Colin Everroad should be dead, but after his lobster boat founders during a violent storm off the Maine coast, he wakes up on a beach. He’s cold, but unscathed¿ with strange memories of a face he can’t conjure and a voice he doesn’t recognize. No one can explain it, but a friend suggests Colin was saved by one of the mer. Except the mer don’t exist. Do they? But¿ that face. That voice. Someone … Someone was in the water with him. Someone saved him. If not a mer, then who? And whoever it was, Colin wants to see his face.Lir broke protocol by rescuing a land person, but he couldn’t just let the man drown. When disobediently resurfaces to see his beautiful land man, he knows it’s only a matter of time before he’s forbidden to leave the depths again. One clandestine visit turns into more. Soon, Colin and Lir are meeting at the shore as often as possible, and the connection between them deepens. The only problem is that neither can live in the other’s world. Or can they?Then Lir finds a way for them to be together, but only for a little while¿ and at a cost. As time grows short, they have to choose: does Lir return to the sea and never see Colin again, or stay forever with the man he loves in a world that will never love them?Ripples & Waves is a modern, queer retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid.
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They did everything to find LOVE
This epic tale is full of brilliant characters and a stunning storyline that takes our breath away. I adore the sweet guys and their beautiful connection and the devotion they have for each other. The audio narration by Michael Ferraiuolo is amazing and impossible to pause.
I must admit Disney’s Mermaid was the very first time I enjoyed any story about merfolk and I was saddened that I had not been acquainted with the original story put forth by Hans Christian Andersen. Being totally enamored by M/M romance, L. A. Witt’s ‘Ripples & Waves’ gave me a delicious taste of the well-loved fairy tale. We all know the pivotal Disney mermaid song “Part of Your World” whose meaning form the axis upon which the story rotates. L. A. Witt grabs that axis by throat to make it work by applying her own special magic of storytelling.
In her story, we meet Colin Everroad who had suffered a harrowing experience on the seas aboard an inoperative lobster boat during a storm. Someone saves him from the waters and he vaguely remembers them telling him their name is Lir. From a lesbian woman who is both boss and friend, he is told about the mer and how her life was saved by such beings when she was a young girl. She tells Colin how to contact Lir, explaining that he told Colin his name with the hope of seeing him again. He contacts Lir and a friendship begins that is very pure and truly lovely.
The writer doesn’t waste time with a lot of intrigues. She gets the main characters together rather quickly to move from developing a friendship that establishes some common ground and mutual interest. A foundation between the men is formed before Lir decides to approach the witch about a potion that will make him a mute human for three days. It is during these three days that they enjoy sexual intimacies which further their love for each other. When given the options to make the transformation permanent, Colin makes the ultimate sacrifice to send Lir away from a world where he’d be shunned for loving other men. As we expect, the men become a couple bound together permanently but L. A. Witt makes this her story especially with a resolution that is linked to why Colin manages to be at sea during a storm on a non-functional lobster boat in the first place.
The world-building is wonderful with aspects that are connected to the prejudice some have against gay men. Some of it was painful and evoked some ugly crying on my part. I’ll admit it, I PMd the writer on Facebook with a weeping emoji but did tell her the story was beautiful. The character development was definitely present and not just as a product of the fairy tale. L. A. Witt labored to give readers a critical narrative that demonstrated socioemotional growth for both main characters. Those factors along with the realism of prejudice due to sexual orientation made for one truly original retelling of a historic fairy tale.
As usual, LA Witt delivers the feelz! Such a great retelling of The Little Mermaid that ends with a smile and not in tears!
Excellent
My first thought is that I now need to read the Andersen story again. A lovely retelling, alternating POV of young men who find love and the trials to get there. The characters are drawn well, the borrowed plot woven well.
SO….SO AWESOME!!!! These two guys were so wonderful. Their love and selflessness were something else. More people should think & feel like they do. I wish the real world could have their mindset. Colin was so sweet, you just wanted to hug him and protect him. And Lir was right there to Love him and appreciate him.
unusual theme
Would make a good hallmark movie
Love is love, no matter your differences. Colin suffered a potential tragedy he vaguely remembers. He was saved and recovering in the hospital with tentative memories. He remembers someone repeating a name, Lir. He remembers vagues senses of being help and comforted. He remembers being safe. He knows his sides hurt, with no visible injuries and no corroboration from the doctors. He lived on his parents’ estate and felt pressured since he came out. Lir, the youngest mer of the King and Queen was a bit rebellious. He saved Colin and gave him his name, which were both forbidden. But it allowed Colin to call Lir when he wanted to talk. They saw each other just about every day and developed feelings. What will Conlin’s homophobic parents say? What will Lir’s Mom/Dad, the Queen/King say? How can they possibly be a physical couple? Who knows the solution? What will it cost the guys? This was a nail biter. Colin and Lir both seemed like very nice guys. I understood Lir’s parents, and I even understood Colin’s, but I didnt like them. Very good story! riveting. I received an ARC from Booksprout for a review.
Colin get caught in a violent storm and his lobster boat flounders. He should be dead but he wakes up on a beach. He’s told he was probably saved by a mer but they don’t exist. Lir is a mer who saved Colin and he can’t stay away from him when he knows he should. It can have consequences that will effect both of them. I really enjoyed this book.
This is a well written take on the old fairy tale with strong characters in Colin and Mir and an intriguing story line. The author does a great job bringing it to life with her vividly detailed scenes as well as the hot chemistry. The story moves quickly and smoothly and I enjoyed reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.