No one is going to convince her to fall in love again…
Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who’s a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He’s got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.
Ryder doesn’t mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe it’s the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he’s compelled to get closer.
Penny’s learned her lesson and now she’s paying the price. That’s why she’s sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It’s a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there’s amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?
One thing’s for sure, she’s never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she’s built.
Review:
A new series from Jill Shalvis? Yes, please!
He Falls First feels a bit like a return to Ms Shalvis’s previous series style–there’s a family of 3 brothers and 1 sister (I’m hoping that even though the series is called “Colburn Brothers” that Kiera will get an HEA too) whose story as a family will clearly continue throughout the series books.
Not that I didn’t love her Sunrise Cove and Wildstone series, but there’s just something about being able to really fall in love with a larger group of people and having them come back book after book, being able to see the past MCs continue on their HEA paths in the background while another couple takes the spotlight that I can really get behind.
Ryder and Penny are so similar in many ways–they’re both oldest siblings who are used to taking care of everyone else, putting others’ needs first and overextending themselves on the regular. Ryder doesn’t have time to do things “just for him,” and not only doesn’t Penny have time for a relationship, but her last one ended with a restraining order and she doesn’t have it in her to risk herself again right now…or maybe ever.
But of course close proximity–and maybe the legend of Star Falls–have other ideas 😉
He Falls First was just so satisfying–two likeable and relatable MCs with great chemistry and slightly unhinged family members (plus one OTT parrot) who find their HEA together, leaving readers sighing happily *almost* as often as they LOL.
Can’t wait for Caleb’s story!
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
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