Customer Reviews

A Mermaid's Kiss (Berkley Sensation)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is one of the worst books I have ever read. Its only redeeming value is that it is often hilariously awful. I'm sorry, but having sex with a mermaid in her cloaca in a hot tub? Then catching her on fire? And a road trip through Nevada? I giggled aloud at several of the serious parts of this book.

Also, the description on this book doesn't mention that the relationship is BDSM. I had no desire to read about that. I'm sure that many people enjoy it, but it's not to my taste and I wish there had been some warning (of course, I picked it up in a bookstore and I didn't have Amazon reviews handy).

I suppose the writing is alright, but none of it was in the least bit interesting to me. The plot seemed padded within an inch of its life. I just kept reading because of the unintentionally hilarious bits and pieces.

I'd recommend this book for a good laugh, but it wasn't even remotely engaging or titillating for me.

the main characters were annoying. it was so boring it took me a month to finish. the only reason i did finish it was for a lead in to the next book.the only reason i gave it two stars was for the fighting scenes and for the secondary characters scenes. And what the heck is up with all the sex.not even a half a day was passed before the were doing it like rabbits. there was no lead in to a romance just lets do it. stupid book, thats all i kept saying to myself. this is the first book i ever hated. i didnt think it was possible but i hated a book.

Joey W. Hill proves herself to be a master storyteller in 'A Mermaid's Kiss'. Her lyrical prose is nothing short of magical in it's ability to be both superbly dark and richly erotic while retaining it's fairy tale essence. As a long time fan of the Disney version of 'The Little Mermaid', I've also been aware that the true tale foretells a much more tragic ending whereby the mermaid doesn't marry her prince but instead perishes cursed and broken-hearted. Ms. Hill expands upon this darker original with tragedy destined to fall upon all descendants of Arianne.

Jonah, Angel and Prime Legion Commander of the Goddess, has lived a long life drenched in destruction, death, and blood. Having survived a war-torn millennia, Jonah's soul has slowly tarnished with the very darkness he's been fighting and thereby corrupting his faith and love in the Lady. After being mortally wounded in battle, Jonah plunges into the ocean with a sigh of relief; grateful that he can finally find some peace in death. His hopes are thwarted though by a brave and beautiful little mermaid.

Anna, a Daughter of Arianne and therefore doomed to tragedy, is still a woman of hope and love. Cursed with the ability to shapeshift into a human, she's lived the life as a being with no true place in the world, an outcast, but one capable of compassionate love and fierce loyalty. Unlike the female ancestors before her, Anna accepts her fate in life to live without reciprocal love while at the same time yearning for it above all else. Given her self-sacrificing nature, it is no surprise that she risks her life from the very beginning for an angel bent on his own destruction.

Despite having lived for a 1000 years, Jonah has never truly sought to understand his own soul. The consuming thoughts of war have blotted out the light of the Lady, leaving his heart to ponder and question his own existence and role in the universe. Humans, the Lady's to protect and therefore Jonah's to protect, cease to be nothing other then rats destroying everything in their path. The evil doings of humans call to the Dark Ones, thus rising the armies of angels; guarding them despite the fact that it's this very evil, festering within the human soul, that makes the Dark Ones very existence possible. Jonah is tired of fighting for those that continue to call to the Dark Ones and suffer the inevitable deaths of his sons for the guilt of their loss weighs heavily upon his conscience. He has lost all hope and all reason to fight and to exist.

Recognizing the darkness within Jonah, Anna makes the decision to help him at any cost, even her own death. She enlists the help of the seawitch, Mina, and with her guiding visions, Anna convinces Jonah to embark on a journey that will lead her further and further away from her beloved ocean.

Jonah decides to accompany Anna and her pursuit of the healing powers of a human shaman not because he wishes to eradicate the poison within him, but because he has found some measure of contentment with Anna. Jonah, though an angel, is not noble. Selfishly, he chooses to drift along on this journey with a self-sacrificing little mermaid because it relieves him of having to think beyond the now. Anna provides for him a route of escapism and monetary respite for his ugly thoughts. He truly feels that a shaman, a human no less, can not heal his rotted soul and there are several points throughout the journey where Jonah tries to drive Anna away from him and their mission. Some readers may a bit put off by Jonah's evil and the pain he inflicts upon Anna without apology. Yet, what readers must remember is that Jonah is existing in the darkest time of his life. He's the most cynical of cynics. He is a man lost and resolved to never put forth the effort to find his way back into the arms of light and love. When considering his dry well of love filled with bitterness, one can only expect him to lash out and protect his already wounded soul. Jonah no longer holds the belief of goodness and it's Anna's complete embodiment of that which he now shields himself from in any way possible without completely loosing his view of her. Instead he'll follow along with Anna because what's a week to his thousand year existence in which he can put off his own demise? It is this that makes Jonah the anti-hero, but a hero none the less.

Conversely, Anna has already conquered the blood of the past and the terms of her Fate. She stands before Jonah untainted and pure of light and love. Her hope for future love is not crushed on the weight of her predestined fate. Anna is by far the most self-sacrificing creature in Hill's world. She gives repeatedly of herself to Jonah in an unflagging hope that he'll once again see how important and how needed his is on Earth and in Heaven. Anna believes in Jonah so much that she literally gifts her heart to him in a very literal sense. By sacrificing her essence, her blood, and ultimately her heart to Jonah, she in turn gives him back his reason to be and live once again. Now that's love.

I feel it's necessary to point out that 'A Mermaid's Kiss' features a variety of sex scenes that call for an openmindness within the reader. I must admit that I was a bit skeptical about the scene involving Jonah making love to Anna in her mermaid form but Hill pulls it off with such vital realism that it just comes across as natural for the characters to experience that activity in that way. There is also very light BDSM. Not with regards to the whips and chains version but more in the way Jonah and Anna address one another. Jonah is constantly "my lord" while Anna is "little one". I interpreted this as Anna giving Jonah the respect that his Dominant position called for while her being dubbed "little one" a reminder of her submissive role. There was also the fact that Anna became aroused when Jonah demanded she do something a certain way underlying once again the D/s relationship. Again though, these were the only references to Hill's revered BDSM knowledge.

'A Mermaid's Kiss' is definitely my first favorite of 2009. It's a shining example of Ms. Hill's amazing talent and I look forward to picking up it's sequel 'A Witch's Beauty'.

Half-human, half-mermaid, kind-hearted Anna has never belonged anywhere. Shunned by mermaid society, she doesn't really blame the others for their unwillingness to befriend her when she suffers from the same curse that afflicts all of the women in her line.

When she finds an injured angel, it is that magnanimous heart that compels her to stifle the overwhelming fear wrought by his enemies and help the handsome Jonah - even when he tries to push her away.

After centuries of loss and heartache, Jonah has succumbed to a debilitating despair that threatens his very soul. Anna's innocent hopefulness stir feelings in him he thought long gone. But will her light be enough to save this war-weary angel?

Oh my. As big a fan as I am of Joey W. Hill's work, I really didn't expect A MERMAID'S KISS. In fact, I'll go on the record right now saying I believe this to be her best work yet. Fans used to her sexy brand of romance will be more than thrilled with that element in this book, but this story is so much more than that. The author has crafted a tale that inspires hope and faith along with love and romance.

Truly, A MERMAID'S KISS has a depth to it that touches the soul along with the heart, inciting the reader to embrace their own faith in a benevolent higher power.

Jonah is just heart-breaking. His despair is so intense it makes one wonder just how he will be able to find his way out of the darkness that engulfs him. Yet along the way, we see glimpses of his heart that tell us he isn't completely lost, even if he himself doesn't realize it.

Anna sees it, though. With her effervescent personality and her ability to find joy in the smallest of things, she is the perfect foil for his darkness, warming Jonah with a heart that is absolutely pure.

For a compelling story of faith and redemption infused with plenty of searing romance, pick up a copy of Joey W. Hill's A MERMAID'S KISS!

**Courtesy of Wild on Books**

Series Order:
A Mermaid's Kiss (Berkley Sensation)
A Witch's Beauty

I don't regret getting this book but it was a little slow for me. At times it would pick up then it dragged at other parts. The author would pull me in then they would lose me. I didn't like that.It was to the point that I was skeptical about going on with the series. At times I felt like giving up on the book cause it was dragging too much. I got annoyed with Anna for some reason but I also admired her courage. She seem liked a schoolgirl with a crush on a guy or a friend that doesn't really notice her the way she wants him too but she still keeps being persistent which eventually later on it was for the best. I wanted more to happen between them. More passion. Yes they had sex which was written fine but I didn't feel the connection between the two. Anna loved him for sure but Jonah the angel was somewhat distant with her throughout the book until towards the end which is understandable cause he was going through other things trying to find out his purpose but I think they could have been more passion or a connection and a little more action. There was something lacking with those two but it turned out to be a sweet book. It wasn't bad but it definitely wasn't great. It took me a little while to get through but I managed to. I was actually more interested with Mina and David. But I believe their story is in another book. I found Mina more interesting and mysterious even though she was aggressive. At one point I told myself I'm not going to read no more from this author or go on with the series but at the end it left me curious so I think I might be getting the next book and see from there. I just hope the next book has a little more action, intensity, and passion. If I do go through the whole series and if it turns out the same way, then most likely I won't read anything else from this author. If you get discourage reading my review, don't be. I say give it a shot.

I a huge fan of romance novels! I have three rules for romance books:

1. Cover must catch my eye
2. Title
3. Synopsis

All three must check off for me to be interested, and this book did just that. I've read books that have angels and all that but I never see romance books that include mermaids. I saw this book and got very interested it was my first ertoic romance novel and when came in the mail I read right away, it is a must read! It's sexy, sensual, and a little bit of action towards the end. I got the second one, A Mermaid's Ransom, on the way I'm very excited for it! DO NOT PASS THIS BOOK UP!

~Ariel~

I absolutely loved Mermaids Kiss. This story will grab your attention from the first sentence and you won't want to put it down.

Anna is an outcast mermaid with a warriors hearts, Jonah is an angel warrior in need of healing. Anna is a mermaid with unusual abilities who sees an angel plunge to earth. She decides to save him. I LOVED Mermaids Kiss - it grabbed me as a reader right away and didn't let go.

Joey Hill is so good at writing characters that work their way into your heart and that you won't forget them. The love scenes are terrific and the story is intense and compelling.

A Mermaid's Kiss is a beautiful epic love story and when I got to the end I was sorry it was over!

Some books are a treasure and "A Mermaid's Kiss", has found it's way into my chest of keepers. I read Joey W. Hill's, "The Vampire Queen's Servant", earlier this year and while it too, affected me deeply I felt spent when I finished because of the BDSM theme. I think that is the mark of an exceptional author though, one who writes books that you not only pick up again and again but also leave a lasting impression.

This story is like a symphony where the music sores exemplifying great emotion and action and then quiets during a less dramatic sequence, then reaches a crescendo through what is a dynamic heart-rendering climax. Ms. Hill has crafted a beautiful, beautiful romance here.

As Prime Legion Commander of an army of 10000 angels, Jonah is sworn to the Goddess (the deity in the novel) to protect humans from the "Dark Ones", which essentially is the evil that man lets loose and takes form. Jonah is millennia in age; he organizes his leaders and troops, trains them for battle and nurtures them like children. He has lost many of his comrades in their battle to keep humanity safe. As the story progresses we discover that the loss of Ronin, one of his lieutenants was especially painful.

The book opens with Jonah in the middle of a horrific aerial battle; he is outnumbered and loosing ground. It is a spectacular scene with swords and axes clashing, Jonah is a battled honed warrior however through an unfortunate miscalculation a Dark One severs one of his wings. Jonah plummets to earth like a meteor hitting the sea.

It is here readers are introduced to Anna a gentle tiny mermaid who is swept into the current caused by Jonah's crash into the ocean. Raised to be fearful of the strength and mythological power of angels Anna is initially hesitant to investigate the whereabouts of Jonah but after finding his severed wing she summons the courage to seek out the badly wounded angel. With the Dark Ones in pursuit and at great physical risk Anna manages to save Jonah by secluding them in a deep underwater cave.

Here is an example of Joey Hill's wonderful descriptive prose. Anna and Jonah are inside the cave, they have made love, she is sleeping and he is studying her features:

"Her features were so fine, small. He put his finger up beside the line of her nose, just to judge, and it seemed the tip of his finger would almost cap it. Her lips were a tiny bow, and despite himself, he imagined what it would be like to stretch them..."

Anna is essentially a pariah amongst the merpeople because of her parental heritage and extraordinary gifts. She is a demure delicate creature who is wise and courageous beyond her young age of 20, she has shapeshifting abilities and is very magical. She is however, very lonely having been devoid of another's touch most of her short life. Unlike many current books concerning shapeshifters, as a reader I wouldn't categorize this book as a "paranormal" story. This is a sensual, magical, romantic fantasy about two beings, one a warrior from the heavens and the other oceanic by nature, although Anna can assume human form. She also has other remarkable abilities that will surprise and thrill you if you choose to read this story.

Through a magical joining with Anna, Jonah's wing is partially healed, however he has suffered a soul deep loss and has no desire to return to his command or call for help, which is well within his limitless power. In fact, he has no desire to even leave the seclusion of the cave.

Anna seeks the help of Mina, the sea witch and a creature who possesses magical healing abilities and power. Mina is a curmudgeonly creature who battles internal demons as she is half Dark One and half mermaid. Jonah instinctively mistrusts her. However, with Anna's urging he allows Mina to examine his injured wing that fails to heal as it should. Mina casts an interesting spell on Jonah explaining to Anna that she alone must take him far inland to a human healer.

So with Dark Ones close and chasing Jonah, and Anna on a ticking clock as she can only stay in human form and away from the ocean for a specified period of time, they embark on a perilous journey of discovery and love. The love scenes in this book are sensual and I will say involve a sharing of magic that adds to their experience. Jonah isn't always gentle with Anna and because of it feels contrite, but as a result their relationship evolves resulting in a touching tenderness between them.

I could not help but think of `Lady Lyssa' from "The Vampire Queen's Servant", when I read Jonah's character in this book. After millennia of loss and fighting the Dark Ones for a human population that Jonah is not sure is worth saving, he is literally spent and so lonely. However, Anna becomes the one beacon of laughter and hope in what otherwise seems an endless existence that Jonah is ready to abandon.

Anna becomes besotted with Jonah and is willing to do whatever it takes, including sacrifice herself to help him past his grief and hopelessness so his soul and body will heal and he can return to what he was created to do.

The angels in this world are either created by the deity or are `made', meaning they were once human with a pure soul. David, a lieutenant in the army is a younger "made" angel, and is completely devoted to Jonah who has taught and nurtured him from the time he was made. Through Mina, David tracks Jonah and he along with Lucifer implore him to return to his command to prepare for an onslaught of great evil and too heal. Jonah will not acquiesce to their wishes. Lucifer fascinated me, he is not the evil "fallen angel" of myth, but in Joey Hill's world, he is the black winged guardian of Hell and a force to be reckoned with. When Lucifer and Jonah meet, there is a clash of wills and power that shakes the earth. I hope we see more of Luc in subsequent novels of the series.

I think the word "ethereal" is bandied about a great deal in literature to describe characters, too much sometimes. However, ethereal is the most appropriate way to describe Anna and Jonah, and their love story is extraordinary. I could go on and on about this book, but I don't want to say more than I should and spoil it for others who choose to read it. I laughed, I held my breath and wept while reading "A Mermaid's Kiss", and I think if you choose to read it, you will too.

Joey Hill has crafted an extraordinary world as the foundation for these beings and I cannot wait to see the stories evolve. "A Witch's Beauty", Mina and David's story is to be published in January 2009, and mine, needless to say, is on pre-order. I hope the series continues.

If you don't mind your paranormal romance on the erotic side, warrior angels and a strong tie-in to the Little mermaid fairytale make for a very original story in Joey Hill's a Mermaid's Kiss.

Mermaid Anna is a descendant of the cursed Little Mermaid who loved a human prince and made a bargain with the sea witch to pursue her attraction only to be turned to stone when the prince choose to give his love to another - but not before `making' another little mermaid to carry on her curse. Anna's ancestor's legacy gives Anna the ability shape shift and it also makes her an outcast among the highly xenophobic merefolk . Anna's destiny is to live a short and lonely life, but the day that an injured, heartsick and battle weary warrior angel falls into the sea, Anna discovers a purpose to add meaning to her tragic life. Somehow Anna finds the strength to push past her fear to hide the inhumanly beautiful Jonah from the enemy who would turn him for their own evil purposes and to accompany Jonah on a journey to help him repair his damaged soul.

I found Anna to be very sweet as the lonely Mermaid with her hopeless love for the Angel she knows she will not be able to keep, and Jonah was appealing as the angel lover whose fall into the sea was really a fall from his belief and purpose. The basic story which was very good, had some poignant moments as we come to understand Anna's destiny and the cause of Jonah's pain. It also had a surprising amount of depth as the characters sacrifice, discover their purpose and find belief and redemption. And playing the powerful damaged immortal Jonah against the almost ephermally mortal but indomitable Anna was quite effective. Overall Hill's story is charming and substantial, though a bit unevenly paced at times, with a few of the love scenes interrupting the flow instead of carrying the story forward. But this is just a nit and not a major problem, the only scene that I thought actually didn't fit into the story at all was a sexual interlude between Jonah and Anna while she was shifted into pixie form -I found it more weird than sexy but then again I didn't actually understand why Anna even had the winged pixie form in the first place.

Still even with sensual content and language being bit beyond what I generally read - since I tend to read steamy but less erotic - I enjoyed The Mermaid's Kiss. And Hill did such a good job of setting up supporting characters, angel David and half demon seawitch descendent Mina, that - series nut that I am - I will probably still be tempted to pick up the sequel, A Witch's Beauty, when it hits the shelves early next year.

This was my first Joey Hill book and I really enjoyed it. This was such a unique world to me of Angels and Mer-people that it really captured my attention learning this new world. It turns into a very sweet story that had me totally crying in the last couple chapters. The book has a lot of adult content but didn't go to over the top compared to some other erotic writers. I have actually been hesitant to read Joey Hill's Vampire Queen series as I am worried the erotic content in the Vampire series might be to over the top for me, but A Mermaid's Kiss was just right for me and I can't wait to read Mina's story next.