The Blog
If this is your first time here, I'm a romance writer and a misplaced city girl currently living in the wild Sierras.
I tend to have a lot of I-Love-Lucy moments that I share here but sometimes we talk about books, TV, and our favorite cookies. Okay, my favorite cookies. In any case, please feel free to comment by clicking on the Comments at the bottom of any entry. If you're too shy, that's okay, just know I love having you.
The scene I cut from FALLING INTO YOU ❤️
Just popping in with a little book news, a surprise, and a confession.
First, FALLING INTO YOU is out! Whether you love reading on your Kindle, curling up with a paperback, or listening to a good love story while pretending to do chores (no judgment here), Tucker and Hazel's story is waiting for you. It's available in ebook, Kindle Unlimited, paperback, and dual-narration audiobook. So basically, I've got you covered no matter how you like your romance.
AND little something extra from Tucker...
Here's the confession. When I was writing FALLING INTO YOU, I wrote a prologue that didn't make it into the finished book.
It takes us back to Tucker at sixteen, when he and his younger sister Kiera were growing up in a house where they never quite knew what kind of night they were going to have.
It's a little more emotional than my usual bonus scenes, but there's also a lot of heart. And humor. Because even at sixteen, Tucker was already a smartass, especially when it came to making his little sister laugh.
I loved this glimpse into the boy he was before he became the man Hazel falls for, and I thought you might, too.
Fair warning: it touches on a difficult childhood and an abusive parent. But at its heart, it's about a big brother doing everything he can to make his little sister feel safe.
So, without further ado, here's a little piece of Tucker's past that you've never seen before.
Prologue
Tucker
The floorboards creaked just outside the closet door.
Kiera's fingers gripped my sweatshirt, her breath hitching in my ear. “Is he—?”
“Shh,” I whispered, curling tighter around her, tucking her head under my chin. “We’re invisible. Like ninjas. Closet ninjas.”
Outside, another creak. A pause, then the sound of a bottle tipping over on the table. Muttering came next — Dad, voice slurred and bitter, the kind that only came after six p.m. on a Friday.
Kiera was fourteen, two years younger than me. Too old to be hiding in closets. Too young to pretend this was even remotely normal.
When things quieted down, I exhaled a soft laugh, trying to lighten things up. “Wanna know how I know we're ninjas?”
She gave a jerky shrug, her body still, but listening. She was good at being quiet. Way too good.
“Because,” I whispered dramatically, “we trained with this ninja guy named Chad. Very mysterious. Terrible haircut.”
That earned me a shaky giggle. “Chad?”
“Yeah. And don’t underestimate him. That’s how he gets you. He taught me to walk on bubble wrap without making a sound. Also how to make grilled cheese with my mind. Still working on that one.
She gave me another laugh, short and snorty. This one was real, the one that escaped her only in rare unguarded moments.
On the other side of the house, the TV blared to life. Football highlights. That was a good sign. It meant Hank was stationary, probably slumped in the recliner, trying to track the ball through double vision, which … good luck with that.
Kiera shifted beside me, letting out a slow breath. Her little voice came out barely a whisper. “He said I was just like Mom.”
My chest tightened. I closed my eyes, recalling mom’s laugh. How she used to laugh so hard at her own jokes that the rest of us would start laughing too, even when the jokes sucked.
Dad always said being like her was the worst thing a person could be. Like Mom hadn’t been the best thing about this house.
Telling Kiera, or any of us, that we were just like her, had always been dad’s favorite insult, like being like our mom was a crime. Like loving too hard and leaving too soon meant you were destined to be the villain in someone else’s story.
“You’re the best parts of mom,” I said fiercely, pulling her closer. “You’re the best person I know. Chad would agree.”
Another shaky laugh, but it was half tears. “You’re so stupid.”
“Would a stupid person have a hidden stash of peanut M&Ms?”
Her eyes lit up. “You better not be lying.”
“See for yourself.” I pulled a brown bag from behind a box of old Christmas sweaters. “…Unless you’d prefer Sour Patch Kids?”
Her whole face softened as she opened the bag, pure joy making her forget the world outside the closet for just a second. “You’re my favorite brother,” she whispered, voice thick with emotion as she dove into the M&Ms.
At the moment, I was her one and only present brother. Caleb and Ryder were away at college, and though they checked in on us as often as they could, Kiera and I were stuck here until we finished school—which felt about a hundred years away.
I missed having Caleb and Ryder around. Mostly because Hank was less of an asshole when there were four of us to deal with. And because Ryder always knew how to get the stupid TV remote to work, and Caleb could make dinner out of pretty much anything that hadn’t expired.
The house felt way too big without them. Too loud in all the wrong places. Too quiet in the ones that mattered.
I popped a few M&Ms into my mouth. “You know how Ryder used to call me Spidey?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you know how it started?”
