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Coming Up for Air
It’s not easy being someone’s fairy tale.
Leigh Hurley is making a name for himself among thieves and criminals, even if it isn’t the life he would’ve chosen. He shouldn’t have screwed over the Moretti brothers, though. It landed him in the river with weights on his feet. But somehow he’s escaped certain death. The last thing he remembers before waking on the riverbank is a beautiful face and a soft kiss.
Then, Tolomeo turns up naked at Leigh’s apartment.
Tolly comes from a race of killers—merfolk who drown humans for fun. But Tolly is different, and when he sees a human in trouble, he offers a kiss, granting the man the ability to breathe underwater… and himself the ability to walk on land, at least until the next full moon. The ancient laws state that if he is given a vow of love by the one he kissed, he will be able to keep his legs. If not, he will be put to death when he returns to the water.
But love is not something Leigh offers easily… and Tolly has a secret of his own.
Leigh Hurley is making a name for himself among thieves and criminals, even if it isn’t the life he would’ve chosen. He shouldn’t have screwed over the Moretti brothers, though. It landed him in the river with weights on his feet. But somehow he’s escaped certain death. The last thing he remembers before waking on the riverbank is a beautiful face and a soft kiss.
Then, Tolomeo turns up naked at Leigh’s apartment.
Tolly comes from a race of killers—merfolk who drown humans for fun. But Tolly is different, and when he sees a human in trouble, he offers a kiss, granting the man the ability to breathe underwater… and himself the ability to walk on land, at least until the next full moon. The ancient laws state that if he is given a vow of love by the one he kissed, he will be able to keep his legs. If not, he will be put to death when he returns to the water.
But love is not something Leigh offers easily… and Tolly has a secret of his own.
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2019
178 people are currently reading
1431 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Meuwissen
57 books659 followersAmanda Meuwissen is a queer author with a primary focus on M/M fiction and romance. As the author of LGBTQ+ Fantasy #1 Best Seller, Coming Up for Air, LGBTQ+ Horror #1 Best Seller and #1 New Release, A Delicious Descent, and several other titles through various publishers, Amanda regularly attends local comic conventions for fun and to meet with fans, where she will often be seen in costume as one of her favorite fictional characters. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, John, and their cat, Helga.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
April 3, 2019
Yaaaay! I got my merman fix and the story completely pulled me in. : )
I mean, how could it not, when the very first few paragraphs had parolee Leigh Hurley plunging to the depths of the river, with concrete cinder blocks shacked to his feet.
Then, as his last breath of air was running out, in addition to seeing his life flash before his eyes, he also saw something else. A beautiful man floating toward him, then bestowing upon him the gentlest of kisses.
Tolomeo, aka "Tolly", was a member of a savage, brutal, and cruel race of merfolk, but fortunately for Tolly, his parents ran away with him and nurtured his more kind and caring ways, although lonely, after losing them because "they couldn't swim fast enough". : (
Both men were lonely, but after a very naked Tolly grew legs and went in search of Leigh, they fell into an easy friendship, with Tolly wanting more and Leigh firmly applying the breaks.
The main drama of the story was the repeated attempts of Leigh's mobster boss' competition to put him back in the river again, but this time for good.
However, with Tolly as his willing bodyguard, they were a formidable pair, because although Tolly may have looked meek and mild, under his smaller, twink'ish figure... there be monsters. Literally.
The one thing that concerned me when getting this book was the gangster aspect, not a genre I usually care for at all. As in AT ALL, folks.
But the story did have plenty of action and intrigue. And even a little bit of shape-shifty, healing, siren song magic, which were all huge selling points that kept me completely invested.
The plot was also well-paced, in part due to the persistence of the murdery thugs, but also because Tolly only had until the new moon for Leigh to confess his love, or Tolly would be put to death at the merciless hands of his fellow merfolk.
I absolutely loved the cast of side characters, too, who were loving, funny, and loyal. They were also Leigh's chosen family, although he'd never thought of them as such until closer toward the end of the book, when they unquestionably had his back over and over again.
The steam was moderate, but present, it just didn't really go on for page after page, the way that sexier stories tend to do. It was nice, though -- except for description of the freaky mer pene. 'Cause I coulda done without that, TBH. heh
The book ended much as I'd suspected it would, but I honestly didn't care one single bit. Once the main Big Bads were defeated, I don't know, the last bits seemed a teeny bit flat, but I think that was just me being used to the previously-quick pace.
The story was well-written and I enjoyed the hell out of it, so I'd rate this one at around 4.5 stars, rounding up because Tolly was too adorable for words.
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My ARC copy of the book was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair, unbiased review.
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June 5, 2019
I truly believe most people are obsessed with fairy tales. 😌 Why ... you ask me? 😏 Because ... well, more often than not, life isn’t a fairytale for most of us. In fact, I’m pretty sure they have a secret club where big, tough, macho guys can secretly obsess over their favorite Disney fairytales. 😁 And from the dawn of time, or at least from the birth of Disney fairytales, people have retold and reimagined every possible outcomes of these fairytales. And I’m pretty sure “Little Mermaid” is one of the most retold stories when it comes to dreamy and magical love stories. 🧜♀️ I mean what’s not to love? A story between a mythical, magical creature and a human and how they got their happily ever after against all odds, it truly is a romance goldmine. 😌 So when I discovered that there’s a new MM romance book with “Little Mermaid” retelling, I was more than thrilled to dive head in fast. 😉 From the blurb, I knew I was going to enjoy this book. But what I didn’t expect was the novelty and sincerity of the story and the fact that I fell in love with it. ❤️ I loved every single second reading this story. 😍 It isn’t easy writing a story refreshing, genuine and romantic most of the time. However it becomes much more difficult when said book is a romance cliche that has been rewritten for countless times. Amanda Meuwissen really impressed me big time with this book.👏
Leigh is in one word a street urchin who’s looking to rise up in the ranks in a mobster family whose son also happens to be his best friend. Life is meaningless and not that worthwhile to live for Leigh. Having to grow up with an abusive father and losing his mother very young did a big time when it comes to his ability to love or express it. But nothing matters anymore, doesn’t it? Since he’s now sinking to the bottom of a river with cement shackles on his ankles. Life really is depressing to reminisce when you are about to die from the lack of oxygen. And suddenly, an angel like figure showed up in front of his eyes. Otherworldly, ethereal, and divinely beautiful. He must have conjured up a lovely hallucination before he crosses the other world. But then he found himself on the shore very much alive, breathing and still being himself. Was it just a dream that he was tossed into the water to die or is he losing his mind?
I particularly loved the fact that both MCs can’t really be claimed as good guys. Granted, Tolly defies his nature and tries to be good but he can be cruel and very deadly. And Leigh, I really feel for Leigh. 😢 It’s no wonder that the guy is emotionally constipated given his situation and how he grew up. It really was tragic and heartbreaking to see how an early unpleasant childhood can shape up a person in their life. 😭 I really also loved the fact that Tolly isn’t an innocent, perfect, faultless merman. He’s not without fault and vicious and cruel when it needs be. And all the side characters and background story was really interesting and authentic. 🧡 A love story with a time limit looming on them while a mafia turf war going on between two very vicious crime families. The drama, the romance, the climax of it all, I was simply mesmerized. 😱 And I freaking loved the last chapters. Raw, pure, heartfelt and just so damn real. 💜 I cried and laughed with Leigh and Tolly. I shed a lot of sad tears and even more happy ones and smiles for the love story between these two very imperfectly perfect together couple. It was simply magical. 🦄🌈🧜♀️ And of course, since one certain pervy gal will never able to hide her spots, I rejoiced those sexy sexy times between those two. 😁🔥 Mermen sex baby!!!! Merman sex!!!!! 😉 All hail tails and fins! 😂 Overall, I think this is one of the best retellings of “Little Mermaid”. 🥰 If you like mermen, magic, and different, authentic and not very fluff fairytale-like retelling of “Little Mermaid”, run off to whatever website you prefer and purchase this book now. Because this is a 100% Shin approved book! 👏
5 For you, always you, and forever you stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer: An copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
Leigh is in one word a street urchin who’s looking to rise up in the ranks in a mobster family whose son also happens to be his best friend. Life is meaningless and not that worthwhile to live for Leigh. Having to grow up with an abusive father and losing his mother very young did a big time when it comes to his ability to love or express it. But nothing matters anymore, doesn’t it? Since he’s now sinking to the bottom of a river with cement shackles on his ankles. Life really is depressing to reminisce when you are about to die from the lack of oxygen. And suddenly, an angel like figure showed up in front of his eyes. Otherworldly, ethereal, and divinely beautiful. He must have conjured up a lovely hallucination before he crosses the other world. But then he found himself on the shore very much alive, breathing and still being himself. Was it just a dream that he was tossed into the water to die or is he losing his mind?
