Cain Hawkins is a master at suppressing his desires. After all, he's been doing it for over one hundred years. What Cain wants more than anything is a man to love, but he knows that no matter how much he craves it, it can never be. Because Cain is a Naverto demon, and to desire another man is more than forbidden, it is an act that will bring about his execution. So he keeps to himself, working with abused horses on a small patch of land, all on his own. But then his brother makes a request that Cain cannot refuse.
Luke Forrester just wants a job and a place where he can recover from the brutal beating he took at the hands of his former boss. He dreams of a place where he can work with the horses that he loves so much. The fact that he's had a crush on Cain Hawkins, his best friend's brother-in-law, for more than two years threatens everything. But Luke's determined not to screw things up. He will do the work and prove to Cain that it wasn't a mistake to hire him, and he won't allow the fact that he desires something more with Cain to interfere with his work one bit.
But working and living in such close proximity can test the best of intentions, and when one kiss leads to something much, much more, Cain must open himself in a way that he never has before. He must trust Luke completely and tell him everything about who and what he is. And together, they must find a way to fight for Cain's humanity and save him from his demon clan before he is found out and they are ripped apart forever.
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: male/male sexual practices (anal/oral sex) and strong violence.
I am an air force brat and spent most of my growing up years living overseas in Italy and England, as well as Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Virginia while we were stateside. I now live in Florida once again with my big, wonderfully pushy family and my three-legged cat, Harry. I have been reading romance novels since I was twelve years old, and twenty years later I still adore them. Currently, I have an unexplainable obsession with hockey goaltenders, and an unabashed affection for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
I first read this book in early 2011. It was in the first handful of M/M romances I was turned on to. Cameron Dane was an early favorite and this is a great example of her unique writing of men in passionate love with each other. I really think her books turned me into a bit of a M/M book snob. It's hard to live up to the emotional love between her characters.
This was my third or fourth read of Falling. Hawk and Luke are perfect together and the sex is beyond smoking hot. Throw in the bizarre demon shifter element, and you've got an incredibly powerful story with characters running intense emotions.
If you haven't read Cameron Dane yet, I'd start here. She is a master.
Highly recommended
FYI, book one in the Hawkins Brothers series is M/F and the only paranormal parts of the series are with the three brothers themselves. Most members of the Quinten, Montana community don't know of the supernatural world.
Falling by Cameron Dane is another of the authors intense books. This one features a sexually assaulted man, and a sexually frustrated demon. Together, they heat things up on the ranch, all feelings, raw emotions and sex. I did cry and for a second I was truly worried about how things were gonna work out for our main characters, it did but it sure was a hard HEA!
Cain Hawkins lives a life of solitude on his ranch, taking care of abused horses. Cain also lives with a secret, he desires other men and what he is that is a big no nope. Cain is a Naverto demon, which means he becomes this huge flying creature with a big cock, I am just sharing like the book is telling. Desires for men is strictly forbidden and if he gives in to his desires it will eventually lead to his execution. Until he meets Luke Forrester, and he is thinking death might not be so bad if he gets to spend some time in Luke’s arms.
Luke Forrester just faced his faced the roughest situation yet, and he is just looking to find hard work and heal. He gets a break on Cain’s ranch, and he is falling in love with the horses and their owner. Cain is everything Luke wants in a man, only problem Cain seems to be denying his attraction for him, plus there seems to be more as in why they can’t just be together.
Well, they get together and the place caught on fire, I caught on fire, the subway I was on caught on fire. It was just so hot, Cameron Dane is like a god when it comes to hot men doing it. The book was also super angst, and all kinds of sad, I was like how are they gonna be together if Cain is executed. The road to find their happiness was not easy, and left me all kinds of torn up inside.
A little thing that had me buzzing is Cain in demon form, the author makes it clear that his “cock” is seriously huge, and there is little demon to human mating. I was thinking…..
“ Where is that going? How is it gonna fit, if think it’s going where I think it’s going then, someone might not make it. Because scientifically it seems impossible, yet very intriguing. Will Luke make it, will he need a doctor? Am I gonna need a doctor….. And on and on it went”.
Nevertheless, still a stellar job by the Dane, and I am still picturing the giganticness that is Cain’s demon penis.
Entirely too long. I just don't have any more hours of my life to devote to this book. (I promise I read more than half.)
Do you like books where the bad guys are super evil and the good guys are super good and say all the right things and do all the right things all the time? Do you like books where the dialogue doesn't quite sound the way people really talk? Do you like m/m books that give you glimpses into the sexist m/f relationship from a previous book in the series? Do you like cowboy/ranch themed books with a ridiculous paranormal twist?
