Customer Reviews

Free Falling [Damaged Heroes, Book 2] (BookStrand Publishing)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

3 and a 1/2 stars


Why I Read this Book: A few months ago I read Murphy's Law, the first book in this series, and I greatly enjoyed it. Ross was a secondary character in that book and didn't get the HEA he wanted. But that's okay because he gets his HEA in Free Falling. I should point out that even though this book is the second in this series, it can easily be read as a stand alone.

What I Liked: Free Falling is a romantic suspense read with a dash of a paranormal element mixed in. Laurie, the heroine, is an empath; she can psychically read the emotions of others. This is a perfect "gift" for Laurie to have since she's a psychologist. She truly loves what she does and she loves helping others. Laurie coming into Ross's life was a breath of fresh air for him. Ross is a good guy; a good guy who didn't get the girl in the last book. He needs a purpose in life, something other than completely pouring himself into the law firm he works at. I love how Ross and Laurie met and how there was a believable attraction from the start.

All lose ends were tied up by the end of the story. The epilogue was not what I had expected! I like the way things turned out. Also, the book is written in third person narrative, which worked well for this story. (You won't get overloaded on characters' thoughts or any over analyzing like you might find with a first person narrative.)

What I Didn't Like: I wasn't feeling the connection between the journal's story arc and the main story. I got confused at times by the information in the journal. It was hard for me to follow; the poems threw me off. (It should be noted that I am not a fan of poetry. If you are, you may not have this problem.) I had to leave it to the characters to figure out the mystery.

Ross and Laurie end up in Vegas and as a last minute decision, they get married. after knowing each other for a month. It felt a bit rushed and it wasn't thought out much between the two characters. I think it would have been better if they would have waited a bit. However, their sex life took a more realistic approach in regards to timing, especially given the certain circumstances that were present (that I don't want to give away).

I felt a pause at the 50% mark. It felt like a roller coaster ride - like when you're approaching the plateau and it feels like you're not going to have enough momentum to get over the crest - but once the story got over the crest, it came roaring down the track.

Overall Impression: Free Falling is a good read for when you're in the mood for romance and mystery. And if the Prohibition era interests you, you'll enjoy the second story arc. Even with the few issues I had with Free Falling, I still enjoyed reading it. I'm glad I read this book because I got what I wanted: a HEA for Ross. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series, All the Right Reasons, which features some new characters.

Lena's Review

Ross Kennedy is heartbroken and a workaholic, something his executive assistant keeps reminding him repeatedly. He has no one to go to, so work is all he has until he meets Laurie. The plan was to get some guy named Laurence Miller to sign into a foundation, not to fall for the first woman he sees. Yet something about Laurie enchants him in a way like his ex never did. With Laurie he can be honest, fun and adventurous. She calls it free falling, something he has never heard of but likes it with Laurie. With Laurie he is something he has never been before and that is live for each day. His whole life has always been centered on work and a little free falling scares him. The love he has for Laurie is unlike anything he has felt before and this scares him. Can he prove to Laurie that he can free fall with her forever?

Laurie Miller is a woman who loves to work and pay bills. Not your usual damsel, but she likes working for a living unlike her family. Everybody thinks she should just stay at home and be pampered, but she has other things to do. Meeting Ross Kennedy and knowing who he is looking for just turns her life upside down. For the first time though she feels loved really loved in a way that no man has given her before. Her ex only wanted her for her money and Ross is different from his work ethics, his opinion on money, and most of all the deep love she feels for him. When she's with him she is different and feels alive like she never felt before, which scares her. Can she convince Ross that her love for him is real and she wasn't playing him along?

Free Falling is another hit by Sandy James and a favorite for this reviewer. I loved the way it started and ended with these two. Ross is a man who needs to just relax and Laurie is the woman just right for him. The story line between them was great and so fast-paced it hardly slowed down. What I liked the most was the love between them was so strong that, even when they denied it, you could tell it was all there. Loved it and it's definitely a book you have to ready by Sandy James.


5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!

Oh my gosh, where to begin with this book? Characters, we will start with the characters. I recently reviewed Murphy's Law which is book 1 in the Damaged Heroes series. Ross had been one of the characters in the first book which left me feeling that his character was just a bit too nice, safe, and maybe a bit too deeply infatuated with Katie. There weren't the sparks you would think when you thought of a romantic couple. So when Ross got his own book, I couldn't help but think, finally, I get to see what makes Ross who he is. I was stunned. Ross turned out to be a character who definitely had control issues, was a Type A personality and had a wide range of emotions that left me pleasantly surprised. To make a long story short, Ross turned out to be a dream hero! I fell in love with his character, humor and fierce protectiveness of Laurie. He was one to come to a snappy judgement but was slowly learning to look at situations in a different perspective. Laurie's character was so spunky, straightforward at times and humorous about eighty percent of the time (the other twenty percent she was too busy dealing with the action that was taking place in the book). Being a psychologist, she knew her self confidence issues were something she needed to deal with but out of habit, succumbed to regularly putting herself down. It would take a strong man to show Laurie just how beautiful and mesmerizing she really was. Having a gift of being able to read peoples emotions had hindered Laurie in the love department. She couldn't even kiss a man because she could read their deep emotional thoughts. It was just too much for her to handle. Ross and Laurie's characters were polar opposites with him being the type of person to need control at all times and Laurie's need to help everyone. These two characters complimented each other in a way that was unexpected and appealed to me. Alex was the ex-boyfriend who had left abruptly only to come back into Laurie's life a few months later. The drama he brings to Laurie's life is sure to put some stress on the relationship between Ross and Laurie, or will it only bring them closer? Shiela, Ross' secretary had me laughing so hard with her smart comments and spot on assessment when Ross did something wrong.

