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Close Quarters
From bestselling author Kandi Steiner comes a fresh and captivating billionaire romance about a reserved photographer and the powerful CEO who has to have her...
My boyfriend’s billionaire boss always gets what he wants.
Menacingly handsome and unquestionably powerful, Theo Whitman need only snap his fingers to have a flock of supermodels fall at his feet. So when his steel gray eyes first meet mine, I expect him to pass right over me, to not give so much as a second thought to my presence.
Instead, he sees me.
Truly sees me.
And for a girl who prefers to hide behind her camera lens, it’s the most unnerving experience of my life.
Until he asks me to stay on his yacht for the summer.
All I have to do to earn my keep is be Theo’s on-call photographer when he has guests, and I’ll get a free ride through the Mediterranean with my boyfriend. Easy peasy.
Still, my skin prickles in warning when I say yes.
As the humid days fade into balmy nights, I can’t seem to avoid Theo. And when he finds me, it’s like a rabbit running into a wolf.
His intense gaze immobilizes me. The way he speaks strips me bare. Every brush of his skin sears me like a violent flame.
My boyfriend’s billionaire boss always gets what he wants.
And this time, I think he wants me.
My boyfriend’s billionaire boss always gets what he wants.
Menacingly handsome and unquestionably powerful, Theo Whitman need only snap his fingers to have a flock of supermodels fall at his feet. So when his steel gray eyes first meet mine, I expect him to pass right over me, to not give so much as a second thought to my presence.
Instead, he sees me.
Truly sees me.
And for a girl who prefers to hide behind her camera lens, it’s the most unnerving experience of my life.
Until he asks me to stay on his yacht for the summer.
All I have to do to earn my keep is be Theo’s on-call photographer when he has guests, and I’ll get a free ride through the Mediterranean with my boyfriend. Easy peasy.
Still, my skin prickles in warning when I say yes.
As the humid days fade into balmy nights, I can’t seem to avoid Theo. And when he finds me, it’s like a rabbit running into a wolf.
His intense gaze immobilizes me. The way he speaks strips me bare. Every brush of his skin sears me like a violent flame.
My boyfriend’s billionaire boss always gets what he wants.
And this time, I think he wants me.
348 pages, Paperback
First published February 18, 2021
2436 people are currently reading
11381 people want to read
About the author
Kandi Steiner
84 books14.4k followersKandi Steiner is a USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a hopeless romantic and found herself bursting at the seams with love stories she was eager to tell.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, spending quality time with her family (fur babies included) and soaking up the sweetness of life.
CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ www.kandisteiner.com/events
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a hopeless romantic and found herself bursting at the seams with love stories she was eager to tell.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, spending quality time with her family (fur babies included) and soaking up the sweetness of life.
CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ www.kandisteiner.com/events
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,175 reviews
March 8, 2021
***5 STARS***
Oh. My. Goodness....I freaking loved this book. It was phenomenal.
Aspen (I love that name by the way) is planning on backpacking across Europe for the summer. Her boyfriend is planning to work on the yacht of a billionaire who is sailing the Mediterranean for the summer. She is unexpectedly asked by the billionaire to join the voyage as his photographer. Aspen is apprehensive but sees it as a chance to spend time with her boyfriend and see Europe so she agrees. What happens next will keep you glued to this book.
First let’s address the elephant in the room. There is a cheating trope which may be uncomfortable for some readers so please take note. It was fine for me because of how the entire story developed. I absolutely loved the hero Theo. He was the epitome of the cocky, arrogant billionaire. But once he and Aspen got together oh wow does he steal my heart. And the uniqueness of the plot and setting taking place on a yacht was refreshing.
This book was expertly written with some twists and unexpected turns. I am new to this author but I will definitely have to read her other books. She brings the deep emotions. And that ending was perfect.
I highly recommend this one. It is an age gap with an older hero (33) and younger heroine (21). It is a standalone.
Oh. My. Goodness....I freaking loved this book. It was phenomenal.
Aspen (I love that name by the way) is planning on backpacking across Europe for the summer. Her boyfriend is planning to work on the yacht of a billionaire who is sailing the Mediterranean for the summer. She is unexpectedly asked by the billionaire to join the voyage as his photographer. Aspen is apprehensive but sees it as a chance to spend time with her boyfriend and see Europe so she agrees. What happens next will keep you glued to this book.
First let’s address the elephant in the room. There is a cheating trope which may be uncomfortable for some readers so please take note. It was fine for me because of how the entire story developed. I absolutely loved the hero Theo. He was the epitome of the cocky, arrogant billionaire. But once he and Aspen got together oh wow does he steal my heart. And the uniqueness of the plot and setting taking place on a yacht was refreshing.
This book was expertly written with some twists and unexpected turns. I am new to this author but I will definitely have to read her other books. She brings the deep emotions. And that ending was perfect.
I highly recommend this one. It is an age gap with an older hero (33) and younger heroine (21). It is a standalone.
October 24, 2022
"They say love is blind, and in most cases, I imagine that means you look past the faults of those you love-how they leave the cap off the toothpaste or throw their dirty clothes on the floor-or perhaps past your own inhibition telling you that maybe you could do better, that maybe you deserve more. In this case, it meant death."
It's been 24 hours since I finished this book, and subsequently the bonus scene from Kandi's website, and I cannot get this story or these characters out of my head. Initially I picked this up on a whim from KU, simply hoping for a mental escape on board a yacht with a sexy billionaire, but somewhere along the way I became so engrossed in Aspen and Theo's relationship that I found myself hiding from my family because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen. Yes, I did borrow the ebook from Kindle Unlimited, but I also bought the paperback for my collection, and it is gorgeous.
What type of romance novel is this, you ask?
✔️Age Gap
✔️Billionaire
✔️Light Romantic Suspense
✔️Close Proximity
"Leave him? Call him on his bullsh*t? Point out the fact that he treats you like you're nothing to him when I'm dying to treat you like you're everything to me?"
Aspen finds herself working as a photographer alongside her boyfriend Joel for billionaire Theo Whitman on his yacht for the duration of the summer. She was supposed to be exploring Europe on her own while Joel worked aboard the ship, but Theo and Joel insisted, so here she is. As someone who is much more introverted than the rest of the crew, Aspen finds herself doing her own thing, constantly running into Theo and growing closer to him. As their relationship starts to evolve, Aspen begins to wrestle with whether or not she wants to remain united with Joel, or if they have both become completely different people since they first came together.
I truly love how Kandi toed the line with this one; too far on one side and we can't really empathize with the heroine, but too far the other way and you don't have any chemistry and spice. For those concerned about the cheating aspect: I cannot address it outright, because spoilers, but I can tell you that this isn't just a story about a girl who gets the hots for a billionaire, flagrantly cheats on her boyfriend, and then dumps him when she secures a better option. There are a lot of introspective scenes for Aspen, and she has morals, so a good bit of the story is actually her growing inner strength and realizing she was made for more than being a doormat for others to walk all over. I also love that the author addressed the fact that wanting time alone, IS 👏🏻 NOT 👏🏻 WRONG👏🏻. That's right, it's ok to want to decompress and center yourself, and no one should make you feel bad for desiring that.
There's so much I want to say, but I truly loved this story and this couple from beginning to end. It's a steamy, page turning romance novel with a touch of suspense, and I would LOVE to somehow be able to revisit this couple in a future book. Highly recommend this one folks!
It's been 24 hours since I finished this book, and subsequently the bonus scene from Kandi's website, and I cannot get this story or these characters out of my head. Initially I picked this up on a whim from KU, simply hoping for a mental escape on board a yacht with a sexy billionaire, but somewhere along the way I became so engrossed in Aspen and Theo's relationship that I found myself hiding from my family because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen. Yes, I did borrow the ebook from Kindle Unlimited, but I also bought the paperback for my collection, and it is gorgeous.
What type of romance novel is this, you ask?
✔️Age Gap
✔️Billionaire
✔️Light Romantic Suspense
✔️Close Proximity
"Leave him? Call him on his bullsh*t? Point out the fact that he treats you like you're nothing to him when I'm dying to treat you like you're everything to me?"
Aspen finds herself working as a photographer alongside her boyfriend Joel for billionaire Theo Whitman on his yacht for the duration of the summer. She was supposed to be exploring Europe on her own while Joel worked aboard the ship, but Theo and Joel insisted, so here she is. As someone who is much more introverted than the rest of the crew, Aspen finds herself doing her own thing, constantly running into Theo and growing closer to him. As their relationship starts to evolve, Aspen begins to wrestle with whether or not she wants to remain united with Joel, or if they have both become completely different people since they first came together.
I truly love how Kandi toed the line with this one; too far on one side and we can't really empathize with the heroine, but too far the other way and you don't have any chemistry and spice. For those concerned about the cheating aspect: I cannot address it outright, because spoilers, but I can tell you that this isn't just a story about a girl who gets the hots for a billionaire, flagrantly cheats on her boyfriend, and then dumps him when she secures a better option. There are a lot of introspective scenes for Aspen, and she has morals, so a good bit of the story is actually her growing inner strength and realizing she was made for more than being a doormat for others to walk all over. I also love that the author addressed the fact that wanting time alone, IS 👏🏻 NOT 👏🏻 WRONG👏🏻. That's right, it's ok to want to decompress and center yourself, and no one should make you feel bad for desiring that.
There's so much I want to say, but I truly loved this story and this couple from beginning to end. It's a steamy, page turning romance novel with a touch of suspense, and I would LOVE to somehow be able to revisit this couple in a future book. Highly recommend this one folks!
February 14, 2021
4.25 stars
There are few authors that can really bring the angst, and Kandi Steiner is one of them. She brought it hard in this one! I think I bit off most all my nails the first half of this book, but I was completely immersed into the story and couldn’t wait to see what would happen.
Aspen is a recent college graduate who plans on spending the summer traveling to different countries and honing her photography. She’s excited to explore. While saying goodbye to her long time boyfriend, she meets his boss, Theo. Theo owns the yacht Aspen’s boyfriend works on and invites her to stay for the summer. She can ride on the yacht, for free… and just take pictures for him from time to time as payment. Aspen can’t refuse.
