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WORK TITLE: Updrift (The Mer Chronicles)
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://errinstevens.com
CITY:
STATE: MN
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2015159606
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2015159606
HEADING: Stevens, Errin
000 01022nz a2200205n 450
001 10025880
005 20151202073545.0
008 151201n| azannaabn |a aaa c
010 __ |a no2015159606
035 __ |a (OCoLC)oca10333379
040 __ |a MnMHCL |b eng |e rda |c MnMHCL
100 1_ |a Stevens, Errin
370 __ |a Grenoble (France) |e Saint Paul (Minn.) |2 naf
372 __ |a Paranormal fiction |a Romance fiction |2 lcsh
374 __ |a Women novelists |2 lcsh
375 __ |a female
377 __ |a eng
400 1_ |a Stevens, Erin |c (Paranormal fiction writer)
670 __ |a Stevens, Errin. Updrift, 2015: |b (Errin Stevens), page 4 of cover (Errin Stevens writes paranormal romance from her home in St. Paul, Minnesota …)
670 __ |a Goodreads, viewed December 1, 2015: |b Errin Stevens (born: Grenoble, France; gender: female … genre: Chick Lit, Paranormal, Romance … About this author: Errin Stevens writes paranormal fiction … Her first novel, Updrift, will debut in Nov. 2, 2015 …) |u https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13613071.Errin_Stevens
PERSONAL
Married; one son.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Errin Stevens is an author of paranormal romance fiction. Her “Mer Chronicles” novels deal with sirens–beings who can take human or fish-like form. The first novel in the series, Updrift, focuses on the relationship between a human and a siren. It follows protagonist Kate Sweeting from her childhood to her twenties. When she is six years old, she and her widowed mother, Cara, move from Kansas to Griffins Bay, a small coastal town in North Carolina. There they become friends with the Blake family, although the Blakes are secretive. Kate is particularly drawn to Gabe, a boy her age, and they quickly form a friendship that develops into love as they mature. Once they reach their teens, however, their families become intent on keeping them apart. Kate does not understand why this is until she learns that the Blakes are a clan of sirens, governed by a strict set of rules. There is also an evil siren king, Peter, who seeks to come between Kate and Gabe.
Several critics found this an unusual, captivating romance tale. “The story has romance, suspense, humor and drama, all woven together expertly,” related Wendi L, Wilson at her blog, Wendi Writes. Another online reviewer, at Vampress Bathory Reads, noted: “I … loved how we got to see the relationship between Kate and her mother, her aunt and Gabe’s siblings. It feels like a 360′ view into Kate’s life and personality, seeing how she interacts with everyone we get to understand her choices and what she really wants.” Some commentators thought the story moved slowly at first, weighted down by exposition. A Publishers Weekly contributor called it “plodding,” while allowing that “patient readers are rewarded with the final dramatic arc of a gaslighting siren king who kidnaps Kate.” An online critic at Fey’s Bookish World added: “In the beginning … it isn’t as fast paced as other fantasy books, but it’s more of a contemporary with fantasy/paranormal elements which I really enjoyed.” This critic also praised Stevens’s prose style and her “sense of family, friendship and unity.” A blogger at Fundinmental recommended the novel highly, especially to fans of mermaids and mermen, saying: “I haven’t read a book quite like Updrift and Errin Stevens’ mer world had me thinking, hey can I play too? … I loved it and if you love mermaids as much as I do, this is one you want on your reading list.” Wilson summed it up as “a solid and entertaining story.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Publishers Weekly, February 26, 2018, review of Updrift. p. 73.
ONLINE
Errin Stevens website, https://errinstevens.com (September 1, 2018).
Fey’s Bookish World, https://feysbookish.wordpress.com/ (March 12, 2017), review of Updrift.
Fundinmental, http://www.fundinmental.com/ (February 21, 2018), “Mermaids Are Alive and in Love in Updrift by Errin Stevens.”
Misty’s Book Space, https://mistysbookspace.wordpress.com/ (January 22, 2017), review of Breakwater.
Vampress Bathory Reads, https://vampressbathoryreads.wordpress.com/ (March 23, 2018), review of Updrift.
Wendi Writes, https://wendilwilson.wordpress.com/ (January 3, 2017), Wendi L. Wilson, review of Updrift.
Errin Stevens writes paranormal romantic suspense novels from her home in Minnesota where she lives with her husband and son. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter, but she’s most active on Instagram. Follow her for updates at errinstevens on the app.
Quoted in Sidelights: “plodding,” “patient readers are rewarded with the final dramatic arc of a gaslighting siren king who kidnaps Kate.”
Print Marked Items
Updrift
Publishers Weekly.
265.9 (Feb. 26, 2018): p73.
COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Updrift
Errin Stevens. Errin Stevens, $2.99 e-book (286p) ISBN 978-0-9982961-2-8
Stevens adds psychological manipulation to the seductive powers of mermaids in her rambling romance full of delayed and competing desires.
Recently widowed Cara Sweeting and her six-year-old daughter, Kate, relocate to coastal North Carolina. They quickly become friends with the
sprawling and mysterious Blake clan, later revealed to be sirens capable of shifting between piscine and human forms. Despite the families'
strong attachments, the parents disrupt a budding romance between Kate and Gabe Blake, offering only murky promises of later explanations and
heavy pressure to achieve academically. The confusing early chapters drag through Kate's childhood in an oddly nonchronological sweep and pit
Cara's calm but rich personal life against her sister Dana's sterile workaholism as the two paths Kate might pursue. Things improve once Kate and
Gabe reunite in early adulthood to consummate their long-postponed romance. Gabe teaches Kate about the strict customs of sirens and their
powerful abilities to read and influence others' emotional states. Patient readers are rewarded with the final dramatic arc of a gaslighting siren
king who kidnaps Kate, but most will find the plodding work taxing. (BookLife)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Updrift." Publishers Weekly, 26 Feb. 2018, p. 73. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A530637452/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=c36a017c. Accessed 19 Aug. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A530637452
Quoted in Sidelights: “In the beginning … it isn’t as fast paced as other fantasy books, but it’s more of a contemporary with fantasy/paranormal elements which I really enjoyed.” “sense of family, friendship and unity.”
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||REVIEW|| UPDRIFT (THE MER CHRONICLES, #1) BY ERRIN STEVENS
25114259Rate: 5/5
Author: Errin Stevens
Series: The Mer Chronicles, #1
Song Choice:
* I’d like to thank Errin for sending me a physical copy of Updrift*
Synopsis
For Kate Sweeting, love isn’t in the air. It’s in the water.
Since her father died, Kate Sweeting’s home life has been in the pits, her well-being on life support. Her future looks desolate until she and her mother, Cara, make another plan: abandon their shriveled existence for more promising prospects on the coast, where Cara can play small-town librarian-bachelorette and Kate can figure out what’s up with that secretive Blake family from the beach.
Everyone is eerily captivated with Kate and her mother, and Cara is the first to figure out why when the man of her dreams arrives all dripping and devoted and closed-mouthed about what he intends. Kate is willing to go along with their subterfuge for a while, but eventually makes a charge for the water to learn what her mother is hiding. Gabe Blake is there waiting for her…and so is someone considerably less friendly. By the time Kate navigates her way home, everything will have changed for her—what she feels, what she wants, and what she’ll risk to be with the man she loves.
Review
First of all, I have to state that THIS COVER IS SO BEAUTIFUL!
*breathes* Okay, I’m done.
