FALLING UNDER is Book 2 in the Ink & Chrome series by Lauren Dane. Set at a custom motorcycle shop, Twisted Steel, Book 2 focuses on co-owner Duke Bradshaw. Duke has had his eye on his sexy redheaded neighbor Carmella Rossi for the last two years. When his office manager retires, Duke asks Carmella to step into her managerial shoes working at his shop. Carmella and Duke quickly start a relationship with some smoking sexy times that showcase Dane's skills at writing electric encounters with sexually empowered adults. Dane's signature brand of emotionally competent people with strong ties to friends is also is evidence here.

Duke is a fighter, car racer, and a restoration mechanic who lives and works hard and enjoys his time with the bevy of ladies that buzz around his orbit. He's not looking for a long-term love interest until Carmella falls into his sphere. He quickly figures out that Carmella is the one for him, but astutely doesn't push her, because she's much more chary of love. Carmella comes from a horrific family, and this leaves her emotionally closed off. Carmella understandably has a lot of personal issues. She is surprisingly insightful about them, especially for someone who's not been in therapy.

While I normally love Dane's books, this story did not capture me as her tales normally do. The romance feels abruptly initiated to me. I never buy in completely to the idea of Carmella and Mark. As is typical for Dane books, there are family issues and ex-lover issues that crop up and provide the main tension in the story. The couple's disagreements seem too easily resolved, however. Given their backstories, I would expect their arguments and hurt feelings to not be as quickly smoothed over as they are.

I absolutely despise Carmella's heinous family. I dislike Carmella's continual enabling of her mom, and do not see it as a positive thing that she continues to support her mom despite her toxic choices. There is a strong theme throughout the book of loyalty and support, which I usually find a wonderful thing in Dane's books. This time, however, I wanted Duke to tell Carmella to suck it up and walk away from her family instead of telling her he disagreed with her choices but would support her no matter what.

I really enjoyed OPENING UP, Book 1 in this series. While FALLING UNDER does not work nearly as well for me, I do plan on picking up COMING BACK, the upcoming Book 3 in Dane's series, as soon as it is released later this year. Dane normally writes a complex storyline of emotionally competent people with strong friends and family ties that I love.