Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940151284752 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Jessica Scott |
| Publication date: | 03/03/2015 |
| Series: | Falling , #1 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | NOOK Book |
| Pages: | 300 |
| Sales rank: | 176,406 |
| File size: | 946 KB |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Before I Fall (Falling, #1)
4.7 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
24 reviews.
 |
There is a lot of good military romantic suspense out there...a lot. We like to see a guy in uniform or out of it flashing his alpha self and coming to the rescue, sort of like Superman but without the ridiculous shiny red briefs.
But the real military guys who make it back don't call themselves heroes, don't even want to hear that kind of stuff because many of them have tattooed the names of their fallen brothers - the real heroes, they'd tell you - onto their skin and into their memories. These are the kind of memories they can't shake, that rise in nightmares and follow in their waking hours, that turn you into a brittle shadow of what you used to be.
Noah made it out of the desert with horrible injuries and a promise to his Lt. that he'd go to college, that he would take his skills at looking out for his fellow soldiers back into the real world.
Beth has had her fill of the real world and the damage that the military life can wreak. She has been looking out for her father whose back pain is killing him,dancing through hoops with the VA and insurance companies in a neverending circle that has him substituting liquor when the meds run out. They are barely subsisting, and Beth is just hanging on, trying to finish her degree while working enough jobs to put food on the table. The mountain of medical bills will have to wait until her degree gets her a real job.
Tutoring a soldier is the last thing she wants to take on, but it's a paying job and one arranged by a favorite professor. Noah turns out to be more than she thought, and the temptation to just once lean on someone else is one she can't keep fighting.
But Noah is barely hanging on himself, and he doesn't want to lose Beth by revealing the deeper scars he brought back from battle. She has dedicated years of her young life to keeping her ex - soldier father from slipping into the shadows and he fears his own darkness will lose him any chance with her.
Jessica Scott's own history as an officer informs and shapes all her writing, investing her story with real poignancy and an understanding of the fight vets have upon their return to try and shake off the hyper - vigilance that kept them alive as warriors, but gets in their way when trying to fit back into civilian life. The sweet and explicitly sexy romance rounds out this story and makes it a keeper and a great intro to a new series.
|
|
This could have been an excellent story about men returning from war with PTSD. I did not care for the writing style or the explicit sex. 200 pages.
|
|
I really enjoyed this book... can't wait to start reading more from this author.
|
|
|
|
Great novel.
|
|
Wow! "Before I Fall" is an amazing book!! I loved it!!!
|
|
Great read
|
|
very good story as always with jessica scott however, bn shows this as 300 pages. NOT only 191. Tell the truth so we know what we are buying.
|
|
Typically I do not read a lot of new adult but because it was Jessica Scott, I eagerly offered to give it a try. Even though this story is somewhat military based, this is completely unlike anything I have read from Ms. Scott before. It was interesting to read about the trials and issues that veteran's face from a family member's perspective.
Initially I struggled a bit with the alternating first person dialogue but about a third of the way through I started to adapt and feel more connected to the characters. There were a few grammatical errors and stub sentences that threw me off as well but it seemed they were only in the first few chapters.
Beth is a very strong, independent, determined young woman with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Noah is by no means an alpha hero but he is a down to earth young man trying to overcome the horrors he faced in the war and live a normal life. The author did a superb job of portraying the struggles that both characters faced.
All in all this was a great story that I would definitely recommend. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
ARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
|
|
It's tragic and real and I truly felt like I was in the story watching it all unfold. Jessica Scott has a way of telling a story that pulls you in and makes you a part of it all. The relationship between Noah and Beth was lies, truth and such raw beauty, it was heartbreaking. Keep the tissues close by because there are certain parts that the tears will flow and you'll have no control over them. This is an exceptional story about a boy who went to war and came back a man struggling mentally and physically to put the pieces back together, all while falling in love with someone who might not be able to handle it.
I highly recommend reading this amazing book!
Received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
|
|
I have read everything that the author, Jessica Scott, has written and she writes wonderful stories but this story truly leaves me speechless. Beautifully written and emotional, it tugs at your heart and brings you face-to-face with reality. This is what they call New Adult but it is such a wonderful story that you won't even notice.
|
|
Jessica Scott is an author that I have enjoyed many times. She takes the reality of war and the life after and turns them into stories that enlighten her readers, giving them insights to what the military life entails. Before I Fall is the perfect example of this.
This story is more Young Adult than some of her others. While her other books have dealt more with adult characters, Before I Fall is the story of two young adults. Both Beth and Noah are dealing with the after effects of military life, although in different ways. They are both victims of circumstances beyond their control.
