DEEP WATERS BY JAYNE ANN KRENTZ, 1997 CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE Pocket Books, $6.99, ISBN: ISBN: 0-671-01738-1 Reviewed by: Danyelle Warden Reviewed by: Linda Hurst (audio version)

Charity Truitt moved to Whispering Waters Cove to reinvent herself after a failed engagement and near miss with a nervous breakdown. Elias Winters inherited Crazy Otis’ Landing in Whispering Waters Cove after his friend and mentor died, and now Elias is questioning the primary motivations for his entire adult life. The two are drawn to one another instantly and feed the attraction. When they are drawn into the mystery of a murder after a spaceship cult leader is killed on the day she has projected the arrival of the benevolent aliens, Elias and Charity discover a deep love for each other.

Elias’ background is typical of JAK’s work. Many of JAK’s characters are orphans mentored by a volunteer who is worthy and respected. Frequently, the hero’s mentor dies. Silver Linings, Grand Passion, and Golden Chance come to mind as single title releases whose heroes are mentored by worldly, respected men. Any number of JAK’s category work fit this scenario, as well.

The cast is a colorful lot ranging from the space ship cult followers to the local shopkeepers including Radiance, the throwback hippie. The supporting characters are charming and add significantly to the setting and tone.

Deep Waters is a representative sample of JAK’s single title, contemporary work.

Danyelle Warden

Audio tape published by Simon & Schuster Inc.
Read By Moira Kelly

Charity Truitt is a corporate executive that burned out at the age of 28. She has come to Whispering Waters Cove for healing. She opened a bookstore on Crazy Otis Landing and began to form a "family" of misfits who had also settled on the pier. Family in many different forms is a recurring theme in JAK 's books and it is a theme we can all identify with. The need to surround oneself with a "family" is a universal one.

Elias Winters inherits the pier and its shop from his long time mentor in a mysterious eastern philosophy of water--Tal Kek Chara. One of the things I most admire about JAK is her ability to create a universe within a universe. The sayings of Tal Kek Chara that open each chapter and the underlying philosophy of Elias are completely her invention. Yet, they are just skewed enough from Zen that you smile a little each time you read one. Reminds me of the truly awful western poetry she invented for Between the Lines--absolutely hysterical.

Elias has also burned out--from a quest for revenge. He has spent all of his adult life trying to avenge the death of his father. When he finally has the means for his revenge, his mentor dies and he realizes that there will be no satisfaction in destroying the other man. Elias and Charity were obviously made for each other. There is a bizarre cult and a murder plot, but neither of these get in the way of Charity and Elias's developing relationship, which is how it should be in a good romance novel.

Moira Kelly is very good. She has a deep alto voice which is very believable for Elias and Charity. The only quibble I would have is a horrible southern accent she gives Radiance. Luckily, Radiance has only a few lines or this would become a "wallbanger". The banter between Elias and Charity is adult and witty. The abridgment is quite good--perhaps the only thing I missed was the "hot" dinner in the book--I think that would have been wonderful on tape, but that is a small quibble. Overall a very good listen.

Linda Hurst