A Soft Place to Fall

Shelter Rock Cove #1

by Barbara Bretton

A young widow from charming Shelter Rock Cove, Maine, Annie Galloway has finally found the strength to start a new life. All she needs is courage, and time. The last thing she needs is a handsome, charming next-door neighbor...

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Amazon, Adult

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2001

About the author

Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.

Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.

Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.

Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Annie who's thirty eight years old, she was orphaned at sixteen and taken in and made one of the family by her boyfriend Kevin's mother Claudia. She went on to marry Kevin in what everyone thought was the perfect marriage after all they were both so in love with each other it couldn't be any other way. Now widowed two years Annie is struggling with the crippling debt left by Kevin's gambling and trying to move on with her life, which would be difficult enough under these circumstances but when you've spent your entire life in the same small town where everyone knows everyone else and secrets are hard to keep it's even more so. Into Annies life bounds Sam and Max, now Sam's hit problems of his own and he's taking a break from life in the small town where he spent a summer when he was younger and his friend Warren owns some property and Max well he's a yellow lab who in the space of a day eats all Annie's pizzas in her car, making a real mess then proceeds to save her life.

I loved this book, the small town feel and characters were great, it had humour and most importantly in had a great romance with two people who truly deserve each other but will they end up together or will life get in the way after all between them they carry enough baggage to sink Warren's boat. A wonderful book, I enjoyed every page.

[Stace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam and Annie's story is worth three stars, unfortunately a lot of time is spent on other characters POVs and that made parts of the book draaaaag. It didn't help that most of the secondary characters were jealous and rampantly selfish. While rooting for Sam & Annie I kept hoping a storm would come In and sweep away at least 3 other characters.

[Mills · Rating 1 out of 5]

I spent quite some time deliberating how I would rate A Soft Place to Fall. Almost as much time, in fact, as I spent contemplating DNF-ing it.

You see, the dilemma is this: the writing is technically good. Not quite a four star as it is overpoweringly flowery in places and declines in quality (mainly in punctuation) towards the end of the book, as if the editor got bored, but still - easily a 3.5. The problem is everything else.

The worst part is the characters. With the exception of Warren (who doesn't get much page time), every single character is at least a little bit annoying. Our main characters aren't too bad, but they aren't exempt from this. If it isn't Anne belittling herself because she's ten pounds overweight*, then it's Sam telling us how he's not good enough or has failed at life or whatever. I'm just like... get over it Anne, no one cares apart from that interfering old bitch in the supermarket but she's an interfering old bitch and therefore her opinion is unimportant. And Sam... stop being such a bloody martyr. You've raised your five siblings, you clearly are not that bad. Ugh. Shut up with the pity party already, both of you.

Hall reminded me of Andrew in Sweet Home Alabama in that he's this generic "perfect man" who only really exists to allow other characters a bit of angst and to be interfering and opinionated. And once that role is over, he, like Andrew is all sweet and graciously fades into the background like the non-entity of a character that he is.

Sweeney is fairly amusing but a) goes on about tarot etc far too much and b) feels more caricature than character. Susan is winy and wanders around bitching about her mother being interfering while she interferes herself. Her mother is the worst of all though.

Claudia, yes Claudia. Claudia is pretty much singlehandedly the reason I thought about DNF-ing every few pages. She was so aggravating I could feel my blood pressure rising at the mere sight of her name. And that was quite a lot because the secondary characters play a large role (and, indeed, narrate). Claudia is annoying, self-centred, opinionated, hypocritical, delusional, judgmental, interfering, stupid, stubborn... GAH. I'm getting a headache just thinking about her. I tend to write notes to myself in ebooks and this time, like 90% of them are like 'FUCK YOU CLAUDIA's because she is just that bad.

The plot is ridiculous too. Infertile Annie gets pregnant. I swear, romance novels are better fertility boosters than modern medicine. Forget IVF, let's bottle this junk.

I can't cope with this kind of extreme chick lit provincial melodrama tripe. The writing is decent, but everything else is godawful.

*She's 38. Only ten pounds overweight heading into middle age is nothing. It wouldn't even be anything if she were 28 ffs.

[Night Runner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to agree with many of the other reviewers as there are too many POVs and it really caused the story to drag. The story itself is interesting and I did enjoy the progression as well as the thought that went into the story.

I was surprised to see the character that is getting book 2 and, since I didn't like him in book 1, I think I will skip his story.

Take out at least 50% of the POVs, this is a 4 - 4.5 Star book for me.

