The Mermaid Next Door

Midlife Mermaid #1

by H.P. Mallory, J.R. Rain

Being a mermaid isn’t all it’s cracked up to be...

In the underwater kingdom of Corsica, mermaids are the property of mermen. We’re considered valuable as breeders until we reach our mid-thirties, at which time we’re deemed no longer useful.

Good thing for me I’m forty, never had any children and I’m a widow. So, I can basically live my life as I see fit.

Until my husband’s younger brother, Cullen, decides to make me his wife… one of seven.

Cullen has a mean streak a mile wide and he’s always been obsessed with me—ever since we were young. Now that his older brother is out of the way, he recognizes his chance to finally possess me.

Only I’m the type of woman who won’t accept my fate so easily. No, I’m a fighter by nature so when it’s decreed that I should marry Cullen, I do the only thing I can do.

I escape. To the land.

Once I reach the shore, I’m facing a whole new and terrifyingly unfamiliar world. Luckily I’ve got the Siren’s Song which encourages humans to do whatever I want them to.

Except my song doesn’t work on one human male in particular, Sawyer Ray.

And Sawyer just happens to be the one man I need, because I’m fairly certain someone has come after me…

Genres: Fantasy, Mermaids, Romance, Paranormal, Audiobook, Fiction

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2021

About the author

I’m a huge fan of anything paranormal and I always have been. I get super excited whenever they have those Twilight Zone Marathon days and anything ghost or vampire related will always attract my attention.

My interests are varied but aside from writing, I’m most excited about traveling. I’m extremely fortunate to have been able to live in England and Scotland, both places really having a profound effect on my books.

Thanks for checking out my books and I hope you enjoy them! Happy Haunting!

H.P.

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: Better than I expected, though it did have some clichés and some errors. The focus is more on living the life you want than on romance – this makes it worth the read.

Story Synopsis:

Eva is in her forties, widowed, childless, on the curvier side of the scale. Unlike most female protagonists in this situation, Eva loves her life and the freedom that comes with it. However, when her late husband’s brother Cullen (who is a big jerk) decides that she’s his property and hence to become his latest wife, Eva decides to dash for freedom. She lands in an unknown place, where a woman named Wendy and a dog named Tom help her settle in and make a fresh start. But is Eva safe from Cullen in her new home?
The story comes to us in the first person perspective of Eva. Perhaps I should also mention, Eva is a mermaid. 😉

Where the book worked for me:
👍 Honestly, I was expecting a typical light chick-lit romance. So to see it cover serious themes was, in itself, a surprise. There’s no romance in the book, another plus for me.

👍 The mer culture is shown as highly misogynist and patriarchal, thereby leading to many discussions on the role and capabilities of women in society.

👍 The unusual protagonist makes for a novel experience. Not just the fact that she’s a mermaid, but also that she’s in her forties, she’s not looking for a life partner (at least at the start), she doesn’t regret not having children, and she’s curvy & proud of it. Her determination to live an independent life won me over.

👍 It’s a quick book, with not many complications and light on the mind.


Where the book could have worked better for me:
👎 The minute a hot mechanic enters the storyline (somewhere around the midway mark), it turns somewhat typical, with Eva lusting after him and his body. (Thankfully, he isn’t portrayed the same way.) I wish Eva could have maintained the same independent streak that she had until that point. This turned her into a typical romcom heroine, though the story doesn’t turn into a romantic one.

👎 There’s no consistency in what Eva knows about English. She knows what a knapsack is called but not what a dog is. She knows the word “faucet” but not the word “hotel.” Her vocabulary knowledge was very random.

👎 Eva is supposed to be from an underwater kingdom called Corsica. The humans may not know it as a mer residence, but surely they would have heard of the island of the same name in the Mediterranean region. How were they all so blank when they heard the name, going to the extent of asking if it was in Greece?

👎 The ending is very abrupt. It is clearly leading to the next book in the series. There’s no cliffhanger as such, but I would have preferred a better-rounded ending.


The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 4 hrs 10 min, is narrated by Kelley Huston. She does read well, though her accent wasn’t to my liking. Still, the audiobook is a nice option to explore this story.


