there's still no denying that, the plot was eerily similar to twilight, just replace Vampire with angel. Girl meets boy, boy is in love with girl. Girl is convinced she is an average nobody, and how could this guy possibly be in love with her.
Note: Twilight is actually much better than this. Just comparing plots here. Also, i never got to the stage in Twilight where i wanted to skip sections.
Good luck reading this if you choose to do so, personally i found the story and the characters rather forgettable, but who knows, perhaps I missed something. There does seam to be a questionable number of people who did outrageously love this book though...
Unfortunately i was wrong. very very wrong. I hate writing less than stellar reviews but I think people should be warned before buying: this is not a 4 star book. I just wish someone had of warned me beforehand. But no, i bought it.
So.. reasons why this a 1 star book, in numerical form:
1. The main character and her "freakiness".
Watch out guys, Grace is a freak. Or so we are told, numerous times and from numerous characters. Why you ask? No freaking idea (pun intended). Literally everyone, including Grace, reminds us she is a freak at every freakin (too far?) opportunity. When explained why, it's because she is different, dresses for comfort, doesnt hang around the cool kids and her mum died in a car accident. Yeah, because apparantly that constitutes wierd and freaky.
2. Insta-Love
There is no build up in the relationship between Grace and Robert, nor is there much chemistry. He simply turns up as the new kid at school and has decided he cares very deeply for Grace. LITERALLY.
3. Descriptions Galore
The over use of descriptions that were completely irrelevant to the plot were not only frustrating but only pro-longed the amount of time I had to spend reading this book. At times, paragraphs were so boring i was skipping two at a time to get to the actual point. It was like watching the bold and the beautiful; i can miss 2 months+ of episodes to turn it on and know exactly what is going on, as if ive missed nothing in that 2month+ period.
4. Twilight reborn
Okay, so im not quite a Twilight hater, nor am I a Twi-hard fan. But there's still no denying that, the plot was eerily similar to twilight, just replace Vampire with angel. Girl meets boy, boy is in love with girl. Girl is convinced she is an average nobody, and how could this guy possibly be in love with her.
Note: Twilight is actually much better than this. Just comparing plots here. Also, i never got to the stage in Twilight where i wanted to skip sections.
Good luck reading this if you choose to do so, personally i found the story and the characters rather forgettable, but who knows, perhaps I missed something. There does seam to be a questionable number of people who did outrageously love this book though...
March 28, 2013
Grace was so boring! The plot was so boring, the story was so boring!
And come on, things like this wouldn't happen even if angels and all that stuff did exist! When you read a book like this (paranormal, urban-fantasy, whatever) you have to think: if angels/vampires, etc were real could this happen? In this case: NO!
Grace is considered a freak by all the school, she doesn't care about her image and (I can't believe this, but here it goes) a hot guy falls in love for her! Yeah, I know, UNBELIEVABLE!
The book says:
Hey, you wanna have a hot boyfriend?
You: Yes!
And then it replies: So make yourself a total freak, dress bad and look bad to everybody eyes less the hot guy!
Please.
And there was no chemistry between Grace and Robert.
It was more:
- Grace: God, you're so beautiful, I admire you and I need you!
- Robert: You're different, you're not superficial (and pretty, by the way, and I don't have a thing against that) and, well... you know what? I wanna kiss.
Bleh.
There was no equality in their relationship. Grace was obviously in an inferior level and Robert... well, he was above her!
Those things just do not work anymore! (since it worked with Twilight)
And come on, things like this wouldn't happen even if angels and all that stuff did exist! When you read a book like this (paranormal, urban-fantasy, whatever) you have to think: if angels/vampires, etc were real could this happen? In this case: NO!
Grace is considered a freak by all the school, she doesn't care about her image and (I can't believe this, but here it goes) a hot guy falls in love for her! Yeah, I know, UNBELIEVABLE!
The book says:
Hey, you wanna have a hot boyfriend?
You: Yes!
And then it replies: So make yourself a total freak, dress bad and look bad to everybody eyes less the hot guy!
Please.
And there was no chemistry between Grace and Robert.
It was more:
- Grace: God, you're so beautiful, I admire you and I need you!
- Robert: You're different, you're not superficial (and pretty, by the way, and I don't have a thing against that) and, well... you know what? I wanna kiss.
Bleh.
There was no equality in their relationship. Grace was obviously in an inferior level and Robert... well, he was above her!
Those things just do not work anymore! (since it worked with Twilight)
August 11, 2010
I read a review on Amazon about this book and I had to shake my head because it sounded like the reviewer didn't even read the book. I wanted to make a few corrections because some of the things said were wrong.
1. The person said that teenagers don't talk the way they do in the book. I'm 16. I talk like that and my friends talk like that ALOT.
2. The person said they rolled their eyes alot at what happens in the book. The things that Grace does in the books are what lots of kids do. We are young and we aren't adults so of course the things we do aren't going to make sense. Why get upset because a teenager is acting like a teenager in a book?
3. The person said that the favorite saying of Grace "oh dear bananas" is stupid. My BFFS and I say "lovescoobie" all the time. Are we stupid? Or are we being teenagers? Just like I said in my 1st correction, teenagers talk like that ALOT. She acts like an expert on how we talk but she proves that she's wrong when she criticizes Grace's saying.
4. The person said that the characters laughed at things that weren't funny. They weren't funny to her maybe but they were to me and my friends and more importantly they were to the characters. Once again we go back to correction 1.
5. The person said she didn't understand why they talked about the things they did or felt the way they did. The story is about a teenage girl who is feeling all kinds of new emotions for the first time with an angel who is doing the same. They are confused by their emotions and they are addicted to it at the same time. Anyone who has ever fallen in love for the first time knows what that feels like. Anyone who has ever fallen in love at sixteen or seventeen knows that it's even crazier.
