Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Sapphire Sunset

SERIES:  Sapphire Cove #1

AUTHOR:  C. Travis Rice

PUBLISHER:  Blue Box Press

LENGTH:  489 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 1, 2022

BLURB:

For the first time New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice writes as C. Travis Rice. Under his new pen name, Rice offers tales of passion, intrigue, and steamy romance between men. The first novel, SAPPHIRE SUNSET, transports you to a beautiful luxury resort on the sparkling Southern California coast where strong-willed heroes release the shame that blocks their heart’s desires.

Logan Murdoch is a fighter, a survivor, and a provider. When he leaves a distinguished career in the Marine Corps to work security at a luxury beachfront resort, he’s got one objective: pay his father’s mounting medical bills. That means Connor Harcourt, the irresistibly handsome scion of the wealthy family that owns Sapphire Cove, is strictly off limits, despite his sassy swagger and beautiful blue eyes. Logan’s life is all about sacrifices; Connor is privilege personified. But temptation is a beast that demands to be fed, and a furtive kiss ignites instant passion, forcing Logan to slam the brakes. Hard.

Haunted by their frustrated attraction, the two men find themselves hurled back together when a headline-making scandal threatens to ruin the resort they both love. This time, there’s no easy escape from the magnetic pull of their white hot desire. Will saving Sapphire Cove help forge the union they crave, or will it drive them apart once more?

REVIEW:

Sapphire Sunset is the first book in C. Travis Rice’s Sunset Cove series. It’s a warm, second chance, opposites attract romance with an ex-marine, a recent college grad, a fancy oceanside resort, scandal, stolen kisses in a cave, five years of pining, and fated love.

After years in the Marines, Logan Murdoch gives up his dream of being a Navy SEAL so that he can come home to Southern California to care for his injured father. He’s so grateful his single-parent dad didn’t throw him out of the house when he came out as a teenager, he now assumes the job of making everything okay for his dad. A couple of months after his military discharge, he finally lands a decent job as a security guard at the Sapphire Cove Hotel.

The hotel had been in Connor Harcourt’s family for decades. It’s owned by his grandfather and currently managed by his uncle, Rodney. One day it’ll all be Connor’s, but for now, he’s just graduated from college and ready to take on the role of event planner at the hotel.

On his first night of work, Logan breaks up a fight at Connor’s graduation party being held at Sapphire Cove. Logan’s a bit unprofessional when he flirts with the hotel heir but he can’t help himself. He’s charmed by the 5’4” pocket gay who’s just his type. Connor is smitten, too. It only gets better (and less professional) when they end the night with a smooch fest in a hidden seaside rock cave. Logan puts a stop to the relationship before it even gets started, though, because it’s too risky. He can’t lose his job; paying off his dad’s medical bills depends on it. But the rejection leaves Connor all kinds of embarrassed.

They part ways for many years but are reunited again when the hotel is mired in scandal and only Connor can save it. Possibly. Maybe. He’s going to try his best but he needs Logan’s help. Now it’s a matter of trying to put the past behind them, but what happens when new sparks ignite?

Sapphire Sunset garnered my attention quickly and held onto it with its sprightly pace and hopeful tone, even when the odds were against Connor and Logan. They are both well-developed characters who just can’t resist each other. There are several memorable side characters including Connor and Logan’s besties, Nasir and Donnie. The former will be starring in the second book of the series.

Travis Rice is the pen name of author Christopher Rice, created expressly for the M/M romance genre. Mr. Rice has previously written M/F romance. This book feels authentically gay, not just a new take on traditional romance, as Rice tackles homophobia and shows us the challenges his leading men face as gay men. Logan feels he had to compensate for his homosexuality by being prefect in ever other way because he knows he’ll always be judged harsher than a straight man. Coming out to his co-workers means dealing with on-the-job homophobia and superiors who want to wear him down and get him to quit. Connor shows Logan that strength doesn’t necessarily mean muscles and brawn. Connor’s confidence in being himself – out, proud, “sparkly and strutting” – equates to strength, also. Connor’s challenge is to fight off “gay shame, bottom shame, and femme shame.” The sex is realistic, too. No one is orgasming from receiving a hickey. Yes, I actually read that in a book recently. The intimacy is sexy, romantic, and emotionally charged.

This well-written novel successfully balances the love story with the hotel scandal, service to the community, and growth arcs for both Connor and Logan. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable, heart-warming book I’m pleased to recommend.

RATING:

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