Mermaids Marry in Green, book 3 of the Sea of Love series
Blurb:
Caltha Dooran is the toughest, fiercest shape-shifting mermaid in the western seas. She has three Clans to rule, and no time for romance. But when a warlock, Jonty, turns up and asks her to come with him to London to capture a water monster, she can’t say no. In London, away from her duties, her attraction for Jonty grows… and they soon fall under each other’s spell. But will his past and her responsibilities pull them apart, or can they find the only true magic, the one that binds two souls together?
Buy links:
A Merman’s Choice $1.99 https://books2read.com/u/31xw7a
Music for a Merman $1.99 https://books2read.com/u/mdG7Bw
Mermaids Marry in Green PRE-ORDER SALE only $0.99 until release date 1 November https://books2read.com/u/3LglAN
Excerpt (Rated R):
She was so close to him they were almost touching. She took a step back, but three teenagers squeezed in through the doors just before they closed and pushed her against Jonty. Her head was now level with his neck, and her entire body was pressed against his.
“I’m sorry about the crush,” he said. But he didn’t sound sorry.
She tried to make a joke of it but found that her mouth had dried up. He smelled so damn good. A spicy aftershave, mixed with leather and coffee, with the enticing scent of male sweat underneath. Deep inside her, something responded to the unfamiliar perfume. A part of her, long buried, was waking up … and reaching out to him.
The train jolted into life. The people behind her lurched, squashing them together. Her breasts flattened against his chest. He was rock-hard under his leathers, and as warm as a stone heated by the sun. A thrill ran through her, so strong that it felt almost tangible, like a golden snake twisting around her … curling around her breasts … sliding between her legs. She was trapped and helpless.
Worse, she was enjoying it.
Shame nibbled at her. She’d never been this close to a male before. Plenty of mermen on the islands would have loved to become her mate and govern the Clans with her. Plenty had tried their luck, during the long summer nights when they sat around the fire on the beach, drinking whisky and singing. But she’d never let any of them kiss her, or even hold her hand. She’d been a good mermaid all these years. Just as her mother had wanted her to be. Her mother had been very firm on the topic of boys. She’d drummed into Caltha’s head that she should save herself for a husband worthy of her, and of the Dooran Clan.
And here she was glued to a stranger she’d met less than twenty-four hours ago. A human. Her mother’s voice swam up in her memory. Choose your mate carefully, Caltha. He must be able to guide our people, and rule alongside you. He must be wise, strong, and…
Caltha tried to remember the other qualities that her future husband should possess, but Jonty’s belt buckle was imprinting itself on her stomach, distracting her. Her mind wanted to remember her mother’s words, but her fingers were itching to touch that belt … and slide upwards … under the leather jacket … to find out what his skin felt like … and whether his stomach was as taut as she imagined.
Jonty bent his head, and for one mad moment she thought he was going to kiss her. She was disappointed when he said in her ear, “It’s rush hour, that’s why it’s so crammed. It won’t be long.”
She didn’t look at him, in case her face betrayed her body’s embarrassing, pleasurable reaction. “It’s fine.”
But it wasn’t fine, not by a mile. She had to get away from him before her hormones hijacked her brain and made her do something stupid. Like grab him. Or kiss him.
Let’s find out more about Mermaids Marry in Green:
NA: First of all, Alice, thanks for being with us again.
AR: Thank you for having me!
NA: Tell us a little about the series in general. Is each book standalone? Is it vital that they be read in sequence? Are they novel length or longer novellas? Are they erotic romance, sweet romance, or somewhere in between?
AR: My fantasy romance Sea of Love series is made up of three novellas plus one short story. Each novella is about 120 pages in length, and each is a standalone story featuring a different couple. The books are in chronological order but do not need to be read in sequence, they can be read independently. The stories all take place in the same world and the characters are interconnected. I would say the heat level is medium – they are sensual, and there are a couple of explicit love scenes in each book, but I wouldn’t call them erotic romance. The short story, “The Holiday Mermaid,” completes the series and is a standalone tale set in the same universe as the Sea of Love novellas. It will be out this October in the “second chance at love” romance anthology by BVS, “Desire Me Again.”
NA: You’ve just launched your latest book, the third in the Sea of Love series, Mermaids Marry in Green. Will you give us a summary of the book, please?
AR: The heroine of the book is the red-headed shape shifting mermaid Caltha Dooran, who appears as a secondary character in the first two books of the Sea of Love series, both “A Merman’s Choice” and “Music for a Merman.” Caltha is the toughest, fiercest mermaid in the Morvann Islands. She has three mermen Clans to rule, and no time for romance. But when a warlock, Jonty, turns up and asks her to come with him to London to capture a water monster, she can’t say no. In London, away from her duties, her attraction for Jonty grows… and they soon fall under each other’s spell. But will his past and her responsibilities pull them apart, or can they find the only true magic, the one that binds two souls together?