6. The person said they didn't understand how surviving a car crash when their mother died, or dressing differently can cause other people to treat you poorly. Obviously this person hasn't been to a public high school. Grace wears 2nd hand clothes to a school where everyone is wearing the latest trends. She's half-white half-korean girl in a town that's pretty much all white except for one other family. Her mother died in a freak accident and she was found on the road completely unharmed. If you think that a kid's going to have all of that going on and be treated like she's normal, you're an idiot.
Falling From Grace isn't a regular YA book and I think the reviewer was too busy trying to find flaws with it to actually read it.
Grace isn't normal. She says she's different from the very beginning and everyone else does too and that's important because we get to see that different isn't bad. RObert tells her she is different in a good way. Her friends do too. She embraces her difference when she makes a very important decision at the end of this book. To the reviewer who thinks she's normal, you prove you didn't read the ending.
I put this book on my chicks-who-don't-need-saving shelf because in the end, she saves herself and she proves that she's the kind of character more YA books meant for girls like me need to have.
1. The person said that teenagers don't talk the way they do in the book. I'm 16. I talk like that and my friends talk like that ALOT.
2. The person said they rolled their eyes alot at what happens in the book. The things that Grace does in the books are what lots of kids do. We are young and we aren't adults so of course the things we do aren't going to make sense. Why get upset because a teenager is acting like a teenager in a book?
3. The person said that the favorite saying of Grace "oh dear bananas" is stupid. My BFFS and I say "lovescoobie" all the time. Are we stupid? Or are we being teenagers? Just like I said in my 1st correction, teenagers talk like that ALOT. She acts like an expert on how we talk but she proves that she's wrong when she criticizes Grace's saying.
4. The person said that the characters laughed at things that weren't funny. They weren't funny to her maybe but they were to me and my friends and more importantly they were to the characters. Once again we go back to correction 1.
5. The person said she didn't understand why they talked about the things they did or felt the way they did. The story is about a teenage girl who is feeling all kinds of new emotions for the first time with an angel who is doing the same. They are confused by their emotions and they are addicted to it at the same time. Anyone who has ever fallen in love for the first time knows what that feels like. Anyone who has ever fallen in love at sixteen or seventeen knows that it's even crazier.
6. The person said they didn't understand how surviving a car crash when their mother died, or dressing differently can cause other people to treat you poorly. Obviously this person hasn't been to a public high school. Grace wears 2nd hand clothes to a school where everyone is wearing the latest trends. She's half-white half-korean girl in a town that's pretty much all white except for one other family. Her mother died in a freak accident and she was found on the road completely unharmed. If you think that a kid's going to have all of that going on and be treated like she's normal, you're an idiot.
Falling From Grace isn't a regular YA book and I think the reviewer was too busy trying to find flaws with it to actually read it.
Grace isn't normal. She says she's different from the very beginning and everyone else does too and that's important because we get to see that different isn't bad. RObert tells her she is different in a good way. Her friends do too. She embraces her difference when she makes a very important decision at the end of this book. To the reviewer who thinks she's normal, you prove you didn't read the ending.
I put this book on my chicks-who-don't-need-saving shelf because in the end, she saves herself and she proves that she's the kind of character more YA books meant for girls like me need to have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2012
1.5 Stars.
This review might as well be for the entire series. There are like 4 books. I read most of the 1st one, and for reasons I'll go into below, I committed a cardinal sin in reading: I flipped through books 2 and 3, skimmed every now and then, and skipped to read the last half of the last book (#4). I did this to see if it was worth my time actually reading the books in between (2 and 3). Answer? No.
What I liked?
- There was a lot of good angst in the first part of the book. Grace's situation was kind of heartbreaking and I really just... felt for her. As sick as it sounds, I sort of enjoyed reading it. Call it catharsis maybe. I enjoyed feeling the depth of emotion, compassion, sympathy, etc that I felt for Grace.
- Robert was okay. I went back and forth with him. Sometimes he was truly lovely.
What I didn't like?
- In the same breath, I kind of "got over" Grace's heartache by about mid-way in the first book. I wanted to shake her a little. It became a lot like a broken record. And I wanted to understand what exactly made her so damned "freakish"... cause I didn't see any freak in her TBH.
- The whole relationship with Robert just didn't work for me. He was TOO nice, TOO caring, TOO... everything. I didn't buy his sudden appearance and draw to Grace. He kept saying she was different... lalala, but meh. I never really accepted their connection... just no believable chemistry. Sure, I read it in black and white, but the whole time I was scratching my head going BUT WHY?!?!?!?
- I also got *really* tired of Robert constantly being the one to save Grace - mentally, physically, etc.
- The "villains" in Grace's HS were meh and their behavior came across as just another forced angst device.
- Grace was a weak protag in general. I know that by the end of the last book she wasn't weak per se, at least not in terms of what she was - she was, in fact, the heroine. But emotionally, mentally, etc, she just came across as another weak damsel in distress that needed Mr. Mary Sue Perfect to be her salvation and in the end magically "found herself" and saved the planet. Yeah, been there, done that. Give me a better female lead, please.
- The plot over-reached. I think the author was trying to do too much and incorporate too many plot elements into this story. The result was a an incohesive world with LOTS of holes. Parts were okay, but overall, just didn't come together in the way I'd have liked.
- The cliche epilogue. Because everyone needs a baby make the world right. *eye roll*
- The sex scenes. Ugh. Really, I think it's just better to fade to black in YA in general. I'm not saying that if you can't / aren't allowed by the genre to write "smut" don't do it... but fade to black is, IMO, far better than sappy, overly emotional "talking around" the action scenes.
