Hiding Haelo

Candeon Heirs #1

by T.M. Holladay

Haelo Marley lives every day as a lie. She is a mermaid, but not the fishtail-and-seashell-bra type. A real mermaid. A Candeon, posing as a normal, San Diego teenager in her last year of high school, while secretly diving into the sea in order to survive.

But Haelo’s not the only one keeping secrets. There’s a lot she doesn’t know about the Candeon world, and about the vital role she’s expected to play in it. Every mystery she unravels—from the meaning of the mosaic of scales on her back, to the identity of Dagger, the mysterious boy down the street—draws Haelo closer to a fate that she never chose, and to danger that she never imagined.

No longer able to safely stay in San Diego, Haelo makes her way toward the destiny (and the secret fiancé) waiting for her in the Candeon capital of Pankyra, with Dagger as her guard. But as she and Dagger grow closer, the lines between duty and desire become blurred, threatening the future of the entire Candeon Empire.

Fans of paranormal suspense, ancient folklore, and slow-burn romance will love this epic fantasy series about the battle between the things we love, the things we choose, and the things that are chosen for us.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure, Book Club, Mermaids

354 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

In a letter to Mrs. Broyles, my third grade teacher, my eight-year-old-self declared I would be a writer. That desire was shadowed by other dreams and goals, and by college was forgotten. In my last few semesters, while in an elective creative writing course, I started writing Haelo, a rough draft that still makes me blush.

I graduated with a Bachelors from BYU-Hawai’i in World Music Studies, studying composition (the surprisingly useful hippie degree), and then an MPA in Public Policy from Grand Canyon University (the practical degree).

Though writing novels is my go-to creative outlet, life stays pretty busy with motherhood to my three minions, various music endeavors, church service, and home renovating. I live in my dear home state of Arizona with my incredible husband and three kids, and only sometimes wish we were back in Hawai'i. 

My dream job, (besides writing novels from a hammock in the forest, of course) would be movie score composing. I'm a total fan girl for Hans Zimmer and Martin Phipps.

I'm also a sucker for watermelon, chips & salsa, and a great pair of aviator sunglasses.

Hunt me down for loads of Haelo extras on my website tmholladay.com, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter!

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the next big YA phenom. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of it a couple months ago, and man does it not disappoint. If you are looking for a funny, witty and strong character, look no further than Haelo. I am a lover of Harry Potter, Fablehaven, the immortal instruments, Hunger games and Twilight. This series will be right up there with them.

The characters are so well crafted that you think about them, imagine them and yes even crush hard for them long after you finished a chapter or even the book. They are grounded and real even though "mermaids" aren't real. Or are they......? You can't help but get swept up in the exciting journey that Haelo and her friends go on to discover who she really is. There is humor, romance, action and suspense. The author does such a wonderful job not only fleshing out the characters and what makes them tick, but also the environment they are in. I found myself already imagining the potential movie!

I have read a lot of books. Popular and some not so well know. It's been a long time since I devoured a book like I have this one. Telling myself "just one more chapter" only to find it's 2 am and I still want to keep reading. "Hiding Haelo", shares themes that all the great series share, however it offers up a fresh take on "mermaids" and frankly a fresh story in general. One that I have yet to see the likes of in the last 10 years.

I gaurantee you have nothing to lose from reading this book. What you'll gain is a healthy obsession with a great new series! READ IT PEOPLE

[Taylor Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun!

My sister in law told me that her friend had written a book and I love to read so I bought it on my kindle and thought I'd give it a try. I was honestly expecting it to be like so many other first time authors that I've read where it shows that they are a first time author, but I was pleasantly surprised. It really was fantastic!

The story itself has really fun and exciting characters I love Haelo and her brother Neo. I like the budding romance between Haelo and Dagger. I thought it was a great book where I was genuinely rooting for the characters to succeed! I can't wait for the next one!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. What a fun, intense, unique, fantastical, exciting adventure! I'll be keeping an eye out for the next one.

