Tears Of Mermaids

A round, luminescent pearl is the simplest and most perfect gem. Columbus sought—and found—this precious jewel coveted by his Spanish sovereigns, sparking popularity throughout Europe. Fashion icons Jacqueline Kennedy, Princess Grace, and Michelle Obama cherished them, making them iconic. And designer Coco Chanel raised them to new heights, bringing pearls— fake and real—to women everywhere. In Tears of Mermaids, Stephen G. Bloom travels 30,000 miles in an effort to trace a single pearl—from the moment a diver off the coast of Australia scoops an oyster containing a single luminescent pearl from the ocean floor to the instant a woman fastens the clasp of a strand containing the same orb. Bloom chronicles the never-before-told saga of the global pearl trade by gaining access to clandestine outposts in China, the Philippines, French Polynesia and Australia. He infiltrates high-tech pearl farms guarded by gun-toting sentries, farms for pearls in rural China, and even goes backstage at Christie's for a fast and furious auction of the most expensive pearl ever sold. Teeming with rogue humor and uncanny intelligence, Tears of Mermaids weaves a nonstop detective story whose main character is the world's most enduring jewel.

Among mermaids and humans, cruelty has many faces. One secret Adelaide has kept for as long as she can remember--her love for Jonas. She is the daughter of the clan's elder; he is a bottom feeder. As Mer, they can never be together. But as humans, it might be possible.When Jonas's reckoning comes, he must go to land during the cycle of the full moon. But when the next cycle comes around, he doesn't return. Fearing what might have become of him, Adelaide follows and gains legs for herself. But living life as a human is much more difficult than she imagined. And finding Jonas is just as hard. To follow him to the underwater city, she must endure the Initiate's Trial. Her strength and resolve will be tested, if she wants to find Jonas and survive. Adelaide must prove she's more than just a mermaid princess.

Mermaids. Magic. And the mistake that could destroy the world... or cost her everything to save it. Calandra would do anything to save her people. The powerful princess has been raised to restore the Heartstone that protects their island from humans, then be exiled to the Abyss before she goes Mad and unleashes unfathomable destruction like the healer who sank Atlantis… and her mother. But tradition demands she first enslave a human man with the siren mind-bond, and her queen aunt has selected her childhood friend—the one man she’d risk a death sentence to free. When Calandra learns her mother wasn't exiled but fled to protect the first undine boy in three millennia, she's certain her brother is the solution to her problems. Until she uncovers the horrifying truth about the undines’ past and realizes if she finds him, she could start a revolution—but if she can’t, she’ll unleash an ancient evil that will tear the world apart. And if her jealous cousin and the sinister golden-eyed creature haunting her dreams have their way, she'll never get the chance to fulfill her destiny. Unless she surrenders everything… even the man she loves. And she’s running out of time. The Undine's Tear is the first book in the mind-blowing young adult epic historical fantasy series Rise of the Grigori. Packed with complex characters, lush world-building, gritty action, and impossible odds, this intricately woven tale presents mermaids like you’ve never seen them before. Join Calandra in a search for redemption that will threaten the very fabric of the universe. Buy The Undine's Tear and dive into the adventure today! “Wow. Just WOW!!” - Candace Marshall, advanced reader “I couldn’t put this book down!” - Jessica Renwick, author of The Book of Chaos “You want to read this book. It’s fantastic!” - Ellen Michelle, editor and owner of Constellate Publishing “Stunning writing, vivid descriptions, and endearing characters. Puts the epic in fantasy.” - Liz Konkel, Readers' Favorite “A colossal fantasy tale told by an expert storyteller. Spectacular.” - Ruffina Oserio, Readers' Favorite “The action never stopped… a brilliant start to a new series, superbly composed to entertain!” - Rabia Tanveer, Readers' Favorite “Don’t miss this journey into a secret world of magic, family, love and loss.” - Suzy Vadori, Award Winning Author, The Fountain Series “My favorite book of the past year!” - Kathy Brown, reader Excerpt: “You are wondering how to gain control of your powers." Calandra thought about ignoring Damon or denying it, but what was the point? This was nothing more than a dream, and the slippery logic of dreams fuzzed her will to keep her more rebellious thoughts to herself. “You know, I shouldn’t even be talking to you. An Unredeemed male. I could get in big trouble.” The corners of his mouth curved under his trim goatee. “And who will report you?” He indicated the black water around them. “Certainly not I. I exist only in your mind.” She crossed her arms and cocked her head, studying him. “Have you ever been Redeemed?” His expression became stony. “Redemption is for humans.” “Redemption is for men. To make them safe. It just happens that the only men are human.” Thinking of Osaze’s dread, she wondered again at the morality of it. Uncrossing her arms, she shifted her gaze from Damon’s face to his bronze chest. “And one of them is my friend.” “All humans should be controlled,” he replied nonchalantly, drawing nearer. “They have not the patience nor discipline to control themselves. And I am not human, yet I am male.” She looked up at him, eyes narrowed. “I can see that. What are you? I’ve never seen an undine with golden eyes.” He smiled knowingly. “Not human. But I could be your friend.” That same feeling of security and warmth from their first encounter enveloped her, as though he were projecting it from himself intentionally. She frowned, wanting to accept it and shake off her heavy heart, but not daring to trust him yet. “What do you want from me?” “I want to help you.” Damon came near enough to touch her but didn’t, pausing before her with his arms to the sides in a placating gesture. She wrapped her arms around herself and glared into the blackness beyond him. “Yeah, well, you can’t. Not unless you can tell me how to control powers that could sink an island and heal the Heartstone without going Mad.” “Little lark,” he said, amusement dripping from his voice like honey from a spoon, “that is exactly what I intend to do.” About the Author: Talena Winters is addicted to stories, tea, chocolate, yarn, and silver linings. She writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres, coaches other writers, has written several award-winning songs, and designs knitting patterns under her label My Secret Wish. Master of the ironic GIF response. She currently resides on an acreage in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, with her husband, three surviving boys, two dogs, and an assortment of farm cats. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up. Also by Talena Winters: YOUNG ADULT EPIC FANTASY: Rise of the Grigori series: The Waterboy (prequel novella) The Undine’s Tear (Book 1) The Sphinx’s Heart (Book 2) SCIENCE FICTION THRILLER: Jack Reynolds: Up in Smoke (novelette) Keywords: elemental magic, mermaids and mermen, novels based in Greek & Roman mythology, Sumerian mythology, angels and demons, Christian teen fantasy books, clean fantasy books, young adult romance, interracial romance, technology as magic, chosen one, brother and sister story, books talking about prejudice, romantic fantasy books, books set in the Regency period, historical fantasy novel, novels about prejudice and racism, dragons, sphinx, fantasy adventure, redemption arc,

The long awaited sequel to 'Exit Unicorns' opens in the autumn of 1969. Casey and Pamela Riordan have fled the erupting violence of Belfast, Northern Ireland, only to find themselves tangled in the web of political corruption that permeates South Boston. Here, a man's life can hang upon the whim of another, and neighborhood politics and organized crime are one and the same. While Pamela appears to flourish in the arena of Boston Irish society, Casey struggles to survive in a sphere where his presence has become increasingly inconvenient. Betrayed and blackmailed by friend and foe, the Riordans are forced to make desperate choices that bear heavy consequences. In the wake of tragedy, they return to Ireland and an alliance with James Kirkpatrick. It is here the bonds of love are tested - by the bloody price of rebellion, a past that is fraught with dangers of its own, friendships that carry a steep price, and a secret that threatens to tear their lives apart. Set against the backdrop of the gritty streets of Southie and the heartbreaking beauty of Ireland, 'Mermaid in a Bowl of Tears' is a tale of the invincibility of the human spirit, imbued with the passion, humor and magic inherent to the Emerald Isle.

Ember Taffee had always lived with her mother and sister in the little cottage by the sea. Her father had once lived there too, but the deep had claimed his life long ago. Still, her existence was a happy one, and Ember found joy, imagination, and respite in the sea and the trinkets it would leave for her on the sand. Each morning Ember would wander the shore searching for treasures left by the tides. Though she cherished each pretty shell she found, her favorite gifts from Neptune were the rare mermaid tears-bits of tinted glass worn smooth and lovely by ocean. To Ember, in all the world there were no jewels lovelier than mermaid tears. Yet one morning, Ember was to discover that Neptune would present her with a gift more rare than any other-something she would value far more than the shells and sea glass she collected. One morning Ember Taffee would find a living, breathing man washed up on the sand-a man who would own claim to her heart as full as Neptune himself owned claim to the seas.