The Mermaid's Song [Mass Market Paperback]

Marianne Willman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mermaid's Song | Publication Date: July 15, 1997

The Bargain

Falsely implicated in a terrible crime and desperate to flee England, young Flora O'Donnell strikes a desperate deal with mysterious and aloof Blaise Cheney. She will go to France-his wife in name only-to usher his ward, Johanna, into society.

The Enchantment

But at Chateau Morgaine, Blaise's ancestral home on rocky Breton coast, Flora finds herself swept into a different world. An ancient enchantment seems to possess the chateau, and the townsfolk whisper of mermaids and faerie spells. But they also tell darker tales-of a curse that has claimed the lives of Cheney brides for centuries.

The Mermaid's Song

Now, helpless against a growing desire for her mysterious husband, Flora finds herself drawn into a realm where secrets pas and present cast a shadow over her heart. What unspeakable tragedy haunts Chateau Morgaine? For only when she releases the dark secrets locked within its rocky walls will she be free to love at last...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A lyrically woven tale that glows with romance, pulses with suspense and shimmers with magic." --Nora Roberts

"It's impossible to resist the lure of The Mermaid's Song. From beginning to end, this love story, entwined with passion, intrigue, and mystical charms, held me in its spell." --Julie Garwood

About the Author

Best-selling author Marianne Willman, a former Critical Care Head Nurse, lives in the Great Lakes area with her husband, Ky. She is a member of Novelists, Inc. and Western Writers of America and has served on the Board of Directors of Romance Writers of America.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (July 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312962568
• ISBN-13: 978-0312962562
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 3.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,891,179 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Standard Gothic Romance, October 12, 2007

By 

J. Glenn (South Coast, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Mermaid's Song (Mass Market Paperback)

This story is a very standard, practically by-the-numbers, gothic romance. It is rather ironic, because the author keeps calling attention to the fact that the heroine is a fan of gothic romance novels, invoking parodies like Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, yet she never once turns convention on its ear. Elements of Rebecca and Jane Eyre are also present, but unlike those novels there isn't much of an emotional payoff here.

I found the book to be poorly paced and many themes, especially potentially engaging subplots and seemingly supernatural themes, are introduced but never developed or explored, while many rather tiresome ones (and supporting characters) are focused on fully.

(Lastly, I bought this book because I was looking mermaid stories. This book had very little to do with mermaids.)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Enchanting Read!, January 4, 2002

By 

Sophie (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mermaid's Song (Mass Market Paperback)

"The Mermaid's Song" by Marianne Willman is a delightful tale that will enchant readers everywhere. Willman has a wonderful lyrical style of writing that is sure to have reviewers raving.
Teaching at a girl's academy, Flora O'Donnell has escaped her past and her true identity. She has always felt a connection with one of her students, Johanna Cheney, who has been all alone ever since she came to the academy. One day, Johanna's uncle and legal guardian, Blaise Cheney, shows up for a visit and soon discovers how he has neglected his niece, who is fast becoming a young woman. He plans to take Johanna with him to his home in France where she can make her debut into society. Blaise then makes a very unorthodox offer to Flora, asking her to become his wife in name only for a two year period, during which time she will act as Johanna's mother. Seeing it as a means of escape from her past in England, which appears to be closing in on her, Flora accepts, and thus begins her journey.
But neither Blaise nor Flora counted on falling in love. In Blaise's chateau, Flora finds out about the terrible curse that has plagued the Cheneys for generations, and must deal with Blaise's interfering maiden aunt and a rather unfriendly maid. But her love for Blaise knows no boundaries, and she finds herself swept away by her dashing new husband.
But Blaise is hiding a shocking secret regarding the true reason for his deal with Flora. Fate takes matters into its own hands before Blaise can explain things to Flora, and consequently she is devastated when she discovers the truth. Will Flora be able to forgive Blaise for his betrayal? And what other, perhaps more mystical forces are at work here?
You'll have to read the book to find out, and it is most definitely worth the read. "The Mermaid's Song" is an outstanding historical romance, with a healthy dose of the fanciful and a touch of suspense added to the mix. This book had me captivated from start to finish - the main characters are complex and will win your heart, and the descriptive passages of the magnificent settings are intricately and expertly woven. I highly recommend this book!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars bookworm, April 12, 2006

By 

Lucinda Shearman "bookworm" (missouri, usa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Mermaid's Song (Mass Market Paperback)

this was one of my very first romance novels and let me tell ya it was a good sampling. i've always been a pushover for such things and from the beginning i was hooked. Flora and Blaise were two very different characters but seemed to fill one anothers empties. a family curse was also very thrilling and how Garwood weaved those mysterious scenes into it was even better. throughout the whole entire thing i stayed up till midnight trying to find the perfect place to stop. it just keeps you begging for more. i highly recomend this for any romance reader and for anyone who loves a little mystery.