Falling Hard

Sweet, heartfelt, and real. If you aren't brought to tears by the epilogue, you are not human. 

I'm a big fan of Pamela Clare's I-Team series, but wasn't that keen on the first two in her Colorado High Country series. The author completely redeemed herself with Falling Hard, a truly lovely ode to single moms, widows, military veterans, family, first responders, small towns, and even psychologists. Seriously, this story was wonderfully done, without veering into sappy, cheesy Hallmark movie territory. 

Jessie and Ellie both have their own burdens and their romance isn't glossed over. There are awkward moments, not to mention both make painful mistakes with each other. But that is what makes watching them fall tenderly, fully in love with each other so worthwhile. Kudos to the author for honoring the military dead, the widows left behind, and the veterans still recovering from their service with a story so heartfelt and detailed that it felt very, very real. 

4.5 stars

You know you are reading the work of an exceptionally talented author, when the story takes hold of you from the start. 
This was an absolutely wonderful book. It is the second of Ms Clare’s series, Colorado High Country.
The plot centers around Elle Meeks, a nurse,  whose pilot husband died during a mission in Iraq without ever meeting his 2 yr old twins, and Jesse, a former Army Ranger who also fought in Iraq. He needed to get away from the reminders of war and is now living in Colorado and in the elite Rocky Mt S & R Team as well working at the local resort. 
Both have suffered great loss. One as a war widow with two young children, and one as a war hero who considers himself anything but one. Jesse’s childhood was not one any child should have , and the loss of people in his life  as well as the war, has left him with a great deal of guilt and PTSD.
What is remarkable in this book is the way Ms Clare presents us with these issues. A reminder that our returning troops and those left at home need our support both from each one of us, as well as from our nation. 
You will laugh, cry,  and experience heartbreak , during this story , but you will also cheer them along as they both find happiness and love.
Definitely not a book to be missed. Can’t wait what else is in store for Colorado High Country.I was gifted this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Oh my God! See that mush in the puddle on the floor there, yeah that's my heart. This book has it all, I went through so many emotions reading this book I'm not even sure I could catalog them all. Love, lust, fear, guilt, anger, more love (and lust), acceptance it's all in there and so much more. Ellie and Jesse have amazing chemistry but more than that they build an amazing relationship. I loved little Daisy and Daniel too. They all had so much to overcome, things get better, than they get worse and it goes back and forth like that for a while. I loved watching them fall in love, fight it for their various reasons and finally accept that they were in love. I loved how each wanted to put the other before themselves. I loved going back to Scarlett Springs, it's such a wonderful little town. I love how the Team and the town pull together. I love how they support each other. I love everything about this series and I can't wait for more. This book could easily be read as a stand alone but this whole series is awesome and I highly recommend all of them so far. I received an arc of this book from the publisher through net galley in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoyed this book!  Jesse is HOT and just a little unpredictable, and that made for such an interesting read.  I hesitated to read a book about a widow, but I'm so glad I did.  The sadness of the situation added to the passion and relief our Heroine finally allowed herself to feel and it wasn't throughout every interaction.  This book is well-written and an easy read, the length of the story is great, and the plot is believable as well as interesting.   A great read and a very enjoyable romance!!!

5 - "When you’re ready... I’ll be here." Stars!

We return to the Colorado High Country Series, with the third book; Falling Hard. This is happy-go-lucky Jesse Moretti’s story, and I fell... Hard.

IMAGE.

Oh my wow! I am absolutely in love with this series; every book the author has released has been an absolute treat. But I have to say this one is my favorite so far, there was just so much to love about the story that Pamela gave Jesse. 

It was his duty to have her back, not get her onto her back... 

Ellie Meeks returned Scarlet Springs a widow with twins on the way, it’s taken her a couple of years to reach a happy equilibrium where she even feels she can entertain the idea of looking for adult company again, around caring for her kids. Jesse is more than a little interested and after helping her out when she has car trouble, their tentative friendship blooms.

"I don’t want to be the thing you regret in the morning..."

The one thing that stood out about this story for me is the fact that Jesse is so much more than the character we have been given in the previous two books, the author literally grabbed my heart from the first revelation about him and kept squeezing with each following one that landed, I’m not afraid to admit there were a few tears shed on more than a couple of occasions with the reading of his story.

"When I’m with you, all the bullshit falls away, and the answers to all the questions become simple."

Ellie and her toddler twins Daisy and Daniel were an absolute joy to get to know as well, and bearing in mind as a woman she represented everything Jesse normally steered clear of in relation to his casual bed partners, I loved how the relationship developed between them in-spite of it, and casual got left behind for consumed, because they both were, with each other.

"You certainly know how to bring the heat."

I am loving this series, I cannot get enough of this authors writing, and I cannot wait to see who will have their story told next, there are so many characters that I want to get to know better, and I hope the author has stories in mind for all of them.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.

Falling Hard is a perfect name for this book... as a reader you will also be Falling Hard. The characters were well developed and felt very real. The author's descriptive writing not only brought the characters to life, but also put you in their small town.
I laughed, swooned and cried ugly, happy sad tears and fell in love. This book was AH-MAY-ZING!!!

loved it.  my favorite of the three

ook 3! Yes, I just had to read more of my Colorado High Country. I loved books 1 & 2- and book 3 didn't disappoint. 
This starts out with Ellie & Jesse and their "meet cute". Well not exactly- Ellie and her son have strep throat. Ellie is stranded while trying to get home + it's snowing + juggling her almost 3 y/o twins and her groceries. Jesse comes to the rescue. This is one of the many times that Jesse rescues someone in need. Jesse ends up getting strep throat too, so then it's Ellie's turn to help Jesse. 
For the last 3 years, Jesse's belonged to the "Team" -search and rescue in the town of Scarlet Springs, CO. Ellie is an RN, and widowed since she was 6 months pregnant with her twins, Daisy and Daniel (the cutest ever). Ellie had grown up in Scarlet Springs, as had her late husband, Dan, an Army Captain in the Rangers.
Jesse has been renting the cabin that is just up the hill from Ellie's house. Jesse knew about Ellie's husband being killed in Iraq.
Ellie and Jesse have an immediate attraction. This is 3rd person POV so I was like a fly on the wall. Jesse notices her green eyes and blond hair. She noticed his fit body. 
Ellie has been working part time so that she can care for her kids while they're so young. 
Ellie has a great sister, Claire, who's the funny & feistier of the two- I really liked how Claire encourages Ellie to move on with her life. Ellie's mom watches the twins while Ellie's working part-time at the local hospital.
Ellie and Jesse seem to know many of the same people in town. Jesse has been in Scarlet Springs for 3 years and had quickly adapted to the rocky mountain lifestyle. 
Jesse had been traumatized during his time in the Army Rangers. He had acted heroically, but has traumatic memories of his experiences. Jesse and Ellie become friends. Jesse intends to just be friends. He knows that Ellie's a widow. Jesse isn't looking for a relationship or a family. 
I love how gradual their relationship grows. Everyone in town makes comments about Ellie dating Jesse.!
Jesse is great with the twins. It's very natural how he starts to enjoy being around Daniel and Daisy. The focus stays on Ellie and Jesse's relationship while they find ways of spending more and more time together. 
There were a few conflicts and hazards of the job. Ellie had been steady the entire book. She overreacts (IMO) late in the book. Her sister Claire is the voice of reason. I loved how Claire reassured her and how Ellie tried to make it right. 
I loved the Colorado small town setting. Almost of the supporting characters are back. 
The love making scenes were steamy. There's a funny scene when Ellie's buying condoms at the store & she runs into her dad (he's a Doctor!)
I enjoyed this one so much. The writing style is right up my alley.
I'm ready for the next one!

