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Alice at Heart (Waterlilies #1)

by Deborah Smith (Goodreads Author)

3.53 of 5 stars 3.53 · rating details · 515 ratings · 114 reviews

This special collector's edition of bestselling author Deborah Smith's first romantic fantasy novel has been called "Magical" by Romantic Times Magazine, which awarded the novel its top rating. Publishers Weekly says of the story, "love and dark secrets abound." Acclaimed fantasy author Anne Bishop calls the novel "wonderful," and Library Journal describes Alice At Heart a...more

Paperback, 320 pages

Published January 1st 2002 by BelleBooks (first published January 2001)

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Oct 12, 2008 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of magical realism, romantic fantasy

Alice Riley is a special young woman, with mysterious abilities, an affinity for water, and webbed toes. She has always been an outsider, but when she rescues a little girl from drowning, she is thrust uncomfortably into the spotlight and draws the attention of the Bonavendier sisters, who claim to be her kin. . .and mermaids. Alice moves from the insular world of Riley, Georgia, to the Bonavendier's actual island of Sainte's Point, she learns about her past, and is torn between loyalty to her n...more

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Jan 27, 2011 Debbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, 2011

I had zero expectations going into the book. I'd heard of the author before but hadn't read anything by her. I have had Waterlilies #2 on my shelf forever, so decided I should finally get around to reading the first in the series.

I liked this book. It's a very different take on mermaids, and had a very sensual, lush narration. I really liked how Alice and Griffin were both finding themselves together, and how the plot line ties into very intriguing backstories of the sisters.

Plotwise, this book...more

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Dec 11, 2008 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read this one fast enough that it never even made it into my "currently-reading" list. I thought it would take a few days, but the type was set somewhat larger than I'm used to, so the pages went by pretty fast.

It was a magical sort of story - mermaids exist! Only not in the storybook fantasy (Disney) sort of way they're typically portrayed. A young girl with strange abilities feels like a freak and an outcast, until one day her relatives find her, and she must go on a journey of self-discover...more

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Oct 22, 2012 Cheryl rated it 2 of 5 stars

First, I am a realistic "rater". 4-star and 5-star ratings are not easily earned from me. 3-stars means I'm glad a read the book. It was a good choice. 1-star rated books I either could not bring myself to finish, or I feel I wasted time from my life I can never recover. So, a 2-star rating, like this book, is a book that had some potential, some elements that appealed, but simply didn't fulfill that potential. I read the e-book version that was free for a time for the Kindle. I understand anoth...more

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May 02, 2012 Ruthie rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have always been fascinated by all the fantastic creatures and people of myth, and mermaids in particular have always caught my interest, with the first one's I knew about being from my beloved Peter Pan. They have been portrayed as innocents cavorting half-naked beneath the waves, vicious creatures luring men to their deaths, and every shade of possibility in between. I've read more than one variation on mermaids recently, and I really enjoyed this one.

Alice is a young women who has been iso...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Okay book about a girl who discovers love, her father's family and that she's a mermaid. Or rather 1/16th mermaid, but she has webbed toes and some supernatural abilities. The story was so-so, had some overused tropes and cliches. The writing varied between beautiful and purple.

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Jan 22, 2012 Melisande rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pour changer un peu, j’ai lu ce livre : de la romance (ouais, étrange, venant de ma part mais ça a son explication ^^) et portant sur les sirènes (très rare vu qu’en France, ça n’a pas l’air d’arriver alors qu’aux Etats Unis, ça semble être le « thème » du moment). Donc voilà, j’ai lu ce livre et je dois dire que je n’ai pas du tout été déçue. Je ne m’attendais à rien de spéciale et sachant que c’était très romance, bien qu’il y ait une partie fantastique importante, je suis assez difficile vu q...more Pour changer un peu, j’ai lu ce livre : de la romance (ouais, étrange, venant de ma part mais ça a son explication ^^) et portant sur les sirènes (très rare vu qu’en France, ça n’a pas l’air d’arriver alors qu’aux Etats Unis, ça semble être le « thème » du moment). Donc voilà, j’ai lu ce livre et je dois dire que je n’ai pas du tout été déçue. Je ne m’attendais à rien de spéciale et sachant que c’était très romance, bien qu’il y ait une partie fantastique importante, je suis assez difficile vu que ça peut très rapidement m’énerver, les : « Je t’aime, moi non plus » ça devient vite soulant, après faut voir comment c’est fait. Et là… j’ai eu une très bonne surprise. J’ai vraiment apprécié ce livre.

