Sea Siren/LA Sirena

Rating:
Summary: Loved la Sirena!
Review: A mermaid sits perched in the distance, waving to passersby,and for a moment, she smiles at fisherman Augustino Suarez, who'ssitting in a bar along with some of the other men who work thesea. No, he hasn't had one drink too many - it's just a reluctant Kiki Figueroa doing her part so that her family's new restaurant, "La Sirena," will be a success.

To ward off a group of men with less than honorable intentions, Tino steps in and makes a show of being Kiki's boyfriend. A grateful Kiki, trapped in her mermaid costume, plays along and is stunned by her response to Tino's kiss, and his gallantry later when he carries her to safety after it begins raining...The internal conflict ends with about one-third of the book left, so the rest is filled with the obligatory appearance by someone from the past and then a last-minute fishing mishap that threatens Tino's life. Sub-plots for filler are generally more annoying than this, but these characters made up for the padding. It was so refreshing to see characters who refused to let a potential Big Misunderstanding even happen, who actually talked to one another and who weren't coy with each other, that I forgave the plotting problems.

Kiki is a very no-nonsense heroine. She's a little put off by Tino's initial obnoxious behavior but quickly sees behind the façade. She realizes she can be hurt again by putting her feelings out there, but she also understands that Tino needs a little prodding. The concept of family is important to her, and she'll do anything to help out the new business, even putting on a silly costume.

Hardworking fisherman Tino might be a little hesitant to pledge his heart to Kiki, but she soon becomes the love of his life and he knows it. He is thoughtful and gentlemanly, rescuing Kiki at the beginning of the book and encouraging her to get over her fear of the sea without pushing her too far.

The description of Latino culture is vibrant here - neither so in-your-face that it becomes annoying nor thrown in as filler. Since a large part of the plot revolves around Kiki's family's restaurant, the descriptions of Puerto Rican food were appropriate and accurate. My only concern would be all the phrases in Spanish scattered throughout the book, some are pretty obvious to figure out, some less. If you can get past this hurdle, there is a nice story and delightful characters to meet in author Vasquez' latest offering, Sea Siren/La Sirena.

Rating:
Summary: Delightful
Review: A very nicely done novel. Tino and Kiki were complex, believable characters. Their interaction was always interesting. I enjoyed that both of them had "issues" to work out. These flaws made them more real to me. I liked the use of Spanish. And did not find it hard to understand. Also liked the exploration of diffenent cultures of Spain and Puerto Rico.Good plot, kept moving. Vazquez shows a lot of potential. This was a very enjoyable read, and I do reccommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Delightful
Review: A very nicely done novel. Tino and Kiki were complex, believable characters. Their interaction was always interesting. I enjoyed that both of them had "issues" to work out. These flaws made them more real to me. I liked the use of Spanish. And did not find it hard to understand. Also liked the exploration of diffenent cultures of Spain and Puerto Rico.Good plot, kept moving. Vazquez shows a lot of potential. This was a very enjoyable read, and I do reccommend it.

Rating:
Summary: 4 STARS FROM ROMANTIC TIMES
Review: Hello! SEA SIREN/LA SIRENA is my second book for Encanto. I hope you enjoy this romantic tale, with its Latino flavor and dash of the mysterious. And I love to hear from my readers, so feel free to e-mail me with your comments. Disfrute!

Rating:
Summary: Sea Siren
Review: Lovely Latina Kiki Figueroa is dressed as a mermaid, advertising for her new restaurant, La Sirena, when Tino Suarez first spots her. He rescues her from an overly forward admirer, and thus begins a relationship. Both Kiki and Tino are wary of entanglement, but he is much more gun-shy than she. What a delicious treat this 4 1/2 star story is! The characters, even incidental ones, are exquisitely drawn, making this a marvelous night's read. Thank you, Ms. Vasquez!

Rating:
Summary: Sea Siren
Review: Lovely Latina Kiki Figueroa is dressed as a mermaid, advertising for her new restaurant, La Sirena, when Tino Suarez first spots her. He rescues her from an overly forward admirer, and thus begins a relationship. Both Kiki and Tino are wary of entanglement, but he is much more gun-shy than she. What a delicious treat this 4 1/2 star story is! The characters, even incidental ones, are exquisitely drawn, making this a marvelous night's read. Thank you, Ms. Vasquez!

Rating:
Summary: Sea Siren
Review: SEA SIREN is a delightful romp between a "mermaid" who's afraid of the sea and a sailor. Funny and tender by turns, don't miss this wonderful love story between Tino and Kiki. With echoes of mythology and legend spicing the story, Ms. Vazquez spins an enchanted contemporary romance about two people searching for love and someone to belong to. It's a keeper and a delight to read. I hope to see more from Ms. Vazquez in the future!

Rating:
Summary: Sea Siren
Review: SEA SIREN is a delightful romp between a "mermaid" who's afraid of the sea and a sailor. Funny and tender by turns, don't miss this wonderful love story between Tino and Kiki. With echoes of mythology and legend spicing the story, Ms. Vazquez spins an enchanted contemporary romance about two people searching for love and someone to belong to. It's a keeper and a delight to read. I hope to see more from Ms. Vazquez in the future!