What do you think?
Rate this book
Free Fall #1
Free Fall
Part 1 of a high-stakes MM Romance duet.
Free soloing cliffs is dangerous. Love is riskier.
Dan McBride is reckless and relentless. He climbs cliffs no sane man would attempt, chasing accomplishment and danger in equal measure. Alone suits him—no ties, no promises, no one to lose.
Then Sejin steps into his life. Handsome, kind, and steady, Sejin belongs in ways Dan never has—and Dan wants him with a hunger as reckless as any climb. Every kiss is fire. Every touch, a risk he can’t stop taking.
But love isn’t a route Dan can plan, and Sejin isn’t sure it’s safe to give his heart to a man who refuses to stay grounded.
Soon they both realize the real question isn’t how high Dan can climb…but whether they can take the leap into something scarier than the tallest love.
Free soloing cliffs is dangerous. Love is riskier.
Dan McBride is reckless and relentless. He climbs cliffs no sane man would attempt, chasing accomplishment and danger in equal measure. Alone suits him—no ties, no promises, no one to lose.
Then Sejin steps into his life. Handsome, kind, and steady, Sejin belongs in ways Dan never has—and Dan wants him with a hunger as reckless as any climb. Every kiss is fire. Every touch, a risk he can’t stop taking.
But love isn’t a route Dan can plan, and Sejin isn’t sure it’s safe to give his heart to a man who refuses to stay grounded.
Soon they both realize the real question isn’t how high Dan can climb…but whether they can take the leap into something scarier than the tallest love.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2025
62 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
Leta Blake
65 books1,773 followersAuthor of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and fan favorites Training Season, Will & Patrick Wake Up Married, and Slow Heat, Leta Blake has been captivating M/M Romance readers for over a decade. Whether writing contemporary romance or fantasy, she puts her psychology background to use creating complex characters and love stories that feel real. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her writing and her family life.
If you'd like to be among the first to know about new releases, you can sign up for Leta's newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bdn32H
If you'd like to be among the first to know about new releases, you can sign up for Leta's newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bdn32H
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
October 29, 2025
Updated thoughts – I was in too much of a hurry back in September!
Dan & Sejin
Imagine a book packed with sex—a lot of sex—and I mean pages and pages of super-detailed, blisteringly hot scenes, sometimes with a touch of kink and two men with frankly ridiculous stamina.
But here’s the thing: there’s also a story. Real problems, real trauma, mental health struggles, hilarious banter, K-pop dancing and idol fans, extreme climbing, and two idiots who swear they’re only fucking. Like… duhhhh.
This was my first Leta Blake book, and I really liked her writing. It’s addictive—the kind of story you can’t put down no matter how late it gets.
Their chemistry is undeniable. You don’t just want them together for the sex—you crave their conversations, their fears, their tiny moments of hope. You want them to see that happiness together is possible.
The sex scenes? 🔥 Unreal. But more than that, they’re intimate, emotional, almost ethereal. Leta Blake writes them with such intensity that you can feel it. (Seriously, keep an ice bucket nearby to avoid third-degree burns.)
Dan — oh, my grumpy, broken boy in denial. The kind of man who thinks he’s unworthy of love or attention, who’s convinced no one would care if he disappeared. When he’s proven wrong? It’s the best kind of catharsis.
He’s spent his life alone, bouncing from foster home to foster home, learning to depend on no one, internalizing that nothing lasts. So yeah, he can be an asshole—but I love him for it. His obsession with Sejin’s hair and his need to make him smile just killed me. 🥹
And his “job”? He’s an extreme climber training for a free solo on El Cap’s Heart Route—an absolutely insane, dangerous goal that makes me tremble just thinking about it. I get that it’s his passion, but still.
I honestly don’t understand the Dan hate I’ve seen in some reviews. I love him exactly as he is. Watching his walls come down was such a gift. Love really does make us stronger.
Sejin — adorable, beautiful, gentle Sejin. He loves K-pop, kids, and animals, and watching him with his nephews or teaching dance? Melted my heart. His fear for Dan felt so raw and real—it’s not misplaced, either. But even with that fear, watching him fall deeper while still holding back out of love… god, it hurts in the best way.
The side characters are all fantastic: Rye, Peggy Jo, Lennie and her kids (especially Jeremiah with his possessive protectiveness over Sejin and his hilarious hatred of Dan 😅).
Favorite moments?
The bike ride.
The night climb and stargazing.
Dancing to K-pop on top of a rock.
The confessions.
Bathing in the freezing waterfall.
If I had one gripe, it’s the language around sex—the constant “fucking” talk sometimes feels cold or a bit tacky. I get it, they’re fucking, but it occasionally pulled me out of the emotional flow. I’m not expecting “making love,” but sometimes the tone made me twitch.
And that ending… OMFG. I need CPR, an oxygen tank, and maybe five sabbatical years in India to recover.
Absolutely devastating.
******************************************
Original review
As I was reading, I wrote such a heartfelt review about Dan and Sejin, but now it feels meaningless—this ending has torn me to shreds, and the only thing left is to throw myself headlong into book two.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
Dan & Sejin
Imagine a book packed with sex—a lot of sex—and I mean pages and pages of super-detailed, blisteringly hot scenes, sometimes with a touch of kink and two men with frankly ridiculous stamina.
But here’s the thing: there’s also a story. Real problems, real trauma, mental health struggles, hilarious banter, K-pop dancing and idol fans, extreme climbing, and two idiots who swear they’re only fucking. Like… duhhhh.
This was my first Leta Blake book, and I really liked her writing. It’s addictive—the kind of story you can’t put down no matter how late it gets.
Their chemistry is undeniable. You don’t just want them together for the sex—you crave their conversations, their fears, their tiny moments of hope. You want them to see that happiness together is possible.
The sex scenes? 🔥 Unreal. But more than that, they’re intimate, emotional, almost ethereal. Leta Blake writes them with such intensity that you can feel it. (Seriously, keep an ice bucket nearby to avoid third-degree burns.)
Dan — oh, my grumpy, broken boy in denial. The kind of man who thinks he’s unworthy of love or attention, who’s convinced no one would care if he disappeared. When he’s proven wrong? It’s the best kind of catharsis.
He’s spent his life alone, bouncing from foster home to foster home, learning to depend on no one, internalizing that nothing lasts. So yeah, he can be an asshole—but I love him for it. His obsession with Sejin’s hair and his need to make him smile just killed me. 🥹
And his “job”? He’s an extreme climber training for a free solo on El Cap’s Heart Route—an absolutely insane, dangerous goal that makes me tremble just thinking about it. I get that it’s his passion, but still.
I honestly don’t understand the Dan hate I’ve seen in some reviews. I love him exactly as he is. Watching his walls come down was such a gift. Love really does make us stronger.
Sejin — adorable, beautiful, gentle Sejin. He loves K-pop, kids, and animals, and watching him with his nephews or teaching dance? Melted my heart. His fear for Dan felt so raw and real—it’s not misplaced, either. But even with that fear, watching him fall deeper while still holding back out of love… god, it hurts in the best way.
The side characters are all fantastic: Rye, Peggy Jo, Lennie and her kids (especially Jeremiah with his possessive protectiveness over Sejin and his hilarious hatred of Dan 😅).
Favorite moments?
The bike ride.
The night climb and stargazing.
Dancing to K-pop on top of a rock.
The confessions.
Bathing in the freezing waterfall.
If I had one gripe, it’s the language around sex—the constant “fucking” talk sometimes feels cold or a bit tacky. I get it, they’re fucking, but it occasionally pulled me out of the emotional flow. I’m not expecting “making love,” but sometimes the tone made me twitch.
And that ending… OMFG. I need CPR, an oxygen tank, and maybe five sabbatical years in India to recover.
Absolutely devastating.
