Review: Freefall by Tess Oliver

After leaving high school, with a hard won diploma and the title of most likely to break hearts, Alexander "Nix" Pierce has left his wild, out of control years mostly behind him. A small inheritance from his grandfather has given him the funds to open up his tattoo shop, Freefall, and he has started to pull his life together. Aside from trying to keep his best friend, Dray, from killing himself in the fight ring, and his slight obsession with a pin-up model he's never met, Nix's life is going smoothly . . . until Scotlyn James, the object of his obsession, walks into his shop.

Ever since a tragic accident killed her family and left her alone in the world, Scotlyn James hasn't spoken one word. Up until now she didn't care that she had no way of talking to people. Her awful aunt would never have listened, and Lincoln Hammond the arrogant, selfish man who pulled her from the streets of Los Angeles wouldn't hear her words if she could speak. But when Lincoln insists she get a tattoo to cover up a scar on her side, Scotlyn meets the artist, Nix Pierce. And now she longs for her voice. Now she has found someone who will hear her.


4 Star Review by Faith Dotson

Let me just say, “I melted, melted some more, and melted a lot more.” Alexander “Nix” Pierce stole my heart and is totally SWOON worthy. Barely making it through high school and taking his inheritance from his grandfather and using his artistic ability, he opens his tattoo shop, Freefall. He spends most of his days hanging with Cassie, his assistant, and his nights spent with his best friends Dray,(who he keeps from killing himself in the fighting ring) and Clutch, (who is has an obsession with fixing and selling cars). He and his sister take care of their grandmother, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer. His life is running smoothly till his obsession walks into his tattoo shop, along with the control freak that took her off the streets. Nix knows it’s her from the picture of a pin up model that he keeps in his pocket.

"I’d found the flyer of the pin-up girl on the ground at a car meet. No one knew who she was or if she’s ever modeled again. It was as if she’d never actually existed. Almost as if I’d conjured her up in my mind. But it wasn’t just the beauty of her face that had me so obsessed with the picture, it was the story behind the sultry, sweet expression. It was as if she had a story to tell, and she just needed to find the right person to tell it to.”

Scotlyn James, the beautiful mute, has lived a rough life. She lost her family in a tragic car accident, living with her dreadful aunt, and then out on the streets until Lincoln Hammond found her on the streets and took her in. Hammond, who was very wealthy, gave her everything she needed, except her freedom. He kept a close eye on his little money maker. She doesn’t believe that Hammond would’ve listened to her even if she could talk. Hammond insists that she gets a tattoo that will cover up a scar that she received from the accident. Making arrangements with Nix for after hours only, he takes Scotlyn to the one person who could hear her.

“There was so much I wanted to talk about with Nix that I couldn’t possibly have written it all. Just sitting there for those few minutes, having the lopsided conversation with words and paper, I’d had the urge to tell him everything about me….But there was something about the way he looked at me, the way he listened, that made me feel like I needed to write it. I needed to tell him.”

“I could see Nix swallow beneath the collar of his t-shirt. For what seemed like the hundredth time, he rearranged stuff on his tray, and it seemed he had a hard time looking at me. I’d pushed it too far. I was being way to forward with him, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. I was not practiced at flirting, and it seemed that I’d been reading his thoughts all wrong. In my state of distress from the car ride, I’d forgotten to take off my sweatshirt. Feeling like a fool for rubbing my foot so suggestively up his leg, I hopped off the table and walked over to the hook on the wall. Now I wanted to get this done and fast. I unzipped my sweatshirt and slipped it off my shoulders. As I reached up to hang it on the hook, Nix’s stool slid across ­the floor, and before I could lower my hands, his arms snaked around my waist, and he pulled my back against his hard chest.”

Nix wants nothing more to be with Scotlyn, but she wants to gain some form of independence before she leaves Hammond. Nix arranges for her to sit with his Nana and write her memoirs before she totally losses her mind. Scotlyn loves to sit with Nana and listen to her talk, but Hammond has other plans for Scotlyn, and he won’t let her go without a fight.

I really enjoyed reading this book…one of those that you can’t put down; hoping that there is that happily ever after that we all seek. The characters were very likable and endured everyday happenings in life.

The connection between Scotlyn and Nix keeps pulling you in further and further. The way the author describes the simple touches and how Nix can fully understand what Scotlyn is thinking is breathtaking. A couple of times, I found myself holding my breath, just waiting for that moment between them.

Sometimes it did seem like the characters were moving too fast, but when you have longed for that one person who completely understands you, what’s time? The support characters really help make this story come together. It just shows you how much this book is based on “real” life.

Nix and Scotlyn had me in their corner from the first time they meet…I would definitely find my voice to tell this man that he is swoon worthy!!!!

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