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Gossamer Falls #1
Never Fall Again
Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven's guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.
Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family's business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can't bear to lose like that again.
Before construction on the house can begin, Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.
Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family's business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can't bear to lose like that again.
Before construction on the house can begin, Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.
352 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2024
124 people are currently reading
6459 people want to read
About the author
Lynn H. Blackburn
21 books1,524 followersLibrarian Note: Also writes under the pen name Lynn Huggins Blackburn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 378 reviews
March 16, 2025
Heavy on the romance, light on the suspense JUST how I like it.
Absolutely loved the characters, the found family, the kids weren't annoying, and the clear communication in the romance.
Mystery ended abruptly but I didn't care because the ROMANCE. Cuteness overload.
I'm so excited to read more in this series. She set up other potential couples flawlessly.
Highly recommend! Great faith content.
Tropes&Triggers: single mom, found family, domestic abuse, betrayal, abduction, he has a dog
Absolutely loved the characters, the found family, the kids weren't annoying, and the clear communication in the romance.
Mystery ended abruptly but I didn't care because the ROMANCE. Cuteness overload.
I'm so excited to read more in this series. She set up other potential couples flawlessly.
Highly recommend! Great faith content.
Tropes&Triggers: single mom, found family, domestic abuse, betrayal, abduction, he has a dog
March 12, 2024
About this book:
“Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven's guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.
Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family's business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can't bear to lose like that again.
Before construction on the house can begin, Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Gossamer Falls” series.
Spiritual Content- Prayers (including Callum praying for/with Landry); Talks about God, praying, church, & Christians; 'H's are not capital when referring to God; Church going; Landry says she loves Jesus and has a faith in God; Landry’s in-laws were Christians (including the father-in-law being a pastor) but were “sheep in wolves clothing” and the “mean church people” are the “worst kind of mean people” (in her experience); *Spoiler* ; Landry thinks that when praying in a certain dangerous situation, she knows that “God didn’t always choose to help. He didn’t always fix things, at least not the way Landry wanted them fixed. But [H]e could help. She knew that. He might not, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, services, pastors, & sermons; Mentions of Christians & ones who are “the worst kind of Christians” (Landry’s in-laws are the latter type and *Spoiler* ); A couple mentions of being Blessed; A couple mentions of miracles; A mention of divine guidance; A mention of Bible reading; A mention of a Sunday school class; A mention of thanking Heaven;
*Note: Callum says he has demons due to a past event; The phrase “speak of the devil” is said once; A couple mentions of lucky & being lucky; A mention of someone being as mean as the devil; A mention of strep throat being evil and from the devil (according to Callum); A mention of a demanding guest being called “the demon…I mean, the delicate flower”; A mention of ghost costumes; A mention of a “Mother Earth” woman that takes care of others; A mention of a woman calling herself a “harpy”; A mention of a younger brother idolizing his older brothers; A mention of someone thinking his mom walks on water.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘duh’, an ‘ever-loving’, a ‘give a flip’, an ‘oh my word’, a ‘sucker’, a form of ‘ticked off’, two forms of ‘mercy/sweet mercy’, six ‘dumb’s, six ‘shut up’s, six forms of ‘stupid’, and ten ‘idiot’s; The phrase “cold day in a hot place” is said thrice (to avoid cursing at Granny’s house); A couple mentions of someone’s rear is mentioned (in the way of “pain in the rear” and hauling someone’s rear to jail); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Being hit/attacked, Being buried alive, Being drugged, Being abducted, & Pain (up to semi-detailed); A fire & vandalism (up to semi-detailed); Pain, being sick (strep), throwing up (up to semi-detailed); Landry’s husband was not a great guy (*Spoiler* ); Landry is concerned that her in-laws would fight her for her daughter’s custody or even stoop to kidnapping her; *Spoiler* ; Mentions of missing people, abductions/kidnappings, & someone being buried alive (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of someone waving a gun around children, them being frightened, & screams (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of explosions; Mentions of the possibility of a woman being a victim and/or running away from a man (Callum wonders if this is the case with Landry); Mentions of drunk driving, a car accident, & death (of the drunk driver, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a bar, drinks, & drinking; Mentions of drugs, drugging someone, being drugged, & meth labs; Mentions of rehab & addictions; Mentions of illnesses, pain, & throwing up (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of grieving (including over the loss of not being in a young child’s life); Mentions of crimes, criminals, crime scenes, fires, arson, & the damages (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of a missing hiker & it been too late to find him; A few mentions of a potential violent death; A few mentions of pranks (including ones in high school) & a group of children being like a gang; A few mentions of bullies & bullying; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of (military-related) deaths; A couple mentions of violence; A couple mentions of ways to torture terrorists (with a child’s high-pitched squeal); A couple mentions of fighting & fights (between siblings); A couple mentions of jail; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of someone looking like they were being burned at the stake; A mention of beating someone up; A mention of gunshot wounds; A mention of blood; A mention of a forest fire; A mention of a psychopath; A mention of a wife leaving her husband; A mention of divorce;
*Note: Someone tells his family that he isn’t suicidal even though they think he is (he says he need time, but the others don’t buy it); Landry overhears a comment that makes her wonder if there’s someone who doesn’t approve of her daughter because of her race (despite being a part of a “racially diverse” family; She confronts someone about this and is told it’s not due to race at all; A few more mentions of race after this conversation); *Spoiler* ; *Spoiler* ; Landry & Callum both have seen therapists for past events and both believed it helped them; Going to a harvest festival (instead of Halloween trick-or-treating); Mentions of therapy & therapists; Mentions of a family member being born during a time where the parents were advised to forget that she even been born (due to a possible stroke during delivery; The family did not follow that advise and she’s a precious miracle for the family who loves her); Mentions of someone fighting cancer, her treatments, & her children’s reactions (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Mentions of panic attacks, anxiety, & depression (the first two for Landry and the last for Callum); Mentions of brand names & products (ChapStick, Coke, M&M’s, Snickers, Milky Way, Oreos, Tylenol, U-Haul, Mac, iPad, & Kindle); A few mentions of Halloween; A few mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of asthma attacks; A couple mentions of FaceTime & Siri; A mention of someone being an expert in “big emotions” (with children); A mention of National Geographic; A mention of a painter (Jackson Pollock); A mention of a werewolf; A mention of someone being concerned for the environment (teasing); A mention of someone being accused of misogyny.
Sexual Content- A fingers-to-lips touch, a cheek kiss, a forehead kiss, two ear/neck kisses, eight barely-above-not-detailed kisses, a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss, and three semi-detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (including a cheek kiss, all up to semi-detailed); Staring at another’s lips (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss, touch, & embrace (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Nearness, & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Blushes, Winks, & Butterflies; Jealousy; Noticing (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Landry says her husband got her pregnant on their honeymoon to be able to control her, *Spoiler* ; Callum asks if Landry’s husband forced himself on her and she says no; Landry says that she had to tiptoe around her husband and will not do that ever again for a man; A man offers Landry private lessons (innuendo); *Major Spoiler* ; A ‘bimbo’, a ‘hotties’, and two ‘baby’s; Mentions of kisses, kissing, & PDA (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of girlfriends, boyfriends, break-ups, exes, dates, & dating; Mentions of cheating, cheaters, & fathers leaving the mothers of their children; Mentions of flirting & flirts (including married men); Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of broken hearts; A few mentions of women watching handsome men working (making comments on their looks and wanting to meet them); A few mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of a married couple kissing; A mention of a possible illegitimate child; A mention of some people being related but not knowing it due to an affair (said that someone’s uncle “fooled around” with someone else’s aunt); A mention of a recently divorced man going on “long bimbo binge”; A mention of a fling; A mention of a couple sneaking around like teenagers so someone doesn’t know that they’re together; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of Callum’s aunts trying to set him up with a woman who was fourteen-years older than him; A mention of a child streaking through a baseball game.