I do not. This was given high ratings by several of my goodreads friends, people whose opinion I really trust and usually agree with, so I'm not quite sure what happened here. And I mean, it wasn't wretched. It just didn't strike me as having the depth or dimension that I'm looking for in a book.
And I would like to state for the record that Montana is not just one big ranch.
I just re-read Falling, and I'm so glad I did. I loved reading about Cain and Luke all over again. I liked the paranormal aspect. I liked Luke's feelings about what Cain was - from an experience when he was fifteen. It was sweet that they had (kind of) crossed paths before.
Loved -
Cain and Luke's love and passion for one another
Their mutual love of horses
That the events they both suffered didn't define them alone, it made their appreciation of life and love so much stronger
That family doesn't always have to be about biology. You can create your own, if you so choose
That justice was served for Luke
That Cain got his man when he truly didn't believe he ever would
I thoroughly enjoy Cameron Dane's work, and this book is definitely one of the reasons why. It's deeply romantic and erotic; and I enjoyed it even more the second time around. I really loved revisiting these sweet, caring, compassionate men. I believe Falling has just come out in paperback, so I will definitely be ordering a copy.
The characters orbit around one another throughout the entire story and I appreciated that. Their mutual attraction, the unresolved sexual tension, the way they circle around each other afraid to make a move both held back by justifiable reasons. Only to be overcome by their desire for one another. Screw the risks, it's worth it. So very delicious. My favorite kind of romance.
Both of these mc's are so incredibly lovable. Tongue tied Cain and good natured Luke.
Luke stole my heart instantly. A man who has had horror visited upon him from a young age and as an adult. One who has burdens and responsibilities. One who is honorable, hardworking and resilient. Never allowing the bad to seep through him.
Cain bound by his demon blood. Forever celibate, unable to explore his deepest desires. Cain has very real fears but the pull of Luke proves to be worth the inevitable risks.
Highly recommend to any in need of a solid love story with lovable characters, scorching sexual chemistry and dark paranormal elements
2. How they can't resist each other. That was good. How they met, Cain's innocence despite the age, their mutual attraction.
What I don't like:
1. The plot is too mechanical. The development of the relationship, the stages of intimacy were too obvious. like this: Crush -> Lust -> Caring for -> love One night stand -> relationship -> getting rid of the protection
Okay. Almost every story goes through these courses, but it's very important how naturally melt those into the story. Guess that's not easy. This one has failed at that as far as I'm concerned. Hitting each point was too mechanical like ticking off some to do list items.
2. Bloody long, unnecessarily dragging without creating tensions.
3. The sex is over the top, way too Harlequin like.
4. The characters are too passive. They just accept whatever they were given. They don't actively look for solutions or way to escape the hardships. Just accept it like it's the most natural things to do even though your loved brother, partner's life was on stake. Caleb find out the solution, but almost by accident.
Conclusion: Maybe I'm too harsh on this book, but it was not my cup of tea, no, definitely not.
Falling is the second on a series which tells the story of three Demon brothers, Connor, Cain and Caleb.
In the first book Connor has gained his mortality mating with a human female, Cassie. Having a woman as mate is the only way to become a full human, but Cain can't pursue this way, cause he is gay. Worst, for the Naverto Demon, his breed, homosexuality is a capital crime, punichable by death.
And so Cain for more than 150 years has avoided personal relationship, living only for the love of his horses. But now Cassie, Connor's wife, asks him to help his best friend Luke. Luke is a 25 years old cowboy who is beaten almost to death cause his former employer has found about his homosexuality. Cassie doesn't know that for Cain falls in love with Luke means death. But there is no way that Cain can't deny the feeling he soons has for Luke. Now they only can live full the days they have before the Demon Council strikes with his death sentence.
I have to admit I was a lit bit intrigued by a book which mix cowboys with demons... I don't know why but these are two genre I didn't see well together. So when I read the plot of this romance I was perplexed. But then, I put a blind vote on Loose Id and decide to give Cameron Dane a try. The lenght of the book, 350 pages, almost discourage me (I'm not particulary fond of too long book, I have this kink to be able to read a book in one night...). All conjures to make me not read this book.
But in the end I read it in only two night! it's a pretty good story, very tender and with very few paranormal elements. Really, it's more a "classical" (meaning for classical the late books about manlove between two hot cowboys...) love story than a paranormal one. Nor Cain or Luke are true alpha, they are both good beta. Maybe Luke is a bit stronger than Cain, and this was a surprise, cause given the demon nature of Cain, I was expecting him as the tougher and stronger character. But to be true Luke and Cain are very pretty balanced characters.
