Freefall: A High Risk Novel (Paperback)

by JoAnn Ross (Author) "In her dreams, Hallie Conroy was married to a hottie heart surgeon who could have graced the cover of any of the romance novels she..." (more)
Key Phrases: Swann Island, Whispering Pines, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In this first in a trilogy Ross is developing on ex–Special Forces men reacclimating to civilian life, ex-SEAL Zach Tremayne returns to his South Carolina small town to try to forget the horrors of the Iraq War. Sabrina Swann has returned to recover from a terrorist attack on the Italian hotel where she was waitressing. As the fragile pair rekindle their attraction from youth, a serial killer stalks the serene community, torturing and murdering women and closing in on Sabrina. While Ross has a good handle on the intricacies of smalltown life, the shared PTSD of her protagonists doesn't make for the easiest of romances, and Tremayne's trauma disappears when it is no longer convenient to the story. (Feb.)
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Review
Ross kicks off a searing new trilogy. . . All the patented Ross sizzle and drama make this time well spent! -- Jill M. Smith, Romantic Times

"An intense thriller. . . .the perfect edge of your seat mystery. . . will most definitely blow you away." -- Kate Garrabrant, Romance Reviews Today

"Freefall will keep you on the edge of your seat. . . .keeps you guessing until the end. . . impossible to put down! -- Amy LaVora, NovelTalk

5 STARS! ". . .not only sizzles with romance, but explodes with action and intrigue. . . a phenomenal read. -- Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews

A romantic thriller that sizzles with passion and danger. . . an ending you must read to believe. What an incredible story! -- Suzanne Tucker, Fresh Fiction

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Signet; High Risk Novel. edition (February 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451223209
• ISBN-13: 978-0451223203
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,971 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overpopulated 3.5 star romantic suspense, April 22, 2008

By	Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Terrorism has a profound and lasting effect on Sabrina Swann and Zach Tremayne who return to the small southern island they call home. Sabrina fled Italy after surviving a terrorist bombing at the hotel she managed; Zach is a SEAL involved in a disastrous and deadly mission that left many of his teammates dead. Working construction for his father, Zach and Sabrina run into each other when he is working on her family's tea plantation that she recently inherited. Sabrina has always had a crush on Zach and hopes he doesn't remember the night she threw herself at him before he went of to join the service. Also on their tiny island community lurks a serial killer who is upping his body count, and Sabrina is suddenly on his radar.

I love pretty much everything Ross writes, but this one was just not the knock out I was hoping for. It is so overpopulated. There are so many characters introduced in the first couple chapters that I kept backtracking trying to tell them apart. The chemistry between the lead characters is off the charts - no surprise there - but the ending was so anti-climatic. It was as if Ross was charged with writing a 382 page novel and got to 375 and decided she needed to end it already. What should have been a spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat ending was instead a haiku, Scooby Doo ending where the killer would have gotten away had it not been for that meddlesome SEAL. Just way too abrupt. I also could not understand why Zach was the responsible one in the mission gone awry - it was never really explained. But that won't stop me from checking out her next novel, because even a mediocre Ross novel is pretty well written!

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More Like 3.5 Stars!, February 13, 2008

By	Cherise Everhard (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Sabrina Swann is living in Italy when she is involved in a life altering and terrifying event. Seeking a little break from her life she returns to her family tea plantation on the southern island, Swann Island.

Zach Tremayne has left the Navy SEALs and has also come home to Swan Island to recover from a traumatic situation. He is doing construction work for his father's company and he is pleasantly surprised at how Sabrina has grown up.

This is an engaging read and I enjoyed it, however, I didn't love it. There is so much going on in this story and for me it was way too much. First you have the tragic and separate events that bring Zach and Sabrina home. You have the romance between Sabrina and Zach, and then there is one between side characters Nate and Tatiana. Then you have a killer on the loose targeting women. Ms. Ross then sets up what I think is going to be a part of one of the future books with the addition of the reoccurring character, Cait Cavanaugh. There are also about 3 other 'stories' going on that I couldn't mention without spoiling a lot of the story.

The one thing that really lowered the rating on this book was the conclusion to one of the conflicts that is present throughout the story. It is literally discovered, confronted, and solved in 5 pages at the very end of the book. For me it was very anticlimactic and completely ridiculous. The other thing that lowered my rating for me was something that had to do with Tatiana, we never find out what really happened and it's kind of a big deal.

Despite the flaws I enjoyed this book; I am glad I read it and even glad I bought it. She does a fantastic job of setting up the sleepy southern town and making her characters come to life. I am looking forward to the next in the series, Crossfire (September 2008), which is going to feature Cait Cavanaugh and one for my favorite reoccurring characters, Brendan O'Neill, both of whom appeared in Out of the Storm (Stewart Sisters Trilogy) and Blaze.

Cherise Everhard, February 2008

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So much going on!, March 25, 2008

By	Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Sabrina Swann had just been made general manager of an upscale hotel in Florence, Italy, when the hotel was blown up from under her. Seeking refuge as she recovers, Sabrina returns to her home turf, Swann Island, South Carolina. The local population of the sleep Southern Island has always been small, not including the tourists, so everyone knows everything about everyone. Before Sabrina had fully moved into the Swannsea estate, everyone knew she had returned and what had happened in Italy. The last person she expected to encounter on Swann Island is Zachariah "Zach" Tremayne. Zach had stole Sabrina's heart when she was a teen, gently declined her invitation to give him her most precious gift, and eventually left to become a Navy S.E.A.L. Sabrina had no idea Zach had left the military, but she recognized the pain in his eyes which was so similar to her own. Zach was home to heal as well. Though the former S.E.A.L. still had "warrior" written all over him, he was currently helping his father with the family construction business.

Zach cannot forget the horror he saw in his last battle in the Afghan mountains. Slowly he has been recovering. Flashbacks occur rarely now and Zach is beginning to believe he may live after all. Seeing Sabrina "New York" is a pleasure. He always knew she would go far. He also knew she would bloom, but she now outshines all his expectations. If Sabrina were to offer herself again, he would gratefully accept, as long as there were no permanent strings.

Word spreads quickly about the bodies found. Murder has not happened on Swann Island in about sixteen years, and that one was an accident due to too much drinking. Sheriff Nathaniel "Nate" Spencer has his hands full trying to find what is looking to be the beginning of a serial killer. Even though Nate is a former Marine, with a Silver Star, he still feels that he is under a microscope. Everyone on the island is watching to see if he would be half as good at the job as his father had been. Danger is hunting local prey and with each death Nate finds it more difficult not to crack. All his people, his friends, and his (hopefully someday soon) family could be in the cross hairs of a murderer's rifle scope.

***** As you can tell by the synopsis I wrote, there is A LOT going on here. Sabrina and Zach are the main characters/couple. But Nate and Titania (Sabrina's best friend) have their own moments. This is a stand alone story; however, it looks as though this may be the first in a series upon the island. I hope so, because this story not only sizzles with romance, but explodes with action and intrigue. Be warned there is a scene of a lady "being forced". I know some readers cannot read such, so consider yourself forewarned. Nothing too graphic though, in my opinion. All-in-all, I found this to be a phenomenal read that will keep you engrossed until way past your bed time. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.