Freefall

Saint Squad #1

by Traci Hunter Abramson

Lieutenant Brent Miller arrived in the Middle East with one objective―get seven hostages out of a hostile country. The plan almost worked. But now he has been left behind―with one of the hostages. It's up to Brent to get Amy Whitmore, an LDS Senator's daughter, across miles of desert to safety. What he doesn't know is that to survive, he needs her as much as she needs him.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Romance, Lds, Fiction, Suspense, Adventure, Mystery

242 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Traci Hunter Abramson was born in Arizona, where she lived until moving to Venezuela for a study-abroad program. After graduating from Brigham Young University, she worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for several years, eventually resigning in order to raise her family. She credits the CIA with giving her a wealth of ideas as well as the skills needed to survive her children's teenage years. She is a eight-time Whitney Award winner and has written more than forty bestselling novels. For more information about Traci, click here: https://linktr.ee/traciabramson

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my friends gave this to me for my birthday. I used to read a lot of Mormon-lit in high school, but it's been awhile since I've picked one up. It was enjoyable, not fabulous, but enjoyable. Mormon-lit is always just a little too predictable and everything always works out so perfectly. Amy Whitmore is a Mormon and it just so happens that an all Mormon Navy Seals team is the one that saves her. It just so happens that Amy is a great artist and can draw sketches of the terrorists, it just so happens that Brent happens to be there when Amy is in danger....on and on the "just so happens" crop up.

If what you are looking for is a book about a good looking young woman with a lot of money (so no struggles that way) who happens to meet a handsome, strong, man who is capapable of getting out of any bad situation (so no struggles that way)and they both happen to be members of the same religion (so no struggles that way), then this is the book for you.

Personally, I am little jaded with the "perfect mormon romance" story, so while I enjoyed this little adventure, it wasn't my favorite thing. What I would like to see in Mormon-lit is a story about someone whose life and faith is not so perfect, but they manage to struggle through and survive anyway. Just a titch more reality would be nice.

[Yourldsneighborhood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I absolutely love Traci Hunter Abramson's work. I am a judge for the Whitney Awards, a literary award. One of Traci's books was a finalist and I saw that it wasn't the first in the serious. I read the first couple of pages, loved the way she wrote and ran out and book the other two books and read those before reading the required reading. Loved the whole series. She's a fantastic writer and it's a great book.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fast paced. Sometimes I did think, that is a bit too convenient. I started with an abridged audio copy which made it a bit choppy. Was able to finish reading it on Libby. Better. Fun but does have a lot of convenient coincidences.

[Kathy * Bookworm Nation · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve seen these books popping up here and there and finally decided to read them. I thought this was the first, but I guess It’s actually Abramson’s fourth book (I think it’s the first in this series though?). Overall, I enjoyed the story. There is plenty of action and romance. I liked Amy’s character, she is sharp, understanding and knows how to take care of herself. There were a few times that I thought she sounded too good to be true. For example, there are about 17 terrorists that kidnap her, when she is rescued she is able to draw most if not all their sketches (not only does she remember them but she draws them herself). Eye witness testimony is so unreliable anyway, and for her to remember so many different faces under those circumstances seemed a little too farfetched for me. But, it’s a fiction novel, so who cares, right? Anyway, I thought Brent was okay. He didn’t come across as tough as I would have liked, but I did like his character. They had good chemistry together and I thought their story evolved well. I enjoyed the story and plan on reading the rest of the series.

I think the cover is a little misleading, the White House isn't in the story at all but is the main featuer on the cover...just an observation.

Bookworm Rating: 3.5

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book and loved it! It has a lot of adventure and romance, which are my favorites! Appearantly there's a pre-quel to it I was unaware of, but I was fine not to have read it first. (That's one of my pet-peeves about LDS fiction.) However, I'm going to check it out next because I loved this book so much.

[Marilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out with a bang. Amy Whithouse, daughter of a U.S. senator, is working for the U.S. embassy in a middle eastern country when seven of them are taken hostage. The story follows Amy part of the time and the team of Navy Seals the rest of the time. It's action packed and a fairly quick read. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series and I think there are prequels, too.

[Donna Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Lieutenant Brent Miller arrived in the Middle East with one objective--get seven hostages out of a hostile country. The plan almost worked. But now he has been left behind--with one of the hostages. It's up to Brent to get Amy Whitmore, a US Senator's daughter, across miles of desert to safety. What he doesn't know is that to survive, he needs her as much as she needs him.

MY TAKE
I've been wanting to read the whole series again. It just came to my attention that they'd FINALLY done audiobooks for the older books in this series. WOOHOO! Still love this book. The narrator did a great job!

[Jenn (YeahOrNeighReviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started this book and instantly was on my toes. I had a hard time putting it down, and even cancelled plans so I could finish it tonight! Can't wait to read more of the series.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series all over again

[Kacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you just have to re-listen to an old favorite!

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book just grabs you and holds on, causing you to read way late into the night when you should be sleeping. This was just such a book for me.

There has been a lot going on in my mind lately, As such, I wondered if that was why it took me so long to get through the last book I read. I anticipated the same of this book--a good book that was in direct competition with my life.

This book worked its way around my life and found itself in my hands engaged with the story at all possible moments. It's been a while since I've been so immersed in a quick, yet really good read.

I'm looking forward to the next in this series.

[Clarissa Voracek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the greatest book ever written, but for an LDS audience, this hits the mark. I’m not a huge fan of this kind of genre, so this book wasn’t for me. But if I had an LDS friend who wanted to read a clean book with lots of action, I’d recommend this book.

[Berkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this entire book in about three hours, and it was soo good! I really like all of the characters, and I found myself laughing at many of the things that they said. I can't wait to read the second one!!

[Kristina Rasmussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the characters. It didn’t get too cheesy. It was kind of refreshing to have all the action and intensity without any vulgarity.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freefall is the first book in the Saint Squad series and I first 'met' Brent and Amy in the Guardians series. I wasn't disappointed with this suspense novel at all. The level of intensity was kept up during the entire story. That's always a winner in my books, enough that I have gone on to read the second one in this series with Tristan Crowther.

[Jessica Plowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, well paced a bit predictable but a great read.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating 3.7
A daughter-in-law recommended I read a series of books by Traci Hunter Abramson. I randomly chose this series (Saint Squad) and started with book 1. It turns out this is the most popular series.
The book was entertaining and the characters likable and it kept my interest. The author worked previously for the CIA and that helped with authenticism. All in all, it was worth a read, but not high-quality literature. If in the mood for something light and entertaining (and clean), would recommend the books.

Summary: Lieutenant Brent Miller arrived in the Middle East with one objective―get seven hostages out of a hostile country. The plan almost worked. But now he has been left behind―with one of the hostages. It's up to Brent to get Amy Whitmore, an LDS Senator's daughter, across miles of desert to safety. What he doesn't know is that to survive, he needs her as much as she needs him.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first book in Abramson's Saint Squad series is even better on second reading and now that I've been through the entire series once. Abramson is writing the best LDS romance/suspense fiction out there; I usually get this type of book at the library but have purchased her entire "collection" as I know I will want to reread them. Abramson's background in the CIA and her research on the Navy SEALs and military and intelligence matters provide excellent background for stories that begin with incredible situations and develop into credible, interesting plots with fine characters. Her romantic leads tend to struggle with questions about each other on their own--sometimes reaching the wrong conclusions--instead of discussing their concerns with each other, but that could be a reflection of their youth (20s, maybe early 30s) and the need to keep the romantic tension going while the plot works out. A small distraction; I highly recommend these books for those who enjoy this genre.

On rereading, this book holds up very well--I'm rereading the entire series.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traci is a Whitney Award winner for two books in the Saint Squad series. Freefall is the first book in this series. It was published in 2011.

I love the strong women in Traci’s book. They think fast on their feet, can cop an attitude when necessary, but are feminine at the same time. One thing I love about Freefall is that it pulls off both the fast and furious action along with the relationships and romance. Brent and Amy are one of my favorite couples. I like that Traci incorporates her knowledge of working for the CIA in this series. Each book in the series is a stand-alone, but readers do learn more of the navy seals’ team interactions through each additional book.


Rating: 5 Stars - I loved it
Content: Kissing, Espionage type violence (not graphic)
Source: Purchased copy

[Sierra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nah. A military thriller/Christian romance. Apparently not my genre.
“Falling out of that helicopter was the best thing that ever happened to me.” 🫤
After being in active war zones and being mobilized to fight terrorism, our male hero stepped up to a “true act of bravery” by (spoiler alert) asking a father for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Whaaaat?
In addition, our early-twenties heroine was a journalist in an active war zone, then privy to classified meetings and intel, and then was called up to help a mission in Turkey on a secure aircraft carrier - all within A MONTH. I am used to suspending reality a bit for novels, but Come. On.
And I literally rolled my eyes when the same heroine said she was less scared of her Navy SEAL love interest not coming home from a mission one day, than she was of him not being as in love with her as she was with him. Cringe.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brent Miller and his four Navy Seal Teammates work together to rescue 7 hostages in the Middle East, then by an accident, he and Amy Whitworth, a senator's daughter, are left behind, so they need to find their own way out by depending on each other for survival. They use every means of survival. After being rescued, and then being protected by the Secret Service, as there've been biological weapons being planted in cities around the world, the Team, with Amy's assistance, tries to thwart the terrorists. When there's a leak close to the senator, Brent and his team snuff out the culprit. Learning about the ways of a Navy Seal makes for interesting reading. If you like twists and turns with some humor tucked in, you'll want to run to your nearest LDS bookstore to buy this page-turner.

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book and I definitely enjoyed it. Amy Whitmore is a hostage behind enemy lines and he first part of the book is her and Lieutenant Brent Miller of the Navy SEALs struggle to get to safety. The second half describes attempts to keep Amy safe when other hostages (ones that were with Amy) are killed. Amy and Brent also find biological warfare threats against the US. I don't mind about the CIA or Navy SEALs but most of the book was believable. Not the part where Amy starts working for the CIA despite not applying to the CIA or having the normal clearance procedure or that she so much better at the job than people who have been working for over five years. But if you can overlook some minor things that don't seem all that realistic it was good! Ages 13+

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this squeaky clean action/thriller with a bit of a love story thrown in. The writing was a bit amateurish - the characters were not developed enough, especially at the beginning. All of a sudden the two main characters were holding hands? What?
And the end was very abrupt. I literally turned the page thinking there was more story, and was startled to see that it was the end!
I don't know if I'll read any more of this series. But it was totally clean and appropriate. It just wasn't that well done.

[Jace · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have seen nachos with less cheese, this book was almost painful to finish, I listened to it on CD and the narrator's utah county accent was terrible - hun gup, findin gyou, etc. the long "g" was terrible the navy seals were allowed to fly f-15's and the worst was a navy seal named Tristan who was supposed to have a southern accent but it sounded much more like a spanish fork accent. Anyway not impressed.

[AnnMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another one of my favorite kinds of reads. Modern day secret warfare complete with Navy SEALS and terrorist threats. How do you explain that? It's not too descriptive though so my stomache can handle it. Also with a love story. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good clean love story with a little action thrown in. I read it in one night. Probably shouldn't have, I was way too tired the next day but it was worth it.

[Amy Halbern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had me hooked from start to finish. My friend Diana Recommended this book to me and oh boy I am so glad she did!! I loved how there was such a great adventure, romance, fighting for what you want and believe in and solving problems all tied up in one! So many great characters, including such a great storyline!!! I loved the end. I couldn't have asked for a better ending! Highly recommend this book!!!

[Kristi Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars. The plot was good - although a bit far fetched as far as a civilian getting a job after being rescued from terrorists.
Also found it far fetched that she could sketch all of her captors herself - several of them. And the romance story bothered me a little - it was too much of I love her/him - I can’t have her in my life. A little too much for me - but the story was good and it did keep my interest enough to finish the book.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story, but somewhat predictable on certain parts. I really like Amy Whitmore as a character. I love that she was an intelligent capable woman. I thought Brent's character focused way too much on what could happen to enjoy what was happening in his life at the present time. I suppose that I have been guilty of that at certain times.

October 2024- I enjoyed this book even more than I did the last time. I wanted to reread this story after reading Disconnect.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author's style of writing, just enough suspense with the mingling of the relationship on the horizon. amy, a senators daughter becomes a hostage in a foreign country and while the navy seals try to rescue her she falls out of the helicopter after the door she is sitting by is blown off. one of the seals goes out after her...

[Hollie Robb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done. The story was very refreshing. Traci didn't keep the same argument going over and over and over. After reading two books like that; this one was a breath of fresh air. Thank you Traci for not putting me though such agony.