Jonathan Bracelyn pours his soul into saving the world, and he’s still nowhere near cancelling out the sins of dear ol’ dad. But when a medical crisis prompts Jon to toss his sister the ultimate lifeline, he’s forced to hang up his captain’s hat and hit pause on the one thing that makes him…well, him. At least he has Blanka Pavlo’s heart-flooding smile to buoy his spirits. A brilliant scientist, … brilliant scientist, she knows things can’t last with the do-gooder Bracelyn brother. Not even if he kisses like a dream and boasts biceps as hefty as his heart. Blanka’s learned the hard way how lonely life is in the shadow of a saint, so she’s giving the hottie hero a wide berth.
Except Jonathan sucks at self-care, so maybe she’ll lend a hand (and other tingly parts) to help him out. Soon, they’re bonding over awkward bubble baths and a disturbingly homely cat, while struggling to remember it’s all temporary. But the harder they brace for goodbye, the louder their hearts declare they’re already in too deep.
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I enjoyed this romance, but have a few minor issues with the kidney donation information. But knowing most people would not be familiar with that, I’m giving this a 4 star rating. You will love spending time with Jon and Blanka. I found the canoe/kayak adventure to be fun, light and yet heartwarming and heartbreaking. I laughed at the self-care experiments and I hope you will too. Overall a fun, light and easy book.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I always feel a little silly writing that disclosure, as my honest reviews of Tawna’s books in general, and the Ponderosa Pines series specifically, are always, they are AMAZING. And Captain Dreamboat is no exception.
I was really curious as to how Tawna would make Jonathan Bracelyn into a character that I could care about. In his previous appearances, he felt a bit too goodie two shoes for me and I didn’t think that I’d be able to muster any empathy for the do-gooder Bracelyn brother. Fenske managed to not only make me care about Jonathan, but really understand his motivations for the super hero nature and wove his personality into the storyline flawlessly. Each new Bracelyn sibling peels away at the layers there are to this family, and always makes me wish that they’ll find even more long lost siblings so I can keep reading about this crazy family.
Blanka, I had loved from the moment I met her a book or two ago, but her strong, spunky nature shone in this book. She is so sweet and feisty and the perfect amount of sass. Her complicated relationship with love, and her family, felt exceptionally real and I loved the way she slowly pulls Jonathan out of who he was, and into an even better version of himself.
As always, the humor, romance, and flawless writing really sucked me in and I read this one in about a day. Ponderosa Resort is the perfect fictional escape when you need a good laugh and a lot of heart. Plus, there’s Jessica the cat, who, you’ll find, is really the star of the show. 😉
I think I just fell in love with another Bracelyn. Oh Jonathan so giving but no self care. He falls for Blanka but must show her how he can love her. Blanka is a girl who loves romance novels but is scared to have a relationship like the couples in her books. I enjoyed their journey to love. Blanka helps Jonathan with his self care. Jonathan help Blanka understand what a loving relationship can look like. I enjoyed the ending it was so sweet and romantic. The balloon scene was funny and not what I would have expected. I love having some parts of a book that are out of the ordinary. If you are looking for a sweet romance with low drama this is your book.
I didn’t think anything or anyone would have the globe trotting humanitarian settling in one place and putting down roots but the connection between Jon and Blanka is what romance dreams are made of.
I was blown away by these two selfless, amazing characters. At times, they completely broke my heart but by the end I was completely put back together.
Every visit to Ponderosa Resort is better than the last and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the Bracelyn’s.
NSFPT – Not Safe For Public Transportation 😀
Caution, this book might cause tears (of joy, of laughter, or of heartbreak – it’s all there), snort-laughing (you’ll know what I mean when you read it, trust me!) and some serious swooning.