- Too many Twilight parallels. And executed poorly. I LIKE Twilight, so it's not that. The similarities were glaring and just didn't work at all.
All in all, weakest "angel" book/series I've picked up. Suggest skipping this one.
This review might as well be for the entire series. There are like 4 books. I read most of the 1st one, and for reasons I'll go into below, I committed a cardinal sin in reading: I flipped through books 2 and 3, skimmed every now and then, and skipped to read the last half of the last book (#4). I did this to see if it was worth my time actually reading the books in between (2 and 3). Answer? No.
What I liked?
- There was a lot of good angst in the first part of the book. Grace's situation was kind of heartbreaking and I really just... felt for her. As sick as it sounds, I sort of enjoyed reading it. Call it catharsis maybe. I enjoyed feeling the depth of emotion, compassion, sympathy, etc that I felt for Grace.
- Robert was okay. I went back and forth with him. Sometimes he was truly lovely.
What I didn't like?
- In the same breath, I kind of "got over" Grace's heartache by about mid-way in the first book. I wanted to shake her a little. It became a lot like a broken record. And I wanted to understand what exactly made her so damned "freakish"... cause I didn't see any freak in her TBH.
- The whole relationship with Robert just didn't work for me. He was TOO nice, TOO caring, TOO... everything. I didn't buy his sudden appearance and draw to Grace. He kept saying she was different... lalala, but meh. I never really accepted their connection... just no believable chemistry. Sure, I read it in black and white, but the whole time I was scratching my head going BUT WHY?!?!?!?
- I also got *really* tired of Robert constantly being the one to save Grace - mentally, physically, etc.
- The "villains" in Grace's HS were meh and their behavior came across as just another forced angst device.
- Grace was a weak protag in general. I know that by the end of the last book she wasn't weak per se, at least not in terms of what she was - she was, in fact, the heroine. But emotionally, mentally, etc, she just came across as another weak damsel in distress that needed Mr. Mary Sue Perfect to be her salvation and in the end magically "found herself" and saved the planet. Yeah, been there, done that. Give me a better female lead, please.
- The plot over-reached. I think the author was trying to do too much and incorporate too many plot elements into this story. The result was a an incohesive world with LOTS of holes. Parts were okay, but overall, just didn't come together in the way I'd have liked.
- The cliche epilogue. Because everyone needs a baby make the world right. *eye roll*
- The sex scenes. Ugh. Really, I think it's just better to fade to black in YA in general. I'm not saying that if you can't / aren't allowed by the genre to write "smut" don't do it... but fade to black is, IMO, far better than sappy, overly emotional "talking around" the action scenes.
- Too many Twilight parallels. And executed poorly. I LIKE Twilight, so it's not that. The similarities were glaring and just didn't work at all.
All in all, weakest "angel" book/series I've picked up. Suggest skipping this one.
December 20, 2010
Umm what can I say about this...utter disappointment. I couldn't even get through the first couple of chapters because what I was reading was neither believable nor executed in a way that readers could relate. I feel like some elementary school kid was writing this and pretending to be a teenager which would be understandable with how two-dimensional and pathetic some of the characters were. I could certainly buy it if some child were playing make-believe with the woes of a teenaged soul but an adult wrote this (who should have experienced some from of teenage life at some point) so I don't understand how this mess was even published.
I skimmed through the rest of the book and I'm just not impressed at all. I've read better stories on fictionpress.com that had more depth and character development. I regret that I bought this book. If you're going to write a story make the characters believable and make them your own. Don't ride off the coattails of other authors and just make your characters the opposite of theirs and throw them into some half-tail plot and call it a day.
I'm so sick of these crap freaking books turned into series and they’re not worth the gum off the bottom of my boots! Why can't people write with quality and not conform to the bull that’s been spitting out of bookstores these days? Geez. Save yourself the trouble and don’t read this unless you are age 12 and under.
I skimmed through the rest of the book and I'm just not impressed at all. I've read better stories on fictionpress.com that had more depth and character development. I regret that I bought this book. If you're going to write a story make the characters believable and make them your own. Don't ride off the coattails of other authors and just make your characters the opposite of theirs and throw them into some half-tail plot and call it a day.
I'm so sick of these crap freaking books turned into series and they’re not worth the gum off the bottom of my boots! Why can't people write with quality and not conform to the bull that’s been spitting out of bookstores these days? Geez. Save yourself the trouble and don’t read this unless you are age 12 and under.
May 20, 2019
Woah...that has to be one of the longest books I have EVER read. Excluding Kingdom of Ash of course...
January 14, 2011
So, at the first part of the book, I begun to get bored because I thought that my judgment that this book would rock, seemed to be wrong (what with all the sad story of the pathetic girl who had her heart broken by her best friend turned jock who happened to be dating the pretty and popular but bitchy girl in their school).
Up until then, I was seriously contemplating if I would continue reading this book since it’s somewhat long and I really just jiggle reading in the very little time left I had aside from school works and stuff, but thankfully I did.
I have read quite a few books about angels and fallen angels like the Blue Bloods series and the Mortal Instrument series to name I few so I think that I’m (quite) qualified to give praise to this book. When Robert came to the picture, everything became better, and it reminded me of Meyer’s Twilight when Bella seems to be the lonely teenager who found company with Edward, and that’s when I decided to give this book another try. Like I said, it somehow had its resemblance to the world-known vampire series of Meyer’s that give vampires a different view from readers and movie-buffs alike because for me, this book also set my standards on a higher level on books starring angels.
