REVIEW: He Falls First by Jill Shalvis

He Falls First by Jill Shalvis: Penny Rose has moved back to her hometown of Star Falls to help her grandmother and her young brother. They are living in her grandmother’s 1928 red brick Victorian house. A lot of repairs are needed, but there are not the funds for it. Penny works hard for a catering company and Grandma Nell takes care of an older man 5 days a week.

That older man is Hank, the father of Ryder Colburn. Hank has had a couple strokes and needs special help since he is non-verbal. Early one morning Penny literally runs into Ryan when she’s getting ready for work. At first, she doesn’t realize that Ryder is the head of a company who uses the services of the catering firm she works for. If seeing her in her Wonder Woman nightwear wasn’t embarrassing enough, Ryder has to save her from being run over by a truck when she’s delivering food to his offices a little later..

Despite their rocky start, Ryder and Penny get to know each other better. Penny is afraid of any real relationships after her last horrible one. Ryder has his own problems with closeness after a tragedy a few years ago. His upbringing with Hank, his father, was difficult to say the least. All the Colburn children did their best to keep his temper at bay. Even on good days, he treated his children like soldiers that worked under him. The ironic thing is Hank is sweet after his second stroke. Unfortunately, a family member needs to take care of him since he got kicked out of every assisted living facility after his first stroke.

Yes, there is some spicy romance in this lovely novel. The main theme seems to be families. Over time it shows how healing and forgiveness can take place.
Extra humor is provided by Pixa -boo, the talking bird. He has quite the vocabulary. He is mainly stuck on asking people about their bowel habits after he became constipated by some food. This is the first book in a series. I am definitely looking forward to reading about the other two Colburn brothers

Book Info:

Publication: August 5, 2025 | Sourcebooks Casablanca | Colburn Brothers #1

No one is going to convince her to fall in love again…

Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who’s a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He’s got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.

Ryder doesn’t mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe it’s the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he’s compelled to get closer.

Penny’s learned her lesson and now she’s paying the price. That’s why she’s sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It’s a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there’s amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?

One thing’s for sure, she’s never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she’s built.