Free Heart

Free Fall #2

by Leta Blake

Part 2 of a MM Extreme Sports Romance duet

The fall was brutal.

Healing isn’t a solo climb—and love has a way of sending help when you least expect it.

From a fiercely loyal partner to a steadfast mother figure, from a determined daycare owner to a community of climbers they never saw coming, Dan and Sejin find themselves held by something found family that believes in them. In their love. In their future.

Because the fall isn’t the end of their story.

It’s where everything real begins.

Genres: Sports, M M Romance, Audiobook, Romance, Found Family, Grief

438 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2025

About the author

Author 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

Reviews

[Jessica]

[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.

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.

Apart from the first few chapters with some mortal peril that I always love, I disliked most of this book. Dan was even more of an asshole than usual at times, and I just really couldn't get around to liking his character. I wanted Sejin to leave and find better for most of it. The entire book deals with the aftermath of what happens in the first book, and it's a rough journey for these guys. Sejin tried so hard to help them, just generally being the biggest sweetheart ever.

I think that's why it pissed me off even more when Dan starts salivating over a new side character, Sailor. He is very sexually attracted to her and his thoughts about her made me super uncomfortable. At almost 50% through the second book in a duology, eons after they've exchanged love declarations, that is way too late for that kind of drama for me. No one says you can't find other people attractive when you're in a relationship, but you can choose not to think about them in a very sexual manner, especially when your man is inside the house putting together a thanksgiving feast for you. My pissed-off level increased tenfold when the situation was mostly dismissed and excused because Sailor is a lesbian, like that has anything to do with Dan's thoughts.

The books just weren't for me and I have a hard time imagining these guys will have a happy life together. And certainly not a long one.

Thank you to GRR for the ARC.

Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Established couple
Small town
Found family
Recovery

⚠️ Spice menu ⚠️
Fisting
Watching in the mirror
Hand-collaring
Throat-fucking

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
MC severely injured
Graphic descriptions of injuries
MC hospitalized
Explicit sexual content
Financial insecurity
Vomiting
Death of parent (past, grief)
Mention of domestic violence in MC's family
Homophobic online comments
Parent death (past)

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: A new female character is introduced and Dan is sexually attracted to her and thinks about it quite a bit. About her breasts, general looks, and being 'behind her'. All this happens while Sejin is in the house and they're talking outside. She becomes a part of the story as a side character and causes quite a bit of jealousy and drama.
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: Yes
Pages: 439
Happy ending: Yes






You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...

[patrícia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I was railroaded by this duet—by Danny and Sejin. I’m so overwhelmed right now that these books stole my ability to write an eloquent review. I was not expecting this level of emotion. I wasn’t expecting to cry every five seconds, from happiness and from sadness. I wasn’t expecting to meet such incredible characters, to experience such turbulence and such calmness. I wasn’t expecting so much love.

I had the absolute best time reading these books. I loved everything—even the flaws felt flawless.
Dan and Sejin are both such incredibly beautiful people that my heart growls just thinking of them. Their journey was breathtaking, full of adrenaline and love.

This is the kind of duet that makes me wish I had the eloquence to explain exactly why you must read it, but instead I feel wrung out—drained and happy all at once. Just know this: even when you doubt them, they’ll make it worth it, and they’ll make it right.

The side characters are amazing—Lowell, Rye, Jeremiah, Sarah Kate, Martin, Lennie, Peggy Jo, Burk, the cats, the van 😅 even Sailor and her unforgettable rack. Each added so much richness to the story.

There’s wonderful representation too: trans, bisexual, autistic characters woven into the world naturally. And I especially loved the interlude in book two, giving us fresh perspective from other characters.

The covers are perfection—just as beautiful and adorable as my babies, Dan and Sejin.

And yes, a heads up: there’s fisting, because these kinky bastards are full of stamina, versatility, and imagination. Things get very hot in that van. 🔥

I adored Sejin—he’s such a seahorse, never a curtain. But Dan… I live for characters like him. Full of trauma, running from connection, never feeling worthy—and then boom: love, friends, found family. I know not everyone will love him, because not everyone will understand him. I didn’t, for most of the book. But I believed in him, and when the end came, I was celebrating. 🥹🙏
I absolutely love them and their story—and most of all, I love their path to the so-deserved future and HEA ❤️

“I do believe in you, Dan. I know you love me. I trust you’ll keep your vow.”
“The one about fucking you until you cry?” I say, hoping to lighten the mood.
Sejin puts his hand over my mouth. “Shh. There are children two aisles over.”
I sober. “The one about always putting you first, Doc? I still promise. That’s why Sailor wants me. She knows I want to come home to you more than I want anything else. Do you know why?”
“Because I’m your seahorse, and you’re my angelfish.”
“Exactly. Our interspecies marriage is the stuff of epics.” I pull lightly on the ends of his hair, and then I use the pieces to tug him into a kiss. It’s not heated, given the weird angle demanded by the airplane seats, but it soothes us both.
“I love you,” Sejin murmurs. “All of you.”
“I love you too.”
We hold hands as the plane begins to move.
I look down to see his polished wood wedding ring shining in the light from the window. It gleams with our promise of forever as we taxi down the runway to our future.
THE END

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[Papie]

DNF at 52%

This is dragging and dragging and it’s all over the place and I just don’t care enough to keep reading.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Yeah, I knew I’d cry a little at the beginning for Sejin. I enjoyed this one more than the first.

Dan is so selfish, and I’m glad the author acknowledged that time and again. However, the longer you read, the more you understand that it’s just a part of him, something he can’t be without, and at least he makes some changes to take Sejin into consideration.

To be honest, it was breaking my heart a little that he and everyone around him think he’s weird and arrogant when he’s diagnosed autistic. It took ages for that to come out, so I was so glad when it did.

I did skip over a lot of the sex scenes. I love a bit of spice, but I felt like the author used extreme sex to sort of balance Sejin with Dan’s extreme sport, and I don’t know why, but for me, it just felt a bit cheap. That’s my only complaint though, and it’s probably just me thinking that.

Overall, it’s a very truthful story. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything, and even though you’re asking for him to stop for Sejin’s sake, he doesn’t. However, he never lies to Sejin, never scoffs at him when he’s upset. He simply tells his truths and comforts Sejin until he’s ready to accept this life they’ve both chosen. There is no changing either of them but learning to love each other as they are warts and all.

It was a lovely story.

………………………………………………………….
I received an ARC from GRR, and this is my honest review.

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I am truly overwhelmed by the sheer poetry of this book. What an epic saga, so masterfully written, I am at a loss for how to express the multitudes this book navigates after the first book ended on a devastating cliffhanger.

The agony that Sejin exudes in the first part is heart wrenching- his fear completely palpable for his love and their life. Dan is … Dan even down he is never out ever focused. How beautifully Leta Blake allows us to see the intimacy of a fledgeling relationship digging deep roots through the immense challenges of a physical, mental and financial nature. The found family in the story is just unbelievably strong. How absolutely unwavering in their support though I think for Sejin more than Dan it was tough to take that help. I loved how Sejin and his dad’s relationship is explored. How Dan’s healing physically mentally is captured. I especially loved how Sejin finally grounded in himself.

Lowell and Rye were a bit heartbreaking and Peggy Jo and Buck brought a smile to my face. I’m gals Leenie grew up and adore Jeremiah.

I am blown away by how the author brings climbing as a sport to life I feel like reading a million books on it (I’m not doing it I too am petrified of exposure) and how the unbending aspect of nature came to life here, I felt transported to Yosemite. I am also touched by beautifully Dan’s autism is depicted.

Ofcourse I would be remiss if I did not mention how dirty filthy hot this book is.. the sex scenes are 🔥🔥 in the best way, perfectly woven into the story… expect a smidge of K1nk, owning, f1sting etc.

I can’t put it better than the author: Free Heart is a heartfelt story about resilience, rediscovery, and the power of leaning on those who love you, even when the climb seems impossible.

Read this book, this duet

[Frida · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I’m a bit conflicted about this one, and you’ll probably notice that as I go. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy Free Heart—I did—but I definitely preferred Free Solo. The first had a more harmonious balance between its two leads, while this one felt far more centred on Dan’s recovery and Dan's arc.
It makes sense, of course, considering how book one ended (no spoilers, promise), but I still found myself missing that even emotional rhythm between them. What I did love, though, was how vividly Leta Blake captures the mindset of an extreme athlete—that relentless urge to go one step further, one climb higher, one more impossible thing until something forces you to stop and face what’s left.

That part? Brilliantly done.

As someone who’s fallen down the rabbit hole of climbing documentaries and interviews with free soloists, I appreciated how accurately the book captures that relentless drive. Extreme athletes are in constant negotiation with risk, athletic goals, and the people who love them. The need to ascend never really stops; it simply shifts shape. You don’t stop wanting the wall, you just hope you don’t destroy yourself (or your relationship) on the way up.

Where the book faltered for me was in its emotional equilibrium. While Dan’s journey was textured and raw, Sejin often felt like he was orbiting someone else’s sun. His arc, which should have gleamed with self-assertion and self-recognition, instead became an echo of Dan’s development. Every time Sejin seemed on the verge of claiming his own emotional summit, the focus pivoted back to Dan. The question was always: how does Sejin fit into Dan’s world? never the other way around. And that really bugged me, because Sejin is such a fantastic character. I found myself wanting Sejin to shine, not because Dan illuminated him, not because Dan reassured him, but because he realised he’d always been luminous.

The introduction of new side dynamics (and one particularly intrusive “passion project” subplot) didn’t help. They served a purpose early on, but after the initial revelations, they began to feel like filler chalk dust on an otherwise solid grip. I kept wishing we’d return to what mattered, the nuanced tension between Dan’s battle with himself and Sejin’s quiet endurance. But Sailor, wrongly depicted as OW drama, felt redundant and actually even frustrating because she took up too much space of this book.

That said, I have to credit Blake for portraying neurodivergence in a way that felt grounded and tender. The exploration of Dan’s high-functioning autism deepened my understanding of his behaviour and made his eventual breakthroughs feel earned rather than conveniently scripted. The authenticity of his mindset, his hyperfocus, his difficulty translating emotion into expression, felt delicate and respectful.

Thematically, Free Heart shines brightest when it’s about what happens after the fall. It’s not just about climbing again, it’s about learning how to live with the fact that you can’t climb every wall. There’s a kind of bittersweet truth there: for people like Dan, recovery isn’t a destination but an ongoing ascent. And for people like Sejin, loving someone like that means finding your footing on constantly shifting ground.

I enjoyed it, even with my frustrations. Some scenes made me laugh (a certain parental cameo and Peggy Jo moment were delightful), and others tugged at my empathy in quiet ways. Still, pacing-wise, it did drag.

And, for the record, Sejin suddenly deciding to climb? Cute, but unnecessary. Most extreme athletes’ partners don’t join them mid-wall; they find their own mountains elsewhere.😅 Sejin was already good enough, and this made me dislike Sailor even more.

So yes, Free Heart is authentic, heartfelt, occasionally uneven, and deeply nerdy about the psychology of risk and love. I’ll round my 3.5 up to 4⭐️, mostly because these characters have earned that grace and John Solo was fantastic narrating this.

[Dana | Rainbow Romance Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review will be mostly about Dan, autism, and ableism, but before I get into that:

As a whole, I really enjoyed this duet. I thought Dan and Sejin's love story was adorable, heartfelt, and unique in a lot of ways. For the most part I loved both characters, and thought that they were well-defined and complimented each other well. To add to that, there are so many wonderful side characters and hints of their stories to broaden the scope, and the found family vibes are really strong (but if we don't get Lowell and Rye's story soon then I will revolt).

The plot in this book was a little slower than the first, as much of it focuses on Dan's recovery, but I still found it engaging for the most part, especially in the second half. I personally found Sejin difficult to like at first, which surprised me as he was adorable in Free Fall, but his impatience with Dan's recovery, deliberately withholding affection, and 'missing the old Dan' and their old sex life (after just two weeks, mind you!) rubbed me the wrong way. In fact, the lack of empathy everyone has for Dan in this book rubbed me the wrong way, but at least Sejin improved again.

So, let's talk about Dan. Dan is autistic, which we know from book one, and I think he is a wonderfully accurate representation of high-masking autism. He is hyper-focused on his special interest (climbing), blunt/straightforward, not great at reading social cues, naïve, and kind of lives in his own world. For these reasons, almost everyone in the book, and several reviews that I've seen so far, dislike him. He is constantly criticised, called an asshole, and treated with very little respect or empathy – and as an autistic person myself, I just found it completely exhausting and sad to read.

Such a large part of this duet hinges on people disagreeing with Dan's choices and trying to dissuade him from engaging in his special interest, and it's really not until the end of this book that he is shown some form of acceptance, but even then it comes with the caveat that he is being selfish, or a dick. It feels very unfair to me, but sadly this is how autistic people are usually treated when they are passionate about something, so I'm hardly surprised either.

So while I don't enjoy the way that Dan as an autistic character is being received, perhaps it's more true to life than the radical acceptance I hope for. Having said that, I usually read books with ND rep to escape some of the ableism I encounter in my everyday life, so I would have liked for other characters (and readers) to treat him with the patience and understanding that he deserves, and to see that he is a very kind-hearted, funny, and devoted person, despite his difficulty in showing it. Maybe being more upfront about his diagnosis earlier on would have helped, but autistic people shouldn't have to disclose to be accepted either.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk, where I fixated on a single fictional character for no reason. If you made it this far, then please know that I do recommend you read this duet, especially if you enjoy fast-burn love, found family, opposites attract, K-pop references, ass-worship, and plenty of cuteness.

[MiaReadsMMBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a joy and a privilege to beta read 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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you like a book so much you struggle to explain why or how, and to me this is one of those. After the cliffhanger (ha) we were left on in the last book, the only way was up and Sejin and Dan definitely went up. It was an absolute delight and I wish I had better words to express that

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

•spoilers for book 1, Free Fall and this book•

(and I apologize in advance for the length, I'm not know for my conciseness when it comes to blabbing about books I really liked)

After the fall, Sejin and Dan try to figure out life as they face mounting medical bills, a long physical recovery, and an unknown future for their relationship. Surrounded by the love of family and friends, they realize that the fall was just the beginning of what's to come.

Dan and Sejin are definitely thrown right out of the honeymoon phase with this book. I feel like in my review of Free Fall I didn't get into their relationship much but this book is where it really shines.

While Dan is recovering, a lot of the responsibility is put onto Sejin and he carries it like a champ. He's the one calling the hospital, organizing the care schedule, working multiple jobs, and being there emotionally for Dan. His love and dedication is extremely admirable, but it all weighs on him. Honestly, I thought they were going to have more relationship problems, like a big break up and fighting. But I'm very impressed how Dan rose to the occasion when he could. For all his faults he's very self aware and saw how this was affecting Sejin, so he stepped outside his comfort zone to help them both. It's nothing I would've ever seen him doing but it opens up so much for both of them.

Dan is still his honest to a fault, no bullshit self. He's autistic but he just sees it as something someone else labeled him. He takes the quirks that come with that - hyper-focus, bluntness, not great at social cues - as just who he is. Sejin doesn't even know he's autistic until like halfway through this book, and Dan doesn't see why it changes anything. Even with his harsh honesty and tendency to rub people the wrong way, he's deeply loyal and devoted to Sejin. Even when Sailor was introduced he was dazzled by her attractiveness, but she wasn't Sejin. Dan now has another focus outside of climbing - making sure Sejin has all the affection, love, and support he could ever need - and he's just as devoted to that as he is any new and dangerous climb.