I liked the book not because Robert was hot with his mercury-colored eyes or not because he seems so understanding (not at all. Hahaha), but because it shows a strong heroine, Grace who seems to belittle and criticize herself at the first chapters of the book, she was the motherless girl who will have a new stepmother because her dad wants to marry his girlfriend who is pregnant with her brother, everyone in their school calls her freak because of her surviving the accident that killed her mom, adding the fact that her only friend, Graham (the one she confessed her love to), happened to be not-a-very-good-friend because he babbled things about her in her back to the bitchy girl he was dating. In those tough times, Robert entered the picture and he did seem like the angel he was because he brought Grace to see herself on a different, much-more-confident perspective. I also liked, no love, the book because it has constant twists that were difficult to guess, like when Robert had his wings, when Sam tried to lull Grace and when Grace found out who Robert really is (what kind of angel he is).
To every readers who are drawn to angels (good and bad alike), I highly recommend this book as I’m sure that it will meet your expectations.
Up until then, I was seriously contemplating if I would continue reading this book since it’s somewhat long and I really just jiggle reading in the very little time left I had aside from school works and stuff, but thankfully I did.
I have read quite a few books about angels and fallen angels like the Blue Bloods series and the Mortal Instrument series to name I few so I think that I’m (quite) qualified to give praise to this book. When Robert came to the picture, everything became better, and it reminded me of Meyer’s Twilight when Bella seems to be the lonely teenager who found company with Edward, and that’s when I decided to give this book another try. Like I said, it somehow had its resemblance to the world-known vampire series of Meyer’s that give vampires a different view from readers and movie-buffs alike because for me, this book also set my standards on a higher level on books starring angels.
I liked the book not because Robert was hot with his mercury-colored eyes or not because he seems so understanding (not at all. Hahaha), but because it shows a strong heroine, Grace who seems to belittle and criticize herself at the first chapters of the book, she was the motherless girl who will have a new stepmother because her dad wants to marry his girlfriend who is pregnant with her brother, everyone in their school calls her freak because of her surviving the accident that killed her mom, adding the fact that her only friend, Graham (the one she confessed her love to), happened to be not-a-very-good-friend because he babbled things about her in her back to the bitchy girl he was dating. In those tough times, Robert entered the picture and he did seem like the angel he was because he brought Grace to see herself on a different, much-more-confident perspective. I also liked, no love, the book because it has constant twists that were difficult to guess, like when Robert had his wings, when Sam tried to lull Grace and when Grace found out who Robert really is (what kind of angel he is).
To every readers who are drawn to angels (good and bad alike), I highly recommend this book as I’m sure that it will meet your expectations.
December 3, 2010
Grace Shelley is an outcast. Having lost her mother to a car crash as a child, one she managed to escape without a single scratch, made her an oddity to her peers and neighbors. Through this she’s always had her best friend Graham Hasselbeck at her side. Graham who is handsome and popular and who would defend her against their cruelty.
But Grace committed the ultimate friendship “no no” and revealed her hidden love for Graham. Right before the beginning of senior year. Now she’s left to face her final year of high school completely and utterly friendless. That is until she meets Robert.
Robert is immediately drawn to Grace. He notices something in her that no one else has before. Something that allows her to let down her defenses not only with him but with her family and with a new friend. Something no one else has ever been able to do. No human anyway.
Robert is an angel. While his friendship is all that is saving Grace, his beauty not only begets jealousy but also danger. Befriending an angel may be more than Grace ever bargained for. And falling in love with one could cost her her life.
Falling from Grace was simply wonderful. A suggested read by Amazon due to the genre of books typically purchased, it was such a surprise to find a self-published book that hit all the notes, and then some, of the fully vetted and marketed novels being published.
Grace is such a sympathetic character – a young girl grieving the loss of her mother, the loss of a best friend, her father’s new relationship and being a misfit in school and in life. And the author has created a friendship, and more, between her two main characters that is tender and heartwarming and devastating and heartbreaking. This angel-themed story has definitely creative and distinct ideas and a storyline that is intelligent and magical.
While Falling from Grace and the next books in the series, Bird Song and Black Halo, are not short in length, they are all very quick reads with each book getting just a little bit darker and more tragic as the story of Grace and Robert continues, culminating in Black Halo with an absolutely heart-rending scene.
But Grace committed the ultimate friendship “no no” and revealed her hidden love for Graham. Right before the beginning of senior year. Now she’s left to face her final year of high school completely and utterly friendless. That is until she meets Robert.
Robert is immediately drawn to Grace. He notices something in her that no one else has before. Something that allows her to let down her defenses not only with him but with her family and with a new friend. Something no one else has ever been able to do. No human anyway.
Robert is an angel. While his friendship is all that is saving Grace, his beauty not only begets jealousy but also danger. Befriending an angel may be more than Grace ever bargained for. And falling in love with one could cost her her life.
Falling from Grace was simply wonderful. A suggested read by Amazon due to the genre of books typically purchased, it was such a surprise to find a self-published book that hit all the notes, and then some, of the fully vetted and marketed novels being published.
Grace is such a sympathetic character – a young girl grieving the loss of her mother, the loss of a best friend, her father’s new relationship and being a misfit in school and in life. And the author has created a friendship, and more, between her two main characters that is tender and heartwarming and devastating and heartbreaking. This angel-themed story has definitely creative and distinct ideas and a storyline that is intelligent and magical.
While Falling from Grace and the next books in the series, Bird Song and Black Halo, are not short in length, they are all very quick reads with each book getting just a little bit darker and more tragic as the story of Grace and Robert continues, culminating in Black Halo with an absolutely heart-rending scene.
June 29, 2017
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Okay this is one of those books that are super confusing but you can’t stop reading it. I don’t know why I keep falling in to these writing traps. So this story line was ALL over the place. Not much was resolved by the end, in fact there was so much info dumping that I couldn’t tell you what the story was really about. It was a giant cargo plane stuffed with fireworks that crashed into an oil tanker. You can imagine right? And I just couldn’t look away.