In the end Falling is more normal, than most of the contemporary I have read lately.
Cain Hawkins is a Naverto demon resigned to a life of solitude because he is gay and the Naverto consider homosexuality a crime punishable by death. Luke Forrester is a ranch hand who was beaten to within an inch of his life for being gay. He turns to his long-time friend, Cassie (Connor's wife), and seeks solace and refuge on the Hawkins Brothers ranch. Luke goes to work for Cain and uses his gentle talent with horses to quickly work wonders. Meanwhile, Cain and Luke forge a friendship that soon blossoms into a full blown romance. Their love is true but it sounds the death knoll for Cain .
I was unsure about this book. Demons? Not usually my bag. But oh was I pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed these characters, especially Cain and Luke (Cassie, however, was irritating at times). The storyline made for interesting fodder. As expected of Cameron Dane, this book had many steamy love scenes. But overall, I felt the story was fairly well balanced and moved at a nice clip.
Fair warning: this book has more than its share of tear-jerking moments. Have the tissue handy! As an aside: OMG, how was Cain's present to Luke?
Bottom line: a smart and very sexy demon lover story! Recommend!
So I'm not yet sure what I feel about Cameron Dane's writing. This is only my second book by her and I have really liked the romance in both.
In the beginning, I enjoyed story and it started out really interesting. I was immediately drawn in. Cain was such a sweet, innocent demon and I loved Luke and his family.
My 2 biggest issues with this book was the really long raunchy sex scenes and all the horse talk. They seemed to drag the out forever and ever. By the time I got to the torture scene near the end, I really didn't care anymore. I was just ready to finish the book.
I am still, maybe interested in checking out a few of the other books from this series. Not really sure.
You know that moment when you wanna kick yourself for not starting something sooner? Well, this is definitely one of these moments!!! (But look at the bright side, I have a whole new world of books to look forward to... Lucky me!)
My first book in this genre, and I found myself a new love!
If you are looking for a story that have everything a good story should have and then some. Then look no further, because this is the book.
This was the first of Cameron's that I've read and I really liked it. I didn't read the first of the series because I'm not into het, but Falling was clear enough that I didn't have to.
I'm not much of a reviewer, I prefer point form, so here you go:
- romantic characters and relationship - creative and imaginative storyline - heart-wrenching and emotional - angsty - just beautiful overall.
If I could do half stars, this would be 2 1/2 instead of 3. This story about a very tame demon shifter with wings and his ranch hand lover, was way too sweet for me. Sticky sweet, mushy even. The plot was also rather predictable and lacked suspense. I liked the characters just enough to finish the story, but I think my rating says it all.
There were lot of good things in this book - the obvious love between the heroes and the famous massage-scene (my favorite moment) for example. I am certain that most will enjoy this one. It just did not resonate with me. A nice read anyway. 2.5 stars
I had a really nasty review in mind and wanted to get out all my frustration about this book. But then I thought it over because...well, I know it takes a lot of work to write a book and that I can respect. That I don't like how it was written is another thing. It was just too drama-queen for me with men who act like women (not in an effeminate way but in this overbearing, overcaring way that SOME women have, e.g. "Baby, what do you need? What can I do for you that makes it all better?" *barf*). And it suffered from an extensive overuse of the word "baby". I skipped through the pages, left out most of the sex scenes and hoped it would get better at one point. It didn't. That's what I mean with drama-queen. You can't just throw dramatic scenes together without stopping and thinking about if it even makes sense. I shudder when I think about the sequels. Why did I buy them before reading this book? I want my time and money back.
PS: Mind you, this was the not-nasty review. PPS: And does no one find it suspicious that this book got so many 5 star ratings/reviews? I know that opinions vary immensely but this author must have a hell of a fan club...
Ok let's be real here. I know its such an ignorant thing to say that men don't talk about their feelings but.... they don't and even if they did they wouldn't talk about it as much as portrayed in the book.It just seemed so unrealistic that we have two COWBOYS willing to tell each other exactly how the other person makes them feel at the drop of a hat. Just pages of what ive come to call"Feeling Time" and also pages of raunchy sex scenes that are ok the 1st and 2nd time but seem to get longer and more complicated as the book progresses untill finally im going "oh they're having sex?" skip and this is my third book from the author and ive come to realise that i really don't like her writing, its just the dialogue between everyone is too dramatic and overdrawn. If I read about something hitting him to the "core" one more time ill scream! and NO ONE speaks like that! especially in everyday life. it kept pulling me out of the book. they all speak like they have BA's in English. Again no one speaks like that especially not cowboys from Montana, im just saying.
