The Mermaid's Song

Rating:
Summary: An Enchanting Read!
Review: "The Mermaid's Song" by Marianne Willman is a delightful tale that will enchant readers everywhere. Willman has a wonderful lyrical style of writing that is sure to have reviewers raving.
Teaching at a girl's academy, Flora O'Donnell has escaped her past and her true identity. She has always felt a connection with one of her students, Johanna Cheney, who has been all alone ever since she came to the academy. One day, Johanna's uncle and legal guardian, Blaise Cheney, shows up for a visit and soon discovers how he has neglected his niece, who is fast becoming a young woman. He plans to take Johanna with him to his home in France where she can make her debut into society. Blaise then makes a very unorthodox offer to Flora, asking her to become his wife in name only for a two year period, during which time she will act as Johanna's mother. Seeing it as a means of escape from her past in England, which appears to be closing in on her, Flora accepts, and thus begins her journey.
But neither Blaise nor Flora counted on falling in love. In Blaise's chateau, Flora finds out about the terrible curse that has plagued the Cheneys for generations, and must deal with Blaise's interfering maiden aunt and a rather unfriendly maid. But her love for Blaise knows no boundaries, and she finds herself swept away by her dashing new husband.
But Blaise is hiding a shocking secret regarding the true reason for his deal with Flora. Fate takes matters into its own hands before Blaise can explain things to Flora, and consequently she is devastated when she discovers the truth. Will Flora be able to forgive Blaise for his betrayal? And what other, perhaps more mystical forces are at work here?
You'll have to read the book to find out, and it is most definitely worth the read. "The Mermaid's Song" is an outstanding historical romance, with a healthy dose of the fanciful and a touch of suspense added to the mix. This book had me captivated from start to finish - the main characters are complex and will win your heart, and the descriptive passages of the magnificent settings are intricately and expertly woven. I highly recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: An Enchanting Read!
Review: "The Mermaid's Song" by Marianne Willman is a delightful tale that will enchant readers everywhere. Willman has a wonderful lyrical style of writing that is sure to have reviewers raving.
Teaching at a girl's academy, Flora O'Donnell has escaped her past and her true identity. She has always felt a connection with one of her students, Johanna Cheney, who has been all alone ever since she came to the academy. One day, Johanna's uncle and legal guardian, Blaise Cheney, shows up for a visit and soon discovers how he has neglected his niece, who is fast becoming a young woman. He plans to take Johanna with him to his home in France where she can make her debut into society. Blaise then makes a very unorthodox offer to Flora, asking her to become his wife in name only for a two year period, during which time she will act as Johanna's mother. Seeing it as a means of escape from her past in England, which appears to be closing in on her, Flora accepts, and thus begins her journey.
But neither Blaise nor Flora counted on falling in love. In Blaise's chateau, Flora finds out about the terrible curse that has plagued the Cheneys for generations, and must deal with Blaise's interfering maiden aunt and a rather unfriendly maid. But her love for Blaise knows no boundaries, and she finds herself swept away by her dashing new husband.
But Blaise is hiding a shocking secret regarding the true reason for his deal with Flora. Fate takes matters into its own hands before Blaise can explain things to Flora, and consequently she is devastated when she discovers the truth. Will Flora be able to forgive Blaise for his betrayal? And what other, perhaps more mystical forces are at work here?
You'll have to read the book to find out, and it is most definitely worth the read. "The Mermaid's Song" is an outstanding historical romance, with a healthy dose of the fanciful and a touch of suspense added to the mix. This book had me captivated from start to finish - the main characters are complex and will win your heart, and the descriptive passages of the magnificent settings are intricately and expertly woven. I highly recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: An Enchanting Read!
Review: "The Mermaid's Song" by Marianne Willman is a delightful tale that will enchant readers everywhere. Willman has a wonderful lyrical style of writing that is sure to have reviewers raving.
Teaching at a girl's academy, Flora O'Donnell has escaped her past and her true identity. She has always felt a connection with one of her students, Johanna Cheney, who has been all alone ever since she came to the academy. One day, Johanna's uncle and legal guardian, Blaise Cheney, shows up for a visit and soon discovers how he has neglected his niece, who is fast becoming a young woman. He plans to take Johanna with him to his home in France where she can make her debut into society. Blaise then makes a very unorthodox offer to Flora, asking her to become his wife in name only for a two year period, during which time she will act as Johanna's mother. Seeing it as a means of escape from her past in England, which appears to be closing in on her, Flora accepts, and thus begins her journey.
But neither Blaise nor Flora counted on falling in love. In Blaise's chateau, Flora finds out about the terrible curse that has plagued the Cheneys for generations, and must deal with Blaise's interfering maiden aunt and a rather unfriendly maid. But her love for Blaise knows no boundaries, and she finds herself swept away by her dashing new husband.
But Blaise is hiding a shocking secret regarding the true reason for his deal with Flora. Fate takes matters into its own hands before Blaise can explain things to Flora, and consequently she is devastated when she discovers the truth. Will Flora be able to forgive Blaise for his betrayal? And what other, perhaps more mystical forces are at work here?
You'll have to read the book to find out, and it is most definitely worth the read. "The Mermaid's Song" is an outstanding historical romance, with a healthy dose of the fanciful and a touch of suspense added to the mix. This book had me captivated from start to finish - the main characters are complex and will win your heart, and the descriptive passages of the magnificent settings are intricately and expertly woven. I highly recommend this book!

