sbanham's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
fictionalkate's review against another edition
5.0
When Reese McKay finds herself on the wrong side of the law, it is not for the first time. Purpled hair, multiple piercing, more than a few tattoos and a sealed juvenile record -Reese has had a wild, impulsive and somewhat reckless youth. When she finds her husband of six months sleeping with his ex, Reese goes a little wild and finds herself needing the help of her former step father, Jack. He helps her out in exchange for her working for his law firm and staying out of trouble. Should be easy enough except Reese never counted on Ben. She thought he was just a one night stand gone wrong in Mexico. She had not excepted Ben to be good friends with Reese's step brother Mason or Jack's newest employee at the law firm...
Reese McKay is one of those characters that probably should come across as impossibly unbearable but there is just something about her I loved. She hasn't had an easy childhood. Her father left her when she was just five years old and her mother seems to devour men just to spit them out when another candidate comes along. Reese is prickly but at the same time (with the exception of the paint incident) she isn't on a course of self-destruction. She's loyal and despite her upbringing she can see the good in others. I had such a great time reading about her. I was on her side almost immediately and wanted her to be able to emerge from her divorce as a stronger, better person despite some of the hurdles she faces on the way. Similarly I thought Ben was more than an appropriate match for Reese. He's just as flawed as Reese but in a different kind of way. He's not one for relationships lasting more than one night and his cocky demeanour borders on arrogant fool but manages to stay on the side of endearing most of the time.
Although part of the Ten Tiny Breaths series, Five Ways to Fall works perfectly as a stand alone novel. At the time of reading this book I didn't know it was a part of a series. Since reading Five Ways to Fall, I've read the first book (Ten Tiny Breaths) and whilst the first book does give a little more background to Ben, I think I benefited from having no prior knowledge of who Ben was before reading his and Reese's story. This is a great novel both fans of the series and want more Ben but also for those who have never read a KA Tucker book before. Don't be scared off by the fact it is technically part of a series if you haven't read the previous books.
I'm a fan of dual point of view novels and it was a great choice to have the narration switching perspective each chapter from Reese to Ben and back. Getting to see both of them in their natural environments and seeing just why they are who they are made their relationship that much stronger and made me barrack for them as a couple. The supporting characters are an interesting lot with them being good for Reese/Ben's story but also they had their own stuff going on. I loved the relationships between family members. There's Annabelle Lector (Reese's mother) who marries men and spits them out when their usefulness has worn out who contrasts nicely with Ben's mum - a lovely woman who married one man and couldn't imagine not being his wife. The father figures are equally different and they all add together to give a well-rounded and great story.
I think it's a testament to how much I liked Five Ways to Fall that as soon as I finished I went out and got a copy of Ten Tiny Breaths because I wanted to read more of KA Tucker and the characters she writes so well. This is a book I'd recommend to fans of well written, complicated family drama with a romance that was problematic yet perfect for the characters involved. Five Ways to Fall is New Adult at its best perfect for fans of Tammara Webber, Kasie West or Abbi Glines.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia for the review copy
Reese McKay is one of those characters that probably should come across as impossibly unbearable but there is just something about her I loved. She hasn't had an easy childhood. Her father left her when she was just five years old and her mother seems to devour men just to spit them out when another candidate comes along. Reese is prickly but at the same time (with the exception of the paint incident) she isn't on a course of self-destruction. She's loyal and despite her upbringing she can see the good in others. I had such a great time reading about her. I was on her side almost immediately and wanted her to be able to emerge from her divorce as a stronger, better person despite some of the hurdles she faces on the way. Similarly I thought Ben was more than an appropriate match for Reese. He's just as flawed as Reese but in a different kind of way. He's not one for relationships lasting more than one night and his cocky demeanour borders on arrogant fool but manages to stay on the side of endearing most of the time.
