Title: Out of the Ocean
Author: Lynn Michaels
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novella (130pgs)
ISBN: 9781386999409
Publisher: Robicon Fiction, Self-published (15th March 2018)
Heat Level: Low – Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥ 3 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Cal Bigsby spent his life working the fishing boats and ignoring who he really is and what he needs to be happy.
Prescott ‘Scott’ Vandenburton is being primed to take over Daddy’s company, but he craves a life of his own. His only escape is sailing his yacht.
When a freak storm hits, both are forced to think about life from a whole new perspective.
Shipwrecked, fighting for their lives, and finding unexpected love.
Purchase Link: Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | iTunes
Review: When a storm approaches while Cal is working on a fishing vessel he expects the skipper to turn away and head for land, instead he finds himself the only survivor when the boat sinks after the skipper decided he wanted just a few more fish. Scott just needed time alone away from the expectations of his father, when the storm hits Scott finds himself scrabbling for survival as his boat sinks but his limited experience hinders him.
Finding each other on the vast ocean is a miracle and as Cal and Scott struggle to survive they become close and soon become lovers, but will their relationship last if they get to land and real life interferes?
Out of the Ocean is an interesting story of survival on the high seas, the struggle to find a way to hold on long enough to be found. Cal is an old hand fisherman, the sea is his home but sometimes working for idiots is the only gig available, but this time it’s cost the lives of good men and Cal is stranded in a lifeboat with only his wits to survive. Scott has a job he hates and pressure from his father to do what he wants, Scott escapes to the sea but this time he’s in terrible danger as he has no clue how to survive on a raft by himself.
I liked this story but found that the relationship between Cal and Scott moved very fast, within a space of a couple of hours sexual thoughts and wants are shared, and seeing how the two met and the situation they are in it just felt wrong, too quick too fast. I was expecting them to bond over their experience, get to know and admire each other and then pursuing something between them when they were rescued.
The story is good though, Cal and Scott couldn’t be more different from different walks in life but they connect and want more from life than they currently have. Cal keeps them going while Scott tries his best to help. Cal is fifty while Scott is in his thirties but the age difference doesn’t really come into play, in fact with the way Scott talks about his parents I kept thinking he was in his early twenties and Cal doesn’t come across as fifty, he just comes across as a crusty grumpy no age fisherman.
I recommend this to those who love stories of finding love during trying times, of determination to survive, of grabbing life by the throat and two men determined to be together.