He Falls First, the first book in the Colburn Brothers series by Jill Shalvis introduces us to Ryder Colburn, a man who is running his family business while caring for his failing father. He is beyond busy...or so he thinks. Insert Penny, who is home and living with her grandmother, helping to raise her 12 year old brother. She comes with a scarred background, but there is just something about Ryder that she is drawn to. Overall, this was a great first book of a series and I can't wait to see what the next book in the series will be!

This was the first Jill Shalvis book that was five stars for me in awhile. The magic for me was back!
First, the sense of community in this little California town is what I always look for in a book. The younger brother, the feisty grandmother. All good.
And our hero. Wow. What a tragic family story, and a surprising thing he and his brothers are doing.
And Penny, she was determined and brave and oh so clever.
Add it together, and it made a delightful story!

I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after listening/reading a free ALC/ARC via Hambright PR and Netgalley. HE FALLS FIRST is the first book in a new series, THE COBURN BROTHERS, by Jill Shalvis. This book is a first person, open door, dual POV, contemporary romance/women’s fiction with tropes including Small town, Hot contractor, Found family, He falls first (and hard), and Grumpy x sunshine. The main characters are Ryder and Penny. Ryder is the CEO of a construction and restoration company and Penny is a chef. Ryder is the oldest of his siblings and is too busy with work and providing care for his father after two strokes for relationships outside his family. Penny has just escaped an abusive relationship and is leery of starting one again. Ryder couldn’t seem to fight the pull he felt toward Penny. However, when he invited her out to dinner, she declined. I loved how he always left the decision to Penny without putting any pressure on her at any time. Over the course of the book, the reader is privy both to the relationships that both main characters have with members of their families and the way that their relationship evolves. I always love Jill Shalvis’ books. These characters have so many layers and as she peels them away through their interactions with people who are important in their lives, painting portraits of complex human beings. The story is about more than just the romantic relationship, touching on family and friends. The book is well written and well paced. The audiobook was perfect. Kudos to Lila Winters and Sebastian York for making the listening experience so great! I recommend this book/audiobook to readers who enjoy contemporary romance/women’s fiction stories with depth, emotion, and humor.

Jill Shalvis hit another home run here! Absolutely loved Ryder and Penny’s story! The queen of ROM Com doesn’t disappoint in this latest book.
If you love small town romance this a book/ series This series follows the Colburn Brother will they all get hit by the “Legend of Star Falls”

Penny and Ryder have been hurt in the past. Both have always put their family first. Both have trust issues. Both love to banter with each other.

We get to see both MCs motivations and hesitations. The two circle each other, they want but they can't. And this push and pull gets boring. There are lovely secondary characters, including a very rude parrot, whom I found more annoying than endearing, and there are some distracting side plots that could have been a bit more developed.

In conclusion, this could have been shorter and more concise, or the series could have started with a different brother and then come back to Ryder and Penny.

Rating: 3.5/5

- small town romance
- forced proximity (working on renovations together)
- he falls first
- 🌶️🌶️/5
- dual pov
- dual narration by Sebastian York and Lila Winters

Penny returns to her small hometown after walking away from an abusive relationship to care for her teenage brother and start over. She moves into her grandmother’s house, only for her grandmother to decide it's the perfect time for some much-needed renovations. Enter Ryder, the owner of the local restoration company, who is more than happy to take them on as a side job.

With Ryder already one of her catering clients and now a constant presence in her home, Penny quickly realises there's no escaping him. Ryder is patient and steady, chipping away at her walls, giving her the space to trust again, and making it clear he's willing to move at her pace. Penny cannot resist his small-town charm for long, and before she knows it, she's falling just as hard as he is.

This is a sweet, heartwarming small-town romance with surprising depth. Penny’s journey of healing is beautifully balanced with Ryder’s own struggles as he comes to terms with his father’s stroke and the changes it brings to their relationship. The story is rounded out by a lively cast of side characters who bring plenty of warmth and humour, from Ryder’s brothers to Penny’s meddling grandmother and her protective younger brother.

The audiobook is also a treat, with Lila Winters and Sebastian York delivering performances that perfectly capture the small-town vibes. If you are in the mood for this type of romance, this one is worth the listen.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Hambright PR for the early copies.

So excited to read a new Jill Shalvis book!! Penny returns to her hometown for several reasons, but none of them are to fall in love again. It was so impressive to see Ryder put Penny’s comfort before his own needs. He truly was a gentleman.

Not only did I enjoy the slow burn romance between Ryder and Penny, but I’m looking forward to the other Colburn brothers’ stories as well!

