Cal Bigsby spent his life working the fishing boats and ignoring who he really is and what he needs to be happy.Prescott ‘Scott’ Vandenburton is being primed to take over Daddy’s company, but he craves a life of his own. His only escape is sailing his yacht.When a freak storm hits, both are forced to think about life from a whole new perspective.Shipwrecked, fighting for their lives, and finding … their lives, and finding unexpected love.
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Ruthie –
I really enjoyed this short story and was amazed at how much got packed into the pages.
Two men, both shipwrecked in the same storm, but from totally different social strata, collide in their lifeboats, and spend time learning about each other and themselves. The ultimate ‘get to know you’ opportunity really, being at sea, with maybe little hope of rescue. I felt that they did brilliantly and was fascinated by the way they opened up about their hopes and dreams. The thought of how less than clean they were was a definite downer on the romance, as was what they chose to eat, but it was interesting.
It could so easily have ended there, especially given Scott’s overbearing parents, but obviously Ms. Michaels had other plans, which ensure we get the story we desire. I was a little uncertain about their business choice… I have a feeling I would have stayed far, far away from the Atlantic!
Veronica –
So I’ll start with what I liked about Out of the Ocean. The action at the start of the book where both men end up in life rafts is really well done. Got the heart pumping and had me eager to see if and how the men survive. I really liked Cal, the older, lonely fisherman was easy to understand and his feelings easy to relate to. I also like the romance between two men from very different worlds and I didn’t mind the age gap either.
Now the things I didn’t like. Parts of the story were corny, others felt just plain ridiculous and had me rolling my eyes. They barely know each other and are fighting for survival but they are busy having romantic thoughts. Later on, there is a huge event in the scheme of the story that is described to us in one line, but later in the story, the author repeatedly takes the time to describe the décor on a boat. This I found infuriating. Another problem with this story is Scott. He is supposed to be mid-thirties but the relationship he has with his father and his behaviour made him feel more like he was a 20-year-old.
I struggled in deciding whether to rate this book two or three stars and ended up going with three because it is easy reading and I read it quickly. It was almost a case of it being so bad it was good. At the end of the day I was entertained, and I was left feeling positive when the story came to a close. So, three stars it is.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, was gifted my copy of this book.
Cal and Scott come together, when their boats are destroyed in the storm. They are fighting for their lives, out at sea, and the inevitable happens, they get close just as they get rescued and split up. With Scott in Germany and Cal in the States, will they fight for what they want, for WHO they want??
I liked this book, I really did, I just didn’t love it. It’s very well written from both Cal and Scott’s point of view, and I saw no editing or spelling errors. I just, I dunno, couldn’t love it!
I did find Scott a little ….insipid….a bit of a spolit brat…. when standing up to his dad! He DOES stand up to him, but only at the risk of losing Cal, when it should have been way before then for a mid 30’s guy!
I just….oh! Don’t you just HATE not being able to word what you want!!
It’s not overly explicit, but it does get a little yukkie while they are floating in the life raft, but eating raw fish, eyes and guts and all weren’t never gonna be a picnic in the park, now was it?? Bit gross!
A nice book, just one that didn’t blow me away. Only short, some 100 pages, an hour reading time for.
3 stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**