The Way We Fall by Cassia Leo

Houston has kept a devastating secret from Rory since the day he took her into his home. But the tragic circumstances that brought them together left wounds too deep to heal.

Five years after the breakup, Houston and Rory are thrust together by forces beyond their control. And all the resentments and passion return with more intensity than ever. Once again, Houston is left with a choice between the truth and the only girl he’s ever loved.

I love this story, I love this author and I love getting lost in a book. Cassia Leo just has a way of writing that I really connect with. A lot of romance authors are really mushy, hopeless romantic types whose characters always overcome hardships in the end. Cassia writes real stories with real characters and real problems. This is not my first Cassia Leo book nor will it be my last. She is an amazing author and I highly recommend this book!

Rory is a very down to earth girl with a past. She's been broken by love and just can't seem to get over it. Houston knows something Rory doesn't. That's pretty much all we get for the first third of the book. It's this mystery that propels the story forward and slowly more is revealed over time through flashbacks and coincidental events. I don't want to give away too much of the plot because everything really does come full circle in the end.

I will say that Rory is not my all time favorite character. I appreciate that she has flaws, as do we all, but she's just not a very mentally strong person. I have a hard time identifying with that because I am usually an optimist and I will set my mind to something and get it done. Rory needs that push, but no one in her life is there to give it to her which breaks my heart.

Likewise, Houston isn't Mr. Perfect either. Through the entire book he clearly has something to say but just can't get it out - most times it's because Rory won't let him, but there are times when he just folds under the pressure. I don't understand this either, because once we find out the truth of what he's hiding (or most of it anyway) it really makes no sense why he was hiding it in the first place. (I mean I wouldn't be rushing to tell everyone about it, but still the person you have called multiple times your soul mate you can't tell this to?? Houston's a giant coward and he knows it.)

Clearly both characters are flawed, their romance is flawed, and life has been rocky for them. It sounds terrible, but it makes a really good story.

5 stars - save this one for a rainy day, the clouds will set the mood.