DNF review for The Fallback by Mariah Dietz

THE FALLBACK

by MARIAH DIETZ

I thought being dumped was painful.
And it was.

Trust is more fragile than hope, and maybe even fear.
And it wasn't the only thing left damaged. My heart and my ego were dragged through the mud as well.

But, I'm collecting the pieces.
Moving on.
Or I was, until I learned the guy who has stolen my thoughts and attention is a client who my often eccentric and demanding boss personally assigned to me. As one of the most sought after event planners in Chicago, I'm determined to keep things professional, especially when I learn his connection to my boss extends beyond money or a favor—but family.

With one glance I forget reason
He smiles, and I lose sense.

But how deep is my past buried?
And how much are we willing to sacrifice?

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REVIEW: DNF

I won’t say it was boring, because that can come across as rude.

I won’t say it was slow, because that can come across as impatient.

I won’t say I think dating rules are the dumbest thing ever because that may come across as shallow.

I won’t say insecurities that are constantly rambled on about are ridiculous, because that would make me come across as insensitive. 

But I will say that I couldn't finish this one because it wasn't my cuppa.

Instead of complaining for the review, I’m going to tell you what I loved first. I loved Levi. I loved their chemistry when she wasn’t going on some inner monologue about how Gabe wasn’t good to her or how much of a non-people person she is. They smiled and that made me smile. They laughed and the sarcastic banter flowed, so that made me laugh. Levi was seriously amazing and had the patience of a saint.. I wanted more of him. I wanted her to trust him. I wanted her to let go. I loved how hard he tried. I loved his wink and his smile. I loved the butterflies he conjured up, but for some reason, Brooke was just.....odd. I didn’t and couldn’t connect to her AT ALL.

This could have been cute, but it just didn’t work for me. I can’t do cutesy and insecure in a grown woman. I can’t read about a character that says she has zero social skills but her success in her fantastic job requires having social skills and pleasing people and working with them on an intimate level. Things didn’t line up, the heroine was really just ugh, and the story didn’t progress quickly enough for me to get over some of these slight transgressions. It got stale in quite a few spots as well, and that made it even harder to push on. 

But Levi. Levi was the only reason I kept going back in to read more. He made me smile for every reason.

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I like more grit. More angst. More push and pull. Or, you know, just...more. I like my heartstrings being tugged on and my emotions being thrown around. I didn’t get any highs or lows with this one. Not only did Brooke let her boss run all over her, she let her cheating ex get away with everything. EV-ER-Y-THING. She clearly didn’t work through any of her own issues because she thought about Gabe constantly; while on dates and comparing every action and reaction to him. It was frustrating because it felt way too whiny to me - for the lack of a better word.  That made me question so much more about her.

This read to me more like a self help book with a romance twist and that’s definitely not something I signed up for. It would have meant more if she actually self-helped herself. It just read more of an appease myself to get by kind of book. It was honestly frustrating and she was the very reason I DNF'd this book.

~BEE

~MEET MARIAH DIETZ~

Mariah Dietz lives with her husband and three sons, who are the axis of her crazy and wonderful world in North Carolina.

Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon, where she spent most of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.

She has a love for all things that include her family, good coffee, books, traveling, and dark chocolate. She’s also obsessed with Christmas ornaments and all things Disney.

~CONNECT WITH MARIAH DIETZ~

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