The Mermaid and the Bear

Hola Merfolk!

The Mermaid and the Bear by Ailish Sinclair is a very romantic book. It has all the things I associate with romance—from a ship to a lush green surrounding, the main character plays the harp, and the possibility for true love in a Scottish castle.

Not wanting to marry a cruel man, Isobell flees London with her brothers Jasper and Ian. They take a two week journey on a ship to Scotland. Once there in the dead of night, they climb the rocky landscape and carry their cargo through a tunnel. They aren’t sure if they are expected. Isobell has secured a job at the castle where she works in the kitchen. It’s the perfect place to meet the Laird.

But their first meeting is by the pond where Isobell takes a dip. Seeing the big, harry man, she thinks he’s a bear, and he thinks she’s a mermaid. (So, no actual mermaid character is in the story.) There are many beautiful scenes, and the writing will take you back to a fairy tale setting in 1597 that is interrupted by the times when three women were accused of witchcraft for dancing in front of the Mercat Cross and summoning the devil. Be prepared to feel emotional during some dark moments. That’s why we read, right?

The Mermaid and the Bear takes a true story and romanticizes it, making it a happier ending.

Make Waves!

Oceans of Love,

Melissa Ceseña