Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Ship of Fools

AUTHOR: Sophia Soames

PUBLISHER:  Self-Published

LENGTH: 174 pages

RELEASE DATE:  November 30, 2020

BLURB:

 Andreas Mitchell is single, stupid and bored, and should have a good long think about the amount of bad life choices he has made lately. Instead he heads straight for the one guy he knows will become his worst mistake yet.

Luca Germano makes no choices at all, instead he lives quietly in the background, and prefers the safety of his own hand to risking his heart. And someone as pretty and fearless as Andreas Mitchell, is the last person on earth he should let into his life.

Especially at Christmas.

This is a work of fantasy and fiction. This story contains descriptions of sexual roleplay and consensual violence, and elements of mild BDSM, which are not intended to be taken seriously, or imitate real life. Please read with caution if these themes might trigger or upset you.

REVIEW:

Ship of Fools is an utterly charming holiday book, and quirky throughout. The leading men – Andreas  and Luca – and Luca’s family are awesomely ridiculous. How, you ask? Let’s count a few ways: 

• Andreas and Luca’s first date is a walk on Christmas Eve in a torrential rain storm. 
• They act like an old married couple the next morning. 

• Luca’s father declares Andreas is his son-in-law the first time they meet (the day after their first date). 
• Andreas has a seemingly endless number of role play fantasies. King and his consort, anyone? They struggle not to break character but usually end up laughing.  
• Luca’s parents are genuinely thrilled when their nineteen-year-old daughter announces she’s pregnant and there’s no dad in the picture. 
• Luca’s mother’s wardrobe is comprised entirely of pajamas and old shirts 
• Luca’s sister has a baby on Christmas day and Andreas proclaims himself a godfather, again on the day they meet. 

It’s not all fun and games, though. Andreas is a successful and respectable luxury and vintage car salesman by day, a loser of sorts by night. He’s something of a miserable git, rather lost in life, depressed and bored. He makes bad decisions when he gets drunk at clubs and gets into some scary situations. He lets men take advantage of him, knowing he should say no or stop. He wants to escape this life, though, and love someone forever.  

Andreas meets the big, tall, muscular Luca in the gay club they both frequent. For weeks on end, Luca’s been staring at Andreas but he won’t approach him. One drunken night Andreas throws himself at Luca, but Luca doesn’t want him inebriated and rejects him repeatedly. The next time they meet is work related and it doesn’t go much better for Andreas. In actually, Luca wants Andreas badly but he’s too afraid to take a chance on a guy who hooks-up with any man with a pulse. Luca desires a committed relationship, fears getting his heartbroken, and is convinced they’re not compatible. Andreas wants exactly the same thing. 

Face to face, these two are both major crankypants. Luca is furious and vitriolic with Andreas and turns him down once again. Andreas is unsettled by Luca’s unpredictable and angry behavior, and loses all confidence in his presence. They’re terrified by each other and supremely awkward around each other. It’s almost painful to read. When they get past all that and Luca finally gives Andreas a chance, Luca is tender and gentle, concerned with Andreas comfort, wants, and needs. They are a sweet couple once they figure out they’re compatible. Fortunately, Luca is onboard for Andreas’ role play, spanking, and slapping kinks. There’s one heck of a decadent blow job in this book, too.

The secondary characters in the novel are primarily comprised of Luca’s fabulous Italian family. I can’t remember enjoying a fictional family more. They are instantly in love with Andreas, and are open, honest, and without exception, accepting of everything. The opposite can be said about Andreas’ family, who throw some angst into the narrative. 

My only complaint – and it’s minor but annoying – is the author’s use of the word ‘giggling’ instead of the more appropriate laughing. A giggle is a silly little laugh more juvenile in nature, not something you’d expect from a big, burly man. Every time someone giggled it pulled me out of the story. I’m going to chalk this irritation up to a cultural difference in language; it won’t affect my rating. 

Sophia Soames consistently has a unique writing style in her books and Ship of Fools is no exception. It’s a refreshing, silly yet convincing, love story with absolutely delightful characters and just the right touch of kink. This isn’t a typical Christmas story … it’s so much better. Enjoy! 

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

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