Alice at Heart

Waterlilies #1

by Deborah Smith

This special collector's edition of bestselling author Deborah Smith's first romantic fantasy novel has been called "Magical" by Romantic Times Magazine, which awarded the novel its top rating. Publishers Weekly says of the story, "love and dark secrets abound." Acclaimed fantasy author Anne Bishop calls the novel "wonderful," and Library Journal describes Alice At Heart as "a compelling, intricately plotted story of love and acceptance."

Alice At Heart is simply this: a rich, whimsical, intelligent and romantic launch for Deborah's WaterLilies series about the lives, loves, and dramas of a secret society of people endowed with supernatural traits in the water and a solemn mythology that insists they're descended from ancient (and not
stereotypical) "mermaids."

An earlier e-book edition from TimeWarner's iPublish division was published in Spring 2001; however, the BelleBooks collector's edition of Alice At Heart includes extensive new material added by the author, as well as original artwork and a classic 1920's Maxfield Parrish painting as the cover art.

With 1.5 million copies of her romantic Southern novels in print, Deborah has been named a top all-time author by Romantic Times. Her past and current titles include A Place To Call Home, On Bear Mountain, and Stone Flower Garden.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Mermaids, Magical Realism

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2001

About the author

aka Jackie Leigh
aka Della Stone
aka Leigh Bridger

Bestselling Author
Co-founder, co-publisher
Vice-president, Editor in Chief
BelleBooks, Memphis, TN

Deborah Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of A Place to Call Home, and the No. 1 Kindle Bestseller The Crossroads Cafe, A Gentle Rain and other acclaimed romantic novels portraying life and love in the modern Appalachian South. A native Georgian, Deborah is a former newspaper editor who turned to novel-writing with great success.

With more than 35 romance, women's fiction and fantasy novels to her credit, Deborah's books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide. Among her honors is a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times Magazine and a nomination for the prestigious Townsend Literary Award. In 2003 Disney optioned Sweet Hush for film. In 2008 A Gentle Rain was a finalist in Romance Writers of America's RITA awards.

For the past fifteen years Deborah has partnered with Debra Dixon to run BelleBooks, a small press originally known for southern fiction, including the Mossy Creek Hometown Series and the Sweet Tea story collections. As editor, she has worked on projects as diverse as the nonfiction Bra Talk book by three-time Oprah Winfrey guest Susan Nethero, and the In My Dreams novella by New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen.

In 2008 BelleBooks launched Bell Bridge Books, an imprint with a focus on fantasy novels and now expanded to include multi-genre fiction--mystery, suspense, thrillers, women's fiction, nonfiction and other. In 2013 BelleBooks acquired the late Linda Kichline's paranormal romance press, ImaJinn Books, and hired legendary editor Brenda Chin, formerly of Harlequin Books, as editorial director. Chin will expand the imprint to cover a diverse mix of all romance types.

Deborah's newest books are the Crossroads Cafe novellas: THE BISCUIT WITCH, THE PICKLE QUEEN, THE YARN SPINNER, and THE KITCHEN CHARMER (2014). She released a mini-short story, SAVING JONQUILS, in March 2014. A sexy romantic novella, A HARD MAN TO FIND, is scheduled for later in the month.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice Riley is a special young woman, with mysterious abilities, an affinity for water, and webbed toes. She has always been an outsider, but when she rescues a little girl from drowning, she is thrust uncomfortably into the spotlight and draws the attention of the Bonavendier sisters, who claim to be her kin. . .and mermaids. Alice moves from the insular world of Riley, Georgia, to the Bonavendier's actual island of Sainte's Point, she learns about her past, and is torn between loyalty to her new-found kin, and the charming Griffin Randolph, with a grudge against them linked to his own dark past.
I have always loved mermaids, but it can be difficult for authors to treat them in a non-cartoonish manner. In the Waterlilies series, there are actually few water people who fit the stereotypical half human, half fish mold; most walk on two (webbed) feet and live harmoniously with the "Landers" (people of the land), but possess various abilities such as breathing under water, psychic communication through singing, and great longevity. It's an original take on the merpeople legends, supplementing rather than overturning folk traditions, and the end result is a world that is easier to believe in than many fictional mermaid tales. The language is often quite lyrical, the inclusion of detail neither too sparse nor too effusive. The Bonavendiers are glamorous and eccentric (and on a totally superficial note, I really want their wardrobes!), and Alice's journey towards self-discovery fascinating to follow. This is a book that walks the line between fantasy and literary fiction, with a healthy dose of romance thrown in as well.

[Susana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer:

I read the ebook edition, so it's possible that the new edition corrects some of the issues I mention in this review.

And here it is: Another story with an interesting premise but which, in the end, falls short due to an abundance of the most clichéd paranormal traits.

As a magical realism story this had great promise... had the development been more focused on the characters, and ultimately on their interactions; instead of endless descriptions of clothes and bracelets.

Alice, as a character, was interesting to read about. And I was particularly interested in seeing her breaking the bonds to her old life.

But an author can't expect their readers to believe _and no, I'm not going to mention the more fantastical bits! _ that someone who has been basically mistreated by her family for as long as she can remember, would fall into a relationship _as magic as it was _ just like that.

Thirty four years old is a long time to have acquired some strong protective barriers against "third parties".

The what was to be the sensual elements _ and I'm far from being a prude!_ were overdone. The description of that part of their connection was basically ...

What was that? Mental connection sex? o_O

lol Between scrunching my face and just laughing at it, well you can see my reaction.

I wanted more from Alice and from the three women.

I wanted to feel real bonds between all of them. not cliché descriptions of stereotyped characters:

The older one with her wise woman role, the middle sister, the warrior, and the younger sister with her kind easy ways.

Of the three, Mara was undoubtedly the one I wanted to read and to know more about. Her relationship with C.A. could have been used to let us watch them actually interacting, and not telling us about it.

This is not my first book by this author.

It is, however, the first fantasy book by this author that I've read, and it shows.

Basically I want to say: There's a gem hidden in this story, so, delete all of this, and rewrite it once again.

And forget about the over the top drama...

Also the cover art, could use a very necessary update to our day and age...

[Lisse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the idea behind Alice at Heart - a mermaid (not the kind with the tail that we grew up hearing stories about, but the real deal with webbed toes, hair that grows about two inches a day and the ability to swim under water for immense periods of time. Oh, there's also the talking with dolphins thing and their singing to your soul bit as well) who doesn't know she is one until her sisters come and find her and show her her true self. I like the way Alice comes into her own in the book, but I felt something was lacking and I'm not sure what exactly it is. I think the characters could've been flushed out a bit more as could the story itself. Since we are delving into a world none of us knows about, I think there could have been a lot more detail given.

I think my biggest problem with the book was that it is a story about a woman coming into her own, but it seemed to happen so easily for her - or at least we didn't get much info otherwise about her struggling to find her way. I guess as someone who is also trying to find her way, I would have liked to hear more about Alice in general and what she was going through.

I give Smith credit for coming up with a great idea and I feel bad about giving the book only two stars, but it just didn't floor me like some books do. It is a nice easy read for anyone who likes fantasy, the ocean, the idea of mermaids living among us, or anyone who would like to read a book about a woman coming into her own.

[Melisande · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pour changer un peu, j’ai lu ce livre : de la romance (ouais, étrange, venant de ma part mais ça a son explication ^^) et portant sur les sirènes (très rare vu qu’en France, ça n’a pas l’air d’arriver alors qu’aux Etats Unis, ça semble être le « thème » du moment). Donc voilà, j’ai lu ce livre et je dois dire que je n’ai pas du tout été déçue. Je ne m’attendais à rien de spéciale et sachant que c’était très romance, bien qu’il y ait une partie fantastique importante, je suis assez difficile vu que ça peut très rapidement m’énerver, les : « Je t’aime, moi non plus » ça devient vite soulant, après faut voir comment c’est fait. Et là… j’ai eu une très bonne surprise. J’ai vraiment apprécié ce livre.

