Reviewed by Jess
TITLE: The Captain and the Best Man
SERIES: Captivating Captains #4
AUTHOR: Catherine Curzon and Eleanor Harkstead
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 162 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 3, 2019
BLURB:
When Josh meets handsome airline pilot Captain Guy Collingwood on a sun-kissed island, he finds out what flying first class really means!
When Josh leaves the rainy shore of England for the sun-drenched tropical island of St Sebastian, his biggest worry is remembering his best man’s speech. But a chance meeting with handsome airline pilot Captain Guy Collingwood leads to a hot and raunchy holiday romance.
Guy’s everything Josh is looking for in his ideal man. Mature, dashing and confident, he’s also single and more than happy to show Josh the pleasures of St Sebastian. Yet Guy’s unruffled demeanor hides a past regret. Is the wedding of Josh’s best friend about to reopen a painful chapter that has never fully closed?
As a fearsome tropical storm threatens the island paradise and a broken family threatens Josh and Guy’s happiness, the stakes have never been higher. Can St Sebastian work its magic to heal past wounds and will Josh and Guy’s holiday fling take flight?
REVIEW:
I’ve read all of the books in these authors’ “Captivating Captains” collection with polarizing results. The one teeters towards the “very much enjoyed” end of the spectrum due to a completely charming romance and a plot twist that gave the story way more depth and higher stakes. It starts out as a flirty vacation romp, but don’t be fooled—the drama will unfold!
Josh, an HR director living a calm and orderly life, is looking forward to some relaxation on the beautiful beaches of St. Sebastian, where he is the best man in his best friend’s wedding. At the airport café, he meets dashing pilot Guy Collingwood, and the two strike up an immediate flirtation through baked goods and a first-class upgrade. Fate throws them together again when they meet at their resort, and the two begin a steamy romance. But the wedding isn’t going as planned, and when Josh brings Guy as his plus-one, things really go off the rails.
The build-up to Josh and Guy’s relationship happens so smoothly. I was smiling throughout their entire little courtship, however brief. Josh may be quiet and a little nerdy, but he knows how to respond to a handsome Captain’s flirting. The sex scenes are pretty tame but perfectly lovely (hey, what happened to the delicious kink in the first book, anyways?), and even as family drama takes center stage, we’re always rooting for Josh and Guy to get their happy ending. It maybe gets a little repetitive towards the end, but that can be forgiven in a good romance.
Though this is a short book that gets to the point, I do think the characters fall into perfection too soon. The pet-names, the morning cuddles, the “I-love-you’s” all come so quickly. I don’t mind fluff and sweetness, but there needs to be some conflict between the main characters, especially when the bomb is dropped halfway through the book. Josh and Guy definitely fall into the insta-love trap, never for a second guessing that their dreamy beach hookup could be nothing more than a fling, but in the end, they’re still feel real and likable. Josh is dorky and practical, Guy is smooth and charming—they make a lovely pair with a ton of opposites-attract cuteness.
This is my favorite of the contemporary “Captains” books so far. Though I think the historical ones have a little more dimension, this one tells a good story and makes us root for a sweet couple.
RATING: 
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