I particularly loved the fact that both MCs can’t really be claimed as good guys. Granted, Tolly defies his nature and tries to be good but he can be cruel and very deadly. And Leigh, I really feel for Leigh. 😢 It’s no wonder that the guy is emotionally constipated given his situation and how he grew up. It really was tragic and heartbreaking to see how an early unpleasant childhood can shape up a person in their life. 😭 I really also loved the fact that Tolly isn’t an innocent, perfect, faultless merman. He’s not without fault and vicious and cruel when it needs be. And all the side characters and background story was really interesting and authentic. 🧡 A love story with a time limit looming on them while a mafia turf war going on between two very vicious crime families. The drama, the romance, the climax of it all, I was simply mesmerized. 😱 And I freaking loved the last chapters. Raw, pure, heartfelt and just so damn real. 💜 I cried and laughed with Leigh and Tolly. I shed a lot of sad tears and even more happy ones and smiles for the love story between these two very imperfectly perfect together couple. It was simply magical. 🦄🌈🧜♀️ And of course, since one certain pervy gal will never able to hide her spots, I rejoiced those sexy sexy times between those two. 😁🔥 Mermen sex baby!!!! Merman sex!!!!! 😉 All hail tails and fins! 😂 Overall, I think this is one of the best retellings of “Little Mermaid”. 🥰 If you like mermen, magic, and different, authentic and not very fluff fairytale-like retelling of “Little Mermaid”, run off to whatever website you prefer and purchase this book now. Because this is a 100% Shin approved book! 👏
5 For you, always you, and forever you stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer: An copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest and unbiased review.
May 11, 2021
⭐ 3.5 “Still can’t believe it took me this long to read a merman romance” stars ⭐
While I did end up having a few issues that kept me from enjoying it fully, I would still sum up this book as...
And I definitely have no regrets after finishing it! If anything, this might have started my new merman romance addiction lol.
*****************
Now, to make organizing this review easier, allow me to address each one of my points separately. Welcome to The Good, The Bizarre, and The Ugly.
THE GOOD
— THAT BEGINNING. Talk about starting off with a bang! Or more like attempted murder, if we’re getting technical. This had one of the MCs, human mob-associated Leigh, being thrown to the river to “swim with the fishes” in the most literal sense of the word. And it’s also there, in the very first pages, where we’re introduced to our other lead, lonely merman Tolly, who shows up to swiftly turn this story from a true-crime tale into a charmingly sweet romance.
—And speaking of Tolly! It’s been a while since I’ve read anyone who I could straight up catalog as adorable without a second thought, but it couldn’t be more of an accurate description for this guy. He was so earnest in his pursuit of Leigh, so understanding despite the many hang-ups the other man had (which I’ll be elaborating on later in a different section of this review), and had this sense of wonderment for all things human which was just pure joy to read.
Did I mention he also quoted movies a lot?
Simply put, he was delightful.
This was already me with Tolly two chapters into this book, to be completely transparent.
— Mermaid lore, everyone!!! The way the author built her own take on these magical creatures was entrancing. Although think less beautiful redhead without a voice and more nightmare-inducing creatures lurking in the depths. Despite Tolly being a lot less violent and a lot more kindhearted, the way he talked about his kin and his own upbringing amongst them was appropriately terrifying.
Ariel wouldn’t have lasted a second in this environment!! Just saying.
But moving on…
THE BIZARRE
— The use of Mermaid Magic as the biggest ex-machina of all. While the lore was absolutely delicious and one of my highlights, the use of Tolly’s powers to dispense of any and all issues the protagonists faced sort of got old fast. It seemed like every few pages Leigh was being introduced to a new and contrived ability the young merman possessed… which just so happened to be useful in getting them both out of trouble. Each time.
This book’s approach to conflict resolution at its finest.
— The mermaid (merfolk) sex. And yes, I know, I’m surprised I'm even adding this here myself. I mentioned something about a “retractable penis” being brought up at one point in my updates, and ever since that happened my curiosity was piqued. We were told all kinds of freaky facts about mermaid anatomy and, even after the two protagonists finally got together as humans, it was still brought up every now and then. How Tolly yearned to be together with Leigh in his true form (aka tail and all lol), and how much Leigh secretly craved it. Which I, of course, took as extra thicc foreshadowing for when the actual merman smut would happen.
But then all the built-up finally collided into the scene I had been patiently waiting half of the book for and….
This was my reaction. So don't go expecting great detail or flair in the smut, because you'll be disappointed.
And now, at last...
THE UGLY
—The other MC, Leigh. While he wasn’t someone I actively disliked, and I could even relate to him deeply in some regards, Leigh just never really managed to win me over. When opposite such a loving character as Tolly, all of Leigh’s issues shone even brighter and became all the more jarring. He had commitment phobia and was averse to most displays of affection after a rough childhood, yet the character development we were supposed to buy into didn’t happen until almost the very last few pages.
And then we’re made to believe he just overcame all of his trauma and issues just like that? And at such a plot-opportune time?
So with that being said, did I ended up loving this one exactly?
Well...
And just my love for the merman MC made this more than worth it. So I honestly recommend it for anyone even a little curious about mermaid/merman romances. Or anyone willing to overlook a few things and have a good couple of laughs instead, tear up perhaps a time or two, and then squeal at a HEA that might have felt a little rushed, but was still incredibly sweet nonetheless.
*****************
And, closing off...
Keywords to figure out whether this might be the book for you:
Terrifying sea creatures posing as adorable twinks. Freaky mermaid anatomy (one penis sounds good? how about two?! and make them retractable too). Plot holes? Not with these mermaid abilities, nossir. Bit of a Sunshine + Grumpy dynamic. Versatile couples. Steam that’s surprisingly not as descriptive as you’d expect. Shocking transformations. Guaranteed to make you tear up at least one time. And finally, a HEA that will probably leave you smiling your fair share.
While I did end up having a few issues that kept me from enjoying it fully, I would still sum up this book as...
And I definitely have no regrets after finishing it! If anything, this might have started my new merman romance addiction lol.
*****************
Now, to make organizing this review easier, allow me to address each one of my points separately. Welcome to The Good, The Bizarre, and The Ugly.
THE GOOD
— THAT BEGINNING. Talk about starting off with a bang! Or more like attempted murder, if we’re getting technical. This had one of the MCs, human mob-associated Leigh, being thrown to the river to “swim with the fishes” in the most literal sense of the word. And it’s also there, in the very first pages, where we’re introduced to our other lead, lonely merman Tolly, who shows up to swiftly turn this story from a true-crime tale into a charmingly sweet romance.
—And speaking of Tolly! It’s been a while since I’ve read anyone who I could straight up catalog as adorable without a second thought, but it couldn’t be more of an accurate description for this guy. He was so earnest in his pursuit of Leigh, so understanding despite the many hang-ups the other man had (which I’ll be elaborating on later in a different section of this review), and had this sense of wonderment for all things human which was just pure joy to read.
Did I mention he also quoted movies a lot?
“I am braver than you believe, stronger than I seem, and smarter than you think.”
“Did you just paraphrase Winnie the Pooh?”
Simply put, he was delightful.
This was already me with Tolly two chapters into this book, to be completely transparent.
— Mermaid lore, everyone!!! The way the author built her own take on these magical creatures was entrancing. Although think less beautiful redhead without a voice and more nightmare-inducing creatures lurking in the depths. Despite Tolly being a lot less violent and a lot more kindhearted, the way he talked about his kin and his own upbringing amongst them was appropriately terrifying.
“Why aren’t you, then?” Leigh asked. “Cruel? if all the others are?”
“My parents thought differently.”
“What happened to them?”
“They were not fast enough swimmers.”
Ariel wouldn’t have lasted a second in this environment!! Just saying.
But moving on…
THE BIZARRE
— The use of Mermaid Magic as the biggest ex-machina of all. While the lore was absolutely delicious and one of my highlights, the use of Tolly’s powers to dispense of any and all issues the protagonists faced sort of got old fast. It seemed like every few pages Leigh was being introduced to a new and contrived ability the young merman possessed… which just so happened to be useful in getting them both out of trouble. Each time.
This book’s approach to conflict resolution at its finest.
— The mermaid (merfolk) sex. And yes, I know, I’m surprised I'm even adding this here myself. I mentioned something about a “retractable penis” being brought up at one point in my updates, and ever since that happened my curiosity was piqued. We were told all kinds of freaky facts about mermaid anatomy and, even after the two protagonists finally got together as humans, it was still brought up every now and then. How Tolly yearned to be together with Leigh in his true form (aka tail and all lol), and how much Leigh secretly craved it. Which I, of course, took as extra thicc foreshadowing for when the actual merman smut would happen.
But then all the built-up finally collided into the scene I had been patiently waiting half of the book for and….
This was my reaction. So don't go expecting great detail or flair in the smut, because you'll be disappointed.
And now, at last...
THE UGLY
—The other MC, Leigh. While he wasn’t someone I actively disliked, and I could even relate to him deeply in some regards, Leigh just never really managed to win me over. When opposite such a loving character as Tolly, all of Leigh’s issues shone even brighter and became all the more jarring. He had commitment phobia and was averse to most displays of affection after a rough childhood, yet the character development we were supposed to buy into didn’t happen until almost the very last few pages.
And then we’re made to believe he just overcame all of his trauma and issues just like that? And at such a plot-opportune time?
So with that being said, did I ended up loving this one exactly?
Well...
And just my love for the merman MC made this more than worth it. So I honestly recommend it for anyone even a little curious about mermaid/merman romances. Or anyone willing to overlook a few things and have a good couple of laughs instead, tear up perhaps a time or two, and then squeal at a HEA that might have felt a little rushed, but was still incredibly sweet nonetheless.
*****************
And, closing off...
Keywords to figure out whether this might be the book for you:
Terrifying sea creatures posing as adorable twinks. Freaky mermaid anatomy (one penis sounds good? how about two?! and make them retractable too). Plot holes? Not with these mermaid abilities, nossir. Bit of a Sunshine + Grumpy dynamic. Versatile couples. Steam that’s surprisingly not as descriptive as you’d expect. Shocking transformations. Guaranteed to make you tear up at least one time. And finally, a HEA that will probably leave you smiling your fair share.
