Rating: 4.25 stars
Buy Links: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novel
Fox De Vries is a cruise ship captain who spends most of his time out at sea. It makes relationships next to impossible, not that Fox is looking for one. Not many people would put up with his schedule, and as the captain of the ship, Fox wouldn’t even entertain dating a passenger or fellow staff member. So instead, Fox uses his down time on shore to find some anonymous sex to keep him going for the long weeks aboard the ship. When he meets a sexy young man at a club, Bentley seems to be everything Fox could want in a hookup. While the two have amazing sex, they also have a connection Fox doesn’t usually find with a one-night stand. But as much as he might like a repeat performance, Fox knows this one night is all the pair will have together.
Brantley Phipps has worked very hard to get his position as Assistant Hotel Director aboard the cruise line. It is a job few people get at his age and he has worked liked crazy to reach that level. He too has no time for dating with his busy schedule, but like Fox, he does take advantage of his time on shore. When he meets the sexy silver fox at the club, Brantley is totally drawn to the guy. But when he starts his new job aboard the ship, Brantley is shocked to realize his hookup is none other than his new boss.
The men immediately know that while they are very much drawn to one another, they can’t take things further. Brantley is new to the job, Fox is his boss, and any relationship between them is totally out of bounds. But the chemistry between the pair is undeniable and it is all they can do to keep things professional. The men try avoiding one another, they try friendship, they even try more sex, but nothing is putting out the fire that still rages between them. Now Brantley and Fox have to figure out how they can stay apart and keep things professional when everything inside each of them wants nothing more than to be together.
I picked Shipping the Captain as one of my choices for this week’s Older/Younger Hero challenge for our Reading Challenge Month. It was a great choice, both because it features a sexy, older man in Fox, but also because I found it a really engaging story. This book is part of the Valentine’s Inc Cruises series, but each story is a standalone tied together by theme, and so I had no trouble reading this one without having read the others.
This story has one of my favorite set ups with two guys hooking up for some anonymous sex, only to realize the next day that they actually work together (I call it the Grey’s Anatomy trope). Nora Phoenix uses the set up to great success here by giving us a steamy, sexy start to the book as these two men just burn up the sheets during their night together. What makes it work so well is that it is clear that for all the hookup is hot for both men, there is something more there that each man feels. I could believe that they made a connection beyond just sex, one that makes it near impossible to give each other up. And that is where this book really shines, as wow does the chemistry burn off the page here. I could just feel the intensity, the longing, the PINING, as poor Fox and Brantley are desperate for one another and can’t act on it.
I think the pacing here works really well. These guys are doing what they can to be responsible, so after their initial night together, they are trying to keep things professional. So the early parts of the book we see them getting to know each other as friends, even as they are still hot for one another. The tension is prolonged just enough before they snap and can’t stay away from each other. I think the jump to real feelings felt a bit fast, but overall, I think the way Phoenix builds the pace in the story works well. The ending is a bit neat and tidy for all the tension of the conflict with regards to their jobs, but we do get a sweet happy ending.
So overall, I found this one a fun story with a lot of heat and great chemistry. The age difference and Fox’s status as a sexy older man are built nicely into the book and I definitely can recommend it if you are looking for a sexy, fun read with two guys who can’t stay away from each other.
This review is part of our Reading Challenge Month for Older/Younger Hero Week! Leave a relevant comment below and you will be entered to win one of FIVE $20 JMS store gift cards from JMS Books! Commenters will also be entered to win one of our three amazing Grand Prize book bundles. You can get more information on our Challenge Month here (including all the contest rules) and more details on Older/Younger Hero Week here.
Haha everyone knows not to have a one night stand before starting a new job, right? It’s ways going to end up being your boss! Thanks for the review. Sounds steamy!
Lol yes! That should be a given! ?
The Grey’s Anatomy trope. Hahaha 😀 Sounds accurate. Hmm.. this sounds like a steamy, fun read. I’m not sure why boss/employee relationships are still frowned upon, generally speaking. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it.
I wanted to read this whole series after the challenge is over. Thanks for reviewing, Jay! 🙂
You are welcome! Hope you enjoy it!
This does sound like an enticing read, Jay. And I agree with Rachael ~ it’s best to avoid sex with strangers before starting a new job!
Yes!
I really enjoyed this book. It was one of my favorites of the Valentine’s Inc. Cruises series.
Oh I’m so glad! I may check some of the others out too.
Looks like a fun one!
Yep, I thought so!
I have not read any books in this series but I can’t resist a sexy older man. Great review!
Thanks! And hope you enjoy!
This sounds like a good story. I have read a couple of the other ones in this series so I will be reading this one.
Oh good! Hope you like it!
While the idea isn’t new, it’ll be fun to see how it all works out for the characters. Thank you for the review!
You’re welcome!
Thank you for the review, Jay. I am new to Nora’s books, but I think I may start with this one. I really love when sexual tension builds up slowly, and this sounds just like it (despite the initial encounter, of course). Another addition to my TBR pile!
Enjoy!
I have so many unread books on my kindle so I’m trying to only buy new books with something unique in it. So I’m avoiding most common tropes. But I’m sure there are times where reading just something light and fun will be just right. This sounds like such a book.
Thanks Cyntia!
I really don’t care for the cover but the book sounds like a good way to spend a few hours of “me time”. Usually a too “neat and tidy” ending can make me roll my eyes a little, but really, it’s easy enough to let that go and just enjoy the book. 🙂
Yes this is a fun, easy read
I’ve not read this author yet but see her books around a lot. Maybe this can be my entry level book! I like the idea of being set on a cruise liner
Yep, it is a fun one to start out. Nothing too intense.
I hadn’t heard of this series. I looked over the other blurbs and this one you reviewed sounds the most interesting. You said it could be read as a standalone so I’ll pick it up
yep, definitely. I think the only tie is in that the stories all take place on cruise ships, but different authors and unrelated stories. So you should be fine.
I do love the pining and the tension! This is a fun trope, and I am totally on board (I swear I didn’t mean to pun, but I’m going with it) for giving this a try. Thanks, Jay!
Lol! And you are welcome!