Down to the Sea (Mystic Beach #1.5) by Aislinn Archer
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#Paranormal, #Rockstar, #Romance,
Aedan “Mace” Mason is the lead singer of legendary rock band Telltale Signs and a fixture in the annual celebrity “Sexiest Guy” lists.
Brighid Weaver is the notoriously shy best friend of the guitar player for Telltale Signs opening act aMUSEd.
Mace and Brighid have nothing in common except a love of music — at least as far as anyone knows. But when a chance meeting brings the two together, secrets are discovered and sparks fly. What happens behind closed doors stays there, but this sneak-peek novel reveals what really happened when these two forces of nature collided.
Brighid
I’m the least likely woman to end up in the bedroom of the Sexiest Guy on the Planet. But my best friend, Hunter, just opened up for Mace Mason’s band, the legendary Telltale Signs, and when Mace and I met, we just clicked.
I’m shy and awkward. He’s charming and confident. And we’re both in love with other people. So why is this rock god so determined to take this curvy girl to Ireland with him? The benefits of our friendship are definitely mutual, but how far can things between us really go when we’ve both already given our hearts to someone else?
“Down to the Sea” is a steamy paranormal rockstar romance that tells the story known by only two of the characters in “Once Upon a Dream” and “Dream Weaver” — the first and second books in the Mystic Beach Fantasy Rockstar Romance series. It is an interstitial novel (Book 1.5 in the series) set between those two books and should not be read as a standalone. Anyone not wanting spoilers for portions of “Once Upon a Dream,” as well as those who’d prefer to remain in the dark about what actually happened “off-screen" in that book, may want to hold off on reading this one.
The story is told from Brighid’s point-of-view and reveals things Hunter, and the reader, were kept in the dark about during the course of events in “Once Upon a Dream.” It's full of secrets and private moments, and a little drama. It's also heavy on spirituality and personal growth, and depicts a deep and evolving friendship that holds the potential for something more. Steam factors are high for this story, Pack for cool Irish weather and one hot rockstar.
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4 out of 5 (very good)
DOWN TO THE SEA is an overlap story in the Mystic Beach series. It tells the story of Aedan and Brighid - how they meet, how they become lovers and friends (and I use that order specifically), and how they both have trials to face.
Events that happened in Once Upon a Dream from Hunter's perspective, we now see from Brighid or Aedan's. This definitely helped fill the gaps and you see the reasons now for things Brighid did or said.
Aedan has his own love who hasn't 'woken up' yet and he and Brighid decide to pass the time with each other. He is a priest for a Manx Sea God - Manannán mac Lir. This means he has his own insights but he certainly doesn't see everything.
Apart from Brighid's visions, there isn't much of paranormal here yet, although I'm sure that's coming in future books. I am loving this story and how the characters change and grow throughout the story.
One thing I have to say - and I know I will be in the minority here - but I got bored with the sex scenes between Aedan and Brighid. It says in the blurb the steam factors are high, and they are. It's just... I discovered I wanted more of the connection, the mysticism, between the two of them, rather than the sex. I found myself skipping over the sex scenes (unlike me) to get the visions or OoB experiences at the end. I loved it when the author changed it slightly near the end so we knew what they were doing but didn't need everything laid out.
As I say, this is my opinion, and it certainly didn't stop me from enjoying the rest of the story! I am now waiting (im)patiently for the continuation of Hunter and Brighid's story, content with waiting for Aedan's simply because I know it's coming.
If you love Ireland and the Irish Gods, I definitely recommend this book and series.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Aislinn Archer is an award-winning journalist, columnist and photographer, music and tech journalist, and editor, as well as a semi-retired live sound engineer.
She has created two interconnected series spanning the contemporary/paranormal fantasy and rockstar romance genres, set in coastal Delaware, where she has lived for more than 20 years. She is a member of Mensa and the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids.
In her free time, Aislinn is an Irish language learner, persistent advanced-beginner guitar and bass guitar player, photographer, foodie, gadget guru, jewelrymaker and lampwork glass artist. She is a voracious reader of the urban fantasy, fantasy and rockstar romance genres, and dedicated music fan across many genres. Aislinn also loves visiting Disney World with her teenage son and her best friend, attending concerts and spending time on the beach.