Ah! I need tissues! This story will pull you straight into your heart. Pamela has given us lots of different ways to tear you apart. I love her books! Ellie is a widow with two 2 year old twin toddlers. Their dad died in Iraq. Jesse is her neighbor and he finds her in a parking lot with a car that won't start and her son has strep. He helps her home. Ellie is a nurse part time. She finds he has been doing her outside chores. Jesse has PTSD and worries that he will be dangerous. He joined the Scarlet Mountain Resort to take care of snow and ski lifts. He also was a Ranger. Now he volunteers with Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Team. Soon there will be a festival, SnowFest. Daisy is a curious toddler and gets away from her grandmother to check the Polar Bear hole. Of course she falls in and Jesse tries to save her. He is bringing up a previous rescue that wasn't happy. There is more here. Please keep the tissues nearby. I hope you choose to read this story. You won't regret it. Enjoy reading this book!  I volunteered to read and review this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book

Ellie Meeks promised her pilot husband that if anything happened to him while he was deployed she would continue on with her life, now 3 years later she is struggling to get through each day. The grief of her loss is staggering add in the fact that she has twin 2 year olds that her late husband never got a chance to meet.
Jesse Moretti is dealing with PTSD, He has gone to Colorado to live and now works with the Rocky Mountain search and rescue team.
Can these two tortured souls find happiness again. Will Ellie help heal Jesse? Will Jesse help Ellie heal and become a father to her two babies.
This book is the first of this author I have read and I have to say wow, Pamela Clare has a writing style that sucks you right into the story. This book was an emotional rollercoaster ride. I cried so hard. when a book can cause you to feel such deep emotions along with the character I have to say it is amazing.

Ellie Meeks is the widow of a Black Hawk helicopter pilot, Dan 'Crash' Meeks. He died while she was four months pregnant with their twins Daniel and Daisy. Three years later Ellie is bringing up the twins alone and working as a nurse at the local hospital. One night, when she and Daniel are sick with strep throat, Ellie's car breaks down in the snow and she is rescued by Jesse Moretti.

Jesse is a former Army Ranger. He works at the local ski resort and volunteers with the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. He lives close to Ellie but has been avoiding her ever since he moved in two years previously because he is trying to put Iraq and Afghanistan behind him and getting friendly with the Gold Star wife next door and witnessing her grief first hand would be too much for him to deal with. Jesse is also suffering some PTSD after failing to save a little girl who drowned when her mother's car went into the river.

But having successfully missed each other for two years it seems as though fate is putting Jesse and Ellie together. First Jesse rescues Ellie and the twins. Then Jesse catches strep (I love the macho belief that Jesse never gets sick and then he gets infected by kid germs) and Ellie and her father look after him. Ellie is forced to 'volunteer' to run the first-aid tent at the annual SnowFest event by her boss and when Jesse goes to volunteer the first-aid tent is one of the few remaining options.

There is definitely a spark between Jesse and Ellie but is she ready to move on and can he overcome his self doubt and PTSD?

I'm enjoying this series more and more as it progresses. Ellie and Jesse are both caring, protective characters and the way Pamela Clare portrays the difficult subject of dealing with the death of a spouse and moving on is sympathetic but realistic. Ellie isn't some Mary Sue perfect mother, she swears, she cooks boxed mac n cheese for dinner on occasion and whilst three year old twins are always cute, Daniel and Daisy aren't annoyingly precocious. And wow, a military hero with PTSD who actually goes to counselling! Admittedly reluctantly, but Jesse does go.

This is easy to read as a stand-alone although the characters from the other books do make appearances.

Recommended for readers who like military/special-ops romances, small town romances, second chance romances, cute kids and winter sports.

This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The talent of this 'new to me' author is incredible.  It's always a risk jumping into the middle of a series.  Sometimes you get more of a reunion of cast facts and situations that you missed by not reading the first few books in the series and can't get into the book because of those missing facts.  Sometimes you get those special gems that can actually stand alone as advertised.  This book is one of those gems. Ms. Author you did an outstanding job and I will be watching your career.

It's been three years since Ellie Meeks lost her husband, a helicopter pilot in the Army Ranger. Raising twin toddlers, Daniel and Daisy, as a single parent has been a challenge. She didn't need a challenge of a broken down vehicle to add to her list. But that's when local volunteer/ski patroller/Rocky Mountain Rescue team member, Jesse Moretti showed up. Although the two have been neighbors for two years, they never actually met. He's the good neighbor who have shoveled her sidewalks and put out the trash bin when she forgets. Though Ellie thought all those deeds were from all the good folks of Scarlet Springs rather than one man.

Jesse Moretti has some challenges of his own, such as PTSD from his time in the Rangers, as well as from losing a girl he couldn't saved. He didn't have the inclination to be involved with anyone. Until he came across Ellie with her sick kids. As their encounters grew, so did their attraction. 

Ellie struggles with moving on, and Jesse struggles with letting himself get too close for fear of letting this family down. The characters were very likeable and issues were resolved through communications instead of misunderstandings, which is a huge plus. The romance was fast paced and quite steamy. The twins added some cute moments and I love getting to see characters from the I-Team series again. This time with Nate, Megan, and Jack's family.

Loving this series so far, and guarantee you will for hard for these characters and this little town.

(ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

Tissues- lots of tissues! I guess I am a glutton for punishment because I LOVE stories where the widow is raising her children and a hero comes in and loves her and her children amazingly.

Ellie Meeks is a widow raising twins who never got to see their father who was killed in action. Heartbreak! Ellie is an amazing woman written with such strength, love and conviction that you just fall in love with her and Daniel and Daisy.  

Jesse Morretti is Ellie's neighbor and has successfully avoided her and her children for 2 years. Why? Jesse knows Ellie is a gold star wife and he can't bare the pain she is going through as he has his own demons dragging him down and can't deal with someone else's.  

Fate- or sickness- brings these two together in a neighborly, help each other way. But come on, these two have such sparks and chemistry they cannot stay in the friends zone for long.  And they are H-O-T together.  

With each dealing with their own troubles, Ellie and Jesse both aren't sure how to navigate what they are feeling or what they want from one another. 

Pamela Clare writes an amazing story that delves into the loss of a spouse and dealing with raising his children without him.   It is so sweet the interaction of Daisy and Daniel with not only their mama, but with each other and then eventually Jesse.  Jesse is dealing with PTSD and loss of rescues he feels he should have made.  He is heartbreaking as well.

A twist in the story is terrifying but swiftly resolved and emotionally written.  I can say that numerous tears were shed reading this.  Loved it!

Falling Hard by Pamela Clare
Colorado High Country #3

This is a gift to the reader – a heartfelt, tender, temptation of a book that scored high with me. It made me feel, think, hope and care. It had wonderful main and supporting characters. Issues both hero and heroine had to face were real and dealt with in a positive manner. I came away feeling happy that Ellie and Jesse found one another and knew they would make it long term. If given a chance I do believe I would enjoy having them as neighbors and friends. 

As for the story…Ellie is the widow of an army pilot who has been busy raising twin toddlers. She is a capable RN, responsible and loving mother and still grieving for her husband. Her parents, sister and community have been there to assist should she need their help but one night when her car won’t start and it is snowing…along comes Jesse Moretti. I am not going to give you a blow by blow account of this book. I will say the story is well-crafted, the plot works, the characters are believable, have substance and grow. I loved the fact that Ellie was real whether at work, with family or in the bedroom. She was honest, caring and kind but also could get angry, express her needs and wasn’t afraid to act on them. I could not put this book down. I have never read anything by this author before but do look forward to reading more of her work in the future. 

Thank you to the author who provided me with an ARC through NetGalley. This is my honest review. 

4.5 Stars

I love Pamela Clare's books. I've read the previous two books in this series and it had me coming back for more. What I really enjoyed about this book is the fact Jesse could admit his feelings. Men don't always do that. And especially when a hero suffers from PTSD making Jesses character that much more special. 