March 4, 2024
✅ Tolly
✅ Merfolk
✅ Pace
✅🆗 World-building
✅🆗 Plot
✅🆗 Romance (M/M) / Smut
3.5 stars
Leigh Hurley is being thrown into the river with cement blocks shacked to his feet on the very first page of this book. Luckily for him, Tolomeo (aka Tolly), reclusive merfolk who's a sucker for romantic comedies decides to save his life with a magical kiss that grants Leigh the ability to breathe underwater and gives Tolly legs. Tolly believes in love at first sight and soul mate and is hell-bent on staying with Leigh to keep him safe, but also in the hope of receiving a true love declaration because it's the only way for him to keep his legs. He has until the next full moon (a little over 3 weeks) to get Leigh to fall in love with him and to say it, the issue is that Leigh does not say those words. Ever.
This is a short book that follows Leigh and Tolly for the month after this fateful rescue. Leigh is trying to stay alive as the mobsters who threw him in the river keep trying to kill him, but he also tries to get away from the mobster he's working for. He wants out of this life, but he realizes that without resources, it's pretty hard for an ex-convict on parole to find "better options".
The plot is quite basic honestly, it revolves around Leigh's gangster life, and while I am not usually a fan of gangster stories, I did enjoy this one because it was not too gangster. This book as a whole though tells us what happens, but doesn't show it. I could read about how Leigh was planning something and adjusting his plan, but I never had any clue about his plan. The romantic aspect is quite the same. We could see that his relationship with Tolly was moving forward, but I didn't feel much coming from Leigh. . At least there was action and intrigue, and Tolly's interactions with everyone were just so cute and funny.
The world-building is quite basic too, most of the book happens either at Leigh's apartment or at the club where his mob boss works. The merfolk are cruel, ruthless, and cold, but sadly we didn't see much of them except Tolly, the lonely and too-sweet merfolk that just doesn't fit with his own species and has been hiding from them for years. I would have loved to know more about the merfolk, or even about Leigh's life outside of the mob. I know it takes a big place in his life, but I feel that the setting and backstories could have been more fleshed out. The fact that "merfolk magic" is used to solve every problem in the book also got old quite fast... I mean, if I look at something that happened near the end of the book, absolutely anything seems to be possible if you have access to merfolk magic as long as you will it, want it, and believe it.
Tolly is the sweetest and kindest guy ever and I want to meet him and become his best friend. He saved the book for me. I loved him from the very first moment he appeared naked outside of Leigh's apartment and started talking about movies and having no filter about wanting to spend the rest of his life with Leigh and wanting to be inside of him or vice versa. 😂
I was anxious to see what would happen to him because it was obvious that he loved Leigh very much, but even though he was the nicest and perfectest guy, Leigh had a mental block with saying "I love you" and told him point-blank that he might never say it, regardless of what he felt inside. This part added some stress to the gangster plot because I honestly cared more about Tolly and his feelings than I did about Leigh and his criminal life.
There are some steamy moments in the book and some sex scenes, but it is not the most explicit I've read and it doesn't go on for pages. It's just enough to add some heat to the book, but it doesn't take too much room in the story, which was a little disappointing for me because there is a lot of build-up leading to Tolly's first time, or the first time he would be with Leigh in his true form (with merfolk tail and all), and when those smutty moments were over I often asked myself "Is that all?".
While the blurb reminds me of a Little Mermaid retelling, this book had a different vibe and I would recommend it if you are looking for a quick and enjoyable read that is not overly complicated. The ending was a little cheesy for me, I love HEA, but it just felt like they vanquished all the evil in the universe with the whole "our love is so true and pure it changed the world" part of the plot that was - again - not much elaborated, but it is still a sweet romantic story.
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✅ Merfolk
✅ Pace
✅🆗 World-building
✅🆗 Plot
✅🆗 Romance (M/M) / Smut
3.5 stars
The stories said that if one of his kin found the right human, the one destined for them, they would feel it, know it, and be drawn to save them from a watery grave. A single kiss was all it took to seal the pact, the Breath of Life connecting them as it gave the human the ability to breathe once more and sealed their fates together. Afterward, if the merfolk chose to step out of the water, they would find themselves on legs, unsteady but surer with every step. They needed only to follow their human and woo them to love them, and together they could live happily on land or sea.
Leigh Hurley is being thrown into the river with cement blocks shacked to his feet on the very first page of this book. Luckily for him, Tolomeo (aka Tolly), reclusive merfolk who's a sucker for romantic comedies decides to save his life with a magical kiss that grants Leigh the ability to breathe underwater and gives Tolly legs. Tolly believes in love at first sight and soul mate and is hell-bent on staying with Leigh to keep him safe, but also in the hope of receiving a true love declaration because it's the only way for him to keep his legs. He has until the next full moon (a little over 3 weeks) to get Leigh to fall in love with him and to say it, the issue is that Leigh does not say those words. Ever.
Love never gets anyone anything but pain, Leigh’s father used to say,
This is a short book that follows Leigh and Tolly for the month after this fateful rescue. Leigh is trying to stay alive as the mobsters who threw him in the river keep trying to kill him, but he also tries to get away from the mobster he's working for. He wants out of this life, but he realizes that without resources, it's pretty hard for an ex-convict on parole to find "better options".
The plot is quite basic honestly, it revolves around Leigh's gangster life, and while I am not usually a fan of gangster stories, I did enjoy this one because it was not too gangster. This book as a whole though tells us what happens, but doesn't show it. I could read about how Leigh was planning something and adjusting his plan, but I never had any clue about his plan. The romantic aspect is quite the same. We could see that his relationship with Tolly was moving forward, but I didn't feel much coming from Leigh. . At least there was action and intrigue, and Tolly's interactions with everyone were just so cute and funny.
The world-building is quite basic too, most of the book happens either at Leigh's apartment or at the club where his mob boss works. The merfolk are cruel, ruthless, and cold, but sadly we didn't see much of them except Tolly, the lonely and too-sweet merfolk that just doesn't fit with his own species and has been hiding from them for years. I would have loved to know more about the merfolk, or even about Leigh's life outside of the mob. I know it takes a big place in his life, but I feel that the setting and backstories could have been more fleshed out. The fact that "merfolk magic" is used to solve every problem in the book also got old quite fast... I mean, if I look at something that happened near the end of the book, absolutely anything seems to be possible if you have access to merfolk magic as long as you will it, want it, and believe it.
“What do you want from me, then?”
“I wish to stay with you,” Tolly said as matter-of-factly as asking for cab fare. “Forever.”
Definitely crazy.
Scrubbing a hand down his face, Leigh was thinking of how to get this naked delusional poet out of his apartment without drawing the attention of his neighbors
Tolly is the sweetest and kindest guy ever and I want to meet him and become his best friend. He saved the book for me. I loved him from the very first moment he appeared naked outside of Leigh's apartment and started talking about movies and having no filter about wanting to spend the rest of his life with Leigh and wanting to be inside of him or vice versa. 😂
I was anxious to see what would happen to him because it was obvious that he loved Leigh very much, but even though he was the nicest and perfectest guy, Leigh had a mental block with saying "I love you" and told him point-blank that he might never say it, regardless of what he felt inside. This part added some stress to the gangster plot because I honestly cared more about Tolly and his feelings than I did about Leigh and his criminal life.
There are some steamy moments in the book and some sex scenes, but it is not the most explicit I've read and it doesn't go on for pages. It's just enough to add some heat to the book, but it doesn't take too much room in the story, which was a little disappointing for me because there is a lot of build-up leading to Tolly's first time, or the first time he would be with Leigh in his true form (with merfolk tail and all), and when those smutty moments were over I often asked myself "Is that all?".
While the blurb reminds me of a Little Mermaid retelling, this book had a different vibe and I would recommend it if you are looking for a quick and enjoyable read that is not overly complicated. The ending was a little cheesy for me, I love HEA, but it just felt like they vanquished all the evil in the universe with the whole "our love is so true and pure it changed the world" part of the plot that was - again - not much elaborated, but it is still a sweet romantic story.
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November 12, 2020
Aren't mermaids just the best?
Tolly is a gorgeous and kind young merman who saves a drowning and equally young and handsome guy. Of course, he doesn't know that Leigh is actually a thug who was drowned on purpose by the local mafia.
So, he's not really the Disney Prince that Ariel fished out of the water way back when.
Nevertheless. Instalove and merfolk magic make it possible for Tolly to get human legs and leave the sea in search of the guy he rescued. Leigh and his circle of small-scale criminal friends welcome Tolly among them and are surprised to see some of the special skills the guy seems to possess - skills which do come in handy in their line of work.
Unfortunately, time is running out on the spell that keeps Tolly in human form - and unless he exchanges vows of love with the man he left the sea for before the next full moon, he is bound to lose his legs and return to his original form.
His original form being far from what you may expect...
I wasn't too thrilled with how this plot was handled. I know that mermaid stories require a certain faith in magic and the acceptance of a bit of shapeshifting going on. For me, however, this story really went far away from the fairy tale cozyness I associate with mermaids and dove deep into what was creepy but so exceptionally well done in the movie 'Mermaid Chronicles Part 1 - She Creature" (funny title, I know).
Also, the sex freaked me out. Like seriously. I'll prefer tentacle sex anyday instead of their watery escapades with God knows what appendages they used.
And if there's one thing we learn from this story: If you love someone, tell them you do. Say the actual words. Don't force them to turn into a murderous monster, okay?
But I do appreciate a mermaid story!