Beth, due to father, has had to grow up quickly and deal with things that most people would fold under the pressure of. The strength that she shows while dealing with the VA, college, work, and Noah is enough to push anyone over the edge. Yet, she manages to hold strong and learn so much about herself and the love of others. While dealing with all of this, she manages to find herself and find out what she really deserves out of life.
Noah, home from war, is dealing with his own demons. He knows that he does not have it all under control. He tries to be strong to support Beth with her life, yet knows that he is just covering his truth. The support that he has from his professor, Beth, and his military friends is amazing. Without that support he would not be able to function without that.
Jessica Scott has done it again. The love, the characters, and the story are all exactly what I have come to expect from Jessica. This is a story that is real. It is the story of the life of many military families after they have served their time. It is eye opening, heart wrenching, and amazing. I definitely recommend everyone to check out all of Jessica’s book, including Before I Fall.
|
|
3.5/5 stars
When it comes to reading military romances, I know that Jessica Scott will never steer me wrong. She is knowledgeable about her information and she knows soldiers, having been one herself. So when she tackles difficult issues such as PTSD, I know she knows what she's talking about. I have also been privy to many conversations about the Army, the war in Iraq, and the aftermath it has caused, so I appreciate her doing justice to the havoc it has wreaked on many lives in her books.
Beth and Noah's story is a beautiful and hopeful one. Both of them are struggling to keep afloat in their everyday lives, so meeting one another is a positive neither of them saw coming. I was afraid I wouldn't like Beth in the beginning because she's a bit prickly and is quick to judge Noah before really getting to know him. However, Beth is under ALOT of stress, so I can't say I blame her. She doesn't really have the time to tutor him with all her other obligations, but she also is pretty hard up for money, so she accepts. While she has preconceived notions about Noah, I did enjoy watching him shatter those and become someone she cares for.
Noah is a good guy who is not only struggling to understand statistics, but is also trying to keep the demons at bay from his time overseas. Being with Beth, he finds himself at peace and wonders if she will be the one to save him from himself. I love that Scott handles this realistically- the only person who can fix Noah is Noah. He can't depend on Beth to do that for him and wouldn't want her to. He knows keeping secrets from her is wrong, but can't bring himself to tell her the truth for fear of disgust and shame. My heart broke for him because once he finds out the whole truth about her dad, he doesn't even know how to broach the topic of what he's dealing with. He doesn't want to lie to her, but he can't lose her either.
It was hard to see these two struggle with their own truths because they are two people who deserve happiness. Beth is beyond frustrated with her father's condition and the run-around she gets with the VA. She finds comfort in Noah and the fact that he will fight his own anxiety and push through to help her when she most needs it. I liked their intimate moments together because they are so full of emotion and longing.
There are two side characters that stood out to me and they happen to be Noah and Beth's best friends, Josh and Abby. Josh is also a former soldier and I can tell his story will be intense also. He doesn't sugarcoat things for Beth and really tells her like it is when he confronts her toward the end of the book. Abby, is Beth's friend who has kind of taken her under her wing to help Beth 'play the game' in terms of the snobby, rich elite that surround them. We don't get much from Abby, but I am excited to read her story next.
Overall, I enjoyed this one. The ending is realistic and does an excellent job of displaying the hardships of loving someone with PTSD. I'm not sure why I didn't rate this one higher than 3.5 stars to be honest. Granted, this isn't a bad rating by any means, but overall, this book isn't one that blew me away like Scott's Back to You did. I am looking forward to Josh and Abby's story next, as I really do enjoy her military romances.
|
|
Be prepared to take an emotional journey with this story. Jessica Scott writes with authenticity and compassion about our returning warriors and their loved ones. She has the rare gift of bringing complex issues military members face to readers in a way that helps us understand and this story does just that. I love her characters and I love this story!!!
|
|
Emotionally endearing. This is an i credible story of love while fighting the after effects of being in war. We see Beth dealing with her dads back issues from the war.
And then we see Noahs issues with PTSD. Obviously this is a book that is a love story between Beth snd Noah while seeing how the war has affected both of the men in Beth's life in different ways.
Jessica Scott always writes gripping stories thst make you think and this is no different. Can't wait for the next book in this series!
|
|
I really was hooked fast. Loved this book and can't wait for the next one. After reading this book, you start to understand what some soldiers n their family's go threw. So e times we just are thankful for their service. Thank you!
|
|
4 stars
This book was not what I expected. We get to see Beth Lamont take on the world. She is a student but also working to provide for her father and her. He father was injured and unable to work due to a back issue. But so much of her life is consumed by helping her father that she does not allow time for herself. She is able to make extra money by tutoring other students but her latest one maybe her undoing.
Noah Warren has seen what war can do first hand. He is back trying to fulfill a dream of his friend; college and live a life here away from the war zone. Noah has been struggling to do that as he suffers from issues from the war. He has his little row of soldiers on the counter that seem to help him but they also make him not himself. But how can he face the world without them?
Once Noah meets Beth, he wants to do better. He wants to feel like himself not a fuzzy version of him. As they try to hide the attraction that they feel for each other, things become fuzzier for them. Beth has not felt the need for another’s comfort in so long she is unable that she misses it like crazy. Noah finally sees light in the dark world he has been living in.
As their relationship becomes more, things at home for Beth get worse until finally she has to admit that she needs help. Noah is there to do whatever needs to be done but at what cost to him? Can he continue to live the lie that has been causing Beth so much pain for years? Will she accept him once she knows the truth? Is love enough to forgive?
|
|
With all her other military romances Ms. Scott has crafted tales that vividly depict the lives of soldiers and those affected by the war back home. In her first New Adult romance those feelings are once again on display, only intensified as the characters are struggling to get through college too. Love and pain reside alongside the struggle to make something of yourself and readers easily get immersed in this maelstrom of emotions and the complex relationship between Beth and Noah.
Beth is barely hanging on as her father's injury from war has left him incapable of doing anything but live in a medicated haze. Her days revolve around fighting with the VA to get even a modicum of the help he needs, teaching, and waitressing to make ends meet. She's not making ends meet though and it's left her constantly on edge. She's lost in a haze of anger over not being able to help her father and fear over not succeeding and getting the career that will end their financial woes. It's left her little time to worry about herself or her own needs. It's not until she meets ex-soldier Noah, who represents all she despises, that her heart finally stands up and takes notice. Being with Noah is both scary and invigorating and as they spend more time together their connection morphs from friends to lovers in a subtle yet powerful way. She's keeping secrets though, secrets about how bad things really are, from not only Noah but herself that could destroy what they have. It all makes for a rocky yet immensely satisfying and maturely depicted relationship that had me enthralled from the moment they first met. Beth too was an amazing woman as she was strong-willed, wise beyond her years, and gave as good as she got. In fact, their witty banter added up to verbal foreplay for me, teeming with sexual tension. Beth wasn't used to being taken care of either, but I enjoyed seeing Noah's sweet and subtle caretaking which made their romance all the more rewarding.
Noah's struggling too, struggling to assimilate to the life of a college student. He desperately wants to succeed, to prove to someone important to him that he can make a future for himself and leave the war in the past. The war isn't completely in his past though as he suffers from PTSD and physical pains that he's masking behind medication. It's left him in a haze too that starts to clear when he sets eyes on Beth. She intrigues him, she's a mystery he longs to solve and is drawn to the mutual pain he sees reflected in her eyes. As he gets to know her, and all about her struggles, he wages a one-man war to make things better for her. As their connection deepens he can no longer ignore his own issues. To fully be the man she needs he'll have to tackle his own pain and in true hero form...he does it. He's not the kind of man to make excuses but deals with things head-on which is immensely appealing. Everything about Noah was appealing as he was sweet, subtly romantic, and wholeheartedly supportive. He saw behind Beth's facade as no one had before to find a woman deserving of happiness and then set out to give her a HEA.
This was a beautifully flowing story juggling numerous emotions that kept readers fully immersed in the action. The issues revolving around the VA are timely as are the complications of soldiers returning from war. These issues are vividly depicted and added to the story's overall impact, as do the complex characters of Beth and Noah. Another winner from Ms. Sc
|
|
Outstanding first NA novel from a truly talented author. Scott's Coming Home series is wonderful, I've read and reread those books many times and loved them each time. Before I Fall is the equal to the best in that series in every way. It is an emotionally draining and exhilarating story of two wonderful people, who connect with the reader as powerfully as they do with each other. The main characters are nearly the same age as my children and throughout the book I was torn between deep admiration for their maturity and determination, and a very maternal desire to embrace them and keep them safe from harm - pretty powerful reaction to words on a page. This is a wonderful book and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
|
|
|
|
I loved this book. I usually find it difficult to like NA books because they are so angsty, but this one had me hooked almost from the beginning. Jessica Scott usually writes adult romances and non-fictions so her branching out was quite daring and impressive. She can now add writing NA to her long list of successes.
In this story we find Beth trying to take care of her father who was wounded serving in the Military. He is barely able to move around let alone help around the house or hold down a job. He takes huge amounts of pills to help with the pain and when he can't get them he drinks large amounts of alcohol.
Beth is working two jobs and in Grad school. She has absolutely no time for anything fun let alone time to date until she's sees something in Noah.
