My Review of Waterfall by Linda K Rodante

 

This review is longer than I normally do. I wrote it for Clean Fiction Magazine Spring 2025 edition

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FIRST IMPRESSION: Waterfall is a page-turning fast-moving romantic mystery. A whodunit with action and unskilled sleuths drawn into the puzzle.

ACTION: It starts with a car mostly submerged in a river with a child needing to be rescued from the roof of the car. Raging water might be the end of Annalisa Carabelle, but she is determined to try to save the life of the child. From that heart-stopping first scene, it goes from scene to scene pumping up the action. Richard Jordan is an active sports competitor and a volunteer firefighter. The book is full of hiking, climbing, investigating, avoiding danger, then finding themselves stepping deep into it. It pulls the reader into situations of fright, then to calm. From a frightful dog to clean up after the flood. Painting a Bed and Breakfast to trying to prevent mayhem. The reader gets invested in both of their careers: her as the co-owner of a B&B who does not know how to cook, and him as a school psychologist and volunteer firefighter.

ADVENTURE: The writer takes the reader into the world of waterfall climbing, giving enough detail to enrich the story but not overwhelming. The characters take a trip to lush Jamaica, where the descriptions paint a beautiful picture of paradise. As a psychologist, Richard discusses his thoughts on the inner workings of the mind and behavior. The rescued child from a raging river is the center of this story.

ROMANCE: Strangers meet in the most profound way: saving a life. Sparks are almost immediate. The sizzle lengthens as they get to know each other by hanging out in restaurants and on hiking trails to amazing waterfalls. Romance increases when they put their heads together to discover who could be behind the killing of two people. In doing so, they discover more about each other and love what they learn.

RELIGION: Waterfall is a Christian faith-based book. There are numerous references to Bible verses and biblical principles. One of the main things they need to work through is their faith. Analisa is a strong Christian and Richard is not. He does not believe in God. He was burned by a person close to him trying to push his faith on him. Analisa had learned early on that she needs to be equally yoked to a future husband. She prays often throughout the pages. Art: The friend and co-owner of the Bed and Breakfast, Laurie, is an amazing cook, especially her apple fritters. Annalisa can paint, garden, and is the bookkeeper for the place.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Miss Linda wrote a real-life kind of story where there is danger and murder. A child acts out and feels threatened. There are guns that are pointed at people. A huge menacing dog plays a part. There are also amazing rescues and awesome descriptions of the beauty in Tennessee. Waterfall is written in a fast-action romantic suspense type of way, but is actually more of a mystery romance. I loved the story and cried at the end and cannot wait to read the sequel. I think you will enjoy Waterfall too.

5 stars for this romantic whodunit with suspense in a Christian view. Buy Waterfall