Book Review: Siren's Call

Siren's Call

By:  Devyn Quinn

Publisher:  Signet Eclipse

Publish Date:  August 2010

Format:  Paperback, pocketbook size, 375pgs

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Series:  1st book in A Dark Tides Novel

Recommendation:  Oh Yes! Lovely read with magic and some archaeological expedition, and Mermaids!  Lovely little romance with a wonderful story.

Book Synopsis:
There are some things that can't stay buried - even in the deep of the ocean.

As a woman with a secret, lighthouse keeper Tessa Lonike savors her solitude on the island of Little Mer, off the coast of Maine.  During a violent storm, Tessa spots a man thrashing in the ice-cold waters and dives in to save him, using her ability as a mermaid to easily pull him to shore.

When Kenneth Randall awakens on the beach, he is alone, left with the haunting memory of his beautiful flame-haired savior.  And a year later, when Kenneth meets Tessa again, he's determined not to let her slip away.  Just as the desire between them begins to burn, Tessa's archaeologist ex-lover comes back to town with a tantalizing clue to her murky heritage.

The trio travels to the Mediterranean in search of answers, and what they find there will change Tessa's life forever.  She'll have to choose between the world of her people and the call of her heart...

First Sentence:
Kenneth Randall walked along the craggy beach.

My Review and Summary:
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 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.


~~ If this sounds like a book you could enjoy, check back around on February 2 for an interview with Devyn Quinn and maybe a surprise. ;)

I purchased this book for review.


This book qualifies for my Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge, hosted by Book Chick City.