[Issa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annie Galloway and Sam Butler are couple one in this series set in Shelter Rock Cove, Maine. Annie lost her husband a couple years ago and sells their house to start over in a smaller place. Her husband had a compulsive gambling problem that she kept secret that ruined their lives and cost them everything. Sam is hiding out in Shelter Rock Cove courtesy of the FBI. He's a financial planner who is state's witness against his former employer and needs to stay off the grid. Annie and Sam hit it off immediately though both are keeping secrets from the other. Despite the insta love I thought there was a lot of potential with the story line and their respective secrets. Unfortunately the story is mucked up with the POV of Annie's mother in law Claudia, sister in law Susan, unrequited love interest Dr. Hall, and his partner Dr. Ellen.

Claudia has built a shrine to her late husband and thinks Annie should do the same fpr her husband, Claudia's son. Susan keeps trying to hook up Annie and Hall and feels jealous of Annie's disastrous marriage despite having a wonderful loving husband of her own. Hall is desperately in love with Annie despite four kids, three ex-wives, and not one speck of interest on her part. Dr. Ellen just seems lost. The other characters are so ridiculous they took the story sideways so far the secrets that Annie and Sam are keeping have little to do with the story and only come out in the last few pages of the book.

There was a lot to like with Annie and Sam and I wish the story had stayed there.

[Sandy Grissett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great romance

Great romance

Very good read about a 38 year old, Annie, whose husband had a gambling problem that put them in debt and had a heart attack. Annie tried to let everyone believe they had a happy marriage and not give a bad name on her husband. She worked extra jobs to pay off his debts. She ended up having to sale her house and moved to the cove. Sam left New York and went to the cove escaping for a while before he might be sent to jail for embezzlement. He met Annie in the parking lot at the grocery store, which you will have to read since it is a truly hilarious episode involving his dog Max, and then when he broke into her house and saved her, which you won't believe what happened until you read it. Crazy yet a great, funny, happy type of crazy. And then the events that follow and the people you meet. A very good read.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little too lovey-dovey for my tastes. It seemed as if everything was beening viewed through this golden lense-- something that you expect to see in the classical romance movies.
The storyline wasn't all that... there wasn't a real conflict between the characters. It was more along the lines of love at first sight and everthing else just falling into place after that.

[LC · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finish this one. I liked the story but the pace was really slow. I kept putting it down and reading other things.

[Erin Laurie kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved Sam and Annie's story.. but wish there was more focus on their relationship then the rest of the characters in the book...

[Stephanie Bolen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad loved the inner dialogues

When you come right down to life there is so much that you hide. Each of the characters had emotions and issues they hid from the world. What could have been a dry novel about small town life was instead an experiment in the things left unsaid. No one was perfect everyone was real. The plot was the issue for me. I believed it could be saved up to the climax. But non-mortal resolution to issues of that nature are unlikely. After all, "Dead men carry no tales."

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish Goodreads would allow half stars because I’m in between a lot. This one was 3.5 stars for me. I really loved both Annie and Sam. While I enjoyed the point of views of the other characters (it added to the background), I would have liked a little more dialogue between Annie and Sam. I thought the time between the kidnapping and the return could have had some more content. I liked the writing, liked the characters, could easily visualize everything from the descriptions, and liked the ending (except the lead-in to what I assume is another story), so I decided on the four stars.

[Tonya Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding your true soulmate!

Both Annie and Sam had a huge secret hidden from everyone especially the ones they care about the most. Both cared for others before caring for themselves sowhen they met the first time it was obvious that sparks flew immediately. And it all started with a old dog that just couldn't say no to pizza.

[Becki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Soft Place to Fall

This was a sweet romance with a little suspense. I enjoyed getting to know the residents of Shelter Rock Cove and look forward to reading more books from this author.

[Bonita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very sweet romance. I look forward to reading the next book.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

[Kathleen Downey]

A great read. Enjoy romance.

[Christine Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Easy read. Likable characters, and a decent story. The detailed description of the scenery makes the story very real. Would recommend.

[Kay Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book very much. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

[K.C. Riley-Gyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance...

... with enough trials to keep the reader hooked. Loved the characters and there were a few errors but still a good read.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved!!

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

hmm still unsure. Some of it I really liked, some I didn’t, some I skipped over.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shelter Rock Cove #1 - HAve It - Read It 2001

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice writing - I immediately went to borrow the second book and wish there were more.

