Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Private Charter
AUTHOR: N.R. Walker
NARRATOR: Antony Ferguson
PUBLISHER: Tantor Audio
LENGTH: 6 hours and 46 minutes
RELEASE DATE: January 5, 2020
BLURB:
Stuart Jenner’s job is high stress, high stakes, and everything he’s strived for. So why, when the apex of his career is within reach, does he stumble? At his doctor’s insistence, he books a privately chartered yacht to sail around the Whitsundays for two weeks of sun, surf, and sex. When his friend-with-benefits bails on him at the last minute, Stuart decides to go alone.
Foster Knight left the rat race behind six years ago, bought a yacht, and now calls the Great Barrier Reef his home. Sailing tourists around tropical waters is all in a day’s work, and he’s never been happier. When his next client arrives alone, the two-week charter will be the most private job he’s ever had.
Foster can see how stressed and exhausted Stuart is, and he promises him extensive rest and relaxation. Stuart slowly realizes his original plan for two weeks of sun, surf, and sex might not be lost yet. Confined to a yacht, isolated by aqua-colored oceans and the sweltering sun, Stuart and Foster are about to find out just how hot the tropics can get.
REVIEW:
Stuart Jenner has been working hard – too hard in his doctor’s estimation. So he’s booked a two week off-grid holiday aboard an LGBT friendly charted yacht. Sailing, sun, surf and sex. That’s Stuart’s agenda. Then his “friend with benefits” companion for the trip bails at literally the last minute. So Stuart decides to go himself.
Foster Knight has been in Stuart’s shoes. But he’s left it behind and he couldn’t be happier sailing his yacht for private charter trips. When the very hot but exhausted Stuart Jenner shows up alone, Foster vows to give Stuart the trip he’s hoping for plus the rest and rejuvenation that he needs. Of course it’s a bit strange since he’s never had just one guest before. And the heat goes up immediately when Stuart appears in his tiny white speedo 😉 They fall into a playful and flirty vibe right away. And that is Ok with both men. As the trip goes on, their relationship becomes a bit more of a friendship that also includes benefits 😉 This is surely a trip neither of them will ever forget. And if Stuart decides to make some changes to his life, so much the better.
This is just a really lovely feel good story. It’s fairly low angst – any miscommunication or strife is settled fairly quickly without a lot of sturm und drang. As part of the rat race who hasn’t had a week off of work in the last 6 months, I feel Stuart’s pain. I didn’t take two weeks off of work in my life until I was nearly 45! The beautiful setting of this book – Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – is romantic and beautiful and relaxing as described here. In fact, the descriptions only revved up my desire to visit someday. Foster is just a lovely guy. He’s laid back and he’s made the right decision in leaving behind his high stress life and he does his best to provide at least a respite for others on his charters. Of course he gets a lot more than he’s expecting with Stuart 🙂 I loved their fun and flirtatious holiday vibe. When things do get a little more serious, the dynamic changes a bit between them, but they are honest about everything from their pasts to their plans. Foster is supportive of whatever Stuart wants to do and he makes it plain that he’d love to see Stuart gain some balance and happiness in his life. Really this whole book felt like a summer vacation to me – which I would love to have after the ice storms of the past week 😀 Antony Ferguson narrated this book. He’s narrated a few other audiobooks that I’ve reviewed recently. While the narration was OK, I’m not sure how much it added to the story, but thankfully the story was quite strong and I quite enjoyed the whole experience. Recommended particularly for anyone in the Northern Hemisphere who needs a lovely sunny holiday break. It’ll leave you with a warm happy feeling.
RATING:
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