Luna Matsya is a local celebrity as a trendsetting hairstylist, but she’d prefer to spread her fin in a nice body of water rather than make a big splash around town. She’s starting to believe that her ability to live and walk among mortals is more of a curse rather than a blessing. Especially now that the flashy tent from a touring magic show is blocking her lake. Where’s a mermaid to swim when the slightest mistake can put her in the spotlight?
Ace Conall is infamous for his daring tricks and he plans to make history with an epic illusion before taking a lengthy hiatus. This is a chance for him to finally feel at home after harboring a secret that may be the greatest magic act never revealed. What he hadn’t expected was falling for a smart-mouthed siren tangled up in his plans.
USA Today Bestselling Author Jax Cassidy followed her dreams to Paris, then Hollywood to pursue a film career but managed to fall in love with penning sexy romances and happy endings. She writes BIPOC contemporary, paranormal, and youth romances.
She is represented by Roberta Brown of the Brown Literary Agency.
I was so curious about this novel but unfortunately quite disappointed with it. The story did not flow, there were some inconsistencies, and the main characters did not have a good communication. However, the author did make a very nice use of Nocturne Falls locations, if not the some of the existing characters. This is a story about Luna, a mermaid, and Ace, a magician and some kind of ancient immortal fae, but it is not clear what kind exactly because it is not mentioned beyond the name. Their chemistry is great and that part of the story is very well described, but I would expect a better connection between characters, which usually happens with that kind of chemistry. Sadly, in this case, Luna and Ace remain quite secretive with each other, which later causes problems and creates main twist in the plot. I think this story could have been much better had the author used the villain to build the suspense, instead inserting a villain as an afterthought, making him mostly insignificant. Another thing I did not appreciate in this story was that she loosely based the mermaid folklore on Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid, which made Luna a very sad, damsel in distress character, waiting for a prince to love her and save her from her tragic fate. And although the author somewhat managed to correct Andersen's tragic ending, I was left wondering why she chose not to empower the mermaid and completely erase Andersen's misogynistic depiction of a love starved woman who is willing to give up everything, including her identity and life, in order to win the love of a man who basically did not care about her. In this story, she laid a good base for it, as the man in question was smitten by the mermaid, and he made it obvious to her, but still Luna chose the path which was completely illogical and inconsistent with what could and should have been. I would have liked this story a lot more if the author gave Luna more independence and strength, because she certainly had a potential for it. The Nocturne Falls reading order is: The Vampire's Mail Order Bride (Nocturne Falls #1), The Werewolf Meets His Match (Nocturne Falls #2), The Gargoyle Gets His Girl (Nocturne Falls, #3), The Professor Woos The Witch (Nocturne Falls, #4), and The Witch’s Halloween Hero (Nocturne Falls #4.5) in Spell of the Ball Anthology, The Werewolf's Christmas Wish (Nocturne Falls #4.6) in Hex the Halls Anthology, The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée (Nocturne Falls #5), A Vampire's Valentine Surprise (Nocturne Falls #5.5), Miss Frost Solves A Cold Case : A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost #1), The Shifter Romances The Writer (Nocturne Falls #6), Miss Frost Ices The Imp : A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost #2), The Vampire’s True Love Trials (Nocturne Falls #6.5) in Taming the Vampire collection, Miss Frost Saves The Sandman : A Nocturne Falls Mystery (Jayne Frost #3), The Dragon Finds Forever (Nocturne Falls #7), The Vampire's Accidental Wife (Nocturne Falls #8), and ever growing series of Nocturne Universe Novels, which surpassed fifteen by now. Great world to get yourself immersed in.
If I had to describe The Mermaid Catches Her Mate in one word it would be: sweet. It really is a sweet novella that reminded me of Ariel - and who doesn't like the little mermaid? I was however equally smitten and not that taken by Ace. Don't ask me why, he felt a bit over the top and melodramatic to me. Just not quite it somehow. In fact I was not a huge fan of the character building. The support cast felt a bit set up, if that makes sense. I mean they were somehow to conveniently whatever there needed to be and quite cliche. Regardless this is well written, I liked the story line and the world building is quite fun. Enjoyable read for sure.
Advanced reader copy review, read voluntarily and providing an unbiased review: A fun and quirky addition to the NFU. This well-written story has compelling characters who lend to the whirlwind romance between spunky Luna and dashing Ace. A great stand-alone for new and existing NFU readers, and a great gateway to other books in the series. I can't wait to read more of Jax's upcoming NFU installments to revisit the familiar characters.
Luna es una sirena, que puede caminar entre los humanos pero no enamorarse de ninguno, o morirá al poco tiempo. Eso la hace muy amargada y antisocial. Ace es un inmortal que se hace pasar por humano para ocultar su origen y sus poderes. Me hubiera gustado saber más de este nuevo sobrenatural. Me costó entender algunas cosas, tuve que escuchar otra vez sobre el villano, que me pareció que salió de la nada y realmente loco. El romance, meh...
