January 22, 2018
In this life-affirming contemporary romance, a personal trainer finds love with a taciturn cowboy, but their relationship is threatened by a near-death experience. After Zack Jung’s AA sponsor commits suicide, his best friends take him home to their ranch in New Mexico so he can process his emotions and avoid relapsing into addictive habits. There he meets Cimarron Duran, and the two men unexpectedly hit it off. Their mutual attraction swiftly takes them to the bedroom, where the sparks fly. When Cimarron winds up in the hospital following the flare-up of an old injury, the two must figure out whether they can forge a future together. Tortuga (Hurricane) spins a cozy, emotionally rich story of healing through love, with Zack and Cimarron supporting and accepting each other despite their differences and respective traumas. Their casual chemistry meshes with intense sex scenes, making for an enjoyable, quick story. At times, however, their relationship feels rushed, and the conflict could be stronger and more challenging. This novel lacks complexity but is straightforward and satisfying.