Alone in the black abyss of the sea, Relic Hunter Sven seeks a cultural treasure. What he finds is a drowning Leanne. She meant to dive into the dating pool on a cruise, but a freak hurricane threw her into the sea instead—right into the embrace of a supernatural hunk. Bound by a passion that overwhelms their differences, Leanne and Sven fight to deepen their relationship. Hostile shapeshifters, disapproving parents, and the Council of Elders set obstacles to keep them apart. Will they remain together to continue Sven's Hunt? Or will a plot by domestic terrorists be the downfall of them all? Only the Fates know. Dive into an interstellar world of sea monsters and shapeshifters to explore the secrets of the deep. This edition includes an exciting teaser from the second book in the series, Sand's Caress.
Regina Sage is the pen name of a land-locked linguist who loves the ocean. When they aren’t writing about spicy sharks in space, they're narrating books for indie authors and spending time with their co-pirate.
I need someone to turn this book into an animated movie asap!!
I really enjoyed this novel. It was vibrant and original, adventurous and cozy. Really creative world-building--I cannot emphasize enough how cool the world-building is, amazing visuals. And even though it's a long book, the momentum doesn't lag.
Excellent disability representation--Leanne is a three-dimensional character and I appreciated that she was not boxed in as 'person with disability,' but also that her disability is an essential part of her everyday and not inserted as an afterthought.
My one detractor was Sven's unwillingness to communicate with Leanne. Because uncommunicative men are the bane of my existence day-to-day, fictional ones just enrage me. And I know that's the entire crux of Sven and Leanne's conflict, and the book is very self-aware of that (I appreciated that everyone and their mother--literally--told Sven what an ass he was being). To be fair, it is a very realistic conflict and it is handled really well in the book. But, oof, it made me violent.
The high stakes climax is what really won me over! So intense, dramatic, and well executed. I binged the last 100 pages.
Overall, a very engaging and unique book! Highly recommend! 4.5 stars
To stay I’m obsessed with Sven and Leanne is an understatement! I love these two characters and how perfect they fit together. The world building is so so good, but without making you feel bogged down by it. And the spice??? So hot! So good! 10/10 for barbs and venom and bites! Highly recommend for those looking for hot and spicy monster romance with amazing world building and plot!
What to expect: Underwater / Sci-Fi vibes Differently abled FMC Territorial MMC Monster spice Forced proximity Dual POV
▪️ Speedy synopsis: Leanne is saved from a watery grave by off-planet relic hunter, Sven. Together they navigate the murky waters of interplanetary and interspecies relations.
🔺 What I liked: The Cetean species and their world is imaginative. I’m obsessed with the ocean so it gripped me.
I like the representation of differently abled bodies, and depicting them as strong, capable, and independent.
Regina Sage is an eloquent writer. I definitely learned a few new words along the way, but not at the expense of the flow.
🔻 What I didn’t like as much: I personally prefer a slow burn over insta-love, and I think I think there could have been more tension if Sven / Leanne didn’t show all of their cards as quickly as they did. Similarly, if we didn’t have both POVs from the beginning we could have experienced feeling unsure if the other person reciprocated, adding to the drama.
The relic hunting & what felt like a pivotal moment of meeting a guardian completely disappeared in the second half of the book. It didn’t go anywhere, and this left me a bit confused. Likewise, some situations (like meeting the mother in law) were built up, but they were resolved really quickly making them feel like less of an issue than it should have been.
I think some of the side characters could have been build out a bit more, and perhaps the villain could have had more flare.
The pacing wasn’t very consistent, but I was too invested in whether or not Sven would mark Leanne or not to care.
While it might have been completely intentional, some of the word choices stuck out to me as unusual. I reacted on “water closet” for example.
📚 Summary: Regina Sage is a booksta-buddy of mine, but my review is honest as always, and it in no way influenced the fact that I stayed up until 3am to find out whether or not a sexy shark man, and capable damsel in distress would get jiggy… BOY did they!
If you’re a fan of sci-fi, monster spice, indie books then this might be a read for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
One of my biggest fears is sharks so starting my first foray into shark smut was a little tense. But after falling in love with Leanne and Sven along with the world of shifters and magic and science (sci fi fantasy for the win!) I can now confidently say I am still scared of sharks. But I would also seriously consider making out with the right Cetean. #sharksmut
Beautiful sci-fi, well-paced worldbuilding, nuanced character arcs, the perfect amount of charming humor, and well-written spice? YES!
