cover image Shining Sea

Shining Sea

Mimi Cross. Amazon/Skyscape, $9.99 trade paper (422p) ISBN 978-1-5039-3553-2

A young woman is entranced by the power of this sea in this paranormal drama from singer-songwriter Cross (Before Goodbye). Seventeen-year-old Arion Rush moves to the coastal town of Rock Hook Harbor, Maine, with her lighthouse-keeper father, leaving her mother and sister behind to sell their San Francisco home. Arion makes new friends and is soon embroiled in an intense love triangle with brooding Bo Summers and charismatic Logan Delaine. Furthermore, she discovers that Bo and his family are sirens, mythical winged creatures associated with the sea, who survive by feeding from humans. The more Arion is drawn to Bo, the more danger she's in, especially since someone with a grudge against his family seem to be targeting her. The premise is solid, though Cross draws heavily on oft-seen paranormal romance tropes to create a similarly familiar story. Cross's songwriting experience comes across in the poetic language and descriptive passages, but the pacing and plot suffer from a tendency to fast-forward through the more mundane moments; the scene breaks and time jumps can be jarring while the continuous emotional intensity is overwhelming. Ages 12%E2%80%93up. Agent: Danielle Burby, HSG Agency. (May)