Harbor Master

Sweet Cherry Cove #1

by Cassie Mint

He finds me curled up and shivering in a rowboat after a summer storm.

The harbor master saves me… whoever I am.

Nudged awake in a tangle of fishing nets, I have no idea how I got here. I don’t recognize this beachside town, or the soaked dress I’m wearing. I don’t remember my own freaking name.

Panic rises. It would swallow me whole, except for this stern older man with his steady gaze. As long as his eyes are on me… I can breathe. I’m okay.

And he’s protective. He says he’ll keep me safe until I remember everything.

But the longer this man takes care of me… the more I taste this sweet new life…

The more I want to stay lost.

Harbor Master is a short and steamy instalove story, starring a gruff harbor master and his beautiful, off-limits flotsam.

Genres: Novella, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Short Stories, Forced Proximity, Slow Burn

88 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 6, 2023

About the author

Cassie writes outrageous, OTT insta-love with tons of sugar and steam. She loves cookie dough, summer barbecues, and her gorgeous cat Missy.

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Reviews

[Céloise · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆4.5 I’m a sucker for the grumpy, reclusive knight-in-tattered-armor trope.😃

Total comfort reread, and my favorite Cassie Mint by far. Mac & Cocoa are soooo cute.🥰 I love a unique damsel in distress scenario, especially when the damsel is strong, capable, and spirited in her own right—and the grumpy ‘knight’ loves her that way and does everything in his power to help her flourish, whether or not it serves his own selfish interests to keep her with him. Cute, hot, quick insta fun. I actually wouldn’t have minded this being a lot longer! 👌

[Christina (stinarinareads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, sweet, and spicy read. Not my favorite Cassie Mint, somewhat average 3 stars.

My biggest takeaway from this? The MMC is a harbor master, finds the FMC washed ashore with no memory, not even her name, and when she tells him he can name her, he picks... COCOA?!?!?! BECAUSE SHE'S DRINKING HOT CHOCOLATE??!?!

Harbor master, boats, dock... 'MARINA' IS RIGHT THERE.

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was alright 🤷‍♀️. I really liked the beginning of the book, and thought that the ending was sweet- but I wasn't too big on the climax of the story, and the angst/conflict between the characters.

Overall it was ok.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

Instalove, as always... but the story is fun. Except this one really needs to be longer. We never get an explanation of what happened and I feel like this one could make a full book.

Tho, this also falls into the "uncomfortable places to have sex" category, the wooden pole while standing up is only second to another of her books where the guy pounds into her while she's on the concrete deck of a pool.

[april ♡ probably reading smut - safety reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 I adored this.

TROPES:
~age gap
~instalove
~heroine with amnesia
~grumpy x sunshine

This starts off with a woman, Cocoa, falling off a cliff. The harbor master, Mac, saves her the next morning. There's an instant connection between them - she feels safe and protected with him, and he genuinely wants to help her. Soon they learn she doesn't remember any of her memories.

They spend weeks together in his little cottage. They're actively looking to find out who she really is, but feelings come between them. It gets spiiiicy!!

I loved this so much! Mac is the perfect hero - a grumpy older man who wants to protect Cocoa at all costs. Even if that means losing her when her memories return.

SAFETY:
Ages: early 20s heroine, 40H
Virgin/celibate: virgin heroine, celibate hero
OM/OW drama: none
Cheating/sharing: none
HEA?: yes!

[sil ♡ the book voyagers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm in such a big book slump, Cassie Mint is the only one that could get me out of it. So, of course, I had to pick up the newest Mint book, Harbor Master!!!

If you know Cassie Mint's book, you know she's gonna have a grumpy guy, an age gap romance, and two souls that are lonely but find that someone who can become their family. This is basically that and I enjoyed it SO MUCH. He's so down bad for her since the very beginning, I love that. The heroine has amnesia and doesn't remember one thing, so he instantly wants to take care of her and protect her. Obviously, he falls madly in love with her and doesn't want her to walk away from this, but he first thinks about her happiness. But what he doesn't know is that she is also feeling so many things for him. I LOVED IT!

[atomickitten · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

It was okay I guess but not exactly my cuppa.



Amnesia stories require more depth, more background, more build-up, more info, more things that would make me forget about the world and delve into the story completely.

Here the heroine seemed to not give a damn about the fact that she lost her memory and she was all happy-go-lucky and from the very get go the only thing she cared about was Mac and how much she wanted to jump his bones.
Ugh.

Plus, my deeply-rooted dislike of everything circus related successfully prevented me from enjoying this one.

And I really don't like it when it's the heroine pursuing the hero.
Nope.
I like it the other way round.

So, like I said, this could be a very enjoyable read if the things mentioned above don't bother you.

And since this is just my personal opinion, I'd give this one 2-2.5 stars.

I still love Cassie Mint, just not this book.

Hope I'll like other books more from this series.

[Olix · Rating 5 out of 5]

English is not my first language. I'm sorry for the mistakes in advance.

Ladies and gentlemen, she's done it again!
Cassie Mint is a well-known author whom I always reach for when I feel like something short and light. Admittedly, sometimes it's her 5 books in a row.

It's been ups and downs for me for a while, that's how you know the author inside out.
Personally, my favorite item is Mail Order Vow. I don't know what the crack is in this short novel but I keep coming back for more.

Harbor Master really came close to beating it. So from me Cassie gets 5/5, thanks to her I see a regularity in loving sailors, lighthouse keepers and such. New fetish alert!

But seriously, if you're looking for wounded heroes, loners, alpha males, and a whole host of hot moments, check out Cassie!

I rate short novels the same but different. LOL.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Catheryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun spicy novella. Both characters were pretty good. I wasn't crazy about it but I also wasn't mad about it. Might continue the series.

[riley ☠︎︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars. I love them🤭

[Eco · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This read was light, quick, and fun, which is exactly what I wanted when I picked it up. I really enjoyed the amnesia plot line. I would’ve never guessed she worked in a circus. I really liked that about her though, it was a good surprise. Also the name Cocoa was so cute!! Him picking it for her melted my heart. And the three years later? With their daughter? I loved that. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Mac, I liked him but he just kept really frustrating me. I really liked Cocoa, but for some reason their chemistry together felt weird to me. Like something was off. I was surprised by how well written this was since it was so short. It was a nice change of pace. Time to read the next one! :)

[kymagirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harbor master Mac (H) finds an injured young woman the morning after a severe storm and even though she can’t remember who she is, she only wants to be with the loner. As Mac and the young woman he calls Cocoa (h) get to know one another, their connection deepens and things heat up between the two. But Cocoa starts to remember a life that she isn’t sure she wants anymore. Sweet age gap instalove quickie with a side of heat and a little bit of relationship angst.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just okay.

Very middle of the road for Cassie Mint. Maybe I’m just not into the amnesia trope but something about this book just didn’t do it for me. I’d give it a skip. Also, the set up for the next book doesn’t look super promising. The hero seems like a jerk. I guess we’ll see.

[Sandra R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great slow burn romance novella by this author. Our heroine has a fall into the sea and our harbour master hero finds her curled up in a boat, so takes her in and looks after her as she has amnesia. I really enjoyed this one. 3.5 stars

[mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

got me out of my reading slump everyone say thank you silly little instalove romances

[DarkTwistedReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the other two but it was still just as entertaining albeit more emotional.
The harbor master is definitely a stubborn one, but at least he's aware of it lol

[B.L. Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Mint Book So Far!

Harbor Master did something to me, man. Cassie Mint never fails to suck me in and play with my emotions, but this was a whole other level! My heart hurt at certain points for the pining hero and heroine, and many tears were shed. In true Mint fashion though, there was the perfect level of heat and a swoon-worthy HEA. My new fav!

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was caught up in a storm and when she woke up, she did not know who she was only that the man she looked up at would keep her safe.

Mac is the habor master and prefers to keep to himself. When he sees the woman in the boat, his heart and mind start to spin.

This was a quick and entertaining story with a bit of heat and mystery that makes it a delight to get lost in.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[help · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh kinda reads these days, where's the party guys??

_______________


Sweet Cherry Cove Series

1. Harbor Master (Cocoa & Mac) = 2/5
2. Rock God = not read yet
3. Chef's Kiss = can be pre-ordered

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harbor Master bk 1 [Sweet Cherry Cover Trilogy]
These are short Romance Novella books.. [I give this book 3.5 stars because the story was sweet]

Mac is the Harbor Master and is a bit grumpy who likes to keep himself away from people.. One day when he went to work he found a women in a boat and he try's to help her.. When he finds out she can not remember much he gets a doctor and then takes care of the women.. She lets him pick a name for her because she does not remember her name so he picks Cocoa..

