Reviewed by Ro
TITLE: Diving Into Forever
SERIES: Love at Hideaway Wharf (Book #1)
AUTHOR: Laurel Greer
PUBLISHER: Harlequin
LENGTH: 288 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 25, 2023
BLURB: To complete his beloved late sister’s bucket list, chef Kellan Murphy needs to triumph over his fear of deep water. Enter American dive instructor Sam Walker, as kind as he is electrifying to every fiber of Kell’s being. Sam’s soon nudging his way into the Irishman’s heart. But with Kellan’s dive certification comes an inheritance…and the restaurant of his dreams a continent away. Is Kellan’s future really on Oyster Island—with Sam?
REVIEW:
I have to start out by saying I immediately connected with Kellan because he went through cancer and treatment as a loved one, his sister, Aoife. I have been in that position, although our medical story had a better ending. Kellan’s sister dies of cancer and in order to receive an inheritance from her Kellan must complete a bucket list. Some things are easy enough, such as seeing parrotfish while snorkeling in five feet of water. Simple! Some, however, really will make Kellan face his fears in the form of an ocean dive. Kellan loves the ocean, just doesn’t want to be in it. But, “If she could face cancer, he could face an admittedly irrational fear.” With this in mind, he is going through deep water dive certification.
He meets Sam, the owner of the dive shop, while doing this. Sam is divorced and taking care of basically everyone in his family. He’s close with his family, while other than his late sister Kell’s parents are something else. Kellan is a chef and this inheritance will help he and his friend, Rory, open their restaurant. It’s not just Kell depending on him being successful.
What I liked most about this story was that it’s more than just boy meets boy. Both men have baggage and they help each other through. Grief is a terrible thing and you really need someone there to support you. Kell gets that in Sam. Because it is small town life, there are side characters involved and I liked them as well. Francis (Sam’s sister) and Matias (diner owner) were two of my favorites. I also really liked Rory, holding the fort back home and felt badly for him at one point. Luckily, he is a decent human and knows what is important.
I didn’t feel this was insta-love, which I appreciated. Aoife added a couple additions to her list just for her brother, and he managed to get those done as well. You never get to meet Aoife and still feel how much she loved her brother. Despite the grief, the book isn’t super angsty and there are many joyful, happy moments.
RATING: 
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