Full Description

In Over Her Head

He lives under the sea…
Reel Tritone is the rebellious royal second son of the ruler of a vast undersea kingdom, and he's always been fascinated by humans…

She's terrified of the ocean…
Marina owner Erica Peck would never go swimming willingly—but she's forced into the water and is nearly eaten by a shark. Luckily Reel is nearby to save her, and he discovers she's the woman he's been searching for…

Before she knows it, Erica is off with Reel on a wild underwater adventure to recover a stolen treasure, battle a jealous sea monster, and, of course, defy a death edict from the kingdom's high court. But even if they make it through their madcap mission alive, can they find a way to stay together when she hates the water and he can't survive on land?

"Holy mackerel! In Over Her Head is a fantastically fun romantic catch—Judi Fennell has one heck of an imagination!"
Michelle Rowen, author of Bitten & Smitten

"A fantastic debut novel, Judi Fennell has put the 'beach' back in beach read!"
Virginia Farmer, award-winning author of A Blast to the Past

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Excerpt

Excerpt

Excerpt from Chapter 1

If Erica Peck were a gambler, she would've bet good money that nothing could ever get her in the waters of the North Atlantic again.

The snub-nosed .38 special now trained on her would have lost her that bet.
"Come on, Joey. I can't go in the water." Can't, not won't. Huge difference.
"You can and you will, Erica. I need those diamonds. We've been through this. Alive or dead, it's your choice." Joey Camparo waved the gun like an effeminate decorator describing his "vision." His new designer clothing screamed of too many subscriptions to men's magazines and a high-priced personal tailor—none of which he'd had when they were dating.

She would have thought he'd pick a bigger gun, though.
"Go get it." The gun stopped circling, aimed dead-on at her heart. The late afternoon sun glinted off the metal like a beacon.

How could he do this to her? He couldn't be mad over their breakup—he was the one who'd cheated. She hadn't even kept the ring, so he couldn't want revenge. He knew what he was asking. Which meant there was a lot more going on than she knew. The sweat on his upper lip confirmed it. Joey never sweated.

"In." The gun circled again. Tighter.

She didn't have a choice. You can do this, Erica. She pushed the mind-numbing fear aside, lowered herself to the swim deck, pulled her scuba mask in place, and slithered into the cold waters of the thirty-ninth latitude.
Adjusting the regulator in her mouth, Erica took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and lowered her head.
Taking a bullet might be easier.
As the ocean closed over her, blocking out any sound but her breathing, Erica fought the panic and opened her eyes, pulling herself down the dive line. It was only seventy-five feet to the artificial reef. Tons of divers visited this site. She, herself, had been here years ago with her brothers.

Now she was here all alone.
Except for the slimy monster on the deck above.
What had Joey gotten himself into? And why drag her into it?
Her life's air bubbling in front of her, frothing the water as it enfolded her in its claustrophobic embrace, Erica took another deep breath. It didn't help. She repositioned the mask, fiddled with the regulator, and tried to enjoy the scenery, but images from Jaws kept thrusting their way to the front of her brain.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. She'd try any mantra to get through this.
The line slid through her hands as she lowered herself into the depths. Okay, maybe seventy-five feet wasn't "the depths" to regular divers, but she'd never been alone this deep. Hell, she never went in ocean water higher than her knees anymore.  The wet suit insulated her from the drop in temperature, but nothing could disguise the fact that the sunlight dimmed with each foot she descended. Black sea bass zipped past, the thin orange striping on their snouts flickering in the flash of her dive light. A lion's mane jellyfish drifted off the far edge of the reef. Great. The world's largest jellyfish—rarely seen at this latitude—picked today to take a vacation. Perfect.

Just beyond flipper-reach was what was left of the SS Minnow, an old lobster boat sunk by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department for an artificial reef. It shouldn't be hard to find Joey's diamonds then get herself the hell out of here. She could do this. She had to do this.

As her fins fluttered near the wreck, scamp and porgies swam above the barnacles and mussels claiming it. Sea stars and white star coral covered the hull. A lobster disappeared inside a hole when she got too close.

This should be beautiful. It should give her a sense of awe. Instead, it almost paralyzed her. Ever since The Incident, it was never safe to go back in the water, no matter the incentive, but Joey's gun made it the safer option.
She examined every possible crevice, although she drew the line at poking into any place she couldn't see. Pinching crustaceans liked little hidey-holes and her fingers did not. The mollusk colony snapped shut as she passed, colorful anemones hid their vulnerable parts, and crabs scuttled out of her way. But after twenty-five minutes, her search yielded no diamonds.

Air tank at the return point, Erica turned toward the dive line. Joey was going to be pissed. Well, he shouldn't have put the diamonds in Grampa's urn. It wasn't as if he didn't know her grandfather's last wishes; he'd been there when the will was read. Of
course, he'd also known her fear of the ocean. Probably figured it was a safe bet that Grampa's ashes would never make it to the dive site.

This wasn't the first time Joey had underestimated her. That had been when he'd thought he could schmooze his cheating ass out of a broken engagement with gifts and roses and phone calls.

