Prepare to dip your toe into the biggest adventure of your life, Cancer. There’s romance in the air, and it smells deliciously salty.Dumped by the fifth girl in two years and abandoned by his best friends, Reid Glover is alone and in need of a home.Desperate, he interviews to become a live-in manny aboard widowed Sullivan Bell’s yacht, the Aquarian. The job? Not to look after thirteen-year-old … to look after thirteen-year-old Joanna. No, this child-mastermind needs Reid to befriend her dad, urge him to participate more in family life, encourage him to date, oh, and become his closest confidant and help him unleash his bottled emotions.
No pressure.
At least he’s not entirely out of his depth.
Okay, so he may have a slight aversion to the ocean. And possibly attract more than his fair share of misadventure.
But he is a pro at crying.
Watch out, Sullivan. Reid is on his way with a family-sized carton of tissues. He will help Sullivan through his fears. Will help him find love again.
Will absolutely not fall for him in the process . . .
Caution, Cancer, how long will you fool yourself?
~ ~ ~
Cancer Ships Aquarius (Signs of Love #5) is an MM opposites-attract romantic comedy featuring a misadventure prone manny and a blunt widower.
More wit, banter and bad puns – and even more heart-stopping slow burn!
Can be read as a standalone.
Tropes: slow burn, will-they-or-won’t-they, opposites attract, 10 year age gap, manny loves widow,
Genre: New Adult, light-hearted contemporary gay romance
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4.5 stars–
I’ve come to notice that every time I pick up a book by this author, I read it really quickly. The writing style is so smooth that it’s easy to be sucked into the story and find yourself flying through the pages. That was precisely how I felt reading Cancer Ships Aquarius. This is the first book I’ve read in the Signs of Love series and it definitely reads well as a standalone should you choose to jump right in the way I did. Though if this book was anything to go by, I’ll be reading the full series as soon as I have room in my to-be-read queue.
I loved the light-hearted, quirky comedic moments and suggestive innuendos throughout Cancer Ships Aquarius. The entire book had an overall fun, happy tone that regularly had me smiling. I also loved the manny set-up- with a bright, meddling preteen; a loving, sometimes overbearing father; and a manny who tried his best, but was often a bit off the mark. All the characters, whether main or secondary, were well developed and I was always happy to grab up my kindle and escape to their world. If you like romantic comedies that also have a sweet, thoughtful storyline and boasts great characters who grow and develop throughout the book, I’d definitely recommend Cancer Ships Aquarius.
*eARC received via Gay Romance Reviews. The PA and author had no influence over this review*
As a whole, Cancer Ships Aquarius is a spectacular comedy of misunderstandings…all thanks to Reid. Gods, he’s so cute, so adorably heedless of what’s under his nose, of the clues Sullivan and the others try to give him, that I could just eat him up! At the same time, it was a good thing he didn’t see the truth right away, because it gave Sullivan the time he needed to open his heart to a new love.
Honestly, I spent the entire time reading this book half crying, half laughing. It broke my heart to see Reid’s low self esteem, his despair of always being left behind, while Sullivan was still mourning the death of his husband, crying alone in his room. Reid and Sullivan slowly learn to lean on one another, to trust and show their weaknesses. I loved them, how absolutely perfect they are with and for each other. They have an incredible dynamic, their interactions going from hilarious banter to heart to heart conversations. Not to mention the steam emanated from their chemistry.
I’m a big fan of Anyta Sunday and I loved her books so far, but Cancer Ships Aquarius just became my absolute favorite. It’s such a beautiful slow burn romance,and the alternating moments of humor, hope and deep sadness caused me the best case of nonstop hiccups from beginning to the end.
Loved it.
Squeeeee! This book has it all! Anyta Sunday is known for her slowburns and this one probably takes the cake. I loved it to bits!!
Reid is one of the most oblivious people I’ve ever come across. So clueless. The clueless-est. Reid and Sullivan have this amazing UST throughout the book and I almost died when they finally got together!
Reid is a riot! He made me laugh so hard and I wonder if he sometimes hears the words that comes out of his mouth. I can’t believe Sullivan kept a straight face through some of the conversations.
“What’s unbelievable is you not being manly enough to swallow,” Reid muttered.
Sullivan swung his head toward Reid whip-fast. “What?”
“If that had been your sauce, I wouldn’t have spat it out.”
