Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Calamity Falls #9

The Deeper I Fall

Rate this book
He's a rough and rugged hockey player. She's a posh British princess. To win an enormous inheritance, they’re forced to live together.

This is not going to go well.


When his former hockey coach passes away, Declan Cadell is shocked to learn the man left him a cattle ranch. Well, not exactly. He’s got one little hurdle to jump first. He has to win a trivia contest against the man’s estranged daughter. Oh, and there’s a caveat: he’s only in the running if he lives and works with the spoiled princess who blew off one of the greatest men he’s ever known.

As if it wasn’t hurtful enough that Seraphina Crutchley’s biological father replaced her with a bunch of sweaty hockey boys, now he’s forcing her to vie for her inheritance with one of them. Worse, the guy clearly can’t stand her because if—no, when she wins the contest—she’ll sell the land and return home to London. Why on earth would she keep a cattle ranch in Wyoming?

But Seraphina comes to learn the contest is about so much more than a ranch. It’s about learning who her father was and why he stopped asking to see her. It's about falling in love...and finding the courage to fight for it.

392 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 14, 2022

623 people are currently reading
997 people want to read

About the author

Erika Kelly

41 books1,844 followers
Award-winning author Erika Kelly writes sexy, passionate, and emotional contemporary romance. Married to the love of her life and raising four children, she lives in the southwest, drinks a lot of tea, and is always waiting for her cats to get off her keyboard.

GET A FREE SHORT STORY:
https://erikakellybooks.com/pages/new...

SUBSCRIBE:
https://erikakellybooks.com/pages/new...

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/erikakellya...

FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

JOIN MY PRIVATE READER GROUP:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Erika...

FIND ME ON TIKTOK:
https://www.tiktok.com/@erikakellyrom...

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
657 (62%)
4 stars
291 (27%)
3 stars
85 (8%)
2 stars
12 (1%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews870 followers
February 24, 2022
I never get tired of visiting Erika Kelly’s Calamity Falls and I very much enjoyed The Deeper I Fall, the latest book in this series. A woman who has never been allowed to truly grow up and find her own way and a man who had to grow up from a very early age; Phinny and Declan must go head to head against one another when her biological father and his mentor passes away suddenly leaving his ranch in the balance to be won by the person who can answer the most questions about him in a trivia contest thirty days from the reading of the will. While that might seem an easy feat for his daughter, Phinny doesn’t know her father, the last time she saw him she was 6 and he relinquished his rights so her step-father could adopt her. While billed as enemies to lovers, I felt this was more of an opposites attract because until the day of the will they’d never met before, so there’s no bad blood for them to be true enemies. Adversaries, absolutely, but even that changes as Phinny spends time working on the ranch, talking to locals about her father’s life, and going through ancestral photo albums. With each piece she uncovers she begins to realize that the man her mother spoke ill of often, was a very different man indeed. The more time Phinny and Declan spend together, the lines between them are blurred.

Up front I’ll be honest and say that I wasn’t a fan of Phinny and I appreciated that she grew so much during this story, but it didn’t excuse her from not even trying to contact her father once she was old enough to do so on her own. I honestly hated that her father Kurt so obviously loved her but stayed away because of her mother’s deceit. It bothered me that while Phinny had a few curt conversations with her Mum about what she did; she gave into her and her step-father way too easily. She was so naïve and gullible she read more like a 16 year old than a 24 year old at the beginning of this book. That being said, despite being way out of her element she jumped in and did what was expected of her with very little complaint. She worked hard, she found a way to feel useful, and she also went out of her way to find out more about Kurt from the people who knew him. She also began to figure out why the ranch meant so much to Declan, not that she planned to throw the competition because the sale of the ranch would set her up for life. What I loved was the more time she spent at the ranch, with the people of Calamity, her perspective of what she wanted her life to look like changed dramatically.

Declan has no idea what to make of Kurt’s contest for the ranch, the fact he left him and three other friends The Wyoming Renegades hockey team. As a boy his life changed in an instant when his parent’s were killed, he went to live with his grandfather Sam and he and his friends got into a lot of trouble, Kurt pulled them out of it making them into elite hockey players. Declan likes his job as an assistant coach and never once was sorry he dropped out of college to come home to take care of his grandfather when he was ill. Losing him was hard, but he still had Kurt, losing Kurt…Declan feels un-tethered. Working to understand everything involved with the ranch and helping Phinny learn about her ancestors makes him long for more.

