Against a Rising Tide by Samantha Cayto
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by MoonflowerLove always finds a way.
Scott, a Navy SEAL, returns to his childhood beach house to deal with the emotional trauma of his latest mission. When a sniper killed his closest friend, Scott was left dealing with survivor’s guilt and the disturbing feeling that his friend meant more to him. He has always identified as strictly straight, attraction to men being something he has ruthlessly suppressed.
When he finds Kitt, a friend of his sister’s, hiding out from his abusive boyfriend, Scott is once again drawn to someone of his own gender. Although annoyed at the intrusion, Scott also instantly develops an interest in his unwanted houseguest. Keeping his distance is proving to be impossible and his growing desire for Kitt cannot be ignored.
Forced to leave home, Kitt entered into a relationship with a man who turned abusive. Having finally found the courage to escape, the last thing he wants or needs is another alpha male invading his space. But having nowhere else to go, he ends up staying with a man who disturbs him in more ways than one. As scary as the SEAL is, Scott is exactly the type of man Kitt dreams about.
The beach house is small, and the two men cannot avoid one another or the attraction between them. With each passing day, their bond grows stronger. Hesitation slowly gives way to passion. They need to trust their feelings and let go of the things that frighten them, to find safety and solace in each other.
Big, strong, alpha-males are all jerks, right? That’s what Kitt feels, and with good reason. Scott is on a two-week ‘holiday’ to try and get his head on straight. Seeing Kitt knocks his socks off and makes him face some long-denied truths.
This is a fast-paced story, all happening within that two-week span. Kitt has some serious damage to deal with, not only from his abusive ex but also from his not-so-loving family too. But Scott doesn’t have it all together either, as he tries to figure out his confusing feelings and deal with his past. Somehow, they both manage within the timeframe! Nothing on either side is mentioned in too much detail – just enough for you to understand how traumatic it was.
There is a small cast of characters so you certainly won’t get confused about who is doing what. I loved the descriptions of the sea. I will admit to being intrigued about the clams and how you eat them, never having had one. The ending is smooth and neatly tied together.
Overall, this was a sunny, delightful read that skimmed the surface of some subjects without bringing the whole book into darkness. I thoroughly enjoyed every word and have no hesitation in recommending it.
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