Fall From Trace (London League, Book 5)

I don't usually pre-order books, but when I saw Fall from Trace was up for sale, I couldn't resist. And that cover...spot on! I than anxiously waited for it to be released so I could finally learn Trace's story. Alex Sommerville has long been thought dead, his closest friends and love of his life have spent the last five years mourning his passing. But, he wasn't really dead, at least not physically.This is not a standalone story, you could probably read it as one, but it is much better if you've read the other books in the series. It really makes the story a lot richer if you do.This was a great story, very well written. Alex has had a very rough five years, to put it mildly. So, it's not a happy lighthearted story, but rather one of finding himself, healing and overcoming a lot to return to himself and of course the power of love. Poppy and Alex were childhood friends, turned sweethearts. They have a phenomenal connection to each other, understand each other. Their scenes together are probably my favorite. Alex went through a lot in captivity, the author doesn't gloss over it or make him heal too quickly. I appreciate that there are no gory details, but you also are given enough information to know he went through hell. But, we also get to see him heal.The story is well rounded, I thought it was well paced, kept me glued to the pages. I liked that we were reunited with past characters. I appreciate that they didn't steal the show, which can happen in series like this. It was still very much Alex and Poppy's story, but also nice to have them woven in.Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Its been a really fun series to read and get into.Content:Romance: CleanLanguage: Very mildViolence: Moderate: nothing on page, but memories of torture & abuse, ptsd

4.5 starsI started reading the London League series with book 3, but it’s easy to fall for all the spies who make up the league, even if I didn’t read their stories yet. They take their jobs very seriously but they don’t always take themselves too seriously which makes for some delightful brotherly-type banter between them. Even in this last installment, Fall From Trace, with all the emotion involving Alex’s sudden return from the dead, that banter is still front and center. The affection behind it adds to their obvious respect for each other and makes the League some of my favorite band of heroes.The questions surrounding Trace’s death from previous books – namely, is he dead or isn’t he? – are answered on the first page and so begins what quickly became my favorite book of this series. It’s emotional to process the intense and brutal torture that Alex (aka Trace) has been through in the past 5 years – both in what is revealed and what is implied. There’s no way he can go back to being the same person he was before… and neither can Poppy go back to being the same person she was. Watching them reconnect while trying to balance who they were with who they are now … and the old feelings that haven’t lost their intensity … adds dimension to this plot and keeps you turning the pages to see how it will all turn out.Bottom Line: Well-drawn characters, an emotionally complex plot, and delightful banter make Fall From Trace the perfect finale to the London League series. It’s best to have read the other books first but it’s not completely necessary to still enjoy this last installment. Connolly gets better with every book, and this is her best yet!(I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I purchased for my own collection.)

The well written story was gripping and the end spectacular but the middle was darker than I prefer. I know evil exists and that man’s inhumanity to man is beyond my comprehension, but to have it displayed so graphically was unsettling. I read to escape into another world outside my own. I don’t need to jump from the frying pan into the fire.

Y'allI've been with The London League ever since book 1, The Lady and The Gent, when we are first introduced to Trace. Then in book 2, A Rogue About Town, we are given a better picture of what happened the night of Trace's death and how it effected Gabe. (as well as an amazing tribute to Alex shows up at one point in the book... ) Book 3, A Tip of The Cap, not a whole lot about him, but in book 4, By Hook or By Rook, that's when we learn that Alex is still alive, to the astonishment of all.Now, for the actual review. I truly don't know how much I want to reveal as I don't want to completely spoil the book. So that means only a few spoilers..Fall from Trace was amazing and you should go read it. Rebecca Connolly is a gifted writer and she has a talent for making you fall in love with characters in just a few pages.When the back of the book says he's only a shell of what he once was, that is NOT an understatement. It is sad just how far Trace fell and everything that happened to him. Heart wrenching really. As I was reading it and his story comes out of what he endured I was just shaking my head going, "no, no, no"That said, when he falls into Poppy's care, broken and shattered, it is all she can do to just keep him alive for the time being. When he starts to recover and secrets start coming out... It gets interesting.Poppy, when Alex shows up she's flat out astonished. Her situation really hasn't been the greatest, but she is completely taken care of by the League without her knowing it. Up till she knows it, then she's mad because she is an independent woman and would have liked to have thought what was her own, was her own.As with the other books, the friendship and banter between the guys is phenomenal. When all the guys saw Trace after thinking he was dead for five years, it made me cry, and then laugh like heck, but you have to read it to see why it made me laugh.The thing is, Alex is so broken and Rebecca does such a good job portraying that throughout the entire book, because you feel his brokenness.As for the romance... not a ton. (Like I said, he's beyond broken) but when there is romance, it makes up for the lack of it. Swooning over here.There are so many characters that we get to see/hear more of. Rook is bloody hilarious, and Rogue is Rogue, it's so neat to see him with his cousin though, and he offers some really good advice to Trace at one point.In this book, Fall from Trace, there is a total all out battle. It's amazing. Battle between whom you might be asking? Not answering that. You must read it.Highly highly recommend it and can't wait for the next book!!!