I actually really loved Phinny and Declan together; they seemed to figure out each other’s baggage/damage and accepted each other warts and all. I loved the little moments when Declan would look at Phinny and realize she wasn’t the princess he thought she was; like her determination to help local residents sell their goods so they’re lives would be better. I loved how Phinny got Declan to open up about his childhood and to share that having roots and a family was important to him. These sweet moments coupled with their smokin’ hot intimate moments, showed how well they fit together despite being from two totally different worlds.

There were some great cameos from previous books and I am very curious as to how the deal with the Renegades team will play out. Ms. Kelly always keeps me wanting more.

The Deeper I Fall was equal parts sweet and sexy, filled with emotion and heart making it a completely enjoyable, entertaining, and wonderful romance.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Profile Image for Sandy S.
8,065 reviews199 followers
February 21, 2022
4.5 stars--THE DEEPER I FALL is the ninth instalment in Erika Kelly’s contemporary, adult CALAMITY FALLS erotic romance series focusing on the men and women of Calamity Fall, Wyoming. This is hockey coach Declan Cadell, and twenty-four year old British socialite Seraphina ‘Phinny’ Crutchley’s story line. THE DEERER I FALL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Declan and Phinny) THE DEEPER I FALL follows in the aftermath of a rejected proposal, and the sudden death of Seraphina Crutchley’s estranged American father, former professional hockey player Kurt Grevers. At the reading of the will, Seraphina will come face to face with the boys, now men, she believes stole her father from a life time of love but conditions of the will find our heroine remaining in Calamity Fall, in the hopes of ‘winning’ the ranch where she doesn’t belong, a contest that will pit Seaphina Crutchley against Declan Cadell. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Phinny and Declan, and the potential fall-out as Seraphina and Declan‘s ideas and hopes for the ranch are in total opposition to one another.

Seraphina Crutchley has not seen her father since she was six years old, and has been led to believe she was never wanted. With a chip on her shoulder, and ice in her heart, Seraphina returns to the home she can no longer remember but a home that will reveal memories of a time where she was happy and loved. Declan Cadell and his ‘former best friends’ Cole, Jaime and Booker, had always thought of Kurt as a second father. Kurt Grevers had taken the young boys in hand, teaching them about a game with would all come to love, a game that would see Kurt a successful businessman and rancher, and respected member of Calamity Falls. Declan and his friends have a past of their own, a past that continues to fester between the once tight-knit group of friends. Believing Seraphina is nothing but a gold digger and British snob, Declan and our heroine are about to be pitted against one another for ownership of Kurt Grevers legacy and love.

The relationship between Declan and Phinny begins acrimoniously as our heroine wants nothing to do with her father, the ranch and the men he loved more than his own flesh and blood but the longer Seraphina remains in Calamity Falls, the more will be revealed about the man she never knew, and the man with whom she is falling in love. Declan wants to protect his mentor’s legacy but falling for Seraphina was never meant to be. Seraphina has different plans for her late father’s ranch, a ranch that holds most of Declan’s memories from a time long ago. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Declan’s former friends now business partners: Cole Montgomery, Jaime Dupree, and Booker, as well as attorney Harrison Goodman; Seraphina’s parents Andrew and Lucinda Crutchley, Kurt’s former love interest Glori Van Patten, house manager Tina, Brodie and Rosie Bowie (Just the Way You Are 4), as well as several ranch hands and townsfolk who reaffirm everything Phinny thought to be true, was a lie. Cole Montgomery’s story is next.

