The Summer of Chasing Mermaids
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
From the bestselling author of Twenty Boy Summer comes a “compelling and original” (Kirkus Reviews) novel about a talented singer that loses her ability to speak after a tragic accident, leading her to a postcard-perfect seaside town to find romance.
The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d’Abreau was destined for stardom—until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can’t sing. She can’t even speak.
Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend’s invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse’s home in the Caribbean isn’t: an ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry—except for one.
Christian Kane is a notorious playboy—insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He’s also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn’t treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother, Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.
When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove’s high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly suppresses her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn’t the only thing making waves, though—swept up in Christian’s seductive tide and entranced by the Cove’s charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn’t what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who’s best known for breaking them…
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In an imaginative but mixed retelling of The Little Mermaid, Elyse moves from her idyllic home on the island of Tobago to the stormy Oregon coast after an accident stripped the aspiring singer of her voice, severing her from her twin sister and singing partner. There, she meets handsome ladies man Christian and begins working with him to repair his boat for the annual Pirate Regatta. Christian must win the race to stop his father from selling their summer home to developers with plans for commercializing the cove. Ockler s (#scandal) poetic writing captivates from the outset ( My first breath outside my mother s body was salt water; the Caribbean Sea lay claim to my soul the moment it took hers ), and Elyse s backstory including the mystery of exactly how she lost her voice is inventive and well-drawn. But while steamy scenes between Elyse and Christian are enticing, some of the other plot lines feel contrived, from the bet over the boat race to a thread about Christian s younger brother s desire to march in a mermaid parade reserved for female participants. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
Yikes
Yikes 😬