How to Be a Mermaid

A Falling in Deep Collection Novella

By: Erin Hayes

Narrated by: Claire White

Length: 4 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

All Tara ever wanted was to be a mermaid.

So she takes a year off between high school and college to don a fake tail and tour aquariums across the country in a professional mermaid troupe. Everything's great until she meets a gorgeous real-life merman named Finn. Suddenly, what she thought was a dream come true turns out to be a nightmare - she's turning into a mermaid herself. For real.

Yet when she returns to the sea to seek out Finn and reverse her transformation, she finds herself in the middle of an impending war between the land and sea. Tara may have always wanted to be a mermaid, but now it's sink or swim. In order to survive, she has to learn how to be one, too.

©2015 Erin Hayes (P)2015 Erin Hayes Books

I Didn't Expect To Love This Story So Much!

I picked up this story as a free review copy from AudioBookBlast thinking it would make a quick listen during my down time that would not require much thinking. I quickly found I enjoyed the story so much I made time to sit and listen as the story progressed. The story is perfectly paced and does not add filler just to lengthen the story. The narrative continues at a perfect pace and holds you the entire time. I was expecting a YA novel with some clumsy romance and actually discovered a great story with broad appeal. I would definitely grab another in the series should it become available!

As to the narration, it was spot on. Claire White demonstrated a wide range of both male and female voices that did not feel forced or awkward. I was so impressed I went looking for other novels narrated by her and was surprised to only see 9 books available. I have no doubt Claire will go on to become a well known voice in the audiobook universe. I continued listening as much for the narrators great voice as for the story! Well done!

CUTE STORY!! WORTH A LISTEN!!

Any additional comments?

** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review **

Tara was drawn to being a mermaid...she performed in a traveling group as one and really enjoyed it...but there was something else driving her....she believes she hears a little dolphin asking for help and checks it out one night...she stumbles across his rescue by a gorgeous man...and bumps her head and almost drowns...his nae is Finn and he saves her and she gets introduced into a world of real life mermaids!

Super Cute...and worth a listen...I have book 2 in my library now!

Decent, but ultimately disappointing

While not an altogether terrible listen (the narrator is decent), I'm glad this story was as brief as it was, or I doubt I would have finished it. Trouble with pacing throughout the story, and an ending that ultimately felt only half-fulfilled and a little rushed to wrap everything up are going to keep me from keeping this title in my library after discovering it through the Escape package. It's not the worst mythological/mermaid romance I've ever read/heard, but it's definitely not one I'd go out of my way to recommend to anyone either.

Story somewhat cheesy, narrator not good

Narrotor pronounced several words wrong like "acrosst" instead of "across".
Story was kind of cheesy like it was meant for kids, but the way it was written is for adults. Overall the plot was ok though.

Interesting!

no-gratuitous-erotica, fiction, mermaid

What a lovely story! Each character is as realistic as may be, and as an animal activist (not PETA), I was very happy with the writer's treatment of the issue of aquariums for profit. The publisher's blurb gives an extensive recap of the plot, and there is no need for spoilers here. Relax and enjoy the read!
Claire White is remarkable as the narrator!
I got the Whispersync on the cheap.

Yuck

Couldn't get into it:(
Not sure if it was who was reading, but didn't like it, couldn't finish the book

Mermaids 💜

I have always been mystified and entranced by mermaids. This book was so light and lovely. I can't wait to read more by this author. At first I wasn't sold on the narrator, but about halfway through I realized she was a perfect match. Definitely worth a credit!

I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Blast.

The dream to be a mermaid, and it comes true!

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoy stories like this. They feel sweet and innocent to me. In the sea with the wildlife I enjoy. This was a lovely mermaid read for me. Tara is an innocent and she is good inside. She only wants to help. Finn has been a bit jaded, but he can see there is a difference in people too. And Ponce. Oh Ponce is a cute little companion for Tara. Ponce did make me smile with his up beat personality.

Erin has done a fascinating job of blending a little bit of everything in one story. A girl with a dream, who then thinks on whether she really wants it or not. There is a focus for the story, there's a danger that could be due to actions of others. The characters have a purpose and something to strive for that would have great consequences if they fail. There is also a sweet blooming love here.

Did Claire White do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Claire's vocal feels as it started stiff, then she seemed to slip into character quickly after the start. Though the rise and fall of words and pauses at times felt to break up the flow, she soon smoothed out as well. I didn't notice much difference between characters voices, but I did notice Claire did higher pitches for children.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I even fought tearing up at the end. The decisions made, they are wise and yet hard. But I liked them in the end. The epilogue gives us a great feel of how things are and end.

Any additional comments?

I love the ocean and this book brought that feeling back. It also made me feel, again, that we are not the only ones in the world and we don't own the world. There are creatures that deserve to be just as free as we are. It's not always the best idea to take anything or anyone from their home for our own amusement.

*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Glad it was a short story

I haven't reviewed an audible book yet but I felt I needed to. The story was actually fun, the world fleshed out... But I really struggled to get through it because of the narrator. There was almost no distinguishing between the different voices, and it was grating to listen to at times. There was a point in which there was an exchange between two characters and I didn't realize that it was a conversation between two people because the characters were so similarly voiced. Because I enjoyed the book, I would pursue more from this author in a physical form but I will not listen to a book from this narrator again.

great little love story

I enjoyed the love story quite a bit. the reader was not great but bearable, I suppose. she made the whole story sound kind of whiney but all in all the story was pretty good.