Though, let’s be honest: Stiff Suit is a darn tough act to follow, but somehow Captain Dreamboat pulls it off. Jonathan and Blanka are their own brand of funny, sexy, swoony, heartbreaking and -melting, and I would give Chapter 4 alone a gazillion stars if I could! Add to that the usual craziness that is the Bracelyn clan, and you’ve got yourself another winner. 🙂
What a great book! Really enjoyed watching Jonathan and Blanka and their relationship or friends with benefits, come together. From Jonathan’s anesthesia induced ‘marriage and kids’ conversation to discussing romance books and the RITA’s, extra points to Jonathan for knowing what they were. Unfortunately for Jonathan and Blanka, they both have ‘daddy issues’ which is impeding their relationship from going forward. I did appreciate how everything came together in the end, with zinnias and cinnamon-raisin bread. One of my favorite lines from this book was, ‘A thousand languages, a million times over, yes.’ I’ve really been enjoying reading this Ponderosa Resort series and am definitely looking forward to the next book. Thank you to Tawna Fenske for giving us another great Bracelyn hero to swoon over.
This is book 6 in the Ponderosa Resort Series and I have loved everyone of them but this one touched my heart in a different way.
Jonathan Bracelyn is the most giving man. He is totally devoted to making the world a better place. When he finds himself home for his sisters wedding he goes above and beyond on the giving scale. He also finds himself attracted and totally enamoured with Blanka. She is a beautiful, independent woman and one he can’t seem to get out of his head.
Blanka is determined to remain single and to do what makes her happy. She has watched her mother follow her famous father around her entire life and watch her mother fade into the background and basically loose herself. She is determined that will not happen to her so when she finds herself attracted to Jonathan she will only allow her heart to get involved to a certain point. That is until he works his way in completely then she is a lost cause for being bitten by the love bug.
This story is full of selfless devotion to everyone but themselves. It was heartbreaking at times to feel the deep hurt these characters felt from their childhoods to adulthood. I loved them both and wanted them to find their HEA. I won’t give away anything but know it is a great story and so well written and while all the Bracelyn children have their own demons to deal with because of Cort Bracelyn lack of fatherhood abilities I think Jon has suffered the most and thanks to Blanka he finally finds his happy center to focus on self care for a change.
I received an early copy to read and review and give my honest opinion. I loved this book and Highly Recommend It!!!
Captain Dreamboat is another laugh-out-loud romance in the Ponderosa Ranch series from the fantastic author Tawna Fenske!
Jonathan is the very giving brother of the Bracelyn children…so giving that he donated his kidney to his sister that he barely knew. He doesn’t want to turn out like his father. When he met Blanka, he was instantly attracted to her.
This is a fun, very enjoyable read with humor, heat, a little drama and serious issues. I loved this storyline and all of the characters!
Great addition to the Ponderosa Resort series. I’ve been curious about the mysterious Jon from the start of the series and it was worth the weight. I enjoyed his journey as he found where he truly belonged. He and Blanka were great together. Loved their banter, and sweet and sexy moments. Blanka’s random trivia facts made me laugh. I can’t wait for another visit to the resort.
CAPTAIN DREAM BOAT is the sixth instalment in Tawna Fenske’s contemporary, adult PONDEROSA RESORT ROMANTIC COMDEDY erotic, romantic series focusing on the Bracelyn siblings and the people who work at Ponderosa Resort. This is sailing captain / philanthropist Jonathan Bracelyn, and scientist Blanka Pavlo’s story line. CAPTAIN DREAMBOAT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalment is revealed where necessary.
SOME BACKGROUND: A few years earlier the Bracelyn patriarch, Cort Bracelyn, died leaving his eldest son James to pick up the pieces of his billion dollar estate, an estate to be divided between his five children (Bree, Sean, James, Mark, and Jonathan ) all born of different mothers. The Ponderosa Resort is the family lodge where each of the now adult children lives and works. But to no one’s surprise, additional siblings continue to climb out of the proverbial woodwork.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Jonathan and Blanka) CAPTAIN DREAMBOAT follows the building relationship between sailing captain / philanthropist Jonathan Bracelyn, and scientist Blanka Pavlo. At the wedding of his sister Bree Bracelyn to Austin Dugan (Sargeant Sexypants #3), sailing captain and philanthropist Jonathan Bracelyn will come face to face with the woman he met one month earlier at the local grade school career day. Blanka Pavlo knew immediately that something wasn’t right with Jonathan’s sister Isabella, something that would bring Jonathan closer to the sibling he had met only weeks before. A medical emergency finds Isabella the recipient of Jonathan’s kidney, and Jonathan the recipient of tender loving care from the woman with whom he would fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Blanka and Jonathan, and the potential fall-out as neither Jonathan nor Blanka’s lifestyles are conducive to settling down or a long-term affair.
Jonathan Bracelyn is all about giving back; about helping out those less fortunate including the overseas rescue of migrants who would otherwise be lost to the waters and oceans of the Earth. Never one to settle down for too long, Jonathan finds himself struggling with his recovery when all he wants to do is move on and out. Blanka Pavlo has watched her parent’s marriage deteriorate as her Nobel Prize winning father searched for the next big thing, leaving his family in the wake of his own philanthropic ways. To Blanka’s surprise, she soon begins to realize that the man with whom she is falling in love is more like her father than she could have ever imagined. Having witnessed first hand her mother’s slow decent in loneliness and heartbreak, Blanka must make a decision as it pertains to her future, and the future of the man with whom she fell in love.
The relationship between Blanka and Jonathan is one of immediate attraction but the romance is placed on hold when Jonathan offers up a kidney to his ailing sister. When Jonathan gets the all clear, our hero begins a slow seduction of Blanka Pavlo, a seduction that is derailed when Jonathan meets Blanka’s father. The Sex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are re-introduced to Jonathan’s siblings: Sean Bracelyn and Amber King (Chef Sugarlips #2), Bree Bracelyn and Austin Dugan (Sargeant Sexypants #3), Mark Bracelyn and Chelsea Singer (Hottie Lumberjack #4), as well as Chelsea’s daughter Libby, James Bracelyn and Lily Archer (Stiff Suit #5), newest sibling Isabella Blankenship; Jonathan’s mother Wendy and her husband retired US Coast Guard Admiral Chuck, as well as Jonathan’s half-sister Gretchen. We are introduced to Blanka’s parents Galyna Pavlo and Thomas Kushnir Kramer, as well as Dr. Bradley Parker. Gretchen and Gable find their own happily ever after in Snowbound Squeeze (Jan 2020); Bradley and Isabella’s story will be found in Dr. Hot Stuff (2020).
CAPTAIN DREAMBOAT is a story of family, friendship, romance and love; a story of betrayal and acceptance; of desperately trying to move on from the past. The premise is entertaining, romantic and captivatin; the characters are energetic, colorful and engaging; the romance is seductive and hot. CAPTAIN DREAMBOAT has a little bit of heart break, a little bit of humor and a whole lot of heart.
Another fabulous addition to the Ponderosa Ranch series. I loved the relationship between Jonathan and Blanka. They never tried to fight or deny their attraction to each other yet they held off because of what they both thought they wanted out of their lives. Blanka helping Jonathan recover from surgery was great, the self-care bath was down right hilarious and yet so perfect for these two. I really liked Blanka and how she always knew what she wanted even if she didn’t know how to put it into words.
I really enjoyed seeing more of Isabelle (Izzy) and watch her open up and become her own person. When she spoke with Jonathan and made him realize what he was missing, that was great to see her becoming herself and not the person who apologized for everything. I can’t wait for Izzy’s story.
If you have enjoyed the other Bracelyn sibling’s stories then Jonathan’s will not disappoint.
I am loving this series!! This book meant so much to me. My mom had a kidney transplant and it saved her life!! Mrs. Fenske did such an amazing job talking about the seriousness of this but also keeping it light and fun. Jon was a lot of help with this.
Blanka and Jon are two individuals who both seem different but yet let their daddy issues control who they are and what they want out of life.
I really liked Blanka as a person. She was caring, warm and generous. These were not traits she saw growing up and yet she has them in spades. If she did see any kindness to others it was at her expense. I loved that she was so willing to step in and help Jon when he needed it.
I adored Jon. He was a man haunted by the past who strives everyday to be a better person and help those in need. I loved how he was so willing to just jump in and not really think of the consequences especially if it meant helping someone else.
These two were wonderful together. They both have each others backs and are there when they need someone to take care of them even if they don’t realize it.