3.5 stars!
Tolly is a gorgeous and kind young merman who saves a drowning and equally young and handsome guy. Of course, he doesn't know that Leigh is actually a thug who was drowned on purpose by the local mafia.
So, he's not really the Disney Prince that Ariel fished out of the water way back when.
Nevertheless. Instalove and merfolk magic make it possible for Tolly to get human legs and leave the sea in search of the guy he rescued. Leigh and his circle of small-scale criminal friends welcome Tolly among them and are surprised to see some of the special skills the guy seems to possess - skills which do come in handy in their line of work.
Unfortunately, time is running out on the spell that keeps Tolly in human form - and unless he exchanges vows of love with the man he left the sea for before the next full moon, he is bound to lose his legs and return to his original form.
His original form being far from what you may expect...
I wasn't too thrilled with how this plot was handled. I know that mermaid stories require a certain faith in magic and the acceptance of a bit of shapeshifting going on. For me, however, this story really went far away from the fairy tale cozyness I associate with mermaids and dove deep into what was creepy but so exceptionally well done in the movie 'Mermaid Chronicles Part 1 - She Creature" (funny title, I know).
Also, the sex freaked me out. Like seriously. I'll prefer tentacle sex anyday instead of their watery escapades with God knows what appendages they used.
And if there's one thing we learn from this story: If you love someone, tell them you do. Say the actual words. Don't force them to turn into a murderous monster, okay?
But I do appreciate a mermaid story!
3.5 stars!
May 19, 2021
I enjoyed this one more then I thought I would, so for that 4stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story is a mix of Disneyworld and any gang movie there is. We have a very lonely mermaid that is not like his kind, so he goes to live on his own and after a while he finds his one true love... And we have the human who his circumstances made him a criminal but he secretly hopes for something better, his situation and his history doesn't allow him to think about love, funny that because he got a mermaid in his doorstep and Tolly laaavesss him! 🥰😍🥰
This was sweet, uncomplicated, with a lot of magic and an enchantment wich they call a pact in here. I loved the characters, I felt that Tolly was done really well with his unique manerism and his way of seeing the world. Leigh was so human it hurt, his insecurities and his doubts were relatable. They made a lovely and very sweet couple. Oh and the sex! The author is not one to really describe it, it was explained some but not in depth so even in Tolly's true form, as a reader I didn't get all the dirt, wich I don't know is a good thing or a bad thing. 🤔🤔
Anyways! Some fun quotes to finish this:
Tolly being Tolly... While also being naked:
"I am yours now. You are welcome to look at me.”
Leigh was certain some of the porn he’d watched over the years had lines like that. “Tolly….”
Again Tolly being Tolly:
but perhaps now was a moment to—what was the phrase? Play hard to get.
Alvin being friend goals twice:
"Spoilsport,” Alvin grumbled after tossing Tolly his shorts. “I was hoping for some Free Willy.”
“Please tell me I interrupted something super kinky—” Alvin
“No.” Leigh
“Aw, haven’t sampled the sushi yet?”Alvin
🤭🤭🤭
This story is a mix of Disneyworld and any gang movie there is. We have a very lonely mermaid that is not like his kind, so he goes to live on his own and after a while he finds his one true love... And we have the human who his circumstances made him a criminal but he secretly hopes for something better, his situation and his history doesn't allow him to think about love, funny that because he got a mermaid in his doorstep and Tolly laaavesss him! 🥰😍🥰
This was sweet, uncomplicated, with a lot of magic and an enchantment wich they call a pact in here. I loved the characters, I felt that Tolly was done really well with his unique manerism and his way of seeing the world. Leigh was so human it hurt, his insecurities and his doubts were relatable. They made a lovely and very sweet couple. Oh and the sex! The author is not one to really describe it, it was explained some but not in depth so even in Tolly's true form, as a reader I didn't get all the dirt, wich I don't know is a good thing or a bad thing. 🤔🤔
Anyways! Some fun quotes to finish this:
Tolly being Tolly... While also being naked:
"I am yours now. You are welcome to look at me.”
Leigh was certain some of the porn he’d watched over the years had lines like that. “Tolly….”
Again Tolly being Tolly:
but perhaps now was a moment to—what was the phrase? Play hard to get.
Alvin being friend goals twice:
"Spoilsport,” Alvin grumbled after tossing Tolly his shorts. “I was hoping for some Free Willy.”
“Please tell me I interrupted something super kinky—” Alvin
“No.” Leigh
“Aw, haven’t sampled the sushi yet?”Alvin
🤭🤭🤭
July 18, 2021
Imagine Prince Charming with a tail and Cinderella was a man who didn’t believe in fairy tails.😫✨
Why have I never read a merman romance before? I was missing out
Why have I never read a merman romance before? I was missing out
May 24, 2021
~2.5~
This book was not what I expected. For one, the mobster plot involving Sweeney and the Morettis read like a bad episode of The Sopranos.
Leigh was not a particularly likeable MC. He was casually cruel in his treatment of Tolly for most of the story. His change of heart came at the end when it was almost too late.
The steam was very muted and not particularly romantic. I mean, yeah, sometimes you want to get down to business, but penetrative sex was all the MCs did; there was no mention of any kind of foreplay.
Furthermore, I couldn't overlook certain oddities:
Why did everyone have such bizarrely old-fashioned names (Alvin, Arthur, Cary, Ralph, Gertrude, Garfield)? How was Leigh going to leave the mob when his best friend was still in that life? How were the detectives put off so easily time and again? Why did everyone just kind of shrug when they found out who Tolly was? How did Tolly qualify for a loan when he had no income?
Also, Leigh lived in an apartment building and had many neighbors asking for his assistance in fixing electronics and appliances, yet the hallways and pool were always empty. Somehow Leigh could carry Tolly in his true form wrapped in a blanket all the way to the pool without anyone noticing.
Don't get me wrong. I didn't hate this story. I adored selfless, kind Tolly, with his formal way of speaking and movie quotes. He loved Leigh and desperately wanted a forever with him. I'm rounding up my rating for Tolly alone.
This book was not what I expected. For one, the mobster plot involving Sweeney and the Morettis read like a bad episode of The Sopranos.
Leigh was not a particularly likeable MC. He was casually cruel in his treatment of Tolly for most of the story. His change of heart came at the end when it was almost too late.
The steam was very muted and not particularly romantic. I mean, yeah, sometimes you want to get down to business, but penetrative sex was all the MCs did; there was no mention of any kind of foreplay.
Furthermore, I couldn't overlook certain oddities:
Why did everyone have such bizarrely old-fashioned names (Alvin, Arthur, Cary, Ralph, Gertrude, Garfield)? How was Leigh going to leave the mob when his best friend was still in that life? How were the detectives put off so easily time and again? Why did everyone just kind of shrug when they found out who Tolly was? How did Tolly qualify for a loan when he had no income?
Also, Leigh lived in an apartment building and had many neighbors asking for his assistance in fixing electronics and appliances, yet the hallways and pool were always empty. Somehow Leigh could carry Tolly in his true form wrapped in a blanket all the way to the pool without anyone noticing.
Don't get me wrong. I didn't hate this story. I adored selfless, kind Tolly, with his formal way of speaking and movie quotes. He loved Leigh and desperately wanted a forever with him. I'm rounding up my rating for Tolly alone.
Want to read
October 30, 2020Price drop to $0.99 at Amazon US, 10/30/20!
April 21, 2019
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
~
Coming Up for Air, by Amanda Meuwissen
★★☆☆☆
200 Pages
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
DNF'd at 23%
This is my first book by this author and, to be honest, I feel like the odd one out, because everyone I know who has read this so far is raving about it. But it just left me feeling...disappointed. Their rave reviews had me hoping for an epic romance with merman magic and a mafia side-story, but what I got was...confused and rushed and lacking.
For me, the writing started off choppy. It was a bit all over the place, in the first chapter. I felt like it was an ABC lead up to the whole merman part of the story, that it was just a means to an end. There was a lack of flow, a huge amount of info dump for things that we didn't really need to know in that moment, and it didn't feel like Leigh actually cared that he was dying. There was no panic, just a half-hearted attempt to save himself and a whole lot of thinking about “what if” that felt just as perfunctory and half-hearted.
From reading the blurb, I kind of expected to start off with Leigh committing his crime and getting caught, that being saved by the merman would be a big deal. Instead, page 1 begins with Leigh already in the water and giving us a second-hand account of how he got there. Then, he calmly thinks about all the stuff that went wrong, who was responsible, what kind of person he is, and uses a lot of casual sarcasm to offer a “damn, if only I'd” rundown of info dumping. The whole thing felt very blasé.
Then, after spending 4 pages on Leigh being in the water, only half a page was given to being saved by a merman, and most of that was thought-processing. Such as erroneously admitting that he wasn't worth saving because he didn't believe in love. *sigh* I knew that from the blurb. I'm pretty sure it didn't need to be added here, when it could have been more naturally mentioned later. But, that pretty much sums up my problems with the storytelling of this book – there's a lot being thrown at us, at breakneck speed, that isn't really relevant. The total sum of all we see of Tolly in the 'saving' event is Leigh thinking he's imagining a pretty face, a basic kiss and suddenly he's saved.
Which brings me to the seriously lack of logic of it all. Because, Leigh is sent to swim with the fishes by a mobster, which is the entire plot of how he and Tolly meet. Fine. But, then he proves that he doesn't have a single brain in his body, because the moment he's saved, he does EVERYTHING possible to let the mobsters know that he's still alive!
