Like his cousins, Devin Walker aspires to be a chef, but he wants to indulge his wanderlust while feeding his customers, and working a cruise ship seems like the solution. Since he can’t find an opening in the kitchen, he’s happy to start out in a position behind the bar.
While onboard Poseidon’s Pearl, Devin is assigned to shepherd a visiting executive. Paul Bailey is quiet and unassuming, and the car accident that cost him his leg also shattered his confidence. He doesn’t think he’s attractive to other men anymore, and Devin is eager to show him just how wrong he is. Paul has a surprising secret that might sink their passionate affair before it even leaves port.
Hi, my name is Sara and I am hooked on this series and the Walker boys. Hell, I am hooked on the entire family. Each book in this series delivers what I crave from the Dreamspun line; the sweet romance mixed with just enough character depth and sexiness to make me smile when I need it most. Meeting Devin Walker and the incredible man he falls for gave me swoony moments during a time when I was pulling my hair out from stress.
I love that this begins on a cruise ship with Devin working as a bartender waiting to get a job in the kitchen to put his Culinary degree to good use. It’s no surprise that Devin is into food with who his family is. I mean, his cousin and his cousin’s husband have rival barbecue restaurants in the same town after all and this Walker does not fall far from the prep line.
Sorry. Got sidetracked there. So Devin works onboard Poseidon's Pearl and one night tending bar he meets a handsome stranger. Come the next day, Devin is informed he’s to show said handsome stranger the way of the ship because Paul Bailey, a new executive for the cruise line, wants to know how the ship does its business.
I’ve always liked the idea of romances where two people are thrown together and it makes it better when they are stuck together say on a ship. I don’t know why I like the thought of being thrown together with no escape romantic but I do. The ship had a great modern day Love Boat vibe without being cheesy or about singles hooking up. It just set its course for adventure and your mind on a new romance.
Okay. I need to talk about the book don’t I?
I adored the holy heck out of Devin. Like I said before, I love the Walker boys and it’s no surprise that Devin recognizes there is so much more to Paul than the button down executive he finds attractive and is charged to show around the ship. Devin sees that Paul has a disability but Devin knows Paul is NOT his disability and does whatever he can to show Paul that he is worthy of respect, friendship and love. It pays off that Devin falls hard and fast for Paul and goodness, the man does have a way with words.
Paul was such a pleasure to read, even when his POV would bleed into the melancholy. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have an accident that causes you to lose your leg and the man you thought loved you. It makes sense that Paul would lose himself in work and forget the things he loved to do before the accident to just live his day to day. I am so freaking happy he took the task of checking out one of the ships and too the chance on and with Devin.
Yeah, this book takes place within a matter of weeks and these two fill those weeks with so much fun and adventure. Devin really knows the in’s and outs of the cruise ship and knows how to show Paul what the cruise line offers is vacationers while also taking him to the “locals only” spots that the staff knows about. Devin has been on the ship for months so he also knows where to go when they are in port and when Devin takes Paul to meet his friend and ex-coworker Cass, things get really good.
This was such a lovely read. I liked how the authors handled Paul’s disability and gave Paul and Devin options when it came to the daily life as well as their intimate moments. Devin is the sweetest and most understanding man and Paul did good to put his trust in him and let himself feel again.
There is a bit of angst that happens with Paul’s job but I won’t go into that. It give the story the drama it needed without dragging it down. I LOVED that Devin takes us home and we get to see Beau and Liam for a spell.
I don’t think I said much about the story/plot of this book… hmm.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
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