Colburn Brothers, Book 2
From the publisher:
College rivals become workplace frenemies-turned-lovers in this warm, sexy contemporary romance from New York Times bestseller Jill Shalvis. First, they were rivals… Now they’re stuck with each other…
Retired hockey player Caleb Colburn needs this construction project to prove himself in the family business, but he also needs to recover from the injury that ended his pro career. Too bad Emma Sumner, architect liaison and Caleb’s college nemesis, is back in town and assigned to the project. They’re going to have to see each other almost every day. Which means once again she’ll make his life a living hell.
As for Emma, her job is on the line with this big project, made all the more challenging by the project manager. Caleb was the one who had snagged the scholarship she’d desperately needed to stay in college. She’s been living hand to mouth ever since and has no intention of ever forgiving the man.
But the beautiful historic building they’re renovating is exactly the kind of project that they both love best. Their surprising common ground and a burning mutual attraction start bringing them closer and closer to a potentially explosive mistake. And that’s even before the secrets come out…
https://amzn.to/45wbAtm
I fell in love with this series when I read He Falls First, and Jill Shalvis absolutely delivers again with Free Falling, the second Colburn Brothers book. This time, we follow Caleb, and there’s far more to him than the charming exterior he shows the world. While the story works as a standalone, I highly recommend starting with book one—these brothers are swoony, imperfect disasters in the best possible way. This small‑town romance is sweet, fun, and deeply satisfying.
Caleb Colburn, a retired hockey star, is trying to prove himself in the family construction business. Taking the lead on their newest renovation project is already stressful enough, but he’s completely blindsided when the architect liaison turns out to be Emma Sumner—his fiercest college rival and harshest critic.
Back in school, Emma was everything Caleb found intimidating: brilliant, driven, and relentless. She fought tooth and nail for every opportunity, while Caleb seemed to breeze through classes and hockey, often landing the very positions she wanted most. To Emma, he was the golden boy with every advantage. To Caleb, she was the relentless overachiever who made his life harder at every turn. Now, years later, those old resentments flare the moment they’re reunited on the job site.
Forced into close collaboration, both arrive with deeply rooted assumptions and unresolved hurt. Emma still sees Caleb as the guy who had everything handed to him, and Caleb assumes Emma is back to make his life miserable. But as they work side by side, those walls begin to crack. Misconceptions fall away, vulnerabilities surface, and they slowly realize how wrong they were about each other—and how much they share beneath the surface.
Their shift from rivals to something much more is heartfelt and immensely rewarding. The tension is electric, fueled by sharp banter, lingering wounds, and undeniable chemistry. What makes their enemies‑to‑lovers arc shine is that it’s grounded in real emotional baggage rather than petty conflict. Watching that tension melt into trust and tenderness is genuinely moving.
Caleb is exactly the kind of hero I adore: protective, dependable, and kind without a hint of toxicity. There’s an emotional safety to this romance that makes it even more swoony. Emma is equally compelling—resilient, hardworking, and easy to root for. Her struggles with housing and job stability after losing nearly everything in a fire add real emotional weight, and seeing her allow herself to be vulnerable is beautiful.
The supporting cast adds so much charm, from Emma’s loyal best friend to the adorable boxers, Calvin and Klein, and Keira’s toddlers. The Colburn family dynamic remains one of the series’ strongest elements, and Caleb’s complicated relationship with his once‑abusive father—now softened by illness with no memory of his past behavior—adds a poignant layer of growth and forgiveness.
Returning to Star Falls, California, feels like coming home. The mansion renovation, the town’s falling‑star soulmate legend, and the strong sense of found family create a warm, inviting backdrop. Jill Shalvis excels at writing characters with real problems and real healing, blending humor, heart, and romance with effortless charm.
Free Falling pulled me in from the first page and never let go. It’s comforting, funny, emotionally rich, and deeply romantic—the kind of story that leaves you smiling long after you finish. If you love small‑town settings, workplace enemies‑to‑lovers tension, strong family bonds, and romances that feel supportive and genuine, this series is absolutely worth diving into. I’m looking forward to the next Colburn Brothers story.
2/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
FREE FALLING by Jill Shalvis. Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 3, 2026). ISBN: 978-1464243929. 384p.
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