1) once saved, he doesn't even attempt to lie low, he just gets up and walks home 2) where he casually showers, goes to sleep, and doesn't even consider his safety. 3) In the morning, he opens his door to anyone and everyone who knocks, only bothering to use the spyhole ONCE and 4) doesn't stop to contemplate whether the mobster knows where he lives or not until AFTER three people have traipsed into and out of his apartment 5) then walks brazenly down the street to a club 6) answers a phone call from his parole officer 7) takes an order from his mob boss that he should lay-low and pretend to be DEAD, as though he really did drown in the ocean, BUT still decides to 8) linger on the street to talk to police detectives, out in the open 9) and stop to talk to a local business owner.
For a guy who is in danger of being caught by a mobster and potentially killed a second time – and who has just agreed to pretend he's been dead all along – not one second of this makes sense! He's not concerned about his safety other to look vaguely worried at Tolly, every now and then. He isn't looking over his shoulder at every step. He isn't concerned that everyone is a potential spy for the mobsters and that someone will see him, recognise him, and report back that he's not dead after all. There is ZERO thought process about his safety. Yet he tells everyone he meets that he's in trouble and might be in danger. Yet there is NO sign from Leigh that it's actually true.
Sadly, everything that might be intriguing about the plot is given away in the blurb. Which covers the first 6% of the book. Everything in the blurb has happened by that point, or has been explained. The only thing we don't know by this point is what Tolly's secret is, but I also didn't really care.
Truthfully, I was ready and prepared to DNF this book at 5%, because it didn't flow, it didn't make sense, and it was rushing towards something that ended up not having the impact it should have. The story was so rushed that there was no time to care about Leigh or want to see him be saved, or care about the fact that he was saved by Tolly and to want them to be together.
I told myself that I wouldn't DNF a book this early. Not when it's less than 200 pages. I usually always try to give a book 10% of the page count to draw me in. So, I figured I'd push through to 10% and hope for the best. But things weren't adding up.
Leigh wasn't an interesting or warm character. He didn't tug at my heart-strings, he didn't make me care about his life. Tolly did that, in Chapter 2, but by then I'd already seen so much that was illogical and rushed that I didn't feel comfortable with the story. And I had no clue where it was leading. Especially when Tolly is insta-love about Leigh, but Leigh is luke-warm at best about him, in return. It didn't help that, when faced with a supposedly fairytale creature like Tolly, Leigh's first question is “where is your d*ick?” I mean, seriously? This guy saved his life with a kiss, has a tail, and has vowed to protect him always, wants to be with him forever, and that's his first thought? *sigh* No. Sorry. Doesn't exactly endear me to Leigh.
Then, for the first 20% of the book, there is ZERO chemistry between them. Every ounce of flirting, smiles, connection or whatever you want to call it, comes from Tolly, but is never returned. In fact, by the time I stopped reading, they hadn't shared a single kiss, except the Breath of Life that saved Leigh's life in the river. So...yup. Not feeling the love, here.
I didn't lose interest in the book. I never had interest in it.
Despite the beautiful cover, the intriguing blurb, the potential of the story, it failed to make an impact on me. And, sure, I'm the odd one out, but I can't pretend to like a book I don't. I didn't feel any of the “magic” that everyone else did. Just a lot of rushing from A to B to C, all in pursuit of some goal that wasn't made clear, while random people barged in to interrupt at various intervals, and Tolly struggled to understand a world that Leigh didn't even begin to help him see clearly.
There was no romance. No intrigue. The mafia plot was weak. And the writing wasn't my cup of tea. It didn't even attempt to convince me that Leigh deserved Tolly, or try to make me root for him. And, for being so fast-paced, nothing happened. There were unnecessary interruptions to a story that was already rolling off the tracks, in an attempt to show us what a good guy Leigh was, but I just didn't care. I was never given the chance to.
From page 1, Coming Up For Air failed to grab me, failed to make sense, rushed in at a mile a minute, and didn't give me a chance to breathe. Of everyone, I was the one who needed to come up for air and, to do that, it meant putting the book down.
~
Coming Up for Air, by Amanda Meuwissen
★★☆☆☆
200 Pages
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
DNF'd at 23%
This is my first book by this author and, to be honest, I feel like the odd one out, because everyone I know who has read this so far is raving about it. But it just left me feeling...disappointed. Their rave reviews had me hoping for an epic romance with merman magic and a mafia side-story, but what I got was...confused and rushed and lacking.
For me, the writing started off choppy. It was a bit all over the place, in the first chapter. I felt like it was an ABC lead up to the whole merman part of the story, that it was just a means to an end. There was a lack of flow, a huge amount of info dump for things that we didn't really need to know in that moment, and it didn't feel like Leigh actually cared that he was dying. There was no panic, just a half-hearted attempt to save himself and a whole lot of thinking about “what if” that felt just as perfunctory and half-hearted.
From reading the blurb, I kind of expected to start off with Leigh committing his crime and getting caught, that being saved by the merman would be a big deal. Instead, page 1 begins with Leigh already in the water and giving us a second-hand account of how he got there. Then, he calmly thinks about all the stuff that went wrong, who was responsible, what kind of person he is, and uses a lot of casual sarcasm to offer a “damn, if only I'd” rundown of info dumping. The whole thing felt very blasé.
Then, after spending 4 pages on Leigh being in the water, only half a page was given to being saved by a merman, and most of that was thought-processing. Such as erroneously admitting that he wasn't worth saving because he didn't believe in love. *sigh* I knew that from the blurb. I'm pretty sure it didn't need to be added here, when it could have been more naturally mentioned later. But, that pretty much sums up my problems with the storytelling of this book – there's a lot being thrown at us, at breakneck speed, that isn't really relevant. The total sum of all we see of Tolly in the 'saving' event is Leigh thinking he's imagining a pretty face, a basic kiss and suddenly he's saved.
Which brings me to the seriously lack of logic of it all. Because, Leigh is sent to swim with the fishes by a mobster, which is the entire plot of how he and Tolly meet. Fine. But, then he proves that he doesn't have a single brain in his body, because the moment he's saved, he does EVERYTHING possible to let the mobsters know that he's still alive!
1) once saved, he doesn't even attempt to lie low, he just gets up and walks home 2) where he casually showers, goes to sleep, and doesn't even consider his safety. 3) In the morning, he opens his door to anyone and everyone who knocks, only bothering to use the spyhole ONCE and 4) doesn't stop to contemplate whether the mobster knows where he lives or not until AFTER three people have traipsed into and out of his apartment 5) then walks brazenly down the street to a club 6) answers a phone call from his parole officer 7) takes an order from his mob boss that he should lay-low and pretend to be DEAD, as though he really did drown in the ocean, BUT still decides to 8) linger on the street to talk to police detectives, out in the open 9) and stop to talk to a local business owner.
For a guy who is in danger of being caught by a mobster and potentially killed a second time – and who has just agreed to pretend he's been dead all along – not one second of this makes sense! He's not concerned about his safety other to look vaguely worried at Tolly, every now and then. He isn't looking over his shoulder at every step. He isn't concerned that everyone is a potential spy for the mobsters and that someone will see him, recognise him, and report back that he's not dead after all. There is ZERO thought process about his safety. Yet he tells everyone he meets that he's in trouble and might be in danger. Yet there is NO sign from Leigh that it's actually true.
Sadly, everything that might be intriguing about the plot is given away in the blurb. Which covers the first 6% of the book. Everything in the blurb has happened by that point, or has been explained. The only thing we don't know by this point is what Tolly's secret is, but I also didn't really care.
Truthfully, I was ready and prepared to DNF this book at 5%, because it didn't flow, it didn't make sense, and it was rushing towards something that ended up not having the impact it should have. The story was so rushed that there was no time to care about Leigh or want to see him be saved, or care about the fact that he was saved by Tolly and to want them to be together.
I told myself that I wouldn't DNF a book this early. Not when it's less than 200 pages. I usually always try to give a book 10% of the page count to draw me in. So, I figured I'd push through to 10% and hope for the best. But things weren't adding up.
Leigh wasn't an interesting or warm character. He didn't tug at my heart-strings, he didn't make me care about his life. Tolly did that, in Chapter 2, but by then I'd already seen so much that was illogical and rushed that I didn't feel comfortable with the story. And I had no clue where it was leading. Especially when Tolly is insta-love about Leigh, but Leigh is luke-warm at best about him, in return. It didn't help that, when faced with a supposedly fairytale creature like Tolly, Leigh's first question is “where is your d*ick?” I mean, seriously? This guy saved his life with a kiss, has a tail, and has vowed to protect him always, wants to be with him forever, and that's his first thought? *sigh* No. Sorry. Doesn't exactly endear me to Leigh.
Then, for the first 20% of the book, there is ZERO chemistry between them. Every ounce of flirting, smiles, connection or whatever you want to call it, comes from Tolly, but is never returned. In fact, by the time I stopped reading, they hadn't shared a single kiss, except the Breath of Life that saved Leigh's life in the river. So...yup. Not feeling the love, here.
I didn't lose interest in the book. I never had interest in it.
Despite the beautiful cover, the intriguing blurb, the potential of the story, it failed to make an impact on me. And, sure, I'm the odd one out, but I can't pretend to like a book I don't. I didn't feel any of the “magic” that everyone else did. Just a lot of rushing from A to B to C, all in pursuit of some goal that wasn't made clear, while random people barged in to interrupt at various intervals, and Tolly struggled to understand a world that Leigh didn't even begin to help him see clearly.