Their relationships goes through ups and downs. I really liked how this story wasn't just about the recovery, but what's on the other side once Dan is back to his old self (as much as he can be). Sejin is still struggling with Dan's dangerous dreams, but knows there's no stopping him. Dan for his part tries to reassure and go about it all differently. They really form a partnership, giving and taking as they work through this rough patch together. For all the trials and tribulations, there's also joy and happiness.

If anything, I wish we got more Sejin. I'd love to see him in West Virginia dealing with his grief a little more - especially after putting so much aside for everyone else for so long. But Dan does do a good job of pushing Sejin to go after what he truly wants out of life. Sejin struggles in the beginning with everything he has to deal with but I loved watching him come into his own, heal some of his past hurts with his family, and see him become brave and strong and in love. Supported by friends, family, and Dan, Sejin learns there's strength in vulnerability and the joys of doing what makes you happy. He's a character you're rooting for all the way.

I'm not normally a fan of other POVs but I really enjoyed the little interludes. Lowell and Rye have a whole thing going on and it's heartbreaking to watch from afar, while Peggy Jo and Buck bring sweetness and the comfort of family. Even Sejin's cousin and family gets their time and it was so nice to see how their feelings changed. All of the characters rally around Dan and Sejin, and seeing their lives play out in the background of Dan and Sejin's journey just added more depth to story.

Along with the friends from Free Fall, there are some new faces. And let me tell you, I did not like Sailor at first. I didn't trust her at all and was on high alert, but she begrudgingly grew on me. She is just one of those people who is unapologetic in her goals, which is why her and Dan get along. The turning point was after her moment at the Mexican restaurant, being a bit vulnerable to everyone helped ease her abrasiveness. Her and Dan's friendship evolved into something they both needed, with their shared passion for climbing but each of them also bringing each other back to reality.

I really liked this duet. Some parts were a little slow, but I also really loved seeing how Dan and Sejin tackled the issues inside their relationship and from outside of it. The details created a lifelike picture of these two, and I found myself wanting to come back again and again to see how they were doing when I wasn't reading. It's a story and a romance that definitely stays with you, but in the best ways. I'd love another book with this exact amount of angst to read next, and I'm afraid it's put me in a bit of a slump. But it's completely worth it for their story. I hope there's more to come in the Free Fall world!

Read if you like:
• rock climbing
• hurt/comfort
• found family

•••••••••••••••••••••

There were two bonus epilogue-like stories available to download at the end of the book, and below are my quick thoughts on them:

I loved seeing them in Korea, and digging into some of Sejin's conflicts. We don't really know what happens after but I hope he got whatever he wanted out of it.

And finally we get some Sejin in West Virginia! I liked seeing him where he grew up and Dan making sure he was okay with everything. Plus we actually get a little more from Sejin's adoption inquiry in Korea which was nice. I hope we get more stories from this couple!

[Katkejt ☾. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan • Sejin

….

“You’re my gravity. You keep me here.”

….

Sejin, the book character that you are <3. My seahorse. This duet toke me on a journey but an honest one. For me, books that sugarcoat and go a certain way to please an audience can be pleasing at times when I need these kind of books to soothe me but what draws me in are books that never sugarcoat, don’t go the easy way, challenge, makes us see different point of views, makes us try to find this balance between two, are these books that stay with me.

Was I a bit drained after this? A bit but it made it all so worth it. A breathtaking journey full of love and adrenaline. A honest one. Because when the characters make it right.

After Free Fall I wrote that “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.”

Was I right? I think I was. Love doesn’t need conditions. Love should always be unconditional. Love should always be a free heart.

….

“I want to prove to you that I’m a safe bet.” // “You don’t have to be strong all the time. You can be weak with me.” // “But I don’t think I’d want you to be a Dan who doesn’t climb.” // “I don’t know about that, but you’ll find purpose…” // “There’s that smile.” - „Happy to see it?” - “You have no idea.” // “Maybe I’d already used up all my luck for Heart Route by getting Sejin instead.” // “What do I see in you?” - “Your future.” // “He makes me feel like being on earth isn’t such a bad thing.” // “No. I’m going to shine.” // “I don’t know. I feel like I could really fall deeply in love with some good drapes.” // “I’ve climbed on my own, but not alone. Never again alone.” …

….

*I reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

….

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I have very mixed feelings on this book. On one hand, I loved the characters and the exploration of what it means to free solo while in a relationship. The relationship development and stressors were really interesting and well-developed. On the other hand, I really wished the author had asked a climber to proofread the book because there were some things that should have read differently. Overall it was a very enjoyable duet though and I loved the characters.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the past year or so Leta Blake has easily become one of my favorite authors. I honestly didn't think anything could come close to my love for her Heat of Love series, but Dan and Sejin have done just that! Highly recommend.

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I liked book one but book two blew me away. There's just so much passion, hope, and love in this book. It was like being wrapped up in a really emotional but comforting hug. I loved the found family aspect, as well as the diverse representation in this story.

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

The conclusion of Danny and Sejins romance. We pick right off from the heartstopoing conclusion of FREE FALL with FREE HEART. Danny & Sejin learn to move forward. After pain comes hope for something more. The found family of climbers these men build show us how important that aspect can change your whole outlook on life. A perfect conclusion to this epic love story of two men finding where they belong in this world.

I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My review is solely based on my thoughts and opinions.

[Illa · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books were amazing, love how heartfelt they were but also included realistic conflicts. My heart was in my throat reading the climbing scenes!!

[Arta reads at night · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️ not rounded up

As I said in my review for book 1 - the story is great. The representation is awesome. But the book falls a little bit flat. At least for me.

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh she got me good. I fear I was a sobbing mess at the beginning and as well at the end. What a duology. She made these characters seem so real and I felt so much for them ugh I love them😭😭

[Sandy Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Free Fall duet picks up where book 1 left off, and if you intend to read the duet and haven’t yet read book 1, this will be a spoilery review.

I enjoyed the sequel a lot, in no small part due to the continued immersion in this world of rock climbing in Yosemite and the authentic details infused throughout the read. Sejin and Dan’s continuing story was fascinating and riveting. In this book, I also appreciated the attention to recovery from a near deadly climbing accident; there were no cut corners or soft-soaping the agony as well as the near-deathly boredom of having to lay down for weeks without putting ANY weight on a leg, if Dan wanted to heal properly and have any shot of climbing again.

Which put them in the rather funny, poignant, and aggravating situation of the lovely, kind Sejin becoming the sole caretaker for the prickly, confounding man he fell in love with just weeks ago, and Dan having to completely rely on and trust Sejin for...well, EVERYTHING...when loss of autonomy and independence is the worst thing he could imagine. Yeah, it was a situation that could have devolved badly! But...it didn’t. These two also have respect for each other that underlies that fragile new love, and while they did drive each other round the bend a time or two, it was never a total disaster, and the situation proves rather rapidly and solidly that these two really do want to be together and will put in the work to have Them.

Quite the unique situation. Dan’s laid up and going out of his mind. Sejin is working three jobs now, including caring for Dan (that one’s unpaid of course, now neither has any savings, thanks to Dan’s crushing hospital bills), and he’s exhausted and wrung out.

Lucky for them, their found family’s got their back, and there is so much warmth and comfort in seeing their small town community as well as the rock climbing community rally to help. It’s amazing, because Dan’s been such a loner, not making friends, not publicizing or monetizing his climbing to the point that most think he’s an arrogant dick who might have deserved to fall. But people still rally, and a new ally comes into their lives via one of Dan’s only (count them, 3) friends and helps build a total new source of income for Dan and his bills via social media in a realistic and interesting way. Platform builders, take note (I say, knowing zippo about building a platform, but...this made sense).

That also brought in a note of kind of ick with Dan kind of drooling over that character for a hot minute, but, it also made sense with the way his brain works? I could have done without it, but, it was over fast and not a Thing later, soooo. Yeah.

ADDING this note...one quite powerful element of the recovery and development of the ongoing relationship is Dan's absolute certainty/determination that he WILL re-attempt the solo climb that nearly killed him in book 1. Solo climbing = climbing with no ropes/harness/safety net of any kind, so, if you fall? You are 99.9 of the time going to die in a giant splat. The way he and Sejin come to terms with Dan's drive and committment to this potentially deadly goal and how Sejin makes peace with it and Dan approaches it in a way that is respectful to Sejin and what he's come to mean in Dan's life was truly mesmerizing. Not everyone will agree with it, but, it worked for me and I felt they both won in the way they handled the situation. It was thorny AF and gut-wrenching. Made me question a lot about what it means to truly love and support someone for who they are, and to live for yourself but then choose to adjust your outlook to account for love and feelings for someone who has become important to you.

One thing surprised me...in this book Dan reveals to Sejin that he’s autistic, and Sejin was...surprised. It was a whole Moment, a Thing, that helped Sejin understand Dan better, but... I’m like...uh...didn’t we all already know that? From Dan’s narrative voice and the way his mind works, it seemed obvious in book 1, and I didn’t realize no one had actually talked about it. I don’t know how good the representation is, lay person here, but, it felt authentic to me. Something about the reaction to the revelation here was off to me, because Sejin seemed to see it as an excuse for some of Dan’s shall we say less than stellar behavior, but...*shrugs*. It was all just Dan being Dan. He’s one of the few characters who’ll tell you he’s a dick, but it doesn’t feel like an excuse just to be a dick, because the intensity of his personality and his passion for climbing ARE him, and that means he has little time for anything else but you know that already, so, he really is a take-him-as-he-is or leave him character. Sejin takes him and loves him and doesn’t try to change him. And Sejin receives Dan’s extreme and true appreciation of Sejin in return.

Secondary characters are still fabulous, layered, authentic, and add so much to the read with subplots and tension that support the main story and also add intrigue and questions I’d love to get answers to, should there wind up being other books in this world. The found family and bio family threads are all strong and well developed, with conflicts and satisfying resolutions.

Sejin’s hair situation made me teary. Of all things! Ha. And one SC’s health situation was also an emotional thread.

Realistic characters, challenging situations, working through trauma and tough times...the entire book held my interest, even when I didn’t necessarily like a character’s choice.

Meeting Sejin’s dad and how his on-page time played out was a lot of fun, I loved that solution for other people, even if it was a bit too easy?! Whatevs. Good choice.

Overall, this is a series I will gladly re-read, with unique and authentic characters and an unusual setting and theme. Truly enjoyable. Maddening at times, but rewarding to survive and triumph with the characters.

HEA (hard-won and SO triumphant!), injured rock-climber and barrista/dance teacher, autism rep, MC of color, found family, many challenges both physical and financial, and an unforgettable small-community sensibility. Safe for me; thank god all the references to ALL the previous lovers for both MCs finally died down in this book. One note of OW drama, but...it weird and unnecessary, but easy for me to forget about as the story progressed. Highly recommended duet.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC; this is my free and impartial opinion.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book continues from where Free Fall left off. Dan has survived the fall, but not without severe injuries. He has a long road back, but Heart Route is still very much on his mind and in his plans. Sejin is terrified that he will try again, but realizes that climbing is at the heart of his man, and it will continue to be a big part of Dan’s life, and his, if he wants to stay with his man. We get the point of view from both men, and learn more about Dan and his past, and how he copes with his extended recovery and the boredom that goes with it. When Dan decides to try Instagram and YouTube to earn some money, posting daily about the challenges of his recovery, we see a different side of Dan, one that is softer in some ways, but also witty and even more open about certain aspects of his life. He becomes more human and relatable to his followers rather the withdrawn, private person he presented before. Sejin has been a big help from the standpoint of using his K-pop interest to help Dan figure out what kinds of things people would be interested in to draw them to his posts. Dan comes across as vulnerable in some posts, funny in others, and his “corn” post is very funny. Reading many of his posts had me smiling, giggling, and laughing out loud. I hadn’t realized what a sense of humor he had when it wasn’t centered around Sejin.

Stress is a big part of Sejin’s life as he tries to juggle caring for Dan, his two jobs, and dealing with all of the financial stresses that go along with severe injuries and recovery. We see how close he is to breaking as he tries to cope with it all and be the rock Dan needs right now. We also learn more about his emotional state in relation to the death of his mom and his relationship with his dad. That becomes more evident when his dad comes to visit and changes are obvious to Sejin, changes he never expected and now must readjust his thinking about his expectations with his dad going forward.

Both men have a lot of soul searching to do about how important each is to the other, what kinds of accommodations must be made if the love and relationship will last, and what expectations will be there going forward. A new character enters the scene in Sailor, a fire-y, driven woman who will have a huge impact on their lives, both short and long term. The supporting characters from book 1, Martin, Leeney and the kids, Lowell and Rye, Peggy Jo and Sejin’s co-workers, all continue the support network for both Sejin and Dan over the next six months, and most play an integral part in the pivotal events that occur. Our MCs do get their HEA, leaving me with a smile on my face and a feeling of satisfaction for where they are in their relationship and life. Oh, and we finally get the answer to the “seahorse” reference Sejin uses, and Dan doesn’t understand. It made perfect sense to me. Luckily, most of the climbing references I didn’t understand were ones I could get a definition for from the dictionary or Wikipedia references, and that did enhance my engagement with the climbing sequences, which I thought were well done and easy to follow. Heights aren’t my thing, but I could understand the allure and the draw for someone like Dan.

This is a beautifully written duo with engaging and relatable characters, complex and intricate world building for a group of sports enthusiasts that I had never thought about, descriptions that create beautiful pictures in my mind of the scenery in and around the Yosemite Valley (a place I have never been but would like to see), and a love story that will stay with me for awhile as Dan and Sejin weathered this terrifying and emotional interlude in their lives, moving forward to the future with a solid foundation. An emotional, educational and satisfying read, well worth the time to read the almost 800 pages in all.

I received an advance review copy for free and this is my voluntary review.

[ivanareadsalot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Free Heart was a deeply moving and gorgeous conclusion to one of the most heartfelt and riveting love stories I've read in a while!

Things kicked off right where Free Fall ended, and my heart was basically pulp as Sejin and Dan worked through an astonishing amount of emotional turmoil from start to finish. Their love was a beautiful powerful one to read though and I could not love them more!

But just thinking about the layers of pain Sejin had to endure on so many levels from loving someone who got shattered while pursuing his heart's passion, who asks when he can train again while his leg is still in pieces!

I FELT Sejin's grind, all his fears, and his bone deep exhaustion. He had the gentlest of hearts, and as adorable/challenging as I found Dan, Sejin was an absolute stunning human I won't soon forget!

As wild and daring as Dan came across, he was supremely endearing even when I wanted to wring his neck! His childhood of being bounced around 12 foster homes made him feel underserved of love...and then comes Sejin who was completely devoted to Dan, showing him that he was worthy of love despite the weight of responsibilities on Sejin's shoulders.

And on Sejin's end, pouring everything into Dan's healing when he was at his most vulnerable, transmuted some of that energy when he'd lost his mother to breast cancer. Sejin would love and miss his mother forever, but at least Dan would heal and their love would grow.

The character arcs had phenomenal growth! Blake used the tension in the challenges from people being people, to financial strain, to childhood trauma, to feelings of jealousy and inadequacy, which really pushed Sejin and Dan to evolve with enormous depth while remaining true to their character! There was just SO MUCH voracious intensity to the layers of realness, and I just loved all the complex and intimate drama!

