Title: Below Deck
Author: Tara Sivec
First published March 7, 2017
ebook
Rating: 3.77
Overview
Bella O’Connor has always had a thing against wealthy people. But when she lands a job as a stewardess on a luxury yacht, she has no choice but to serve them.
Bella has been working hard to save up for her dream business and nothing will stop her from achieving it, not even the rich and snobbish guests. Liam Kennedy doesn’t fit the mold of the typical rich guy.
He’s hardworking and self-made, but still, Bella can’t help but judge him based on his wealth. Liam is intrigued by Bella’s fiery personality and can’t resist trying to get under her skin.
As they spend more time together, Bella realizes that there’s more to Liam than meets the eye. And Liam discovers that Bella is not just a pretty face but has the ambition and drive to make her mark.
Will Bella let go of her prejudice and give Liam a chance? And will Liam prove to Bella that he’s not just another rich guy, but someone worth falling for?
Find out what happens when they go below deck in Tara Sivec’s latest romance novel.
About the Author
Meet Tara Sivec – a talented author, loving wife, and devoted mother residing in Ohio. With over fourteen years of experience in the brokerage industry, Tara decided to trade in her pen-pushing routine for a pen-wielding one.
She writes across various genres, including Romantic Comedy, Romantic Comedy/Mystery, Romantic Suspense, New Adult Drama, Contemporary Romance, and Psychological Thriller. Her debut novel, Seduction and Snacks, was a hit, winning first prize in the Indie Romance Convention Reader’s Choice Awards 2013 for Best Indie First Book.
In 2014, she was voted Best Indie Author in the same awards.
When Tara isn’t busy creating characters and plot twists, she is busy being a chauffeur, maid, short-order cook, baby-sitter, and sarcasm expert for her family. She looks forward to the day when her children grow up and move out, giving her more free time to indulge in her passion for baking and napping.
Editoral Review
Tara Sivec’s Below Deck takes readers on a wild ride through the Caribbean seas. Fans of romance novels and reality TV will find plenty to sink their teeth into here, as Sivec combines the two genres to create a page-turner that’s equal parts exciting and steamy.
Sivec is a New York Times bestselling author known for her humorous, often raunchy, contemporary romance novels. Below Deck fits squarely into this wheelhouse, but adds a twist: the story is set aboard a luxury yacht, where the crew’s mishaps and romantic entanglements play out like a reality show.
This lends the book an extra layer of voyeurism and drama, as readers get a peek behind the scenes of a glamorous profession. The main character, Erin, starts the book in a bit of a predicament.
Having recently lost her job, she jumps at the chance to work aboard the yacht Valor as a temporary stewardess. What follows is a classic enemies-to-lovers trope, as Erin and the yacht’s first officer, Jason, butt heads before inevitably succumbing to their mutual attraction.
But the romance is far from the only focus of Below Deck. Sivec gives equal attention to the yacht’s other crew members, and their own personal and professional struggles.
There’s the chef trying to feed a picky billionaire, the captain battling personal demons, and the deckhand harboring a secret crush. It’s a credit to Sivec’s skill as a storyteller that she’s able to juggle so many distinct personalities and plotlines without ever losing readers in the shuffle.
Where Below Deck falls short, however, is in its predictability. Romance readers will recognize many of the beats and tropes, as well as the familiar will-they-won’t-they tension between Erin and Jason.
The book is also heavy on the steamy scenes, which may turn off readers who prefer their romances more chaste. Despite these flaws, Below Deck is a fun, escapist read that will appeal to fans of reality TV and steamy romance novels.
It’s light on substance, but heavy on entertainment value. Sivec’s writing is brisk and engaging, and her characters are well-drawn and sympathetic.
Overall, Below Deck is a solid entry in the romance genre. Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
While Below Deck is an enjoyable read, it suffers from predictability and an overabundance of sex scenes. However, fans of the genre will find plenty to enjoy here, thanks to Sivec’s engaging prose and likable characters.