“I’d intended to win you over, ah, I believe the phrase is the right way. Or the way, at least taught by mothers and gentlemen’s magazines and approved by my housekeeper. With flowers and jewels and whatever other things women might want. And flirtations and promises, not all of which were meant to be kept.”

My take on the plot.
Dane has been in love with Ani ever since he first laid eyes on her when she was sixteen. He waited for Ani but as he did he entertained other women. Now, Ani being 21 her aunt is eager for her to get married with her rich best friend Archer and one of wealthiest bachelor in the world Dane who she hates and purposely avoids during parties. The night of the Purge comes and Ani is left if with no other choice but to accept the shelter and hospitality Dane is demanding more than offering. But the death of her uncle remains a mystery, was it coincidental or intentional? Her aunt and brother even came out without a scratch.

Dane. Dane. Dane. Let’s talk about Dane.

“You were - and are - dreams made flesh.”

In their time, monogamy is not a thing. It’s not a surprise if married men would warm the beds of other women. Someone as pure as Ani caught his eye and he made an effort for her to see him differently. I was pained when he revealed to Ani that every time he approaches her he sees it clearly in her eyes fear or him. And when she’s around other people she lights up and smiles and how badly he wishes he could be the one to make her shine that way. Soon he felt like he doesn’t deserve her, his lifestyle, he himself as a human being - unpure and tainted with disgusting gossip about him - doesn’t deserve her pureness. He wishes for Ani to be happy but human as we are he can still be selfish and could not shake the fact he wants Ani for himself.

Their relationship.

“It might be fantasy, but it was better than reality.”

Ani began with hatred for Dane. I think she just hates him because of his lifestyle and Ani wants nothing to do with the drama. In the modern world he would be labeled as a ‘bad boy’ and under that category as a ‘fvck boy’. With that much stain to his name no matter how rich, utterly handsome, and composed he may be Ani only wants to stay away from him. Unfortunately for Ani, Dane seems to keep his eyes on her during parties. Soon when Ani realizes they as different as they may seem they have this special bond where they connect. The moment she accepts her feelings for him the more things become easier. The progress of their relationship wasn’t rushed, it was clear how hate turned to love. In the number of pages it may seem short but as I read with the thoughts of Ani I understand how her feelings came to be.

The mystery.
Everyone was a suspect. Okay not everyone, but a lot had motive and many gained from the death of Ani’s uncle. Up until before the revelation I wasn’t even sure who the culprit was.

The revelations.
Ani’s past uncovered it was remarkable. I was too engrossed with the story that I didn’t have a moment to step back and wonder about her past which is why I missed that detail and I failed to analyze things.
“Each war is fought with different weapons.”

"You have the right to your own life. To your own dreams, your own goals. To be yourself."

Overall I did enjoy this book so much. It was a very fun read, the thrilling events didn’t lack heart racing features. I wish for a sequel too.

This book was a mixture of The Purge and a Dystopian future mix with Regency era verbiage & Mannerisms. I wasn't sure what I was reading but continued on. It follows a young girl who is disgusted with the purge, however it is thrust upon her and she has to decide who she can trust and if her heart is betraying her.

Lisa and her friend Ami were at the house of a man Ari had kept rejecting to go out with. Ani was only there as her aunt and uncle wanted to impress the same man Ani kept saying no to. Lisa was the kind of person who noticed things. Lisa knew of flaws of Jasper and Danes who wanted to go out with Ani. Jasper was Danes uncle. Lisa just didn’t care about the flaws. Lisa is willing to have a fling with Jasper even if he was more than old enough to be her father. Lisa's parents seemed not to care where she was until they wanted something from her. Dane ended up alone in the same room as Ani and asked her if she would like to go for a walk outside. He promised to be a gentleman so they went out and he talked with Ani. He also invited her to stay in his uncle’s house with them during the Purge. One night where it was legal to commit crimes especially murder. Anis parents had been murdered during such a night. After they returned to the house Ani saw one of her best friends Archer. Ani had never thought of Archer as more than a friend although her aunt and uncle felt Archer would be a good match for Ani. Ani didn’t understand why Archer was friends with Dane and his crowd. Dane does actually care for Ani and has for a long time. Dane is the only man that can actually save Ani from the Purge and he had already offered to have her stay at his uncles with them. Ani starts to see a different side of Dane and finds herself becoming attracted to him.
I liked this story but it was definitely a different type of romance. Luckily I watched the movie The Purge so i was familiar with this night and what happened. Or I might not have understood the whole concept of the Purge. With this prior understanding it was an easy read. I liked how Dane I liked how Dane showed Ani a different side of himself. I felt bad for Ani that her parents were killed during one of the Purge nights. This society was hard to understand to some degree but there seemed to be some deterioration of the society and it was more violent but there had also been another world war and things had obviously changed. All and all I enjoyed this read . I liked the plot and being so different it was a little more difficult to rate this. But I do believe it was a four rating.

I found this to be an interesting read, a dark picture to the future ahead. Ani and Dane have very different takes on the world. Ani lots both her parents to the purge and thinks it is wrong, Dane on the other hand thinks it works, even participates. Can these two opposites find love? This was a good read for me, the story had plenty of drama and suspense and I really liked both characters. Entertaining Read

I really liked the plot in this romance. Good solid writing. Excellent characters.

Fallen, P.J. Fox

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Romance, General Fiction

I wasn't really sure what this book would be about. Seemed to be some kind of dystopian/futuristic romance read, and as I'd not read any of PJ Fox' work before I decided to try it. 

I've finished now and TBH I'm still not really sure what it was about....A very strange romance between Dane and Ani, a weird society who have one might a year when everyone is free to kill who they want without reprisal, and some very odd behaving characters.

That's about it for me. I didn't really understand the story, didn't get a sense of who and what the characters were and what the whole thing was about.
The idea that the free-for-all Purge kept society working better than imprisonment was just plain weird and of course open to all sorts of abuse. Some of the characters didn't want justice, just wanted a chance to kill someone, anyone, just for "fun". 
I hold my hands up and admit I skim read the last third as frankly I was floundering and just wanted to get the book finished. 

This is probably one of the shortest reviews I've ever done but even though I read the whole book I still can't understand what it was about, what the point of it all was and whether or not I actually wanted Dane and Ani to end up together. 

Stars: Two, a book that just didn't work for me. Might be one you love - who knows? for me though it was a fail. 

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

an ok read

Slow easy read, that by the end had me rooting for the characters. Wish there was more to experience of Dane as he was a complex character whose secrets were never really revealed. Would definitely read a second book continuing Dane and Ani's relationship.