Leanne and Sven are such a beautiful couple. I love the realness and rawness of their relationship.
The worldbuilding of this story is immaculate, and it gave me confidence to know that I can enjoy the story and that the author has a bigger plan in mind. Nothing in this book is accidental.
The Descriptions of the City Beat and the dancing were so gorgeous, and the lyricism combined with relatable metaphors made everything feel whimsical while still being grounded. I could picture the world very clearly in my head.
The character arcs resist overdone tropes and explore nuance (particularly in adult relationships) in a REALLY refreshing way.
But really, my favorite thing about this book was how you could tell that the characters had complex, developed personalities. Adorable little quips from Leanne gave her life and vitality beyond what was on the page. She felt like a whole, mature woman, as all of the characters did.
A really impressive debut and I'm excited to read B2!
There’s a lot to enjoy, world building was amazing and in general the characters were a lot of fun (and the female lead was refreshingly a 30 something divorcee with a disability) , it was just a bit slow for me and a bit heavy on the sci fi and the romance developed a lot faster than I’d usually read. The ground work has been set for what could be an incredible series. Definitely a read I’ll never forget though 😅
Do you love Nalini Singh and sharks?! Then Regina Sage is your new go-to author. Absolutely wonderful world building and characters. Take a chance on this indie author- you won’t regret it! <3
I did two full reads before getting my thoughts together to write this review. Regina Sage's debut book, Ocean's Embrace. Is the first thrilling installment of the Underwater series. What captivated me most about this book was Sage's ability to develop authentic, relatable characters in an otherworldly setting. Speaking of that other world, where to start! The scale of Sage's worldbuding is IN.SANE. The cetean politics are intricate, the mechanics of a hybrid above- and below- water society are vividly painted, and the plot is as engaging as it is intriguing. Sage poses questions just as she answers them: deliberately and with a steadfast focus on the bigger picture. That doesn't bog down the pacing though. This is a book that is easy to devour. I fell in love with these characters and think of them often. Sage's prose is full of wit, wonder, and no small amount of magic. This series has quickly become one of my favorites of all time, perfect for fans of Ruby Dixon who want something meatier to sink their teeth into, or fans of sprawling worlds such as GOT or LOTR who want more romance amidst their other forms of intrigue! Also, the way Sage incorporates systemic ableism hit me hard. Leanne's struggles with her mobility are complex and the arc of her finding her place in the world even as she fights to move through it is poignant. Ocean's Embrace is a captivating start to a series that has the potential to become the next indie hit!
Ocean's Embrace is an immersive and passionately romantic paranormal fantasy that will sweep you away to an interstellar world of sea monsters and shapeshifters. Relic Hunter Sven finds a drowning Leanne in the black abyss of the sea, and their connection is instant and undeniable. But hostile shapeshifters, disapproving parents, and the Council of Elders are determined to keep them apart. The world building is rich and imaginative, the chemistry is electric, and the stakes are high. A captivating start to what promises to be an addictive series. Highly recommended for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Nalini Singh.
I really enjoyed this read. It's a fun and original take on the typical "merman" types of stories, with a really good fleshed out set of characters that are incredibly diverse and unique. Some small aspects of the plot felt a little rushed like the assassination attempt and the wedding, but overall I was thoroughly pleased with the read. There was also a small handful of grammatical errors and typos, which threw me off but wasn't insanely distracting.
there is not a dull moment here. story is solid and fun, characters are likeable, world building is immaculate and the fuel to move the engine running is high octane 🌶️.
Regina hooked me with ‘shark smut’, but this is sooo much more than that! A wild and captivating world full of politics, drama and intrigue, paired with a set of wonderfully fascinating MCs. Leanne was lovely and relatable, showing her strength as well as her vulnerability. Sven was… mmmph! I feel like the description of a sharky Indiana Jones was completely accurate. He was soft and kind and oh so sexy!
I’m a big fan of insta-love, because when that connection hits it’s just so swoon worthy! Ocean’s Embrace is more than just a romance, but boy does it hit the mark for spice!
I’m slowly working my way into the sci-fi/romance genre, and I will definitely be checking out the next books in Regina’s series!!