Why am I passionate about this?

I’m an American-born Chinese fantasy and romance author who has been obsessed with the sea and mermaids since I was a little girl, the latter which started after I saw the animated The Little Mermaid. I’ve always wondered what mysteries lay beneath the sea. I’m also a certified scuba diver and lifeguard, and a strong swimmer. I was never afraid of deep water, and sometimes I think I was a mermaid (or probably a fish) in a past life. If you also love mermaids and romantasy, or even better, both together, I really hope you find your next favorite read on here and enjoy them as much as I have! 


I wrote

Oceansong

By C.W. Rose,

Book cover of Oceansong

What is my book about?

It is an adult contemporary romantasy that is an Asian Romeo & Juliet meets The Little Mermaid, but set…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Called to the Deep

C.W. Rose Why did I love this book?

I really enjoyed this book for so many reasons! The small-town coastal Maine setting was so atmospheric, and the author pulled you right into the setting. The mystery at the start of the book was very well done as to who Lorelei really is.

I absolutely adored the romance between her and Killian! Their chemistry was palpable, and they had healthy, mature communication with one another. I also loved how supportive Killian was toward her. I also really liked and related to Lorelei and her struggle to fit between two worlds and coming to accept who she is: a mermaid who craves flesh and blood—and I thought it was a great twist on traditional mermaid lore.

By Desiree M Niccoli,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Called to the Deep as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

First comes desire. Then hunger.

When Killian Quinn, captain of offshore fishing boat Dawn Chaser, receives a distress call from a sailing ship caught in a terrible storm, he and his crew rush to provide aid. But when they arrive, all that’s left of the ship and its crew is splintered wood and a borderline hypothermic woman who can’t remember how she survived. His attraction to her is instantaneous, and maintaining a professional distance proves to be a struggle, especially when she needs a place to stay that’s far from the press and curious townsfolk, and his idyllic cottage by…


Book cover of Ballad of Sea and Sky

C.W. Rose Why did I love this book?

I loved this beautifully written, cozy fantasy romance with a unique pairing: asthmatic selkie Marina and winged siren Caspian, the fantastic chronic illness rep, and the combination of air and sea magic.

I’m also a sucker for forbidden romance, and with sirens and selkies at war, I thought it made for great conflict and tension. I have asthma as well, so I related to Marina here. As a fangirl of mythological creatures and stories, the addition of kelpies and krakens round out this story and made it a fun read for me.

I’ll definitely be looking forward to book 2!

By Madeleine Eliot,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Ballad of Sea and Sky as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A princess with an adventurer’s spirit. A pirate with a king’s obligations.

Marina has known for a long time that she doesn’t want the life her parents want for her, but when they announce her betrothal to the steady but dull captain of the guard, she reluctantly accepts her duty.

That is until an enemy siren is captured and presented to her father, and Marina can’t think of anything but amber eyes and wings.

In a twist of fate, Marina finds herself the prisoner of an enemy king in a plot to end a centuries-long war between their peoples that…


Book cover of The Teeth in the Tide

C.W. Rose Why did I love this book?

This book had such a strong pitch: Attack on Titan with mermaids.

I loved that the characters had strong motivations: our female protagonist, human Kestra, wants revenge on the merfolk for killing and devouring her father. Our male protagonist, merman Rake, wants to escape his life as a breeder male so that he can raise his son in peace.

I loved the writing and felt immersed in the underwater world, and life on Kestra’s island village. I also enjoyed reading about Rake and his son when they escape to the surface, and try to find their place in the world.

This was the first time I had heard of this author, and I enjoyed her work so much that I went on to read more of her books!

By Rebecca F Kenney,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Teeth in the Tide as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This new 'Extended Edition' of "The Teeth in the Tide" contains the full, open-door, intimate scenes between characters, plus the first chapter of the sequel, "The Demons in the Deep," at the very end. Otherwise, the content is exactly the same as the previous edition, which only had fade-to-black intimate scenes.

Trapped on a walled island with her people, Kestra aches for vengeance against the swarms of ravenous mermaids that ate her father fifteen years ago. The swarms threaten her town’s last supply ship--and the life of the brave young captain who smiles so charmingly at her whenever he makes…


Book cover of A Song of Silver and Gold

C.W. Rose Why did I love this book?

This book was such a fun, sapphic spin on The Little Mermaid! Instead of a mermaid falling for a human man, we have a siren falling for a female pirate captain. I really enjoyed the worldbuilding in both the land and undersea worlds. I thought both Aqeara and Kae were strong female leads and loved reading the story from both their POVs.

The plot was well-paced and kept me reading, always wanting to know what happened next. The ending was unexpected and ended on a cliffhanger, but I thought it led beautifully to the sequel, which is also on my TBR.

By Melissa Karibian,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked A Song of Silver and Gold as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A sapphic Little Mermaid retelling perfect for fans of To Kill a Kingdom and The Shadows Between Us.

Out in the open sea, it's kill or be killed. No one knows that better than Kaelyn. For the past year, Princess Kaelyn of Avalon has disguised herself as a man, Captain Kae, and led her crew into tumultuous waters to eradicate sirens on a journey fueled by revenge for the death of her brother. When they return home and experience a fatal siren attack on Avalon’s harbor, Kae sets sail again to destroy the sea demons once and for all.

Aqeara…


Book cover of The Sea Rose

C.W. Rose Why did I love this book?

I was immediately sold by the concept of this book: a sweet romantasy about noblemen and women who were descendents of merfolk but lived on land, and as society’s outcasts.

There were three POVs and it’s a short read, but yet, I found that the author seamlessly weaved them together and wrote them beautifully, and with such depth. Half-mer Meredith’s story both broke and warmed my heart. Human noble Peter and half-mermaid Rose have such a sweet childhood friends-to-lovers romance that seems so fitting for the time period. Finally, I loved that all of our characters are forced out of their comfort zones, and stumble their way into finding who they really are.

I found this to be a beautiful story of romance, survival, and identity.  

By Mariella Hunt,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Sea Rose as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

For centuries, the land-bound descendants of Merpeople have been confined to hidden districts where they will not disturb proper society.

When Peter, Earl of Everly, flees his engagement ball, he finds himself stranded among the half-Mer. Will he encounter hostility from society’s outcasts, or could they be hiding something he’s always sought?

Rejected by Lord Everly, Lady Meredith Bannister’s future is dark. Burdened with the secret of her heritage, can she embrace her identity before it is taken by force?

This story was previously published on Kindle Vella. Some modifications have been made, but it is the same story, edited…


Explore my book 😀

Oceansong

By C.W. Rose,

Book cover of Oceansong

What is my book about?

It is an adult contemporary romantasy that is an Asian Romeo & Juliet meets The Little Mermaid, but set in the grittiness of the real world.

Twenty-four-year-old aspiring marine biologist Angie Song has returned to her Alaskan hometown to work at her father’s docks for a summer. But sea fish are mysteriously disappearing, starving her small fishing village. When Angie finds Merfolk responsible, her family and villagers vow to destroy every last one, resulting in a desperate war for control of the sea’s resources. In the midst of the conflict, she falls in love with a Mer-Prince, putting everything and everyone dear to her in danger.

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Tasha and the Biologist

By Amy Q. Barker,

Book cover of Tasha and the Biologist

Amy Q. Barker Author Of Lap Baby

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Avid reader Nature lover Park ranger wanna be Best Nana ever

Amy's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

Tasha and the Biologist is the second book in the "A Better Man" series. It's a contemporary romance about second chances, two lonely birders, and the healing power of love.

Tasha Moore is a visiting nurse with a family secret. She just went through a bad breakup. Caleb Drexel is a bird biologist trying to start a new life in a small town. He just got out of an unhappy marriage.

What happens when hope and romance bloom between these two nature lovers?

Tasha and the Biologist

By Amy Q. Barker,

What is this book about?

Tasha
He was handsome, confident, nice, smart—a good guy.
How did he end up here in the middle of Indiana?
And how did he know so much about whooping cranes?
I’d never met someone as passionate about birds as I was.
Was it too soon for me to be thinking about love again?
Caleb
She was sweet, kind, caring—a nurse and a birder.
I really liked her. Maybe more than liked.
And I’d only spent two hours—three, tops—with her.
Yet, I’d promised myself I wouldn’t get involved with anyone for at least a year after my divorce.


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in mermaids, selkie, and revenge?

Mermaids 51 books
Selkie 14 books
Revenge 127 books