Customer Reviews

Deep Waters

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel with its comic relief, mystery and great two main characters, Charity and Elias. Charity escapes from Seattle and her duties as a CEO of Truitt Departments Stores that she took over while her younger stepsister and stepbrother were still in college. They are out of school and working at Truitt. Charity was about to be engaged to a man she didn't love but was trying to do a business merger with -- panic/anxiety attack ensues so Charity gets some therapy and then move to Whispering Waters Cove to open a small bookstore. Fortunately for the other shopkeepers at Crazy Otis Landing, Charity like to help people and thus uses her corporate experience to organize them, to help each individual improve their business and deal with their new landlord when the old one passes away.

The new landlord is Elias Winters, a real "player" in Pacific Rim business development. He was also a very close friend and student of the former landlord. Of course, he and Charity strike sparks and lots of fun and mayhem and romance ensue along with a murder mystery.

I loved the development of these characters and also enjoyed the secondary characters.

A really fun read!

I am sure that at some point I have read other Jayne Ann Krentz books, but I definately enjoyed this one. Let me give a short synopsis.

At first we meet Charity Truitt who is a powerful corporate person and right away she shows that she is burnt out and has a breakdown. She settles into a small town and owns a small shop which she is very content with. A gentleman, Elias Winter, who we learn was also an important corporate person, moves into Washington's Whispering Waters Cove. Everyone mistrusts Elias' motives including Charity. But, Elias is a novice when it comes to relationships and Charity has been repulsed by former boyfriends...so they meet.

There is some suspense and a mystery involved in the plot of the book as well as a wonderful romantic tale. This novel was fun to read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes more to a romance novel than just boy meets girl and they end up in bed.

Deep Waters was the first contemporary romance novel I ever read, as well as the first JAK book. I have to say, I got totally hooked! I found the Zenny water philosophy of Tal Kek Chara to be an extremely creative addition to the book, and the space-cult storyline was hysterically funny. One of the reviews on the book calls the relationship between Charity and Elias a "Tracy-Hepburn" alliance, and I have to agree. They had such passion, understanding, and (oddly and entertainingly enough) humor. The secondary characters were equally personable. I loved every minute of my reading experience, and Deep Waters is one of the few books in recent memory that I have picked up again and again, and enjoyed just as much each time I read it.

One final note, not really plot-related, but I have to say how much I loved the detail JAK uses in her writing. Charity and Elias's cooking contests had me in stitches -- and rummaging through my cupboards and cookbooks!

This is also the only romance novel I have given as a gift. I would highly recommend it to any fan of JAK or intelligent contemporary romance.

I thought this book was a marvelous depiction of contemporary romance. It presented a fascinating philosophy, an intriguing plot, and charters that you want to know personally. Creating a setting full of intrigue and suspense yet not crossing over into melodrama, this story possesses all the qualities of a well-written piece of literature. Remaining entertaining throughout with just enough plot twists to keep one on their toes yet not crossing over into unbelievable, this tale is truly an inspired work. Mirroring the fantastic author Jayne Ann Krentz, this book is a genuine work of art, painting the story so vividly with words that all of the small nuances are captured and put to light. For anyone looking for a good book that will give you both a run for your money and a warm glow, this is it. Another bona fide masterpiece and worth every second spent reading it. It will become a close friend and a true comfort.

I found this book to be very satisfying. It worked for me. One of the things I like about Krentz is that her characters are older and wiser. This story has humor and wit and wisdom. The characters have self-doubt and really seem to question what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Deep Waters is a feel good book that makes you think about your own life. Most romance thrillers do not relate to my life in any way. This book is not only entertaining, it is involving. The murder mystery plot is not nearly as important as the personal struggle Charity and Elias experience in trying to find peace and balance in their lives. It is not surprising that they find it together in the end, they take their time and build a mature relationship with layers (and good sex). Isn't that what romance is all about?

The Plot: After an emotional burnout, both Elias Winters and Charity Truitt are ready for a change. Each ends up moving to Whispering Waters Cove and operating a shop on Crazy Otis Landing. The two are instantly attracted and end up investigating a murder together.

