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 … 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.
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My first Mer book and I was really caught up in the story. I wish it would have been a bit longer so we could really finish the story of Jake and Marcus. Jake is a young man who runs a dingy bar in a small coastal town. One night he meets a much older yet amazing man that he finds himself more then attracted to. Marcus is a divorces man who can not understand his big attraction to the young bartender. One amazing night together is what they had. Jake woke up being pulled to the sea. He did not understand, he could not stop it. His body feels like it is not his own and he finds himself in a new shape in a world he knew nothing about. How can he be a prince of the mer people, he just wants to go home. Marcus has found his new self and his new desire and now he will fight a king to keep Jake. Wish the book was a bit longer to finish the story of Jakes and Marco’s family.
Fate hasn’t dealt Jake McHaven a very good hand in life. At twenty-three years old, he has spent the entirety of his young life dealing with the fallout of being born to an alcoholic mother who despises his very presence. In Grace McHaven’s eyes, Jake is a constant reminder of the love she lost, the love that makes her drown her sorrows in the bottom of a bottle. Unfortunately for Jake and his kind heart, his sense of responsibility makes him accept the depressing reality of his life. Jake will take care of his mom no matter how she lashes out at him. He’ll keep the Driftwood Bar running even at the expense of his own happiness. To top off the suck salad that is his life, Jake is only one of two gay men in town his age, leaving him lonely. Day in and day out he trudges on through his depressing existence because that is all there is for him. Jake has no idea there is a secret behind who he really is. He doesn’t know that his paternal heritage holds the key to a whole new life for him.
Forty-seven-year-old Marcus Stern, on the other hand, has had a vastly different life than Jake. He owns a successful construction business, has two grown children attending college, an ex-wife that he split with amicably, oh, and he’s straight. He’s in Driftwood on a vacation he ended up taken alone when his kids ditch him to go to Cancun with their mom. When Marcus meets Jake for the first time something about the boy makes his protective instincts kick in and it sets the wheels of love into motion.
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Kiki Burrelli is an author that captured my heart with her Welcome to Morningwood series. So, when she announced Taking the Bait in her author group on facebook I knew that I had to read this novel. With the whimsy of an underwater world combined with mpreg and a romantic May/December relationship, what could be more enticing? I’m so glad that I ignored my TBR list to read Taking the Bait first.
Oh man, this book, it’ll kick you in the feels for sure! My heart broke for Jake more than once because of awful encounters with his mother. I just wanted to bear hug Jake from the very beginning. When Marcus’s drive to protect Jake presented itself I was beyond happy! Even though there is a significant age gap between the two they fit together so, so well. Jake really needed someone to not only protect him but to also show him that he’s loved. Marcus is that someone!
Overall, I thought this book was pretty good. I’m no grammar nazi, so I’m sure there are things that I missed, but I only found a few mistakes on my initial readthrough. I completely forgot to highlight them on my Kindle, unfortunately. Even though there were some mistakes it wasn’t enough to completely throw me out of the story too badly.
There were a few things I would like to comment on.
First, the length of this book was a bit of a problem for me. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked the story! I just felt like there should have been more to it. To me it felt a little like the end of the book was rushed especially. I would have loved if Kiki had expanded on different parts of the book to make a more in-depth tale. Like, for example, the actual sex happens pretty early on in the story. In most cases that is fine. Yet, in this book, it felt like there should have been a little more build-up for their first time. Marcus hadn’t ever had sex with a man before, so I feel like there would have needed to be a little more easing into it. Maybe that’s just me?
Second, I think it would have been fabulous if Kiki had embellished Sheallah a little more. We were getting to see this magnificent underwater world through Jake’s eyes and I felt it was a little two dimensional. There was so much that could have been done there, but we don’t spend a whole heap of time in Sheallah. So, maybe that is why it felt a little empty to me?
Third, the relationship between Jake and Marcus develops so quickly. There is this straight older man drawn to a younger gay man. After a night of passion, it seems like Marcus is in it for the long-haul despite waking to find Jake gone. He sticks around throughout the insanity that is mermen, finding out his boyfriend is pregnant, and the rejection meant to protect him. I have to give him credit, Marcus is a real stand up man for rolling with the punches of this story.
All in all, this was a good, quick read. I enjoyed this story. I liked the potential of not only this book but also the series to come. I loved both Jake and Marcus for completely different reasons. This was a sweet story that really grabs you by the heartstrings. If you like books about sweet-hearted characters, male pregnancy, May/December relationships, heartbreaking moments, tender affection, and mermen, you’ll definitely enjoy this story.
I’d for sure recommend Taking the Bait to any of my friends who love books along these lines.
Taking the Bait by Kiki Burrelli is the first book in the Royal Merman Series. This is an m/m romance with sexy merman, an age gap romance and a surprise mpreg. Marcus and Jake are fun characters and their story is sweet and interesting with just enough angst and suspense.
I’m huge fan of Kiki Burrelli’s books so reading this new series was a must for me. This is a M/M, Mpreg, age gap love story about Marcus and Jake, how they fight to stay together, finally succeeding after a lot of struggles and getting a HEA well deserved. I hope book 2 is about Orin… pretty please with cherry on top??
Fated love always finds a way.
What an enchanting story! Kiki has created a unique world filled with intriguing characters. This book has it all: mermen, age- gap, angst, betrayal, loyalty, love mpreg and a new twist on losing your V card. And sex. Did I mention the hot sex? I. Loved. This. Book!
This is Jake & Marcus’s story. Marcus is divorced with 2 grown kids. He never considered her mighty be bi, until her meets Jake. Jake’s is the same age as his kids. He has a secret so hidden, even he doesn’t know it. When the tides call him to the ocean to fulfill his destiny, Jake is torn from the man he loves. But both men will fight to be together.
The road to HEA is bumpy, fraught with danger, but assured. You will fall in love along with them. Laugh with them. Feel their pain, fears, and joys.
You. Will. Love. This. Book! Really, you need to get this book.
This book contains adult themes and language, mm sex and is intended for mature readers only.