I wish I had a hairstylist like heroine Luna Matsya! I love the details and the neat paranormal gifts of this supernatural. I also love the switch up with the male romantic interest Ace Connell. The antagonist wasn’t much but the tension created by both their identities and pasts was sufficient to create the necessary friction for heat in a romance. Another colorful addition to the NF Universe!
I hate when writers are careless with their editing, and this book is a prime example. If another writer is kind enough to allow you to write in her Universe you should at least give her the respect she deserves. This book is embarrassing.
In a town where supernaturals live side by side with humans, knowing who to trust with your secrets can be hard at times. When you assume the object of your attraction is human bad decisions follow. I loved this book because the actions of the characters are something you can relate to easily. I enjoyed the new characters and the culture brought in with the story. I hope to see more of these characters in the future either in a series outside of Nocturne Falls or visiting from Mer Haven.
Yay! Great addition to the NFU. I really like the mermaid and unicorn addition to this world. There are a few unexpected twists and turns, but the HEA is well worth it. Enjoy!
I have enjoyed all the Nocturne Falls Universe books, I really enjoyed this story! I love a good mermaid tale, I would love this to be a full story! This is about Luna and Ace and family responsibility. I absolutely love that there was a unicorn shifter!!! I hope Ms. Cassidy writes a continuation on these characters.
This is one of the second series of stories being released in the "Nocturne Falls Universe" and I have to say I really enjoyed it. This definitely feels like it belongs right at home with the other characters and the story could almost be from the regular line. Of course nobody writes quite like Kristen BUT that being said I definitely think fans of the regular series will enjoy this one.
This was such a fun read that sucks you in from the start. It's like a fairy tale. I just loved Luna, the mermaid and Ace, the Fae. Two of my favorite characters put together. I would like to see a book written about the world Ace is from and also to visit Luna's mermaid hometown. And omg, you will LOVE Luna's best friend Keke. She's a unicorn and has rainbow colored hair. Luna was afraid to take any risks of falling in love because if the person didn't return the feeling, she would wither away and die. I hope I told this correctly. Ace is a Fae and is also afraid of love because his bride had died due to what he is and secrets he had kept. When Ace and Luna meet, the sparks fly! Ace's guardian, Kearney, is pretty hot too! I hope to see a book written about him in the future.
Luna made it her mission to never give her heart away. How sad. This is the start to another romantic novella from the Nocturne Universe of Kristen Painter where Halloween is celebrated every day of the year so paranormals can live openly.
The Mermaid doesn't know Ace is not fully human so she thinks becoming enamored would be a mistake. Ace has a secret that he is willing to share but only with the right...Mermaid. It seems both have obligations to return to their homelands.
A cute story. Writing seemed a bit disjointed at times. If only they had trusted and talked to each other. I hate when the lack of simply talking to each other causes strife and complications. I guess it adds to the story. At least in length. References to Nocturne Falls characters were plentiful if often out of the blue.
Hmm, well, what can I say. The premise sounded promising, yet it was not delivered as beautifully. I felt the story flow was a bit stilted, not smoothly done.
All in all it was still an OK read. However, I really had a hard time with bad communications between main characters. I don’t know, I thought it would save them a lot trouble if they really talk to each other. It got old fast for me. I really put effort in finishing this book, yet I still found myself skipped some chapters… it just tired me up.
I was provided a complementary copy by the author / publisher, but this in no way influenced my thoughts or opinions.
This is a great book; this book is part of the Nocturne Falls Universe and is written by Jax Cassidy. The Nocturne Falls series is written by Kristen Painter and I was so happy that these new books by new authors were asked to write a story in the town. Nocturne Falls is a town that celebrates Halloween every day of the year and also a place that paranormal’s can live and not have to hide what they really are. Luna Matsya is a local celebrity as a trendsetting hairstylist, but she’d prefer to spread her fin in a nice body of water rather than make a big splash around town. She’s starting to believe that her ability to live and walk among mortals is more of a curse rather than a blessing. Especially now that the flashy tent from a touring magic show is blocking her lake. Ace Conall is infamous for his daring tricks and he plans to make history with an epic illusion before taking a lengthy hiatus. This is a chance for him to finally feel at home after harboring a secret that may be the greatest magic act never revealed. What he hadn’t expected was falling for a smart-mouthed siren tangled up in his plans. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author.
Series: Nocturne Falls Universe Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
Luna Matsya is a trendsetting hairstylist, but she prefers to spend her time in the beautiful lake on her property. Her ability to walk among mortals is both a blessing and a curse, especially when a flashy tent for a touring magic show is set up near her lake. This was a fun and quick story. Ace and Luna are both keeping their paranormal sides secret from each other for fear of what will happen. These two had an instant attraction that led to love, which was pretty enjoyable for how short this book was. I liked both of them a lot and can envision them having a HEA, which is good.
My only issue was that I wish there had been more explanation into both Ace and Luna’s races. We get a brief explanation of how mermaids can walk on land but I feel like it could have been more. Ace’s explanation felt vague and I wish more detail had been added about who/what he is.
Overall, this was a fun and short novella set in Nocturne Falls. I really hope we get a story featuring Keke and Kearney because they were both very interesting, and supportive, side characters.
If you are looking for a short fix between Nocturne Falls books, then the Nocturne Falls Universe short stories are for you!! They are fun and they follow along with the rest of the books in the main series. This one brings us Luna and Ace....two very different supernaturals with a super story...it is true love at it's best! In order to love someone you must be willing to sacrifice for them and this story is all about that!
Luna is a mermaid with special powers....these powers were gifted to her and can be taken away. Ace is an Immortal and both of them are keeping it a secret from the other....could this lead to true love? Or to a disaster that can't be repaired? Follow this couple with a few cameo's from our favorite Nocturne Falls residents and you will be sure to fall in love with the whole premise behind the story!
If this is your first time in the town in Georgia, I can guarantee that it won't be your last! You will fall in love with every aspect of these stories!! Sit back and enjoy this and all of the others, because there is no way that you won't!
I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author in return for my honest review.
The Mermaid Catches Her Mate, by Jax Cassidy, is another great entry into the Nocturne Falls Universe series. Ms. Cassidy does a wonderful job of matching the 'tone' of the universe created by Kristen Painter, and the characters she's created are sympathetic and fascinating. Luna and Ace have natural chemistry with one another and I found myself rooting for them nearly from the beginning.
While I will always love Kristen Painter's stories best, this was another entertaining read in the universe she created and I enjoyed it very much.
Luna is a mermaid living her life up in Nocturne Falls, with her own water supply in her backyard. Its heaven, until a circus starts setting up in the field beside her pond, stealing her freedom for her nightly water jaunts. And who should be the person setting up in the field beside her pond, none other than world renowned Ace Conall.
This story is set around a massive misunderstanding, with Luna believing all along she has to hide her true nature for the human, Ace. He doesn't trust easily, having been taken advantage of in the past for his Fae heritage. Their story highlights how important it is to have honesty in a relationship. It also shows what two people in love are willing to do and give up for the person they love.
Although I had a couple of differences with the author's use of Nocturne Falls, Luna and Ace are interesting and sympathetic characters. At one point there appear to be nearly insurmountable obstacles to their happily ever after, but it seemed that the whole thing could have been avoided by a simple conversation. I really hate that sort of situation. The ending, however, was almost entirely satisfying. There is a setup for a second story which I will certainly read. On the whole, an enjoyable addition to the Nocturne Falls Universe.
Es uno de los pocos libros que termine aunque no me gustara, de verdad estuve esperando a que se pusiera mejor. En general la historia esta tierna, pero algo del desarrollo de los personajes y sus interacciones no me terminaron de atrapar. La interacción de los protagonistas se sentía muy superficial, y los problemas que tenían que resolver entre ellos, parecía como si hubieran sido aventados a la historia nada mas para que hubiera un conflicto. E incluso el final se sintió muy apresurado, entregando la solución rápida nada mas para terminar la historia.
Anyway this book was kinda trash. It did not make much sense and i felt no connection to any of the characters and until now do not really understand their backstories. I didnt get the chemistry at all it felt unnatural. there was NO communication. the "climax" made me scoff. wowww as I continue to write this review i really should give it one star tbh. sounds like I hated it. but I mean I love mermaids so it gets some grace. the ideaaa and overarching plot ig was real cute. the finished product fell short.
This is a delightful addition to the Nocturne Falls Universe. The story is fast paced and had me not wanting to put the book down. I really enjoyed the characters and thought they were fun a little quirky, and likable. This is the first book by this author that I've read, I look forward to checking out her other books.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, my review has been voluntarily submitted.
Luna Matsya works as a hair stylist but is also a Mermaid. Ace Conall is infamous for his daring tricks. He is a magician. He puts his tent up in front of Luna's lake making it hard for her to hide what she is. It is on Ellingham property so she can not do anything about it. Luna is leery of Ace because is a flirt and she believes he is human but he is immortal. Great humor and I liked the sizzle between the pair.
This Nocturne Falls Universe novel by Jax Cassidy continues the consistently high standard of the series. This one centres on Luna Matsya, the mermaid of the title, and magician Ace Conall. An interesting and different pairing. I enjoyed the supporting cast too....particularly unicorn shifter Keke. Nicely written and paced this story should please fans of the series and PNR readers in general.
I really liked this addition to Nocturne Falls. The story is sweet, and I enjoyed meeting the new supernaturals.
There were a few unanswered questions I was left with, but I also know there is more to come from this author. I'll have to read on if I want to see how they get answered.
I recommend this NF short for anyone who loves the Nocturne Falls series!
I really enjoyed this universe story. It tied in the town just enough so you got the feel but you could also pick it up as a stand-alone and not feel completely lost by back story. So whether you love the nfu and want to read them all or just want a cute mermaid story this is a good one.
Overall this was a well written book. It kept my interest throughout. I only wish the author had gone into more detail regarding the supernatural powers of each main character. There seemed to be missing information.