-Landry Hutton, age 32
-Callum “Cal” Shaw
P.O.V. switches between them
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
This book took me completely by surprise. I’ve read a few other books by this author and enjoyed parts of different ones, but wasn’t sure about this book. I almost passed on this book because I wasn’t super interested in the plotline, but I’m glad I read it because I ended up really enjoyed it!
The romance was really cute, Cal was the best, and it was overall a really enjoyable read. Definitely way lighter suspense than I was expecting, but that was good too. There were little things here and there that I didn’t care for, but nothing super major.
Cal’s personality won me over the minute he appeared on page. He was fantastic. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in the suspense book before. He made the book for me.
I think I swooned when he prayed with her. Have I seen that before in Christian fiction suspense books? When the main girl is distraught over something that happened in the suspense plotline and he stops and asks if he can pray with her and then prays for her? How come we haven’t seen that more?! It was so sweet!
I did struggle to keep track of how everyone was related, the family feud in town, and all of those correlating elements, but I continued to read to hope that I could figure everything out. I did get really lost with the family trees and how everyone is related—a diagram of the main families‘ trees at the front of the book would’ve been super helpful! I did feel like I was almost jumping into the middle of a series or at least a very busy very active family life—make that three families!
The suspense element really didn’t kick in till right at the end about 85% into the book. There is a bit here and there, but not really much in that first majority of the entire book.
Don’t go in expecting a Lynette Eason or Lisa Harris suspense novel full of action, shoot outs, and car chases—because that’s definitely not this book.
This suspense book was unlike many other suspense books in many ways, but also because it actually covers a decent amount of time throughout the book. There are several chapters where it’s a few weeks later or several weeks later. Typically, I would get a little frustrated with that because I want to be all in our main characters lives and their interactions, but it worked really well for this book. Such as our main characters had discussions off page but then were told about them later when it’s important. I never felt like I was missing out.
I will say that I wasn’t a fan of the villains from Landry‘s past being Christians in the public eye but then being backstabbers in the private. That’s some thing I’ve seen more and more in Christian fiction is the so-called “Christians” that are actually the villains of the story. And I’m not liking seeing that as frequently as I have been seen it. I will say that it bothered me way less in this book compared to other recent reads because those characters weren’t on page causing mayhem or being terrible? We just hear about it from past events from Landry, so it didn’t bother me as much, shockingly.
Overall? This was a busy book with all the characters and trying to figure out how everyone is connected, but it had its really sweet moments and a bit of suspenseful ones as well. The faith content was a bit lighter than I would have preferred, but Cal praying for Landry and then little Eliza’s prayers made it good to me. It really was romance book with a touch of suspense, which I shockingly still enjoyed. (Shockingly because I typically like my suspense books to be heart-pounding suspenseful.) Because of mentions of Landry’s abusive husband, I would mark this book for ages 15/16+.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.
“Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven's guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.
Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family's business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can't bear to lose like that again.
Before construction on the house can begin, Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Gossamer Falls” series.
Spiritual Content- Prayers (including Callum praying for/with Landry); Talks about God, praying, church, & Christians; 'H's are not capital when referring to God; Church going; Landry says she loves Jesus and has a faith in God; Landry’s in-laws were Christians (including the father-in-law being a pastor) but were “sheep in wolves clothing” and the “mean church people” are the “worst kind of mean people” (in her experience); *Spoiler* ; Landry thinks that when praying in a certain dangerous situation, she knows that “God didn’t always choose to help. He didn’t always fix things, at least not the way Landry wanted them fixed. But [H]e could help. She knew that. He might not, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches, church going, services, pastors, & sermons; Mentions of Christians & ones who are “the worst kind of Christians” (Landry’s in-laws are the latter type and *Spoiler* ); A couple mentions of being Blessed; A couple mentions of miracles; A mention of divine guidance; A mention of Bible reading; A mention of a Sunday school class; A mention of thanking Heaven;
*Note: Callum says he has demons due to a past event; The phrase “speak of the devil” is said once; A couple mentions of lucky & being lucky; A mention of someone being as mean as the devil; A mention of strep throat being evil and from the devil (according to Callum); A mention of a demanding guest being called “the demon…I mean, the delicate flower”; A mention of ghost costumes; A mention of a “Mother Earth” woman that takes care of others; A mention of a woman calling herself a “harpy”; A mention of a younger brother idolizing his older brothers; A mention of someone thinking his mom walks on water.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘duh’, an ‘ever-loving’, a ‘give a flip’, an ‘oh my word’, a ‘sucker’, a form of ‘ticked off’, two forms of ‘mercy/sweet mercy’, six ‘dumb’s, six ‘shut up’s, six forms of ‘stupid’, and ten ‘idiot’s; The phrase “cold day in a hot place” is said thrice (to avoid cursing at Granny’s house); A couple mentions of someone’s rear is mentioned (in the way of “pain in the rear” and hauling someone’s rear to jail); Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Being hit/attacked, Being buried alive, Being drugged, Being abducted, & Pain (up to semi-detailed); A fire & vandalism (up to semi-detailed); Pain, being sick (strep), throwing up (up to semi-detailed); Landry’s husband was not a great guy (*Spoiler* ); Landry is concerned that her in-laws would fight her for her daughter’s custody or even stoop to kidnapping her; *Spoiler* ; Mentions of missing people, abductions/kidnappings, & someone being buried alive (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of someone waving a gun around children, them being frightened, & screams (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of explosions; Mentions of the possibility of a woman being a victim and/or running away from a man (Callum wonders if this is the case with Landry); Mentions of drunk driving, a car accident, & death (of the drunk driver, barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a bar, drinks, & drinking; Mentions of drugs, drugging someone, being drugged, & meth labs; Mentions of rehab & addictions; Mentions of illnesses, pain, & throwing up (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of grieving (including over the loss of not being in a young child’s life); Mentions of crimes, criminals, crime scenes, fires, arson, & the damages (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of a missing hiker & it been too late to find him; A few mentions of a potential violent death; A few mentions of pranks (including ones in high school) & a group of children being like a gang; A few mentions of bullies & bullying; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of (military-related) deaths; A couple mentions of violence; A couple mentions of ways to torture terrorists (with a child’s high-pitched squeal); A couple mentions of fighting & fights (between siblings); A couple mentions of jail; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of someone looking like they were being burned at the stake; A mention of beating someone up; A mention of gunshot wounds; A mention of blood; A mention of a forest fire; A mention of a psychopath; A mention of a wife leaving her husband; A mention of divorce;
*Note: Someone tells his family that he isn’t suicidal even though they think he is (he says he need time, but the others don’t buy it); Landry overhears a comment that makes her wonder if there’s someone who doesn’t approve of her daughter because of her race (despite being a part of a “racially diverse” family; She confronts someone about this and is told it’s not due to race at all; A few more mentions of race after this conversation); *Spoiler* ; *Spoiler* ; Landry & Callum both have seen therapists for past events and both believed it helped them; Going to a harvest festival (instead of Halloween trick-or-treating); Mentions of therapy & therapists; Mentions of a family member being born during a time where the parents were advised to forget that she even been born (due to a possible stroke during delivery; The family did not follow that advise and she’s a precious miracle for the family who loves her); Mentions of someone fighting cancer, her treatments, & her children’s reactions (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Mentions of panic attacks, anxiety, & depression (the first two for Landry and the last for Callum); Mentions of brand names & products (ChapStick, Coke, M&M’s, Snickers, Milky Way, Oreos, Tylenol, U-Haul, Mac, iPad, & Kindle); A few mentions of Halloween; A few mentions of car brands; A couple mentions of asthma attacks; A couple mentions of FaceTime & Siri; A mention of someone being an expert in “big emotions” (with children); A mention of National Geographic; A mention of a painter (Jackson Pollock); A mention of a werewolf; A mention of someone being concerned for the environment (teasing); A mention of someone being accused of misogyny.
Sexual Content- A fingers-to-lips touch, a cheek kiss, a forehead kiss, two ear/neck kisses, eight barely-above-not-detailed kisses, a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss, and three semi-detailed kisses; Remembering kisses (including a cheek kiss, all up to semi-detailed); Staring at another’s lips (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss, touch, & embrace (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Nearness, & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Blushes, Winks, & Butterflies; Jealousy; Noticing (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Landry says her husband got her pregnant on their honeymoon to be able to control her, *Spoiler* ; Callum asks if Landry’s husband forced himself on her and she says no; Landry says that she had to tiptoe around her husband and will not do that ever again for a man; A man offers Landry private lessons (innuendo); *Major Spoiler* ; A ‘bimbo’, a ‘hotties’, and two ‘baby’s; Mentions of kisses, kissing, & PDA (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of girlfriends, boyfriends, break-ups, exes, dates, & dating; Mentions of cheating, cheaters, & fathers leaving the mothers of their children; Mentions of flirting & flirts (including married men); Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of broken hearts; A few mentions of women watching handsome men working (making comments on their looks and wanting to meet them); A few mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of a married couple kissing; A mention of a possible illegitimate child; A mention of some people being related but not knowing it due to an affair (said that someone’s uncle “fooled around” with someone else’s aunt); A mention of a recently divorced man going on “long bimbo binge”; A mention of a fling; A mention of a couple sneaking around like teenagers so someone doesn’t know that they’re together; Love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of Callum’s aunts trying to set him up with a woman who was fourteen-years older than him; A mention of a child streaking through a baseball game.
-Landry Hutton, age 32
-Callum “Cal” Shaw
P.O.V. switches between them
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
This book took me completely by surprise. I’ve read a few other books by this author and enjoyed parts of different ones, but wasn’t sure about this book. I almost passed on this book because I wasn’t super interested in the plotline, but I’m glad I read it because I ended up really enjoyed it!
The romance was really cute, Cal was the best, and it was overall a really enjoyable read. Definitely way lighter suspense than I was expecting, but that was good too. There were little things here and there that I didn’t care for, but nothing super major.
Cal’s personality won me over the minute he appeared on page. He was fantastic. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in the suspense book before. He made the book for me.
I think I swooned when he prayed with her. Have I seen that before in Christian fiction suspense books? When the main girl is distraught over something that happened in the suspense plotline and he stops and asks if he can pray with her and then prays for her? How come we haven’t seen that more?! It was so sweet!
I did struggle to keep track of how everyone was related, the family feud in town, and all of those correlating elements, but I continued to read to hope that I could figure everything out. I did get really lost with the family trees and how everyone is related—a diagram of the main families‘ trees at the front of the book would’ve been super helpful! I did feel like I was almost jumping into the middle of a series or at least a very busy very active family life—make that three families!
The suspense element really didn’t kick in till right at the end about 85% into the book. There is a bit here and there, but not really much in that first majority of the entire book.
Don’t go in expecting a Lynette Eason or Lisa Harris suspense novel full of action, shoot outs, and car chases—because that’s definitely not this book.
This suspense book was unlike many other suspense books in many ways, but also because it actually covers a decent amount of time throughout the book. There are several chapters where it’s a few weeks later or several weeks later. Typically, I would get a little frustrated with that because I want to be all in our main characters lives and their interactions, but it worked really well for this book. Such as our main characters had discussions off page but then were told about them later when it’s important. I never felt like I was missing out.
I will say that I wasn’t a fan of the villains from Landry‘s past being Christians in the public eye but then being backstabbers in the private. That’s some thing I’ve seen more and more in Christian fiction is the so-called “Christians” that are actually the villains of the story. And I’m not liking seeing that as frequently as I have been seen it. I will say that it bothered me way less in this book compared to other recent reads because those characters weren’t on page causing mayhem or being terrible? We just hear about it from past events from Landry, so it didn’t bother me as much, shockingly.
Overall? This was a busy book with all the characters and trying to figure out how everyone is connected, but it had its really sweet moments and a bit of suspenseful ones as well. The faith content was a bit lighter than I would have preferred, but Cal praying for Landry and then little Eliza’s prayers made it good to me. It really was romance book with a touch of suspense, which I shockingly still enjoyed. (Shockingly because I typically like my suspense books to be heart-pounding suspenseful.) Because of mentions of Landry’s abusive husband, I would mark this book for ages 15/16+.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Revell) for this honest review.
February 23, 2024
This new series, Gossamer Falls, is looking to be a great one with this start in Never Fall Again. We met lots of characters, including three families, some of whom aren't on the best of terms. Landry and Bronwyn met in Arizona where Landry was a potter at a rehab center. Landry was in a bad marriage and when her husband died in an accident, Bronwyn invited Landry and her daughter Eliza to move to the mountains of North Carolina to work at her family's exclusive resort. We got a brief glimpse of The Haven, a resort for the rich and famous, in Under Fire, the third of the Defend and Protect series. Landry works with pottery at The Haven and is very popular. After three years, she has purchased land and is ready to build a house for Eliza and herself and that's when she meets Cal Shaw. Cal is part of the big family. The two are drawn together but with wounds from the past, they are cautious. When bad things happen at the resort, it soon becomes apparent, they are directed at Landry. Cal, Maisey, his golden retriever, and his family look after Landry and Eliza. This is a great story with a slow building romance and suspense that ramps up near the end of the story. It is heartwarming and sweet, sprinkled with faith.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.
March 30, 2025
Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn
5 BIG Stars!
Book 1 in the Gossamer Falls Series
BLOG POST WITH REVIEW GRAPHIC: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
From the moment I picked this book up, I was hooked! Really enjoyed the romance most of all. We have such emotional depth of Landry and Cal's journey together. Lynn H. Blackburn delivers a heartfelt blend of romance, suspense, healing and I loved it!
Landry is determined to rebuild her life with her daughter near Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. Her previous abusive relationship with her husband caused a lot of trauma for her and now that he is gone, she wanted to provide a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction on their new home. Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and wants a family of his own. When Landry comes in with her daughter, he grows close to them but due to circumstances of his past experiences, he feels like he needs to keep his distance. That's obviously not a possibility the more he gets to know them :)
But before Landry's home can be worked on, her pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. Someone is after them but who?
I loved the authenticity of the characters, Landry's resilience and Cal's protectiveness over them! IT WAS THE ROMANCE FOR MEEEE. Great side characters too. Definitely check this one out!
5 BIG Stars!
Book 1 in the Gossamer Falls Series
BLOG POST WITH REVIEW GRAPHIC: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
From the moment I picked this book up, I was hooked! Really enjoyed the romance most of all. We have such emotional depth of Landry and Cal's journey together. Lynn H. Blackburn delivers a heartfelt blend of romance, suspense, healing and I loved it!
Landry is determined to rebuild her life with her daughter near Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. Her previous abusive relationship with her husband caused a lot of trauma for her and now that he is gone, she wanted to provide a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction on their new home. Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and wants a family of his own. When Landry comes in with her daughter, he grows close to them but due to circumstances of his past experiences, he feels like he needs to keep his distance. That's obviously not a possibility the more he gets to know them :)
But before Landry's home can be worked on, her pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. Someone is after them but who?
I loved the authenticity of the characters, Landry's resilience and Cal's protectiveness over them! IT WAS THE ROMANCE FOR MEEEE. Great side characters too. Definitely check this one out!