There was no romance. No intrigue. The mafia plot was weak. And the writing wasn't my cup of tea. It didn't even attempt to convince me that Leigh deserved Tolly, or try to make me root for him. And, for being so fast-paced, nothing happened. There were unnecessary interruptions to a story that was already rolling off the tracks, in an attempt to show us what a good guy Leigh was, but I just didn't care. I was never given the chance to.
From page 1, Coming Up For Air failed to grab me, failed to make sense, rushed in at a mile a minute, and didn't give me a chance to breathe. Of everyone, I was the one who needed to come up for air and, to do that, it meant putting the book down.
August 31, 2023
3 'mafia mermaids' stars
Ok, it wasn't exactly mafiamermaids mermen merfolk, whatever, more like half the story was mafia and the other half merfolk and they didn't exactly mixed together well.
But that wasn't really my main issue, it was just that I was extremly bored. I couldn't care about Leigh and Tolly even if I tried. And all the movie references got on my nerves.
Also, I expected more heath or passion but all I got was some very vanilla action and weird mermen sex that was surprisingly... sweet!? Is it too much to ask for some monster porn when you have a sexy cover like that?? (Btw, 1+ star is for the cover.) And I did google shark penis, I mean, of course I did. Don't ask.
Ok, it wasn't exactly mafia
But that wasn't really my main issue, it was just that I was extremly bored. I couldn't care about Leigh and Tolly even if I tried. And all the movie references got on my nerves.
Also, I expected more heath or passion but all I got was some very vanilla action and weird mermen sex that was surprisingly... sweet!? Is it too much to ask for some monster porn when you have a sexy cover like that?? (Btw, 1+ star is for the cover.) And I did google shark penis, I mean, of course I did. Don't ask.
December 27, 2020
Perfect Merman Tale! I loved how each detail unraveled from how Tolly saved Leigh to how their story was resolved in the end. This year has blessed me with discovering a lot of new authors, whose books transported me somewhere new and made me forget even for a while the worries and problems we face every day. Amanda Meuwissen is up there on the list, I'm so glad I found her. I owe it to my friends here in GR and their fabulous reviews, I ended up picking this book to read and it was worth it.
May 1, 2019
Sighs* what a book. Where do I start? Ok, so merfolk. Perfect right? And this book had everything. Death, hope, love, angst and a lovely ending. Characters who, by all rights, shouldn't hope for the good, but strive for better. For love and happiness and a life well lived.
Trying to find a way out of this life of crime is nearly impossible. It definitely is now that Leigh is on his way down to his death with cement bricks. But out of nowhere, he sees a face and soon is on the beach, alive. He goes home to crash, hoping he's safe for the night, since no one expects him to be alive. The next day brings a surprise. A beautiful man named Tolly. The one who saved him. The one he has a bond with now and a secret or two. Surely, mermaids are real, right? But Leigh sees Tolly in the flesh. Tolly becomes Leigh's bodyguard, friend and lover and hopes one day soon Leigh will love him and seal the pact. But Leigh is caught in the middle of some mob wars, and everyone seems to want him dead. Leigh also doesn't believe much in love, at least not the words. Between people trying to kill them, and Leigh's fears, Tolly may not get the love he desires and needs. And if he doesn't, he will never be able to stay. Time is running out and it's going to be a toss up what will become the winner.
Maaaaannnnn. Could this be anymore heartbreaking??? Tolly finally having a chance at the love he desires with someone he has grown to love deeply himself. But fear keeps it from coming true. Hoping every day the actions he sees, will become the words he needs to here. Knowing each day is closer and closer to him going away for good. He can't say anything for several reasons, so what does he do? Oh gah, I wanted to hug him so hard.
But I understood Leigh's view of things, too. Growing up being constantly told love is no good, seeing the constant backstabbing and hatred and the life of crime everywhere, tends to leave someone cynical and skeptical. He doesn't know how to let go of the fear to fully love someone. Or so he thought.
It's amazing how quickly our fears can dissolve when we are losing the one thing that matters more than anything. It's so hard to let go when it's staring us in the face. But if we want to keep it, we have to grow and move forward, no matter how hard it may be. These guys, with their backgrounds, had every reason to scoff and say forget it. But together they found something in each other that they never found anywhere else. Even at the scary times. It's a tearjerker and angsty, but it's beautiful as well. It's a good story and one I think you all will love.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
Trying to find a way out of this life of crime is nearly impossible. It definitely is now that Leigh is on his way down to his death with cement bricks. But out of nowhere, he sees a face and soon is on the beach, alive. He goes home to crash, hoping he's safe for the night, since no one expects him to be alive. The next day brings a surprise. A beautiful man named Tolly. The one who saved him. The one he has a bond with now and a secret or two. Surely, mermaids are real, right? But Leigh sees Tolly in the flesh. Tolly becomes Leigh's bodyguard, friend and lover and hopes one day soon Leigh will love him and seal the pact. But Leigh is caught in the middle of some mob wars, and everyone seems to want him dead. Leigh also doesn't believe much in love, at least not the words. Between people trying to kill them, and Leigh's fears, Tolly may not get the love he desires and needs. And if he doesn't, he will never be able to stay. Time is running out and it's going to be a toss up what will become the winner.
Maaaaannnnn. Could this be anymore heartbreaking??? Tolly finally having a chance at the love he desires with someone he has grown to love deeply himself. But fear keeps it from coming true. Hoping every day the actions he sees, will become the words he needs to here. Knowing each day is closer and closer to him going away for good. He can't say anything for several reasons, so what does he do? Oh gah, I wanted to hug him so hard.
But I understood Leigh's view of things, too. Growing up being constantly told love is no good, seeing the constant backstabbing and hatred and the life of crime everywhere, tends to leave someone cynical and skeptical. He doesn't know how to let go of the fear to fully love someone. Or so he thought.
It's amazing how quickly our fears can dissolve when we are losing the one thing that matters more than anything. It's so hard to let go when it's staring us in the face. But if we want to keep it, we have to grow and move forward, no matter how hard it may be. These guys, with their backgrounds, had every reason to scoff and say forget it. But together they found something in each other that they never found anywhere else. Even at the scary times. It's a tearjerker and angsty, but it's beautiful as well. It's a good story and one I think you all will love.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
April 30, 2019
Coming up for Air was like a modern retelling of a fairytale but at the same time was not. I'll explain.
It was fairytale-ish because of the conditions surrounding Tolly's acquisition of legs but at the same time NOT because the merfolk in this story were not the "bursting into song" type but were vicious warrior-like people. Tolly was the outsider because of his innate goodness and kindness.
Leigh was also not a Prince but someone caught in a difficult situation trying to make a better life for himself and struggling to just...survive.He even refused to believe in love because of his bastard of a father but he also had innate goodness he couldn't run from.
As you can tell, the meeting of these two people this set the stage for quite a story with fierce merfolk, their machinations, betrayals and ultimately, the discovery of love. I greatly enjoyed everything about this (yes even the freaky deaky "mersex") and found the reading experience great.
The secondary characters were great as well with special mention going to Alvin whose sense of humour and ridiculous nicknames for Tolly made me crackup every time they were uttered.
I wish the whole Sweeney thing was resolved better because I doubted Alvin really wanted to live the same life of crime his dad was involved in. I also wished we got to know how his budding relationship with Cary fared. These should've at least been addressed and closed off but were left open ended which was a bit of a disappointment.
Aside from the points made above and as I said earlier, this was a good book. If you want something sweet but with a little kick, definitely read this. You'll not be disappointed.
*** eARC was Graciously Provided By The Publisher, DreamSpinner Press In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased, Review ***
It was fairytale-ish because of the conditions surrounding Tolly's acquisition of legs but at the same time NOT because the merfolk in this story were not the "bursting into song" type but were vicious warrior-like people. Tolly was the outsider because of his innate goodness and kindness.
Leigh was also not a Prince but someone caught in a difficult situation trying to make a better life for himself and struggling to just...survive.He even refused to believe in love because of his bastard of a father but he also had innate goodness he couldn't run from.
As you can tell, the meeting of these two people this set the stage for quite a story with fierce merfolk, their machinations, betrayals and ultimately, the discovery of love. I greatly enjoyed everything about this (yes even the freaky deaky "mersex") and found the reading experience great.
The secondary characters were great as well with special mention going to Alvin whose sense of humour and ridiculous nicknames for Tolly made me crackup every time they were uttered.
I wish the whole Sweeney thing was resolved better because I doubted Alvin really wanted to live the same life of crime his dad was involved in. I also wished we got to know how his budding relationship with Cary fared. These should've at least been addressed and closed off but were left open ended which was a bit of a disappointment.
Aside from the points made above and as I said earlier, this was a good book. If you want something sweet but with a little kick, definitely read this. You'll not be disappointed.
*** eARC was Graciously Provided By The Publisher, DreamSpinner Press In Exchange For An Honest, Unbiased, Review ***
November 22, 2021
I was hoping for some mermaid smut but instead got a sweet , flower child fishboy and his soul mate and I'm not mad about it.
July 13, 2022
"I believe in lust at first sight and love over time. [...] You want to love him, you gotta earn that."
I enjoyed this overall. Was a quick and easy read. However, there was a lot that I didn't enjoy too, and a lot that was unnecessary and/or made no sense.
I really wish there had been a warning or something in the summary about all the children. They were a huge downside for me. The MCs even babysit a couple times. Ugh. They were a lot bigger part of this than I thought they needed to be. And, yes, I am super biased.
