Darby Avett has yearned for a mate and fawn of his own his entire life. Despite owning a very successful comic book shop and bookstore and having a well-built support system, his life feels unfulfilled. When a high-risk pregnancy places his best employee on bed rest, Darby finds himself in need of another person to cover his shift at the shop.
He hadn’t expected one to literally fall right into his life.
Harlan Peugh has spent the last eight months in Vale Valley working various jobs to make ends meet. After a traumatic event and subsequent self-destructive path leaves him alone and in self-imposed emotional isolation, Harlan just wants to get through his days and pay off his debts without imposing on the happiness of those around him, and he’s resigned himself to never finding a mate for fear of saddling them with someone who couldn’t give them everything they deserve. But then when he’s in need of a new job, one literally falls into his lap—or more accurately, he falls in front of it.
He just hadn’t expected he would fall quite so hard.
Just as Harlan begins to open up to the idea of a relationship, a run-in with someone from his past forces Harlan to reveal to Darby the very thing he knows will threaten Darby’s chance at happiness. And this time, there might not be anyone to help Harlan up again.
If I Fall is the fourth book in the fourth season of Vale Valley, but can be read as a standalone. Spend the holidays with the magical and mythical inhabitants of Vale Valley, and fall in love with the small town full of wonder, love, and enchantment.
This was book 4 in "Vale Valley Season 4" series. Darby Avett who is a deer shifter always wanted a mate and a fawn of his own. Harlan Peugh who is a skunk shifter has spent the last eight months in Vale Valley working various jobs to make ends meet. Harlan was seriously injured in a car accident that killed his family. Harlan works three jobs to pay off his medical bills. This was a pretty good read when one of Darby's employee goes out on maternity leave due to a high risk pregnancy he puts a help wanted sign while opening his store these two run into each other. Darby knows that Harlan is his mate but he knows that he has to take things slow. These two get closer and Harlan begins to open up about his past Darby's family begins to take care of Harlan as well as the town. I really hope that one of the books in the series will be about Darby's brother Roe and Kasper. This book did have a few typos in it and this was my first time reading this author. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series and from this author.
Meh. I just feel like I didn’t really learn who either of the characters were, especially Darby. There was no reason for them to get together aside from being fated.
For an author's first try, she definitely got it right. She made me feel for the characters as well as laugh, giggle, grumble, and even shed happy tears for Harlan and Darby. As a grumpy old man myself, Ms. Embry has definitely made me want to move to Vale Valley. I hope to meet all the characters that I have met from all the wonderful books from all the authors that brought the valley to life. Please continue the stories.
The editing and grammatical errors in this book are sufficiently awful enough to end any interest I once had in this series. The storyline is OK and the characterizations are acceptable even though there is minimal character development, but the poor construction is inexcusable in this day of computers and software support.
To my ratings: A 3,5* is clicked with a 4* but in review marked as 3,5*:
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-Away-book like ‘Jesse's Smile’ or ‘Joey’ from Angelique Jurd, ‘Save the the kids’ series from EM Leya, ‘Love’s Tethered Heart’ from C.L. Etta or ‘Liberty’ from Seth King), it's like an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises (like most of Andrew Grey books and Davidson Kings 'Haven Hart'-series) it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few times (most romances where you can enjoy for relaxing and during waiting times in hospitals). I can recommend them definitively! It's like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader (2-3 times a year), it's like a B
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-reader (I wouldn't recommend it heartily, but it was ok) It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an absolute NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole line, dismissed, repeat the class
It seem like I read a book very similar to this in the Vale Valley series. Mates meet, the omega has been in an accident and thinks he's broken and doesn't want to accept his mate... Only this one is more boring. Darby had more personality in a cameo in a previous book than he does in his own. He's a nice guy. That's it. Harlan is working hard to pay down debts after spending some time partying to try to forget his personal tragedy. And initially he's trying not to make friends. I don't even like him.
Oh, there's also lazy writing. There are spelling and punctuation errors, and Darby's brother, Roe, has had some personal tragedy which nobody will tell Harlan about and Darby won't even think about. I suppose it's meant to get me to read Roe's book to find out. Either that, or the author couldn't bother to decide what happened to him. Write a better book. Then maybe I'll care about Roe.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story had a good flow to it. The pacing worked well given how quickly the fated mates trope takes over, it still felt like the MCs were taking their time. Harlan is dealing with a good bit trauma from having lost his family, but Darby is so patient with him. I liked how Darby's family was so accepting of Harlan, how they didn't try to pressure him but rather were open and welcoming. The whole story was the kind of feel good romance I expect from a Vale Valley story.
I really hope we'll get to see Roe's story in the next season of Vale Valley (hopefully with Kasper). Roe has a story that really needs to be told!
I think this is my third or fourth Vale Valley story that I read and so far I'm enjoying them all. It's like the authors are all on the same page with the "wow" factor on romance. Ms. Embry's story didn't disappoint. I loved this alpha/omega romance. After Darby helping others find their mates it was nice to see him finally finding his. Harlan came to town troubled and alone but he found his home with Darby and the nice people of Vale Valley. Their were some tearjerker moments and a lot of awwwwww...soooo sweet moments. Darby and Harlan's HEA was the best and left me with a big ol smile on my face. This book was awesome!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I think Vale Valley is cool. Can I move there? And I liked Darby from the first chapter. I felt for him. He so badly wants his mate and a family. I love that Darby hires Harlan, that they have chemistry and that they fall in love among the books in Darby's bookstore. And that they get there, not in a rush, but over time like a good read. This story was as sweet as Darby's favourite morning coffee during the holidays.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I consider this an excellent debut for the author, and I hope she continues with her writing! As she is an editor, I found it strange that there were, if not errors, then poor choices of wording in several places throughout the story. Other than that, and the fact that I was almost 50% through the story before I finally realized which MC was which on the cover, I found the story totally entertaining and loved the "family" feel of the piece!
Looking forward to Roe's story... so, don't let me down... *grin*
Another great addition to the Vale Valley series. Harlan has had a long hard road to travel. He's lost so much and having a real life seems impossible. Darby impressed me with how supportive he is. He doesn't take over or dictate what Harlan should do but allows him to make his own choices and helps him navigate the chaos in his heart and head. I loved Darby's family and I'd love to get my hands on Roe's book.
This is another wonderful addition to the amazingly entertaining multi-author Vale Valley series. Darby and Harlan were great characters and I really enjoyed following along with them on their journey to their happy ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A very well written story! I really appreciated how this couple took things slowly and were so supportive of each other, going so far as to do couples therapy. This was a very heartwarming, sweet with some heat romance with wonderful side characters that made this a very enjoyable read!
This was a great addition to a wonderful series love Vale Vally. The characters Harlan and Darby are so sweet love the way they blind together to make a great romantic read. If you enjoy a great holiday romance adventure with amazing characters then this story is for you.
This was a wonderfully entertaining and heartfelt read. Darby had the patience of a saint, and it paid off with them having a wonderful relationship with open honest communication.
Two shifters, one who sometimes worries too much about things but is caring and open to love. The other lost all who he cared for in an accident and is afraid to let anyone in and to fall in love. I really enjoyed this book.
Light though there’s some past trauma. They went from take it slow to mated pretty fast. I liked the idea of buck meets skunk. It made me think of Bambi and Flower.
Watch unconditional love break through walls, and a Christmas miracle occurs.
I loved this book! It kept me up past my bedtime. I could not put it down. The magic of Vale Valley and Christmas is in full force. Old friends appear, new ones are made. Traditions are celebrated. Family pulls together to protect and care for the newest member of the herd. Deer, wolves, squirrels and a skunk, what's not to love. This is Darby and Harlan's story. Surviving a horrific accident that killed his family, Harlan is both physically and emotionally scarred. His walls are high, but not impregnable. When Darby hires him, their attraction is immediate. Darby knows Harlan is his fated mate. Now to convince Harlan. An unexpected heat has impossible consequences. But this is Christmas in Vale Valley, where miracles occur all the time. Welcome to HEA central! You will fall in love along with Darby and Harlan. You will hope with them, cry with them, and share their joy. You will love this book! This book stands alone, but I recommend reading the other Vale Valley books. There are a lot of them, but they are time well spent. This book contains adult themes and language, mm sex and is intended for mature readers only.
I love the idea of a town only visible for those who need it and Harlan definitely needed it as well as Darby. Their need for one another was just sweet. This story, though it had some mild moments of drama, pretty much just made you feel pleased. The characters were lovable and seeing their happiness had a “feel good happiness “ throughout. A.nice place to visit, for sure.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was beautifully written i absolutely loved this.book and fell in love with all the charcters. Both Harlan and Darby make such a cute couple i hope Roe will finally figure out who is mate is and find happeniess