Strike one: info dumping. I mean, it was in almost every chapter! And it wasn’t even relevant! This book needs a developmental editor stat!
Strike two: insta-love! Like three days in. ::Cue the petty eye roll::
Strike Three: No real plot. Boy meets girl, boy likes girl. Girl has massive self confidence issues and keeps him at arm’s length. Boy takes offense and misunderstands ALL THE TIME. Then they make up, wash, rinse, repeat. :shakes head: Oops, sorry, did I spoil it for you?
Strike Four: The climax! What the eff! It was confusing and again, didn’t make sense with the rest of the storyline. It all seemed a bit thrown together with no real direction, no focus. This story could have been fantastic if an experienced editor was employed to take out the massive fluff in this book.
Definitely not reading anymore in this series. Truth be told I should have DNF’d it but I kept holding out hope it would redeem itself. And in some places it felt like it was going in that direction. But then some random piece of info would get thrown in, complete with a long drawn out explanation, and by the time I realized there was no resolution I was done with the book. I felt like I was Jedi mind tricked!
Okay this is one of those books that are super confusing but you can’t stop reading it. I don’t know why I keep falling in to these writing traps. So this story line was ALL over the place. Not much was resolved by the end, in fact there was so much info dumping that I couldn’t tell you what the story was really about. It was a giant cargo plane stuffed with fireworks that crashed into an oil tanker. You can imagine right? And I just couldn’t look away.
Strike one: info dumping. I mean, it was in almost every chapter! And it wasn’t even relevant! This book needs a developmental editor stat!
Strike two: insta-love! Like three days in. ::Cue the petty eye roll::
Strike Three: No real plot. Boy meets girl, boy likes girl. Girl has massive self confidence issues and keeps him at arm’s length. Boy takes offense and misunderstands ALL THE TIME. Then they make up, wash, rinse, repeat. :shakes head: Oops, sorry, did I spoil it for you?
Strike Four: The climax! What the eff! It was confusing and again, didn’t make sense with the rest of the storyline. It all seemed a bit thrown together with no real direction, no focus. This story could have been fantastic if an experienced editor was employed to take out the massive fluff in this book.
Definitely not reading anymore in this series. Truth be told I should have DNF’d it but I kept holding out hope it would redeem itself. And in some places it felt like it was going in that direction. But then some random piece of info would get thrown in, complete with a long drawn out explanation, and by the time I realized there was no resolution I was done with the book. I felt like I was Jedi mind tricked!
August 8, 2010
I hate young adult novels. I hate them with a passion.
But a friend whose reading tastes I trust, and whose likes and dislikes run parallel to mine, suggested that I read this book. She lent it to me on my nook without telling me that this was a book in the young adult genre. The intro is a snippet from a poem by EAP, one of the greatest poets and short story writers in America's history, and I became intrigued.
I was done with the book before I realized what I had read, and the realization that I had just completed a young adult novel without once having a headache or needing to read some Dumas in order to clear away the brain sludge that usually appears after attempting to read one of those ridiculous Twi-whatever books that are out there was astounding.
The story was intriguing, the characters so incredibly lifelike that I became smitten with the protagonist and dangerously obsessed with every decision she made and every person she encountered. The fact that she and I share the same name is inconsequential; the last young adult book I was tricked into reading featuring a character named Grace put me off so badly, I refused to finish the book.
Again I say I hate young adult novels. But I've already purchased this book for myself as well as downloaded the sequel and reread both several times. If it can turn me, it can turn anyone.
But a friend whose reading tastes I trust, and whose likes and dislikes run parallel to mine, suggested that I read this book. She lent it to me on my nook without telling me that this was a book in the young adult genre. The intro is a snippet from a poem by EAP, one of the greatest poets and short story writers in America's history, and I became intrigued.
I was done with the book before I realized what I had read, and the realization that I had just completed a young adult novel without once having a headache or needing to read some Dumas in order to clear away the brain sludge that usually appears after attempting to read one of those ridiculous Twi-whatever books that are out there was astounding.
The story was intriguing, the characters so incredibly lifelike that I became smitten with the protagonist and dangerously obsessed with every decision she made and every person she encountered. The fact that she and I share the same name is inconsequential; the last young adult book I was tricked into reading featuring a character named Grace put me off so badly, I refused to finish the book.
Again I say I hate young adult novels. But I've already purchased this book for myself as well as downloaded the sequel and reread both several times. If it can turn me, it can turn anyone.
February 17, 2011
Grace and Robert is such a beautiful couple! Robert--what a breathtaking angel he is. S. L. Naeole's lyrical prose will leave you wanting more, and thank goodness for that, as Bird Song and Black Halo are already out. I do not think I could contain the excitement as I get ready to plunge into book two of the Grace series.
S. L. Naeole's unique and captivating twist on angels and everything in-between is refreshing and innovative. Trust me, I have read many angel series before this one, and all I can say is, AMAZING! Definitely has the "WOW" factor!
I love the fact that Grace is your typical teenage girl - not the clumsy awkward introvert but not the unattainable "most popular girl in school" either. I actually thought, huh - this could be my lil 16-year-old sister. Seriously! Having said that, a relatable character such as Grace makes the story more vivid and real. Definitely attaches the reader to the MC.
And the love triangle - aah! I was so heartbroken for Grace at the beginning and throughout. Graham and Robert - both hot, sexy and oh so handsome! Get to it and you'll know what I mean.
For all you angel lovers - this is a definite must read!
S. L. Naeole's unique and captivating twist on angels and everything in-between is refreshing and innovative. Trust me, I have read many angel series before this one, and all I can say is, AMAZING! Definitely has the "WOW" factor!
I love the fact that Grace is your typical teenage girl - not the clumsy awkward introvert but not the unattainable "most popular girl in school" either. I actually thought, huh - this could be my lil 16-year-old sister. Seriously! Having said that, a relatable character such as Grace makes the story more vivid and real. Definitely attaches the reader to the MC.
And the love triangle - aah! I was so heartbroken for Grace at the beginning and throughout. Graham and Robert - both hot, sexy and oh so handsome! Get to it and you'll know what I mean.
For all you angel lovers - this is a definite must read!
May 8, 2013
¡¡¡SANTAS BANANAS ENDULZADAS!!!
Primero tengo que agradecerle a la persona que me lo recomendo ella ya sabe quien es [July] xD Fue un libro genial.
Desde que lo empeze mi primer sentimiento fue enojo, como podia Graham hacer lo que hizo, como pudo lastimar a Grace de esa manera, se merece unos cuantos latigasos!! pero despues salio Robert en la foto me enamore completamente. ♥
La historia es verdaderamenre im-pre-cio-nan-te me gusto mucho su ritmo, sus personajes, la historia, el misterio, TODO.
Pero lo que realmente me gusto de este libro fue que experimentas muchas emociones con el, la autora logra que realmente te metas en los personajes, en lo personal no podia dejar de leer me hipnotizo el libro y no me arrepiento.
Un libro 1000% Recomendable.
January 6, 2012
This was an excellent read. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the book I think that perhaps it could be cut down some. It was descriptive to the point of the reader almost getting a bit bored. In the same breath I loved the story line and the characters they are all people I wish I had in my life. I am continuing with the series because I must know what happens next. If you are a fan of books about angels check this one out. It is a goodie.
August 15, 2010
I thought this book was a complete waste of time. It is mainly a book of sappy dialogue and no actual plot. Grace never shuts up about her low self-esteem, Robert is a bi-polar jerk, and the high school drama/teasing is overdone and unrealistic. I bought the book for mere entertainment and it failed at even that. No, I will not be continuing the series.
January 20, 2011
An embarrassingly juvenile and irritating main character mixed up in a predictable story and relationship.
April 21, 2011
MELODRAMATIC! SAPPY! MELODRAMATIC AGAIN!!! OMG, SUPER SAPPY!!!
Seriously people, I can’t decide what this book has more of: gut-wrenching, end-of-the-world, oh my god melodramatic scenes or syrupy-sweet, stifle-an-eye roll/giggle sappy scenes. It is intensely both of these things. Sometimes even simultaneously! Not that melodrama and sap are necessarily bad things… just be warned.
I think it is pretty obvious from these reviews that there is not much middle ground on this book. You are either going to become addicted or allergic to its digital pages fairly quickly. I’m an addict, yay! (My mother is so proud.) Now, I must admit there are many glaring flaws about this book. But somehow, instead of finding them annoying and distracting, I found them endearing. I think it has to do with the characters; the main character Grace in particular. The characters of a book are perhaps the most important part for me. If the characters limp off of the page with as much personality as a potato, I’m out. I really don’t even care how good the plot is at that point. I want to read about people, not potatoes. I could tell Grace was a wonderful character from the first page. She is overflowing with personality, she is offbeat and quirky – clearly not your average heroine these days.
Now for the negative: I can see the possibility of abandoning this series. Perhaps the “new” will wear off somewhere in the middle of book 2. The book definitely has problems. Right now it is hanging on to such a high rating mainly by charm. This book reminds me of a great local band with quirky, endearing lyrics but the music is just not that tight yet. Forgivable for a while, but if we don’t see some improvement soon the apathy will set in.
Seriously people, I can’t decide what this book has more of: gut-wrenching, end-of-the-world, oh my god melodramatic scenes or syrupy-sweet, stifle-an-eye roll/giggle sappy scenes. It is intensely both of these things. Sometimes even simultaneously! Not that melodrama and sap are necessarily bad things… just be warned.
I think it is pretty obvious from these reviews that there is not much middle ground on this book. You are either going to become addicted or allergic to its digital pages fairly quickly. I’m an addict, yay! (My mother is so proud.) Now, I must admit there are many glaring flaws about this book. But somehow, instead of finding them annoying and distracting, I found them endearing. I think it has to do with the characters; the main character Grace in particular. The characters of a book are perhaps the most important part for me. If the characters limp off of the page with as much personality as a potato, I’m out. I really don’t even care how good the plot is at that point. I want to read about people, not potatoes. I could tell Grace was a wonderful character from the first page. She is overflowing with personality, she is offbeat and quirky – clearly not your average heroine these days.
Now for the negative: I can see the possibility of abandoning this series. Perhaps the “new” will wear off somewhere in the middle of book 2. The book definitely has problems. Right now it is hanging on to such a high rating mainly by charm. This book reminds me of a great local band with quirky, endearing lyrics but the music is just not that tight yet. Forgivable for a while, but if we don’t see some improvement soon the apathy will set in.
November 7, 2010
It seems like lately Angels are the IT in books right now. For a while I wanted to read Falling From Grace and I was fortunate enough to get a copy from the author herself. I was really excited to start reading this book after reading all the great reviews on it. Well, I can tell you right now that I was not let down. I REALLY enjoyed Falling from Grace.
From the very beginning Grace's life starts on a crazy roller coaster ride. It was so easy to put myself in her shoes and feel her pain. I felt so bad for Grace. It was almost like everything in her life was meant to go sour. Then when she meets Robert, everything changes. Nothing really matters to her anymore. Being called a freak, no one really talking to her, She just stopped caring. Even losing her best friend since childhood didn't really matter. Robert became a really good friend to her and immediately took her into his world. He tells her all of his secrets and would constantly make her feel special. Of course they fall in love with each other and their relationship is constantly challenged, but in the end the way they feel for each other over came everything else.
