William Westmoreland escapes his unfulfilling Rhode Island existence by traveling to Florida twice a year and chartering Mike Jansen's fishing boat to take him out on the Gulf. The crystal-blue water and tropical scenery isn't the only view William enjoys, but he's never made his move. A vacation romance just isn't on his horizon.
Mike started his Apalachicola charter fishing service as a way to care for his daughter and mother, putting their safety and security ahead of the needs of his own heart. Denying his attraction becomes harder with each of William's visits.
William and Mike's latest fishing excursion starts with a beautiful day, but a hurricane's erratic course changes everything, stranding William. As the wind and rain rage outside, the passion the two men have been trying to resist for years crashes over them. In the storm's wake, it leaves both men yearning to prolong what they have found. But real life pulls William back to his obligations. Can they find a way to reduce the distance between them and discover a place where their souls can meet? The journey will require rough sailing, but the bright future at the end might be worth the choppy seas.
Listening Time: 6 hrs 22 minutes
Narrator: Greg Tremblay
Reviewer: R *A Reader Obsessed*
Standard Grey fare, which is not a bad thing at all. Some authors you know what to expect, and I expect this from Grey and was not disappointed.
Mike’s life is basically all work and no play. It’s not all doom and gloom though. He has a wonderful mom who helps him take care of his lovely daughter, and he works hard at making a good living charting fishing expeditions for vacationers who come to his small Florida town. Is he a bit lonely?? Sure. However, he’s literally not gonna rock the boat and risk his livelihood by proclaiming his sexuality, especially since there isn’t anyone special in his life. Mike simply contents himself with the little thrill he gets when rich and charismatic William books his boat twice a year for a day out on the water.
William is also stuck in his life. Basically groomed to run the family business from a young age, he’s inundated with unrelenting obligations and finds very little joy in what he does. His only escape is when he’s out on the water, feeling the sun, fishing for great catches, and secretly admiring his favorite captain while enjoying his company. William knows he’s probably barking up the wrong tree, but he can daydream,right?
Fate intervenes and moors William in the small fishing town, forcing him to stay with Mike for a few days. This, of course, allows truths to be revealed and for these two to collide in all the ways. Their brief time together is like a dream, but one has to wake up unfortunately.
How do these two men go on without the other, stuck in life’s circumstance but unable to forget the passion they shared? Can they reconcile their feelings and their lives to be together?
There's a lot of inner contemplation here on both Mike and William’s parts. They both have to make some tough decisions, each afraid to take that first step towards possible happiness, aware of what’s at stake.
Overall, this was a realistic romance - realistic in the progression and the challenges and obstacles both these men face. It was very nice to watch them realize what they wanted and to go after it despite their fears and reservations. Having Tremblay narrate this only enhanced the experience, which absolutely comes as no surprise. Again, this was good standard Grey fare, and I look forward to the sequel featuring an interesting character that charters Mike’s boat skills on the regular!
Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review.
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