Book 3), Oceans of Fire (Drake Sisters

Summary: Abigail Drake hails from a family with a long line of powerful witches. Her gift is an affinity with the Ocean and the creatures in it, especially dolphins. She also has the power to make people tell the truth, something that she hates. However she does enjoy the dolphins and loves to study them all over the world. This research takes her to Russia in which she finds herself falling in love with Aleksandr Volstov who is an agent. He ends up using Abigail for her gifts, and leaves her thinking she has been betrayed. Abigail leaves in a hurry and flees back to Sea Haven and her sisters to heal. While there she finds herself in the middle of a Russian operation that leads her back to Aleksandr. Alek knows he's going to do everything in his power to keep Abby safe and win back her love.

Review: I give this 3.5 out of 5 stars and trust me I hated to do it to one of my favorite authors. I think the writing was perfect and the plot line was intriguing but the weak point was in the character of Abby. For some unknown reason she is my least favorite sister and I just can't really enjoy her and this definitely made the book a little harder to read. However just because I don't enjoy her doesn't mean others wont enjoy it! I did enjoy the plot line and their was a great mystery and introductions to some new characters that will come into play later in the series! Christine Feehan does a great job of keeping you sucked into the plot with out making their be too many different story lines going on.

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This is by far my favorite of the Drake Sister books. The romances tend to feel rushed and kind of oddly matched with the actual stories. I liked that this was an established relationship, working through issues, trying to patch itself back together. I like the Jonas and Hannah story for that reason too, but I think this 1 just has more intrigue. There's a bigger story going on here than just this family, this couple. I also just really like Abby as a character. She feels more grounded and established than most of her sisters. Even in the books after this, I wanted to hear/see more of Abby but she gets pushed aside a lot as just "the serious one" or "the water one" since she's not the oldest (thus head of the family, Sarah) or the loudest (Joley).

I would enjoy the book more if only I was not a native Russian speaker. The inappropriate use of a few russian words in a book screwed up the whole impression for me.
I do not know who consulted the author, or maybe she just used a dictionary but the effect was weird and at times pervertish.
The only meaning of `bayushki-bayu`is `go to sleep`(not a literate meaning, and only in lullabies, but still it is the ONLY meaning), and this Aleksandr character keeps saying it to Abbey as some pet name, which sounds completely ridiculous. Their conversations to me sounded like - `Yes, we have to save this person. Go to sleep. Let`s go have some breakfast.`
And in a couple of cases he names her `rebyonak`, which means `child` in a very specific way - for actual children, it is not used for adults, not in romantic situations, not ever.
As a result I was put off enough to be left with unpleasant feeling as if I was reading about a pervert.
I wish she consulted a native speaker to avoid blunders.

I also wish she would not use `always`and `never` quite so much in one paragraph. `He never felt anything like it. He always thought he was alone. He never believed before that he could be happy. Since he met her she was always in his thoughts.`This is a middle school writing level.
The author does not put much thought and effort into baking those book-pies that taste so much like each other, you read one book, you know everything that happens in each one of them.

Christine Feehan's "Oceans of Fire" is the 3rd book in her Drake Sisters series. It focuses on Abigail Drake and her romance with Russian spy Alexandr. All the Drake women have cool powers, and Abigail is no exception: she can force people to speak the truth and know when they're lying. In fact, she used that skill to help Alexandr in the past. But it ended in disaster and split them apart, until their paths crossed again in Sea Haven.

Not only can Abigail work her truth-mojo, she can communicate with animals -and she loves working with dolphins. She was out on her boat, when she accidentally witnessed the murder of an Interpol agent... Alexandr's partner. She sees her old lover for the first time in years and all the memories come back. Alexandr had never stopped loving her. Never stopped searching for her, although Abigail thought he had abandoned her after their disaster in Russia.

The story branches out beyond just the whodunnit, into the intrigue of a smuggling ring and the Russian mob. Here we meet the mysterious Ilya Prakenskii who will later get his own book with sister Joley Drake.

WHAT WORKS:
The relationship between Joley and Alexandr. The love between them is tangible. His past is pitiful. And the sexual tension is masterful.

WHAT DIDN'T:
It's hard to keep all those sisters straight when you're first getting to know them all. I had some trouble with that. Also, I wasn't a big fan of all the dolphin stuff, but the high-points in the book made up for it.

OVERALL:
Steamy and sexy. I never knew how much I could want to meet a hot Russian. 4 stars.

17/10 - I came across a website called smartbitchestrashybooks who had given Feehan a bad review for another of her books (from a different series), complaining that they all followed the same formula story and romance-wise. Oceans of Fire did seem to follow a similar pattern to the books the reviewer mentioned, it even had the sex scene she claimed was in every one of Feehan's books that she'd read. Despite this continuation of the theme I enjoyed the story, especially the use of magic and the feeling of sisterhood that ran through the book. It had a taste of Charmed in it which I really enjoyed (big fan of the show). I am looking forward to reading the first book in the series (this is the third) despite the possibility of the plot being the same with slightly different characters. Maybe after I've read three or four of her books (if they all follow the same formula) I will end up getting sick of them.

This is the first book of Christine Feehan's that I have read. Actually, it was the first time I heard of her, since I typically stay away from the "cheap sex-filled romances." As I am a sucker for dolphins (yeah, I know it is definitly girly of me), the cover caught me attention and since I have read everything else at home I bought it.

At first, I thought it started out slow and drab but it quickly warmed up. Since it was seven sisters, it really didn't spend much time elaborating on the other characters as much as I would have liked. It really just focused on a few characters, and left the others up to imagination.

Alexsandr upon first impression was very controlling. I understand why his character was made that way because of his background but I couldn't understand why sweet Abby would go for that sort of thing. His betrayal of Abby seemed so horrible that I had a really hard time forgiving him myself. Although, I understand that kind of love well and under the same circumstances I may have done the same. By the end of the book, I had really come to enjoy the Russian heartthrob.