And after the highly-charged, stressful beginnings of healing as an athlete, working a million jobs to make ends meet, and all the medical debt and financial strain, Blake released the tension about two thirds through with humour (YES I laughed a few times and the highlights were page length) and some touching moments with family and friends that felt invigorating and restorative.

Sejin and his Dad were exceptionally moving, but also the last quarter of this amazing book made my face a waterfall.

Overall Free Heart was an emotional and deeply affecting read, and I can't wait to do it all again! I've been collecting Leta Blake romances for a while now and hopefully there will be more wins for me in the treasure trove of titles like this was whenever I get a chance to read them! Amazing! Loved this!

[Danielle Cordsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free Heart
By: Leta Blake

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Oh my this book is heartbreaking!

If you’re reading this review this book can not be read alone book 1 Free Fall has to be read first.

In the second book in Free fall duet we get the continuation of Dan and Sejin’s hard fought love story. The book starts off on chapter twenty four right we’re Free Fall left us all on a massive cliffhanger. The unthinkable happens and Dan is severely injured in his solo free climb. What happens after that might be one of the most intense stories I’ve read in years. If I’m honest I cried in absolute frustration at the end of book 1 because I knew I’d be broken before I’d be put back together in book 2. You get to see the challenges of allowing yourself to be loved and love in return. You will also see how loving someone as they are not who you wish they’d be is so important in a healthy relationship and in friendships. I loved this series!!! 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.

Authors Blurb: The fall was brutal.

Healing isn’t a solo ascent, and love has a way of sending reinforcements.
From a fiercely loyal climbing partner to a steadfast mother figure, from a determined daycare owner to a climbing community they never expected, Dan and Sejin find themselves held by something rare found family that believes in them. In their love. In their future.
The fall is where the real story begins.

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.

[Ana Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I love you. You’re my euphoria, my universe, and my very best friend. I promise to always put you first—and that means all the time, not just when I’m climbing.”

My heart is happy! This was the perfect happy ending for Dan and Sejin. After all the uncertainty and pain after Dan’s fall, they managed to keep their love alive.

Oh Danny boy, you were such an annoying, self absorbed jerk who couldn’t prioritize what was really important. But I loved that about you. I loved that you didn’t give up your dream of going back to El Capitán and finishing what you started simply because you loved Sejin. It wouldn’t have been the real you if you did that and Sejin understood.

Being you is what made Sejin fall in love with you and despite the fear of losing you, he supported your decision and stood by you even if it hurt him.

My beautiful Sejin. You are such a beautiful, loving soul. I wish there were more people like you in this messed up world. The way you took care of Dan and yourself despite being mad at him was beyond words. You had all the right to walk away and save your own heart. But you didn’t, even knowing Dan would put himself at risk again.

There’s just so much love in this story. So much compromise in loving someone warts and all and knowing you would choose them no matter what. It’s being their rock when they fall(pun intended😅), it’s supporting them even when you just want to knock some sense into them.

I loved their love. I loved how much Dan changed for the better. How he finally learned to accept help and that he was more loved than he thought. I loved that Sejin felt how much he was loved by Dan. That despite everything, Dan would always put him first.

My only complaint was Sejin’s hair😭 That hurt me more than anything else🤣 I definitely laughed out loud at corn scene. Leave it to Dan to be so Dan 😂.

I’m so glad I had the chance to listen to these books. Leta Blake has such a beautiful way of writing that you can’t help but fall in love with her characters. And I’m so in love with Dan and Sejin.

As always, John Solo did an amazing job. That man just makes a book even better!

[CatOnABlueBackground · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book#2 - you MUST read book#1 or this won't make any sense. This book picks up immediately where the first book left off - after Dan falls off the mountain. This one is all about healing and trying again, and about their continuing but changing relationship.

I felt there was a lot of truth in this book - in the way the characters acted towards each other & reacted to the various situations. These characters are in a mature relationship - there is no lying or staying quiet when someone should say something, or having big misunderstandings to move the plot. There's no third act breakup - no one is doing anything dumb to cause drama. One of the characters states “Sometimes I think we’re all free soloing our own personal Heart Route, Sejin. Doing the best we can with enormous consequences if we fuck it up. It’s called living.” That pretty much sums up the emotion behind the whole book. This is the kind of book where one main says to the other “You’re my idea of heaven. I don’t even want there to be an afterlife if it’s not with you” and really means it. Sejin and Dan are perfect for each other (in fact, Sejin may be the only person, ever, able to love Dan the way Dan needs to be loved). This is a story about loving someone for who they are and realizing you can't change them (or they will end up being someone else).

Also, there's a lot of rock climbing.

Read book 1 & 2 back to back (I had ARCs) - and loved them both a LOT.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as emotional as Free Fall

After taking a few days to recover from that ending, I went into the second of the duet with high hopes. I enjoyed it and it was a beautiful love story with huge heart and emotion, an absolutely amazing wedding and the ending was perfect.
But... a character was introduced about halfway through that blindsided me. Sailor seemed to insinuate herself into Dan and Sejin's little bubble of happiness and I didn't like how Dan reacted. He was openly attracted to her and it made me squirm. Poor Sejin is doing everything for him and he's lusting after someone else? Just no. Especially as they are in love and committed. Yes, of course, you can appreciate other people when you're in a relationship but it didn't fit here. It took quite a while for me to believe that she wasn't going to cause trouble or create a rift and I couldn't help but question her motives. She turned out to be okay in the end, a good friend to them, but it pulled me out of the story a lot.
I felt Free Heart was less intense than Free Fall but I think that had something to do with all the focus on the Heart Route free solo last time, the tension and drama ramping up, and this was about what happened next. It still kept me turning the pages and I loved their found family and Sejin's actual family.
Rye and Lowell fascinated me and I hope that Leta will give us their HEA too.

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first half of Sejin and Dan's journey, but this book was where I fell head over heels in love. Character growth, mental and physical healing, romance, community building -- everything about this book was bold, exciting, and elevated. I love the way Leta Blake explored what motivated Dan to climb, diving deeper into his back story and showing his self-growth in parallel. Things were rough for Sejin and Dan during the early days of his recovery, but that's what made their progression feel authentic to me. Sejin had to wrestle with his love for Dan and his fear of his extreme sport; Dan had to learn how to pace himself and let his love for Sejin center him. I found it easy to get invested in the ups and downs of their lives, all building up to Dan's next attempt at Heart Route. The two of them met new friends, faced new challenges side by side, and figured out how to balance their partnership with their personal goals. Day by day, I got to watch Dan and Sejin's love grow into something unshakeable, and I was thrilled by the steps forward they took together. Their friends and family were a much larger part of this book than the first one, and I think their presence made the whole story feel vibrant and well-rounded. All in all I thought this was a very satisfying redemption arc with a wonderfully sweet happy ending to wrap things up on an emotional high.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

[sixteenpawssevenears · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️📚 Arc - Review 📚✨️


Dan & Sejin (Part 2)



This was a lot.

Yeah, I know I've already said so in my review of the first part of this duet, but, seriously.
This story is such an emotional roller-coaster...I just....

OK.

First, I have to say - mostly throughout the first book, I kind of hated Dan.
Yeah, I understand him to a degree, but that did nothing to temper my anger down.
Then, there came this part of the duet.
I adore both of them.
This was a wild ride full of hurt, love, and happiness.
This is gonna make you so sad and happy you can't stop crying.
Well, I couldn't.

It was a lot of drama, and these two won't always make it easy for you to love them.
Or like them - when it comes to Dan...
Still.
This is just one of these stories that cling to you after reading them. The bad, the good, and the awful.

Like it or not.

This was a very well written book.
It left me overwhelmed (not in a bad way, though).

Sorry if this sounds like wild rambling...

It's hard to explain everything without spoiling anything....
It's even harder to explain why you should read this emotional roller-coaster...

Let's try this:

You'll want to scream.
You'll want to cry.
You'll want to take Sejin far, far away from it all.
You'll want to punch Dan.
You'll want to stop reading.

But you still can't put this down until you reach the final word. 🩵

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’M TOTALLY GUTTED BUT IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL!💕

🧗‍♂️ 👨🏻‍🦽‍➡️

Dan and Sejin’s journey was oh so sweet and poignant- pure poetry in motion!

“You’re my gravity. You keep me here.”

“You love life, and you make me love it too.”

Dan’s recovery journey wasn’t easy, it took a lot of stress, blood, sweat and tears both from Dan and Sejin but it was heartfelt, endearing and inspiring with all the support he had in Sejin, Peggy Jo, fellow climbers and even Sejin’s cousins!

Sajin was the sweetest and kindest soul to ever cross Dan’s path, he was truly Dan’s Angel Fish to his Seahorse- they were meant to meet, fall, and live life to the fullest together!

There are core developments in the story that will shock and surprise the reader and then there are sweet and funny moments with Dan’s online presence which will also get the tear ducts working!

The solo climb was nerve wrecking for both Sajin and Dan’s followers but most of all it was soul cleansing for Dan- a way to get rid of all the bad memories…
and love and love free!

I would love to get more on Rye and Lowell’s story…

All in all it was a fantastic nerve racking read with a beautiful soul enriching conclusion!

Thank you for the introduction to the K-Pop bands, my Spotify app was working overtime! ☺️

I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR and the author for an honest non biased review.

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't planning to read this but I hate leaving things unfinished and when Audible had their Black Friday sale, I decided to pick up the audio to see if I might enjoy this second half of Dan's and Sejin's story. And I most certainly did. In fact, if there were an award for best comeback of the year, I would award this story.

I loved John Solo's narration and I warmed up to Dan this time. I'm not sure if his autism was mentioned in book one, but it was in this installment and it explained some of his sometimes awkward socialization skills. I liked Sejin more in this one as well. In fact, his character growth was very well done. Dan's was, however, even more amazing to witness. So much of his background as a foster child explained his current personality. His personal growth and maturity were the foundation of the story. And watching his love for Sejin grow from a simple sexual attraction to a deep and abiding love for Sejin's personality and strength of character was like having the cherry on the ice cream sundae.

The finale was sweet and their acceptance of each other as they are and not as they'd want to the other to be was solid and strong. So if, like me, you weren't terribly impressed with part one, hang on for part two. It's worth the investment of your time.