Cocoa gets hurt and wakes up to see Mac beside her but she does not remember who she is.. She remembers some things but nothing about herself.. she feels safe with Mac and wants to stay with him.. When she remembers her life it makes her sad because she does not want to lose mac but she asks him to take her back to see her life..

This book is packed full of:
⦁ Harbor Master Romance
⦁ Strangers to Lovers
⦁ Virgin Trope
⦁ Age Gap
⦁ Amnesia Trope [Heroine gets hurt and can't remember anything about herself but can remember other things]
⦁ Hero found the heroine and took care of her
⦁ A bit of steam with spanking and outdoor play [In tent]
⦁ Grumpy/Sunshine
⦁ Caretaking
⦁ Hero likes reading
⦁ Forced Proximity
⦁ Protective Hero
⦁ Love at First Sight
⦁ Fast Read

I think this book was sweet and i did like the romance as well.. I am glad that everything worked out they got a happy ending..

[MerReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Safe
No cheating
No gross condoms use
NO OM
NO OW
No separation
Amnesia
beta 40 year old no history
young h virgin
No 'I love yous'
HEA
This is your old school Cassie Mint. You know the kind, you read one you read them all. Same blue print. The guy avoids the girl. She initiates everything. He pushes her away. She tries to seduce him some more. He goes with the cowardly, 'she could do better than me, she doesn't want me', when she literally initiates all the physical intimacy. No fight for her. He is crude and an asshole towards the end making her feel heartbroken and hurt.
Then, no apology, just her telling him how she feels and him taking her virginity and 'claiming her'. He thought that she didn't feel the same for him, when SHE was all over him and clearly does. *eye roll* He pours his heart out to her and they have sex and finally the 'you are mine' comes out. Not very convincing, but better than nothing. It is one of those hate reads. You know the hero is a beta coward and the heroine needs a bit of pride. But it's short and middle of the road. I knew what I was getting myself into so meh. Neither one of them said 'I love you', so that irks me.
Won't reread it. If you want a better read that is similar but better, "Mail Order Vow" is better, plus it is a dual virgin romance. Read that one, and skip this one.

[Anna M_82 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to Cassie Mint’s newest series. Mac is the harbor master for the small town of Sweet Cherry Cove. Cocoa is the younger woman he finds passed out near his dock. She wakes up with amnesia and Mac is the only thing that makes her feel safe. She stays with him while she waits for her memories, falling for him more and more each day. Mac is falling too but can’t bring himself to believe that a young and vivacious woman like Cocoa, a name they picked since she doesn’t know hers, would be interested in the introverted and sullen harbor master.

When her memories return, I was surprised by who she is and her history. It was definitely not what I expected but it was a fun and interesting development. I also really enjoyed the steamy scene that follows when she returns home. I don’t want to give it away but holy cannoli it was hot. I really enjoyed this story and their road to falling in love. The ending was a beautiful completion to their story. I hope these two show up as characters in the next few books because they were so sweet together.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Andra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cocoa falls off a cliff into the ocean one stormy night, only to wake up in a stranger’s fishing boat without any memories. Mac, a reclusive and gruff harbour master, finds her and takes her under his wing. The two feel an instant attraction but Mac refuses to act on it, thinking Cocoa is too young and once she gets back her memories, will definitely leave. Cocoa, however, feels like she is finally where she is supposed to be. I am not fond of age gap stories with protective heroes generally but this was a tastefully done take on the trope. Mac is a total sweetheart and Cocoa is a tease but a very likeable and spunky young woman. And the suspense, and the angst… The sparks and the heat… I could literally not remove my eyes from the text before I reached the end! It is a short story but if I could give more than 5 stars, I would.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[**Elle**Bee**Double U** · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not gonna lie, I was starting to lose hope for Cassie Mint's books. There for a bit, I couldn't seem to get into anything she was writing without becoming annoyed or just blah about the story.
This book I absolutely adored!
Mac, as the harbor master, lives a solitude life. He's not very social, but he's always there to help out when any of the town's citizens need it. So he's surprised when he finds a woman washed up in a row boat after a storm. Even more surprising are the feelings he feels for her, even when he knows he shouldn't because she has a life that she will eventually need to get back to...that is if her memory ever comes back.
I really liked the life that Cocoa led before her accident, it's not something I would've thought about.
Really hoping the next book is about the rockstar we briefly glimpse in this one!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leah Eugenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicely woven mystery... Even the reader doesn't have any answers.

Though I must admit, the reality came as a surprise.

Mac is stoic, quiet and rarely talks to anyone. He'd much rather be left alone. And after years of the locals feeling his abrupt responses, he mostly is... Left alone.

Finding an unconscious woman curled up in a rowboat completely unravels his orderly life. Anything he can do to make her happy, in spite of being much older than she is, is exactly how he proceeds.

It isn't so much wooing her; he always figured she'd leave eventually. It is that awkward need to be there for her in any way he can be.

Cocoa finds herself in turns fascinated and desperate for him. And everything she does to reach out for what she wants is carefully ignored. Mac thinks he's too old for her, and tries to hold her at arm's length.

Thoroughly enjoyed this quick but entertaining read.

[Curvy Girl Book Nerd (Jen S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harbor Master is a short and steamy, instalove, age-gap, OTT, romance. Mac is a 40 year old loner, hunky Harbor Master in Sweet Cherry Cove. Cocoa (as he names her) is a young woman he finds washed up in a boat one morning. When he sees her, he is instantly attracted to her and knows he wants to protect her. When she wakes up, she has no memory of who she is or where she is from. The gruff Mac takes her in, and she instantly feels safe and loved and never wants to leave him. Mac struggles to contain his feelings given the age gap. What happens when she remembers who she is? Will she stay or go? I loved these characters, and their love was so sweet. Mac was such a sexy protector. In the end, we get a great HEA with a good dose of steam! Loved it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawnmarie Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 1st book in the Sweet Cherry Cove series featuring the cute OTT age-gap amnesia insta-love romance between between Mac and Cocoa. When the Harbor Master Mac finds a young woman all alone washed up in a boat the morning after a severe storm he's instantly drawn to her he wants to protect her. When she wakes up she has no idea who she is or where she's from so Mac takes her in he makes her feel so cherished she never wants to leave him. Mac is worried that he's too old for her and what's going to happen when her memories start returning? Is she going to stay or go? You really need to read this cute OTT age-gap, amnesia,insta-love romance to see what happens. I would recommend reading this AMAZING story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bonnie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute quick read

Cocoa is found stranded in a small rowboat by Mac. She’s suffering from amnesia. She’s young and pretty. And Mac wants her for himself. The problem, she has a life out there somewhere and she’s so much younger. I must keep my hands and thought to myself. She could never want an old man like Mac. The sexual tension is there. When the first kiss happens, she runs away. Cocoa made herself sick, she started remembering things. Why now? She doesn’t want to know. She wants to stay with Mac. Does he want her to stay ? Guess not he acts like he’s glad she’s got her memory back, but heartbroken because he has to take her back. What will happen when she goes back? Is it really home? Or is Mac her home?

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Harbor Master Book 1 of Sweet Cherry Cove. Mac found Cocoa in a boat, looking like she wasn’t alive, thankfully she was. She doesn’t remember anything but she feels safe with Mac. Since she doesn’t remember her name they call her Cocoa. It’s a short and sweet story about Mac and Cocoa growing closer while trying to get her memories back. I loved the storyline and the characters. Mac didn’t want to lose Cocoa but knew he might one day. I would definitely recommend this book and I’m looking forward to reading more in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alex Silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wait. So sweet. So lovely. She suffers a terrible trauma falling into a stormy water off the cliffs edge while running and playing with her circus friends and fights for her life, washing up without her memories in a small town and climbing into the much older harbor masters boat.
The whole book is him protecting her and cherishing her and helping her remember who she is. It’s actually beautiful. All the questions from earlier in the book get answered and make sense (a rarity for these short OTT novellas usually, but Cassie Mint is pretty damn good).
No sex until like 90% of the book. When it came it was sexy but short.
H is 40. h is unspecified but early 20s.
Loved it. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️