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andrea_author's review against another edition
5.0
When hopeful singer Arielle rescues a handsome stranger from a boat accident, she discovers he’s Prince Eriko. Invited to the palace in gratitude, Arielle’s irresistible chemistry with the prince deepens. But with Riko obligated to another royal, can their love overcome the divide between them?
This adorable “Little Mermaid” retelling features a sweet and upbeat heroine, and an aloof but kind hero. It’s a heartwarming royal romance that left me smiling.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This adorable “Little Mermaid” retelling features a sweet and upbeat heroine, and an aloof but kind hero. It’s a heartwarming royal romance that left me smiling.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
scoutmomskf's review
5.0
Good book. I loved the tie-in to "The Little Mermaid," right down to their names and the title. It was a sweet story that kept me hooked from start to finish.
Arielle is an aspiring singer who left her overachieving family in Chicago to pursue her dream. Unfortunately, the band split up in Spain, leaving her stranded and jobless. She found a job at a local resort entertaining visiting children. As the story opens, the red-headed Arielle is dressed as a mermaid while reading to the children. When a storm pops up, she sees a man clinging to a float ring in the surf and rushes to his aid.
Prince Erikol is the heir to the throne of his small kingdom. He is under much pressure to marry, and his parents are pushing one particular princess at him. In a desperate attempt to escape for a while, he takes his sailboat out for a spin and some peace. When the sunny day suddenly turns stormy, Riko finds himself tossed overboard and in danger of drowning. He doesn't expect to be rescued by a beautiful mermaid.
I loved watching Arielle's rescue of Riko. She is determined to save him and refuses to give up. Losing her job over it put her in the tough situation of possibly having to return home with her dream unfulfilled. I enjoyed seeing Riko show up to thank her for saving his life - her reaction was priceless. Riko was bemused by his desire to help her, and I liked how he found her a job as a nanny to his niece and nephew.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Riko and Arielle develop. The connection between them was instantaneous, making them comfortable with each other despite their differences. I liked how Riko behaved uncharacteristically by finding excuses to be with her. Arielle enjoys her time with Riko but tries to protect her heart, knowing they have no future. Matters become complicated when the princess arrives for a visit, and the pressure on Riko resumes. I ached for Riko, who, torn between duty to family and country and his love for Arielle, felt powerless to pursue his heart's desire, and for Arielle, who had already lost her heart to him.
I cheered for Arielle when she had the opportunity to make her dream come true, but I also ached for her as it took her away from Riko. I loved seeing Riko get timely advice from his twin brother, Manny, and its effect on him. I liked the solution Riko found to his issues with his parents. I loved the sweet and emotional reunion between Riko and Arielle. The epilogue was terrific, and I liked seeing where they stood two years later. I especially enjoyed the twist involving Arielle's music.
The secondary characters were great. My favorites were Riko's brother, Manny, and his family. I liked Manny's close relationship with Riko. Manny's wife was sweet, and I liked how quickly she became friends with Arielle while the two children were adorable. Riko's parents had their good and bad moments, but they turned out to be okay. Arielle's sisters were supportive. I especially enjoyed Maysie's reaction to Riko's arrival at the end. However, I really wanted to see Arielle's judgmental father's response to his daughter's future.
Arielle is an aspiring singer who left her overachieving family in Chicago to pursue her dream. Unfortunately, the band split up in Spain, leaving her stranded and jobless. She found a job at a local resort entertaining visiting children. As the story opens, the red-headed Arielle is dressed as a mermaid while reading to the children. When a storm pops up, she sees a man clinging to a float ring in the surf and rushes to his aid.
Prince Erikol is the heir to the throne of his small kingdom. He is under much pressure to marry, and his parents are pushing one particular princess at him. In a desperate attempt to escape for a while, he takes his sailboat out for a spin and some peace. When the sunny day suddenly turns stormy, Riko finds himself tossed overboard and in danger of drowning. He doesn't expect to be rescued by a beautiful mermaid.
I loved watching Arielle's rescue of Riko. She is determined to save him and refuses to give up. Losing her job over it put her in the tough situation of possibly having to return home with her dream unfulfilled. I enjoyed seeing Riko show up to thank her for saving his life - her reaction was priceless. Riko was bemused by his desire to help her, and I liked how he found her a job as a nanny to his niece and nephew.
I enjoyed watching the relationship between Riko and Arielle develop. The connection between them was instantaneous, making them comfortable with each other despite their differences. I liked how Riko behaved uncharacteristically by finding excuses to be with her. Arielle enjoys her time with Riko but tries to protect her heart, knowing they have no future. Matters become complicated when the princess arrives for a visit, and the pressure on Riko resumes. I ached for Riko, who, torn between duty to family and country and his love for Arielle, felt powerless to pursue his heart's desire, and for Arielle, who had already lost her heart to him.
I cheered for Arielle when she had the opportunity to make her dream come true, but I also ached for her as it took her away from Riko. I loved seeing Riko get timely advice from his twin brother, Manny, and its effect on him. I liked the solution Riko found to his issues with his parents. I loved the sweet and emotional reunion between Riko and Arielle. The epilogue was terrific, and I liked seeing where they stood two years later. I especially enjoyed the twist involving Arielle's music.
The secondary characters were great. My favorites were Riko's brother, Manny, and his family. I liked Manny's close relationship with Riko. Manny's wife was sweet, and I liked how quickly she became friends with Arielle while the two children were adorable. Riko's parents had their good and bad moments, but they turned out to be okay. Arielle's sisters were supportive. I especially enjoyed Maysie's reaction to Riko's arrival at the end. However, I really wanted to see Arielle's judgmental father's response to his daughter's future.
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