Everyone, and I mean everyone was okay with Tolly being merfolk. Barely blinked an eye over it. It's a short story, however, so sure, fine. But talk about not being able to keep a secret! No one can know about my true form but let's show everyone!
I did, however, really love the merfolk lore and all that entailed down to why they're called 'merfolk' instead of 'mermaid or merman.' The merfolk penis was... interesting. And Tolly's abilities were a bit too convenient at times.
The ending was just too OTT. Everything too neatly wrapped up. Too unbelievable. Especially Tolly's gift to Leigh in the end with no income. And Leigh just suddenly getting over his fears from childhood trauma.
The crime bits were a good way for Leigh and Tolly to get to know each other. But soo ridiculous on so many aspects. Soo many. I did like how Leigh and Tolly started as friends and then moved from there. They were rather transparent with each other about their wants and that was a good touch. There were also some funny moments throughout. Mostly with Tolly and how he speaks, lol. Loved it. Tolly really made the book here.
I'd read the author again but with lower expectations.
"You aren't terrible. Startling maybe. Your tail is gorgeous. It's the fact that you have one that I'm having trouble with."
Leigh's Fix-It Shop--We can fix anything but a broken heart.
Ugh. Come on! I can't with this.
"Were you two having freaky mermaid sex down there? Love the tail, by the way, and only slightly jealous."
Why was everyone so chill with everything!? Best friend turning into a merfolk, had no idea he could do that, first time seeing it, but no big deal. I'm just going to make fun of him instead. Suuure.
May 7, 2019
Overall I felt like I’d just read something written by a starry-eyed young adult. That’s really all I can think to say. Moving on...
September 13, 2020
Oh heavens, this was so wonderful. I'm a sucker for mermaid books in general and this one was a breath of fresh air. EVERYONE SHOULD READ IT. PERIOD.
We have Tolomeo (aka Tolly) - gorgeous, incredibly strong (even if he doesn't look like it), a protector, full of patience, and above all: fierce. Tolly is merfolk, he saves Leigh from drowning and by doing this, he has one month to make Leigh fall in love with him. Because of how the 'deal' works, Tolly cannot tell Leigh everything, he puts a face and becomes a gentle mermaid (so unlike his real self: a hunter and killer with a monster-like appearance) Within this month, he needs a vow of true love from Leigh.
Then, we have Williams (aka Leigh) - thief, good with electronics, rejects everything with love, a good neighbor, and overall a good boy with a bad past. Leigh is saved by Tolly and they establish a 'friendship' that little by little becomes love - even when Leigh doesn't say so in words.
This is an 'insta-love' but not in the way I usually see in other books. Tolly is naive, soft, and almost innocent in his approach to Leigh but at the same time, he's straight-forward and sincere (except for the whole monster thing). He doesn't push, understands how Leigh is not ready for the 'I love you' but at the same time through his actions and soft understanding words, he establishes a friendship with Leigh that becomes love.
I loved the plot in this book, we have action, amazing friends, good neighbors, a backstory of merfolks who are hunters and killers, not the usual fluff mermaids I see in other books. If I go deep into this review, I will spoil everything. Just read it.
We have Tolomeo (aka Tolly) - gorgeous, incredibly strong (even if he doesn't look like it), a protector, full of patience, and above all: fierce. Tolly is merfolk, he saves Leigh from drowning and by doing this, he has one month to make Leigh fall in love with him. Because of how the 'deal' works, Tolly cannot tell Leigh everything, he puts a face and becomes a gentle mermaid (so unlike his real self: a hunter and killer with a monster-like appearance) Within this month, he needs a vow of true love from Leigh.
Then, we have Williams (aka Leigh) - thief, good with electronics, rejects everything with love, a good neighbor, and overall a good boy with a bad past. Leigh is saved by Tolly and they establish a 'friendship' that little by little becomes love - even when Leigh doesn't say so in words.
This is an 'insta-love' but not in the way I usually see in other books. Tolly is naive, soft, and almost innocent in his approach to Leigh but at the same time, he's straight-forward and sincere (except for the whole monster thing). He doesn't push, understands how Leigh is not ready for the 'I love you' but at the same time through his actions and soft understanding words, he establishes a friendship with Leigh that becomes love.
I loved the plot in this book, we have action, amazing friends, good neighbors, a backstory of merfolks who are hunters and killers, not the usual fluff mermaids I see in other books. If I go deep into this review, I will spoil everything. Just read it.
June 26, 2019
There are two versions of merfolk in fairy tales: the sweet and gentle kind as promoted by Disney, and the cruel type who are killers of humans. Tolomeo (Tolly) is definitely no fluffy creature, even though he has to follow the fairy tale rule of finding love with the human he has kissed or face execution. As such he is a good match for Leigh, a would-be gangster trying to better himself and not exactly the type who trusts or loves easily. In tune with this theme of opposites from different worlds needing to find a way to coexist, the story starts with a bang when gangsters throw Leigh into the river and he almost drowns. The pacing is pretty fast throughout and there are some unexpected twists and turns, which makes this novel an interesting mix of fairy tale and action/adventure/thriller. Still, the overall feel of this story remains that of a fairy tale set in the modern world – though it is definitely the adult kind!
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
April 30, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
2.25 stars
I was expecting this book to be great. I mean, I hope all books will be, but with this one I really expected a great story with merfolk. This book was not to my liking at all. I did not like either of the characters, nor did I care for the overall story and this was a huge disappointment for me.
When we meet up with Leigh, he is being thrown into the river. His mob dealings veered off and he angered the wrong people. Enter Tolly to save him. Tolly is miserably unhappy and given the way the merfolk are described, it’s understandable. The only allies he had, his parents and few friends, have been killed and Tolly has no one in the entire merfolk race. This background made it seem like Tolly just wanted to find love in the worst way, rather than that Leigh was his soulmate as we are told and I did not feel anything between these guys.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
2.25 stars
I was expecting this book to be great. I mean, I hope all books will be, but with this one I really expected a great story with merfolk. This book was not to my liking at all. I did not like either of the characters, nor did I care for the overall story and this was a huge disappointment for me.
When we meet up with Leigh, he is being thrown into the river. His mob dealings veered off and he angered the wrong people. Enter Tolly to save him. Tolly is miserably unhappy and given the way the merfolk are described, it’s understandable. The only allies he had, his parents and few friends, have been killed and Tolly has no one in the entire merfolk race. This background made it seem like Tolly just wanted to find love in the worst way, rather than that Leigh was his soulmate as we are told and I did not feel anything between these guys.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
April 7, 2019
The fact that there’s a merefolk in the cover of the book, should make a fair warning to keep myself away from it, but the author’s name ring a bell and I wanted to give it a chance. I’m glad I didn’t follow my usual line of reading and give the book an opportunity. I had a wonderful time reading it.
This being a new to me author and a subject I don’t really enjoy, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The book had a sweeter tone than I thought, which was lovely. It was mostly Tolly who charmed me. He was an adorable character and the whole history behind his kin was so interesting. I couldn’t get enough of it. It had a good plot. It keep my attention the whole time. The pace is steady with some few moments of action, not the best, but still somehow believable and enjoyable.
The chemistry between main characters is nice, but I found so much easy to believe in Tolly’s feelings. That was one of the few issues I had with the book, the time given to develop Tolly’s personality and back history is very enthralling but I didn’t’see the same effort on Leigh. He felt underdevelop, even though I get it, a merefolk is much more interesting than a human, but the emotions were the same. I got little connection with Leigh’s feelings. I still believe they care for each other, and they definitely made a beautiful couple. The secondary characters are also nice and made a beautiful support system.
I wouldn’t hesitate on recommend it, especially to readers who enjoy fantasy. As I mention I don’t really like merefolk books, and yet I really liked this one.
This being a new to me author and a subject I don’t really enjoy, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The book had a sweeter tone than I thought, which was lovely. It was mostly Tolly who charmed me. He was an adorable character and the whole history behind his kin was so interesting. I couldn’t get enough of it. It had a good plot. It keep my attention the whole time. The pace is steady with some few moments of action, not the best, but still somehow believable and enjoyable.
The chemistry between main characters is nice, but I found so much easy to believe in Tolly’s feelings. That was one of the few issues I had with the book, the time given to develop Tolly’s personality and back history is very enthralling but I didn’t’see the same effort on Leigh. He felt underdevelop, even though I get it, a merefolk is much more interesting than a human, but the emotions were the same. I got little connection with Leigh’s feelings. I still believe they care for each other, and they definitely made a beautiful couple. The secondary characters are also nice and made a beautiful support system.
I wouldn’t hesitate on recommend it, especially to readers who enjoy fantasy. As I mention I don’t really like merefolk books, and yet I really liked this one.
April 23, 2019
3.5 stars - I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This is the story of a mermaid who falls in love with the man he rescues from drowning. It’s also a complicated story of rival crime gangs in a crumbling neighbourhood. I have to admit that I requested this book because of the pretty cover and the organised crime element of the mermaid romance was surprising. And while I liked the action in this book, I was more into the mermaid stuff than the crime thriller.
The merfolk in this book owe more to Homer than Disney. At one point, Tolly’s acknowledges that the mermaids he knows are more like the sirens who lure sailors to their deaths for fun than the beautiful creatures we usually imagine. I like the dark twist on the fairytale and I love the PNR worldbuilding in this story. Tolly himself is a fascinating mix of light and dark. He’s slight and beautiful until he’s the monster from our nightmares. I really enjoyed the complexity of his character.
Leigh isn’t quite as interesting as Tolly. Trapped in a life of crime, Leigh is desperate to get out but he can’t see a way to go straight. I liked his careful scheming and planning but I didn’t feel much of a connection to him.
The romance between Tolly and Leigh doesn’t work very well for me. It feels more convenient than fated at times and I’m really not sure what the two men have in common. There’s also not much romance as these two dodge bullets and try to outsmart the crimelords. There’s a definite sexual connection between them but I don’t feel the romance.
Finally, the writing in this story really made my head spin. Dialogue is choppy and unnatural. Descriptions are unnecessarily flowery and sometimes pointless. Did Leigh really need to point out that his mermaid boyfriend is a good swimmer? I liked the story in this book but I really didn’t get on with the writing at all. This might be a personal preference but I’d encourage readers to download a sample before purchasing this book.
This is the story of a mermaid who falls in love with the man he rescues from drowning. It’s also a complicated story of rival crime gangs in a crumbling neighbourhood. I have to admit that I requested this book because of the pretty cover and the organised crime element of the mermaid romance was surprising. And while I liked the action in this book, I was more into the mermaid stuff than the crime thriller.
The merfolk in this book owe more to Homer than Disney. At one point, Tolly’s acknowledges that the mermaids he knows are more like the sirens who lure sailors to their deaths for fun than the beautiful creatures we usually imagine. I like the dark twist on the fairytale and I love the PNR worldbuilding in this story. Tolly himself is a fascinating mix of light and dark. He’s slight and beautiful until he’s the monster from our nightmares. I really enjoyed the complexity of his character.
Leigh isn’t quite as interesting as Tolly. Trapped in a life of crime, Leigh is desperate to get out but he can’t see a way to go straight. I liked his careful scheming and planning but I didn’t feel much of a connection to him.
The romance between Tolly and Leigh doesn’t work very well for me. It feels more convenient than fated at times and I’m really not sure what the two men have in common. There’s also not much romance as these two dodge bullets and try to outsmart the crimelords. There’s a definite sexual connection between them but I don’t feel the romance.
Finally, the writing in this story really made my head spin. Dialogue is choppy and unnatural. Descriptions are unnecessarily flowery and sometimes pointless. Did Leigh really need to point out that his mermaid boyfriend is a good swimmer? I liked the story in this book but I really didn’t get on with the writing at all. This might be a personal preference but I’d encourage readers to download a sample before purchasing this book.
December 4, 2019
*A copy was provided by the author for free in exchange for an honest review*
A really pretty sweet story for all the "action" scenes. I really bought into the couple and Tolly's devotion to Leigh. It felt real, and while instant didn't feel shallow or empty. The action is handled pretty well and made sense for the story. I love the angst, it was really sad though I expected a happy resolution of course. I wasn't disappointed. I will say, I didn't fully connect with everything as much as I wouldn't liked, but I still enjoyed it mostly. There's nothing I can point to to say "this, I didn't like." So *shrug*.
A really pretty sweet story for all the "action" scenes. I really bought into the couple and Tolly's devotion to Leigh. It felt real, and while instant didn't feel shallow or empty. The action is handled pretty well and made sense for the story. I love the angst, it was really sad though I expected a happy resolution of course. I wasn't disappointed. I will say, I didn't fully connect with everything as much as I wouldn't liked, but I still enjoyed it mostly. There's nothing I can point to to say "this, I didn't like." So *shrug*.
December 8, 2020
I’ll call it an okay read at best.
The story was not very well constructed in my opinion and the ending was quite cliche and predictable.
There wasn’t much going on with the characters and I felt like they were a bit bland and there was literally no element of surprise on their faces when they discover Tolly’s (one of the MCs) true form.
Overall, it wasn’t something that blew my socks off which I guess wasn’t very far off from my initial expectations.
The story was not very well constructed in my opinion and the ending was quite cliche and predictable.
There wasn’t much going on with the characters and I felt like they were a bit bland and there was literally no element of surprise on their faces when they discover Tolly’s (one of the MCs) true form.
Overall, it wasn’t something that blew my socks off which I guess wasn’t very far off from my initial expectations.
Read
March 1, 2021DNF at 20%. Just not feelin it.
I’m feeling too ambivalent to invest the time to explain why it wasn’t working for me but Elaine’s review perfectly reflects my reasoning.
I’m feeling too ambivalent to invest the time to explain why it wasn’t working for me but Elaine’s review perfectly reflects my reasoning.
December 18, 2020
Omg ..I am totally in love with this fairy tale retake!!!!
I loved the book so much . Tolly and Leigh were perfect for each other and their band of family ..adorable.
Tolly was sometimes much more adorable.
I loved the book so much . Tolly and Leigh were perfect for each other and their band of family ..adorable.
Tolly was sometimes much more adorable.
May 7, 2019
For once, the cover art accurately reflects the quality of the literary product it advertizes. We are dealing here with a gaudy, off-kilter offering that attempts too hard to wrestle a drop of originality from the bottom of the thematic barrel it is busily scrapping throughout while losing sight of entirely too many plot holes, convenient coincidences, and loose ends to make any claim to cogency. Not only do the various strata of this novel never really manage to gel and fall neatly into place; almost everything feels either cheap and generic or cartoonish because the entire web of situations, the places, and all the characters have been tailor-made not to better the plot line but to accommodate its basic preposterousness. Magical realism is something notoriously hard to achieve, so most authors who dab into urban fantasy, whenever they add a paranormal twist to it, are just content to bend the rules of verisimilitude until they fit their universe; not so Mrs Meuwissen, who does not hesitate to blend in utterly jarring fashion noir elements whitewashed in the extreme (her mobsters and crime runners are mere plot conveniences, the mostly dilapidated city the action takes place in reeks of an imaginative collapse, the human hero's doubling as a white hat rings hollow because his good deeds are jejune or far-fetched) with merman lore that is not toned down in the least and whose sheer seriousness, not to say: cruelty, clashes hideously with the pedestrian and breezily light, almost parodical, tone of the amorous adventures of both leads. How can the reader believe that very old sea magic is at work between Tolly and his human when the former talks and behaves as a character culled from a bad fanfiction (unless Leigh is in danger, in which case he reverts back to his true, savagery-prone, form) while the latter seldom, if ever, shows merit either as a decent guy or as a love interest, since he has been written as a set of contradictions? Despite a fairly articulate grasp of English, the writing and narrative values are simply not strong enough to create chemistry between those too and engineer suspense (some of the most important events are either treated offpage -- like Tolly giving Leigh the breath of life -- or nonchalantly despatched -- the supernatural threat to their pairing pops up and is dealt with in a matter of mere pages!); other reviewers have provided enough illustration of the maddening issues of illogical plotting and unsatisfactory treatment of situations for me to dispense with providing examples.
November 10, 2019
The reviews I had read for this one were highly positive and I missed getting an ARC, so when I had a chance (and time) I circled back around to Coming Up for Air and picked it up. This was pleasant and enjoyable read, with aspects of predictability and one nicely done small twist. For the 80's children reading this, you might find yourself reminiscing a bit over the movie "Splash" with Daryl Hanna and Tom Hanks. Mind, nowhere near the same plot, but still, modern day fairy tail. hehehehe
Premise of the book is Tolly saves Leigh from a watery death and Tolly now has 30 days in which Leigh must declare his love for Tolly, or Tolly faces his own death sentence. Leigh, a child of the streets is doing small crimes and thievery for his crime Boss. His Boss demands reparations for Leigh getting himself caught and demands Leigh kill the opposing crime lord. Both guys are facing their own death sentences and the clock is ticking.
I quite enjoyed Tolly and his outlook and personality and he, in my humble opinion, carried the story. Leigh...mmm, not so much. The "I'm not a good person," then going and watching the neighbors kids or helping fix someone's toaster didn't work for me. I understand that the author wanted to show Leigh has a heart of gold, but it didn't work for me.
I also struggled somewhat with the punishment fitting the crime - Leigh is a thief who was caught and tossed into the river. Sending him to kill the opposing crime boss really made no sense at all (other than it established the premise of the book). But that's probably more my quirk than anything else.
Ultimately, when all was said and read, this was an enjoyable modern day fairy tale with an optimistic merman, a thief, and a 30 day deadline to fall in love.
Premise of the book is Tolly saves Leigh from a watery death and Tolly now has 30 days in which Leigh must declare his love for Tolly, or Tolly faces his own death sentence. Leigh, a child of the streets is doing small crimes and thievery for his crime Boss. His Boss demands reparations for Leigh getting himself caught and demands Leigh kill the opposing crime lord. Both guys are facing their own death sentences and the clock is ticking.
I quite enjoyed Tolly and his outlook and personality and he, in my humble opinion, carried the story. Leigh...mmm, not so much. The "I'm not a good person," then going and watching the neighbors kids or helping fix someone's toaster didn't work for me. I understand that the author wanted to show Leigh has a heart of gold, but it didn't work for me.
I also struggled somewhat with the punishment fitting the crime - Leigh is a thief who was caught and tossed into the river. Sending him to kill the opposing crime boss really made no sense at all (other than it established the premise of the book). But that's probably more my quirk than anything else.
Ultimately, when all was said and read, this was an enjoyable modern day fairy tale with an optimistic merman, a thief, and a 30 day deadline to fall in love.
May 23, 2021
DNF @20%. This book is not for me. I can't stomach the juvenile writing, the info dump and shallow story telling. I know it's a fairy tale, but if it's targeted at adults, give your audience some credit. We're not children.
July 16, 2021
***3.5 stars***
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