The Drama. The Sex. Two manly men constantly talking Feelings. Behind that there is a really nice story. Too bad I had to skip too many pages to follow it. 2.5 stars.
On one hand, it’s one of the most beautiful romances I’ve read in a long time, and definitely one of the best paranormal romance I’ve ever read... and on the other hand it was so overly porny that it ruined it for me.
I love smutty books, they’re my jam for sure.... but omg it just ruined this one for me. This could have been so beautiful and heart felt with some good steamy smut in it. But instead it was beautiful and heart felt and it was also drowned out by 10-20 page sex scenes with maybe only 5-10 plot pages in between them. So eventually what happened is I started skimming the sex which in turn made the book feel like it was dragging... No bueno muchachos.
“I’m not mad, damn it. I’m overwhelmed by your kindness, your thoughtfulness, and your generous heart. Don’t you get it, Hawk? I’m not very good at hiding it anymore. I’m in love with you. There, I’ve said it. I’m insanely, madly in love with you.” Cain’s entire world crashed to a standstill. “Wh-what?” His heart stopped. He actually felt the muscle contract and squeeze against his chest, stopping his breathing. Then it started pounding so hard and fast his ears rang too loudly, and he couldn’t be sure he’d heard what he thought he’d heard. What he desperately wanted to have heard correctly. Cain forced his lips to move. “What did you say?” “You heard me.”
I really enjoyed this one. There was a portion that made me cringe and actually had to skip a few paragraphs as I couldn't stand what was happening to Cane. What I didn't like was the whole McLasten grabbing Luke's sister & wanting to do what he was going to do. That made absolutely no sense & saw no value to the story. I will have to read the rest of the series as I started with book 2.
Substantial and engrossing. This is a cowboy story with some of the common tropes: threatening homophobe neighbors, new ranch hand in town, lots of horsey talk. The paranormal element seemed an odd fit for such a milieu, but it quickly drew me in. Cain is a curiously diluted sort of demon. He is not intrinsically evil or destructive at all, and his nature expresses itself only in a monthly requirement to kill an animal for food. (Going by that criteria, plenty of humans are more demonic.) The appearance of his body in demon form is clearly intended by the author to be sexy in a brutal, primal way, and it works. It is not surprising that human Luke falls for Cain in both his forms.
Their romance is intense, with a slow-burn beginning necessitated by the plot element that states that if Cain is discovered by his demon ruling council to be engaged in a gay relationship, he will be punished by death. He holds out against this as long as he can, and the scene where he finally decides that a brief affair with Luke is worth the ultimate price is both touching and incendiary. The nearly 200-year-old Cain has kept himself a virgin to all romance, and his earnest yet fumbling first overtures are endearing and affecting.
Aside from the romance plot, the story is surprisingly dark. Luke has suffered horrific (described on-page) abuse at the hands of his former employer; there is a later scene where the same villain threatens someone else close to them; and Cain's confrontation with the demon council results in a chapter's worth of detailed torture scenes. This is a lot of graphic material which will disturb and put off some readers.
The relationship is angsty, with Cain having deep-seated issues which interfere with his ability to accept Luke's feelings for him until very late in the book. Despite this it is floridly romantic, with lengthy declarations and sentimentality, which either floats your boat or doesn't. The sex scenes are numerous but not, to my mind, excessive. As this is Cameron Dane the assholes and rectums do plenty of winking, kissing, fluttering and pulsing (I say this with affection and appreciation to Ms. Dane, but again, this style choice is a matter for reader preference).
The novel could have been shortened by truncating both the torture chapter and the recovery time afterward--I enjoy long novels, but the 'hurt' side of hurt/comfort was so heavily skewed by the end of this one that the reader may begin to grow weary. The ending was nice and a good payoff for what the boys had to go through to get there. Am definitely looking forward to more of this series.
My feelings for this book were up-and-down. I really, really enjoyed most of it, but other parts were just too much and too drawn out. I wish that I had read Demon Moon first. That book is about Cain's brother, Connor. Both Connor and Cain are demons and the road to love is not an easy one. I desperately wanted to know all that Connor had to go through to find love so that I could compare, justify and understand all that Cain has to go through to be with the one he loves.
As for the paranormal aspect of this story, there is no world building. This is a contemporary novel in every way except for the fact that Cain is a demon and sometimes changes into his demon form and goes out flying with his wings at night. Again, I have not read the first book, so I don't know if the demon world was more fully fleshed out in that novel. But, just based on this book, I thought his demon life was not well described, nor was Luke's reaction to it believable.
