★★★★ If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair | A Clean, Summer Romance About An Injured Hockey Player, A School Nurse, A Sailing Trip and A Dog in a Bikini
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.
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About This Book:
In this enemies-to-lovers romance, school nurse Josie and her brother's best friend--hockey player Wyatt Jacobs--are tricked into spending a summer together that's anything but smooth sailing.
When Josie's brother sends her to a random address for their (sometimes) annual Super Summer Sibling Extravaganza, she finds neither siblings nor extravaganzas. Instead, ends up at a run-down cottage on the Northern Neck of Virginia occupied by a hockey player she knows and loathes.
A hockey player who isn't just one of her sports agent brother's clients. He's also his best friend. And Josie's sworn enemy. Oh--and her brother wants Josie to help Wyatt recover from his injury.
Dragging grumpy hockey players to physical therapy is a far cry from bandaging skinned knees, but for the price her brother offers to pay, Josie is willing to try. Even if it means sharing what she dubs the quaint little murder cottage with Wyatt.
Begrudgingly, Josie starts to see a little more of the man behind the grumpy exterior. And when she finds out he was supposed to sail the Intracoastal Waterway south to Savannah scattering his uncle's ashes, Josie surprises even herself by offering to be Wyatt's first mate.
Smooth sailing is nowhere to be found, and Josie begins to wonder if they'll be able to make it home without killing--or kissing?--each other.
And yet, the longer they share cramped quarters and canned food, the more of Wyatt's layers she peels back until Josie realizes she misunderstood him, their shared history, and perhaps herself as well.
MY REVIEW: ★★★★ 4/5
I’ve been a long-time reader, and lover, of Emma St. Clair’s books, so I was thrilled to receive an early copy of If All Else Sails through NetGalley. This story swept me away from the very first page.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Slow-Burn Romance
Reclusive, Professional Hockey Player Hero
Caretaker & Grumpy/Sunshine Tropes
Sailing Adventure With A Dog
Return of Familiar Characters
Clean, No-Spice Content/Swoony
Perfect Summer Read
Healing & Second Chances
I’d met reclusive, injured hockey player Wyatt in the beloved Appies series and was happy to see him get his own story—crusty exterior and all! He’s grumpy, misunderstood, and secretly a total cinnamon roll, which made him all the more endearing.
Josie, the cautious but kind-hearted school nurse who finds herself caring for Wyatt (though not always for the right reasons, at first), is his perfect match. Their slow-burn romance is sweet, full of tension, and deliciously paced. Add in a sailing journey (my favorite part of the book), several hilarious mishaps, and a dog in a bikini and you’ve got the perfect blend of heart, humor, and healing.
St. Clair always delivers swoon-worthy stories with authentic, lovable characters, and this one was no exception. If All Else Sails is heartfelt, funny, and ideal for a late summer read—exactly what I’ve come to expect and love from Emma St. Clair and why I always recommend her clean, no-spice books!
Here are a few more books I recommend from Emma St. Clair…
Summer · Clean & Sweet · Romance
If All Else Sails Swept Me Away— Loved Every Minute of This Story Featuring an Injured, Grumpy Hockey Player and A School Nurse
A swoon-worthy story by beloved author, Emma St. Clair, this new release with authentic, lovable characters became an instant favorite that was clean, heartfelt, funny, and ideal for a late summer read!