Audiobook Review: Staggered Cove Station (Coast Guard Rescue #1) by Elle Brownlee

Rescues are wild in the Alaskan terrain. So is romance.

Sun-kissed California guardsman Dan Farnsworth might be at home in the water, but he’s out of his element at remote, rugged, and freezing Staggered Cove Station. Acclimating proves hard enough, but he’s also digging into how the station’s previous rescue swimmer was lost at sea. Was it an operation gone bad or something more sinister? Add to that the instant tension between him and his partner—no-nonsense Alaska-born Karl Radin—and Dan has his hands full.

As his investigation heats up, so does the attraction between Dan and Karl, even if they don’t completely trust each other. But as suspicious events escalate to sabotage, Dan starts to fear that he and Karl won’t get the chance to become more than reluctant coworkers.


Listening Length: 6 hours and 11 minutes
Narrator: Colin Darcy 

For a Dreamspun Desires story I found this quite the nice gem. It wasn’t fancy, it wasn’t over the top. This was very grounded in reality, and when it comes to contemporaries I appreciate that. A lot.


This starts out with Coast Guard newbie Dan, who’s just arrived at the remote Alaskan outpost with a hidden agenda. Dan’s estranged half brother Axe, died while on a routine rescue mission, and he’s hard pressed to believe it was just an unfortunate accident. Thus, upon finishing his training, Dan immediately proceeds to get transferred to Staggered Cove to do some incognito investigating. Foremost on his to-do list? Check out Karl Radin who was in charge of the operation when Axe went missing.


It soon becomes apparent that Karl is a top notch officer who genuinely cares for his team and takes no chances. So how did Axe die? Seems there’s more than meets the eye as Dan finds some suspicious clues, and circumstances arise that quickly put him and Karl in danger.


Although my first Desires book from Brownlee fell short on the romance, this did not. There’s a nice budding working relationship between Dan and Karl that slowly grows into respect and then into trust, all with an underlying simmering attraction that burns quite nicely.


Narrated by Colin Darcy, I think many will not find much fault. However, for some unknown reason I didn’t quite click with him as much as I did with his first performance on High Test. Oh well.


Again, one of the better stories in this particular DSP line, with a nicely paced romance, bridging mystery and suspense as Dan and Karl fall in love. I’m all for military men and survival situations, and I found the Coast Guard setting against a harsh Alaskan landscape refreshingly different, and this did not disappoint despite the low smexy level. I look forward to seeing who will get their story next!


Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour: Staggered Cove Station (Coast Guard Rescue #1) by Elle Brownlee

Elle Brownlee is here today to tell us a little about Staggered Cove Station, her latest Dreamspun Desires release! See our 5 <3 review HERE!

Be sure to check out the vid too!

Hello, hello! I'm Elle Brownlee and it's great to be here to share something about my latest book with you. Staggered Cove Station is a romantic suspense with hunky Coast Guard heroes, and I couldn't be happier about that.

I've been wanting to write something with more action and suspense for a while, but couldn't ever settle on a world to build such a story in. I wanted cop-like but not actually cops, I wanted the great outdoors to be more than a backdrop but didn't want to shoehorn it in, I wanted team dynamics but not sports or game fisherman or SEALs. Just nothing I thought of was quite clicking or sticking. And then came a quilt project I had to finish in a hurry (stay with me--these relate!).

To keep me company as I cut and pieced and sewed, I searched for a show with a lot of episodes that could play for hours. I happened on a Coast Guard reality show, was pleased to note had several seasons for me to catch up with, and was immediately hooked. It combined so much of what keeps my interest, from nature in all her savage glory to daring actions, from stroking my competence kink to letting me learn cool new stuff, from a culture of procedure to that camaraderie of close-knit team members giving each other the business between rescues.

As I watched and built that quilt, I also started building a world where my stories with more action and suspense could take form. My plot ideas had found inspiration and a fitting home! Everything started clicking and sticking. And the first of these is Staggered Cove Station.

And hooray! I found this sizzle reel for the show so you can get a little taste for yourself:

Hope you enjoy the inspiration vid--and the read!
❤ elle

PS: I finished the quilt in time, and it looked great and made its recipient very happy and cozy.


Staggered Cove Station is book one in my new Coast Guard Rescue romantic suspense series. There’s thrills, chills, mystery, and hunky guys to the rescue. It releases March 20 from Dreamspinner Press.

Blurb:

Rescues are wild in the Alaskan terrain. So is romance.

Sun-kissed California guardsman Dan Farnsworth might be at home in the water, but he’s out of his element at remote, rugged, and freezing Staggered Cove Station. Acclimating proves hard enough, but he’s also digging into how the station’s previous rescue swimmer was lost at sea. Was it an operation gone bad... or something more sinister? Add to that instant tension between him and his partner, no-nonsense Alaska-born Karl Radin, and Dan has his hands full.

As his investigation heats up, so does the attraction between Dan and Karl—even if they don’t completely trust each other. But as suspicious events escalate to sabotage, Dan starts to fear he and Karl won’t get the chance to become more than reluctant coworkers.

Book URL:

Dreamspinner Press


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Author Bio:

Elle Brownlee has always followed her creative, adventuring spirit. Growing up she loved westerns and taking long hikes. On these explorations she’d craft miniature worlds with moss and rocks while making up stories about everything that happened there. This often included dashing cowboy heroes. As an adult, not a lot has changed. She still loves westerns, long hikes, and allowing her imagination to roam. Usually with a pot of tea at her elbow. Her romances feature flawed but relatable characters in immersive settings, told with wit, tenderness, and a sly note of sarcasm. Though a cynic in many ways, Elle believes love can conquer all. Every story is a little bit naughty, a whole lot of nice, and will always end with happily ever after.

Review: Staggered Cove Station (Coast Guard Rescue #1) by Elle Brownlee

Rescues are wild in the Alaskan terrain. So is romance.

Sun-kissed California guardsman Dan Farnsworth might be at home in the water, but he’s out of his element at remote, rugged, and freezing Staggered Cove Station. Acclimating proves hard enough, but he’s also digging into how the station’s previous rescue swimmer was lost at sea. Was it an operation gone bad or something more sinister? Add to that the instant tension between him and his partner—no-nonsense Alaska-born Karl Radin—and Dan has his hands full.

As his investigation heats up, so does the attraction between Dan and Karl, even if they don’t completely trust each other. But as suspicious events escalate to sabotage, Dan starts to fear that he and Karl won’t get the chance to become more than reluctant coworkers.

This book came along when I needed it the most. I’ve been in a pretty down mood of late and needed to find a book that could draw me in and make me feel and this did just that.

Told from the dual POV’s of two Coast Guardsmen as they rescue the lives of stranded strangers and rescue their chance at love, we meet flight mech Chief Petty Officer Karl Radin as he’s out for a morning run along the crisp and frighteningly cold waters of the rugged Alaskan coastline. Karl an Alaskan native who is posted at the Staggered Cove Station and is about to meet the member of his team Rescue Swimmer, Dan Farnsworth. Karl isn’t keen on the newbie on paper yet when Dan arrives, Karl is attracted at first sight.

Dan has followed in the footsteps of his older brother Axe, joining the Coast Guard and becoming a rescue swimmer, but being assigned to Staggered Cove wasn’t by chance, Dan asked for it. You see, Dan’s brother Axe died on a rescue mission that was led by Karl Radin and Dan knows his brother was strong enough to survive the conditions so there must be foul play about. Dan has a job to do and a mystery to solve and both will lead him down roads he never expected.

I loved this story so damn much. The adrenaline with the rescue scenes were so intense and detailed I could hear the blades of the chopper and feel the cold of the Alaskan waters as Dan swam in them. It was amazing to read and just thinking about what a rescue of this caliber requires has me excited but knowing what goes on with Dan and Karl during the rescues has my heart rate spiking.

Speaking of heart rates, let’s talk about the romance. At first, neither Karl nor Dan are fond of one another. Dan is basically there to prove Karl did something wrong in regards to his brothers death and Karl isn't enthusiastic about arrogant rescue swimmers and isn’t quick to trust but there is something about these two that draws them together… it was beautiful to watch.

There is a slow burn feel to the romance between Dan and Karl. They have the mistrust at the start but after a quick turn around with a rescue soon after they meet, they learn that if they can trust the other with their lives on a mission, there has to be other ways they can trust as well. Of course, being roommates and Karl being interested in Dan helps the romance along the way but it was really lovely and romantic to watch Dan finally find someone to open up to and see him through the “I’m fine” facade he presents.

I admit I wanted some sort of confrontation between these two preferably in a storm that ends with them getting physical and having a make out session and while I didn’t get what I wanted exactly, because what I got was even better.

The mystery of Axe’s death provides some heart stopping moments with the men and gives another level of character development to Dan and Karl as individuals and a couple. They have to trust, they have to listen, keep an open mind, accept the unexpected and they have to keep rescuing the other so they can have the type of relationship they are so damn hungry for.

I loved watching Dan and Karl develop into a couple and the intimacy build between them until it was an explosion of want. For me, I don’t need explicit on page sex to feel the connection between these two and what I got was more than enough. Actually, it was so much that I squeed and hugged my Nook at the end and that exchange between them.

Elle Brownlee has created a romance that has me researching coast guardsmen in Alaska and watching a few videos of rescues that have my toes tingling from the cold. It really felt like you were right there during each of the rescues and each of the moments that had action within the romance that it was impossible not to get lost in the story. Dan and Karl are wonderfully complex characters and I am thankful I was able to witness their romance.

Yup. This was good and I can’t wait to see what comes next in the Coast Guard Rescue series.

Don't miss the Staggered Cove Station blog visit HERE!

Audiobook Review: Two for Trust by Elle Brownlee

A fairy-tale vacation—if he can get the ending right.

American nurse Finch Mason steps beyond the comfort of his orderly life and takes a dream trip to England, complete with a National Trust Pass so he can visit numerous historical sites. At the first one on his list, he’s warmly welcomed—and told he bought a pass good for two.

Finch doesn’t hesitate to offer the pass to Benedict, a handsome Brit also there on an outing. They spend a magical week touring the countryside, and while it’s too soon to get attached, Finch wishes their time together would never end.

Then Finch finds himself stuck abroad with no money, and he has no one to turn to but Benedict. Benedict is happy to help, but he also owes Finch some answers—such as who he really is and why he was at the estate where they first met.

Listening Length: 6 hours and 40 minutes
Narrator: Andrew McFerrin

Um.. honestly? I really hate to say this but this was probably one of the most unromantic romances I’ve read in a long time.


This starts out with Finn visiting England on impulse. He’s trying to forget his current life woes and as well as making the most of a bad decision. When he meets the dashing Benedict, he’s immediately enamored, and it’s a fortuitous mistake that allows both of them to partake in touring a historical part of the countryside. Inevitably, one meeting turns into two, and two turns into three and before they know it, Finn’s vacation has become enmeshed with Benedict’s life, as situation after situation throws them together.


Granted, I could see this as a plausible meet-cute, and it had a lot of potential, but it completely fails to produce any romance. I would say that 95% of this book is Finn getting angry or sad every time there’s a perceived rejection of Benedict’s affections or a confirmation of what he thinks is Benedict's straight status. I can’t really blame the guy because Benedict NEVER lets on what he’s feeling beyond platonic overtures, so Finn is not in the wrong for being grumpy. As one can surmise, there’s absolutely no smex except for a few chaste kisses at the very end, and it was beyond frustrating. When the proclamations finally do come, it really did seem to come out of nowhere despite knowing this was supposed to be a love story.


I’ve admitted before that Dreamspun Desires is not always a high priority on my TBR list because often, I want something a little more spicier, a little more meaty. However, I also believe there’s definitely a place in anyone’s reading repertoire for simple, low angst romance, and the few I’ve read fall into that category, but this was very far from the mark. So, if you like tropes where there is absolutely NO communication and plenty of misunderstandings on one of the MC’s part through really no fault of his own, then this is for you. What garners some points is the audio. Andrew McFerrin does a great job at distinguishing voices, portraying realistic accents, and getting the emotions just right but sadly, not even the best narrator can make this a better story.


Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review.

See our Two for Trust eBook tag team review HERE

Tag Team Review: Two for Trust by Elle Brownlee

A fairy-tale vacation—if he can get the ending right.

American nurse Finch Mason steps beyond the comfort of his orderly life and takes a dream trip to England, complete with a National Trust Pass so he can visit numerous historical sites. At the first one on his list, he’s warmly welcomed—and told he bought a pass good for two.

Finch doesn’t hesitate to offer the pass to Benedict, a handsome Brit also there on an outing. They spend a magical week touring the countryside, and while it’s too soon to get attached, Finch wishes their time together would never end.

Then Finch finds himself stuck abroad with no money, and he has no one to turn to but Benedict. Benedict is happy to help, but he also owes Finch some answers—such as who he really is and why he was at the estate where they first met.

Double Broken Heart Rating

Sara - Broken Heart

No one and I mean no one is more disappointed than me to be writing this review right now. It’s not a secret that I am head over feet in love with the Dreamspun Desire series but this month, which is sadly my birthday month, has left me cold with each book. I had hopes for this one because the blurb had everything I should have loved and tossing it into the fluff pile of the series should have made it a no brainer for me to enjoy and yet, I didn’t. In fact I was bored.

I will make this short and say this did not work for me. I spent the entirety of the book waiting for the magic to happen. Waiting to feel some sort of connection to either my fellow ginger Finch or his supposedly dashing trust attendee and companion Benedict and it never came. I don’t know what it was about this story but truly, I was bored and skimmed the majority of it waiting for the feels to happen. For me, they never did.

I never got either man and found it odd that 95% of the story was told from Finch’s POV and then we would get sporadic paragraphs of Benedict's POV which lent absolutely nothing to the story. I figured out right away who Benedict would be and don’t know why it took so long for the reveal.

This did not read like a romance at all. It read more like a tell all of the trust and sites Finch and Benedict would visit. Speaking of telling, we were told a whole heck of a lot in this book and really not allowed to feel anything. Not that there was much to feel between Finch and Benedict anyway.

I usually like alpha men in romance but Benedict came off kinda creepy for me. The two men never flirted or gave any indication that they were interested romantically so all Benedict’s bossing Finch around came off as controlling and semi abusive to me. It really rubbed me the wrong way and had no sense of romance or intimacy nor caring for Finch, just Benedict being a jerk to a nice guy who is accident prone and alone in a foreign country.

The deal with Gran was a head scratcher and good lord, Benedict’s goodbye came out of nowhere and had me tossing my Nook on my bed and almost giving up on the story.

That end made absolutely no sense at all. How did they get there when the whole book was pedestrian and static without a hint of romance? The end was unbelievable and frustrated me to no end.

So yeah. This wasn’t the book for me and I am bummed.

SheReadsALot - Broken Heart

How to sum up Two for Trust?

I've been wanting to read something from this author for a while. And once I read the blurb and saw the cover... I rushed to read it.

After reading, it was not a great first impression of this author's work.

The elements are there for a winning story:

Finch - down and out dorky ginger ex-nurse who struck out on life in the work and love department
Benedict - a very stiff upper lip Brit with a mysterious air
A British countryside vacation filled with historical talking points

The air for romance while on vacation was there.

The thing is, neither main characters were interesting or charismatic enough to have a believable romance. I hesitate to call this a romance. There is a HEA and the right words showed up at times. But the delivery is so wooden, so stiff, so dry, so crusty.

My favorite part is stolen instant oatmeal. I think it was the highlight.

The book spends so much time on the English historical artifacts and research that the non existent romance and chemistry suffers from the boring and dry characters. Finch was pathetic and too similar in disposition to make any impact. Benedict... he was too "reserved". He just manipulated Finch and didn't share anything until it was too late.

And that ending? Please. *side eyes*

If you're new to the Dreamspun line, do not try this. I can't recommend. I do enjoy a quiet romance but this was too staid, too reserved and too boring.

So in closing, if you're having difficulties going to sleep or need something to start a nap, I'd give this book a try.

It worked wonders for me.