She shook her head and I grinned. “You were only four when he dared me to climb the rafters in the garage. He thought he’d found a way to get rid of me for a little while. But halfway across, a board snapped and I dropped into a stack of boxes full of Grandma’s old China.”
The fall had been terrifying. Not as terrifying as Grandma though. Or Hank.
“You didn’t.” Kiera’s eyes were wide with disbelief.
“Oh, I did. Didn’t break a single plate. Landed like a cat. Like a ninja cat. Ryder said I stuck to the walls like Spider-Man.”
She rolled her eyes.
I wiggled my brows. “So basically, I’m Spider-Man. With worse grades.”
From the other room came the sound of something hitting the floor.
We froze.
Dad cursed, loud and guttural. Something about the ‘fucking remote’ being broken, and ungrateful asshole kids.
“He means us,” Kiera whispered.
I wrapped my arm tighter around her, my pulse thumping in my ears. I pressed my mouth close to her ear, speaking low and serious. “I need you to know something.”
She nodded tensely.
“If he comes up here and opens this door, I’m gonna tell him the truth.”
Her body went rigid, breath catching. “Tucker, don’t—”
“I will.” I kept my voice steady. “I’m gonna tell him you kidnapped me. That you’re armed and dangerous.”
“With what?”
“Your breath. Those Sour Patch Kids are lethal.”
She giggled. “You’re so dumb.”
Then came the unmistakable sound of the recliner being closed. Kiera began to shake.
I pulled her closer, wishing I could do something besides sit here and wait. Wishing I was big enough to make Hank afraid of me for a chance.
She leaned into me, a slow shuddering breath escaping her, releasing some of her tension. “One day,” she whispered, “we’re going to be out of this house. Out of this town.”
“It’s not the house, or Star Falls,” I said. “Someday we’re gonna have our own place. And you know what we’re putting in the closets?”
‘What?”
“Stuff. Normal stuff. Shoes. Coats. All the crap Ryder leaves everywhere.”
“Ryder won’t live with us.”
“Good point. We’re changing the locks.”
She smiled, but it faded fast. “You really think we’ll get out of here?”
“Yeah, I do. Chad can see the future, you know. He swore we’d have a great life. Oh, and an endless supply of candy.”
“Promise?”
“Better than that.” I held out a pinky. “Closet ninja honor.”
Another thud sounded. Hank’s shoes were both off now. He was going to shuffle off to bed.
He wasn’t coming for us, and I finally exhaled, though I kept listening just in case. “Okay,” I said. “We’ve got snacks and plenty of time before sunrise. What now?”
She rested her head on my shoulder. “Tell me about Chad again.”
I smiled into the dark, relieved to hear a little less fear in her voice. “Chad fought a Yeti once. With a spatula.”
“Did he win?”
“Obviously. The Yeti was delicious.”
“Ew.”
“Yeah. Little gamey, though.”
And coming soon... JUST A FAVOR!
I can't leave without teasing what's next!
JUST A FAVOR is coming soon, and I am ridiculously excited about this one.
She'd stopped believing in fairy tales a long time ago. Then a grumpy man with a truck full of dogs pulled over for her in the rain and ruined every last one of her carefully made rules.
A grumpy hero. A woman who has absolutely no intention of falling for him. And a truck full of dogs.
What could possibly go wrong?
The book is available for preorder now, and here's a little promise: I'll be revealing the cover in my very next newsletter! I can't wait for you to see it.
(Print and audio links will be coming soon!)
Until next time, happy reading! And remember, sometimes the best love stories start with a little trouble.
P.S. DON’T FORGET YOU CAN ORDER ANY OF MY BOOKS IN PRINT SIGNED BY ME, thanks to Word After Word Books! If you want anything personalized, let me know in the comment section of Word After Word’s buy page.
Hank has regrets. So do I.
So.
Hank, our 100-pound Lab puppy, decided to eat mushrooms he found growing wild in the woods. Let’s just say this didn’t agree with his system and I’m scarred for life.
“Get a puppy,” they said. “It’ll be fun,” they said.
Nobody mentioned that apparently “fun” includes wondering exactly how fast you can get a hundred-pound animal who has never willingly moved quickly in the direction you want him to into the car. He’s fine. I’m fine. My Visa would prefer not to comment.
In happier—and considerably less expensive—news…
ALL THREE COLBURN BROTHERS ARE OUT NOW!
If you’ve been waiting to binge the whole trilogy, your patience has finally paid off.
Three unruly brothers. Adventures and shenanigans. Heart-stopping and heart-melting romance. Guaranteed happily-ever-afters. And a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it mystery running through it all.
Basically, the Colburn brothers are now someone else’s problem.
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
HE FALLS FIRST FREE FALLING FALLING INTO YOU
And speaking of men who are about to become a problem…
JUST A FAVOR IS COMING!
She’d long ago stopped believing in the fairy tale.
Then a grumpy man with a truck full of dogs pulled over for her in the rain and ruined all her carefully built rules.
I probably shouldn't admit this in front of all of my other characters like this, but ...I really love Jack and Maggie. There’s also a run-down family retreat getting a second life, a wedding reception pressure cooker, a fake boyfriend, family secrets, dogs, rain, and two people who are absolutely certain they know what they're doing.
Please note: they do not.
(Audio and print links aren’t available yet, but will be soon!)
And finally, since Hank has already provided this week's entertainment, let’s make him useful. What’s the worst thing your pet has ever eaten?
No pet? No problem. Tell me the worst thing a pet you know has eaten. Or frankly, the worst thing you've eaten. I’m not here to judge.
Hank certainly isn’t. He’s too busy looking for his next bad decision.
XOXO
Unruly brothers, dog-filled trucks, and a mild loss of sanity…
I hope your week is off to a wonderful start and that you are currently operating with a higher level of brainpower than I am.
Because today, I managed to reach a brand-new milestone in domestic chaos: I completely panicked because I couldn't find my glasses OR my phone. I searched the desk. I checked under the couch cushions. I looked in the trash.
My glasses were on my face. My phone was in my hand.
The whole time.
I’d say I need a vacation, but let’s be honest—this is just a normal day in my world. 👓📱😂
Speaking of delightful chaos, if you're in the mood for some trouble (the good kind!), the Colburn Trilogy is fully available now!
It’s a series featuring three unruly brothers, where adventures and shenanigans abound, right alongside guaranteed, heart-stopping, and heart-melting happily-ever-afters. (Plus a "blink and you’ll miss it" mystery element woven in for good measure!) If you love swoony heroes, hilarious banter, and tight-knit families, you’re going to adore these brothers.
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
HE FALLS FIRST FREE FALLING FALLING INTO YOU
And for those of you asking what’s coming next, here’s a quick little tease for my upcoming book: Just A Favor:
I mean... a grumpy hero plus a truck full of dogs? You know I couldn't resist writing that one! 🐶🌧️ (right now you can preorder digital. Print and audiobook links coming soon!
That’s all from my end today! I’m off to go hunt for my key fob (which is probably in my pocket). Remember: keep an author employed—read romance! XO!
So apparently we have to move…
So...I left an empty ice cream container on the kitchen counter overnight. In my defense, I was tired. Also, it was empty. What could possibly go wrong?
Ants.
Ants could go wrong.
I walked into the kitchen the next morning, discovered we'd apparently opened an all-you-can-eat buffet for every ant in the greater Tahoe area, and immediately texted the husband to tell him we had to move.
Not spray.
Not call an exterminator.
Move.
He was surprisingly unsupportive of this very reasonable plan.
Anyway, we're still living here, the ants have been evicted, and I've learned a valuable lesson about leaving ice cream containers on the counter.
Just kidding. I've learned nothing.
Meanwhile, in actual news...
FALLING INTO YOU is officially out, which means the entire Colburn Brothers series is now yours.
All three brothers. All the trouble. All the happily ever afters.
And for the first time, you can binge the whole series however you like: print, digital, Kindle Unlimited, or dual-narration audio. So if you've been waiting until you could have all three Colburn brothers at once—and wow, that sentence took an unexpected turn—now's your chance.
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
HE FALLS FIRST FREE FALLING FALLING INTO YOU
And speaking of trouble...
JUST A FAVOR is coming.
I'm not supposed to tell you everything yet, which is unfortunate because keeping secrets has never been one of my more marketable skills. But I can give you a little something.
If only I could open my chest, clean out the fear and the grief, and put it back together before she woke up and saw it leaking.
That's it. No context. I'm mean like that. :) I'll have lots more to share about JUST A FAVOR soon. But for now, tell me something:
What's your favorite way to read these days—print, Kindle, or audio? I'm especially curious how many of you have gotten hooked on audio now that we're doing dual narration.
Also THANK YOU for reading, for sticking with me through all these books, and for continuing to fall in love with my fictional men. It's basically a dating service, except my men come with guaranteed happily ever afters and absolutely no ants.
Happy, happy reading!
P.S. The Colburn brothers are waiting for you. The ants are not. I took care of those little bastards.
The End and a Pizza
So...I typed THE END on a book.
And then…nothing.
No marching band. No champagne. No hero walking around in my head being all bossy.
Just me. On a dock. Exhausted.
And then…the husband offered pizza and I found the energy to live again…
Which book did I finish? It’s called JUST A FAVOR, and though I don’t have a cover yet, you can get a peek at the freshly loaded cover copy!
And while you’re at my site, check out the “extras” and “bonus scenes”. There’s one there for all of the Colburn brothers. You remember them, right?
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
I’m still beaming over all the love people have sent me for these brothers, especially Tucker in FALLING INTO YOU, which is newly out. All of them are available now in print, digital, Kindle Unlimited, and dual narration audio. Speaking of that… click HERE for a snippet of the opening of Falling Into You (we can thank Sebastian York for so perfectly voicing Tucker Colburn!)