Noah is trying to fit back into civilian life after being in the Military, but he is dealing with pain from injuries that he suffered from an attack that killed most of his friends. PTSD has become his norm and the only way to keep it under control is by taking a lot of medication.
If Beth finds out the truth she will never be able to see him past the medication. He is so much like her father in that regard that the kindest thing to do is just walk away from her and their relationship.
I will definitely be looking forward to reading more books in this series.
I was given an ARC for an honest review. All conclusions are mine and mine alone. Lori P
|
|
4.5 - "You've definitely made the day a little brighter." Stars!
I am not a new reader to Jessica Scott’s writing, but this is the first full length book I have read by her. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about Before I Fall, it was beautifully written, the characters were well developed, the flow of the story itself was steady and the revelations came along at all the right points. Even though I kind of expected some of them, others came out of left field and offered just the right amount of surprise to keep me up well past my bedtime finishing this one.
”Kitty has claws.”
This isn’t a pretty hearts and flowers love story; it deals with a lot of aspects of returning to civilian life with life changing injuries, after time spent in the forces, it’s a bit gritty, dark, and what I fear is possibly a little uncomfortably honest in certain aspects of its portrayal. Beth is dealing with it in the fact that her father is pretty much incapacitated 24/7 with a back injury that he bought back with him, from his last mission, and the Military’s failure to ensure that he received the proper treatment to make a full recovery after leaving.
I wasn’t looking for anything but a paycheck. It looks like I’ve gotten way more than I bargained for.
Noah is dealing with it firsthand having just left the military to continue life as a student at the college Beth is also a student at; it turns out the injuries you see on the outside may not necessarily be the ones that have the deepest impact overall.
”I want to be here with her, but the war won’t let me go. It intrudes into every moment of peace I try to hold onto.
I think the strong theme that runs through this book is honesty, or the lack of it (even if it is just by omission) and the effect it has on us and those around us. Beth lies to herself about her father, his injury and his coping mechanisms for it. She also omits the truth about her situation to others as a way of avoiding them seeing what the actual reality of her life is. Noah, god I loved this guy, lies to himself to justify his actions and lies to others to cover them up. Eventually as you can imagine all the lies, omissions of the truth and avoidance catch up with everyone, in a pretty cataclysmic way.
”You don’t run when things get a little bumpy. That’s not how life works. You stick. If you care about people, you stick.”
The build-up, the blow-out and the subsequent restoration of everything for this couple as well as those around them really does pull you into their story. This book is pure romantic drama, although the issues are pretty deep it didn’t feel overdone or angsty, the characters were dealing with the life they had been dealt, and trying to make the best of what they had been given. Jessica Scott really does know how to write romance with a Military theme running through it, and she does it exceptionally well.
"You came home... You're home."
I cannot wait for the next book in the Falling series, Abby and Josh get their story told in Break My Fall and if its predecessor is anything to go by it will be another absolute winner, so fingers crossed I don’t have to wait too long for its release
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
|
|
Absolutely amazing! An incredibly thought provoking story, heartwarming characters, and a romance that pulls at your heart. Before reading this I have always thought of men and women returning from war as older. This story made me realize the number of young men and women returning and having to face to world after having seen and done things that are truly unforgettable. It also made me really think about how we treat our veterans after they return, and how they should be treated for the rest of their lives. While technically I guess this would be considered a new adult book, I think everyone would really enjoy the message. I highly recommend this one.
|
|
4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Angela and posted at Under The Covers Book Blog
Everyone knows military life is not all sunshine and glory. Especially the aftermath. Coming back from any war not only leave soldiers broken but affecting everyone around them. Before I Fall gives readers a glimpse of what life after a war can be.
Beth has been taking care of her Dad for quite some time while working and going to school. Unfortunately, her dad who is a veteran with medical issues is not getting the help he needs leaving Beth in a very bad predicament. To help with some medical bills, she has to take an extra job tutoring where she will meet Noah. A veteran who is trying to get his life back to normal. But like many soldiers of the war, he is nothing but unscathed. It will take a whole lot more to get any kind of normalcy if that’s even possible for someone like him.
My heart broke for Beth, her dad, and Noah. They are in a bad situation where support was almost to nothing. It was frustrating to see the struggles they had to go through financially, physically and emotionally. It was a long haul before they got their happy-ending but it worth the hardships.
Being a fan of Jessica Scott’s Coming Home series, I can’t help but to be excited about this new one. Just like Scott’s previous books, Before I Fall consists of realistic characters with realistically tragic issues. But giving them a promise of hope and chance at finding their happy-endings. It’s a great read. I highly recommend not only for the love story, but for a story that will keep you thankful and grounded
*ARC provided by publisher
|