Siren's Call: A Dark Tides Novel

This was not the read I was expecting. And while I enjoyed it, for what it was, I'm not surprised the rating hovers around 3 rather than being higher, given genre expectations. While this starts off as a paranormal romance, and while romance is certainly a real part of the story, the novel diverges into being more focused on suspense/adventure, with the romance taking more of a background role. On some level, it's closer to what I'd expect from romantic suspense, but even then, the romance element of the story is so quickly taken for granted, it's not a good fit. Call it a mish-mash of romance and adventure, if anything.

On the whole, I did really enjoy the writing and the characters as well as the world-building. I expect that I will go show more on to read the next book in the series and other work by Quinn--but I won't pick these particular books up when I'm specifically in the mood for romance. show less

Lost in the chaos of the murder of his wife, the hero makes the rash and impulsive attempt to drown himself in the lake only to instantly regret this decision when he's actually dying. Luckily he is saved by what he considered a benevolent being who he remembers breathing air back into his lungs-an angel without wings. Lots of pills and therapy tried to make him realize that he had been lost in delirium- that the woman wasn't real. Yet in his soul he knows he didn't imagine her and now he's returned to the island to find out the truth once and for all. The heroine is not an easy woman to love and in fact is readily open to the fact that she is quite simply a bitch. From a young age she was forced to care for herself and her two younger show more sisters when their parents died, taking care of the crumbling home and also dealing with being a mermaid without any training. As such, she is snappish and antisocial, especially when it comes to men. Her ex fiancé dumped her the night before their wedding and she's never recovered. Then the hero returns. She's shocked and afraid of the feelings he awakens in her. Feelings of not just lust but of something deeper as well. But that's not something she wants and though that first night they trade secrets (he with revealing the death of his wife and his grief and torment-she with the fact that she's a mermaid and not entirely human) and sleep together-the next morning she is determined to but that distance between them. The hero, calm and easy going( perhaps too easy going) makes his intentions of commitment known but he doesn't press her when she becomes skittish around him. When the ex fiancé returns with news of a discovery he's made in finding the origins of her Mer people, the heroine is desperate to learn about herself and her people. With the hero of the hero's money, she, the hero and the ex embark on a journey to find the gateway to all the answers she's every sot. But when it comes to light the evil that lurks within and the plot to see the Mers restored to power and the humans enslaved, she must stop the end of the world. It's then that she realizes how foolish she's been to take the hero for granted for he is the only one she can trust and rely on, a man willing to sacrifice everything for her. I found the heroine to be extremely frustrating and the hero to be a bit of a pussy. She was too stubborn, too full of pride to see how selfish and stupid she's being. And the hero was too nice, too selfless. I wanted him to grow a back bone and though there are times when he puts his foot down, I guess I like it when a man takes charge rather than letting the heroine dictate their relationship. And I wanted the heroine to wake up and smell the roses-I mean how the hell can you kiss your ex fiancé, the man who betrayed you when the hero is offering you happiness on a platter? It's craziness!! I liked the premise of the story but I found it dragged it butt big time and only really got interesting when they went through the portal to the ancient Mer world. As such, I can't say I loved this story, or even really liked it but it was okay. I think my dislike of the characters put me off as I didn't think there was anything wrong about the plot or the writing style. show less

We learn quickly in the Prologue of Kenneth's world shattering loss that drives him to suicide, then the secret Tessa keeps while she lives on the small island owned by her family, with the lighthouse watching over the Bay. Tessa uses this secret to save Kenneth's life. Ten months later the book starts with Kenneth who dreads thinking of that dark day, but having a feeling he was not alone in the waters that day. That he felt a feminine presence with him. He returns to the island he washed up hoping to talk to the woman how found him in hopes she might add some pieces to the day. Tessa is a grumpy, beautiful, young woman who lives by herself and is very anxious to turn Kenneth away before he remembers anything. Yet she finds she is very show more attracted to him. Kenneth finds himself offering to help Tessa, for free, to maintain the house and lighthouse which are in desperate need of tender loving care. Tessa finds she has no choice but to let him with the ultimatum her sisters give her. As the two are attracted to each other, the other doesn't want to push to far or fast. Then when things look to be going steamy for them, Tessa's ex-fiancée shows up with news of possible mermaid archaeological history. Tessa, Kenneth, and Jake make a journey to be the first to find these artifacts, only to find so much more than expected.

I've never really read anything with Mermaids before and loved the mixture of romance, magic, and the adventurous story of the aquatic archaeological discoveries.

I felt the story was well written. Devyn leaves indications as to explain the quick attraction between Kenneth and Tessa. And gives you the time you need to want these two together and enjoy the characters they are. Then just as you start to feel comfortable with them Devyn throws a wrench in the works and the characters have to react. I have to say the characters really stayed true to their persons. Even through there where times I wanted Kenneth to do something more or different, he did what he should do and held to his true self. I really liked that and loved Kenneth for it. He is definitely a keeper in all women's books. I enjoyed the romance with Kenneth and Tessa and the challenges Kenneth and even Tessa had to over come.

Yes, you have your romance and love story here but the story is much more than that. The next part of the story was the adventure to find the artifacts of the lost Mermaid people and city. The adventure they go on in the Mediterranean Sea is fun and pecked my curiosity. I enjoyed the adventure in finding the unexpected and the troubles that came from it. So much to learn and see with the Mermaid finds here.

And the magic! The mermaids are full of wonderful unknown unexpected magic. Tessa has a lot to learn. The story ended with an ending and with a hint of what may be to come in the future books.

I will definitely be looking for Siren's Surrender to be released February 1, 2011. show less