Carmen SchoberRezensionen

My family bought this book at a local bookstore, interested in it because it was supposed be about martial arts in the book. When we actually sat down and skimmed through it though, it already had many inappropriate things in it.
No book should have junk in it first thing when you're just skimming and not even read, reading it yet.
A complete waste of $16.00.

A fantastic book! I was drawn in at once by the opening paragraphs! The story line is unique and the characters are relatable and genuine. Georgina's career and personal life are at an all time high. One conversation changes that. Suddenly, she's dealing with heartbreaking losses. Cassidy is dealing with demons of his own. Their paths cross and two broken lives have a chance to become whole again.
A definite must read!

This book was really disappointing to me. It's marketed as Christian but there's so much behavior exhibited by the characters that's not Christian. There is a lot of alluding to cursing. There is drunkenness. There is lust and mentions of casual sex.
The main character was okay but she really ticked me off with how she treated Max. She kept leading him on and then pushed him away.
I might give this writer another chance. We'll see.

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Bethany House (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through Library Thing. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

I really heard great things about this book, but for some reason I wasn't able to get into it. It's like one of those home improvement shows you seen on HGTV. I saw quite a few of them when my mom would visit certain doctors prior to the pandemic.

The cover was beautiful, yet sad.

For those who like Chip & Joanna Gaines' show(s) - this is a somewhat similar read.

I couldn't connect with the characters or story. For some reason I just felt a huge disconnect.

I also had an issue with the third person, present tense style - "she walks to the door". I'm the first or third person type POV. So, the style didn't work for me. I MIGHT come back to this book again and see if I can try to get through it with a second reading. That has been known to happen at times. A book hits at the wrong time, but a second reading has me re-thinking things.

Normally, any Bethany House or Revell books are either a 4-5 star for me.

As a "Christian" publisher - this will have themes of faith in it and references to the bible. There is a trigger warning with a miscarriage in the book. Readers will want to take caution if such content bothers them.

I never like to leave a negative review, but I have to be honest. I choose Christian fiction because I only want to read things that are in agreement with God’s Word and His standards. This book did not fit those guidelines for me.
There is fornication, drinking, going to bars, drunkenness and other unacceptable behavior. There was also a word used that I consider cursing. Such things should not be a part of a Christian novel.
God and prayer are mentioned but it does seemly have nothing to do with the immoral behavior of the characters. They appear to be Christians in name only. Due to these things I was unable to bring myself to finish reading the book.
This book was very disappointing.
I received this book from Bethany House thorough LibraryThing Early Readers Program in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated are my own.

I thought I'd love a book where the main character was doing renovations for television and people thought she was the next Joanna Gaines. I found the writing in present tense a little startling until I got used to it.
Although Georgina has drifted from the Lord at the beginning of the book, thanks to Cassidy, she renews her faith by the end. I think because of that, I liked the Cassidy character more.
I received this book from LibraryThing and Bethany Publishers in exchange for a fair review.

This is not a book I would normally select to read but found that I enjoyed it despite that. This is not your normal romance book - it has no silly girl making stupid decisions, no contemptuous, forceful male, no smoldering looks or throbbing body parts. It is a thoughtful look at break-up and then new love. The story is interwoven with Christian lessons but it's done gently and doesn't interfere with the story. It has a few typos but not many and not enough to be bothersome. I recommend it as a 4.5 on a 5 point scale.

When I first turned the pages of this book, I found myself questioning the Christian aspect of this book, and yes, we are all sinners. We focus on Georgina, a woman whose boyfriend and TV partner leaves her under difficult circumstances. She is trying to move on and all through the book I didn't want her to go back to Lance! Will she?

We are also give a man, Cassidy who has lost his wife, and now has made a decision to go to another foreign country, and take a job as security! He is a former military sniper, and now he has met someone who might make him stay?

We are there as the renovation Georgina begins, and fate put Cassidy in her path, and we are there for a lot of family drama, but also a faith finding!