NA: How will this book tie in to the previous books, A Merman’s Choice and Music for a Merman?
AR: Caltha is a close friend of Yann, the hero of A Merman’s Choice, and as the leader of the mermen Clans she also appears in the second book, Music for a Merman. She helps Yann and Rob, the hero of the second book, to achieve their happily ever after, so I always wanted to write her story and see her find love.
NA: Is this the last book of the series? If so, why did you decide to stop here? If not, which of your Merpeople can we expect to see next?
AR: The heroine of the short story “The Holiday Mermaid” is Rowena Regor. She is a cousin of Rob Regor, the hero of the second book, Music for a Merman. Her story is a Christmas second chance romance and will be out, as I mentioned, in the BVS anthology “Desire Me Again” this fall. I am not planning to write any more books focused on the merpeople for now, but I may write some more short stories that feature them. I have this idea about a mermaid who goes to Las Vegas… [NA: LOL!] I had always conceived the Sea of Love series as four stories, each set in a different season – spring for A Merman’s Choice, summer for Music for a Merman, fall for Mermaids Marry in Green, and Christmas for “The Holiday Mermaid.”
NA: Why did you decide to write about Merpeople for your first series? You also write great witches, based on your story in the Mystic Desire anthology (“The Sweetest Magic of All”).
AR: It started with a dream. An aquatic vampire was chasing a girl underwater. She was terrified. She was close to drowning, and she thought that the creature would kill her. But instead, he saved her life. When I decided one day to write a paranormal romance book, I remembered the vampire. He didn’t quite fit the story I wanted to write though, so I took away his fangs and bloodthirsty nature. He became Yann, a young shape shifting merman. I was also inspired by seeing young men come out of the sea wearing black wetsuits, with palms on their feet. That gave me the idea of shape shifting mermen, who in their aquatic shape have webbed hands and feet, but no fish tail. Yes, I love witches too! My next series, “Conjuring Love”, will feature time travelling warlocks and witches.
NA: I’m fascinated by your upbringing in Brittany, which seems kind of magical to me, and your time in Wales as a child and finally England as an adult. I know you take your inspiration from all of it. Will you share how your background influences your writing?
AR: I am half-French and half-British, I grew up in Brittany, western France, in a village by the sea. I always loved stories, especially myths, legends, fantasy… anything with adventure and monsters! I spent my childhood holidays at my grandparents’ in Wales, and absorbed all the Welsh stories about mermen and mermaids, King Arthur, the giant cat of Anglesey, the Water Horse and torrent spectres. After reading The Lord of the Rings aged 12, I decided I wanted to write my own stories! I moved to London in 1997 and still live there with my husband and son. Brittany, Wales and London are a big source of inspiration for me. Mermaids Marry in Green, the third book in the Sea of Love series, is my first book based in London. I think my city has its own kind of magic, as you will find out if you read the story!
NA: Your series, Sea of Love, won an award from the Paranormal Romance Guild for 2019 for Novellas and Shorts–Series. What was that like for you?
AR: It was a complete surprise, in fact I so little expected to be even nominated I hadn’t checked the results, and only discovered that both my series and A Merman’s Choice had been nominated when you, dear Dee, told me! It was a delightful surprise, and came at just the right time. I was beginning to feel discouraged, thinking I would never sell any books, and my writing wasn’t good enough. It meant a lot to me, as the award is given by independent reviewers who select the books that they have liked the best.
NA: What are you working on now?
AR: I have started work on the first book of my next series, Conjuring Love. This book, How to Win a Sea Witch, is based on my short story “The Sweetest Magic of All”, which is included in the BVS Mystic Desire paranormal romance anthology. The series Conjuring Love follows three warlocks: Ariel, the half-fae leader of the London warlocks, and his brothers Aaron and Auric. Aaron is the hero of the first book How to Win a Sea Witch. Ariel features in Mermaids Marry in Green, as he is both the friend and leader of the hero, Jonty. You could say that Mermaids Marry in Green is both the last book in the mermen & mermaids series, and the first book in the new series. The Conjuring Love series will feature time travelling warlocks, sea witches, torrent spectres, evil fairies, a shape shifting unicorn… and more!
NA: Can’t wait, Alice!