L’histoire ? Il s’agit d’Alice, une jeune femme de 34 ans qui n’est pas tout à fait comme les autres. Orpheline, très bonne nageuse avec des pieds palmés, elle se sent parfaitement dans l’eau, bien qu’elle ne sache pas expliquer pourquoi. Elle ignore tout de ses origines et est bien souvent mis à l’écart depuis sa tendre enfance à cause de sa différence, mais elle s’en accommode. Jusqu’au jour où, alors qu’elle nageait tranquillement, elle se rend compte qu’un homme, Griffin, est en train de se noyer et elle va lui ordonner de respirer pour qu’il puisse vivre. L’histoire aurait pu s’arrêter là, sauf qu’un peu après, elle se rend compte qu’une petite fille est en train de se noyer. Elle la sauve des eaux et finit par apprendre un peu plus tard qu’elle est la fille du gouverneur. Alice, malgré elle, va se retrouver sous les feux des projecteurs, mais au début, pas forcément dans le bon sens du terme parce que les gens pensaient qu’elle avait fait exprès de sauver cette petite fille pour y gagner quelque chose (de la reconnaissance, de l’argent, etc.) alors que ce n’était pas du tout les intentions d’Alice, qui au contraire depuis toujours cherche à se faire discrète. Suite à ça, plusieurs personnes vont être à la recherche d’Alice, d’une part, 3 mystérieuses femmes qui font parler d’elle depuis des années et de l’autre, Griffin qui va tenter de découvrir qui est cette Alice, pourquoi il l’a sauvé de la mer…

J’espère que ça vous aura mis l’eau à la bouche parce que franchement ça en vaut la peine. L’intrigue est vraiment intéressante et bien menée. Bon, en tant que romance, il est évident qu’on sait dès le début comment ça va se terminer, ou du moins une très grande partie, mais ça, c’est le propre du genre. On sait très bien ce qui va se passer au niveau de la romance propre entre Alice et Griffin, néanmoins on a quelques surprises, des rebondissements qui donnent du rythme à l’histoire. Il y a pas mal d’action, cette histoire, bien que centrée sur la romance, laisse place également à des secrets de famille qui pèse lourd et qui peuvent être la cause de nombreux problèmes et qui expliquent pourquoi les Randolph et les Bonavandier ne peuvent pas se supporter (là encore, on peut très vite imaginer en quoi, mais il y a certaines parties de l’histoire qui nous restent obscures jusqu’à la fin, donc ça laisse un peu de suspense, tout n’est pas complètement calculé).

Par ailleurs, la part fantastique, avec le fait que ce soit des sirènes (on l’apprend très vite dans l’histoire, ça n’est pas un gros spoiler) donne un intérêt nouveau et ça m’a vraiment plu. Ce ne sont pas les sirènes auxquelles on pourrait s’attendre, mais c’était quand même sympa. On n’a pas énormément de livres sur ces créatures, donc c’était un plaisir d’en avoir ici, surtout que ça sert très bien l’histoire. Après ça aurait pu être autre chose évidemment, mais ça a son intérêt et je pense que ça m’a permis d’être davantage dans l’histoire (la romance n’est vraiment pas mon truc, où jusqu’à un certain point). Je préfère de loin les histoires fantastiques, donc si dans la romance il peut y en avoir, je ne suis pas contre, bien au contraire.

L’écriture est simple mais efficace, c’est très fluide, agréable à lire et on est rapidement entrainée dans cette histoire. Le fait d’avoir le point de vue direct d’Alice, permet de se mettre à sa place, et de mieux la comprendre. On s’attache beaucoup à elle, et on suit son histoire avec plaisir. Elle est un peu perdue, désorientée et n’arrive pas à croire à ce qu’on lui raconte, mais elle va prendre sur elle et finir par ouvrir les yeux et voir quel rôle elle peut jouer dans toute cette affaire, car évidemment, il y a un but dans tout ça, mais je vous laisse découvrir quoi. La narration est triple, puisque l’on a donc à la première personne Alice, mais également à la troisième personne, celle de Griffin, et des 3 sœurs Bonavendier, sans compter des petits extraits d’un texte, souvent raconté par Lilith qui nous permet d’en savoir un peu plus sur le monde des sirènes.