The cover for the repub is ridiculous and looks like the actors from Twilight. Nearly made me skip the book.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read from this author. The main characters were unknowningly thrown together by a benevolent rich man in the small town. Sam has recently rented a home from this man after a wall street financial scandal he was involved in. Annie hasn't moved on since her husband died too young. She has been keeping his secrets from his family to preserve the image they all had of him. It has taken it's toll on her. When her and Sam meet, they are obviously attracted to each other.

Not everyone in the small town is happy about them being together and both of them are keeping secrets from the other. Good story that kept me turning pages.

[Thom Swennes · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Time doesn’t heal a broken heart it just makes living with it easier.”

Starting over at mid-life isn’t an easy task to perform. Doing it often means cutting ties with an old life and embracing a new. Thirty-eight-year-old Annie Lacy Galloway has come to terms with her life and has decided to move on. This entails selling her large and sprawling center hall Colonial in Bayside, Maine and moving into a four room isolated beachside cottage, in Shelter Rock Cove, a few miles away. She would still be close to Annie’s Flowers, the business she opened to help make ends meet. With this move, she hopes to escape the memories of her husband, Kevin. It was their first home. It was the home they dreamed of filling with children. It was the home they continually attempted consummation; until the message was written on the wall, large enough for them both to read. It is the home where Kevin dies, leaving Annie with all of his secret gambling debts. Now that home is just a house and the move is a necessary step in recovery.

“You can’t run away from your memories.”

Sam Butler is a doer. As the eldest of many siblings, the responsibility of raising and keeping the Butler brood, after their parent's untimely death, housed, fed, and educated. He performed this daunting task with both love and pride. Even with a broken education, he rose through the employment ranks of Mason, Marx, and Daniels Investments on pure talent and tenacity, to an almost pinnacle position. He didn’t particularly like his job but it paid the bills and soon all of his siblings would be able to strike out in the world with top-grade educations. Investment irregularities were slowly coming to light and he hoped that his youngest sister would graduate so he could quit before the shit hit the fan. This was not to be. Although his involvement was suggested, he wasn’t really considered a suspect. He was, however, forced to gather evidence and agree to testify against his former employers. It was now time for a change. He bids farewell to The Big Apple and moves north to the small seaside hamlet of Shelter Creek Cove, Maine. At thirty-five, it was time for a drastic change. He takes his golden Lab of a couple of weeks, Max. Max is a good judge of character and implements their meeting.

First loves may not come to fruition but are never forgotten.

Dr. Hall Talbot, an obstetrician working at a local hospital, is a hometown boy. He grew up in eastern Maine and has always loved Annie Lacy, now Galloway. Multiple failed marriages have not marred the love he once had for Annie. When he hears of her planned move to Shelter Rock Cove, he can’t help to think of what might have been.

This romance surprises me. I was expecting another of the many uninspired stories that are flooding the market. This is the perfect reason to explore. This is the illusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The ménage a trois in the nodus of the story, adds an extra element; someone will win and someone will lose. Being a canine- aficionada, Max stole my heart, serving as the sticky-glue that holds Sam and Annie together long enough to open their eyes and recognize what was before them. This is a steamy romance that is sure to appeal to many readers.

[Angelbehindu · Rating 4 out of 5]

i read this a while ago but i remember it being a very relaxing and gentle romance read, nice if you want something not too high energy or wild

[Tara Allman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie was orphaned in her early teens and fell into Kevin’s family as if they were her own. Kevin was Annie’s first love, and her first husband. Kevin was not perfect; he had an addiction that Annie quietly dealt with throughout the marriage and even after his untimely death. Annie shielded Kevin’s reputation at all costs. Annie has struggled to pay off debts, sold her dream home and moved into a smaller home in Shelter Rock Cove that is just perfect for her needs. On the day she moves in she meets Sam. Sam was a stock broker framed for the shady dealings of his bosses. Sam shifted loyalty and aided agents in the investigation of his firm to build evidence against the real crooks. Sam also lost his parents at a young age, and has worked hard his entire life to keep his siblings together. Sam became the sole provider for his family, therefore he had to be driven and although he was not proud of the fact, but he had turned a blind eye to underhanded dealings within his company. He only had to make it through long enough to get his siblings through school and off on their own. Agents tell Sam to take a quiet vacation until his services are required which lands him in Shelter Rock Cove. Annie and Sam are on a collision course that will forever change their lives.
Sam notices there is a fire in the cottage up the street from his new home. He breaks the door down to fine Annie passed out on a bottle of cheap Champagne. He catches the fire before it does too much damage and manages to save Annie again from nearly drowning in her drunken stupor. Although they do not know each other he stays the night just holding her close and keeping her safe. They cannot deny the attraction they feel towards each other and eventually fall into a love affair.
The area Doctor Hall has had a thing for Annie since he was a teenager. He sends a picture of Annie and Sam to New York and blows Sam cover. Sam is kidnapped and his life is in danger. Meanwhile Annie discovers that not only is she in love with Sam but she is pregnant with his child. You have to read the book to see how the story turns out.
This was a well written story, with very likeable characters. Even though each person has made mistakes they were with good intentions and out of self-sacrifice.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Lacey Galloway is getting on with her life. Widowed for two years, she has finally sold her too big house and paid off all the gambling debt her husband Kevin had accumulated in their 20 yr marriage. She's moving into a small little house near the water in Shelter Rock Cove. Town patriarch and philanthropist, shipbuilder and museum designer, Warren Bancroft has sold it to her for a price she can afford. Now, on with her life as the owner of Annie's Flowers, a thriving floral business in the small, sometime tourist attraction, town in Maine.

