After She Falls By Carmen Schober

After She Falls

by Carmen Schober

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN: 9780764239298

When I saw this book first offered for review, I wasn't so sure. lol Have you read my other reviews that start off like this? I always end up thoroughly enjoying them! This was no different. I was sent the book for review.

Summary:

She's always had that fire in her. She just needs to find it again.

Strong-willed Adri Rivera nearly achieved her goal of being a professional mixed martial artist, but then she fell in love with a man who knocked all the fight out of her. When their abusive, tumultuous relationship finally comes to a head, Adri flees with their young daughter to her small hometown in the mountains of Pennsylvania. There, she must face the people she left behind and put her broken life back together again. 

A hardened Max Lyons can't believe Adri is back in town after abruptly cutting him and everyone else off years ago. Despite the distance that grew between them, he feels compelled to help her regain her independence and offers her a job at his gym. But regaining each other's trust is another matter, made even more complicated by the lingering spark between them. As Adri dares to pursue her dream again, she trains for a big tournament with Max's help, but they'll both have to confront their own doubts in order to rise victorious.

My Review:

Ok, After She Falls was SUCH an interesting book. I had no idea what to expect other than a strong recommendation by the publisher. 

This story is very different than pretty much anything I've read. That in itself is a good thing. It's raw, in your face, and barely gives you a chance to come up for air. If you're not used to gritty books, the first part of the story might take some getting used to. I mean, the whole story, for sure, but just getting started you might need to keep an open mind. It's totally worth it.

We meet Adri, mom to little Eva, former fighter, and current punching bag for her husband, Owen. I don't like Owen and neither does Rocky <s>their</s> her German Shepherd Dog. You can feel how terrifying Adri's life is, and the first part of the story sets up the stage for everything that comes next.

As hard as it is to bring domestic abuse to light through fiction, it's a topic that is real and shouldn't be shied away from. The author did a fantastic job of keeping it real and giving us an intense glimpse into what that world must be like for those living in it.

When she gets back home to her loving uncle Roman, Adri is in survival mode. She tries to lie low because Sparta is a small town. When she and Max see each other for the first time, it's easy to wonder about their past. I liked how the author gave glimpses to their past though different memories. It gives the reader more depth to the struggles they go through as they begin to work together and Adri is ready to start fighting again.

While Adri is taking baby steps in her faith, Max is still living in the world and is dead set against God. He's wandering, not knowing what he's looking for thinking he can find whatever it is in what the world has to offer. Again, raw and gritty, but that's the truth of living without God sometimes. I would say most definitely in a world like this.

With the author's personal experience with kickboxing, there is a fantastic knowledge of the fighting world. I have to say, my interest was piqued. I did kickboxing for exercise and loved it and this story made even this old lady wonder what it would be like to get into the ring. Ok, maybe outside the ring watching?

If you're looking for a unique read that deals head on with tough topics, give this story a chance. You'll see God moving in the lives of the main characters in wonderful, moving ways and you'll be come invested in them as well.

About the Author:

Carmen Schober (www.carmenschober.com), author of After She Falls, is a wife, mom, and design show enthusiast! Growing up, she experienced two fascinating worlds, thanks to her mother's Cuban heritage and her father's ties to the American South. When she's not writing fiction, she curates lifestyle content for fans interested in faith, food, fashion, and everything in between. Carmen earned a master's degree in English literature and creative writing from Kansas State, and she currently lives in Manhattan, Kansas.