Oceans of Fire (Drake Sisters, Book 3) Reviews

• Same old, same old!

  
  By A1RECBDKHVOJMW on 2005-06-24
  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
  
  

• How does she do it?

  
  By A1RY9C4BUKYNKN on 2005-06-04
  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.
  
  

• Have you read this book?

  
  By A1NH1WGSH8AZB1 on 2005-06-07
  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
  
  
  

• Oh My - Fresh Plot, High Suspense and HOT Sex!

  
  By A3B48AN8JID1JK on 2005-12-04
  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!
  
  
  
  

• She blaimed the red panties, he knew it was love

  
  By A1NR606UBJS1JD on 2005-06-04
  Though they traveled far and wide, and faced many challenges, the seven Drake sisters knew they could always retreat to their magical house in the town of Sea Haven and to the special bond they shaired. Abby Drake third sister and marine biologist came home to help plan her sisters wedding but in reality she was there to try and heal the wounds that seared her soul. Drawing on the strength of her sisters she faces the world and begins to live again. Now she is confronted with Sasha the one person who could break her fragile hold on normalcy. She knows she loves him but can she ever trust him again? More to the point can she survive it if he breaks her heart again? A sit on the edge of you seat, passion filled, laughter filled story of second chances and love that will last forever. A must read for fans of Ms. Feehan.
  
  
  
  
• This latest book in the Drake Sisters series will appeal to the fans of the Dark saga
  By A13KQYPEFE3R90 on 2005-09-03
  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.
  
  
• Don't Bother
  By ACFKL44CAZC2C on 2005-06-04
  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!!!!!
  
  
• Implausible plot, annoying heroine, somewhat good action
  By A2W4014S06NAIT on 2005-06-05
  Despite owning all of Feehan's books, I've become a little disenchanted with the author in the last couple of years. Her Dark series has continued to be her strongest series, although after Dark Fire it's become hit and miss on whether they deserve to be on the keeper shelf. Her Game series has gotten better after Mind Game, but the writing style and alpha hero personalities are so similar to her Dark series, that minus a couple of words here and there you'd think you be reading the Carpathians series all over again. The Jaguar series if I can call it that, I'm still reserving judgement, but I can't help the cringe factor there when a Jaguar woman goes into heat and can get it on with any male. Her Drake series has been her weakest series of all, because you can tell the author is really trying hard into distinguishing this series as a different style.
  
  Oceans of Fire, was a little better than the previous stories in the Drake series. Albeit the plot was extremely implausible. I'm not a marine biologist or anything remotley like it, but strike me if you find it strange that a PHD in marine biology would go to Russia to do research on dolphins? Also, how would the Russian police know about the Drake sister's psychic gifts, especially when Abby is angst ridden about hers and doesn't really know how to use hers? How is it that Russian smuggling is ongoing on the cove where the Drake sisters live? And why in the world would a valuable piece of Russian Royalty necklace be found half sticking out of the sand in a cove? Like the smugglers wouldn't be scraping the coast for that artifact. Ohhkaaay.... That is just a few of the ...ummm sure whatever factors.
  
  If you can suspend your belief of the plot, the sequence of events was interesting, and the action was compelling. The characters however, could use more work though.
  
  Alexandrov or "Sasha" was an interesting hero. I liked his cold bloodedness and his determination. The ending with the spear gun was really cool. I'm still puzzled why he would let 4 years go by without going for Abby. Writing letters that just got returned unopened just didn't fit his determined personality. It also didn't really explain how he went from a Rusky detective to Interpol. I still didn't get why he would talk in an accent when he could speak whatever accent he wanted.
  
  As for the heroine, Abby, she was just plain annoying. How Abby grew to adulthood full of angst over her powers, while her empathic and telephathic sisters were around didn't gel for me. The entire book, her whining character started to grate on me. She loved Sasha, but couldn't make up her mind whether she wanted Sasha to be deterimined and cold blooded or not. She vaccilitated back and forth so much it gave me a headache. Why is it about 2/3 books she decides to seduce Sasha when she's still so angst ridden is beyond me.
  
  The amount of characters in the story also got to be a distraction. Ilya the assasin, having his own siblings and powers seemed like kind of a stretch. I couldn't help but wonder beyond her possible pairing with Joley in a later book on whether there is going to be another series about his siblings with Drake-like powers. In the other books, the sheriff was such a jerk to Hannah, the stuttering model. How all of sudden in this book, he's like part of the family while still being a jerk to Hannah is also a hasty plot device. You can already see Feehan pairing those 2 in another book.
  
  As for the love scenes in the book, they don't happen until much later in the book and lack the sensual heat that Feehan usually has and are quite repetetive. Overall, buy the book if you are interested in finishing the series or a Feehan fan. Otherwise, just skim it in the store in 10 minutes if you absolutely want to know about it. For those of you that haven't started the series, I wouldn't recommend this series at all.
  
  
  
  
• A little hard to swallow
  By A18ZSMR1DW4VFW on 2005-06-05
  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.
  
  
• Very Good
  By A1Y8C8IDA6HHEV on 2005-06-08
  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.
  
  
• Way Up North
  By A1LHMF4ETOZM2T on 2005-06-23
  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.
  
  
• Big Let Down
  By ATQ9ARNQ3Y4SO on 2005-06-04
  This book was a real let down. I wanted to give it 3 stars, but just could not. I thought Libby was strong but she wasn't. Her only good point was her job. She loved him, she loved him not, she loves him, she loves him not, she loves him so much that it is painful to her, she hates him because she feels so guilty! The yo-yo love thing made me skip alot of pages and skim over the rest. Get this one if you like to have the whole collection but don't expect much out of it. I want to read the next one and I hope it will be better. I am putting this one away and will not be reading it again!
  
  
• Another winner
  By A342BV4226SM5Y on 2005-06-14
  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.
  
  
• I, for one, enjoyed the book a lot!!!
  By A3HRUM1EZUT9SO on 2006-04-08
  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.
  
  
• Finally a full length Drake sisters novel !!
  By A3FCMTJ0AWYTKI on 2005-06-05
  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.
  
  
• Oceans of Fire
  By A33I4RCFITFXG5 on 2005-06-07
  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. ***
  
  
• Venting
  By APR88BPFKNNUF on 2005-09-08
  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........ 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....
  
  
• Worth Reading - Read the others first
  By ADSFKIX44X8JV on 2005-12-31
  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!
  
  
• ok, ok....
  By A1N20VTNBA3E65 on 2005-06-27
  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.
  
  
• Loved it
  By AAIVBE3RN9EZE on 2005-07-07
  I loved this book because of all the conflicting emotions the characters experenced. Christine Feehan has a way of making her characters come alive. I loved this book as well as all her other books.
  
  
• Loved This Wonderful Book
  By A32M15RZXWZ5GS on 2005-08-04
  I am a Christine Feehan Fan. I love all her series. I started with the Dark and I am onto the Game and Drake sister series. This book explores the story of Abigail, Abby the third sister (and third book)and her MAN Sasha/Aleksander. This book was Hot and extremely romantic. Abby is a Marine bioligist and Sasha is an Interpol Officer. They have a heavy an extremely interesting past that has Abby devastated and unwilling to forgive Sasha. It takes time for her to find her way back to him and her getting there is worth the wait. I loved how Ms. Feehan hinted at Joley and Illya having a thing eventually and I cannot wait for Jonas and Hannah to get with it. This book is a mystery/Hot Romance complete with strong wonderful woman, Strong gorgeous well endowed men, terrorist and art thieves. Trying to find who and where the murderers and thieves will strike again is thrilling. BRAVO, Another Hot Hit.
  
  
• Drake Sisters
  By A3M1PA1C98XNGN on 2006-08-23
  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!
  
  
• Loved it!!!!!!!!
  By A2CTW4YUTGTJ11 on 2007-08-31
  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.
  
  
• Sisters of Sorcery
  By A3GUG3PRZDFV7H on 2005-06-08
  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.
  
  
• The Magic isn't in this Wind
  By A3OTZOZPO9A8D on 2005-07-07
  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...
  
  
• Okay, but not as good as some Feehan novels
  By A2NA4NHE5QRLZ7 on 2005-08-23
  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.
  
  
• Wake me when its over
  By A27IOSZ76APP0F on 2005-08-29
  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.
  
  
• Actually enjoyed it...
  By A3RCAL4DME8F7S on 2005-10-05
  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.
  
  
• Wish I'd read it sooner
  By AMY0S6FH93OFK on 2005-11-29
  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.
  
  
• A disappointing book from a talented writer
  By A22HSC2RB4W4KB on 2005-12-27
  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.
  
  

• Magic in the Wind (Drake Sisters, Book 1)
• The Twilight Before Christmas (Drake Sisters, Book 2)
• Dangerous Tides (Drake Sisters, Book 4)
• Safe Harbor (Drake Sisters, Book 5)
• Turbulent Sea (Drake Sisters, Book 6)