Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Testing the Waters
SERIES: Shelby Beach
AUTHOR: Skylar M. Cates
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 240 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 12, 2020
BLURB:
What if the right person could change everything?
Random hookups, saying “yes” to whatever, Zane thinks adulting should be easy. His childhood was a hard enough mess. After a health scare, however, Zane reevaluates his life and starts anew. When Zane meets Jordan, everything he secretly desires is finally in front of him. But Jordan Shelby’s family practically owns the town of Shelby Beach. Why would Jordan take a guy like Zane seriously?
Jordan only wants swimming lessons, so hiring Zane might have been a huge mistake. Even if Jordan resists Zane for now, the mere sight of the beautiful trainer fills him with yearning. Swimming isn’t Jordan’s only anxiety. Being nonbinary, Jordan’s dating life—hell, his life in general—isn’t always clear. Can he really trust Zane with his body? His heart?
Testing the Waters is a romance with a gender-fluid MC, a hurt/comfort trope, and a guaranteed happy ending.
Although it is in the Shelby Beach series, Testing the Waters can be read as a standalone. Note: Please look inside the copyright page for mentions of potential triggers.
REVIEW:
Note: While technically book 2 in this series, it works perfectly well as a standalone. I haven’t read book 1 yet, but I hope to soon 🙂
Jordan, the only grandson of the Shelby who pretty much owns the town of Shelby Beach, has returned home from Rhode Island School of Design because of a family matter. He wants to get over his fear of water and tries so very hard to swim, but he just can’t do it. Of course he has to freeze in the presence of the most attractive guy in town – trainer Zane Knox. Zane has asked him out twice and Jordan has rejected his advances. While he’s embarrassed and upset with himself, he thinks there might be a way to salvage this whole thing. He asks Zane to help him learn to swim.
Jordan’s lessons begin at his grandfather’s house – or estate more pointedly. Zane realizes just how far apart he and Jordan are in so many ways. Zane is the party guy, the easy-going one who always has a smile on his face. This of course is hiding a lot of hurt and sorrow and disconnectedness. Jordan has been left to his own devices by his parents who are traveling the world – but luckily he did have loving and supportive grandparents. But with his anxiety and his gender identity, it’s not been at all easy for him either. He’s got his art though and he’s making a lot of progress there. He’s got a good friend, Tristan, from school and he’s starting to build a friendship – or something – with Zane. The thing is the chemistry between them is getting harder and harder to ignore.
Zane is fascinated by Jordan, but he realizes that Jordan is afraid of rejection because of how he presents himself at times. Zane is sensitive to Jordan’s moods and also his anxiety. It’s apparent that he feels something for Jordan, but he doesn’t want to spoil either his job teaching Jordan or their burgeoning relationship. But soon, they are unable to stay away from each other and they begin a physical relationship as well. Zane is careful with Jordan and always asks and Jordan surprisingly finds himself opening up to Zane about his past and his fears about how his gender fluidity has been treated by other guys. But for some reason Jordan trust that Zane will not hurt him. Zane has a more difficult time opening up and sharing with Jordan. He’s got a lot of feelings of inferiority because of this upbringing and his lack of education compared to Jordan. He’s also been hiding some things about his past, but he understands that if he’s going to be with Jordan, he’s going to have to be brave and tell Jordan his fears. Things happen that force his hand in a way, and send him down a bit of a spiral. But Jordan is getting stronger and stronger and he’s not going let Zane fight his battles on his own.
It’s been a while since I’ve read a Skylar Cates book. This is a very touching story with two main characters that have had difficult pasts – for very different reasons. One thing I really like about the story is that neither’s issues are trivialized. Despite the more positive things in their lives, they are definitely damaged and affected by the things they’ve gone through. The author also shows how both men are helped through therapy which I think is very important these days in addressing the stigma of needing assistance to deal with life in the 21st century. Thankfully that seems to be diminishing in some areas, but it is something that definitely needs more good press. Jordan is a character who identifies as gender fluid and his ability to express how he feels to Zane is paramount to their being able to build a friendship as well as romantic relationship. Zane’s open mind and natural curiosity serve him well to listen to Jordan and help him feel comfortable explaining his feelings. Zane’s support from his family – cousin and business partner, aunt and uncle and found family as well as his dogs – help him to deal with the things life has thrown at him, but he still keeps a lot to himself. Until Jordan. Jordan opens up to Zane and eventually Zane is able to confide in Jordan as well. Jordan doesn’t take that gift lightly – being trusted to know about Zane’s hard times. I really loved how the story brought these two very different people together and how they each really show up for the other. That is not to say there aren’t some rough patches in their relationship and they certainly have to deal with a lot of stuff, but they really learned how to support the other without adding more stress and pressure. They learned how to give space when it was needed as well. Very very well done and I’m looking forward to more books in this world.
RATING: 
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