THE DEEPER I FALL is a story of family and relationships, betrayal and heart break, secrets and lies, love and acceptance. The character driven premise is emotional, captivating and engaging; the romance is intimate and intoxicating; the characters are edgy, broken, animated and lost.


www.thereadingcafe.com
Profile Image for Erin Lewis.
5,986 reviews213 followers
February 24, 2022
5 star Review The Deeper I Fall (Calamity Falls #10) by Erika Kelly 

Erika Kelly is a relatively new author to me but what I have read I have enjoyed. The Deeper I Fall was a well written, entertaining story that ticked the boxes for me. I love stories set in small towns and Erika Kelly brought Calamity, Wyoming to life for me and it was great to be back there again. Although book ten in the series, it can be read as a stand alone.
This is Declan Cadell and Seraphina (Phinny) Crutchley’s story and it was one that drew me in and quickly had me invested. All is not as it seems when Declan and Phinny vie for ownership of a cattle ranch in Wyoming. Their journey was rocky to say the least but as they travelled the path, they quickly realized that there was more to one another than they initially believed. Can Declan convince Phinny in thirty days that she should take a chance, not just on him but Wyoming?
This was a journey of self discovery, of learning the truth and deciding to take a chance and fight for the happiness that could be theirs for the taking. The growth of the characters was heartwarming, particularly Phinny as she learned more about the father who stopped asking to see her.
A well written story with characters who you cannot help but like and want to learn more about. When time permits I intend to go back and read the previous books in this series that I have not yet read.
1,731 reviews9 followers
August 9, 2024
Too much back and forth in some of the characters

I read book 12 in this series first, Jaime's story, which I thought was missing some pieces. This book, #10, is previewed at the end, so I thought I'd read it next to fill in some of the gaps. He's presented as a completely different character type in this book than in his, and it never even mentions that he has a daughter. Then we come to Declan, the main male character in this book. He sees a vulnerability in Phinney, but turns around and treats her atrociously. Somehow when Kurt left instructions that the two of them were to live and work at the ranch for a month, I don't think he intended that his only daughter, who he loved and missed very much, would be "punished" by sticking her in an RV with no power, no food and no running water, and relegated to doing hard, dirty, manual labor that she has no idea how to accomplish while he lives in luxury and works in an air conditioned office. Then once he falls for her and even says that he loves her and they'll be in this together, he bails at the first sign of trouble. He'd rather break her heart and live without her forever than endure a temporary long distance relationship. Phinney, on the other hand, let both Declan and her mother off way too easily.
Profile Image for lowkeyreader.
5,447 reviews51 followers
February 24, 2022
I enjoyed Declan and Phinny's story. It's definitely an emotional but heartwarming one. These two couldn't be any more different but they kind of work together, the more you get to know them. And you see how much Phinny's character develops as she gets to know more about her biological dad. I wished they had communicated before but that never happened. And Phinny ended up resenting him before he passed. But Declan helps her understand and subsequently develop their own connection. It's wonderful to see how much development there is in their story.
Profile Image for M R W.
106 reviews1 follower
July 3, 2024
I loved this so much!!

Adding this whome serires immediately to the list of books i need to own ohysical copies of!!. I love how it mixes the sports, snall town, cowboy/ mountain man teops but not in a messy way there so seamlessly mixed!.
It was so good there build up is so great the story is heart string tugging worthy in the best way. Very good spicey sense. And you really never knew where it was turning next which was refreshing.
Into the next book now!!
Profile Image for Comfy Couch Book Reviews.
633 reviews46 followers
February 25, 2022
I'm just wondering what rock I have been hiding under recently to not know about the Calamity Falls series from Erika Kelly. Luckily it is not necessary to read the other books in the series to enjoy The Deeper I Fall and I certainly did. It has an interesting and different theme featuring Seraphina (Phinny) the British socialite brought up to fullfill her family's expectations but who is cut off from them financially for not marrying the man they wanted but who she doesn't love.

Phinny is invited to Calamity Falls for the reading of her father's will and to claim her inheritance. When she arrives she finds herself competing with Declan one of her father's hockey players to gain ownership of her father's ranch. To Phinny her father is a stranger who abandoned her as a child so she just wants to sell the ranch and go back to London with the money. Declan understands the history behind the ranch and wants to preserve it.

Phinny is thrown into a situation so alien to her, coming from London to a huge ranch in Wyoming. Declan does his best to make things difficult for her and drive her back home, but as she takes everything he throws at her in her stride with her British "stiff upper lip" he begins to admire and fall for her.

The more time Phinny spends in Calamity Falls the more it's people cast a spell on her as they along with Declan help her to learn who her father really was and to uncover the devastating truth kept from her by her family back in London. As she learns more about her father, his family, the legacy he left behind and his true feelings towards her Phinny starts to feel more at home in Calamity Falls. She even uses her skills and her giving nature to help the residents sometime with disastrous and hilarious results.

Despite a bad beginning, their major differences and misunderstandings Declan and Phinny find themselves falling for each other and Phinny has to make a decision about her future. Should she take a chance on love and stay in Calamity Falls with Declan or return back to London and are their differences too big to think about a future together?

I love small town romances but this one was especially enjoyable and unforgettable as two complete strangers from different backgrounds are able to find common ground and take a chance on love. Phinny is an amazing heroine who is able to recognize and value her American heritage and who really blossoms in this new environment away from the confines of London society.

I look forward to checking out the other books in this series.
Profile Image for Laurie.
1,554 reviews34 followers
July 7, 2022
Ten months ago, British socialite Seraphina "Phinny" Crutchley turned down her billionaire boyfriend's marriage proposal, upending her life as she knew it. After her mother and stepfather cut her off and her high-society friends abandoned her, she was forced to take a job as a waitress in a diner just to make ends meet. She's in for another shock when she learns that her estranged biological father, NHL legend Kurt Grevers, has passed away. Phinny travels to Kurt's hometown of Calamity Falls, Wyoming for the funeral and, she believes, to claim her inheritance. Instead, a caveat in Kurt's will sets up a competition between his daughter and his former hockey protege, Declan Cadell, for control of the Grevers family ranch. At first, Declan intends to forfeit the ranch to Phinny because he believes that it should stay in the family, but when he learns that she intends to sell it and return to London, he changes his mind. Forced to spend a month living and working together prior to the trivia contest that will decide the ranch's fate, Phinny and Declan's contentious relationship slowly turns into a genuine friendship, and perhaps something more. Can Declan convince Phinny that she belongs in Calamity Falls with him, no matter what happens with the contest?

I adored this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story, which was more emotional than I expected it to be. Declan and Phinny were incredibly three-dimensional and sympathetic characters, and I couldn't help rooting for them both individually and as a couple. Phinny's mother and stepfather basically raised her to be the modern equivalent of a Regency debutante; their only expectation for her was that she marry well. I loved seeing her come into her own during her time in Calamity. She realized who she was, what she wanted in life, and how to stand up for herself and her choices without sacrificing her loyalty and compassion. As for Declan, I empathized with his fears of loss and abandonment after losing so much of his family at a young age. It wasn't easy for him to overcome them, but in the end, he realized that his relationship with Phinny was worth taking a risk.

I highly recommend "The Deeper I Fall" for all contemporary romance fans and look forward to the next book in the series.

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Daisy Knox.
Author 4 books37 followers
February 14, 2022

All reviews posted at Tales of Love, Life, and Murder

I really love Phinny and Declan’s story. It’s sweet, unique and a lot of fun to read. They’re both so confused to find out about the contest, each wondering why me. Declan wants to preserve the ranch exactly as it is to carry on Kurt’s family legacy while Phinny has no connection to that part of her family and just wants to sell it. She belongs in London after all, it’s not as though she’s going to move to Wyoming to live on a ranch. But with each passing day in Calamity Falls, Phinny falls in love with the town with it’s quirky ways and she’s falling for Declan, too.