So we start off with Kate (Catherine Sweeting) when she’s a child and she’s just moved to a small town called Childress with her mom (Cara Sweeting). We get to know Cara and Kate, and we see them grow and move on from Kate’s Father’s’ death. In the beginning of the book, it isn’t as fast paced as other fantasy books, but it’s more of a contemporary with fantasy/paranormal elements which I really enjoyed. It’s a light read for fantasy and that’s probably why I enjoyed it so much. It was quick and snappy but there was intrigue and it had that cozy summer read feeling. We also get to know a few other close friends and family throughout the story and that was very well done. She didn’t just focus on the main character but, also surrounding characters too, and that gave the story more depth. The antagonist in the story isn’t very obvious until the last chunk of chapters, which made me rather anxious while reading this. Normally you find out who they are around the beginning of the book which I’m used to, but this was quite different and refreshing. I love Errin’s writing style. It’s unique compared to what I’ve read before and very easy to read and to get around. I really liked the sense of family, friendship and unity. It’s not very often I read about being around families in such detail and that was really nice. Though there’s a lot mystery, I enjoyed every moment reading this book, I laughed, Cried and at some points (because of a certain mer-male.) I wanted to throw this book at the wall there even were a few political remarks that made me laugh too. The story itself did lack some detail, though I would’ve relished more, I really enjoyed it! She described everything very well. I’d love to read ‘Breakwater’ I can’t wait to see how the story continues! The ending of ‘Updrift’ was beautifully written and very uplifting. I loved how she writes about happiness and love just her writing general. So yeah, I love this book and you need to read it!!
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"It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them."
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Review: Breakwater by Errin Stevens
January 22, 2017 mistysbookspace
*I was provided with a free copy of this book through a blog tour I participated in from the author Errin Stevens in exchange for an honest review.
Hello bookworms!!
Today I have another review for you so lets just get straight to it.
breakwater
Title: Breakwater (The Mer Chronicles book #2)
Author: Errin Stevens
Genre: Paranormal Fiction
My Rating: 3 Stars
Goodreads Synopsis
The sirens of Griffins Bay are in trouble, and the recent slew of royal suicides looks to be the least of their worries.
For one, unless a blood relative of the queen shows up, no one’s around to staff the monarchy. Well, except for a whack-job bureaucrat and he seriously won’t do. Worse is the community unrest threatening siren society, a problem caused by too many humans in the pool, which means Simon and his off-limit girlfriend will have to run and hide if they want to make more of their flirtation…
The solution doesn’t inspire confidence at first, but the Blakes have everything at hand to set their world to rights – namely, a hidden queen, a dead prince, and a facility for human manipulation. Once they find their sea legs, they’ll restore order, distribute smart phones, and drive that conniving bureaucrat to a grisly, satisfying end.
My Review
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book provided by the author.
I am having a little difficulty trying to figure out what to say about this book. I didn’t really enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the first book.
It pretty much starts off right where Updrift (the first book) left off. There are so many new characters that are introduced or that we got to know a little bit in the first book having their own storylines that I felt like it was a little to overwhelming. Kate and Gabe weren’t as prominent in this book and I found myself really missing that. I got pretty attached to their characters after reading Updrift that I really would have liked to have so much more of them in this book. Even though I didn’t enjoy this one as much I am still really interested to continue on with this series to find out what happens next for these characters especially Maya and Aidan.
If you want to see my review of Updrift you can do so here. Also I plan on doing another update post on the #24in48 read a thon that I participated in this weekend on Tuesday. I am still reading and hopefully I will get through the rest of the book I am currently reading before the night ends. Even if I do read for the rest of the night though I know I want me reaching 24 hours but it was fun to try. Also I just wanted to mention that I created a Facebook page so I would have another platform to interact with everybody if you would like to go over and check that out and hopefully give me a follow you can do that by clicking here.
Have you read this series before? Did you like it? Did you hate it? Did you participate in the 24in48 read a thon this weekend? Did you participate in any other read a thons going on? How has your weekend gone? I would love to hear from you in the comments.
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Quoted in Sidelights: “The story has romance, suspense, humor and drama, all woven together expertly,”
“a solid and entertaining story.”
