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Moby's Dick
Burke Matthews and his wily team of experts on board the salvage cargo ship, The Brigadoon, have hauled everything from Russian nuclear submarines to stranded catamarans. After having spent almost two weeks in the sunny port of Palermo, Italy trying to win the bid to salvage half a million gallons of oil from a distressed cruise ship half-sunk off the coast, Burke starts to worry about the trapped fuel in the ship's hull.
As families of the missing passengers urge the country's environmental minister to hold off the salvage as the search for their loved ones continues, Burke knows with each passing day, hope of life diminishes. There's another problem too. The Bella Donna has crashed in the middle of a marine reserve and is on the verge of fatally contaminating the water that also goes to the main water lines for the entire Amalfi Coast. It's an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
Allowed to drill finally, he is astonished to hear plaintive knocking from an engine room above. He breaks down the door to find a sick, but very handsome French Canadian waiter trapped for twelve days. Gabriel Bergeron is one of the sexiest guys Burke's ever seen...and he soon learns as he visits the man in a local hospital, one seriously hung dude...
As families of the missing passengers urge the country's environmental minister to hold off the salvage as the search for their loved ones continues, Burke knows with each passing day, hope of life diminishes. There's another problem too. The Bella Donna has crashed in the middle of a marine reserve and is on the verge of fatally contaminating the water that also goes to the main water lines for the entire Amalfi Coast. It's an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
Allowed to drill finally, he is astonished to hear plaintive knocking from an engine room above. He breaks down the door to find a sick, but very handsome French Canadian waiter trapped for twelve days. Gabriel Bergeron is one of the sexiest guys Burke's ever seen...and he soon learns as he visits the man in a local hospital, one seriously hung dude...
- GenresM M Romance
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 5, 2012
About the author
A.J. Llewellyn
288 books452 followersA.J. Llewellyn lives in California, but dreams of living in Hawaii. Frequent trips to all the islands, bags of Kona coffee in the fridge and a healthy collection of Hawaiian records keep this writer refueled.
A.J’s passion for the islands led to writing a play about the last ruling monarch of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani as well as a non-erotic novel about the overthrow of her kingdom written in diary form from her maid’s point of view.
A.J. never lacks inspiritation for male/male erotic romances and on the rare occasion this happens, pursues other passions such as collecting books on Hawaiiana, surfing and spending time with friends and animal companions.
A.J. Llewellyn believes that love is a song best sung out loud.
A.J’s passion for the islands led to writing a play about the last ruling monarch of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani as well as a non-erotic novel about the overthrow of her kingdom written in diary form from her maid’s point of view.
A.J. never lacks inspiritation for male/male erotic romances and on the rare occasion this happens, pursues other passions such as collecting books on Hawaiiana, surfing and spending time with friends and animal companions.
A.J. Llewellyn believes that love is a song best sung out loud.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 25, 2015
This book is an interesting mixture between lighthearted humor (I mean, just look at the title!) and a somewhat more detailed look at the marine salvage business than most of us have had so far. That balance between the main characters having fun despite some of the adversity around them is quite delicate, and I bet it was not easy to achieve when writing the story.
Burke is a tough guy in a very competitive business. He runs a marine salvage business and he is very hands-on, so he gets to see the most interesting places. He is also almost always on call, in danger himself or watching out for his team, and much of his time is spent dealing with the authorities in charge of handing out salvage contracts. He is also very caring, and I loved how protective he was of Gabriel.
Gabriel is a waiter who lives the nightmare of being stuck in a stranded and potentially sinking shop. We don't hear much about his ordeal, but when he is rescued, his relief is palpable. Understandably, he focuses on celebrating that he got out - and the remarkable man he has met.
This story reminded me that 'life goes on' - in the best sense of the word. Hope is what keeps us going, and even when facing a half-sunken ship with all the heartache of lost lives and a potential environmental catastrophe, what we take strength from are relationships with other humans and sometimes, when we are very lucky, finding true love.
If you like stories that combine humor and an interesting look at marine salvage in modern times, and if reading about two very hot men who meet in adverse conditions but make the best of it is what you are looking for, then you will probably like this story as much as I do.
NOTE: This book was provided by Silver Publishing for the purpose of a review.
Burke is a tough guy in a very competitive business. He runs a marine salvage business and he is very hands-on, so he gets to see the most interesting places. He is also almost always on call, in danger himself or watching out for his team, and much of his time is spent dealing with the authorities in charge of handing out salvage contracts. He is also very caring, and I loved how protective he was of Gabriel.
Gabriel is a waiter who lives the nightmare of being stuck in a stranded and potentially sinking shop. We don't hear much about his ordeal, but when he is rescued, his relief is palpable. Understandably, he focuses on celebrating that he got out - and the remarkable man he has met.
This story reminded me that 'life goes on' - in the best sense of the word. Hope is what keeps us going, and even when facing a half-sunken ship with all the heartache of lost lives and a potential environmental catastrophe, what we take strength from are relationships with other humans and sometimes, when we are very lucky, finding true love.
If you like stories that combine humor and an interesting look at marine salvage in modern times, and if reading about two very hot men who meet in adverse conditions but make the best of it is what you are looking for, then you will probably like this story as much as I do.
NOTE: This book was provided by Silver Publishing for the purpose of a review.
October 30, 2012
2.5 Stars. The book started off great for me and took a nose dive about 2/3 into it. Burke meets and falls in love with Gabriel within a week, which is fine, if he hadn't just fucked his ex a couple of days before and he didn't go and fuck a random stranger from a bar the day after the first time he has sex with Gabriel. It just soured the book for me.
November 4, 2018
This book lost me at the random hookup at the end.
April 1, 2015
3.5 star review by Tidal
I was drawn to this book for two reasons, the cover and the title. When I am sitting on the fence about a book, I must admit the cover will sway me. The cover of this book is definitely compelling but when I read the book, the picture my mind painted was quite different from the one on the cover and that was not a bad thing, because the cover didn’t match the story at all! The title now is another thing, it promised something and it did deliver, but it gave much more than I expected.
It was a very interesting story. Many people think of heroic people as those who do one specific thing but I tend to think of them as people who live their lives in a consistent way, Burke Matthews does this. Burke is smart, educated, respected and has impeccable character and integrity, it does not hurt that he is amazingly hot too. Is this too much to wish for? Come on this is a book, and it is written in a believable way too so I do not think it is.
Moby’s Dick brings to mind the Costa Concordia tragedy. This story has adventure, loss, betrayal, drama, old love, new love, all taking place with the backdrop of beautiful Panino, Italy. Before I read this book, I did not know much about the marine salvage business. They are desperately searching for survivors and there is a great deal of pressure from all sides. During their search, Burke hears a noise that sounds like someone trying to get their attention. Under Burke’s heroic leadership, they find French Canadian waiter Gabriel Bergeron. He is very weak, dehydrated and they take him to the hospital and continue their search…but there is a connection between the two men.
Burke cannot get Gabriel out of his mind, so after attending to his duties he goes to check up on him. They get to know one another and Burke soon finds out that Gabriel is just as beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside and he accidently finds the French Canadian is gifted quite nicely in another way as well.
Watching the relationship grow from attraction to throbbing lust is heart pounding. Many forces are working to keep them apart but nothing can deny the fireworks. The progression is really well written because it is genuine and not based on gratitude because Burke rescued Gabriel. There is more than meets the eye to both men’s character in terms of ingenuity, and tenacity.
The people of the town are so gracious and full of hospitality, and they welcome Burke and his crew so warmly. The story is so descriptive; you can really see the faces of the people, feel the wind on your face, and hear their voices when they speak.
The pacing and rhythm is great and there are no points in the story that it lags or get boring. Burke is just a regular guy doing his job and his crew respects him. This is refreshing! The characters were believable, compelling and the story had interesting twists. The sex scenes are smoldering and aside from that, the writing is so good that after the sex scenes are over you still keep reading because the story is so good. Moby’s Dick is much more entertaining than Herman Melville’s Moby Dick!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
I was drawn to this book for two reasons, the cover and the title. When I am sitting on the fence about a book, I must admit the cover will sway me. The cover of this book is definitely compelling but when I read the book, the picture my mind painted was quite different from the one on the cover and that was not a bad thing, because the cover didn’t match the story at all! The title now is another thing, it promised something and it did deliver, but it gave much more than I expected.
It was a very interesting story. Many people think of heroic people as those who do one specific thing but I tend to think of them as people who live their lives in a consistent way, Burke Matthews does this. Burke is smart, educated, respected and has impeccable character and integrity, it does not hurt that he is amazingly hot too. Is this too much to wish for? Come on this is a book, and it is written in a believable way too so I do not think it is.