I was also really intrigued by Prakenskii and wished that the author followed him a little more so that we could learn more about him and his background. If he is really a carrier of all the gifts doesn't he need to carry on his gifts? To do that doesn't he need to fall in love? I thought there was a little spark between him and the headstrong Joley. I could see a hate-love relationship between them.

I was really disappointed when the little subtle hints between Jonas and Hannah didn't result into a sweet love affair.

Another disappointment was that even though two of the sisters were engaged (which two I couldn't tell you because there were so many of them that I have some of them confused with the other) and I never was really introduced to their fiancés.

The characters that did get some elaboration I did enjoy and the story line went fast enough to capture my attention. I would take it into the bathroom and sit on the toilet while I watched my children play in the tub while reading it. I would read one chapter so that there water would not get too cold. It quickly became an obsession of mine and let's just say that my kids were the cleanest kids that you ever did see.

She is not my favorite author but she got my attention enough to go and get some of her other books.

I read the Mind Game and now read this book and found I missed two stories of the eldest of the 7 Drake sisters!! I wish authors would number them or give a guide inside the cover!

Abigail is the third of the seven magical Drake sisters who live in Sea Haven, a small town in California not from from San Francisco. Each sister has certain talents as well as special magical abilities. Abigail's talent is that she is a marine biologist who love dolphins and has learned to communicate with them. She has traveled extensively studying them. Her magical gift is to be a truthsayer -- which certainly has her dislike by much of the town since as a child and teen she has "outed" many secrets that the individuals did not want known!! That would be quite a burden.

Abigail has just come home from several years of studying abroad and is there to help plan her two oldest sisters' wedding. She is back in her boat after swimming with "her" dolphins and heading to the harbor when she sees a murder of a stranger in a bot and attempted murder of a fisherman she knows. She and her dolphins go to save the fisherman and are shot at. She is saved by Aleksandr Volstov, an policeman and Interpol agent, whom she first met four years ago in Russia. While some of the plots lines and lack of communication between Aleksandr (Sasha) and Abby are a little lame (Sash keeps apologizing and Abby doesn't seem to understand and whines a bit and delays.), I felt that overall the intrigue, the interactions between the sisters and their Aunt Carol and friend Jonas, a Sea Haven police chief, were warm and interesting.

The magic was also well done and fun as were the very steamy sex scenes. Aunt Carol was delightful and I can also see another story with Jonas and one of the sisters and also a Russian friend/adversary of Aleksandr's as well.

An enjoyable escape from reality book!

This is the 3rd story and the first full-length novel of the Drake Sisters series. The Drakes are a family of witches: seven sisters, each with different powers. Abigail is the 3rd sister, with the power of Truth, and that power has given her no end of trouble... including leading her to meeting and then being betrayed by the hero, Russian cop Alexsandr Volstov.

Because her gift is so unpredictable, being around other people is stressful, to say the least, so she spends a lot of time in the water with dolphins. Which is what she's doing when she witnesses a brutal murder and Alexsandr reenters her life--the victim was his partner, and they were Interpol agents tracking an antiquities thief.

There's lots of action, romance, sensuality, and humor, and we get to know the other sisters, Aunt Carol, and local police officers Jonas & Jackson better, and meet an intriguing assassin with magical powers of his own who's a boyhood friend of Alexsandr's.

The four stars is mainly out of loyalty, I have to admit. I enjoy the series, but I think the book could have been quite a bit shorter. And Abby? The man left you to SAVE FREAKIN' CHILDREN! And he's told you this. Get over yourself. ARGH. I'd have liked it much more if Abby wasn't such a self-centered twit.

Fabulous! The Russian mob, dead bodies and the sea. Abi has always had an affinity to water and loves studying sea life in all its forms. However this leaves her vulnerable to attacks in the sea. Will he be able to keep her safe? A tremendous story and a wonderful portrayal of a human mermaid. I have a hard copy that is now getting tatty from constantly being read.

Courtesy of Love Romances Reviews

This latest book in the Drake Sisters series will appeal to the fans of the Dark saga, also by Christine Feehan.

Abigail Drake is one of seven magical sisters living in California. Abby's special ability is her link to the sea and all the aquatic beings, especially a bond with dolphins with whom she works. One night while swimming with her dolphin friends, she is the sole witness to a murder near the shoreline. Now, her life is in danger and she is led right back to the man she wishes she could forget.

Alexsandr Volstov is an Interpol agent investigating possible Russian mob activities in coastal California. He never expects this investigation to drop in to his arms the one woman he's ever loved. When he discovers Abby saw the murder of his partner, he knows the danger she now faces. Who better to protect her then himself? Especially if it gives him the excuse to stay close and try to win back her love.

Now Alexsandr and Abby must work together to solve the mysteries surrounding them. However, she is still emotionally hurt because of something he did to her several years before. Can they overcome the past that is separating them?

This story is typical of Christine Feehan's writing. The hero is a total alpha male who will let nothing get in the way of getting what he wants, especially if that something is the woman he's deemed as his own. The heroine as ever, is resistant to his domineering ways, resenting him for the power he holds over her, but giving in to him all the same. The only thing about this book that is different from the Dark series is that the hero is not a Carpathian. If not for that, and Abby's abilities, this story would be completely interchangeable with any book in that series.

Abigail Drake is an interesting character, with her magical abilities being quite intriguing. She has a special affinity for controlling the water and all found within. She also has the extremely useful ability of being able to make people tell the truth. The magical talents of the sisters are always the highlight in this series. However, Abby is afraid to use her powers as a result of the incident involving Alexsandr many years ago that forced her to pull away from him. Her relationship with her sisters is far more interesting than what she shares with him though. This reviewer could not stand Alexsandr at all. He is too overbearing; too "me Tarzan you Jane" for this reader. At several points throughout the story, one will want to slap him for being so pushy, and slap Abby for falling under his spell yet again. Readers will love the mysterious Russian hit man though, who is incredibly powerful with magic himself and will want to know more about him.

The plot was well done in the beginning, but it became convoluted in the middle of the book. There was too much going on that was just coincidentally linked to everything else. If the plot had been limited somewhat, focusing on one or two of the key elements rather than having so many sub-plots, it would have read much smoother. There were a few things however that made this reviewer sit back and say "Huh?" For example, what's up with the red panty ceremony anyhow? Here we have a heroine who is quite insistent she wants nothing to do with the hero but she willingly puts on a pair of red panties that have been blessed through a ceremony meant for the sole purpose of making the wearer want to fall immediately into bed with her man. This was just too absolutely ridiculous and took away from the story.

This reviewer was relatively unimpressed with Oceans of Fire. Fans of Christine Feehan who love the typical alpha males who all look and act the same will enjoy this one though, if for nothing else but its similarity to all the books in the Dark series. If looking for a unique story that is nothing like anything else on the market then one ought to pass on this book.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, August 2005. All rights reserved.

I seem to be in the minority here, but I actually liked this book for the most part, and would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a little magic in their romance.

Unlike most other reviewers, I've never been a Christine Feehan fan. I've read several of her books only because they've been lent to me, but I'd never go out of my way to spend money on one.

This one caught me off guard because I was genuinely interested in the story. It took me a while to figure out what was going on, but the puzzle kept my interest. In particular, I liked the story of the seven sisters. The interaction among family members made for a more in depth story, rather than just focusing on the two main characters. Not to say the romance was lacking; the sex scenes were plentiful and steamy, and the love between the two both intense and sweet.

Thus, I would say that if you haven't read Christine Feehan before, or are not usually a fan, you might give this book a shot. If you ARE a fan of CF (as many other reviewrs are), you may not like this one as much, as it seemed different from her usual style.

I read this series and Feehan's Murder series for the ongoing sub plot line as much as for the main one. While I didn't find Abby and Sasha as interesting as the sub plots with Hannah & Joley, I enjoyed the book. I enjoyed re-reading it, which I suppose makes this a very good book to have in my own library. It is an essential part of the series. I did tend to skip through the vanilla porn aspects (the sex scenes) as I don't really read the books for that and they weren't really crude; I do understand that a lot of modern readers have to have those scenes in the books for them to sell. I think the book would have been just as good without them though.

I really enjoy Feehan's books. If you like paranormal romance, you will probably enjoy these books. My only complaint is the graphic sexual content in many of her novels that does nothing to further the plot. This is a skilled author who doesn't need to describe every instance of insert tab a, b, c into slot d, e, f, etc. to show the growing love between the main characters, and I find it sad she feels the need to do so. Her work could stand alone without this padding. The simple fact is, I continue to read her novels because I enjoy the stories, and I can honestly recommend them for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance.

I enjoy all the books in Christine Feehan's Sea Haven series about the Drake sisters. The paranormal aspects fit in nicely with the plot line and the scenes with the dolphins were great. I enjoyed reading about her interactions with them and with her family. The love story is good and all in all, this book is a good read. I'll look for the rest of the books she's written about the Drake sisters.

I enjoyed this book it had all the elements that I enjoy in a read. The only thing that I did not enjoy the repeated non trusting or accepting with Abby. I did like the introduction of future characters, and what's going to happen within the series.

Once more Feehan returned to Sea Haven with another spectacular story featuring the elementally magical Drake sisters showcasing the third daughter Abigail whose magical affinity focuses on the water. With her love of the ocean she has come home to study the dolphins that live and play in the waters surrounding her home. While frolicking with dolphins, the peace she shares with them is shattered when she witnesses a murder. In trying to save one of the men who was shot, she runs into none other than the one man she'd loved and left four years earlier - Interpol Agent Alexsandr Volstov!

Alexsandr had broken Abbey's heart by what she perceived as his betrayal of her for his greater love of career and mother Russia. It had taken four long years but the pain and the love he kept in his heart for Abbey was still there and burned stronger than ever. Now that she was targeted by the Russian mafia Alex had to keep her safe and convince her that his love for her had never wavered and was true!

This was an exciting tale of suspense, thrilling intrigue, and chock full of the most interesting and fascinating characters! The Drake sisters are all so wonderful with their individual skills and as a whole are fabulously entertaining along with the introduction of Aunt Carol and her creative memories scrap booking and kicking up her heels with the `Red Hat Ladies' of Sea Haven! Not only was Alexsandr one very sexy, hot, and oh so dangerous to die for heroes but his mysterious old school chum from Russia, Ilya Prakenskii promises to make life VERY exciting in a future book for one of the Drake sisters (who affectionately dubbed him as a `rat bastard')! Oh my goodness, this was a terrific page-turner from beginning to the very end. Feehan's masterful storytelling keeps the plots fresh, the suspense high and the sensual play totally invigorating!

I had a hard time getting ahold of the first two Drake sister stories, but have noticed that with the Carpathian series by Feehan, each book was a story complete, whether you had read the others or not. This is not true of this book. I need to find the other two before it to see if it is more or less helpful. Here is what is a problem:

Feehan assumes that the reader is "In on the joke" or the story. She references things that you can't know unless they are mentioned in the first two books.

She talks about the prophecy? She talks about each sister's gift, which if you haven't read the books makes no sense. Most readers are forgiving in series if the author takes even two paragraphs to fill in back story. I wish Feehan had chosen to do that.

It may turn out that I would give this story a high rating after I understand half of what is going on. But right now, it is just sitting as a choppy read. Worth reading, but not worth extolling the virtues of!

Abigail is one of seven sisters with the power of magic. On a trip to Russia she met a handsome detective, and now he's on US soil looking for art smugglers, a dirty bomb, stolen jewlery, and who knows what else?

I found the story to be rather muddled. I liked the characters of the sisters and thought the quaint town deserved more of an indepth visit; however, the sister's magic had a "charmed" feel and the convoluted plot where Alexsandr looks for stolen jewelry, and then stolen art, and finally a dirty bomb seemed very winding. The characters kept saying they loved each other, but I found the spark and passion missing from this volume.

Seems to be a bit of the same old tied in with dolphins, the ocean, and tied into a series. Not one of her best works.

This is definitely my favorite story of the bunch, it centers around Abbey and Aleksandr and we get to know a lot more about them and understand more of their back story, (especially since abigail isnt mentioned a lot in the other books much to my disappointment as she is definiteley one of my favorite characters). Aleksandr was trained from birth to be a ruthless agent and he became a police officer who needed a little help on solving a case so he turned to a lady known for her powers of discovering and envincing the truth, little does he know that he would fall in love with her. Abigail didnt know that he knew about her powers beforehand so she though that he wanted her for herself an she tried to help him on his case but things went wrong during questioning and Abbey lost faith in both her powers and in aleksandr. Abigail loves aleksandr but she has to find a way to trust in both him as well as her powers again before she can accept him back into her life, especially since she's in danger and he's bound and determined to protect her and keep her in his life.

I thought it dragged, dragged, dragged. The first third of the book I was completely confused. I thought I read all of Freehan's books, but I felt I was missing something the whole beginning of the book. Apparently I missed a few of her books. If you haven't read whatever came before this one, you, too, will be constantly asking yourself, what are these magical powers? What happened in Russia? What's up with these sisters? She kept hinting and hinting, but it was not well written, so the reader was not anticipating anything, just annoyed because the author was being thoughtless.

Apparently, this story is about the third (it took me until page 100 before I even found out she was the third sister and what her power was) sister of seven whose power is making people tell the truth. Because of it she is ostrisized by practicaly the whole town. So she travels alot studing dolphins. Apparently (I say this because it took FOREVER for me to find out the details--it quite ruined the story) while in Russia she meets Sasha and falls in love. But they have a falling out and she runs home to her family. Well, Sasha is in town taking care of some theifs and attempting to return to her life. Blah, Blah, Blah. I expected better. I gave it three stars because the sex scenes were steamy.

Love the Drake Sisters!! This is about Abigail and her hot Russian Alec. This is the first story of the series we meet the Hot Ilya. I also think this is the first book we really start to see the powers of the Drakes. Christine Feehan never disappoints me. I have re read this so many times. And each time I read something I did see the first or second or third time around.

Third book in the Drake sister series was just as suspenseful and exciting as the first two books.
The seven sisters each have different abilities. This is about the sister who communicates with the dolphins. Ms. FEEHAN brings the sea to you complete with playful and highly intelligent dolphins. Family loyalty, murder, friendship, love, and suspense made this a book I just couldn't put down.
I'm looking forward to the next book and the complete series!

BEFORE I VENT, HERE IS THE SYNOPSIS FROM THE BACK COVER:
As the third daughter in a magical bloodline, Abigail Drake was born with a mystical affinity for water, and possessed a particularly strong bond with dolphins..Until the day Abby witnessed a cold-blooded murder on shore and found herself fleeing for her life -
________________________________________________

I too, have been a big fan of Christine Feehan since the Dark Series.

Even when she branched out, I still thought her books were interesting.

However with this book, I was bored and very much irritated. There were TOO MANY CHARACTERS!
Ever hear of too many cooks spoil the 'book'???
I got tired of the Drake Sisters! I got tired of hearing how weak BUT powerful Hannah is...blah blah blah WHO CARES!!! The book is not about ALL the Drake Sisters - it is about one of them. I do not mind an introduction to them, especially for those who might be picking this book up for the first time - but do we have to go on and on about EACH and EVERY ONE OF THEM please?

Frankly, I wanted so badly to put this book down - it was pure torture. I cannot explain how excruciating it was to read this book.

CF TOOK FOREVER TO MAKE ONE POINT. She used constant repetition. I read the same thing over and over....at least every 15 pages had the same objective.

For example one could read at least twenty pages of how "that even though they are not telepathic - they can sense each others emotions"
I understood that in page 20, why repeat in 21, 22, 23, 24, 25........<sigh> Can we move on now?????

This book can be likened to a very frustrating and slow-moving soap opera.

I am highly disappointed. She is capable of better.

I am also very shocked that people liked the beginning. I could not even stand that part. I am one of those that HAS TO FINISH A BOOK. I never ended up finishing this one. I gave up after 7 months and just schemed through to the end.

This book has the following qualities:

- It assumes that are readers are dumb and therefore need about 15-20 pages of the exact same content to make a point
- The worst editing I have ever come across
- Sloppy writing
- Lack of emphasis on the main characters - CF happily discusses every other character
- Inconsistent plot
- Unfinished points that took so long to make in the first place.
- Forgettable. I did not even remember the name of the main female character most of the time! I remember everyone elses name but not hers.

Wont waste your time buying this book - I wanted to keep the whole CF collection, but this one is definitely not going to be part of it....

3rd in the Drake Sisters Series by Feehan, this story features Abigail Drake, who is home visiting her sisters, and swimming/communing with the dolphins when she witnesses a murder. Abby becomes a target of the killers while she and the dolphins are saving the life of a local man who'd been shot, as well. When her mysterious Russian lover from her past appears and protects her, they work together using the paranormal capabilities of the sisters to find who tried to kill Abby's friend and who did kill Aleksandr's partner. This one got me hooked on the series, and I am now impatient for the rest of the books to come out!

I read the so so reviews on this and wasn't eager to start it. I read 3 or 4 books a week and thought I was losing interest in reading as the last few books seemed to drag. This one grabbed me and I finished it in one day. I absolutely love some authors and Christine Feehan is in that group. I think we judge her against her other works instead of other books in general. It may not be her best book but it is still much better than many other authors can produce. I love the magic, romance, mystery and well developed charactors of the Drake sisters and hope another book(not that booklet like Magic in the Wind) is on the way.

Abigail Drake is the third sister in the Magical Drake Family. She is the one who can force the truth to be spoken. Somehow Abby has always felt she was less than the rest of her sisters. Her insecurity has led to a quiet studious lifestyle, in which only when she is in the ocean with her aquatic friends does she feel whole. Four years ago she met Alexsandr Volstov and fell in love for the first time. At last she felt loved for who she is and gave her whole life into his hands. Later when she found out he was using her to find out the truth about a serial child murderer, she was destroyed, and now somehow he has found her again.

Alexsandr is a police officer in Russia. He has been trained in covert ops and is not only a dedicated lawman, he is a trained killer. Somewhat like our SEALS. Finding Abby is paramount to him. He has never been in love before, he was raised as an orphan in a state home in Russia. Abby made him human and then she disappeared out of his life thinking he had betrayed her. He is working on a case when he finds her, so he must protect her from his enemies and convince her that she holds his soul.

When Abby is attacked while saving one of her friends, one of her dolphins is shot. Abby has witnessed the murder of Alexsandr's partner and the Russian Mafia is determined to kill her. They are in the midst of selling Russian Nuclear Material to terrorists.

Suddenly Alexsandr appears to save Abby and convince her of his love. But he also has to capture the villians and recover the stolen materials. Not just for Abby but for the world.

All of the sisters have come home to plan the weddings of Sarah and Kate. Will there be another wedding or will her fear keep Abby from grasping the happiness she deserves.

There are several surprises in the book. And I for one look forward to the next installment of the Magical Drake Sisters. IF you like Christines other books you will love this one.

Even though I didn't give this book a very high rating, I did enjoy it.

My main thought with finishing it was.... what just happened? I found myself more interested in what happened to Ilya, the Russian guy with "powers".

There were too many characters to try to follow, although the Aunt was funny and quirky - but the whole scrapbooking thing was extremely annoying. I agree with others that the middle was weak, and that if you hadn't read the other two books it was hard to figure out what was going on. The main character was too much of a pushover to really appeal to me, but she had possibilities I wish had been explored more. For instance, if she had such an affinity for the sea and water, why did it seem as if it was a passing mention? I kept waiting for her to spend more time in the ocean and with the dolphins, perhaps able to communicate more with them. It didn't seem like a talent, more like an interest.

The characters seemed to be all over the place, not much depth at all. I know the book was supposed to be about Abby, but all of a sudden a sister would be thrown in for a minute then poof, back to Abby's angst.

This is my first Christine Feehan book and I really can't decide if I will buy another one.

I read the review where someone had trouble with plot holes and found some of the characters to be not quite likeable, but while I agree that if you really think about it there are questions never answered and plot points that don't make sense, I really don't think it matters. I've got all of Christine Feehans books and even though I like her I admit she can get repititious and tiresome on occasion. She's made a real effort to not do that here, to make the story different from her Dark novels, and it pays off. I love our hero Sasha and even though I could wish Abby would come around sooner I understand why she doesn't. It's pretty obvious that she's setting up the scene for new books with other sisters and she did it well enough that I'm really looking forward to them. Especially between Joley and Ilya. At least I'm hoping they're going to be a couple. Sparks will fly indeed. :-) I only took a star away because there is some handwaving you have to do, but otherwise it's another interesting, exciting, well written book by one of my favorite authors.

I have tried three times to read this book and am bored to sleep each time. I have read every book that Christine Feehan has ever written and gotten several of my friends hooked on her "Dark" series. Why does Abigail have to be so stupid and helpless? I have to agree with Josh Whedon, there are too many female lead characters in fiction and movies who "run into the dark alley where the bad guys are." He created Buffy the Vampire slayer. Christine keeps creating the same helpless, confused female lead that I just can't feel anything but frustration for. This is probably my last Christine Feehan book.

I would summarize the plot, but there just isn't much of one really. Girl gets hurt by guy. Girl leaves. Girl meets guy again. Girl is still hurt but loves guy. Bad guys chase girl and her guy. Good guys win after much intrigue. Guy gets girl. The end.

After years of wandering, Abby Drake has found her way home. Like her sisters, she is gifted with powers that can be both a torment and a blessing; hers give her a special relationship with all things of the sea, especially dolphins. Yet, her angst over her powers is at least one of the things that kept her from finding her true love with Sasha, the dangerous Russian agent she loved and lost four years ago. Now, Sasha has come back into her life and he needs help that only her powers can provide. Is this a second chance for them or will his mission take a deadly turn that ends all their hopes?

*** Though not as strong a series as the early Dark books, it's hard not to like a book with dolphins in it. Abby's emotional turmoil is very understandable, seeing how her gifts have set her apart from the majority of the world. Supporting characters provide comic relief and quirks that lighten the seriousness of the overall plot. ***

For Abby and Aleksandr's story, Ms. Feehan has the space to delve into an in-depth story line on their relationship and expand the history of the Drake family with the advent of the hysterically funny Aunt Carol and her memories of Sea Haven. As Abby battles against the love she was sure she'd gotten over for Aleksandr, she leans on her sisters to give her the support she desperately needs. Aleksandr manages to slip inside the Drake family defenses and you have to cheer for him as he works to get back in Abby's good graces. His battle plan includes making friends with Abby's sister allowing you to get a glimpse into the relationships between the seven sisters and giving you a deeper insight of what growing up in such a large family is really like. The absolute best part of the Drake series is the laughter!! The teasing between the sisters, the teasing of poor Jonas, who is only trying to keep them safe, is so much fun to read. You will find yourself chuckling through out the book and in a full blown belly laugh when a certain ceremony is performed much to Abby's dismay or is it anticipation? I can only hope that the remaining four sister's stories will be full length novels, giving us the full effect of Ms. Feehan's entertaining style of writing.

I have been a big fan of all of Christine's work since I first read Dark Desire and Wild Rain and I have been an avid collector of all her books. She has been a favorite of mine for a long time and I wait anxiously for her every book to come onto the shelves just so I can scoop one up as quickly as possible. I really liked this book because underneath all the twists and turns, it had a great deal of emotion for all of the characters involved. While I can understand that some people cannot handle the complexity of so many subplots and different characters that were so involved in the story, I for one, loved every life of every person. It made me want to learn more about each and every character without allowing me to stray from the two most important characters of all. I cried and I laughed right along with the plot and the characters. I was getting tired of all those boring and cliched books and stories that just had the main characters and very little action with the other characters and their complex lives. The fact that Christine Feehan took the risk of writing in this form, shows me she has great courage just like every one of her characters. The fact that she went into a little more detail on the other characters involved made it seem more life-like and not just like another "story" to enjoy.

Abigail Drake, the heroine of the story, is one of the seven Drake sisters with the most complex and difficult power to control: the power to get people to reveal their deepest, darkest secrets with just one word. She feels most at home in the sea and with her dolphines. She has the almost uncanny ability to talk with them. Her love, a covert Russian Interpol agent named Alexandr Volstov, had betrayed her in her eyes because he had left her in the hands of brutal police interviewers after a drastic miscalcuation of her incredible power caused horrific and unforseen consequences. She had left him many, many months ago and meets him again after an attempt on her life after she sees someting she shouldn't have. Volstov, the typical domineering and commanding, yet gentle, vulnerable, and loving, character that has become Feehan's favorite type along with my own, refuses to let her slip through his fingers a second time. Through passion, hurt, anger, and a lot of action they emerge from a dark and painful past that split them apart and come togehter in a healing future. Through many twists and turns we see their lives unfold along with the characters around them. Abby goes through waves of uncertainty of their future and about his feelings for her and so on. It is dramatic and passionate and I believe that it was an excellent story worthy of four stars. Anything that can have me feeling so much emotion in a couple of hours is worth reading. If you are a person who likes rollercoaster rides and new challenges along with a rewarding story, then I suggest you try this one out one night.

I will admit that the first time I hit the snag of another character that I had the urge to skip over it and go straight to what was happening with Alex and Abby, but, as I forced myself to go through all the subplots, I figured out (A. It made the anticipation, suspense, and curiosiy rise after every chapter and (B. Christine Feehan was just setting a foundation for a more complex and bigger series to the Drakes series. As a writer myself (maybe not a prominent one) I must admire her courage to tackle a series so complex and various that involves so many characters and their complex lives.

It's Oceans Of Fire, and if not, then what on Earth are you waiting for! Get off your duff and get to the store and purchase this book!

It's the third in the Drake Sisters Series.

In my opinion, it was the best yet. I loved Aleksandr Volstov. It was steamier, had more depth, and will have you desperate for the next in the series.

And not to mention Abigail Drake. She's afraid of her own powers, due to some horrors of her past. Through love and understanding she grows and manages to move past her own insecurities. She tugged at my heart, because I think we've all been at that point in our life when we felt we were lacking. As if our sister/brothers were better than us. However, with a little time and a lot of love from Aleksandr she gets past these worries. She proves her strength in the end in a way that will have you gasping.

You also get to see the sister, Joley Drake, get tripped up by a hot Russian dude named, Prakenskii. I can't wait for her story! I'm really hoping Ms. Feehan is planning for these two volitle personalities to be together, because sparks shall surely fly then.

You also get to have "Aunt Carol" in for a visit, she's great, lol. A member of the Red Hat Society, I think I've got a few relatives like her actually. And the wonderful love between the sisters always has me wishing I'd had at least one myself.

You get to also see some of the handsome Cop, Jonas. He's totally got it bad for the slim beauty, Hannah Drake. They toss barbs back and forth so much that it makes me want to say, "Kiss already, would'ya?!" lol!

I loved this book. And if you enjoy a book with lots of heat, some laughs, and some familial love, then I think this is the book for you. There is certainly at least one Drake Sisters Fan on this site, so that I may hear other praise, as Ms. Feehan surely deserves it.

And let's not forget about the beautifully scenic town of "Sea Haven". Christine Feehan always manages to leave me in a state of awe at the amount of research that ALWAYS goes into one of her books. Between the Dolphins she talks about in "Oceans Of Fire, the marine life as a whole, the Russian lingo, the Russian way of life, the interesting tid-bits of Law and Forcement... It's all so mind-boggling. She's gifted and I for one thank her for sharing her gift with the lot of us!

That is all. You may all go back to your regularly scheduled programming

Let me begin by stating that I have not read any of her other series. I read the short story "Magic in the Wind" in a collection loaned to me by a friend; I enjoyed it very much. The idea of *seven witchy sisters* thrilled me(yes, I'm a "Charmed" fan). I enjoyed "The Twilight Before Christmas" when it came out as well. I really felt that I was getting to know the sisters as people. They each had a personality and voice.

I was very eager to read "Oceans of Fire" when I found it in the bookstore.

Strange as it may sound, I felt as if someone else had written this book. It felt off-kilter, almost as if the characters were caricatures of themselves. Something was missing...I don't know how to define it.

Honestly, I wouldn't recommend it. The plot itself was not intriguing, and hello, it's a romance novel--we know the end result from page one.

I'm just hoping that Ms. Feehan can recapture the dynamics for the next installment. Only time will tell...

I have to agree with those here who found this book slow and boring. I generally like Feehan's work, but this one was a chore to try and read. I felt no sexual tension between Abby and Aleksandr...actually, I felt nothing for this couple. I'd read half the book and couldn't have cared less whether they got together or not. Abby was whiny and irritating, Aleksandr was cold and emotionless. I've read other stories in this series and liked them, so, I really wanted to like this one too, but I had to give up before I was finished with it. When I put down a book and don't particularly care to pick it up again, that's when I know it's just not working for me.

I like Christeen's books (most notably the "Dark" series) but this one stretched my patience. I agree with another reviewer that the female star of this book made me want to smack her. If I had to listen to her whine just ONE MORE TIME about how the "hero" done her wrong umpteen years ago (get over it already!)I was going to scream! I found myself skipping whole sections of the book just to get to the next part that might offer something new instead of the same old thing. Ms. Feehan also seems to have a problem writing original, snappy and/or fresh dialoge between her main characters in her books. Notice I used "books" plural? If you have read all of her books (as I have), then you start to realize that this is a reoccurring problem in most (if not all of ther books). My liking for the "Dark" series not withstanding, her predictability is becoming somewhat of a problem. Her heroes and heroines are becoming interchangable - change the names but everything else stays the same. That said, this book left me with the feeling that Ms. Feehan really struggled to put this story together, and it shows.

I'm amazed at Feehan's creativity. I started reading the "Dark ..." series last year and loved the way she was able to make each book different enough to be enjoyable, despite the similar plots (Carpathian male finds life mate). Now with the Drake sisters' series, she looks set to do it again. I thoroughly enjoyed Kate and Matt's story in Twilight Before Christmas, and couldn't wait for Abbey's story in Oceans of Fire. Feehan has a special ability to write very strong but sympathetic male characters, and I'm fascinated by the way she's able to tell the current story while foreshadowing future stories and developing those characters. Her superb character development keeps one reading even when the outcome is obvious.

In response to the other reviewer who was put off by Abbey's indecisiveness about her relationship with Alexandr, I didn't have the same reaction. Feehan described each character well enough to make it believable that they would be strongly attracted to each other, yet I felt it was understandable that Abbey, brought up in a small American town, would be frightened by the thought of entering Alexandr's world, especially given her initial experience in it.

Christine Feehan is the best when it comes to paranormal. I have this whole series (each book is stand alone) and they are great. I love the sisters interaction. There is comedy, love, and adventure in this and every novel by Ms. Feehan.

I have been a fan of Christine Feehan's work since Dark Prince. However, with this book I was not drawn into the world of the characters and found myself annoyed as I attempted to read it. I do not mind a bit of repetition in theme (I enjoy her Carpathian novels) and there are only so many basic plot elements to choose from. What I do mind is a lack of focus. There were too many characters with too little substance. The dialogue was often forced and stilted. The romance between the two "main" characters was weak and they never captured my interest. The constant push for scrapbooking by the aunt and her plug for a scrapbooking company was ridiculous and jarring. While I usually finish a book in one sitting, it took me three days to force myself to read 74 pages. At this point, I have given up.

This book started off with a bang and dolphin lover that I am, I couldn't put it down. The middle of the book, however, lost me. I found myself skimming and not really enjoying the back and forth of the characters. The addition of the Russian who can do magic was inspired but I found that one of the weak points was that this was not brought it a conclusion.

I loved the last third of the book. The blend of action and romance and the resiolution were great. I just wish that I had enjoyed the middle more.

I have been a Christine Feehan fan ever since I read "Dark Prince," the first novel in the "Carpathian" series. Over the last few years, I read every one of those books and found them to be way above average - some are really outstanding. Thus, I was disappointed by the mediocre quality of "Oceans of Fire," the third book in the Drake Sister series. I have not read the first two, nor do I plan to do so now. This one lacks the depth, drama and intensity of Ms. Feehan's "Dark" novels, and while some of the characters are quirky and fun, they lack the complexity and originality I have come to expect from the author's personages. Also, I fear that she is becoming formulaic in her approach to fiction. This is a much lighter work than the Dark novels, but it still has much in common with them, and reminds me a bit of Nora Roberts' "Three Sisters Island Trilogy."

The Drake sisters number seven, and all have unique magical powers. "Oceans of Fire" features sister number three, Abigail Drake, a more introspective young woman than her siblings. She is most at home in the ocean and has always had an affinity for the water, sea life, and dolphins in particular. She has dedicated herself and her work, (a Ph.D. in marine biology), to the study of these small cetaceans. Abigail also has the ability to detect lies. This is her magical gift. She is not comfortable with her special talents, however, and is also quite insecure, partially because she had her heart broken by a Russian Interpol-type, covert agent, Alexsandr Volstov, four years before.

One day, swimming along the coast of her home in Sea Haven, California, Abigail, and her dolphin friends, witness a murder. She attempts to rescue a second man, a friend of hers who is an innocent bystander. He is shot and wounded, apparently because he was a witness to the crime. As Abbey goes to his aid, she is spotted by the bad guys and becomes a target for hungry sharks, both human and fish. She doesn't know this, but the perpetrators are members of the Russian mafia who are being pursued by Alexsandr Volstov. Small world! So there's some excitement, the damsel is rescued by her hero, who has never stopped loving her, etc.. Same old, same old.

This is not a bad book. If you are a die hard Christine Feehan fan, you will probably like it. And that's OK. For me there's nothing here that has not already been written many, many times before by this author and others. I have to go with a 2 Star rating = below average for redundancy. The least I can hope for in a new book is well written original material.

JANA

I loved the Russian hero, and the Russian backstory wasn't bad. The aunt and the rest of the characters in the book were interesting. I just really disliked Abby. Why did he want her, she was an annoying whiner who seemed overly concerned with herself. I couldn't understand why the Russian didn't dump her and choose a more interesting sister. Also, the mystery (plot?) wrapped itself up most unconvincingly. Don't buy it at full price, borrow it if you can.

Like her sisters, marine biologist Abigail Drake has a magical affinity; hers being the ability to communicate and bond with water creatures especially dolphins. While swimming off her Sea Haven, California home, Abigail's idyllic life ends when she sees a homicide and the killers know she observed them.

Interpol Agent Alexsandr Volston tracks stolen Russian art by a thief he knows is a cold blooded killer. His case and Abigail's safety intertwine so he knows where his priority is even if Interpol's needs fail to match. Alexsandr plans to keep his beloved safe and take advantage of a chance to rectify his greatest error dumping his soul mate Abigail four years ago. Abigail knows she needs Alexsandr's protection, but refuses a second chance for him to destroy her heart.

Combining a touch of whimsical magic with a tense thriller, Christine Feehan writes a tremendous romantic suspense. The fourth Drake sisters' novel starts off serenely as Abigail swims with her oceanic pals, but quickly accelerates when she eye witnesses the homicide and never slows down until she and her protector brazen it out with the deadly enemy. This is a fine entry in the enjoyable Drake sisters' series (see TWILIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, LOVER BEWARE, and MAGIC IN THE WIND).

Harriet Klausner

I loved pretty much all of the Dark Series. The series with the books like "Shadow game" and "Mind Game" were good too. So, I thought I would try the Drake Sister series.

Oceans of Fire has been one of the worst books I have ever read. I am halfway through the book and I intend to finish it, but it will be difficult. When I think that there are still a hundred pages left to read, I want to cry.

The Russian hottie is weak and where and how in the world did Russians get into this small town? The connection with Russia was entirely forced and does not make sense whatsoever. I try to suspend belief and just accept the story line, but it is so farfetched.

It seems like this book was meant to introduce the other sisters for future novels. Abigail is truly irritating with the way she flip-flops between love and "gut wrenching angst" over her feelings for her man. Her powers aren't even explored at all. Which is another thing, she has a Phd as a marine biologist, which seems to me to indicate a somewhat successful ability to research a given topic. Yet she is unable to master her powers on her own. Give me a break. The book is killing my will to read!!!!!

i thought this was an okay book to begin with but then you add in the fact that it repeats itself half a dozen times it gets downright annoying. the two main characters have the same conversation like 20 times but they never come to a solution or really even fully discuss it they just kind of skim over general topic.

I greatly enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and the story line. But I found that it was very repetitive.

The hero continually asks for forgiveness, the heroine refuses because she's deeply hurt. They go through this scenario at least 6 times (I'm not kidding). I got tired of it and just wished she would've forgiven him sooner to take me out of my misery.

In all, it was great and I still do recommend it. It's just that the whiny tone of the heroine strayed from Feehan's usually tough leading ladies.

This is another awesome book in the Drake Sisters series. I personally love the ocean (and especially dolphins) so I felt even more connected to this Drake sister (Abigail). Full of suspense, sisterhood, and romance - a must read!

This book was so good. It was so full of angst. I would advise anyone and everyone to read this book as well as the other books in the series. Of all of the books in the series this was the first one I read and my all time favorite.

I really like the drake sisters series. I started with the one with Libby and liked them so much I needed to go backward to read the sisters before her. I loved the story of Alexsander and Abigail. The previous conflict between them was handled well with little drama and a lots of information that did not interefere with the plot line of the actual book. Christine Feehan delivers a wonderful paranormal romantic suspense everytime.

I've only read a few books by Feehan, but this one was a huge disappointment. After a reasonably good opening, the author launched into page after page of backstory. By the time she resumed going forward, I'd lost much of my interest in the rather thin plot. Apart from some sizzling sensual imagery toward the end, there is little reason to read this novel. If you want paranormal romance, try Wild Rain instead.

One aspect that I love about Christine Feehan's various series is that they are so very different. The Drake sister's are quirky, fun and trying (not successfully) to escape their part of the prophecy. This is the book where you get a better idea of who each sister is and boy do they make trouble when they're together. Abby takes front and center as the sister who loves the sea and has to watch what she say, as her power is through spoken word.

I have been reading Christine Feehan's books since a little before last year and I started with the Dark series of course. And I was SO excited about this book because I know that she is such a great author but when I began reading Oceans of Fire, the beginning was good and I was really getting into the characters and the plot, but then I got bored with the book. I was kind of dissappointed in this one. It was an ok book if I have to put it any other way in my mind. The characters were good but I also didn't really like how Abigail seemed kind of like a push over.

I personally love this book along with the others in the series. i read this book before i had the other two but i was able to follow it easily anyways. i loved it so much i had to go back and read the other two then i ran to the store and bought the latest book and am now waiting on the 5th one. christine feehan is an amazing author with romantic suspence!!

I listen to a wide selection of audio books and I still cannot believe that I actually listened to 8 out of the 12 CDs of this publication. While listening to this, I was really wondering if there are adults who truthfully enjoy such stories. Witches, dolphins, Interpol, Russian mafia, lots of sex and nothing to the storyline. What a waste of my time!

Utterly boring. I borrowed this book rather than pay money for it; and I was right. I like Ms. Feehan's "Dark Series", but so far all of the "Drake" books seem too forced and unbelievable. If you want a good romantic "witch" type story, read The Three Sisters tilology by Nora Roberts, and leave the drakes on the shelf.