Rating: 
Summary: Myles and His Mermaid
Review: As a voracious reader of Historical Romance, I am delighted to have discovered Holly Cook. Her debut novel The Sea Wife is a credit to the genre.It's been a long time since I've read such an enthralling tale; the story is populated with real 'blood and bone' characters that draw you into their time and trials with consummate ease. Predominantly, this is an intelligent book with tons of quick, dry humour. Ms Cook's dialogue sparkles and the chemistry between her hero and heroine is crackling. Sabina Grey is a sassy, spirited protagonist with great compassion and Myles Dampier a tortured hero to take your breath away. I guarantee it; by the last page you'll be wishing you were Myle's Mermaid. A truly satisfying read!
Rating:
Summary: Myles and His Mermaid
Review: As a voracious reader of Historical Romance, I am delighted to have discovered Holly Cook. Her debut novel The Sea Wife is a credit to the genre. It's been a long time since I've read such an enthralling tale; the story is populated with real 'blood and bone' characters that draw you into their time and trials with consummate ease. Predominantly, this is an intelligent book with tons of quick, dry humour. Ms Cook's dialogue sparkles and the chemistry between her hero and heroine is crackling. Sabina Grey is a sassy, spirited protagonist with great compassion and Myles Dampier a tortured hero to take your breath away. I guarantee it; by the last page you'll be wishing you were Myle's Mermaid. A truly satisfying read!
Rating:
Summary: More, please!!!
Review: I had given up on reading historical romances - until a friend lent me her copy of the Sea Wife. The characterisation in this book is fantastic. The relationship between the hero and heroine is one of continual tension, making the reader both unable to put the book down, and eager to reach the resolution. The smarmy agent and the delightful imp picked up in the streets of London are bonus characters who add to the story without taking away from the excellent plot. There were some interesting "twists" in this tale which caught me by surprise - a new feeling for this jaded reader! The author obviously has a feel for this period in history, and it shows through in the authentic portrayal of each situation in which the characters find themselves. If Holly Cook can write up to this high standard in her succeeding novels - bring them on. More please - and soon!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: THANK GOD ITS OVER .
Review: I have been struggling to finish this book for about a week now. Oh, was it ever painful. I have absolutely no idea why I insisted on finishing it, but finish it I did...oh, what a chore! First of all, for me to like a romance written from only the heroines point of view, it has to be exceptional. "The Sea Wife" was far from it. The h/h drove me insane and I could never understand what Sabina saw in Myles when all he ever was was nasty. I will admit that the book finally got SOMEWHAT interesting at page 185. This is the ONLY REASON I awarded this story with more than 1 star. Would I recommend this?? Well, if you are an insomniac and need something to bore you into unconciousness, then by all means..partake. As for the rest of you readers out there who value your precious free time...youve been warned!
Rating: 
Summary: delightful historical romance
Review: Near the end of his sea voyage from Australia to England, Miles Dampier rescues a drowning woman from the ocean. On his ship, he nurses his "mermaid" back to health. The grateful Sabina Grey thinks a Selkie saved her life as she recovers yet knows she loves her savior. The ship's captain marries Miles and Sabina, though they hardly know one another. In London, the caring attentive male she fell in love with vanishes, as Miles becomes temperamental and thoughtless. He has returned home seeking vengeance that eats at his soul and erodes their love. Having faced death once, Sabina refuses to allow her spouse to destroy what they can have if he would let go his hatred. The support cast is as diverse and interesting as any historical romance will contain. The story line is thrilling, albeit a bit more exciting on the High Seas than when the lead characters are on land. Sabina is a strong heroine who goes after what she wants, which is the return of the beloved man she first met. Though the dramatic change in Miles seems too radical, romance readers will value Holly Cook's delightful concoction, webbed feet and all. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: delightful historical romance
Review: Near the end of his sea voyage from Australia to England, Miles Dampier rescues a drowning woman from the ocean. On his ship, he nurses his "mermaid" back to health. The grateful Sabina Grey thinks a Selkie saved her life as she recovers yet knows she loves her savior. The ship's captain marries Miles and Sabina, though they hardly know one another. In London, the caring attentive male she fell in love with vanishes, as Miles becomes temperamental and thoughtless. He has returned home seeking vengeance that eats at his soul and erodes their love. Having faced death once, Sabina refuses to allow her spouse to destroy what they can have if he would let go his hatred. The support cast is as diverse and interesting as any historical romance will contain. The story line is thrilling, albeit a bit more exciting on the High Seas than when the lead characters are on land. Sabina is a strong heroine who goes after what she wants, which is the return of the beloved man she first met. Though the dramatic change in Miles seems too radical, romance readers will value Holly Cook's delightful concoction, webbed feet and all. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: What A Tortured Hero...
Review: Oh my. I thought I'd 'read' tortured heroes, and knew them all. Now I'm rethinking. Myles Dampier is a brooding, incredibly tortured hero, unjustly sent first to the stinking hulks on the Thames, then transported as a convict to New South Wales. We meet him when he's on his way back to mother England, full of molten vengeance for his betrayers. Sabina Grey also meets him, when he rescues her from a shipwreck in the wild seas. Theirs is a stormy relationship, as Sabina realizes she's caught a seething tiger by the tail. And Myles? He cannot relinquish his plans for vengeance. Not even for Sabina, who falls in love with him even as she's horrified by his dark side. The romance in this book is stunning. It is lush and sensual, a little dark but very, very mesmerizing. Thrilling, even. I found myself holding my breath as each new scene revealed a little more of Myles' and Sabina's incredible internal conflicts, and revealed more and more of their characters - wow! This will satisfy Gothic romance readers, and fans of Mary Jo Putney, Laura Kinsale, Loretta Chase and Candice Proctor. Bravo, Holly Cook! I can't wait to read your next book.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is boring
Review: The name of the book is quite exciting. The picture is also very inviting. The beginning of the book does start off well. She is rescued by a handsome man from drowning on the high seas... she awakens in a cabin on another rescue ship... After they got married I was waiting for some kind of intimacy. There is none. Even when they get back to land, they still do not even do more than kiss and the female character gets very upset about it. She is also too independant and open-mouthed. The male character's flashbacks into the past are too frequent and not very interesting. I was to the point that I was rolling my eyes. I wish there was more intimacy between the main characters. I think the female needs to "let go" a little bit and the male needs to become more firm with his wife and stop dwelling in the past. I am really struggling to finish this book.
Rating:
Summary: This book is boring
Review: The name of the book is quite exciting. The picture is also very inviting. The beginning of the book does start off well. She is rescued by a handsome man from drowning on the high seas... she awakens in a cabin on another rescue ship... After they got married I was waiting for some kind of intimacy. There is none. Even when they get back to land, they still do not even do more than kiss and the female character gets very upset about it. She is also too independant and open-mouthed. The male character's flashbacks into the past are too frequent and not very interesting. I was to the point that I was rolling my eyes. I wish there was more intimacy between the main characters. I think the female needs to "let go" a little bit and the male needs to become more firm with his wife and stop dwelling in the past. I am really struggling to finish this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Sea Wife
Review: The Sea Wife is a book that reminds me of all the reasons why I stopped reading many historical romances. There aren't enough like this one! The Sea Wife entertains the reader while not annoying the reader by being historically inaccurate. Holly Cook manages to weave a wonderfully entertaining Gothic tale while not straying from historical accuracy - which makes it a rollicking good tale in the vein of Laura Kinsale. Any reader who likes a really vivid story with true-to-life characters, a good Alpha hero and a heroine with guts and fire, and secondary characters that are simply adorable, I recommend The Sea Wife thoroughly!
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