Sullivan’s eyes blazed into him, then he cast his gaze skyward. “New rule. The word sauce is forbidden. You can’t hold me accountable for what I might do if I hear it again.
This is a swoon worthy novel. I mean oblivious guy and grumpy guy is literally perfection. I wanted to scream at them to stop being idiots! And Sullivan’s habit of quoting Reid is so adorable.
Joana is a genius with a master plan. So devious!! I loved all the secondary characters and hopefully Mason will get a book. Don’t even make me start on the conversation!
If it wasn’t already obvious, this book is highly recommended!
*ARC provided by the author via A Novel Take PR in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/2020/08/19/review-cancer-ships-aquarius-by-anyta-sunday/
Gold Star: This story has brought back what makes this saga so awesome: amazing characters, sweet slow romance and plenty of weird misadventures. It is a “feel good” book that will make your amile spread wider than ever and your stomach flutter with all the cozy feelings that exist.
BDSM: There are several light BDSM elements. It doesn’t go big on the subject, but for readers who can’t handle it I guess it could cut down in their enjoyment. In my humble opinion, Anyta has been capable of adding bondage elements in a very rational and sensitive way that has enhanced some of the naughty scenes of this book.
Book Boyfriend: I think this is the first “daddy” character that I would steal for myself. Sullivan has it all, but my favourite quality about him is his protectiveness toward his daughter. Grumpy and sweet at the same time. It is even the umbral for some light dark humor that it has given me plenty of enjoyment.
Funny: I have laughed a lot. The writer’s wittiness has shown its best lustre in this story. Lots of surreal situations and great conversations full of double meanings and insinuations. Thanks to that, the pages of the book fly before your eyes.
A book by Anyta Sunday crosses genres…much like Sullivan and his daughter, Joanna. When they interview for a manny, Sullivan doesn’t know what hits him!
Recovering from the death of his husband is taking him a long time and his daughter needs him to open up and accept new experiences and hopefully a new lover. Mooring at the marina in Reid’s hometown is exactly what all three need, in order to build a family, together.
I have never read a bad Anyta book and I don’t think I ever will. Her stories are fun, her characters interesting, and her relationships organic and real. I know Anyta’s books will take me on a lovely emotional journey with plenty of laughs. She does write a lot of oblivious guys, but it never gets old. They’re just so quirky and I can’t get enough! I think a lot of different people would enjoy Anyta’s books and I regularly recommend them to others. Fingers crossed that we get another book in this series; there’s a certain character that needs his own story.
(Oh, and the kiddo is written so well! I loved her and didn’t find her annoying at all.)
This is the fifth book in the Signs of Love series and I am most certainly going to go back and read the first four. This is a sweet, angsty, slow burn story with a clueless MC, lots of unintentional innuendo, a devious 13 year old daughter trying to bring her widowed father back to life.
While this book is part of a series the story stands alone. It is clear from the references though that there are connections between the characters here and those in previous books. It’s nothing that impacts the ability to enjoy this story but it certainly makes we want to read those earlier books so I’m up to speed.
The MCs in this book are Sullivan and Reid. Sullivan is a widower with a teenage daughter. He decides to hire a manny at Joanna’s request. This 13 year old is, however, an evil genius with a plan to drag her father back to the land of the living with the help of the manny that she intends to convince her father to hire. Reid is the manny who, despite hating the open water agrees to taking the live in position on a yacht to help put this family back together…and because he is now homeless after his girlfriend broke up with him.
Reid is lovably clueless. It won’t take the reader long to realize what is going on with Sullivan. One of the big reveals at the end I realized immediately at the beginning. Watching the slow burn relationship develop is agonizing in parts. The writing does a good job of conveying the humor but also the pathos. There were several points throughout where I teared up and at the end I was flat out sobbing. The crisis moment is brutal…you can see it coming and want so bad to stop it, to prevent that awful phrase from happening. I was wrecked. I didn’t get the epiphany moment when Reid did so that part confused me a bit but the ending is so great I just glossed over it.
The descriptive writing is wonderful and I truly felt like I was there and could envision everything the author was writing about. I really enjoyed the book and strongly recommend it.
*I voluntarily read an ARC and this is my objective review *
I love Anyta Sunday, though I confess I like her more angsty books better (Rock, etc), but this series has been charming so far.
