Rae's home life is far from satisfying. Her mother is exhausted and always at work and her stepfather is verbally abusive and just plain mean. When Rae meets Nathan and he seems to be sweet and attentive and the boy everyone wants, she finds him irresistible. When Nathan starts to demand more of her time, all of her attention, and becomes frightening in his neediness, she wants nothing to do with him. Getting Nathan out of her life may prove to be next to impossible, and with tension and fury rising between Rae and her stepfather, she may have to fight for her very life.

As readers have come to expect from Lisa Schroeder, this story is, like her others, poignant, poetic and powerful. Falling For You is compelling and suspenseful, building to a boiling point that almost costs main character Rae her life. Rae's romantic relationship with new boyfriend Nathan is toxic, his behavior frightening and controlling. Rae is also at the mercy of her stepfather, Dean, and his relationship with her mother is equally as dysfunctional. Domestic violence, abuse, and controlling men are at the center of this story, while one male character, Rae's friend Leo, is the exact opposite with his sweet, gentle, and caring nature. A violent act at the end of the story seriously wounds a main character, though as a result of this tragedy, some important relationships are mended and justice is served. Language is strong (sh-t, a-s, h-ll, cr-p) and some heated making out takes place, though Rae stands her ground and refuses to let a physical relationship go farther than she wants it to. Friendships are supportive, as are Rae's coworkers. As is typical of the author's books, poetry is sprinkled liberally throughout, and is important to the story. Fans of Lisa Schroeder won't be disappointed and will thoroughly enjoy this quick read.

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