Stevie‘s review of The Farther I Fall by Lisa Nicholas
Contemporary Romantic Suspense published by Intermix 20 Jan 15
I love it when an author takes one or more well-used tropes and turns them completely on their heads; I’m particularly impressed when I see this kind of behaviour in a debut novel. That being the case, my eye was instantly drawn to the blurb for this novel, which takes the familiar scenario of ex-military bodyguard paired with an off-the-rails rock star and then switches the genders around. And that’s just the start of our journey into Wonderland (or should it be Through the Looking Glass?).
Gwen is on injury-forced leave from the Royal Army Medical Corps (a familiar background for a lot of protagonists I’m meeting at the moment, but then it is one of the few ways for a heroine to have served on the front line) and has wound up in the US, staying with her music industry sister. The future is looking pretty bleak, with a probable discharge lined up when Gwen returns to the UK, but her sister comes up with a short-term solution in the form of Liam, a rising star just out of rehab (yet again) and in need of a new tour manager after the sacking or reassignment of all those likely to lead Liam back into old habits.
Gwen and Liam have had one near-encounter prior to being properly introduced, but while she’s attracted to him – and the feeling seems to be mutual – she’s determined to keep a professional distance. However, the two are pushed ever closer together when they discover that Liam has a stalker, whose behaviour is rapidly escalating from leaving slightly odd notes to threatening anyone Liam is, or has previously been, involved with – including both Gwen and Liam’s ex-girlfriend, and former bandmate, who joins him on the tour for a string of joint gigs.
I love both Gwen and Liam as well as all the supporting cast, as well as the way we were thrown any number of red herrings as to the identity of the stalker before events escalated still further into a big reveal. Gwen is tough (though not butch as the stalker’s notes suggest), but she’s also haunted by events and situations in Afghanistan, which she was unable to either prevent or get everyone out of safely. Liam is unashamedly bisexual (far too much of a rarity in heroes, in my opinion), which previously led to a now-resolved rift with his wealthy parents, and he’s also mostly submissive to Gwen in the bedroom (also refreshing, in my opinion), no matter how much of a brat he might be everywhere else. I’m desperate to see more of these two, but may have to content myself with Liam’s twin brother – whose book should be coming out later in the year.
This is an author that may well have catapulted directly to auto-buy status on the strength of this book. But being British, I’ll reserve a tiny bit of judgement until I’ve read one more story by her first.
Grade: A
Summary:
Sometimes when you fall, you land just where you need to be…
Gwen Tennison got out of Afghanistan alive but scarred–and then got stuck on her sister’s couch. When she’s offered a job managing the U.S. tour for rock music’s hottest, most troubled star, it seems like just the thing to snap her out of her post-injury funk. Her instructions are simple: start the shows on time, and keep him clean.
But Lucas Wheeler may be more than she can handle. Though he’s drug-free, he still feels the need, and his gorgeous, capable new tour manager is a challenge he can’t ignore. Fame and infamy have forced Lucas to protect his heart, but soon he finds himself craving Gwen’s touch, and yearning to give her control. And Gwen might feel the same way.
But it’s not just the mutual heat between them that is keeping Gwen on her toes. Someone is following Lucas from city to city. With more than just her job on the line Gwen must decide how much she’s willing to risk to keep Lucas safe.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