This quickly became a page turner for me, I loved the growth and caring that happens in this read! Enjoy

I loved how this author gives readers a look behind the scenes of a DIY Show through Georgina Havoc ‘s eyes. She is the makeover queen, and people are saying she and her boyfriend are the next Chip and Joanna Gaines. Georgina Havoc and her beau Lance Broussard have been gaining in popularity until they hit a wall they could not get through, it’s personal.

Georgina Havoc’s world comes crashing down as her relationship falls apart. Problem, they've worked together on this show for years. The T.V. network wants to see what Georgina can do without Lance. Alas, Georgina is on a race to put something together for the executives that will show off her talents as a solo star.

This has both Georgina and Lance re-thinking their priorities in life. Can they do this solo? They sure are going to try and win the investors over to their way of thinking. Georgina goes to a close community of Tarragon, Tennessee to remodel a cottage that is close to where she went to summer camp as a child. It brings back good memories and uncovers a few surprises there.

In the middle of the stress, chaos, and fun of redesigning this cottage there is a splash of romance, and some helpful and insightful life lessons intertwined in a non-preachy, honest way, that asks some hard questions, with some raw responses. I love the authors’ insight into relationships, family and romance. She keeps the main thing the main thing.

‘People aren’t all good or all bad, Georgina,” Alvin said once, during her mom-centered session, “That would be simpler, but we’re all a mix of both. Adjust your expectations accordingly.”

I love this fresh voice in the Christian Fiction world, filled with heart-warming moments, showing and discussing what genuine love is, and taking readers on an adventure, all the while keeping the main thing the main thing. This I s a great escape and one that would work for our next book club pick.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

After She Falls by Carmen Schober is a 2021 Bethany House publication.

Adri’s life veered off course when she married the wrong guy. Her career as a mixed martial artist fell by the wayside and she found herself living in a vicious cycle of abuse. She finally wakes up and gathers up her courage to leave, returning home with her young daughter, Eva. From this time forward, Adri hopes to get her life back in order and her first order of business is getting right with God.

Along the way she reconnects with her former best friend, Max, with whom she also has romantic feelings for, and resurrects her dormant career, all while trying to cope with the ever-present threat her ex-husband might be considering.

I liked many things about this book. One, Adri gets herself and her daughter out of a bad situation which could only come to a tragic conclusion.

From there, Adri realizes her hope lies in her faith, and her spiritual growth is one of the most wonderful parts of this story.

The one thing I had mixed feelings about, though, was Adri's career as a mixed martial artist. I was intrigued by her occupation, and thought it made the premise sound a lot more intriguing- but I also don't really get the attraction of watching two people punch each other until one of them loses consciousness. But, my curiosity won out in the end.

Initially, was a little surprised by some innuendo and actions of the characters which were not exactly the type of material, I’d have expected in a book marketed as Christian Fiction. On the other hand, as the story progressed, the messages became a little stronger, and I got a lot more about living a Christian living in this book than in my previous experiences with this genre, where the story might have been ‘clean’ but the ‘Christian’ part was barely detectable.

My one real complaint was that while categorized as a romance, I don’t think it truly fits into that category. There was the unspoken promise of relationship developments between Adri and Max, but that’s about it.

Mainly, the story is about Adri pulling her life and career back together, turning to her faith to steer her in the right direction, and committing herself fully to living a Christian life.

She still makes mistakes and errors in judgment, but eventually learns from her missteps- occasionally the hard way- but her will is strong and she triumphs in the end.

Despite my reservations about the mixed martial arts career choice, I confess to feeling the adrenaline and excitement of the matches and found myself cheering Adri on. There was a 'Rocky' like atmosphere during those passages, and the author did a great job of stirring the reader's emotions.

Overall, this is a solid debut novel from this author. I liked the characters, the mostly sound, positive spiritual messages, as well as the unique premise of the story.

4 stars

This book was refreshing, I really enjoyed following the progression of the main character. Adri is a fighter - literally and figuratively. When the reader first meets her she is desperate - desperate enough to flee from her abusive husband and return to the home of her uncle. She and her young daughter find refuge there, but Adri is worried about returning to the place that she fled from as a teenager. She burned a lot of bridges when she left town suddenly and never looked back - but the biggest one with with Max. Max and Adri used to be best friend, and even more, but when she left to join the fighting circuit and married her ex-husband, She broke Max's heart, but now he may be the only one who can help her. Max runs a gym in town Adri's skill as a mixed martial arts fighter is her best chance for making a living. But can she work for Max? And how does all of this fit into her new found desire to follow God's leading?
I really enjoyed this story, it's definitely not a cookie cutter romance. Max and Adri have a lot of baggage to work through, and I even enjoyed learning more about mixed martial arts fighting, which is something I have never even watched before. Adri and Max were real and believable, and since I wanted them to succeed I got caught up in the story. I look forward to seeing more books from this author, and I would definitely recommend this one.

After She Falls by debut author Carmen Schober was a stretch read for me. What does that mean? Well, there were a number of elements of this novel that are definitely outside my comfort zone. The characters in the novel are MMA trainers and fighters. That’s mixed martial arts for those who are as clueless as me. 😉 There are a number of fight scenes that realistically depict the sport including broken bones and blood. Really not my scene, however, I had heard enough buzz to be intrigued. The main thing that definitely was within my comfort zone was the highly realistic and relatable characters. No, I’m not ready to take up boxing or judo, but I appreciated the real-life struggles these characters faced. They struggled with being good enough, with overcoming mistakes (many life-changing ones), and seeking a good and gracious God of second chances. Second, third, and maybe fourth chances are all depicted as the characters seek to make sense of the world and their place in it. The book is full of messy lives — I told you, realistic. While most of the characters are the same ages as my kids, I loved that Schober had two strong mature secondary characters that could share their own failures and triumphs. Their wisdom and guidance was important to the main character’s growth and mirrored the necessity of mentors in faith for any age group. I did find the reading process slow — the book is told in present tense which caused me to re-read passages. I’m not sure why I had trouble with this, but I did. But After She Falls was intriguing, interesting, and worth the time it took me to read.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Bethany House for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

This debut novel was a bit out of my comfort zone. I would never imagine me reading a book about women competing in Mixed Marshal Arts. A few things I was not fond of: the story is told in third person present which was awkward for me. Another was the descriptions of drinking, dancing and kissing were a little too graphic for me. But the author portrayed her characters realistically. They are flawed and growing in their Christian faith. The lady knows her stuff about MMA fights and I could picture the bouts like a movie in my head.
My favorite character was Uncle Roman. He is forever loving and accepting of his niece Adri. He dispenses wisdom but does not push. “Reconciliation with God can lead to reconciliation with people, too. God does not want you to love Him and just forget about your neighbor.”
After a slow start, I wanted to continue to read to see what would happen when Adri went back to fighting and where her relationship with Max would end up.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and Open Book BPH. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*

I’m not into fighting and/or watching people fight on T.V. but I have to say I am a Rocky fan. The story of seeing an underdog work hard for the opportunity of a lifetime is fascinating. I like seeing the determination and how a person gives it their all to achieve a goal. I enjoyed the Rocky movie references throughout the book. Likewise, I also enjoyed the fact the main character Adri Rivera loves the Rocky movies too. It was fun to read. I liked this insight into the author who says before chapter one starts, “To my younger, fear-fitted self; You will fall sometimes, and it will hurt. But God is fighting alongside you. Trust Him.” This caught my attention and touched my heart. It sets the tone of the story.

I was first drawn in by the cover, and then I wanted to check out this author’s writing style. I was hooked from the first page and the first line, “Mama, why does Jesus carry the lamb around his head? Doesn’t it itch his neck?”
“I don’t know, butterfly. Maybe the lamb likes being carried like that?”

My heart melted by this interchange between mother and child. The scene quickly changes. I hoped the author didn’t stay in the unhealthy situation for too long. Readers enter the story when Adri has had enough of the abuse and is ready for a change.

