Title: After I Fall (Falling, #3)
Author: Jessica Scott
Publisher/Publication Date: Jessica Scott; March
21, 2017
Format/Source: eARC, Publisher
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Readers who want an
extended sample can download here:
Purchase links:
Book Summary
Her entire life has been a lie. Being with Eli is
the most honest thing she’s ever done.
Parker Hauser lives the perfect life and knows
exactly where she's been and where she's going. Parker has to be perfect.
Perfect grades, perfect body, perfect life.
Until she meets Eli Winter.
Eli throws her entire life into chaos when he
denies her the one thing she wants from him.
One chance encounter stokes her desire for the man
who refused to touch her and left her questioning everything.
When Parker tries to help his new business, the
spotlight turns on Eli's military record. And the war he's tried to forget
may destroy them both.
Teaser
Parker
"What do you want?" A murmured question that feels like a demand. The
single word I need is lodged in my throat. It’s thick and heavy, filled with
potential and promise.
"You," I
finally say.
"Why?"
Such a complicated question. I search his face, looking for an answer, a lie,
something simple to fill the space left by his question.
I lift my hand,
afraid he'll see it tremble. It takes every ounce of willpower I've got to
slide my fingers over his forearm. I'm surprised by the raw power beneath my
touch. I expected the tattoos to be physical manifestations of the violence on
his flesh. His skin is hot and smooth. My hand looks pale and small against it.
"You
seem…" I lift my eyes to his, never removing my hand. "You seem like
a straightforward kind of guy."
A man with rough
hands and dark ink carved into his skin. A man so unlike the men I'm used to,
it's not even funny. I lift my hand to his cheek, just above the edge of his
beard. I've never touched a man with facial hair before. He is still beneath my
touch.
A moment before I'm
about to press my palm to his cheek, he grips my wrist. Not hard enough to
hurt, but he definitely gets my attention.
"Not
here." I swallow. My mouth is suddenly dry. "Where?"
He jerks his chin
toward the dark hallway behind us. I follow him silently, wishing he was
already touching me, making me feel, letting me pretend I matter, even if it’s
only for a few minutes.
He leads me through
the maze of small tables and patrons at various stages of intoxication. Away
from the noise and the smell of fries and smoke and cologne and all the good
things that bars have.We step out of the noise and into shadows and silence. He
doesn't pounce, doesn't push me against the wall and run those rough hands over
my skin.
Instead, he leans
against it—a casual, arrogant male.
Waiting. I know for
what. For me to make the first move.
For me to step into
the space between us. For me to touch him first. I want to. But I am paralyzed.
Rooted to the damp concrete beneath my feet. The cool night air might as well
be chains, holding me, restraining any thought or movement.
He doesn't move.
His arms are folded over his broad, heavy chest, his T-shirt straining against
his body. The silence hangs on, stretching and thick and tight.
"Scared?"
he finally whispers. A dare. A terrible, wicked promise in that single word.
"Should I
be?" My throat is tight and dry.
His answer is nothing
I expect.
And everything I
want.
My
Thoughts
At first it was difficult to get into After
I Fall by Jessica Scott—I just couldn't see where the plot was going. As it progressed and more information was revealed about Eli’s and Parker's histories, the
story quickly began to turn around. While this book was super steamy, it was
the characters that made the story. I like the fact that Scott chooses
characters outside of the norm to be the heroine and hero. And I love how the
secondary characters are incorporated into the story. The multilayered
relationships added a touch of realism. Scott put Parker in a situation
in which she was a prisoner of her circumstances. Her history involved being
in both controlling and abusive relationships. I appreciate the fact that the
author brought other forms of abuse to light—especially when dealing with
people in a position of power. I can't say much more about the story, because
I don't want to include spoilers. However, I do recommend picking up a copy,
because it's worth the read!
Rating 4/5
I received a copy of After I Fall from the Publisher for this review.
About The Author
Jessica
Scott is an Iraq war veteran, an active duty army officer and the USA
Today bestselling author of novels set in the heart of America’s
Army. She is the mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs, and wife
to a retired NCO.
She is the bestselling author of the Homefront series and the Falling series,
both about soldiers and veterans adjusting to life after returning from the
wars in Iraq & Afghanistan. Her bestselling Falling series features
soldiers integrating into life on college campuses.
She's
also written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View Regarding
War, and IAVA. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIF)/New Dawn and has had the honor of serving as a company
commander at Fort Hood, Texas twice.
She's
holds phd in morality in Sociology with Duke University and she's
been featured as one of Esquire Magazine's Americans of the Year for 2012.
Jessica
is also an active member of the Military Writers Guild.
Her debut novel Because
of You launched the return of Random House's Loveswept digital imprint and
launched the start of the ever popular contemporary military romance
genre.
Check Out More Books from the Series!!!
|