Enter Sam Butler, who is renting Ellie Bancroft's house from Warren. He needs a place to blend in, disappear if you will, for a while. Same worked for Warren repairing boats when he was a young teen. Then he lost his parents and rather than let the state split up his family of 5 brothers and sisters, he continued to do what he needed to do, at nineteen, to raise them, provide for them and see them all into adulthood. Now, he finds himself wishing he hadn't made some of the decisions he did to support his family. He has giving over documents and findings to the government as they investigate the illegal and immoral practices of the investment firm in NY where he worked.

I am in the minority of most of the reviewers here on Goodreads. I enjoyed this story. Yes, there was plenty of different characters POV, but I knew at the beginning (it is Book #1 afterall) that there would be. That's OK with me. How else do you get the feel of the main characters? The writing is mostly good. The editing of this Kindle edition, not so much. I find that a lot andI am not sure why. But if you can over look the fact that one of the bad guys, Adam Winter, becomes Adam Walter on one page and then goes back to being Adam Winter again...well, you just go on. There is some grammatical mistakes and then some just weird sentence structure. I try not to fault the book or the author.

Over all, this book was all I expected it to be. Romantic, a bit of sexual tension, some great character development, a beautiful setting, and a ending that left me looking forward to Shelter Rock Cove Book #2.

[Patti K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I definitely liked this story and I'm inclined to read book 2, mostly because I wanted to read more about Ellen (I'm still not sure I like Hall for what he did to Sam). I liked Sam and Annie and their story was great. But I think this suffered from the same issue that all stories with too many POVs does - sometimes, it's better to know the story from fewer people. I'd love to hear Claudia and Warren's story, but I didn't need it to be part of this one. Likewise, hearing Susan's voice seemed pointless, as did hearing Hall and Ellen's. It wasn't as if all those extra POVs made the story too long, but they dulled the impact of hearing from Sam and Annie. I understand the desire to bring in the POV of secondary characters, but not every story is better for it. This one, I think, would have been a 4 or 5 star story if it'd had less people muddying up the canvas with their voices. I'd have liked to hear more from Sam and Annie and less from others. It would have made their story richer.

Wow, and, once again, I learned writing lesson from reading (and feel less bad about my lack of writing today, LOL). Huh. Well, I write reviews so that I can recall how I felt about a book, but as will all my writing, it helps me think. Funny, that.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot and most of the characters. I wouldn't mind visiting Shelter Rock Cove again. It didn't really take me that long to read this; I started it, went to other things and then came back today. It was a quicker read than it looks if you go by my read dates, but I guess that's honest; I didn't devour it, anyway, but it was a decent read. Maybe along the lines of a Barbara Delinsky book in that respect - easy enough to plow through when I take the time to concentrate on it.

[Jo Notary]

1 of 2 books
356p It's been two years since Annie Galloway's husband died, and she is finally putting her life back together, even though she stays in Shelter Rock Cove, Maine. Annie has never lived anywhere else, and her life is tied to the small community, which is a blessing and a curse. Her mother-in-law took her in at sixteen when her parents died, and she feels grateful for her love, but her husband was not the saint that everyone thinks he was. When she meets Sam Butler, a Manhattan investment broker hiding out in the small town and reevaluating his life, they instantly connect, but some townspeople are suspicious of the newcomer and his relationship with Annie. Sam and Annie do keep secrets from each other, hoping to keep their newfound love separate from the past, but prying neighbors may tear them apart. Once again Bretton creates a tender love story about two people who, when they find something special, will go to any length to keep it.