Alice Renaud bio and social media links:
Alice lives in London, UK, with her husband and son. By day she’s a compliance manager for a pharmaceutical company. By night she writes fantasy romance about shape shifting mermen, water monsters and time-travelling witches. Her first book, A Merman’s Choice, was published in January 2019 by Black Velvet Seductions. It is the first book in a fantasy romance trilogy inspired by the landscapes and legends of Brittany and Wales. The second book, Music for a Merman, is out now and the third, Mermaids Marry in Green, will be released on 1 November. It is on pre-order now at the discount price of $0.99! Alice has also written a short story, “The Sweetest Magic of All,” included in the BVS book, Mystic Desire anthology, out now. Alice loves reading and writing stories, and sharing them with anyone who’s interested!
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliceRenaudAuthorRomance/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alicerauthor
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-renaud-author-4219b6166/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alicerenaudauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18670218.Alice_Renaud
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/alice-renaud
Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Alice-Renaud/e/B07L52P17B
Website: https://nomadauthors.com/alicerenaud/alicebooks.html
I told Jack once that if our marriage ever ended for whatever reason, I would never date again—I’d enter a convent. That convent part might have been a bit of hyperbole, but I was pretty serious about never dating again. Dating takes a lot of effort. And time. Do you know how long it takes to feel comfortable enough with someone before you don’t die of embarrassment if you accidentally let go a little wind? No thanks. I dated for a few years in my life and that was plenty enough. Been there, done that, got the tee shirt.
either. Women should meet guys and be disappointed—or thrilled—the old-fashioned way, face-to-face.
No, when I was dating there was no ‘online’ as we know it today, although there have been forms of online dating for years – the personals in newspapers.
I couldn’t wait to vote! It was something to aspire to, like getting my driver’s license or going away to school. So the very first election after turning 21 I voted, by golly, and I haven’t missed a presidential election yet. I admit that I don’t always vote in local elections, and that’s because as adults, Jack and I moved so much I never got involved enough to find out who was running and what they stood for. But even when we were on the road trucking—through two presidential elections—we made sure to vote absentee.
forming the U.S. government. The electoral college makes sure that states like where I live have a say in who becomes president, just like the big states. If not for it, the states with high populations would always determine our president. They decided on a representative form of government. And then they left it up to the people to elect their representatives. It’s our responsibility to do so or the system falls apart.
Voter numbers at the 1925 election rose to 91%. I bet there were sighs of relief within the hallowed halls of government.
J.L. Regen’s book, Secret Desires, was inspired by a real life story of lovers who join hearts against many odds. J.L. lives in the New York metropolitan area, is a published photojournalist, has short suspense stories online, and has taught English as a Second Language to students around the globe. This is her first contemporary romance. She has also published three nonfiction books and is crafting a historical suspense set in World War II.
Award-winning author Linda O’Connor started writing romantic comedies when she needed a creative outlet other than subtly rearranging the displays at a local home décor store. Her books have enjoyed bestseller status. When not writing, she’s a physician at an Urgent Care Clinic. She shares her medical knowledge in fast-paced, well-written, sexy romances – with an unexpected twist. Her favourite prescription to write? Laugh every day. Love every minute.
My first trip outside the U.S. was when Jack and I were traveling. We went into Canada a fair amount. We didn’t have much time to sightsee or have fun except once, when we rented a car and drove from Calgary to Banff and up the Icefield Parkway to Jasper. What a great time! Besides the scenery, the park at Jasper had opened a little early. We were just about the only guests in the restaurant—where Jack had trout they’d caught in the river practically outside the door. The cabins where we stayed were close enough to hear the rushing water as the spring snowmelt headed downstream. The trip was only for a weekend but it was so special that I remember it as though it were yesterday.
times. Each has been an enlightening experience. I love Scotland! The people are so friendly and the country feels like home to me. Maybe in another time and another life…? England proper is also wonderful. What a great city York is! So walkable, so historical. I loved my time there. The same for Oxford, where I attended the OxBridge program for teachers one summer. However, I wished Oxford had a few more benches around!
My sister-in-law talked me into going to Italy several years ago. To tell the truth, I wasn’t all that excited to see Italy, but she wanted someone to go with her and Jack encouraged me, so I went. She promised that once I saw Italy I’d want to go back again. The woman spoke truth! We spent time in Venice, Florence, and Rome, Each city was so different, and yet so the same. So much history, so much art. Too much to take in, in any one visit—or two or ten.
Estelle Pettersen is an Australian author and former journalist whose romance stories explore empowerment, freedom, and finding one’s strength. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Journalism and Psychology, from the University of Queensland, Australia. Her second degree is an MBA from Queensland University of Technology, Australia. She is a member of Romance Writers of Australia and is passionate about history, languages, cultures, traveling, food, and wine. She is happily married and living in Norway these days.