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Hidden Falls #2

Dare to Fall

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Emma Jordan has returned home after her father’s death to run the animal sanctuary that had been his legacy. But strange things start happening, and it seems that someone is out to shut her down, someone who doesn’t mind putting lives in jeopardy to see it through. When Hidden Falls’ sexiest fireman starts to ask questions, Emma needs to make sure his charm doesn’t distract her from keeping her dreams alive.

Ben McQuaid has an obligation as a local fireman to protect the community, even from a well-meaning wildlife veterinarian who’s in way over her head. But, it’s becoming hard to keep his loyalty to the town and his desire for the pretty vet separate. As Ben and Emma become caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, their feelings for each other are growing.

Will they let duty drive them apart or will they dare to fall?

339 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2017

21 people are currently reading
170 people want to read

About the author

T.J. Kline

26 books437 followers
T.J. Kline has been making up stories since she was old enough to talk and put her first into book form when she was ten.

Since then, she has always loved a HEA and a good thriller. When life introduced her to horses and rodeos, she knew she'd found her calling writing contemporary small-town romances filled with love, drama and, of course, cowboys.

She currently lives in the foothills outside Yosemite National Park with the love of her life, adoring her three grown children from afar and enjoying her three horses, four dogs, five cats and a noisy bunch of hens.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
Profile Image for Sabrina.
4,306 reviews2,394 followers
February 7, 2017


Daring to Fall is my first read from T.J Kline and I can honestly say that it will not be my last. Her writing was captivating and romantic, and these characters are not ones I'll be forgetting about any time soon. Their story wasn't overly involved in just their relationship but that's what I found so amazing. Ben and Emma had a lot more going on then just what was between them, which kept this book engaging so it didn't bother me at all that their relationship didn't seem to be the main focus.

The author also throws a little suspense into the mix and has you guessing what's going to happen by the end. I really liked that the mystery was more of a backstory that kept me involved in the story, but didn't get in the way of everything else going on.

A lot of the focus was on Emma trying to keep her fathers animal sanctuary afloat and it was great to see the strength she had in order to do that. But don't worry, there is still a lot of Emma and Ben involved in the book so all romance lovers will be very happy with that. Bottom line, this is definitely a recommend from me.
Copy kindly provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for The Book Junkie Reads . . ..
5,016 reviews154 followers
February 1, 2017
The price of a dream can be pretty high at times, but would a life be too much to pay for a dream that has a chance to come true soon? Emma has a chance to make all her dreams come true but there was someone out there that did not share her dream. That someone was wreaking havoc and threating the very existence of her dream. The suspense and mystery surrounding the danger of working to keep the sanctuary up and running keeps the story moving forward and the depth of involvement between Ben and Emma moving forward also.

The writing was just what sets the stage for a romance with suspense with a hint of drama and mystery to spice things up even more. Realistically the drama of the mystery outweighed the romance but did not shove it in a corner. I LOVED that there was depth to this read. There was something more to bind Ben and Emma besides physical attraction and jumping straight in.