Aspen and Theo grow closer as she and her boyfriend, Joel grow more distant on this trip. Joel is a bit of a party animal and shows a different side to Aspen while on the yacht with his friends. Aspen has some hard choices to make while on this trip of a life time….
I am not the biggest fan of the billionaire troupe in romance, but Theo was more down to earth than I expected. I loved how he was with Aspen. He saw the true her that she hid from most. He was there for her when she needed him, but didn’t pressure her. Aspen was great too. She reminds me a lot of my husband (I know, an odd thing to say LOL) but she is introverted and needs time to recharge just like him. I enjoyed her character and watching her open up to Theo.
As I mentioned earlier, this book was hella angsty. It was also sweet at times, had the swooniest hero, and the chemistry between Aspen and Theo was off the charts. There was some drama and even an element of suspense (light suspense).
If you’re looking for a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, is steamy, romantic, and has the most amazing backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea, pick up Close Quarters.
There are few authors that can really bring the angst, and Kandi Steiner is one of them. She brought it hard in this one! I think I bit off most all my nails the first half of this book, but I was completely immersed into the story and couldn’t wait to see what would happen.
Aspen is a recent college graduate who plans on spending the summer traveling to different countries and honing her photography. She’s excited to explore. While saying goodbye to her long time boyfriend, she meets his boss, Theo. Theo owns the yacht Aspen’s boyfriend works on and invites her to stay for the summer. She can ride on the yacht, for free… and just take pictures for him from time to time as payment. Aspen can’t refuse.
Aspen and Theo grow closer as she and her boyfriend, Joel grow more distant on this trip. Joel is a bit of a party animal and shows a different side to Aspen while on the yacht with his friends. Aspen has some hard choices to make while on this trip of a life time….
“Rules are made to be broken—haven’t you heard that old saying, Miss Dawn?”
I am not the biggest fan of the billionaire troupe in romance, but Theo was more down to earth than I expected. I loved how he was with Aspen. He saw the true her that she hid from most. He was there for her when she needed him, but didn’t pressure her. Aspen was great too. She reminds me a lot of my husband (I know, an odd thing to say LOL) but she is introverted and needs time to recharge just like him. I enjoyed her character and watching her open up to Theo.
As I mentioned earlier, this book was hella angsty. It was also sweet at times, had the swooniest hero, and the chemistry between Aspen and Theo was off the charts. There was some drama and even an element of suspense (light suspense).
If you’re looking for a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, is steamy, romantic, and has the most amazing backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea, pick up Close Quarters.
June 13, 2021
I will ALWAYS be a sucker for a billionaire romance. A girl can live the dream vicariously okay?
Read
February 18, 2021𝐌𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬.
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐞.
NOW LIVE and available in Kindle Unlimited!
Read now! 👉 https://geni.us/CloseQuarters
What's inside?
✅ Billionaire Romance
✅ Yachting in the Mediterranean
✅ Love the show "Below Deck"? You'll love this!
✅ Age gap
✅ Angst fest (he's her boyfriend's boss -- yikes!)
✅ Photography
✅ Travel (Spain, France, Italy, Greece... sigh!)
★★★★★ "Kandi Steiner takes you on one hell of a journey in Close Quarters. I absolutely loved falling for Theo Whitman alongside Aspen Dawn. A 5 Star MUST READ!" -- Rebecca Shea, USA Today Bestselling Author
★★★★★ "The Queen of Angst strikes again." -- Author Dee Lagasse
★★★★★ "Kandi Steiner strikes again with a story that will put your heart through the grinder. Close Quarters is simply amazing -- sinfully angsty, passionate, and emotionally charged. It's one of those books that will make you squirm in your seat. I couldn't put it down!" -- Weronika, Little Steamy Reads
And now, for a Goodreads EXCLUSIVE sneak peek!
When I glanced back up again, I was met by a pair of heated blue-gray eyes.
Theo watched me like I was the next expensive bottle of champagne he would crack open, like all my efforts to be invisible throughout the night had failed miserably. I’d caught his eyes on me more than a few times throughout the night, though he never said one word to me, not since the introduction on the main deck.
Now, with the men retired inside and two women hanging on him unabashedly, his gaze was more bold, severe in its unwavering intensity. His fingers held loosely to a half-empty glass of champagne, the other hand gripping the arm of the deck chair he sat in, his jaw ticking incessantly like he was equal parts annoyed and intrigued. Audrey and Nicolette were both piled in his lap, giggling and touching, oblivious to his lack of attention.
He cleared his throat, breaking our eye contact long enough to excuse himself and slither out from the pile of women. They tittered on in his absence, touching each other’s hair and smiling tipsily as Theo crossed the deck to where I stood.
For a long moment, he just stood there in front of me, sliding his hands into his pockets. Then, his eyes scanned the shoreline behind me, and the corners of his mouth tilted up just a notch.
“Thank you,” he said to the night air and to me and to no one in particular. “I know this is far from the kind of photography you wish to capture in your time abroad.”
His eyes found me then, pinning me to where I stood.
I managed a shrug, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Hey, this is part of the deal, right?” I offered what little smile I had energy left to give.
“We’ll get you off this boat soon,” he promised, nodding toward the shore. “There are far more beautiful things waiting for you on shore.”
“I captured some pretty beautiful things tonight.”
The words came from me in a rushed whisper, and as soon as I’d said them, I couldn’t believe I had. Theo’s eyes snapped to mine, and I clamped my mouth shut for fear of saying something else equally as stupid.
Theo tilted his head, frowning, his eyes glazed a bit from the alcohol. He smirked as he took a step toward me, and then another, until he was so close the lapels of his jacket touched my chest. His eyes cast down on me like I was there for no other purpose than for him to stare at, and he took his time, gaze roaming over every inch of me until I heated like a boiling pot of water.
His body jolted suddenly, crashing into mine as Audrey threw her arms around him from behind. I was pinned between the railing and his warm body for no longer than a split second, but it was enough to scar me, to brand me like a hot iron against fresh, bare skin. He stepped away just as quickly, holding out his hands as if to steady me.
“Theo,” Audrey said, dragging out the vowels of his name as she hung on his arm. “Nicolette and I want to see the owner’s suite.”
Nicolette giggled as she slid up on his other side, wrapping her arms around his middle. “Yes, show us the view from your bed, Theo.”
They cackled in unison, hands groping, longing moans slipping from between their lips. Theo’s eyes were still on me, and I let him hold my gaze until Nicolette dragged her tongue up his neck and sucked the lobe of his ear between her teeth.
I tore my eyes away then, swallowing and looking down at my camera as I waited for them to leave. And they did, by way of the women dragging Theo backward, and him watching me the entire way, until they stumbled into one of the deck chairs. That seemed to shock him back to reality, and he shook his head, turning and throwing his arms around each of the women with a comment that made them both laugh and lean into his sides.
He guided them inside and up the stairs, and I stood in the same spot against the railing until the lights flicked on in the owner’s suite above.
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐦𝐞.
NOW LIVE and available in Kindle Unlimited!
Read now! 👉 https://geni.us/CloseQuarters
What's inside?
✅ Billionaire Romance
✅ Yachting in the Mediterranean
✅ Love the show "Below Deck"? You'll love this!
✅ Age gap
✅ Angst fest (he's her boyfriend's boss -- yikes!)
✅ Photography
✅ Travel (Spain, France, Italy, Greece... sigh!)
★★★★★ "Kandi Steiner takes you on one hell of a journey in Close Quarters. I absolutely loved falling for Theo Whitman alongside Aspen Dawn. A 5 Star MUST READ!" -- Rebecca Shea, USA Today Bestselling Author
★★★★★ "The Queen of Angst strikes again." -- Author Dee Lagasse
★★★★★ "Kandi Steiner strikes again with a story that will put your heart through the grinder. Close Quarters is simply amazing -- sinfully angsty, passionate, and emotionally charged. It's one of those books that will make you squirm in your seat. I couldn't put it down!" -- Weronika, Little Steamy Reads
And now, for a Goodreads EXCLUSIVE sneak peek!
When I glanced back up again, I was met by a pair of heated blue-gray eyes.
Theo watched me like I was the next expensive bottle of champagne he would crack open, like all my efforts to be invisible throughout the night had failed miserably. I’d caught his eyes on me more than a few times throughout the night, though he never said one word to me, not since the introduction on the main deck.
Now, with the men retired inside and two women hanging on him unabashedly, his gaze was more bold, severe in its unwavering intensity. His fingers held loosely to a half-empty glass of champagne, the other hand gripping the arm of the deck chair he sat in, his jaw ticking incessantly like he was equal parts annoyed and intrigued. Audrey and Nicolette were both piled in his lap, giggling and touching, oblivious to his lack of attention.
He cleared his throat, breaking our eye contact long enough to excuse himself and slither out from the pile of women. They tittered on in his absence, touching each other’s hair and smiling tipsily as Theo crossed the deck to where I stood.
For a long moment, he just stood there in front of me, sliding his hands into his pockets. Then, his eyes scanned the shoreline behind me, and the corners of his mouth tilted up just a notch.
“Thank you,” he said to the night air and to me and to no one in particular. “I know this is far from the kind of photography you wish to capture in your time abroad.”
His eyes found me then, pinning me to where I stood.
I managed a shrug, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Hey, this is part of the deal, right?” I offered what little smile I had energy left to give.
“We’ll get you off this boat soon,” he promised, nodding toward the shore. “There are far more beautiful things waiting for you on shore.”
“I captured some pretty beautiful things tonight.”
The words came from me in a rushed whisper, and as soon as I’d said them, I couldn’t believe I had. Theo’s eyes snapped to mine, and I clamped my mouth shut for fear of saying something else equally as stupid.
Theo tilted his head, frowning, his eyes glazed a bit from the alcohol. He smirked as he took a step toward me, and then another, until he was so close the lapels of his jacket touched my chest. His eyes cast down on me like I was there for no other purpose than for him to stare at, and he took his time, gaze roaming over every inch of me until I heated like a boiling pot of water.
