REVIEW: Daring to Fall by T.J. Kline

In Daring to Fall by T.J. Kline, Emma Jordan has returned home to run the animal sanctuary her father had started. The town is skeptical that she can run it, especially when things start going wrong. Dangerous animals are getting out of their enclosures, someone is spray painting warnings on the sanctuary’s buildings, someone is leaking the issues to the local paper, and she’s butting head’s with one of her employees who had thought he was going to be taking over the sanctuary.

Firefighter Ben McQuaid meets Emma after a call to rescue a kitten from a tree, only the kitten was actually a baby bobcat. His brother, police officer Andrew McQuaid, sends Ben back to the sanctuary to check it out, under the guise of checking on the bobcat. What neither expect was for Ben to like Emma.

I admired Emma. Despite the witch hunt the town seemed to be on, and the fact that someone was trying to sabotage the sanctuary, she never gave up. She was determined to save the animals, despite all the obstacles she was facing. Despite the fact that she was short-staffed and felt alone, she worked hard to keep everything going.

Ben had a history of dating women who needed saving, and his brother Andrew feared that was why he was attracted to Emma. In actuality, Ben realized that Emma was independent, determined, and not willing to have anyone save her but herself. He admired that about her and respected that, offering to help her in ways that wouldn’t step over the level of help she was willing to accept, including helping to find an escaped mountain lion.

“Mountain lions are like a wildfire. Most of the time, you don’t see the danger coming until suddenly it’s right up on you.”
Fighting back the urge to draw her into his embrace, to promise he’d protect her, Ben gave her the most confident, reassuring smile he could muster.
“Then it’s a good thing you have a damn good fireman on hand.”

I enjoyed how Ben and Andrew were always looking out for one another and their interactions with each other.

“Thanks for the advice, Dr. Phil. Don’t you have some evidence to tamper with?”
Andrew glared at him. “Yeah, that’s not funny. Especially after we just suspended one of the guys for stealing marijuana from a crime scene.”
“Only cops.”
“What the hell are you talking about? You guys just let it burn and inhale the smoke. I saw that fireman on television. Don’t act all high and mighty with me.”

Things get heated with each other at some points, but they always mange to work it out.

It was fairly easy to narrow down the culprit of sanctuary’s vandalism to two people but it wasn’t clear which one was actually responsible until the actual reveal. There are some chapters from the culprit’s point of view so reader’s gain an understanding of his thinking and why he felt the need to do the things he was doing.

While the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. The first book is about Ben’s brother, professional football player Grant McQuaid. I haven’t read Making The Play, yet I had not problem following along with this one. In fact, Grant is only briefly mentioned once in passing.

Daring to fall is about learning that it’s okay to lean on people and accept help. If you enjoy romantic suspense, animals, and firefighters, this may be a book for you.

Book Info:

 January 17, 2017 | Avon Impulse | Hidden Falls #2

Emma Jordan has returned home after her father’s death to run the animal sanctuary that had been his legacy. But strange things start happening, and it seems that someone is out to shut her down, someone who doesn’t mind putting lives in jeopardy to see it through. When Hidden Falls’ sexiest fireman starts to ask questions, Emma needs to make sure his charm doesn’t distract her from keeping her dreams alive.

Ben McQuaid has an obligation as a local fireman to protect the community, even from a well-meaning wildlife veterinarian who’s in way over her head. But, it’s becoming hard to keep his loyalty to the town and his desire for the pretty vet separate. As Ben and Emma become caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse, their feelings for each other are growing.

Will they let duty drive them apart or will they dare to fall?