Book Review: Falling Hard (Colorado High Country) by Pamela Clare

Falling Hard is the third Colorado High Country book by Pamela Clare. I have not read the previous books in the series, and while I can see where some of the characters must cross over from book to book, I was able to fully enjoy this read without having read the other books. 

Ellie Meeks promised her pilot husband that if anything happened to him, she would live her life to the fullest. Three years later, she is still alone, raising the twins he never met. She has no interest in dating or meeting men—until one snowy night when a stranger helps her get her sick kids safely home. That stranger turns out to be a former Army Ranger and a member of the elite Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team.  Jesse Moretti came to Colorado to get Iraq out of his head, using the adrenaline of extreme sports and high-risk mountain rescues to keep his mind off the past. But getting involved with Ellie might be the riskiest thing he’s ever done. It’s not just their explosive chemistry. There’s something about Ellie that gets inside him, opening him to feelings he’s tried hard to ignore. Ellie feels alive in Jesse’s arms and happier than she ever thought she’d feel again. But their relationship comes at a price for him, and soon Ellie sees that she must help Jesse fight the demons of his past to protect the love of a lifetime—and save the heart of a hero.

Falling Hard is a romance that deals with loss, risk, grief, and moving on. Ellie lost her husband before her twins were even born. She has struggled but thankfully has the support of family. She is smart, compassionate, and resilient. Jesse is still reeling from the loss and horror that he faced as an Army Ranger. Now working in a high risk job and volunteering on a rescue team he is doing everything he can to save others. Neither is looking for any kind of relationship, and yet after a chance meeting they cannot seem to stay away from each other. I enjoyed the slow growth of their relationship, and how Jesse is aware of his faults and emotional scars. I think the honest of both characters, and the struggles they have with emotions and connecting make to book poignant and relatable to readers. I loved that the act of moving on was not about forgetting, but in honoring those we've lost and living life as best we can.

Falling Hard is a solid romance, with complex characters and emotion. If you enjoy realistic characters and struggles combined with a slow-burn romance, then you are going to enjoy this read.

Book Review: A Sure Thing (Donnigans) by Marie Harte

A Sure Thing is the first book in the Donnigans series by Marie Harte. It is set in the same area as the McCauley Brothers and Bad Boys Body Shop series. Those that have read all the series will get a little bit more from the read, but it is not necessary to have that background to fully enjoy the read.

The Marine Corps was everything Landon Donnigan ever wanted in life, until a bullet sent him home with a medical discharge. Teaching a self-defense class at the gym is old-hat for a marine, but when he meets sexy Ava Rosenthal, his combat skills are useless for protecting his heart. Ava can take care of herself and likes quiet, bookish men-not muscular warriors who think women need to be coddled. But Landon is more than he seems, and when they come together, the results are explosive.

A Sure Thing is another read from Harte that offers characters with realistic problems and traumas, and the family issues that are just as varied as we find in the real world. Ava is not looking to date anyone that she cannot defend herself against, emotionally or physically. Landon is one of those men, and his arrogant yet sweet pursuit is unexpected for both of them. I like that both characters go into everything with their eyes open, and despite the bumps alone the way tend to talk things out rather than letting misconceptions lie. I really like that they push each other to overcome their issues and take steps in the right direction- but not necessarily pushing each other in ways to benefit themselves. I enjoy the community, and the realistic nature of the relationships- and problems involved. While some of the harder, more traumatic moments, were not fun to read the story and characters were so real and the resolution so satisfying that it just left me eager to see what was in store for the other characters in future books.


A Sure Thing is a quick but emotional read. It fits into the larger picture of the world and families Harte has built in her books. Emotional connections, dealing with traumas, and facing our own anxieties make for heartfelt and realistic stories that stick with the reader long after the book is over.