When, At Last, He Found Me (Memoir of a Mermaid, #1) by Adrianna Stepiano

Apr 03, 2012 Lissa & Alexa The Novel Lasses rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Adult & Young Adult Reader of all ages

Recommended to Lissa & Alexa by: Adrianna Stepiano

Welcome everyone to Q&A with Adrianna Stepiano!

First we want to thank Adrianna for taking time to answerer what may seem like a million silly questions. THANK YOU!! Have no worries if the question you dying to ask her is not here; I am sure we will see more from this very talented Indie Author.

1. (Q) The first question Diane and I had to ask and I am sure what most of us are eager to know is...What inspired you to write the book(s)?

(A) The inspiration to write Memoir of a Mermaid came fr...more

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Oct 04, 2012 oliviasbooks rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people in love with fictional jerks and formulaic paranormal YA

Recommended to oliviasbooks by: the author

Shelves: mermaids-selkies, e-version, self-published, young-adult-fiction, urban-fantasy-paranormal, love-story-romance, i-cannot-tell-you-my-secret, a-jerk-is-a-jerk, unfinished-2012, sequel-no-thank-you

'Get in.' He demanded. [...] I got in the car, against my better judgement, because I didn’t want to cause a scene. [...] 'You understand that I just met you, right?'
'Yes. You understand that the woman you were about to have lunch with is my aunt and she just disappeared in a matter of minutes, right? You understand that perhaps there is more going on than you could possibly comprehend, right? You understand that I am trying to get you home safe, right?' His blue eyes pierced me and my body felt...more 'Get in.' He demanded. [...] I got in the car, against my better judgement, because I didn’t want to cause a scene. [...] 'You understand that I just met you, right?'
'Yes. You understand that the woman you were about to have lunch with is my aunt and she just disappeared in a matter of minutes, right? You understand that perhaps there is more going on than you could possibly comprehend, right? You understand that I am trying to get you home safe, right?' His blue eyes pierced me and my body felt numb.
I did understand. I handed him my keys. 'My house is at 504 Briarwood Court.'

You like that? Good for you. To me this passage embodies everything I dislike about a certain type of paranormal young adult romance. And although I have read only 7% of the self-published mermaid novel, I can tell that I would label the whole package as unbearably awful. Therefore there is no sense in reading the remaining 93%.

If the 'teaser' above made you kind of excited, you might be pleased to hear that the story deals with a freshly graduated orphan called Seraphin, who has had water phobia since she went into the ocean against her father's explicit prohibition, which is somehow connected to her father's mysterious death. Rich Seraphin has lived for years Cinderella-style with a family friend, who resented her presence in the house. She made do with only one true friend, her biology teacher Ms. Z., who starts blathering about legends and merpeople and guardians and successions and prophecies out of the blue and right on graduation day. After Seraphin has laughingly established that she doesn't believe in mermaids, she witnesses said teacher-friend, who announces that she will have to leave town directly after lunch, to make the biology department's goldfishes do as she says using plain English to communicate at them. Just as Seraphin contemplates becoming a believer (Praised be Nemo!), Ms. Z's grumpy, shy and gorgeous nephew Joseph barges in, flickers his mesmerising eyes from ice to navy blue and back, stops himself from releasing a very secret secret and takes the first-I-have-to-pretend-to-hate-you role with aplomb. Phew! Just in time, because fifteen minutes later he needs to be the ill-tempered-and-tight-lipped-knight-in-shining-armor. Our friendless heroine of the later-to-be-revealed superior qualities is about to faint and cannot drive or think or walk and talk.

This marks the opening of the fantastic curtain: I am sure there will be a lot of mistrust and bickering and withholding of information. There will be fulfilments of prophecies that demand sacrifices of vast proportions to be made. And there will be goldfish lingo to be learned. In the end there will be peace and harmony in Earth’s oceans again. How inspiring! But alas, I cannot stay. You tell me, if I am right. But make it quick, okay?

Disclosure: I received a Smashwords Coupon from the author to download the e-book for free.
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Ania You asked to tell you if you were right and I can honestly say: the book is worth reading. It actually ends up being pretty much nothing like you woul...more You asked to tell you if you were right and I can honestly say: the book is worth reading. It actually ends up being pretty much nothing like you would think and the characters are vastly different than one would expect at the beginning. While I can definitely see getting the impression that it's going to be "one of those books" (I worried about the same thing too) from the snippet you provided I can say that I was pleasantly surprised by how the story progressed. It actually turns out that the author dislikes the "witless female LOVES jerk" sorts of stories too.(there's the short of it, but I'll explain a bit too in case you're curious) Without giving too much away I will tell you that Ms. Z is the reason for Joseph's snit at the beginning and he's not normally a complete jerk (his initial moodiness IS clarified satisfactorily later and it was a legitimate reason to get flustered). He's far from perfect, but his first impressions are a lot worse than he is. There is some mistrust and withholding of information because that's what people do, but it's done in a non-obnoxious way that makes it more realistic rather than less. Seraphin actually turns out to be an intelligent, strong-willed, and mature character (her blacking out is also explained), which is a welcome change in this genre. She's fiercely independent, hates to rely on anyone for anything, and has no problem speaking her mind. She has a physical weakness with the blackouts which she works to overcome (and which sets her into a few less than ideal circumstances until she does) but she is by no means the typical air-headed simpering fool that you would expect. The characters all have their strengths and flaws and they each have room to grow (which they do work on). Also, there's no goldfish lingo, although now I'm slightly curious as to how you would go about spelling it if there were... I digress. The point is the book is worth giving a shot. It's by no means a Disney story. If after reading it it's still not your cup of tea, so be it. But it's not what you described so you might enjoy it.(less)
Nov 29, 2012 08:12am

oliviasbooks Thank you for taking the time to elaborate, Ania. I hope you'll write a review to counterbalance mine. For I will definitely not pick up the story aga...more
Nov 29, 2012 08:18am

May 17, 2012 Lylaa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: triple-zero, paranormal-supernatural-romance

"Ms Z, what’s wrong with Joseph? I mean—I don’t know him but—well, I get the feeling he hates me.”
“Joseph is a very sweet young man—”
I cut her off. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything."

Seraphin
Gosh you're infuriating,
and stubborn.
Although, you are strong minded.
I actually agree with the marriage part thingy.
I don't know what it'd feel like to have no family,
though I don't want to experience it either.
I liked how you developed throughout the book, sort of.
To have your power..oh man.
You ne...more

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May 29, 2012 Sherry Fundin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, favorites

Seraphin had always felt responsible for her father's death and her dreams seemed to enforce those feelings. When she met her teacher, Mrs. Z and was introduced to Joseph. life seemed to take on a direction of its own. Her father had instilled in her a fear of water, yet she could not resist being drawn to it. When Joseph made her realize she was a mermaid, she finally found her place in life.
I was captivated from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down and didn't quit til the wee hours of the...more

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Jun 01, 2012 NayNay rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was my first Mermaid book, and I did not know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I did enjoy this book, I liked the way the story was told, the characters are well developed, and there were so many twist and turns that it kept you guessing till the very end. The suspense is just enough to keep the readers interest and the cliffhanger ending is certainly why I am going to be looking for the next installment.
I was never a reader of mythical stories, but this book caught my interes...more

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Jul 14, 2012 Larissa :) rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.75 :) Just to be different..

Second ARC! *dances like a crazy person*
Thank you so very much Adrianna, so very much appreciated :)

This book was actually really good! I really liked it.
The romance seemed a bit out synch at times, it would have been nice to have seen that developed a little more clearer. It was sort of a one step forward and then three steps back kind of relationship, we know that you like each other, but then you don't, but you need each other, it was a little too all over the p...more

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May 10, 2012 Nikki (The Bibliomaniac) rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is something that the author kindly offered out for a review on Goodreads. And of course I snagged it. So my thanks, to Adrianna for letting me read this. Normally I'm a vamp girl but lately, there has just been something very appealing about Mermen.

The book starts out with Seraphin, walking up to get her high school diploma. In line she gets a bit nervous and blacks out. It's her bodies response to any time she's gonna go in to freak out mode. After the ceremony she really has no plac...more

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Dec 21, 2012 The Novel Lasses Alexandria_Lissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4stars, mythology, paranormal, mermaid, blogged, reviewed, read_in_2012

Peasant Alexandria’s Quick Review Thoughts :

Cover : Love the blue
Genre : YA Paranormal Mermaid Adventure RomanceStar Status :4 Fish Tales
Overall : Lie a water Lilly; beautiful!
Characters: Ahh struck
Want More ? yes!!

Recommend : Yes to everyone
My Book Boyfriend :

Strong Female Lead : Sarahfhin

Peasant Alexandria's Muses :

My favorite Quote : “Ok, why would I freak out? You can talk to me through water. I mean, it’s cool. A little odd, but cool.”

What was my favorite part? When they...more

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Jun 14, 2012 Rachael Woohoo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-copy, ebook, june-challenge-2012, 2012, 2012-challenge-books-challenge, book, reviewed, romance, parafantasy-challenge-2012, june-2012, ebooks-i-own

Disclaimer: The fact that the author has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review has not affected my rating.

Rating: 3.5 Stars!

Originally posted in Moosubi Reviews!

I think what stood out the most in this book was it's characters. I'm a fan of Phin - she thinks for herself and isn't afraid to speak out and walk out. For example, when Joseph (view spoiler), Phin isn't afraid to speak up and stand up for them. I fo...more Disclaimer: The fact that the author has provided me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review has not affected my rating.

Rating: 3.5 Stars!

Originally posted in Moosubi Reviews!

I think what stood out the most in this book was it's characters. I'm a fan of Phin - she thinks for herself and isn't afraid to speak out and walk out. For example, when Joseph (view spoiler), Phin isn't afraid to speak up and stand up for them. I found that this was especially remarkable because Joseph was described to be so good looking and powerful - most girls nowadays would just let him keep talking, or even contribute to the insults. I also liked the fact that Joseph, as well as his relationships with Nasani, his father, and Phin, wasn't perfect. In fact, his flaws were quite apparent, and seem to coincide with some realistic problems we must deal with today.

As for the supporting characters, I'm not sure what to think. Nasani is definitely a unique character - she seems to have three personalities - a happy and sweet one, a snappy and grumpy one, and an extremely emotional one. I wasn't sure exactly what to think about it because her multiple attitudes sometimes seemed fake to me. As for Ethan, although he receives quite a bit of screen time, I found his character a little underdeveloped, in terms of his personality and relationship with Joseph, Nasani, and most of all, Phin.

And Mrs. Z... (view spoiler)

The plot moved quickly, although like most books, it was a little slow in the beginning. Interesting, but sometimes predictable (apart from the brunch in Perth and Mrs. Z... I didn't see that coming!) However, I found it annoying that Joseph and Phin had an insta-love-ish relationship. It eventually develops into something more, of course, but I found it a little annoying in the beginning. Moreover, I'm curious to learn more about the world of mermaids, although those questions I have in my head will probably be answered in the next book.

Overall, When At Last, He Found Me, is a well written mermaid story, although it leaves many questions in my mind and wanting the next!(less)

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Mar 16, 2012 Dixie Goode rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-shelf

5.0 out of 5 stars
A Mermaid with gumption, grace and courage,

This review is from: Memoir of a Mermaid: When, At Last, He Found Me (Kindle Edition)

I may be prejudiced toward this book a little, although I do not know the author, she speaks directly to my fondest wishes as a child. When I was somewhere in the preschool, pre-pre-school years, growing up in land locked Wyoming, I grew irritated that my parents hadn't made me be a dolphin, and I refused to answer to any name but "Flipper." Once I wa...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Mallory Anne-Marie Forbes rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Paranormal, YA, Adult Paranormal, Fantasy-Myth-Legend

Recommended to Mallory Anne-Marie by: Adrianna Stepiano

Shelves: march-2012-reads

When Seraphina Shedd graduates high school, she is handed the keys to her Grandmother’s home. She’d lost her dad when she was ten, rescuing her from her sudden inexplicable disobedience, and was reared by her grandmother until the latter’s death. Now she’s free of the family friend who despises her, but is still fearful of moving on, into the unknown. Unbeknownst to her as yet, Seraphina is venturing into a much greater unknown than just the anxiety of leaving her Bar Harbor high school, of retu...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Cindy Rawlings rated it 3 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars

Seraphine, Phin for short, is your normal every day outcast girl without a family. She is staying with another family until she graduates who cannot stand her presence in their house, except for Ethan in whom she finds an unsuspected friendship. Since the death of her father, Phin has been known to black out when emotions run high as a safety switch her mind throws.