His body jolted suddenly, crashing into mine as Audrey threw her arms around him from behind. I was pinned between the railing and his warm body for no longer than a split second, but it was enough to scar me, to brand me like a hot iron against fresh, bare skin. He stepped away just as quickly, holding out his hands as if to steady me.
“Theo,” Audrey said, dragging out the vowels of his name as she hung on his arm. “Nicolette and I want to see the owner’s suite.”
Nicolette giggled as she slid up on his other side, wrapping her arms around his middle. “Yes, show us the view from your bed, Theo.”
They cackled in unison, hands groping, longing moans slipping from between their lips. Theo’s eyes were still on me, and I let him hold my gaze until Nicolette dragged her tongue up his neck and sucked the lobe of his ear between her teeth.
I tore my eyes away then, swallowing and looking down at my camera as I waited for them to leave. And they did, by way of the women dragging Theo backward, and him watching me the entire way, until they stumbled into one of the deck chairs. That seemed to shock him back to reality, and he shook his head, turning and throwing his arms around each of the women with a comment that made them both laugh and lean into his sides.
He guided them inside and up the stairs, and I stood in the same spot against the railing until the lights flicked on in the owner’s suite above.
January 2, 2022
3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable! I don’t mind the occasional cheating theme and when I read the blurb I was instantly intrigued. It did have my pet peeve though of , so that was frustrating. I think it would’ve benefited by having Theo’s POV too to connect with him more. I also felt like even though we get that they were meant to be and all the mushy stuff towards the end, it would’ve been so much better to experience some of them entering the real world (and off the yacht) and the logistics of them being together. Otherwise, this was enjoyable and I read it one sitting — so there is that!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Aspen and Theo’s story. Aspen is dropping off her long-time boyfriend on a billionaire’s yacht for the summer while she backpacks across Europe to build her photograph portfolio. What she doesn’t expect is to meet the billionaire, Theo, and get offered to travel with them in exchange for some photographs. She reluctantly accepts and learns quickly what her boyfriend has been up to for the past three summers, and it isn’t the lifestyle she likes or fits into. Theo becomes an outlet for her and they bond with an underlying attraction. There is some drama, some sexy times, and some sweet moments…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Aspen’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:No, but instant attraction and connection.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Theo. I liked him. I appreciated how he made the h feel like she had some value and mattered.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Aspen. I liked her, but I also wanted her to communicate better and stand up for herself more.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes
Cheating: Yes
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a really good place and about as close to an HEA as I could get with still calling it a HFN ending . I would’ve liked experiencing them working out their real world lives more instead of some time jumps with brief details after the fact.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: This was enjoyable! I don’t mind the occasional cheating theme and when I read the blurb I was instantly intrigued. It did have my pet peeve though of , so that was frustrating. I think it would’ve benefited by having Theo’s POV too to connect with him more. I also felt like even though we get that they were meant to be and all the mushy stuff towards the end, it would’ve been so much better to experience some of them entering the real world (and off the yacht) and the logistics of them being together. Otherwise, this was enjoyable and I read it one sitting — so there is that!
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Aspen and Theo’s story. Aspen is dropping off her long-time boyfriend on a billionaire’s yacht for the summer while she backpacks across Europe to build her photograph portfolio. What she doesn’t expect is to meet the billionaire, Theo, and get offered to travel with them in exchange for some photographs. She reluctantly accepts and learns quickly what her boyfriend has been up to for the past three summers, and it isn’t the lifestyle she likes or fits into. Theo becomes an outlet for her and they bond with an underlying attraction. There is some drama, some sexy times, and some sweet moments…and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This was told in Aspen’s POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:No, but instant attraction and connection.
H (Hero) rating: 4 stars. Theo. I liked him. I appreciated how he made the h feel like she had some value and mattered.
h (heroine) rating: 3.5 stars. Aspen. I liked her, but I also wanted her to communicate better and stand up for herself more.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes
Cheating: Yes
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in a really good place and about as close to an HEA as I could get with still calling it a HFN ending . I would’ve liked experiencing them working out their real world lives more instead of some time jumps with brief details after the fact.
Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers
October 19, 2022
Ummm I didn't expect to love this so much!? SO MUCH ANGST. Ugh I really loved this book. Aspen has recently graduated college and is going to take photos around Europe while her boyfriend works on a yacht. But when they meet the owner of the yacht, Theo, he invites Aspen to spend the summer on the boat working as a photographer. Aspen agrees, but the more time she spends with Theo, the harder it is to ignore the simmering tension between them. I was DYING over the connection between Aspen and Theo, but I was also happy that Aspen's boyfriend wasn't entirely crappy from the start. They had a lot of history and that made it hard for Aspen to admit her feelings for Theo since she was still with her boyfriend. But that made this book so angsty. And I'm obsessed with Theo! He was so sweet, but he's also a billionaire who knows what he wants. I loved the longing glances and stolen touches and I was just dying for them to forget everyone and just be together. I did enjoy the little bit of suspense at the end, even though it did end up being a bit over the top. If you haven't picked this one up yet, you have to!
February 25, 2021
Two extremely flat characters and a very boring and cheesy plot.
The insta-love was badly unreal.
2 stars just because I finished it.
The insta-love was badly unreal.
2 stars just because I finished it.
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August 23, 2021
2nd read aug'21: 3 cheating stars
Re-read this during my summer holiday and I ended up not enjoying it as much as when I first read it. First time around it was a 5-star read and now only 3 stars.
I liked Theo a lot. He is a billionaire who knows what he wants and he wants Aspen. He is swoony and treats Aspen really well. He helps her fight her insecurities and shows her she is more beautiful and talented that she gives herself credit for.
I didn't like Aspen very much. She was too shy, introverted and I didn't appreciate the cheating aspect at all this second time around. Her boyfriend is painted as the evil guy but there was no reason for her to behave like she did. I don't like weak characters.
Big plus for the stunning background... the coast of Italy. The story was nice, well written and if cheating is not a pet peeve, than this book will definitely leave an impression.
-------
1st read feb'21: 5 "bringing all the feels" stars
Just finished reading Close Quarters and it will definitely go in my Top Reads of 2021.
I couldn't put this angsty and romantic book down. I haven't obsessed over a book like this in a long time. I loved everything about it: the character development, the storyline, the flawless writing, the elements of suspense.
Was the plot predictable? Sure. But I inhaled this book like a thirsty person in the desert cause the feels... oh, the feels.
Theo is the most amazing book boyfriend. He is right there for me with Ehd from Transcendence. And I have very high standards. The way he treats Aspen... 😍🥰🤩. I am seriously in love with him.
The story is told only from Aspen's POV and, at the beginning of this book she is this super shy, introvert. She is 22 years old, with a passion for photography and a lot of self doubt.
She meets Theo, this 33 year old billionaire (I know, I know, we have a billionaire trope but this guy is soooo freacking amazing) as she is visiting the yacht where her boyfriend Joel will be working for the summer. Theo is the yacht owner and very easy on the eyes 😎. She ends up being invited to stay on the yacht for the summer and travel across the Mediterranean Sea coastline.
So we have a love triangle and some light cheating so be warned, if that's not your thing. I usually don't like cheating in my books but the way the story evolves, I was rooting for Theo and Aspen like crazy.
The book is very angsty as Aspen is often plagued by insecurities and anxiety but she is a very relatable character. Her development in the story is very well done. I understood what she went through as the plot evolved and I got very invested in her journey.
Kandi Steiner has an amazing writing style. She can vividly paint beautiful pictures on paper with words. The story is set in Europe and we get bits and glimpses of Spain, Italy and Greece and it is just enchanting.
Well, enough with my ranting. You should definitely pick this book up!
As for me, I will be going through Kandi's backlog cause she just became one of my new favorite authors. 🤩
***ARC generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review***
Re-read this during my summer holiday and I ended up not enjoying it as much as when I first read it. First time around it was a 5-star read and now only 3 stars.
I liked Theo a lot. He is a billionaire who knows what he wants and he wants Aspen. He is swoony and treats Aspen really well. He helps her fight her insecurities and shows her she is more beautiful and talented that she gives herself credit for.
I didn't like Aspen very much. She was too shy, introverted and I didn't appreciate the cheating aspect at all this second time around. Her boyfriend is painted as the evil guy but there was no reason for her to behave like she did. I don't like weak characters.
Big plus for the stunning background... the coast of Italy. The story was nice, well written and if cheating is not a pet peeve, than this book will definitely leave an impression.
-------
1st read feb'21: 5 "bringing all the feels" stars
Just finished reading Close Quarters and it will definitely go in my Top Reads of 2021.
I couldn't put this angsty and romantic book down. I haven't obsessed over a book like this in a long time. I loved everything about it: the character development, the storyline, the flawless writing, the elements of suspense.
Was the plot predictable? Sure. But I inhaled this book like a thirsty person in the desert cause the feels... oh, the feels.
Theo is the most amazing book boyfriend. He is right there for me with Ehd from Transcendence. And I have very high standards. The way he treats Aspen... 😍🥰🤩. I am seriously in love with him.
The story is told only from Aspen's POV and, at the beginning of this book she is this super shy, introvert. She is 22 years old, with a passion for photography and a lot of self doubt.
She meets Theo, this 33 year old billionaire (I know, I know, we have a billionaire trope but this guy is soooo freacking amazing) as she is visiting the yacht where her boyfriend Joel will be working for the summer. Theo is the yacht owner and very easy on the eyes 😎. She ends up being invited to stay on the yacht for the summer and travel across the Mediterranean Sea coastline.
So we have a love triangle and some light cheating so be warned, if that's not your thing. I usually don't like cheating in my books but the way the story evolves, I was rooting for Theo and Aspen like crazy.
The book is very angsty as Aspen is often plagued by insecurities and anxiety but she is a very relatable character. Her development in the story is very well done. I understood what she went through as the plot evolved and I got very invested in her journey.