I’m currently planning to nap off my Just A Favor hangover. It’s hard when you love a hero to “kill” him off in your head so you move on with another book! Do you ever have that feeling after finishing a really good book where you're not quite ready to leave the characters yet?
Happy Reading!
Because of you... ❤️(and a surprise!)
First things first...THANK YOU for reading/listening to FALLING INTO YOU, for recommending it to friends, for posting reviews, for sending me messages, and for simply spending your precious reading time with my characters!
Because of you, FALLING INTO YOU became an Amazon Top 100 bestseller.
I hope and I wish and I eat a LOT of cookies (currently lemon Oreos--sooo good--but I digress!) as a sacrifice to the book gods, but I still will never take this for granted! And now, the whole Colburn series it out in digital, Kindle Unlimited, print, and dual narration audio!! So if you were waiting for all three to be available, now’s your time!
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
HE FALLS FIRST FREE FALLING FALLING INTO YOU
Now for today's wildlife report...
My 95 lb, Hank-The-Tank, decided work was overrated and took off after a crow in the backyard. The crow escaped with what I can only assume was its dignity slightly bruised. A few minutes later? It came back. With approximately fifteen of its closest friends. They proceeded to sit in the trees and loudly roast poor Hank until he retreated to the porch looking deeply offended and questioning all of his life choices.
Nature is savage.
Which brings me to...
SURPRISE!!! ❤️
JUST A FAVOR is coming this February! A little tease...
I'd long ago stopped believing in fairy tales.
Then a grumpy man with a truck full of dogs pulled over for me in the rain and ruined all my carefully built rules.
I've been keeping this one under wraps for a while, and I am SO excited that I can finally tell you about it.
If you love:
Small towns
Banter
Chemistry
Bromance
Found family
Animals who absolutely refuse to mind their own business...
...I think you're going to have a lot of fun with this one.
The cover reveal is coming soon, and I honestly can't wait to share it with you.
Until then, thank you again for making this job the best one in the world.
🚨My new book is live and emotionally unsafe🚨
Guess what? FALLING INTO YOU is being released into the wild TODAY! I'm currently pretending I'm very cool about it instead of obsessively wondering if you’ll read it, but also if fictional characters can sue for emotional distress...
This book contains:
💗Childhood sweethearts
💗Second chances at first love
💗Next door neighbors who really should've moved farther apart
💗A hero who's always loved her
💗Secrets
💗Bromance
💗I-hate-you to I-want-you to I-love-you
💗Two stubborn people making questionable decisions while looking annoyingly attractive
In other words: catnip.
At its heart, FALLING INTO YOU is the story of the girl who never got to choose... and the boy who's never been chosen.
They loved each other once.
Then life happened.
Now they're back in each other's orbit, carrying old hurts, old secrets, old chemistry, and approximately zero coping mechanisms.
Honestly, what could possibly go wrong?
(Everything. Obviously everything.)
If you love second chances, childhood sweethearts, heroes who've quietly loved the heroine forever, banter, found family, and the delicious torture of two people who absolutely should talk about their feelings but instead choose sarcasm and longing stares, I think this one's for you.
Grab your copy here (aka meet your new book boyfriend Tucker Colburn):
You can buy your signed copy HERE!!!!! (Or get ANY of my books signed and delivered--Word After Word Books can ship most Shalvis titles)
Oh and yes you can read this one first even if you haven’t read HE FALLS FIRST and FREE FALLING. No worries!!!
And last but never least, thank you for reading my books, recommending them to friends, posting about them online, requesting them at libraries, and just generally making this whole writing thing possible.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go pace a hole in my floor while pretending release day isn’t happening.
Happy reading!
P.S. OH! AND I HAVE A BONUS SCENE OF THIS BOOK FOR YOU! Visit the bonus content on my site to read it, plus extra scenes from my other books!
Good news alert!
Great news: Word After Word Books will have signed preorders for FALLING INTO YOU! Starting now, you can hit up their website and preorder personalized copies!
The one who got away just came home...
You can preorder your signed copy HERE!!!!! (Or get ANY of my books signed and delivered--Word After Word Books can ship most Shalvis titles)
Your signed copies of FALLING INTO YOU will ship on or after July 14, 2026. Any of my already out titles will be shipped as you order.
And if print isn’t your thing, no worries, I got you! Here are the links for digital (and in KU!), as well as dual narration for the audio version!
What if your first love came back?
I had a very productive writing plan for this week. Iced tea? Check. Laptop? Check. Beautiful lake view? Check. Dog supervision? ...allegedly.
So I was sitting outside trying to write…
...when Hank, The Biggest Lab Who Ever Lived, decided he was the world's greatest swimmer and launched himself in with complete confidence.
About two seconds in, he also decided he was not, in fact, the world's greatest swimmer.
So there I was—fully clothed, shoes and all—wading into the lake while explaining to my dog that this was a terrible plan and that maybe next time we could think things through before committing to aquatic adventures.
