After She Falls by Carmen Schober {Book Review}

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own. 

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.

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.

First and foremost, I must start by saying that this is not an easy book to read by any means... for any one. I believe it is going to be especially difficult for anyone who has personally dealt with abuse, and could potentially be triggering for them. The opening scene of the book I think really draws us into that. I think it's an important story to tell... just one that might not be one that is easy for every person to read. 

Now, I must admit this isn't a book that I would typically pick up. I'm not really into MMA and fighting, or really sports of any type... so sports stories of any kind aren't going to be my first choice but I was drawn in by the description nonetheless. While it was certainly different for me in that regard, I thought the author did a great job of drawing the reader into the story regardless of whether they are into that or not with the compelling story at hand. It was a very good debut novel, and I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future.