Kandi Steiner has an amazing writing style. She can vividly paint beautiful pictures on paper with words. The story is set in Europe and we get bits and glimpses of Spain, Italy and Greece and it is just enchanting.
Well, enough with my ranting. You should definitely pick this book up!
As for me, I will be going through Kandi's backlog cause she just became one of my new favorite authors. 🤩
***ARC generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review***
March 6, 2021
This was unfortunately very bad. I don’t know how I managed to finish it.
The heroine has a boyfriend who works on yachts during summers. They have been dating for 4 years. I really didn’t understand why they spent the summers separate. It made me feel that their so-called love wasn’t that big of a deal. I mean he didn’t have to work on those yachts. He just loved the lifestyle and the partying etc so he always found a job on yachts to spend his summer like that.
*********************************************
At the beginning of the book, the heroine Aspen goes to the yacht with her boyfriend Joel to say goodbye to him. And then she will have a trip around Europe taking photographs. That’s her thing: photography. And while she is there, saying goodbye, she takes photos of the yacht.
When the owner of the yacht comes, she sees him through her lens, finds him interesting and attractive enough to take his photograph. He realizes that his photo is taken but he thinks she is a paparazzi or something. Then, he talks to her and understands that she is just a photographer and the girlfriend of one of his crew.
Then, whatever he sees in her, he invites her to his yacht to travel with them. He says they will travel to nice places and she can take lovely photographs if she goes with them. Joel also likes the idea and she reluctantly says yes not to upset Joel but in fact what she wanted was a backpacking around Europe on her own.
*********************************************
Aspen is a woman who likes being alone. She doesn’t like crowds, she doesn’t like partying. She doesn’t like to be the center of attention. She prefers to be invisible.
Her boyfriend Joel, on the other hand, is a very sociable person. He likes being around people. He likes drinking whereas Aspen only drinks water. He likes partying and crowds. They are total opposites. This causes a lot of problems on the yacht because Joel knows some of the crew there from past years and he wants her girlfriend to mix with them. He wants her around him while he is with them but Aspen always prefers to stay in her cabin and read a book or watch TV. She hates being around people and have conversations. Sometimes she insists that Joel should stay with her in the cabin. She says they should be alone and do stuff in their cabin but Joel wants to be outside.
I don’t want to take sides but how in the HELL did these two people date for 4 years???
It is crystal clear that one annoys the other. They are total opposites and they can’t help it.
The writer makes it look like that being on the yacht together causes problems in their relationship but I am not buying this relationship at all! Similar problems must have appeared long before this trip.
Later, we see that Joel is flirty with the female staff on the yacht, especially with one of them. .
Well, it is very clear that their relationship was no good before this trip and I really don't understand how and/or why they stayed together for 4 years.
While this falling out of love with each other happens between Joel and Aspen, the owner of the yacht, Theo, falls for Aspen more and more and makes it clear that he wants her. Why? I have no idea.
If you need safety in you romance books, this book is not safe.
There is this scene where Theo kisses other women but he later says that although he went to his room with them nothing else happened because his mind was preoccupied with another woman.
However, Aspen sleeps with her boyfriend a few times after meeting the hero and finding him attractive.
*********************************************
The more Aspen and Joel fall apart, the more Aspen lusts for Theo.
Theo and Aspen get closer and closer and they also get a bit intimate but Theo refuses to sleep with her until she leaves Joel and says she is HIS.
I didn’t mind the cheating aspect of the book. I didn’t. What bothered me was all the other things that didn’t make sense. Like I said, I didn’t understand how Joel and Aspen dated for 4 years. They should have had similar problems before this summer. They should have already left each other.
And I didn’t understand what a man like Theo has found in Aspen. She is such an invisible character. She is not interesting. She is not fun to be with. She is just a plain ordinary girl who doesn’t like people. Why did Theo never have a girlfriend in his life and then fall for Aspen?
Come on, if you will make such a hero fall in love with someone for the first time, make the woman he will fall in love with a bit interesting, yes? Someone interesting, sweet and charming. And someone who is strong and self-confident. Someone who is not afraid of telling her mind.
Aspen might be beautiful and she may also be a good photographer but other than that, she is nothing special. Such a boring person she is!
They say there is a love triangle in this book but as Aspen and her boyfriend didn’t feel like a couple to me, I didn’t feel any angsty love triangle here. And it is Joel who finally says he wants to break up with Aspen. Ergo, as long as two men don’t fight for one woman, there is no love triangle for me at all. That's why, for me, it was all about two miserable people who were doomed to fall apart and “one other woman” and “one other man” who accelerate the process.
As soon as Joel and Aspen break up, she starts to be with Theo. Nothing felt real, nothing felt natural to me. I never felt the connection or the chemistry between Aspen and Theo. It is not a passionate book at all.
Their relationship is all about the cheesy grand gestures of Theo. And Aspen always cries with happy tears when he does his grand gestures.
I was sick of the book all the time but when it turned out to be a ridiculous psycho thriller towards the end, it was the last straw for me. I disliked the book even more.
I am sorry but I don't recommend it at all.
The heroine has a boyfriend who works on yachts during summers. They have been dating for 4 years. I really didn’t understand why they spent the summers separate. It made me feel that their so-called love wasn’t that big of a deal. I mean he didn’t have to work on those yachts. He just loved the lifestyle and the partying etc so he always found a job on yachts to spend his summer like that.
*********************************************
At the beginning of the book, the heroine Aspen goes to the yacht with her boyfriend Joel to say goodbye to him. And then she will have a trip around Europe taking photographs. That’s her thing: photography. And while she is there, saying goodbye, she takes photos of the yacht.
When the owner of the yacht comes, she sees him through her lens, finds him interesting and attractive enough to take his photograph. He realizes that his photo is taken but he thinks she is a paparazzi or something. Then, he talks to her and understands that she is just a photographer and the girlfriend of one of his crew.
Then, whatever he sees in her, he invites her to his yacht to travel with them. He says they will travel to nice places and she can take lovely photographs if she goes with them. Joel also likes the idea and she reluctantly says yes not to upset Joel but in fact what she wanted was a backpacking around Europe on her own.
*********************************************
Aspen is a woman who likes being alone. She doesn’t like crowds, she doesn’t like partying. She doesn’t like to be the center of attention. She prefers to be invisible.
Her boyfriend Joel, on the other hand, is a very sociable person. He likes being around people. He likes drinking whereas Aspen only drinks water. He likes partying and crowds. They are total opposites. This causes a lot of problems on the yacht because Joel knows some of the crew there from past years and he wants her girlfriend to mix with them. He wants her around him while he is with them but Aspen always prefers to stay in her cabin and read a book or watch TV. She hates being around people and have conversations. Sometimes she insists that Joel should stay with her in the cabin. She says they should be alone and do stuff in their cabin but Joel wants to be outside.
I don’t want to take sides but how in the HELL did these two people date for 4 years???
It is crystal clear that one annoys the other. They are total opposites and they can’t help it.
The writer makes it look like that being on the yacht together causes problems in their relationship but I am not buying this relationship at all! Similar problems must have appeared long before this trip.
Later, we see that Joel is flirty with the female staff on the yacht, especially with one of them. .
Well, it is very clear that their relationship was no good before this trip and I really don't understand how and/or why they stayed together for 4 years.
While this falling out of love with each other happens between Joel and Aspen, the owner of the yacht, Theo, falls for Aspen more and more and makes it clear that he wants her. Why? I have no idea.
If you need safety in you romance books, this book is not safe.
There is this scene where Theo kisses other women but he later says that although he went to his room with them nothing else happened because his mind was preoccupied with another woman.
However, Aspen sleeps with her boyfriend a few times after meeting the hero and finding him attractive.
*********************************************
The more Aspen and Joel fall apart, the more Aspen lusts for Theo.
Theo and Aspen get closer and closer and they also get a bit intimate but Theo refuses to sleep with her until she leaves Joel and says she is HIS.
I didn’t mind the cheating aspect of the book. I didn’t. What bothered me was all the other things that didn’t make sense. Like I said, I didn’t understand how Joel and Aspen dated for 4 years. They should have had similar problems before this summer. They should have already left each other.
And I didn’t understand what a man like Theo has found in Aspen. She is such an invisible character. She is not interesting. She is not fun to be with. She is just a plain ordinary girl who doesn’t like people. Why did Theo never have a girlfriend in his life and then fall for Aspen?
Come on, if you will make such a hero fall in love with someone for the first time, make the woman he will fall in love with a bit interesting, yes? Someone interesting, sweet and charming. And someone who is strong and self-confident. Someone who is not afraid of telling her mind.
Aspen might be beautiful and she may also be a good photographer but other than that, she is nothing special. Such a boring person she is!
They say there is a love triangle in this book but as Aspen and her boyfriend didn’t feel like a couple to me, I didn’t feel any angsty love triangle here. And it is Joel who finally says he wants to break up with Aspen. Ergo, as long as two men don’t fight for one woman, there is no love triangle for me at all. That's why, for me, it was all about two miserable people who were doomed to fall apart and “one other woman” and “one other man” who accelerate the process.
As soon as Joel and Aspen break up, she starts to be with Theo. Nothing felt real, nothing felt natural to me. I never felt the connection or the chemistry between Aspen and Theo. It is not a passionate book at all.
Their relationship is all about the cheesy grand gestures of Theo. And Aspen always cries with happy tears when he does his grand gestures.
I was sick of the book all the time but when it turned out to be a ridiculous psycho thriller towards the end, it was the last straw for me. I disliked the book even more.
I am sorry but I don't recommend it at all.
February 17, 2021
Kandi Steiner gave us a swoon worthy, angsty,billionaire, envious trip of of a lifetime that was all wrapped up into this story. The setting was gorgeous, you wanted to know more about the characters, and you had this feeling that something big was going to happen.
Aspen has always been a no fuss simple girl. The only that she needs for the summer is to spend time with her long time boyfriend and have her camera. When she gets an offer to do just that and to explore all of Europe, everything feels like it’s falling into place to be the perfect summer. But it’s not going to be smooth sailing once she meets her boyfriend’s Billionaire boss.
I have to say that I LOVED the setting in this story!! It was a visual beauty and I saw everything as if it were in front of me. From the clear waters to the cobblestone steps and the small little boutiques, I really saw it all. now there were a few characters that were not on my good list and quite frankly, I pictured them going overboard a few times but sadly that did not happen. Besides that, I loved everyone else especially Theo. He was charming, broody, protective, intuitive, and he made it his mission to care of Aspen.
If you're a fan of Kandi Steiner, then you do not want to miss this one!!
February 18, 2021
4.5 stars ⭐️
My feelings pretty much summed up-
1. Crying
2. Crying because i won’t get a guy like Theo.
3. Crying because Kandi killed me with this book.
4. Crying because i miss travelling.
5. Crying because this book finished.
“You, Aspen Dawn, are different in every possible way. You have ignited a spark in me that no one else ever has, or ever could. I desire you for my own more than I desire anything”
If there’s one thing which I’m sure about when it comes to Kandi, it is the fact that she knows how to write, that young lady can write beautifully.
And if there’s another thing which I know about kandi its that it’s impossible not to love her characters.
Kandi is the author for who I will leave up everything and read the book as soon as she releases and the crazy thing is she NEVER disappoints. ‘A love letter to whiskey’ is one of my all time favourite books by her and i thought that no other book by Kandi could top that one for me and boy, was i so wrong.
‘Close Quarters’ will make you fall in love with nature, with finding yourself, with travelling (even if you’re a lazyass like me), and with hot billionaire guys like Mr. Theo Whitman which will in one way or another make you cry because you know you’re gonna stay single and probably adopt 13 cats (but hey, at-least we got a new book boyf;) ).
“I don’t care about your past. I don’t care about mine. Nothing else matters to me, other than the future you and I can make together. And I know what I said about my lifestyle the other night,” he said, pulling back to look me in the eyes. “But we will find a way. We will make it work. Because if I’ve learned one thing this summer, it’s that now that I know you exist in this world, I cannot live without you existing in mine, too”
I am really really in awe of this author and I’m so so sad cause I read this book so fast and now it has finished and my feelings are all over the place.
“He brings out the best in you,” Juniper said softly.
“Even better — he makes me feel like the worst of me is still worthy of being loved”
This book has everything you want and though I love asshole guys, Theo made me fall in love with his charms, his sweetness and his compassion.
Highly recommend!
P.S- there was this mention of “you’ve bewitched me” and my love for pride and prejudice self was CRYING cause no one is ever gonna say that to me. brb,crying.
My feelings pretty much summed up-
1. Crying
2. Crying because i won’t get a guy like Theo.
3. Crying because Kandi killed me with this book.
4. Crying because i miss travelling.
5. Crying because this book finished.
“You, Aspen Dawn, are different in every possible way. You have ignited a spark in me that no one else ever has, or ever could. I desire you for my own more than I desire anything”
If there’s one thing which I’m sure about when it comes to Kandi, it is the fact that she knows how to write, that young lady can write beautifully.
And if there’s another thing which I know about kandi its that it’s impossible not to love her characters.
Kandi is the author for who I will leave up everything and read the book as soon as she releases and the crazy thing is she NEVER disappoints. ‘A love letter to whiskey’ is one of my all time favourite books by her and i thought that no other book by Kandi could top that one for me and boy, was i so wrong.
‘Close Quarters’ will make you fall in love with nature, with finding yourself, with travelling (even if you’re a lazyass like me), and with hot billionaire guys like Mr. Theo Whitman which will in one way or another make you cry because you know you’re gonna stay single and probably adopt 13 cats (but hey, at-least we got a new book boyf;) ).
“I don’t care about your past. I don’t care about mine. Nothing else matters to me, other than the future you and I can make together. And I know what I said about my lifestyle the other night,” he said, pulling back to look me in the eyes. “But we will find a way. We will make it work. Because if I’ve learned one thing this summer, it’s that now that I know you exist in this world, I cannot live without you existing in mine, too”
I am really really in awe of this author and I’m so so sad cause I read this book so fast and now it has finished and my feelings are all over the place.
“He brings out the best in you,” Juniper said softly.
“Even better — he makes me feel like the worst of me is still worthy of being loved”
This book has everything you want and though I love asshole guys, Theo made me fall in love with his charms, his sweetness and his compassion.
Highly recommend!
P.S- there was this mention of “you’ve bewitched me” and my love for pride and prejudice self was CRYING cause no one is ever gonna say that to me. brb,crying.
February 18, 2021
I devoured this book in ONE SITTING! I couldn’t STOP READING! Utterly addictive! Slightly angsty, a slow burn, definitely deliciously sexy with some light suspense!!!!! I FREAKING LOVED IT!
*this arc was provided by the author!!!!!!
*this arc was provided by the author!!!!!!
August 4, 2021
as someone who was already a hopeless romantic, this book just intensified that by a thousand. i think i’m gonna go cry myself to sleep and wonder why i don’t have a an extremely kind hearted, attractive, billionaire as my boyfriend now
June 22, 2021
I do like Miss Steiner' work in the past. Imagine my surprise when I do not like Close Quarters.
What does not work for me is the relationship between Theo, Aspen and Joel. Yes there is cheating aspect in the story. I do not mind cheating. Especially when the author can bring it to the next level.
I can not feel the dilema/ angst from Aspen that she is cheating on Joel.
From the very beginning Joel and Aspen is opposite of each other and show little interest for one to another. And yet they stay together for 4 years. That is not convincing their romance.
Anyway, it is sad to say, this book does not work for me.
2 stars
What does not work for me is the relationship between Theo, Aspen and Joel. Yes there is cheating aspect in the story. I do not mind cheating. Especially when the author can bring it to the next level.
I can not feel the dilema/ angst from Aspen that she is cheating on Joel.
From the very beginning Joel and Aspen is opposite of each other and show little interest for one to another. And yet they stay together for 4 years. That is not convincing their romance.
Anyway, it is sad to say, this book does not work for me.
2 stars
February 18, 2021
Sometimes I watch below deck with my lovey and when I started this one it had the same vibes but my goodness this was boring. Like nothing happens for half the book. She’s bland and we only get her POV so that doesn’t help. Theo is no better. I got to like 75% and had to skip till the end and guess what an engagement that’s all. 🤣 well I’ve tried enough times now to move on from this writer. Her stuff is just not for me.
February 26, 2021
‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾☆ 3 stars ☆☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙
hmmm, this was a me issue. I can’t with cheating tropes and still went ahead and read this. Im trying to read out of my comfort zone, but I think this trope in particular will never be something I like. With that said, this still wasn’t the best.
Aspen
She cried a lot. Wasn’t my favorite person. She admitted that what she was doing was cheating, but then went back to “nothing happened” which was true, but girlie... something happened in your heart. The first half of the book I was kinda “you’re both basically single HOW HARD IS TO JUST BREAK UP!!” ugh. I felt like a party pooper but literally the angst could’ve been avoided if she just had broken up with him after the swim in the Grotto. After that, why the hell was she going back to colorado?? her plan was to travel by herself in Europe and when things go south she just accepts the hand and goes home??? tf? I mean, it doesn’t go down like that but still, I’m upset she was just okay with that option. Honestly, I didn’t like her. She cried for everything. LITERALLY. She asks for something, gets an answer, gets sad and starts doubting the guy that has given her absolutely NO REASON to doubt him. AND THEN, she plays the “I’m depressed and stupid” card for like a day to then receive a HUGE romantic gesture from Theo. He didn’t deserve her honestly.
Theo
Kinda wished we had a pov from him cause from this side it seemed like he didn’t care about Joel’s role in Aspen’s life at all. But then, he recoversssss hell yeah. After the break-up he gained like 10 points for what he said. And the second half?? He was the star. Yep, can I have a Theo?? Honestly, the stars are mostly just for him. He was great.
Conflict
Uuuuu I like the conflict here. Again, wished we could’ve had a Theo POV, but it was still good. The second half of the book was better (mostly because Aspen was single heh). I gotta say, I kinda suspected what Joel was doing thanks to the earrings scene, so it wasn’t like a big shock. But the thing with the other guys was unexpected. Liked that.
Why not 5 stars?
- Aspen.
- Aspen crying all the damn time was awful.
- Aspen acting like a hormonal teenager not knowing how to act.
- Just Aspen.
I kinda enjoyed this, kinda not. Like I said, I was frustrated a lot cause I hate cheating, but in this case the reason for my not enjoying this was more than that. I didn’t connect with Aspen at all. I was hesitant to read this, but I like Kandi, so I gave it a shot. I think gonna listen to my instincts next time.
If cheating doesn’t bother you, you may like this more than I did!!!
hmmm, this was a me issue. I can’t with cheating tropes and still went ahead and read this. Im trying to read out of my comfort zone, but I think this trope in particular will never be something I like. With that said, this still wasn’t the best.
Aspen
She cried a lot. Wasn’t my favorite person. She admitted that what she was doing was cheating, but then went back to “nothing happened” which was true, but girlie... something happened in your heart. The first half of the book I was kinda “you’re both basically single HOW HARD IS TO JUST BREAK UP!!” ugh. I felt like a party pooper but literally the angst could’ve been avoided if she just had broken up with him after the swim in the Grotto. After that, why the hell was she going back to colorado?? her plan was to travel by herself in Europe and when things go south she just accepts the hand and goes home??? tf? I mean, it doesn’t go down like that but still, I’m upset she was just okay with that option. Honestly, I didn’t like her. She cried for everything. LITERALLY. She asks for something, gets an answer, gets sad and starts doubting the guy that has given her absolutely NO REASON to doubt him. AND THEN, she plays the “I’m depressed and stupid” card for like a day to then receive a HUGE romantic gesture from Theo. He didn’t deserve her honestly.
Theo
Kinda wished we had a pov from him cause from this side it seemed like he didn’t care about Joel’s role in Aspen’s life at all. But then, he recoversssss hell yeah. After the break-up he gained like 10 points for what he said. And the second half?? He was the star. Yep, can I have a Theo?? Honestly, the stars are mostly just for him. He was great.
Conflict
Uuuuu I like the conflict here. Again, wished we could’ve had a Theo POV, but it was still good. The second half of the book was better (mostly because Aspen was single heh). I gotta say, I kinda suspected what Joel was doing thanks to the earrings scene, so it wasn’t like a big shock. But the thing with the other guys was unexpected. Liked that.
Why not 5 stars?
- Aspen.
- Aspen crying all the damn time was awful.
- Aspen acting like a hormonal teenager not knowing how to act.
- Just Aspen.
I kinda enjoyed this, kinda not. Like I said, I was frustrated a lot cause I hate cheating, but in this case the reason for my not enjoying this was more than that. I didn’t connect with Aspen at all. I was hesitant to read this, but I like Kandi, so I gave it a shot. I think gonna listen to my instincts next time.
If cheating doesn’t bother you, you may like this more than I did!!!
February 14, 2021
A swoony billionaire, European vistas, complicated and angsty feelings, and forbidden, stolen moments on a priceless yacht- could it get anymore romantic?! From the shocking prologue to the quietly intense moments and subtle suspense that follows, I was completely consumed. Emotionally angsty, complicated, sweepingly romantic, and intensely riveting- I've not read anything like this from Kandi Steiner before, and I could not put it down!
The premise of this story may make a few bristle- since our heroine finds herself drawn to a man who is most decidedly not her boyfriend. Aspen finds herself the unexpected passenger on a bougie yacht touring Europe’s most scenic and decadent luxury locals for the summer when her boyfriend’s billionaire boss voluntells her to join the crew for the summer. Aspen thinks this will be a great to build her photography portfolio and spend time with her college sweetheart- only things get complicated quickly when she finds an unexpected and intense connection with Theo, the swoony billionaire boss.
I just really adored Aspen- in part because I related to her so intensely. A classic introvert, she’s an observer, someone who keenly listens and watches and understands the essence of others. She looks so intently at others, that she forgets to sometimes see herself- leading her to sacrifice for others, to care too much what others think, to focus so deeply on the needs and motivations of others. She understands others at the expense of understanding herself - at the expense of valuing herself. And so, while others might be frustrated by her emotional journey, I found it so sincere and inspiring. She’s a quiet heroine- but she’s a heroine trying to find a way to thrive, a heroine who wants to be seen and understood, a heroine who wants to be loved and cared for not in spite of her introverted ways, but because of them. So of course she flounders- Theo awakens something in her she didn’t realize she needs, even though she has a boyfriend she cares for and who cares for her. When you’ve ignored your needs or have failed to see your own values for so long, you have to retrain your own eye. I loved watching her embrace herself, watch her become empowered in her own way, to see her recognize her value and take charge of her happiness.
Theo is a dreamboat of a leading man (pun intended)- he’s just so swoony. Charismatic, strong but empathetic, alpha and commanding but incredibly tender and gentle, too. He has everything at his fingertips, he’s used to getting everything he wants- yet he is somehow down to earth, open hearted, and sincere. While at first I lamented not getting his POV (and to a certain extent it does limit how deep we sink in his character), I realized this not only adds to the complexity and suspense of this story but it also keeps the focus on what this story is truly about- Aspen. Theo’s journey isn’t so much about him, it's about how he loves Aspen. AND OH MY GOODNESS does he do that right. He’s generous, loving, empowering...but best of all, he SEES her and understands her. He makes her feel so worthy and valued- OH, my heart.
Their chemistry is sparkling and magnetic, and Kandi doses it with the age gap and off-limits taboo so it really feels combustible. I’m not a huge cheating trope person- and this really didn’t feel like cheating to me, perhaps because of how Kandi makes Theo and Aspens connection feel so sacred and unbreakable, perhaps because of the dynamics with Aspen’s boyfriend, or perhaps because their “cheating” was mostly emotional - but I was all in for this. I was desperate for them to give in- and I was exuberant once they did. The magic of their dynamic is the metaphysical elements- almost as if their souls connect. Of course, they are hot together too, but there is a quiet intimacy and connective tissue between them, its soft and stubble but sturdy- and contrasts beautifully with the more explosive and dramatic elements of this story. These two don’t seem like a match on paper, but they feel like two missing links when together.
There's a lusciousness to this story that is entrancing, an edge that makes it addicting. This has a wow factor that feels unique- and I loved it. It has over the top drama in places and all those fun Below Deck vibes that make it an exciting and entertaining story, but it keeps the heart that I’ve always cherished about Kandi Steiner- the focus on intimacy, on catalyzing connection. Kandi always writes couples who do not change because of love, rather they are MORE THEMSELVES because they found it. And that, well that is still this story’s heart. Entertainment and romance perfectly packaged- what a exhilarating yet emotional getaway.
The premise of this story may make a few bristle- since our heroine finds herself drawn to a man who is most decidedly not her boyfriend. Aspen finds herself the unexpected passenger on a bougie yacht touring Europe’s most scenic and decadent luxury locals for the summer when her boyfriend’s billionaire boss voluntells her to join the crew for the summer. Aspen thinks this will be a great to build her photography portfolio and spend time with her college sweetheart- only things get complicated quickly when she finds an unexpected and intense connection with Theo, the swoony billionaire boss.
I just really adored Aspen- in part because I related to her so intensely. A classic introvert, she’s an observer, someone who keenly listens and watches and understands the essence of others. She looks so intently at others, that she forgets to sometimes see herself- leading her to sacrifice for others, to care too much what others think, to focus so deeply on the needs and motivations of others. She understands others at the expense of understanding herself - at the expense of valuing herself. And so, while others might be frustrated by her emotional journey, I found it so sincere and inspiring. She’s a quiet heroine- but she’s a heroine trying to find a way to thrive, a heroine who wants to be seen and understood, a heroine who wants to be loved and cared for not in spite of her introverted ways, but because of them. So of course she flounders- Theo awakens something in her she didn’t realize she needs, even though she has a boyfriend she cares for and who cares for her. When you’ve ignored your needs or have failed to see your own values for so long, you have to retrain your own eye. I loved watching her embrace herself, watch her become empowered in her own way, to see her recognize her value and take charge of her happiness.
Theo is a dreamboat of a leading man (pun intended)- he’s just so swoony. Charismatic, strong but empathetic, alpha and commanding but incredibly tender and gentle, too. He has everything at his fingertips, he’s used to getting everything he wants- yet he is somehow down to earth, open hearted, and sincere. While at first I lamented not getting his POV (and to a certain extent it does limit how deep we sink in his character), I realized this not only adds to the complexity and suspense of this story but it also keeps the focus on what this story is truly about- Aspen. Theo’s journey isn’t so much about him, it's about how he loves Aspen. AND OH MY GOODNESS does he do that right. He’s generous, loving, empowering...but best of all, he SEES her and understands her. He makes her feel so worthy and valued- OH, my heart.
Their chemistry is sparkling and magnetic, and Kandi doses it with the age gap and off-limits taboo so it really feels combustible. I’m not a huge cheating trope person- and this really didn’t feel like cheating to me, perhaps because of how Kandi makes Theo and Aspens connection feel so sacred and unbreakable, perhaps because of the dynamics with Aspen’s boyfriend, or perhaps because their “cheating” was mostly emotional - but I was all in for this. I was desperate for them to give in- and I was exuberant once they did. The magic of their dynamic is the metaphysical elements- almost as if their souls connect. Of course, they are hot together too, but there is a quiet intimacy and connective tissue between them, its soft and stubble but sturdy- and contrasts beautifully with the more explosive and dramatic elements of this story. These two don’t seem like a match on paper, but they feel like two missing links when together.
There's a lusciousness to this story that is entrancing, an edge that makes it addicting. This has a wow factor that feels unique- and I loved it. It has over the top drama in places and all those fun Below Deck vibes that make it an exciting and entertaining story, but it keeps the heart that I’ve always cherished about Kandi Steiner- the focus on intimacy, on catalyzing connection. Kandi always writes couples who do not change because of love, rather they are MORE THEMSELVES because they found it. And that, well that is still this story’s heart. Entertainment and romance perfectly packaged- what a exhilarating yet emotional getaway.
February 11, 2025
3 stars ★★★
Aspen is living my dream life!? getting personally invited to stay FOR FREE on a gorgeous billionaire's YACHT that's traveling through MEDITERRANEAN for the summer? GOD WHEN
Aspen is living my dream life!? getting personally invited to stay FOR FREE on a gorgeous billionaire's YACHT that's traveling through MEDITERRANEAN for the summer? GOD WHEN
March 1, 2021
4.5 stars!
"But trust me when I say it is a privilege to be around you, to soak up the sun you provide,” he said with a smile. “And unlike him, I will cherish every moment that I have you.”
Kandi Steiner. I have no words; this book was amazing, and I am so impressed with the words that were written.
Close Quarters, follows our heroine Aspen as she embarks on a new adventure with her longtime boyfriend only to find her adventure will be taking a different turn. When her boyfriend, Joel, gets a job on one of America’s famous billionaire's yacht, it’s a shock when he gives her a job too, as the photographer on the boat. Theo Whitman is the man that every girl wants; he is sexy, confident, rich and successful. From Aspen and Theo's very first meeting they both capture something unique between each other. But Theo's her boyfriend's boss, nothing is going to happen...right?
This was a highly anticipated read for me as Kandi is one of my favorite authors of all time. And from the start the book with the prologue it was all amazing! A Kandi Steiner Prologue is always astonishing because as the book continues, when you finally understand the prologue, your mind is ultimately blown. And just the writing in general was so good! I love the way Kandi writes, it flows so great and sometimes it sounds like poetry; just so compelling and beautifully written.
As for our Heroine and Hero, I really liked them both. I think out of all Kandi's heroine's Aspen was the one I could relate the most to. She was introverted and shy, but I loved the way Theo showed her how much she was worth everything good in this world. Theo was so swoon worthy and in all just a great character. I especially loved his humorous side as I was not expecting that. Together, Aspen and Theo fit like two peas in a pod. They just had some magnetic energy between them, I really felt their chemistry and pull to be together. And their banter was great!
In all, I truly enjoyed this so much and I am so grateful I received in ARC of this!
"But trust me when I say it is a privilege to be around you, to soak up the sun you provide,” he said with a smile. “And unlike him, I will cherish every moment that I have you.”
Kandi Steiner. I have no words; this book was amazing, and I am so impressed with the words that were written.
Close Quarters, follows our heroine Aspen as she embarks on a new adventure with her longtime boyfriend only to find her adventure will be taking a different turn. When her boyfriend, Joel, gets a job on one of America’s famous billionaire's yacht, it’s a shock when he gives her a job too, as the photographer on the boat. Theo Whitman is the man that every girl wants; he is sexy, confident, rich and successful. From Aspen and Theo's very first meeting they both capture something unique between each other. But Theo's her boyfriend's boss, nothing is going to happen...right?
This was a highly anticipated read for me as Kandi is one of my favorite authors of all time. And from the start the book with the prologue it was all amazing! A Kandi Steiner Prologue is always astonishing because as the book continues, when you finally understand the prologue, your mind is ultimately blown. And just the writing in general was so good! I love the way Kandi writes, it flows so great and sometimes it sounds like poetry; just so compelling and beautifully written.
As for our Heroine and Hero, I really liked them both. I think out of all Kandi's heroine's Aspen was the one I could relate the most to. She was introverted and shy, but I loved the way Theo showed her how much she was worth everything good in this world. Theo was so swoon worthy and in all just a great character. I especially loved his humorous side as I was not expecting that. Together, Aspen and Theo fit like two peas in a pod. They just had some magnetic energy between them, I really felt their chemistry and pull to be together. And their banter was great!
In all, I truly enjoyed this so much and I am so grateful I received in ARC of this!
June 22, 2021
this book was so infuriating because she continuously emotionally cheats on her deadbeat boyfriend and just because he's horrible for her, it doesn't mean that she's innocent when all she does is think about out hero. Bye.
Also, characters were vapid and the plot was annoying
Also, characters were vapid and the plot was annoying
March 1, 2021
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I had seen this new release come across my feed and then a good friend recommended it to me. I am so glad I read it.
Aspen is getting ready to leave her boyfriend just for the summer. They have been together since Freshman year of college. Now that she's graduated, she's ready to pursue her dream of traveling across Europe on her own and taking pictures to build her portfolio. Joel has a job as a lead deckhand on a luxury yacht. So they will spend their summer apart in pursuit of their future.
Aspen went to see Joel off but when she met the yacht's owner, Theo Whitmore, her plans changed. Theo offered her a chance to stay on board for the three month journey, if she agrees to take photos for him when he needs. It was an unbelievably generous opportunity that she just couldn't turn down.
Now Aspen doesn't have to say goodbye to Joel, however her attraction to Theo may just be a problem she wasn't expecting.
A three month dream vacation on a luxury yacht...what could possibly go wrong?
This love triangle, billionaire romance had the steam factor and some drama that kept me riveted. Theo is enigmatic and I was definitely drawn to him and I wanted to know everything about him. Aspen seems quiet and uncomplicated, yet she is deep and introspective. Her sweet personality draws you in. Theo never expected this trip to be life changing.
I loved the character development and the plot twist. This was my first read by the author and I cannot wait until me next!!! Theo brought the charm and it was easy to get swept off your feet. Aspen stood her moral ground, even though fighting the attraction was near impossible. She battles with doing what she feels is right rather than following her heart until she realizes she's been fighting for the wrong things. A five star journey of love and self-discovery you NEED to read.
Aspen is getting ready to leave her boyfriend just for the summer. They have been together since Freshman year of college. Now that she's graduated, she's ready to pursue her dream of traveling across Europe on her own and taking pictures to build her portfolio. Joel has a job as a lead deckhand on a luxury yacht. So they will spend their summer apart in pursuit of their future.
Aspen went to see Joel off but when she met the yacht's owner, Theo Whitmore, her plans changed. Theo offered her a chance to stay on board for the three month journey, if she agrees to take photos for him when he needs. It was an unbelievably generous opportunity that she just couldn't turn down.
Now Aspen doesn't have to say goodbye to Joel, however her attraction to Theo may just be a problem she wasn't expecting.
A three month dream vacation on a luxury yacht...what could possibly go wrong?
This love triangle, billionaire romance had the steam factor and some drama that kept me riveted. Theo is enigmatic and I was definitely drawn to him and I wanted to know everything about him. Aspen seems quiet and uncomplicated, yet she is deep and introspective. Her sweet personality draws you in. Theo never expected this trip to be life changing.
I loved the character development and the plot twist. This was my first read by the author and I cannot wait until me next!!! Theo brought the charm and it was easy to get swept off your feet. Aspen stood her moral ground, even though fighting the attraction was near impossible. She battles with doing what she feels is right rather than following her heart until she realizes she's been fighting for the wrong things. A five star journey of love and self-discovery you NEED to read.
February 18, 2021
3.5 stars
Before I get into my review and thoughts for this novel, I do have a disclaimer. There’s a certain trope/plot point that is included in this novel that I have difficulty getting behind no matter the circumstance. As it’s a spoiler, I don’t want to explain what the trope/plot point is but if you read the novel, you’ll probably be able to identify the issue. It’s one of those controversial areas that some people are okay with and some people are not, even just reading it in fiction. If it wasn’t included in this novel, I can guarantee that I’d be giving this novel a higher rating.
Now, aside from that, this was a suspenseful, intriguing, and entertaining read that was easily read in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down! The author started out the story with a literal bang and I couldn’t help but keep reading because I wanted to figure out the chain of events that lead to that moment.
This novel is a slow burn which is inarguably my favourite kind in the romance genre. The tension and angst is unreal which further enabled my inability to put this book down.
I loved the setting of the yacht as well as the tropical surroundings (especially with the current events of not being able to travel). This would make for the PERFECT vacation/holiday read and I can just imagine reading it while laying on a warm beach by the ocean.
Again, honestly, if it wasn’t for the inclusion of a certain relationship issue, this book would have probably been rated at least four stars. However, when that trope is involved in a novel, for me not only does it dampen the relationship that follows but also makes me question the individual characters.
***Thank you to Valentine PR as well as the author Kandi Steiner for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review***
Before I get into my review and thoughts for this novel, I do have a disclaimer. There’s a certain trope/plot point that is included in this novel that I have difficulty getting behind no matter the circumstance. As it’s a spoiler, I don’t want to explain what the trope/plot point is but if you read the novel, you’ll probably be able to identify the issue. It’s one of those controversial areas that some people are okay with and some people are not, even just reading it in fiction. If it wasn’t included in this novel, I can guarantee that I’d be giving this novel a higher rating.
Now, aside from that, this was a suspenseful, intriguing, and entertaining read that was easily read in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down! The author started out the story with a literal bang and I couldn’t help but keep reading because I wanted to figure out the chain of events that lead to that moment.
This novel is a slow burn which is inarguably my favourite kind in the romance genre. The tension and angst is unreal which further enabled my inability to put this book down.
I loved the setting of the yacht as well as the tropical surroundings (especially with the current events of not being able to travel). This would make for the PERFECT vacation/holiday read and I can just imagine reading it while laying on a warm beach by the ocean.
Again, honestly, if it wasn’t for the inclusion of a certain relationship issue, this book would have probably been rated at least four stars. However, when that trope is involved in a novel, for me not only does it dampen the relationship that follows but also makes me question the individual characters.
***Thank you to Valentine PR as well as the author Kandi Steiner for sending me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review***
February 20, 2021
I really struggled with this book. I love Kandi Steiner so much, and after that amazing prologue I felt like I was going to be glued to my kindle.. But the sorry itself was *so* slow that I had to force myself to keep reading. I'm glad I did because the last 20% was amazing, but it took so long for me to feel something.
Aspen and Theo started off with an almost Insta-love feel, even though she has a boyfriend in the beginning (a douchey, worthless boyfriend, but still) they have an immediate attraction to one another and almost cross the line on numerous occasions. I wouldn't call them a slow burn, and it wasn't as angsty as I was hoping if would be, and I honestly didn't like Aspen that much. All of this, plus how slow it was, just made this hard for me to get though.
I did really like Theo though. He wasn't overbearing like a lot of the rich billionaires in romances I've read in the past, nor is his money his entire personality. He's genuinely kind and adores Aspen, and never once pushes/rushes her. I liked him waaayyy more than Aspen.
Overall this wasn't my favorite KS read, but I can't wait to see what she's going to release next!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
Aspen and Theo started off with an almost Insta-love feel, even though she has a boyfriend in the beginning (a douchey, worthless boyfriend, but still) they have an immediate attraction to one another and almost cross the line on numerous occasions. I wouldn't call them a slow burn, and it wasn't as angsty as I was hoping if would be, and I honestly didn't like Aspen that much. All of this, plus how slow it was, just made this hard for me to get though.
I did really like Theo though. He wasn't overbearing like a lot of the rich billionaires in romances I've read in the past, nor is his money his entire personality. He's genuinely kind and adores Aspen, and never once pushes/rushes her. I liked him waaayyy more than Aspen.
Overall this wasn't my favorite KS read, but I can't wait to see what she's going to release next!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
March 5, 2021
The Hero owns the boat that the heroine's boyfriend is working on.
He invites the heroine to come on the voyage.
The Hero and heroine feel an attraction straight away though the heroine doesn't act on it.
The boyfriend, the signs are there from the start that he's most likely been cheating on the heroine when he works away on these cruises.
He continues to 'party'. There is an incident where he grabs another woman's breasts and he laughs it off as fooling around.
The Hero and heroine spend time together, in my opinion the heroine cheats emotionally but stops a physical relationship starting.
She hasn't officially broken things off with the boyfriend but the relationship is dead.
There are scenes of the heroine being intimate with her boyfriend but not much detail.
The Hero has 2 women kissing his neck, pawing at him and he takes them to his suite.
He reveals later he didn't have sex with either of them.
