The Mermaid of Penperro

by Lisa Cach

Though her mother had been in the opera, Konstanze had never imagined that singing could land someone in such trouble. The disrepute of the stage was nothing compared to the danger of playing a seductress of the sea or the reckless abandon she felt while doing so. She had come to Penperro to escape her past, to find careless anonymity among the simple people of Cornwall, and her inhibitions melted away as she did.

But the Cornish were less simple than she expected, and the role she was forced to play was harder. For one thing, her siren song was more potent than she'd dreamed. It lured to her not only the agent of the crown she'd been paid to perplex, but the smuggler who'd hired her. And in his strong arms she found everything she'd been missing. Suddenly, Konstanze saw the true peril of her situation not that of losing her honor, but her heart.

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Mermaids, Paranormal Romance, Historical Fiction, Adult

391 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 28, 2001

About the author

Lisa Cach grew up in a farm near Portland, Oregon, a place she loves although she'd always trying to leave it. Wanderlust has led her to sail the Sargasso Sea, teach English in Japan, and trek the leech-infested jungles of Borneo. She has degrees in both English and psychology, two subjects that were fun to learn about but that guaranteed her low-paying jobs. Her father, she admits, may have been right about the MBA.

Lisa started to writing romances in her parents' basement during snatched moments from work. Since her writing career began her free time has become less and less as her novels become more and more popular. She's loved romance novels since Junior High School, and at least now she doesn't have to worry about getting caught reading one. Lisa married, and bought with her husband a home in Seattle, Washington. She describes her personal paradise as "...a pile of books, a plate of brownies, and the free time in which to enjoy them".

Reviews

[Susan (the other Susan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was charmed. Lisa Cach is an underrated romance writer in my view. She writes with wit and intelligence, and manages to draw me in even to plot lines I'd normally write off. This is not a tale about mermaids, btw, but about a woman posing as one to protect her community of coastal Cornwall smugglers by drawing the attention of nosy outsiders. One of them, naturally, has a throbbing euphemism. Good things happen, sweet and hot.

[Jennifer]

cute but I drifted away and DNFed.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice tale. Glorious and fun to read. =)

[★shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute. I especially like how the "lovers" were kept apart at the end not by their own stubbornness or hurt feelings, but by prison and impending death. Made for a nice change from the "I Love You But Don't Want To Admit It To You" plot device that usually keeps the romantic hero and heroine from one another

[airwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical Romance *(Regency or Georgian-era setting)*
Forbidden Love (smuggler hero vs. crown agent conflict)
Undercover Identity (Konstanze’s deceptive role as a siren)
Smuggler Romance (dangerous, morally gray hero)
Fish Out of Water (city girl in rustic Cornwall)
Sensual Awakening (Konstanze’s inhibitions melting away)
Love Triangle (if torn between smuggler and crown agent)
Coastal Setting (Cornish cliffs, sea lore, atmospheric)
Slow Burn Romance (if attraction builds amid deception)
Standalone (if not part of a series)

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

very cute story idea!

[Poetsiren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this well over 10 years ago!

Enjoyed the premise.... a nice romp!