Things change quickly when she is thrust into a secret world of mermaids by her teacher, meets a guy who turns out to be...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Roxanne Kade rated it 5 of 5 stars

Memoir of a Mermaid reminded me of why I love YA Paranormal Romances so much. It delivered everything I love about the genre and so much more. Reading it, I felt the excited giddiness rising inside me as the story developed and there was no way I could stop myself from loving the characters. Well, most of them anyway.

This is the second mermaid novel that I’ve read and I love the uniqueness that comes with the myth. As with any other paranormal being, authors are free to put their own spin on the...more Memoir of a Mermaid reminded me of why I love YA Paranormal Romances so much. It delivered everything I love about the genre and so much more. Reading it, I felt the excited giddiness rising inside me as the story developed and there was no way I could stop myself from loving the characters. Well, most of them anyway.

This is the second mermaid novel that I’ve read and I love the uniqueness that comes with the myth. As with any other paranormal being, authors are free to put their own spin on the legend that surrounds these creatures. Ms. Stepiano does a brilliant job of weaving a magical tale while always keeping her readers on their toes. What could have very easily become a predictable plot didn’t. There were many twists and turns that often had me wondering if certain characters could be trusted or not.

This book is filled with romance but I loved that it wasn’t rushed. We see hints of it and there’s no denying the chemistry between certain characters, but it ebbs and flows like the tide until they can no longer ignore their feelings – and this makes for many wonderful scenes throughout the book. I especially enjoyed the moment shared between Seraphin and Joseph in the cabin after they go looking for the relics and disaster strikes (Sorry, can’t say more than that). For me that was the ultimate sign that they were meant to be together because they connected in such a beautiful way.

What I also really loved about this book was how real it was – besides mermaids and a few other interesting creatures. The relationship between Seraphin and Joseph had its ups and downs, and not just because there was some evil force out to get them, but because normal human behaviour and emotions got in the way. Seraphin often followed her head instead of her heart, believing it was the right thing to do – even if it meant having to let go of Joseph. He made his fair share of mistakes and at times was really arrogant and self-centred, but he made up for his shortcomings, and I hoped against all hope that Seraphin would see this and for once listen to her heart. But again Ms. Stepiano didn’t make the journey to love an easy one for her characters, although I was happy for the glimmer of hope that ended this book on a high note.

I cannot wait to read the second book to see what further adventures lie in wait for Seraphin and Joseph.
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Apr 08, 2012 Marina rated it 5 of 5 stars

The original review can be found here:
http://chicklibrarycat.blogspot.com/2...

Seraphin ( Phin) grew up losing her family members one by one. She lost her mother when she was a baby, her father when she was ten, and her grandmother when she was a teenager. The strikes of the life just made her stronger. She lost her beloved teacher, another loss. She found out that she was a mermaid, one more turnover. Everything that happened in her life, only made her stronger as a person. Person who doesn't li...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Howard Parsons rated it 5 of 5 stars

As part of the research for my great and probably never-to-be-published novel, this reviewer has become quite a connoisseur of mer-folk fiction. There has been a tidal wave of this theme in Young Adult Fiction over the past year or two and a notable uptick in such books for adults. So far, I have tended to favour the former as most of the latter often seem to be a rather thin story line wrapped around a bumper serving of soft - and not-so-soft - porn. This reviewer has nothing against Adult them...more As part of the research for my great and probably never-to-be-published novel, this reviewer has become quite a connoisseur of mer-folk fiction. There has been a tidal wave of this theme in Young Adult Fiction over the past year or two and a notable uptick in such books for adults. So far, I have tended to favour the former as most of the latter often seem to be a rather thin story line wrapped around a bumper serving of soft - and not-so-soft - porn. This reviewer has nothing against Adult themes but most of the time, they can get in the way of what could be a good story.

The Young Adult version of the mer-folk genre is often based on a young adult female suddenly discovering that she is a mermaid. (So far, I have seen few - if any - story lines where this happens to a young adult male.) This momentous event usually happens to girls who have been repeatedly warned by parents - living or dead - to stay out of the water. Not only is there this profound change in life-style, but the heroine discovers that she has special abilities (aside from being able to live under water), is a princess, a future queen, a savior of some sort, etc. Finally, she was originally born or goes to live in some sort of mystical, magical, mermaid-land under the sea.

All these are common elements of the genre and a number of them appear in this, the first book of the Memoir of a Mermaid series, but Adrianna Stepiano takes her story in a completely different direction. Seraphin Shedd is one such girl who discovers that things - including herself - are not what they once seemed. On the day of her high school graduation, she is completely alone; Her mother having departed when she was an infant and her father dead in the ocean when she was 10. To further complicate her life, she has blackouts at times of emotional anxiety like when she thinks of her father's untimely death. On the same day she receives her diploma, she also receives the key to the family estate, - an ordinary house on an ordinary street in an ordinary neighbourhood next to the sea - meets the somewhat baffling nephew, Joseph, of her biology teacher, and discovers that this very same teacher has suddenly disappeared.

All alone with no family and no college plans, Seraphin obtains a position as a housekeeper through the auspices of a neighbour. This job is at an oceanic research institute on nearby Great Cranberry Island. There, she finds the nephew of her now missing Biology teacher working under an assumed name. He has a friend in the person of a fellow researcher named Perrine Canard and working there as well is an acquaintance from high school named Ethan Cottington. Thus, the cast of central characters is gathered and the story really gets under way.

It is this reviewer's policy not to include spoilers or plot synopses but rather to give his impression of the book as a whole and comment on some elements of the story. That being said, this book is a real "page-turner" and the plot keeps you guessing. I am always looking for teachable moments in Young Adult Fiction and Ms. Stepiano's story contains a fair number. At one point or another, Seraphin encounters prejudice and bigotry, bullying and belittling.

One thing that makes this book stand out is that Ms. Stepiano has declined to create a magical undersea mer-kingdom. Instead, she portrays merfolk as ordinary people living ordinary lives and holding down everyday jobs. These are the residents of Seraphin's neighbourhood who have been watching and protecting her ever since her father died. It is these characters that help give this story a few comic touches and grounding in the in the real, believable world. The heroine is an extraordinary girl doing extraordinary things, loved and supported by her friends and neighbours.

The story contains romance, mystery, danger and heroism. Although the book was aimed at the mid-teen segment of the Young Adult market, it is easily readable and enjoyable by older teens as well as adults. In short, it is fun and exciting.

When, At Last, He Found Me will be followed by When, At Last, She Could See in January of 2013 and this reviewer believes that it will be eagerly anticipated. Aside from Seraphin and Joseph, there is a budding romance between the other two central characters that many readers, including myself, hope will be continued or at least expanded upon in the second book. Indeed, it has the potential to be a novel spun off of the main story.

Adrianna Stepiano has the makings of a real Young Adult classic on her hands and I hope that the next book will be just as good - if not better - as the first.(less)

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May 26, 2012 Heather Boustead rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, clean-romance, fantasy, romance, young-adult

When, At Last, He Found Me
Memoir of a Mermaid Book One
By Adrianna Stepiano

All Seraphin wants to do is make it through graduation and get the keys to her family home, after the death of her father Seraphin has been troubled by visions and randomly blacks which has led her to become an outcast. But after graduation she realizes that the black outs are only the tip of the ice berg where her life is concerned and when a mysterious man comes into her life she realizes she has been lied to her entire...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Sharifah Nurzalikha (Zalikha) Syed Othman (Othman) rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

It is with a heavy burden to be the first person to give this book one star. At first, I thought about giving it a two, but then I realized there’s no ‘it was okay’ factor that I felt it deserved from me. The reasons are; I had trouble connecting with the characters, inconsistency within the characters, no driving force that motivates me to get to the next page hence a weak plot and I cringed every time I read another “a tear drops” sentence. I REALLY wanted to like this book since I was given

...more

It is with a heavy burden to be the first person to give this book one star. At first, I thought about giving it a two, but then I realized there’s no ‘it was okay’ factor that I felt it deserved from me. The reasons are; I had trouble connecting with the characters, inconsistency within the characters, no driving force that motivates me to get to the next page hence a weak plot and I cringed every time I read another “a tear drops” sentence. I REALLY wanted to like this book since I was given to read it for free (Thank you Ms. S),it’s not every day you get free goodies, but alas, nothing goes according to your plan.

First, what threw me off was how Seraphin ‘speaks’ throughout the story. For an 18-year-old, she sure sounds very eloquent for her age and there were instances the dialogues and the sentences belonged to a 19th century setting. I was waiting for more background info on Phin that maybe she loves poetry, Shakespeare or read a lot of Jane Austen novels because that explains why, but there was none. Also, it was well established at the beginning that she has a severe fear of the open water, but then that fear instantly vanishes when Mr. J reveals what she was. It would have been interesting to see her struggle with her fear and her transformation at the same time, but oh well, you can’t get everything you want.

Ethan’s relationship with Phin should have been established from the beginning. It’s mentioned only later that they have somewhat a ‘family bond’. The ferry scene where Ethan left Phin to fend for her own when clearly he knows she has a fear of the open water, should be revised and the ‘hug’ scene as well. It really confused me when suddenly in the next few scenes; they can sit comfortably beside each other. I really like the tea bonding moment between them, but I need more substance than that for Phin to be able to lay her head on Ethan’s shoulder.

Next, Phin’s relationship with Mr. J was full of mistrust and stubbornness. I still have no idea why Phin finds him charming, nope, no hot factor was felt in their relationship. He was a jerk towards the ‘freaks’ and was there supposed to be a caste system where the goonch was at the bottom of the ladder? Either way, Mr. J was a jerk to Phin’s neighbors. Where’s the charm in that really? He has yet to redeem himself for treating them that way. One scene that I like between the two was when after Mr.J’s conference “Save the Orca”, Phin and him jumped into the ocean. Just that scene, that moment where he tackled her into the water, was a sweet scene I feel.

As Phin repeated herself, Mr. J has a one track mind. To save the ocean world from pollution and corruption and in order to do that they have to find that carcanet and cuff Guardian thingamajig. It was really a turn off when all he can think about (when he’s not casting Phin feelings aside) to save the ocean world. Another reason why it was a turn off, I didn’t feel any immediate danger that the ocean world needed to be save. <-- I’ll get into this in the next few paragraphs.

Nasani’s character was as volatile as Phin was. She can be sweet and all giggly but she can be snappish when she wants to. I had difficulties in connecting with the characters. It was at Chapter 16, I realized I still don’t know who they are and that I couldn’t distinct between Phin, Mr. J and Nasani’s characters. The three of them sound alike that the line between the three blurred. Thank goodness for Ethan but STILL! I think the characters needs to be consistent, relatable and distinguishable.

Next the driving force that motivates a reader to flip to the next page in anticipation! Well…..unfortunately, that didn’t happen to me *SIGHS* I suspect the main reason was (as I aforementioned) I felt there was no immediate danger to the ocean world that needs to be save by the Guardian of the Seas. Sure, there is the ongoing pollution and corruption, but it’s always been there. I didn’t understand how the jewellery thingamajig can eliminate corruption (Pollution? Maybe...). Finding where Ms. Z disappeared to was another driving force but wasn’t utilized well. I tried reading through the climax scene with the appropriate music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZVAvH...) but that still didn’t help raise it another star.

Many improvements can be made still (I guess in the sequel?). Hopefully, it can still be saved. I thought that maybe the story could have been better if it began from Chapter 9 from the second paragraph, “The dream was peaceful and calming. Clear, colorless waves washed overhead…” But hey, don’t let this one and only one star review from checking out this book. Who knows, it might just be your cup of tea. ;)

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Jun 19, 2012 Elsa Carrion rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OMG, I can not believe the cliff hanger on this one!!! But I’m getting ahead of myself, first things first.

Memoir of a Mermaid is a YA novel. The first book in what I hope is a series, and with that cliff hanger there has to be a second book. This is the second book about environmental concerns that I’ve read in as little as a month, not bad in fact I enjoy reading about the environment I understand that certain things are make believe (merpeople) but some of the facts are real and true environ...more OMG, I can not believe the cliff hanger on this one!!! But I’m getting ahead of myself, first things first.

Memoir of a Mermaid is a YA novel. The first book in what I hope is a series, and with that cliff hanger there has to be a second book. This is the second book about environmental concerns that I’ve read in as little as a month, not bad in fact I enjoy reading about the environment I understand that certain things are make believe (merpeople) but some of the facts are real and true environmental concerns even the company that the characters work for is a real environmental engineer company.

The title says it all the story is about Mermaid(s) an 18 yr old Seraphin aka Phin. Phin just finished High School. Her parents are both gone, her grandmother gone she was forced to live with a friend of the family, families. Phin does not know why she has blackouts when she gets excited but when she does, no matter where she is or what she is doing she blacks out, completely knocked out. She finally graduate and moves back into her grandmothers’ huge house all by herself. She has always been afraid of the ocean, since her father has always told her to stay out of it. She was a good kid did not want to disobey her father and stayed out most of the time, until her friends egged her on and dared her to go in and that is when her life changed. I really enjoyed the story the characters were well described and could actually picture them. Loved the fact that Phin is a strong female character and was glad that Nasani turned into one as well. At first I thought, oh no it’s going to be one of those triangle relationship stories, but it surprised me that Ethan did not become a triangle in this story and glad (as well as Nasani) that Adrianna let him stick around. Loved some of the lines in the story especially this one “sometimes the truth hurts more than a lie and being naïve is a blessing in disguise” and “Your challenging, confusing and difficult – all the things I didn’t know I needed until we met” oh yea! Can’t wait for the next one.

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Apr 08, 2012 Casi K. rated it 3 of 5 stars

For some reason, it felt like it took me a long time to get through this book. It's a good story but the writing style is more suitable for a much younger reader. The language slips back and forth between active and passive throughout the whole story. Also, the characters' ages are hard to discern. At first I thought Joseph was a teenager based on the way he reacted to Seraphin when he first met her, then it turns out he's a top researcher with CORE, then I find out he's still a college student....more

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Feb 21, 2013 Scott Collins rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wasn't quite sure what to expect when I read the synopsis on this book, but I figured I would give it a go. I'm very glad I did. I found it to be quite a pleasant read. I found the characters to be well fleshed out, though at times I think the behaviors might have been slightly off (protagonist is very trusting), though not outlandishly so. It didn't take me out of the story, I just wanted her to press with her questions sometimes. The plot was fantastic. It kept me engaged and turning the pages...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Aydrea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: recommended

Wow, I really enjoyed this book! There were a lot of twists and turns in the plot and I never guessed what was going to happen next. It definitely held my attention because I really wanted to know what exactly was going on. Poor Seraphin was clueless, but it was fun to learn along withe her. Although I was frustrated when people didn't tell her what she needed to know. Joseph shouldn't have kept things from her becasue it just made things worse, it also made me want to smack him sometimes, lol!...more Wow, I really enjoyed this book! There were a lot of twists and turns in the plot and I never guessed what was going to happen next. It definitely held my attention because I really wanted to know what exactly was going on. Poor Seraphin was clueless, but it was fun to learn along withe her. Although I was frustrated when people didn't tell her what she needed to know. Joseph shouldn't have kept things from her becasue it just made things worse, it also made me want to smack him sometimes, lol! I liked the mermaid world in this book and I thought the transformation was pretty cool as were the places they lived. It was great to see Seraphin grow into her roll and actually kick some butt. Finding out more about her powers was awesome too and I found them intriguing. There was a lot going on in this story and I was never bored. There were a lot of great characters as well and they really added to the story. The ending definitely left me wanting to read more, so I can't wait for the next book.

Serpahin was a great MC and I really liked her. She was very realistic and I loved how strong she is. Her life has not been easy and she has managed to do well regardless. When she found out about what she was she was resistant to believe and I thought her reaction was so believable and realistic, which I liked because it made the story more authentic. I also liked that she did not immediately fall in love wit Joseph, in fact she kind of hated him. She was very guarded and suspicious, which seemed very natural to me with the situation they were in. I enjoyed seeing their relationship build at a slow pace, it led to some great tension filled scenes. Sometimes I liked Joseph and sometimes he really ticked me off. He needs to come off of his high horse and be more honest with Seraphin. There were some great moments where I really liked him and then he would do or say something stupid. I can't say I like how he handled the situation and how he treated people sometimes. He started to redeem himself in the end, so I am interested to see how he develops. He wasn't all bad, he was just frustrating and arrogant at times. Nasani & Ethan were great secondary characters and I loved getting to see there separate part of the story! I also really liked the friendship each of them had with Seraphin. Oh and I really want to know what it up with Gianni and why Joseph is so on edge about him and whether there is anything going on with Gianni & Seraphin.

