Fall From Grace (Mad World 1) by Christine Zolendz Review

Fall from Grace (Mad World 1) by Christine Zolendz was the sexiest non-sex book I ever read! Whew! As I write this review, I am actually almost done with book 2, Saving Grace. I wasn’t able to stop and review like I usually do, because this book ends in a cliffhanger, and happily, book 2 is out. So I grabbed it. And I like it even more than this one! This is a unique little book. It’s an angsty rock star/bad boy romance with a touch of paranormal.

This series has sat on my kindle forever. I haven’t started a new paranormal series since I started this blog, but I was so in the mood for a rock star and I am trying to read books I already have. I was quickly hooked. And let me just say….Shane Maxton….yum. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The book begins with Grace’s brother dying. She has been living with him in hospice for the last 6 months. With the last of her family gone, she moves back to New York to be with her best friend, Lea. Lea has acquired a new boyfriend while Grace was gone. And this boyfriend comes with a whole new crowd of friends, including the band Mad World and it’s tattooed frontman, lead singer and guitarist, Shane. As attracted as Grace is to Shane, she knows he’s a total manwhore. Besides….her soul has been wandering the earth from body to body since the beginning of time looking for and saving herself for her one true love. This guy couldn’t be it.

I saw him behind my closed eyelids, pale blue angels eyes. My angel; my soul mate.

Grace is gorgeous, and all the guys want to bang her, but she accepts an invite out from the biggest dick ever, Tucker. (Seriously, assholes like this can’t be real) in an attempt to avoid her growing attraction to Shane. But when the rhythm guitar player breaks both of his arms, Mad World needs a guitarist. Grace tries out, and when her and Shane play together, it’s like magic. So Grace is quickly accepted as one of the band…and her and Shane just keep ignoring their feelings for each other.

“…do yourself a favor, don’t bother trying to mess with my head, it’ll be a waste of your time. I won’t sleep with you. Just treat me like one of the guys and we’ll get along just fine…”
He blinked and hesitated… Then a devilish smile crept across his face, “Who said I wanted to sleep with you? You’re just one of the guys, I don’t do guys…Although, I have to admit. You are the sexiest guy I’ve ever met.”

I loved how smart they both were. He would quote Shakespeare or something and she would immediately know it. And I really loved Lea. The two BFFs together were awesome, and funny as hell.

“Yeah, listen you should really stop now, because I’m betting on the smartest thing that ever could come out of your mouth is a penis.”

“Shane, I would probably get pregnant from you just telling me the things you do.”

“Please, save your breath, because you might need it to blow up your date later.”

Shane….OMG, Shane. I totally loved this guy. He is every young rock star and bad boy we love, all rolled into one.

“I have never seen anyone more exquisite in my entire life, Grace. You seem to have this knack for making me completely… breathless.”

He was so perfect, and Grace just couldn’t, just wouldn’t see what was right in front of her face!

“Please, Grace, whatever it is you’re going after, please try and find it here with me. I will try my best to be the man that you need me to be.”

Likes:

Shane was the ultimate rock star/bad boy/man whore.
I really liked Grace-guitar player, singer…she was totally cool.
Grace and Lea’s friendship.
Lots of funny moments.
The paranormal kind of gradually snuck up on you. You barely even notice it the first half of the book. If you are afraid of paranormal, this one isn’t scary–it’s way more angsty rock star romance than paranormal.
I enjoyed all the characters in the band.
Totally hot and sexy, with no sex?!?!?!

Dislikes:

It almost felt like the story was written and someone said it needed a paranormal twist. It was barely there, yet integral to the story. (Not even sure if that’s a dislike)
There were a few too many errors.

Rating: 4.25 stars 3.75 Heat (I don’t like to give quarters, but I had to here)

The book grabbed me and sucked me in. The sexual tension was off the chart. It had very likable characters, and a book boyfriend to die for. There are lots of funny parts, deep romance, suspense, and some paranormal mystery. And I can tell you now, because I’m 3/4 of the way through it, book two, Saving Grace is even better.

“I wake up with you as the last thought in my dreams. I dream about your lips, the smell of your skin and hair, and the freaking fire that burns inside of me to be inside of you. I want to bury myself inside of you and never climb out, my sweet death, Grace, ….”

Purchase Fall From Grace (Mad World 1)