Christmas, snow and…a merman?
Author Name: Beany Sparks
Author Bio:
Beany lives in Western Australia. She first started reading romance novels in 2008, but it wasn't until January 2010 when her Kindle got delivered that the world of erotic romance opened its doors to her, and she hasn't looked back.
With suggestions and support from friends, her muse—“affectionately" known as PITA—was finally able to break free, and in January 2014 her first story was written. Since she can’t put PITA back in his box, Beany has decided to give in and team up with him. Together they’ve made plans to write both MF and MM stories.
Where to find the author:
Publisher: eXtasy Books
Cover Artist: Latrisha Waters
Blurb(s):
It’s up to Calder to show his Christmas-hating merman what the season is really about.
Calder lives a quiet life in his cabin on the edge of the bay. He has his best friend Erik and for now, that’s enough. Then his life takes an unexpected turn when an event causes him to come face-to-face with a real merman.
Tamesis knows that soon the waters will freeze over, which means that dreaded time of the year is coming—Christmas. As a merman he is not affected by the change in water temperature, but when it freezes over he can no longer spend his days watching the man on the shore. That all changes when Calder falls into Tamesis’s world.
The more the two get to know each other, the more they start to care, but will they be brave enough to admit their feelings? Or will Tamesis end up with an even bigger reason to hate Christmas?
Categories: Fantasy, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance
Excerpt:
The man ducked his head in what Calder guessed was embarrassment. “Forgive me, my name is Tamesis.”
“Nice to meet you, Tamesis, my name is Calder.” Calder would have held out his hand, but he didn’t want to move from his cocoon.
“Yes, I know,” Tamesis said as he smiled at him.
Calder frowned. “How do you know my name?”
Calder watched, fascinated as Tamesis blushed. Between the blush and Tamesis’s green hair, it reminded Calder of Christmas.
I need to figure out a way to get home.
“Uh, well you see, I’ve been watching you,” Tamesis admitted.
Calder raised an eyebrow at that. “Because that doesn’t sound creepy at all.”
“It doesn’t?” Tamesis looked relieved.
Okay…Looks like he doesn’t understand sarcasm.
“I’m sorry, it sounds very creepy actually. I was being sarcastic when I said it didn’t.”
“Oh.”
Calder watched as Tamesis seemed to slump down in his position, all while still lying on his side next to Calder. A feeling of sadness flooded him and Calder realised that it was like all of the other times he’s felt emotions flood him when he’d looked out over Hudson Bay. Giving into his instincts, he snuggled a little closer to Tamesis, who tightened his arms around Calder. In that moment Calder realised that not only was Tamesis holding him, but they were both naked.
“Um, Tam? Why are we naked?” he asked, then looked up into Tamesis’s eyes.
“You were cold, I had to save you. The clothes would have hindered that,” Tamesis replied, but he looked confused for some reason.
“I see, and how did you save me? How were you able to survive without needing to be saved yourself?” Calder asked curiously. His curiosity grew when he saw Tamesis gulp and seem to gather his courage.
“The cold does not affect me—”
“Why not?” Calder interrupted.
“Because.” Tamesis paused and looked into Calder’s eyes, almost as if he was searching for something. He must have found it because he continued, and what he said shocked Calder right to his core.
“I’m a merman.”
Pages or Words: 21,412 words
Mari's Review
*** Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. ***
* 4 Sweeter-than-Sweet Stars *
This story begins very much like Disney’s The Little Mermaid, which I loved, btw.
Tamesis is a merman who has been watching a human, Calder, for about two years. He hates ‘Christmas’, because it’s the time the ocean freezes over and he can’t get close enough to watch Calder. He’s a sweetheart, and has been alone for years, wishing for someone to share his life and bond with.
Calder has longed for someone to call his own, as well, and aside from his friend Erick, is practically alone, too, since his parents died after he turned 18 years old. He’s had some problems with Dirk, the Mayor’s son, who’s a major douchebag, that is in love with a girl that fancies Calder, even if he won’t give her the time of day, and Dirk, irritated by the girl’s interest in Calder decides to take matters in his own hands and drown Calder.
His little ploy would’ve worked all too well if Tamesis hadn’t sensed something was wrong and swam to see everything happening through the ice, managing to rescue Calder and bringing him to his underwater cave, which conveniently isn’t really under water due to some kind of merman magic.
I felt so bad for Tam at first, what with him holding back his feelings because he never thought Calder would accept him after finding what he truly was. However, Calder surprised him and not only accepted him, but returned his feelings, rapidly accepting to bond with Tam and stay with him forever.
It was sweet, even if perhaps a bit fast, but they do seem to fit very well together. Only complaint up until this point is that the three-page chapters are a bit distracting and interrupt the flow of the read.
The second part of the story starts with Tam and Calder returning to Calder’s home so he can share Christmas with the merman and show him what it is all about, but first they have to deal with Erik, Calder’s best friend, who injected a dose of humor into the story, and was an all-around awesome character.
“As sweet, and by sweet I mean sickening, as you two are, can you start telling me what the fuck has been going on?” Erik said, his arms still crossed.
Hee, I just adored that quote! And I adored Erik, and I so didn’t see the plot twist the author threw into the story in the last few chapters, I knew we hadn’t seen the last of Dirk, I just didn’t think it’ll play the way that it did and neither did I imagine Tamesis would end up being who he was.
All in all, this is a fast read, sweet, almost too sweet sometimes, fun with just a tiny pinch of angst, that left me with a smile in my face. I wouldn’t mind reading more in this ‘verse, perhaps something with Erik and Aryell? *hint hint nudge nudge*
Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Bayou Book Junkie, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Christy Loves To Read, The Hat Party, BFD Book Blog, Cathy Brockman Romances, Elin Gregory, Molly Lolly, My Fiction Nook, Elisa - My Reviews and Ramblings, Queer Town Abbey, Fallen Angel Reviews, Carly’s Book Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Hearts on Fire, Love Bytes
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