Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Taking the Bait
SERIES: Royal Merman #1
AUTHOR: Kiki Burrelli
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 120 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 24, 2019
BLURB:
Passions run high when divorced, single-father, Marcus, falls for Jake, a young gay man with a mysterious secret.
At forty-seven, Marcus believes he is done with self-discovery. Then he meets Jake and his protective instincts go haywire. Jake’s life hasn’t been easy and he’s struggled to make ends meet. Marcus quickly realizes his affections for Jake are unlike any he’s ever felt—especially toward another man—and he’s not about to let this feeling, or Jake, slip through his fingers.
Jake has no idea why someone as perfect and hot as Marcus would be interested in him. Perhaps his life is finally turning around. At least, that is what he thinks until he wakes up in the middle of the night with an uncontrollable urge to walk into the Pacific Ocean. Jake discovers he’s a merman. And not just any, but a prince. His father tells him he is to rule under the sea but also forbids him from ever going back to land, threatening to kill any who discovers his secret.
Forbidden from seeing each other, Jake’s concern is in keeping Marcus safe. Except, neither of them knew to protect Jake from the reproductive possibilities that transforming into a merman provided. As a human, he hadn’t worried about becoming pregnant and besides, there were more pressing concerns, like how the father Jake never knew he had wanted to kill the boyfriend Jake never thought he’d find.
Marcus knows Jake is keeping something from him. He also knows Jake thinks he’s doing it for his protection. But, Marcus has already taken the bait. He’s hooked. And there isn’t an ocean deep enough to keep him from the man he loves.
Taking the Bait is a fun, steamy gay romance. It features themes of male pregnancy, dad jokes, and ocean puns, as well as a May/December romance that will make you swoon. There is no lifeguard on duty, but with these sexy mermen, you won’t need one.
REVIEW:
I love Kiki’s books. I have since I first laid eyes on Finn. This one is good too, and I loved it. I wanted to slap the mother in this one, hard, but I love that no matter what Jake seemed to go through, that he kept trying to get back up and keep going.
Jake has been trying to keep it together for so many years. Between his mom being drunk all the time and her insults and wishing he was never born, add to all the bullying and whispering, he’s had all he can take but he keeps trying. It was just another day in the life, when a big sexy man captured his attention. Marcus’s attention was on him as well, as he could tell when he tried to defend Jake. What neither expected was the very straight Marcus, not being so straight. And what Jake didn’t expect, was that his life was about to be forever changed. Feeling the pull to the ocean, he goes, and finds out there’s a whole other world, and he’s the prince of it. But he doesn’t want it. He wants Marcus. And Marcus isn’t giving up Jake. Now they have to come up with a solution to their problem and quick. Because another surprise is on its way.
I hated Jake’s mom with a passion in this book. I don’t care how affected she was by the crap with his father, she had no right to treat him the way she did. What I did love though, was how Marcus had just immediately known he had to protect Jake and care for him. Even though he had never done so for a man in that manner, ever. But something about Jake called to him and he could no more give that man up than he could quit breathing. And for Jake, I loved it. Because he needed someone like Marcus in his life so bad. He needed someone to care and show him he mattered. I didn’t like Jake’s dad either. The man is a punk. And that’s putting it nicely. As much as I liked this book, it was honestly because of Jake. Jake made this book for me. With his bravery, his strength even when he felt he had none, his courage, and his unwillingness to give up. No matter how hard it got. He is what everyone should strive to be. Trying his best.
RATING: 
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