Paranormal with a poignant twist

Christine Feehan is known for giving her characters extraordinary powers. But I found the heroine in Water Bound to be particularly touching. This lovely young woman is terse and antisocial - yet, she struggles to get past these traits to be what she needs to be to her sisters and the man who will become her love. Feehan gives her readers what we expect; then she takes it up a notch to introduce us to a heroine who gives hope to those facing similar disabilities. A satisfying and touching listen. Highly recommended.

18 people found this helpful

A new start with a dash of reunion

Let me first say that the posted Summary for this book is wrong:
Publisher's Summary
The last thing Sid remembered was being enlisted to protect a vulnerable young woman in the coastal town of Sea Haven. Then, as if in some nightmare, he was lost in the swirling currents of the ocean, and sucked deeper into a freezing black eddy. Just as quickly, he was saved - pulled ashore by a beautiful stranger. Her name is Rikki, a sea-urchin diver in Sea Haven. Soon they will be bound by tantalizing secrets, which will engulf them both in a whirlpool of passion and danger.

His name is not Sid nor was he enlisted to protect a vulnerable young woman in Sea Haven. His name is Lev and he was rescued by Rikki when he was on a ship that was went down near Sea Haven (from the last book in the Sea Haven Sisters Series). He isn't there to rescue anyone and he isn't needed to rescue Rikki either. She's a strong woman that can rescue herself - and does so.

The story is laid out as a first in the new series and I felt it lacked a little more of the introduction and connection to the other characters that were coming in the series within this book. Rikki is supposed to be close to her sisters and though not too close due to her condition the reader isn't given much information on the sisters, just a brief introduction to them with a little more for one of the other sisters. Of that I feel the story lacked the connection the reader should have as this is a series. The story does have it slow points, but I feel that the character Rikki needs this... and the action warms up in the last 1/4 of the book. If you've read the previous series it's a little reunion with Jonas and Hannah - just a little bit, but you are reminded of the history... some of which actually isn't resolved by the end of the book. This was disappointing to me personally as I feel it should have been resolved and done so in this book - but I can hope it does so within the next coming books in the series.

The narrator for this story didn't do a great job. She didn't make the male characters sound... well, male. Everything kind of blended when it came to character identification. I wish that the narrator for the original Sea Haven series had done this one. Also I feel that the narrator went to far in assuming what a high level Autistic adult would sound like. At times she was fine and at other it felt like a speech pattern was used that was very "different". Be consistent. Also the tone of the story was slow due to the narrator. Lastly the audio had an echo which can be quite disturbing. If you start and stop the story quite a few times this might be a huge problem.

23 people found this helpful

Romantic Suspense with special talents

The Publisher’s Summary is totally useless; whoever wrote it never read the book. Spanking is required!

Rikki Sitmore and 5 other women - her Sisters of the Heart - have created their own family and live together on a 130 acre farm; each in their own home. This is set just outside the town of Sea Haven, home of the Drake sisters, and these ladies also have talents. Blythe Daniels is a Drake cousin who shares a traumatic event with her adopted sisters, and acts as their leader.

Rikki is autistic and has an affinity with water. She is diving on the day of Elle Drake’s wedding, and rescues a man from the sea who she looks at as hers. Only thing is, his name is Lev Prakenskii, and he’s been undercover as Sid, bodyguard for the evil shipping magnate Gratsos. He wants to stay under the radar of Russian secret factions and the Drake family.
Rikki has been plagued by mysterious deadly fires all her life and needs all the help she can get when she feels hunted by fire.
To add interest and connections, Lev is the brother of Ilya Prakenskii, husband of Joley Drake, and part of a male lineage of 7 sons.

Feehan does a surprisingly good job of portraying Rikki’s autism, and her diving, in a believable way.
Brazil does a decent job of narration.

4 people found this helpful

Story was great, narrator not so much

Would you listen to Water Bound again? Why?

Yes because I love the series and listening is my only option but I really don't like the narrator or the sound quality.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Disregarding the main characters (they are always chosen but I do love Rikki) I have to say I have always loved Inez.

Would you be willing to try another one of Angela Brazil’s performances?

No, not only does she sound as though she is readibg a child's storybook half the time, but worse she completely screws up character names. Its Stavros, not Stravos among others.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I really like the fact that the author took a chance on writing a main character who is on the Autism spectrum.

Any additional comments?

The audio gets really weird when there is telepathic communication. I guess they were going for atmosphere but it really messed with me and I wish I had been warned.

3 people found this helpful

Soldier BOY meets special-needs GIRL

Both main characters had a fascinating background & had to overcome steep odds to survive day-to-day life. As they come together it becomes apparent that where one fails, the other excels & one's strengths compliment the other's weaknesses. I really enjoyed the whole story.

3 people found this helpful

Great Read!

What did you love best about Water Bound?

it was a touching love story about two magical people finding each other and learning to love even when things are difficult.

Which character – as performed by Angela Brazil – was your favorite?

Rikki Sitmore

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

i did both.

3 people found this helpful

Water Bound

When I first found this series, I didn't know about the Drake Sisters series. While it's not necessary to read the Drake Sisters first, it certainly helps fill in the world building and introduces characters that pop up in the Sisters of the Heart series. In either event, I loved the book & will undoubtedly listen again!

2 people found this helpful

Love the story but it sounds a little hollow

Would you listen to Water Bound again? Why?

Love this story. I appreciate the differences of the female MC and the respect given to her by the male MC and her sisters.

What did you like best about this story?

Great romance - they do not fall in bed at first sight!

Have you listened to any of Angela Brazil’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have not listened to her before.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

It sounds a bit like it is being read from the bottom of a well. Do not like that which is why I gave the performance 4 stars.

2 people found this helpful

Series after the Drake Sisters

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The audiobook was all right, but I like the book better. The voice and images are better in my mind, than they are when I listen to the narrator.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Water Bound?

Finding out what happens to Ilya's brother.

Which scene was your favorite?

I like it when Rikki brings the water to her and puts out the fire.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Lev is determine to protect Rikki from everyone, even though he has never done it before.

Any additional comments?

Very nice continuation of the Drake's sister series.

2 people found this helpful

THIS IS A FANTASTIC NEW SEAHAVEN SERIES

Would you consider the audio edition of Water Bound to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version on book one, but I have read book two of this series. Water Bound is one of the best books I've gotten in a very long time.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Water Bound?

When Levi realized just how very much they needed to be together.

What does Angela Brazil bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I wouldn't experience all the nuances of the way the story layers as it builds one layer at a time to the climax.

If you could take any character from Water Bound out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Any one of their sisters.

2 people found this helpful