Description:
When Cora’s mother whisks the family away for the summer, Cora must decide between forging her future in the glimmering world of second homes where her parents belong, or getting lost in the bewitching world of the locals and the mystery surrounding a lonely old woman who claims to be a selkie creature—and who probably needs Cora more than anyone else.
Through the fantastical tales and anguished stories of the batty Mrs. O’Leary, as well as the company of a particularly gorgeous local boy called Ronan, Cora finds an escape from the reality of planning her life after high school. But will it come at the cost of alienating Cora’s mother, who struggles with her own tragic memories?
As the summer wanes, it becomes apparent that Ronan just may hold the answer to Mrs. O’Leary’s tragic past—and Cora’s future.
Last summer ended in disaster for Cora. She had scurried home, terrified of the secrets she’d uncovered and afraid to be honest with the one person who most deserved it—Rory. But after a grueling year of trying desperately (and unsuccessfully) not to think about what she left behind, Cora finds a surprise on her doorstep.
Rory's little brother, Aidan, has discovered the truth and recruits Cora, along with her best friend Rosie, to go with him to Ireland to explain their selkie heritage to Rory.
Desperate to get back the love she couldn't face last summer, Cora agrees to go. But will Rory want to see her after the way she abandoned him?
On a magical dash through the west of Ireland, following false leads and learning the all-but-forgotten myths of that wild land, Cora will learn even more about the O’Leary family than she ever imagined. And, maybe, just a little bit about herself.
The magic is back in the second Hearts Out of Water novel!
EXCERPT
“Do you know about the Merrow, dearie?”
“I don’t think so,” I said.
She nodded and seemed to deliberate whether to go on. I knew she would. She always did. “The Irish told each other stories about a sea creature much like the mermaid. Only she’s called the Merrow.” She readjusted the scarf on her head as she nodded knowingly. “They’re sweet, sweet creatures. Capable of real love. Well, human love—if that can be said to be real love.”
“Do you believe in them?” I asked skeptically.
The old woman’s eyes remained fixed on a spot on the horizon. I followed her gaze. There was nothing but boats and seagulls, the normal fare of the ocean. She finally seemed to find herself and her eyes continued to rove.
“They say that love cannot overcome nature,” she finally said. “Supposedly the nature of the Merrow always overcomes whatever love they held for their human man. She will always go back to her people under the sea.”
Sounded to me like a cruel comment on female nature made by a bitter man.
“And the merman, oh, there are stories of mermen. Terrible stories. The mermen have cages at the bottom of the ocean in which they keep the souls of our drowned sailors and fishermen.”
A chill ran through me despite my unwillingness to become involved in the story. The pale, bloated body at the pier drifted to the forefront of my mind. Souls, chained to the bottom of the ocean, fighting uselessly, perpetually against their chains, appeared in my imagination. The soul had long been gone from that bloated body when I found it.
I only then became aware of the old woman looking at me. Her eyes were narrowed and she looked at me with an intensity that I had previously only seen her use on the ocean. I felt my cheeks redden.
“They play music, too,” she said. “Do you ever hear music under the water?”
I’ve never been under the water. I shook my head.
The old woman sighed. “I suppose one must listen for it, then. I haven’t listened in a very long time. A very, very … very long time.”
Learning to Swim is free until 16th of October
About the author:
Annie Cosby reads and writes in Galway, Ireland, where she lives with her boyfriend and a whole lot of seagulls.
Learning to Swim is the first book in her USA Today-recommended Hearts Out of Water series, and the second book releases Nov. 30.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually editing for awesome clients like Anna Katmore and Month9Books/Swoon Romance. And she loves to hear from you!
Author's Giveaway
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I learned to swim when I was 4 or 5 in a lake in upstate NY....with fish and leeches. EEEWWW!
ReplyDeletei still can't swim and never learn swim too...i am too afraid of dark water...
ReplyDeletethx u for the chance ..
Thanks so much for hosting! Awesome blog! :)
ReplyDeleteI learned to swim when I was 6 years old, because I was afraid of water haha :D
ReplyDeleteI learn to swim in college because it is part of the curriculum.
ReplyDeleteHere in the Netherlands it is mandatory that children learn swimming early on.
ReplyDeleteIF your parents don't send you for lessons, you will have mandatory lessons when you are around 5 and 6.
I think I was around 4 or 5 when started taking swimming lessons.