Donc avec toute ces narrations, on a une vision très large de l’histoire et on se demande comment les parties peuvent se réconcilier quand on voit les soucis de chacun, les projets, secrets qui pèsent lourds et qui finalement détruits tout. Il y a de nombreux non dits, et cela fait « souffrir » la plupart des personnages. Dès qu’on commence à les comprendre et à voir ce qui a pu se passer des années auparavant, eh bien on change de point de vue sur certains personnages (comme Mara par exemple qui me sortait un peu par les yeux, elle est si froide, distante, pas attachante du tout, eh bien quand on apprend à la connaitre, on finit par changer d’avis…). Les personnages sont dans l’ensemble très attachants et tout ce que l’on souhaite c’est que ça se termine bien, qu’on ait une fin heureuse pour tout le monde, même si ça peut paraitre difficile au fur et à mesure que les révélations sont faites. Mais bon, comme je l’ai dit, c’est de la romance, il est évident que ça va bien se terminer, le tout est de voir comment.

En somme, ça a été une très bonne découverte. Je me rends compte après tout ce que je viens de dire qu’il y aurait encore plein de choses à signaler, mais après j’ai peur de spoiler, donc je vais m’abstenir là. Mais en tout cas, c’était vraiment intéressant, j’ai beaucoup aimé (comme quoi… toute la romance n’est pas à jeter lol) et qu’il en vaut la peine. Même si je ne suis pas en général fan de ce genre, je dois avouer que ça a été une très bonne surprise et je ne regrette pas du tout de l’avoir lu. Je ne peux que le conseiller aux amoureux de la romance (sans fantastique, parce que si vous attendez une histoire du genre La Confrérie de la Dague noire de Ward, passez votre chemin, ça n’est pas ça du tout) c’est vraiment de la romance de base, mais avec une petite touche fantastique qui donne un intérêt en plus. L’univers est intéressant, les personnages sont touchants, l’histoire est vraiment pas mal et bien menée. Que de bons éléments pour passer un très bon moment en lisant ce livre, donc, que demander de plus ?

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely not a book I would have picked up on my own,(It's a firstread book from goodreads giveaway)but I'm glad I did.
Alice grew up in a mountain town as a freak. Her family barely tolerated her existence, and her mother committed suicide when she was just a few days old. Then, everything changes. Alice is out swimming when she rescues a child from drowning. The amazing thing is, she was quite a distance away from the girl when she fell in, and no one should have been able to get there that fast.
Alice has always known she was different. She is an extraordinary swimmer and can stay underwater for extended periods of time. She feels at home in the water, and although she hides her abilities from everyone it doesn't stop her from swimming all the time even in frigid conditions. The cold doesn't bother her.
Griffin Randolph was orphaned when he was just 4 years old. His parents died in a boating accident, and he almost died too. The mysterious Bonavendier sisters, Lilith, Pearl and Mara rescued him. He believes that they had something to do with his parents death. There has always been a feud between the Randolphs and the Bonavendiers. He gets in an accident while exploring an old sunken ship, and he almost dies again. Suddenly, a woman appears in his head, and tells him to breathe. When he asks her name she says 'just Alice'. Thus begins their journey and their destiny. With the help of the Bonavendiers past wrongs will start to be righted and old wounds will begin to heal.
The voice that tells this story is fluid, haunting, and lyrical. It's easy to get lost in this story, and in these characters.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, I am a realistic "rater". 4-star and 5-star ratings are not easily earned from me. 3-stars means I'm glad a read the book. It was a good choice. 1-star rated books I either could not bring myself to finish, or I feel I wasted time from my life I can never recover. So, a 2-star rating, like this book, is a book that had some potential, some elements that appealed, but simply didn't fulfill that potential. I read the e-book version that was free for a time for the Kindle. I understand another version of the book has been released with enhanced and additional content. It is possible that content addresses some of the shortcomings I found in the book.

I love the premise of the Water People. Very enchanting. However, I found the character development lacking and very flat. I found it difficult to understand or even really like the characters (or hate them for that matter). Plot was OK, but seemed to get in it's own way a little. The best part of the book were the legend and explanation of the clans at the end of the book. Would like to have had this information intwined within the story itself or at least better references to them.

I didn't like this enough to read anything else by this author. Which, for me, is one of the true measures of success of the book. So, while I didn't think I wasted my time, I can't recommend this book.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay book about a girl who discovers love, her father's family and that she's a mermaid. Or rather 1/16th mermaid, but she has webbed toes and some supernatural abilities. The story was so-so, had some overused tropes and cliches. The writing varied between beautiful and purple.


There were a couple of things that bothered me about this book.
1. There's this "opens her womb to him" line. Not only is it awful, but it's used twice within ~10 pages---before these two have met.
2. The author goes out of her way to describe how rich and elegant and better than everyone these mermaids (ok, 1/16th mernaid) are. The South can be a little over the top, but it's like she never saw a woman in Chanel before. Stop fangirling. Tone it down to a reasonable level. Believe it or not, some wealthy people aren't showoffs.
3. Switching narrators is jarring and not my thing.
4. The main character goes from never been kissed (at 34!) to sex on a first date. I hate this overused fiction convention. It's not star crossed, it's just unreasonable. Give the characters some room to flirt and grow.
4. Alice and Griffin are a tad incestuous. They might not be related, but getting with your half sister's first cousin is ICKY! And ending with marriage. Vomit.

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book, Alice discovers that her extraordinary swimming abilities, her webbed toes, and the fact that she can breathe underwater, all mean that she is a half-human descendant of a mermaid. When her half-sisters come looking for her, and a mysterious man appears to her in a vision, Alice must decide if she really can believe in a new type of magical life, or if her damaged past will keep her from accepting the love of her new family.

I wanted to like this book because it's about mermaids, and I kept reading the book because of the mystery surrounding a shipwreck, but I didn't enjoy it that much.
The writing is odd and strange, and I skipped a lot of random explanations of things.

A better title for this book would be "Mermaids Having Sex", because even though there's only one sex scene that I had to skip, every character in the entire book is overly sexualized, as if everyone's primary characteristic is their sexual identity, and they have no depth beyond that. And that got boring really fast.

The only part I liked was the mystery about the shipwreck, and even that was a disappointment at the end. The plot is too straightforward, and I was looking for more complexity and depth.

[Debbie is on Storygraph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had zero expectations going into the book. I'd heard of the author before but hadn't read anything by her. I have had Waterlilies #2 on my shelf forever, so decided I should finally get around to reading the first in the series.

I liked this book. It's a very different take on mermaids, and had a very sensual, lush narration. I really liked how Alice and Griffin were both finding themselves together, and how the plot line ties into very intriguing backstories of the sisters.

Plotwise, this book was a four. But the writing seemed a bit unpolished and simplistic. And I thought the endnotes by "Lilith" were a little too cutesy, but did appreciate the extra information about the Water People.

[Lydia Presley · Rating 2 out of 5]

What an..odd book.

First, the bad things. The cover art is HORRIBLE. Seriously, I never wanted to pick up this book. It looks like something out of the 70's. Horrible, horrible cover. Also, the type is horrible. It's huge. The book should have been half as long as it was because of how big that type was.

Story-wise, this was like reading ..hm, a peaceful mystery? I guess. The characters had interesting depths and quirks to them. Their motto really made no sense and the story moved at a snails pace.

I'm being generous giving the book 2 stars, and it only gets that because the characters were interesting - but they aren't interesting enough for me to read the sequel.

[Jennifer Kronk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deborah Smith wrote one of my favorite romances ever, When Venus Fell. Alice at Heart is nothing like book. It is hard to see that they were written by the same author. Venus is an unlikely love story between two bitter, damaged and funny people. Alice is a fairy tale with a lot of romance, lyricism and passion. At some point I would like to read more in the series but I do not feel compelled to run out and get something from the library right now. If there was a new book about Venus, I would be there in a second.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book, it was just odd and very different from what I expected.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't hate it, but I wanted so much more from this. I though the concept was interesting and different from other things I have read, but the entire book was so slow I felt like I was waiting for it to ~really~ start the entire time I was reading it. I also didn't find the main character and her entire change of attitude very believable and there wasn't really anything about her I was drawn to or interested in. The author did a fairly decent job on scenery description, though, and it made me want to go back to visit Georgia. I know it doesn't sound like a big thing, but it really helped keep me reading.

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was free on Amazon (Kindle edition), which was why I downloaded it. I'm glad I didn't pay money for it. It didn't suck really terribly, but definitely lacked the depth that would have made it satisfying. I have nothing against mermaids and I like this concept, but it was wrapped in a superficial, cheesy, romance-novelish shell that made me embarassed to be reading it and glad that I was reading the Kindle version, as I'm sure the printed version would have had Fabio on the cover. (I know I know, it doesn't, I'm just saying.)

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a quick read between "heavier" novels to refresh my imagination and give me a bit of fantasy. That being said, I do like my fantasy to be a bit believable in order to really suck me in, and this delivered only some of the way. Where the story becomes far-fetched or a little dramatic I became less interested, but the story and plot was enough to carry me right to the end of the book without wanting to give up. Fun for the imagination and a different take on "mermaids" than what we grew up with.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really sweet story about a woman who discovers how extraordinary she is. She grew up with her Aunt, who, alone with the rest of the town, made her feel like an outsider. Odd Alice, they called her. Through a accidental heroic act, she discovers her half-sisters, and finds out that all her oddities are really the traits of a very old, very powerful, family.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't see what others liked about this book. It started off with an interested opening, but I lost interest pretty soon. Alice was a good character with a background that made me care about her, but what's with all the other stuff going on? And then more explicit content than I wanted to be reading. How old is Alice, anyway? I got confused and lost interest. No thanks.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. I liked it better in the beginning, when it was darker and more about two misfits finding each other. Once the Southern magnolia mermaid mythology and backstory kicked in it got a little too sweet for me - and there was less of a focus on the characters that interested me most, Alice and Griffin.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://breesabookworm.blogspot.com/

This one is different than the other books I've read of hers, as it has fantasy, however, it was still good! Great even!

[Carolyn F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet, sad, romantic book. I've heard of this author but have never read any of her work. It's always a joy to find someone good.

[Erin Tierney-Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystical fantasy spoke to my inner mermaid! Would be a perfect Beach vacation read. But reading it in a chilly Virginia January has me fantasizing about summer and the ocean.

[Nat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found it lacking in character building and storyline. Too much time spent on describing clothes and other frivolous things (I think every couple of pages someone is 'slipping out of a flowing robe' or wearing 'beautiful jewels' or something to the effect).
There was so much telling and not enough showing or feeling. I felt that I couldn't connect to any of the characters and they just magically switched how they felt from one moment to the next. Nervous and afraid and suddenly in love and trusting. Just no, that's not how things happen.
Also, Alice the narrator and Alice as seen from the other characters' eyes didn't feel like the same person to me. Her lack of logic also bothered me, as well as how her development went from being 'pathetic' to all of a sudden super confident and sensual and whatever else.
Overall just a boring read.

[Lin Stepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all Deborah Smith's novels ... but this one was a special treat. Main character Alice lives a hard life, misunderstood by the family who have raised her because of her differences and special abilities. When an unexpected event brings these abilities even more to the forefront - and into the news - Alice's sisters, the Bonavendiers, see the coverage and realize Alice, whom they thought dead, is actually alive. All the Bonavendiers are part mermaids ... so when Alice goes to live with them on the coast, she discovers an entirely different life, realizes who she is, and finds acceptance and love for the first time ... You'll love this story!!

[Citlalli · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not awful, but it's also far from excellent. The idea, at least, is fairly good.

Giant plothole #1: ugly duckling transforms by the power of... clothes and magically growing hair? Sorry, I'm not buying it.

The romance and sex scenes are not great either. The overall quality is somewhere between 13-y.o. writing fanfic for the first time and dime store romance novel.

[Dawn Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in 2 nights

[Kerri Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Finished it in a day, couldn’t put it down. Interesting take on the tales of the mermaids. Can’t wait for the next

[Rita McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story; it is about Alice who has been hiding her special talents. She rescues a child and is brought to the attention of the public. Her 3 half-sisters meet her and the story takes off!

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting fantasy book. At some parts I couldn’t put it down. At others I was bored but overall a great story of mermaids.

[Diana Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little bit fairytale, little bit of mystery, little bit of romance. I enjoyed it!

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book from the giveaway book section (First Reads) on Goodreads, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It's definitely not a book that I would have picked up on my own in the library or bookstore, but I want to give it a fair review because it is well written.

Deborah Smith certainly has technical skill and is accomplished in her craft. In order to create a modern-day, believable world where humans interact with mermaids (or "Water People" as she calls them), Smith obviously did a fair amount of research on the myths and legends of the world concerning the mythical human/beasts known as mermaids/mermen. She gathers these stories together in her book to weave together a coming-of-age novel filled with (mostly) believable characters, set in the modern South.

One of the more original themes in the novel is the idea of coming of age not as a teenager, but as an adult in one's later 30's. Both main characters find out truths about their pasts that they only now have to face, changing them forever. This creates a cleaner story line, as the characters do not also have to face the pressures of being a teenager and all that entails, and they can face their problems like adults.

Smith begins each chapter with a quote, most from one of the main characters, Lillith. At first I thought these quotes were kind of interesting, but then I flipped to the "history" section in the back, and realized that they are all pulled directly from that section. She also repeated one of them in chapter 5 and 15, which was a little silly. If you don't plan on reading the last section, I think it would be fine, but it's obviously an important part of the book. (It also hints at what the sequel will cover... hmmm...)

I can't say "Alice at Heart" is a particularly extraordinary book, nor that it showcases any genius that Smith might have. I say this because I didn't find any particular gems of "ah ha!" in it, or even feel like my life was changed by it. It doesn't delve into any pressing social issues, or at least not deeply. It's one of those books that I might pick up before a long plane ride, but not necessarily one I'll think about again after I put it down. To be fair, for the time that it was in my hands, I was engrossed, and appreciated the distraction.

"Alice at Heart" is a well written book, and I appreciate getting a copy. It's important to read outside of one's genre in order to remember there are different people, reading all different books out in the real world. Thanks, Deborah, for offering your book to us!

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by all the fantastic creatures and people of myth, and mermaids in particular have always caught my interest, with the first one's I knew about being from my beloved Peter Pan. They have been portrayed as innocents cavorting half-naked beneath the waves, vicious creatures luring men to their deaths, and every shade of possibility in between. I've read more than one variation on mermaids recently, and I really enjoyed this one.

Alice is a young women who has been isolated from the world around her because she is different. Her mother took one look at her as a newborn, and walked into the lake to drown herself. Her father has never been in the picture. Her relatives despise her. The towns people alternately mock her and fear her. And her toes are webbed.

Alice can swim like no human should be able to, withstanding cold temperatures that should give her hypothermia, and staying under water as long as she wants too. She manages to keep these abilities mostly to herself until she hears a small child drowning on the other side of the lake, and rescues her. The town can't decide if she's a hero or if she somehow how caused the incident, and Alice herself just wants to be left alone. She wasn't trying to be a hero, she was just following her instincts.

Then strange ladies show up, ladies who also have webbing between their feet, and who claim to be her kin. Alice goes with them, anything would be better than the situation she's in, and is swept up into a world that both feels incredibly right, but intellectually she knows can't be real. Then again, she shouldn't be real either.

I give this book four stars. I was swept along with the story as Alice begins to discover who she is, the heritage she can't deny, and falls in love. There's a bit of psychological thriller mixed in with all of this, and more than a few laughs. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!