The Mermaid Garden

By: Santa Montefiore

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Ten-year-old Floriana is captivated by the magnificent Tuscan villa just outside her small village. She likes to spy into the gardens and imagine that one day she'll live there. When Dante, the son of the villa's powerful owner, invites her inside and shows her the enchanting Mermaid Garden, she knows that her destiny is there, with Dante. But as they grow up, their romance jeopardizes everything they hold most dear. Decades later and hundreds of miles away, a beautiful old country hotel on England's Devon coast has fallen on hard times, and its owner, Marina, advertises for an artist to stay the summer. The man she hires begins to transform the fortunes of the hotel, and her family, but why is he really there?

©2011 Santa Montefiore (P)2011 Dreamscape Media, LLC

Critic reviews

"Two stories, two generations, and two beautiful European locales are neatly gift-wrapped into one sumptuous tale of love, loss, and redemption...Luxurious and romantic depictions of scenic Tuscany and the beautiful English coast." ( Publishers Weekly)

"An absorbing plot. It is to the author’s credit that she manages to prolong the puzzle until the not-so-bitter end." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"...Montefiore excels at juxtaposing the opulent with the ordinary in delicately woven tales that seamlessly traverse borders and span decades." ( Booklist)

An enchanting and clever love story!

I admit I had to go back at first as it switched timelines quite abruptly making sure I had the same story-but I thoroughly enjoyed how everything tied together and found myself smiling and my heart warming while listening.

Enchanting!

I didn’t want the story to end. It is so beautifully written. Also, Rosalyn Landor’s performance was so delightful and enhanced the written word. I will listen to this lovely story again and again.

Love

I have read other Santa Montefiore books and enjoyed them. This one is no different as it is about true love, found, lost and found again.

Not my favorite.

This was a good story but not my favorite from this author. It dragged a bit and I just couldn't embrace the characters. Good narration.

Hard to get through

Would you try another book from Santa Montefiore and/or Rosalyn Landor?

This was my first book by SM and it wasn't my taste in a story. I thought parts of it went beyond sad, more like depressing. RL did a fabulous job as always.

What do you think your next listen will be?

Something uplifting.

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Everything. I don't think I would have finished it otherwise.

Did The Mermaid Garden inspire you to do anything?

No

A lengthy tale...but worth it in the end!

Struggled to keep going, especially as the two stories were so divergent & seemingly unrelated. Lots of detail to wade through, but a lovely story, all in all!

Best Romance novel I have ever listened to!!!

Loved it!! Very well writtened and narrated!!! Very highly recommend!!! Two stories in one!!! Amazing!!!

Story had me every second

Where does The Mermaid Garden rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

At the very top of my list! Rosalyn Landor is an excellent narrator, I've listened to other books she's narrated and she's incredibly talented.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the fact that I was "in" the story the entire time. I felt the pain and cried the tears. Ms. Montefiore wove the story together and kept me wondering what the outcome would be. A book that can draw me in that much is worth rereading again and again.

What does Rosalyn Landor bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

If I read the book instead of listening to it, I still would have thoroughly enjoyed it and felt the same emotions but Ms. Landor has an incredible skill of defining the voice of her character. Any book that Ms. Landor narrates is a bonus.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have loved to listen to it in one sitting, I'd push myself at night to listen just a little longer. It did take a bit of an emotional toll so would have to take some breaks.

Any additional comments?

I've already purchased two more of Ms. Montefiore's books and can't wait to start.

The pulling together of the plot.

This was a very imaginative plot that had me guessing until the last chapter. The characters were all well developed and the personal interactions believable.

Engrossing...

This story moved me. The author skillfully created two worlds: one in Italy in the 60's and the other in England in 2009. The scenery in both periods is lushly described and the issues that challenge the characters are not only well written, but touching and at times funny. But what I admire the most is the complexity and variety of the female characters. Each woman, not just the main character, is drawn out in a way that allows you to understand their motivation (whether you like them or not). So their beauty (or lack of it) is not the only reason you grow to care about them. This is a timeless story of love, faith and endurance.