Hank, naturally, learned absolutely nothing.
Which brings me to today's book recommendation, because honestly? My main characters aren't always much better at thinking things through before jumping into emotionally dangerous situations.
And Tucker Colburn might be the king of that particular skill set.
A teasing little quip… :)
Falling Into You is Tucker's story—the third Colburn brother, firefighter, professional fixer of everyone else's problems, and a man who'd walk through actual fire for the woman he loves... if only talking about his feelings didn't seem significantly more terrifying.
Signed preorders are available at Word After Word bookstore—and I’ll personalize however you like. 🥰
If you love:
💗Childhood sweethearts
💗Second-chance romance
💗He's always loved her
💗Next-door neighbors
💗Secrets and sizzling chemistry
💗Colburn brother bromance
💗A firefighter hero who keeps showing up no matter what
...then Tucker and his redheaded troublemaker are waiting for you. Just maybe don't read it while supervising a dog near deep water. Trust me on that one.
And in case you missed it, the first two shenanigans-loving Colburn brothers are out now in every format!
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
Important Update from my writing cave (sort of)
I sat down to write this blog thinking I had absolutely nothing exciting to say.
And honestly? That might still be true.
Current highlights from my glamorous author life include:
aggressively ignoring laundry
reheating the same cup of tea three times
arguing with fictional people who refuse to behave
and spending an unreasonable amount of time researching something for a book that has now absolutely put me on a government list somewhere
The current manuscript is in that magical stage where I love everyone deeply one minute and threaten to delete the entire thing the next. So basically…progress.
Also, I have a very important question:
What instantly makes a romance hero hotter?
A) flannel
B) competence
C) emotional vulnerability
D) rolling up sleeves while doing something useful
(There are no wrong answers. Except maybe “tax preparation.”)
On the reading side of life, I’ve been craving comfort reads lately—the kind that make you laugh, sigh happily, and stay up way too late saying “one more chapter.”
Which…feels fair, considering that’s exactly what I’m trying to write too.
But if you’re looking for your next comfort read, I got you!
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
HE FALLS FIRST FREE FALLING FALLING INTO YOU
If you love print, don’t forget you can get signed copies at Word After Word bookstore—signed by me, and I’ll personalize them too.
Thanks for hanging out with me here. Truly. There are approximately nine million books in the world and I never take it for granted that you spend your time with mine.
P.S. Have you explored my backlist? I have a series for everyone! Found family, second chances, you name it, I’ve written it!
I went in to sign books. I left with 17. No regrets.
So I made the extremely dangerous decision to stop by my local indie bookstore, Word After Word…
And by “dangerous,” I mean I went in to sign their stock and left carrying approximately seventeen books I absolutely did not need but somehow emotionally required.
Reader math is very real.
The good news is that while I was there, I signed a bunch of books — and you can order them directly from Word After Word’s website, including getting them personalized. Yep, if you’ve been wanting a signed book without having to hunt me down in yoga pants at Target, this is your moment.
They also have signed/preorder copies available for FALLING INTO YOU, which honestly feels a little surreal to type because this book owns my whole heart.
And speaking of FALLING INTO YOU…
Publishers Weekly gave it a lovely review that made me smile all day... I mean. EXCUSE ME while I casually frame this forever.
This story has second chances, a protective hero, emotional baggage, chemistry that absolutely refuses to behave, family chaos, healing, heart, humor, and all the messy complicated love stuff I adore writing most.
DIGITAL PRINT SIGNED PAPERBACK
And in case you missed either of the first two Colburn brothers (Ryder! Caleb!), both of which are out now…
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
HE FALLS FIRST FREE FALLING FALLING INTO YOU
And because apparently I enjoy giving myself extra projects…
Yep, I recently dropped THREE classic Jill Shalvis favorites into Kindle Unlimited with gorgeous new glow-up covers. Think: same emotional comfort food, fresh new packaging, and maybe a little “oh no, now I have to reread this at 2 a.m.” energy.
Honestly? Watching these older books find new readers again has been such a joy.
SEEING RED WHITE HEAT BLUE FLAME
Thank you for being here through all the stories, all the chaos, all the coffee-shop/bookstore/late-night-writing-sprint moments. I never take it for granted.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to pretend I’m not already emotionally attached to six more books I found while “working.”
It’s snowing. Again.
So… it’s spring.
Allegedly.
Because here in Tahoe, it is—hand to God—snowing again. My flip-flops are confused. I am confused. The weather is clearly going through something and I’m trying to be supportive.
Hank is not.
Hank (aka Hank The Tank, aka Hankeroni, aka Hankerthon) has taken this opportunity to become my full-time shadow while I write.
And by “shadow,” I mean: he stares at me. Constantly. Like I owe him money. Or snacks. Or possibly my soul.
It’s hard to say.
What I do know is that the second I pause typing, he will spring into action to remind me—again—that he is absolutely, tragically, on the brink of starvation.
For the record, he ate.
Recently. Twice, since he also ate Cali’s food.
But we’re not letting facts ruin his narrative.
Have you preordered FALLING INTO YOU yet? This is Tucker’s story—the third Colburn brother and, frankly, the one most likely to:
• make questionable decisions
• double down on those decisions
• and then somehow make you fall for him anyway
If you like:
• messy feelings
• big risks
• chemistry that probably needs a warning label
…this one’s for you.
DIGITAL PRINT SIGNED PAPERBACK
And in case you don’t have any idea what I’m talking about, there are three Colburn brothers, two of them are already out there for you to read in print, digital, KU, and dual narration audio!
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
Okay, I’m going to try to finish this chapter before Hank stages a protest. Send help. Or snacks.
(For me, not him. Obviously. :)
Jill Does Vegas
So we went to Vegas, and I bought tickets for us to see the new Ryan Gosling movie and was so excited…which is probably why I confidently walked my husband and friend into the wrong theater with five minutes to spare.
Not just the wrong screen.
The wrong theater.
Like, across town wrong.
At that point we had two options:
Accept defeat and go home like responsible adults
Panic-laugh our way to the counter and hope someone took pity on us
Dear friends, they took pity on us. And honestly? I feel like this is exactly the kind of thing that would happen in one of my books too, so at least I’m consistent.
Also, I went to two Barnes & Nobles and signed some books! There’s something very surreal about seeing your characters just sitting on a shelf, minding their business, waiting to emotionally ruin people.
(As they should.)
I tried to act cool about it. I was not cool about it. (if you're in Vegas, hit up the Summerlin BN and the Northwest BN before copies are gone!)
Oh, and since I’ve been in editing mode for Tucker (FALLING INTO YOU), I’ve been thinking about these boys again (send help), and felt like teasing us all:
DIGITAL PRINT SIGNED PAPERBACK
Tell me—are you a HE Falls First reader or do you like when they both spiral equally?
And speaking of HE FALLS FIRST, (and let’s not forget FREE FALLING!) If you’re new here, the Colburn brothers are waiting for you…just saying. If you’ve already met them…you know they don’t behave. AND IF you haven’t met them yet, I apologize in advance.
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
I’m off to…drum roll…plot something new, so stayed tuned. I'm super excited about it. Details coming soon. Love ya!
Spring is here… allegedly (also: Hank has opinions)
Spring has officially arrived… which would be very exciting if the snow had gotten the memo! Here in my neck of the woods it’s that time of year when the calendar insists it’s spring, the mountains insist it’s still winter, and everyone’s a little confused.
Case in point: Hank the Tank.
Also known as Hankeroni.
Also known as Hankers.
Our large, very opinionated black lab has been personally victimized by Daylight Saving Time. His internal clock says dinner is late, bedtime is wrong, and the sun rising earlier is clearly a mistake someone should fix immediately. The level of side-eye I’m receiving is frankly impressive.
Meanwhile, while Hank tries to reorganize time itself, I have some bookish news for you!
Besides being out in digital and dual audio narration and print as well, the Colburn Brothers series is also available in Kindle Unlimited!
If you’re in the mood for small-town charm, family chaos, stubborn heroes, smart women who keep them on their toes, and all the feels (with a few laughs thrown in because life is hard enough), you can binge HE FALLS FIRST and FREE FALLING in KU (FALLING INTO YOU available 7/14)
DIGITAL - PRINT - AUDIO LINKS
HE FALLS FIRST FREE FALLING FALLING INTO YOU
And allow me to tease Tucker Colburn in Falling Into You (July 14)... —A love story so loaded with history, regret, and unresolved want that their friends take popcorn breaks just watching the fallout.
DIGITAL PRINT SIGNED PAPERBACK
Oh! Guess what?
Also out today: I’ve dusted off three of my earlier books—Seeing Red, Blue Flame, and White Heat—given them a little love, and they’re now available in digital and Kindle Unlimited.
These stories were originally written a while back, so you might notice a few things that feel a little retro (hello, pre-smartphone world). But I’ve polished them up and sent them back out into the world for readers who might’ve missed them the first time around.
The romance, the sparks, and the happily-ever-afters are still very much intact.
SEEING RED WHITE HEAT BLUE FLAME
And if you do happen to be a Kindle Unlimited reader, I have a bunch of other books in there as well, so go binge!
Lucky Harbor (Books 1-6 of the series)
And last but definitely not least…
If you’d like signed bookplates for your books, I’ve got you covered! You can grab one (or a few) and add a little signed love to your shelves.
Snowmageddon, Books, and a Whole Lot of Gratitude
Quick update from the land of Snowmageddon:
I survived. Barely. Tahoe just dumped six feet of snow on me in five days — which is about five and a half feet more than I asked for. My house is now essentially a marshmallow with windows.