March 15, 2024
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
NEVER FALL AGAIN (Gossamer Falls Book #1) by Lynn H. Blackburn is a wonderful start to a new Christian romantic suspense series. Set in small-town Gossamer Falls, North Carolina, this story features a slow burn romance with a focus on second chances, trust, and personal peril. This is a new-to-me author, and I am definitely going to check out her other books.
Landry Hutton is determined to give her five-year-old daughter, Eliza, a safe life after a not so happy marriage where she learns to be very hesitant around religious men. She has rebuilt her life as an artist -in-residence for the last three years at The Haven, an exclusive resort, and her pottery is prized by all. Landry is ready to have a home built for her and Eliza when her pottery shop goes up in flames. It is arson.
Callum “Cal” Shaw is a former Marine and now works with his two brothers in their construction company. When he is hired by Landry to build her home, he discovers Landry is everything he wants, but he keeps his distance due to his past. Before he starts work on her home, the pottery shop is destroyed. It becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in danger, but from whom? Can Callum protect Landry and Eliza without becoming even more involved in their lives?
This is a fantastic Christian romantic suspense that has a slow burn romance, two individuals trying to fight their attraction due to their pasts, a suspense plot that builds to an exciting resolution, and a faith focus that does not overpower. The author does an excellent job of introducing us to the main characters in Gossamer Falls that will be the focus of future books without going to in depth and losing focus from this book’s plot line. I was also very happy with the inclusion of Cal’s golden retriever, Maisey, who is instinctively an emotional support dog without formal training. This story exceeded every one of my expectations and I cannot wait for the next in the series.
I highly recommend this Christian romantic suspense!
NEVER FALL AGAIN (Gossamer Falls Book #1) by Lynn H. Blackburn is a wonderful start to a new Christian romantic suspense series. Set in small-town Gossamer Falls, North Carolina, this story features a slow burn romance with a focus on second chances, trust, and personal peril. This is a new-to-me author, and I am definitely going to check out her other books.
Landry Hutton is determined to give her five-year-old daughter, Eliza, a safe life after a not so happy marriage where she learns to be very hesitant around religious men. She has rebuilt her life as an artist -in-residence for the last three years at The Haven, an exclusive resort, and her pottery is prized by all. Landry is ready to have a home built for her and Eliza when her pottery shop goes up in flames. It is arson.
Callum “Cal” Shaw is a former Marine and now works with his two brothers in their construction company. When he is hired by Landry to build her home, he discovers Landry is everything he wants, but he keeps his distance due to his past. Before he starts work on her home, the pottery shop is destroyed. It becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in danger, but from whom? Can Callum protect Landry and Eliza without becoming even more involved in their lives?
This is a fantastic Christian romantic suspense that has a slow burn romance, two individuals trying to fight their attraction due to their pasts, a suspense plot that builds to an exciting resolution, and a faith focus that does not overpower. The author does an excellent job of introducing us to the main characters in Gossamer Falls that will be the focus of future books without going to in depth and losing focus from this book’s plot line. I was also very happy with the inclusion of Cal’s golden retriever, Maisey, who is instinctively an emotional support dog without formal training. This story exceeded every one of my expectations and I cannot wait for the next in the series.
I highly recommend this Christian romantic suspense!
April 9, 2024
I loved this story!!
April 10, 2024
I loved this novel by Lynn Blackburn that was a slow building suspense and a quick burning romance. Landry and Cal have reasons not to risk falling for each other, but and each thinks they are stuffed in a box. Landry has to focus on her daughter Eliza, and Cal has a wide community that needs him. When life keeps thrusting them together, they're determined to be good friends. Then things begin to happen at the Haven that make Landry's safety a big question. I loved this story and recommend it to readers who love a romance that has a wonderful community and a solid layer of mystery/suspense.
March 21, 2024
A new favorite by Lynn H Blackburn!
So much to love about this one...small town community, close family ties and a widow protecting her daughter. The suspense piece was realistic, but it was the romance that appealed to me more in this one. And the hints to future relationships have me in the real suspense. Look forward to the novella coming this fall.
My gratitude to publisher Revell for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
So much to love about this one...small town community, close family ties and a widow protecting her daughter. The suspense piece was realistic, but it was the romance that appealed to me more in this one. And the hints to future relationships have me in the real suspense. Look forward to the novella coming this fall.
My gratitude to publisher Revell for a complimentary copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
March 11, 2024
Come to Gossamer Falls! It’s a great place to visit, but a dangerous place to live.
Landry Hutton and her daughter Eliza have managed to stay hidden while they’ve rebuilt their lives at The Haven, an exclusive gated resort at Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. Lauren is the artist-in-residence and, after three years, has finally decided to put down roots and build a new home for her and Eliza. She hires Callum Shaw, a former Marine, to build her home but soon realizes that she needs to rely on him for more than her construction. Can he protect them? What about her heart? Should Laundry allow herself to risk heartbreak or should she just stay away from men?
You’ll love the setting:
Gossamer Falls, an hour out of Asheville, has been home to a sprawling yet closely-knit Quinn family for over one hundred years. Blackburn’s examination of their family dynamics shows them with all their bumps and bruises, but still fiercely loyal and with enough love to share with others. She crafts each family member so uniquely that it isn’t difficult to keep them straight. The sheltering they provide allows Lauren to grow and trust.
You’ll love the characters:
Cal has a degree in construction management, has served his country as a Marine, and has a soft, tender heart that is afraid to love again. He wants to distance himself from Landry, but when a mysterious fire ruins everything, he realizes that they need each other. His cousins have Cal’s best interests at heart and aren’t as blind to love. Perhaps they don’t know his reasons for protecting his heart…
Dog lovers: there's a three-year-old Golden Retriever named Maisy
Faith focus: “Her faith in God wasn’t an issue. Her faith in people who claimed to know God? That was an issue.”
Lauren learns that God doesn’t change, but people do, and sometimes not for the best. The author examines Lauren’s lack of trust and readers watch her grow.
This small-town romantic suspense is focused on family dynamics, second chances, trust, and overcoming hurdles. It’s a fantastic start to what will be a great series.
Is love worth the risk? At what cost? You need to find out for yourself!
I was gifted this copy by Revell and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Landry Hutton and her daughter Eliza have managed to stay hidden while they’ve rebuilt their lives at The Haven, an exclusive gated resort at Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. Lauren is the artist-in-residence and, after three years, has finally decided to put down roots and build a new home for her and Eliza. She hires Callum Shaw, a former Marine, to build her home but soon realizes that she needs to rely on him for more than her construction. Can he protect them? What about her heart? Should Laundry allow herself to risk heartbreak or should she just stay away from men?
You’ll love the setting:
Gossamer Falls, an hour out of Asheville, has been home to a sprawling yet closely-knit Quinn family for over one hundred years. Blackburn’s examination of their family dynamics shows them with all their bumps and bruises, but still fiercely loyal and with enough love to share with others. She crafts each family member so uniquely that it isn’t difficult to keep them straight. The sheltering they provide allows Lauren to grow and trust.
You’ll love the characters:
Cal has a degree in construction management, has served his country as a Marine, and has a soft, tender heart that is afraid to love again. He wants to distance himself from Landry, but when a mysterious fire ruins everything, he realizes that they need each other. His cousins have Cal’s best interests at heart and aren’t as blind to love. Perhaps they don’t know his reasons for protecting his heart…
Dog lovers: there's a three-year-old Golden Retriever named Maisy
Faith focus: “Her faith in God wasn’t an issue. Her faith in people who claimed to know God? That was an issue.”
Lauren learns that God doesn’t change, but people do, and sometimes not for the best. The author examines Lauren’s lack of trust and readers watch her grow.
This small-town romantic suspense is focused on family dynamics, second chances, trust, and overcoming hurdles. It’s a fantastic start to what will be a great series.
Is love worth the risk? At what cost? You need to find out for yourself!
I was gifted this copy by Revell and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 27, 2024
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
4.5 stars!
An excellent start to the Gossamer Falls series!
The characters were my favorite part of this novel. Callum and Landry were both sympathetic and so well-developed. The side characters (even though I had trouble figuring them all out in the beginning because there were a lot of them) were great as well.
The plot had plenty of suspenseful and relationship-building moments to keep me flipping pages. The pacing was a little different than your typical romantic suspense book (there was a little more focus on character development), and I really enjoyed it. I appreciated that Lynn H. Blackburn kept both the romance and the language clean, and I liked that the characters trusted God. I'm excited for the next book in the series!
Overall, Never Fall Again was an exciting read with lovable characters that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction and romantic suspense.
4.5 stars!
An excellent start to the Gossamer Falls series!
The characters were my favorite part of this novel. Callum and Landry were both sympathetic and so well-developed. The side characters (even though I had trouble figuring them all out in the beginning because there were a lot of them) were great as well.
The plot had plenty of suspenseful and relationship-building moments to keep me flipping pages. The pacing was a little different than your typical romantic suspense book (there was a little more focus on character development), and I really enjoyed it. I appreciated that Lynn H. Blackburn kept both the romance and the language clean, and I liked that the characters trusted God. I'm excited for the next book in the series!
Overall, Never Fall Again was an exciting read with lovable characters that I'd recommend to those who enjoy Christian fiction and romantic suspense.
March 27, 2025
4.75 stars
Loved this way more than I thought I would! Knocked it down from a 5 star due to some of the dialogue being confusing. I struggled to figure out who was saying what sometimes.
Loved this way more than I thought I would! Knocked it down from a 5 star due to some of the dialogue being confusing. I struggled to figure out who was saying what sometimes.
April 3, 2024
Holey moley, I loved this! Landry was an amazing character, and I really resonated with her story in a very personal way, plus; her daughter was literally the perfect kid to have in a book! The way Callum adopted them into his family was probably my fav part of the story. He was so sweet! I loved the found family elements and the comradery between the friends, family, and cousins. Whenever people referred to Landry and Eliza as "his girls", and he was all in denial about it; I was thinking, "yeah right!" like everyone else. Compared to other suspense books I've read, this was more character/romance focused with the characters having a lotta tea to spill making it more of a "cozy" suspense, but still with action, if that makes sense. I really liked this and thought it was sweet especially with the small town Southern vibes. That ending was so sick (the creepy and the cool kind) tho, I kept saying, "What the heck?". Didn't see it coming!! Some of the other highlights for me were Cal's dog, Maisy, the characters' backstories, and the faith- when Cal prayed with Landry?! GOALS!!! 👏 The adorable tension between Cal and Landry as they both began to trust each other was awesome to read! I very much look forward to further books in this series as the characters were all very intriguing, and I'd love to learn more about them!
March 8, 2024
Never Fall Again is the first book in a new series by @lynnhblackburn. I was hooked from the first page. The book is set in the mountains of North Carolina in a town called Gossamer Falls. (The name of the series)
The heroine is a single mom who will do anything to keep her precious daughter Eliza safe. The hero, who has vowed never to fall for a single mom again, has let them infiltrate his heart. There are quite a few characters to remember, but it didn't bother me because all of them are so likable. There is mystery, suspense, and romance. This book has it all. I really enjoyed it! I look forward to the continuation of the series!!
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
The heroine is a single mom who will do anything to keep her precious daughter Eliza safe. The hero, who has vowed never to fall for a single mom again, has let them infiltrate his heart. There are quite a few characters to remember, but it didn't bother me because all of them are so likable. There is mystery, suspense, and romance. This book has it all. I really enjoyed it! I look forward to the continuation of the series!!
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
October 23, 2024
Rating: 2 Stars.
Steam: 0 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
This book has 0% smut. I noticed that books with smut were getting tiresome for me so I chose a clean book. I'm going to be honest in this review (not that I'm not in the others), I was in my room, in bed, with my eyes closed trying to relax a bit while listening to the audiobook and at one point I thought: let's see how far along I am, this must be almost over... I was at 15%...
Honestly I didn't see how the story could go on for another 9:39...
This is my first dnf in a long time.
Steam: 0 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
This book has 0% smut. I noticed that books with smut were getting tiresome for me so I chose a clean book. I'm going to be honest in this review (not that I'm not in the others), I was in my room, in bed, with my eyes closed trying to relax a bit while listening to the audiobook and at one point I thought: let's see how far along I am, this must be almost over... I was at 15%...
Honestly I didn't see how the story could go on for another 9:39...
This is my first dnf in a long time.
March 12, 2024
Lynn H Blackburn never fails me. I know when I open her book, I'll be hooked from the very first sentence (I was). I know that I'll get a heroine I can sympathize with (I did) and that the hero will be swoonworthy (double check). What I loved about Gossamer Falls was the cast of characters, the wounds the hero and heroine had to grow from, and did I mention the cast of characters?! I'm so happy this is book one in a new series because I cannot wait to read the rest of the books. This was an all-nighter read and I'm not sad about the sleep I missed.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.
April 8, 2024
4.5 stars- I enjoyed this immensely. The author has such a natural way of writing, it feels genuine. Things that I loved about this story - setting (NC mountains), huge family/ extended family, the cousin friendships and interactions, family group text, the cousin group all living near each other, small town feel/drama, great dialogue, open and quick communication, no third act breakup—- ALL of this I totally LOVED about this book. Cal was so special. The side characters were fabulous — and MO..I can’t wait for his story.
So for about 90% of this story, I definitely planned on giving it five stars. Unfortunately, what got me was the way the suspense aspect of the story wrapped up.
First off,the suspense part was VERY mild. It almost felt like a side story. Which I was totally ok with. I adored the book even without the suspense. Even so, the suspense was an added bonus for me. Until the end. Then I was a bit disappointed. We are given the conclusion, we see the characters escape safely from the bad-guy, but then he’s basically never mentioned again. We get no information about HOW he pulled off the events, WHY he did it, WHAT happens to him afterwards? It felt like the mystery conclusion was a bit rushed. And as a mystery loving, true-crime listening girl, I REALLY needed those loose ends tied up. I need to know why and how and what. I need the juicy details. So that’s what kept it from being 5 stars for me.
But honestly, otherwise, it’s a fabulous book. I would have read it even without the suspense and totally loved it. The characters, the setting, the dialogue, the relationships— all absolute perfection. Top tier. I would eat up a series that focused on those aspects entirely!
Anyway, overall I REALLY enjoyed this. I would highly recommend!
** The publisher provided me a copy to honestly read and review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
So for about 90% of this story, I definitely planned on giving it five stars. Unfortunately, what got me was the way the suspense aspect of the story wrapped up.
First off,the suspense part was VERY mild. It almost felt like a side story. Which I was totally ok with. I adored the book even without the suspense. Even so, the suspense was an added bonus for me. Until the end. Then I was a bit disappointed. We are given the conclusion, we see the characters escape safely from the bad-guy, but then he’s basically never mentioned again. We get no information about HOW he pulled off the events, WHY he did it, WHAT happens to him afterwards? It felt like the mystery conclusion was a bit rushed. And as a mystery loving, true-crime listening girl, I REALLY needed those loose ends tied up. I need to know why and how and what. I need the juicy details. So that’s what kept it from being 5 stars for me.
But honestly, otherwise, it’s a fabulous book. I would have read it even without the suspense and totally loved it. The characters, the setting, the dialogue, the relationships— all absolute perfection. Top tier. I would eat up a series that focused on those aspects entirely!
