Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: The First Step
SERIES: Coastal Carolina #1
AUTHOR: Shira Anthony
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 247 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 17, 2019
BLURB:
The first step is the hardest. After a scandal, New York political reporter Reed Barfield is lying low at the North Carolina coast, writing a story about the seafood industry. But it’s the harbor pilots on the Cape Fear River who capture his interest—men who jump across ten feet of open ocean to grab a rope ladder and guide huge container ships into port. Men like sexy but prickly Justin Vance.
After surviving an abusive childhood and a tour in the Navy, Justin isn’t fazed by his dangerous job—it’s certainly easier to face than Reed’s annoying questions. Justin isn’t out at work, and he doesn’t need Reed digging into his personal life or his past.
But Reed’s no stranger to using his considerable charm to get what he wants, and as he wears Justin down, they realize they have a lot in common—and that they like spending time together. Moving beyond that, though, will mean Justin confessing his sexuality and learning to trust Reed with his secrets—if Reed even decides to stay. Both men want a future together, but can they find the courage to take the first step?
REVIEW:
This wasn’t a bad story. For me, personally, I wish there was something a little more to it. The sad part is I can’t put into words what that is. Just felt like something was missing. Anyway, it was pretty good. A reporter and a boat captain learning each other and how to handle the waves.
Reed wasn’t real thrilled about being back in the Carolinas, but after punching out a bigot at a party, well, he’s in a bit of hot water and everyone says he needs to be somewhere else right now until it all blows over. So, he got involved in a story about toxic waste dump and how it was affecting fishing and such, and then a story hit him as he was watching these big ships being pulled in. After almost being hit by one, that is. But the captain isn’t much of one to open up. It’s like pulling teeth to get him to utter more than one word. But as they get to know each other and Reed is learning more from others, he learns there’s more to Justin than what appears. And he’s carrying some heavy burdens on his shoulders. The more Reed digs into this story, the more interested in Justin he’s becoming. And vice versa. But they both know there’s a time limit to whatever they may do. And when that time comes, it’s a hell of a lot harder to say goodbye than he thought. And now he doesn’t know what to do.
Because of his past, Justin is a very tight lipped man. He’s also tight lipped because he’s not out and is scared of what others would think of him. So I get where he’s coming from. Reed just has one of those personalities that’s like a dog with a bone. Not letting go. And his own past causes him to doubt and stuff too. So both of these guys have issues with communication. Reed comes from being a reporter and Justin from not wanting to speak at all. But when they lay down the work part, they begin to open up to each other and it’s a sweet thing. It’s obvious they care for each other. They just have a hard time expressing it. They’re both good guys. They could have went a different direction with how their pasts tried to shape them, but they turned out to be wonderful men. It’s a good story.
RATING: 
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