******************************************
Original review
As I was reading, I wrote such a heartfelt review about Dan and Sejin, but now it feels meaningless—this ending has torn me to shreds, and the only thing left is to throw myself headlong into book two.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
Read
November 13, 2025[This review covers both books in the Free Fall duology]
🪦 Time of Death - 35% in Free Heart 🪦
I think it's time to admit I need to cut my losses and move on from this series. It's been a month since I put it down, and I have no inclination whatsoever to pick it back up 😔 It pains me to say that because I'm normally a huge fan of Leta's work, but this series hasn't really worked for me from the beginning.
I powered through the first book hoping to start seeing some payoff in book two, but at 35% in and no happiness in sight, I just can't be bothered. Instead, I skimmed a few reviews to see if there was something grand I was missing, but it seems like there were going to be things that would aggravate me instead. Knowing that, I felt even less inclined to continue. This has definitely been my year for learning to let go and DNF 😅
For anyone wondering and for my memory later on in case I ever decide I might want to pick this up again, there were three things that didn't really work for me. The most important one being that I didn't really connect with either MC. I liked Sejin more than Dan, but I never warmed to either of them. They each annoyed me in different ways, and I don't think I ever understood what they saw in each other 🥲
Secondly, there was way too much rock climbing for my taste. "But Jessica, it's a rock climbing romance," you might say. True. I get it. This is a me thing. I know that a lot of people will appreciate the research and level of detail that Leta included about the sport. I found it interesting in little bits, but it quickly went into the weeds for me. I'm not too ashamed to admit that I don't enjoy that much actual sports in my sports romance. Give me a high level overview and some bits and pieces here and there. Use the sport as pretty wrapping paper for the romance underneath. The moment you go deep with it, my eyes glaze over. Let's be real, I'm not here to read about strategy, depth, and love of the game 😂
Lastly, there was an overwhelming amount of K-pop 🫠 All the rock climbing I could understand. That's kind of written on the tin, but the amount of K-pop talk was a surprise. This isn't to knock K-pop. It could've literally been any genre of music and I would have felt the same. Again, probably a me thing, but I hate when there is an over abundance of pop culture references in a book, especially when it's unrelated to the genre I'm reading. If I don't know the artists mentioned, I feel no connection to their inclusion. What if I know them and hate them? It feels like an unnecessary thing to add. Would I have felt differently if I was into K-pop? I don't know. I understand how Sejin connected to it, but it just wasn't something I cared for in the quantity and frequency it appeared in the story 🫤
All that being said, I hope others read this and love it because Leta's writing is truly wonderful, and she deserves more recognition for it. I think this just wasn't the series for me, so I'm choosing not to rate it, and I'm okay with that.
🪦 Time of Death - 35% in Free Heart 🪦
I think it's time to admit I need to cut my losses and move on from this series. It's been a month since I put it down, and I have no inclination whatsoever to pick it back up 😔 It pains me to say that because I'm normally a huge fan of Leta's work, but this series hasn't really worked for me from the beginning.
I powered through the first book hoping to start seeing some payoff in book two, but at 35% in and no happiness in sight, I just can't be bothered. Instead, I skimmed a few reviews to see if there was something grand I was missing, but it seems like there were going to be things that would aggravate me instead. Knowing that, I felt even less inclined to continue. This has definitely been my year for learning to let go and DNF 😅
For anyone wondering and for my memory later on in case I ever decide I might want to pick this up again, there were three things that didn't really work for me. The most important one being that I didn't really connect with either MC. I liked Sejin more than Dan, but I never warmed to either of them. They each annoyed me in different ways, and I don't think I ever understood what they saw in each other 🥲
Secondly, there was way too much rock climbing for my taste. "But Jessica, it's a rock climbing romance," you might say. True. I get it. This is a me thing. I know that a lot of people will appreciate the research and level of detail that Leta included about the sport. I found it interesting in little bits, but it quickly went into the weeds for me. I'm not too ashamed to admit that I don't enjoy that much actual sports in my sports romance. Give me a high level overview and some bits and pieces here and there. Use the sport as pretty wrapping paper for the romance underneath. The moment you go deep with it, my eyes glaze over. Let's be real, I'm not here to read about strategy, depth, and love of the game 😂
Lastly, there was an overwhelming amount of K-pop 🫠 All the rock climbing I could understand. That's kind of written on the tin, but the amount of K-pop talk was a surprise. This isn't to knock K-pop. It could've literally been any genre of music and I would have felt the same. Again, probably a me thing, but I hate when there is an over abundance of pop culture references in a book, especially when it's unrelated to the genre I'm reading. If I don't know the artists mentioned, I feel no connection to their inclusion. What if I know them and hate them? It feels like an unnecessary thing to add. Would I have felt differently if I was into K-pop? I don't know. I understand how Sejin connected to it, but it just wasn't something I cared for in the quantity and frequency it appeared in the story 🫤
All that being said, I hope others read this and love it because Leta's writing is truly wonderful, and she deserves more recognition for it. I think this just wasn't the series for me, so I'm choosing not to rate it, and I'm okay with that.
August 24, 2025
Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.
I think this was an unfortunate case of the book just not being right for me -- same goes for book 2. While the writing quality was good and Sejin was a very lovable character, Dan really wasn't. The first book is also just spice from start to finish, and while I know many will love that, it just isn't my thing. It was constant and kinky, and when I wasn't loving the non-spice moments either, it was just too much. My favorite bits were whenever Sejin was on his own or interacting with side characters, which is a shame. I was dreading Dan being on page, which is, to put it mildly, unfortunate in a romance book. I was hoping and expecting to like Dan eventually when I got to know him better, but by the end of book 2 I didn't feel any different.
I did appreciate the unique concept of this book, tackling one character doing something really dangerous (free solo climbing) and exploring how that affects a relationship. Sadly, that very thing is also what made the romance hard to believe in. I wanted Sejin to find someone else who wouldn't risk his life for something that to me feels and seems unnecessary and inconsiderate.
Thank you to GRR for the ARC.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Hookup to lovers
Autism rep
Rock climber
Bisexual MC
MC born in Korea
Small town
Found family
⚠️ Spice menu ⚠️
App hookup
Hands-free orgasm
Post-coital rimming
Hair-pulling
Ballgag
Coming quickly
Doctor x patient role play
Flip-fucking
Felching
Prostate orgasm
Pleasure crying
Ball-stretcher
Boning him with a ridged cocksleeve
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Mention of parent death (past)
Mentions of past racist remarks towards MC
Mentions of Asian MC being fetishized (past)
Mentions of SC losing child custody (past)
MC abandoned as a child
Themes of adoption and loss of culture
Themes of being fostered
Off-page bondage
MC severely injured
Vomiting
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: 25 and 25
Series: Duology
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 340
Happy ending: No, cliffhanger
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
I think this was an unfortunate case of the book just not being right for me -- same goes for book 2. While the writing quality was good and Sejin was a very lovable character, Dan really wasn't. The first book is also just spice from start to finish, and while I know many will love that, it just isn't my thing. It was constant and kinky, and when I wasn't loving the non-spice moments either, it was just too much. My favorite bits were whenever Sejin was on his own or interacting with side characters, which is a shame. I was dreading Dan being on page, which is, to put it mildly, unfortunate in a romance book. I was hoping and expecting to like Dan eventually when I got to know him better, but by the end of book 2 I didn't feel any different.
I did appreciate the unique concept of this book, tackling one character doing something really dangerous (free solo climbing) and exploring how that affects a relationship. Sadly, that very thing is also what made the romance hard to believe in. I wanted Sejin to find someone else who wouldn't risk his life for something that to me feels and seems unnecessary and inconsiderate.
Thank you to GRR for the ARC.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Hookup to lovers
Autism rep
Rock climber
Bisexual MC
MC born in Korea
Small town
Found family
⚠️ Spice menu ⚠️
App hookup
Hands-free orgasm
Post-coital rimming
Hair-pulling
Ballgag
Coming quickly
Doctor x patient role play
Flip-fucking
Felching
Prostate orgasm
Pleasure crying
Ball-stretcher
Boning him with a ridged cocksleeve
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Mention of parent death (past)
Mentions of past racist remarks towards MC
Mentions of Asian MC being fetishized (past)
Mentions of SC losing child custody (past)
MC abandoned as a child
Themes of adoption and loss of culture
Themes of being fostered
Off-page bondage
MC severely injured
Vomiting
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: 25 and 25
Series: Duology
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 340
Happy ending: No, cliffhanger
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
June 29, 2025
This was really good! The story developed quickly and it was fast paced, it kept me interested and I couldn’t stop reading.
Dan was an interesting character and he rubbed many people the wrong way. He grew up without a real home and without love so when he discovered rock climbing this was the first time he felt those feelings of belonging. He doesn’t want to share his successes with sponsorships though, this is for him, it’s extremely personal. Because of his character being so off putting to many and only interested in climbing it was that much sweeter seeing him fall for Sejin. And he fell fast and hard.
Sejin is such a great character! He’s everything Dan isn’t. He was adopted from Korea as a baby and grew up in West Virginia. He knew love from two loving parents and an extended family so when he lost his mom he is left with a gaping hole in his life. He leaves West Virginia for California and is staying on his cousins couch. He has a difficult type of relationship with his father, not because of lack of love or support though, more because his father is not a big communicator and his mom was the glue that kept the family going. But his father is there for him, grieving over his wife but not able to share that grief with Sejin. It will be very interesting to see how their relationship progresses in the second book.
Dan and Sejin meet on a hookup app so the sex starts immediately, this is no slow burn. In fact, these two are hot as hell together. But there is no denying that spark that makes them drawn to each other in ways other than physicality and they decide to pursue this dynamic.
Sejin is very wary of starting a relationship with Dan at first. Dan has a plan to free climb a very difficult rock that no one has climbed free solo before. If he fails it’s certain death. But this is personal for him and he never had any real ties to anyone that made him scared to fall. Except his thinking is wrong because there are people who care about him very much, his mentor Peggy Jo and his best friend Rye.
This book is sneaky, it seems as if it will be only a nice romance with some very hot sex but it’s so much more than that. This centers on love and family, especially found family. What does Dan do when he realizes Sejin cares, his other friends care. No one wants him to do this climb because no one wants to lose him. But Dan is wired differently and has so much to learn. Sejin already knows grief and cannot stand to lose another person he loves so he tries to understand why Dan must attempt this climb. There is so much heart to this story and of course Leta Blake is a fabulous writer so the depth of the story holds so much.
Living with grief myself this book touched me in so many ways. Blake just took all of my feelings, those feelings that grief brings out that are so messy and strong, and she put them on the page beautifully. This book is personal to me in a way I’ve never felt before. I was taken aback by how connected I felt to it.
I am very excited to dive into the next book. There is so much these two men have to learn and I know Blake will set them straight and make sure they get their HEA.
Dan was an interesting character and he rubbed many people the wrong way. He grew up without a real home and without love so when he discovered rock climbing this was the first time he felt those feelings of belonging. He doesn’t want to share his successes with sponsorships though, this is for him, it’s extremely personal. Because of his character being so off putting to many and only interested in climbing it was that much sweeter seeing him fall for Sejin. And he fell fast and hard.
Sejin is such a great character! He’s everything Dan isn’t. He was adopted from Korea as a baby and grew up in West Virginia. He knew love from two loving parents and an extended family so when he lost his mom he is left with a gaping hole in his life. He leaves West Virginia for California and is staying on his cousins couch. He has a difficult type of relationship with his father, not because of lack of love or support though, more because his father is not a big communicator and his mom was the glue that kept the family going. But his father is there for him, grieving over his wife but not able to share that grief with Sejin. It will be very interesting to see how their relationship progresses in the second book.
Dan and Sejin meet on a hookup app so the sex starts immediately, this is no slow burn. In fact, these two are hot as hell together. But there is no denying that spark that makes them drawn to each other in ways other than physicality and they decide to pursue this dynamic.
Sejin is very wary of starting a relationship with Dan at first. Dan has a plan to free climb a very difficult rock that no one has climbed free solo before. If he fails it’s certain death. But this is personal for him and he never had any real ties to anyone that made him scared to fall. Except his thinking is wrong because there are people who care about him very much, his mentor Peggy Jo and his best friend Rye.
This book is sneaky, it seems as if it will be only a nice romance with some very hot sex but it’s so much more than that. This centers on love and family, especially found family. What does Dan do when he realizes Sejin cares, his other friends care. No one wants him to do this climb because no one wants to lose him. But Dan is wired differently and has so much to learn. Sejin already knows grief and cannot stand to lose another person he loves so he tries to understand why Dan must attempt this climb. There is so much heart to this story and of course Leta Blake is a fabulous writer so the depth of the story holds so much.
Living with grief myself this book touched me in so many ways. Blake just took all of my feelings, those feelings that grief brings out that are so messy and strong, and she put them on the page beautifully. This book is personal to me in a way I’ve never felt before. I was taken aback by how connected I felt to it.
I am very excited to dive into the next book. There is so much these two men have to learn and I know Blake will set them straight and make sure they get their HEA.
August 13, 2025
This book was an interesting read for me. At times I got lost in all of the rock climbing because that’s something that has never even crossed my mind before, and I can’t even begin to comprehend why you would do that without ropes! But the author explains the thrill and the risks and why people keep coming back for more and it keeps it fun.
Dan is very direct, likes to keep to himself, and has had a hard childhood. I can understand why he doesn’t feel like he has much to lose if it all goes wrong. I don’t understand why he doesn’t just explain to Sejin that he’s autistic, though, instead of calling himself weird all the time. Sejin is a gorgeous character. Kind and, in such a short time, loyal to Dan. He knows how this could end and he chooses him anyway.
I knew it was a cliffhanger, so he’d be back, but that last chapter had my anxiety through the roof!
………………………………………………………….
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.
Dan is very direct, likes to keep to himself, and has had a hard childhood. I can understand why he doesn’t feel like he has much to lose if it all goes wrong. I don’t understand why he doesn’t just explain to Sejin that he’s autistic, though, instead of calling himself weird all the time. Sejin is a gorgeous character. Kind and, in such a short time, loyal to Dan. He knows how this could end and he chooses him anyway.
I knew it was a cliffhanger, so he’d be back, but that last chapter had my anxiety through the roof!
………………………………………………………….
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.
December 15, 2025
4.5
-0.5 points for too much kpop references (I love kpop I just cannot handle pop culture references in books)
Edit: I just wanna add in that I ended up dnfing book 2 fairly soon in so maybe dont take this review into consideration when deciding to read the series 😅
-0.5 points for too much kpop references (I love kpop I just cannot handle pop culture references in books)
Edit: I just wanna add in that I ended up dnfing book 2 fairly soon in so maybe dont take this review into consideration when deciding to read the series 😅
August 14, 2025
OK y'all, if you are looking for a unique romance with incredible character growth, wild space, and some of the best found family vibes I've read in a WHILE, you HAVE to read Leta Blake's newest duet, Free Fall and Free Heart. It's about Dan, a talented rock climber who is single-mindedly focused on free soloing a super difficult route up El Capitan - until he meets Seijin, a sweet local with a smile he can't forget. The story follows their relationship through the good and the bad, and shows how they are able to find a way to walk through life together even when everything is against them. This book made me SOB, want to throw my Kindle, and occasionally laugh out loud, and I can tell you right now I haven't read anything quite like it in a LONG time. DEFINITELY worth reading once it's released, get it on your TBR!
For a relationship that started with an app hookup, the fierceness of Dan and Seijin's love is pretty obvious from early on. Though Dan could be abrasive and off-putting at times, I found his honesty and complete and utter devotion to Seijin to be incredibly sweet. The moments where he is just going on and on about how much he loves him made me MELT. He might had intense single-minded focus on Heart Route, but he puts that same level of focus on his relationship and I loved that. And Seijin is so sweet and selfless, it was hard seeing him break at times over things happening with Dan. Despite that, I love that he accepts Dan the way he is, was willing to try just about anything to make things work with him, and ultimately loves him just as fiercely as Dan loves him.