Declan has a tragic past but Phinny’s is tragic in it’s own way so they bring each other comfort. We watch them go from strangers to enemies to friends to lovers but everything about them is so different and their lives are so far apart. Declan can’t exactly move to London because there’s no hockey there. This is a cute story about family and forgiveness and broadening your horizons and I loved it. The author is new to me but I can’t wait to read more Calamity Falls because I fell in love with the town as much as Phinny did.
Profile Image for Marie Lucio.
115 reviews6 followers
March 9, 2022
I was gifted an ARC of “The Deeper I Fall” (A Calamity Falls Small Town Romance Novel Book 10) by Erika Kelly in exchange for my honest review; and here it is. The story line of this book really hits home. As I was reading it gave me flashbacks to when I was in her shoes. By her I mean Seraphina Crutchley the main female character of the book. This is the tenth book in the series, but it could be read as a standalone. So, for me this book really brought out a lot of emotions, but I loved the journey of discovery she had as I read the story. Declan and Phinny are like the Ying and Yang from one another. Their witty banter and humorous love they have for one another just adds to the story. This is a must read, I highly recommend it. It is just a WOW!
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,641 reviews165 followers
February 19, 2022
No matter how deep the emotions flow, the humor is never far away. The Deeper I Fall almost reads like a country song. The heartache is there to grab your attention. The humor is there to lighten the mood and the life lessons are sprinkled throughout with a smart no nonsense style that speaks to the soul. Declan and Seraphina are a work in progress that highlights the wonder of love and the flaws of being human. Kelly touches the heart in the most soulful of ways.
Profile Image for Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog).
7,751 reviews171 followers
February 24, 2022
This was a great enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance. Declan and Seraphina were fire together and I loved their banter and back and forth. The anticipation was killing me and I couldn't put this down.
Profile Image for Char (1RadReader59).
3,102 reviews17 followers
December 4, 2023
The book starts with, Seraphina “Phinny” Crutchley at a gala where she helped with donations. It wasn’t her first time helping, however, it was the first time for her to be in charge of gathering the donations, solo. She had gathered three times the number of donations than, the person before her, not to mention, the most unique items, too. So, on this night, the Lumley Foundation recognized her, in front of everyone at the gala. However, when she raised her hand, she was acknowledged by applause that started. She took her hand down, but the applause didn't stop. When she looked at the stage, her boyfriend, Cameron Lumley, her billionaire boyfriend was on stage.

After he acknowledged her for a great job, he also called her on stage. Before she knew it, he had dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him. At that very moment, she tried hard not to freak out. As she looked around, she knew she couldn't embarrass him by saying, NO like she wanted to. Instead, she said, yes. In order not to embarrass him in front of everyone. But, when the hug and congratulations got to be, too much she took off to the restroom. Cameron couldn’t just leave it until they were alone, he had to talk right then. Making matters worse.

So, she told him the truth, she wasn’t ready to be married, yet. He looked at her like, you know I’m from the second wealthiest family in, the United Kingdom, right?
“I need more time.”
“How much time?”
“I’m twenty-four.”
“Waiting these three years has cost me nearly two million pounds.”
As soon as he married, he’d tap into his trust fund. With each child he added to his family, the monthly allowance would go up. Quite the incentive to keep, the Lumley line going. She’d known that. So, why did it sound so ugly, to hear him say it out loud?
He told her, “No more time.”
So, she handed the ring back and started to make her exit.

When her parents intercepted her, she was almost out the door. They started laying out, in a plain, and, simple form that they had been grooming her for the position of, Cameron’s wife. That by not doing what they expected, there are consequences. Yup, for not loving and, not marrying the man they wanted her to, she had now forfeited her apartment, her credit card, and enough money to live on as of that night. A year later she is sitting in an American lawyer’s office. It is very surreal. Phinny was there because her natural father, Kurt passed away. She attended the funeral and then the reading of the will. Along with, Declan Cadell, Jamie, Cole, and Booker.

Let the fun begin. Yeah, that’s right. Her father is going to make her, jump through hoops. Declan will be there to make sure she goes through a living hell. For thirty days, they both must live on the ranch and work it and after the thirty days, they will be in a trivia game. At is time one of them, answered the most questions about his life, and family history. Now let me remind you, Phinny has never had to do anything in her life. She has been raised to be pampered. To do, to go, and to have what she wanted at any time. So, no one wants her to succeed at all. She was even defeated before she started. But, once she got some sleep and her anger really kicked in against, Declan for being an a$$, she allowed the games to begin.

Even though I know how this was supposed to end up, hello it's a romance, I still was surprised by some of the twists and turns. I did shed a few tears not a lot, but, it was emotional following her through, her father-daughter relationship. Very good book.
Profile Image for Tanya.
811 reviews16 followers
April 10, 2022
This story is part of a series but can be read as a stand-alone. This small-town romance begins in Calamity Falls, WY, with Declan and Phinny. They are both attending a funeral and have significant ties to the late Kurt Grevers. Phinny doesn't know it yet, but she is in for a change. Declan is forgoing his own issues in favor of his old friends' wishes. This story includes forced proximity, an enemies to lovers, romance, and sports. This book is emotional, romantic, and steamy. I loved the characters and the overall intriguing story. I'm glad it ended happily and loved the feelings that radiate off the book's pages.

