A sexy, sun-soaked tale about a tail-wearing girl who makes a lot of waves—perfect for fans of Lauren Layne, Meghan Quinn, and Christina Lauren. Ocean-loving Kyra Goodwin had to give up her dream of becoming the female Jacques Cousteau in order to take care of her father and brother, but being a mermaid at the Cape Cod Aquarium is pretty fintastic as far as alternative careers go. Of course, life … careers go.
Of course, life as a half-fish/half-woman isn’t all sunken treasure and Ariel twirls. Kyra has to deal with perpetually pruney fingers, eyes irritated by saltwater, and bratty kids on the daily, plus her glam alter ego can make dating really weird. (So many men have pervy siren-of-the-sea fantasies!) When she meets hunky surfer Cade, and he’s into her without knowing what she does for a living, Kyra thinks she’s finally won the romance lottery.
Unfortunately, Kyra’s plans for a carefree summer of catching waves with her new boyfriend run aground when Sea Star Beach, a place that holds great sentimental value for her, is taken over by a big-city developer who wants to build an exclusive resort. Kyra’s crusade to save her beloved beach threatens both her job and her relationship with Cade as does her growing closeness with her irresistibly broody merwrangler, Declan, whose precocious daughter is intent on playing matchmaker.
When a new family drama arises just as Kyra receives an offer that would turn her greatest desire into reality, she’s torn. Will she do what’s expected of her, or dive in and follow her heart?
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4.5 Star review In The Swim Of Things by Tracie Bannister
This is the second book I’ve read by Tracie Banister and I was captivated from start to finish.
The blurb really intrigued me. Kyra Goodwin works as a mermaid at Cape Cod Aquarium, what an unusual job to have. Her job makes it hard to meet men, not to mention taking care of her father and brother.
When Kyra meets Cade she is attracted to him and even better he has no idea what she does. However there is also the relationship she has with co worker Declan, whose daughter Amelia is determined to play matchmaker.
The characters and their jobs were unique and that added to the overall enjoyment of the story. There was humour, suspense, romance and it had a heart warming feel to it.
Kyra is smart, feisty and loyal. When a beach she loves is threatened Kyra does what she does best and morphs into action to help.
There were enough twists and turns to up the anti and I must say that Slater, the lorikeet, was an absolute hoot and had me cracking up.
The secondary characters were fabulous, particularly Aunt Joan who was hilarious and Amelia was such a sweetie.
This was a fun book that I happily recommend.
I loved reading this book In The Swim Of Things . You’ll have to read it for yourself to know it’s a great book .
If you love mermaids you’ll love this book.
I loved pretty much everything about this story, but above all, I loved the cast of quirky and likeable characters – first and foremost Kyra, who is one awesome leading lady (and whom I was rooting for from the get-go), and Declan, who is the best merwrangler Kyra could wish for.
This is the first book I’ve read by Tracie Banister, but it sure won’t be the last. There is a whole bunch of delightful titles on her backlist I plan on reading!
My biggest complaint when I read romance is that the will they/won’t they goes on too long for my taste. And I’m not just waiting for the romp in the bedroom/garden/water because if that was the case I would just pick up more erotica. I’m looking for the relationship adventures; the dates, meeting the friends/family, seeing how well they treat each other, etc… and In the Swim of Things by Tracie Banister, she really delivers all of those events that I look for in a romance, including humor, which was such a wonderful bonus!
Kyra and Declan have a one night stand, but he’s not in the right headspace so Kyra moves on. Which is awesome! No waiting around and she goes on to live her life while still being friends with Declan. Then she meets Cade. Here is where Banister fooled me a bit since I thought for sure Cade was going to be more involved in the development of the resort, but the amount that he was involved in happened to be perfect. Kyra realizes that Cade is involved with her sworn enemy, but they handle it well and they don’t let it simmer and ruin their relationship. What growns up acting like reasonable adults?!? That was so refreshing.
A lot more fun, sweet, and sexy things happen not only between Krya/Cade/Declan, but the other characters in the book which adds lots of wonderful layers to the novel. Plus, the world of professional mermaids and all the gorgeous costumes, underwater scenes, meet and greets, and party scenes that come along with that makes me want to be part of their world. Then there’s the humor, which I always love to find in a romance, is found in spades, especially when it comes to Slater.
I was really impressed with In the Swim of Things and I’m excited to read some of Banister’s other books including Izzy as Is, Mixing It Up, and Twin Piques.
Love the subtle romance aspect of this story! After her father had an accident at work that left him unable to work, Kyra returned home from college and took on the role of provider and parent to her younger brother. Years later, she has resigned herself into her job but ended up working out because she loves working as a mermaid at the local aquarium and takes her job there quite seriously. It’s there that she meets Declan and has a one-night stand, if you will, after his divorce, but things seem fine with them as they went right back to being friends. A while after that, Kyra meets Cade, a surfer who has recently relocated to town, and they start a relationship that Kyra really believes in, up until she finds out why he has relocated to town – his new job at the upcoming resort being built at her favorite beach. Determined to keep the beach public because it has so many memories of her childhood and her mother, she does anything and everything she can throughout the book to accomplish that – protests, fights and all. In somewhat of a twist for me in regards to the romance aspect in this story, Kyra finds out Cade is not who she thought he was and their relationship was not what she thought, and she uses that to her advantage while also realizing who her actual feelings are for! Overall, I really enjoyed this book, although I feel it was a little bit drawn out and longer than it should have been.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Kyra Goodwin gave up college to help take care of her brother and father, her dream of being a marine biologist. Now she is a mermaid and loves her job. She tries to stop the construction of a resort which would take over a beach which Kyra loves dearly. She starts dating a retired surf boarder, Cade, and begins to develop feelings for Declan, a co-worker and his precious daughter. Things are complicated.
What a wonderful contemporary romance full of interesting characters and set on the beach. The characters are amazing full of spirit and personality that draw you into the story and invested into their future. The storyline was well written full of surprises, twists and turns, keeping the reader reading page after page. It is an emotional rollercoaster as Krystal goes through her decisions based on her internal fears and insecurities to develop the courage to make new dreams and follow them. This is a well written book and worth reading if you like contemporary romances that leave you feeling good.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
In the Swim of Things is my first book by Tracie and I’m SO glad I picked it up. Then again with a cover as cute as it is, and one hell of a synopsis how could I not? [oh yeah & because I’m a mermaid fanatic ;)]
ANYWAYYYY, Kyra the book’s heroine is a local on the Cape and is head mermaid at the aquarium. In her spare time from swimming with the fishes, Kyra is passionate about her family and the local beach which is about to become a private luxury resort. Permanently banning the locals from the beach and its beauty.
In addition to this Kyra grows closer to her “merwrangler” Declan as well as begins a relationship with a retired pro surfer; Cade. While it seems like a love-triangle, don’t let that deter you because it’s not one. Kyra’s life begins spiraling one event into another creating our plot for the story.
The book had a lot of different plot lines going on at once, normally something like that can feel excessive but Tracie’s writing does a great job making sure you’re not lost. It created more depth to Kyra’s life and those around her. I honestly felt it made the pages turn all the more faster. I was getting greedy for the full story and before I knew it I was finished.
Overall I AODRED this book. It was funny, sweet and exciting. I wish their was a sequel especially because I wanted more juicy scenes from a certain couple. I highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun and sweet page turner!
“In the Swim of Things” by Tracie Banister was cute, sweet, and laugh-out-loud funny with likable, relatable characters. I especially liked Kyra, who was a great main character. She was feisty and independent, stood up for what she believed in no matter what, and loved her family and friends fiercely. Even though Kyra had to give up her dream of going to college to become the “female Jacques Cousteau,” I loved that she forged her own path and still found a way to be happy in a job she loved. (Plus, she’s still young – there’s still time for school if she wants to go back in the future.)
I had no idea there were such things as professional mermaids, so it was fascinating for me to learn more about Kyra’s job. It kind of took me back to when I was a little girl and loved “The Little Mermaid.” However, I did guess some of the twists and turns the plot would take pretty early on, but it was still a fun ride getting to the end of the book and seeing how things would turn out for Kyra and her friends and family.
Overall, this was a great beach read for the summer, and I really enjoyed it. I would absolutely read more of Ms. Banister’s work in the future.
*Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
In the Swim of Things is the perfect beach read whether you’re at the beach or just dreaming of relaxing on one. In fact, this will be a great book to return to in the dead of winter when we’re all dreaming of being on a beach somewhere far from the gray drab days.
I loved the main character, Kyra who has such depth. She’s so giving and loving toward her family, giving up her own aspirations to care for her father and younger brother. She also cares about her town and the beach that is being taken away from her community by a developer. The beach not only means a great deal to the residents of Chaucer, but for Kyra, there’s a deep emotional connection. She takes on the big, bad corporation and gives them a battle they didn’t see coming. Go Kyra!
And of course, there’s sizzling romance with not just one, but two hot guys that helps Kyra grow in ways that will surely surprise and impress, discovering what’s really important to her by the end.
There are so many wonderful aspects to this story: great writing, awesome characters-including an adorable child, and characters to hate (might I mention Gina?), themes of unconditional love and fighting for what you believe in, fabulous New England setting, including an aquarium, and of course “real” mermaids! And oh how that gorgeous cover depicts this story perfectly!
If you love sexy rom-coms with heart like I do, then this book is for you!
I’m so sad this book is over. This was such a cute fun read. I will be honest, I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book the first couple chapters. However, the more I read, the more I found myself loving it. I ended up loving the characters. Kyra, the main character is a feisty, lovable, fun, quirky, scrappy, and relatable character. I found myself lapping up this story. Then, you have two male interests in this story (which I love myself a good love triangle). All of the characters (besides one or two – and you’ll find out when you read) are super likable and jump off the page. It’s not hard to imagine any of them being in your daily life because they seem that real.
I found myself just smiling as I was reading. I loved the world that the author created. This is definitely a fun summer read so don’t hesitate on picking this one up!
What and adorably fun and unique story this was!
In the Swim of Things is a well-written story about mermaids, merwranglers, professional surfers, douchebag development company owners, and projectile shitting lorikeets. If that doesn’t make you want to read this book, I don’t know what will.
Full of heart, humor, and shenanigans galore, this book had me pulled in and had me turning the pages as fast as I could to get to the end. It was like watching a movie play out in front of me.
It was highly entertaining and I’m pretty sure I snort-giggled quite a few times. It’s a light-hearted and delightfully refreshing read!
This was my first Tracie Banister book, but it won’t be my last. I look forward to checking out more of her work!
In the Swim of Things
Tracie Banister
This was a great story!! I loved Kyra in her fight to save the beach. She finds a lot of other things along the way. The characters were fun and full of life you just wanted to be part of the group. It was an amazing story!!
Kyra has done her best to keep things together for her family since the death of her
Mother and a debilitating injury to her father. She was forced to leave her dreams of being an oceanographer behind. She is now head of the pod of mermaids at the local Aquarium. Here she has a decent paying job and a chance to share her love of the sea with the next generation.
Declan is a recently divorced hottie she fell for after a boozy night- but he has not taken a step closer to her since then.
A long hot summer finds Kyra and Declan working out their situations and emotions- and baby brother Steve getting himself in grown up scrapes with a nasty gal who once had played her friend.
True hearts and true love of the sea might win in the end, but for now this is a bumpy and hilarious ride!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a new Author to me a fun book to read about a woman Kyra Goodwin whose job is being a mermaid at the Cape Cod Aquarium. Declan is a merwrangler a cute story and one I found myself laughing with. I will be reading more by this Author. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I absolutely love Tracie Banister’s writing, especially the point of view of her main characters. You know those wonderful books that don’t feel like a book at all? The ones where you almost feel like you’re the character and these thoughts are coming from your mind? This is one of those.
Kyra is compassionate, romantic, hilarious, caring, intelligent, patient, and so much more. You will want to hang out with her after reading this. And will most likely miss her character because she’s so fun.
My fast formed addiction to this one escalated further as the novel progressed and Declan’s character became more developed. Swwooooonnnnn! Declan is one of the hottest, sexiest, smartest, and sweetest characters that I have discovered in a while. Believe me when I say that you will love this man.
Anyway, there is a lot going on in this story but it all works well together and there are so many themes and messages weaved into the hilarious circumstances and banter! Banister tackles development and how it impacts the environment and community. She tackles struggles with friends, co-workers, and bosses. A huge part of the story revolves around our dreams coupled with responsibility and expectations regarding our family. Even bigger is the issue with dishonesty, infidelity and finding people that you can truly trust. But the extraordinary thing about this author is how she can assemble so many lessons, important issues, and situations into such a fast-paced, romantic, and laugh-out-loud novel!
In the Swim of Things is perfect for fans of romantic comedy and especially other sea-lovers out there like Kyra. You’ll smile, laugh, get frustrated, laugh again, and most of all – feel happy for having read this one. Bravo to Tracie Banister for yet another fantastic novel!
What a fun romance!
Tracie Banister takes us behind the scenes of what most girls dream of being…a mermaid!! This was a fun read with plenty of surprises in the romance department. As a true southerner I have to say I learned quite a bit of New England slang. Wicked good book!
Banister has done it again! Once I started this one, I couldn’t stop reading. Kyra is a feisty, professional mermaid who is not going to let a big whale of a company take over her beloved beach, the one that holds precious memories of her dearly departed mother. There are so many things to love about this story: Kyra – who doesn’t want her job? Declan – a merwrangler. Hubba hubba. Cade – a surfer dude who is hotter than the sand on the beach. Not to mention a whole cast of characters who round out this delightful tale (tail) set in glorious Cape Cod.
I LOVED this giggle inducing, feel REAL good, fun loving romance! In The Swim of Things was and is a FABULOUS, Tail-waving story that had my heart fluttering wildly and had a smile blooming on my face from the very start.
This is my first book I have read from Tracie Banister and it sure as hell won’t be my last! I LOVED the way this book was written. And the thought of being a “mermaid” is magical and perfect and I LOVED the idea of a heroine who was one and thought it was the best job. I would SO want to audition for one myself if I could. Kyra was magnificent too. Wild, passionate, beautiful, smart and sweet I liked her right away. This story was full of drama, fun, sexy times and the perfect amount of chemistry and fun in the sun. I do hope there will be more “mermaid” stories because this book had me hooked! This is the PERFECT book to take to the beach too! It will put a smile on a readers face and have them going after their dreams in full force!
In The Swim Of Things gets a TAIL-TASTIC FIVE SPARKLING STARS!
This story was so much fun!! I was immediately swept away with the idea of mermaids. Who doesn’t love mermaids?
Kyra is awesome and I admired her devotion to her family, her love of her job as a mermaid, and her passion for Sea Star Beach where she grew up. When that beach is threatened, watch out! There is no holding her back.
I absolutely loved In the Swim of Things! It’s a fanciful tale (cue the mermaids), as well as being a romantic, sexy, lighthearted, sometimes serious story, full of kind and compassionate characters who go up against some very unkind and uncompassionate people. Goodness will prevail! And the ending? Just perfect!!
In the Swim of Things is definitely a book you need to add to your summer reading list—it’s the perfect beach read. Who knows, maybe you’ll run into a mermaid. Wouldn’t that be awesome?
The PERFECT summer read! Tracie Banister does it again and writes a mermaid “tail” to suit even the toughest of romcom audiences. You’ll laugh, you’ll tear up, you’ll fall in love.