I've read this book twice. Initially, I was disappointed in this book. I had just finished reading several other JAK novels. Similar plots, similar characters with similar backgrounds . ... Reading this a second time without the JAK marathon, I found it an enjoyable read. The characters are likable and respectable. Good mystery. Amusing read.

I didn't bother to read all the other reviews, because readers' tastes in a JAK novel are extreme. One person really disliked this book, but loved 'Flash' (yuk). So, "I" loved this book. :) It has humor, two great lead characters, a host of secondary characters (Otis!), a good mystery and a great romance. I can reread it over and over. And I definitely agree with "The Way of Water" philosophy. "You" will either 'love' it or 'hate' it. :)

I rank this one With "Absolutely, Positively" "Trust Me" and "Wildest Hearts" as been JAK's best works. It is full of warm witty JAK characters and I loved Charity and Elias!!

Charity Truitt is from the Truitt department store money and they expected her to marry Brett Loftus heir to Loftus Athletic Gear, a marriage of the families and the businesses merged. Only Charity was not going along with well managed plans. Instead, she opens a bookstore in Whispering Waters Cove. A quaint peer, with bunch of eclectic shops and boutiques. Only problem, the owner of the peer died and left the pier to Elias Winters, along with his odd ball shop called Charms & Virtues. Land speculation is booming and the peer is either a thorn in the side or a place that will be developed, and everyone is betting that Elias is just waiting to make his move.

Only Charity, is marshalling the shop owners, trying to fight the greed mayor and their cronies, and plans to spearhead an open confrontation with Elias. Elias claims he is not going to sell the peer, and plans on running Charms & Virtues. She does not full trust him at first, but that does not stop her from being attracted to the controlled man. She finds he is definitely a man where still waters run deep, a martial arts master, former career executive and a man with intense emotions that he keeps them very tightly controlled. Add to the mix the showdown between the shop owners, the town people and a cult waiting for an alien invasion and you have one wonderful book.

Simply a marvellous read!!!!!!!!!

I was looking for a different author to read and Amazon reccomends books according to your reading habits and had noticed JAK books so thought I would give one a try and was pleasantly pleased. I won't go into the plot as several have done that but just to say I enjoyed all the characters including Otis the parrot though he didn't have a lot to say. :) So many authors make the heroine so independent she is down right nasty. Charity was definitely independent but could still allow Elias into her life. There was good romance, a mystery, and humor with some great lines. I had to laugh at the way Charity kept trying to protect Elias when this was a man who could very well take care of himself. I liked all the secondary characters and the goings on at "Crazy Otis Landing".

I don't have any preconceived ideas of JAK's writing as this was my first book but based on this I will read more. There are books I can read a few chapters and put down and come back but once I started this one I just didn't want to quit. There was so much going on with all the different characters, and romance and mystery as well as the humor and JAK seems to really have some great humorous wit so the book doesn't bog down or get boring. There are books I find myself skimming but this one moved right along. Great to find another enjoyable author to read.

Very classic JAK reading. I really enjoyed it - though it's not one of my favorite JAK's. I've always liked the small, northwest coastal town settings that JAK often uses. Typical of mid-90's JAK books, this one was a murder mystery without the spine-tingling effect.... just light mystery with a fun romance. I like reading this type after having read a couple of heavier much more serious murder mysteries.
Our heroine, Charity, was very personable, easy going, & likeable; Not a nitwit like a lot of authors would have made her out to be, but also not too serious nor with a lot of hang-ups. The hero, Elias, took a lot more effort to get to know. At the first of the book, I had trouble feeling like I would get to know him at all. I thought he was going to be a little over the top with the metaphysical stuff - but he started loosing up with Charity's help & by the end he was a much more personable & likeable fellow. I often grinned at the way he would just sit back & let Charity take over a conversation with others.
As usual with JAK, the odd-ball secondary characters were quite off-the-wall, but that just adds more fun to the story for me.
If you like classic JAK, I'd say you'll want to read 'Deep Waters'.