Reviewed by Trina

BLURB:

Between Land and Sea is about a mermaid, Isabella, who gave up her tail for a human. After waking up fully human in a small town in Canada she has one year to find a man and financial security before she is fully cut off from the mermaid world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

In high school, I dabbled in poetry, but decided to wait until I had more life experiences before writing a novel. The original plan was to get a general arts degree and take a few years off to travel and write. Instead, I gave in to my practical Italian side and obtained degrees in mathematics and education.

While I experienced many satisfying moments during my teaching career, I never found the time and energy to write. In 2008, I took advantage of early retirement. Slowly, a writing practice emerged and my articles and book reviews started appearing in newspapers, magazines and online.

My debut novel, Between Land and Sea, a paranormal romance about a middle-aged mermaid, has just been released by Soul Mate Publishing.

I live and write in Guelph, Ontario.

MY REVIEW:

Between Land and Sea is Joanne Guidoccio debut novel and is a contemporary version of The Little Mermaid.

I found the story to be a fascinating take on mermaids.  In Isabella’s world there are different types of mermaids. Isabella is a “Bella”, which is perfection in beauty and brains.  When she decides to not take over her grandmother’s position in the mermaid society so she can be with a human, her grandmother tosses her out and into a body of a 52-year-old size 16 human.  It’s a shock for Isabella as she was very young and gorgeous.  Now known as Barbara Davies she has one year to get financially secure.  In the mermaid world that means find a man to support you.  And with Isabella/Barbara’s age and imperfect body that will be no easy task.

I found Between Land and Sea to be empowering for women.  There are many positive messages like: it’s never to late to change, you have the power within you to change your life, you don’t have to depend on anyone (like a man).

The Between Land and Sea is not preachy in any way though, you find Barbara stumbling through life and making the same mistakes most women do in love and work.  Barbara has the same challenges we all do plus she’s adapting to human life.  She had special powers as a mermaid but all that remains is a special “spark” of her old life; her ability to tell stories.  And it’s an ability that she hones in on and uses in a very positive way which I loved.

Barbara meets other mermaids that have given up their tail for the human world.  One of my favorite characters in the book is Kendra, also a former mermaid. She’s the owner of a “New Age” business and provides readings and insight into people’s lives and that includes Barbara but she doesn’t want to hear it. Will Barbara succeed on her own with out the help of a man?  Will she find a man to take care of her? Or will she become completely destitute and homeless? Those are her options.  You’ll have to read it to find out!!

I would love to hear more about the mermaid world and would definitely enjoy reading a prequel or sequel to Between Land and Sea.  I think Joanne is a fantastic writer, the way this story is told I can imagine a tailless mermaid wandering the frigid streets in a tiny town in Canada.  Desperately  trying to figure out her life right now as we speak.  It seriously made we want to snuggle into warm PJ’s with a  cup of cocoa while reading the book.  Considering I live in Florida and it’s December and 81 frickin degrees here, that’s pretty damn realistic writing. Brrr Canada.

Length: 253 pages

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Primary Book Format: e-format

Publisher/Imprint:  Soul Mate Publishing

Blush Quotient: Ivory

Smart Girls Rating:  4 stars

Can order it here: Amazon

Author website:  Joanne Guidoccio, Goodreads

Note: The author provided a copy to SGLSF for an honest review.