Review: A hot love story with likeable characters set in the world of competitive swimming
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 7, 2013
This novel tells the story of Dana, an impulsive and individualistic children's author, and Jeff, an Open Water Swimmer. The two share a psychic link, and when Jeff has nightmares of his own drowning death. Dana also shares in these visions, causing her to seek out Jeff and attempt to save his life.The author states in the introduction that she has personal experience with the sport of Open Water Swimming, and this is obvious in the level of detail and authenticity in the novel. She expertly delivers exposition, and I felt I learned enough about the sport to follow the story without ever getting bored. She manages to deliver information adeptly while keeping the story moving forward at a brisk pace.In fact, I found this novel to be very fast-paced, full of little surprises, fun supporting characters, and exotic scenery.  Every scene propels the story forward, and the short, punchy chapters make for an exciting read. Even though I knew from the opening of the book that Jeff was going to have a near-drowning experience due to the "visions," the context in which the climax of the story happens is highly surprising and defied expectations, leading to a thrilling conclusion to the novel.The chemistry between the two main characters, Dana and Jeff, was very palpable and, as both of them very likeable and well characterized, I couldn't help but to care about them and to be drawn into their story. They both are people who followed their dreams in life and live very happily by their own rules. Yet they both have a sort of innocence when it comes to relationships and romance, never really understanding what love can mean ... Until they meet each other, of course.As a male reader, I liked the fact that Jeff wasn't a perfect "alpha male" type. Sure, he's handsome and buff and top athlete in his sport, but he's also a voracious eater, plays video games, and can be dense when it comes to the opposite sex. He's also described as having a freckled face, realistic for someone who's spent so much of their life outdoors swimming, but a surprise to me as I didn't figure that was "allowed" in a romantic hero (on the traditional list of no-no's like, say, having the hero have red hair--or so I've heard).The author doesn't seem to care about formulas or clichés, she's interested in telling a spicy and touching romantic story with believable characters who don't fit the prescribed mold, and I really liked that.