After
We Fall by Melanie Harlow
Publication Date: November 28th, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publication Date: November 28th, 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:
Jack
Valentini isn’t my type.
Sexy,
brooding cowboys are fine in the movies, but in real life, I prefer a suit and
tie. Proper manners. A close shave.
Jack
might be gorgeous, but he’s also scruffy, rugged, and rude. He wants nothing to
do with a “rich city girl” like me, and he isn’t afraid to say so.
But
I’ve got a PR job to do for his family’s farm, so he’s stuck with me for ten
days, and I’m stuck with him. His glares. His moods. His tight jeans. His
muscles.
His
huge, hard muscles.
Pretty
soon there’s a whole different kind of tension between us, the kind that has me
misbehaving in barns, trees, and pickup trucks. I’ve never done anything so out
of character—but it feels too good to stop.
And
the more I learn about the grieving ex-Army sergeant, the better I understand
him. Losing his wife three years ago left him broken and bitter and blaming
himself. He doesn’t think he deserves a second chance at happiness.
But
he’s wrong.
I
don’t need to be his first love. If only he’d let me be his last.
“Second
chances are not given to make things right, but are given to prove that we
could be even better after we fall.” —Unknown
Excerpt:
“Wow,” she said, shutting the screen door behind
her. “That was close. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” I crossed my arms, wishing I’d
thought to grab a shirt. “Want to tell me what you were doing out there?”
Her cheeks colored. “Um, I was taking a run.”
“Up a tree?”
She laughed nervously. “No. Well, I didn’t start out
in a tree. That happened later.”
I cocked my head, unable to resist giving her a hard
time. Not so sure of yourself now, are you, Barbie? “Oh yeah?”
“Yes. See, I left the cottage I’m renting without
using the bathroom by mistake,” she began, twisting her fingers together, “and
I was planning on running a loop around the farm, but it’s bigger than I
thought.”
“Ah. So you were looking for a bathroom in the
woods?”
“Well, yes.” She swallowed. “Sort of. But then I
heard a splash and saw you…” Her cheeks were practically purple now.
I played dumb. “Saw me what?”
“Saw you naked, OK?” she blurted, throwing her hands
up. “I admit it—I saw you naked.”
I had no hangups about nudity, but I was damn
serious about my privacy, and about people sneaking up on me.
But her embarrassment was funny. The two times I’d seen her before, she’d been
so polished and poised. It felt good to put her in her place a little. “So you
climbed a tree for a better view, is that it?”
Bowing her head, she dragged the toe of one shoe
across the wood planks of the porch floor. “Something like that.” Then she
looked up at me. Took a breath. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.
I was—I mean, I got—I couldn’t—” She sighed, briefly closing her eyes. “I have
no excuse. Will you accept my apology?”
She was prettier without makeup, I decided. And the
way she wore her hair off her face emphasized the wideness of her eyes, the
angle of her cheekbones, the arch of her brows. Her lips didn’t need all that
glossy crap, either. They were a perfect rosy pink, and I wondered if they’d
feel as soft as they looked.
Fuck. I hadn’t kissed anyone in three years.
Clearing my throat, I took a step back. “Yeah. It’s
fine.” Now get out of here.
She didn’t move. “So you’re not going to fire me?”
“I never hired you.”
“I know. But I really want this job. I think I can
help, Jack. I know I can.”
“Suit yourself. I want nothing to do with it.” My
name on her lips was trouble. Needing some distance from her, I started walking
toward the dock to get my shoes and socks, but she followed me. God, she was a
pest. It reminded me of the way Steph used to tag along after the boys when we
were kids, wanting to get in our games.
“Are you going to be like this the entire time I’m
here?” she asked.
“Like what?”
“Moody and uncooperative?”
“Probably.”
“Why? Do you hate me that much?”
“I don’t hate anybody. I just don’t see why we
should pay some city girl who’s never set foot on a farm to advise us.” We
reached the dock, and I leaned down to get my stuff.
“I’m not even asking to be paid, so piss off!” she
shouted, her voice carrying on the water.
