REVIEW: Love Runs Deep by Gail Chianese

 
Love Runs Deep by Gail Chianese: From a Navy family, Lieutenant Nic Riley has followed her father and brothers’ footsteps, and now finds herself as the only female on board a submarine for the next six months. To make matters better or worse, depending on how you look at it, she’s on board with her recent one night stand, Lieutenant Kyle Hutchinson, and the attraction is still explosive between the two.

But nothing can happen on board, not if she wants to have the respect of the men on board, especially since they’re already closed off towards her. But when Nic’s privacy is destroyed by a fellow crewmember, Kyle is the one to support and be there for her. And after the submarine is forced to head back to land to deal with the situation, Nic and Kyle find they no longer want to resist the attraction.

But, as Nic’s situation becomes more complicated and Kyle is dragged in in a not-so-positive way, a relationship may not be possible. Not when the trust they’ve built finds itself on shaky ground.

“Well, here’s the thing. I’m a big girl and I can take care of my own needs.”
“I bet you can. Although, I’ve heard it’s more fun with a friend.”

Love Runs Deep is a definitely sweet romance. I absolutely love Nic and Kyle together because they just fit, they feel right together. I just wish the story had a better build. I feel like the plot went stagnant often, and it just felt like going around in circles, both in the romance and out.

The conflict between the two ramps up by the end and I do like how it did, although it felt like Chianese was twisting it to work because it did not feel as though the development of the story was building there. The situation with Nic and Kyle’s involvement I did find interesting, and I appreciated dealing with women in the Navy. It felt real.

Love Runs Deep is the beginning of the Changing Tides series, and is the start of a series I do hope to follow. Chianese creates a well-developed world with characters I’m intrigued by, and I definitely love the focus of women in the Navy. For those who love the military read, I highly recommend this novel.

Book Info:

 February 21, 2017 | Kensington | Changing Tides #1

Active duty is no time for romance, but when two naval officers find themselves in truly close quarters on the USS California, the temptation to fraternize is hard to resist. Can two ambitious sailors follow orders long enough to see if love is on the horizon when they’re finally above water?

Lieutenant Nic Riley is the only girl in a long-time Navy family, and she’s determined to prove she’s just as seaworthy as her brothers. When she aces training for submarine duty, it calls for a celebration—and one incredibly hot guy is happy to party with her all night long. But when Nic boards the sub and finds herself face to face with her hunky fling, the idea of spending six months underwater takes on a whole new meaning . . .

Having a girl in every port was Lieutenant Kyle Hutchinson’s style—until the explosive night he spent with Nic. Dating onboard is firmly off limits, but Kyle can’t get her off his mind much less out of his vicinity—until a junior seaman’s devastating stunt puts Nic’s career in danger. Kyle won’t let her take the heat alone, even when it means risking his own reputation, but fighting for a future together will be a whole new battle . . .