I really did like Luke and Cain. They go through so much to finally be together. Cameron Dane writes some hot scenes. I am interested in reading more books in this series...especially the story of Caleb, another Hawkins brother.
Falling is book 2 in a series but can very easily be read as a standalone.
Cain Hawkins is a virginal demon who has been on earth for over a century. A Naverto Demon, he left his home in Wales and now lives with his chosen family on a ranch in Montana rehabilitating abused horses. He has watched his brother fall in love and it hurts, the pain is there every day because Cain knows for a fact that he can never have the same. Cain wants a man in his life but to take one would mean death. Naverto Demons cannot have same sex relationships, their rules are stringent and breeding comes first.
Luke Forrester is recovering from an awful assault when he comes to work for Cain. He is badly damaged, kind of like the horses he has come to help look after, but throughout the book his confidence grows and we find a tough man underneath the scars and bruises, an honourable man who would do anything for his family and who has his sights firmly set on his boss.
The beginning and the end of this book kept me engrossed, the ending has a lot of violence as Cain fights for his life and a future with Luke. The middle dragged and was filled with many sex scenes after Cain decides Luke may just be worth dying for. The ending is painful and brutal and has left me wanting to read Caleb’s story.
Cain is one of three "brothers" - demons who have come together to create a family when none other would have them. Part owner of a ranch in Montana, Cain works with abused horses to rehabilitate them so they can function again. He figures since homosexual love is a crime punishable by death in his clan, that he will live out his lifetime without love.
Luke is a cowboy, friends with Cain's sister-in-law, recuperating from a beating that has everyone wondering, why? Lost, with a mother and sister to support, he simply wants a safe place in which to work and rebuild his life.
These two men come together, and what happens is stunning.
This story touched me on so many levels. Cain and Luke share so much pain, yet are willing to reach put past that pain and connect with each other, learn to trust again, and put not only their hearts, but their lives on the line.
Yes, the dialogue may be a little flowery and dramatic at times, but it in no way distracts from what is a touching, funny, remarkable love story.
I found myself in tears so many times reading this story. But I also found myself laughing, touched, and thoughtful.
When a writer can take me to those places, the work is a rousing success.
Try as I might I cannot give this higher than "It's OK" (which is 2 stars on Goodreads). I just didn't really feel like I was Falling in love with this book (pun intended). Cain and Luke should have made me shiver with their hot hunky cowboy-ness but instead they are given dialogue that sounds like it is straight out of some romance author's mouth. I just don't know men who talk like this and it is not what I imagine men to talk like. Frankly it's more like how women talk. I think there was talk, at one point, of the rose hole or something and I thought when is the last time I ever heard a guy refer to anything as a "rose"? Answer: never. Even my twinky friend's don't talk like that.
The plot was a little convoluted as there were several things going on - although to her credit the author did manage mostly to tie one up before going hot and heavy in the other. I thought the sex was hot but again the language threw me out of it at times. The last 1/4 of the book saved it for me as I finally felt more emotion and connection to the characters.
I'd like to read Caleb's story but I'm not sure if I should buy it. Maybe I'll borrow.
Not a bad concept in theory, but horribly executed. The writing was just not strong enough to support it.
And the euphemisms... Oy. Nothing will annoy me faster. I'd rather read insta-love. Euphemisms & epithets in a glorious excess. My God someone please make it stop! Quivering channels, vibrating chutes, turgid members...and those weren't even the worst ones, just the most abused. I wished I'd jotted them down. Some were quite hilarious actually.
And this was mainly because there was too much sex... hard to believe, but yes. Every chapter just gets old. When I start skimming sex scenes, there's something seriously wrong. :) Just sayin'
Don't think I could handle the next one in the series...It's very rare that I leave bad reviews, but this one just really didn't work for me.
Cain and Luke were in enjoyable and entertaining. There were many times I teared up because of what they had to face as a couple, not from the outside world, but with each other. Love, once declared was sweet and and tested a few times. This is a new author and new series for me. I'd say that for ANYONE that wants a romance that really bring the characters to life.
What an emotional read this was! All the good things were part of this heart-tugging ride...two hometown country boys, a deep emotional connection, HOT, MANLY SEX and a whole lot of angst! Did I mention the hot sex? I mean, OMG, we're talking the dirty, yummy kind that will have you blushing. I think it's time to bust out the back list and read me some more Cameron Dane!!!
This book was probably the best of the series. I loved the way you had no idea how Cain was going to escape death. The easy and predictable way wasn't the one the author used, and that made the book all the better.