Pamela Clare is at it once again with her contemporary romance. Falling Hard is book three in the Colorado High Country Series. And in this book we got to meet Ellie, a widow with two two-year old twins and her neighbor Jesse. 
When Ellie gets stranded at the grocery store with her two sick kids Jesse comes to her rescue. 
Ellie hasn't moved on since her husband was killed three years ago in Iraq. She's been too busy working as a nurse at the local hospital and taking care of her twins. But something about Jesse allows Ellie to feel again. 
Jesse finds himself attracted to Ellie, this is something he's never expected. He doesn't want to be a dad. He doesn't want kids, even if they are cute and he likes their mom. 
When tragedy stricken Ellie and Jesse end up turning to one another for support. This leaves Ellie and Jesse reevaluating what they want for their lives.

This one hit all the right buttons for me.  Honored war veteran with some emotional troubles, single mom, beautiful setting and of course, fantastic writing once again by this author.  Great to see the rest of the TEAM again.  Can't wait to see if more of our heroic rescuers get an HEA.  

Happy to read this one!

Bring the big box of tissues with you to your favorite reading spot! You will definitely need them, especially at the end. Jesse and Ellie were one of my favorite couples. This story has it all. Chemistry, heartbreak, redemption, and happily ever after.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

WARNING!! Kleenex needed. Be sure you have a box handy because you are sure gonna need it. This book touches every emotion and then wrings you out. The writing is nothing less that awesome and you can't help but fall in love with Elle, Jesse, Daniel and Daisy. Especially Daisy. She had me reliving my worst nightmares as a child, as a parent and as a grandparent. Thank God for Guardian Angels. But, this isn't Daisy's story alone. It is the story of a tormented man and a wounded woman who find each other and heal the broken parts with love and support from a wonderful community.

Jesse is a former Ranger from Louisiana who has found a home in Silver Springs, CO. He is a member of the rescue Team, a ski patroller and a demolitions expert. He is also carrying a lot of weight from his failed attempt to rescue a little girl in the last book and from his past. Really heavy load.

Elle is a nurse who lost her husband in combat while pregnant with twins Daniel and Daisy. She works hard and raising twin almost three year olds is a job of its' own. No time for a social life, even if she wanted one, until she meets Jesse. Hot off the charts, kind and a hero, he lights a fire in Elle she thought was out forever.

Both Jesse and Elle have places in their souls that need to be healed and they each have a lot to deal with in order to be able to come to a place where they can freely love each other.

5-I don't even like Romance-Stars

This is a beautiful story , very well written . Thourghly enjoyed the story from beginning to the end.  I highly recommend this book.

As a first time reader of this author I have to say that I was so pleasantly surprised with "Falling Hard".  This book absolutely drew me in from the very first few pages and held on tight for the entire ride.  I instantly fell in love with Jessie, Ellie and her kids.  The chemistry and build between Jessie and Ellie was so well written you could feel every motion that they were going through.  The feelings poured out of this book and I went through the full range of emotions from love, loss, lust, forgiveness and acceptance.  The love scenes were written with the perfect amount of heat and heart.  Jessie's dedication to his career and being the best for Ellie and her kids was so touching and fantastic to watch.  After devouring this book in one day all I can say is that I will for sure be looking for more from this author!

I have enjoyed everything about the Colorado High Country series by Pamela Clare; from the setting to the characters.  Falling Hard (A Colorado High Country Novel) is another prime example of why I get such pleasure from reading the series. 

I admired the main character, Ellie as she goes it alone to raised twins after her military husband’s death. At the same time. I was delighted to see the romance bloom between her and Jesse Moretti, former military now part of the rescue team. There is plenty of rescue action to go along with this romance, with the added plus of the adorable little Daisy and Daniel. Jesse is admirable too as he struggles to overcome his PTSD issues. These are mature individuals who are striving to make a positive difference in life. Just the kind of characters I like to like about with my reading time. 

Then the story quickly flows with realistic events and interactions between the characters. I particularly enjoyed seeing how Jesse was learning to relate to the twins. However, not all is cute in this story. The emotional turmoil that the characters work through make this an intense read that comes to a “thumbs Up” form me conclusion. Falling Hard gets my recommendation whole heartily.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.

I love books about patch-work families. I think the idea of a happily ever after not only for the adults but for the kids as well is so heart-warming.

Falling Hard by Pamela Clare was not my first book by this author, but it's my first book since I've read her (I-Team, #1) series. And to my shame I forgot how much I liked her writing.

On a snowy night Ellie Meeks and her almost three year old twins needed a hero  and Jesse Moretti  was willing to fill that role. He had know idea that it would envoke feelings in him that he had never felt before.

Jesse wasn't a relationship kind of guy. He was outdoorsy, liked his extreme sports, he was a former marine, and a mountain rescue team member. He never thought about kids, or having a steady relationship. Meeting Ellie and her twins on that fateful evening, changed his perspective. It didn't happen overnight, but gradually he realized he liked to be around them, he needed more.

After her husbands death more than three years ago, Ellie had only her kids on her mind. There was no time nor desire to be with another man - until she met Jesse.

He was tall, muscular, and tattooed.
Good-looking, ripped and just the total package.
And he was the first guy that spoke to her intimately.

As it turned out they were neighbors, and that snowy night broke down walls and consequently opened a path to something Jesse didn't think was possible.

A family, love, and belonging to someone.

Jesse and Ellie took it slow. Both had fulfilling and sometimes heart-breaking jobs. Good days as well as bad days were common for both of them. But they loved their professions and they found time to meet in the evening to "talk" but kept it on the low.

They didn't care who know, they just took it slow.

Jesse was such an amazing character. He was dependable, supportive, genuinely kind but a bit damaged as well. He carried with him a case of survivor guilt that made him wake up in cold sweat. Ellie was perfect for him. She was such a strong women, kind, compassionate, but a bit afraid of letting go and moving on.

The last 20% of the book were heart-wrenching. I felt every up and down, the fears as well as the hopes - it was an emotional rollercoaster ride. Nothing in this book was predictable. It kept me engaged and emotionally connected to all of the characters but especially to Ellie and Jesse.

The fantasy scene was making me smile so HARD. ♥♥♥♥♥♥

I truly forgot how wonderful Pamela Clare's books were. Falling Hard was fast paced and had amazing characters that were complex, interesting and genuine. The author kept the developing relationship natural and consequently never felt rushed or disconnected. All in all Falling Hard was a very satisfying read. I'm looking forward reading more in this series.

The only complaint I have is that I just wish they would stop those cheesy covers. I'm so tired of seeing those bulky tattooed muscles.


I will be posting this review on March 5th 2017, on my blog and all other platforms. 

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Falling Hard

Wow! That was one amazing rip my heart out reads. Such an emotional story. 
A Gold Star wife alone…

Ellie Meeks promised her pilot husband that if he was killed in combat, she would live her life to the fullest. Three years later, she is still alone, raising the twins he never met. She has no interest in dating or meeting men—until one snowy night when a stranger helps her get her sick kids safely home. That stranger turns out to be a former Army Ranger and a member of the elite Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. He’s also tall, rugged… and irresistibly sexy. 

All it takes is one kiss…

Jesse Moretti came to Colorado to get Iraq out of his head, using the adrenaline of extreme sports and high-risk mountain rescues to keep his mind off the past. But getting involved with Ellie might be the riskiest thing he’s ever done. It’s not just their explosive chemistry. There’s something about Ellie that gets inside him, opening him to feelings he’s tried hard to ignore. 

When passion ignites…

Ellie feels alive in Jesse’s arms and happier than she ever thought she’d feel again. But their relationship comes at a price for him, and soon Ellie sees that she must help Jesse fight the demons of his past to protect the love of a lifetime—and save the heart of a hero. 