I thought this was a great story and that the author did a good job at explaining everything. One minute I was confused and the next it all made sense. Everything was also described really well and was so easy to picture in my head. Now I definitely have to buy the second book in the series because I am dying to know where Robert and Grace took their relationship. I recommend this book and give it Five Stars.
From the very beginning Grace's life starts on a crazy roller coaster ride. It was so easy to put myself in her shoes and feel her pain. I felt so bad for Grace. It was almost like everything in her life was meant to go sour. Then when she meets Robert, everything changes. Nothing really matters to her anymore. Being called a freak, no one really talking to her, She just stopped caring. Even losing her best friend since childhood didn't really matter. Robert became a really good friend to her and immediately took her into his world. He tells her all of his secrets and would constantly make her feel special. Of course they fall in love with each other and their relationship is constantly challenged, but in the end the way they feel for each other over came everything else.
I thought this was a great story and that the author did a good job at explaining everything. One minute I was confused and the next it all made sense. Everything was also described really well and was so easy to picture in my head. Now I definitely have to buy the second book in the series because I am dying to know where Robert and Grace took their relationship. I recommend this book and give it Five Stars.
November 16, 2010
Ok I know that I've read that GR's ppl are saying that this has no similarities to the much beloved Twilight series but ...Really!! Ok it's like the author took many aspects of that series and put a different spin on it and for some moments took other annoyin aspects of Twilight like Bella's inabiliy to defend herself and her ability to annoy u were her inability to not be able to escape the hot bf's charms. Also she made the friend a friend and quickly settled that triangle (at least for this book). To me she made the series 'A HOW TO CORRECT AND IMPROVE ON TWILIGHT'.
Ok on with the review, 5 stars because our heroine (hope spelled that right) is so down to earth and strong (not in the physical sense) and clever that she becomes enduring even tho her drawback is her self depreciating aspect which appears on every other page. Our hot hero is likeable even more because he was quite flawed; he depended on her and opened himself to all the pitfalls to love. The supporting characters are lovable in that they mix well and don't overpower with too much useless info.
OOO one more important feature and comparison to Twilight; you know how we are all waiting for the release of Midnight Sun which depicts the first book in the series from the point of view of Edward. Well in Falling From Grace we get a two fold treat; one knowing exactly the feelings and views from our girl Grace but we get a very believable transition to our hero's perspective of the same events through his eyes. It's ridiculously awesome....
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!! ^^
Ok on with the review, 5 stars because our heroine (hope spelled that right) is so down to earth and strong (not in the physical sense) and clever that she becomes enduring even tho her drawback is her self depreciating aspect which appears on every other page. Our hot hero is likeable even more because he was quite flawed; he depended on her and opened himself to all the pitfalls to love. The supporting characters are lovable in that they mix well and don't overpower with too much useless info.
OOO one more important feature and comparison to Twilight; you know how we are all waiting for the release of Midnight Sun which depicts the first book in the series from the point of view of Edward. Well in Falling From Grace we get a two fold treat; one knowing exactly the feelings and views from our girl Grace but we get a very believable transition to our hero's perspective of the same events through his eyes. It's ridiculously awesome....
I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!! ^^
October 21, 2010
I'll start by saying that this is one of the best books I've ever read.
It's beautifully written, everything is described really well and I often found myself in Grace's shoes. I love how at the beginning of the book Grace's life is described, it really sucked me in, knowing so much about her in just a few pages, making me want to read more.
The characters are really well built, and I love how Grace became stronger, more trusting in her own beauty and intelligence. One of the characters I liked the most is Lark. She appears cold and cruel on the outside, but she has a softer side as well, which is revealed later in the book.
Everything is described so WELL. Grace's feelings are wonderfully explained, and I often cried WITH her. It's sometimes sad how she can suffer so much, but still be the nice, loving Grace.
This is not a book only about the love between two teenagers, it's also a book about a girl who has lost almost everything valuable to her, who was the school's freak and clown, but slowly regained her balance,with Robert's help, showing that life can be beautiful.
I can review it with 3 words: An incredible book.
If you haven't read this book yet, I suggest you go buy it or borrow it, you shall not regret it.
It's beautifully written, everything is described really well and I often found myself in Grace's shoes. I love how at the beginning of the book Grace's life is described, it really sucked me in, knowing so much about her in just a few pages, making me want to read more.
The characters are really well built, and I love how Grace became stronger, more trusting in her own beauty and intelligence. One of the characters I liked the most is Lark. She appears cold and cruel on the outside, but she has a softer side as well, which is revealed later in the book.
Everything is described so WELL. Grace's feelings are wonderfully explained, and I often cried WITH her. It's sometimes sad how she can suffer so much, but still be the nice, loving Grace.
This is not a book only about the love between two teenagers, it's also a book about a girl who has lost almost everything valuable to her, who was the school's freak and clown, but slowly regained her balance,with Robert's help, showing that life can be beautiful.
I can review it with 3 words: An incredible book.
If you haven't read this book yet, I suggest you go buy it or borrow it, you shall not regret it.
Read
October 1, 2012I was really excited to read this book. I'd been waiting for it anxiously. I'd heard so many good reviews. It has 4.4 stars here. Well, I kept reading it, certain that eventually I would be captivated, pulled in to the novel and wouldn't be able to put it down. I never felt that. Instead, I read stream of conscious after stream of concsious. Yes, Grace is different, yes, her life is hard, but really, the real reason Robert was so drawn to her? I still don't understand it. Also, there wasn't enough mystery in the beginning-he's healing and talking to her openly, smitten on first sight. No exciting, should I be having feelings for this person, just bad for day and boom, he's her new best friend making everything better. I can usually put religion aside when reading a book and enjoy the fantasy, but I was really turned off by the whole "how they become angels" and "how they're born" and "angel of death" stuff.