I straightened. “Oh, you’re working for free?”
“Yes!”
“Then you’re an idiot. Or so rich you don’t need the
money.”
“I’m not an idiot,” she said through clenched teeth.
“So you’re rich, then.” I don’t know why I was being
such an asshole. But for some reason, I did not want to let her see another
side of me, or see another side to her. “I should have guessed.”
She crossed her arms. “And what’s that supposed to
mean?”
“It means you look like you’ve led a charmed life.
Like you’ve had everything you’ve ever wanted handed to you. Like you’ve never
gotten your hands dirty.”
“So get them dirty.”
I almost fell off the dock. “What?”
“Get them dirty. Teach me about working this farm. I
want to learn.”
Was she serious? The last thing I needed was to drag
her ass around all day, explaining things. Or stare at her ass all day,
imagining things. But one look at her defiant face and I shook my
head. “Why do I feel like if I say no, you’ll just keep bothering me?”
She smiled and clasped her hands behind her back,
rocking forward on her toes. “Because I will. I don’t like being told no.”
“Of course you don’t.” Jesus, she was trouble. A bad
apple—smooth and shiny on the outside, spoiled rotten on the inside. But for no
good reason, I found myself giving in. “Fine. Go change your clothes.”
Purchase
Links:
Amazon
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Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2gN23sa
iBooks: http://apple.co/2g8oepo
Nook: http://bit.ly/2gvsWRW
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2gN23sa
iBooks: http://apple.co/2g8oepo
Nook: http://bit.ly/2gvsWRW
My Review:
So here's the deal. I admit to being biased
and loving all things Melanie Harlow. ALL THINGS! Books like this one -- are
the reason why I'm such a fan. It's full of humor, has a sassy lead character with Margot.
She's professional, composed, and at all times (with just a *few* exceptions)
behaves in a manner that is appropriate for her family and their status in the
community. She's a fighter, and her inner monologues make me wonder if
Melanie has been invading my thoughts at night.
"Keep
calm and carry the f*ck on"
After a sconing incident, Margot needs to high-tail it out of town to save face. She runs right into the Valentini family farm, and knows that her style of PR and branding can make the farm something much more. She instantly connects with the one of the brothers and his wife, and appreciates the business attitude of the eldest brother. It's the third brother, however, that causes her to become more intrigued. Jack is broody, and has a massive secret that he's holding on to. She's determined to make him happy - not knowing that his past is blocking him from ever being happy. While she's ready to take a chance on him, he's not ready to bring Margot, or anyone, into his life:
"I cried for what would never be, a chance that would never
be taken"
Margot bounces back, and in the end, helps jack find his way to a new life as well.
With every single one of Melanie Harlow's books, I find a quote that I can resonate with -- and some that I really just want on magnets to hang on the fridge. The winner in this book:
"I decided a life without purpose was no excuse to drink
cheap booze"
Trust me. I pondered that myself as I was grading papers that were SO off topic, I wondered why I was still teaching and what it all meant. Luckily, some good whiskey helped sort it all out.
Melanie has another winner on her hands with this one.
About
the Author:
Melanie
Harlow likes her martinis dry, her heels high, and her history with the naughty
bits left in. When she's not writing or reading, she gets her kicks from TV
series like VEEP, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, and Homeland. She
occasionally runs three miles, but only so she can have more gin and steak.
Melanie
is the author of the HAPPY CRAZY LOVE series, the FRENCHED series, and the sexy
historical SPEAK EASY duet, set in the 1920s. She lifts her glass to romance
readers and writers from her home near Detroit, MI, where she lives with her
husband, two daughters, and pet rabbit.
Connect
with Melanie:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorMelanieHarlow/?fref=ts
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NPkYKs
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1TkpDqF
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MelanieHarlow2
Website: http://www.melanieharlow.com
Newsletter: http://www.melanieharlow.com/contact/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1NPkYKs
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1TkpDqF
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MelanieHarlow2
Website: http://www.melanieharlow.com
Newsletter: http://www.melanieharlow.com/contact/
