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Missing Maren
Daniel’s love of the ocean takes on new meaning when the girl of his dreams emerges from it. But can he bring himself to believe her story and, more importantly, can he convince her to stay? When Daniel is seven years old, he meets a girl on the beach outside his family’s cottage in the dunes. When she tells him she’s a selkie, he knows she must be pretending. Seven years later the same girl pulls Daniel from the riptide and delivers his first kiss. He could almost believe it was coincidence until she shows up again seven years later as Daniel returns from college attempting to recover from his most recent break up. This time Maren stays long enough to steal Daniel’s heart, but she hadn’t planned to become so ensnared by him in return. After all, humans are supposed to be just for fun. How can she possibly stay in a world where she doesn’t belong? And how can she stay with a man who does not believe she is what she says? Daniel is willing to do anything to convince Maren to stay, anything except the one thing she told him would work, stealing her seal skin. If he has her skin, she will be bound to him. But Daniel won’t do it. Is it because he doesn’t want to trap her, or because he still doesn’t believe her story? When another man threatens to keep Maren on land, and Maren’s selkie father unleashes an onslaught of storms on the coast, Daniel and Maren will have to decide where they belong and what they are willing to do for love.
155 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2021
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Melissa McTernan
11 books379 followersMelissa McTernan writes sweet and steamy romantasy. She loves grumpy heroes, sarcastic heroines, and grown-up fairy tales. She won the Stiletto award in 2022 for her Christmas novella and the first book in her new trilogy The Wolf Brothers series will publish in 2023.
When she’s not writing, she’s most likely reading or wrangling her kids as a stay-at-home mom. Melissa lives in upstate New York with her husband, kids, cats, puppy, and full bookshelves. She writes romance to keep her sanity.
For exclusive content, sneak peeks, and plenty of pet pics, sign up for her newsletter at melissamct.com
When she’s not writing, she’s most likely reading or wrangling her kids as a stay-at-home mom. Melissa lives in upstate New York with her husband, kids, cats, puppy, and full bookshelves. She writes romance to keep her sanity.
For exclusive content, sneak peeks, and plenty of pet pics, sign up for her newsletter at melissamct.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 16, 2021
I enjoyed how 7-year old Daniel loves her simply because she was really good at building sandcastles.
March 6, 2021
Blurb
Daniel’s love of the ocean takes on new meaning when the girl of his dreams emerges from it. But can he bring himself to believe her story and, more importantly, can he convince her to stay?
When Daniel is seven years old, he meets a girl on the beach outside his family’s cottage in the dunes. When she tells him she’s a selkie, he knows she must be pretending. Seven years later the same girl pulls Daniel from the riptide and delivers his first kiss. He could almost believe it was coincidence until she shows up again seven years later as Daniel returns from college attempting to recover from his most recent break up.
This time Maren stays long enough to steal Daniel’s heart, but she hadn’t planned to become so ensnared by him in return. After all, humans are supposed to be just for fun. How can she possibly stay in a world where she doesn’t belong? And how can she stay with a man who does not believe she is what she says?
Daniel is willing to do anything to convince Maren to stay, anything except the one thing she told him would work, stealing her seal skin. If he has her skin, she will be bound to him. But Daniel won’t do it. Is it because he doesn’t want to trap her, or because he still doesn’t believe her story?
When another man threatens to keep Maren on land, and Maren’s selkie father unleashes an onslaught of storms on the coast, Daniel and Maren will have to decide where they belong and what they are willing to do for love.
Review
For me In the beginning and a few chapters until present day, the chapters felt glossed over, basically Maren shows up, stays for a day or two and gone again. Show up and gone a few more times throughout the years. The ending knocked this down for me, it was very anticlimactic for me, it felt rushed and I felt there should have been more...
Daniel, he’s more of a whatever kind a kid that when someone is telling the truth no matter how far fetched it is, he won’t believe it, until 2 decades later. I can understand his point where she’ll try to make him ‘take’ something but he was selfless when he refused her request.... dude really? The women you ‘love’ you won’t help her, so to be mean you refuse and make her leave you and you get angry because you want her to ‘choose’, well she did you you halfhearted tossed her away, and complained since he couldn’t satisfy others since. Karma bit him as a silkies’ mate...
Daniel’s love of the ocean takes on new meaning when the girl of his dreams emerges from it. But can he bring himself to believe her story and, more importantly, can he convince her to stay?
When Daniel is seven years old, he meets a girl on the beach outside his family’s cottage in the dunes. When she tells him she’s a selkie, he knows she must be pretending. Seven years later the same girl pulls Daniel from the riptide and delivers his first kiss. He could almost believe it was coincidence until she shows up again seven years later as Daniel returns from college attempting to recover from his most recent break up.
This time Maren stays long enough to steal Daniel’s heart, but she hadn’t planned to become so ensnared by him in return. After all, humans are supposed to be just for fun. How can she possibly stay in a world where she doesn’t belong? And how can she stay with a man who does not believe she is what she says?
Daniel is willing to do anything to convince Maren to stay, anything except the one thing she told him would work, stealing her seal skin. If he has her skin, she will be bound to him. But Daniel won’t do it. Is it because he doesn’t want to trap her, or because he still doesn’t believe her story?
When another man threatens to keep Maren on land, and Maren’s selkie father unleashes an onslaught of storms on the coast, Daniel and Maren will have to decide where they belong and what they are willing to do for love.
Review
For me In the beginning and a few chapters until present day, the chapters felt glossed over, basically Maren shows up, stays for a day or two and gone again. Show up and gone a few more times throughout the years. The ending knocked this down for me, it was very anticlimactic for me, it felt rushed and I felt there should have been more...
