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Off the shores of Sea Haven, a beautiful diver rescues a man from drowning, a man with no memory of who he is-or why he seems to possess the violent instincts of a trained killer. But soon, he and his savior will be engulfed in a storm of dizzying passion and inescapable danger...
From Eloisa James's "READING ROMANCE" column on The Barnes & Noble Review
At cocktail parties I often find myself face-to-face with a man bent on proving that romances give women unrealistic expectations about the male sex. After reading one too many, he'll explain earnestly, she might dump a perfectly acceptable man simply because he can't talk about emotion as fluently as do romance heroes. His eyes shift uneasily as he makes his argument, well aware that he himself is no Prince Charming. Next time around, I have the perfect comeback: I've discovered some wonderful novels that depict the harshest challenge of all: falling in love with a man who, for one reason or another, is unable to understand emotion, let alone express it.
Christine Feehan's Water Bound probably depicts the most difficult of these relationships, because neither partner is comfortable with intimacy. Rikki Sitmore is a sea-urchin diver with the paranormal ability to make water obey her. What she doesn't have is the ability to read facial expressions; she's a high-functioning autistic. The man she saves from a rogue wave, Lev Prakenskii, is an assassin who is, he thinks, incapable of emotion. He suffers from an extreme form of PTSD that makes him a danger to Rikki: if startled, he instinctively attacks. Feehan deftly describes a kind of raw novelty in their every kiss: "He tasted passion. He tasted emotion. He tasted a world he'd never imagined, one he could never enter." Water Bound is a paranormal suspense, with a couple of baddies running around. But the heart of it is quiet and joyful, as two very lonely, very unusual people fall deeply in love.
Jack Wyndham, Earl of Gracechurch, is as damaged as Lev, though for different reasons. Eileen Dreyer's Barely a Lady spins a fascinating story about a marriage gone horribly wrong. Five years ago Jack divorced and ruined Olivia Grace, accusing her of adultery and leaving her penniless. She has every reason to wish him dead, and yet when she finds him on a battlefield, badly wounded and suffering from amnesia, she saves his life against all her better instincts. Like Feehan's romance, this novel is less about the machinations of evil men (though they exist), than about the slow blossoming of a very damaged man. The real problem standing between the pair is not Jack's fractured mind and body: it's that trust, as Jack finally realizes, involves faith. And until he keeps faith with Olivia, even in the face of the worst accusation of all, she won't have faith in him -- and he'll lose everything that might make his life worth living. Like Lev, Jack has to learn to accept the reality of his own violent past. But he, too, finds that love is a great healer. Barely a Lady is a deeply emotional, deeply moving novel that will make you believe in second chances.
Armand, Comte de Valère, in Shana Galen's The Making of a Gentleman, also shares a good deal with Feehan's hero. Lev is incapable of emotion because he was taken from his family as a young boy, and trained to be an assassin; Armand doesn't speak and can't bear to be touched, after having been kidnapped at age eleven and held in captivity for years. When his family hires a tutor in a desperate bid to push him toward civilized behavior, Felicity Bennett is horrified by her new charge: he howls rather than speaks; he wears no shoes or stockings; his mind is broken. The story of how Felicity woos Armand with music, teaching him to speak and follow "The Rules" is fascinating. You'll find yourself rooting for Armand, who knows immediately that he wants to marry Felicity, no matter her station in life. But she wants love, and he doesn't understand the emotion. The tale of how he learns that love is wanting to be with her in the morning and do anything for her smile…well, it will make you smile too.
Several of these novels look squarely at the side effects of being a soldier. Former Navy SEAL Sax Douchett, in JoAnn Ross's The Homecoming, finds himself dreaming of Afghanistan every night, unable to break free from his memories. Sax has come home to the small Oregon town where he grew up, bringing with him the wisecracking, sweet ghosts of three wartime buddies: Jake the Snake, Cowboy Montgomery, and Randy. After Sax's dog finds a human bone on the beach, Sax encounters the local sheriff, Kara Conway, a girl that he didn't have a prayer of winning back in the day. But now they've both changed. He's a bad boy turned American hero (with all the complications that implies), and she's the widow of a soldier, raising a small son named Trey. The Homecoming is a rueful, complicated tale about the power of love: not just the love between Kara and Sax, but the love between Sax, Jake, Cowboy, and Randy. When his teammates tell him they're finally free to move on -- "SEALS don't leave men behind," but Sax isn't stuck in the Kush anymore -- I dare you not to get a lump in your throat. At the end of this novel, Kara, Trey, and Sax have all learned to say goodbye to beloved, lost soldiers: the love that binds them will carry them into a new life together.