Anyway, overall I REALLY enjoyed this. I would highly recommend!
** The publisher provided me a copy to honestly read and review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 17, 2024
Pardon me for a minute while I just sit here and keep grinning over how much I loved this book. In fact, I haven’t stopped grinning besottedly since I finished reading Never Fall Again, and I’m not sure how in the world I’m going to wait for book two because I want to immediately be back with these characters.
Landry and her adorable daughter Eliza are immediately likable, and the blurry glimpses we’re given at first of their complex backstory just drew me in even further. I wanted to know what had happened to make Landry feel like she had to keep looking over her shoulder, and as the danger begins to ramp up in the second half of the book I was completely invested in figuring it out to keep them safe. (As though I could do anything to help her, considering she’s a fictional character in a book that’s already been written & not by me… but still LOL) Landry’s personality is engaging and warm, and my favorite moments were when she was teasing Cal and even through the pages you can picture her whole face lighting up.
And then there’s Cal …. blissful smitten sigh. Cal is a former Marine, baby of the family but all man, flirty, bighearted, and protective. Has a gorgeous smile (which he uses often) – “one that reached his eyes and hid nothing” – and loves Jesus, his dog (the fabulously sweet Maisy whom I also loved) & his family. His big, crazy, hilarious, boisterous, loving family who I fell head over heels with just as easily as I fell for Cal. One of my favorite types of romance heroes is the one who suddenly realizes that, despite his best intentions to the contrary, his heart is now completely spoken for. Oh how I adored watching that happen to Cal, watching him fight unsuccessfully against falling in love with Landry and Eliza only to concede defeat. (And I very much enjoyed his family and crew realizing it before he did.) Once his walls are down, have mercy! And this sentence – “Cal kissed like it was his mission and failure wasn’t an option” – still has me fanning.
Bottom Line: My first trip to Gossamer Falls, on the pages of Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn, is one that will have me coming back to visit again and again. I loved the main & supporting characters so much that I can’t quit smiling about them, the romance between Cal & Landry is all kinds of swoony, and the suspense (though it doesn’t ramp up until the last few chapters) is riveting. Blackburn brilliantly sets up the rest of the series by giving us hints of romantic tension & complicated histories for several of Cal’s extended family, and I can’t wait to see where these relationships go next. This will easily be one of my fave reads of 2024, and I highly recommend it for your next read, too!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Landry and her adorable daughter Eliza are immediately likable, and the blurry glimpses we’re given at first of their complex backstory just drew me in even further. I wanted to know what had happened to make Landry feel like she had to keep looking over her shoulder, and as the danger begins to ramp up in the second half of the book I was completely invested in figuring it out to keep them safe. (As though I could do anything to help her, considering she’s a fictional character in a book that’s already been written & not by me… but still LOL) Landry’s personality is engaging and warm, and my favorite moments were when she was teasing Cal and even through the pages you can picture her whole face lighting up.
And then there’s Cal …. blissful smitten sigh. Cal is a former Marine, baby of the family but all man, flirty, bighearted, and protective. Has a gorgeous smile (which he uses often) – “one that reached his eyes and hid nothing” – and loves Jesus, his dog (the fabulously sweet Maisy whom I also loved) & his family. His big, crazy, hilarious, boisterous, loving family who I fell head over heels with just as easily as I fell for Cal. One of my favorite types of romance heroes is the one who suddenly realizes that, despite his best intentions to the contrary, his heart is now completely spoken for. Oh how I adored watching that happen to Cal, watching him fight unsuccessfully against falling in love with Landry and Eliza only to concede defeat. (And I very much enjoyed his family and crew realizing it before he did.) Once his walls are down, have mercy! And this sentence – “Cal kissed like it was his mission and failure wasn’t an option” – still has me fanning.
Bottom Line: My first trip to Gossamer Falls, on the pages of Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn, is one that will have me coming back to visit again and again. I loved the main & supporting characters so much that I can’t quit smiling about them, the romance between Cal & Landry is all kinds of swoony, and the suspense (though it doesn’t ramp up until the last few chapters) is riveting. Blackburn brilliantly sets up the rest of the series by giving us hints of romantic tension & complicated histories for several of Cal’s extended family, and I can’t wait to see where these relationships go next. This will easily be one of my fave reads of 2024, and I highly recommend it for your next read, too!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
February 3, 2024
This new title from Lynn Blackburn is a story about a young mother in hiding with the support of a close friend. She settles into a new life at Grossamer Falls, working as an art instructor at a prestigious ranch popular among celebrities. Threats to her livelihood mount and though he's building her house, he's also a former marine with the desire to see her and her daughter protected.
In a town with deep family history, there's a lot of backstory alluded to and whole host of side characters to learn. I found the beginning slow, they each have hurt and trauma in their past that's affecting their present and their connection spurs them on to sorting through it. One of the themes is trust and what happens when someone portrays themselves as a Christian only to discover later that they aren't interested in a godly life so much as they are the title and appearance. This is confusing and heartbreaking. But there is hope in Christ, and you see the characters lean on him.
*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and for the opportunity to post an honest review.
In a town with deep family history, there's a lot of backstory alluded to and whole host of side characters to learn. I found the beginning slow, they each have hurt and trauma in their past that's affecting their present and their connection spurs them on to sorting through it. One of the themes is trust and what happens when someone portrays themselves as a Christian only to discover later that they aren't interested in a godly life so much as they are the title and appearance. This is confusing and heartbreaking. But there is hope in Christ, and you see the characters lean on him.
*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and for the opportunity to post an honest review.
December 18, 2025
Totally 5 star read and now I am TOTALLY invested in this series! Lynn has written a romantic suspense that has the best balance of romance, suspense and mystery that I could not solve! I Loved this!
Landry is finally ready to put down roots and has hired Callum to build her house. But as she gets closer to her dream home, suspicious events keep happening and it seems she's at risk. While she and Callum are both not looking for love, they can't ignore the chemistry between them, and as the risk to Landry and her daughter Eliza gets closer... their feelings only continue to grow. Callum feels even more protective ,but now it's not only as a friend, he's finding himself wanting something more, if only he could keep them safe long enough that he and Landry can discuss taking that next step.
Gosh, I loved this! So, so good! It felt like instant chemistry from the start, but given their pasts, I understood their caution. That didn't mean I wasn't waiting on that moment when they would throw caution to the wind, lol. I need to go hunt down the novella next, so I can follow Cassie and Donovan's story!
Landry is finally ready to put down roots and has hired Callum to build her house. But as she gets closer to her dream home, suspicious events keep happening and it seems she's at risk. While she and Callum are both not looking for love, they can't ignore the chemistry between them, and as the risk to Landry and her daughter Eliza gets closer... their feelings only continue to grow. Callum feels even more protective ,but now it's not only as a friend, he's finding himself wanting something more, if only he could keep them safe long enough that he and Landry can discuss taking that next step.
Gosh, I loved this! So, so good! It felt like instant chemistry from the start, but given their pasts, I understood their caution. That didn't mean I wasn't waiting on that moment when they would throw caution to the wind, lol. I need to go hunt down the novella next, so I can follow Cassie and Donovan's story!
March 25, 2025
Much more romance than suspense, but I quickly grew to love the main characters that I found I didn't care that the suspense was lacking. There were a lot of people mentioned that at the beginning that it was a little overwhelming to keep track of, but as I got further into the story I found it easier. I loved Cal from the moment we met him and the way his immediate family supported and teased was wonderful. I loved that he asked Landry if he could pray for her in the middle of a frightening situation. Someone appears to be targeting Landry and her daughter, but why? And can they catch this person before either get hurt? I was fully invested in this story. I can't wait for the next book to see more of these characters and get to know some of the side characters better.
February 1, 2024
Oh SO good!! I loved this first story in a new series by one of my favorite suspense authors. Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go from the first line to the last.
"Landry Hutton didn't believe dreams came true anymore." She fled her previous life and made a new life for herself and her sweet 5 year old daughter Eliza in a rather remote place in North Carolina. She is an artist whose beautiful pottery brings in a pretty penny.
She was invited to Gossamer Falls by her closest friend Bronwyn Pierce who hires Landry and encourages her to settle here permanently. Landry wants to give Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and on Bronwyn's recommendation hires former Marine Cal Shaw to handle the construction for her new home. Have you seen a picture of him on the author's social media? He's so handsome, AND he has an amazing golden retriever. What is not to love? Except that Cal has a history of being hurt by a relationship with a single mother, and has vowed never to do that again.
I love the Shaw family and their humor, and how they don't hesitate to welcome people into their fold. I cannot wait to read more about them in the next installment!
The suspense that unfolds kept me guessing who the culprit was until the very end!
I highly recommend Never Fall Again to lovers of romantic suspense. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this story, I know I did!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.
"Landry Hutton didn't believe dreams came true anymore." She fled her previous life and made a new life for herself and her sweet 5 year old daughter Eliza in a rather remote place in North Carolina. She is an artist whose beautiful pottery brings in a pretty penny.
She was invited to Gossamer Falls by her closest friend Bronwyn Pierce who hires Landry and encourages her to settle here permanently. Landry wants to give Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and on Bronwyn's recommendation hires former Marine Cal Shaw to handle the construction for her new home. Have you seen a picture of him on the author's social media? He's so handsome, AND he has an amazing golden retriever. What is not to love? Except that Cal has a history of being hurt by a relationship with a single mother, and has vowed never to do that again.
I love the Shaw family and their humor, and how they don't hesitate to welcome people into their fold. I cannot wait to read more about them in the next installment!
The suspense that unfolds kept me guessing who the culprit was until the very end!
I highly recommend Never Fall Again to lovers of romantic suspense. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this story, I know I did!
Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.
August 14, 2024
Are you for real? I’m dead. I am DECEASED. This book was so good. Friends to lovers at its finest. Mild suspense and excellent romance. I’m in love with Gossamer Falls. Everyone is perfect. Everything was perfect. I am going to devour this whole series
March 17, 2024
What a great start to a new series by Lynn H. Blackburn! Never Fall Again had a little bit of everything, romance, humor, suspense, faith, and a whole bunch of endearing characters. It’s set in Gossamer Falls, North Carolina, a small resort town popular among celebrities that could be a piece of heaven, except for the underlying family feuds.
Landry Hutton has just moved here with her small daughter Eliza hoping for a new start after her abusive husband’s death. As a talented potter at the Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of town, she’s managed to save enough money to build a home and hires one of the town’s favorite sons and former marine Cal Shaw to manage the construction. Someone though doesn’t want her to put down permanent roots. Could it be her former husband’s family, neighboring property owners, or someone else?
This book surprised me in a good way. I found myself fully drawn in to this small town with all the engaging, quirky residents and underlying tensions. I loved Cal’s grandma, Mo, Bronwyn, and Cal’s darling golden retriever Maisy. There’re a lot of people to keep track of at first, but I found things became clearer as the story progressed. Someone mentioned having a family tree at the beginning and I think that would be amazing, just to keep everyone straight.
Loved Cal and Landry! Both have past hurts making them leery of a relationship. I loved their slow burn romance and how it grew through shared experiences and service. Cal has a funny sense of humor and I loved seeing that throughout. Landry tends to get flustered around him and produces funny word salads as a result. Though attracted to him, she’s understandably hesitant and wants to put her daughter first. I loved Cal’s genuine kindness and how he and his family completely took Landry and Eliza in and made them feel instantly cared for.
The suspense is a slow burn mystery that really ratchets up at the end. I liked that the author took the time to lay the foundation of the series giving more insight into characters and family dynamics instead of just non-stop action. There’re instances of sabotage of Landry’s work and livelihood which build to an exciting, nail-biting conclusion. The suspect was a bit of a surprise with a few red herrings along the way. I also appreciated how faith was deftly woven in throughout the story.
Definitely recommend this to romantic suspense fans! Looking forward to the next book in the series! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars!
Landry Hutton has just moved here with her small daughter Eliza hoping for a new start after her abusive husband’s death. As a talented potter at the Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of town, she’s managed to save enough money to build a home and hires one of the town’s favorite sons and former marine Cal Shaw to manage the construction. Someone though doesn’t want her to put down permanent roots. Could it be her former husband’s family, neighboring property owners, or someone else?
This book surprised me in a good way. I found myself fully drawn in to this small town with all the engaging, quirky residents and underlying tensions. I loved Cal’s grandma, Mo, Bronwyn, and Cal’s darling golden retriever Maisy. There’re a lot of people to keep track of at first, but I found things became clearer as the story progressed. Someone mentioned having a family tree at the beginning and I think that would be amazing, just to keep everyone straight.
Loved Cal and Landry! Both have past hurts making them leery of a relationship. I loved their slow burn romance and how it grew through shared experiences and service. Cal has a funny sense of humor and I loved seeing that throughout. Landry tends to get flustered around him and produces funny word salads as a result. Though attracted to him, she’s understandably hesitant and wants to put her daughter first. I loved Cal’s genuine kindness and how he and his family completely took Landry and Eliza in and made them feel instantly cared for.
The suspense is a slow burn mystery that really ratchets up at the end. I liked that the author took the time to lay the foundation of the series giving more insight into characters and family dynamics instead of just non-stop action. There’re instances of sabotage of Landry’s work and livelihood which build to an exciting, nail-biting conclusion. The suspect was a bit of a surprise with a few red herrings along the way. I also appreciated how faith was deftly woven in throughout the story.
Definitely recommend this to romantic suspense fans! Looking forward to the next book in the series! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided. 4-4.5 stars!
March 6, 2024
What a wonderful setting is Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. It is a small town with interwoven families, beautiful scenery and an exclusive resort. I loved the Quinn family and the dynamics of brothers Cal, Conner and Chad Shaw. They are owners of a construction company and the interactions with cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, where everyone in the small town is so connected could be confusing, but it was so much fun!
Landry Hutton is a potter and art teacher at The Haven resort and is hiding from her past with her 5 year old daughter, Eliza. When a fire and vandalism disrupt her life, ex Marine Cal Shaw steps in and his whole family, including his dog, Maisey, are there to comfort Landry. I like the way Cal is drawn to Landry and wants to protect her. His interaction with Eliza shows he is good Dad material.
This story was very suspenseful and also very romantic. I did not want to put the book down! I look forward to the next book in the series because there are hints at several matchups in the making.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through PICT tours, Interviews and Reviews and Netgalley. I was not required to post a positive review. All opinions are mine alone.*
Landry Hutton is a potter and art teacher at The Haven resort and is hiding from her past with her 5 year old daughter, Eliza. When a fire and vandalism disrupt her life, ex Marine Cal Shaw steps in and his whole family, including his dog, Maisey, are there to comfort Landry. I like the way Cal is drawn to Landry and wants to protect her. His interaction with Eliza shows he is good Dad material.
This story was very suspenseful and also very romantic. I did not want to put the book down! I look forward to the next book in the series because there are hints at several matchups in the making.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through PICT tours, Interviews and Reviews and Netgalley. I was not required to post a positive review. All opinions are mine alone.*
March 17, 2024
Having read and being a fan of this author’s past work, I was expecting a bit more suspense in this story. For me, this felt more like a romance with a bit of suspense, than suspense with a bit of romance, which was what I had been expecting.