L’histoire ? Il s’agit d’Alice, une jeune femme de 34 ans qui n’est pas tout à fait comme les autres. Orpheline, très bonne nageuse avec des pieds palmés, elle se sent parfaitement dans l’eau, bien qu’elle ne sache pas expliquer pourquoi. Elle ignore tout de ses origines et est bien souvent mis à l’écart depuis sa tendre enfance à cause de sa différence, mais elle s’en accommode. Jusqu’au jour où, alors qu’elle nageait tranquillement, elle se rend compte qu’un homme, Griffin, est en train de se noyer et elle va lui ordonner de respirer pour qu’il puisse vivre. L’histoire aurait pu s’arrêter là, sauf qu’un peu après, elle se rend compte qu’une petite fille est en train de se noyer. Elle la sauve des eaux et finit par apprendre un peu plus tard qu’elle est la fille du gouverneur. Alice, malgré elle, va se retrouver sous les feux des projecteurs, mais au début, pas forcément dans le bon sens du terme parce que les gens pensaient qu’elle avait fait exprès de sauver cette petite fille pour y gagner quelque chose (de la reconnaissance, de l’argent, etc.) alors que ce n’était pas du tout les intentions d’Alice, qui au contraire depuis toujours cherche à se faire discrète. Suite à ça, plusieurs personnes vont être à la recherche d’Alice, d’une part, 3 mystérieuses femmes qui font parler d’elle depuis des années et de l’autre, Griffin qui va tenter de découvrir qui est cette Alice, pourquoi il l’a sauvé de la mer…

J’espère que ça vous aura mis l’eau à la bouche parce que franchement ça en vaut la peine. L’intrigue est vraiment intéressante et bien menée. Bon, en tant que romance, il est évident qu’on sait dès le début comment ça va se terminer, ou du moins une très grande partie, mais ça, c’est le propre du genre. On sait très bien ce qui va se passer au niveau de la romance propre entre Alice et Griffin, néanmoins on a quelques surprises, des rebondissements qui donnent du rythme à l’histoire. Il y a pas mal d’action, cette histoire, bien que centrée sur la romance, laisse place également à des secrets de famille qui pèse lourd et qui peuvent être la cause de nombreux problèmes et qui expliquent pourquoi les Randolph et les Bonavandier ne peuvent pas se supporter (là encore, on peut très vite imaginer en quoi, mais il y a certaines parties de l’histoire qui nous restent obscures jusqu’à la fin, donc ça laisse un peu de suspense, tout n’est pas complètement calculé).

Par ailleurs, la part fantastique, avec le fait que ce soit des sirènes (on l’apprend très vite dans l’histoire, ça n’est pas un gros spoiler) donne un intérêt nouveau et ça m’a vraiment plu. Ce ne sont pas les sirènes auxquelles on pourrait s’attendre, mais c’était quand même sympa. On n’a pas énormément de livres sur ces créatures, donc c’était un plaisir d’en avoir ici, surtout que ça sert très bien l’histoire. Après ça aurait pu être autre chose évidemment, mais ça a son intérêt et je pense que ça m’a permis d’être davantage dans l’histoire (la romance n’est vraiment pas mon truc, où jusqu’à un certain point). Je préfère de loin les histoires fantastiques, donc si dans la romance il peut y en avoir, je ne suis pas contre, bien au contraire.

L’écriture est simple mais efficace, c’est très fluide, agréable à lire et on est rapidement entrainée dans cette histoire. Le fait d’avoir le point de vue direct d’Alice, permet de se mettre à sa place, et de mieux la comprendre. On s’attache beaucoup à elle, et on suit son histoire avec plaisir. Elle est un peu perdue, désorientée et n’arrive pas à croire à ce qu’on lui raconte, mais elle va prendre sur elle et finir par ouvrir les yeux et voir quel rôle elle peut jouer dans toute cette affaire, car évidemment, il y a un but dans tout ça, mais je vous laisse découvrir quoi. La narration est triple, puisque l’on a donc à la première personne Alice, mais également à la troisième personne, celle de Griffin, et des 3 sœurs Bonavendier, sans compter des petits extraits d’un texte, souvent raconté par Lilith qui nous permet d’en savoir un peu plus sur le monde des sirènes.

Donc avec toute ces narrations, on a une vision très large de l’histoire et on se demande comment les parties peuvent se réconcilier quand on voit les soucis de chacun, les projets, secrets qui pèsent lourds et qui finalement détruits tout. Il y a de nombreux non dits, et cela fait « souffrir » la plupart des personnages. Dès qu’on commence à les comprendre et à voir ce qui a pu se passer des années auparavant, eh bien on change de point de vue sur certains personnages (comme Mara par exemple qui me sortait un peu par les yeux, elle est si froide, distante, pas attachante du tout, eh bien quand on apprend à la connaitre, on finit par changer d’avis…). Les personnages sont dans l’ensemble très attachants et tout ce que l’on souhaite c’est que ça se termine bien, qu’on ait une fin heureuse pour tout le monde, même si ça peut paraitre difficile au fur et à mesure que les révélations sont faites. Mais bon, comme je l’ai dit, c’est de la romance, il est évident que ça va bien se terminer, le tout est de voir comment.

En somme, ça a été une très bonne découverte. Je me rends compte après tout ce que je viens de dire qu’il y aurait encore plein de choses à signaler, mais après j’ai peur de spoiler, donc je vais m’abstenir là. Mais en tout cas, c’était vraiment intéressant, j’ai beaucoup aimé (comme quoi… toute la romance n’est pas à jeter lol) et qu’il en vaut la peine. Même si je ne suis pas en général fan de ce genre, je dois avouer que ça a été une très bonne surprise et je ne regrette pas du tout de l’avoir lu. Je ne peux que le conseiller aux amoureux de la romance (sans fantastique, parce que si vous attendez une histoire du genre La Confrérie de la Dague noire de Ward, passez votre chemin, ça n’est pas ça du tout) c’est vraiment de la romance de base, mais avec une petite touche fantastique qui donne un intérêt en plus. L’univers est intéressant, les personnages sont touchants, l’histoire est vraiment pas mal et bien menée. Que de bons éléments pour passer un très bon moment en lisant ce livre, donc, que demander de plus ?
(less)

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Apr 30, 2011 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Its a charming story of water people, excepting differences in our selves and others. Alice lived most of her life being hated for being different. Boys assaulted her and laughed. Her family hated her. She was told her teenage mom killed herself because of her.

Alice lives alone by a lake in a cabin. Where she feels safer and more at peace swimming in the lake. Alice works at a pet store. Alice has never left her area.

One day while swimming nude in the freezing water she hears a scream of child...more

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Mar 18, 2011 Tisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I just finished reading Alice at Heart and I am really on the bubble as what to rate it and how to review it. This one was a quick read, and I thought it had it's good points and it's bad. One of the main things I really enjoyed about this book was the subject. I have not seen a mermaid romance novel lately. In this age of vampires and other creatures this one was a refreshing change. I liked the basic plot of the story, long lost sister, finding family and love always appeals to me. I liked the...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Marva rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Beautiful and evocative writing sucks you in, but about half-way through I wanted Alice to actually do something other than bitch and moan. You see? I got irritated with the main character and that detracted from my enjoyment of an original and interesting take on mermaids.

Griffin annoyed me from the first. His attitude sucked hugely, possibly as hugely as he thinks his...well, never mind. Essentially, I found him insufferable. So, the big central story of the romance fell flat for me.

The three...more

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Apr 17, 2011 Kristen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-books, read-in-2011

i downloaded this book from amazon.com as a freebie for the kindle. the premise sounded really interesting! i love the idea of a paranormal story about something other than vampires, werewolves or fairies! and i have always loved the idea of mermaids, even as a little kid. :)

i gave this book 3 stars b/c i did enjoy reading it, and i love the setting of the story and the romanticism behind it, but i felt like the book was lacking something. it's kind of hard to put my finger on exactly what, but...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Erika Badass rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: free-ebooks, kindle, own-but-not-read-yet, fantasy, paranormal

3.5 stars.
The premise was really interesting, the prose was captivating. The characterization was OK, could have had a little more depth. My Problem is that everything for Alice was really easy. We never really see her struggle with her new life. Now I wonder, if I am only having this issue in hindsight, because when I was reading the book, it didn't bother me, she had to go through so much as a child/teenager that I thought it was as it should be, her finally having an easier time. Maybe it's j...more

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Aug 14, 2007 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a really sweet story about a woman who discovers how extraordinary she is. She grew up with her Aunt, who, alone with the rest of the town, made her feel like an outsider. Odd Alice, they called her. Through a accidental heroic act, she discovers her half-sisters, and finds out that all her oddities are really the traits of a very old, very powerful, family.

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Apr 07, 2012 ♆ BookAddict ~ La Crimson Femme rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mermaids, fantasy, romance

This book was AWESOME for me because I love mermaids. After reading this Alice at Heart, I desperately wanted to believe that this is a true story. The way Ms. Smith told Alice's tale, it felt more like a chronicle of real people rather than a make-believe world.

Alice always knew she was different. She has webbed feet. (As a side note, as a water lover, I had wanted webbed feet.) She's also able to be in water longer than others. When she is brought into a world of her "kind", I yearned to be p...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Dava Stewart rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a romance, but with elements of fantasy thrown in. Maybe it would be closer to call it magical realism.in any case, the writing is lovely, and the story is fun. It is not exciting, nor are you supposed to think it could be happening next door. It is poetic, though, and pretty.

Several other reviewers talk about explicit sex scenes, but they really are not terribly explicit. Some sexual situations are described, but isn't that to be expected in a romantic novel? Also, you aren't really sup...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Carol rated it 2 of 5 stars

"All my life I've been waiting for someone and when I find her, she's... she's a fish."
Tom Hanks, in the movie Splash

This quote was the only thing I could think of when I finished this book.

The book was OK. Somehow I felt like it could have been really, really great, but it seemed almost rushed. Or maybe it was presented too seriously. Something was just off. Somehow I think a book about modern mermaids would have benefited from a lighter touch. Or maybe it would have been better if I could have...more

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Aug 07, 2011 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Poetic and as different from Smith's Crossroads Cafe as opera is from Grand Ol' Opry, This is a fable of personal transformation and discovery, of unlearning what you "know" is true. There are entwined love stories and losses, For some more loss than love. At the same time the writing is rythmic and soothing like the waves lapping the shore. Land and water are both necessary to living. The meet each other without fighting.

I don't get the mermaid singing thing, In Splash with Daryll Hannah the me...more

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Jul 03, 2011 Dc13 rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought that this book was pretty amazing!
It was haunting...I guess that's the best way I know to describe it. Beautifully written, with a flowing type of language that amazed me. It was romantic....without being sleazy....it was at times extremely sad....but was written so well that the sadness didn't degrade from it at all.
I actually don't feel like I can do a very good job a describing this book....it was beautiful....that good enough?
I've heard that the second book in this series is comple...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Bree rated it 5 of 5 stars

http://breesabookworm.blogspot.com/

This one is different than the other books I've read of hers, as it has fantasy, however, it was still good! Great even!

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Jun 23, 2011 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

OK - seriously the best book I have read in a long time. First I have to say it is so beautifully written that I would stop and just linger over paragraphs and savor the written word! If there is a book I would want read to me when I am lying on my death bed or in a coma - this would be it. The writing is supurb! This book deserves to be read out loud to the one you love! The story in itself was so intriguing and kept me engrossed throughout the entire book. I also loved the end where the author...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Maggie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was free on Amazon (Kindle edition), which was why I downloaded it. I'm glad I didn't pay money for it. It didn't suck really terribly, but definitely lacked the depth that would have made it satisfying. I have nothing against mermaids and I like this concept, but it was wrapped in a superficial, cheesy, romance-novelish shell that made me embarassed to be reading it and glad that I was reading the Kindle version, as I'm sure the printed version would have had Fabio on the cover. (I kn...more

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Jan 31, 2009 Miriam rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: women who like to talk about the mystical feminine principle

Shelves: fantasy

On the plot level, this was an all right story: Alice is a small town girl with no parents. She has never fit in. When she saves a drowning child, people begin to suspect that she has a secret, although they don't know that it is her ability to breath under water. Harrassed by neighbors and relatives, she flees to her long-lost half-sisters, who have the same magical abilities. To live happily ever after with Griffin, whose family has a long-standing enmity with hers, she must discover secrets t...more

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Oct 26, 2008 Jodi rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: women

Recommended to Jodi by: goodreads giveaways

Shelves: first-reads, books-in-a-series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 24, 2008 JG (The Introverted Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, fantasy, fiction, southern-lit, read_in_2008, womens_fiction, reviewed, 4_stars, gave_away

Alice has always been the odd one in her small Appalachian community. She loves water, her hair grows incredibly fast, her feet are slightly webbed, and somehow her personality has just never "fit in." She's done her best all her life to blend into the background, but she gets quite a bit of publicity when she rescues someone. She hates being in the public eye, but ultimately it brings her to the attention of some women who can give her answers about her past and why she's so different.

Let me sa...more

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Nov 27, 2011 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008, fantasy, other-fantasy-creatures, first-in-series, own-it

This is definitely not a book I would have picked up on my own,(It's a firstread book from goodreads giveaway)but I'm glad I did.
Alice grew up in a mountain town as a freak. Her family barely tolerated her existence, and her mother committed suicide when she was just a few days old. Then, everything changes. Alice is out swimming when she rescues a child from drowning. The amazing thing is, she was quite a distance away from the girl when she fell in, and no one should have been able to get ther...more

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Oct 24, 2008 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those fancying themselves mer-people

I got this book from the giveaway book section (First Reads) on Goodreads, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It's definitely not a book that I would have picked up on my own in the library or bookstore, but I want to give it a fair review because it is well written.

Deborah Smith certainly has technical skill and is accomplished in her craft. In order to create a modern-day, believable world where humans interact with mermaids (or "Water People" as she calls them), Smith obviously did a fair amoun...more I got this book from the giveaway book section (First Reads) on Goodreads, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It's definitely not a book that I would have picked up on my own in the library or bookstore, but I want to give it a fair review because it is well written.

Deborah Smith certainly has technical skill and is accomplished in her craft. In order to create a modern-day, believable world where humans interact with mermaids (or "Water People" as she calls them), Smith obviously did a fair amount of research on the myths and legends of the world concerning the mythical human/beasts known as mermaids/mermen. She gathers these stories together in her book to weave together a coming-of-age novel filled with (mostly) believable characters, set in the modern South.

One of the more original themes in the novel is the idea of coming of age not as a teenager, but as an adult in one's later 30's. Both main characters find out truths about their pasts that they only now have to face, changing them forever. This creates a cleaner story line, as the characters do not also have to face the pressures of being a teenager and all that entails, and they can face their problems like adults.

Smith begins each chapter with a quote, most from one of the main characters, Lillith. At first I thought these quotes were kind of interesting, but then I flipped to the "history" section in the back, and realized that they are all pulled directly from that section. She also repeated one of them in chapter 5 and 15, which was a little silly. If you don't plan on reading the last section, I think it would be fine, but it's obviously an important part of the book. (It also hints at what the sequel will cover... hmmm...)

I can't say "Alice at Heart" is a particularly extraordinary book, nor that it showcases any genius that Smith might have. I say this because I didn't find any particular gems of "ah ha!" in it, or even feel like my life was changed by it. It doesn't delve into any pressing social issues, or at least not deeply. It's one of those books that I might pick up before a long plane ride, but not necessarily one I'll think about again after I put it down. To be fair, for the time that it was in my hands, I was engrossed, and appreciated the distraction.

"Alice at Heart" is a well written book, and I appreciate getting a copy. It's important to read outside of one's genre in order to remember there are different people, reading all different books out in the real world. Thanks, Deborah, for offering your book to us!(less)

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Oct 06, 2008 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Alice grew up different. She feels more at home under water, than on land. She can swim for long periods of time. The cold temperatures of an icy winter lake don’t bother her. She can ‘sing’ underwater, and hear others’ songs… And then there is her hair, which grows two inches every day. And her eating preferences, butter of all things. And the toes that she hides in her big and bulky boots! When her conception and birth embarrassed her family, they made it clear to her she was unwanted, a mista...more

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Nov 12, 2008 new_user rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, paranormal-romance

I expected chick lit when I started Alice at Heart, but this book is far from. There's romance, sure, and the Bonavendier sisters have an eye for fashion. Even the author seems to want to advertise these women as spoiled Southern belles-- but that's just skimming the surface.

While those elements are present, particularly that tone of Southern mystery and charm, there's a consistent feeling of knowing, of deep, sad wisdom, present in the novel that suits the ageless characters with their dear dig...more I expected chick lit when I started Alice at Heart, but this book is far from. There's romance, sure, and the Bonavendier sisters have an eye for fashion. Even the author seems to want to advertise these women as spoiled Southern belles-- but that's just skimming the surface.

While those elements are present, particularly that tone of Southern mystery and charm, there's a consistent feeling of knowing, of deep, sad wisdom, present in the novel that suits the ageless characters with their dear dignity so well that when they make grand declarations about life or invent metaphors about love, it comes off as romantic and fitting rather than saccharine or cheesy.

There were a lot of moments between characters, simple moments I might have read a hundred times before, that the author reinvents and gives beautiful meaning. Smith doesn't try to burden her story with imagined misunderstandings or aimless resistance. Nothing feels contrived.

In such a mystical setting, Alice and Griffin are as commonplace as anyone can be, unhappy and alone. When they meet, their connection is so sweet and simple and pure, so timeless and instantaneous and inviolate. They love each other and that's a foregone conclusion, never doubted. The conflict arises because they are enemies in the most unfortunate, tragic, unstoppable sense of the word. Unwilling, but wise.

There are real, important hurdles, within and without themselves, that they have to climb, issues of trust and family. Indeed, the relationships of family are just as important in this novel, and that makes the story more real, more complete because life is about family and struggle and those other concerns.

I've concentrated on emotion in this review. Smith writes that the "Water People" are all about emotion, downright vibrating with it-- and that is precisely what sets this book apart. The emotions the characters feel are natural and basic and so moving. I began the book fearing that the three aging, magical sisters would turn into Disney cheese --can you blame me?-- but each of the Bonavendiers is first and foremost a woman, with passions and dreams, and as you learn about them, you come to care for each one, as well as Alice, who brings them all together.

I haven't read anything moving in a while, so this book certainly came as a surprise. I'm glad I had the opportunity. It's not my usual reading, it's not as dark, but it was well worth it. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and any fans of old-fashioned, pure romance with a touch of Southern magic and customs. Yes, there is a bit of the supernatural. It's not just a metaphor, LOL. Very sweet and uplifting. I'm looking forward to learning more about these mermaids (the different kinds too). That word smacks of Disney, but the story's never cheesy, I promise. I was between four stars and five. (less)

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Oct 16, 2008 Lisse rated it 2 of 5 stars

I like the idea behind Alice at Heart - a mermaid (not the kind with the tail that we grew up hearing stories about, but the real deal with webbed toes, hair that grows about two inches a day and the ability to swim under water for immense periods of time. Oh, there's also the talking with dolphins thing and their singing to your soul bit as well) who doesn't know she is one until her sisters come and find her and show her her true self. I like the way Alice comes into her own in the book, but I...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Melissa rated it 2 of 5 stars

I didn't hate it, but I wanted so much more from this. I though the concept was interesting and different from other things I have read, but the entire book was so slow I felt like I was waiting for it to ~really~ start the entire time I was reading it. I also didn't find the main character and her entire change of attitude very believable and there wasn't really anything about her I was drawn to or interested in. The author did a fairly decent job on scenery description, though, and it made me...more

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About Deborah Smith

Deborah Smith is the New York Times bestselling author of A Place to Call Home, Sweet Hush, The Crossroads Cafe, A Gentle Rain and other acclaimed romantic novels portraying life and love in the modern Appalachian South. A native Georgian, Deborah is a former newspaper editor who turned to novel-writing with great success.

With more than 35 romance, women's fiction and fantasy novels to her credit,...more

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Trivia About Alice at Heart

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Quotes from Alice at Heart

“Wish it, believe it, and it will be so.” — 20 people liked it

“We are all bodies of water, guarding the mystery of our depths, but some of us have more to guard than others.” — 7 people liked it

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Alice at Heart (Waterlilies #1)

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