But honestly? All that forced “stay inside and don’t even think about using your driveway” time gave me the chance to catch up on your messages — and wow. Thank you SO MUCH for reading Free Falling and reviewing it online and posting about it, and sending me the sweetest DM's. You all keep me warm even when the weather is… aggressively trying to murder me.
Speaking of books — quick rundown!Free Falling and He Falls First are both out now in the world doing their thing (and causing fictional men various amounts of trouble — as they should).
DIGITAL, PRINT, AUDIO TARGET SIGNED PAPERBACK
And the third Colburn brother? Oh, Tucker. My grumpy-sweet mountain man is starring in Falling Into You, which lands on 7/14 and is officially up for preorder! Want a sneak peek from the first chapter? Ask and ye shall receive!
If you want print copies of any of my books signed by me, you can get them from Word After Word Bookstore — they ship!
I’m going back to work. I’m plotting something new! I’ll tell you about it soon!!!
Happy reading!
⭐One week, one “alpha dumbass,” and a giveaway…
Free Falling has officially been out for one whole week, and I just want to say… wow. You all showed up big. My inbox is overflowing with your messages, theories, favorite quotes, and one extremely passionate debate about whether a certain character qualifies as an “alpha dumbass” — which, honestly, made my entire day.
DIGITAL, PRINT, AUDIO TARGET SIGNED PAPERBACK GOODREADS BOOKBUB
I’m so grateful you’re loving this book, bruised hearts, stubborn men, emotional fireworks and all. Every release feels like jumping off a cliff and just hoping your characters remembered to pack a parachute. But hearing from you? That’s the part that makes the landing soft and sweet.
So I want to do something fun to celebrate.
🎁 GIVEAWAY TIME!
This week, five random newsletter subscribers will snag my brand-new front + back postcards with a reading checklist! (pics below!) I couldn't even fit all of my books on there! (Details on how to enter are in my Feb 12 newsletter.)
Front:
Back:
✨ HAVE YOU VISITED MY BONUS CONTENT PAGE YET?
If not, you’re missing out on:
Bonus scenes for He Falls First
Bonus scenes for Free Falling
Book-inspired recipes
Other fun behind-the-scenes extras
Basically, everything I couldn’t stop myself from writing even after my editor gently said, “Jill… the book is done.”
You can find all of it right here!
🔥 NEXT WEEK: A BIGGER GIVEAWAY
Yes, bigger.
Yes, I’m being dramatic because it deserves it.
Yes, you should absolutely open next week’s email.
Just trust me — it’s good.
Subscribe to my newsletter here 👉 https://www.jillshalvis.com/newsletter
And because I adore you, here’s a little teaser graphic of the wildest brother yet--Tucker Colburn--in FALLING INTO YOU to keep the vibes going:
Last but not least, thank you from the bottom of my chaotic writer heart for reading, cheering, emailing, reviewing, and recommending. Your support means more than I can ever put into words — which is saying something, because I literally write words for a living.
FREE FALLING is officially out! (I’m fine. Totally fine!)
GUESS WHAT? FREE FALLING is officially out in the world.
Cue me dancing wherever I see it! :)
I always get a little emotional on release day—equal parts thrill, terror, and “I hope they like it.” You know… totally normal author behavior.
But this book? This one is special. It’s messy and romantic and funny in all the ways I love, and I’m so excited for you all to get to meet these two disasters-in-denial. 😂
A tatted-up Prince Charming in glasses and the Reluctant Cinderella… 🥰
💗Rivals to This-means-nothing to Lovers
💗Fixer upper
💗 Protective hero
💗Sexy small town shenanigans (think nosy brothers!)
💗Slow Burn
💗Found Family
💗Close Proximity
💗Opposites Attract
All Emma wants is to get in, do the job, get out without falling in love.
Check, check, and … oops. 🥰
DIGITAL, PRINT, AUDIO TARGET SIGNED PAPERBACK GOODREADS BOOKBUB
What to expect inside:
—A tatted-up, secretly soft hero who would absolutely deny being a romantic… while doing the most romantic things.
—A heroine who is very allergic to asking for help, thank you very much.
—Small town chaos, people who “mind their own business” never, and a found family who shows up uninvited but always means well.
—Two people circling each other in close quarters, insisting it’s casual… while everyone else can see they are free falling HARD.
And have you read Ryder Colburn in HE FALLS FIRST yet? Or preordered Tucker in FALLING INTO YOU?
Thank you—truly—for being here, for reading, for cheering on my characters, and for sending me the sweetest messages that make me teary in the best way. I hope you fall just as hard for these two as I did.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be over here having release-day nerves and eating celebratory cookies like it’s cardio.
P.S. If you’re near Austin, Texas, catch me at Lark & Owl Booksellers on Feb 7th at 7pm—bring your best friend, your book club, or someone who enables your romantic-hero obsession. I’ll bring the Sharpies and the chaos AND THE BRAND SPANKING NEW copies of FREE FALLING. :)
🎟️Reserve your ticket ➡️https://www.larkandowlbooksellers.com/products/jill-shalvis-author-event-free-falling
Austin(-ish)… I’m coming for you!
If you’ve been waiting for a sign that you should escape your house, put on real pants, and hang out with me—this is it. I’m heading just outside of Austin, Texas for a live author event on February 7th at 7pm, and I would absolutely love to see you there.
🎟️Reserve your ticket ➡️https://www.larkandowlbooksellers.com/products/jill-shalvis-author-event-free-falling
I’ll be in conversation with the fabulous fellow romance author Julia London, so expect laughter, some light chaos, and the two of us trying—and failing—to behave like professionals. You know, the usual.
And the best part?
I’ll be signing FREE FALLING, my newest book, which officially drops on February 3rd! So if you want a fresh, shiny, personalized copy… this is your moment. Come get hugged, scribbled on, and gently peer-pressured into reading about a tatted up Prince Charming in glasses and the Reluctant Cinderella...where the sparks fly, the banter is sharp, and the swoon is very, very real. (PS if you can't come to Austin but still want signed by me copies, I got you! Go to my local store Word After Word's website.
✍️ Preorder signed copy of FREE FALLING ➡️https://wordafterwordbooks.com/book/s9781464243929
Bring your best friend, your book club, your neighbor, your mother-in-law who needs a night out—we don’t judge. I’ll be signing books, taking pics, and trying not to steal any of the store’s adorable merch. (No promises.) Deets: https://www.larkandowlbooksellers.com/products/jill-shalvis-author-event-free-falling Hope to see you there!
Protective hero alert 🚨(he denies everything)
FREE FALLING is ALMOST HERE! (Sorry, did I yell that? I’m excited! :)
If you like your romance with sparks, sass, and small-town chaos that should probably come with a warning label… you’re going to have a very good time. :) We’ve got:
💗Rivals to This-means-nothing to Lovers
💗 Fixer upper
💗 Protective hero
💗 Sexy small Town Shenanigans (think nosy brothers!)
💗 Slow Burn
💗 Found Family
💗 Close Proximity
💗 Opposites Attract
All she wants is to get in, do the job, get out without falling in love. Check, check, and … oops!
Here’s some of what you’re in for:
—A tatted-up, secretly soft hero who would absolutely deny being a romantic… while doing the most romantic things. (Sir, the evidence is stacked against you.)
—A heroine who is very allergic to asking for help, thank you very much.
—Small-town shenanigans, nosy people who “mind their own business” exactly never, and a found family who shows up whether you invite them or not.
—When life yanks the rug out from under them, these two end up circling each other in close quarters, insisting it’s casual… while everyone around them can see they’re free falling hard.
If you love print (same), don’t forget you can get signed copies at Word After Word bookstore—signed by me, and I’ll personalize them too.
And yes, it’s true: FREE FALLING’s audiobook preorder link is finally up! And it’s DUAL narration! If you’re an audio reader, you can order it now and be ready to hit play the second it lands.
More soon—until then, consider this your official permission slip to indulge by reading book one: HE FALLS FIRST.
💗HE FALLS FIRST (Colburn Brothers Book 1):
💗FREE FALLING (Colburn Brothers Book 2):
PREORDER ADD TO TBR LEARN MORE
💗FALLING INTO YOU (Colburn Brothers Book 3):
PREORDER ADD TO TBR LEARN MORE
Happy Reading!
P.S. Have you read any of my other series? Here are some I recommend. 🥰
A Puppy and a Love Story Walk Into 2026…
First things first: Hank. Super-sized black lab pup. He loves snow and jingle bell necklaces.
He also looks like a Hallmark movie extra--who behaves like a small, enthusiastic bulldozer.
Listen, I’m just going to dive right in here. After all, it’s New Year’s resolution time, right? Mine's simple: to get you to fall in love with the Colburn Brothers.
No pressure. Just… clear your schedule and maybe hydrate. HE FALLS FIRST is already out.
Top 100 Kindle Store Bestseller!
FREE FALLING is ALMOST HERE! (2/3/26) and even better, FALLING INTO YOU (7/26) is also up for preorder…
💗FREE FALLING (Colburn Brothers Book 2):
PREORDER ADD TO TBR LEARN MORE
💗FALLING INTO YOU (Colburn Brothers Book 3):
PREORDER ADD TO TBR LEARN MORE
All three are packed with small-town shenanigans, big feelings, and the kind of chemistry that starts as “absolutely not” and ends as “oh no, I’m in trouble.”
Anyone reading anything good? Anything Shalvis? I've got so many series for you to check out! And fyi, most of my Sunrise Cove series and my Heartbreaker Bay series are in Kindle Unlimited! Let me know what you're reading, inquiring minds would love to know!
Happy New Year!!!!
P.S. Hank’s resolution is to stop stealing socks.
He asked me to confirm I’m not “putting that in writing.” Too late, buddy.