Mermaid of Black Conch was very unique and I was engaged the entire time.  The slow pace is adequate and I was able to really get into the story. I do think the beginning fishing trip dragged on a bit long, but fine once book progressed from there.  Story was written very well and the imagery was fantastic.  I could imagine this mermaid in amazing detail.  There were a lot of sexual references, but nothing graphic.  And the similarities to how whites snatched Africans during the slave trade with no remorse was really strong.  I was in my feelings for a bit and was pissed at the fisherman tourists.  There were a lot of things that just didn’t make sense in the book so that is why I gave it 3 stars.  You catch a mermaid, then leave it to go drinking.  You telling everybody that comes up about mermaid, inviting to a party, she walking around village by herself, forgiving a guy that abandoned you when he just pops up.  I’m just like, hugh…But overall, this was a beautiful love story about 2 lonely people (several actually but they are the main ones) that find each other.