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this story and meeting all the various members of the Quinn family.
I could understand how both Landry and Cal, due to past hurts, made the decisions they had, but it was also fun to see how the heart knew and risked before their heads followed suit.
Sweet Eliza was an adorable 5-year-old, and I enjoyed all the fun scenes with her, especially with the grump Mo (whose story I desperately want to read).
The suspense did come at the end, and when it did, it was full force nail biting with a twisted mind behind everything.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this story and meeting all the various members of the Quinn family.
I could understand how both Landry and Cal, due to past hurts, made the decisions they had, but it was also fun to see how the heart knew and risked before their heads followed suit.
Sweet Eliza was an adorable 5-year-old, and I enjoyed all the fun scenes with her, especially with the grump Mo (whose story I desperately want to read).
The suspense did come at the end, and when it did, it was full force nail biting with a twisted mind behind everything.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*
April 3, 2024
I just have to start off by saying that this review is biased simply because I have an OBSESSION with the trope where someone falls in love with a single parent and their child. It speaks to the sweet heart of adoption and parenthood that is in us all and this book stood out to me as a highly enjoyable read from that perspective.
If you are looking for a sweet, clean, light romance that’s fast paced, easy to read and has a side of suspense and danger, then this book is for you! I read it super fast and really enjoyed getting to know the characters.
The small town vibes, large extended family, village feuds and all of the friendship dynamics that this first book of the series setup is something that made me enjoy it all the more. I found myself getting a bit misty eyed as the thought of my dreams for my family being something similar to what our MMC had in this book filled my heart while reading.
It’s not the most suspenseful and thrill seeking book out there but I adored the change of pace and the more laid back aspect of the mystery itself. It wasn’t in your face and it allowed the characters to shine through, the pov characters shining and the side characters to influence and spark interest over who the next book in the series might be about.
As far as content goes, the romance was QUITE fast.
If you are looking for a sweet, clean, light romance that’s fast paced, easy to read and has a side of suspense and danger, then this book is for you! I read it super fast and really enjoyed getting to know the characters.
The small town vibes, large extended family, village feuds and all of the friendship dynamics that this first book of the series setup is something that made me enjoy it all the more. I found myself getting a bit misty eyed as the thought of my dreams for my family being something similar to what our MMC had in this book filled my heart while reading.
It’s not the most suspenseful and thrill seeking book out there but I adored the change of pace and the more laid back aspect of the mystery itself. It wasn’t in your face and it allowed the characters to shine through, the pov characters shining and the side characters to influence and spark interest over who the next book in the series might be about.
As far as content goes, the romance was QUITE fast.
June 10, 2025
I really enjoyed this start to the Gossamer Falls series. I loved the small town, the strong family ties, and the romance. I did find it slow at times, and found it pretty light on the suspense. All in all, though, it was a great read and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
March 12, 2024
"Secrets bring despair. Surprises bring delight."
I love Lynn H Blackburn's writing and have been waiting anxiously for this new series to begin. Gossamer Falls is my kind of town - small, tightly-knit, and absolutely gorgeous. Cal's family is my kind of family, too - large but tightly-knit, a little crazy but fiercely loyal and loving. This first book of the series introduces many characters and lays the groundwork for the series. Though there are a lot of Quinn family members, it's not difficult at all to keep them straight because they're all so unique. I loved Cal and his steadfast protectiveness and his soft, tender heart. His interactions with little Eliza totally stole the show. Landry was easy to love and understand, especially her mama's heart.
There was less suspense and action in the book than I expected but I really enjoyed the character-building and world-building in the book. I can envision myself in one of the tiny houses on the river, hanging out with Cal and his cousins. Gossamer Falls and its people have completely captivated me and I can't wait to go back.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
I love Lynn H Blackburn's writing and have been waiting anxiously for this new series to begin. Gossamer Falls is my kind of town - small, tightly-knit, and absolutely gorgeous. Cal's family is my kind of family, too - large but tightly-knit, a little crazy but fiercely loyal and loving. This first book of the series introduces many characters and lays the groundwork for the series. Though there are a lot of Quinn family members, it's not difficult at all to keep them straight because they're all so unique. I loved Cal and his steadfast protectiveness and his soft, tender heart. His interactions with little Eliza totally stole the show. Landry was easy to love and understand, especially her mama's heart.
There was less suspense and action in the book than I expected but I really enjoyed the character-building and world-building in the book. I can envision myself in one of the tiny houses on the river, hanging out with Cal and his cousins. Gossamer Falls and its people have completely captivated me and I can't wait to go back.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
March 24, 2024
Never Fall Again by Lynn H Blackburn sets the stage for what promises to be an amazing series. Readers get to meet the characters of Gossamer Falls, with longstanding family rivalries that makes me think of the Hatfields and Mcoys. In a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business, Landry Hutton tries to remain anonymous. But someone is out to get her, and she turns to Callum Shaw for help.
This story isn’t a high-action, full-speed-ahead on every page kind of novel (which I love), but that didn’t stop me from being totally engrossed in the story. With lots of red herrings and danger, the story focuses more on Callum and Landry. Both have past relationship issues to deal with, but everyone knows they were meant for each other. And, for all the suspense junkies out there, don’t worry, the ending is a doozy – it’s dripping with plot twists and excitement! Blackburn has a nice balance of romance with threads of danger woven tightly together throughout the story, propelling the reader to an epic finale. I think this is going to be a fantastic series!
I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This story isn’t a high-action, full-speed-ahead on every page kind of novel (which I love), but that didn’t stop me from being totally engrossed in the story. With lots of red herrings and danger, the story focuses more on Callum and Landry. Both have past relationship issues to deal with, but everyone knows they were meant for each other. And, for all the suspense junkies out there, don’t worry, the ending is a doozy – it’s dripping with plot twists and excitement! Blackburn has a nice balance of romance with threads of danger woven tightly together throughout the story, propelling the reader to an epic finale. I think this is going to be a fantastic series!
I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
November 9, 2024
I have to confess this was different than I was expecting but not in a bad way! 🙈 I thought this was going to be another high-octane, guns blazing suspense book, instead it was more of a slow-burning bonfire. You know something big happening, details are slowly unraveling, pasts are brought to light, but bullets aren’t flying or bombs exploding every chapter. I loved it!
I fell under the spell of this charming Southern small town that loves big and takes hospitality seriously even if it has its own version of a Hatfield-McCoy feud going on. The array of side characters was honestly one of my favourite things!
Landry & Eliza were precious. Eliza is a well-written child—real without being annoying. And Landry’s deep-seated fears gave her a relatability. Also her pottery work is so cool! Cal was… wow. A retired Marine mountain man who is serious in his protection of those he cares about and prays over the woman he loves when she’s scared out of her mind. Yup, he’s a keeper. And he has an adorable Golden Retirver, folks. A walking green flag.
I loved that this was suspense but not murder-y suspense. More of a mystery really. But we get so much town supportiveness, domestic moments, and kid cuteness!
I fell under the spell of this charming Southern small town that loves big and takes hospitality seriously even if it has its own version of a Hatfield-McCoy feud going on. The array of side characters was honestly one of my favourite things!
Landry & Eliza were precious. Eliza is a well-written child—real without being annoying. And Landry’s deep-seated fears gave her a relatability. Also her pottery work is so cool! Cal was… wow. A retired Marine mountain man who is serious in his protection of those he cares about and prays over the woman he loves when she’s scared out of her mind. Yup, he’s a keeper. And he has an adorable Golden Retirver, folks. A walking green flag.
I loved that this was suspense but not murder-y suspense. More of a mystery really. But we get so much town supportiveness, domestic moments, and kid cuteness!
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