Monday, August 25, 2014

The Mermaid Garden - Teaser Tuesday and First Chapter/First Paragraph

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The Mermaid Garden by Santa Montefiore is such an engrossing book! Montefiore tells two stories--one set in Tuscany in 1966, the other in Devon, England, in 2009--and they eventually come together in the end. The author's lovely descriptions make the scenes come alive (you can tell that from the beginning paragraph), and the characters have depth, each one with a unique voice. I believe this is the first book I've read where the author let me inside each character's head, so I had an idea where everyone was coming from. You'd think that would be confusing, but Montefiore handled it well. I recommend this book as a good read for anyone who enjoys a story with substance that spans decades.  


Beginning:
Prologue, Tuscany, 1966
The little girl stood outside the imposing black gates of Villa La Magdalena and peered up the drive. A long avenue of cypresses cut straight through the grounds, climaxing at the end in a tantalizing glimpse of a primrose-yellow palazzo. La Magdalena sat with the dignity and poise of a grand empress. Her tall, shuttered windows were an elegant teal green, her crown a decorative balustrade built along the top of the facade, her walls as resplendent as silk; she belonged to a world as enchanting and inaccessible as fairy tales.

Teaser (from Page 70 of trade paperback):
She was always neatly dressed, with crisp white shirts and slacks, or pretty dresses in summer, never jeans. Being short, she always wore heels to give her height. He felt paternal towards her, a feeling he relished, having never married or fathered children.

Genre: Women's Fiction / Saga
Length: 418 Pages (Trade Paperback)
Amazon Link: The Mermaid Garden
More From Santa Montefiore: Amazon Author Page


  

Share the first paragraph (or a few) from a book you are reading. Here's the link: Bibliophile By The Sea





Post two sentences from somewhere in a book you're reading. No spoilers, please! Here's the link: Should Be Reading

15 comments:

  1. I love books that have two time lines running through them. This sounds interesting!

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  2. I would keep reading because I love sagas and I am wondering how she will tie in the two different eras and locations and make sense of it all. Thank you for sharing a new to me title.

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  3. The descriptions are lovely. I normally like stories that are told from 2 different points of view, or two different time periods. I will be adding this one to my list. Thanks.

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  4. I'm not sure this one is for me, but I hope you enjoy it!
    Thanks for stopping by today!

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  5. This one sounds lovely. The Villa could even be a character here. Gorgeous cover on this book, too. I like the time periods, from the sixties to the present. Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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  6. Another book that sounds so good. I would definitely keep reading.

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  7. This sounds like an amazing read. I love when an author includes a home that is a character in its own right.

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  8. That's a lovely tease. I may have to check this out.

    My teaser is at http://suziequint.blogspot.com/2014/08/tuesday-teaser-sacrificial-magic.html

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  9. Interesting.

    My teaser this week is from a thriller similar to Dan Brown's offerings:

    http://pdworkman.com/excerpt-from-wanted-teasertuesday/

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  10. I've enjoyed her books and would love to read this one with the two intertwining stories.
    Harvee
    Book Dilettante

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  11. I'd read more Sandy - good intro and the cover is lovely.

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  12. A lovely description. Don't know if its a 'me' kind of book, but very nice beginning.
    My Teasers.

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  13. Ha! I can relate to the being short and always wears heels! Laugh! Beautiful cover!

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