All in all, this is a nice book that balances fun and seriousness. I loved how it stressed more on Eva’s finding her own freedom. If you can ignore the logical flaws, this can be a great entertainer. Recommended for a light-read mood day.

3.75 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook and these are my honest thoughts about it.




———————————————
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[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in Texas in the middle of the power crisis... and devoured this book as fast as I could before my battery was drained.... guys it is SOOOO good but it just ends.

I mean you are reading page after page... and then it ends on a cliffhanger.

Why oh why did you do that too me???

I loved all the characters. It was so much fun to read and I just loved the way mermaids are portrayed in this story.

Another fantastic collab by these two. I just cannot get enough right now!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the premise and the characters. Honestly, the whole thing until it just ended. Boom. Done. I definitely wanted more.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book I read awhile ago but didn't get reviewed on GR. I love this book. Especially since the character is older... the closer I get to 40 the more I appreciate books that have characters who are well... 40.

I love mermaid books. This one was pretty wild.... cause it was written in away that was believable. I mean as believable as mermaids can be!

Another great team up between two fantastic authors!

[Brandy Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! I am shocked at how this book read. I don't usually like Mermaid books but this one was pretty good. This book is part of the new sub-genre “Paranormal Women’s Fiction”. Meaning women of 40 paranormal fiction.

We meet Eve in this story. She has not had it easy lately and it seems she isn't going to have it easy later on either. She struggles to live in Corsica. Where she is just suppose to fallow orders because she is a woman and not ask questions. Regardless if she is happy.

When she gets on land I thought for sure we was going to see her catch a brake. Nope, all new struggles and worries fallow her there. I did really hope Sawyer was going to be her person. I thought their connection (or lack of. LOL) was fun to watch.

The end had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't wait to see how it ended. When it said the last sentence I was shook as to how it left things. Now going to have to wait till the next book to see how it picks up where we left off.

I gave this book 4 stars. Only because it was a little slow in the beginning. It was further along before I got into the story and couldn't put down. Nothing wrong with that.

[Sapphyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mermaid Next Door is part of the Paranormal Women’s Fiction world, meaning the heroine is over 40. Eva is a mermaid, a widow, over 40, and doomed to wed her husband’s younger brother. Eva’s happy being on her own, living her own life, and doing her own thing. Marrying Cullen will be oppressive, she’ll lose her freedom, and be wife number seven to a lunatic. Her only option involves land and human legs, things Eva is not familiar with since all mermaids are told horror stories about going topside. She knows she needs to chance the human world because marrying Cullen is not an option.

Upon reaching the shore, Eva discovers a new and scary world. Sure, she’s read books about the land dwellers, but nothing prepares her for just how different things are here. Fortunately, she encounters a dog who leads Eva to her very first friend, Wendy. Eva is also able to use her Siren’s Song to influence humans to assist her. After a short time of acclimation, Eva also meets Sawyer Ray who, mysteriously, isn’t affected by her Song, which is too bad, because she needs his help. Except, she doesn’t know who Sawyer needs to help her avoid but she’s pretty sure someone is after her.

The Mermaid Next Door is a fun start to a new Paranormal Women’s Fiction story involving a mermaid who comes to shore. Eva is somewhat educated from the books she’s managed to scrounge in the ocean, but not worldly-smart. She plays it off but those she meets know there is something different about her. Blending into human society is difficult but she’s managing the best she can.

The authors did a wonderful job building up a world where mermaids walk among us. Eva doesn’t just pop out of the ocean and acclimate to her surroundings flawlessly. There are bumps along the way. Fortunately, Eva meets Wendy and Sawyer, who help make her transition a bit easier. I’m excited to see Eva evolve in her new world with Wendy and Sawyer by her side.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eva just wants to do what she wants after being widowed this mermaid just wants to do her own thing . Until the day her dead husbands brother decides that she will be his seventh wife . Eva wants nothing to do with Cullen's proposal so she must do some thing drastic and head to land . Where she meets a man who isn't affected by her siren song . Who might be the hero that she needs when Cullen comes to get her and try and take her back .
Ok, ok i know what you are thinking its another mermaid book , what can you do that hasn't been done before . Well lets say this is a mermaid that I think most of us can relate to. She is over forty , childless and a widow . Eva is stronger then she seems at the beginning of the book . She just wants to have her own life and doesn't want to be married again. Sawyer is a sweet guy who is funny and the type of guy you want as a friend and maybe more . Wendy is the best friend any girl or mermaid could want . She is funny and sweet and just wants to help Eva out and get her happy again. Cullen well he is such an arrogant man who just wants to have what his brother had . He is the type of man you want to slap over and over .
This is a well what can I say out of all the books I have read from these two authors . This one is really on the tame side . This is the first book in the series so there is a lot of set up . The characters are well written and I really want to see where they take them and make them more complex . The story is fun , fast read that will have you giggling all the way through . It will also have you thinking cause there are some underlying themes of being property to someone else and some issues of abuse. The authors really do a good job crafting the story to have you getting sucked in by the end of chapter one . So if you want a fun fast read in this cold snap . Check it out you won't be disappointed .

