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Orchid Valley #3

Every Time I Fall

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New York Times bestselling author Lexi Ryan brings you Every Time I Fall, a sexy standalone romance about a woman learning to love herself and the guy who’s loved her all along.

He’s my brother’s best friend.

The hot guy with the heart of gold I’ve never let myself want.

Guys like Dean don’t go for girls like me.

Curvy. Thick. A big girl. Whatever label you put on me, I know who I am and what it means. And that’s fine. I’m content to be Dean’s buddy and nothing more.

Or so I thought. When Dean finds out about my bedroom issues and decides to help me fix them, everything changes.

He swears there’s no such thing as “bad in bed” and pleasure is all about chemistry. I’m not convinced, but he intends to prove it. With his mouth. With his body. With his dirty texts and whispered promises.

I know from the first kiss that I’m going to fall hard. That this can’t last, and the end might break me. But, for these days with Dean, all the hurt might be worth it.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 13, 2021

109 people are currently reading
833 people want to read

About the author

Lexi Ryan

64 books8,406 followers
Award-winning author Lexi Ryan is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of hot contemporary romance and sexy, action-packed YA fantasy. Her books have sold over a million copies. A former English professor, she considers herself lucky to have traded stacks of grading for emotionally charged storytelling. She is happiest when at home in Indiana with her husband and two children, where you can find her lifting weights, reading copiously, hanging out with her family, and thanking her lucky stars.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
Profile Image for Leticia (jerseygirlsbookshelf).
574 reviews284 followers
September 9, 2021
"It's okay to be scared, but don't let fear keep you from going after what you want."
From the moment I saw the cover for this book, I knew I had to have it. And I was so honored to get an ARC for this because I wasn't expecting it.
I love the way Lexi Ryan writes, I love the way she develops her characters and her story. And it was sooo good to go back to Orchid Valley again!

"Some men kiss like they're asking for a favor, but Dean kisses like he's making a claim."
I don't think I have enough words to describe Dean. Everyone should have a Dean in their lives. Yes, he's hot, he has a dirty mouth, he's sexy, and he's confident. And he's flawed and made some bad choices in his life. But there's more to him than just what you see on the outside. Because Dean is the ultimate good guy, with a heart of gold, who's been in love for a while but never acted on it, because, despite all that, he thought he still wasn't enough.

"You're not thin. And you're fucking beautiful. Not but. Not despite. Both are true."
Abbi is just an amazing character. Some readers are likely to see Abbi as one-dimensional, as just another weak-minded character who hates herself because she's overweight. There's so much more to her than that, and even if that were true, it takes real strength to get through every day not feeling like you're enough. So, no, weak is something she is not. And no, she doesn't need saving. She can save herself, with a nudge in the right direction and something to fight for.

Abbi's wanted Dean for a very long time, but she never thought he'd give her a second look because she doesn't fit his usual choice in women. Dean's been crazy about her for years, but he thought he could never measure up to what she wanted in a man.
And fate gives them both a hand in this, and shows them we all have our insecurities, but when it's right, it's just right.
And their story together is incredibly sweet and amazingly beautiful, while also having the chemistry Lexi's stories always have. And there's definitely chemistry, believe me!

"You're all the things you refuse to see in yourself."
It's easy to see these two are meant to be together. The way they are as just friends, how comfortable they are with each other once their relationship starts to evolve, how much they trust each other, how they just fit together, and the love they share.
And the way they finally understand each other and realize what they have.

"I do see you. I see all of you, and I love what I see."
Both Dean and Abbi needed someone to see them for who they really are, beyond what they look like, the clothes they wear, the people they date, their pasts, what they've been through and so many other things that do not make us who we are as people.
It's all about finding their love for each other, and their love for themselves. Without reservations, without holding back.

Quick note: I want to punch Amy in the face, repeatedly.

This book was truly inspirational, and a reminder of the reasons why I read romance.

Thank you, Lexi. For Abbi's voice and Abbi's story, which I think may resemble that of many of us, readers. It certainly resembled mine.
Profile Image for Carmen Rae.
1,675 reviews186 followers
April 13, 2021
I kind of don't know how to explain my feelings on this book. I felt a lot of different emotions and opinions during the reading of this story. And trying to explain it without spoilers feels like a mission and a half but I'm going to try. But before I try I have to say that I love Lexi Ryan. Her books are so well written, and her characters are real and flawed and I don't think I could ever end a book and hate it.

I guess I should start by saying for a good percentage I was pretty sure I hated Dean. Seriously he was such a guy, and as a distrustful, jealous, possessive person I had a lot of issues with how the book started. I would not have been able to get over it.

Luckily Abbi was a better woman than I was because she didn't really give it a second thought until she didn't have any other choice. With her history I wasn't surprised by her insecurities and the way she reacted to certain situations. In fact, I think she was pretty commendable for not over reacting.

By the end I was a lot more sympathetic to Dean's insecurities and I was so glad they were able to work through them. They made the perfect couple and I got over my dislike of him. And now I am looking forward to seeing the next Lexi Ryan book.
Profile Image for Jenifer Briggs.
1,511 reviews190 followers
April 2, 2021
"Listen, it's hard for me to understand why you can't accept yourself, but if you'd just try to see what I see, I'll keep loving you every single day until you see it too. And even if you never do, if you can't promise me you'll be good to this woman I love.. " He presses his palm against my chest, right between my breasts, and that spot that's been aching and hollow over these last few days fills with warmth and hope. "Be good to her. Be kind to her body and her soul. Because she's the best thing I've ever had in my life, and it makes me crazy when anyone tries to hurt her."

It's been a hot minute since I've read a romance with a plus size heroine, and add that with the brothers best friend trope, AKA the BEST romantic trope in the world, combined with that unbelievably GORGEOUS cover, I could not wait to have this book in my hands!! And oh my goodness, this is by far my favorite book this amazing author has ever written!

As a plus size woman myself, I saw so much of myself in Abbi; all of her insecurities, the way she carried her body and how she tried to hide within herself, as well as her thoughts that all anyone noticed when they looked at her was her weight, is just so spot on to the way I've lived most of my life. My weight has always fluctuated (thank you, overactive thyroid!) and the hurtful comments from my peers and my own family made me a very insecure person, to the point where it was hard for me to believe that anyone could love me, or let alone be attracted to me. So to say that I connected with Abbi is the understatement of the year. She is so strong, even with all of her insecurities, and I loved seeing her blossom under Dean's love, and the way she gained even more confidence the more he showed her just how truly breathtaking she was.

Dean is one of the best heroes ever! As I said above, I am such a sucker for the brothers best friend trope, and I just LOVED the way he was with Abbi. The way he quieted her insecurities and LOVED her through her hard times, while acknowledging that he sometimes couldn't understand why she couldn't see herself the way he saw her, but loved her anyway, just made my heart melt. Dean had his own insecurities as well, stemming from his childhood, and I loved how Abbi helped him through it all too. They were just each other's person, and I loved how far they came in such a short amount of time.

Aside from the romance between Abbi and Dean, one of my favorite parts of this book was the fact that Abbi didn't just have big boobs or a butt-- she had the belly and the thighs to go with it. I love that our society is becoming more acceptable to plus size women, even in regards to modeling, but just because you have big boobs or a big ass, that does NOT make you plus size. So I love that we have a woman here who wears double digit clothes, and still OWNS her sexuality. Plus combined with that and the man who loves her whom is a hottie himself, her weight was never once an issue to him. All Dean ever saw was how beautiful she was -- both on the outside and her soul. I just loved them so much!

I was alll in my feels during this book!! The emotions were just out of this world, as well as the HEAT! Dean has such a filthy mouth, and I am all here for it! I just can't recommend this book enough!

**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
Profile Image for Kim.
2,841 reviews177 followers
April 13, 2021
4.5 stars
I was excited for Abbi to have her chance at finding love. And I really wanted Dean to get his act together. Not going to lie, it was a bit of a rough start for me especially due to Dean and his issues, but as it went on, I really started to love Abbi and Dean together.

Dean Jacob has hit a rough patch. He already broke the bro-code by having an affair with his best friend, Kace's ex-wife and he also fell in love with her. She has kept him hanging on a string, but will not commit to him. So he is lonely, depressed, self-loathing, and self-sabotaging. He needs to break the toxic cycle with her. And if that is not bad enough he has carried a hidden torch for Kace's little sister, Abbi for years, but thought she was not interested.

Abbi is Kace's little sister. She is successful in her career as a chef, but still has some more dreams of her own. She has seen her friends and brother fall in love, and she longs for that herself. But she has issues with self-esteem and self-worth stemming from her weight and past relationships. She thinks there is potential for a new love in the not-so-distant future, but she thinks she needs to practice being better at seduction and bedroom activities.

So when her good friend, Dean offers an arrangement to help her build confidence and show her what she is capable of, it should be a win-win for them both. Short term, get what they need, have some fun and distraction, and move on. But she has been half in love with Dean for years. He has hidden his own feelings really well. Her brother and their friends are nosy and protective. And chemistry and feelings can be a dangerous combination. What could possibly go wrong?

This is a heartfelt, sexy, sweet, best-friends-little-sister, secret arrangement, friends-to-lovers romance. I could relate to Abbi so much. She finds it hard to trust and believe in someone wanting her since she has trouble loving herself. And at times I wanted to hug Dean and other times slap sense into him. But I also understood his own deep need to feel worthy, trusted, wanted, and loved.

They both have up walls and have fear of rejection. They were kind of a hot mess of insecurities, issues, and triggers. But they have opportunities for growth, self-awareness, and change throughout. Dean won me over with his patience and understanding of her issues and needs, and true acceptance and love. And this story is as much about her learning self-love, opening herself up to possibilities, and trying to realize her own dreams, as it is about believing that someone else could truly love her.

It brings back their friends and family from previous Orchid Valley books since this is a tight-knit group.

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Profile Image for Darcy.
14.3k reviews538 followers
April 18, 2021
For me, this one was just as bad as the last one. A couple of time I thought about dnf'ing the book, after finishing, I should have. Both Dean and Abbi drove me nuts, but it was Dean that really bothered me. From his relationship with Amy and how he turned on a dime to go after Abbi, to getting mad at Abbi for her issues, when he had his own. Between the two of them their issues were massive, like see a therapist massive and those issues were ones where the other person's issue were their hot button. I think I should quit reading this series, but I liked the first 2 books and I like the community. If there is another one, who knows what I'll do.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jessica Alcazar.
4,386 reviews620 followers
April 13, 2021
a woman learning to love herself and the guy who’s loved her all along … if that doesn’t tell you there are going to be feelings all up in this story, I can’t help you.

If you’re new to the word wizardry that is Lexi Ryan, I only have one (maybe more, we shall see) piece of advice. Let the story happen. Don’t over think it. Let it wash over you and just read because if you try to get all up in the story’s marrow before it has fully unfolded, you are in for a huge surprise. Nothing is ever what it seems, it just is. There are twist to the twist and nobody comes out of the reading experience without shedding at least one tear. #betme

Lexi Ryan is what I would call the queen of drama without dramatics. THIS.FRIKKIN.STORY. MY GAWD did I want to hurl my kindle a few times, but not because of you might be thinking. See, Lexi doesn’t write easy love, she piles on and on until you think the characters just can’t take any more and them *BAM*, one more for the road! LOL I’ve read a lot of books by her so I am always prepared but sometimes I laugh really hard because I feel for the newbies! And here’s the thing, all that pilling on is necessary, and heartbreaking and uplifting and full of heart and hope because love is not easy. Life is not easy. Lexi does a phenomenal job of presenting us with real and relatable characters in realistic situations all wrapped up in the HEA dreamy cloak we all love out of romance fiction.

So, there might be times when you want to hurl your kindle or paperback and that’s okay. Totally normal, but at the end of the day, you are going to have a huge sappy smile on your face (maybe all blotchy from crying as well) and a heart so damn full you’ll wonder why you were frustrated in the first place. #trust

Now GO DO THE THING! Seriously ...
Amazon: http://mybook.to/EveryTimeIFall
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Nook: http://bit.ly/ETIFNook
Kobo: http://bit.ly/ETIFKobo
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3lXlLQs
Profile Image for Susan (susayq ~).
2,522 reviews132 followers
April 10, 2021
3.5-4 stars. I'm wavering between them. I enjoyed this. I liked both Abbi and Dean. I loved that both of them had issues that made them vulnerable and put up walls, or in Dean's case, do stupid things - Amy, I am talking about you. Abbi is the cause of the wavering on the stars. While I totally get her insecurities, I can't see how she was SOOOOO clueless about guys flirting with her. Maybe it's because I have never been that insecure and self-conscious? I did LOVE that Abbi realized she needed to love herself and took steps to do that.

All in all, a wonderful addition to this series and you really can't go wrong with a Lexi Ryan book :)
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,215 reviews152 followers
April 13, 2021
This is a new to me author and as soon as I saw the stunning cover, I knew I needed to pick this up. How often do you read a romance about a plus size heroine when there is representation on the cover?? I’ll tell you: NEVER. So gorgeous.

I really loved this. Even though the beginning kind of rubbed me the wrong way, I still think this is a fabulous book that everyone would enjoy. 4.5 stars

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha).
2,111 reviews359 followers
April 14, 2021

Every Time I Fall had tears streaming down my face from early on-I just empathized with Abbi so much. The hurtful comments from others, the severe lack of self esteem, and the self loathing all resonated. Any "thick" girls out there will feel like they can commiserate with Abbi's struggles.

My biggest struggle with the story was the whole "fake relationship" type trope. Dean wanted to help Abbi, but he also wanted her help in staying away from his ex. After all Abbi has dealt with in relationships, I wanted her hero to love her!! Yes, Dean eventually figures out he does, but I wanted Abbi to never have to doubt that love.

There is a lot of angst in Every Time I Fall because both Abbi and Dean are hesitant to trust and dealing with past rejections. There is plenty of heat in the story as well, which was great! Abbi begins to discover herself again after others have tore her down, thanks to Dean's (sexy) help. While I wanted a more devoted hero for Abbi from the beginning, I think Dean was great for her. He effortlessly boosted her self esteem because he really saw her as a beautiful, smart, sexy woman.

 

  POV: dual 1st
  Tears: yes
  Trope: siblings best friend, friends to lovers
  Triggers:
  Series/Standalone: standalone within an interconnected series
  Cliffhanger:
  HEA:




authors like Corinne Michaels, Melissa Foster, Penelope Ward, Vi Keeland...then you will probably like Every Time I Fall!



Every Time I Fall
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See full review on The Book Disciple
Profile Image for Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’.
3,411 reviews2 followers
April 12, 2021
Oh man both these characters annoyed me so much. I was so frustrated reading this book… But a good frustration, lol… 😊

Abbi had a bad experience with her first love. The guy she dated in college. She is not a thin woman, she has curves and she is sweet and beautiful, but when she dated her ex he made her feel insecure about her weight and that crushed her self esteem in a certain way. When putting herself out there to date guys she doesn’t think they are attracted to someone like her (meaning not thin) but in her job she is confident and self assured. So she made a sort of deal with her brother’s best friend to help him with is situation and he will help her be more confident in bed. Which would seem like a good deal if only she didn’t have feelings for Dean 😊

"You're not thin. And you're fucking beautiful. Not but. Not despite. Both are true."

Dean was sort of infatuated with his best friends ex wife and she was just using him for a fun time. But Dean was ready for so much more, he wanted to settle down and have a proper relationship out in the open, not hiding who his ‘dating’… But Amy didn’t think he was that guy. So he made a deal with his best friends little sister to help him stay away from Amy and he would help Abbi be more confident in bed. But the more time they spent together, the more his feelings for Abbi he had when they were younger resurfaced. Feelings he had since they were teenagers but when she turned 21 she said some things and he knew she wouldn’t want someone like him… ☹ Will both of these characters be able to get over their own issues or will it be too much for them to put it aside and see how happy they can be with each other???

"It's okay to be scared, but don't let fear keep you from going after what you want."

Like I said frustrating man. Abbi had a guy like Dean who showed her everyday how beautiful and stunning she was and yet she couldn’t get over her own insecurities. I loved her friend Layla who was also a women with curves and she laid it all out for her no nonsense, I loved it.

And Dean man, Amy really did a number on him and I knew she was going to be a problem for him when he started getting close to Abbi, but men, just cant see things right in front of them, lol. I enjoyed reading this story, I loved Abbi’s character even though she frustrated me. Some parts of myself I could see in her that’s why I rooted for her and wanted her to see the beauty she was. And Dean he was amazing with her and did everything in his power to make her see the women she could be, but like he said she had to work on herself before she could see herself in a relationship with him.

An awesome story, might frustrate you but hang in there it is a must read till the end 😊 ♥

Read on behalf of
Fay’s Corner
Profile Image for mandy ♡.
260 reviews92 followers
April 17, 2021
This would’ve totally been a five star for me but the whole Amy situation really annoyed me. Other than that, I really loved Abbi and Dean’s love story! Swoony and sexy with an entertaining cast of characters! I think this is my first Lexi Ryan book but it won’t be my last that’s for sure.
Profile Image for Three Chicks.
2,631 reviews419 followers
April 13, 2021
4.5 stars
Review by Jen Skewes

I love this series and was so excited to read Dean and Abbi’s story. We met them earlier on in the series.

Dean is best friends with Abbi’s brother but she’s also best friends with his sister. They basically grew up together. Abbi is a curvy girl who has some issues with her confidence, especially in the bedroom. In her mind she is just bad in bed. Her ex-boyfriend did a real number on her and has making dating difficult for her. He basically stripped her of any confidence she had.

Dean has never been a relationship type of guy. But with Amy he was wanted more, but she dumped him because they both weren’t on the same page. Right now, he’s mending a broken heart because of it. So, Dean and Abbi make an agreement. She will help him get over Amy and he will help her with not just her confidence but teach=h her how to be good in bed. Two friends enjoy spending time together now become two friends with benefits and no strings. What could possibly happen??? You’ll have to read to find out.

What I really loved about this book was Abbi. I related to her for so many reasons. I truly understood her and feelings. It’s not often that an author writes a love story about a hot guy and a curvy woman. So, I love it when they do.

Dean was hit and sexy but sweet as well. If I’m being honest I did not get the whole Amy thing. I didn’t understand the why of it or how anyone was ok with it. But more importantly why he was so hung up one her. Seeing how Dean really felt about Abbi and what happened on her 21st Birthday made me question
so much which did frustrate me. But then it all clicked for me and it all made so much sense. As least my head. Lol

I truly loved this book. Aside from him getting over his ex this man was absolutely perfect. He promised to help Abbi with her Confidence, but it truly came from a place of love and want. There was so much chemistry between these two. I Think she helped him Get over his past and the issues he had with himself. While he made her feel
Beautiful and like she could do and be who she wanted. They both had their own issues with confidence or feeling worthy of love. But together they truly helped each find themselves and love themselves.

I’m hoping this is not the end of this series because we need Smithy’s story. This is fantastic
Series. As always Ms. Ryan makes you feel. It was sweet, sexy with just the right amount of drama and angst. Hoping their will be more
Profile Image for Erin Lewis.
6,152 reviews218 followers
April 7, 2021
4 Star review of Every Time I Fall (Orchid Valley #3) by Lexi Ryan

Having read previous books in this series I was interested to see what Lexi Ryan had in store for Abbi and Dean. From start to finish, I was drawn to the story that she wove although there were times that I was a little frustrated by the characters.

Abbi and Dean’s road to a happily ever after is rocky to say the least, particularly since both have a great deal of baggage. When Dean offers to help Abbi with her bedroom issues, she has no idea how their relationship is about to change. However Dean also has his own issues to deal with.

The fact that both Abbi and Dean have had feelings for one another for quite some time may complicate matters as neither of them really have confidence. I felt at times that the story was fixated on their issues, perhaps a little too much negativity, but that is just my opinion.

It was great to see some familiar faces and the chemistry between them sizzled and I was cheering for them to get their happily ever after.
Profile Image for Tina (A Novel Time With Tina).
1,124 reviews12 followers
April 19, 2021
Stella: “With Abbi, though, you’re up against some pretty thick walls she’s built around herself.”
Dean: “I do renovations for a living. Taking down walls is a specialty of mine.”


Swooooooon!


This book can resonate with anyone who wishes for a happily ever after, but perhaps has a few insecurities to overcome. Us curvy girls, however, may relate just a bit more. No matter how confident you are in other areas of your life, it is easy to feel that someone is attracted to you DESPITE your shortcomings. You can believe they love you for all of these various reasons, but it always in spite of how much you weigh. When you walk into a room you immediately feel like people are judging you, and finding you just a little but less than, on no other basis but weight alone. Abby was very much this girl. Confident in the kitchen. Confident with her friends. But thanks to outright verbally abusive relationship, she was unable to fathom why any guy would want to be with her romantically. Still, she kept trying, sometimes with the worst that dating apps had to offer...until she comes to an agreement with Dean - she will distract him from his romantic entanglements if he can provide some constructive criticism with hers. Everyone wants to be wanted, and Dean is no different. He and Abby have more in common that not. How they navigate these feelings are what makes a Lexi Ryan book so great. Ryan is great at building angst, great at making you FEEL the emotions coming off the page, and great at providing characters with depth and growth along the way.

On another note: I absolutely adore this cover. How refreshing to find a model that fits the character description so well. And the colors are so pretty. 😍

Thanks to the author, I was lucky enough to be able to read an advanced copy.
Profile Image for Tannie🦋.
510 reviews25 followers
March 29, 2021
This is going to be lengthy.

First of all, this was an ARC and I’m so grateful.
As a thick girl myself, I struggle to identity with so many characters in books as I don’t even look or feel closely as how they portrait a lot of female heroes.
But Lexi did a thing here. She did an amazing thing!!
She gave me a voice, she gave me a character. I cried reading about how Abbie was feeling, her insecurities because I AM HER! I cried hard when Dean tried so hard to get past her walls and insecurities, as that wasn’t easy for either of them.

On to the book itself, I loved it. It wasn’t a “I am a insecure woman, the hero saves me”, this was “I showed you how to save yourself” and I loved every second of it.
Dean pissed me off in the first couple of chapters, because Amy? Really? I get it, he has issues as well, but boys sometimes are just as dumb or clueless as we women are.
Amy was a straight up bitch, PERIODT . And I wanted to punch her so much when she TRIED to hold on to Dean.


“Listen, it’s hard for me to understand why you can’t accept yourself, but if you’d just try to see what I see, I’ll keep loving you every single day until you see it too. And even if you never do, if you can just promise me you’ll be good to this woman I love” this broke me. He really wanted her to feel as a amazing as she made him feel!

Even if Abbie pissed me off as well, I understood her struggle as this was perfectly described. It was described in the most classy way, and by reading the acknowledgements i knew why!


This book could be read as a complete stand-alone as I did, I got the whole dynamics.
This book was beautiful written and it showed how much she loved writing this!

This is one of those books where you feel good, happy and connected to the main characters in every emotion and way possible.

“We’re all beautiful in our own way, it just takes the right person to appreciate it and that just might be yourself”

100/10!⭐️
Profile Image for BookHookup.
1,403 reviews108 followers
April 12, 2021
I really enjoyed watching Abbi and Dean discover their love for one another. I enjoyed the vulnerability of these two characters and how they were able to support each other through the ups and downs. As Abbi tries to overcome her disastrous past relationships and the effects they've had on her confidence, Dean is the perfect person to help her understand her strength and her beauty. After all, he's been hurt as well. And, what starts as a simple pact to help her deal with her insecurities, soon develops into more.

These two have great chemistry and I always enjoy reading about characters who have a history. I love seeing how they've impacted each other's lives in the past and what toll that takes on the present. These two had their ups and downs in the past but I really enjoyed seeing they deal with those memories. If I could change one thing about this book, it would be Amy. She was my least favorite character in the previous book and she's up to her old tricks here again. And, to be honest, it made me question Dean for a while...and I didn't want to question his motives or his attraction to Abbi...but I did for a few chapters. Now, thankfully that was short lived and I soon realized that Dean was honestly and truly smitten by Abbi and all was good with the world.

Overall, this was a great read and a wonderful addition to the series. I really enjoy Ms. Ryan's writing and her characters and I'm looking forward to whatever she has in store for me next!
Profile Image for Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog).
5,863 reviews210 followers
April 13, 2021


Amazon / Apple Books / Nook / Kobo / Google Play

Abbi's long held a secret crush on her brother's best friend, Dean. But she's never really allowed herself to think it could be anything more than an unrequited bout of lust. Then Dean starts acting weird around her, complimenting her and looking at her with heat in his gaze. What's going on?! When he makes it clear he wants her after he finds out she thinks she's "bad in bed," a little arrangement between the two of them will spell a change in their friends only relationship. She knows she'll probably end up with a broken heart, but it will be worth it. Right?



What Abbi doesn't know is that little crush she's had on him is more than reciprocated. He would have made his move on her long ago if she hadn't uttered those words so long ago letting him know he's good for friends, but not the kind of guy she would ever want forever with. But when he finds out she's so lacking in self esteem that she thinks she's bad in bed, he knows he has to step up and try to right the wrong idea she's got. Doing it in the bedroom will make it all the more enjoyable. And if they happen to let those feelings come out, who is he to complain? He just has to make sure they don't both end up with broken hearts.



Wow, this one was a bit hard to read at times when both Abbi's and Dean's issues got the best of them. Their communication was practically nil at times, and both had so much baggage it was a wonder they ever managed to get together. But I loved them both and the way they had always been in love with each other. Abbi's got the kind of issues most women deal with at one time or another, and Dean? Damn, his issues were just as heartbreaking, if not more, than Abbi's. It makes perfect sense actually that two damaged souls found love with each other, in a very sweet, seriously hot, way.



ARC via Grey's Promotions for an honest review.

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Profile Image for Caroline F.
2,387 reviews51 followers
April 20, 2021
Absolutely loved this sexy, emotional story!

Abbi Matthews has been crushing on her brother's best friend for years, but never in a million years did she think she'd ever have a chance with him, so she's ignores her attraction and treats him like a friend. She had a boyfriend in college but he devastated her and her self-esteem, which has made her shy away from intimacy.

"Loneliness and desperation make the perfect self-sabotage cocktail."

Dean Jacobs shut his feelings off for Abbi years ago when she made it clear that he wasn't the guy for her. Since then his relationships have been transient until he fell for the wrong person, and now he's like an addict trying to shake a bad habit.

"I need to kiss you. You need to learn that all it takes to be good in bed is chemistry."

When Dean realises that they can help each other out with their issues, he proposes an outrageous arrangement. However, the more time they spend with each other, the deeper their feelings run.

I loved this story so much! Poor Abbi. Her self-esteem and image of herself had been so battered in the past, that she found it hard to accept the compliments that people paid her. She set such store on her personal appearance that she forgot that she had so much else to give, and paid a disservice to people by always assuming that they judged her by her appearance. She was so caught up in her insecurities that she forgot that other people had insecurities of their own. And, poor Dean, too! He was such a lonely soul. My heart hurt terribly for him. I felt that he just wanted to be accepted for who he was, not where he came from, and he just wanted to love somebody with his whole being and be loved the same, in return.

"I don't know how long this arrangement will last, but I already know it's not enough. It'll never be enough."

Together, they were absolutely dynamite! I loved Dean's dirty mouth and how beautiful and desirable he made Abbi feel. He tried so hard to get her to see herself through his eyes. He pushed her out of her comfort zone but with sensitivity. I adored him! This story was a real journey for Abbi and how she looked at the world and herself. They both needed each other so much and I totally swooned at the love between them. Such a fab, pretty emotional read!

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Profile Image for Breanna.
297 reviews2 followers
April 16, 2021
This book was exactly what I needed to pull me out of my MEH book slump. I have struggled recently to find a book that I got so wrapped up in that I couldn't put it down. I stayed up until 3 am reading this - and if you know me, you know I don't give up my sleep easily. lol.

"So maybe she screwed up. And maybe her insecurities came out and did a good one-two punch to yours." Both characters were so beautifully flawed and had so much growth. Their journey together and their journey apart were both great. Two people learning to love themselves and how to trust in their love for each other.

Dean was the perfect mix of sensitive and rough. (Seriously, where is my Dean? Because I want one) Abbi was adorable and relatable (for me personally). The minor characters were all fun and likeable. The inevitable misunderstandings were handled so well and didn't annoy me and make me want to yell at them to just TALK to each other because...they kinda just actually did! (well..mostly) It shocked me in the best way possible!

I enjoyed the use of some of my favorite tropes - Best friend's little sister, friends to lovers, mutual pining, childhood friends, secret dating...it's all here for ya if you like those like I do.
It also made me cry like two times so it's a 4 star for me. Definitely will read this one again.
Profile Image for Jackie Wright.
6,449 reviews149 followers
April 11, 2021
This is book 3 in the Orchid Valley Series and I was excited to see which direction Ms Ryan was going to take us with Abbi and Dean’s story. This is a slow burn, small town romance that also has its fair share of steamy moments, it’s a captivating brothers best friend romance that will appeal to a wide range of audiences. This couple have a lot of baggage and that makes for a journey with a fair few bumps along the way. Dean may want to help Abbi with her bedroom issues but he needs to get past his own issues before becoming the man she wants and needs. Confidence pays a big part in this story and I found myself hoping and wishing together this couple could grow not only as lovers but also as people and show me the confidence I saw in them. The chemistry is sizzling and this couple are adorable so it was perfect to see them get the happy ever after they so deserved.

Profile Image for Becca Summers.
22 reviews6 followers
April 15, 2021
I haven’t had a book hit so close to home since I read It Ends With Us. This novel made me feel appreciated and let me know that I’m worthy of love. Yay representation!! As a bigger woman in today’s society, the main character, Abbi, and I have a lot of similar thoughts rolling around in our heads and holding us back from loving ourselves. I found myself highlighting so many passages that either I identified with, or know will be inspirational to look back on during tough mental health days and as I continue to grow and be gentler to myself. This was a beautiful love story between the two main characters and an inspiring story of personal growth / learning to be kinder to yourself when it comes to ones body image. I’m so thankful for this story - to see myself reflected in a main character of a novel. Thank you Lexi!!!!!
Profile Image for Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase .
4,772 reviews175 followers
March 30, 2021
Making the mistake of telling her brother's best friend Dean about her "flaws in the bedroom", Abbi is left between a rock and a hard place when Dean volunteers to help fix her issues. But what he does not understand is that the curvy Abbi has had feelings for him for as long as she could remember. When the sparks fly is it only one sided or has Dean finally admitted to himself that he has had feeling for the little girl he watched grow up. Can an arrangement turn into a HEA? Or is heart break the only thin in store for the two? With characters you could not help but fall in love with and a storyline that you could not put down this was a great read.
1,329 reviews4 followers
May 16, 2022
Insecurities

His point of view. Abby and Dean both have insecurities. Abby's is her self esteem, self image, and lack of self love. Dean"s are centered around the poor excuse of a father he had. Dean's are acerbated from something Abby said. This story was unique in really getting into Dean's thoughts, insecurities and point of view and how important it is whether friend or lover, communication is vital. Communication is more than talking. It's listening and really hearing what's said without judgement. If you're not sure you understand clearly, it's ok to ask. It's what will give you the happy ever after we all yearn for. No cheating or cliffhanger and the story ends on a happy note. Enjoy 🤓
Profile Image for Sharing My Book Boyfriends.
1,378 reviews17 followers
April 1, 2021
I really loved Abbi and Dean's story! I kept rooting for them throughout the book. They both had insecurities they were trying to work through. Abbi was insecure because of her weight, and Dean, because of his father. Dean tries to get Abbi to see herself as he sees her: an attractive and beautiful woman.
We all have insecurities, but we should focus on our good qualities and accept and love ourselves, including the flaws. No one is perfect, just as no relationship is perfect. We can always improve ourselves, but we'll never be perfect, and that's ok. Thank you, Lexi Ryan for the reminder of these important life lessons. Also, the book cover is beautiful!
Profile Image for Lynn.
1,128 reviews
April 3, 2022
Yup. Another one of those romance things. I liked the switching from Abbi to Dean’s points of view. I liked that they both had major issues to deal with before they could commit (although they solved their problems in 3 days!). I liked that she had some weight issues. And I liked that she went to a therapist once she realized she needed help solving said issues.
Steamy romance.
Profile Image for Cheryl   Graham-Petit.
4,123 reviews26 followers
March 29, 2021
The third book in the Orchid Valley series by Lexi Ryan, Every Time I Fall is a beautifully written romance story. There's angst, insecurities, great chemistry, witty banter, and so much more.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Profile Image for Elia.
1,161 reviews
May 12, 2022
this was just GOOD. solid moving poignant stuff!! hate amy even more after this one and i was rly hoping we’d get a tease for sav’s book, but recrec rec
Profile Image for Laurie Anne.
937 reviews18 followers
April 14, 2021
Love doesn't care about body size or type and that is my favorite takeaway ftom this book!
Abbi is a beautiful girl who happens to also be a 'big girl'. She is confident in so many areas of her life but her self image and self love.
Dean is not the typical confident, hot, alpha male. He's insecure, sweet and has his own self value issues that he's struggling with. Together they can help heal eachother.
This book is so much more than a love story between Abbi and Dean, it's also about loving yourself in your own skin.
Lexi writes some HOT steamy scenes that had me fanning myself with each one!!
Profile Image for kelly.
648 reviews5 followers
September 5, 2023
abbi wants to learn more about what to do in bed and her brother's best friend dean offers to help, not knowing she's always been in love with him. we know dean from the previous story as he fell in love with his best friend's ex and in this book, we see how he seems to struggle to get over her, without knowing he's long moved on with abbi

“Don’t worry about me, ’kay?” Too late. “Be safe,” I murmur, and my chest actually aches as I watch him walk away.

Dean: Ha! Well, I do have one of those, but that’s not what I meant either. My confidence in our chemistry comes from somewhere else altogether. Abbi: Don’t leave me hanging. Dean: Isn’t it obvious? You. That’s what’s gonna make it un-fucking-forgettable.

“Sit,” he says, waving to the small table and four chairs that make up my dining room. “You’ve been on your feet all day. I’ll bring you your dinner.”
“You’re always the one in the kitchen when our friends get together. I figured you deserved a chance to be the one relaxing.”

“When you touch yourself, think about me.” She opens her mouth, and I can see the objection in her eyes, so I put a finger to her lips. “Please? Seems only fair, since I know I’ll be thinking about you.”

“Tell me I wasn’t the only one suffering today.”
“Tell me you’ve been walking around as turned on and aching as I have.”

“I don’t think you’re teaching me to be better in bed. I think you’re spoiling me for all other men.”

“I’m determined to make you moan my name,” he murmurs, pinching my nipple. “Tell me what you imagined me doing when you were touching yourself.”
“I think about you all the time. Now tell me.”

“Don’t get me wrong—a woman in lacy lingerie is hot as fuck, but only if she wore it for me. Seeing a girl wandering around my house barefoot and in one of my old T-shirts is more my style.” His eyes sweep over me, as if he’s imagining it. “You’d look hot in anything. And if you wore it just for me, that’d be an even bigger turn-on.”

“Breathe, precious. You’re safe. Right here, right now, with me, there’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“Abbi,” I say. It’s not a warning or a question. It’s more like a prayer. A desperate plea for this aching need.

“I think you look delicious.” He glances toward the house and the empty front porch before stepping close and dropping his mouth to my ear. “You look so good that I’m not going to be able to focus on a damn thing. But did you forget the plans I had for you when I finally caught you in a skirt?”

“It could be just a dress,” he says. “Or it could be something you wore for me. Something you wanted me to see. Something you wanted me to do. Which is it, Abbi?” “I . . .” I swallow hard. I can hardly find words right now. “I wore it for you.” “I love that,” he growls.

“Tell me you want me,” I growl into her mouth. “I do.” I feel her smile against my lips. “So much.” “Tell me you’re mine tonight.” “I’m yours.”

“You’re beautiful. You know that?” I ask.
“I don’t,” she says, “but I almost believe it when you say it.”

“Abbi.” I kiss the side of her neck then down to the juncture of her neck and shoulder. I nuzzle her there, breathing in the smell of her, and groan. “You make me crazy.” She laughs. “Why?”“Because I don’t like thinking of this as something with a firm expiration date.”

“I’m not interested in anyone else, and I don’t want anyone else. I’m yours for as long as you’ll let this last.” Whatever this is. “I can’t be with you one night and plan to be with someone else the next. That’s not who I am.”

“What made you buy it? Were you thinking of me or just—” “You. This.” “Then I love it.”

“I’ve got you,” I murmur in her ear. “I promise you don’t have to do a damn thing.”

“You’re so fucking beautiful.” “I want to be. For you.” “You are.”

“I like the way you’re looking at me. I like . . . everything. It just doesn’t feel real, and I’m afraid I’m gonna screw it up. Or worse, wake up and find out none of it was real.”
“Tell me what you’re afraid of. Tell me how I can make you feel safe.”

“And you know how much it’s killing me to not be buried inside you right now, touching every inch of you.”

“I recall promising you I wouldn’t be rushed, but with your hands on me, with the sight of you bare beneath me?” I shake my head and cup her breasts in both hands. Her hard nipples pebble tighter beneath my thumbs. “I’ve wanted this too long, and I only have so much control.” She arches into my touch. “I like that.”

“Headboard, precious. If you touch me, I can’t make good on my promises.” Hell, her sounds alone could make me come. It’s a wonder I didn’t in Marston’s bathroom when she was squirming all over my face.

“I don’t make you see anything. You are beautiful.” I touch my index finger to her lips, then trail it down her chin, her neck, between her breasts and over her stomach. “I love this body.” I love you, I think. But I don’t say it. I know better, and after the reminder that this is just an arrangement to her, I can’t. Not yet.

“Thank you,” she whispers. “For giving you confidence?” She shrugs. “Yeah. You make me feel beautiful—make me believe I am. I needed that. But also for seeing me and for being my friend.”
“I like being more than your friend, if you hadn’t noticed.” I sweep my mouth across hers. “A lot.”

“You can’t hold that against me,” I say. “I like beautiful women.” I drop a kiss on her lips, then her neck, then kiss my way down to her breasts. “As is evidenced by the fact that I’m in bed with you.”

“I love that we’re here now,” I say against her mouth. I kiss her, gently but deeply. It’s a promise of everything she is to me, and everything I want this to be. I can’t tell her, not with words, not yet, so I tell her with my kiss. I slip my hand between her legs, and she gasps. “I was an idiot for ever giving up.” “Giving . . .?” I slide two fingers inside her, and her question is lost on a gasp as I show her the first of a long list of reasons she should love this too.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about you all day, and I don’t know if I can make it through dinner without getting my mouth on you again first.” “You . . . already have your . . . mouth on me,” she says, as if piecing the sentence together takes all her effort. “I do,” I say, flicking my tongue against her earlobe, “but I’m craving . . . other parts.”

“I can’t think when you do that.” I fucking love that I scramble her mind like that. I want her so turned on that she forgets all her worries and all her insecurities. So turned on that she forgets this Frankie guy. I only want her thinking about me.

“Are you okay?” When he pulls back, his eyes are red, as if he’s been crying, and my heart feels like it cracks in my chest. I’ve known Dean a long time, and this is maybe the third time ever I’ve seen the evidence of tears. I stroke his cheek with my thumb. “I’ve been thinking about you.”

“I just don’t like you knowing that part of me. I don’t like giving you any reason to think about it.” I want to know all parts of you. “What part? The one that clams up and won’t talk?” He huffs out a laugh and nips at my neck. “The one whose dad wasn’t ever around.”

“I can’t change who my father is, but I can promise you I am nothing like him. I’ll never, ever be like him. If I doubted that, I wouldn’t let myself be with you.”
“I know that, Dean.” I press my palm to his chest, right over the heart he just opened for me. “I know who you are.”

“You were in love with her, and you and I weren’t— We’ve never been real.” “You think this wasn’t real?” I snap. “You think every touch, every moment I’ve spent with you hasn’t been real for me?”

“There are a thousand reasons I’d choose you over and over and over again. We all have insecurities, Abbi. We all have pieces of ourselves we don’t want the world to see, but the difference between us is you walk around with yours visible to the world. It’s no secret that you’re not a size six.” Her face crumples, as if I just hurled an insult. “Dammit, I don’t fucking care what the number on your jeans is. Don’t you understand? It’s not a secret. I knew what you looked like when I told you I wanted to do this. I liked what you looked like then, and I like it now. You fucking turn me on and twist me up, and as much as I don’t understand why it should matter when you’re still so damn beautiful, I’ve tried to be patient because I know it matters to you. You carry these pounds like they’re scars of some shameful past.”

“No. You’re all the things you refuse to see in yourself. I love you.” The words come out so rough that they sound like they’re meant to cut. They sound like an insult. Hell, maybe they are. Right now, my own feelings are an insult to me. They’re killing me. “I love you,” I repeat, softer this time. “I’ve never felt for anyone what I feel for you. It’s bigger and better and so powerful that no misunderstanding could destroy it. But I’m not sure you could say the same about the way you feel for me.”

“Everything you feel for me is muffled by the hate you feel for yourself. Until you get that in check, I’m not sure you really can love me. And even if you do, your self-loathing is breaking us before we ever have a chance, and I refuse to let these insecurities of yours make me hate you. You are the most beautiful thing in my life, and these weeks we’ve been together have been some of the best, but I refuse to let the way you hate yourself turn my feelings for you into something ugly. Don’t you see it? No matter how many times I try to prove my love, no matter how many ways I shower you in it, no matter how many times I try to remind you what I see when I look at you or how I feel about you, there’s absolutely nothing I can say or do to make you love yourself. And you’re going to have to love yourself before you can ever trust me.”

“I love you,” I repeat. “I’ll walk out that door still loving you.” I shake my head. This is all so fucking screwed up. It doesn’t need to be like this. “Do you remember what you told me about how much you needed to feel beautiful? How much you needed to really believe it?”

“Did you ever stop and think I might have some wounds that needed tending as well? That maybe after the way I was raised and the crap I was told, I needed someone to see I can be trusted as much as you needed someone who can see your beauty?”

“I’ll never be someone who oozes confidence or someone who believes she’s the prettiest girl in the room. Most of the time, I just want to hide anyway. I don’t want people to notice me, and a lot of that comes from not wanting them to see what I perceive as flaws, but I like when you notice me. I’ve always liked when you noticed me, even when I didn’t think I deserved it, even when I thought it was some sort of weird mistake.”
“Will you come here?” I nod, and he pulls me into his lap. “There’s no mistake. I love you, and you’re beautiful. I was an idiot for calling you on your insecure bullshit when it was really more about my insecurities. I was wrong.”

BEST QUOTE
“Listen, it’s hard for me to understand why you can’t accept yourself, but if you’d just try to see what I see, I’ll keep loving you every single day until you see it too. And even if you never do, if you can just promise me you’ll be good to this woman I love . . .”
“Be good to her. Be kind to her body and her soul. Because she’s the best thing I’ve ever had in my life, and it makes me crazy when anyone tries to hurt her.”

“I love you,” I say. “I love you, and if what you say is true and my love for you is limited by how I feel about myself, then you’d better watch out, because I’m working on how I feel about me, and you’re going to have some crazy-big love coming your way.” “I love you too. So much it scares me a little when I think about you walking away. I’ve wanted you for so long, but I gave up because I was afraid I wasn’t good enough for you. I’ve never wanted anything more than I want to be worthy of you.” “You are. More than worthy.” I touch my forehead to his. “Can we try this again?” He shakes his head, but I trust him too much to be worried. “No, we’re going to try something better this time.”
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