Although part of the Ten Tiny Breaths series, Five Ways to Fall works perfectly as a stand alone novel. At the time of reading this book I didn't know it was a part of a series. Since reading Five Ways to Fall, I've read the first book (Ten Tiny Breaths) and whilst the first book does give a little more background to Ben, I think I benefited from having no prior knowledge of who Ben was before reading his and Reese's story. This is a great novel both fans of the series and want more Ben but also for those who have never read a KA Tucker book before. Don't be scared off by the fact it is technically part of a series if you haven't read the previous books.
I'm a fan of dual point of view novels and it was a great choice to have the narration switching perspective each chapter from Reese to Ben and back. Getting to see both of them in their natural environments and seeing just why they are who they are made their relationship that much stronger and made me barrack for them as a couple. The supporting characters are an interesting lot with them being good for Reese/Ben's story but also they had their own stuff going on. I loved the relationships between family members. There's Annabelle Lector (Reese's mother) who marries men and spits them out when their usefulness has worn out who contrasts nicely with Ben's mum - a lovely woman who married one man and couldn't imagine not being his wife. The father figures are equally different and they all add together to give a well-rounded and great story.
I think it's a testament to how much I liked Five Ways to Fall that as soon as I finished I went out and got a copy of Ten Tiny Breaths because I wanted to read more of KA Tucker and the characters she writes so well. This is a book I'd recommend to fans of well written, complicated family drama with a romance that was problematic yet perfect for the characters involved. Five Ways to Fall is New Adult at its best perfect for fans of Tammara Webber, Kasie West or Abbi Glines.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia for the review copy
menrk's review against another edition
5.0
Seriously, my favorite in the series. Just the right mix of angst, laughs, and love. :)
chelseammg's review against another edition
4.0
If you are a regular MDR reader, you know that I ADORE K.A. Tucker. SO much. Ever since I sobbed my way through 10 Tiny Breaths, I have been fangirling all over the place about her brilliant writing.
Five Ways to Fall is another wonderful addition to the series. You have already met Ben, but now you get to know him. And he’s awesome. He’s cocky, smart, gorgeous and a mama’s boy. What’s not to love?
Reese is a rebel with purple hair, and a bit of a bad ass. She is a motorcycle rider who has a tendency to leap before she looks. Which is why she married a man she barely knew when she was 19. A man who then broke her heart and her reaction landed her in jail.
Thankfully, she has a fairy godfather in her ex-stepfather. He is such a great character. He uses his brains, his calm demeanor and his innate goodness to bring Reese to a place where she was using her brains and talents to succeed. I loved him!
The relationship between Reese and Ben isn’t instant. Yes, there is attraction but they both have things they need to work through. Reese has to get over her ex, Ben has to deal with family issues and his avoidance of anything that says “commitment”. It’s fun to watch them flirt, fight and find their way towards each other.
I will say this book, although it has some parts that tug at your heart, it’s not as emotional as some of KA Tucker’s past books. It’s a lighter, more relaxed book.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. And I would recommend anything KA Tucker writes. She’s that good.
Five Ways to Fall is another wonderful addition to the series. You have already met Ben, but now you get to know him. And he’s awesome. He’s cocky, smart, gorgeous and a mama’s boy. What’s not to love?
Reese is a rebel with purple hair, and a bit of a bad ass. She is a motorcycle rider who has a tendency to leap before she looks. Which is why she married a man she barely knew when she was 19. A man who then broke her heart and her reaction landed her in jail.
Thankfully, she has a fairy godfather in her ex-stepfather. He is such a great character. He uses his brains, his calm demeanor and his innate goodness to bring Reese to a place where she was using her brains and talents to succeed. I loved him!
The relationship between Reese and Ben isn’t instant. Yes, there is attraction but they both have things they need to work through. Reese has to get over her ex, Ben has to deal with family issues and his avoidance of anything that says “commitment”. It’s fun to watch them flirt, fight and find their way towards each other.
