After We Fall by Melanie Harlow [Review]

After We Fall by Melanie Harlow
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date read: August 21, 2017

After We Fall - Paperback | Kindle

Melanie Harlow
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Synopsis (Goodreads):

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 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 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.

Thoughts on After We Fall: Oh, this book was sweet. A brooding, angry man with plenty of baggage and a shattered heart meets a city girl whose kindness soothes some of his rougher edges. It takes a while before Jack sees her kindness, but once he does...*heart eyes*

Now, I like grumpy heroes. I like when they grump and scowl and can't see what's in front of them until it practically punches them in the nose. In other words, I liked Jack. He was a mess. His wife's death is something he hasn't gotten over yet. More to the point, he doesn't WANT to get over it. He's caught in a loop of self-hatred and pain and he doesn't know how to break free. Margot is just what he needs, but he's too stubborn at first to grab onto her.

Meanwhile, Margot's life is...kind of dull. She's a nice lady and she enjoys life, but she's caught in her own rut and she's gotten so used to "not making a scene" that she's just sort of existing within the confines of what her family expects of her. Jack is a much-needed wake-up call. He ignites her and makes her a little crazy. Once she tastes passion, though, she's not willing to settle for half measures. Which makes Jack confront all the pain he's been holding onto.

The book was sweet. It was sexy. It gave me another grumpy hero to flutter over. I LIKE!