"The Ocean holds the key to both past and future for one marine historian"
IN DEEP WATERS by Melissa McClone is the second book
in the A Tale of the Sea series. Kayla (born Kai) Waterton
is the
twin of Phoebe Cartwright of MORE THAN
MEETS THE EYE by
Carla Cassidy. Though both books stand well alone, they fit
together as seamlessly as the two pieces of the Pacifica
seal which the twins wear around their necks. Unlike
Phoebe's, Kayla's appointed guardian survived until her
teens. Ianu, known to her as Jason Waterton, had raised her
to believe that she was his daughter. He'd died before he
could reveal the truth to her. Though he had given her love
and security, Kayla hadn't fit in any better than her twin
had. She'd always been whimsical, different. Although, she
had no idea just how different. Kayla is a maritime historian and the founder of Portland's
(Oregon)
Maritime History Museum which is
sponsoring Ben Mendoza's latest salvaging endeavor. It had
been her father's life-long dream to recover the wreckage
of the Isabella, a pirate ship that had gone down in
the
Pacific three centuries ago.
That dream would become a reality, even if Kayla had to
join the crew of the Xmarks Explorer herself. That is exactly what Kayla decided to do when she realized
that the salvor was searching in wrong location, and would
continue to do so. Once she shared her research with the
captain, she was certain that he would move the search to
the correct coordinates. Her only anxiety had to do with
the ocean itself. Her father had always kept her away from
the sea. She'd lost her mother to it, or so she'd been
told. She'd been too young to remember her. The saltwater made her legs tingle and ache, but it was
Captain Mendoza himself who made her tingle all over. The
man could have been a pirate himself, handsome, rugged,
determined. Determined to get rid of her that is. Ben Mendoza didn't have time for distractions, nor was
there any room in his life for another dreamer. Kayla
Waterton appeared to be both. He was a practical man. His
father and ex-wife had been the dreamers in the family. His
marriage had been a mistake he wasn't about to repeat.
Dreams didn't put food on the table, or raise a child. Ben
was his own boss, in charge of his own fate. He would be
responsible for their success or failure. His crew and his
three year old daughter were depending on him. He wasn't
about to take orders from a wet-behind-the-ears museum
historian, get sucked into her dreams, or succumb to her
considerable charms. He hasn't a clue that she's holding
all the cards, and she's determined to keep it that way if
she can help it. Though she's frustrated by Ben's refusal
to see reason and consider her new coordinates, she loves
being part of the crew. She knows she could and should pull
rank, but would rather find another way to persuade him to
cooperate. She wants to stay, to be part of the discovery,
part of Ben's life. While he's thinking up ways to get rid of her, Kayla is
winning over the hearts of his crew and little girl by just
being herself. Ben definitely isn't immune, which makes it
even more vital that she leave as soon as possible. He
couldn't let her break little Madison's heart, let alone
his own. When his scheme backfires, giving her the
opportunity
to get her way without rocking the boat, Kayla thinks she's
home free. But no sooner have they declared a truce, does
Kayla discovers a secret about herself that could dash all
of her dreams. Ben could never believe...could never accept
the truth about her. Could he? This tale was quite a bit different from the first, but
every bit as enjoyable. There was less suspense, but more
depth. The villain was ominously absent, which makes one
wonder if he's just a step behind, or has found other fish
to fry (shudder). The search continues for the last two mer
siblings still at large. Will Joran or Loucan get to them
first? Look for the twins' brother Saegar in CAUGHT BY
SURPRISE by Sandra Paul in September 2002. Copyright © 2002
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted August 16, 2002
|
|
Long ago and far away... ...there was a world filled with light and laughter and
love. But quakes buried the land deep below the sea. Slowly
the people adapted to their new world. But a civil war
broke out, forcing the king of Pacifica to send his four
children far away, each with a guardian and a piece of the
royal seal. Twenty-five years later, it was time for the siblings to be
reunited-and reclaim what was lost. Natural beauty Kayla
Waterton had always avoided the sea-she'd sensed its
secrets...and its danger. But a chance-of-a-lifetime search
expedition for a sunken ship could lead to answers about
her mysterious past...and passion in the arms of modern-day
pirate Captain Ben Mendoza.
Look for other books in this series:
MORE THAN
MEETS THE EYE (Phoebe - July 02) by Carla
Cassidy
CAUGHT BY
SURPRISE (Saegar - Sept. 02) by Sandra Paul
|
