Review: Don't Speak by Katy Regnery

Title: Don't Speak
By: Katy Regnery
My Copy: Ebook from Publisher
The BookWhisperer's Rating: 

A fisherman’s daughter.

The governor’s son.

Two very different worlds.

In this modern retelling of The Little Mermaid, a fisherman’s daughter from an Outer Banks island untouched by time, meets the son of North Carolina’s governor at a fancy party where she’s working.

Laire, who wants so much more from life than her little island can offer, is swept away by wealthy, sophisticated Erik, who is, in turn, entranced by her naiveté and charm. The two spend a whirlwind summer together that ends on the knife-point of heartbreak and forces them to go their separate ways.

Years later, when fate leads them back to one another, they will discover the terrifying depth of the secrets they kept from each other, and learn that shattered hearts can only be healed by a love that willfully refuses to die.

Unfortunately, I am behind in my Katy Regnery books and this is the first one that I have read of her reimagined fairy tale and I believe that I am hooked on this series now.  Regnery took one of my least favorite fairy tales (DON’T JUDGE ME!) and turned it into a beautiful story with real people and real problems.  I can only imagine what she will do with my favorite.

Laire was just a sweet, innocent soul who won the heart of Erik with her beauty, her independence, and her innocence.  How Erik took to her was just pure and loving.  He was kind, caring, and took things slow with her so that she could learn what a relationship really was supposed to be like.  Sneaking in dates before or after Laire's shift, their love grew.  But since Laire was an islander, destined to never leave said island, and Erik was the governor's son, destine to rise above all, their attraction for each other was forbidden on both sides but dear me, they just couldn't help it until it all crumbled down.  Oh, and then the devastation of it all happened and I was so sad.  I was completely torn between the two characters.  I wanted to hate both for the choices they were making but I couldn’t because I adored them both.  I wanted nothing more than everything to go back to the way it was, before Ursula stepped in, before Laire's father got sick - I wanted their happiness and love for each other back in my life!

So fair warning, there is a patchy road ahead for all of you lovers out there but Regnery quickly turns it around and makes the sun shine again.  And along with the shining sun of an ending that Regnery brings us, she also gives us the wonderful story of how Laire grows into an even more independent woman on her own. 

Don’t Speak was a great retelling of an old classic!