[Jana Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is absolutely the next huge YA fantasy. Or at least, it will be once it gets enough exposure--that's my only guess as to why it hasn't taken off. The cover makes it look cute; the book description makes it seem pretty interesting. It has far more than that going on. Think Harry Potter or Fablehaven for epic scope; think Twilight for suspenseful, cool high school to adult appeal with suspense, fast pacing, and romantic tension (but without the stuff we hate in Twilight). And on that note, if you're thinking, "mermaids? Meh..." just think how many people thought "vampires? Meh..." when Twilight came out.
The characters are fully fleshed out and relatable. The writing is fresh and original. The world building is such that you KNOW she's got enough for book upon book--the backstory is complex and compelling. I was never bored, never wanted to skim, and that's rare for me; in fact, there were a couple parts in the beginning that went a little too fast, where I wanted to know more. I binge read this book in less than 48 hours, ignoring my real life as much as possible to devour it.
So much is going on beneath the surface with this book: a magic system sure to be explored further in subsequent books; action and suspense worthy of a mystery or cool spy novel; romantic tension to keep you drooling, but with relationship development keeping it real; wit that surprises and makes you laugh out loud; beautiful and natural prose; several plot twists; car chases, black magic, special ops teams, and a hidden island palace, in addition to the Candeon capabilities and high school intrigue mentioned in the blurb.
All that's missing here is a big publisher and major marketing...either that or lots of word of mouth to get this series the attention it deserves.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard about this book from my mom and grandma. To be honest, I thought it sounded quite...well, childish at first. Mermaids living on land? Not my style. But I decided to pick up the book anyway. From the first chapter, I was hooked. I learned that it's so much more than just a novel about "mermaids." My favorite part was Haelo's character development. I'm really upset that I have to wait to find out the rest of her story!!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mermaids are real!

Wow this book was incredible! From the very beginning I was sucked in, and couldn't put it down. I loved reading about a whole new world, where mermaids were real but not in the sense we all think. The story was filled with adventure, danger, myths come to life, and a sweet romance. I'm dying to read more though and find out what happens!! Definitely gonna need to read the next book soon...

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first book of this series! Good pacing and I loved the world this author is creating. Lo is great and has so much to figure out in life. Loved Dagger. Loved!! Can’t wait to see where this series goes.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could NOT put this book down!! Hands down, better than Twilight or Hunger Games. Can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

[Ruthie Udall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book series!! Absolutely a must read.

[Clare Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

T.M Holiday... I will give you 5 out of 5 scaly birds for Hiding Haelo. I found this book when I was recently connected with the author through a mutual friend. T.M is an Indie Author, and has self published. It's something I myself am looking into. Did I read this book every night in a bubble bath for like a week? Yes, I totally did. Also, living in San Diego right now, it was fun to read about all of the places I currently frequent. #missionbeach. I really liked Haelo and the adventure she takes and her backstory I found intriguing. It was a fun teen fantasy read, but not over the top fantasy. I had many flashbacks of The Selection Series- which I devoured. The two main characters had similarities.

Also, it's hard to find books that are completely clean, this one totally is and can be read by anyone. I have purchased the second one, and enjoyed an angsty teen read!

[Lord_of The_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh there is so much more going on than this description tells. We’ve got crazy family dynamics, possible romance (couple of instances), special ops guys, and Hawaiian magic users. See, tons of things going on. And poor Haelo is right in the middle of it all.

The first chapter is freaking crazy, but in a good way. I actually got to hear the author read the first chapter and it was awesome. It really brings you into the book and it really helps show how these are not typical mermaids. I really enjoyed the whole other take on mermaids. I haven’t seen anything like this and the whole ability to control currents is pretty amazing.

I enjoyed the cast of characters we meet. Some we’ll have to get to know better in the next book. Dagger is such an interesting guy, and the more we learn the more I like him. But the other men in Haelo’s life (Sam, King, Griffin and more)…aside from her brother they’re kind of iffy. I don’t really know how I feel about them. The next book has lots of answers I’ll be waiting for. Another thing that I’m looking forward to with book 2 is being under the water more. We get peaks at that world, but I want to know more. I want to see how they live, thrive, and survive.

I recommend this book. It’s packed with action, there’s hints at romance to come. Also, this is a clean book, so no swearing and no sex. It is a cliffhanger, so be prepared for that.I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um, what am I supposed to do until book 2 comes out?


anyone?


anyone?


I loved this book. It was recommended to me by a dear friend. I found the book so engaging. Fablehaven meets mermaids without tails?

I realized the third chapter in that I did not want to go to the beach on a sunny Seattle day with my kids because I only wanted to read Hiding Haelo. This book is an awesome YA book. It is clean and interesting. It kept me in suspense the entire time. I didn't want it to end. Which leads me to my first question, how long do I have to wait until book 2? Maybe I will re-read this. . . starting now.?

[Adrienne Dimond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more!

Loved the pace of the book. Constant turns and unexpected twists. Excited to read the next one! Perfect summer read!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! So mad I have to wait for the second one!