This one was no different in the charming aspect—a manny, a single dad, a snarky teenager, and the “high seas”. Couldn’t ask for a better mix in this ARC.
Slow burn but worth the ignition time if you know what I mean.
Would recommend the entire series to anyone.
As a fan of Anyta Sunday series I thought that I would know what to expect when I received this book as an ARC, but I was wrong. The story of Sullivan and Reid is not like other stories written by Ms Sunday, it is way too better. It made me laugh and cried and laughed crying, really it was so sweet, cute, endearing, romantic, hot and every endearment it could apply for this type of stories. I couldn’t stop reading it until the very last page. I finished it as an emotional wreck and it totally worth it!!
Some fun as a clueless manny takes to the water And the captain
This was a good story that I think I would have enjoyed more had it not been told only from one character’s perspective. I understand that this technique delayed us from learning secrets the other main characters kept from Reid, the lone narrator, but it also kept me from getting to know the others better, particularly his employer Sullivan.
And Reid IS pretty clueless and missed so many comments (or misinterpreted them) that his fumbling attempts to 1) stay upright on the boat where they live; 2) cook; and 3) get Sullivan out of his self-contained shell are cute and endearing. I did like all of the main characters, including constantly scheming young Joanna. The relationship build is oh, so, slow and the birthday crisis near the end very moving.
Overall, a fine and enjoyable slow-burn romance, somewhat quirky, with some steam and a positive ending. It’s not my favorite of the Anyta Sunday romances I’ve read, but it’s original with fun and depth of heart.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
I really love this series, I mean I really really love this series and this was another fabulous addition. Sometimes when you read a book that has humour in it it feels forced and seems over the top, this really isn’t so in Anyta Sunday’s books, she manages the humour & romance perfectly, everything flows just right. I always feel a bit bereft when I finish one of Anyta’s books as I know I’m going to have to wait a while for the next!
Oh my god, I did not think it was possible for anyone to take Theo and Jamie’s place as my favourites in this series, but boy do Reid and Sullivan come close. Their story is heartbreaking, and funny, tender, and very moving. Reid matches Theo in cluelessness, and it is utterly adorable. In fact, he is just all around adorable, so much so, that Sullivan’s animosity towards him doesn’t last long. It quickly turns to affection and these two, I swear, were honestly trying to kill me. Sullivan, especially, and his struggle with how he felt about Reid gutted me. I was an absolute wreck at the end of the book, a smiling but teary, heart-hurting kind of wreck. It does end beautifully and happily (I promise) but the journey is hard and frustrating at times.
On the lighter side, it is also so much fun! Reid and Joanna together are a force to be reckoned with, and Sullivan doesn’t stand a chance against it… Or against their disastrous dye jobs, questionable elderflower cordial, and Reid’s somewhat embellished cooking skills. Theirs is an unforgettable story I will revisit many times.
This author is the best slow burn writer! This addition to the series was no exception. I fell in love with Reid immediately. He’s funny, caring, adorable and completely clueless. This book has all the feels and I found myself smiling through most of it.
OMG Reid!! He was so adorable and funny and so so very clueless! He made me laugh out loud so many times. This book was hilarious, it just made me so happy. Well, to be honest I did cry at some point but it was worth it because the book was so so good and the happy moments were more and incredible. I don’t know how Anyta Sunday does it but I fall in love with her characters from page one. I love her writing style and I adore this series. I don’t want it to end.
Also, I really enjoyed all the cameos, especially Theo and Jamie, I love them.
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
Reid and Sullivan may just be the most adorablest pair I’ve read in a super long time! Seriously, Reid is so clueless and the things that come out of his mouth are utterly ridiculous at times, or the way he misreads like every situation. You know, I’m beginning to think his bad luck in love might have been him misunderstanding moments or people in the past even. Wow. But he has such a tender, squishy heart and he’s so playful.
And Sullivan is so closed off and broken, but oh so charming when the walls are down and he cracks me up. Oh and he’s a daddy. A good one. These two just made me super swoon and I shipped them and Sully’s daughter as a happy family. I did cry at one point but at another point I laughed like really loudly at the ridiculousness, so many misadventures were had. I loved it!
This is a series of stand alones but other characters are mentioned. So you could totally start with this one then go read the rest and you wouldn’t be lost. It’s a good one to start with, too. So good.