I will say this book, although it has some parts that tug at your heart, it’s not as emotional as some of KA Tucker’s past books. It’s a lighter, more relaxed book.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely. And I would recommend anything KA Tucker writes. She’s that good.
jennharmon's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.25
This was such a cute, heartwarming story. This one focuses on one of the main bouncers in the strip club that has been a back drop of the books. He worked there while going through law school. You learn his family dynamics and why he’s such a ladies man. Tucker really peels back the layers of his character and his love interest allowing them to grow right before your eyes.
fieberali's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. This was my least favorite of the series, but it was still entertaining. I’ve always been interested in Ben as a character, but I had mixed feelings about Reese. Also the “big reveal” about her at the end was underwhelming and somewhat unnecessary in my opinion.
book_ofroses's review against another edition
5.0
I’m on a K.A Tucker binge at the moment and I must say, this is probably one of my favourites.
What a romance! I loved how there wasn’t any unnecessary heartbreak involved. The main two characters didn’t have to hurt each other and experience loss of each other to realise the love, they simply just put each other first always.
I loved seeing the character development of Ben, following on from the previous book in the series. It was great to find out more about his home life and how he became who he is from his upbringing. It was uplifting to see him find his match in Reese, and for them to grow and bring out the best in each other.
4.5 stars.
What a romance! I loved how there wasn’t any unnecessary heartbreak involved. The main two characters didn’t have to hurt each other and experience loss of each other to realise the love, they simply just put each other first always.
I loved seeing the character development of Ben, following on from the previous book in the series. It was great to find out more about his home life and how he became who he is from his upbringing. It was uplifting to see him find his match in Reese, and for them to grow and bring out the best in each other.
4.5 stars.
chrissireads's review against another edition
4.0
After absolutely loving the previous book in this series, Four Seconds To Lose, I had high hopes for Five Ways To Fall. However, I was slightly disappointed with Five Ways To Fall. I would totally still recommend the series, especially to fans of New Adult and romantic fiction but I just found this book to be a bit predictable and not as gripping as some of the other in the series.
This book follows Ben Morris who was the hot bouncer/law student (what a combination!) who we’ve seen cameos from in other books and a new character Reese McKay- who is a troubled girl who married young and then was cheated on by her husband. Ben and Reese meet in Cancun one night when Ben is partying and Reese is celebrating her 21st birthday. They very nearly get together but there’s a vomit incident…Later on they have an unexpected meeting and their feisty relationship develops even further.
I think one of the reasons why I didn’t connect with this story as much as I wanted to, was that I didn’t really buy into Ben and Reese’s relationship. I have to say that I preferred Reese to Ben as I liked her feisty side. Ben was cocky and I couldn’t really get over that…even though he does grow towards the end of the story- so there’s that!
The plot wasn’t nearly as exciting as Four Seconds To Lose and I think that was this book’s downfall. If you’re looking for a romance story then I definitely think you shouldn’t be put off as the romance is well written and it’s certainly a readable story!
This book follows Ben Morris who was the hot bouncer/law student (what a combination!) who we’ve seen cameos from in other books and a new character Reese McKay- who is a troubled girl who married young and then was cheated on by her husband. Ben and Reese meet in Cancun one night when Ben is partying and Reese is celebrating her 21st birthday. They very nearly get together but there’s a vomit incident…Later on they have an unexpected meeting and their feisty relationship develops even further.
I think one of the reasons why I didn’t connect with this story as much as I wanted to, was that I didn’t really buy into Ben and Reese’s relationship. I have to say that I preferred Reese to Ben as I liked her feisty side. Ben was cocky and I couldn’t really get over that…even though he does grow towards the end of the story- so there’s that!
The plot wasn’t nearly as exciting as Four Seconds To Lose and I think that was this book’s downfall. If you’re looking for a romance story then I definitely think you shouldn’t be put off as the romance is well written and it’s certainly a readable story!
renflew's review against another edition
4.0
Fun, sexy, engaging read. Definitely picking up more of this author!