Pamela Clare completely sucked me in and made me feel so much while reading this book. I fell in love with all the characters in this one. She did an incredible job writing this book. I felt like I knew Jesse and Ellie after reading this. I felt all their emotions while reading. 
Such an awesome read. I am definitely adding Pamela Clare to my list of authors to read. I'm also gonna look into reading her other series.  
This is Book 3 of The Colorado High Country series. It can be read as a standalone or in order. 
I would totally recommend this book for everyone to add to their reading lists. 
Thanks NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

First of all, let me just say that it was an honor to have received this book as ARC from the author and publishers from Netgalley! This was my first book from the author Pamela Clare and it will not be my last.

Falling Hard is about moving on. Whether it be moving on from your past full of trauma and heartbreak or moving on after losing the love of your life from combat.

Ellen 'Ellie' Meeks is a widow with a lot on her plate. She is a single mom of twins, working full time at a nurse to keep a roof of the heads of her two year old's and her self. She and her twins had came down with strep throat and she was trying her best to get them home to rest when her car wouldn't start. Thankful Jessie Moretti was to her rescue.

Jesse Moretti was a veteran from Louisiana. He lived for adrenaline rushes, whether they be from his dangerous job using explosives or working with the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Team. But nothing prepared him for what happen when he officially met Ellie. 

Two people who devote their lives to helping others, when they are brought together, they end up healing each others souls with a lot of love and passion for one another.

The romance in this novel is top notch. You just knew that after being introduced to Jesse and Ellie, that they belonged together. Ellie seemed to reach Jesse. She felt safe with him and ultimately he felt the same with her. He was able to talk to her about his nightmares and PTSD. Something that he was only able to speak of with his therapist. 

Daisy and Daniel, Ellie's twins. also played a huge role in the novel. Jesse was able to love them and care for them in a way he thought he would never get to experience because of his past. 

While reading this book, you may opt to have a box of tissues near by because you will need them.

I'm just so thrilled to be reading more Pamela Clare books. I was so hooked on her I-Team series. And just took notice that this Colorado series was already on book 3. That just means I get to go back and read the first 2! Win!

Ok, let's talk Falling Hard...because that's exactly what I did for Jesse Moretti. Yes, he may have some ghosts haunting him from his past, but he's honestly got a heart of gold. And can I just throw in that he's on the ski patrol? Oh, and that he's also on an elite rescue team? And that he's so freaking combustably (<-made up that word) HOT? And so incredibly tender? Alright...(fans self)...I'll stop there. 

Ellie and Jesse's relationship is a slow neighbors-to-friends-to-lovers story and it really was beautiful watching it unfold. When they finally both recognize their feelings, it takes off and though the pace from there definitely picks up, it never felt unnaturally so to the story.

The whole plot twist of Jesse knowing Ellie's husband during the war didn't phase me and almost felt like there was a bit of overreacting on everyone's part about it. *shrugs*

All in all, a super fun read and can't wait to read more!

A beautifully written emotional story of love and loss and the experience of finding love again. Grab your tissues. While this book is definitely not all sad you will have your moments. It is one of my favorite books I've ever read. 

When Ellie and her kids are sick and the car won't start with snow falling and the freezing air around them Jesse, a search and rescue team member, steps up and helps her by trying to fix it and then driving her and the twins home when he can't. 

After realizing later that he was shoveling her drive and then he became sick because of them she get to return the favor by bringing a doctor to his door. This is the beginning of a friendship that opens the door to healing for both of them. 

While Jesse cannot see himself with kids, ever, Ellie and her twins Daisy and Daniel start to slowly work their way into his heart without him even realizing it. And when he is always there to lend a hand and then babysit on last minute notice he certainly starts to help her with her grief over losing her husband in the war. 

There is a secret though that he is keeping and it may just blow up what they are building together. But then a tragedy happens and there could be no one more qualified and more selfless than Jesse to step in and save a life more important than either his or Ellie's. 

Time to say goodbye is also a time for new hellos. 

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This series just keeps getting better an better. Was told it would be emotional but funny too. It just drags you in from page one till you put it down on last page an you have to finish it cause you just can't put it down it is that type of story an series an I just loved every minute of it, who needs sleep anyway lol. I'm so looking forward to the next book an would recommend this book to everyone

First Pamela Clare romance I've read and I so enjoyed it. Excellent plot and writing.

This series just keeps getting better.This was a fantastic read its very well written with great characters and a great storyline just loved it.

4.5 Stars.  I really loved this book and the writing was phenomenal.  The characters were lovable and the chemistry was amazing!  The only reason it lost 1/2 a star for me was because in the last month I've read two other books with almost the exact same plot.  (Pregnant woman's husband dies in combat leaving her alone to cope until she meets another military guy who doesn't think he should get involved with her because of the military brotherhood but can't resist).  Although I will say that Pamela Clare's was my favorite of the three!

Jesse was an amazing character who you can't help but love (and want one of your own).  He was hot, sexy, caring and the scenes with the twins were just heartwarming.  He also had some hot sex scenes with Ellie.  I also loved Ellie and I really loved the way the author wrote her love for both her husband and Jesse.  She didn't diminish her love for her husband but I truly believed that she loved Jesse.  Each relationship was different and meaningful (I don't like it when the author diminishes the relationship between the first husband so that the heroine can move on).  This book brought Ellie to a place where she could have closure in her first relationship but knowing that a part of her would always love him and yet still make her love and relationship with Jesse very believable, real and deep.

The book made me laugh a couple of times and it made me cry.  I couldn't help but root for the two of the them to make it work. I enjoyed watching Jesse work through his feelings and his past which gave him that wonderful wounded and edgy feel to go with his softer side.  I also loved Ellie.  She was strong and after her initial hesitation she knew what she wanted and went after it.  

This was a wonderfully well written romance with great character depth and a relationship that was built throughout the book with plenty of steam and heartfelt moments.  I love this series and can't wait for the next one!

Loving this series! This is a stand alone, you don't have to have read the previous books, but I recommend it because it's a great series! Ellie and Jesse are great together, fighting through their pasts. Laughed, cried, loved it! want more from the series!

Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher

I loved Pamela Clare’s romantic suspense series, but I had,’t read her new contemporary series yet because I was worried about the small town atmosphere someone described to me. I finally decided by the synopsis of this third volume and I’m glad I did.

Ellie’s husband died before their twins’ birth, and she’s been raising them with her parents’ help for almost three years. On winter night, Jesse, her neighbor, helps them when their car breaks down.

I found again with pleasure Pamela Clare’s writing and her ability to create deep and endearing characters. The heroine, Ellie, suffered a lot when her husband died, but she had to be strong for their twins. She’s convinced she doesn’t want an affair even less a new love story. The hero, Jesse, is a former soldier who became a search and rescue member, and he’s convinced he can’t get close to anybody because of his past emotional wounds.
Both are soon attracted to each other, and if I found they gave in to fast to their desire the evolution of their relationship and of their feelings is afterwards very softly and slow enough for us to believe it. I especially appreciated that Ellie’s first marriage was happy and that she still loves her late husband while developing feelings for the hero. As for Jesse’s relation with the twins, it’s so sweet 

There are several sensual and love scenes which are well written and steamy. I frowned during a scene where they stage a fantasy because I was afraid the author had given in to false BDSM, but phew, that was a false alert! However at each love scene I was thinking they were lucky the twins had a heavy sleep lol.
I found some scenes emotionally loaded, especially a bus accident that puts everyone on edge, and Jesse’s memories returns which will allow him to understand and overcome his emotional block.

I was afraid because of the fact the story takes place in a small town and frankly I didn’t feel it at all. The heroine and the hero are known (Ellie is a nurse at the hospital, her father is the town doctor, and Jesse is part of the search and rescue team and also works at the ski resort) but at no time did I feel this small town atmosphere where everybody knows what the other is doing and get into things that do not concern them. I also liked the nods at the author’s romantic suspense series with the presence of the owners of the Cimarron Ranch.

All in all I thought Falling Hard is a very good contemporary romance (and those who know me know it’s not always my cup of tea) in which we don’t settle for seeing the characters dance around each other pages after pages, so I recommend it heartily.

I absolutely loved this book. It made me cry so many times. It was a beautiful story dealing with grief, guilt, and joy in an amazing way.

I haven't read any Pamela Clare before now because I don't really enjoy romantic suspense. I don't know, that feeling of anxiety in suspenseful stories is just too much for me to handle! When I saw that this series was contemporary romance, I knew this was my shot to try this author.

Falling Hard is a book that any M/F contemporary lover will like. It has some excitement and minor suspense like a romantic suspense, but it is mostly just a story about two people who've been through lots of emotional hurdles, finding love again.

Jesse Moretti is the kind of romance hero that explains why people read romance: You just HAVE to love him. He is brawny, a little broken, and sexy as hell. I fell hard for Jesse along with Ellie, and I was rooting for them full force from the start.

This is a mostly slow burn romance, and I liked that it took its time. Sure, there were a few miscommunications that irked me, but mostly I just liked watching Jesse and Ellie fall in love. It was a pleasure to read from start to finish, and it was just really good romance.

Calling all Pamela Clare lovers and all contemporary romance lovers, this one is for you.

*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Jesse and Ellie are two people who are trying to move forward after difficult tragedies in their past.  Ellie lost her husband 3 years ago.  Jesse, a former Army Ranger and now a ski patroller and part of the Rescue Team in Colorado, has issues with his own experiences in Iraq.  He unknowingly has been helping Ellie for the past few years by taking care of little things around her house.  When they finally meet, he realizes that he may have known her husband, who had been a Blackhawk pilot.

Ellie has two small twins to raise, and she's been doing everything by herself, but when Jesse comes along and helps her out in a dire time of need, she's more than grateful.  Sparks fly between them, but it takes a while for them to really open up.  She still is torn about her feelings regarding a new relationship and Jesse is still fighting personal demons that he can't quite get around.  These two coming together to support each other leads to romance and more.

What an emotionally charged book.  As a fan of Ms. Clare's work, all of her stories tug at the heartstrings and this one is no different.  Set in the mountains of Colorado, we get a real feel for the area as well as Jesse's need to escape to a place where he can get lost.  He uses the adrenaline rush of extreme sports to combat his internal issues where the war is concerned.  Ellie also has some personal things to get through.  I really felt the loss of her beloved husband and trying to move on with her life.  She has feelings of guilt, of course, but also how she can move forward with two small children.  The story moves at a decent pace without becoming too bogged down in one element.  Jesse and Ellie's feelings simmer and develop naturally and it keeps the reader tuned in for more.  I zipped through this book with a few days and loved every minute of it.

Note as requested: I've posted this today 3/16/17 on Goodreads and Amazon

DO NOT MISS THIS ONE! Jesse is a sexy, courageous former Army Ranger haunted by his past. Ellie is a beautiful young widowed mother of two-year-old twins who has a heart of gold, works as a RN and has a supportive family. In Pamela Clare's beautiful story, we become acquainted with these characters as if they are real people in our community, struggling with real issues. 

I love the way Jesse and Ellie are portrayed - there's no  sugarcoating here.  Ellie's husband Dan, an Army helicopter pilot, died 6 months before the twins were born. People are often telling her she must be thankful to have the twins as a way of reminding her of her husband however, "Ellie didn't need anything to remind her of Dan. Yes, she was grateful for her children and loved them with her heart and soul. But two new lives couldn't erase the pain of another that was lost."  

And Jesse, Ellie's neighbor, who now works as a primary member with a mountain rescue team, served 10 years in sustained combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and has experienced plenty of tragedy himself. Given the nature of the rescue work he does now, he still struggles with emotional turmoil from his past. 

But it's that very genuine, real characterization that draws you into their story. Ellie and Jesse both have healing and closure to accomplish before they can truly become whole. Yes, some of their story is heartbreakingly sad, some is funny and some is just oh so hot and sexy!  You will enjoy following them along on their journey!

Thank you NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with a free copy for an honest review.

Ellie is a single mother to soon-to-be three-year-old twins (Daniel & Daisy) after her husband died in Iraq while she was pregnant.  She has a wonderful support system not only in her family, but in the small town where she lives.  I liked her a lot and thought her hesitations about dating again were realistic, though I did feel that her reaction to Jesse's "secret" was a little irrational.  In fact, her reaction was the only part of the entire story that I didn't like.

Jesse is an incredibly nice guy and I really enjoyed getting to know him.  He's been living next door to Ellie for over two years and although they have never met, he knew about her husband and helped her out anonymously whenever he could.  He has saved many lives throughout his careers, but he focuses on the ones he couldn't save, which affects him badly.  While he willingly jumps into frozen lakes without any hesitation, he hates the spotlight and doesn't think of himself as a hero, which of course only makes him more likeable.

I have read all three books released in this series so far, and I have to say that this is the first time I've really gotten a feel for the small town.  When tragedy strikes, everyone in the community comes together to do and give whatever they can to help.  I don't remember having that feeling in the first two books, but in this book that feeling was front and centre.

FALLING HARD is told in dual POVs, and quite often the POV would switch several times within a chapter.  While I did find that slightly annoying, I was grateful that the switch was marked by a symbol which made the change easily identifiable.  While FALLING HARD is part of a series, it can most definitely be read as a stand-alone.  The HEA is beautiful and sweet, but also achingly sad.  The final chapter took me the longest to read because I had to keep stopping to wipe my eyes.  Even re-reading it while I composed this review had me tearing up again.  

FALLING HARD is the third book in the Colorado High Country series and is my favourite.  Any book that can draw out my emotions like this one did deserves the highest rating.

Tales From The Heart ~ Leanne's blog review from NetGalley

Wow this story grabbed me from the beginning. Ellie is a widow with twin toddlers, her husband was killed in action before they were born. Her elusive neighbour Jesse looks out for in secret ways but they never meet for a couple of years. He has his reasons and demons of his own to fight. It was a beautiful love story and gave me so many feels, I laughed and I cried and that one heart stopping moment had me gripped to my kindle. What an emotional ride from this talented author. I've not read the previous two books before this one, it stands alone but I intend to go back and find out about the other characters. Jesse and Ellie were so likeable and a joy to read about, not to forget those innocent cherubs. You'll be hoping they can work their way through all the trials of life and get their HEA.

Wow what a sweet, sexy and emotional read. Pamela Clare has just  become a new favorite of mine. Jessie is the kind of book boyfriend every woman wants and Ellie is a women we would all admire for the guts it took to parent and to fall in love again. I'm wildly interested in the rest of the series now and plan to snag whatever I can get my hands on.

This was much sweeter than I expected. With everything I knew about Jesse I was thinking we would get a gruff veteran adrenaline junkie, while we do we also get one whose heart is so big it could fill the  Colorado sky. If you like your heroes to be so great they're almost too perfect you're in luck, this is the book for you.  This book tackles some very hard to deal with subjects that happen all too often in real life. The war widow with young children, the veteran with PTSD, how to get past the survivors guilt on both sides to see they deserve happiness as well. I laughed and cried and mentally fist pumped through out this book. Definitely a 5-star read!

I was generously provided an ARC via netGalley

I'm a fan of Pamela Clare after previously reading the I-Team series, so I was excited to get the opportunity to read Falling Hard. I haven't read any of the previous books in the series, but you can totally read this one as a standalone and not feel lost. This book was amazing. It just got you right in the feels the entire time. I cried, laughed, rejoiced, was saddened - you name it, I felt it - all things that make a book great.

Ellie Meeks is a widow with twin toddlers living in her hometown and working as a nurse. Her husband, Dan, was an Army pilot that was killed in action before the twins were born. She's spent the last nearly 4 years just living her life for her kids and has not been involved with another man since. That is, until Jessie Moretti comes to her rescue one evening. Ellie and her son were both sick with strep, and then her car wouldn't start at the store, so Jessie gave her a hand. He brought her home, got her and her kids in the house and resting before he left. He just so happened to be her neighbor, how convenient :-) 

Jessie is an Army vet who has a penchant for rescuing people and is still coping with loss in Iraq. He's been living in the small town for 2 years now, but still doesn't feel that connected with the town. He works on ski patrol during the day and volunteers with a high-risk mountain rescue team when called. So he's definitely still living a risky life so that he can save other lives.

Jessie & Ellie grow very close, with Jessie coming over to spend time with Ellie and the kids quite often. There's no denying the attraction and chemistry these two have and eventually Ellie gets past her hesitancy to get involved with someone and takes the plunge. Both of them seem to be holding back during their time together and there's a lot of hidden emotional issues that they'll need to overcome before they can truly move on and have the relationship they both deserve.

I liked that the author didn't hold back the punches with the emotional reality of what we face in the world today. There is tragedy and heartache, it's just a part of life. Things are not always happy and we definitely see that in this book. I cried more than I really want to admit.

Jessie was such a wonderful guy who was always giving of himself to others and willing to risk his life to save someone else's, but he still suffered with PTSD. It wasn't just from his time in Iraq, although that really started his nightmares, but his job as a high-risk rescuer also caused him to suffer from PTSD when things didn't end well for the other person. This serves a reminder that our vets need us and we should support them and make sure they have all the help that they need. I loved that Jessie recognized that he had an issue though and willingly had regular counseling sessions.

Ellie was so sweet and her love and dedication to her children was inspiring. She had it tough raising twins on her own, but she still managed. She frustrated me sometimes when she held back, but it's understandable. I really wish she would have told off her boss though - that lady was not very nice.

Daisy & Daniel were so sweet, cute and funny. Daisy definitely provided some comedic relief with her newfound love of repeating curse words lol. I just wanted to squeeze them.

If you're looking for a book that has a great love story of second chances and cute kids, but packs an emotional toll on your heart, then this is the book for you.

RN Ellie Meeks is a widow with 2-year twins (almost 3) who were born after her husband died in Iraq. It's been almost four years now and though her mind tells her she's ready her heart isn't ready to let go of husband Dan. Enter neighbor Jesse Moretti, a former Army Ranger now a volunteer member of the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team who works for the Ski Resort as a patroller. He definitely claims her head and starts chipping away at her heart. 

I really liked this story primarily because of the main characters, Ellie and Jesse. There's so much to admire about both of them and together, they were even more likable. Their burgeoning relationship was honest (to a degree), mature and pretty wonderful. Jesse's propensity for rescue served the relationship well as he recognized the boundaries while he did the honorable thing. I loved how they helped each other push through their individual issues. 

One of the strong points of the series is the incredible sense of community that permeates everything in each story. It was even more resounding here and added so much to my enjoyment. Ellie and Jesse had a lovely relationship and, of course, the twins added adorable relief. I really don't want this series to end.

A Gold Star wife alone…

Ellie Meeks promised her pilot husband that if he was killed in combat, she would live her life to the fullest. Three years later, she is still alone, raising the twins he never met. She has no interest in dating or meeting men—until one snowy night when a stranger helps her get her sick kids safely home. That stranger turns out to be a former Army Ranger and a member of the elite Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. He’s also tall, rugged… and irresistibly sexy.

All it takes is one kiss…

Jesse Moretti came to Colorado to get Iraq out of his head, using the adrenaline of extreme sports and high-risk mountain rescues to keep his mind off the past. But getting involved with Ellie might be the riskiest thing he’s ever done. It’s not just their explosive chemistry. There’s something about Ellie that gets inside him, opening him to feelings he’s tried hard to ignore.

When passion ignites…

Ellie feels alive in Jesse’s arms and happier than she ever thought she’d feel again. But their relationship comes at a price for him, and soon Ellie sees that she must help Jesse fight the demons of his past to protect the love of a lifetime—and save the heart of a hero.

I never really look at book covers when picking a book because you can have the best book cover and have the worst book ever but....OMG this book just gave me all the feels.  I am a sucker for veteran heroes.  I love a great storyline that has a hero who was in Iraq.  When he comes home and has to fight some inner turmoil (I secretly pick those novels for pure enjoyment purposes!), I looked at the cover of this book and probably flipped past it six or seven times because the dude on the cover is HOT!!  I don't know who he is, but I could drool over him all day...with a bucket and some sponges!  He's what I picture Jesse to be and did I mention - He's hot?  Cause he is.  Ellie and Jesse have some electric heat and not the kind in an electric blanket y'all!  It's the kind that sets your skin to blazing and makes you realize that you want a Jesse.  As a matter of fact, I'm writing this a couple of weeks after I read it and I'm thinking of reading it again...cause I want to and not because I have to.  

A couple of thoughts about this book:  It's why I love Pamela Clare so darn much in the first place.  That girl can write!!  She makes her characters loveable, and you can relate to them.  Living in a military town, I can see so many of our men and women in uniform going through what these two went through in the book.  They're a lot of widowed combat veterans out there that lost their spouses while they were pregnant or had children and haven't moved forward with their lives...they're still stuck where they were when the Military officials came and notified them that their spouse was killed in action.  Every day I see veterans walk in and out of our office who suffer from PTSD, it's a real diagnosis, with real suffering.  Sometimes, the men and women who suffer from it, do so in silence because they don't feel that they have anyone to talk to but that's why it's so great that authors are writing about it.  It's a very debilitating disease and disorder and if not helped, can make the veteran who suffers from it feel even more isolated from society.  The way that Pamela Clare portrays both the hero and heroine in the book just made me, as someone who works in the mental health field...proud of the way she portrayed both of them.  She didn't make them weak characters, and she didn't make them so proud that they looked like they didn't have faults.  She showed that they were "real" characters.  If you can get so lost in a book that you "feel" the characters are real, then as an author you've done a great job.  Excellent job.  I'll not spoil the book because you have to pick this one up for yourself.  If you or someone you know have PTSD, you owe it to them and to yourself to read this book!!

 I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.

Pamela Clare wrote a book that makes you cheer for the happy ending, while wiping tears from your eyes as you read.

A war widow raising twin toddlers meets her neighbor, a former Army Ranger who works for a ski resort and performs rescues on the side.  Both characters express their joys and their heartbreak in a believable manner.  The children are adorable.  I loved this book.

Ellie Meeks has moved back to her home town in Colorado after the death of her husband in Afghanistan, and then the birth of twins that her husband never got to meet. Now three years has gone by and she is just taking it one minute at a time. This is when her car won’t start in the parking lot of the grocery store. With it snowing, and one of twins sick she is working on not panicking when in steps Jesse Moretti a former Army Ranger and now ski patrol and volunteers with the Rocky Mountain search and rescue. He is able to drive them home safely. She wants to start dating again but with Jesse she feels that she is putting herself at risk again in the form of pain in the idea of losing someone again since with his jobs and just himself he is an adrenaline junkie. They both have issues from the past that they must deal with in order to have a future. This is a wonderful story in that she is moving forward in her life, and he is going to therapy. The end of the book was very touching for me and really tied this story together. I very good book. With excellent characters some from the other books. A very good book.

I received a copy of this from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. This was an awesome book! Ellie Meeks and her son, Daniel, have strep throat. They are at the grocery store getting medicine and some groceries when her car decides it’s not going to start. Jesse Moretti steps up to help out. Jesse has PTSD and a strong core value at wanting to protect and take care of people. This is a great book. It’s full of life, love, confusion, and hurt. Wow! It seems like it has everything you can ask for in one book. Scarlet Springs is a great town to raise a family in. The find this out when a terrible accident happens twice in a short time. You won’t be disappointed when you read this book. I promise this.

This book was graciously provided by netgalley for an honest review.

I've been wanting to try Pamela Claire for a while now, and this was a perfect introduction to her writing. She captivated me from the beginning. I'll definitely be going back and catching up in the Colorado High County series.

Ellie Meeks is a nurse and single mother of boy/girl twins, widowed by her Army Pilot husband while she was 4 months pregnant. Ellie moves back to Scarlet Springs, a small town were everybody knows everybody, from Kentucky to be near family.

Jesse Moretti is a former Army Ranger from Louisiana, who upon coming back stateside after his retirement, took solace in the mountains to escape memories from his deployment and childhood. Jesse is a member of the TEAM and a full time ski patroller at a local ski resort. Jesse purchases the cabin behind Ellie knowing she is Gold Star widow swearing to keep his distance because he doesn't believe he can handle her grief on top of his own.

Fate had other ideas in mind.
Jesse runs into Ellie as she's having car trouble. Ellie and one of the twins are sick and her car refuses to start. Jesse takes Ellie and her twins home, and despite Ellie being sick, their chemistry would not be denied.

Jesse and Ellie's story happened in a short amount of time but never felt rushed or implausible. It was very natural. Jesse was drawn to Ellie because of her heart, her compassion and her sweet nature. He absolutely found her beautiful but he wasn't over the top gaggy as many heroes are and I loved that about him. Ellie was drawn to Jesse because of his fierce protectiveness, his since of adventure and his service to others. Things she swore she would not be looking for in a partner when she ever felt ready to move on. Jesse made her feel alive and ready to move on. Jesse never wanted or asked her to forget her deceased husband, in fact he made sure to include him and made sure his memory stayed alive for Ellie and the twins. It never felt that Jesse came 2nd in Ellie's heart.

If you're looking for two people who fall hard, who's relationship is a slow burn with explosive sexual chemistry, Falling Hard is for you.

OMG this book and this author are AMAZING!

I can't really put into words how beautiful this story was. This is hands down one of the most memorable books I've ever read and will for a fact be reading this book & series over and over again! I literally cried my eyes out reading the epilogue and now I feel as though I have no tears left.

This book tells the beautiful love story of two wounded souls who found solace and comfort in each other's company, and they finally discovered a reason to hope, love, and be happy again. Together, they made each other whole again! I loved both Jesse and Ellie. They had been through a lot but still could hold their lives together and stay strong. Ellie was a lovable and strong character. It wasn’t easy being a single mother of twins and sometimes it was hard to balance the demands of both her career and her kids. Still, she had so much compassion for people and cared for them. The thing I admired most about her was how dearly she loved her twins and that she put them as her first priority.

Jesse was amazing and a good man with a very beautiful heart. Instead of feeling completely defeated or drowning in his misery, he chose to pour all his energy and his spare time into helping people and saving lives. He’s exactly my kind of hero! 

I loved the romance between them. It was so romantic, so sweet, yet so hot at the same time. The author always knows how to write steamy and sensual scenes that I could hardly think of anything hotter. The level of their passion was off the charts.

Reading this book made me smile, laugh, swoon, cry, and even bite my nails at times—exactly what I want from my reads. This story filled my heart with so much love and joy. Oh, I can't praise this novel highly enough!
All in all, this was a wonderful story. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! Highly recommended to all fans of contemporary romance.

I fell hard for Jesse and Ellie in Falling Hard. Jesse is a former Army Ranger and a member of the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. Ellie is his beautiful neighbor, an RN who is a widow of a deceased veteran, who has adorable twins, Daniel and Daisy. Jesse and Ellie have been neighbors for years before they're finally introduced one night when one of the twins is sick and Ellie has been out buying medicine for him. Jesse comes to the rescue when her car won't start.

As their relationship evolves from simply being neighbors to lovers, emotions run high and they bare more than their bodies to each other. Jesse, especially, has a lot of demons. He carries a lot of guilt from his childhood that has driven him to become a rescuer, a guardian and a savior. It's also what drives him to an adrenaline-fueled career. Yet it's a career that Ellie fears because she's already lost one husband to a dangerous career, she has no desire to lose another love to it. But, she simply cannot help herself from falling for the strong, silent man she finds in Jesse. How can she help falling for him? He's kind, and beautiful and that same guilt that drives him to adrenaline fueled activities, also drives him to rescue her precious daughter one night when she falls into a frigid reservoir. He puts his own life on the line to rescue Daisy, and yet he feels so unworthy of thanks, of a hero's well earned congratulations and praise.

I absolutely love Jesse and Ellie together. Jesse, in particular, is such a beautiful soul, that I can't remember the last time I loved a hero more. He and Ellie have such a strong bond, it's so emotionally and physically intense, and they're both such amazing people. I love them together and the cast of people who surround them. Kudos to Pamela Clare for this amazing story!

This is book 3 in this series but I read it as a stand alone book. I had no problems following the story line. Ellie is raising twins alone after her husband died while flying Blackhawks . She’s a nurse ,daughter and a great Mom but havent moved on since her husbands death. But when she meets Jesse an Ex Ranger with his own problem life changes. A great book of overcoming loss and finding something new to love. A perfect book with a great story and a happy ending. Now I need to go back and read the other books.

Ellie promised her husband she would carry on with the family if anything happened to him. Jessie come to search and rescue to overcome the past haunting him from his service. These two discover a connection to passion and to love if they can heal their pasts.
This book is a page turner the reader won't want to put down. Good addition to the series. 
Ebook from Netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.

Falling Hard is a sweet, sexy and emotionally charged read that I quite enjoyed. I think the author did a great job of balancing the relationship between Ellie and Jesse and Ellie, Jesse and the twins. Although there are still issues that need to be worked on like where Jesse is mentally I found the end o be very satisfying.

If you enjoy Contemporary romance featuring children and an enjoyable storyline I recommend this book.

FALLING HARD is book three in Pamela Clare's Colorado High Country series. Even though this is the third book in a series, FALLING HARD works well as a standalone novel. Unbeknownst to Ellie Meeks, her next-door neighbor is an ex-military hottie who has book looking after her from afar. Ellie and Jesse have a military connection. Ellie's late husband was a war hero killed in battle and Jesse is a former soldier going to therapy and trying to deal with his lingering PTSD. What ends up developing between them is something beautiful and endearing.

What starts out as an inconvenient and unexpected attraction between two neighbors, turns into a supportive and sexy romance. One thing I love about FALLING HARD is that, although Jesse has a great deal of internal conflict about whether or not to be in a committed relationship with Ellie, he never jerks her around or takes his issues out on her. Pamela Clare does a great job of making the two main characters three-dimensional, and showcasing who they are outside of their burgeoning relationship. I like how there are enough similarities in their jobs - hers as a nurse, and his being part of a rescue team -- that they can empathize with the stress and joys that life brings. I also really like the way Pamela Clare makes Ellie realistic and flawed, rather than painting her as a selfless paragon. Over the course of FALLING HARD, Ellie and Jesse are both made to confront their biggest fears and insecurities, but conquer them with help from friends, family, and each other. There is enough humor and lighter moments in FALLING HARD to balance out the deeper themes.

FALLING HARD has a hot army hunk, great storytelling, and a sweet savory romance. Friends and family make for a much richer narrative, and I look forward to reading more about some of these characters in other books. Ellie's young children are integral characters in this story, but Pamela Clare never gives in to the urge to have them be saccharine set pieces. I love Jesse's interactions with the twins, and the way they draw him into the family life that he secretly and surprisingly enjoys. I look forward to reading Pamela Clare's next book.

Falling Hard is great heartbreaking ex-military love story. After being two years of neighbor Ellie and Jesse path are crossed and from there on is like domino effect and before you know it they are in some kind of love relationship. But everything is not so easy. Jesse is still fighting with his PSDT and is not easy when he works in a risk job on the mountain. Ellie has lost her first husband and is hard for her with Jesse having such dangerous job. They are both very good characters, develop interesting with great personality and you cannot be to be happy for them that they find each other. Story with full emotionally scenes, heartbreaking but also powerful funny and just great.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

I love Pamela Clare and this book did not disappoint!!! You have Ellie Meeks a widow with twin toddlers who works at the local hospital as a nurse.  She finds herself struggling to take care of a sick child while she herself is sick.  Jesse Moretti finds her stranded on the side of the road and offers to help her.  Their friendship quickly blossoms.  Jesse is a veteran who now works as a rescuer for the local ski resort and his life is fast paced and dangerous.  The scenes regarding the critical moments his team faces were very engaging and gave a solid view of that type of life and the sacrifice it requires.  The relationship builds between them but not without its bumps and bruises.  Read this book. You will enjoy it.