This author takes readers on an incredible life-changing journey of healing, family unity, friendship, and learning to trust in God and forgive yourself. This author is a boxer, which explains the richness of the fights, training and everything in between.

I also liked the way the author naturally introduces her spiritual thread, starting with loving people where they are at. Then waiting for them to ask questions and love them through the tough times and encouraging them all the way. All the while showing love, giving grace and mercy. Loved that. It’s a heart-warming, life-changing story you don’t want to miss. This is an author to watch, and this book would work well for your book club.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

After She Falls by Carmen Schober offers an intense, entertaining story that had me cheering for Adri until the end. I enjoyed this book and would read it again in the future, but I must note a few aspects of this novel.

First, After She Falls features lots of romantic tension between Adri and Max as it is a second-chance romance with two characters who have lots of history together. There’s attraction, betrayal, anger, and a deep, sometimes inconvenient, connection between Max and Adri. The powerful emotions avoid angst, but sometimes the tension overpowered other aspects in the novel.

Second, After She Falls tells Adri and Max’s story in third-person present tense. Occasionally, awkward wording pulled me out of the story, but this style shined during the fight sequences by depicting the actions in a quick, live-action way. Adri’s goal as an MMA fighter involves multiple fight scenes with punching, grappling, and bleeding.

Third, the first chapter in After She Falls by Carmen Schober depicts domestic violence. The unpleasant happenings effectively hooked my attention and made me sympathetic toward Adri. However, the presence of DV situations could be a trigger for DV survivors.

Wrapping up this review, I want to mention the beautiful themes of bravery, finding strength, and growing in resilience that are present in After She Falls by Carmen Schober. I loved how Adri strengthened her body, mind, and emotions. Quotable phrases peppered the narrative and I’ll leave one here: “Reconciliation involves an exchange in a relationship – exchanging brokenness and war for harmony and peace.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

I wasn’t sure going into After She Falls by Carmen Schober how much I was going to like the book. Sure, MMA fighting is a unique twist (especially in the Christian fiction market), but it’s not something I’m into at all.

Well, I’m happy to say that I loved this one. I even enjoyed the fights (which aren’t even in the first half of the book but by the time they arrive, you can’t help but root for Adri). I really connected with Adri as she makes the hard decision to leave her abusive relationship and put her life back together. She flees to her uncle who took her in as a daughter and the small town where she grew up.

This novel is one hundred percent Adri’s journey from a pit of despair and hopelessness to one of fulfillment, belonging, and realized dreams. There’s a lot of push and pull between Adri and Max because there’s a lot of history and hurt (past and present hurt).

I strongly recommend putting this on your Christmas wish list or your tbr because you do not want to miss Schober’s debut.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

DNF

Title: After She Falls
Author: Carmen Schober
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"After She Falls" by Carmen Schober

My Opinion:

"After She Falls" was a heartfelt and emotional story that keeps one turning the pages. Adri Rivera had been a martial artist, but her life changed after several incidents in her life. Being married to an abusive ex-fighter, Adri decides to return to her hometown of Sparta with her daughter, Eva, and their dog Rocky. Will Adri be able to pick up the life that she had left? Well, as the story continues, we find that MMA Fighting is still in Adri's blood, and so it seems like she is set for fighting again but will it be an easy road for her? Especially now that it looks like her life with her ex appears to rear its head back into her life. Yes, we know she was a Christian and all, but sometimes common sense wasn't used...like when she dealt with some of the issues with her friend Max Lyons and her reason for breaking up with him six years ago in the first place was rather strange. Yes, maybe Adri thought her ex-husband [Owen Anders] had changed for his daughter stake, but really, with everyone telling her differently and for her to be careful. Oh, well, sometimes people have to learn the hard way! The characters, especially Uncle Roman, Aunt Yvonne, Eva, Max, Boom, and others, added so much to this good story.

By the end of the story, it looks like Adri has finally found her way but will it be with...this is where I say pick up "After She Falls" to see how this author will bring it all out to you, the reader.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers, with this review being entirely my own opinion.