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Still Waters: The Island / Below the Surface
New York Times bestselling authors Heather Graham and Karen Harper team up with two fan-favorite stories that prove still waters run deep…
The Island by Heather Graham
On a weekend vacation, Beth Anderson is unnerved when she discovers a skull on the beach. As she starts to look into this mysterious find, handsome stranger Keith Henson seems to appear everywhere she goes. He claims to be keeping an eye on her safety, but Beth senses other motives. When a body washes ashore, she may need more help than she bargained for. Because investigating is a dangerous game, and someone wants to stop Beth from playing.
Below the Surface by Karen Harper
Briana Devon knows her twin sister would never deliberately leave her, but when she surfaces after a dive, Daria and their boat have vanished. Fighting rough waves and a fast-approaching storm, Bree barely makes it to shore, where Cole De Roca revives her. Bound to Cole by the harrowing experience, she seeks his help as she struggles to understand what happened to her sister—and what her twin, whom she thought she knew so well, might be hiding.
The Island by Heather Graham
On a weekend vacation, Beth Anderson is unnerved when she discovers a skull on the beach. As she starts to look into this mysterious find, handsome stranger Keith Henson seems to appear everywhere she goes. He claims to be keeping an eye on her safety, but Beth senses other motives. When a body washes ashore, she may need more help than she bargained for. Because investigating is a dangerous game, and someone wants to stop Beth from playing.
Below the Surface by Karen Harper
Briana Devon knows her twin sister would never deliberately leave her, but when she surfaces after a dive, Daria and their boat have vanished. Fighting rough waves and a fast-approaching storm, Bree barely makes it to shore, where Cole De Roca revives her. Bound to Cole by the harrowing experience, she seeks his help as she struggles to understand what happened to her sister—and what her twin, whom she thought she knew so well, might be hiding.
704 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 25, 2016
98 people are currently reading
1487 people want to read
About the author
Heather Graham
583 books6,922 followersAlso published as Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 30, 2017
This book consists of two stories, The Island and Below the Surface, so my review will be divided by this.
The Island
The skull, the skull, the skull. Everything is based around a skull that the main character Beth may or may not have seen. She may or may not be being following too. This story is riddled with so may puzzles, miss connections and seemingly empty leads its frustrating. If I were Beth I would have thought I was going absolutely mad. Then, at the dame time I couldn't stop turning page after page wanting to figure out what the eff was going on.
In addition to the puzzles you also had the sort of "not involved" romance between Beth and Keith Henson that was intriguing yet a little weird under the circumstances all at the same time. She's wary of him yet into him then mad at him, but glad he's there.
"There has been an honesty in the way he'd touched her, but only lies had fallen from his lips."
I mean seriously I would have thought I lost my sanity.
The whole mystery of this story comes to a head in the hugely waited for climax of the last chapter. It ends where it all began and nothing is as it seemed, well sorta, some things were not as they seemed. There were things that still didn't quite make sense and the last few pages of the chapter felt rushed, I guess I needed a little bit more. It was like... Climax! The End. All in all it was a good story, I mean it kept me turning pages.
Below the Surface
This story is about two twin sisters who own a Search and Salvage dive shop in Miami. The sisters Daria and Bree went out on a routine dive by an old ship wreck. Daria stayed topside while Bree dove to obtain information about the sea grass project they were working on. Visibility started to decline so Bree surfaced only to find that her sister and their boat Mermaids II was gone. Trying not to panic Bree decided to ditch her dive gear and swim the 4 mile stretch toward an island right off the coast, meanwhile a fierce and angry storm was quickly rolling in off the Gulf. She barely reached the island and was rescued by Cole DeRoca who took her to the hospital. Then chapter 5 through 10, which was about 100 pages, covered a two day search for her sister Daria. It felt like a long 100 pages.
But after this two day search it turned into an outright investigation, on Bree's part, of what could have happened to her sister. All the while Bree knowing that her twin sister would never just leave her out there alone. The twists and turns, puzzles, riddles and mysteries the second half of this book had were mind boggling and it was almost hard to keep up. The story definitely kept you guessing.
Bravo to Karen Harper for being able to write such a spell binding story. This story truly had a little bit of everything; lies, deceit, heartache, romance, thrill, haunting suspense and much much more.
