Review

Making A Splash from Joanne Rock is a breezy, easy summer read. This book is perfect for a long afternoon at the beach.

Jack Murphy comes from a testosterone laden family with six strapping brothers and a prominent father. Rich and handsome as are all the brothers, Jack is home after a four year stint in the Navy where he served as a Lieutenant. Jack has a few regrets; the biggest one is how he turned his back on Alicia LeBlanc when he enlisted.

Alicia has moved on with her life after Jack; she's been dating and now is eager to start her own business in Bar Harbour Maine. She has her eye on a bed and breakfast venture that has her excited and eager to move forward. Jack's brother Keith offers to take her up the coast to Maine in his catamaran. The two brothers work out a sly bet and Jack, also a capable seaman, takes Keith's place on the boat. He slips aboard in the dead of night.

By the time Alicia awakens, not only is she at sea, but finds the man of her heated dreams, in her bed. Jack was really here. And she is not happy about it.

Jack and Alicia had an intense college romance that seemed to scare them both with the intensity. Both turned away for different reasons, Jack more than anybody. He had his reasons for enlisting which are revealed later in the story. But Alicia though it was all about her, that Jack wanted to get away from her.

Past bitterness comes to the surface, but so does the intense desire. Jack and Alicia were interesting characters if not a touch self-absorbed. But I chalk that up to their youth. They are both older now, life knocking them around the last four years. Can they forgive the hurt, and give in to the desire?

They certainly give in to the desire part, some heated scenes between the two as only a Blaze can deliver. That desire has them both examining deeper feelings. When they both finally get around to talking, it is revealed why Jack suddenly enlisted. Turns out, it was not such a sudden decision.

As a Blaze romance goes, this is a fine read. The characters are engaging, the sex hot and the 'at sea' scenes very real. I could almost feel the sea breeze on my face. A solid effort from Joanne Rock.

Reviewed by Karyn