4 1/2 Stars! Another great book from Pamela Clare. 

Ellie's husband died in Afghanistan, but she can remember him through their twins ... that were born after he died. She has a full life between looking after twins by herself and working at the hospital as a RN. Jesse is an ex-marine, working on a search and rescue team in the Colorado high country for the past 3 years. Even though Ellie and him are neighbours, they have never met as Jesse keeps to himself and Ellie is busy. Then one day when Ellie has car trouble and she and one of the twins are sick, Jesse comes to her rescue. He becomes her hero and it doesn't take long for the sparks to fly between them. But Jesse is still having nightmares from his time in Afghanistan and doesn't want to draw Ellie into his grief as she has enough of her own. He believes he's not husband material never mind being a father. I recommend you take their heart wrenching and heart warming journey.

I received a copy of this book from the author through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

On the edge of your seat read.  You will find yourself turning the pages fast to find out what happens.  The author does an excellent job with the characters and the plot.  Anyone can relate to story and will hate seeing it end.  A book you will want to read again.

Another solid outing from Clare in this highly satisfying series. Looking forward to the next installment.

I really enjoy these stories from author Pamela Clare, she’s a master at writing action/suspense, and the love scenes are pretty great too.
This is the third story in the series “Colorado High Country”.  This series is set around the lives of the search and rescue team, some locals and some looking for a job that can give them that adrenaline rush of helping those who can’t help themselves.
Jessie Moretti is a ski patroller; he’s also a member of the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Team, an EMT, and a former Army Ranger.  Also, the next door neighbor to Ellie Meeks for the past two years and they have never met until he finds her in the parking lot with a car that just won’t start.  Ellie is a single mother to two 3-year-old twins Daniel and Daisy, she works part-time as an RN, with the help of her parents and sister to watch them when needed.  After four years, she still mourns the death of her husband Dan, Dan was a pilot with the 160th SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment).  Neither one of them is looking for love due to some form of PTSD, but they can’t stop the attraction they have for one another.  Will the attraction turn into more than they bargained for?
The author does such a wonderful job taking you to the area and bringing the town’s people to life.  Jesse and Ellie both have intense jobs, hers with the ER and his with the ski patrol/rescue team keeps you wanting more.  Like their fast paced jobs, they quickly develop a trusting friendship, and the steamy romance is so hot.  Jessie finds himself falling in-love with Daniel and Daisy, at first he was nervous around them, he had no experience with kids but quickly found himself very capable and deep down I think he needed them as much.  Can Jessie overcome his past that he has tried to bury?  Can Ellie move on after the death of her husband?  Will they both get a happy ending or will new information rip it all apart?

If you like a well written entertaining story about second chances, action, drama, sex and romance than this is a read for you.

***I voluntarily reviewed this ARC for an honest review via NetGalley, this is my honest opinion and has not been influenced by the author, Publishers or NetGalley in anyway.***

Ellie Meeks promised her husband that she would move on if something happened to him. But for the last three years she has focused on raising the twins Dan "Crash" Meeks never got to meet. She has no interest in moving on until her car breaks down, her son has strep, which she is caught, and she needs to get home. Her knight in shining armor turns out to be Jesse Moretti, a former Army Ranger, who also knew Crash.
 
Jesse moved to Colorado to escape Iraq and with the help of extreme sports (ski patrol rescues) and mountain climbing to keep his mind of the past. He's still having flashbacks and nightmares to the girl he couldn't save. He's sworn that he isn't the relationship kind but getting involved with Ellie is something that he can't avoid. Their chemistry along with the love he feels for Daisy and Daniel changes his mind. He can't help but love her. Its just that he has to deal with his demons before they can truly be happy. 

This book has some ups and downs and times when you just need to grab a box of tissues. This by far is one of the best Pamela Clare books I have read and one of the more touching, realistic, and shows what losing a military husband can be like. I loved the ending and watching these two amazing characters begin their life together. Seeing Jesse from this point of view instead of as a secondary character made me love his character even more! What a great story!!

Love this heartwarming emotional story about second chance at love. Ellie is a widow and single parent of twins. Jessie is Elle’s neighbor. They are both attracted to each other both his reluctant to engage in a relationship due Jesse’s job and lifestyle. Jesse is reluctant due to his past. Once they decided to pursue a relationship; they both learn to let go of each other’s past and insecurities and trust in their love. Recommended read.

This was a sweet, emotional story about letting go and discovering new love.  I love Pamela Clare and she really can't go wrong as far as I'm concerned.  She knows how to bring characters to life and make them real and flawed and she certainly does this in Falling Hard.  She has established interesting and fun characters in this series and I'm loving each and every one of these books.  This one is another winner.

Pamela Clare sure know how to tell a story! Damn. I'm still thinking about Falling Hard. 5 stars!

I am a big fan of Pamela Clare and have loved every book I've read by her. Falling Hard is a sexy, hot, romance with action and fantastic characters that made me smile, laugh, brought tears to my eyes and I just couldn't put it down. Jesse is a sexy, hot, alpha hero who you just can't help falling in love with. Ellie is a super strong widow and mother of twins and these two have sizzling chemistry. They help each other heal and put the past behind them. The ending was perfect as was the entire story. I highly recommend this book and all of Pamela's books!

"Falling Hard" is such a beautifully indepth story of hope, love, and moving on, while coming out of tragedies and memories, of two people finally able to come to grips with their pasts. The author wrote with such care of Jesse and Ellie finding love after each suffered their own trauma, but is a slower more developed pace for them. Who doesn't love to see a tough former Army Ranger with 3 year old twins? Ellie's twins was such a lifeline for her after her husband was killed in service, and seeing Jesse fall in love with the twins as well as Ellie is so heartwarming. Being a part of the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team, Jesse doesn't hesitate when tragedy strikes, but dives right in. The story draws you in, written as if the reader is a part of it and not just turning pages in a book. Jesse, Ellie and the twins find their HEA, and put the past where it belongs. The honor that was shown for Ellie's late husband who was a Blackhawk pilot, was not forgotten, but put the past where it belonged. This one had me in tears a few times as if I was there and not just reading a book. I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for gifting me "Falling Hard". My opinion is my own. This is mine 5 Stars!

Is there such a thing as too much swoon in a book? Because Jesse Moretti has it IN SPADES! Damn this book. But as much as Jesse brought his super sexy a-game, this book offers so much heart and emotion it was almost unbearable at times. The loss of a significant other storyline is always one that has me so damn conflicted, but Pamela Clare set Ellie and Jesse's story perfectly. There was plenty of reality threaded into this story, along with incredibly relatable characters, and characters who made me me feel all the things. It's not an easy journey for these two (or rather, four), but it is quite superb in terms of balancing the sad, with the happy, the family/friend time with the sexy time, and the "everything is okay" vibe that runs throughout giving readers the at-ease feeling that's needed after the whirlwind of the story.

I really enjoyed this book! Ellie and Jesse’s story is so sweet. The story is pretty lighthearted with a few sad moments that give the story more depth. There also isn't too much drama for drama's sake, which I appreciated. Overall, I love Pamela Clare's writing and while I am more used to her romantic suspense novels, I really like this Colorado High Country series as well.

ARC received for review

Another great book in this series. Jesse and Ellie have had a lot of hard times. Together they overcome all the obstacles in their past. Loved her twins Daniel and Daisy. Loved seeing all the peeps from the Team. That epilogue...make sure you have a box of Kleenex handy...