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

~Disclaimer: I received a free audiobook copy of this book. ~

Little Mermaid, Fish Out of Water

I like a story where characters are new to the world. I think the author does a decent job of making it feel like Eva doesn’t know the things she shouldn’t know as a mermaid (it does have some inconsistencies though). I’m a bigger fan of the first half of the books before the potential love interest showed up. Although I knew he would be there due to the blurb about the book, I felt like the story became much more stereotypical once he was introduced.

As I’ve stated before, I enjoy a story with an older protagonist. Always nice to read something about someone who isn’t a teen or in their early twenties.

Solid narration; no complaints there. Although, I recommend you listen to the sample to verify that you like her voice.

If you enjoy mermaid stories, fish out of water tales, light romance and older protagonists, this is worth a look. If you have kindle unlimited this is worth a borrow if you are curious.

I’ll admit though that I’m not likely to continue the story. It didn’t hook me and there are hundreds of interesting reads out there that will likely fit my tastes more.

[Dawn Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad

Not a bad story if you can get past how unrealistic it is, and I don't mean by her being a mermaid. You must have all kinds of documentation as well as ID to open a bank account or rent a house or buy anything with a substantial price tag in the USA. While people do get around this in the States, there is no explanation of the main character doing this. She just (apparently, as the details are lacking) walked in with money and came out with checks.

But what made me drop 2 stars - the "book" is really just part of a book. It ends abruptly and clearly does not resolve anything. It's almost a cliff hanger ending of 1/3 of the book, intended to MAKE you get the next part of the book rather than coming to a natural conclusion with the option of getting the next actual book. So it's not really a series. It's one book divided into parts and sold as separate "books."

I appreciate that the book is intended to appeal to middle aged women but there were very few indicators of the maturity of the main character other than being a widow. My mother became a widow at 25 (boating accident.) My daughter became a widow at 23 (military husband.) The main character seems no more mature than if she were much younger than 40.

[Toni Glitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A daring escape into an unknown world

This Paranormal Women’s Fiction book is the first in the Midlife Mermaid series in another great collaboration between HP Mallory and JR Rain.

The story is set in a coastal town, where the female MC has fled to in order to escape an arranged marriage. Eva is a 40 year old mermaid whose only option is to leave her ocean and come to the shore if she wants to avoid becoming the property of the new king.

Eva has to get to grips with trying to fit into a human society she knows little about and which knows nothing of her people. This book centres on her building a friendship with Wendy, who takes her in at the start and examining her confusing feelings for Sawyer, her new landlord.

For me, this is the first time reading a novel from the perspective of a mermaid. I imagine there would be a wealth of difficulties adapting from an underwater environment to one on land, let alone adapting to the societal norms of that new environment.

I enjoyed this book. It laid a good ground for events to come and I’m interested to see how characters develop and whether Eva will be able to fit into a human existence.

[Margot Primrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fun, but very short, and lots of suspension of disbelief needed.

I loved the world building, the older characters, and the plot. The humor came easily with the literal fish out of water story and how awkward our FMC is. The way the MMC is introduced and the type of forced proximity they have is executed really well. I was hoping to see these two interact more, but just as it was getting started, it just ended. very abruptly.