I very much enjoyed returning to Hidden Falls. This time things were amped up. The intrigue around who and why someone would want to hurt the animal sanctuary. Why now? Ben and Emma pulled off the building relationship with class. They were equally intrigue with each other but not to the point everything else suffered. Ben had me in his palms early on, no doubt. It took a bit for Emma to gain equal footing. T.J. Kline has herself a great addition to the Hidden Falls series. Thank you.
Profile Image for Books and Spoons.
1,612 reviews32 followers
January 22, 2017
A complicated, slow building romance, one animal sanctuary filled with wildlife, and something suspicious lurking around the sanctuary feeding the town with falls information and setting Emma's business to fall. The author invites the readers to the front and center first-row seats to be mesmerised by the movie like scenes flowing of the pages and alluring the mind.
The unique setting of the wildlife sanctuary was a great learning experience. The details of the care and treatment of the different animals and the management of the place were depicted to the point. The smear campaign against Emma and the sanctuary brought additional mystique, danger, and suspense into the story adding a great deal to the plot and its twists.
Ben McQuaid is one of the truly 'good-guys'. He is kind, considerate, protective, he doesn't understand the lure of a one night stands or sex without commitment, he is the kind who is looking for a long term relationship and complete commitment. His track record is not the best when it comes to his past relationships, often falling for the woman in need of a rescuing, and ending up heartbroken and disappointed. It was easy to like him and cheer for him, as he goes with full effort trying to win Emma's heart.
Emma has had enough hard knocks in her life and does her best to put up walls and protect herself from all and anything she thinks she needs protection from. I blame the walls she had up for the fact that it took me considerable time to warm up to her. She comes off as unapproachable and prickly at first, but I did warm up to her as the story progressed, and she does show her softer side, her caring and vulnerability towards the end.
The secondary characters play an important role in the development of the story, and most of them are drawn with a detailed, well-developed structure. The readers get to know the McQuaid family better, especially Andrew, whom I found abrasive as he mangled with Ben and Emma, and the development of their relationship. His way to protect Ben could have used some finesse from Andrew's part, even though he does step up at the end to help instead of hinder. I just can't wait to see him fumble in love!
When raw attraction and heated passion turns into a gentle, poignant, and deep emotions that take hold of your heart when you least expect it and leads to complications you were not ready for - Emma and Ben have their hands and hearts full as they navigate their feelings, while trying to save and rescue the sanctuary. An enjoyable, compassionate, and heartfelt tale that left me eagerly wait for more in the series.
~ Four Spoons
Profile Image for Babs.
Author 15 books188 followers
July 29, 2017
Ben rescues a cat and takes it to the sanctuary where he sees Emma. She has taken over for her father who has passed and making the sanctuary work better. She's being threatened and someone wants to make her look incapable of running the sanctuary.

Ben thinks she is doing a great job and he can see she loves all animals. Can Ben protect her and keep his heart?

I adored Emma she loves animals and her book they come first. Ben is just as passionate about his job as well. They both are about people.

I love this series.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Suze.
1,884 reviews1,299 followers
February 7, 2017
Ben is a fireman in Hidden Falls. When he has to rescue a kitten from a tree he takes it to the local animal sanctuary. Emma has just taken over and is trying to make the business thrive again while also taking good care of the animals. Her father died and Emma is now responsible for his legacy. Not everyone likes this and therefore she has a lot to deal with. She's being threatened and someone wants to make her look incapable of running the sanctuary. Ben is impressed by Emma's determination, good looks and love for her animals. That means he's willing to take extra risks to help her. Is it enough that he's by her side or is Emma in such serious danger that he can't protect her on his own?

Daring to Fall is a great romantic story. I immediately loved Emma. She's a fiery, fierce redhead who knows exactly what she's doing. She's being threatened and tries to handle this by herself so her business won't be in danger of being closed, in her world the animals always come first. I admired her strength and courage. Ben is just as passionate about his job. He's a fireman with a caring personality. He wants to help people and that is also why he's initially at the sanctuary. He wants to be there for Emma and gets more than he bargained for. There are plenty of sparks between Emma and Ben. I loved their chemistry and easy friendship. They have only just met, but are exactly right for each other and I really liked their instant connection.

Hidden Falls is a fantastic setting. I'm a big fan of small town romance and the Hidden Falls series is absolutely wonderful. The animal sanctuary is part of the community and Emma needs to fight to gain respect while someone's trying to turn people against her. I could easily understand why Emma loves her sanctuary so much and is willing to go through great lengths to get it back on track. The animals are unique and have a story. They each have their own distinctive character and the place is pretty impressive. T.J. Kline's descriptions are vivid and she makes her setting come to life very well.

Daring to Fall is exactly like the animals T.J. Kline is writing about, it's sweet, but it has a wild and sharp side as well. The animals have individual personalities, which is something I always love to see in books. Everything about Emma is special, she has a vibrant personality, she's young, but knows a lot about animals, she's intelligent and she has a backbone. Ben is a gorgeous man. He's also levelheaded and practical and he remains calm in a crisis. Their personalities complement each other and the result is a beautiful balance. I instantly loved reading about this interesting couple. Daring to Fall is an amazing and fascinating love story.
Profile Image for Misty (Reds Romance Reviews).
3,408 reviews6 followers
February 7, 2017
From the moment the beautiful and highly spirited Emma Jordan wanders into Ben McQuaid's life he is completely enamored with her, something about her pulls him in and has him wanting to constantly be near her... even though she wants nothing to do with him. He initially enters her world on somewhat false pretenses but soon learns he was totally wrong about her, and what everyone in town is saying about her couldn't be farther from the truth. And before long he finds himself not only defending her honor, but also stepping in to keep her safe from the danger that is lurking around ever corner...