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read that kept me up late at night!
Review: Marianne Williams weaves a warm tale about challenge, hope and love. Her characters were well thought out and seem to come alive on the paper. The hero has a tendancy to be a bit overbaring at times, manipulating to get his way....but we all love a rougue I suppose. The heroine stands her ground, through all kinds of twists and turns. As you can I tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to Marianne's next book.

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable read that kept me up late at night!
Review: Marianne Williams weaves a warm tale about challenge, hope and love. Her characters were well thought out and seem to come alive on the paper. The hero has a tendancy to be a bit overbaring at times, manipulating to get his way....but we all love a rougue I suppose. The heroine stands her ground, through all kinds of twists and turns. As you can I tell, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to Marianne's next book.

Rating:
Summary: The Mermaid's Song ...
Review: My rating for this book is low compared to what others have given. Let me explain why.
First, the book plot is good and carries the gothic feel that goes along with Marriane Willman's writing. The characters were well-done and likeable. How ever, in the last remaining two or three chapters, I found myself not liking the twists and turns b/c they took focus off the main story line of the Cheyney history and the fabled tale of a mermaid loning for her home sea. And by the time I got to the Epilogue, I was frustrated that hardly anything had been solved between Flora and Blaise. Willman waited until the Epilogue to allow her characters to say the three words of affection to each other. I like reading those senitmental words before an Epilogue at the least. The ending felt so rushed, it took away the beauty of the story that I was inrigued to read by the notations on the back of the book.
But you may decide to pick up this book and read it, and I in no way am saying not to read it. Just find it in a local library and do not waste money on the purchase. Thought the read is well enough for entertainment, it is not worth the money to gather dust on a shelf...I do not expect I'll be reading it again.

Rating:
Summary: The Mermaid's Song ...
Review: My rating for this book is low compared to what others have given. Let me explain why.
First, the book plot is good and carries the gothic feel that goes along with Marriane Willman's writing. The characters were well-done and likeable. How ever, in the last remaining two or three chapters, I found myself not liking the twists and turns b/c they took focus off the main story line of the Cheyney history and the fabled tale of a mermaid loning for her home sea. And by the time I got to the Epilogue, I was frustrated that hardly anything had been solved between Flora and Blaise. Willman waited until the Epilogue to allow her characters to say the three words of affection to each other. I like reading those senitmental words before an Epilogue at the least. The ending felt so rushed, it took away the beauty of the story that I was inrigued to read by the notations on the back of the book.
But you may decide to pick up this book and read it, and I in no way am saying not to read it. Just find it in a local library and do not waste money on the purchase. Thought the read is well enough for entertainment, it is not worth the money to gather dust on a shelf...I do not expect I'll be reading it again.

Rating:
Summary: An Enchanting Read!
Review: This is a story full of myth and mystery, as are the characters. It transported me to the sea in the day it took me to finish this. This is truly a magical novel that I couldn't put down.

Rating:
Summary: An Enchanting Read!
Review: This is a story full of myth and mystery, as are the characters. It transported me to the sea in the day it took me to finish this. This is truly a magical novel that I couldn't put down.