In regard to the suspension of disbelief, it's not about mermaids and their ability to come ashore, it's the lack of documentation. Basically, our mermaid comes ashore and a stranger takes her in helping what she sees as a bettered woman. Since our mermaid is well, a mermaid, she has no Social Security, no birth cert, no identification, nada. And they just don't mention that at all. they say her not having credit will be a problem since she will be paying for her apartment with cash. but nothing else is discussed. she opens a bank account and rents property with zero mention of documentation.

I still like this world and the story, just thought some parts were a bit odd.

[Erica Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok not only have HP Mallory and JR Rain literally, picked my Uber favorite childhood fable. But they picked what I truly am inside.. yup a mermaid. It helped growing up @the south jersey shore.
Anyway Eva has gone thru so much loss in her midmerlife. Her husband Edvard died , 2 pregnancies that didn't go to term. Now of all things her late husband boy child little guppy of a brother. Claims that Eva is HIS property. Yes I will pause for mild screaming of outrage to this bullshark mentality.
Btw it gets better Eva will be his seventh wife yes, I said seven. So what's a merwoman too do. Get the hell outta there even if it kills her.
I don't know why this story has hit me possibly due to the. Underlying theme " being someone's property", having to leave everything you have ever known. Everything you have loved just to escape this fate. I'm not going to reveal any more of the story. But trust me you will want to read to find out about Eva....
Along with those whom she meets in escaping her doomed fate .

[Megan Mcconnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escaping from a forced marriage, Eva finds herself i a small coastal town. Andf Eva's a mermaid, so she not only has to start afresh, but also learn how the land dwellers live. Her first new friend is a dog, that leads her to Wendy, her second friend. And Wendy helps her to settle in - without knowing tht Eva is a mermaid.

With a place to live, a new business and a Landlord who her Siren Song doesn't work on, Eva is prepared to live as a free woman.

Except.....

I enjoyed this first book in a new series, and look forward to other ones. my only real complaint is that it ended very abruptly - and felt like I was finishing an excerpt of a longer book, rather thanthe first book in a series.

I am looking forward to following Eva as she learns to live on lsand, and I also hope tht a couple of questions raised in the conclusionof the book are answeed in the future.

[Aimee Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva is being forced to marry another merman after the death of her husband. Eva doesn't want to marry such a cruel man. Eva is able to escape to land with the help of her friend. Eva has made a friend Wendy that helps her get adjusted to her land life. Eva meets Sawyer, he has quite the effect on her. Eva is starting to make a life for her self, but will Cullen come to get her.

This was a really interesting first book in series. The stuff the Eva goes through just pulls you. The authors created a world with wonderful characters that will just pull you in. I really enjoyed this book, can't wait for book 2

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventurous, fun, & a very good story!

Wow! What a very interesting story, I was on the edge of my chair reading this book! It is very well written, the characters are all very interesting, the story is very Imaginable, you can easily imagine everything the writers write! It was a great adventurous story. You can clearly feel like you are in another world reading this that you can enjoy being on this adventure in a different world! I'm excited to read the next book in this fiction novel!
I highly recommend this book to anyone of all ages Who likes mermaids/merpeople, adventure books, this book was so fascinating to read!

[Jami Kehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasant surprise!

I'm usually not a fan of mermaid stories. I just can't get in to them. This one starts kinda like you'd expect a mermaid story to start.. but it takes on just enough of a twist to keep the reader interested.

I really enjoyed Eva as a character. She doesn't just lay down and take it. She fights back, she has a streak of adventure inside. She wants to explore and make decisions for herself.

This is a super quick read... like super quick.. took me less than two hours to finish but this one definitely set the stage up for a new favorite series.

[Theresa Dupont · Rating 4 out of 5]

In retrospect, I really enjoyed this book. The few minutes right after finishing, I didn’t think I liked it - the entire time I was reading it, I thought it was going to be a stand-alone novel. The cliffhanger ending, slow development of certain relationships and a rather abrupt blast-from-the-past encounter all left me frustrated.

However, I think had I known this was a Book 1 situation going into it, I would have been fine with all the slower development. Looking back, it’s a fun, light book that’s entertaining - now that I know it’s a Book 1.

[EvaLovesRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely Hooked Here!!!!

I absolutely loved loved this mermaid Eva and her stepping into land story. Cullen is a jerk that's obsessed with Eva his late brother's wife and did I mention he's king of the merpeople. Wendy is her best human friend but let's not forget her landlord Sawyer he has woken weird feelings in Eva that she is so unfamiliar with. I can't wait for more of Eva and her dog Tom and what will happen next.
HP Mallory you and JR Rain are a writing pair made in heaven. Loved it!!!!!

[KittenKaboom · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are A LOT of plot holes in this story. You really have to suspend your disbelief and just enjoy the ridiculousness. This was my first mermaid-romance genre book and I really like the mermaid angle, I just wish this story was better planned out. The plot really doesn't make much sense and the entire book is really only the first act of a story. I'll probably read the next book to see if it's worth continuing but I'm definitely going to be searching for a well-written mermaid-romanced book now.

[Melissa Ceseña · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE MERMAID NEXT DOOR is book one of the Midlife Mermaid series. The cute story is about a naïve mermaid who escapes her soon-to-be macho merman. Eva always seems to find helpful friends. Mara helps her escape the sea. Tom, the dog, befriends her and takes her to his owner, Wendy. Something in Wendy’s past nudges her to help Eva. Sawyer comes in a little late in the story. I would have liked to have seen the romance blossom sooner. Ultimately, it’s a story of friendship. The book is appropriate for ages sixteen and up. Both mother and daughter would like the story.

[Traci Otte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning how to be human is tough!

Eva goes to Shell Harbor, a small town by the ocean, to escape a marriage to the king of the merfolk. While she shifts to human legs when she's dry and has read a lot of found books from humans, she has much to learn about being human. It's fun to see it all through her eyes.

My only complaint about this book is it's pretty short. I'm looking forward to the sequel!

[Terra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of the Water

This book is so different than the other books in this sub-genre “Paranormal Women’s Fiction” and so refreshing. Mermaids and Mermen are real with a very antiquated/ repressed view on how to live with their mermaids. Eva has to use her inner strength and make a place for herself as a mermaid “Out of the Water”. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to a new series

I'm not one to tell you about the book you can read the synopsis to find out what it is about
I really enjoyed the characters although they are rather naive to the fact that the protagonist is from a far off place with no clothes so to speak and no money
The writing is flawless and the storyline kept me reading until I finished the book in one sitting
Recommend

[Books & Aerial · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 - 2.75 / 5
It started off somewhat dark, then became really funny, went on to boring mundane stuff sprinkled with some humor and padded with uneven pacing and childish, naive writing...
In the end, the writing and predictability of the story was what made me indifferent.
I took me a few months to read bc I'm not used to carrying my kindle with me in busy months...or maybe it just was not thta gripping.
kindle ebook

[Rebecca Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a Disney tale of fun adventures under the sea. Women are seen as property and given no say in their lives. When fate drives her from her home, Eva takes charge and starts over on land. With new friends, she is starting to settle and look forward to her future. Unfortunately, her past isn't over and readers are left wanting to know more.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could not finish. I felt like I was being bludgeoned with the fish-out-of-water trope. Yes, clearly, there is no shampoo in the undersea kingdoms (just take a look at Aquaman who has CLEARLY never met a bottle of shampoo!), but still it dragged. I'm sure there was some sort of happy ending, but I didn't care enough to get there.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In all honesty, it took me awhile to get into the story. The authors repeated the backstory a couple of times before moving into the actual story, repeated the backstory Again, and then it was the end of the first book.
I see such potential in the characters and the story, the authors are amazing, only goes up from here!!

[Suzy Ostapower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mermaid stories are hard to find!

Eva is middle aged and widowed. That in and of itself isn’t very unusual until you add in that she’s a mermaid. A mermaid whose husband, the king, has died and now his tyrannical brother that coveted her is king. Eva does the only thing she can - escapes to the surface. I can’t wait to read the next installment. Well done!

[Caren Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun little read and nice characters

This is a nice short read and I enjoy the characters a lot and the world building. I think the main character narrates a little much and I’d like to see more of her actions or conversations show more of her personality and storyline. Overall, enjoyable and I’ll take a look at the second book

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

It starts out by throwing you into a anxiety filled situation. Then makes you cross your fingers that she gets through the next problem. I didn't want to stop reading till I knew she was ok.
Gets the blood pumping!