Emma Jordan knows what people think of her, but she is determined to show them the error of their ways, and prove to them that the rumors swirling around about her are not true. She came home to run and rebuild her father's animal sanctuary, and ensure his legacy stays in tact, but someone isn't so happy to see her return, and they will stop at nothing to make sure she fails!

After swiping the last page on Making The Play I was elated to see that Ms. Kline would be revisiting the McQuaid family and giving one of Grant's siblings a story of their own, and I was ecstatic when I learned that it would be Ben. There is just something about him that struck a cord with me, could it be... handsome firefighter in search of his happily ever after, yes I think that is it!! Once I dived into his enchanting world I didn't want to leave, he was everything I hoped he'd be, and SO much more, he totally gave his brother a run for his money!! The story line was engaging, had the perfect blend of mystery, sexy times, and humor... I loved every glorious minute of it!! Highly recommend you meet the McQuaid men, their wonderfully crafted stories are sure to leave you with a happy heart... and an unshakable crush!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.
Profile Image for Nicole.
4,254 reviews53 followers
January 25, 2017
This is the second book in the series. I like this series, but I didn't like this one as much as the first book. It doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it. I liked Ben and Emma. Ben is a hunky fireman. I felt for Emma. She's trying to prove herself, but it feels like that she has no one in her corner. Ben is thrown off his game when it comes to Emma. The more he gets know Emma he sees the true her not the preconceived notion of the small town. There is someone causing trouble for Emma can they figure it our before it's too late? I loved the animal sanctuary. I'm a big animal lover so it's one of my favorite parts of the book.
Profile Image for Bette Hansen.
5,073 reviews40 followers
February 6, 2017
This was a very entertaining read. It has a great slow build romance between Emma and Ben with a bit of mystery and suspense thrown in. The setting of the animal sanctuary was very intriguing as well. Emma and Ben were both great characters. Emma took a while to grow on me but I loved Ben right away. This is a great small town romance and definitely a book I would recommend.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
1,154 reviews1 follower
January 17, 2017
Animal Attraction

Pure animal attraction with a side of intrigue and Sweet love. This book had it all and then some. But of course you'd expect nothing less from the fireman in the family, I can only imagine what comes next in this brood
Profile Image for Bec.
1,659 reviews42 followers
February 7, 2017
4.5 Stars

Emma Jordan always thought she was going to run the animal sanctuary alongside her father, but after her father's death she's returned home to run her family legacy alone. Except someone isn't happy about the fact that she's now in charge, and is out to make trouble for her. Trying her best to make the animal sanctuary a success, Emma knows all her focus should be on her new job, but she can't seem to get hot firefighter, Ben McQuaid, off her mind soon after she meets him. Together, will they be able to find the person responsible for causing trouble, or will Emma lose everything dear to her?

Having loved the first book of this series, I couldn't wait to dive into this one, and I've got to say that it does not disappoint. In fact, I loved this story more than the first one because of the main characters growing relationship, the good dose of suspense and how the McQuaid family interact with each other. The way this story started with the favor Ben's brother needs him to do sets the fast-pace of this story, because I wanted to discover what the favor was. Would Ben make his brother owe him a favor? Would he be able to do what his brother wants him to do successfully? Being a firefighter, I'd definitely say he would be up to the task, but in the end it isn't that simple.

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to everything Emma goes through from the person causing trouble. How is she going to keep herself and the animals safe? Will a distraction cost her everything her father had worked hard for? Also, the dialogue was intense due to the main characters back stories. Ben and Emma haven't been very successful at relationships, and both are wary of getting involved with the other for fear of repeating past mistakes. Emma is strong, brave, independent and very dedicated to her job. How is she supposed to make time for a relationship? And yet, if anyone can understand being dedicated to a job, it's the hero.

While Ben, he's a fantastic hero. He's courageous, protective and I liked how stubborn he could get at times when Emma thought she could handle things herself, yet it was palpable that she couldn't without help from Ben and others of his family. He was determined to help her whether she wanted him to or not and I liked that most about him. I also liked how Ben showed the heroine that he was different to her ex. He understood how much her work meant to her and he wasn't about to let that fact come between them. She could have both without him thinking she was neglecting him, especially when he was interested in her work to.

