My Review
I’m going to be honest, I’ve worked with Nic Starr on her Facebook page. She let me post there when I had releases. Sea of Love is the first book I’ve read of hers.
I found Nic to be a kind and helpful friend to a new author. I was thrilled when I found her book on Indigo. I’m happy I got involved in her release blitz! As with all reviews, I’ll be honest but I will never give spoilers. Nic Starr’s biography and links are below!
First, this book is perfect for those of us who like low angst. Evan and Harry are just adorable. Evan is doing his best friend a favor, Harry is going along with his ex, and together they are stuck on a cruise ship together.
Both men are taking part in a new reality television show based on couples. Evan is with his friend Amber. He’s the solid best fried who is helping her get revenge for her ex who cheated on her. They are and never will be more than friends, but they know each other well. Both characters are likable and I found myself wishing both men would be bi and bring her in, but alas, it was mere fantasy on my part.
Harry and his ex John have the typical animosity-filled relationship. Harry is the long-suffering good guy and John is the manipulative, narcissistic jerk. You really pull for Harry to get away from such a horrible person, and in fact, I found myself wondering how they stayed together for a year. John is the epitome of an ex we all had at one point, so we hate him.
Both men worked at the same place so their sexual attraction to one another isn’t really new to either of them, so technically this isn’t a shallow connection. The story’s pacing is pretty good although I was confused by the timeline. The were several groups of couple competing on the show, but it didn’t seem to follow the time line the book set up. Perhaps it was just my inability to retain what I’d read, either way it didn’t change the story.
I enjoyed the book and would recommend this book to readers who love sweet men, supportive friends, low angst, and some steam. Read the book blurb below.
Sea of Love
The cruise of a lifetime. A reality TV show about romance. Falling in love is inevitable.
Evan Williams is the type of guy to stick by his friends, especially when they’ve been hurt and need a favour. And if that favour involves the cruise of a lifetime, then how can he say no? Even when it means pretending to be a devoted boyfriend to Amber and having their fake relationship play out on a reality TV show for all the world to see.
Realising his boyfriend is a conceited jerk and dumping him doesn’t stop Harry Bishop from winding up as one half of a supposedly loved-up couple on the Sea of Love TV show. And if that’s not bad enough, he’s faced with temptation in the form of Evan, the perfect blend of boy-next-door-meets-sexy-stud he once crushed on. It’s going to be a long two weeks.
Two weeks of competitions, challenges, and confrontations. They’re here to take out the Sea of Love title—just not with each other—and there can only be one winner. But it turns out that true love isn’t about winning a contest; the real prize comes when you follow your heart.
Sea of Love is a feel-good romance featuring hidden attraction, fake relationships, and friends-to-lovers.
Title: Sea of Love
Author: Nic Starr
Publisher: Independently Published
Cover Artist: Covers by Jo
Release Date: 10/20/2021
Heat Level: 3 – Some Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 45,000 words
Genre: Romance
Meet the Author
Nic Starr lives in Australia where she tries to squeeze as much into her busy life as possible. Balancing the demands of a corporate career with raising a family and writing can be challenging but she wouldn’t give it up for the world.
Always a reader, the lure of m/m romance was strong and she devoured hundreds of wonderful m/m romance books before eventually realising she had some stories of her own that needed to be told!
When not writing or reading, she loves to spend time with her family–an understanding husband and two beautiful daughters–and is often found indulging in her love of cooking and planning her dream home in the country.
Website: https://nicstarr.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NicStarrAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicstarr_author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8139967.Nic_Starr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nic_starr_author/
Rosie Jarvis, Author 