The heroine is sharing a bed with her boyfriend but has not been having sex with him since the first few nights on the yacht.
The Hero and heroine don't have sex until after she and her boyfriend have split up.
HEA.
Epilogue.
He invites the heroine to come on the voyage.
The Hero and heroine feel an attraction straight away though the heroine doesn't act on it.
The boyfriend, the signs are there from the start that he's most likely been cheating on the heroine when he works away on these cruises.
He continues to 'party'. There is an incident where he grabs another woman's breasts and he laughs it off as fooling around.
The Hero and heroine spend time together, in my opinion the heroine cheats emotionally but stops a physical relationship starting.
She hasn't officially broken things off with the boyfriend but the relationship is dead.
There are scenes of the heroine being intimate with her boyfriend but not much detail.
The Hero has 2 women kissing his neck, pawing at him and he takes them to his suite.
He reveals later he didn't have sex with either of them.
The heroine is sharing a bed with her boyfriend but has not been having sex with him since the first few nights on the yacht.
The Hero and heroine don't have sex until after she and her boyfriend have split up.
HEA.
Epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2021
4.25⭐️
Aw you guys. I finally see what the hype is about. I’ve seen this book everywhere for a year now.
Close Quarters by Kandi Steiner, a billionaire romance, is a dream fantasy come true.
Take an all expenses paid vacation on a luxury yacht cruising the Mediterranean. What could go wrong? Told in single POV we follow the journey of Aspen Dawn & Theo Whitman as they sail and explore beautiful destinations that make for an epic trip. Theo all the while wins our hearts.
Aspen Dawn, recently graduated college and is set to have a fantastic summer adventure by herself in Europe while her boyfriend of 4 years works on a luxury charter owned by a charming and handsome tech entrepreneur.
Theo Whitman is sexy, has beautiful eyes that captivate you, always gets what he wants, seems to be genuine and sweet while managing to be demanding and dominating. He exudes power, but also seems to be a genuinely good guy.
Aspen can’t stop looking at Theo. Theo can’t stop wanting to spend time with Aspen. There were moments when I was dying to get inside Theo’s head. The fun is in not knowing. I’m so used to dual POVs that the single was a nice treat to a classic format.
Aspens boyfriend Joel is becoming distant, moody and leaves Aspen to question what is going on with him. When Joel takes things way too far in every aspect of the way he treats Aspen, we as the reader are screaming for Aspen to leave her no good boyfriend and take the chance on something new. Something that could be really great.
Life is about taking chances and that’s the message here.
This enjoyable and angsty romance is so fun to read. It’s unique in that I’ve never read a book like this before. I’m looking forward to reading more of Kandi Steiner’s work!
February 10, 2021
Angsty and intense with the kind of addictive storyline that keeps you turning the pages, this was a devourable read. On paper, it sounds like the kind of romance that I’d hate - if you felt the complicated, possibly cheating, vibes coming from that blurb, you haven’t missed the mark. But it’s executed in such a way that I was entranced by and engaged in the story, rather than enraged by it. I loved the chemistry between these two, the twisty romance, the complications, and the vacation feel. It was certainly never boring. And this is absolutely NOT a love triangle, if that’s what you’re worried about. Is it complex though? Yes, definitely yes.
The story follows Aspen, a woman who finds herself taking the vacation of a lifetime when she unexpectedly joins her boyfriend on a 3-month yacht adventure. Aspen’s boyfriend has been hired by tech billionaire, Theo, as a crew member during his travel in Europe. Though she wasn’t supposed to be a part of the trip, Theo takes an interest in Aspen’s photography, an invites her to join. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that comes with unintended consequences, both for Aspen’s relationship and her love life as a whole. One man lets her down while the other steps up to the plate, but they’re all on one twisted trip together for the summer.
Let me start off by saying that I am NOT a fan of cheating or overly angsty love triangles, but something about this blurb spoke to me. I love me some forced proximity, and sexual tension is a favorite of mine, so I was willing to take a chance on this one. I’m definitely glad I did. I read this in one sitting, and was hooked the entire time. There are some great, subtle moments in here that give the story such impact, and I was rooting for Aspen and Theo the whole time. It’s the kind of slow burn that’s executed well, ratcheting up the tension until it snaps. Yes, Aspen does some things that cross a line. However, I appreciated that this never felt like a love triangle; there are clearly issues in Aspen’s relationship that have nothing to do with Theo, and I loved the contrasts between the two. The author does an excellent job showing the evolution throughout, and it makes the reading experience that much richer. If you’re ready for a complicated ride, then this is definitely worth a read. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this angsty romance.
The story follows Aspen, a woman who finds herself taking the vacation of a lifetime when she unexpectedly joins her boyfriend on a 3-month yacht adventure. Aspen’s boyfriend has been hired by tech billionaire, Theo, as a crew member during his travel in Europe. Though she wasn’t supposed to be a part of the trip, Theo takes an interest in Aspen’s photography, an invites her to join. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that comes with unintended consequences, both for Aspen’s relationship and her love life as a whole. One man lets her down while the other steps up to the plate, but they’re all on one twisted trip together for the summer.
Let me start off by saying that I am NOT a fan of cheating or overly angsty love triangles, but something about this blurb spoke to me. I love me some forced proximity, and sexual tension is a favorite of mine, so I was willing to take a chance on this one. I’m definitely glad I did. I read this in one sitting, and was hooked the entire time. There are some great, subtle moments in here that give the story such impact, and I was rooting for Aspen and Theo the whole time. It’s the kind of slow burn that’s executed well, ratcheting up the tension until it snaps. Yes, Aspen does some things that cross a line. However, I appreciated that this never felt like a love triangle; there are clearly issues in Aspen’s relationship that have nothing to do with Theo, and I loved the contrasts between the two. The author does an excellent job showing the evolution throughout, and it makes the reading experience that much richer. If you’re ready for a complicated ride, then this is definitely worth a read. I received an early copy and am voluntarily leaving a review of this angsty romance.
March 6, 2021
4 ⭐'s
“Tell me something true.”
Every since I read A Love Letter to Whiskey, I've been a huge Kandi Steiner fan. This book is no exception...and it is a totally fantasy read for me being that the hero is a billionaire.
Just be advised there is a fine line regarding cheating and there is definitely emotional cheating.
Aspen is checking out the yacht that her boyfriend, Joel, will be working on. They are both newly graduated and after the tour, Aspen will be off during a bit of a tour of her own.
The owner of the yacht, Theo, notices Aspen taking pictures, specifically one of him, and asks her to stay on the book as an unofficial photographer. How could she say no?
One of the problems is that Aspen is very introverted and Joel is not. In fact, he is a huge partier. And Theo doesn't mind if the crew parties as long as they get their work done. Aspen sees things that are unsettling and a bit shocking, as is Joel's attitude. They soon start drifting further and further apart. And this is where Theo comes in and he starts spending more time with Aspen - turning on the charm and spoiling her senseless.
There's some drama and it fully opens the door for Theo. I would have loved to get more of his POV in relation to his initial interest in Aspen. It felt a little too insta.
This is the part that things get really romantic. I was swept up in the clothing Theo bought for Aspen...it was all so colorful and flowy. And I could only imagine what all the pictures looked like. Theo couldn't have planned things better.
Unfortunately, the drama gets a bit over the top for me but the epilogue was sweet and I was happy with the way things turned out.
There is a bonus scene you can get off her website about Theo meeting the family. It was exactly what you would think it would be.
“Tell me something true.”
Every since I read A Love Letter to Whiskey, I've been a huge Kandi Steiner fan. This book is no exception...and it is a totally fantasy read for me being that the hero is a billionaire.
Just be advised there is a fine line regarding cheating and there is definitely emotional cheating.
Aspen is checking out the yacht that her boyfriend, Joel, will be working on. They are both newly graduated and after the tour, Aspen will be off during a bit of a tour of her own.
The owner of the yacht, Theo, notices Aspen taking pictures, specifically one of him, and asks her to stay on the book as an unofficial photographer. How could she say no?
One of the problems is that Aspen is very introverted and Joel is not. In fact, he is a huge partier. And Theo doesn't mind if the crew parties as long as they get their work done. Aspen sees things that are unsettling and a bit shocking, as is Joel's attitude. They soon start drifting further and further apart. And this is where Theo comes in and he starts spending more time with Aspen - turning on the charm and spoiling her senseless.
There's some drama and it fully opens the door for Theo. I would have loved to get more of his POV in relation to his initial interest in Aspen. It felt a little too insta.
This is the part that things get really romantic. I was swept up in the clothing Theo bought for Aspen...it was all so colorful and flowy. And I could only imagine what all the pictures looked like. Theo couldn't have planned things better.
Unfortunately, the drama gets a bit over the top for me but the epilogue was sweet and I was happy with the way things turned out.
There is a bonus scene you can get off her website about Theo meeting the family. It was exactly what you would think it would be.
February 18, 2021
Hot new billionaire romance from Kandi Steiner! Close Quarters is a slow burn with some major Below Deck vibes. Readers are calling it "sinfully angsty, passionate, and emotionally charged." Grab your copy today!
February 22, 2021
4.5 stars!
I knew that I have to get this one after the blurb! Its veryfairytale-like (hot Billionaire falling in love with a fresh college graduate) but thankfully, it didn't turn out to be some cheesy romance. Theo is portrayed in a rather down to earth manner, making him someone easy to like and root for. Aspen's character developed beautifully and she did a lot of growing up by the end of the book. This book ticked off the "intense chemistry and passionate love" plot which was why I gave it 4.5 stars. So much feels, just what i'm looking for! 😍
I knew that I have to get this one after the blurb! Its veryfairytale-like (hot Billionaire falling in love with a fresh college graduate) but thankfully, it didn't turn out to be some cheesy romance. Theo is portrayed in a rather down to earth manner, making him someone easy to like and root for. Aspen's character developed beautifully and she did a lot of growing up by the end of the book. This book ticked off the "intense chemistry and passionate love" plot which was why I gave it 4.5 stars. So much feels, just what i'm looking for! 😍
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