Her brothers had known what he was. They'd tried to tell her, but she'd defended Joey every time. She'd wanted to find someone whose life's work wasn't tied to the sea, so when Mr. National Account Manager had rented a slip at their marina and swept her off her feet, she hadn't put up a fuss.
Stupid her.
And now he'd betrayed her yet again.
As she reached fifteen feet, dozens of reddish-brown cunners swam by, sparkling blue and olive green where they crossed the stream of sunlight cutting into the water. She paused to rid her body of nitrogen buildup. She didn't need to add the bends to today's list of fun adventures.

More sea bass and blackfish followed, schooling around her, an occasional bump here and there. She flinched—yeah, yeah, they weren't man-eaters, but man-eaters ate them, right?
God, she was pathetic. Twenty-eight years in this neck of the ocean, and she still couldn't put the terror of open water behind her. No wonder her brothers patted her affectionately on the head any time she argued she could run the marina as well as they could. Not that she'd wanted to, but that she could.

Reviews

Reviews

Star-Crossed Romance Lynda K. Scott
Erica Peck is no little mermaid. Even though her family has owned a seaside marina, she’s been terrified of the ocean since she was a little kid. Then, in an attempt to conquer her fear, she tosses her father’s ashes into his beloved sea without knowing that her skanky ex-fiancé had hidden some very valuable diamonds in the urn. Before she knows what’s happening, her ex forces her to dive into the ocean on a futile search for those diamonds. When she surfaces without the gems, he shoots her and speeds away. Just as she loses consciousness, she feels an exploratory ‘bump’ by a shark. Luckily, the shark isn’t the only creature in the water.

Reel has had a fascination with Erica since he first saw her when both he and she were little kids. When he sees Vincent, the shark, preparing to make a meal out of her, he intercedes. But the woman is out of oxygen and she’s too far below the surface for a rapid ascent or she’ll die of the bends. It doesn’t take much effort for Chum, his remora companion, to convince him to commit the ultimate crime of changing her so she can breathe underwater.

Reel knows this will make him responsible for her because she doesn’t know how to survive under the sea and he knows his father, the king, will be just as angry as any member of the council who all think of him as a wastrel. He doesn’t care because for once he has a purpose beyond being the spare son who won’t inherit the kingdom or immortality and whose lack of a proper tail sets him apart from all his kin and companions. He doesn’t count on the council sending Erica and him to find those diamonds and, in doing so, facing the monster who has them.

IN OVER HER HEAD is a delightful, quirky blend of humor, adventure and passion. Erica, once terrified of the ocean and everything in it, slowly overcomes her fear and becomes the heroine she’s always wanted to be. And Reel demonstrates some wonderful heroic qualities even while he retains his boyish playfulness. All in all, this is a fast, fun read and a great way to spend a snowy afternoon or a sunny day at the beach.

Armchair Interviews Dawn M. Ekinia
In Over Her Head is a heartwarming, but action-packed story of two people–one human and the other of the seaworthy body–joined together in an adventure.

Reel Tritone is a merman that has been singled out by his father, part of a royal family, as the outsider. Driven to do things his own way, he has been placed outside of his family as a troublesome man. Reel, known to live life by his own rules, leaves him tainted and labeled by all sea life. He is driven by the memory of one human whose path he crossed many years ago. Her image has been imprinted into his heart and he refuses to let her go.

Erica Peek is a young woman who lacks self-esteem, and ever since she nearly drowned due a mysterious site, she has refused to come near the water. Those who know her have labeled her “crazy, out of her mind, and not right with the world.” A controlling ex boyfriend puts fear into Erica–and once again she dives into the depths of the water she fears the most.

It’s in that dive Erica meets her greatest fear and meets a man unlike any she’s ever known. It’s within his world she learns courage and strength, desire and love. She fights the fear of the water throughout her time below the sea, but is continuously turned on by Reels overwhelming world. What feels like a scene from a mythological story, In Over Her Head draws you into the world of the deep. I visualized the world of underwater life as the storyline takes you the many types of sea creatures and how it’s tied into the human world. I’m intrigued by the unstoppable adventure Reel and Erica encounter. They battle sea creatures, while fighting the growing desires growing within them. It truly takes you into their world as you encounter each erotic emotion they both develop as they conquer each obstacle that meets them.

I enjoyed this story immensely and look forward to reading other stories by Judi Fennell.

The Romantic Times Devon Paige
American Title III contestant Fennell takes readers on a delightful underwater adventure in her debut. A cross between Splash and The Little Mermaid, this tale is full of good-natured humor and fun. While more time could have been spent developing the characters and their submerged world, this is a strong first effort by a promising new talent.

BookLoons.com Martina Bexte
After her brothers are called away to active duty, Erica Peck is tasked with running her family’s busy marina. She’s tried not the let the fact that she’s terrified of the ocean interfere with her work and her daily life. But that doesn’t stop her sleazy ex-fiancée from using that fear to force her into retrieving the priceless diamonds that she unwittingly threw overboard along with her grandpa’s ashes.

