HE
FALLS FIRST
Contemporary Romance
AUTHOR:
Jill Shalvis
RELEASE DATE:
August 05, 2025
PUBLISHER:
Sourcebooks, Casablanca
ISBN/ ASIN NUMBER :
9781464243899
RATING:
5
AUTHOR LINK:
https://www.jillshalvis.com/
Ryder Colburn owns and operates a successful restoration
business. He also takes on the care of his stroke-addled father – the very man
who had abused him and his siblings as children. The death of his best friend
and business partner has left Ryder emotionally stunted. Until he encounters
the snarky-mouthed Penny Rose. The woman awakens something inside him, and
Ryder finds himself drawn to her. Can Ryder help Penny overcome her issues? Or
will his own stand in their way?
Penelope “Penny” Rose moves back home a broken shell of
her former self. The fiasco of her last relationship causes her to swear off
men and dating. Penny has given up her dream of opening a café to financially
support her family. Then Ryder Colburn enters her orbit. Penny does not trust
herself or her instincts when it comes to him. Can Penny trust Ryder not to
hurt her? Will he help her heal from the trauma of her last relationship? Or
will they both self-sabotage the possibility of a relationship?
Ryder is my favorite type of hero: wounded/tortured type.
He is a man burdened daily by his own emotional baggage. Ryder puts everyone
else’s needs before his own. I admire his decision to take care of his father. Ryder
could have washed his hands of the man who had abused him and his siblings. Or
hire a full-time caretaker to see to the man’s care and needs. Ryder even feels
conflicted when confronted by the father of the present to the man of the past.
What I adore the most about Ryder is his patience and care with Penny. He
recognized a kindred spirit, one who has experienced something like he and his
siblings did.
Penny impressed me. Not too many women have the bravery
or temerity to escape an abusive relationship. She did. Penny knows the
experience has left some issues she needs to deal with and heal from. I also
empathize with her. With the state of the economy today and prices of things,
being financially stable is a pipe dream. Many people are stuck at a job that
hardly provides for them or their family. What I like the most about Penny is
how she and Ryder have so much in common. They both have the inability to ask
for help when it’s needed, preferring to take care of things on their own. They
both take care of their loved ones and friends.
HE FALLS FIRST is the first installment in Jill Shalvis’
brand-new, contemporary romance series, COLBURN BROTHERS. This book is
everything I come to expect from Shalvis: humor, witty characters and
touchy/difficult subject matter. If I did not need to sleep or deal with the
day-to-day housework, I could have finished this story in a day. I simply did
not want to put it down because I became emotionally invested from the first
chapter.
Now the wait for Caleb and Tucker’s books (impatiently I might
add!). I have a suspicion on who Tucker’s love interest will be… I had hoped
Penny’s friend Violet would be a good candidate for Caleb. Also, I am curious
if Shalvis has any plans for Kiera. She deserves to find happiness again.
My favorite character in the book is Pika-boo, the green
and yellow budgie. He makes me almost wish I had a bird again… almost. I
remember the fun a mischievous, talking bird could be. Pika-book brought up
sweet memories of my Nanday Conure, Draven and his favorite phrases.
No comments:
Post a Comment