AFTER WE FALL (Take the Fall #3)

AFTER WE FALL                   MARQUITA VALENINE

A tough cop with an even tougher past, Hunter Sloan has never let anyone stop him from getting what he wants—and he wants Evangeline Ambrose bad. With her gentle curves and raw vulnerability, Hunter’s beautiful, mysterious new neighbor awakens his protective side. Determined to do right by a woman who’s gone through hell and back, Hunter could be the one to take away the pain—so long as his own secrets don’t sink their relationship before it begins.

Having escaped an abusive marriage, Evangeline simply wants to start over in the small, quiet town of Forrestville. She’s also avoiding all contact with the opposite sex, because she just can’t trust her instincts when it comes to men—not even with the sinfully sexy cop next door. So why can’t she stop thinking about him? Hunter has darkness in his soul, and yet no one ever made her feel so safe. For all her best laid plans, Evangeline didn’t count on choices this hard—or temptation this hot.

MY REVIEW:
     Love is a powerful thing especially when it is used against you.  As Evangeline Ambrose found out the hard way.  For six years she allowed herself to be beaten at the hands of a man who used it against her.  She really didn’t allow it now did she?  Nope!  This so called man repeatedly beat and terrorized her within her own home.  With threats that he would kill her if she spoke up and told anyone.
     Being that he was in the military he had her over a barrel.  She was as isolated as he wanted her to be and away from the family she so loved.  He made sure to rid her of all her friends and accused her of whoring around.  When his wealthy family cut him off financially he stole from her savings account where she had made money as a singer off YouTube.  Where she used to do cover songs and originals.  In fact, he was using the money for drinking, drugs, and whores as she says it.
     So the last beating she received when she figured out he had blown through almost all of her savings she said something and he beat her leaving her for dead on the side of the road where Hunter Sloan an officer with Family’s Victim Unit happened to find her on his way home.  He had recovered many women who were like her and his mother if not beaten worse and taken them to the hospital.  Yet, there was something about Evangeline that stirred his heart and other parts too.
     He didn’t mean to be a 15-year-old teen boy about this but Hunter had never before or since had a feeling so powerful as he did for her.  It had now been 6 months or 180 days since he last saw her or you could say 4324 hours since he last touched her battered body.  But who is counting.  So to say she made a lasting impression is an understatement.  So much so he has been celibate since he last saw her how crazy does that sound even to him. 
     So when he once again bails on his friends who had plans on setting him up on a blind date that night after a beer.  He just laughs at their questioning faces.  When he gets to his apartment building all he can see is a woman who has moving boxes in her arms so high she can’t see or open the door.  When he asks if he can help and she responds his body reacts.  His mind and body can’t believe it could be true for it could only be wishful thinking.  Could it be?  When he gets to the top and she unlocks the apartment across the hall from him he wants to fist air pump.
     You see this person is renting the vacant apartment across from him.  She unlocks the door and takes the boxes when he says he can take them in for her she says no that she got it.  When he sticks out his hand to formally introduce himself she gives him her maiden name not her married name.  Which she will still be for another 6 months.  Not to mention she acts like she doesn’t know him.  Which he finds very interesting.  So he plays along of course.  He has to push some buttons too, to see if he can get a rise out of her and boy doe he.
     This was an intense yet sweet and sensually written book about a woman who is taking back her life.  A life that a man who promised he would love and respect but he didn’t he abused her.  Yet, has not a problem telling her kind hearted rescuer her mind.  Although she feels bad each time after each emotional outburst and tends to apologize.  She does it with sass though.  Which means that she is healing and that is a good thing.  Which secretly Hunter admires in her all her sass.

     See these two work through difficult backgrounds and be present as they reveal secrets they hold from their past that threaten to crush their futures.  Their self-esteems as well.  I really enjoyed the sass and backbone yet the vulnerability this author gave to Eva.  Which made it all the more real.  As well as the emotional quandary it put her in as far as her new feelings for Hunter.  I give this 5++++ stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at:www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

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