The Island
The skull, the skull, the skull. Everything is based around a skull that the main character Beth may or may not have seen. She may or may not be being following too. This story is riddled with so may puzzles, miss connections and seemingly empty leads its frustrating. If I were Beth I would have thought I was going absolutely mad. Then, at the dame time I couldn't stop turning page after page wanting to figure out what the eff was going on.
In addition to the puzzles you also had the sort of "not involved" romance between Beth and Keith Henson that was intriguing yet a little weird under the circumstances all at the same time. She's wary of him yet into him then mad at him, but glad he's there.
"There has been an honesty in the way he'd touched her, but only lies had fallen from his lips."
I mean seriously I would have thought I lost my sanity.
The whole mystery of this story comes to a head in the hugely waited for climax of the last chapter. It ends where it all began and nothing is as it seemed, well sorta, some things were not as they seemed. There were things that still didn't quite make sense and the last few pages of the chapter felt rushed, I guess I needed a little bit more. It was like... Climax! The End. All in all it was a good story, I mean it kept me turning pages.
Below the Surface
This story is about two twin sisters who own a Search and Salvage dive shop in Miami. The sisters Daria and Bree went out on a routine dive by an old ship wreck. Daria stayed topside while Bree dove to obtain information about the sea grass project they were working on. Visibility started to decline so Bree surfaced only to find that her sister and their boat Mermaids II was gone. Trying not to panic Bree decided to ditch her dive gear and swim the 4 mile stretch toward an island right off the coast, meanwhile a fierce and angry storm was quickly rolling in off the Gulf. She barely reached the island and was rescued by Cole DeRoca who took her to the hospital. Then chapter 5 through 10, which was about 100 pages, covered a two day search for her sister Daria. It felt like a long 100 pages.
But after this two day search it turned into an outright investigation, on Bree's part, of what could have happened to her sister. All the while Bree knowing that her twin sister would never just leave her out there alone. The twists and turns, puzzles, riddles and mysteries the second half of this book had were mind boggling and it was almost hard to keep up. The story definitely kept you guessing.
Bravo to Karen Harper for being able to write such a spell binding story. This story truly had a little bit of everything; lies, deceit, heartache, romance, thrill, haunting suspense and much much more.
January 18, 2017
Two different authors. Two separate stories. Interesting reads but Both were a little slow paced.
August 2, 2017
This is a bind up of two stories by two different authors which are set roughly in the same area of Southern Florida. The key to stories like these is the thrill and suspense keeping you as the reader turning pages in anticipation. Unfortunately that anticipation fizzled out in both stories for me. I enjoyed the plots and was interested to find out the endings, but became bored at times too.
Both are set on or around beaches and summertime so the setting was exactly what I was wanting at the time.
Both are set on or around beaches and summertime so the setting was exactly what I was wanting at the time.
October 15, 2020
5-stars
The Island by Heather Graham is just the perfect read for October. I felt chills going down my back. The suspense on every page had me on the edge of my chair. I kept waiting for a murderer to jump out and attack the female protagonist so many times. There were plenty of opportunities. The suspects I thought were the killers were not the murderers but greedy thieves. Still I felt the fear that they could step up to the role of murdering.
Frightening, intense, and engaging there was enough of a spooky factor to keep me going. I found myself transported inside the book. I could sympathize with the anger and fear the main character had. Do not trust strangers. One particular hot stranger is always near her. She can’t seem to figure him out but she does suspect him of something. Was he a criminal or just hiding all the facts from her. He could easily take prisoner and nobody would know.
I loved how Beth kept mistrusting him throughout most of the book. She didn’t really know him or what he does. Her reactions were realistic and believable. Plus, she has a young niece to protect and a brother who doesn’t believe she’s seeing what she does. Ben thought his sister was just too worried and intense enough to even relax. But her fears soon zap into him and he’s starting to think something is off. Neither of them knew what danger has followed them back home. Then, there’s the hot stranger, Keith, who is always around for everything. Overall, I enjoyed the characters, the story, and the way the book was written. It is no wonder that Heather Graham is deemed Queen of Suspense.
5-stars
Below the Surface from Karen Harper is a deadly tale of suspense. Instantly, I was taken with the surroundings and the character's dilemma. After coming up from a dive, Bree realizes the boat with her twin sister, are gone. Plus, the dangerous storm brewing over her. Having to leave some equipment behind, Bree tries to make it to shore. But she is struck by lightening and would have drowned to her death. However, luck was on her side. The hero stepped in and came to her rescue. Cole still isn't sure if the beautiful woman he saved will live.