Reel Tritone is the second son of the High Councilman of the Undersea World. As the “royal spare“, he’s not tied down with a lot of responsibility. The fact that he has no tail also makes him something of an outcast among his people, so Reel and his sidekick, Chum, a remora with rejection issues of his own, live by their own set of rules, including getting a little too close to humans. Reel’s fascination with land dwellers has already gotten him into trouble in the past, and might have had something to do with Erica’s terror of the sea. When he comes upon her desperate struggles with her ex, Reel has no choice but to save her from becoming shark bait. But by the time he reaches her, it’s too late. In desperation, he “turns” her from human into a Mer, knowing full well his action was punishable by death.

It doesn’t take long for Reel’s father to discover what’s happened and while he and the Council don’t pronounce an immediate death sentence on both Reel and Erika, the final judgement might simply be delaying the inevitable. Reel and Erika are ordered to retrieve the very diamonds she’d “died” for to save the Mer’s floundering economy. Now Erica must accompany Reel and various of his fishy sidekicks on a wild undersea adventure to retrieve the diamonds — and be ready to face all manner of dangerous sea creatures, including one very sexy Mer Man who, it seems, has always had a huge crush on her.

In Over Her Head is a fun, totally off-the-wall story that reads like an adult re-telling of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, complete with role reversal as landlubber Erica finds herself swept off her feet by a handsome, love-lorn Mer prince. Fennell borrows snippets from other fictional sea lore as well, but her flair for injecting humour in both her plot and dialogue marks this story as her own. In Over Her Head is the perfect summer beach read - one that might prompt you to cast the occasional glace out onto the briny horizon to catch a possible glimpse of a Mer Man all your own!

Rating — 2 books out of 3

Genre Go Round Reviews Harriet Klausner
Although she owns a marina on the Jersey shore, Erica Peck suffers from hydrophobia ever since she nearly drowned as a child. When her former boyfriend Joey pushes her into the ocean to retrieve diamonds with sharks everywhere, she panics believing she is about to die. Instead the second son of the underwater King of the Mer Prince Reel Tritone saves her life.

Reel is attracted to the land dweller so he enables her to breathe in the water as he takes her on a tour of his home filled with friendly talking fish, nasty looking monstrosities and a weird colorful terrain. He especially enjoys her lung capacity "shell-fillers" and her in his third leg. Their mutual eyeballing of one another leads to hands on and a night of passion; with both wanting more trysts. However he is a royal from under the sea with responsibilities even if they are only as the spare while she has feared the sea for years.

With a gender bending of the movie Splash, IN OVER HER HEAD is a fun romantic fantasy starring two likable lead characters and a support cast like his pal Chum who makes the undersea kingdom seems real. The tale is fast-paced but somewhat distracted by an over abundance of watery humor that as individual puns are witty, but taken as a whole somewhat dampen the story line. Still Judi Fennell provides a fun under the sea romance.

A Bibliophile’s Bookshelf Bella McGuire
Nora Roberts? Danielle Steel? Much acclaimed romance writers should step aside. There is a new romance writer in town and she is certainly causing a great splash with her debut novel, In Over Her Head.

Erica has spent all her life near the ocean, but ever since a traumatic incident as a child she has been afraid to get in. When she is held at gunpoint and forced into the ocean, she must finally face her fear. But what she finds is beyond her wildest dreams. She enters a world where sharks can talk, and mermaids and sea monsters do really exist. When Erica meets the sexy, rebellious merman Reel, she is thrown headlong into adventure, as they try to fend off sea monsters. Will Erica come out of this adventure alive, or will she be forced to live under the water forever?

In an age where vampires are the new black, Judi Fennell has delivered a tantalising, sexy novel about the world of Mers under the sea.

The story in itself is wonderfully inventive, with enough twists and turns that it had me hanging on to the very last page.

Judi has penned two more novels in this series, both of which involve the same family of Mers. Knowing that there are more stories to follow made me enjoy In Over Her Head even more. I’m itching to find out what happens next for this Mer royal family.

The characters certainly speak for themselves. Reel Tritone is super sexy and every word that came out of his mouth had my toes curling!

However, characters and storylines aside, it was the writing that is by fair the best part of this book. Judi Fennell writes like a seasoned pro, with words and ideas that flow well. What I enjoyed the most was the humor. The fish humor is in a class all of its own, and had me laughing long after the pun was over,

“You’re right. That was fun. Alana lost a fistful of scales on that one. Has she forgiven you yet?”
Reel shook his head. “No. Just as well, anyway. She’s getting a little too interested in beaches lately.”
“She’s checking out beaches? For your kids? Is she insane?”
“Why wouldn’t she want my kids? I’m a good catch.”
“Yeah, especially with a name like Reel. Your dad has a wicked sense of humor.”

There is a lot to enjoy in this great novel. The clever puns, the high adventure, and the sexy, steaming scenes between Erica and Reel. I’m already addicted, and am looking forward to the release of other novels in this series.

In Over Her Head is available June 1, 2009 from Amazon and bookstores nationwide.

Debbie’s World of Books Debbie Suzuki
This was my first time reading a book about mermen or mermaids and it was a great initiation into the under water world. Reel cracked me up although he was so full of himself sometimes you do want to smack him. From the beginning you feel the chemistry flowing between he and Erica. Not only do you have romance, sea monsters and talking sea creatures but this book also was filled with humor. At first the names of the characters seemed a bit campy, I mean come on a merman named Reel with a brother named Rod? As you meet more and more sea creatures with those ridiculous names you have to laugh. This book also does a great job portraying what sea creatures might actually be saying about humans if we could only understand them. The story is fast paced and keeps you going until the end.

Eye on Romance Heather
Erica Peck is in trouble. She is in a place she most fears, the ocean, with a gun pointed at her and a shark circling and wondering how she got into this predicament. Erica’s brothers have always teased her about her fear of the ocean but it is something she relates back to what she calls “The Incident”. Erica “dies” but is saved by Reel.

Reel Tritone is the second son of royalty in the underwater kingdom. He has always been made to feel different because he has legs and all his family have the required tail. Reel has many friends under the sea and who are willing to help him. He saves Erica by turning her into an underwater creature so she can live, which is against all of the rules. The Council delivers its verdict on his rule breaking and the pair then has to fight sea monsters to recover some diamonds. Reel also admits to Erica he is responsible for her fear of the water.

Reel comes across as a flirty man but knows who he wants, and it is Erica, the Human he has kept watch over all these years. His frustration with his family also comes through particularly the hurt he feels and the disappointment he thinks he is to his family as he is the odd one out in his family. The character of Reel grows throughout this story. Erica also grows as she overcomes her aversion to men with tails although it does seem to take most of the story to see this development. Erica also has another quirk to overcome her inability to grasp she can breathe underwater.

This is a fun story based under the sea. The undersea analogies flow thick and fast in this tale but it does not detract from the story and the development of the relationship between Reel and Erica. Naturally there are major obstacles to overcome, him being Mer and she being Human but like all good endings they are able to do this.

Wendy’s Minding Spot Wendy Hines
She’s no little mermaid, and he’s no landlubber.

Erica Peck has been afraid of the water ever since The Incident when she was younger. Being a marina owner, it’s a strange fear to have. But nevertheless, Erica finds herself in a wet suit diving for diamonds with a gun pointed at her, and her fear of water is replaced by dying. Her ex-fiance wants the diamonds he hid in Erica’s Grandfather’s ashes, and he is willing to kill her to get them. But the fear of the water and the gun is soon overcome by the fact a shark is circling her. When a shot rings out, Erica knows she is going to die.

Reel Tritone, a Mer man, has admired Erica from afar for years. He saw her when she was a little girl splashing in the ocean, and now years later, her beauty still beckons him. But when he sees her struggling in the water, he races against Victor, the shark, to get to her. But only by turning her into what he is can he save her life, even if it’s against the Mer law. Reel is the second son of the ruler of the kingdom, but he has no tail, is mortal, and a royal pain. Getting in trouble with the council is nothing new for Reel.

When Erica awakes, breathing under the water, she freaks out. Not only by able to breathe water, but by the naked and gorgeous male trying to explain the strange happenings. When the council guards escort them to the council, by swordfish no less, things start to get a bit dicey. The council wants the lost diamonds retrieved, or Erica dies. But Reel is pretty sure where those diamonds lay, in the cavern of the baddest sea monster to ever live. Since he is the Mer outcast with legs, he has nothing to lose, except maybe a future with Erica. But, she ’s afraid of the water, and he can’t live on land. What’s a fish to do?

IN OVER HER HEAD is an undersea adventure you do not want to miss! Judi Fennell dives into the paranormal scene with a splash! Filled with absolutely breathtaking ocean details, characters that will have your head spinning, and a fun romance that will have you cheering! This debut has grabbed me hook, line, and sinker! I look forward to more in this series!

The Book Girl Carrie Zimmerman
This is the first book by new author Judi Fennell and it’s fantastic. I have always been a huge fan of The Little Mermaid, so this book was perfect for me. Of course, it is a merman instead of a mermaid. (Which made the story even more fun). Erica is a character that I had to grow to love. At first she seemed very whiny and weak, but as I got to know her I understood why she came across this way and began to root for her! Reel is a hoot! As the second son, “the spare”, he has spent his life disobeying his father at every turn. I liked his silly and fun attitude. These two but heads at first (at least Erica feels that way), but soon come to depend on each other to stay alive. The action is very quick paced and held my attention completely. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, Wild Blue Under, about Reel’s brother Rod.



the book girl gives In Over Her Head by Judi Fennell 5/5!!

Once Upon a Romance Robyn Roberts
Erica Peck is terrified of swimming and the sea. Ever since she heard voices in the water as a child, she refuses to go into the water. Sort of ironic for the girl whose family owns a marina. She sworn to never go into the ocean again, but when a shady ex-boyfriend holds a gun on you, you might enter the ocean to look for the stolen diamonds he’s after. And when things go horribly wrong in the sea, it’s certain death for Erica.

Reel Trione is the second son of the royal ruler of an undersea kingdom. As cliché as it seems, he’s a rebellious second son of a royal who is out to prove his worth through questionable means. He’s a merman born with legs instead of a tail and he’s always had a fascination with humans. There’s one young woman who caught his attention once upon a time when she was swimming near his family’s reef. Imagine his surprise when he finds her about to be eaten by a shark and injured. Without thinking, he saves her and realizes Erica is the girl he’s been searching for over the years.

Erica and Reel have to find the stolen treasure and return it to the kingdom’s high council. In a series of underwater (and land based) adventures, they manage to defy death. While they battle the mother of all sea monsters and swim for their lives, they battle the attraction they feel even more. Will either of them give an inch in the desperate attempt to ignore the passion they feel for each other? Or will we find sparks that ignite a firestorm of passion?

I loved how passionate Erica and Reel are in their day-to-day lives. That passion spills over into their relationship as they fight the attraction. However, when they let passion flare, it’s a hurricane of sensuality. Erica is practical and strong-willed and determined to be in charge of her future. Reel is defiant, determined and devoted beyond belief to this girl he’s searched for over the years.

Erica and Reel’s story was one that did not disappoint. Judi Fennell has done an incredible job of creating the underwater kingdom in a way that makes sense to my logical side. From the use of lava and magma to the elaborate underwater systems, you’ll be amazed from first page to last. The best part of all is after reading In Over Her Head, Judi Fennell has me believing that I might catch a glimpse of a mer if I keep my eyes open underwater.

Long and Short of it Reviews Hibiscus
I truly found a pearl in my oyster when I read this delightful tale. This is Judi Fennell’s first book and I can say that I was surprised how good of a book In Over Her Head is. It is extremely well-written, the storyline flows and I was hooked from the first page.

Erica Peck is a very likable character. In my humble opinion, she is the perfect mix of weak woman and strong heroine. After being shot by her ex-fiancé, almost eaten by a shark, drowned and this is all in the first chapter; things take an interesting twist for Erica. Enter Reel Tritone. Erica is destined for Reel from the time she was little but she just doesn’t realize it.

Reel Tritone is a gorgeous hunk who kept pulling on my heartstrings. I felt so bad for him when everyone referred to him as the Spare and looked at him as a worthless ne’er-do-well. Reel has been fascinated by Erica ever since he was little. He is “The Incident” that happened to her. Reel shows how much he cares for Erica from the beginning when he flouts the rules of the Council by saving Erica.

I enjoyed reading about all the minor characters. Each had well defined traits that made them unique from any other character in the story. I was able to visualize each and everyone along with their mannerisms as they came and went throughout the story. There were also a lot of cute names, such as Rod, Reel’s brother and Fisher, Reel’s father in the book.

The story is a fascinating look at life under the sea. Ms. Fennell’s descriptions were so vivid, I felt that I was swimming along with Erica and Reel as they traveled the Atlantic and Caribbean in their mission to recover the stolen jewels and stay alive. Think of the colors and excitement of Disney’s Little Mermaid and then make it for adults.

In case I did not mention it, this is Ms. Fennell’s first book and I can’t wait to read her next book in this fanciful series. In Over Her Head is an aquatic wonderland that will have you wanting to explore under the sea for a merman of your very own.

Darque Reviews
Erica Peck runs her family’s marina despite the fear she’s had of the water since she was a little girl. When her ex, Joey, forces her to dive for a treasure he blames her for losing, Erica must face her fear head-on or be shot for her reluctance.

When things get out of hand and Erica is left bleeding in shark infested waters, it’s Reel Tritone who saves her life. He’s a Mer man who has defied the laws of his people on her behalf. In order to survive, they’ve been ordered to recover the treasure. They hope to prevent others from searching, because the future of the Mer’s underwater world could depend on it.

This is the first novel in the Tritone Trilogy and follows Reel and Erica. Ms. Fennell pens a fun and often humorous tale as the myths and legends of the ocean come to life. In Over Her Head introduces readers to an intriguing underwater world where danger and romance await. This story was very entertaining with its multitude of talking water creatures, and I’ll be looking forward to Wild Blue Under (Sourcebooks Casablanca, November 2009). There were a few minor points that I found mildly annoying, but nothing large enough to take away from the adventure and blossoming romance of In Over Her Head.

Passion for the Page Kristi Lewandowski
If you’re looking for a great beach read have I got a book for you! In Over Her Head by Judi Fennell is a witty, funny, fabulous story about Erica Peck, a marina owner that is scared of the sea, and Reel Tritone, a Mer man who, obviously, lives in the sea. What follows is a rip-roaring adventure complete with stolen diamonds, death threats, creatures of the deep, and true love. Honestly, I’m not going to tell you much else about the plot. It sounds utterly silly. And I can’t really believe I bought it. But I did. And I’m telling you Fennell pulls the suspension-of-disbelief off admirably. Whether you’re at the beach, at the pool, or closed up in your comfy ACed house this summer, if you’re looking for a great romance I’d highly recommend In Over Her Head. It hits the shelves in June.