The story began in the prologue ten months ago. Seraphina feels like a superstar as she is praised at a London Elite event by her stepfather and Mother. She is also in a relationship with Cameron, who runs the foundation and is a billionaire. Omg, he proposes, and she is not excited about it. Her word implodes all because she declines his proposal. This is important to the story later on.

We jump to Declan, and ten months later. He is at a funeral. Her father and lawyer definitely have up to something mischievous in the late coach's will. Now Phinny and Declan must live on the ranch and work it and answer trivia questions to see who wins the rights to it, the estranged daughter of the hockey boy who is like his son.

The author adds humor and history as the characters navigate their circumstances. This book gets a little steamy as some truths come out about their lives. This story goes from emotional disaster with tears in your eyes to romantic moments that leave you swooning. Phinny found a lot of evidence about the man her father was, and it is quite a contradiction to the man she thought he was. Declan can't help but be sweet to her even though they compete for this land. They both seem to be catching feelings as they navigate this hot mess. Will they find love?

Their Relationship blows up so quickly, and it is crushing. I wonder when he will get his head out of his butt and get his girl. This story does end happy, and it is a fabulous authentic ending. I genuinely enjoy the posh princess of high society becoming a country girl.
Profile Image for Aoife.
204 reviews18 followers
March 25, 2022
3.5/5

A romantic story set in an American small town. The book, while part of a larger series, can be read as a stand alone. Having never read any previous iterations, this was my first look into Calamity Falls.

The book follows Phinny, a socialite from London who never really knew her dad - Kurt - and Declan, an ex-hockey player turned coach from a small town in Texas where Phinny's dad lived. Declan had a close bond to Kurt, having played on Kurt's team as a kid. Phinny hadn't seen her dad since she was a young child and never heard from him. After Kurt's passing, they both find themselves thrown into a contest to see who inherits Kurt's legacy.

I quite liked how the story progressed, with the pacing going well until the last few chapters. It felt a little rushed, as if there was a limited amount of space left to cause more turmoil and throw it all back together again for the happy ending. I did like the fact it was a happy ending, and that Phinny got back on good terms with her mam and stepfather.

The journey following Phinny was fantastic and I loved the character development that happened during the story. Her growth, realising who she is as a person and deciding to not only believe in herself but have faith she was capable of everything (even if it meant failing) came across so well. I would definitely recommend this for a character progression story if that's what you're into!

The same can nearly be said for Declan. Him allowing himself to be vulnerable, opening himself up to love and friends again and changing his life plans to make it happen in the best way for him was inspiring.

Received a digital copy of the book for an honest review.
Profile Image for Ree.
2,497 reviews53 followers
March 11, 2022
This is a story with many layers that engaged me.

Seraphina aka Phinny earns the ire of her parents when she embarrasses them by rejecting a marriage proposal. Forced to stand on her own two feet financially, she is first shocked to discover that her biological father named her in his will, then further dismayed when the terms of her inheritance are made clearer.

Declan is ready to step out of the way when he learns about the terms of his former hockey coach's will, and leave everything to his daughter, Phinny. But needing to know that Phinny doesn't carelessly throw away one of Calamity's best treasures - her father's ranch - he stays on. He hopes he can make her see the man he grew to love like his own father, but ends up falling for her instead. But when their stipulated time is over, will his heart break more than hers?