Barring that little ghost problem and some terrible dreams, Sax is essentially a wounded man who merely needs to heal. But like Feehan's Rikki, the hero of Kristan Higgins's All I Ever Wanted is a person who has to be loved for himself, as personalities aren't "curable." Higgins's novel offers an utterly charming and hysterically funny account of falling in love with a social misfit. Callie Grey is turning thirty, and getting desperate -- desperate enough to pack up her cheerful dog Bowie and haul him down to the new (single) vet with a pathetic excuse. Ian MacFarland has, in Callie's words, "just a splash of Asperger's," along with a strong antipathy to what he terms Callie's "emotional diarrhea." I laughed aloud over and over as Callie learns to spell out every emotion so Ian can understand it, and Ian learns that a messy, emotionally challenging life is not the end of the world. It's rather wonderful to watch him discover that the one thing he's always avoided -- an emotional, impulsive woman -- may, in fact, be all he ever wanted.
These romances tackle the most difficult men of all -- those who are unable to express emotion, whether because of physical and mental trauma, or a twist of personality. These aren't fantasies about easy love or the perfect man. They will strengthen your belief in the most wonderful aspect of the human spirit: the capacity to love deeply and truly, even when one's beloved is walking a different road than the rest of us.
I read all of Feehans books, but I HATED this one. Was long and had none of the excitement I read in other books. Had this been another author I would have thrown it away without finishing it. I think she should rethink this series.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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This book just didn't do it for me. It wasn't even on the same level as the Drake sisters series! I was so disappointed. The story was repetitious, and the ending was anticlimactic. One of the biggest problems for me was that I truly thought Ricki was maybe a bit crazy. Her childish antics were sort of annoying, and I didn't understand what the heck was wrong with her until they finally said she was autistic. Then of course everything made a whole bunch more sense. I just wish it was informed a lot sooner in the book. Also her whole fear of fire got to be a bit much. And then the man who wanted to kill her and everyone she loved, all because of a car accident that wasn't even her families fault?? Seriously?? I don't know, maybe I'm being to hard on Christine Feehan. She is a great author, but I just loved the Drake sisters series so much and this one just wasn't up to par. Although I do see the potential she does have lined up with the next books in the series and that is something I look forward to reading.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SarsMICAMA
Posted August 5, 2010
This is an almost 500 page book of repetitious writing, uninteresting characters, and a plot that gets lost in all of the repetitive descriptors. I really enjoyed the first 7 books in this series- light escapism with interesting and strong characters, but this book fell subject to Christine Feehan's new writing style- overly detailed and un-engaging. If the writing were really good I would have said the descriptions added color instead of it boring me to sleep. I will admit that I don't know what happened from about page 300-400- I couldn't make myself read any more so I skipped to the end.
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 26, 2010
Let me start off by say I LOVE Christine Feehan's work. I have read all but one of her books from all her series and I'm a big fan. Now comes the kicker, this book just wasn't that good. People who loved the Drake series will be sadly disappointed by this book. The story itself wasn't bad but we've already seen the diver theme with Abigail Drake and this story could basically have been the same story with the names changed if it weren't for the oh so exciting issue of mental illness, of which there appears to be a definite lack of research for this book. The young woman in the book only shows signs of her supposed autism when it is convenient to the story line and comes off more as a poster-child for PTSD having lost several loved ones in fires but never getting counseling. I was especially annoyed, having a friend who IS a high functioning autistic, to have her even write in a scene where the main character 'turns on' her autism to fool an agent into believing she's nearly catatonic. Please, if you're going to write about a real issue like mental illness at least do some research.
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.In-bed-with-my-Nook
Posted August 17, 2010
Unless you're into 100 pages of explicit sex, 100 pages of descriptions of autism (which are about as enlightened as Wikipedia) and 100 pages of ho-hum plot, RUN FROM THIS BOOK! I can't believe I finished it.
The characters are dumb, dumb, dumb. Some combination of reality and fantasy. What the heck is a 'water element'? Ever met one?? A 'fire element'? Well, that's an arsonist.
Have to hand it to the author....she managed to keep an orgasm going for 20 pages. Not bad.
Every character is contrived. The local cop is married to an international super model. Good God! How many international super models do you know who live in a po-dunk town and are married to a local cop??? And a sister who makes her living making koleidescopes??? How quaint.
And to top it all...so realistic...our hero is a life-long assassin who has killed maybe hundreds of people...by his own admission...has now suddenly found redemption and settles down to raise vegetables and go scuba diving. Could I make this up??? Well the author did.
I recommend you find another book to read.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 19, 2011
I enjoyed this book. If you read the one about Lev's brother then you know about his training and it all joins together. What do people expect when they read. To me it is an escape and that is what Christine Feehan does lets me escape. Don't let them stop you from doing this series as I am looking forward to the next one already.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Rikki is a sea urchin diver, she learned to like a solitary life as it beats being ridiculed for being "different", until she goes diving and encounters a half dead man. What should she do with him, especially since he doesn't want in spite of his grave injuries medical help. Lev Prakenskii can't remember anything but his name and the fact that he's a killer and yet Rikki knows she's in no danger from him, that is until her heart is involved and then look out.