I see from Judi’s website that In Over Her Head is the first in a series. Wild Blue Under is the story of Rod, Reel’s brother (the names still make me chuckle) and Catch of a Lifetime is about Angel, one of their sisters. Ohh, I can’t wait! Thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending me an ARC (advanced reading copy) of In Over Her Head and alerting me to this new author and series. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Judi Fennell!



Oh yeah, and be sure to stop by Judi’s website. She’s giving away three romantic getaways at the Atlantis Inn in Ocean City, NJ.

Cheryl’s Book Nook Cheryl Koch
Reel Tritone is the son of royalty but even being the son of royalty can’t help him from receiving slack about being born with legs instead of a tail. Just his luck, Reel is the only mer-person to be gifted with legs instead of a tail. Reel has lost count how many times he has wished to be normal. The only thing that has kept Reel’s mind off of the issue is...her. Ever since Reel first laided eyes on her as a little girl, he hasn’t been able to get her off his mind. He thinks about her all the time.

Erica Peck vowed she would never set foot in the ocean again. Especially not after "The incident" that happened to her when she was a little girl. That was also the last time she was in the water. Now years later Erica finds herself facing her dears head on but not be her choice. Erica’s ex-boyfriend Joseph Domenic Camparo has lost some diamonds at the bottom of the ocean. Diamonds that he needs to get back otherwise some very bad men will be after his hide. Being the big macho man that he is, Joey forces Erica at gunpoint to dive down and retrieve them or become shark food. When things go from bad to worse very quickly, Reel comes to Erica’s aid but by doing so he puts all of the mer-people at risk.

Come take a splash with Reel and Erica in In Over Her Head. Judi Fennell’s debut novel. I loved this book. You know when you are looking for something cool and refreshing that hits you in all the right places? Well that is exactly what Mrs. Fennell did for me. Reel and Erica are the updated version of one of the most famous couples...Eric and Ariel from The Little Mermaid. So if you loved The Little Mermaid then you will really enjoy this book. Plus it doesn’t hurt that Reel is very good looking or that he and Erica have really good chemistry together.

I Loves To Read Anita Morgan
In Over Hear Head was very entertaining, and satisfying to the romantic soul. The book is filled with the typical antics of a normal romance book - only 90% of it takes place under water. If you have a good imagination - or you’ve seen The Little Mermaid, this is a very bright and colorful book. If you like romance, and you like fantasy - but not a fan of dark, bad, and scary - this is the book for you!!

The high points of the book - it was fun light-hearted and the characters were easy to enjoy. I am pretty sure I read that this book is the beginning of a series, and I am intrigued to find out what happens next. Some low points would include the author’s use of a famous actor for the description of Reel, the male lead. I don’t like it when authors do that. I’d prefer to have descriptive words and come up with my own image.

Hitting bookshelves June 1st, I do think that if you love to see sparks fly - especially between two unlikely characters - In Over Her Head is your book!

Chic Book Reviews Amy Castellano
As you know, I’ve read a lot of paranormal romance.
I can say for sure though, none of them have ever included a Mer Man. Which, for me is what made this book so much fun!


Erica Peck is a Marina owner who is afraid of the ocean. Carrying out her Grandfather’s wishes by spreading his ashes out to sea, she inadvertently also throws with them the diamonds her snake of a boyfriend hid in the urn.


Reel was out human watching when he saw the one he remembered from his boyhood with a gun pointed at her head. When she gets shot, he has two choices, let her get eaten by Vincent the old Great White in his territory, or turn her into a water breather.


Before she can accept there’s so much more to this world than she ever imagined, Erica finds herself depending on Reel for her life. They embark on an underwater diamond hunting expedition, trying to avoid Sea Monters, a very hungry Kracken,
And love...


This is a great one to take to the pool or beach chicks! A fun, light romantic read!

Peeking Between the Pages Darlene Smoliak
In Over Her Head by Judi Fennell is over the top! I’ve never read anything like it and I really enjoyed it. This is a hilarious romantic comedy. I found myself laughing out loud so many times at the antics and conversations happening in this novel. This book really reminds me of a retelling of The Little Mermaid, adult style.

This book is about Erica who had a scary experience as a young girl that has kept her out of the ocean since. However she also has a mean ex-boyfriend who has her diving in the water to find him some diamonds. She’s not doing so good at getting him what he wants so he shoots her and takes off. She’s pretty much in la-la land when she’s whisked off and big-timed kissed by a stranger who just happens to be a Mer man who lives in the sea. Yes, I had never heard of one of those yet either. Really there is a lot I’ve never heard of before in this book which made it even funnier to me.

So Erica wakes up and meets the very gorgeous and very naked Reel. She’s shocked to discover she’s breathing underwater and even more shocked by the whole world that exists there. Reel has saved her life and no matter how hard she tries, she can’t keep her eyes off him. As for Reel, well he has been in love with Erica for many years so he’s pretty much in his glory. What follows is a rip-roaring underwater adventure full of zany characters, a little suspense and a lot of laughs.