Daniel, he’s more of a whatever kind a kid that when someone is telling the truth no matter how far fetched it is, he won’t believe it, until 2 decades later. I can understand his point where she’ll try to make him ‘take’ something but he was selfless when he refused her request.... dude really? The women you ‘love’ you won’t help her, so to be mean you refuse and make her leave you and you get angry because you want her to ‘choose’, well she did you you halfhearted tossed her away, and complained since he couldn’t satisfy others since. Karma bit him as a silkies’ mate...
October 24, 2021
A Hauntingly Lovely Romance
I wasn't sure what to expect from a story involving a sea selkie but wound up loving this book and hoping for a sequel! Part contemporary romance, part urban fantasy, Missing Maren is heart-wrenching, sexy, and intricately crafted. Daniel is only seven-years-old when he meets the girl who will wind up being the love of his life. At their very first meeting, she tells him she is a sea selkie, but already skeptical of fairytales, Daniel doesn't make much of her claim. When they next meet seven years later, their reunion burgeons into romance but Daniel still does not grasp just what falling in love with Maren means. Missing Maren is full of beautiful highs and lows and in many ways is a coming-of-age story as Daniel and Maren grow from childhood to adulthood and must grow into the love they unexpectedly found so early on. For a novella, this book sure packs a punch to the heart!
I wasn't sure what to expect from a story involving a sea selkie but wound up loving this book and hoping for a sequel! Part contemporary romance, part urban fantasy, Missing Maren is heart-wrenching, sexy, and intricately crafted. Daniel is only seven-years-old when he meets the girl who will wind up being the love of his life. At their very first meeting, she tells him she is a sea selkie, but already skeptical of fairytales, Daniel doesn't make much of her claim. When they next meet seven years later, their reunion burgeons into romance but Daniel still does not grasp just what falling in love with Maren means. Missing Maren is full of beautiful highs and lows and in many ways is a coming-of-age story as Daniel and Maren grow from childhood to adulthood and must grow into the love they unexpectedly found so early on. For a novella, this book sure packs a punch to the heart!
March 13, 2021
Love Story ?
Daniel meets a girl on the beach when he is 7, and she tells him she is a selkie. He assumes she is pretending to be one, not actually a selkie. She rescues him from a riptide 7 years after that first meeting. This time, she kisses him. The next time they meet, 7 years later, Daniel is home from college and is recovering from a break-up.
Daniel wants Maren to stay, but she told him he must steal her seal skin for that to happen, and he refuses. What is it he wants from her? She told him what he had to do to keep her. When someone else threatens to keep Maren on land, and her selkie father unleashes an onslaught of storms on the coast, Daniel and Maren must make their decision. Will he go with her? Will she stay with him? Or will he walk away.
Daniel meets a girl on the beach when he is 7, and she tells him she is a selkie. He assumes she is pretending to be one, not actually a selkie. She rescues him from a riptide 7 years after that first meeting. This time, she kisses him. The next time they meet, 7 years later, Daniel is home from college and is recovering from a break-up.
Daniel wants Maren to stay, but she told him he must steal her seal skin for that to happen, and he refuses. What is it he wants from her? She told him what he had to do to keep her. When someone else threatens to keep Maren on land, and her selkie father unleashes an onslaught of storms on the coast, Daniel and Maren must make their decision. Will he go with her? Will she stay with him? Or will he walk away.
April 16, 2021
Maren was a selkie that was intrigued by one special little human boy. Daniel’s family owned a small cottage on the beach. When he was young he found a young girl naked and she told him she was a selkie. Maren and her family could only go on land every seven years and Daniel was always looking for the mysterious girl. Their fun and interesting romance placed Daniel in danger, caused Maren to be trapped, while misunderstandings led to broken hearts and years apart before any type of reunion could be made for their HEA. Fun read
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 15, 2021
A lovely book that will engage you from start to finish and definitely suspend disbelief.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story - you will find yourself believing in Selkies - and wishing..... I thought this was a very well written, well crafted book - with believable, engaging characters - yes, even the Seal people! Just what you need to curl up on the sofa with and not have to work too hard at. An escape from the stresses and pressures of real life. I'll be looking for more from this author.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story - you will find yourself believing in Selkies - and wishing..... I thought this was a very well written, well crafted book - with believable, engaging characters - yes, even the Seal people! Just what you need to curl up on the sofa with and not have to work too hard at. An escape from the stresses and pressures of real life. I'll be looking for more from this author.
December 21, 2021
We were completely captivated by this book from start to finish. This is a light and fun read that will have you yearning for the beach, and also wishing that selkies actually existed! Melissa writes endearing and believable characters who really grow into themselves as they age. This book has adventure, danger, and, of course, romance! Do yourself a favor and go buy a copy of Missing Maren - it’s available on just about every digital platform! - Bookish Besties
March 14, 2021
A well written short story that held my interest until the end. I enjoyed reading selkie Maren and human Daniel's story these two meet when he is seven then she went away, they are adults now and she is back. This is a new Author to me. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
October 28, 2021Missing Maren is a novella about a selkie heroine who falls in love with a human. If you want to meet these characters before you read, or if you've already read it and want more Daniel and Maren, check out their free Christmas story! It's available when you sign up for my November newsletter. Happy Reading! Sign up here: https://www.melissamct.com/
April 20, 2021
Review will be added soon.
July 5, 2021
Fabulous summer read
Truly enjoyed cover to cover , an endearing love story + mythological creatures, who could ask for more! An enjoyable escape!
Truly enjoyed cover to cover , an endearing love story + mythological creatures, who could ask for more! An enjoyable escape!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews