Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Nautical

SERIES: A Forever Wilde Novel

AUTHOR: Lucy Lennox

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 286 Pages

RELEASE DATE: August 17, 2020

BLURB:

I didn’t mean to stow away on the yacht, I swear.

My first mistake was going home with the jerk at the bar, but in my defense, Prescott said he owned the Worthington—ninety feet of sleek, yachty perfection—and if I could get the chief mate’s job, I’d have an excuse to stay on board and keep avoiding my family and my future.

How was I supposed to know he was the owner’s cheating, gold-digging almost brother-in-law, or that I’d end up stuffed in a closet when the ship left the harbor?

When the real owner finds me and offers me a different job—being his fake boyfriend on a cruise through the British Virgin Islands to tempt Prescott to reveal his cheating ways—that’s when I make my second mistake: I agree.

Turns out, Jonathan Worthington isn’t just a billionaire, he’s funny and generous and a little bit of a control freak. He’s also six feet of sleek, gorgeous silver fox perfection, and suddenly, it’s not just his yacht I’m lusting over.

Worth thinks I’m way too young and flighty for anything more serious than spending the week in his bed… but if you believe we won’t fall in love before the cruise is over, I have a yacht in the Caribbean to sell you.

REVIEW:

I wondered aloud if there was such a thing as sailing porn, and if so, would he consider filming some of it to make a little extra money on the side. That set Lucas off laughing so hard, he almost tipped overboard.

NautiCal is one of Lucy Lennox’s best novels to date, and with over two dozen highly rated novels to her name, that’s saying a lot. If possible, this utterly charming love story exceeded my expectations. Have you ever read a blurb and known immediately the book was perfect for you? This is it for me: Lucy Lennox, check. Forever Wilde series finale, check. Fake boyfriend, age gap, a yacht in the Caribbean, check, check, check! I was primed for this book.

This book is fabulous. And hilarious. Fabulously hilarious.

I fell in love with Cal Wilde and Jonathan Worthington almost instantly – my own brand of insta-love – and by the end of the second chapter of this dual first-person narrative, I was ready for a wedding.

The story begins with a lying slimeball whose actions result in Cal being back in the closest, or rather, a closet on the luxury yacht owned by Worth. He soon finds himself pretending to be Worth’s boyfriend for a week-long cruise around the British Virgin Islands. They swim and sun, eat and drink, and scuba dive (all those things we wish we were doing right now). Soon they hop into bed and light the sheets on fire. Neither Cal nor Worth is interested in a relationship, though. Cal isn’t attracted to the older man at first – he’s focused on his immediate need to get a job. Worth is attracted to sexy Cal but has recently been burned by a younger man and isn’t eager to repeat that mistake.

Cal, on the surface, is a freewheeling, charismatic twenty-three-year-old who captains boat charters in the Caribbean. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll find a man with dreams of working with children, but faces major obstacles in obtaining those dreams. Worth, nineteen years Cal’s senior, appears gruff and bossy but underneath he’s kind and caring, generous with friends and family, thoughtful and loving. Ms. Lennox is a wizard of character development, known for her large ensemble casts of family and friends. Cal has nine siblings, and together with their partners, and the grandfathers who parented them all, there are plenty of interesting characters – some quirky, all fun and family-oriented folks. Many of these family members have cameo appearances, with Grandpa and Doc continuing to hold the fabric of the family together. More substantial secondary roles are held by Worth’s brother and sister, their partners, friends, and crew of the ship.

NautiCal (such a clever name) is chock full of banter and the one-upmanship of bluffing everyone aboard the Worthington. What’s not to love about little gems of snark like this from Cal to Worth: “Unlike your little captain’s license that probably came free inside a box of Cap’n Crunch cereal?”

I read this book in one sitting (okay, I took a quick break to have a bowl of Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch – true story) and now at nine pm I’m ready to start it all over. I’m ready to repeat the experience of laughing at the hilarious snippets and luxuriating in those toe-curling, loving moments. If you’re already a fan of Ms. Lennox’s work, this book can’t be missed. Don’t worry, even though this is the culmination of the Forever Wilde series, it can be a complete standalone. If she’s a new author to you, don’t hesitate to start here with NautiCal, especially if you enjoy sailing or scuba diving. Or love! If you love love, grab this book!

RATING: 

BUY LINK:

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