Before We Fell (Love in the Heartland)

This book had me going through tissues like there was no tomorrow!!!! Gut wrenching sobs overtook me at times where I had to put the book down and gather myself, but then there were times that this book was so hot I was grabbing a cold glass of water to cool off. To say my emotions ran the gambit would be an understatement.

Noah’s life is changed when his sister and brother-in-law are killed and he is given custody of his young niece, Riley. Riley was the only witness to her parents murder and it took it’s toll on her, it changed the vibrant young eight year old to someone no one recognized any longer, she didn’t talk to anyone and she didn’t want to interact with anyone. It was so, so sad. But then she met her new school teacher in the new town that she and her Uncle Noah moved to and things changed.

Lauren’s heart broke when she heard about Riley’s story and that was before she met her new student. There was a sweet connection between the two and it was definitely heartwarming to see that Riley could open up to someone even if her uncle wasn’t to happy about it at the beginning.

The chemistry between Lauren and Noah was smoking hot but the true heart of the story was Riley and how they made a life for her after everything had been taken away.

While this book is the fourth book in the Love in the Heartland Series this book, as well as the others, can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this book but please be warned you will need a box of tissues. Happy Reading!!!

**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine’s Obsessed with Books**

Before We Fell by Stacey Lynn was a fabulous read!

I have always been a huge fan of Stacey Lynn, and her writing, and this novel just reinforced my love for her.

Before We Fell is a story of love, hope, romance, and a second chance at doing the right thing, and overcoming all. I absolutely adored Noah! He will have you swooning. He seems like this big, tough, strong man, and he is, but he is also so much more. He is kind, caring and sensitive. In those scenes, where you see all the sides of him demonstrated, you can’t help but sigh at the pure love you have for him.

I definitely recommend this novel to everyone! It will make your heart soar!

5/5 Stars!

There is just something about love that comes easily with Stacey Lynn. I loved that Noah comes off angry, hurt and no idea what he’s doing then we have Lauren to complete him. The attraction is all there but it is not just them in this book but also Riley. My heart broke for this little girl yet rooting for her old self to come back with these two helping her. I loved that Lauren is more than what she seems not just a teacher but a woman trying to survive as well. All in all loved this book to pieces and cannot wait to see more of this series come to life.

“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”

Good solid story. I loved Lauren, but I cannot say the same for Noah. I never really connected with him at all. I thought he was a jerk. The storyline is solid, and I can’t put my finger on why I gave it 4 stars over 5. Lots of angst and some twists. Dual point of view. No cliffhanger.

When big-time defense attorney, Noah, is given custody of his young niece after her parents are killed in front of her, both their lives are irrevocably changed. Thanks to a therapist’s advice, he moves Riley and himself back to the small hometown he had left years before, so that his parents can help out with Riley’s care. But, coming back home hasn’t seemed to help Riley any. If anything, she’s even more withdrawn, even more sullen, and no one can seem to reach her. Until a very special teacher makes it her mission to help the little girl who has such pain and anguish in her eyes.

Lauren is indeed, a special teacher, a special person. I love how much she bonds with Riley, and how she’s the first person who brings Riley out of her shell. Really, she is the best part of Before We Fell. Well, she and Riley. Noah, on the other hand, I could not stand, and is the reason for the 3.5 stars. He was, honestly, a complete asshole. The way he treated Lauren in the beginning, and after they fell apart, was horrible, and Lauren (and Riley) deserved so much better. If Lauren had been paired with a better man, someone worthy of her love, then this would have been a 5-star read because it’s beautifully emotional (I cried more than a few tears) and the writing is superb. But, the way Noah behaves, and the pain he put Lauren and Riley through, all because he was such an ass, just made it so I couldn’t give it more than 3.5 stars. I’ll round up to 4 for the official rating, but Noah’s such a terrible character that this probably deserves 3 stars or less. I just could not get past what a jerk he is, and then Lauren takes him back with the bare minimum of apology on his part. If I’d been her, he’d be kissing my ass, giving me a million orgasms, and then I’d walk away from his ass, because he really didn’t deserve her to take him back after he ghosted her.

This book!!
I laughed, I swooned and OMG, I cried. What started as a hot single Uncle story turned into quite an emotional and heartrending tale.
Noah Wilkes has been left to raise his sister and brother-in-law’s daughter , Riley, in the aftermath of their murder. Noah was the happy-go-lucky guy who lived life to the fullest and had his share of throwaway companions. After moving back home with his young niece, he struggles to find balance but when he meets Riley’s teacher it’s lust at first sight, although he fights it to begin with.
Lauren has been teaching for three years and is happy with her life. It may be kinda empty right now but she has hopes of finding the right man for her.
Never in a million years would she have expected to fall for a pupil’s parent, or in this case, guardian. Noak Wilkes is all man and even though he was a bit of an a**h*le at first, he soon grows on her. Their relationship is slow growing, and a quiet, gentle kind of love, even with a burning chemistry. But, there’s a giant bump in the road just waiting to trip them up and when it does, it’s massive. It rends and tears and my heart just broke for them all, but mostly Lauren as she ended up bearing the brunt of it.
It’s not often that the heroine in a story gets to air her feelings when the hero has done her an injustice, but thankfully Lauren got her moment to tell Noah exactly where he went wrong and how. Not gonna lie, I cried with her here.
Did Noah see the error of his way? Or did her let the best thing in his life just walk away forever? Find out when you grab your copy of Before We Fell.