Bree on the other hand is a determined woman in finding her twin sister. She proves to be strong and fiercely independent. Bree isn't going to back down until her sister is found. But as they search they find more than they bargained for...and Bree may also be in just as much danger as her twin was. Overall, I loved the intense environment. The bond between sisters was well-done. I could feel the protective sides from the sisters. There was plenty of drama and enough intrigue to keep my attention throughout this book. Action-packed, Below the Surface, was a great read.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
The Island by Heather Graham is just the perfect read for October. I felt chills going down my back. The suspense on every page had me on the edge of my chair. I kept waiting for a murderer to jump out and attack the female protagonist so many times. There were plenty of opportunities. The suspects I thought were the killers were not the murderers but greedy thieves. Still I felt the fear that they could step up to the role of murdering.
Frightening, intense, and engaging there was enough of a spooky factor to keep me going. I found myself transported inside the book. I could sympathize with the anger and fear the main character had. Do not trust strangers. One particular hot stranger is always near her. She can’t seem to figure him out but she does suspect him of something. Was he a criminal or just hiding all the facts from her. He could easily take prisoner and nobody would know.
I loved how Beth kept mistrusting him throughout most of the book. She didn’t really know him or what he does. Her reactions were realistic and believable. Plus, she has a young niece to protect and a brother who doesn’t believe she’s seeing what she does. Ben thought his sister was just too worried and intense enough to even relax. But her fears soon zap into him and he’s starting to think something is off. Neither of them knew what danger has followed them back home. Then, there’s the hot stranger, Keith, who is always around for everything. Overall, I enjoyed the characters, the story, and the way the book was written. It is no wonder that Heather Graham is deemed Queen of Suspense.
5-stars
Below the Surface from Karen Harper is a deadly tale of suspense. Instantly, I was taken with the surroundings and the character's dilemma. After coming up from a dive, Bree realizes the boat with her twin sister, are gone. Plus, the dangerous storm brewing over her. Having to leave some equipment behind, Bree tries to make it to shore. But she is struck by lightening and would have drowned to her death. However, luck was on her side. The hero stepped in and came to her rescue. Cole still isn't sure if the beautiful woman he saved will live.
Bree on the other hand is a determined woman in finding her twin sister. She proves to be strong and fiercely independent. Bree isn't going to back down until her sister is found. But as they search they find more than they bargained for...and Bree may also be in just as much danger as her twin was. Overall, I loved the intense environment. The bond between sisters was well-done. I could feel the protective sides from the sisters. There was plenty of drama and enough intrigue to keep my attention throughout this book. Action-packed, Below the Surface, was a great read.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
March 5, 2021
I picked this book out because it sounded like it would be an interesting book about an island, boating, and a "skull", which was brought up almost immediately but not solved until the very end. All through the book there was a LOT of "I hear something." "Who is out there?" "I see a shadow."
"Leaves crunching." "Where is Amber? Cannot forget Keith, who Beth distrusted right away when she met him in the wooded area when the "skull" was observed by Beth but not identified as a skull. Perhaps if she'd had more time it was something else. There was constant bickering and distrust by Beth but. . . . for all of their battling there was MORE. This book by Heather Graham is 1/2 of the book. I will be reading the other book "Before the Surface"by Kren Harper and give a review on it when finished. I'm hoping it is better than "The Island".
"Leaves crunching." "Where is Amber? Cannot forget Keith, who Beth distrusted right away when she met him in the wooded area when the "skull" was observed by Beth but not identified as a skull. Perhaps if she'd had more time it was something else. There was constant bickering and distrust by Beth but. . . . for all of their battling there was MORE. This book by Heather Graham is 1/2 of the book. I will be reading the other book "Before the Surface"by Kren Harper and give a review on it when finished. I'm hoping it is better than "The Island".
August 10, 2018
So childish.
On a weekend vacation, Beth Anderson is unnerved when she discovers a skull on the beach. As she starts to look into this mysterious find, handsome stranger Keith Henson seems to appear everywhere she goes. He claims to be keeping an eye on her safety, but Beth senses other motives. When a body washes ashore, she may need more help than she bargained for. Because investigating is a dangerous game, and someone wants to stop Beth from playing.