Here’s a look into Erica’s world that had me liking her right off...

’And the hallucinations weren’t all that bad. Water-breathing lungs, so what? They were doable. Talking starfish, glowing fish lamps? Odd, but interesting.’ (p 29)
Oh and yes there is a bit of hanky-panky going on and plenty of innuendo too. One thing I found particularly amusing that I have to mention is the term used for breasts—-shell-fillers. That just hit me the right way and had me laughing each time I saw it.

If you’re looking for a light and fun summer read for the beach, then this would be it! You don’t have to concentrate or try to pick apart the storyline, you just have to sit back, relax and enjoy!

Fang-tastic Books Roxanne Rhoads
Judi Fennell has written a wild adventure and fantasy involving underwater living with fantastic fish and other creatures of the deep sea that will blow your mind...including Mer people.

Fennell’s imaginative world of underwater living is an intriguing wild ride deep within the ocean. her humor is contangious and will leave you teetering on the edge of your seat with laughter.

And there’s plenty of steaming hot sexiness mixed in to make this a hot love story that leaves you anxious and turning page after page to know more.

If you love sexy adevnture tales with fantasy mixed in along with plenty of danger and seriously scary moments this is a book you won’t put down until the very last page and even then you’ll want more.

Judi Fennell’s fantastic fish tale is definitely a keeper and well worth reading. Her whopper of an imagination makes In Over Her Head a fabulous read. This is one to put on your summer reading list. What a great book to take to the beach!

So Many Books, So Little Time Andrea Mason
I loved reading this book! I love Disney and especially the little mermaid, and this book reminded me a lot of the story. The way Judi Fennell described the scenery of the ocean made me want to be able to breathe underwater (seeing as I’m too scared of whats in it to go scuba diving!) The book had some neat twists in it, right up to the end. I loved the humor in the story and the way that everyday sayings were adapted to the ocean (instead of saying things like "Oh my God", he would say "Hades" or "For Apollo’s sake" and he said "Catfish got your tongue?"). It was just a great, imaginative story.

There will be two more books in this series, Wild Blue Under (November 2009) and Catch of a Lifetime (February 2010) and I absolutely can’t wait to read them!

I gave this book a 4/5.

Marta’s Meanderings Marta Hoelscher
Review

Judi Fennell definitely has a hit on her hands with this one! Part romance and part adventure, this book never stops! Her descriptions of life at the bottom of the sea are both imaginative and humorous. The romance sizzles in this one that no splash in the ocean can cool off. Even if you think that a romance between a merman and a human doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy. I can guarantee that you’ll love this. It’s just plain fun wrapped around romance!

All About Romance Ann Marble
If you, like me, grew up watching Aquaman cartoons, In Over Her Head might be the perfect book for you. Fennell drops us into an undersea world with Mers, ancient gods, talking fish, and sea monsters. Oh, and Atlantis and the Bermuda Triangle.

Erica Peck finds herself between a rock and a wet place when her former fiancé, Joey, forces her to dive for missing diamonds by gunpoint. Erica has been afraid of the ocean ever since "the Incident," but of course, getting shot at ramps up her anxiety levels even more. When Erica is injured, Reel, the second born son of underwater royalty, rescues her - by turning her into a Mer like him. Like all royal second sons, Reel isn’t immortal, and as if that weren’t enough, he has legs - something that makes him stick out like a sore fin among the Mers.

Reel broke the rules when he turned Erica. Before you know it, Erica and Reel must face the Oceanic Council - not to mention Reel’s father, Fisher. Reel makes a deal with the Council to save Erica. In return, Erica must follow him on a dangerous mission into the Bermuda Triangle to find some diamonds and face certain death. And even worse, lots of talking fish.

If you’re expecting a deep - uhm, I mean serious - paranormal with a tormented selkie, look elsewhere. This is the sort of story where an underwater king calls his sons Rod and Reel. But it’s fun, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously. How could it, when the hero and heroine have lengthy conversations with fish? Sure, it does get a little too cute sometimes. For example, Reel thinks of Erica’s breasts as "shell-fillers" because the Mer females wear shells over their breasts. Also, while the dialogue is a lot of fun, my logical side kept asking how all these undersea denizens knew so much modern slang when the last human they had lengthy contact with was Jacques Cousteau. For example, at one point, Reed says, "Here’s lookin’ at us, kid." And I asked myself how they were able to watch Casablanca under the sea. Then I decided to accept it because the dialogue was more fun if I didn’t ask too many questions. Next thing you know, I might ask how fish can talk, and what fun would that be?

This is a fish out of water story. Erica has avoided the water for most of her life, and now, she’s able to breath water and forced to live among Mers, talking fish, and other creatures. Still, while her fears have always made it easy for her brothers to tease her, she does what she can to face them. When faced with a new life under the sea, she copes as well as possible, despite confronting things that make her want to hide in a shell. She’s stronger than the people who should be closest to her realize. Like Erica, Reel has inner strengths his own father doesn’t recognize. Because he’s the "spare," and because he is an outcast (with legs), Reel has become the rebellious sort. However, he is more responsible than everyone around him, including his father, realizes, and capable of so much more.

