The Fall

The Reluctant Romantics, Book 1

By: Kate Stewart

Narrated by: Kristin Condon, Marcio Catalano

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

Dallas

He was the beginning of my heart... and the end of it.

I was only fifteen years old when he claimed it and twenty when he took it with him. They say what is meant to be will find a way. But when you have changed to the point of no return, how can anything ever be the same?

Seven years later, Dean Martin waltzed back into my life in hopes of resuming what I had fought so hard to forget, but he was in for a wake-up call. I was no longer the naïve woman he had left... and I was no longer his. I met the love of my life and my soul mate when I was fifteen. I knew that; he knew that. He wanted that girl back.

I wanted to forget she ever existed.

Dean

What I thought was my pre-destined path was very much an illusion.

Living seven years with regret, I realized too late that I was broken and that I only had myself to blame. I thought love could wait.... but it didn't. We'd had it all those years ago, and then I foolishly left it behind. She was all that mattered. She was all there ever was. There was no life without Dallas, no reason... except her.

No matter how hard she tried to convince me, I knew I had to once again make her mine, to make her remember... the fall.

©2015 Kate Stewart (P)2024 Podium Audio

Sooo Good!

Another great book from Kate Stewart as always. And I love the narration, these two are new to me but I will be looking for them in other books.

MY HEART!!!!

Kate Stewart knocked it out of the park again!! The love, the passion, the heartache, the joy! I can’t wait for more in this series!

Great story and narration

Kate is a favorite author of mine and when I saw this had just released in audio I hurriedly pressed the click to buy button. This story was really good and both narrators were new to me but they were fantastic. Definitely worth a credit!

Love this story

I love this story heard it all with two days. Thank you for a true love story

The beautiful story is complimented by amazing narration

I really liked both of these characters so much. I wish I’d gotten even more information about them because their stories are so interesting. But this was a fantastic audiobook.

The narration was amazing!

Audiobook and Book Review

❤️ HS/College loves
🧡 Love triangle-ish
💛 Second chance romance
❤️ Possessive MMC
🧡 “Angry Spaniard”
💛 Tragedy, Love, & Loss

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dallas fell in love with Dean when she was a freshman in high school. But a “gentleman’s vow” kept Dean from being with her. As time went on, life brought them together, and apart again. Each blames the other for breaking their heart. This story is dual POV, duet narration, that alternates between the present and the past.

I was expecting this to be a cute, lighthearted romance. It is and it isn’t, but in a good way! This story deals with a lot of love and loss, in more ways than one. I didn’t expect to tear up or gasp with revelations. It was definitely a journey through Dallas and Dean’s emotions and perspectives to find out why they didn’t work out all those years ago. And I didn’t expect what was revealed.

Though there joyous highs and the tragic lows, you also find quite a bit of jealousy. What would you do if the person you’ve dreamt of being with for most of your life was with someone else? And how would you reconcile the feelings that you had when you were heartbroken? I know I have not always handled it well, and at times Dallas and Dean frustrated me with not “letting it go” but you know what? I get it. I’m not mad at them now that I’ve finished the story. I get it. Love makes us act in strange ways sometimes! 🩷

This book also deals with terminal illness and unexpected losses. These are real life things that people deal with everyday. They are addressed in a very respectful way. Your heartstrings will be pulled, so be prepared. But with loss, eventually, even distantly, there will be joy again.

I had never listened to Kristin Condon before this book, and I have no idea why because I absolutely LOVE her! She has a very soothing and melodic voice. Condon brought out EVERY emotion, and I’m here for all of it. I need more of her narrations! If you haven’t listened to her, you NEED to! 🩷🩷🩷

Oh Marcio Catalano. I thoroughly enjoyed his narration in this book. He shows the different characters and their personalities. My favorite was when he whispered or freaking spoke Spanish!? 🫠🫠🫠 This is only the second time I’ve listened to him and I will be seeking out more of his audiobooks!

🩺 “I’m the only man that should ever kiss you, Dallas.”
🩺 “Then you better leave and fast because I want you so much right now, Dally. I want to push so far into you that you remember exactly who you are and who you belong to.”
🩺 “I want all of you, Dallas. Every single piece. Even the ones I broke.”
🩺 “I wish I could wake you up the way I did last week, buried inside you with my thumb in your mouth.”
🩺 “You have the other half of my heart, and I can’t live without it.”

Just okay …

This wasn’t bad, but also not great. The constant back and forth got repetitive and old and never furthered the plot. The reason for their first split wasn’t believable and just didn’t make their love story realistic. The narration was great though!