THE MERMAID GARDEN

Rosalyn Landor’s gentle voice and flowing delivery accentuate the lush romanticism of this tale of intrigue, love, and redemption. Two disparate story lines remain unconnected throughout most of the book. The primary story, set in 1960s Italy, follows the relationship of a poor village girl, Floriana, and a wealthy man, Dante, as they struggle to overcome the social barriers that work to keep them apart. In the secondary story line, in present-day England, Clementine and her stepmother, Marina, must find a way to heal their broken relationship, aided by a mysterious stranger who hides an explosive secret. Landor’s subtle accents help bring the foreign settings to life, and her characters are both realistic and likable. A.M.R. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2011]