Blog Tour: The Spiral Down (The Fall Up #2) by Aly Martinez

Available on
Amazon.com * Amazon.de * Goodreads
Synopsis:

Standalone M/M romance.

I was afraid to fly.

He made me soar.

After years of climbing the ladder of success in the music industry, I finally had everything I could want. 

Yet I still found myself wandering through life alone.

Captain Evan Roth was the one man I never saw coming. 

Tall, dark, mysterious… Straight. 

We were both damaged beyond repair and searching for something so elusive we weren’t sure it even existed.

But, when two broken souls collide in midair, falling is a given.

I just never expected to crave the spiral down.

Review:

The Spiral Down was an amazing read. Henry and Evan were so sweet together I loved every minute. I never wanted it to end it was that wonderful. 

Henry is a superstar. He tours the world playing music and loves his life. Only he is a bit lonely. He sees what Levee has, the one person closest to him in the world, and he wants that. Only he doesn't know how to get that. To get someone to love him like that and have the happily ever after. He has a lot of insecurities and issues because of the way he was raised. Being the gay kid in foster care is not very much fun. He is always worried that people will leave him, that those he care about will walk away like most everyone in his past has done. He was so tragically broken that you can't help but want everything for him. Here he is this big star, this man everyone adores for his music, and yet he is so very insecure and vulnerable and hurting. He broke my heart every time. I wanted nothing but the best for him. And in order to try and not be heartbroken he only dates straight men. He loves the trill of getting a straight guy to give into him, plus because they are straight they never want to stay for long afterwards. Yes, that spiral down, that rejection afterwards hurts, but the thrill at the beginning is too good to give up. 

Evan is just as broken as Henry. He is not straight, but he is not gay either. I loved his thoughts on labels. He likes who he likes regardless of their packaging. Only he was really hurt in the past so he is trying to not go there again. He wouldn't be able to take it if he fell for someone again and they walked away. So when Evan first meets Henry he tries to stay away. He wants him, but at the same time doesn't. He is very afraid that Henry is not in this for him, that he has many admirers and he will be forgotten once he has had his fun. So he tries to keep his walls up and not let things get too serious. Only how can he not want more once he gets to know Henry?

These two were a joy to read. I loved watching them fall for each other. They are so similar in a lot of ways, both have the same insecurities, and both can't help how they feel towards the other. It was sweet and heartbreaking and wonderful to read. These two just get wedged into your heart and you can't do anything about it. Henry was so fragile and Evan so wonderful with him. I loved it. This was truly incredible read. 

Now before I wrap this up just a note on the m/m aspect of this book. I know some people might be hesitant as that is not your thing, but you shouldn't be. Yes it is two guys who fall in love, but really it is just the story of two people who fall. Two wonderfully amazing people. I haven't read a lot of non-m/f romance, but that is because most I have found and tried are not very good. They don't have a good story or characters that stick with me. They are just blah, so I was so happy to see an author I already love coming out with a non-m/f romance since then it would hopefully be a good read. Only it was an amazing read! This book had everything I want in a story, everything that makes a story one of my favorites, and it just happens to star two guys. I loved this book so so much. My favorite by the author thus far as these characters just won't let me go. I wish the story had never ended. I want more time with them. Simply amazing. A wonderful read. Definitely don't miss out on this one. 

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Excerpt:

Henry

“How about you and one of your girls come out to my show in L.A. next week? My treat. Dinner, drinks, the whole deal. Evan and I would love to take you two beautiful ladies out for an evening.”

“Excuse me?” he exclaimed, cocking his head to catch my gaze.

I leaned back into my seat and lifted a hand to massage his shoulder. I was barely able to suppress a moan when the angle of his firm trap muscle met my palm.

Fuck, this guy was built like a brick wall. And I was going to love every second of watching him crumble for me.

“Oh, come on, Evan. It’s the least we can do. Double date.” I winked at Jessica. “You can fly them out! My plane should be ready by then.”

Jessica’s eyes jumped to Evan’s. “You’re a pilot?” Her smile spread irritatingly wide.

Back off, Ginger Spice.

Snapping my fingers in her direction, I corrected, “He’s my pilot.”

Subtlety was not a virtue I possessed. Was subtlety a virtue at all?

“Your temporary pilot,” he amended before shaking his head and then tipping his beer to his lips for a long pull.

“Anyway. Do we have a date?” And, by date, I meant feeding her dinner while I attempted to work my way into Evan’s pants.

She pressed one finger to her lips and then nervously flashed her eyes around the cabin.

“Oops. Sorry.” I shrugged sheepishly. Lifting my drink to my mouth, I discreetly passed her my cocktail napkin and then not-so-discreetly brushed my forearm against Evan’s chest as I pulled away.

He offered her a tight smile just before she disappeared.

I grinned proudly.

“What the fucking hell was that?” he whisper-yelled at me.

“That was me getting a woman’s number.”

He arched an eyebrow. “A woman. Really?”

“What? Is that not allowed?” I feigned innocence.

He clenched his fist in his lap, and it made me suddenly aware that my own hands had stopped trembling—and in record time, I should note. Evan seemed to be quite useful in the art of distraction.

He leaned closer. “Don’t bullshit me. I looked you up. You’re…” He stopped, unwilling to say the big, bad “G” word.

“I’m what?” I taunted.

He rolled his eyes and chugged the rest of his beer.

We went back to silence until Jessica came back by with another drink, complete with her phone number written on the napkin.

“I’m not going on a double date,” Evan said as I tucked the napkin into my pocket. “You want me to fly them out? Not a problem. Schedule it with Jackson. But that’s the extent of my professional responsibilities. And, since I’m off the clock right now, I’d also like to mention that I think whatever play you’re planning to run on that woman is fucked up.”

My head snapped to his. “I’m sorry. Play?” I asked with more attitude than I had originally planned.

“Yes. Play,” he sneered.

I stirred my drink. “Let me get this straight. I’m offering to fly her out in a private jet, feed her dinner at one of the best restaurants in the city, and put her front row at a concert that has been sold out for over a year. That doesn’t seem like a play to me. It sounds like I’m trying to do something nice for a woman I was rude to earlier.” I casually leaned back in my seat. “My conscience doesn’t ‘play’ when it comes to apologies.”

“Right. Well, maybe you should have a chat with your conscience, because she looks like she just won the date of a lifetime. Meanwhile, you don’t even like women.” He stalled, no doubt looking for just the right word to express his disgust without sounding like a bigot. Judging by his gentleness when we’d taken off, he wasn’t the type of guy to go for the fag bomb.

I watched him intently, excited to see how he was going to handle this.

“You’re gay.”

I frowned at his lack of creativity. “Not that it’s any of your damn business. But I’ll have you know I love women.”

It wasn’t a lie. I adored women. Especially Levee and Robin.

I just didn’t like pussy. Meh. Semantics.

He gaped. “You’re bi?”

“And I’ll repeat: None of your damn business. But yeah. Do you have a problem with that?”

Again, it wasn’t necessarily a lie.

Was I bisexual? Fuck no. My cock was in no way an equal opportunity employer.

I was somewhat bilingual though. I knew how to ask for a blow job in English and Spanish. I pretended that was what he meant.

Chupame la verga.

About the Author:

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway