Daring to Fall, the second book in the Willow Creek series by Shannon Stults, is a second chance love story that pulls at the heartstrings for both Harper and Cowboy. For this couple the terms misunderstandings and crossed signals played the major part that drove the wedge between them and sent Harper out of town, not to return for three years.

Whereas Cole and Lauren’s story in Keeping Score was fun, flirty, and hilarious, Cowboy and Harper’s story was innocence and touching, though saddening at the loss of time because of misunderstandings. Cowboy’s infectious personality and outgoing nature is juxtaposed to Harper’s reserved innocence, providing what the other needs to give them strength as a couple.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

I really liked this second chance romance. There was a whole bunch of sweetness, some chemistry and a few laughs too. It was great to see the characters from the past book in this story. I only had one complaint, and that is Harper, the super smart valedictorian, seemed to struggle understanding a few too many things. Overall, a very enjoyable and engaging romance. *I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
A great romance by a new author (to me). I'm excited to read more by Shannon Stults.

Shannon Stults is a new author to me and I’m really glad I picked up this book to read/review. Author has a way of writing so that you are engrossed in all of the feels with this story. Has great writing, great romance, amazing characters and a great love story. Definitely have you rooting for these characters to get their HEA!! Happy reading!!

This is the first book I have read from this author and I did enjoy it even though it seems to be the second book in this series. We meet Harper who is back on home at her hometown because her grandmother died and not she is in charge of her teenage sister. Harper has not been home for three years because she left her hometown on a heartbreak and she couldn't deal with possibly seeing and running into her ex Cowboy. Even though Cowboy and Harper were together for just 3 months they both knew that this were the love of their lives, however Harper left thinking that Cowboy cheated on her. While back she is having problems with her sister whom she doesn't really know anymore and finding out that Cowboy has been there for her family since she left. Her sister felt abandoned and it was understandable, while back her and Cowboy start to spend time together as friends, until they both start feeling more for each other but Harper does not think she could go thru that heartache again. However stuff comes out that has her wondering if it was actually her that ruined everything.. My pet peeve was that Cowboy apologized for what he thinks he did, yet Harper didn't and she really should have.

It was so easy to fall back into the world of Willow Creek once again for Harper and Cowboy’s (Russell) romance in DARING TO FALL. Although the reason that Harper is back home is a sad one, it’s also a part of life – for life goes on for those left behind. Once she fell for a young man, mistakes were made, hearts were broken and life moves on as she went away to medical school. Those years away may have settled her heart, somewhat, but there was damage done to her relationship with her younger sister. Now she and Sadie have to come to terms with losing Gran, Harper being back home, and rebuilding her parents’ B & B with the man she once loved. Life just got hard and easy – painful and hopeful, as well. There is no going back yet maybe there is a way to go forward with both her sister and the man she still loves in spite of their past hurts.

DARING TO FALL is told with significant flashback sections which, for me, made understanding Harper’s and Cowboy’s past and their mistakes so much easier. And perhaps, to be able to forgive a young man faster than the young woman he hurt so badly. I enjoy this small town with its quirky and caring residents, I hope to be able to return often for there are stories here I want to know. Loved running into Cole and Logan from KEEPING SCORE, bringing in all the characters of a series is always a treat for me.

If you love a Romance with wounded hearts finding a way to heal, some family troubles to deal with, and finding that love didn’t die it only got bruised along life’s journey then you’ll enjoy DARING TO FALL and want more. Watching Harper and Cowboy find their way back into each other’s hearts and lives was an emotional journey, one where I enjoyed every single step along the way to their happy ending.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from Tule Publishing via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Harper was stopped several times when she went to the grocery store by people giving her condolences for the passing of her grandmother. Hannah was tired of crying. She felt like she had been crying for a week, every since her sixteen year old sister Sadie had called her. She focused on her three C’s: cool, calm, controlled. She got in the habit of saying when her emotions threatened to get the better of her. Like when she lost her parents, now her grandmother who had taken over raising her and her sister. Focusing on her three C’s was the only thing holding her together this last week. Harper’s friend Logan came up and hugged Hannah when she was putting the groceries in her car. Harper was staying here Sadie was only starting her Junior year in HS Sadie was taking her grandmother’s death hard and pulling her out of school and moving her to Boston might be something Sadie would never forgive her for. Logan was married to Cole, Cowboy’s best friend.Aidan had been harper’s gay roommate and had come down to help her clean up her grandmother’s house as the last few years if her life she had become a hoarder. Sadie’s and Harper’s relationship isn't close anymore, Harper hadn’t realized staying away for three years while in med school would do to them. Cowboy cleared his throat and Harper turned to him. He apologized for not going to her grandmother’s funeral and had a baby gardenia bush. Harper said they were her grandmother's favorite - hers also. Then she started to cry, Cowboy came to her and delicately put his hands on her cheeks and had his forehead against hers and said” It’s ok Midge . Everything will be ok.” Harper replied “ No. Don’t call me that.” Cowboy asked if they could talk for a second but Harper said no. She thanked him for the plant and said she thought he should go. He stepped forward and she stepped back. His eyes filled with anguish, his hands falling to his side. Than Aidan came out and pulled Harper to his side. Harper introduced him as Russell Hart. After Cowboy left Aidan said tell me about your friend. There was a time when Harper considered Cowboy her best friend. He said they were friends once and he is just trying to be her friend now. If She were honest, she missed his friendship to. But she still couldn’t get past the hurt and heartache just being near him stirred up. Harper was waiting to have lunch with Cameron- Cowboy’s brother when Cowboy showed up instead. He asked why she was having lunch with Cameron and she told him about maybe opening back up her parents B and B. He said he could help he’d had his own business now for five years. It was the idea of working so closely with Cowboy on this. Seeing him all the time , asking him for advice , relying on him to help her bring her vision to life. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him- not with this. She didn’t trust herself. Maybe being his friend again was finally how she’d get over Cowboy and everything that had happened between them for good. She then told Cowboy he had a deal.
I loved this book. I loved Harper and Cowboy and how they interacted. I was sad that they broke up over a misunderstanding and both ended up with broken hearts.this was a sweet emotional read. The Flashbacks in this case were ok as they showed you Harper and Cowboy’s relationship three years before and what went wrong. I felt like I was there with Cowboy and Harper. I didn’t want to put this down. I loved seeing Cowboy and Harper fall in love again, and I also loved seeing Harper and Sadie work their relationship out. I advise you to read the first book in this series for a smoother read. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.

Daring to Fall by Shannon Stults
Can she forgive the past or will she sacrifice her present?
When she finds herself sole legal guardian of her teenage sister and the heir of a significant fortune, Harper Maddox drops out of medical school to move back to her small hometown of Willow Creek, Georgia. Her return brings her face to face with Russell Hart (aka Cowboy), her fiercely independent and sexy first love who broke her heart three summers ago after gaining her wary trust.
Harper is determined to protect her heart and resist Cowboy’s allure, but when she decides to remodel and reopen her parents’ B&B, she must turn to the one man she was determined to ignore for advice and assistance. Cowboy proves to be a surprising ally and friend, and it’s only a matter of weeks before she finds herself falling for him all over again. He appears reformed, but Harper still questions his ability to fall in love.
Will Harper’s fear of getting hurt outweigh a chance at true happiness?
This is Harper Maddox and Russell Hart's story.
She didn’t wait for his response. Instead, she let out a frustrated grunt that reminded him of a disgruntled kitten before she grabbed the flat tire she must have already removed, carried it around to the back of the Jeep, and tossed it in the trunk.
He snatched up the tire iron from the ground where she’d left it. “Here, let me help you…”
I’m not some helpless damsel who needs rescuing from a flat tire.” She hiked up the narrow, knee-length skirt of her dress that he only just now realized was torn and smudged with grease and squatted by the wheel.
Cowboy climbed into the Jeep before she could change her mind, and she started it up with a soft rumble.
“Thanks. You know, most girls would jump at the chance to have a big, strong, undeniably handsome man like myself get down and dirty for them. I have to admit, it’s actually a bit refreshing.”
“I have to admit, I don’t care.” She pulled out onto the road, not even bothering to ask directions. Not that it surprised Cowboy. Everyone in Willow Creek knew that he and his best friend, Cole Tucker, still rented the same small house since their high school graduation four years ago.
Daring to Fall by Shannon Stults is a 4 star book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
Shannon 's Books with Tule:
Keeping Score
Willow Creek
Daring to Fall
Willow Creek

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I really liked the book. The story takes place in Georgia. Harper Maddox has returned to be guardian to her 16 year old sister after her grandmother passes away. Harper has stayed away for 3 years. Her sister is very upset with her for abandoning her and their Grams. We learn she has stayed away because of what happened between Harper and her old boyfriend Cowboy. The author alternates between the summer 3 years ago when Cowboy befriends Harper and the present day.

Harper and Cowboy had known each other for years but she was an extreme introvert and they didn’t socialize. We learn about their summer and how their friendship grew and turned into a loving relationship. We know something happened to make Harper leave and never return. Her sister thinks it’s because of her she stayed away and things remain stained between them until they finally talk and share their feelings. Harper decides to stay and rebuild her parents bed and breakfast.

Harper and Cowboy start to build their friendship again and she reveals that she believed he cheated on her after she gave him her virginity. It is finally revealed what the truth was about the night that changed her life. Both Harper and Cowboy realize they love the other but are afraid of getting hurt.
It is a terrific story. I give it 5 stars and will look for other books by this author.

Daring to Fall is a well written second chance romance. Good plot, great setting and believable characters. If you enjoy romance books I recommend this book. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

I liked this story so much I need to read, Keeping Score which is the first book in the Willow Creek series. I liked the characters that brought you right into the story. Harper is refreshing and grows up into a woman who is beautiful inside and out. I enjoyed watching her grow up and watching her become her sister's guardian and watching her rekindle her love with Cowboy.

I also found the story interesting as it was woven from events three years earlier to the present day which helped to really get to know and understand the characters and their feelings, their weaknesses, their strengths, past hurts and how they grew in their love for each other.

It was nice to see this second chance romance come full circle for "Midge" and Cowboy. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

Second chance stories are always so interesting just when you think, “How many spins can they put on it?” There is a new one.

We get to meet Harper and Cowboy. Actually, two former classmates for most of their life, in their hometown. In fact, upon seeing her in his head he described her as “their class’s quiet, reclusive valedictorian.” Basically, they were two ships in the night.

Harper’s goal in high school was getting good grades for college. Cowboy’s how many times he couldn’t get laid in a week.

Truthfully, for me at first, it took me a bit to figure out that the author was having the two characters do flashbacks. For sure they are the ones numbered by days. But looks for the switch too in the body of the chapters too. Once you get the hang of it, not bad.

Loved, loved, loved! Cowboy’s Character. He’s exactly how you would expect a playboy to act and react when first falling in love. The roller coaster of emotions, the relationship, and the newness of a friendship. At the same time helping said friend, Harper experiences things outside her comfort zone.

With each new dare came a question she got to ask him per dare. The respect he was getting and building for her for the meeting said dares was out the roof. For Harper, the insight into the guy who always used his sex appeal to keep everyone at bey she was finding it such a kind, giving, and gentleman.

Plus, you will see the rebuilding of the relationship of Sadie, Harper's nine-year younger sister. After the passing of their Gran and Harper HAD to come home. She must deal with the anger of having to deal with Gran’s illness alone while Harper was away at school.

When Harper thinks she sees something three years earlier and leaves. It leaves Cowboy devastated. Now she’s back. Can they fix it?

I give this: 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

Loved this book of second chances between Harper and Cowboy. They started as friends which developed into so much more, then a miss communication and they went their separate ways. Now Harper has returned to Willow Creek to help with her teenage sister after their grandma dies. Their friendship starts all over again, but will they both let the past be in the past.

Wonderful strong characters that learn to love again. Plenty of family drama. This is heart warming emotional sweet romance that I could not put down. Love the characters of this town. This is the second book in the series, but can be read as stand alone. Now, I can't wait to read the next book.

Daring to Fall is the second Willow Creek book by Shannon Stults. Like the first it has a fresh feel to the story line, taking a common theme and mixing it up somewhat. Strong characters with complex personalities and relationships make up the focus of this story. Besides Harper and “Cowboy” the first book’s main characters, Logan and Cole, are also part of the story which makes a great tie-in to the area of Willow Creek, GA. Second chance romances are big in Willow Creek.

The author has a clear writing style that I enjoy even though the present includes the flash backs from the back, mostly Harper and Cowboy’s relationship. It has me understanding how life came to be now, while also causing me to root for them to work everything out. Not just for them but with Harper’s younger sister, too. I like how the author has family so much a part of the books. This is genuinely how life is where I live.

Definitely a new romance author to watch. This one is on the rise with Daring to Fall as an excellent example of why that is.

Wonderful read,I had the pleasure of reading a ARC of it. Life is all about second chances, will this be “Midge and Cowboys “ chance at happily ever after? Will they “dare” each other to make it happen?

This is Harper and Cowboys book, when Harper finds herself legal guardian of her teenage sister and error of a significant fortune she drops out of medical school to move back to the small town of Willow Creek Georgia. Unfortunately on her return back she comes face-to-face with Russell a.k.a. cowboy her sexy first love who broke her heart three summers ago! This time Harper is determined to protect her heart and resist cowboys allure but when she decides to remodel and reopen her parents B&B she must turn to the one man she was determined to ignore, the one and only cowboy! This book was a decent read just not really my thing. It was a little tame for my taste LOL but it wasn’t a bad story! Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

A heartwarming and emotional story with wonderful characters.

Harper and Cowboy dated before Harper left to go to college. But when they parted ways, it wasn’t on the best of terms. It was a big misunderstanding that left them both heartbroken. Harper is now back in Willow Creek to take care of her teenage sister after her grandmother passes away and it is a second chance for her and Cowboy.

I really enjoyed seeing how Harper and Cowboy were able to move forward with friendship and then fall in love again. The mistrust was still there, so they had to work through it. It was heartbreaking to read those parts, but when they would get together and things would be perfect, I couldn’t ask for anything more. There are a lot of ups and downs and family drama in this book. It flashes to the past so readers can see exactly how Harper and Cowboy’s romance was like in the past. This is a really good book and a great second addition to the Willow Creek series. I liked catching up with the characters from the first book too.

Such a sweet romance, cute and adorable cast of characters, heartwarming story and the kind of ending that lifts you, a thoroughly wonderfully read

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I loved so many things about Daring to Fall. The story itself is engaging and captivating. I loved the dual story of Harper and Cowboy’s past combined with the current status. I loved the characters of Harper and Cowboy, the credible tension between Harper and her teen sister, Sadie, and the complexity of all the different stories combined. It is a story of tender love that took a bad turn due to wrong perceptions and pre-conceived notions.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.