I don't really know how to describe the angst in this book. Some of it was TRULY painful - there's a cliffhanger at the end of Free Fall where you will absolutely understand what I am talking about. However, a lot of this book is just Dan and Seijin try to figure things out when small obstacles get in their way - the angst is very concentrated and everything else is very character-driven. I was also OBSESSED with all of the side characters, who are all incredibly vibrant in their own right. This book has true found family for both Dan and Seijin that was so heartwarming and an absolute highlight of the book.
If you are looking for a non traditional sports romance and love Leta Blake's lush storytelling style, PLEASE check this one out!
For a relationship that started with an app hookup, the fierceness of Dan and Seijin's love is pretty obvious from early on. Though Dan could be abrasive and off-putting at times, I found his honesty and complete and utter devotion to Seijin to be incredibly sweet. The moments where he is just going on and on about how much he loves him made me MELT. He might had intense single-minded focus on Heart Route, but he puts that same level of focus on his relationship and I loved that. And Seijin is so sweet and selfless, it was hard seeing him break at times over things happening with Dan. Despite that, I love that he accepts Dan the way he is, was willing to try just about anything to make things work with him, and ultimately loves him just as fiercely as Dan loves him.
I don't really know how to describe the angst in this book. Some of it was TRULY painful - there's a cliffhanger at the end of Free Fall where you will absolutely understand what I am talking about. However, a lot of this book is just Dan and Seijin try to figure things out when small obstacles get in their way - the angst is very concentrated and everything else is very character-driven. I was also OBSESSED with all of the side characters, who are all incredibly vibrant in their own right. This book has true found family for both Dan and Seijin that was so heartwarming and an absolute highlight of the book.
If you are looking for a non traditional sports romance and love Leta Blake's lush storytelling style, PLEASE check this one out!
December 18, 2025
I am fascinated by the whole climbing world, and that’s really what’s keeping me here in the story. I do also really love Dan and Sejin.
But it’s instalove with so so so much sex, and the pace of the story is all over the place.
I was going to skip book two but of course there is a cliffhanger so I can’t.
But it’s instalove with so so so much sex, and the pace of the story is all over the place.
I was going to skip book two but of course there is a cliffhanger so I can’t.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
I'm really struggling to find my words on how to explain why I like this book so much. It has a lot of emotion, both with Sejin and Dan as individuals and as a couple. They struggle with their past, present, fears for the future or lack of plans for it, their relationship with other people... It makes them feel whole in a way not all books get characters to feel.
The struggle with Dan free soloing and Sejin being worried for him is also very nuanced. It takes into account the straight up danger of the activity, how much Dan cares about it, how he knows the risks and plans for them, how little control we have over the future and how we could die of anything and anytime and should we let that stop us? On one hand, it is very clear why free soloing is a dangerous thing and why many would never even consider it in their wildest nightmares. And yet we can also see why it appeals so much to Dan, what he gains from it. I'm an interested observer of extreme adventures so I have a mild idea, based on testimony. I think that's the bit of extreme sports we unextreme people never feel, and it was really cool to see it in a deeper way than just "adrenaline, excitement, yay!"
I'm itching for the next book so badly I can't even
The struggle with Dan free soloing and Sejin being worried for him is also very nuanced. It takes into account the straight up danger of the activity, how much Dan cares about it, how he knows the risks and plans for them, how little control we have over the future and how we could die of anything and anytime and should we let that stop us? On one hand, it is very clear why free soloing is a dangerous thing and why many would never even consider it in their wildest nightmares. And yet we can also see why it appeals so much to Dan, what he gains from it. I'm an interested observer of extreme adventures so I have a mild idea, based on testimony. I think that's the bit of extreme sports we unextreme people never feel, and it was really cool to see it in a deeper way than just "adrenaline, excitement, yay!"
I'm itching for the next book so badly I can't even
October 19, 2025
4⭐️ Before I mention why I liked the book, I have to stress out that I LOVED the audiobook! John Solo whimpering and moaning deserves worship!
Free Fall hit me right in that spot between my chest and my logic, you know where fear, fascination, and sentimentality all get tangled up in the same breath. It’s a story that doesn’t just use free soloing as a metaphor but lets it bleed into every layer of the characters’ lives.
Dan climbs because he needs to, not out of reckless ego, but because stillness feels heavier than gravity. It's not easy to understand him, but it's worth it to try to see things from his point of view by looking at the bigger picture and also by thinking like every extreme sports athlete ever! Dan’s obsession with climbing isn’t romanticised, yet it’s not vilified either. It becomes a mirror for how all of us navigate attachment, risk, and meaning.
And for Sejin to love him, means living in constant awareness that love doesn’t come with safety harnesses. What I found quietly devastating is how Blake captures the nuance of that: the mix of admiration and dread, the understanding that control is both illusion and survival for mind and heart. Sejin’s fear isn’t small-minded; it’s the natural consequence of watching someone you love flirt with mortality as a form of self-definition. When Sejin worries, when Dan plans, when they both ache under the inevitability of loss.
As I said before, you'll have to work hard to understand this. Don't let your own ideas about right and wrong cloud your judgment. If you do, you'll not only understand some things about Dan and Sejin, but also the emotional dilemma Leta Blake captured here perfectly!
Both men are deeply haunted by expectations, cultural divides, unspoken grief, rejection, and a future that refuses to solidify. Blake threads their histories with care, allowing their emotional vocabulary to expand and contract like lungs before a climb. The book is full of quiet moments that feel like standing at the base of a sheer rock face, staring up and wondering whether the view is worth the risk.
Emotionally, the book moves like a climb itself: precise, deliberate, fingers searching for holds in language and silence. There are slips, too—a few repetitive beats, a moment, or two that overexplains what the subtext already carries, but the heart of it is steady. And then there's the smut. Right up in your face. These two are not timid, and I would not desire anything different.
On to book 2!
Free Fall hit me right in that spot between my chest and my logic, you know where fear, fascination, and sentimentality all get tangled up in the same breath. It’s a story that doesn’t just use free soloing as a metaphor but lets it bleed into every layer of the characters’ lives.
Dan climbs because he needs to, not out of reckless ego, but because stillness feels heavier than gravity. It's not easy to understand him, but it's worth it to try to see things from his point of view by looking at the bigger picture and also by thinking like every extreme sports athlete ever! Dan’s obsession with climbing isn’t romanticised, yet it’s not vilified either. It becomes a mirror for how all of us navigate attachment, risk, and meaning.
And for Sejin to love him, means living in constant awareness that love doesn’t come with safety harnesses. What I found quietly devastating is how Blake captures the nuance of that: the mix of admiration and dread, the understanding that control is both illusion and survival for mind and heart. Sejin’s fear isn’t small-minded; it’s the natural consequence of watching someone you love flirt with mortality as a form of self-definition. When Sejin worries, when Dan plans, when they both ache under the inevitability of loss.
As I said before, you'll have to work hard to understand this. Don't let your own ideas about right and wrong cloud your judgment. If you do, you'll not only understand some things about Dan and Sejin, but also the emotional dilemma Leta Blake captured here perfectly!
Both men are deeply haunted by expectations, cultural divides, unspoken grief, rejection, and a future that refuses to solidify. Blake threads their histories with care, allowing their emotional vocabulary to expand and contract like lungs before a climb. The book is full of quiet moments that feel like standing at the base of a sheer rock face, staring up and wondering whether the view is worth the risk.
Emotionally, the book moves like a climb itself: precise, deliberate, fingers searching for holds in language and silence. There are slips, too—a few repetitive beats, a moment, or two that overexplains what the subtext already carries, but the heart of it is steady. And then there's the smut. Right up in your face. These two are not timid, and I would not desire anything different.
On to book 2!
August 10, 2025
THIS MADE ME SO ANXIOUS. But I love them. GAH.
September 8, 2025
Gosh this book is an ode to courage, to taking a leap, man I loved it so so much. Dan and Sejin are such special characters, their story Hooked me from the start and wouldn’t let go. I physically couldn’t put this book down, I had to know what happens.
It’s the first time I’ve read about rock climbing and the author completely immersed me in the experience. The world building (can’t call it anything else) is sublime. Dan and Sejin might be looking for slightly different things in the same place and when they hook up, the chemistry literally blows the top of their heads off. Their scenes are extremely hot, Sejin is needy and Dan is in caretaking control and knows what he’s doing. They dabble in a bit of K1nk too which was hot too. Honestly it bears repeating how very hot this book is. But their connection also pushes them to break through their own emotional limits forging a bond that you can see is going to be tested at some point. Soon. Because the dream that Dan has is dangerous and inevitable for him.
The story is beautifully written, the sport is so well captured, the relationship building up not just between the MCs but the supporting characters and found family is stellar. Be prepared for a heart pounding cliffhanger, luckily the sequel is coming in just two weeks after release.
It’s the first time I’ve read about rock climbing and the author completely immersed me in the experience. The world building (can’t call it anything else) is sublime. Dan and Sejin might be looking for slightly different things in the same place and when they hook up, the chemistry literally blows the top of their heads off. Their scenes are extremely hot, Sejin is needy and Dan is in caretaking control and knows what he’s doing. They dabble in a bit of K1nk too which was hot too. Honestly it bears repeating how very hot this book is. But their connection also pushes them to break through their own emotional limits forging a bond that you can see is going to be tested at some point. Soon. Because the dream that Dan has is dangerous and inevitable for him.
The story is beautifully written, the sport is so well captured, the relationship building up not just between the MCs but the supporting characters and found family is stellar. Be prepared for a heart pounding cliffhanger, luckily the sequel is coming in just two weeks after release.
September 30, 2025
It was a joy and a privilege to betaread this incredible duology.
Dan and Seijan live in my head rent free, not just because of the opportunity they gave me to relive my climbing days and my love for all things to do with this incredible sport, but also for their epic love story, for Dan's dogged self-belief and Seijan's stoicism in the face of the danger of it.
The characters in this story are wonderfully complex, with Dan an almost unlikeable entity due to his single-minded determination at achieve his goal to "free" El Cap's Heart, and Seijan wholly likeable due to his caring nature and uncertainty. There is a great cast of secondary characters, one of which is the great El Capitan, one of the world's most epic walls.
Leta has done an incredible job of encapsulating rock climbing, the literal highs and lows, the feels and feelings, the injuries and the realities of this incredible sport.
In my Instagram reel I included a couple of photos of the incredible Alex Honnold on his now legendary free ascent (with credit to Jimmy Chin)... If you have not heard of Alex, I highly recommend watching the documentary, Free Solo.
Dan and Seijan live in my head rent free, not just because of the opportunity they gave me to relive my climbing days and my love for all things to do with this incredible sport, but also for their epic love story, for Dan's dogged self-belief and Seijan's stoicism in the face of the danger of it.
The characters in this story are wonderfully complex, with Dan an almost unlikeable entity due to his single-minded determination at achieve his goal to "free" El Cap's Heart, and Seijan wholly likeable due to his caring nature and uncertainty. There is a great cast of secondary characters, one of which is the great El Capitan, one of the world's most epic walls.
Leta has done an incredible job of encapsulating rock climbing, the literal highs and lows, the feels and feelings, the injuries and the realities of this incredible sport.
In my Instagram reel I included a couple of photos of the incredible Alex Honnold on his now legendary free ascent (with credit to Jimmy Chin)... If you have not heard of Alex, I highly recommend watching the documentary, Free Solo.
September 13, 2025
Dan • Sejin
….
“It’s like how I feel about Heart Route. I will make it happen. I will own that route, and it will be mine. And I don’t know how, and I don’t know when, but I will see Sejin’s full-glory smile, and I’ll see it while he’s laughing, and it will be all for me.”
….
I’ll start with saying that Leta Blake is one of these authors for me that write unique and unusual stories.
This story follows Dan and Sejin, two very different characters at first sight but not at all unalike. One with abonament issues the other with a heart of gold. Sejin teaching Movement to kids <3. When these two clash together it was suppose to be a one and done but… you can’t run away from chemistry. It’s intense and you yearn with them. As these two become more and more entwined - reality comes into view, their needs and dreams. Fear and uncertainty but also love and affection.
This is a two part book so please be aware it ends on a big jaw opened cliffy.
Book one for me is about falling in love - slowly and so smoothly with no pretense, following your dreams, learning how to support that dream even while feeling fear for your loved one…
Book two… with that cliffhanger might teach us about unconditional love.
….
“I feel like I need to see this smile.” // “It’s okay to want to be loved, Dan. You deserve to be loved.” // “Trust your feet, son. Your feet have never steered you wrong.” // “Love—if that’s what the tide of life is bringing in as it rushes between us all—can’t be dealt with logically. Love is just too powerful for that.” // “It’s the smile. The smile.” // “I have a daredevil of my own. And he thinks he loves me. I know he does.” // “He lifts his finger to the sky to point out a falling star, and I think of the ways I’ve tried to guard my heart, but he’s kept on effortlessly, guilelessly coming for it—and I’ve let him snatch it.” // “…his warmth, his strength, his declarations.” …
….
*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
….
….
“It’s like how I feel about Heart Route. I will make it happen. I will own that route, and it will be mine. And I don’t know how, and I don’t know when, but I will see Sejin’s full-glory smile, and I’ll see it while he’s laughing, and it will be all for me.”
….
I’ll start with saying that Leta Blake is one of these authors for me that write unique and unusual stories.
This story follows Dan and Sejin, two very different characters at first sight but not at all unalike. One with abonament issues the other with a heart of gold. Sejin teaching Movement to kids <3. When these two clash together it was suppose to be a one and done but… you can’t run away from chemistry. It’s intense and you yearn with them. As these two become more and more entwined - reality comes into view, their needs and dreams. Fear and uncertainty but also love and affection.
This is a two part book so please be aware it ends on a big jaw opened cliffy.
Book one for me is about falling in love - slowly and so smoothly with no pretense, following your dreams, learning how to support that dream even while feeling fear for your loved one…
Book two… with that cliffhanger might teach us about unconditional love.
….
“I feel like I need to see this smile.” // “It’s okay to want to be loved, Dan. You deserve to be loved.” // “Trust your feet, son. Your feet have never steered you wrong.” // “Love—if that’s what the tide of life is bringing in as it rushes between us all—can’t be dealt with logically. Love is just too powerful for that.” // “It’s the smile. The smile.” // “I have a daredevil of my own. And he thinks he loves me. I know he does.” // “He lifts his finger to the sky to point out a falling star, and I think of the ways I’ve tried to guard my heart, but he’s kept on effortlessly, guilelessly coming for it—and I’ve let him snatch it.” // “…his warmth, his strength, his declarations.” …
….
*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
….
August 27, 2025
Overall I’m happy finished the story and I do want to continue since the book left off on a cliffhanger. I listened to the audio and the narrator did a great job. Unfortunately I wasn’t a huge fan of Dan as a character so it made it a bit hard to get super invested in the story. I really liked Sejin and all the side characters. I’m really looking forward to more story and less sex in book 2 (hopefully). Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of this author, this narrator and/or rockclimbing!
September 23, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
It's super hard to rate book 1 of a dilogy without knowing how book 2 turns out (especially since this book doesn't work without book 2). It was a lot of build up without really getting something in return - there were a lot of spicy scenes and the build up itself was done well, but I would have preferred it to be one book (maybe a tad longer than one of these) that cut back on the tons of spice. Because the story around it was really good, the side characters and the setting were super interesting and I'll always love climbing being represented. But the climbing was also the biggest problem I had with this book: I'm no expert by far (I'm just interested in watching climbing videos and comps, I only go bouldering because I'm absolutely scared of heights), and Free Soloing is such a niche interest, but I've read a climbing MM romance (unfortunately it's German, but for anyone still interested: Rising Above by Ensa Elrik) also featuring Free Soloing and I never understood why people do that, until I read that book and loved it. So reading this book, I was super quick in defending Dan because I know how Free Solo can feel for the climber and how special it is, but the way it's described I couldn't feel the spark I got from Rising Above. So I really understand people criticising Dan's actions in other reviews, because without my background knowledge from outside of this book, his decisions and actions really feel weird and inexplicable. And that's a bit sad, because I can feel Leta really focused on good climbing rep and the rest also is done well, but this aspect would have been so important for people without background knowledge enjoying the book.
So for short, I liked the story, but would have loved if it was one book that can exist on its own and if the spark of free soloing came across a bit better.
It's super hard to rate book 1 of a dilogy without knowing how book 2 turns out (especially since this book doesn't work without book 2). It was a lot of build up without really getting something in return - there were a lot of spicy scenes and the build up itself was done well, but I would have preferred it to be one book (maybe a tad longer than one of these) that cut back on the tons of spice. Because the story around it was really good, the side characters and the setting were super interesting and I'll always love climbing being represented. But the climbing was also the biggest problem I had with this book: I'm no expert by far (I'm just interested in watching climbing videos and comps, I only go bouldering because I'm absolutely scared of heights), and Free Soloing is such a niche interest, but I've read a climbing MM romance (unfortunately it's German, but for anyone still interested: Rising Above by Ensa Elrik) also featuring Free Soloing and I never understood why people do that, until I read that book and loved it. So reading this book, I was super quick in defending Dan because I know how Free Solo can feel for the climber and how special it is, but the way it's described I couldn't feel the spark I got from Rising Above. So I really understand people criticising Dan's actions in other reviews, because without my background knowledge from outside of this book, his decisions and actions really feel weird and inexplicable. And that's a bit sad, because I can feel Leta really focused on good climbing rep and the rest also is done well, but this aspect would have been so important for people without background knowledge enjoying the book.
So for short, I liked the story, but would have loved if it was one book that can exist on its own and if the spark of free soloing came across a bit better.
July 24, 2025
I was able to get this book early, and am so happy that I was able to read it! I went into this book knowing NOTHING about climbing. So, I was a little concerned when I read the first chapter and Dan was using terms and phrases that confused me. I knew climbing would be a big part of this book, so I was worried I wouldn’t be able to enjoy this book if it all went over my head. BUT, I pushed on, and other than that first chapter, there weren't any other times that I felt confused. This book centers on Dan and Sejins relationship, with Dan's big free solo climb looming over them. The main conflict in this book is the climb. Sejin is worried that Dan will fall, and Dan is worried that his relationship with Dan will distract him from his goal. Thankfully they were able to push through, and the book ends on a bit of a clifhanger. I immediately jumped into Free Heart, and I know you will too!
Dan and Sejin's story was lovely. There was A LOT of spice in this book, but it didn't feel overwhelming. Although Dan barely mentions his autism in the beginning of the book, it plays a part in how he deals with relationships and views his life/the dangers of climbing. He struggles to make friends and often says that people think he is weird. Sejin is a K-pop loving sweetheart, who everyone in town seems to know and have positive opinions of, and I love that he works with kids and teaches them to dance! I found myself rooting for him the entire book, and my hope going into the next book is that Sejin is able to get his shit together and figure out his concerns from the first book!
Dan and Sejin's story was lovely. There was A LOT of spice in this book, but it didn't feel overwhelming. Although Dan barely mentions his autism in the beginning of the book, it plays a part in how he deals with relationships and views his life/the dangers of climbing. He struggles to make friends and often says that people think he is weird. Sejin is a K-pop loving sweetheart, who everyone in town seems to know and have positive opinions of, and I love that he works with kids and teaches them to dance! I found myself rooting for him the entire book, and my hope going into the next book is that Sejin is able to get his shit together and figure out his concerns from the first book!
October 18, 2025
3,5 ⭐️ not rounded up
Leta Blake is hit or miss for me. I mean, I’ve LOVED several books by her. But then others feel like… they’re missing. I don’t even know what they’re missing. But they sure are missing something.
This book was like that.
I mean. The story is great, the topic interesting, the story had all kinds of awesome representation.
But.
Something in it felt superficial. Like the author wanted to give depth but didn’t manage it. She wanted to show the reader a story but told it instead. It felt a little bit flat.
Leta Blake is hit or miss for me. I mean, I’ve LOVED several books by her. But then others feel like… they’re missing. I don’t even know what they’re missing. But they sure are missing something.
This book was like that.
I mean. The story is great, the topic interesting, the story had all kinds of awesome representation.
But.
Something in it felt superficial. Like the author wanted to give depth but didn’t manage it. She wanted to show the reader a story but told it instead. It felt a little bit flat.
September 21, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It does end on a cliffhanger, so be prepared for that. It was really cool to read a book with such a large emphasis on rock-climbing, as it's not something I have read much of previously. Dan and Sejin are very 3-dimensional characters and getting to see them slowly come together was great. Looking forward to book 2.
August 15, 2025
The first half of Danny and Sejin love story is the crazy falling in love of these two opposite men. Danny lives for the next great climb, having grown in the Foster system solo is his preference until Sejin. Sejin sees the unique beauty that is Dan and allows him to be truly himself without hindering him. The heat is quick and intense. Their chemistry is undeniable, allowing you to fall right along with these two men. This first half leads us to Danny's free solo climb of Heart Route and the climb itself, leaving us on a cliffhanger, leaving you needing to finish!
I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My review is solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My review is solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
September 27, 2025
omg
I don’t know how to write a review. At first I thought oh, two young men hooking up for some kinky good times. But no, it’s so much more. Watching Dan and Sejin falling in love which is sweet and scary.
I don’t know how to write a review. At first I thought oh, two young men hooking up for some kinky good times. But no, it’s so much more. Watching Dan and Sejin falling in love which is sweet and scary.
Read
September 14, 2025DNF’d at 17%
Just not for me!
Just not for me!
October 9, 2025
My Free Heart review gives a more detailed overview of my thoughts/feelings for this duet, and especially the autism representation, but overall I really enjoyed this book.
Dan and Sejin's love story starts off hot and heavy, but I loved as it developed into something deeper, taking them completely off guard. They have great chemistry together, and individually their characters are wonderful. Sejin is so adorable, and I thought his sunny demeanour complimented Dan's more blunt, reserved nature well.
I loved the autism representation, and thought it was a very accurate depiction of high-masking autism, however, I didn't love how other characters treated Dan because of it (a lot more on that in my book 2 review).
There's a rich cast of side characters to get to know, and the beginnings of a found-family vibe going as Dan begins to grow roots in the place he thought would just be a temporary stop on his mission to free solo Heart Route.
Prepare for a brutal cliffhanger at the end (pun intended), but all will be made right in Free Heart!
Dan and Sejin's love story starts off hot and heavy, but I loved as it developed into something deeper, taking them completely off guard. They have great chemistry together, and individually their characters are wonderful. Sejin is so adorable, and I thought his sunny demeanour complimented Dan's more blunt, reserved nature well.
I loved the autism representation, and thought it was a very accurate depiction of high-masking autism, however, I didn't love how other characters treated Dan because of it (a lot more on that in my book 2 review).
There's a rich cast of side characters to get to know, and the beginnings of a found-family vibe going as Dan begins to grow roots in the place he thought would just be a temporary stop on his mission to free solo Heart Route.
Prepare for a brutal cliffhanger at the end (pun intended), but all will be made right in Free Heart!
November 8, 2025
3.5 rounded up
July 10, 2025
A wonderful, highly emotional book, a captivating story with absolutely intriguing characters! Can't wait for the second one.
I translated the book so I got a free copy.
I translated the book so I got a free copy.
August 24, 2025
Strong and unique rock-climbing themed hookups to lovers to in-love romance.
Really more like 3.5 because the things that annoyed me ANNOYED ME and kept bumping me out of the Moment, but, the writing is strong and confident, and the characters layered, arresting, riveting, authentically flawed (in fascinating ways)—as usual for a Leta Blake read. I was immersed and enjoyed reading this first part of a duet. Note—it ends on a real cliffie, which, although you know it’s coming, is gut-churning, so, have book 2 cued up, you’ll need it.