Moby’s Dick brings to mind the Costa Concordia tragedy. This story has adventure, loss, betrayal, drama, old love, new love, all taking place with the backdrop of beautiful Panino, Italy. Before I read this book, I did not know much about the marine salvage business. They are desperately searching for survivors and there is a great deal of pressure from all sides. During their search, Burke hears a noise that sounds like someone trying to get their attention. Under Burke’s heroic leadership, they find French Canadian waiter Gabriel Bergeron. He is very weak, dehydrated and they take him to the hospital and continue their search…but there is a connection between the two men.
Burke cannot get Gabriel out of his mind, so after attending to his duties he goes to check up on him. They get to know one another and Burke soon finds out that Gabriel is just as beautiful on the inside as he is on the outside and he accidently finds the French Canadian is gifted quite nicely in another way as well.
Watching the relationship grow from attraction to throbbing lust is heart pounding. Many forces are working to keep them apart but nothing can deny the fireworks. The progression is really well written because it is genuine and not based on gratitude because Burke rescued Gabriel. There is more than meets the eye to both men’s character in terms of ingenuity, and tenacity.
The people of the town are so gracious and full of hospitality, and they welcome Burke and his crew so warmly. The story is so descriptive; you can really see the faces of the people, feel the wind on your face, and hear their voices when they speak.
The pacing and rhythm is great and there are no points in the story that it lags or get boring. Burke is just a regular guy doing his job and his crew respects him. This is refreshing! The characters were believable, compelling and the story had interesting twists. The sex scenes are smoldering and aside from that, the writing is so good that after the sex scenes are over you still keep reading because the story is so good. Moby’s Dick is much more entertaining than Herman Melville’s Moby Dick!
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
August 30, 2018
In 'Moby's Dick' by A.J. Llewellyn and D. J. Manly, Burke Matthews seemingly has it all. He's handsome, successful, wealthy, and has a great deal of expertise in his job as captain of a salvage vessel. He's respected and admired by his crew, travels all over the world seeing beautiful places and meeting interesting people. But he's restless and wonders if things are going so well, then why is he so empty and lonely? Burke is determined to find out and remedy the situation. After saving countless lives, and reducing potentially devastating environmental risks, Burke is ready to begin salvaging his own life.
I loved Gabriel's personality. He's such a kind, loving soul and so appreciative of everything anyone did for him. Gabriel has great integrity. He's so open and honest and takes nothing for granted. He's also very brave. It's absolutely incredible that Gabriel survives the shipwreck; it's also a miracle that Burke hears his tapping and is able to rescue him. But, was it a coincidence or did fate bring them together? What are the odds of them meeting by happenstance? Whatever the case, from the first moment Gabriel falls into Burke's arms, he grabs onto his hand and doesn’t let him go. The encounter shakes both of them to their cores physically and emotionally. Inexplicably, they see a glimpse of a happy future in each other's eyes which neither can refuse.
I'd never thought much about the salvage business, but when I did, I imagined salvage companies to be like scavengers who swoop down on disasters and plunder them, taking what was usable and leaving the rest. I'd never thought of them as 'the good guys' who save lives and preserve natural resources. A.J. and D. J.'s overview of the salvage process has given me a a greater appreciation for the salvage workers and the invaluable service they perform. In addition to the marvelous education, there is very steamy sex, passion, tongue-in-cheek humor, intrigue, deceit, and beautiful scenery. If you want to read an informative, well-written love story featuring absolutely delightful characters which you will want to cheer for all the way, then I recommend that you read 'Moby's Dick'.
NOTE: This book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
I loved Gabriel's personality. He's such a kind, loving soul and so appreciative of everything anyone did for him. Gabriel has great integrity. He's so open and honest and takes nothing for granted. He's also very brave. It's absolutely incredible that Gabriel survives the shipwreck; it's also a miracle that Burke hears his tapping and is able to rescue him. But, was it a coincidence or did fate bring them together? What are the odds of them meeting by happenstance? Whatever the case, from the first moment Gabriel falls into Burke's arms, he grabs onto his hand and doesn’t let him go. The encounter shakes both of them to their cores physically and emotionally. Inexplicably, they see a glimpse of a happy future in each other's eyes which neither can refuse.
