Typically, my favorite books are those that combine an intense plot with a focus on God and a little bit of romance thrown in. Some of my favorite authors, predictably, are Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, Dee Henderson, and Terri Blackstock. I have read a few of Kristin Heitzman’s novels previously, and I was drawn by the plot summary of her latest work, Indelible.
“Rescuing a toddler from the jaws of a mountain lion, Trevor MacDaniel, a high-country outfitter, sets in motion events he can’t foresee. His act of bravery entwines his life with gifted sculptor Natalie Reeve — and attracts a grim admirer.
Trevor’s need to guard and protect is born of tragedy, prompting his decision to become a search and rescue volunteer. Natalie’s gift of sculpting comes from an unusual disability that seeks release through her creative hands. In each other they see strength and courage as they face an incomprehensible foe.
When a troubled soul views Trevor as archangel and adversary, Redford’s peaceful mountain community is threatened. Together with Police Chief Jonah Westfall, Trevor presses his limits to combat the menace who targets the most helpless and innocent.”
The title itself is intriguing. Indelible–unable to be erased, like the images that are burned into Natalie’s eidetic memory. Natalie has a disability–or a gift–that causes her to retain emotional images in her mind that illuminate not only a person’s external characteristics, but also a bit of their souls. Her sculptures allow her to release those images into clay, and, with the help of her brother, she has moved to the mountains of Redford, Colorado, to open an art studio where she can create and sell her art.
Next door to Natalie is the outdoor adventure shop of Trevor MacDaniel, a man who rescues Natalie’s 2 year old nephew from the jaws of a mountain lion. Trevor’s past has made its own indelible marks–being abandoned by his father, losing his youngest brother, and facing an injury that halted his Olympic skiing career–marks that have created a need to rescue others.
Natalie and Trevor find that they understand each other and grow to love each other as they face an unknown enemy–one who sees Trevor as an avenging Angel and himself as his nemesis. We learn about this enemy through passages he quotes from Paradise Lost and brief accounts of his bizarre actions–actions meant to draw out Trevor and cause him to fail in his role as rescuer. Along the way, we find that even this ‘enemy,’ a man whose very image bears the marks of his past, is not who he seems to be, in part through Natalie’s gift.
Throughout the book, we meet other characters, like Jonas, the chief of police, who also have ‘marks’ on their lives, whether of abuse or alcoholism. And we see how those marks are covered by grace and used for good. Ultimately, this is a story of redemption and grace, as the reader finds him/herself drawn to Natalie’s way of viewing the world, to the heart of a person–the way that God sees him/her.
There are some things in our lives that are indelible, like images on the main character’s mind. They leave marks on us, whether good or bad, that influence the rest of our lives–and the people that we are in contact with. As we see in this story, though, God can give us beauty for ashes. He can help us to use those indelible marks for good–if we choose to let Him, to trust Him.
Ultimately, this is a great story. One caution for readers is that this appears to be a sequel to the novel Indivisible (trailer here), which tells much of the back story that is hinted at in the book. It didn’t keep me from enjoying the story, but I do wish I had read Indivisible first. The only other disappointment for me was that the ending left me hanging. I wanted to know more about what happened to the mysterious ‘enemy.’ Perhaps there will be another book that adds to this series, but the reader is left with an impression that, like many of the other characters, this one, too, will find grace and redemption.
Intrigued? Read the first chapter of Indelible here.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrookMultnomah in exchange for my honest review.