Ms. Feehan gives us a brand new series with some old friends and some new faces in her brand new series in Sea Haven the home town of the beloved Drake Sisters. Her plot is straight forward with just enough woo woo to make it interesting for us her paranormal fans. You'll recognize her dialogue as she rarely strays from her unique style of storytelling and yet it's different enough from her other series that it has it's own flavor. Her characters are as usual over the top with personality and her readers won't be able to help themselves but to love the hero Lev and her heroine RIkki, and we get the added bonus of catching up with our old friends too. The romance is sweet and the audience will be pulling for them every step of the way as you will not meet two characters in more need of a happy ever after. The love scenes are hot, spicy, sensual and leave little to the imagination, but you will know there's love in every encounter.
So if you finished Elle and Jackson's story and were a little misty eyed, this is your chance to go back to Sea Haven. If you love Christine's other series, you will love this one. If you love a great series that thinks just a little out of the box and adds a little paranormal to the persuasion, you'll love this. It's a great new series and I can't wait for the next volume.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.hollykesten
Posted August 24, 2010
I Also Recommend:
Rikki is unlike any other heroine, an autistic girl who suddenly finds herself saddled with an injured Russian hit man. The book was well written with interesting plot twists that were very well liked and unexpected. Her inclusion of the Drake sisters was welcome and well done, not letting the bestselling series overtake this story. Lev was also well written, his dark persona a well done contrast to Rikki. The book was a slight bit unbelievable that Rikki who seems almost unable to do anything for herself except go on her boat can welcome him into her life. Overall, well done and recommended.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 18, 2010
I Also Recommend:
A complete surprise from Feehan, in my opinion, and wonderfully so! I was very impressed with her character development and her implementation of the female protagonist's autism. Having a brother with said "handicap", I am very familiar with the traits of autism and felt that Feehan captured it perfectly! The romance was scorching and the vitality of each chapter was palpable. This was a definite can't-put-it-down novel and will be worth your while. I can almost guarantee it will be placed on your "favorites" shelf.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 15, 2010
I liked the characters and their story but did not like the fact that it overlapped with an ugly part of the Drake sisters series. I can't quite resolve that but I hope in future books of this series the author manages it. I like this author a lot and plan to read everything she writes. Also, what's with the sea urchins? I have no idea what they are and why anyone would make a career out of them. Do you eat them?
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 2, 2010
I Also Recommend:
Water Bound was my first Christine Feehan novel and I have to say I really liked it. There was just enough suspense to keep me reading and the romance was nice without being over the top. Great read and I think I willl read more of her novels.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 28, 2010
Again Christine Feehan writes another great story. I thought Turbulent Seas was my most favorite of the Drake related books but this one quickly took it's place.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 30, 2010
I have enjoyed every book by Christine Feehan and this one is no exception. The characters were well rounded and well researched and the story was a page turner! I definitely recommend this one!
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 28, 2010
Water Bound is a compelling and well written story.
Rikki is a sea-urchin diver in Sea Haven and has rescued Lev Prakenskii from certain death. He is helpless and injured in the depths of a cold ocean. Although, she is a loner by nature and circumstance she feels compelled to help this stranger.
Each of these characters has tremendous obstacles to overcome in their trust of each other . However, the author gives us compelling insights and reasons why their relationship might work.
You are rooting that Rikki is able to overcome her aversion to have anyone in her orbit but "the sisters of her heart." Lev has to accept that he is not only the dark, cold person he believes himself to be.
Two unlikely people, who find themselves while looking into each other eyes.
And to think I did not even mention the action that is packed into the book.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 19, 2013
Great new series...especially if you loved the Drake Sisters!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 19, 2012
This is one book that I read again and again. This book takes place immediately after 'Hidden Currents' and follows what happens to the brother of one of the heros from one of the sea haven series.
The other books do not have to be read to enjoy this as this is a new series, but it does have some crossover characters. I really enjoyed the conflict and hero, but what keeps me rereading is the heroine of this story who is not the cookie cutter heroine of most stories, but of someone with very real problems who has to live in a world that is different then the one most people live in. Thank you ms. Feehan for the insight on how people live in world that may not be set up for them.
Morninglory
Posted July 13, 2012
A wonderful read! I found it spell-binding, no pun intended! I could not put it down. (I have the same "problem" with all of Ms Feehan's books! You will get caught up in the story, the characters and their lives. You really should read it and see what I mean!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Corkit
Posted April 29, 2012
Fell in love with all the characters. Wonderful start to a new series. The story pulled me in and before I realized, the book was done. Wonderful read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I could not put it down once i started reading it. Feehan does a great job of keeping you on the edge of your seat wanting to know more. i can hardly wait for the next one to come out.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 29, 2012
I locked out of my den and first result. Moving my den to secobd esult. Let everyone plz
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
Off the shores of Sea Haven, a beautiful diver rescues a man from drowning, a man with no memory of who he is-or why he seems to possess the violent instincts of a trained killer. But soon, he and his savior will be engulfed in a storm of dizzying passion and inescapable danger...