Noah has done everything and is doing everything he can for his niece Riley including giving up his high power job. When when I read what is causing her not to talk and communicate with others I was gutted. Her teacher, Lauren is the type of teacher that is fully invested in her students and wants to reach them on whatever level she can. I really admire Lauren. She does not back down from Noah. She has both Riley and Noah’s best interest at heart.

Though Noah and Lauren fight their chemistry at first it becomes too powerful not to give in. Just when life seems to be looking like there is a bright future for the three of them their world is blown apart by the one person that has practically ruined Lauren’s life since childhood. A person that Lauren has no responsibility for.
How is it fair that Lauren has to continuously pay for his actions.

On the other-hand how is Noah supposed to overlook that the person who is so closely connected to Lauren destroyed Riley and Noah’s life. How do you get beyond that.

A warning alert: you’ll want tissues close at hand when reading this book. At least I had to have them. This book is extremely well written.

This was an okay story. The writing flowed well, my rating is based on the story itself. Noah was a jerk, and didn’t change his ways until like 97% of the way through the book. I know there is a lot of issues surrounding Noah and Lauren’s relationship, and the writing for that was great. There were a lot of emotions in this story. I felt sorry for Lauren, she always got kicked to the side with everyone, and Noah was no different. He left her in misery for months, and then decides after she tells him she’s leaving, that he can’t live without her. Really?! Where was he at 3 months ago? And then all he has to do is say he’s sorry, and Lauren lets him right back in. I think Lauren deserved more than that, and Noah should have had to do more to get back into Lauren’s good graces.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

My heart! My heart!

Before We Fall is an absolutely heartbreaking, beautifully written book. I have read just about everything this author has written and this has got to be one of the best books I’ve read of hers.

Of course my heart broke for Riley but it also broke for Lauren and Noah. This is one of those stories that will absolutely gut you while carefully putting you back together. These characters are fantastic, I loved each and every one of them. I will definitely read this again, it’s that good!

#4.5 Stars!
If you love to read emotional and heart-wrenching romance then look no further than Before We Fell, a Standalone, and the fourth book in the Love in the Heartland series. This is a-box-of-Kleenex-by-your-side read, so be prepared to cry a little (or if you’re like me, a lot) over this poignant love story. There’s a big jaw dropping surprise in the plotline and it had me shaking with anger and helplessness when it was revealed, devastated over the aftermath left in its wake. But it was all worth it, when it was all said and done, and I happy-sighed over the beautiful ending!

At thirty-five, Noah Wilkes enjoyed his commitment free single life; he had a few friends-with-benefits arrangements, that didn’t include sleeping over, and thought maybe someday he’d settle down. As a big shot defense attorney in St. Louis, Noah worked crazy hours and lived very comfortably in a high-rise condo he bought. All that changed after a tragic and senseless murder, and Noah was named the legal guardian of his beloved eight-year old niece, Riley.

Riley had witnessed something so traumatic that it caused her to become withdrawn and she barely spoke to anyone, becoming a ghost of the inquisitive, rambunctious, and carefree child she’d once been. And now, six months later, Noah had moved to Carlton to be closer to his parents, hoping they could help him raise her, and he bought a house he was currently remodeling. He was making a huge effort, for Riley’s sake.

“People had never been my strong suit. Facts were. Puzzles were. Solving problems and needing square pegs to go into square holes and round pegs into round ones was where I excelled. People? Especially kids? That was a whole school I never attended.”

Lauren Frazier loved her life. She had moved to Carlton, a small and friendly town, a few years ago, and as a third-grade teacher, she was doing what she’d always dreamed of. She had bought a house, one she kept immaculately clean with everything in its place; she knew she was obsessed with cleanliness and order, maybe too much. Having grown up in a chaotic household, she had finally found the structure she’d always longed for. Her parents weren’t abusive towards her; they just ignored her, all their attention was focused on her brother, enabling his bad and dangerous habits, and he’d been in trouble with the law more than once. Now twenty-six, the only thing missing from her life was a husband and children of her own, to complete her dream.

Assigned the new student, Lauren schedules a meeting with Noah to discuss Riley’s problems at school and they do not hit it off. He doesn’t appreciate Lauren’s observations regarding Riley’s behavior and tells her to mind her own business. And they clash further when Lauren realizes the noisy neighbor, repairing the house next door, is none other than Noah. But they decide to put their differences aside and be friendly neighbors, joining forces, for Riley’s sake; one more person on her team couldn’t hurt. When they grow closer and become romantically involved, something horrible happens that threatens to destroy the happiness they finally found.

“He and I were different, as much as I told myself we worked. He saw the worst of people, I hope for the best. And there was another difference between us, something that would cause us to never bridge that ravine. I had a conscience. And Noah? Noah Wilkes couldn’t give me the benefit of the doubt.”