One of the author blurbs on this book says, "Waves of sensuality and ripples of emotion." Don’t let that keep you from reading it. This is a sexy book with lots of growing tension between Erica and Reel, but it’s not a book with a lot of sex in it. When Erica first comes across Reel under the ocean, he’s naked, and she can’t help notice. Boy does she notice. They’re drawn to each other from the start, but the consummation takes a long time. At times, I got impatient with Erica for putting it off.

Fennell has created an undersea world that’s a lot of fun, as long as you don’t take it too seriously. Yet even amidst the back-talking fish and officious flounder, In Over Her Head still manages to trickle in messages about our relationship with the ocean - and with those closest to us. So it’s more Aquaman than "the Savage Sub-mariner," perhaps with a little bit of Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo thrown in.

Anna’s Book Blog Anna Lemkau
When I first picked up this book I wasn’t too sure I was gonna like. But I really loved it. It was a fast page turner that I couldn’t put down. If you enjoy reading about fantasy creatures you’ll enjoy this one. Some of the underwater creatures remind me of the characters in The Little Mermaid, which I love. But this book is very much for adults. In Over Her Head was a wonderful surprise of adventure, wonderment and steamy fun.

I highly recommend In Over Her Head. It’ll definitely be on my Top 20 at the end of the year.

My Overstuffed Bookshelf Amy
I decided to step out of my vampire zone and try a different type of paranormal read this time. This book is about the people who live under the sea. Mer Men, as they call themselves, who have their own life and community under the sea that we have all heard in stories growing up. Atlantis? Sea Monsters? The Loch Ness? Yep, they all exist. Overall this book is one that I am glad I am adding to my bookshelf. It was well paced with characters I actually cared about. I was hooked on the first chapter all the way to the end. This is the first in a series and I am looking forward to her next books. I actually care to find out how the supporting characters in this book end up in the rest of the series. There was plenty of action, just the right amount of dialogue and scene set up, and most of all the romance was great! Now if only the next book would hurry and come out!

Bloody Bad Books
This imaginative tale is about Reel Tritone, royal prince and second in succession to the Mer throne. When Reel witnesses Erica Peck bleeding in the ocean and seconds away from a shark attack, he swims into action, saving the damsel in distress. Reel’s controversial decision to save a human leads Reel and Erica on "an underwater adventure to recover stolen treasure and battle a sea monster." Erica has been frightened of the ocean since "the incident" she had as a child. Can she bear the world under the sea?

I have never read a Mer tale, and in a world where vampire fiction is king I found this book to be quite a refreshing twist in my reading. Although the characters and basic plot of the story stuck to the typical romance novel guidelines, the creativity she put into the Mer world was unbelievable. Using elements of Greek mythology, lost lands and old pirate tales, Fennell submerges the reader into a world of blues, greens and iridescent light. Her descriptions of this underwater paradise are bright and full of delightful images. The beauty will draw you in, the action will get your pulse racing and the sensual scenes will keep your eyes glued to the pages.

Bitten By Books
Erica Peck has been around the water all her life. Her family owns a marina, and she is more than capable of running it except for one small problem: Erica is deathly afraid of the water and refuses to go in it. When she finally decides to confront her fears and prove to her brothers once and for all that she is not a scared little girl, everything goes wrong. It seems her lying, cheating ex-fiancé Joey has hidden some diamonds in an urn containing her grandfather’s ashes, and Erica figures that the charter she is taking out on her own is the perfect time to finally scatter the ashes where her grandpa had requested. Joey comes back for the diamonds and, finding them gone, forces Erica at gunpoint to dive for the diamonds. When she can’t find them and sees a shark in the area, she pleads with Joey to let her back on the boat, but he shoots her and leaves her for dead.

Poor Erica would be a goner if it weren’t for the hunky merman, Reel, who is unknowingly responsible for her fear of the water in the first place and just happens to be watching her when Joey attempts murder. Reel has issues of his own, including being born with legs, and in a moment of reckless impulse, saves Erica by turning her into a water breather. Turning a human is forbidden and the penalty is death. Can Reel and Erica convince the council, ruled by Reel’s father, to spare them and at what price? And how long can Erica deny her growing attraction for Reel?

In Over Her Head is a fantastically fun read. There is action, adventure, romance and humor that Judi Fennell blends together effortlessly in an engaging story that will keep readers completely entertained. From her vivid descriptions of the underwater kingdom to her use of comedy in the names of her characters, Ms. Fennell leaves you breathless with wonder and laughter. For those who like a good romance, there are also some very well-written, steamy sex scenes to leave you breathless in another way.

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Specs / Support

Trade Paper Specfications

• Length: 6.88 in
• Width: 4.19 in
• Height: 0.00 in
• Weight: 6.00 oz
• Page Count: 352 pages