Into the Fire

There are four things you can count on when you read a Kristen Heitzmann novel. In every book you will find a few quirky characters, an unusual and imaginative story, passionate people, and great dialogue. Kristen’s latest release Indivisible is no exception to her rules.

Police Chief Jonah Westfall replaced his father as the head cop in Redford, Colorado, a small town ready for expansion at the base of mountains. Tia Manning makes candles and operates the shop her mother owns in absentia and uses her online psychology degree to operate a telephone service called Hopeline. Tia’s parents and sister and her family live in Arizona—all estranged from Tia, the less than perfect daughter and sister so many years ago. Piper rents a room from Tia and bakes for the infirm old soldier Sarge who cuts her no slack and tolerates no changes in his bakery. The new veterinarian Liz sets up her practice just outside of town and meets Chief Jonah when he brings her two mangled raccoons which were sown together in what looks like a possible cult killing. The big tall Miles buys tapers from Tia because they’re untouched by human hands. 

Each one of these characters suffers from either familial or situational trauma or both. Facing their own struggles with varying degrees of success and failure, the Chief also faces the deep pull of his former alcoholism and the consistent rejection of his love for Tia because of a past mistake. Mixed with his personal problems, the potential for escalating crime with animal mutilations and his suspicions about a meth lab in his territory threaten the safety and peace of the small town.

The multiple twists in this story keep the reader off balance but with ample clues to know some of the situations and perpetrators without figuring out exactly how the circumstances will be resolved.

The UST between Jonah and Tia sparks, fizzles, and ignites again in the face of sadness and danger. Faith in God plays a subdued role in this story but is evident throughout and is credited with ultimately providing relief from some of the traumas in these damaged lives.

Using some fascinating quotes to head up each chapter, the reader is drawn into the indivisible depth of the joining of hearts and bodies in noble and ignoble ventures and commitments.

Some of you know I think Kristen Heitzmann writes some of the best romance offered by CBA. This is because it’s honest and at times it sizzles. My favorite lines in this novel read like this: 

***Potential Spoiler***

He looked away and swore, then turned back and gripped her shoulders. “This thing, the way I feel, didn’t happen because of what we did, it’s why we did it.”

     . . .

“That day on the ledge, when you followed me to the eagle nest? I wanted to make love to you. I wanted to take off your clothes and let the sun shine all over you. That’s what I was thinking while we talked about your sister.”  

***End of Spoiler***

Yeah, baby.

Indivisible isn’t my favorite Kristen Heitzmann novel, and I felt it should’ve been longer in order to allow some of the dangling subplots to resolve effectively, but it’s interesting and entertaining, although occasionally the relationship between Tia and Jonah gets annoying, but considering their ages, I suppose it’s par.

http://http://www.amazon.com/Indivisible-Novel-Kristen-Heitzmann/dp/140007309X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275621270&sr=1-1

Lord, I pray your blessing over Kristen, that you would continue to give her fresh stories and opportunities to write those longer novels she does so well. I pray for your continued direction in her writing and in all she does to honor you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.