He Falls First is the first book in the Colburn Brothers series. It features a hot, gruff CEO of the Colburn family’s restoration business who, yes, falls for a chef who is returning home to make a new start. I enjoyed the humor and emotional depth to the story and the characters tugged at my heart.

Ryder rescues Penny when she is almost run over by a car as she is delivering meals to his business. She works for Hungry Bee Caterers in the little town of Star Falls and is bringing meals to his family’s restoration business. They renovate old buildings and Ryder is the CEO. He also cares for his disabled father. Ryder was physically abused as a boy by his father who he ironically is now caring for. His father had a seizure and, after his surgery, he is unable to talk and is no longer mean.

Penny returned home to Star Falls to live with her grandmother, Nell, and her half-brother, Wyatt, after escaping an abusive relationship. She is starting over and dreams of having her own cafe. She sees Ryder when he drops his father off at their home so Nell can watch him during the day. Nell suggests Ryder should ask Penny out and Ryder is all up for that – he likes her snarky attitude. Penny has sworn off men but she sees how kind Ryder is in his own gruff way and as they grow closer, they find comfort in each other. (Ryder has been grieving over the death of his best friend.)

There is a local legend about Star Falls that if you see three shooting stars in a row, you will meet your soulmate. When Ryder and his brothers are visiting Ryder’s best friend’s grave, Ryder sees three shooting stars and his fate is sealed! There’s a beautiful scene when he and Penny go to the Star Falls food truck night. There’s a slow dance in the rain and then they fog up all the windows in his truck!

We meet Ryder’s brothers and sister, some of whom I bet will get their own stories but there were times where I felt like they distracted from the romance and slowed down the pacing of the story. There is also a mystery involving theft in their business and I wanted to know who was behind it but sadly, it wasn’t resolved in this book. I am guessing the mystery will be carried over into the next brother’s book.

The characters are what made the story special. Penny was so loyal and caring to the ones she loved and the banter between her and Ryder was snarky and fun. It looks like Caleb’s story, Free Falling, is up next and I look forward to catching up with the Colburns.