Now on to the plot of the book. Free Falling was an intense suspense read laced with a paranormal element that certainly brought a sense of intrigue to the story. A combination of two love stories that were intertwined throughout the book had me hooked. I loved how the clues were left along the way and I was kept on the edge of my seat trying to figure out the the answer to the mystery. The plot line was very well developed and the writing was so smooth it flowed flawlessly. I could feel the emotions of horror, anger and love from Ross as well the helplessness Laurie felt to keep the circumstances that were happening around her at bay.

This is the second book that Ms. James has written in this series and I have fallen in love with her writing style and ability to combine suspense with a breathtaking plot. I highly encourage you to read the entire series. Although Free Falling is book 2 in the series, it can definitely be read as a stand alone book, but I guarantee you that once you read one, you will want to read them all.

Murphy's Law - Damaged Heroes Book 1
Free Falling - Damaged Heroes Book 2
All the Right Reasons - Damaged Heroes Book 3

Heads up, romance lovers, because I've got a good one for you. If you enjoy a little something extra in your stories, Sandy James's novel Free Falling may be just what you're looking for. This novel combines romance, suspense, and just a dash of paranormal into a very readable and enjoyable package, and I think it will please the most discerning of readers. I certainly enjoyed it.

The romance portion of this story is very appealing. It mixes a little reverse snobbishness on the hero's part with mistaken identity and falsehood to create romantic tension between the two main characters. Ms. James has injected this story with emotion and tenderness, but she hasn't neglected the differences of opinion that couples - even couples as much in love as these two - all have.

A thread of mystery and suspense is woven throughout Free Falling. It is less evident in the first half of the story, which focuses mostly on the development of the interpersonal relationship between Ross and Laurie, but as the novel progresses, the tension grows. The diary entries at the beginning of each chapter are meant to pique the interest of the reader, but it is not until we are well into the story that we understand where they are headed. I'm going to admit that I found them a little tedious at first, but as the characters themselves became involved in the mystery, I appreciated having the opportunity to puzzle out the answers along with them.

One of the most outstanding attributes about Free Falling is its characters. Ms. James has developed a wonderful cast and has breathed enough life into them to make them almost jump off the page. Ross is very much an alpha male, but he is also obsessive-compulsive and a little bit snobbish. He has a lot of emotional baggage from his childhood, and it is up to Laurie to teach him how to relax, have a good time, and let the past go. Laurie is very insightful, especially regarding Ross's hang-ups, but for all that she is a counselor, she has low self-esteem due to her size. Ross has to show her that the beauty she has within her radiates outward and makes her absolutely stunning.

But it is not just the primary characters that make this story. The secondary characters are equally appealing. They are well-rounded and developed fully enough to make them distinct and memorable, and they give the plot additional depth.

I found Free Falling to be a very pleasant surprise. It is the second novel in Ms. James's Damaged Heroes series, but it is not necessary to read the first story to enjoy this one - it is completely self-contained. Of course, now that I've read Ross and Laurie's story, I'm probably going to have to go back and read the previous novel. If it is anywhere near as well-written as Free Falling is, then I'm in for a very pleasurable experience.

This book was my second book that I have read from the "Damaged Heroes" series. The characters rendered by the author are as almost of people that I have known or meet in my "Book of Life". They are as true, real and different as we all are. The events, feelings and acts put into fonts on a paper with such deep intensity that you can't escape of not living and feeling through yourself. Not to reveal the plot of the story, I was quiet surprised and taken by how it unfolded. I thank the Author for this wonderful story with lovely end. Easy to read (it will take you about two evenings) and is- as after a good movie, you will stay with the heroes of the story for some time and wonder: How are they doing? Did I say is-as after a good movie..? I do hope that one day this book will become a script for a "Free Falling". Wouldn't this be great?

ease allow the author to share this information:

2010 WINNER ~ Lories Published Best Romantic Suspense
2010 Booksellers Best Finalist for Romantic Suspense
2010 EPIC Finalist for Best Mystery/Suspense Romance

Night Owl Romance ~ Reviewer Top Pick! ~ 5 Hearts ~ Ms. James has penned another fantastic story...

You Gotta Read Reviews ~ "You Gotta Read!" Rating ~ Ross turned out to be a dream hero!

Two Lips ~ 5 Kisses ~ When you want your romance sweet, emotionally charged, and one to remember...

The Romance Studio ~ 5 hearts ~ ...fast-paced and almost impossible to put down.

Long and Short Reviews ~ 5 books ~ The gripping plot of Free Falling fully captured my attention from the beginning and certainly made this book a page turner.

Book Wenches ~ 4.75 Rating ~ Heads up, romance lovers, because I've got a good one for you.

Coffee Time Romance ~ 4 cups ~ The author weaves a plot that will keep you at the edge of your seat...

Please allow the author to share this information:

2010 WINNER ~ Lories Published Best Romantic Suspense
2010 Booksellers Best Finalist for Romantic Suspense
2010 EPIC Finalist for Best Mystery/Suspense Romance

Night Owl Romance ~ Reviewer Top Pick! ~ 5 Hearts ~ Ms. James has penned another fantastic story...

You Gotta Read Reviews ~ "You Gotta Read!" Rating ~ Ross turned out to be a dream hero!

Two Lips ~ 5 Kisses ~ When you want your romance sweet, emotionally charged, and one to remember...

The Romance Studio ~ 5 hearts ~ ...fast-paced and almost impossible to put down.

Long and Short Reviews ~ 5 books ~ The gripping plot of Free Falling fully captured my attention from the beginning and certainly made this book a page turner.

Book Wenches ~ 4.75 Rating ~ Heads up, romance lovers, because I've got a good one for you.

Coffee Time Romance ~ 4 cups ~ The author weaves a plot that will keep you at the edge of your seat...