WENDI WRITES
THE AUTHOR OF THE SHADOWED SERIES
HOME
ABOUT
UPDRIFT BY ERRIN STEVENS
January 3, 2017
Updrift is a great love story and introduction to this series about sirens, community and the strong ties that bind them. I loved the characters and their relationships with each other. The story has romance, suspense, humor and drama, all woven together expertly to make you feel everything deep inside- and really care about them all, even the ones with suspect character traits and who make terrible, selfish decisions.
The first third of the book was a little tedious for me. There was a lot of descriptive backstory, starting when Kate and Gabe were children, then flitting from one milestone to the next- sometimes out of order, it seemed- until they were in high school and basically separated from each other. The pace picked up from there, moving through those years then on, finally reuniting them and starting the suspenseful intrigue part of the story.
I was riveted, hardly able to put it down as Kate and Gabe established their true relationship, faced adversity, and withstood the try tests of their love.
Overall, this is a solid and entertaining story. I’d recommend it to readers who like mermaids, paranormal romance- or any other kind of romance- and sweet, true love stories.
Quoted in Sidelights: “I haven’t read a book quite like Updrift and Errin Stevens’ mer world had me thinking, hey can I play too? … I loved it and if you love mermaids as much as I do, this is one you want on your reading list.”
Mermaids Are Alive and In Love in Updrift by Errin Stevens @errinstevens
Posted on February 21, 2018
Share6
I love mermaids! It’s that simple. I may have even been one in a former life.
That being said, it was a no brainer to want Updrift by Errin Stevens.
I mean, look at that cover. How can you resist it?
Updrift (The Mer Chronicles #1)
Amazon / Goodreads
* Audible * B&N * Kobo * Book Depository
MY REVIEW
YAY! Mermaids! Love mermaids and the cover, so reading this is a no brainer. I immediately thought of Splash, only in reverse, the girl ‘falls’ in the water and falls in love with the ‘boy’. I’m hooked.
Updrift by Errin Stevens is Kate’s life from the time she is five years old to adulthood. I love seeing her grow and develop from an introverted nerd, to a strong, determined woman with desires that will not be denied and one who knows the difference between right and wrong and will step up.
After the death of her father, Kate and her mother move from Kansas to Griffin Bay, North Carolina for a fresh start.
Kate is confused about all the secrecy surrounding her and the push for her to fill her days with tons of schoolwork, an internship, and little to no socializing, especially with Gabe. And Gabe? And, now that they were meeting after being kept apart for so long, is he still interested in her? Were they being kept apart on purpose…And, what now?
Kate and Gabe do not sense the danger coming their way, but I do and I fear for them. What could they do, even if they knew?
I love all things in their mer world. They have their own set of rules and customs, but there are those who think changes need to be made. After all, it is the 21st century.
I haven’t read a book quite like Updrift and Errin Stevens’ mer world had me thinking, hey can I play too? Who wouldn’t want to swim with the fishes…in a good way?
I loved it and if you love mermaids as much as I do, this is one you want on your reading list. I want more, and thank goodness I have Breakwater, the second book in The Mer Chronicles waiting for me on my Kindle. As a matter of fact, I cannot wait and will begin…NOW.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Updrift by Errin Stevens.
Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
For Kate Sweeting, love isn’t in the air. It’s in the water.
Since her father died, Kate Sweeting’s home life has been in the pits, her well-being on life support. Her future looks desolate until she and her mother, Cara, make another plan: abandon their shriveled existence for more promising prospects on the coast, where Cara can play small-town librarian-bachelorette and Kate can figure out what’s up with that secretive Blake family from the beach.
Everyone is eerily captivated with Kate and her mother, and Cara is the first to figure out why when the man of her dreams arrives all dripping and devoted and closed-mouthed about what he intends. Kate is willing to go along with their subterfuge for a while, but eventually makes a charge for the water to learn what her mother is hiding. Gabe Blake is there waiting for her…and so is someone considerably less friendly. By the time Kate navigates her way home, everything will have changed for her—what she feels, what she wants, and what she’ll risk to be with the man she loves.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Errin Stevens writes paranormal fiction and reads practically everything she can get her hands on.
