Indelible by Kristen Heitzmann

Permanent, unforgettable, stubborn; all synonyms for the word indelible.   All words to describe the characters in this book.  Natalie has a disorder in which directly looking into someone’s face can permanently imprint the other person’s unseen (to the rest of the world) emotions in her mind.  Natalie is all but paralyzed when this happens and can only free her mind by sculpting the person’s face.  Trevor is an ex-Olympic skier who lost his career to an injury.  He is on the local Search and Rescue team and starts the story by rescuing Natalie’s nephew from a mountain lion.  Trevor picks up a stalker whose Bible is John Milton’s Paradise Lost.  The rest of the cast is made up of people as stubborn and handicapped, both physically and emotionally as the main characters. 

The story moves at a good pace.  I wondered a few times if the stalker was an unknown or was one of the supporting characters.  I enjoyed reading the book overall.  I was having difficulty with the lack of faith, belief or struggle with faith, for much of the novel.  Natalie is mentioned as having a Bible therefore she shouldn’t believe in karma.  A couple of therapists offer to pray for Natalie before the beginning of a session, right after they talk about hypnotizing her (she remembers what she needs to before they do that).   Faith is spoken of more towards the end of the story.

Trevor and Natalie’s affection for each other grows at a rapid pace.  Natalie is alluded to having faith but Trevor, other than someone telling him to pray for an injured loved one, does not present as having any faith in Christ.  The concept of God is not really brought up in regards to him.  I felt that was not a healthy way to show a couple in a “Christian” story, especially since Natalie has to move in with Trevor(in a guest room) for her own protection.  I just don’t think this is a positive message.

So, overall, I did like the story, but it does have some issues.  Personally, I like to read stories that have the characters profess their faith, or their struggle with faith.  It doesn’t have to be the main crux of the story, but I would like some mention of it.

This book was provided free of charge by WaterBrook Press in exchange for an honest review.