This is a very moving story with lots of heartwarming moments. Calamity Falls is a town that invites you to fall in love with it.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book.
2,051 reviews5 followers
July 7, 2024
3.5 stars
Good small town drama, with British haute society mixed in. Ha!
Phinny is a lost girl. She’s always thought her father dropped her and stopped loving her. Her mum filled her head with what a grubby cowboy and hockey jock he was.
Her parents, mum and stepfather cut her off when she breaks her engagement to a very wealthy scion of elite society. She doesn’t love him.
And I mean, cut her off. Change the locks on her apartment. Cancel her credit cards. She’s destitute, couch surfing until she lands a diner waitress job. Tough parents indeed.
Declan was one of the Hockey Boys. A ragtag group of delinquents taken in and mentored by Kurt. Kurt was Phinny’s biological father and one of the richest landowners in Wyoming.
Phinny and Declan meet at the reading of the will.
She hates the town, her father, and the Hockey boys.
But the will leads her on a journey of discovery- her heritage, her legacy, her very loving father. And real love with Declan.
Twists and turns. He’s closed off. She’s a parent-pleaser.
Things dissolve before they get fixed.
But there’s HEA for them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
1,490 reviews46 followers
April 15, 2024
Phinny can’t believe that her getting the ranch is dependent on a Triva contest, it can’t be that hard and she’s determined she’ll win. Phinny makes it clear that she’s just going to sell the ranch and then get back to her life in England.
Declan never wanted the ranch, but one thing for sure he knows Kurt wouldn’t want it to be sold to developers, so he knows he’s got a week to have Phinny change her mind about selling or he’s gotta win the trivia contest.
Declan learns that Phinny has an entirely different story about what went on when she was six, and the man he knew and the man she knew are two entirely different men, he just hopes that he can get her to see that.
Phinny learns she was lied to, while Declan has to come to terms that he can’t change the past. What neither expected was that they would also learn more about each other and start to fall in love. But what happens when the Trivia contest is over there’s only one that can win.
Profile Image for Ariel.
104 reviews7 followers
September 24, 2022
As this is my introduction into Calamity Falls, it was a good dive into the town, into the characters presented before the readers. This is a small American town where it is obvious that family and loyalty run deep. We meet Seraphina and Declan and get to be able to read about their love story - which was sweet and a relatively quick read but with deep emotions of family dynamics, heartbreak, and feelings of abandonment, and ultimately, falling in love.

Without a doubt, my favorite storyline was Phinny coming to terms with her father's dead and realizing that he wasn't necessarily the villain in the story she had always been told - that he really did love her and wanted the best for her the entire time. Not to mention the ending after the angst and the declaration of love was one of the sweetest that I have read in a while.
Profile Image for Christina Montminy.
2,128 reviews22 followers
April 4, 2023
loved it

Loved this. Phinny & Declan were a great couple after they got over their dislike for each other. A surprise marriage proposal sends Phinny’s life in a different direction when she refuses it. Being set adrift from her affluent family teaches her new lessons in life & the death of her birth father changes it forever. My heart broke for Phinny as she learned the real truth about her birth father. His will sets a challenge for Declan & Phinny, the winner gets his multimillion dollar ranch but, the challenge also gives Phinny a chance to get to know her late father & Declan as well. As Declan helps her learn about her father, he also learns more about her & falls hard for her as she does for him. So much angst, tears, laughter & love made this such a wonderful story. Definitely recommend.
734 reviews
June 2, 2024
Declan and Phinny for the win

Loved this book. Seraphina, aka Phinny, is in Calamity Falls because her father, the man she never really knew, has died. Declan, hockey player, is also back for the same funeral and reading of the will
One of the will stipulations is that these two must live and work together at the ranch owned by Phinny's dad. Then, thirty days later, there will be a trivia contest, and the winner gets the ranch. At first, Declan declines, and Phinny says she will sell the ranch, which makes him change his mind.
Declan thinks she's a rich spoiled princess, but as they spend time together, he realizes she's more. Phinny just wants answers as to why her father rejected her, as time goes by she gets the truth.
Who wins the ranch? Will they fall in love or hate? These questions and more are answered in a wonderful read.
Profile Image for Kari Williams.
794 reviews3 followers
June 8, 2022
Pretty wonderful

This one made me cry. Phinney spent her life being the perfect little girl. Abandonment issues will make you a people pleaser. Now that she's found her biological dad has died, she heads to Calamity to attend his funeral. Little did she know there were hoops she would have to jump through to tie up her loose ends. Those hoops, yeah... shoveling horse poop and fighting with the hottest cowboy she's ever seen. NOT how she's been raised. Then again... maybe it's exactly what this socialite needs more of. I loved every moment of this story. Even when I was crying like a baby. Lol
Profile Image for Samantha Zee.
621 reviews14 followers
February 20, 2024
Hockey romance, enemies to lovers, poor boy rich girl

Honestly I was in a reading slump and I finished this book in two days, so it's an easy read. For a smut book it was surprisingly deep. I am on my period but I also cried a few times. Phinny was honestly so likeable without her being unrealistic and Declan was frustrating like a typical male lead, but still you were rooting for them.