Quoted in Sidelights" “I … loved how we got to see the relationship between Kate and her mother, her aunt and Gabe’s siblings. It feels like a 360′ view into Kate’s life and personality, seeing how she interacts with everyone we get to understand her choices and what she really wants.”
***Pentru limba română daţi scroll! ( Scroll for Romanian )
ENG: If you’re into mermaids, cute romances with a side of paranormal, or you just need a chill read, look no more because Updrift is what you’re looking for.
I can’t say I was too interested in mermaids/sirens before reading Updrift. To be honest I was scared of another The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen repeat, not because I didn’t love that story, but because that story broke my heart when I was little. Back then I was heartbroken because in my little kid mind the mermaid didn’t get her happy ending. Of course when I got older I realized the meaning of that story but I still get sad when I think about it.
Anyway, Updrift is nothing like The Little Mermaid and the whole sirens concept in this book is very interesting. In here sirens can mate with humans and they get their happy ending which pleases me to no end. I am a su**er for HEAs. Don’t judge! I think real life is hard enough and the HEAs from books make it more bearable.
I loved how in this book the guy is a siren and the girl is human, usually is the other way around. Gabe is a siren and no that doesn’t mean he isn’t cool, or hot, because he totally is.
*** The sirens from this book don’t live only in water, they can also live on land.
Title: Updrift
Author: Errin Stevens
Year: 2015
Published by: Liquid Silver Books
Format: Paperback, 269 pages
Series: The Mer Chronicles #1
Updrift follows Kate since she was six years old all the way to her twenties. Kate and her mother Cara, move into a small town on the coast to start a better life. Here they make good friends with the Blake family, a very awesome and kind family but also a very secretive one. Gabe is the son of the Blakes, he is the same age as Kate and they quickly become best friends. Along the story we see how Kate and Cara are happy with living in this town where they have friends and they feel welcomed. Soon Kate starts to realize that the Blakes hide something so she asks Gabe, but he can’t tell her anything so she keeps trying to find out. Her mother, Cara, finds out first that the Blakes are actually sirens and Kate and Gabe are soul mates. So she and Gabe’s parents decide not to tell Kate, especially now when Kate and Gabe are in their teens and they already start to fall for each other. They want them to finish school first, so they separate them for a couple of years.
The first part of the book is a bit slow because we get to see how Kate grows up, but the second part of the book picks up the pace, because Gabe and Kate are finished with school, so Gabe tells Kate about who he is and what she means for him. Kate and Gabe are happy and in love and they’re planning their future until Peter steps in. Peter is another siren and he has bad thoughts in mind regarding Gabe.
In Updrift the focus is more on the characters and the relationships between them, the family dynamics. The interaction between Kate and Gabe is beautiful and you can feel the love they have for each other.
I also loved how we got to see the relationship between Kate and her mother, her aunt and Gabe’s siblings. It feels like a 360′ view into Kate’s life and personality, seeing how she interacts with everyone we get to understand her choices and what she really wants. Someone said in a review that Kate dives head first into her relationship with Gabe without knowing much about his world and without thinking about her future. Well it is true if you apply this in the real world, but in Updrift, I think Kate made up her mind long before finding out more about the world of sirens. I mean, she and Gabe were best friends since childhood, even if she didn’t know about his secret, she knew something was going on.
Ultimately, what we need to learn from this book is that we do learn something from every relationship we have with our friends, lovers and family. Our interactions with our parents, our siblings, our friends etc. make us who we are, we learn something from each of them and we need to love and appreciate one another with our ups and downs. Bad things happen, life changes but if we understand and care for each other, we can get through anything.
The only thing I didn’t like in Updrift were the scenes with Peter. I couldn’t care less for Peter, he was just ugh, I have no words. I didn’t like him at all, but I see why Peter happened to this story, he was there so we could understand how deep was the connection between Kate and Gabe.
The writing is soo good and you can see how much the author loves her characters.