Blurb:

Romance trades the open road for the high seas in the latest from the author of Focus on Me and Trust the Focus…

Perpetually shy, Quinn Mathers is content to remain in the shadow of his brash best friend Jess Hartman. But before their college graduation, he and Jess have planned one last hurrah: a spring break Caribbean cruise.

And it won’t be just any cruise. On board are members of the reality show Trip League, which follows young twenty-somethings on adventures around the world. Since the show’s beginning, Quinn has been fascinated by J. R. Butler, with his amazing body, warm eyes, and killer grin. Unfortunately, he’s straight—or so the world thinks.

At nineteen, J. R. signed a contract to play straight for the show, and there’s no way to get out of it now. Yet with each passing day, Quinn and J. R. find it harder to keep their hands off each other and to keep out of the camera’s frame. But when the lens finally focuses on them, J. R. must decide if he’s willing to risk his career by admitting his bisexuality, and Quinn must determine if he’s bold enough to stand in the spotlight with the man of his dreams…

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Rating:     ????????.5

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Review:

Such a fun series!

The first two books in this series have the heroes trapped in a vehicle for a cross-country journey with nowhere to hide. The close quarters force the heroes to communicate, lay themselves bare, and develop a level of intimacy of the cerebral kind.

This third book is a tad different taking place on a cruise ship during a collegiate Spring Break. Thousands of college kids goin’ wild with their drunken debauchery. Top that madness off with a reality show production crew and hidden live-feed cameras. Still nowhere to hide. A different kind of hiding though. The whole point being to find those safe little camera-free havens to be with the guy who lights your fire.

Swear on my Kindle, Megan Erickson has a gift for layering the conflicts, nuance, romance, and heat into a finely crafted story like a big tasty sammich. If she wasn’t so good at this writing gig, I bet she could get a job at a deli and earn a Michelin star just combining cold cuts mayo and bread. For serious.

I ADORED these characters.

Quinn — oh, how I love a shy ginger. Bless his heart. He’s quiet, but he’s funny, honest, sincere, a bit sheltered, but has a decent grip on who he is though still working out the kinks–minds out of the gutter please, he’s a sweet kid. He’s been sheltered by some overprotective parents but finally ready to spread his wings.

Jay/J.R. OMG LOVED HIM to the moon and back. His inner turmoil, being misunderstood for reasons (good and not so good), being one thing in front of the cameras and hating that–hating the persona that’s foisted upon him because media and contracts and a dose of fear. But what do you do when everything is at stake from a burgeoning career to family well-being. My god the pressure. What do you do when you can’t fight yourself or the system any longer? When hiding and lying is crushing your soul? And when there’s finally someone who sees you–all of you. Wants you.

Both of these guys learn what it means to take a leap of faith. Not just in each other but within themselves. It’s a beautiful thing.

This book was supremely entertaining. I laughed and snickered (only because I don’t giggle). I cried–because it got so plaintive and then sweet and then happy. So, so happy.

The setting of the cruise ship was fun. Though I’m going on a cruise soon and gotta say, I have no desire to be surrounded by thousands of drunken college kids and a reality show crew. I want peace and quiet with my margaritas and sunshine, please.

This review also posted on GoodReads.