When read separately, each 'If' novelette stands well and entirely on its own; but when each is read concurrently, Jackie Mae's real powers in crafting her scenarios become evident. Even though these three titles are separate entities, they work together to form a unified theory of possibilities; and so readers of all three will find in these separate tales a basic premise that ties all together but explores the different routes each protagonist takes to realize these choices in their lives.
If…Dangerous Waters revolves around Alena, a peppy, kind, happy-go-lucky nearly-twenty-two-year-old only child who still lives at home, has a 'dream' boyfriend, and likes everything about her life except for her appearance. She has big plans for her future and is set to graduate from college with a coveted degree in biotechnology when things change.
Alena also has a secret: she sees spirits, and has done so since a small child, when her first reaction to a sighting leads her to deny her abilities: "Never again did she mention seeing the “people” who came and went on their way throughout the house. When she saw one of them walking down the hall or into the kitchen, Alena looked away and pretended she didn’t see them. Her parents pretended too; they never discussed the incident again."
Her aversion to psychics is modified by her concern about the big decisions coming up in her life ("What if she accepted the wrong job offer and her life took a very wrong turn? There were a lot of decisions to be made that would forever shape her world."), and as she comes to realize that all the pieces in the puzzle may not come together as planned, she becomes more open to other possibilities.
As with the others in the 'If' series, Dangerous Waters provides a thought-provoking tale that uses one protagonist's life changes to closely examine how events change life decisions. Romance, career, plans: everything's up for grabs as Alena probes dangerous new avenues and comes up with something different than she'd expected, with results that will both surprise and immerse the readers following her.
The joy of all the 'If' stories lies in their surprise twists. Mae is a master storyteller and an uncommon ruler of the novelette form. There are no wasted words, no lengthy explanations, and (especially notable) no predictable paths, even for lives that seem well set in their courses.
Fans of the novelette form and newcomers more familiar with longer novels or shorter stories will find these exquisite productions, able to be digested individually but at their most powerful when taken together.
