Blurb:

College rivals become workplace frenemies-turned-lovers in this warm, sexy contemporary romance from New York Times bestseller Jill Shalvis. First, they were rivals… Now they’re stuck with each other…

Retired hockey player Caleb Colburn needs this construction project to prove himself in the family business, but he also needs to recover from the injury that ended his pro career. Too bad Emma Sumner, architect liaison and Caleb’s college nemesis, is back in town and assigned to the project. They’re going to have to see each other almost every day. Which means once again she’ll make his life a living hell.

As for Emma, her job is on the line with this big project, made all the more challenging by the project manager. Caleb was the one who had snagged the scholarship she’d desperately needed to stay in college. She’s been living hand to mouth ever since and has no intention of ever forgiving the man.

But the beautiful historic building they’re renovating is exactly the kind of project that they both love best. Their surprising common ground and a burning mutual attraction start bringing them closer and closer to a potentially explosive mistake. And that’s even before the secrets come out…

*****

Review:

I am loving this series. Especially the close relationship between the Colburns after surviving an abusive childhood, how they became pillars of their community with an amazing support network for themselves and others. And it’s that network that would be there for Emma. If she would only let them.

Emma is sassy and stubborn and sharp, the perfect match for Caleb. Their relationship still has some of the negativity from their college years, plus the secrets and baggage that Emma is carrying, and it definitely takes them some time to let that go. Well, her more so than him. But with patience and charm, he’ll get her to let down her guard. At least a little bit.

Being a second chance romance, with a small town feel, there’s just so much to like with Free Falling. It’s funny, with the way that Caleb & Emma create sparks and with the boisterous family’s complicated dynamic. They might fight and tease big but they also love big and they warmly embrace Emma. It gives all the feels and plenty of steam, and a glimpse at what might be next.

(Part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. There is a bit of a mystery that is not resolved tho that will probably be in the next book.)