Bailey swore she’d never return to her small hometown of Yancey, Alaska. She is pretty sure there are some things you can never escape; never leave behind. 
Going home for her aunt’s unexpected funeral, she realizes with dismay that’s she’s mostly right about that. “Easy Lay Bay” was a nickname given to her back in high school, and it seems that while time has passed and she’s changed, some other people never do. She can’t get out of there fast enough.
Life, however, has a way of conspiring against your plans.
The last person to see her aunt Agnes alive was Cole. Cole, whose heart she broke all those years ago. Cole, who rescued her aunt; submerged in the plane in the ocean 40 feet below the surface, yet amazingly clinging to live in the air pocket. How could he face her and tell her Agnes had been alive when found, only to die during the rescue when the plane shifted just as she launched for the opening which sent her crashing into a cabinet instead?
Before Bailey can make her escape back to her life, it become apparent that the investigation needs her help. She’s the only one around with a doctorate in Russian studies and who is an expert in Russian artifacts. And, since bodies keep turning up, they had no time to waste.
I really enjoyed this book. Even though the plot was a little out there (I’m still wondering how they could have gotten into the water that fast; 35 minutes since the crash seems nearly unrealistically fast to me, particularly in Alaska; and then there’s the whole Russian thing and missing island- It is hard for me to believe that an island can sink into the ocean and not have all the buildings submerged- is it possible for a building- a church in this case- to be underwater and have people having gone inside it and not flood it so that the contents are completely intact? Anyone know an actual answer for this?), I’m still giving it high marks because the writing was good.
If the plot had been more believable, I would definitely give this 5 stars. As it is now, I’m going to give 4.5 out of 5 stars, because this one teeters on the edge of believability. It’s not so far out there as to take your mind off the ‘how’s,’ which for me, results in a reduced rating.
Great fiction, for me personally, has to be plausible enough to actually happen. People can have fantastic luck, but unless it’s entirely fictitious (like sci-fi or witches or something else entirely fabricated), it’s hard for me not to think about the logistics of some of the things going on.
It is very well written, though, and I can see the possibility of a lot of sequels for the other characters. I will definitely put this author on my list of ‘get more books!’
I received this book for free from Bethany House publishers (www.bethanyhouse.com) for this review.