I'm not planning to read the next 2. I don't know if it was me, or the book, but I am not a satisfied customer. Pass on this one guys.
I'm not planning to read the next 2. I don't know if it was me, or the book, but I am not a satisfied customer. Pass on this one guys.
July 11, 2013
Too boring to get into...I'll have to pick it back up at a later date.
**UPDATE**
So I finished this one. And I use the word "finished" very loosely. I basically just skimmed through it because I couldn't flat out read it without rolling my eyes. Grace is the most self-depricating, whiny, weepy, uninteresting character that I have ever read, period. Her whole "I'm not pretty", "nobody likes me", "I'm a social pariah" thing was nauseating. I mean, how does the author expect us to like a character who doesn't even like herself? And the way she was constantly victimized in this book was ridiculous. Her constant need of saving just made her seem weak, helpless, and like a waste of space. I don't think I've ever been more irritated with a character. I did not like her at all.
I didn't like the characterization of angels in this book.
I didn't like the secondary characters.
I didn't like the snail pacing.
I didn't like the so called "plot".
I didn't like the "romance".
I didn't like this book.
At all.
**UPDATE**
So I finished this one. And I use the word "finished" very loosely. I basically just skimmed through it because I couldn't flat out read it without rolling my eyes. Grace is the most self-depricating, whiny, weepy, uninteresting character that I have ever read, period. Her whole "I'm not pretty", "nobody likes me", "I'm a social pariah" thing was nauseating. I mean, how does the author expect us to like a character who doesn't even like herself? And the way she was constantly victimized in this book was ridiculous. Her constant need of saving just made her seem weak, helpless, and like a waste of space. I don't think I've ever been more irritated with a character. I did not like her at all.
I didn't like the characterization of angels in this book.
I didn't like the secondary characters.
I didn't like the snail pacing.
I didn't like the so called "plot".
I didn't like the "romance".
I didn't like this book.
At all.
October 14, 2010
My mom gave me one of those visa gift cards for my birthday and I was so excited to use it to buy books for my Kindle since I love books. This one showed up as a recommended book so I bought it and the two others and I don't think I slept at all for almost a week straight reading them. It's a good thing I'm home schooled or else I'd probably be failing all my classes! LOL!
This book isn't about fallen angels but the kind that walk with us. There's a lot of mythology, some scary stuff, some awesome stuff, and lots of OMG. The way the writer describes how Grace is feeling is UHmazing and I don't know why anyone would think that it's not the way teenagers think or act or speak because we're not all dumb robots who use the word "like" before every adjective.
Love Falling From Grace! Love it with all my ♥♥♥.
This book isn't about fallen angels but the kind that walk with us. There's a lot of mythology, some scary stuff, some awesome stuff, and lots of OMG. The way the writer describes how Grace is feeling is UHmazing and I don't know why anyone would think that it's not the way teenagers think or act or speak because we're not all dumb robots who use the word "like" before every adjective.
Love Falling From Grace! Love it with all my ♥♥♥.
January 8, 2012
I love this series and downloaded the sequel immedietly after I fished this! It's captivating, and I almost forgot to breath numerous times while holding my breath turning every page. I had no clue as to what about to happen page after page, it was so unpredictable which was refreshing. I fell in love with Robert immediatley, and I have taken a strange liking to Lark. She had me in stiches! It's an amazing book, and I highly recommend to everyone who liks a good book. One of my gavouraite books ever, what a brilliant read to start my year off!
July 22, 2010
I love this book. I love everything about these characters and the story. The story is something fresh and not just another version of the same concept like all of the other young adult books out there.
The characters are real and believable and this author has done a fantastic job bringing us into her story and the world that she has created.
I read this boom in one sitting. I couldn't put it down.
The characters are real and believable and this author has done a fantastic job bringing us into her story and the world that she has created.
I read this boom in one sitting. I couldn't put it down.
November 4, 2010
This was such a beautiful reading. Five stars are not enough compared to what you can earn by reading this book.
It's one of those few books where you can find such great amount of goodness, innocence, life lessons, personal growing and love in its most pure form.
Im so glad that I still have two more Grace books to read! and I'm looking forward for the forth one which is coming out this December, Thanks LORD!!!
I highly recommend it to everyone.
10 stars!!! ★★★★★★★★★★
It's one of those few books where you can find such great amount of goodness, innocence, life lessons, personal growing and love in its most pure form.
Im so glad that I still have two more Grace books to read! and I'm looking forward for the forth one which is coming out this December, Thanks LORD!!!
I highly recommend it to everyone.
10 stars!!! ★★★★★★★★★★
May 14, 2011
This book was amazing! I loved Grace and Robert, Stacy, Lark and even Graham. I got so involved with their characters it was hard to put the book down. I felt every emotion they felt, their joy, their heartbreak, their anger, their jealously. This book had me laughing, it had me on the edge of my seat, it had tears in my eyes, it had it all.
I can't wait to read the next in the series. Ms. Naeole has made a fan in me.
I can't wait to read the next in the series. Ms. Naeole has made a fan in me.
February 6, 2017
Overall this was a good book. My biggest complaint was that it was too long. If an author wants to write a long book that's fine with me. They just need to make more things happen to keep me interested. In the beginning of this book I was angry at how everyone treated Grace. Thankfully by the end of the book things were better for her. If that hadn't happened I would not have given this book a decent rating.
November 12, 2010
This was an amazing read. It made me think about all the stuff people take for granted and the way we treat others without really thinking about it. I look up to grace and only wish i had it in me to be as brave as her.
July 12, 2010
Definitely an enjoyable read - a sweet story...
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