Thursday, November 15, 2012

THE MERMAID COLLECTOR by Erika Marks + Giveaway

Reviewed by Laura Kay

 
Is there a better backdrop for a story than the ocean, beaches, lighthouses and mermaids? I think not!  Erika Marks brings to life a story of The Mermaid Mutiny of 1888 to life with Lydia and Linus Harris. Linus is the lighthouse keeper in Cradle Harbor, Maine in 1887. Together they are simply a young couple setting up a home and hoping to start a family. When an unfathomable event occurs---changes everything for this couple and the town. 

A century later, the legend of Lydia and Linus lives on and is celebrated with a Mermaid Festival. For Tess Patterson this is a magical time. Tess is a local artist who recently was commissioned to make a mermaid wood carved statue for the town.

Tess is looking for acceptance from the townspeople with their noses in the air. Whereas Tom Grace (new in town) isn't looking to please the community of Cradle Harbor. He just wants a fresh start for himself and younger brother, Dean. 

Tom and Tess make the perfect couple, but is their desire to change their pasts going to doom their future? 

I LOVED The Mermaid Collector! I had begun reading it the day before my dad passed away and finished it the week after his funeral. As I read the last few chapters, I couldn't put The Mermaid Collector down. Not only was this a fantastically written story, but Marks wrote with such truth. As I read at 3am in the morning tears fell. 

Erika Marks did an amazing job of weaving the two stories together. I was completely taken in with Lydia's story. You get tid bits along the way, so you get an idea of how it will end---yet as it draws to a close you want a different ending! I just couldn't accept that was how it was going to end.

As I read about Tess & Tom I just kept wanting them to let go of their past--knowing you hinder your future if you are always looking backwards.

The only thing that could have made this a better read was if I could have read it on a New England beach, with a hot tea, wearing a cable knit sweater with the background sound of waves crashing and the tingling sounds of wind chimes. 

An absolute perfect fall read! I highly recommend THE MERMAID COLLECTOR! 

Follow Erika Marks 
Buy THE MERMAID COLLECTOR by Erika Marks

Erika joined us a few weeks back for a Q&A make sure to check it out!


The books we review on this site (A NOVEL REVIEW) are sent to us by publishers, authors or downloaded from Netgalley. This is a very common practice.  We never take payments for these reviews and all the reviews on this site are our own thoughts and feelings and are not influenced.

7 comments:

  1. I have heard so many positive reviews of The Mermaid Collector and want to read it. What a great giveaway!

    scoster1@comcast.net

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  2. I've heard such awesome reviews too. I'm thinking you know that I want a copy too!

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  3. I'd love to read this! It sounds really good!

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  4. I have yet to read a mermaid book - this one sounds like a good one to start with!

    suzebomb(at)gmail.com

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  5. I've never read a mermaid book either. I'd love to read this one. :)

    nicnac63 AT hotmail DOT com

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  6. i'm drawn to anything about mermaids, and this one sounds great!

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  7. Sounds like a good read—thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

    skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

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