This is my first book by Jill Shalvis, and I will be reading more of her work!
Enjoyed this book. I was so unsure if I would, but I am always surprised in the best ways by books.
The plot in this book is so intricately structured and well-written. The pace was perfect for the story.
The characters were engaging and well-developed. She made me feel like I was with them wholeheartedly.
This is a small-town book - if you are a small-town reader, grab this immediately. Being from a small town, this was very reminiscent of my younger days.
Ryder and Penny. I want to say everything but not give away anything.
Ryder is the family business guy - the CEO. Past traumas.
Penny is a chef. Past traumas have left her as a shell of her former self.
Fate brings the two together. Their chemistry.. yes. Their growth together.. yes. The whole thing was beautiful to read. I just enjoyed the communication shown throughout the story.
We also got sneak peeks of other characters - so ready for those books.
There was fun banter as well.
Dual POV.
I do want to put out some of the trigger warnings: parental neglect, parental abuse, PTSD, domestic abuse, and caregiver strain related to stroke.
Overall, this was a great book and you should immediately add this to your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

Jill Shalvis has never disappointed me in her ability to deliver a great story that touches my heart and makes me laugh. I love the flirting, the sass, the humor and especially the romance all in unexpected ways. She delivers all the feels in this new storyline and I am looking forward to seeing more of all these characters continue to develop in the books to come.

MY HEART 🥹💕 the romance… the emotion… the chemistry 🥹 “He Falls First” was STUNNING! I immediately fell in love with Ryder and Penny. Love has the power to heal even some of our deepest wounds. Sometimes we are blessed enough to find someone who has the power to heal wounds they never even created. @jillshalvis has done it again - an absolute treasure of a book 💕 thank you @jillshalvis , @hambright_pr and @sourcebookscasa so much for the opportunity to read “He Falls First” 💕

Disclaimer: I received a free review copy of this book from @sourcebookscasa . All thoughts and reviews are honest and my own.

"He Fell First" by Jill Shalvis was a well written story that had you rooting for the characters.
Ryder is in charge of his family business but he would give anything to be able to work with his hands. Penny has moved back home to help out her family. Little did they know they would help each other. As both Penny and Ryder navigate their past and the effects it has on them they grow closer and start to open their hearts back up.
Highly recommend and can't wait for the rest of the series.

This is a new series from Jill Shalvis about the Colburn Brothers! Book 1 is Ryder’s story. I’m looking forward to the other books in the series to read Tucker and Caleb’s stories. All three brothers love each other, are protective of each other, and love to kid each other.

This book is Ryder and Penny’s love story. Two people with work and family responsibilities who help each other open up their hearts again to let the other in.

This book is loaded with a cast of characters who will melt your heart and make you chuckle. Especially Pika-boo, the wise cracking talking parrot with no filter.

“I also didn’t tell her that we seemed to be dancing to a song that didn’t exist, playing a game that had only two rules. Hers and mine. And neither of us had a clue what those rules were.”

I’m excited that Jill Shalvis’ new series revolves around three brothers so we can keep seeing these characters in future books. Ryder is the oldest and head of the family business. Penny has returned to Star Falls and works for his sister Kiera while her grandmother takes care of Ryder’s dad during the day. His dad was abusive and mean, but now after two strokes is nonverbal and sweet. Ryder and his two brothers and sister are all dealing with the trauma of their upbringing.

Penny is scared to have another relationship after her previous one ended in abuse. Ryder does indeed fall first and is very patient with her as they find their way to each other.

The romance is sweet and spicy and all of the characters combine to make a great story. I look forward to everyone else finding their HEA.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A beautiful read of romance. The instant chemistry, the families, the second chances and trusting the process. The story is set in a tiny town in California. From the start I loved Penny, her feisty grandmother and little brother. Penny has left an abusive relationship and come home to help her grandmother. Ryder is the oldest Colburn and has some baggage thanks to his abusive father. I couldn’t help but have a soft spot for him and his brothers and their sister. Their father has recently been kicked out of his latest retirement home and has since suffered a stroke that has changed the once violent man into a docile, simple man. Unable to care for himself, the brothers agree to take him in. Ryder has him first and employs Penny’s grandmother to care for him during the day. This is how he bumps into Penny. Good pacing to the story and enjoyable. Thanks to Jill Shalvis, the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.

I am a huge fan of Jill Shalvis. I love her writing style, the emotions she brings to the characters and the humor laced throughout her books. I am really excited for this series and the interconnected family. Love the Colburn family start! For me this was a solid 4.5 stars; the half star off for me was there was just some (emotional) parts that just dragged on a little bit to much. And can I just say Pika-boo? So much love for that bit in the book.

Ryder is the oldest Colburn sibling and has always tried to shield his family any way he can. They had a rough childhood with a strict and somewhat abusive father. Definitely some past trauma in his life. He is now caring for said father who doesn't remember anything from the past after having two strokes which does not help his mental state. Penny has her own personal trauma from a prior (somewhat abusive) relationship. She is back home to help care for her young brother and older grandma (who is a spitfire!). While she wants nothing to do with relationships, she can't help but notice Ryder when she sees him all the time. Ryder definitely notices Penny but with his past, his guilt and his responsibilities he isn't a safe bet for Penny. Seems that both their intentions to leave the other alone doesn't go quite as planned however.

Overall a very cute read. Excellent humor and family dynamics. Can't wait for the next in series.

Penny is starting over back in her home town, working in catering, when she keeps running into Ryder - the business owner of one of her clients. They strike up a friendship, but this eventually evolves into more when their attraction can't be denied. Will they both be able to overcome their separate traumas, open up, and find love?

This book was like a warm bath - cozy, slow, and sweet. Ryder and Penny's relationship developed slowly but naturally, and I enjoyed being along for the ride. There was plenty of humor, banter, and a found family vibe that created a wonderful story that I loved from beginning to end.

I recommend this if you enjoy cozy, slow to medium burns, a patient but swoony MMC, and a strong FMC that doesn't know how to be taken care of.

Off to a great start with this new series. Ryder the oldest of four siblings has plenty on his shoulders. Crazy fun loving brothers, a sister who is in mourning which he feels responsible for. A adorable niece and nephew who are his sister’s twins, taking care of his once upon a time abusive father. And on top of all that running the family business. No wonder that he is cranky, who has time for a personal life. And then he saves Penny from an oncoming truck in front of his business, but it’s Ryder who gets stuck by Cupid arrow or the legend of the three shooting stars.
Penny has left behind everything in Seattle including her abusive partner and comes home to Star Falls to heal and help her grandmother raise her 12 year old brother Wyatt. Money is tight and the home is falling apart, working all the hours she can at the catering company is wearing her out. Not the dream she had for herself but one can dream. When she was delivering her daily breakfast to the Colburn company she has trouble with the food cart and almost was hit by a truck. If the sexy, owner hadn’t pushed her out of the truck way she would’ve been seriously injured. Her hero is super patient with her and insists to take care of her scraps. Not quite what Penny wants, she has written off men. Of course Ryder has the patience of a saint and the wall around her heart is chipping away.
There are several laugh out loud moments with the brothers and Grandma crazy talking bird. I enjoyed reading the antics of the brothers and can’t wait to read their stories. Yes expect some steamy parts. 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this enjoyable ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Colburn's had a very difficult childhood, with a military father that was abusive. Their father then had health problems that left him a completely different man and Ryder has his hands full caring for him and running a business. He has no time for a serious relationship, that is until Penny comes into his life. He falls hard and fast but realizes she's been through things and needs his patience. He's such a gentleman always telling her that they'll go as slow as she needs.

Penny didn't stand a chance not falling in love with Ryder. Her last relationship ended with a literal scar and she was worried about trusting someone again, rightfully so, but Ryder proved time and again that he wasn't going anywhere and she was safe with him.

Jill Shalvis writes amazing stories full of love, banter, spice and funny animal characters like Pika-boo the bird, which is always the icing on the cake for me.

Thank you to Jill Shalvis, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and Netgalley for this ARC!

The Colburn brothers are here!!

This was such a fun and heartwarming and emotional read and I loved Penny and Ryker’s story! We start with a great meet-cute and I was all in for them immediately!
They have this amazing chemistry and connection and we get this great slow burn.

Both of them have some past emotional baggage to unpack and work through and I loved how they come together and start to heal. Penny’s grandmother is an absolute gem. I loved the brothers relationship and banter and am so excited for the next book!!

✨What To Expect:
🏡 Small Town Shenanigans
🛠️ Hot contractor
🏡 Found family
❤️‍🔥 He falls first (and hard)
🌦️ Grumpy x sunshine
💞 Opposites Attract
🤫 Is it fake dating when only one of you knows it's fake?

Jill Shalvis is the queen of contemporary small town romance and He Falls First was a wonderful example of that! Penny Rose is working as an independent chef in the small California town that she grew up in. She returned home to not only help out her family but help heal herself from her life in Seattle. One thing that she has decided, no more relationships. They just don't work for her. The problem is one Ryder Colburn. He is a local contractor and try as she might, she just can't ignore him. Ryder has his hands full running his business after the death of his friend and business partner. Added to that, he has his three siblings, niece, nephew and aging father all depending upon him. He has been attracted to Penny from the moment that she started delivering her catering to his office. It's a shame that he just doesn't have the energy to try to convince her to give a relationship a go. Well, fate intervenes and these two are going to find out that some things are just meant to be. I really enjoyed He Falls First. The supporting characters are a lot of fun and Ryder and Penny's story has a lot of laughter, a bit of angst and a nice amount of heat! It was told from dual POV and I look forward to reading more books about the other Colburn siblings!