Nichole Giles - Water so Deep

15. Water so Deep by Nichole Giles (2014)
The Water so Deep Series Book 1

Length: 269 pages 

Genre: Fantasy

Started: 22 March 2015

Finished: 2 April 2015

Where did it come from? Many thanks to Kathy at Ebooks For Review for sending me a copy of this book to read.

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 20 January 2015

Why do I have it? I like fantasy and Nichole Giles is a new author for me.

Seventeen-year-old Emma Harris feels like she is drowning on dry land. Not only is that feeling partly due to her slow recovery from a prom night assault perpetrated on her by her boyfriend; it is also beginning to encroach on Emma's life, stealthily creeping into her reality and into her routine. No one really understands what's happening to her, and as much as Emma loves her adoptive family and her friends, she wants to keep her secret to herself - for as long as she can.

For the past two years, Emma has been struggling with her evolution from human to mermaid. So far, she has been fairly successful in dealing with the various bizarre impulses, cravings and strange indentations that are suddenly appearing on her body - hiding what she can from her family, her friends, and most especially, the new guy in school, James Phelps. Yet, Emma is finding it increasingly difficult to continue her charade. The truth is beginning to come out, and even her Grandmother - who knows Emma's secret - just doesn't know how to help.

Emma's time in the ocean is spent dodging a possessive merman, and her time on land is split between caring for her fourteen-year-old brother Keith, who has special needs and squeezing in every last possible moment from her life as a human. Time is short for Emma, and as much as she tries to avoid it, she is becoming more attached to her life on land. But a normal life is something that Emma is beginning to realize she may never have.

Falling for the irresistible James is also unavoidable apparently, especially when it seems he's constantly coming to her rescue. James somehow sees through Emma's carefully constructed icy facade to the vulnerability she lives with every day. He makes her yearn for a life on land that she just can't have.

When her brother disappears on Emma's watch, James is the only person she trusts to help her save him. But even if they can save Keith, nothing can prevent Emma's return to the sea. Whether she likes it or not, Emma is changing - unable to breathe without yielding to the tide - and it's only a matter of time before she forced to surrender forever.

I absolutely loved reading this book - I really felt for Emma and the situation in which she finds herself. Despite it being a rather fantastic dilemma, I could certainly sympathize with Emma. I was also pleasantly surprised to 'meet' a character with special needs. I haven't read that many books featuring characters with disabilities - so that was refreshing. I give this book a definite A! I'm looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often