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disclaimer: I am writing this having already read the second book, so it has colored my view a little. The first book in the Candeon Heirs series, Hiding Haelo reminds me very much of the first season of Parks and Rec: you have to muscle through some parts of it to get to something better. Personally, I have really dropped off of reading YA because I find it very hard to relate to the feelings of teenage girls, being a very wise 24-year-old myself. So that occasionally made it very difficult for me to relate to the characters. However, although this is not one of the best books, I’ve ever read, I did think that it showed a lot of promise! I thought the concept of the tattoos was very original and helped to make it different from other mermaid books that I’ve read. My biggest complaint though was that I wanted more! I would have really enjoyed more character development for everyone, and a longer book so that could be done.
Overall though, I thought this was a good first effort by a brand new author (and the second one definitely lived up to my expectations!)

[heyshelbyhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blurb for this book sounded corny, but I trusted the review by Annette Larson (one of my favorite authors) and took a chance on it. I was quickly sucked into it and read through the first two books in a couple of days. I'm seriously depressed that the 2nd book was recently released and I'll have to wait for the 3rd! Both books have ended on cliffhangers.

I feel like we really get to know the characters, and I love the romantic tension between Dagger and Haelo. The auras add such a cool element, and the scene when Haelo's ability finally clicked for her was so good! (Hmmm, I think that might have happened in book two, but it was so good!) The chemistry between Dagger and Haelo is tingly. You know how they feel about each other, but they have obligations holding them back.

There really is so much that I loved about this series so far, and I can't wait for the 3rd book to come out!

[Emily Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy smokes! This book totally blindsided me with how creative, original, witty, and fun it was. I have never been a mermaid person, but the Candeons--there's a fantasy people I could get behind. I loved how well the Candeon history and politics were developed, and the totally believable tension between what was desired, what was expected, and what various factions believed to be right and true. The various romantic entanglements were a bit much for my taste, but that's totally a me thing, and it definitely wasn't enough to keep me from devouring this book instead of doing the dishes. Or, you know, sleeping. Can't wait to read the next one!

[Our Book Confessions · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author kept me guessing for awhile on where everyone’s allegiance lied, I loved the intrigue and loved even more that it wasn’t obvious who was on the good side, or even which side was good. I was fascinated that her “mermaid’s” setting was on land, not sea and captivated by the background and depth of the characters.

I felt like there were some plot holes being glossed over in “Hiding Haelo”, but it turns out I was just impatient and most of the glaring questions were addressed through the end of the second book.

https://bookconfessionsblog.wordpress...

[NaDell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little further from my normal realm of fantasy books, but I liked the idea, even if it wasn't something that made a lot of sense to me.
Some of the characters were infuriating to me and made choices that didn't make any sense and annoyed me, but it was a good, clean book to read and imagine being a mermaid that lives on land, but needs to ocean to sustain her life (and all the surprises throughout the book as you learn more and more of her history and the history of the people.)

[Corinne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read a book that was so imaginative! I can only imagine how fun it must have been dreaming up this world, and it was fun for me as the reader to learn about the candeons and their traditions with Haelo. It was definitely a fast and entertaining read and I'm excited to read the next book in the series!

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the first book in the series and I HAVE to know what happens next! The tension throughout was delicious and just the right amount of romance. The Candeon world is only just brought into light but I'm so excited to learn more about it. Definitely a fast-paced ride and enjoyable read. I wish I had found this series years ago!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! I think it might be my new favorite YA series. It’s one of those books that is difficult to put down and keeps your imagination running. Can’t wait to get started on the next one.

[Melanie Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

intriguing

I liked the story. It was very intriguing. Different for a mermaid story. I did get a little whiplash at the beginning with all of the different boys that were featuring in Hælos life, but it turned out interesting in the end. Can’t wait to read the next one.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Only because I felt it dragged...I liked the detail and storyline but it was a little slow moving for me.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book to read. Was interesting perspective on mermaids. Great read for Young Adults.

[Tanilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super impressed by this debut novel! Flew through books one and two and now kicking myself for not waiting until book three was released!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved. Devoured and had to get the next two. Clean language and clean romance! Loved the story line and characters. Refreshing read.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun, quick YA read with much less teen drama than most.

[Sock Eele · Rating 5 out of 5]

It starts out a bit slow but the story is totally worth it! I highly recommend this book for fantasy lovers.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fishy

Who to trust. What to do. Life keeps changing and answers lead to more questions. I'm looking forward to finding out what's next!