The Last Mermaid

Rating:
Summary: OOOMMMMGGG!!!!!!!!!!
Review: After reading some of the reviews and the summaries for this book, I assumed that it was going to be another one of those clique mermaid love stories, but after reading the book I fell in love with the book and the author!! believe me if you have a chance to buy this book .. buy it!! very original and you never know whats going to happen next !

Rating:
Summary: The Last Mermaid
Review: An avid reader of historical romances and fantasy romances,
I found this book to be totally enchanting!!!! Once I started it, I couldn't escape the mermaids' lure. This was the first book of Shana Abe`'s that I had read, but she held me
spellbound. After having read so many books of this kind, I can pretty much tell you what the story will be about after the first chapter...not so with this one!!! When I completed the novel...I felt sad that it was over. I thought about the story for weeks after reading it. I went to the bookstore to get more of her books...but they didn't have any! I couldn't believe they didn't know what an amazing find this writer is and I told them so!
The legend's beginning and its end...throughout time...
the timelessness...
If you miss this one...you really missed out! I'm not going to describe the plot..since that has already been done. But I could see this one in my head ...feel it..magical but almost real. WOW! Shana Abe` has moved to the top of my favorite authors list!

Rating:
Summary: The Last Mermaid
Review: An avid reader of historical romances and fantasy romances,
I found this book to be totally enchanting!!!! Once I started it, I couldn't escape the mermaids' lure. This was the first book of Shana Abe`'s that I had read, but she held me
spellbound. After having read so many books of this kind, I can pretty much tell you what the story will be about after the first chapter...not so with this one!!! When I completed the novel...I felt sad that it was over. I thought about the story for weeks after reading it. I went to the bookstore to get more of her books...but they didn't have any! I couldn't believe they didn't know what an amazing find this writer is and I told them so!
The legend's beginning and its end...throughout time...
the timelessness...
If you miss this one...you really missed out! I'm not going to describe the plot..since that has already been done. But I could see this one in my head ...feel it..magical but almost real. WOW! Shana Abe` has moved to the top of my favorite authors list!

Rating:
Summary: Welcome to Enchantment
Review: Finally a romantic novel that centers on one of the most mythic, mysterious, and sensual charactors in the fantasy genre: Mermaids, Sirens of the sea.

Being a natural lover of fantasy and an even bigger fan of mermaid tales in general, I had to have this book as soon as I came across it. And the anticipation and high expectations I had for it were,for the most part, met and exceeded.

The book starts off with the legend of an island more beautiful than words could possibly describe; an island that has remained undisturbed and unclaimed by mankind because it's currents and reef are so strong and deadly that no ship has been able to even go near it without meeting certain death. And this is much the case for a fisherman named Kell who finds himself shipwrecked and drowning in these waters. As fate would have it, Kell comes face to face with the Siren of the sea herself, who falls instantly in love with him. She offers to spare his life upon the agreement that he marry her and give her his eternal heart and, more importantly, his soul, which she kept in a scrolled silver locket around her neck. Mesmerized by the beautiful siren with sapphire blue eyes and her enchanted Isle, Kell accepts the proposal and claims the mermaid and the island as his own, thus naming it Kell. Together they lived a very happy existence on Kell. They built a castle and had many children. But as time went by Kell grew restless with homesickness and one night he ripped the locket containing his soul from the safety of his wifes neck and opened it. Upon doing so his soul fled free to the stars and Kell died instantly. Heartbroken, the mermaid eventually went mad with sadness and put a curse on the island that anyone who dared to come or go would be cursed with death. And so, it became believed that the curse was the reason for the sailors' deaths at sea and mermaids were feared and Kell was avoided at all costs. And so the story begins...


Many, many years later...

Prince Aedan is about to become King of a Scottish chain of Isles including Kelmere, his home. But upon his arrival home from a victorious journey, he and his men are ambushed by one of Kelmere's enemies; the Picts, and left for dead. All except Aedan, who is still alive--but barely. Amidst a terrible storm brewing, he is taken aboard a small boat and brought to the one place that no one would ever go looking for him--beneath the dark depths of the ocean on the shores of Kell. He he found by the Siren, Ione, the last of her kind, whose only task in life is to greet the drowning sailors in the ocean who haved come too close to Kell and sing to them to calm their fears as they drown. But when Ione finds Aedans drowning body beneath the waves, she too falls in love with him and takes him to her castle to nurse him back to health. As much as Aedan begins to find himself falling for Ione and the allure of her island, he knows that there is a war going on back at Kelmere and must try to return, curse or not. At first Ione tries to keep him there with her but knows that she cannot do so forever and lets him return. She even helps guide his makeshift boat safely across the deadly waters to ensure his safety. However when Aedan returns to his palace to find betrayal and imprisonment, it seems that the curse hasn't escaped him yet. Will Aeadan live and one day be reunited with his beloved Ione?

Book 2: 18th century London...


Ronan, The sensously blond and deep blue eyed Earl of Kell is plagued by dreams of a beautiful woman that he doesn't even know, until he sees her one night at a ball. It seems that Leila has been looking for him too, but for an entirely different reason. Leila is a young Spanishwoman who has a unique psychic gift and a very traumatic and disturbing childhood. She was brought up to be a very skillful assasin and routinely kills people for money. And Ronan just happens to be her next future victim, until she lays eyes on the beautiful male Siren who silently threatens to turn her life upside down if she gives into her growing feelings for him and spares his life. In her indecision, Ronan eventually learns of her intentions and in a fit of rage, brings her to Kell. But despite his anger, Ronan finds that he force himself to bring any harm or punishment to the woman who stole his heart and lied to him and eventually convinces her to become his bodyguard, for triple what she had been originally been paid and the threat of her never leaving Kell again. But a contract is a contract, and no matter who does it, the job must still get done. And now both Ronan and Leila's lives are in danger.

Book 3: Modern day LA....


Ruriko Kell recently lost her parents in a car accident and not only inherits a tower of debt, but also a mysteriously beutiful silver locket and a Scottish Island. Having never set foot in
the ocean because of lifelong dreams of drowning, and of course, the debt, Ruri decides to sell the island. And then one day a gorgeous stranger appears at her door and offers to pay her 12 Million for it. But upon seeing the beautifully blue eyes Ruri, Iain realizes that selling the island might be the biggest mistake that Ruri will ever make so he gives her the stipulation that in order for the sale to be complete, she must wear the necklace and come with him st Scotland to see Her island in person. Wary but equally attracted to Iain, Ruri accepts, and embarks on a journey of eternal love and self discovery.


The stories are all beautifully written and very tastefully romantic. The sexual scenes are romantic, NOT pornographic, which is what usually turns me off of the entire romance genre entirely. All (4) stories are all intricately intertwined and it's nice to see the progression from each one. My only minor gripe over the novel is that the final story did not show the charactor development of the first two. Nor did it answer a lot of the questions that I had through the progression of time, such as when did the castle of Kell become a ruin and what happened to all the treasure hidden in the secret grotto, and how exactly during did Iain discover his true identity during his childhood in an orphanage? I suppose these are pickier details but they nag at me enough to warrant this novel the 4 star rating. But they're not enough for me to not want to read this book again numerous times. It is profound, hauntingly sad, and very beautiful. It's rare to stumble upon a tale as satisfying and magical as this one. I hope it is eventually released in Hardcover so that I can cherish it in the years to come.

Rating:
Summary: Achingly Beautiful
Review: I just finished The Last Mermaid and I'm speechless. I've probably read over 300 Romance Novels written by outstanding authors, but I think Shana Abe is in a whole catagory all by herself. Her writing is almost like poetry and it goes right to my heart. This book is her best. I've never given a book 5 stars before, but this one deserves it!



Rating:
Summary: delightful historical romantic fantasy
Review: In 531 on the island Kelmere of the Kingdom of Isles, Picts ambush the royal party as they near their keep. Prince Aedan, heir to the High King throne, is stabbed trying to save his younger sister. When Aedan next awakens he finds himself battered in a strange bed and room. He meets his hostess Ione who brought him from the sea to her island, something she has never done before. Aedan realizes he is on Kell, the legendary forbidden island. Ione explains that they are the only living souls on the isle and that she is the Siren of Kell.

Ione proves she is a mermaid by taking him to the sea before they make love. Though he wants to stay with her, Aedan builds a vessel because he needs to go home to help his people. She says she will die if he leaves Kell, but he insists curse or not he must do the right thing. However, the betrayal he finds at home will surely devastate him almost as much as leaving behind the female he loves.

The key to this delightful historical romantic fantasy is that the lead couple seems genuine, critical for the siren-mermaid to come across as a real person that blends nicely into the Dark Ages in the Scottish Isles. The story line is fun to follow regardless of the isle that the action occurs on. Fans will appreciate this charming adult version of the Little Mermaid and readers would like to see more stories set in this realm.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: delightful historical romantic fantasy
Review: In 531 on the island Kelmere of the Kingdom of Isles, Picts ambush the royal party as they near their keep. Prince Aedan, heir to the High King throne, is stabbed trying to save his younger sister. When Aedan next awakens he finds himself battered in a strange bed and room. He meets his hostess Ione who brought him from the sea to her island, something she has never done before. Aedan realizes he is on Kell, the legendary forbidden island. Ione explains that they are the only living souls on the isle and that she is the Siren of Kell.

Ione proves she is a mermaid by taking him to the sea before they make love. Though he wants to stay with her, Aedan builds a vessel because he needs to go home to help his people. She says she will die if he leaves Kell, but he insists curse or not he must do the right thing. However, the betrayal he finds at home will surely devastate him almost as much as leaving behind the female he loves.

The key to this delightful historical romantic fantasy is that the lead couple seems genuine, critical for the siren-mermaid to come across as a real person that blends nicely into the Dark Ages in the Scottish Isles. The story line is fun to follow regardless of the isle that the action occurs on. Fans will appreciate this charming adult version of the Little Mermaid and readers would like to see more stories set in this realm.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: 4 Romances in 1 Magical Mermaid Tale
Review: THE LAST MERMAID is a fantastic departure from the typical romance novel. Incorporating four magical love stories in one, THE LAST MERMAID begins with a mermaid's tragic curse of lost love, then moves to the first story, which is about a betrayed King of Scotland who is rescued from a watery grave by Ione, the lonely siren of the cursed island of Kell. This segment was packed with medieval adventure (Scottish warriors against Saxon thugs), and I thought Aeden was a fantastic hero, though Ione the mermaid bugged me at first for being so needy (I grew to like her, especially toward the end, when she risked all for Aeden). Following this story, we move ahead to the 1700s, in which Ione and Aeden's descendant, the male siren Ronan (Earl of Kell), is targeted for death by a beautiful Spanish assassin named Leila (who has some magic of her own). Ronan and Leila's story is filled with intrigue and painful attraction (I couldn't wait for them to FINALLY hook up). However, I think I liked the last story the best, which begins in modern-day Los Angeles. The heroine, half-Japanese Ruri, has just inherited the Island of Kell (which she didn't even know existed) and is "seduced" into visiting it by Iain, a hot pirate-like Scot who wants to buy it. Their story wraps up the four (yes, four) romances quite nicely, with just a little magic twist. For a romance novel, THE LAST MERMAID is prettily written (you can practically taste the saltwater and see the island in your mind), though the author sometimes overdoes it (she has a certain obsession for eye and hair color). The actual lovemaking scenes are also elegant, meaning they are less steamy and more romantic. Overall, I thought this was a lovely novel, eloquent and satisfying, and would recommend it to anyone interested in adding a touch of magic to her day.



Rating:
Summary: Totally Awesome Love Stories!
Review: This is an amazing tale set in three separate time periods and linked together by the prologue that explains the myth and how the curse came to be as the original mermaid of Kell lost her one true love and how her descendants all fought and found their way to discovering their destinies and true love.

531 a.d. --- The Picts ambushed Aedan, a Prince of the Isles who would one day be King. Mortally wounded he was then shipped out to the middle of the ocean near the mysterious island of Kell, dumped overboard and believed to have drowned. Actually, he did drown, but through the enchanted ministrations of the siren Iona, who lived on the enchanted island of Kell, Aedan was restored back to life. Love blossoms with exquisite sensuality between the two, yet Aedan felt impelled to build a vessel to return to his home and save his people knowing that he would be leaving a part of his soul behind with Iona. Deliberating over the knowledge that a slow death would occur should she leave the island of Kell, Iona follows Aedan to inform him that she would be having his child only to find that once again, Aedan was betrayed, a prisoner in his own castle and near death. Risking her own life by leaving the magical waters of Kell, Ione would save Aedan once again, but could she survive herself? - Thrilling, with intense action and sensuality.

1721: Ronan MacMhuirich, Earl of Kell, mysterious and beloved laird of his clan is the target of an unlikely assassin. Rarely appearing in the London social circles he and his clansmen traveled to the city to try and discover who was attempting to kill him. Searching for an assassin he discovered instead a mysterious and beautiful woman from an exotic land. Leila, not only a skilled assassin, but also gifted with 'sight' that could prove to be much more dangerous to Ronan than any assassins weapon. Irresistibly drawn to one another, the beautiful would-be slayer and Ronan (a male siren) would discover a magic more powerful than either of their gifts - the magic of love found only by true soul mates. - Very ORIGINAL, passionate and sultry!

2004: Ruri Kell, is still dealing with the unexpected death of her parents when several things happen. First she receives a very old silver locket; discovers she has inherited an island no one knew existed; and a devastatingly handsome Scot, Dr. Iain MacInnes, has arrived at her door offering her an astronomical amount of money to buy the island. The one condition of the sale is that she must travel to the island (she who is deathly afraid of water) and 'see' it first before selling. Unknown to Ruri was that she was the last descendant of the Kell's, and knew nothing of her father's family history. Iain had been waiting several lifetimes for her and for himself too and would only be free to love when she could 'remember' who and what she really was.

All three stories/books were very original, sensual and passionate love stories, my favorites being Aedan and Ronan's stories. Ms. Abe is a favorite author of mine and it has been a long time between books. I am delighted to say this was well worth the wait and I heartily recommend this for lovers of this fantasy genre as an enjoyable and very original read. --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---

Rating:
Summary: Fantasy and romance combined..me likey.
Review: This is the first book from Shana Abe i've read and i'm happy. i love the heat and the way she describes things. My favourite story is the first one. I love Ione.
The third one is emotional. when she says, i can't stay! i have family. friends! a job! and he says..
it was emotional.
The second one is lustful. though, i have to admit, leila's smart but i would not put her as a assain. she has to find out if the person she's killing is good or bad..it's a nice quirk of personaility but too much trouble.
This is a really good book..but of course, this is my first book from shana abe so i wouldn't know..but hey, even if you hate this book, you have to admire the colours of the cover. ;)