Customer Reviews

Falls Like Lightning

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Shawn Grady is a talented writer who's hitting his stride with Falls Like Lightning. Here he combines an exciting story with a setting in the Desolation Wilderness that's compelling for anyone who loves the outdoors. Add in his personal experience as a firefighter to inform the development of the smokejumper who's the main character and you have a story that's great fun to read about believable and multi-dimensional characters in extreme peril. I hated putting this book down and enjoyed every line.

If you're a fan of fire-fighters, smoke jumpers or pilots who run the risk of helping either fight fires in the forests, then Falls Like Lightning is for you. Two separate stories collide as Elle fights her demons from the past when she is called to be a pilot for the latest fires in Lake Tahoe. More experienced than anyone else over the terrain, she accepts the job. Little does she know it will involve flying over the same area where her father's plane crashed and was never found.

Silas Kent doesn't realize that Elle is about to become his pilot for the latest fire-fighting he's been called up to deal with. Dealing with a past relationship that didn't end well for her, he feels pulled in making amends with her why he left so many years ago. What he doesn't plan on is that she has a daughter who is very ill and seeking a diagnosis to help determine the cause for her seizures.

In the midst of these fires, a band of fire-fighters has come across the Independence Gold, that will make all of them rich beyond their wildest dreams and they have been called into the area where the mine is located to fight the fire. Only the two people on board they weren't counting on were Elle and Silas.

I received this book compliments of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and LOVED it. I could actually feel the heat from the fires surrounding them and the raging smoke filling the air. I felt the author has such an eye for details that make this story every bit as believable as if you were watching the latest on the news instead of reading a great fictional story. This one rates a scorching 5 out of 5 stars. This is my second book by Shawn Grady and loved this one as much as the first.

FALLS LIKE LIGHTNING by Shawn Grady is an exciting inspirational suspense set in Desolation Wilderness,in the Sierra Nevadas.It has smoke,fire,faith,smokejumpers,pilots,suspense, mystery,secrets,loss,deceit, murder,plane crashes,hidden gold,loss,betrayal, a bit of romance and a plane full of drama. This is the story of Smokejumper Silas Kent and pilot Elle Westmore making amends for the past,a raging forest fire,a betrayal,and their desire for survival. While both Silas Kent and Elle must come to grips with their past,they also must resolve to their losses. With a strong hero,heroine and a believable plot this is a must read. "Falls Like Lightning" will have you turning pages from beginning to end as these characters build a fire full of drama,smoke and love. Readers of suspense,inspirational,mystery, romance will enjoy "Falls Like Lightning". This is my first read by this author but will not be my last. Readers who enjoyed Colleen Coble's Smoke Jumpers (Fire Dancer) will enjoy Shawn Grady's "Falls Like Lightning also. A great read that has a few twists and turns as well as strong characters. Received for review from the publisher. Details can be found at Bethany House and My Book Addiction Reviews.

I really enjoyed reading Falls Like Lightning by Shawn Grady. Full of life-and-death situations, romance, and a solid faith in God, Falls Like Lightning appeals to both men and women readers. The only thing I felt that was missing was the full development of the relationship between Silas and Elle - it seemed to be lacking a bit in depth.

I recently passed along my copy of Through the Fire by Shawn Grady to my husband, and I will definitely be passing Falls Like Lightning along as well. It was a well-written, easy to read, page-turner that kept my attention from the start.

I am not really known for picking up a book that isn't primarily a romance or that is written by a man but I am really glad I read Falls Like Lightning!

Elle and Silas who once dated are thrown together years later when there is a major fire. Silas is a smoke jumper that jumps out of planes close to fires to take down trees and such in order to direct the path of the fire; Elle is a pilot that is specifically trained to fly in that area and in hard conditions like smoke!

Sparks fly when these two are reunited together again however they both have a lot to deal with in their personal lives. Elle is trying to cope with the loss of her father, who was in plane crash but never found, and her daughter who has seizures plus she is not sure if she should ever trust Silas again after he walked out on her years back.

Like I said before I don't typically read an action packed suspense but this one was worth the change in my style. Shawn Grady has a knack for creating scenes that are heated and intense! The action and mystery alongside the fire brewing with a side of romance was keeping my adrenaline pumping throughout most of the story. There was times when the fire lingo got to be a bit confusing for me that I found myself skimming to get the juicy action!

If you are looking for an action packed adventure with a smoke jumping hottie firefighter hero and an incredibly talented pilot then this is the book for you. You'll deal with evil, mystery, health issues of a child, loss of a parent, love lost and found all mixed together to create a great story!

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I am under no obligation to write a positive review, all opinions are my own.

Falls Like Lightening by Shawn Grady is the latest book I received (free) from Bethany House publishers to review.
Here's a little summary of the novel...
Silas Kent is a smoke jumper with a past. Growing up without a family has had a lasting impact on his life. Now he is a skilled smoke jumper, jumping out of planes to fight fires...without water. It takes patience and skill, and Silas has both. Silas and Elle, a smoke jumper pilot, have a history. When Elle is assigned to pilot Silas' new team, their worlds come together once more. As they head out on their new mission, something isn't right. Sabotage and danger surround them, and when the team has to jump off course and Elle crash lands, will they survive to see what their future may hold? Gotta read to find out! : )

My take...Let me preface my review by saying that I do love a good mystery/suspense/action novel. Back in the day, I loved Mary Higgins Clark and Tom Clancy novels. I must say that my most recent preference is western or some kind of Christian romantic fiction. I really love historicals. I was interested, though, in trying something new with the contemporary "Falls Like Lightening." My initial thoughts are that it was a little distracting for me to deal with the fireman/smoke jumper jargon that I was unfamiliar with. Once I just decided to do the best I could with that, I thought the story had a fair level of romance and suspense, although I wanted more. Especially with the romance. I felt like the way Elle and Silas dealt with their past just hit the surface. The suspense/mystery part of the story was also good, and I thought it added a nice twist to the novel. My only critique of that aspect was that the "bad guys" were revealed early on in the story, so there wasn't much mystery there. I think I would've liked to have a little more tension in the story and have one of those...oh, man!...moments where the bad guy is someone I never expected. That would've made it even better, I think. That's sort of how it was with the whole novel. On the whole, it was entertaining, but every aspect needed a little more depth to it...in my opinion.

Get ready for another gripping adventure with Shawn Grady's newest release, Falls Like Lightning! The story centers around smokejumper Silas Kent and pilot Elle Westmore who, after a mysterious crash landing, must fight for their lives...not only from a raging forest fire, but Silas' new jumping crew. This talented author is sure to delight his fans while gaining new ones.

Both Silas and Elle were very easy to like. Their history, and how/why they broke up, was really neat to discover through the course of the novel. I think all those trips down memory lane really made the character's come alive. Other characters, like Bo and Caleb, were written really well and realistically. Shawn takes you deep into the character's thoughts and motives without letting up on the adventure and suspense. A great mix!

Before picking up Falls Like Lightning, I never really knew smokejumpers existed. Not only does this book give the reader a grand adventure, but it's an eye-opener as well. Smokejumpers go through a lot to fight wild fires and keep people safe.

Shawn's writing style is sharp and vivid, instantly pulling me into the plot. The opening scene with Silas trying to rescue someone before the fire reached them was an awesome way to start this amazing book. I could almost feel the heat of the fire as it raged around Silas. Each and every scene moved the book along, never slowing or losing my interest, until the heart pounding climax.

If you haven't heard of Shawn Grady's books before, you are really missing out! I highly recommend Falls Like Lightning for any reader, teens and adults, who enjoy a gripping adventure. I can't wait to see what else Shawn brings to the Christian suspense genre in the future. Whatever it is, I know it'll be good!

I reviewed this book for the publishers, Bethany House as an influencer. It was not required that I give a positive review, but solely to express my own thoughts and opinions of this book, which I have done.

Shawn Grady in his new book, "Falls Like Lightning" published by Bethany House once again takes us into the world of firefighting.

From the back cover: Smokejumper Silas Kent never expected to see pilot Elle Westmore again. In fact, reuniting makes him realize what a mistake he made all those years ago. But before he has a chance to try to make amends, he's called to lead a new crew into battle against a massive fire in the Sierra Nevadas.

And then things go very wrong, very quickly.

A suspicious engine explosion forces the crew to parachute early while Elle barely survives a crash landing. Silas reaches the ground safely, but in beginning a desperate race to reach the downed plane, he soon realizes he has more to fear than just a raging forest fire.

For a story to be a thriller it has to have the hero in danger from the beginning and Shawn Grady made sure of that. How do you describe paranoia? From now on I will just say to people, "read "Falls Like Lightning". Silas Kent has his hands full; a raging forest fire, an untried team whose members, all or some, are trying to kill him. The woman he loves needs to be rescued and he is all by himself.

"Falls Like Lightning" is more than a thriller it is a story of dealing with the past. If the past is unresolved then the future is uncertain for there is nothing to build upon. Silas has a broken past with Elle that needs to be worked out. Elle has a broken past with the loss of her father and how he died. Mr. Grady has a unique ability to make all his characters come to life and we fall in love with them and get emotionally involved with their relationships but also with their peril. The last 100 pages are the most exciting that you will ever want to race through as they run to protect their lives and expose the bad guy. I was very pleased with Mr. Grady's first two books but this one is even better. I look forward to the next book with enthusiasm. I recommend it highly.

If you missed the interview for "Tomorrow We Die", a previous book from Shawn Grady, and would like to listen to it and/or interviews with other authors and professionals please go to Kingdom Highlights where they are available On Demand.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Falls Like Lightning

Falls Like Lightning - By Shawn Grady
Published by Bethany House Publishers

Falls Like Lightning was provided to me free of charge from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my review.

Silas Kent is a smoke jumper - a man who jumps out of a plane, and then fights fires from the ground - WITHOUT water.

He never expected to meet Elle again, but when she is assigned to pilot the plane Silas and his team are jumping from, Silas begins to regret the mistake he made with her years ago. Elle, on the other hand, has her hands full being a single mother with a high risk job. She's been hurt enough, and wants no part of Silas anymore.

Before they can start to at least rebuild their friendship, Silas is assigned to fight a huge forest fire in the same forest that Elle has flown over inch by inch following a horrible tragedy with her father. So naturally, Elle is assigned to pilot the plane yet again.

When a freak accident leaves Silas on the ground, barely escaping with his life, and Elle possibly dead from the plane crash, Silas sets out to find the downed plane even while fighting the fire with a new crew.

As he searches, he realizes he has much more to fear than the raging fire itself.

Falls Like Lightning was a good read. Not a favorite book of mine, but good for contemporary Christian Fiction/Suspense. I learned a bit about Fire Jumping and the sacrifices men and women make for our communities every day. And for that I am extremely thankful.

Falls Like Lightning by Shawn Grady was a quick read for me. I appreciated the action throughout the book and there were definitely a few good plot twists. But, I had the strangest reaction overall to this book. I felt like I would have rather watched it as a movie then read it. I have never felt like that before about a book.

The two main characters, smokejumper Silas Kent and pilot Elle Westmore have pasts that are connected, and are brought together again durning a terrible fire in the Sierra Nevadas. It doesn't take long before Silas learns that he cannot trust his new jumping crew, and things go from bad to worse for Silas when he sees Ellie's plane crash in the middle of the raging fire.
Throughout the book, I felt more connected to the overall storyline than to any of the individual characters. I didn't ride any type of emotional roller coaster while reading it, but I feel like I might on a big screen. I got a bit bogged down with some of the technical parts of the book, like the descriptions of the airplane and jumping gear, something I couldn't relate to at all.

Overall, the book was just alright. Not great, but not bad. Just rather neutral. I did like the Shawn Grady's writing style, and would probably read more books he's written. This one in particular didn't leave me very satisfied, but if I ever see it coming to a theater near me, I'll be the first in line for tickets.

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers. I am not required to write a positive review, and my opinion given here is and always will be 100% my own.