Customer Reviews

Freefall

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Imagine a fear, a notion, so intense that you know you need to run. Imagine dragging yourself instinctively through dangerous mountains and treacherous waters to safety, not sure of where you are. Now imagine that not only do you not know where you are, but who you are. In Kristen Heitzmann's Freefall, Jade, later identified as the newly risen star, Gentry Fox, encounters these exact thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Freefall will capture readers with its intensity, honesty, and believability. Heitzmann emphasizes the importance of these attributes throughout her novel. Her use of Gentry's traumatic memory loss as a tool to lead us through every page, to give us important glimpses into the story, is phenomenal. A simple anecdote or experience tells us everything necessary about Gentry and her relationships with those around her.

The relation of one character to another deeply impacts the plotline as a whole. (It is evident that Heitzmann understood the importance of character bonding when she wrote Freefall.) Cameron, "Kai," and Gentry develop such a natural and connected relationship, overcoming their past and present, that we could easily meet them at the restaurant down the road or the church on the corner. The detail so meticulously put into every character and every scene allows us to identify with, and truly understand, the characters Heitzmann has brought to life.

When Gentry Fox awakens in the mountains of Kauai, she has no idea who she is. She experiences severe pain, and she knows nothing beyond her need for safety. In order to find that safety, she walks with determination to the nearest home, which belongs to a Hawaiian local named Monica. When Monica sees this downtrodden young woman approaching her yard, she fears that once again someone has come to her to find peace but then will pass on to a better life. Despite this fear, she lets Gentry in, and she calls her brother, a fraud investigator, to help identify her. With the presence of Cameron comes some of Gentry's memory; at first, just enough for her to remember that she was not traveling alone. In time, more and more of her memories open up. As they reveal themselves and events unfold, Gentry realizes that someone was out to kill her uncle, whether or not she was in the line of fire.

The reality of the characters throughout Freefall adds an element of closeness, a bond with the readers. The bond allows readers to view Cameron, Gentry, Monica, and all of the other characters as personal friends--not as fictional people only existing on paper. Heitzmann uses flaws and setbacks that we are all familiar with in our own lives to help us relate to the characters' lives. They have broken hearts, broken families, and even broken bodies. The characters experience and overcome real issues, through which they encourage others to do the same.

Kristen Heitzmann will engage your heart, mind, and spirit with this well-written novel. A blend of drama, mystery, romance, and humor, Freefall satisfies the yearnings of many different types of readers. Whether folks read avidly or infrequently, for education or entertainment, all will be swept away by this incredible book. [...]

Before reading this book, I had pretty much given up on the entire genre.

I am a character reader first, and Christian books these days tend to substitute flesh and blood and feelings for sermonizing dialogue and overall sanitation. How am I to sympathize with a one-dimensional paper doll of a person? I'm not saying Christian books should emulate secular ones in terms of profanity, comedic or sadistic violence, or explicit sex. I am saying that life is gritty at times, that even those ready to "give an answer for the hope that is within" us sometimes struggle with those answers. Our fellows in fiction, however, usually find perfect peace with everything ten pages from the end of the book. They also rarely do anything wrong or possess any real flaws; if they've had it rough, they're victims on the path to 10-pages-from-the-end forgiveness.

Christian fiction also has a tell-all approach to writing, and usually that "all" is revealed in the first chapter of the book (unless it's a deliberate case of Deep Dark Secrets). If a character is angry, we are told, "His anger was intense." If a character's heart is breaking, we are told, "She could feel her heart breaking." Subtlety, figurative language, individual character response to situations--lost arts, all.

Of course, I'm speaking from my own reading experience. Anyone with title recommendations for me, please comment (but if Dee Henderson is your idea of great literature, we're not on the same page).

With this (legitimate, I say) chip on my shoulder, I stumbled upon Kristen Heitzmann's Freefall. I read the back cover. Not the first amnesia plot ever, or the first guy-protects-girl plot ever, but the combination was sufficiently intriguing that I read the first two pages. I, a library reader, bought the book and finished it shortly.

Heitzmann's characters do indeed "leap off the page." Jade's moral dilemmas relating to her career are refreshingly real, and no quickie solution is offered. Her determination and vulnerability as she regains her memories are well-portrayed. Cameron is an even deeper character--hiding a broken heart behind gruff suspicion, terrified of the world's propensity to steal what he loves, and continuing to believe in God despite it all, just no longer willing to trust Him. When summed up that way, neither of these characters sounds original, but they are. Jade's version of strength is willingness to trek into the Hawaiian wild by herself before asking a man who doesn't believe her for help. Cameron's version of heavenward fist-shaking is to pit his surfboard against the sea and beat it one wave at a time. What makes these characters work? A familiar core demonstrated by original quirks--quirks that at times actually drive the plot, rather than being submerged in it.

In addition, this woman can write. She takes the time to construct some interesting similes; her verbs don't require a parade of adverbs to be specific. A pitiless editor could have slimmed the book down slightly, and mitigated a bit of melodrama from Rob's and Allegra's points of view, but these are hardly mortal flaws.

Of course, expect the main characters to end up together. But Heitzmann's approach is less syrupy than most Christian romance, and she finds a clean, honest balance that most don't attempt. The attraction between Jade and Cameron is rooted in their souls, not their bodies, yet this author acknowledges the physical desires of men and women without shoving soiled details into her readers' heads.

All in all, highly recommended, both for fans of Christian fiction, and for ex-fans like me.

Wow! Freefall left me speechless by the time I finished the story. At first I thought, "I love Kristen Heitzmann. I've read all of her historicals and they were awesome. This'll probably be good, but not as good as her past novels." WRONG! The suspense was incredible. The plot intricate. The setting exotic (nothing like spending time on the beach on not getting a sunburn. I think I even learned how to surf without hitting a single wave.) The romance also sizzled. Of course, those who know me know I love the edgier stuff (in other words, the passion and realism of romantic tension) and this baby is packed with it! The perpetrators and thugs were believeable and unlikeble--as they should be. I felt the heroine's fear, her confusion, her passion. Boy, that was a wild ride! I liked how the author occasionally inserted another person's POV to give you that person's perspective. Sweet. Overall, I'd have to say that this is the best romantic suspense novel I've EVER read. I mean EVER! I give Freefall ten stars!

With December just around the corner, I imagined I had read all of the best books of 2006. By the end of the first chapter of Freefall I knew I was mistaken!

Set on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, Freefall commences with a woman tumbling down a waterfall and the testing of Monica Pierce's fragile emotions. Monica's instinctive compassion welcomes the beautiful but injured stranger into her home, her memory lost due to the traumatic fall. Monica names her Jade. As a result of a tragic childhood, Monica has always relied heavily on her protective older brother, Cameron, an insurance fraud investigator living on the mainland. Monica calls him to utilise his investigative skills to determine Jade's identity. Upon his arrival, Jade's reluctance to contact the police places Cameron's suspicions into overdrive and another man's life in the balance.

When Jade's identity is confirmed as the latest Hollywood "it" actress, Gentry Fox, the ugly side of such fame threatens to overwhelm her as she struggles to remember her past. Cameron's immediate derision of her occupation and the lifestyle he imagines Gentry has sought, is tempered as Gentry's strength of character emerges as they search for answers to the tragedy that befell her. In turn, Gentry glimpses Cameron's cynical and hardened exterior for what it is, a damaged heart and soul, following the early loss of his parents and his wife's more recent betrayal. Cameron resists his attraction to Gentry as danger continues to haunt her. The suspense ramps up and the relationships of all characters are tested as unscrupulous people seek to destroy Gentry's image and possibly, her life.

Kristin Heitzmann has written a powerful novel of suspense alongside a beautiful character study of the fragile yet indestructible nature of human emotions. Her characters have depth and authenticity, from Gentry and Cameron through to blind Okelani, Monica and police officer, TJ Kanakanui. The book delves into issues of integrity, the allure of wealth, the burden of guilt and the miraculous and forgiving nature of God. Secrets and Unforgotten are must read books but Kirstin Heitzmann has trumped even those with Freefall.

I have to say that this is one of the most engaging, gripping story I have ever read. I am a big of Kristen Heitzmann's and I have to say that this story is one of my favourite stories ever by her. She describes the setting on the Kauai Island in Hawaiian Islands so vividly that I imagined myself actually being on the beautiful island. Gentry Fox and Cameron Pierce are wonderful, unique and yet "real-life" characters. I enjoyed every bit of the suspense, the mystery as Gentry (Jade) tries to remember what caused her accident and to piece back the details of her life back together. I couldn't put the story down til I have read to the last page!

First I want to say that I think that this book has one of the most beautiful covers I've seen in a while. I just love the waterfall and all the shades of blue in the scenery. And you notice how everyone always looks better when their hair is blowing in the breeze?

A mysterious girl who can't remember anything about herself is found on the island of Kauai. Mysterious circumstances surround her and those who try to help her including Cameron, a lawyer who takes it into his hands to protect the girl. Bits and pieces of her memory begin to come back, and it is found that the girl is a famous award wining actress Gentry Fox. Gentry, had left her Hollywood life due to scandal, soon finds herself facing someone who is threatening her life and those around her.

I always think that Hawaii is always a great place to have a book setting. It's exotic yet familiar at the same time. The descriptions of the places in the book are lovely and make you feel like you are really there. I liked the book and the suspense storyline, although I felt that the book summary played too much on the Jade/amnesia thing too much, as Gentry gets her memory back pretty quickly in the story. Cameron was a good male lead, even though I felt that his and Gentry's relationship felt a little rushed. His ex-wife was annoying and actually reminded me of Addison from Grey's Anatomy. This book gave an interesting look into the movie industry and what an actress really has to go through. It's not all smiling for cameras and signing autographs. People will do anything to move up in the industry and they will pay any price to reach their goals. I thought it was interesting about how the young boy allowed himself to go along with the story about his "affair" with Gentry, never really thinking about how it really affected the both of them. I also liked the struggle with the kissing scenes that Gentry has while she is acting. They're not "real kisses" but it's very hard to not be involved when you are being intimate with someone. Maybe that's why so many Hollywood couples break up. Very interesting when you think about how the lives of movie stars may not be everything that you see on TV or in magazines.

The story gets a little long near the end, but I still enjoyed it. Kristen Heitzmann has put out another great book.

I can't say I loved this book. It was well-written (what else would you expect from Heitzmann?) and the characters were fully developed and believable. The story itself was intriguing and fresh. What caught me by surprise was that the story started out as a thriller, then with about 150 pages to go slipped into a romance, then morphed into a thriller again at the climax. I must say this, though, kudos to Heitzmann and Bethany House for pushing the envelope with the romantic elements as far as CBA fiction goes (it got quite racey at times). Overall, Freefall was a solid book, a little long (over 460 pages), but written well enough to sustain the story.

I bought this book off of amazon.com, sight unseen - which is always a little risky, isn't it? But I've read almost every one of Kristen Heitzmann's novels and this one won't disappoint you. In fact, I couldn't put it down....so, once you start it, carve out some time, because it's one that will keep you up all night long, turning to the next chapter!

I think it is longer than her other novels, but all the more to enjoy! One reviewer said 'racey' but I thought it all very inline with Christian romance, and nothing inappropriate, whatsoever. In fact, her main characters have morals and values with boundaries and limits that are superbly modeled here, but does not rob the reader of romance and our inherent thrill of witnessing a new relationship blossom with that new love tension!

Heitzmann blends the suspense thriller with romance and gives us a look inside what trusting in God really means. Nothing religious, just a personal relationship with the Heavenly Father and authentic, real, raw faith of the story's characters.

Heitzmann's writing doesn't follow formulas, like some books, where you KNOW from the beginning how the book will pan out before you even read it.

Heitmann's plots are cleverly written and developed, with characters whom you know well enough by the end of the book, that you can almost imagine them walking off the pages right into your home!

I would totally recommend this newest one of Heitzmann's and if you haven't read any of her others, "A Rush of Wings" is one of my favorites! I found her books by accident in the library one day with "Honor's Pledge" and ever since, became hooked! ENJOY!

freelance author/writer of Maggie Seeks the Kingdom of God

Author Kristen Heitzmann sends us to the edge with her book, `Freefall'. The story unfolds on the beautiful island of Kauai; Ms. Heitzmann captivates us with her beautiful description of the islands' foliage and atmosphere.

You can feel the ocean mist come down the mountains with the main character, Jade, whose loss of memory leaves her searching for who she is and how she came to be on the island.

Native Monica Pierce helps administer the healing solitude that Jade desperately needs and enlists the help of her investigator brother Cameron. Tormented by the hazy memory of the person she left in the mountains, Jade struggles to piece together the clues of her identity and make sense of the attraction she begins to feel for Cameron.

As the truth unfolds Jade and Cameron are thrown in to a whirlpool of chaos. Cameron battles his feelings of betrayal over a past hurt and the scandal that descends over Jade's existence. Jade must learn to lean on God's peace and understanding amidst a world writhing in deceit, selfishness and pain.

Through it all a beacon of hope shines through as Ms. Heitzmann shows us in a triumphant way, how with God, all things are possible.

Freefall is a splendid story of intrigue, suspense and discovery set in the culture of the Hawaiian Islands. After an accident while hiking, a woman loses her memory and wanders into the home of a local resident. The local woman summons her brother, an investigator, from the mainland. The hiker's memory begins to return early in the story but that's when the real mystery begins.

This story reveals several ironies. When a wife of 29 years has an affair, the husband asks her forgiveness. When a movie star kisses her co-star, her boyfriend finds hope. Crazy happenings reveal God's redemptive love.

The description of the Hawaiian Islands will have you surfing the net for airfares.

Good job, Kristen Heitzmann!