Sometimes you read books and you think the characters aren't going to make it, but honestly, I liked these two a lot. Smut was decent but not overly smutty and it had more substance than I feel most romance novels do for how short/quick it was.
456 reviews
February 26, 2024
She is part of British aristocracy and excellent at getting society auction donors, until she refuses to marry the aristocrat, which causes her parents to kick her out. Many months later she gets called to go to America where the father she was led to believe rejected her for refusing 1 visit has passed and she has inherited ??. Turns out Ameri-dad was loving coach to hockey players … and she has to share the ranch for a month and win a trivia to inherit. You guessed it, they fall in love. The sex is well done, not and frequent but briefly written and easily skipped. The story is unlikely and amusing; but also very heartwarming. I enjoyed this fantasy.
Profile Image for Jayne Wheatley.
589 reviews12 followers
March 26, 2024
Original romance

I loved this story from start to finish, I loved the authenticity the author brought to the characters.
I absolutely loved the relationship Declan and Phinney grew, it was beautiful to see the pure love grow, the saddest part was she would never know her father loved her enough to let her go, all due to her mother's selfish wishes. I couldn't have forgiven so easily. For me it was sadder that her father would never know she loved him and wanted a father daughter relationship, truly heartbreaking.
I loved seeing both Declan and Phinney achieve their individual dreams.
I look forward to reading the whole series.
21 reviews
May 20, 2024
meh

Second book I’ve read by this author, and while I overall enjoy the stories, she writes some of the most toxic family relationships I’ve ever read and then papers over them in frustrating ways. The FMCs tell you how mad it makes them, but their follow through is lackluster at best and straight doormat behavior at worst. The parents never legitimately apologize they just always say “we did what we thought was best” and the FMC talks about how mad she is but her actions suggest otherwise. These interactions are beyond frustrating and leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth regarding the FMCs. Not sure I’ll be reading anything else by this author.
Profile Image for Stephanie Blatz.
463 reviews1 follower
February 28, 2022
loved it!

I loved Phinny! She was absolutely the most precious sweetest thing! Her journey to discover who her estranged father was and why he gave her up was emotional for her. Especially when she has to compete for her inheritance- a ranch worth 700million- with one of the hockey boys her father traded her for. But Declan meets her sweetness and vulnerability with his own as he helps her learn who her father was and who meant more to him than anything else.

This is a great series! I love learning a little more about Calamity and it’s residents in each book!
11 reviews
November 14, 2023
Omg some one cutting onions over here... I loved this one so much. It was so heartbreaking, and cathartic. Really felt Phinny's anguish and her dad's heartbreaking loss and absolute adoration of his daughter. The romance between Phinny and Declan is fun and engaging, I could not put this book down.

The previous story book #8 Stella & Griffin was disappointing, I DNF because I could not stand Stella, so really I didn't have high hopes for this next one but wow; Declan and Phinny's (&Kurt) story is amazing, I think this is my favorite of the series.
Profile Image for Angel Graham.
Author 1 book33 followers
February 26, 2024
As you read this, parts will feel familiar because the story of several young men helped by Kurt have their story intertwined with this one.

Seraphina is Kurt's daughter, but she knows next to nothing about him. Only what her mother has told her...which may not be true.

Declan was one of several boys that Kurt helped learn hockey.

Now Phinney and Declan must spend a month living on the ranch, learning about Kurt, and 30 days later, displaying that knowledge to see who wins the ranch...

A good read, I recommend.
Profile Image for Melissa.
921 reviews
December 31, 2024
This is book # 9 in the Calamity Falls, book #1 The Renegades (Hockey). Seraphine is at her dad’s funeral then the reading of the will. She has to jump through some hoops. Declan is there, too, but for his hockey coach he loved like a father. This was so a cute adorable book.

I can’t wait to read the next book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
Recommend this book? Yes! Author? Yes!
Read more from this author? Yes!

Happy Reading!
Melissa
Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.