Blurb
Making Waves is two short stories taking place on the magical and mythical Dasia Island.
Both stories were previous published in the Hot Summer Nights Anthologies in 2013 and 2014, which are no longer available.
In Perfect Harmony
Lyrik Perry, head of the band Moonlit Road, is ready for a vacation after the band’s year-long tour comes to an end. Wanting to get away from the temptations of drugs, sex and rock n’ roll all around him, he remembers a time five years ago when he’d truly been happy—on Dasia Island—and decides to go back, hoping he’ll find the woman he left behind, but never forgot.
Harmony Ryland has suffered a debilitating loss. After overcoming her shock of Lyrik stepping back into her life, they share the memories and laughter of their past.
As one of Dasia’s mysterious legends comes true, it helps Harmony move on. Yet, a phone call forces Lyrik to make a decision: does he give up his band, or Harmony?
Laws of Attraction
High-end criminal attorney, Jared Greer, has spent his adult life working for his father’s legal firm and chasing the next big client. The legal world is shades of gray, and he doesn’t think about right and wrong when representing a client—he thinks of the paycheck. His hard work has paid off, and he lives a lavish lifestyle filled with expensive cars, a luxury penthouse, and the best of everything.
He takes a private jet to Dasia Island for a meeting about possible representation with a CEO of a toy company accused of knowingly producing toys that killed 15 children. As Jared and his assistant, Monica, work through the case documents and share some of what Dasia has to offer, their passion on the magical island makes Jared consider the way he lives his life, especially if he wants Monica in it.
Review
This anthology consists of two novellas, both of which I really enjoyed.
“In Perfect Harmony” – Lyrik Perry is a front-runner of one of the hottest bands around, Moonlit Road. Every night is a party full of drugs, alcohol, and women, but after a few years, he realizes how empty his life is. He cleans up, and after his latest tour ends, he decides to go to Dasia Island, the only place he can remember ever feeling truly happy.
Island local Harmony Ryland met Lyrik years ago. He was her first romance, but she didn’t know who he really was until he left her and the island paradise, returning home and to his band. Since then she’d married and had a daughter, and then lost them to a horrible accident. She’s living in perpetual darkness, unable to move on. When Lyrik shows up on her doorstep, everything changes, but can Harmony find it in her heart to trust Lyrik again and finally move on with her life?
Wow! I love this story. I cried a bit for all the pain Harmony has gone through, and I definitely felt bad for Lyrik and his poor choices. They’re both great, well-rounded characters, and they fit really well together. The story is told through both Lyrik’s and Harmony’s POV, though more in Lyrik’s than in hers, but I got a good feel for each character.
4.5 Stars
“Laws of Attraction” – High-powered defense attorney Jared Greer goes to Dasia Island to meet with a prospective client, the CEO of a toy company who knowingly produced a toy that killed several children, and Jared is determined to land the million-dollar deal. Nothing else matters to him. He has two days to come up with a presentation for the CEO but needs an assistant to get everything in order, so he contacts an island temp agency.
Monica is the only attorney on the island. Once a prosecutor back in the States, she gave up the stress for a simple island life, and through the temp agency, helps out people who need legal representation. The connection between her and Jared is instant, but she’s a free spirit and he’s so focused on his job that he can’t see right from wrong.
Monica is a wonderful character. She’s strong, fun, and definitely what Jared needed. Even though Jared wasn’t very likable in the beginning, I appreciated and understood his single-minded focus. Once he changed for the better, I started to like and respect him. The story is told only from Jared’s POV, but the reader gets to learn enough about Monica through the characters’ dialogue, so nothing is really missing from not reading in her POV.
4 Stars
Both stories were with interracial couples (white men and black women), and I found that refreshing from what I usually read. There were a few typos in each story, especially in the second one, but nothing that distracted me for long. I definitely liked this book and would like to read more from Ms. Fall.
Book Overall – 4 Stars
— If you’ve read this book, I’d love to know what you think of it. Please comment below.