Series: Uniformly Hot (Book 70)
Semper Paratus. Always ready.
Years ago, Coast Guard rescue swimmer Dylan Holt left Kodiak, Alaska, with his heart in pieces. He thought Nolee Arnauyq and her mouthwatering curves were behind him -- until he's sent to rescue the crew of a capsizing boat…including Nolee. And Dylan is definitely not ready for the too-familiar way his body aches at seeing her again.
Nolee's always gone after what she wanted, and to hell with the risks. Now she's a rookie ship captain taking on the deadly waters of the Bering Sea. But out on these treacherous waters, there's no way to avoid the sizzling sexual tension between them -- or the dangerous pull of emotions that could leave both their hearts lost at sea…
Good second chance story. I liked getting Dylan's story, as he intrigued me in His to Protect. At the end of that book, he's just been transferred to Kodiak, Alaska, his hometown, and he isn't at all happy about it. In this book, we learn that he left Kodiak almost a decade earlier, swearing he would never return. His memories of his father's emotional abuse and his mother's disinterest still affect him today. On top of that, the girl he loved broke his heart, so he walked away from it all.
Nolee's father left before she was born. She grew up with her and her single mom moving from relative to relative, house to house. She swore that she would never need or depend on someone else ever again. After years of hard work, she is now the captain of her first boat, with a crew that respects her. Fishing for crab in the icy Alaskan waters isn't easy work, but she loves it.
The book opens with Nolee's boat in trouble from a fast-moving weather system. When they start taking on water, she has no choice but to call in the Coast Guard. The last person she expects to see come out of that helicopter is Dylan. At the same time, he is shocked to find Nolee trying to keep her boat afloat. This was a scene that had me on the edge of my seat as it all went down. I could almost feel the icy water as it rose further in the ship and the waves as they knocked it around. I could feel Nolee's desperation as she tried to save the boat and Dylan's frustration as he tried to get her to leave.
I liked both Nolee and Dylan, though each of them frustrated me too. Nolee is tough, caring, and has a good sense of humor. It takes a strong will to compete in such a male-dominated field, and she has what it takes. She also has a softer side, that can be seen in the way she tries to take care of her mother, and also in several scenes with various crew members. She can also be very stubborn, which especially shows in her refusal to ask for help when she needs it. Dylan can be just as stubborn, hence his refusal to return to Kodiak until ordered to do so. He loves his career with the Coast Guard, but he still has some trouble trusting people outside of his work environment.
I really enjoyed the rekindling of the relationship between Dylan and Nolee. Even though each of them believed that they had put their past behind them, from the moment they saw each other again the sparks flew. They quickly decide that the best way to deal with it is to indulge in a no-strings fling. All they have to do is keep their emotions out of it - something neither is willing to admit is easier said than done. To top it off, Dylan finds himself very protective of Nolee and fearing that she could take too many risks, signs on to help her while he's on leave.
The scenes on the boat were terrific. It doesn't take long for Dylan to see just how capable a captain Nolee is. It was fun to see him get back into the swing of crab fishing, reliving some of the better memories of when he and Nolee were growing up. It isn't all smooth sailing with them, though. Nolee's stubborn independence causes her to resist asking for help, and it takes some effort to get her to ask for it. Nolee can see that while Dylan has changed some, he is still as stubborn as ever when it comes to his family. Each of them can see what the other's issues are, but are willfully blind to their own. And whenever one of them tries to bring up a painful subject, the other is quick to use sex as a distraction. Over their time on the boat, they still manage to grow closer, with their feelings growing stronger. But once again, communication isn't their strong point. Misunderstandings about their future plans cause harsh words and accusations that split them apart. The question becomes one of whether they can unload that emotional baggage to make room for each other. I liked seeing each of them make peace with their pasts, which then opened up greater possibilities for their future. I liked their big moment at the end and seeing what was possible when they listened to each other. I will admit that I would have liked an epilogue showing where they are a few years down the road.
I was fascinated by the look at the crab fishing industry. I had never really thought about how it was done. The intensity was incredible and had me on the edge of my seat in several places. I also liked the very human elements shown by the personalities of the various crew members. I especially liked the newbie, Tyler, and seeing the changes he went through during those three weeks. I loved the conversation between him and Nolee. She treated his questions, fears, and dreams with respect and that made a huge impact on him.
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