Afraid to Fall by Ari Reavis

"Just don't be afraid to fall, Layla."

Afraid to Fall by Ari Reavis

Standalone
Release - March 9, 2020
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Theme(s) - on the run, abusive relationship
Heroine POV - 1st person
Heat - 4 out of 5
Format - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 144 pages

Don’t be afraid to fall in love. That’s much easier said than done.

Layla’s on the run and the very last thing she should be doing is noticing the mechanic working on her car. Using a fake name and with her guard all the way up, she keeps telling herself having feelings for someone is off limits. But it isn’t long before her heart stops listening to her head.

Nathan knows he’s found someone special from the moment he pulls a woman out of her smoking car. He can see she’s been hurt and that she’s still scared. But he wants to help her move forward, into a future with him. Can he get her to open up and let him prove he’s what she needs?

You can’t run forever and when the past comes back to steal every bit of happiness she’s fought for, neither Layla nor Nathan is willing to give it up. That doesn’t mean it can’t just be snatched from them.

This is a standalone romance with scenes of domestic violence that some might find triggering.

Buy this book: Amazon US * Amazon CA
Free to read with Kindle Unlimited

★★★1/2

Layla had finally built up the nerve to leave her abusive boyfriend. While she continued to look over her shoulder, certain Troy was lurking just around the corner, she found a new life waiting for her. From the comforting arms of the woman who runs the bed and breakfast she's settled in to the spark of newness she finds with Nathan, would she allow herself a shot of happiness?

I really enjoyed this story. There was a bit of violence portrayed in the relationship Layla had with Troy, but it was necessary to see how far she had come. In order to understand how much she'd grown, we had to see how far she had fallen. And it was low. I thought for sure she could have left a long time ago. That her mom's words should have reached her. But that's just me 🤷🏽

I loved how understanding the author made the hero, Nathan. He was considerate and patient and kind and very easy to fall for. I only wish we were given his perspective. Layla's view was limited (and fraught with doubts and inconsistencies) and there were certain things that would be so much clearer from Nathan's pov.

Sexy and heart-warming, Afraid to Fall made for an entertaining read.

Ari Reavis is a wife and mother of five. Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, she enjoys staying in, devouring books and watching movies. Her kids are running around, her husband is trying to show her martial arts moves, and she's trying to write. Her day in a nutshell.

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