Overall, this was a really good second book for this series, which has me looking forward to more of the McQuaid family because of how they interact with each other. Certainly, there's plenty of teasing and Emma fits in easily with Ben's family, even if the trouble she's facing has her at odds with certain members of the hero's family, because they initially have doubts about the way she's running the sanctuary due to all the things that are happening there. The way this story ended was delightful, as Ben proved to Emma that he would be there for her through thick and thin and I liked the surprise he had for her right at the end. Really, they're good together and have such great chemistry that spills over onto the pages wonderfully. That is when Emma isn't trying to push him away because she has trust issues. I would recommend Daring to Fall by TJ Kline, if you enjoy the friends to lovers trope, small town romances or are looking for a contemporary romance that encompasses a good dose of suspense where the author keeps readers guessing as to the identity of the person causing the trouble.
Profile Image for Tash.
1,292 reviews106 followers
February 7, 2017
Reviewed @ Confessions From Romaholics
Review copy kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review

Daring to Fall is the second book in the Hidden Fall series and follows the McQuaid family , a family of six sons and one daughter. Whilst I haven’t read the first book , I soon found myself enamoured with this close knit family. This time around it is Ben a fire-fighter who wants to find the right girl and settle down but hasn’t’ .

Instead he found the wrong girl, the free spirited girl who take him for ride and left him in some awkward positions with his cop brother who got him out a pickle of two. So when his brother asks for a favour . What can gone wrong?

Plenty it seems as the simple classic situation of a fireman rescuing a cat up a tree turns into rescuing a frighten baby bobcat and maybe the best day of his life. As there only place to take this bob cat in the area and that’s Sierra Track Animal Sanctuary. Owned by a women who may cause more problems that a simple bobcat with her fierce spirit and steel determination

Emma Jordan has returned home determined to keep her the family dream live. She lives for the animals and wants to do what best for her Sanctuary. However her returned hasn’t gone to plan like she hoped. The locals aren’t two please to see her and the employees thought her father had other plans. It would be okay if that was the only problems but someone has really out for her and is willing to do anything to stop her. She needs a friendly face and Ben maybe that and more if she ever lets her guard down and do some falling in to willing hands.

Daring to Fall wasn’t what I expected. It was sweet yet endearing with everything going on. Emma a woman over her head and Ben who determined to help this women even if he has second guess about things. I loved that he was willing to be there for her anyway possible given the town atmosphere and the fact that she was putting herself into dangerous situations. He may be protector naturally given his job. However this man just went more then above his job.

It was good balance as he had a sweet side as well that would make any girl’s heart swoon I loved that whilst Ben maybe all macho to get advice from his brothers. I loved he followed the tradition and asked his baby sister for help. It was sweet note considering things. He may have had bad judgement when it came to women but he had the right intentions from the start in the case. I loved the author didn’t make him cocky. He was a well rounded guy aside from the protector angle.

As Emma need a guy who could match her spirit, she had a lot on her plate. Despite everything she was never the helpless heroine. I loved her spirit and the fact she embraced everything and took things on the chin. She faced a lot and I loved that author didn’t compromise her either

Whilst I found the last book of Kline I read to be o kay . This book was in a different level. Whilst the elements are there for what Kline is know for. I love the side step she took with Ben. Living on a ranch yet working of the land because of his passions. I can’t wait for my return visit to this foothill town .

For more of my reviews, visit Confessions From Romaholics.And drop by the blog's Facebook page
1,670 reviews42 followers
June 1, 2017
Daring to Fall is the second book in the Hidden Falls series. Hidden Falls is a small town in Northern California that is home to the McQuaid family which consists of two parents 6 adult men and the youngest and only girl 25 year old Maddie. This book focuses on the relationship of Ben the second oldest, a fireman and Emma a veterinarian who has recently returned to take over the work of her late father running an animal rehab center. Ben (whom I’m regularly reminded is obnoxiously handsome) is the kind of guy who falls in love easily and has been burned several times by women he felt would one day become his wife. Emma has found that the men she’s dated or had relationships with had a difficult time dealing with her devotion to her work saving animals and the risk involved with dealing with sometimes dangerous wild animals she’s asked to treat and rehabilitate for return to the wild. Because of their past experiences neither is looking for a serious relationship. Hence the title Daring to Fall. Do they dare to fall in love? Of course once they lock eyes lightning strikes. While Ben only mildly fights his attraction to Emma and quickly decides he wants to be in a relationship with her, Emma is a lot more reluctant to be more than friends with benefits. So. that’s your romance angle. Add to this a disgruntled employee who resents Emma running the rehab facility and is determined to discredit her and drive her from town and you have your added suspense which is as much a part of the story as the romance. Combined it makes for an entertaining read.
I had a few problems with this story. One of the characters Angie (a fellow firefighter) had been Ben’s live-in lover until he came home to find her doing another guy. Apparently Angie is sort of a slut who has (in Ben’s own words) either slept with or propositioned just about every guy in the local fire department. As a guy I couldn’t buy Angie and Ben now being best friends. I’m probably just being thick but I really didn’t understand what the catalyst for Emma’s “Ah Ha” moment was when she realized that Ben wasn’t trying to save her but help her? It just seemed to come out of nowhere. I also thought Ben’s brother Andrew who is a cop came across as a real prick for most of this book who seemed intent on derailing his brother’s budding relationship with Emma. Even though Andrew ultimately was in their corner I just couldn’t get past how cruel he was in trying to come between them. Andrew is the focus of the next book and Ms. Kline, IMHO has her work cut out for her turning Andrew into a likable character readers can root for. This was a good book but honestly I didn’t care for it as much as the first one about Grant and Bethany who only made a cameo appearance in this story. In fact Grant had less presence in this book than the rest of the family and Bethany and James were only mentioned. Bottom line, Good read but not a great one.
Profile Image for Casey.
2,650 reviews47 followers
August 5, 2017
Find this review and more at Ramblings From This Chick

Daring to Fall is the first book that I have read from T.J. Kline, but it won't be my last. I was immediately drawn in with this gorgeous cover and will admit that I really didn't pay much attention to the blurb. It just looked so good that it made me want to read it, and I am really glad I did. I was engaged right away and enjoyed reading this new to me author.

Emma returns home after the death of her father to run the animal sanctuary that is his legacy. But when things start happening and it appears that someone is out to shut her down, Hidden Falls' sexiest fireman Ben McQuaid starts to ask questions. The more Ben digs, the more he must decide if he can keep his loyalty to Hidden Falls separate from his growing feelings for Emma. But can they figure out what is going on and have a chance at something together, or will they soon find out that the game they are playing could destroy everything?

I loved Ben right away! He was sweet and sexy and one of those guys that is just genuinely good. I couldn't get enough of him and he was definitely a hero worth rooting for. I will admit that it took me a bit to warm up to Emma, not that I didn't like her I just found it kind of hard to relate to her. She had some issues that she was dealing with and that made it hard for me to connect with her. These two had chemistry and a growing connection, but this was definitely a slow build romance, with things taking time between these two. While I enjoyed that to some extent, I would have liked to have seen more of the focus here on these two and not just what was going on around them.

While I enjoyed the story overall, I did think that the slow build of the romance and the fact that much of this story was about Emma and the sanctuary kind of kept me from loving the book. I am more of a romance reader, and while it was there at times it felt secondary to the rest. I prefer to have the romance a bit more front and center than it felt here. But I did enjoy it and Ben is definitely worth the read. I am curious to go back and read the first book, and I would read more from T.J. Kline in the future. This was a good read, and I think if readers know that this is a bit light on the romance side going in that a lot of readers will enjoy it.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**
Profile Image for EskieMama & Dragon Lady Reads.
163 reviews2 followers
February 7, 2017
*** 4 1/2 Stars***

This is the second book I have read by T.J. Kline and she didn’t disappoint me. Daring to Fall was an amazing romance about a hero with a knight in shining armor, rescue the damsel in distress personality and the damsel doesn’t want rescued!

Ben McQuaid is a fireman in the small town of Hidden Valley, a man who wears his heart on his sleeve, which he has had broken many times. But that hasn’t stopped him from rescuing damsel in distress & Emma Jordan is his next damsel in distress. Emma Jordan is a veterinarian and returns home after her father’s death to run an animal sanctuary that was his legacy.

Ben and Emma met after Ben rescues a baby bobcat from a tree and delivers him back to the sanctuary, but when he arrives at the sanctuary, he finds out the bobcat didn’t escape from there. That is one of the few occurrences that is happening to the sanctuary, after Emma returns to take over, that is stirring the the town in an uproar trying to get the sanctuary shut down saying she is incompetent to run it.

