Before I Fall: A Falling Novel (The Falling Series Book 1)

I'm not a big fan of YA romance, as I usually find the characters too immature for my preferences. BUT, I'm a huge fan of military romance and Jessica Scott in particular. Before I Fall was riveting and engaging at a level I did not expect with younger characters. It could have gotten redundant/repetitive, but Jessica walks that fine line and brings it to a fine point in more than one way. The struggles with PTSD, nightmares & physical injury as well as medication and opiates are realistically portrayed. Noah knows he has a problem but he's unsure how to admit it to anyone, and he's afraid he'll lose Beth if she finds out. Beth knows her father has a problem, but she doesn't know how to fix it and is, in effect, enabling him. Noah spends a good part of the book on a razor's edge, and as a reader, I felt it. Beth is one bad day away from a complete breakdown, and I also felt that. These two souls come together with high intensity (as young people tend to do) and quickly become each other's everything -- and the reader feels that, too. Noah tries so hard to do the right thing, being there for Beth as she's never allowed anyone else to be, and standing up to her dad. However the personal cost of that is high, and when he crashes, Beth is unable to do the same for him. I can't say more without spoilers, but suffice it to say this book is well worth your time!

To be honest, this is the first romance novel I’ve ever read, so I can’t say how it fits into the genre. But I can say that it was a lot of fun to read and made me think. It’s about two people who meet and fall in love (duh), but it’s also about addiction, PTSD, and the trauma of war, which never really goes away. Beth is a grad student who’s struggling to car for her ailing father, while Noah is a returning Iraq War vet scarred physically and emotionally by what he went through. The author, Jessica Scott, is herself an Iraq War veteran, so it’s understandable why the book feels so raw and real. But it’s also sexy and fun, which is quite a feat to pull off. If you’re looking to curl up with a new set of romance stories (this is the first in her “Falling” series), Before I Fall is a great place to start.

this book is just another reason why I like this author. She has written a very timely and intense love story that got to me on so many levels. First the story concerning our military returning home from being deployed and needing medical attention and the lack of attention that occurs for some of our returning soldiers. The dependency of drugs and alcohol for some who do not get the medical attention they so desperately need. Second, the support of family and friends and what it means to all of us let alone someone coming back from deployment. Third, the human need to be wanted and needed by someone. Beth and Noah are so in need for that special someone and fall before knowing all there is to know about each other. The fear they have of losing each other if the facts are known ways heavily on each of them. The author created 2 people that I cared about from the beginning and I hoped could make it through all the obstacles in their way. I love Beth and Noah! 2 people who gave so much of themselves it was hard for them to concentrate on their own needs. Thank you Jessica Scott for writing a very thought provoking story.

Being military herself Ms Scott knows of what she writes. I know couples that face the same struggles that Noah and Beth are facing. He's a vet with wounds and after affects that he'll deal with for life. She's struggling to help her Dad with much of the same issues and dealing with VA hospital issues for years - a sad true to life scene. Beth is asked to tutor Noah in a class and there is an instant connection that both need. Is their romance easy? Heck no! Is it realistic? I'd say yes. Is it all tied up with pretty bows and rainbows? No but there is a hard fought and won HEA that made me smile because they will be there to support each other in good and not so good times. I look forward to the other books in the series.

I'll start by saying that I was a little confused within the first chapter of the book, which is why this wasn't a five star for me. Beth is asked by her statistics professor to tutor a new student, who happens to be a former soldier, and Beth seems to almost have a panic attack over it. Here's why: her father is a vet, who she feels is not being treated fairly by the VA due to injuries (and I agree with this), and because of this, she has hard feelings toward the military and anyone involved in the military because of what she feels the war has done to her father. Because of this, she is already judging this former soldier, whom she hasn't even met. To judge this vet, without even meeting him, based on treatment that her father is receiving from the VA? This honestly just didn't work for me.However, the storyline itself did intrigue me, so I did continue reading the book, and I'm glad I did. Beth has struggled since she was a teenager taking care of herself and her father, who has a serious back injury that they simply can't afford to have treated properly. Although he is a vet, the VA gives them the runaround because they don't feel that his injury was entirely service-related, so he's not automatically 100% covered, leaving them to pay for his care. You really felt bad for Beth, seeing how much she cares for her dad, and bares the responsibility for making sure he has his medication, meets his appointments, all while going to school and working, and tutoring.Noah was such a likable character. He's home from the war, and finds himself facing a new challenge as a college student, and to say that he's uncomfortable in this setting is an understatement. But because of why and how he's there, he's determined to make it work, beginning with getting help in statistics.Although Beth is determined to not like Noah, and has preconceived ideas about him, she quickly learns that he is nothing like she thought he would be, and softens her heart where he is concerned. They develop an easy friendship, and soon find themselves falling for each other. He is the first person who has been there to help her with her dad when things get bad, and she realizes how much she enjoys having that in her life.Noah sees what Beth is going through with her dad, and guilt east away at him due to secrets of his own that he hopes to keep from Beth. Although he came home from the war, he didn't come back whole. He has a few physical scars, but it's the mental ones that plague his the most. He knows he needs help, and his hope is that he is able to get his issues resolved so Beth will never have to know what he's been hiding from her. Unfortunately for him, she discovers what he tried to keep from her, and rather than be there for him as he has been for her, she turns her back on him, but she soon realizes that was a mistake. Facing the possibility of losing Beth opens Noah's eyes to how much he really does need help, and he's determined now to get the help he needs.Before I Fall is a beautiful story of hope, healing, and love. Highly recommend.

Powerful from the outset, the characters and story arc are expertly drafted by the author. They allow the reader a peek into the world of those who have served & survived and those finding themselves caring for them on their return home.The story provides a good example of how to mix romance with real life scenarios, a great read...will download more by this author.

Amazing new series beautifully written and crafted flowed from page to page,Adored the character's loved Beth and Noah there relationship and chemistry. Both have been through a lot in there lives but they have found each other. Both of them still have got struggles that they have got to overcome in there personal life and family life for beth but with each other they can make it if they fight hard enough for each other!

Well done on another epic story. I loved this story as its real and a daily struggle a lot of people choose to ignore. The characters are easy to love too. Will be recommending to friends. Well done to the author, and thank you for sharing your work with us.x

Beth is a sweet girl with so much weight on her shoulders: she takes care of her injured father,

Amazing book. I literally never review books but this was just so fantastic I had to make an exception. Characters are loveable but broken but written in a way that makes them real rather than characters in other romance books that feel wooden or 2D. The storyline is also somewhat new to me which again is a novelty in the romance genre. I highly recommend this book! Quite long aswell- I read fast and it took me about 4 hours!