Luck of the Ship: Valentine's Inc. Cruises Book 5, Michele Notaro

If you're looking for sweetness, subtle yet powerful chemistry, and soulmates look no further.  There was very little relationship angst, a tragedy that was dealt with with love and concern, and an incredibly affectionate pair of men who both think they're fishing in a pond they don't belong.  I really loved Elio and Lamar together.  They were made of soft, cuddly love with just the right amount of passion to bring a bit of spice.  The story was surprisingly long for one of these Valentine's Inc. stories and what we got was a thorough relationship evolution with depth and all the bits in between and afterward that make a story complete.

Getting a second chance with someone you felt could have been more is always a chance worth taking, especially when it's featuring two seemingly opposite men that clearly belong together.  I really enjoyed the terribly shy Elio and how he blossomed under Lamar's care and attention.  Lamar was accepted for everything he is and finally found a partner that could give him all the stability and affirmation he needed.  Their relationship was dominated by kindness and compassion.  It wasn't without steam though, in fact they were pretty combustible once they moved their relationship forward into a new level.  It was super hot!  As Lamar quoted, it's always the quiet ones you have to watch out for.

I was pretty shocked at the addition of the grief.  The related story, Color My Kiss, was similar in that it dealt with something rather heavy and Luck of the Ship is no different.  It wasn't out of place, it actually showed a completely different side to relationships and how we learn to lean on our partners when things aren't all sunshine and roses.  While the story didn't take a dark turn, nor did it drag on and on, it was a subject that could have completely derailed the intent of the story; instead it added a layer of humanity and reality and fit surprisingly well in the flow of it all.  It was a truncated timeline with dealing with the grief, so it wasn't entirely realistic, but I think it lasted just long enough to show that even though hearts weren't completely bared through words by that point, it was obvious that Elio and Lamar's relationship was built on a solid foundation.

Overall I found this story incredibly sweet, a little long, but immensely enjoyable.  This particular couple ticked so many boxes for me with their slight opposites-attract dynamic, the shyness, the earnestness, the chemistry, and all the cheesy love I could stand.  It's no wonder why I come back to these themed series again and again when so many of them produce such great stories.

*$3.99 on Amazon

“You won! I have two tickets for the Valentine’s Inc. Singles Cruise in August. All expenses paid for you and a friend.”

Elio~

When I get a call about winning a cruise, at first I think it’s a scam, but when they start sending me the info—and the tickets—I realize it’s the real deal. My best friend was supposed to go with me, but when he dropped out at the last minute, I don’t want to go alone. Somehow he convinces me to call Lamar, the guy I went on one date with a few months ago and haven’t been able to get out of my head. Lamar agrees to go, and now I’m panicking because the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen is going with me… Me, the nerdy, dorky guy that’s so nervous I can hardly speak when I’m around him. 

Lamar~

I’ve been working for Valentine’s Inc. for a while now, so I’ve been on a ton of dates. So many men, I usually forget them after a few days, and none that I want to date for real. But then there’s Elio. It’s been months, and the sweet, shy guy never called me, but I still find myself thinking about him. And then he contacts me, asking me to go on a cruise, and I jump at the opportunity. For one thing, I’ve never been able to travel, so I want the experience; for another, it’s Elio. I’ve been drawn to him since we met, and now I’ll have a whole week where he won’t be able to run from me again.

Maybe with a little luck, Elio and Lamar will find the one thing they didn’t know they needed: love.