Dan is a full-time rock climber, living in his converted van and on the last fumes of a trust fund. He’s likely on the spectrum and is a former foster kid whose found family consists of two/maybe three people who know him from climbing, and no one else, just a long series of years of casual one-time hookups (yes, if you know Me, that leads to an annoying amount unwanted, unneeded, adds-nothing harped-on mentions of hooking up JFC. I got the picture on the first mention. The other 100? STFU.) He’s a serious, talented rock climber, determined to reach his dream goal of free-soloing (aka climbing with no rope or safety gear beyond appropriate shoes and chalk) Heart’s Route on El Capitan in Yosemite State Park, CA. His focus and unique mindset leads him to be blunt, short with people, having no time for BS, which makes him easy to admire for his skills but not much liked personally. And he doesn’t need that connection; he’s got his friend circle of Rye and Peggy Jo, and sometimes Lowell, and needs no more attention. They’re all awesome, by the way. Rye is a friend in transition struggling with child custody issues and part of a local rescue team; Peggy Jo is a mother- and mentor-figure, and Lowell is a more casual but supportive rock-climbing friend.
Note: Dan is going to be hard for some to take. But I liked him, because he tells Sejin up front EXACTLY where they stand, and Sejin believes him and doesn't try to change him, and they become entwined almost despite Dan/against Dan's natural tendencies, but it worked for me. Because no one was prevaricating. What you saw and were told was indeed 100% what you got, full stop. Dan can be a bit of a dick, but he doesn't use telling you he's a dick as an excuse to be a dick. It's just truly his personality, so take him or leave him. He is himself, utterly.
Sejin moved to Mariposa County from West Virginia/Appalachia after his mother passed, and is staying with his sister and her family, sleeping on her couch. He works in the local coffee shop and also works at the local school, giving dance movement classes to youngsters, which is as you might guess, totally adorable. He’s still grieving his mother, and has a loving but distanced relationship with his taciturn father. It’s tight quarters, but he’s beloved by his nephew and an easy guest, so, even though ideally he needs to move out soon, they’re all okay with the situation for now. He was adopted as a baby and grew up as a Korean in a white family, and has his own unique perspective on that. He’s also a casual hookups guy, and again, there is a need-to-know level of info, and then a STFU PLEASE level that is reached and surpassed here. UGH. Seriously S.T.F.U. I’m not stupid, I get it.
I loved seeing them find each other on the local hookup app, go for a one-nighter and have smashing great chemistry, and then both reach for more. Together, their unique personalities slide into the jagged edges and cracks and soft spots of each other, and they are serious 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 five-alarm-fire level fantastic together. The author is a sensual, caring writer of intimate moments, and these deliver some of her finest yet. Her combo of sexual chemistry and sincere intimacy creates incendiary and then sweet moments that are addictive and satisfying. (Just...STFU about all the Others in the past JFC! ENOUGH ALREADY!😡🤮).
The push-pull will they, won’t they is tangled up in Dan’s solid plan to free-solo Heart’s Route (the author even has a note that no one does this because it isn’t truly feasible, and don’t use this book as any kind of rock-climbing inspiration, this is Fiction capital F). Their discussions over just how likely it is to die in a car wreck or other typical accident v rock climbing, even free soloing do nothing to lessen the fact that Dan is as likely to fall and die as he is to survive, despite all his responsible, professional and calculated preparation. And he is super responsibly prepared. This guy is is putting in the work and laser-sharp focus. But for the first time? It's not to the detriment of this fragile potential relationship that is something both start to figure out they really want to hold on to and cherish.
CA rock-climbing and state park culture infuses the book with authentic atmosphere and supports the story just right. The secondary characters add color and layers. There are terrific heartwarming moments and nail-biting scenes, realistic relationship challenges, and a found family that shines and entertains.
I just Could Not with all the references to ALL the hookups. Why??? And then there’s one moment in which the sex is so awesome and unique, and in the middle, Dan starts thinking, oh yeah, I Like...what the F am *I* supposed to do with that?! Seriously, way to ruin one of the most unique sexual experiences I’ve read about. Could he not have thought about it afterward, if it oh, so much needed to be included? Mid-moment is just. Not. The. TIME.
But I know, I know. It’s a Me issue. WHATEVER.
Cliffhanger ending. HFN vibes before then. Hookups to casual lovers to falling hard in love. Annoying constant mentions of myriad hookups in the past, but safe enough for me in that they are only with each other full stop in the book (and apart from Dan remembering/thinking about there are no defined Others; it’s all anonymous/nebulous). Terrific found-family vibes and authentic research done to immerse the reader in this world. Good author note at the end that clarifies reality v. fiction. Recommended, and I’m already into book 2.
I bought my copy early directly from the author.
Really more like 3.5 because the things that annoyed me ANNOYED ME and kept bumping me out of the Moment, but, the writing is strong and confident, and the characters layered, arresting, riveting, authentically flawed (in fascinating ways)—as usual for a Leta Blake read. I was immersed and enjoyed reading this first part of a duet. Note—it ends on a real cliffie, which, although you know it’s coming, is gut-churning, so, have book 2 cued up, you’ll need it.
Dan is a full-time rock climber, living in his converted van and on the last fumes of a trust fund. He’s likely on the spectrum and is a former foster kid whose found family consists of two/maybe three people who know him from climbing, and no one else, just a long series of years of casual one-time hookups (yes, if you know Me, that leads to an annoying amount unwanted, unneeded, adds-nothing harped-on mentions of hooking up JFC. I got the picture on the first mention. The other 100? STFU.) He’s a serious, talented rock climber, determined to reach his dream goal of free-soloing (aka climbing with no rope or safety gear beyond appropriate shoes and chalk) Heart’s Route on El Capitan in Yosemite State Park, CA. His focus and unique mindset leads him to be blunt, short with people, having no time for BS, which makes him easy to admire for his skills but not much liked personally. And he doesn’t need that connection; he’s got his friend circle of Rye and Peggy Jo, and sometimes Lowell, and needs no more attention. They’re all awesome, by the way. Rye is a friend in transition struggling with child custody issues and part of a local rescue team; Peggy Jo is a mother- and mentor-figure, and Lowell is a more casual but supportive rock-climbing friend.
Note: Dan is going to be hard for some to take. But I liked him, because he tells Sejin up front EXACTLY where they stand, and Sejin believes him and doesn't try to change him, and they become entwined almost despite Dan/against Dan's natural tendencies, but it worked for me. Because no one was prevaricating. What you saw and were told was indeed 100% what you got, full stop. Dan can be a bit of a dick, but he doesn't use telling you he's a dick as an excuse to be a dick. It's just truly his personality, so take him or leave him. He is himself, utterly.
Sejin moved to Mariposa County from West Virginia/Appalachia after his mother passed, and is staying with his sister and her family, sleeping on her couch. He works in the local coffee shop and also works at the local school, giving dance movement classes to youngsters, which is as you might guess, totally adorable. He’s still grieving his mother, and has a loving but distanced relationship with his taciturn father. It’s tight quarters, but he’s beloved by his nephew and an easy guest, so, even though ideally he needs to move out soon, they’re all okay with the situation for now. He was adopted as a baby and grew up as a Korean in a white family, and has his own unique perspective on that. He’s also a casual hookups guy, and again, there is a need-to-know level of info, and then a STFU PLEASE level that is reached and surpassed here. UGH. Seriously S.T.F.U. I’m not stupid, I get it.
I loved seeing them find each other on the local hookup app, go for a one-nighter and have smashing great chemistry, and then both reach for more. Together, their unique personalities slide into the jagged edges and cracks and soft spots of each other, and they are serious 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 five-alarm-fire level fantastic together. The author is a sensual, caring writer of intimate moments, and these deliver some of her finest yet. Her combo of sexual chemistry and sincere intimacy creates incendiary and then sweet moments that are addictive and satisfying. (Just...STFU about all the Others in the past JFC! ENOUGH ALREADY!😡🤮).
The push-pull will they, won’t they is tangled up in Dan’s solid plan to free-solo Heart’s Route (the author even has a note that no one does this because it isn’t truly feasible, and don’t use this book as any kind of rock-climbing inspiration, this is Fiction capital F). Their discussions over just how likely it is to die in a car wreck or other typical accident v rock climbing, even free soloing do nothing to lessen the fact that Dan is as likely to fall and die as he is to survive, despite all his responsible, professional and calculated preparation. And he is super responsibly prepared. This guy is is putting in the work and laser-sharp focus. But for the first time? It's not to the detriment of this fragile potential relationship that is something both start to figure out they really want to hold on to and cherish.
CA rock-climbing and state park culture infuses the book with authentic atmosphere and supports the story just right. The secondary characters add color and layers. There are terrific heartwarming moments and nail-biting scenes, realistic relationship challenges, and a found family that shines and entertains.
I just Could Not with all the references to ALL the hookups. Why??? And then there’s one moment in which the sex is so awesome and unique, and in the middle, Dan starts thinking, oh yeah, I Like...what the F am *I* supposed to do with that?! Seriously, way to ruin one of the most unique sexual experiences I’ve read about. Could he not have thought about it afterward, if it oh, so much needed to be included? Mid-moment is just. Not. The. TIME.
But I know, I know. It’s a Me issue. WHATEVER.
Cliffhanger ending. HFN vibes before then. Hookups to casual lovers to falling hard in love. Annoying constant mentions of myriad hookups in the past, but safe enough for me in that they are only with each other full stop in the book (and apart from Dan remembering/thinking about there are no defined Others; it’s all anonymous/nebulous). Terrific found-family vibes and authentic research done to immerse the reader in this world. Good author note at the end that clarifies reality v. fiction. Recommended, and I’m already into book 2.
I bought my copy early directly from the author.
September 30, 2025
Free Fall
Having watched a climbing documentary on Honnold’s ascent up El Cap, I really couldn’t wait to read this story. The pros are that it is well written, the characters are well fleshed out and you can all but swear you’ve met them, Sejin is a sweet little treat of a character, and the sex is fantastic. The cons are that you're left on a cliff hanger (hehehe) and your heart is racing at the end of the book! Off to start part 2 because who has that kind of patience? Not I.
Voluntary ARC review.
Having watched a climbing documentary on Honnold’s ascent up El Cap, I really couldn’t wait to read this story. The pros are that it is well written, the characters are well fleshed out and you can all but swear you’ve met them, Sejin is a sweet little treat of a character, and the sex is fantastic. The cons are that you're left on a cliff hanger (hehehe) and your heart is racing at the end of the book! Off to start part 2 because who has that kind of patience? Not I.
Voluntary ARC review.
September 14, 2025
Free Fall
By: Leta Blake
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚
Can I trust him? Will he let me in?
On the surface these Dan and Sejin couldn’t be more opposite which is why it’s worth the read. Definitely jump into this two part series I know it’ll be worth the wait. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.
The author writing is flawless, and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some have quick witted story lines that are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.
Authors blurb: He climbs like he lives reckless, relentless, and alone. Until Sejin.
Dan lives for danger, solitude, and the next impossible summit. Emotions? Not part of the plan. Relationships? Not even on the map.
But when Sejin stumbles into his life steady, soft-hearted, and looking for something real—Dan starts craving a risk even greater than the next climb: connection.
Their chemistry is electric. Their nights are intense.
And love? That was never the goal.
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know you’re 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic. Looking forward to the second half.
By: Leta Blake
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚
Can I trust him? Will he let me in?
On the surface these Dan and Sejin couldn’t be more opposite which is why it’s worth the read. Definitely jump into this two part series I know it’ll be worth the wait. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.
The author writing is flawless, and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some have quick witted story lines that are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.
Authors blurb: He climbs like he lives reckless, relentless, and alone. Until Sejin.
Dan lives for danger, solitude, and the next impossible summit. Emotions? Not part of the plan. Relationships? Not even on the map.
But when Sejin stumbles into his life steady, soft-hearted, and looking for something real—Dan starts craving a risk even greater than the next climb: connection.
Their chemistry is electric. Their nights are intense.
And love? That was never the goal.
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know you’re 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic. Looking forward to the second half.
September 19, 2025
Wasn’t prepared for this… (an audio review)
I haven’t listened to a Leta Blake audio in some time. I’m accustomed to her BDSM books. Although there’s a brush with it in this book, it certainly isn’t the center of the book. That’s climbing.
Dan is the daredevil. He’s been climbing for a long time. As the story unfolds, I learned more about his childhood and it broke my heart. At first, I didn’t understand why he ate rocks as a kid. Eventually, that made sense.
Sejin is a Korean guy who was adopted as an infant by a lovely West Virginian Appalachian couple. He grew up understanding he was different. The love of his parents helped blunt things that might’ve been tough otherwise.
These two men have very different backgrounds. Yet they’re both in Yosemite and on a hookup app.
Go figure.
Very quickly, they find they’re compatible. Life’s a little awkward. Sejin’s living with his cousin, her husband, and their two kids, on the couch. Dan’s living out of a camper van. Neither man has much money. Sejin has two part time jobs and Dan’s living off the last of an inheritance. But they’re happy. They’re making it work.
Sejin – who is a afraid of heights – is in a relationship with a guy who plans to free solo Heart’s Rock. Free solo – no ropes. Just fingers gripping rocks.
Even the thought makes me lightheaded.
Although he wants to be brave, Sejin’s worried. Still, he has his job at the café serving lattes and his second job teaching rhythm and movement to the kids at Tater Tots. Who knew toddlers would love K-Pop so much?
When the day comes for Dan to make his attempt, neither man is truly prepared for the consequences.
Okay…so I listened to this story knowing there was another one coming. That still didn’t stop me from losing my mind at the end of the book. Just…wow.
I got lots of great feels from this book – both men having tough stuff in their past. Dan from his many foster homes and Sejin after losing his beloved mother. I rooted for them to find true love with each other. I definitely didn’t want heartbreak.
Now, I know book 2 is coming so I’ll patiently wait.
Horsehockey. I’m grabbing book 2 the second I can. I want to find out what happens!
John Solo is a great narrator and I thought he did a wonderful job with this book. Like I said, I want more!
I haven’t listened to a Leta Blake audio in some time. I’m accustomed to her BDSM books. Although there’s a brush with it in this book, it certainly isn’t the center of the book. That’s climbing.
Dan is the daredevil. He’s been climbing for a long time. As the story unfolds, I learned more about his childhood and it broke my heart. At first, I didn’t understand why he ate rocks as a kid. Eventually, that made sense.
Sejin is a Korean guy who was adopted as an infant by a lovely West Virginian Appalachian couple. He grew up understanding he was different. The love of his parents helped blunt things that might’ve been tough otherwise.
These two men have very different backgrounds. Yet they’re both in Yosemite and on a hookup app.
Go figure.
Very quickly, they find they’re compatible. Life’s a little awkward. Sejin’s living with his cousin, her husband, and their two kids, on the couch. Dan’s living out of a camper van. Neither man has much money. Sejin has two part time jobs and Dan’s living off the last of an inheritance. But they’re happy. They’re making it work.
Sejin – who is a afraid of heights – is in a relationship with a guy who plans to free solo Heart’s Rock. Free solo – no ropes. Just fingers gripping rocks.
Even the thought makes me lightheaded.
Although he wants to be brave, Sejin’s worried. Still, he has his job at the café serving lattes and his second job teaching rhythm and movement to the kids at Tater Tots. Who knew toddlers would love K-Pop so much?
When the day comes for Dan to make his attempt, neither man is truly prepared for the consequences.
Okay…so I listened to this story knowing there was another one coming. That still didn’t stop me from losing my mind at the end of the book. Just…wow.
I got lots of great feels from this book – both men having tough stuff in their past. Dan from his many foster homes and Sejin after losing his beloved mother. I rooted for them to find true love with each other. I definitely didn’t want heartbreak.
Now, I know book 2 is coming so I’ll patiently wait.
Horsehockey. I’m grabbing book 2 the second I can. I want to find out what happens!
John Solo is a great narrator and I thought he did a wonderful job with this book. Like I said, I want more!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews