Book Review: Distant Echos by Colleen Coble

****--4 Stars.
May 2005, 321 pages.

Description:
 In the land of aloha and paradise, dark secrets lurk just below the surface.

When a tragic accident downs a tourist boat off the coast of Hawaii, dolphin researcher Kaia Oana is one of the first in the water, risking her own life to try and save others. She's enlisted to help the U.S. Navy find out what really happened - utilizing her specially trained dolphins to help

Kaia and Lieutenant Commander Jesse Matthews team up in the investigation - but as they edge closer to the truth about the incident, their own lives are threatened. Will a spirit of grace and forgiveness prevail or will it be overshadowed by the distant echoes of past pain and the imminent danger from a cold-blooded killer?

Set on the breathtaking Hawaiian island of Kauai, this novel provides an intoxicating mix of romance and suspense with the rhythms of island life.

My Review:
Kaia lives on Kauai and works with dolphins, trying to teach them to communicate. When there is an accident that claims the life of her cousin, the navy enlists her help, along with Jesse's. There is a mystery to solve and Kaia and Jesse are racing against time to do so. They are also fighting against a mutual attraction to one another and need to forgive things from their pasts before they can move on.

First of all--I LOVE the name Kaia. That was in the running for the name of my last baby. Had I read this book before she was born, I might have pushed for that one. Kaia is a nice, strong character. I loved the descriptions of Hawaii and would love to visit that area. I loved the dolphins. I liked the relationship that Kaia and Jesse had, but would have liked to see a little more romance. It was kind of gradual, yet it was suddenly there. I also thought a little more emotion could have been shown at the time of the accident. All in all, it was a fun escape read and I really enjoyed it, especially the setting.

Content: some mild, not very descriptive violence. There are Christian themes, but it's not overly preachy. No language or uncomfortable intimate situations.

Click to buy on amazon.