Review: "Trapped Hearts"
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 17, 2014
Author Maggie Raine has created a story of two strong-willed characters who are forced to rely on each other to escape an underwater cave.  Sailing aboard the charter fishing vessel "The Sandra" in the Caribbean, the sea suddenly becomes rough, bouncing up and down without wind or storm.  Soon, spouts of dirty water surround the vessel ... and then, suddenly everything becomes calm again.  Once into port, Captain Rigby "Jake" Jacobs contacts Professor Eugene Thornsley (known to his students as "Thorny")at the Gerace Research Center For the Study of Archeology.  The professor's findings reveal an insular shelf-shift undersea off the island of Barbuda caused by an underwater volcano eruption. This has caused an increase in water temperature and created many small caves and caverns he plans to explore.  Eugene has invited Dr. Marielle Farnan, a marine biologist, to join his four-man research team along with Catherine and Paul, who have worked with him in the past.  Their mission is to set up underwater seismographs and current monitors along with cameras and thermometers.  The professor is arrogant, prickly, and makes Marielle feel she has made the wrong decision to join this team.  Her hackles are up and she's building a strong dislike for this intolerable man. While Catherine and Paul team together, that leaves Marielle to dive with Eugene.  Once in the water she is surprised how he apparently has changed: he's an elegant diver, comfortable in this element, and his eyes are sparkling.  Though Thorny set the rule of the buddy system, he himself breaks it by entering a nearby underwater cave.  Marielle adheres to the rule and follows him.  Almost instantly a vibration can be felt, and the cave opening collapses, trapping them inside with very little air in their tanks.  This is an interesting story of how two people open up to one another, drawn together, and must rely on each other for survival.  It is not your average romance story, but is a story of survival,acceptance and forgiveness.  I can imagine a sequel to this story and would like to see how the relationship builds between Thorny and Marielle.