The Mermaid's Pendant by LeAnn Neal Reilly- a mini review

Synopsis from Goodreads:  Inspired by the beloved classic The Little Mermaid, THE MERMAID'S PENDANT is a modern fairy tale about growing up and discovering who you are-and what you believe in. At times lyrical, this novel is a fantastic journey filled with magic, myth, romance, and adventure. Four years after John Wilkerson claims the mermaid Tamarind for his wife, they have an idyllic marriage that depends on a talisman that she crafted on their island paradise. But Tamarind learns a painful truth: it takes more than legs to live on land and more than magic to sustain a bond. When the talisman breaks, she and John are forced to rely on themselves instead of magic. Three wise women play key roles in the young lovers' journey to mature love. Ana, Tamarind's aging mentor, casts spells and performs seductions to keep the lovers apart. Valerie, an expat jewelry maker cum fairy godmother, works her own magic to bring them together. Lucy, their widowed neighbor, grounds the couple in the realities of marriage, parenting, and family. THE MERMAID'S PENDANT is a story for anyone who has ever believed in the transforming power of love.

10 Random Things About LeAnn

Borrowed from her website

1. She wrote an opinion column for her college newspaper emulating the style of Pulitzer-winning Chicago columnist Mike Royko. Her fictional alter ego drank outrageous coffee drinks instead of hanging out in a bar conversing with Slats Grobnik.
2. She eats dark chocolate every day with a cup of tea or coffee.
3. She beat a CS professor, a CS staff programmer, and two or three CS grad students at the logic game SET. She quit while ahead.
4. Her first query letter for an illustrated fairy tale was sent when she was eight by her big brother. As she recalls, it was about a princess enchanted as a flower who waited for a prince to rescue her. Needless to say, that's when LeAnn got her first rejection.
5. She home schools three children, which explains why she's a bit dazed most of the time.
6. Her secret reading vice is romance novels. She loves YA novels, classics, and historical fiction. She is also reading her way through history to make up for her poor education.
7. Her biggest fear: public speaking. No, imagining everyone in their underwear does NOT help.
8. She's waited tables, something she thinks EVERYONE should do.
9. Biggest peeve: unflushed toilets. Biggest perpetrators of this heinous crime: her kids.
10. Her favorite authors: Shakespeare and Jane Austen. If she had only three books to take with her on a desert island, her copy of Shakespeare's complete works and a collection of Austen's novels would make the cut.

My thoughts: This is a fantastic re-telling of The Little Mermaid.  The story is a little on the long side at 572 pages so be prepared to spend a bit of time with it.  It is a story that begs to be savored and enjoyed.  Because of this, it has taken me longer to get through than I had anticipated.     I wanted to give you a taste of the story as the tour kicks off today.

The relationship between John and Tamarind is developed slowly allowing the reader to better understand the intricacies of their connection.  I am really enjoying this story and will update with a full review once I've finished it.  


Make sure you stop by and see what the other bloggers on the tour have to say about this fantastic book.


Tuesday, November 2nd:  In the Next Room
Wednesday, November 3rd:  She Is Too Fond of Books – guest post
Thursday, November 4th:  Books Like Breathing
Friday, November 5th:  Boston Book Bums
Monday, November 8th:  One Book Shy
Tuesday, November 9th:  Sophisticated Dorkiness
Wednesday, November 10th:  Book Addiction
Thursday, November 11th:  Proud Book Nerd
Friday, November 12th:  Bookworm with a View
Monday, November 15th:  carp(e) libris reviews
Tuesday, November 16th:  The Book Faery Reviews
Wednesday, November 17th:  Rundpinne
Thursday, November 16th:  Novel Whore
Monday, November 22nd:  Daydream Believer
Tuesday, November 23rd:  Life in Review

This book was provided to me as part of the TLC book tour.  The thoughts I've expressed are my honest opinions.