After another occurrence happens at the animal sanctuary Ben’s knight in shining armor kicks in, but Emma will not have any of it. Emma doesn’t get close to anyone or do relationships due to her job and the animal sanctuary, she has seen what the animal sanctuary did to her father and mother’s relationship and what her career did to her one and only relationship. But will Ben wear her down.

Daring to Fall was such a joy to read. it had a great romance, laughs, suspense, and a tear at the end, everything this girl loves in a her romance books. I loved the chemistry between Emma and Ben, hot one minute cold the next, Emma made Ben work for it, the ending I had a tear or two. Ben and his brother Andrew had me laughing at the insults they threw at each other. There was one part of the book I wish I could go in it and strangle Andrew, but he did redeem himself though. If you are looking for a weekend romance read with a little suspense, a few laughs and a tear or two I recommend you pick up a copy of Daring to Fall.

I received a free copy for my honest review!

Review by Mel
Profile Image for DocGill.
575 reviews4 followers
July 29, 2022
It's hard to tell whether T J Kline is just having a laugh at readers, expecting us to believe this utter twaddle about a 'relationship' between a fireman and a vet/wild animal sanctuary manager. Here's why:

The latter, Emma, treats fireman Ben appallingly from the start, constantly messing him about and insisting she wants a 'no strings' relationship, when he clearly wants a serious one. In the real world, he would have kicked her to the kerb after about her second really nasty tirade against him, even though he didn't do anything wrong!

Someone is trying to sabotage Emma's management of the sanctuary, wanting to force her out and others to lead it after her father dies. The problem is, this person (who wants to run it), keeps putting animals and humans in danger, even killing them, as well as feeding the local press with lies!

This would, in real life, have the effect of closing the sanctuary down, so the person's approach doesn't make sense at all, and jars with any kind of love of animals from which their motives are expected to derive.

There is too much focus on sex, in another typically American scenario, where no one talks to each other properly or explains how they feel, and they don't even have the excuse of being 'confused teenagers' ha ha.

This is a shallowly written novel, with no plot and a dysfunctional relationship at its heart, which is doomed to failure, mainly because of the sheer unpleasantness of Emma, a very unlikeable character from the start. If this is what goes for 'contemporary romance' in the eyes of T J Kline, I won't be reading any more of her novels.
Profile Image for Renee Entress.
5,588 reviews77 followers
February 22, 2017
4 star

The story has laughs, suspense, love, and heartbreak.

If you have not read the below I would recommend reading those books(s) first
Making the Play (Hidden Falls #1)

This is Emma and Ben’s story. Emma is home to run and animal sanctuary after her father’s death. The sanctuary was his pride and joy and she wants to keep his memory alive by keeping it going. Only problem is someone wants it shut down and is out to do that no matter what. Ben is a fireman and is loyal to the town. He wants to protect the residents. Should he be protecting them against Emma or the other way around. Someone wants the place shut down but who is it? Will he be able to see the danger before it is on top of them? With the sparks flying with him and Emma will he be able to protect her? Or will his feeling get in the way of that?

I loved these characters and the side characters. I felt I could connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Lisarenee.
763 reviews117 followers
March 1, 2017
<<<< My Synopsis (actual Review follows): <<<<<
Emma Jordan recently inherited the animal sanctuary her father started many years ago. The dream was for them to run the place together, but while she was away learning more skills of the trade he unexpectedly passed. Now attempting to pick up the pieces and get the sanctuary back on track, it becomes clear someone is trying to sabotage her plans.

Ben McQuaid is a local firefighter who gets called to rescue a kitten stuck in a tree. When he arrives at the scene and gets a closer look, he quickly realizes it's no domestic animal--it's a young bobcat. Thinking the cat escaped from the animal sanctuary, he decides to drop it off on his way into the fire station. When he sees Emma, she captures his attention. There's just something about the fiery red head that he can't stop thinking about.

<<<< My Synopsis (actual Review follows): <<<<<
If I had to sum up this novel in three words they would be: steamy, sexy, and hot, hot, hot. Okay if you add them up it would be five, but I only used three words (the and doesn't count). lol This was a sweet romance with so much heat and attraction going on that it was a good thing one of the main characters was a firefighter. Plus, I enjoyed the mystery of who was sabotaging the sanctuary and why. I felt the book had a lovely combination of things going on without letting things get overly busy.

Ben and Emma have a lot more in common then one would imagine. Both have demanding and dangerous jobs, both have had relationships that suffered because of their chosen professions,both have had their hearts broken, and both have decided to go on a relationship hiatus. Can you guess how that ends? I love how these two are drawn to each other from the start and try to resist what they clearly can't--each other. Granted, they really didn't try all that hard which is what made the story so much fun. As things start going awry at the sanctuary, these two become closer and closer as circumstances require they trust one another.

Overall I gave this one 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. The story was easy to fall into and kept me in its grasp from start to finish. It was full of steamy goodness, romance, and suspense. I loved that this one took place at an animal sanctuary as it seemed so refreshingly different from the other novels out there. We have a Big Cat Rescue in Tampa and the sanctuary reminded me of it. I'm not sure I'd combine birds and cats in one sanctuary, but it sounded like a fun place to visit. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
99 reviews
May 7, 2017
This is the first book I have read by this author, will definitely being looking for more of her books.
942 reviews
June 6, 2017
It took me a while to get to this one. It was an okay read, but I liked it less than the first book in the series.
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,953 reviews172 followers
January 13, 2017
When it comes to heartache, T. J. Kline is synonymous with delivering the goods. Ms. Kline writes literature that stimulates the mind and breaks the heart, both qualities will have a reader sit up and take notice. Daring to Fall adds mystery to an already full emotional plate. Ben and Emma are a compelling combination but with so much going on it's sometimes hard to keep the story line straight.
Profile Image for Melissa Morr.
189 reviews15 followers
February 1, 2017
*** 4 1/2 Stars***
This is the second book I have read by T.J. Kline and she didn’t disappoint me. Daring to Fall was an amazing romance about a hero with a knight in shining armor, rescue the damsel in distress personality and the damsel doesn’t want rescued!

Ben McQuaid is a fireman in the small town of Hidden Valley, a man who wears his heart on his sleeve, which he has had broken many times. But that hasn’t stopped him from rescuing damsel in distress & Emma Jordan is his next damsel in distress. Emma Jordan is a veterinarian and returns home after her father’s death to run an animal sanctuary that was his legacy.

Ben and Emma met after Ben rescues a baby bobcat from a tree and delivers him back to the sanctuary, but when he arrives at the sanctuary, he finds out the bobcat didn’t escape from there. That is one of the few occurrences that is happening to the sanctuary, after Emma returns to take over, that is stirring the the town in an uproar trying to get the sanctuary shut down saying she is incompetent to run it.

After another occurrence happens at the animal sanctuary Ben’s knight in shining armor kicks in, but Emma will not have any of it. Emma doesn’t get close to anyone or do relationships due to her job and the animal sanctuary, she has seen what the animal sanctuary did to her father and mother’s relationship and what her career did to her one and only relationship. But will Ben wear her down.

Daring to Fall was such a joy to read. it had a great romance, laughs, suspense, and a tear at the end, everything this girl loves in a her romance books. I loved the chemistry between Emma and Ben, hot one minute cold the next, Emma made Ben work for it, the ending I had a tear or two. Ben and his brother Andrew had me laughing at the insults they threw at each other. There was one part of the book I wish I could go in it and strangle Andrew, but he did redeem himself though. If you are looking for a weekend romance read with a little suspense, a few laughs and a tear or two I recommend you pick up a copy of Daring to Fall.

I received a free copy for my honest review!
Profile Image for Linda Buzard-Moffitt.
661 reviews18 followers
February 17, 2017
This was a really good book. I didn't want to put it down and it held my interest through the whole book. I thought I had the ending figured out and I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong. It was an overall good book. I was glad I had the opportunity to read it and will be glad to read any future books by Mrs. Kline. I was given a review copy from The Publisher/Author without any compensation for a positive review.
Profile Image for Romantic Reads and Such.
1,162 reviews19 followers
February 3, 2017
Ben is a good match for Emma. As a firefighter he’s going to understand about her having a dangerous job but that with proper training and care things will be as safe as they can be. He’s also got a big heart which goes well with her own. Up to this point his romantic life has always been about being the big, strong hero so of course he falls really hard for someone who can take care of herself! Now he just needs to learn that he can be supportive without sweeping in on his white horse to rescue her.

Emma’s world is already a mess when Ben comes storming in with his rescued bobcat kitten. He’s definitely a distraction she doesn’t need, and her past has taught her that men can’t handle a strong woman whose whole life is centered around wild animals that could seriously hurt her. Not used to leaning on anyone, it’s hard for Emma to let Ben in to help. Too bad that the man is too stubborn to just go away.

Kline doesn’t really do much to hide the who and what behind the trouble that Emma experiences. After a bit it becomes obvious who the choices are for the culprit but the how of carrying out the plan does keep you guessing. And really it’s mostly about the romance :)

*** I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. ***
Profile Image for Becca.
2,003 reviews27 followers
January 31, 2017
Emma Jordan is fighting an uphill battle with the citizens of Hidden Falls. Since taking over the animal sanctuary after her father's death, all she seems to do is hit is brick walls everywhere she turns. All though the plan was always to run the sanctuary with her dad, now that he's gone, she's just trying to keep the place afloat until she can get the place back to it glory.

Ben McQuaid is a local fireman in Hidden Falls, who is called out to rescue a kitten from a tree... the only thing is, that kitten was really a bobcat kitten. So he treks out to the sanctuary to drop off his find and is taken immediately with the fiery red head Emma. But Ben has sworn off woman like Emma. It only leads to trouble. The thing is, Ben's head forgot to tell his heart that message.

Ben finds himself volunteering at the sanctuary and falling for the one person he vowed to never fall for. Emma is determined to keep her father's legacy alive. No matter who keeps threatening her.


This is a sweet romance full of fierce animal magnetism. The sarcastic banter between Ben and Emma is fun and flirty. Full of suspense and romance, Daring to Fall is a perfect read.
Profile Image for Jen.
586 reviews17 followers
February 5, 2017
What happens when you put together a hot but sensitive fireman, a stubborn independent woman and a sanctuary for wild animals? A really good love story with lots of heat and animal attraction ;)! I instantly fell in love with Ben and his loving ways. He has never been in a casual relationship, but has had bad with the women in his life. Emma is the opposite of what he thinks he is looking for, but when it comes to matters of the heart, those reasons don't matter. Emma's also had bad luck in the relationship department due to the dangers of and commitment to her job, so she doesn't think she can have one. Luckily, Ben's job is just as risky as hers and can pull him in at any time. The added mystery and danger of someone trying to sabotage her made their story more interesting and the twist at the end was somewhat unexpected. Can't wait for the next McQuaid brother to fall!
4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.
Profile Image for Deanna.
536 reviews35 followers
February 6, 2017
*ARC provided by Publisher*

This is my first book by author T.J. Kline and I have to say, I really enjoyed this story. Both Ben and Emma are two people who care about animals and the town of Hidden Falls and want to see the animal sanctuary succeed. There is an attraction that surfaces when Emma and Ben meet but given how they’re a little bit at odds over his duty to the town and her job as owner of the sanctuary, it isn’t hard to see why they also butt heads, which gives the story an extra dose of conflict and tension.

If you’re looking for a well-written, slow build romance with two characters doing the best they can to save the animals at an animal sanctuary from a bad rap while also doing what they can to protect both their hearts, check out Ben and Emma in Daring to Fall book two in author T.J. Kline’s Hidden Falls series.

An enjoyable, heartwarming tale that intrigues as well as entertains.
281 reviews11 followers
January 25, 2017
What an absolute blast to read! Daring to Fall gives readers a peek into the world of an animal sanctuary, spinning the story in such a way you feel as if you are standing beside the pens listening to the cats chuff. I have always had a soft spot for men in uniform and fell immediately in love with firefighter Ben - that he was truly a great guy was an added bonus. Emma took a bit longer to warm up to, as I felt as if her character took a bit longer to develop. Filled with plenty of twists and turns as the sanctuary comes under attack, the ending was one that I did not see coming. Always a huge fan of Ms. Kline's work, Daring to Fall was a wonderful, fun read and a great continuation of the Hidden Falls series. I cannot wait to see where we are taken next on this journey!

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars
Profile Image for Elisha.
334 reviews24 followers
February 3, 2017
T J Kline is a new author for me.After reading this book, which is the second in the series, not only am I looking forward to reading the second and third book in this series or trilogy, but I am also looking forward to reading other books by Kline. She writes with such grit, eloquence, and talent. She creates characters that have depth and are multi-layered. This book was a romance but I also enjoyed that the romance was built and felt organic, not forced. It was also nice to read a romance where romance was actually not the only focal point. I truly enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more from this author.

For my full review, go to:
http://bookjunkiemom.blogspot.com/201...
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