On a weekend vacation, Beth Anderson is unnerved when she discovers a skull on the beach. As she starts to look into this mysterious find, handsome stranger Keith Henson seems to appear everywhere she goes. He claims to be keeping an eye on her safety, but Beth senses other motives. When a body washes ashore, she may need more help than she bargained for. Because investigating is a dangerous game, and someone wants to stop Beth from playing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2021
This book is made of two books and each written by a different author. The plot was somewhat repetitive and overall kind of boring. I continued reading because I wanted to know what happened and how the characters would resolve the conflict but it was pretty underwhelming. The setting of both books takes place around beaches during the summer. It's a mystery story and had some potential but it was a letdown for me.
January 29, 2019
2 books in one. The Island and Below the Surface. Both with a good story line (if not a little bit fuzzy at times). A mystery, a little romance with a happy ending? Or at least one that was mostly predictable. Enjoyed them both for the light suspense. Definitely glad I read them in the winter before it’s time to go back in to the ocean waters!
May 30, 2023
This large book had two separate stories. The Island by Heather Graham was the first. I'd give it 1.5 stars. I really didn't care for the main character. And, I thought the writing wasn't very good.
The second book was Below the Surface by Karen Harper. This one was better, but still a bit of a chore to get through. I should have ditched the book. But I stubbornly wanted to finish.
The second book was Below the Surface by Karen Harper. This one was better, but still a bit of a chore to get through. I should have ditched the book. But I stubbornly wanted to finish.
September 6, 2017
rushed , wordy not pertaining to the set up of the plot just to conversations , the end was five pages of goodness that could have been capitalized on to make a better plot very disappointed .
April 19, 2018
two stories of divers, Florida waters, intrigue and romance, both entertaining and interesting plots
October 20, 2018
I'm usually a big fan of Heather Graham, but this story dragged. The Karen Harper book was really confusing, but it pulled you in.
August 26, 2021
2 books, 1 from Heather Graham and 1 from Karen Harper. 698 pages total, both books great entertainment, lots of emotions! Thank you to the authors!
July 29, 2023
The first book in this set of 2 books was awful, unreadable. The second was at least a little bit readable.
January 19, 2024
The plot of the first book was interesting but the writing wasn’t great. Couldn’t even finish the second one.
March 29, 2018
The first story, I absolutely loved! The second story was just okay which is why I gave it collectively only three stars. I really bought into the first one, I thought the character relationships were intriguing and none of it was too cheesy. The second one was an interesting story idea for sure but it just didn’t capture my attention the whole way- it moved very slow with not much to keep me going through the next scene.
Overall I really like the settings. That was my main motivation in wanting this book was the ocean feel and in that regard I would read this all over again. Deep sea diving, yes please.
Overall I really like the settings. That was my main motivation in wanting this book was the ocean feel and in that regard I would read this all over again. Deep sea diving, yes please.
March 7, 2017
Still Waters: A combination of two different stories with two different authors brought together by Mira Books. Heather Graham's The Island was extremely slow, and predictable. Karen Harper's Below the Surface was much better!
November 27, 2016
Great stories
I really enjoyed this combination of these two authors. Great suspense, mystery and romance. Anything Heather Graham is excellent and this is my first Karen Harper book and I really enjoyed both.
I really enjoyed this combination of these two authors. Great suspense, mystery and romance. Anything Heather Graham is excellent and this is my first Karen Harper book and I really enjoyed both.
November 6, 2016
Both were engaging reads.
November 8, 2016
Good Story
I have read Karen Harper books and really enjoyed the stories . I also read Heather Graham books and really enjoy them.
I have read Karen Harper books and really enjoyed the stories . I also read Heather Graham books and really enjoy them.
November 17, 2016
Enjoyed this one! Heather's The Island was great, with Beth and Keith! Karen's Below the Surface really kept me interested!
November 18, 2016
Still Waters
Both "The Island" and " Below the Surface" we're excellent books! I've never read anything by Karen Harper but it won't be the last!
Both "The Island" and " Below the Surface" we're excellent books! I've never read anything by Karen Harper but it won't be the last!
January 17, 2017
Great book. Lots of twists and turns. liked the mix of romance too. Couldn't wait to find out what happened next
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews