Misadventures and Merfolk

Misadventures and Merfolk is without a doubt one of the best books I have ever read. You are drawn in from the start and are left hoping merfolk are real or wishing you were one. This definitely needs to be made into a movie. Orlando Bloom would be the perfect Charlie. If he is unavailable, Antonio Bandaras or Johnny Depp would also be great. The market for honey would skyrocket with women everywhere making Honey Cakes. Kelly Reno is a fantastic storyteller. I can hardly wait for the sequel.

Misadventures & Merfolk is an inventive novel about a travel writer who visits the British Isles and finds a seaside town teetering on the edge of insanity. Enchanted by a local mermaid impersonater, nearly killed in a bizarre mating ritual, solicited to give an organ donation by the neighborhood church, he resolves to expose the whole truth about the bizarre town for good or ill. A wry and adventurous story of bizarre but all too human community.

When Brenden James' thoughts' on his travels around the States get turned into a book, which becomes a best seller, he never expected the sequel to be a horrible flop. Now, touring the British Isles, he is clueless as well as suffering from writers block on how to write another best selling novel which is the only way to save his writing career. After all, how much can be said about old people and sheep? When he is stranded on the Isle of Man (because his ferry sank) during the annual Mermaid Festival, suddenly, he feels the start of a story that should satisfy his publisher... The seaside village of Heather Bay has women flocking to the town to try and find their soul mates; a young girl continues the habit of dressing up like a mermaid (started by her grandmother); and all of the local fishermen seek vengeance from "Charlie the Tuna". Then there is the cranky lighthouse keeper that wrote a novel about mermaids, the Priest who wears a close pin on his nose and... AH Yes! Story Heaven... But the longer Brenden spends in this "mad" town, the more fascinated he becomes with Christine, the local mermaid and the people of the town. How can he put his satirical view on these small town people, which would cause them harm? Kelly Reno has written a fantastic novel. Besides that I adore the cover (Waterhouse is my favorite artist!) the book also includes pictures that give the story more of the "travel book" quality that Brenden is writing about. This story actually gives you the feeling of being in a small town overrun with tourist during a festival. I loved it! I haven't read too many mermaid stories, so this is one of the attractions I had to MISADVENTURES & MERFOLK. I was really happy with the "happily ever after" part of the story and found Ms Reno's merfolk fascinating. Because Brenden is a total disbeliever in merfolk, you actually are discovering the culture along with him (very interesting actually!). I really hope that there will be a sequel written about Charlie "the Tuna". Each chapter is almost its own insane event, which leaves you satisfied with the what is happening (for example the parade) and yet aching to know what will happen next. So if you have short amounts of time to read during the day this book is perfect! You can read a chapter, and then put the book down because you know what happened. However, the energy of MISADVENTURES & MERFOLK will have you picking the story back up at the first possible opportunity because you want to know what will happen next! This was so unique, and I found really enjoyable. Besides the humorous events that take place between the pages, Kelly Reno has a very different writing voice than I am used too, and I loved it. It was like watching a BBC special where everything is either insane or ...just not what it appears to be. I don't think I can recommend this book enough! I don't think anyone could be disappointed.

For a seasoned travel writer tiptoeing through sheep souvenirs in the British Isles, Brendan James lugs way too much baggage, starting with his L.A. size ego. His last book, Scorpions in my Jockstrap, slithered into the desert of garage sale books that never move. But the one before, the NY Times bestseller Screwed, Blued and Tattooed, is all Brendan needs to lure the next nameless hottie into the sack. Unfortunately, for Mister Studmuffin, the only banging going on right now is at his door: the deadline to deliver the manuscript for his third - "do or die book" - has died. So has Brendan's ability to write. Too far away to strangle the irresponsible author about to erase his job, editor Jake Hogan dispatches Brendan to Heather Bay, a tiny village (ignored by the likes of Bill Gates) on the nearby Isle of Man. It's hate at first sight for Brendan, whose hopes of sailing to Dublin to get drunk sink when he's told the ferry did the same. Impersonating a Conde Naste travel writer hoping to get a room, Brendan lands up in a leaky houseboat. Despite the stench of fish guts, TV host Fiona Cross, an old flame covering the village's Soul Mate Festival, staggers aboard to spawn. The off-the-wall locals, including a priest with a clothespin on his nose soliciting organ donations, provide colorful fodder for Brendan's blank pages. But it is Christine Hamilton, a mermaid who sells souvenirs when she's not in the tourist tank, who reels in the cocky American from his jaded sea of self-absorption. Christine, and her brother Charlie the Tuna (a Merman who seduces grannies on a nightly basis) are, Brendan discovers, for real. Smitten, Brendan must make a choice. Turn in the last chapter of a guaranteed best-selling manuscript that will destroy Heather Bay, or make an honest woman out of Christine. On the surface, Misadventures and Merfolk is a big fish story that never got away. But dive into the vibrant world that Kelly Reno has created and you will surface with a treasure chest of love, longing, loneliness and hope. M & M is a genre-bending story that swims easily in the waters of romance, adventure, fable, satire, erotica and suspense. I rate it two tridents up.

Brendan James was a successful travel writer and once best-selling author who now feels he's suffering from a severe case of writer's block. He's arrogant, obnoxious, self-centered, has been blessed with good looks, his conquests many and easily discarded with no remorse. Having asked for a ridiculous advance, he's about to blow a book deal with no manuscript to show for, thus ruining his career. Reed Press' editor, Jake Hogan, is on the verge of committing suicide himself due to his "prima Dona." As a last ditch effort, Jake suggests Brendan attend a number of events, to help spark the flow of creative juices, which are to take place on the Man of Isle, including a mermaid festival. Frustrated with the scenery and local stock Brendan attempts to catch a ferry to Dublin, but soon learns of its sinking and with no immediate way out, is forced to take shelter in Heather Bay, a small village left behind by modern technology. Trying to obtain a room for the night Brendan impersonates a reporter for a prestigious magazine. What he gets is a musty houseboat that seems a remnant from the 60's. The comical mishaps, and deranged characters of Heather Bay prompt Brendan to stay a bit longer than anticipated. He attends a "Live Underwater Mermaid Show," later meeting the exquisite creature, Christine Hamilton back in her dressing room only to be insulted. Taken by the beauty, Brendan looks for other ways to cross her path, while searching for descent material for his book. Brendan quickly discovers that these villagers are not only obsessed with their annual festivities, Merfolk, a legend, and "the curse" - that turns out to be a reality and love! But it's the antiquated villagers themselves that propel Brendan to write, and write, and write! His only fear is that they discover his true identity and the purpose for his inquisitive interviews. I found myself rooting for the village volunteer "virgin" - Michael, the Siren's Whale pub owner as he hangs from a mast anxiously waiting a mobbing by an "estrogen fueled, biological ticking bomb," of lonely women searching for love. Michael thanks God, grins, and shuts his eyes. Like Julian Wesley, Brendan's psychotic neighbor and Brendan himself, I burst with laughter when the plan went awry. Kelly Reno has created some memorable characters in Heather Bay. Misadventures & Merfolk is a comedic fantasy with a romantic twist, and being at the lowest point in your life. If you're looking for a good laugh then pick a copy, you won't regret it! Reviewed by Betsie