Unfamiliar Waters M/M Romance
Dreamspinner Press
January 8, 2019
200
With the pressures of the job bearing down on him, police officer Garrett Wreckley needs a vacation—in fact, he isn’t given a choice in the matter. Since the water has always soothed Garrett’s soul, he heads to the Caribbean, hoping some time alone sailing on the open water will help him pull himself together.
But even though he’s taking a break from law enforcement, Garrett can’t get rid of his cop’s instinct so easily.
He meets Nigel, a young man as innocent as he is beautiful, who grew up sheltered from the world, exploring the beaches and tropical forests with only the company of his aunt, his brother, and the wildlife and sea creatures he befriended.
As sweet, passionate love blooms, their time in paradise feels too good to be true… and Garrett’s gut and training tell him that might be the case. As he investigates, he quickly realizes everything is not as it seems. Will his snooping destroy not only their romance, but everything Nigel believes about his life?
Reviewed by: Linda Tonis
Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team
Garrett Wreckley lost his husband and since his death he has done nothing but spend time alone and work but it led to others noticing he was burned out and he is forced to take one month off to get his head on straight and hopefully come to grips with his loss.
Loving sailing and the water he rents a boat and heads to the Caribbean where a storm forces him to find a safe place to anchor. It is in this cove he first sees a beautiful young man picking shells, a young boy who ignites a part of him he was sure was dead. When the man waves to him he goes ashore to meet him and finds himself drawn to this amazing young man finding conches and safely putting them back in the water in a place safe from those who would destroy them.
Nigel Martin has lived on this small island with his teenage brother Jules, his aunt and Fairfield the caretaker for ten years. His only view of the outside world is through his books and although living a very sheltered life he knows more about the world than one would imagine. His books are his lifeline. Garrett knows that he is playing with dynamite by staying in this cove and meeting with Nigel whenever possible, he knows he will return home and is setting himself up for a painful loss when he leaves.
Nigel is gay and is drawn to Garrett but is it because he is the first gay man he has been around, or because he is really drawn to this caring man who in spite of Nigel’s obvious flirtation doesn’t make a move. Garrett knows that Nigel is an innocent and does not want to do anything to hurt him.
It doesn’t take long before Garrett begins to feel that something is very wrong with Nigel and Jules’ living arrangement, his cop senses kick in. Why would their aunt keep them locked on this island? Why aren’t they allowed to leave even for a short period of time? Why do the villagers feel something is off with the aunt and caretaker?
This was a unique story and not one that focuses on the cruelty gay people face but it focuses on the cruelty that one man can inflict on another. I won’t go into details of what the circumstances are with Nigel and Jules because it is something you have to read for yourself. Needless to say once again Mr. Grey finds a way to focus on a mans ability to cause pain, a man who left me wondering what hope there is for the human race when it is so easy to hurt others without any thought or compassion.
