Book Review — Worth The Fall by Claudia Connor

“I love you, and nothing and no one could keep me from you.”

• Buy WORTH THE FALL (Kindle)

What a gorgeous, heartfelt story!!

If you’re looking for a book that’ll make you SWOOOOOOON, this is it!!!

The hero, Matt, is an injured Navy SEAL vacationing at a beach where he meets a single mom there with her four little kids. Something about her draws him to her, and in the space of a week, Abby and the kids become such a part of his heart that he can’t imagine being without them. However, they live completely opposite lives. With his job, he spends most of his time overseas on missions, while she’s tied to her home and her children. But what they have is worth fighting to keep and this is their story.

Let me tell you, there’s something about a big, tough, protective Alpha man who accepts kids who are not his own into his life with such complete openness and love that is absolutely heart-melting!!!!

Just take a minute and picture this gorgeous, badass Navy SEAL guy sitting on a beach helping a tiny little girl who is crawling all over him with her Barbie doll and loving every minute of it. How sweet is that??

“It was impossible not to notice his broad shoulders, the way the muscles in his back and arms flexed when he threw Jack across the pool. At least three women tripped walking past him from the bar. Wrapped up in kid games, Matt gave no hint he noticed.”

Every moment between him and those kids was just gorgeous. I loved the way he was with them and I loved the way he treated Abby. There’s a bit of a twist to her situation too and I loved that he wanted every part of her. He fell in love with not only her, but with everything and everyone she came with. He accepted them all in his heart as they accepted him into their family.

“Just tell me you feel it too.”
“I feel it.”

This book was such a joy to read! I loved the way their relationship developed so naturally. He just spent time with them because he couldn’t stand not to until it got to a point where it didn’t feel right from him to ever be away. It was a really gorgeous progression to watch.

“I’m here because I couldn’t stay away.”

It wasn’t all easy for them though. Despite how much they loved each other, they had struggles to deal with because she was a woman who’d been left or abandoned by everyone she trusted and he was a man whose job quite literally called him away constantly and put him in dangerous situations so they had a lot of trust to build and priorities to discover. But I loved the experience of reading through their journey.

“I can’t breathe when you look at me like that.”

“Like what?” He traced her cheek with his thumb. “Like I love you? Because I do. More than I ever thought possible.”

I laughed out loud, swooned over and over again, and even teared up in a few of the more emotional scenes. This book genuinely made me care so deeply about these characters — for each of them separately, and for all of them together. Their entire family worked their way into my heart.

He took the front steps two at a time and then he had her. In his arms, in his life… “Never again,” he whispered into her hair, her neck. “Never again will I be away from you like that.”

The pacing of this story was perfect. It payed close attention to the important details while always moving forward. There was a strong focus on family and each of the children got their own time to shine while still allowing for plenty of focus on Matt and Abby’s romantic relationship. The balance between everything kept me constantly connected to the story and I completely loved it from beginning to end.

I highly recommend this for all fans of romance! It’s a gorgeous story full of beautiful emotions and all kinds of love. Matt McKinney is guaranteed to melt your heart!! I can’t wait for more by Claudia Connor!

Rating: 4.5 stars. Standalone (first of a series of standalones).

• Buy WORTH THE FALL (Kindle)

PS: If you’re a fan of Brody from Room For You, then you have to meet Matt in this book (and, vice versa). This story was completely different but, if you love one, you’ll love the other. I’m sure of it!