Heitzmann’s novel begins with Jade’s nearly poetic struggle to survive. Her words are beautiful, mesmerizing. The island of Kauai is a major character. The author uses great skill in the gradual revelations of the heroine’s past. The reader learns of Jade’s scandal and fame slowly, building to a great climax.

The romance with Cameron, Nica’s brother, is highly effective. He has been wounded by a previous romance, and is highly skeptical of Jade’s story. He investigates fraud for insurance companies and has the connections needed to help Jade discover what really happened and why.

There are several intriguing relationships here. Cameron is unusually protective of his sister and still entangled by his ex-wife Myra. Jade, at first, has no idea who her hiking companion had been, or why they were in Hawaii. And she has no idea why the press is so interested in her story.

Faith in God is an integral part of this book, but the Almighty does not solve problems here, He simply give this characters the strength to cope. Heitzmann’s tale is not preachy, just thoroughly engrossing.

Each of the characters has an interesting backstory, revealed in a graceful and tantalizing manner. Clues and details are dispensed slowly, and the reader comes to understand the motives of both the heroes and the villains. There are interesting issues relating to the privacy of public personalities. There are no loose ends -- everything makes sense in the end. This is a satisfying and extremely well-written suspense novel.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Sweet

Reviewer: Lynn Bushey
November 28, 2007