I'd never thought much about the salvage business, but when I did, I imagined salvage companies to be like scavengers who swoop down on disasters and plunder them, taking what was usable and leaving the rest. I'd never thought of them as 'the good guys' who save lives and preserve natural resources. A.J. and D. J.'s overview of the salvage process has given me a a greater appreciation for the salvage workers and the invaluable service they perform. In addition to the marvelous education, there is very steamy sex, passion, tongue-in-cheek humor, intrigue, deceit, and beautiful scenery. If you want to read an informative, well-written love story featuring absolutely delightful characters which you will want to cheer for all the way, then I recommend that you read 'Moby's Dick'.
NOTE: This book was provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
April 18, 2015
Burke Matthews is accustomed to salvaging wrecked water vehicles; it is what his team does best. However, rescuing cruise ship survivor Gabriel Bergeron develops into an additional benefit that Burke can’t resist.
Moby's Dick is a charming budding romance story, complete with a scorned ex-lover in the part of the scoundrel. The setting is small coastal town in Italy. The plot gives an overview of the procedures involved in salvaging disabled ships. The characters are creditable.
Burke is looking for a mutual love relationship; he wanted to feel an emotional connection that goes beyond the sexual aspects. Burke did not love his ex-lover, though he enjoyed the sex they shared.
Gabriel was not looking for a relationship but he experienced the same affections that Burke felt which soon developed into a sensuous love affair.
The ex-lover has some major jealousy issues; Burke presented his former lover with a straightforward break-up months before Burke met Gabriel. Yet the lover refused to accept Burke’s rejection of their one sided emotionally unfulfilling relationship. The former lover claims to love Burke, yet the lover commits an unspeakable act for the sole purpose of destroying Burke.
A.J. Llewellyn & D.J. Manly’s Moby's Dick is a touching as well as enjoyable saga.
Moby's Dick is a charming budding romance story, complete with a scorned ex-lover in the part of the scoundrel. The setting is small coastal town in Italy. The plot gives an overview of the procedures involved in salvaging disabled ships. The characters are creditable.
Burke is looking for a mutual love relationship; he wanted to feel an emotional connection that goes beyond the sexual aspects. Burke did not love his ex-lover, though he enjoyed the sex they shared.
Gabriel was not looking for a relationship but he experienced the same affections that Burke felt which soon developed into a sensuous love affair.
The ex-lover has some major jealousy issues; Burke presented his former lover with a straightforward break-up months before Burke met Gabriel. Yet the lover refused to accept Burke’s rejection of their one sided emotionally unfulfilling relationship. The former lover claims to love Burke, yet the lover commits an unspeakable act for the sole purpose of destroying Burke.
A.J. Llewellyn & D.J. Manly’s Moby's Dick is a touching as well as enjoyable saga.
August 13, 2016
A different read to what I was expecting. From the title I was expecting full out comedy, and whilst bits were funny, it wasn't a comedy. However, I did quite like it.
The main story was about the marine salvage, and being a sea side dweller, this did interest me and whilst it wasn't pleasant, I liked that the authors did not go with the 'save everyone' answer. The descriptions of bodies who had been missing for a long time felt very authentic to me - and not for the too squeamish.
On the romance side, this was not all rose tinted glasses. Those who dislike cheating will not be too happy, though it didnt unduly bother me. I wasn't sure about all three MC's, not sure who Blake would end up with, felt sorry for Trent then didnt, didnt feel I got to know Gabriel enough to form much opinion.
The main story was about the marine salvage, and being a sea side dweller, this did interest me and whilst it wasn't pleasant, I liked that the authors did not go with the 'save everyone' answer. The descriptions of bodies who had been missing for a long time felt very authentic to me - and not for the too squeamish.
On the romance side, this was not all rose tinted glasses. Those who dislike cheating will not be too happy, though it didnt unduly bother me. I wasn't sure about all three MC's, not sure who Blake would end up with, felt sorry for Trent then didnt, didnt feel I got to know Gabriel enough to form much opinion.
May 16, 2012
I liked this one. I felt the tension from the first page when Burke is circling the ship wondering if there are survivors and the knowledge things like this happen. It's an exciting story and the relationship is fun. I like Burke and Gabriel. And the ship's cat!
August 28, 2013
3 stars
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews