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Ebook336 pages3 hours
Alice At Heart
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
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About this ebook
Shy, charming, peculiar, and web-toed, Alice Riley has suffered for years at the hands of her dead mother's self-righteous family, while she hides a bevy of secret abilities. When Alice rescues a drowning child, her amazing talents are exposed. Alice can remain underwater for extraordinary periods of time, and she can locate submerged objects through some type of natural sonar ability. Her new fame/notoriety puts Alice in the national news, amidst allegations that she has somehow faked or manipulated the rescue for her own glory. Alice is trapped and desperate until three amazing older women arrive in her hometown. They are the regal and flamboyant Bonavendier sisters--dignified Lilith, acerbic Mara, and whimsical Pearl--of Sainte's Point Island, their ancestral home off the coast of Georgia. They've read Alice's story in the news and are convinced that she is their long-lost (and much younger) half sister, conceived in a reckless seduction their elderly father confessed to before he died.
Like Alice, the Bonavendier sisters have webbed toes and certain amazing abilities, though none of them have Alice's marked talent for finding things underwater. Alice is no oddity to them. They explain that--like them--she is descended from a mermaid.
Like Alice, the Bonavendier sisters have webbed toes and certain amazing abilities, though none of them have Alice's marked talent for finding things underwater. Alice is no oddity to them. They explain that--like them--she is descended from a mermaid.
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Reviews for Alice At Heart
Rating: 3.499999905882353 out of 5 stars
3.5/5
34 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I expected chick lit when I started Alice at Heart, but this book is far from. There's romance, sure, and the Bonavendier sisters have an eye for fashion. Even the author seems to want to advertise these women as spoiled Southern belles-- but that's just skimming the surface.While those elements are present, particularly that tone of Southern mystery and charm, there's a consistent feeling of knowing, of deep, sad wisdom, present in the novel that suits the ageless characters with their dear dignity so well that when they make grand declarations about life or invent metaphors about love, it comes off as romantic and fitting rather than saccharine or cheesy. There were a lot of moments between characters, simple moments I might have read a hundred times before, that the author reinvents and gives beautiful meaning. Smith doesn't try to burden her story with imagined misunderstandings or aimless resistance. Nothing feels contrived. In such a mystical setting, Alice and Griffin are as commonplace as anyone can be, unhappy and alone. When they meet, their connection is so sweet and simple and pure, so timeless and instantaneous and inviolate. They love each other and that's a foregone conclusion, never doubted. The conflict arises because they are enemies in the most unfortunate, tragic, unstoppable sense of the word. Unwilling, but wise.There are real, important hurdles, within and without themselves, that they have to climb, issues of trust and family. Indeed, the relationships of family are just as important in this novel, and that makes the story more real, more complete because life is about family and struggle and those other concerns. I've concentrated on emotion in this review. Smith writes that the "Water People" are all about emotion, downright vibrating with it-- and that is precisely what sets this book apart. The emotions the characters feel are natural and basic and so moving. I began the book fearing that the three aging, magical sisters would turn into Disney cheese --can you blame me?-- but each of the Bonavendiers is first and foremost a woman, with passions and dreams, and as you learn about them, you come to care for each one, as well as Alice, who brings them all together.I haven't read anything moving in a while, so this book certainly came as a surprise. I'm glad I had the opportunity. It's not my usual reading, it's not as dark, but it was well worth it. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and any fans of old-fashioned, pure romance with a touch of Southern magic and customs. Yes, there is a bit of the supernatural. It's not just a metaphor, LOL. Very sweet and uplifting. I'm looking forward to learning more about these mermaids (the different kinds too). That word smacks of Disney, but the story's never cheesy, I promise. I was between four stars and five.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Its a charming story of water people, excepting differences in our selves and others. Alice lived most of her life being hated for being different. Boys assaulted her and laughed. Her family hated her. She was told her teenage mom killed herself because of her.Alice lives alone by a lake in a cabin. Where she feels safer and more at peace swimming in the lake. Alice works at a pet store. Alice has never left her area. One day while swimming nude in the freezing water she hears a scream of child fell into the lake. Alice is aways off but swims faster than anyone believes and can hold her breath for over an hour. Rescues the child. Instead of being grateful everyone thinks she might have done it for glory, because no one believes her truth. the child grandfather is the state govenor. Alice is given award but no one really celebrates what she did.Her other side of the family just realizes by the paper who Alice is and comes to take her home with them and tells her about her family.Griff is a treasure hunter and has unbelieveable talents for finding ships and exploring them. An old world war bomb explodes in the water killing everyone else but him he hears Alice in his mind telling him to breath that he can. Griff lives but has broken legs and other wounds and comes back to his home.Alice and Griff learn together about thier families and the journeys they have gone on and what really happened and where they came from.I enjoyed the story.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Couldn't finish this book. It started out well and I was starting to get interested in Alice, but then it took too many weird turns and turned me off completely. Yuck.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This one is different than the other books I've read of hers, as it has fantasy, however, it was still good! Great even!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I enjoyed reading this book. The story about modern day mermaids was interesting and unique. I don't remember ever reading a book on the subject. The character Alice was a bit too much of a victim for me, but by the end of the book she had found herself. All the women in the book had a tragic past, I don't know why they couldn't have any happiness. But the story was well written and made me want to learn more about the characters.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I 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 really 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. I thought the endnotes by "Lilith" were a little too cutesy, but did appreciate the extra information about the Water People.