Overall I really enjoyed the story and I can't wait to read the next one. I definitely recommend it!(less)

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May 11, 2012 Mandy Sickle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-in-series, young-adult, favorites, fantasy, 2012, read2review, reading-diaries-reviews

I had the pleasure of getting a copy from Adrianna Stepiano.
The story is about Seraphin a normal typical high school outcast. She suffered the loss of her father as a girl and grandmother before she graduated from high school. She is prone to blacking out when she gets stressed upset like a defense mechanism. When her beloved science teacher goes missing it's up to Seraphin to find out what happened to her, she has several run in ins with Joseph the nephew of her teach but never seems to get th...more

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Mar 25, 2012 Alexia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

I really enjoyed reading this novel. The flow of events is spectacular and I love Adrianna Stepiano’s writing style. This book has a bit of everything – romance, humour and action (not the blood and guts type). This novel is not what I expected at all.

Seraphin is a strong willed chick that doesn’t sit back and watch from the sidelines – she is upfront and centre. She really blows me away with how she handles events and people. Seraphin is lied to on many occasions and yet she still comes out st...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Alyssa Greatbanks rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At first I didn't like Seraphin's blacking out, it was kind of annoying to keep reading. But then I found myself glad that she was able to find out why she was doing it and over-come her problems. I really enjoyed the characters in this book, and the story was great. (And it really didn't seem overly Young-Adultie like some YA books can be, had it not been listed as a YA, I don't think I would have guessed it was.)

I really enjoyed this book, and I am SOOOO looking forward to the next one!!!

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Apr 06, 2012 Lulu rated it 3 of 5 stars

Well... Im not really great at reviews. I have never read a mermaid book before and I was really really looking forward to this. I might just not be a mermaid kind of gal after all. I found the book to move slow to me, dont get me wrong it did have interesting parts but it was just not for me. I was not written badly, I just think I should stay with my normal realms.. thank you for the read.

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May 17, 2012 Amos Cassidy rated it 4 of 5 stars

A refreshing read.
I loved the world building around the mer-people. Seraphin was a great female lead and I liked the fact that Joseph wasn't perfect, and that there were more than a few moments where he acted like an arrogant idiot; it made him all the more real. The plot was good and kept me guessing and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

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Apr 19, 2013 Yianna Yiannacou rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-didnt-finish-will-try-again

I didn't finish this free book. I couldn't be bothered to pick it up and read the next page. I got as far as Seraphin graduating from school and going for lunch with her favourite teacher. She ends up getting abducted and her nephew or grandson (not too sure) ends up abducting Seraphin and saying she is in trouble. There was this whole scene of the teacher being able to talk to fish. I just could not read any further than that. Sorry.

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May 31, 2012 Izabella *shoulda been cullen* Armando rated it 5 of 5 stars

Super loved this book. It was my first mermaid book! I can't wait for the next one...I love Ethan, he's my favorite. He's funny...but he has a square head, so I'm thinking he's like an athlete type...

Seraphin is so freaking awesome! I LOVE her powers!

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Feb 08, 2012 E. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Okay i loved this book! Wasnt too sure at first but by like chap 3 i was captivated! Such an amazing story. I cant wait to find out what happens next! Definetly going to recommend it! Phin's groupie cracked me up!

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Jul 01, 2012 Luna Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Argggh iSoo new about the ending but somanny questions left unanswered ....but igotta say book is gonna be great and i cant wait ...literraally 2013? D: loved

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Favorite Mermaids!	6	5	Oct 12, 2012 10:12pm
Fantasy Believers: Free Mermaid eBook download!	1	6	Jun 02, 2012 07:40pm
CASTING CALL!	2	8	May 25, 2012 05:42am

title link	preview: When, At Last, He Found Me
avg rating	preview: When, At Last, He Found Me Goodreads rating: 3.95 (94 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13450223-when-at-last-he-found-me?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330916588l/13450223.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13450223-when-at-last-he-found-me?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]When, At Last, He Found Me by Adrianna Stepiano[/url]

When, At Last, He Found Me (Memoir of a Mermaid #1)

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