Title: Ruined by the SEAL
Author: Zoe York
Year of publication: 2016
The heroine: Historian Cara Levasseur
The hero: Ex-Navy SEAL Mick Frasier
The blurb: Mick Frasier owes his life to his fellow Navy SEALs. Now that he’s discharged, one of them offers him another lifeline: a new future on the Caribbean island of Miralinda.
But when he arrives at the abandoned sugar plantation he’s supposed to whip into shape as an executive training facility, he finds it already under renovations—overseen by the beautiful director of the island’s Historical Society.
Cara Levasseur is too young for her job. Too pretty. Too…unorthodox. She’s heard it all, and now that she’s finally secured Villa Sucre, she’s not going to let anything get in the way of her first big professional coup.
Not even a sexy, strapping ex-Navy SEAL who isn’t afraid to turn on the charm—or when that doesn’t work, declare all-out war. When she sets up camp in the ballroom, because there’s not a chance in hell she’s giving up her claim on the estate, Mick stakes out his own territory around the only working bathroom on the property.
With tempers flaring and passions running hot, Cara’s intent on not letting Mick ruin this opportunity for her—and she doesn’t want him to ruin anything, either. Her life plan, for example. Or her heart…
Standalone or series: Part of the Assignment: Caribbean Nights series, but can be read as a standalone
The review: When Mrs Parry dies, she leaves behind her plantation on the Caribbean island of Miralinda, better knows as Sugar Island because of its most famous crop. Cara is the director of the island’s historical society, intent on capitalising on the generous donation left behind by Mrs Parry. She’s tasked with restoring the plantation and her job is in the balance.
An unexpected – but sexy – complication arrives in the form of Mick Frasier, an ex-Navy SEAL who’s been discharged for medical reasons. He’s at the plantation of behalf of his best friend, Will Parry, the grandson of the plantation’s owner. Will and his brother have been left the estate and plan to turn it into a training facility.
It seems that Mrs Parry had two wills, and neither party is sure which one is legally binding. While the lawyers hash it out in New York, Cara and Mick both stake their claim on the estate. Cara wants to continue her restoration work and Mick wants to start the renovations. Neither of them are willing to admit they’re attracted to each other, but they try to sort out an arrangement that benefits them both.
One night, during a hurricane on the island, they stop fighting their desire and give in to each other. They don’t have condoms on hand, so they become creative about how to slake their lust for each other. The next day, once the hurricane has passed, Cara goes out for supplies and comes back with condoms, which they soon put to good use.
Cara’s job is still on the line and the relics on the historical society board are becoming impatient with Cara, unfairly so. She’s frustrated by the lack of progress from the lawyers and unsure what’s happening with Mick – they haven’t known each other long, but she’s falling fast. She asks Mick to give her space for a week while she puts together another plan for the historical society (and give her time to think about her feelings for him), so Mick heads to Florida to catch up with another ex-SEAL. It’s there that his friend gives him some perspective on his new life outside the Navy, and Mick goes back a few days later.
Cara has realised she’s in love with Mick when he’s no longer around and she’s glad he’s come back early. Cara tells him her plan for them to share the estate so they can both have what they want, Mick professes his love for her, and she responds in kind. They set up a home together on the island and get their happily ever after.
This book is currently available free through Amazon, so go grab it now! I really enjoyed this book 😀
the romance shelf 