Hot Saltwater Kisses

by Zarah Detand

Tropical heat, summer love, and a secret identity that could ruin everything—just another day in paradise.

Milo, a dive instructor at a luxurious island resort, knows the no fraternizing with guests. That’s fine. After all, his last relationship was more of a shipwreck than a love story. Enter Logan Fox, a brand-new resort guest who ticks all the hot, rich, and completely off-limits.

Until he’s not.

What Milo doesn’t know? Logan’s not just anyone. For him, pretending to enjoy a normal vacation was supposed to be a test, a way to prove to his family he’s not just the screw-up nephew. But falling for a dive instructor who challenges him, makes him laugh, and has no idea he goes by a fake name? That wasn’t part of the plan.

As secrets bubble to the surface, Milo and Logan must decide—sink or swim.

If you love a sun-soaked MM romance full of snark, slow-burn chemistry, and second chances, Hot Saltwater Kisses is the island escape you’ve been waiting for.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Queer, Contemporary, M M Contemporary, Found Family, LGBT

230 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2025

About the author

Writer of M/M romances. Chaos monkey. Coffee snob. Cheese is her love language.

People in love with other people is her jam, with a particular penchant for snappy dialogue and a slow burn that is all the more satisfying once it finally catches fire. Playing with tropes of the famous-meets-non-famous variation? Bring it on! Fake relationships? Yes, please. All's fair as long as everyone gets their happy ending.

Reviews

[Zarah Detand]

A fun, mostly lighthearted summer escape! 🏝️🐠❤️

I wrote it because I needed a sunny holiday, and I hope it will feel like just that to readers. 😊

(Unrated, obviously — I’d feel weird rating my own book!)

[Marthea · Rating 3 out of 5]

2+
Przyzwoite letnie czytadło, które trafiło mi się na początku lutego 😉
Ale przyznaję, że to jedna z najmniej ulubionych książek Zarah Detand, które przeczytałam (a przeczytałam albo wszystkie, albo prawie wszystkie) - była tak przewidywalna, że trochę to aż bolało... Mogłam po kilkunastu stronach napisać resztę i jedyne, w czym bym się pomyliła, to że Milo NIE spotkał swojego toksycznego ex...
Dodatkowo, brak okładki, która tematycznie wpisywałaby się we wszystkie inne historie autorki...

Prawda jest taka, że zatęskniłam ze historiami ZD, które już przeczytałam i chyba z sentymentu przeczytam z jedną, czy dwie ponownie 😁

[Pjm12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy to keep finding books by this author. I relate to their emotional level and impact.

[X]

Good vibes DNF. I thought I would try this one and DNF it unless it was life-changingly good… and although it wasn’t that I still ended up coasting through a pleasant 17% before remembering my plan.

[Katriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Zarah is a new-to-me author, but after reading this story and seeing how immaculate her writing is, I'm definitely going to have to read more of her other books.

Hot Saltwater Kisses is about Logan and Milo. Milo has been running from his past for years but has found solace working as a diving instructor on an island. He's been scarred by a relationship before and is weary of people, especially men... Somehow though Logan sees through his snarky exterior and works his into his heart, but will Milo give them a chance? Or will fear tear them apart?

Logan is.. such a sweetheart, as is Milo. I didn't like Logan at first, he was quite rude. However, upon reading more it's discovered that his behavior early on was a ruse to test how the employees at the resort respond to unruly guests... After that though we got to really see his true personality shine. I absolutely adored him and Milo together. They didn't rush into anything, they danced around each other and got to know one another gradually overtime. Yes, they slept together early on, however, they still got to know each other before that, along with continuing to spend time together outside of the bedroom. I liked that their romance wasn't spent focused on them having steamy times together frequently, instead we got to see these men fumble over their words and feelings, along with getting to know each other on a deep and personal level.

Something that I really want to applaud; (aside from how amazing this whole story is) Is how detailed this book actually is. The background was described with so much detail I could imagine exactly what was happening, and what it would look like. When Logan and Milo went diving, there was so many details describing what they were seeing that it made me feel as though I could picture exactly what they were seeing.... And it made me want to try diving myself, haha!

The characters were fantastic!! And I'm not just talking about the MC's Milo and Logan. I'm also referring to Tom, Kyle, and Nia. While technically they are 'side characters' but they are SO much more than that. If they weren't apart of this story, this would not be as good of a story. They each added their own comedic dialogue, along with showing how supportive and wonderful strong friendships can be. The banter these characters all had with one another was fantastic!!

I honestly could go on and on, I really loved this story.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 This was a lovely tropical adventure (and a great contrast to the cold winter I’m living right now, lol). Milo and Logan got off to a rocky start, but I liked how Logan’s behaviour had an explanation, and Milo’s reactions had a history to them too. The attraction between them was stronger than both those things, and their connection was more than simply physical. I appreciated how they got to know one another and opened up to one another (even if there turned out to be a big reveal or two that wasn’t coming until the end).

Nia and Tom were great (and Kyle staged a comeback for me, lol). I loved Milo’s love of diving and photography, and the way that Logan was able to find a purpose through the course of the book. I appreciated that there were discussions about power dynamics and inequality, and Logan and Milo worked to address that. In some ways, these two weren’t great with communication (while also connecting really solidly), and I really liked when they got everything finally sorted. They are a cute couple, and they deserve their HEA!

I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest review.

[David Sommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second ARC with Zarah Detrand, and I’ve read all of her books. I knew I’d devour this one quickly, and it didn’t disappoint. I finished it in less than 24 hours!

Hot Saltwater Kisses was exactly what I expected - low angst, fun banter, a meet-cute, and HOT. I appreciated that it wasn’t a slow burn. While there were still a few twists and turns, everyone gets their happily ever after, including some of the other characters.

Detrand’s descriptions of ocean life, sea creatures, photography, and the island are amazing, all set against the backdrop of a high-end resort. But that’s just a bonus. The scenes we all came to read are exceptionally well-written, especially my favorite in the employee break space.

I also love when an author writes an Epilogue that effectively closes the story, and this book has that!

If you enjoy reading about two main characters finding love while also working through personal healing together, I highly recommend Hot Saltwater Kisses.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun island escape romance, but with a lot more emotional depth than I was expecting (in the best kind of way). If you’ve read this author’s other books you know she’s a master of witty banter, which is definitely the case here as well. This one was a little less of a slow burn than some of her others, but the emotions developed beautifully and organically, and were just as strong. I feel like we really got to know Milo and Logan and their personalities and how they approached things and grew throughout the story.

I love how this author approaches conflict in her books as well - things like miscommunication and lies of omission can really ruin a book if it's not done well, but this author is great at making things make sense, and really laying the groundwork throughout the story for things to connect later. I never find myself feeling frustrated by tropes during her books, which is rare for me.

Also, I loved her writing in this book, I found myself rereading certain descriptions of imagery because it was written so beautifully and I was really able to picture everything. I’ve never been scuba diving before but reading this made me want to go.

I really enjoyed this overall and would definitely recommend it! I'm positive I'll end up rereading it at some point as this author's books are my favorites, and this one was no exception.

I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Ami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot Saltwater Kisses lives up to my expectations for what one of Zarah Detand's books will be like!

Milo is a dive instructor with a resort in the Dominican. Logan is one of the rich guests that visit the resort. Milo tries to respect the boundaries of guest/staff fraternizing, but that's not what makes a good love story!

The story is told from Milo's POV, so naturally there's interactions with other staff members, but Logan's friends are right there by his side as well. (Is it too soon to hope for Kyle to get his own HEA??!)

This is a sweet story that makes it easy to hope for the HEA they both deserve. I received a free ARC from the author and this is my honest review.

[Jeri T · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the reasons I like Zarah's books so much are that she writes believable characters. It sounds silly, but there are so many books out there where the characters are unbelievable and there is no chemistry between the leads and you're rolling your eyes at the whole story. Not in these books, the story lines are fun and sometimes fantastical, but it's still believable which makes the heat and drama that much better.

Hot Saltwater Kisses is no different. The leads, and even the secondary characters, have distinct and multifaceted personalities. Their romance is hot but also sweet, and fun.

I'm a habitual re-reader and am looking forward to my next read of this book!

[Rhonda Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed Milo and Logan's story. A slow-burn, with a secret undercover that back fires, but with super great besties that helps to sort out their misconceptions. Both MCs has had past misfortunes with relationships and leary of them...and with Milo working for the resort...it's a no no for getting involved with guests...but their chemistry is undeniable...I enjoyed getting to know all the characters...and I think everyone needs a "Kyle" in their life...😉. Great writing, amazing characters, story flowed so well, witty banter, this story will have you so captivated...then you realize...oops its the end!!

I received this as an ARC and leaving my honest review voluntarily.

[Amy Stauffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment this book caught my eye to when I reached the final page, this book had me captivated. The cover is fun but it’s what’s between the covers that stands out the most.

I loved the way Zarah Detand writes. It’s well developed, has amazing details, and everything feels as if you’re experiencing it in person as you read. Feelings, personalities, chemistry, and more—all come together to make this book a very enjoyable read. The characters are incredibly likable and are the icing on the cake to an engaging read. I highly recommend.


While I received an ARC, I enjoyed the book so much I purchased a copy.

[Kristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a perfect book to help beat the winter blues!

Dive instructor Milo likes his life at a resort on Dominica fine enough. The work is hard, but he gets to spend his days in paradise, diving off the coast of paradise--even if he has to babysit entitled resort guests while he does it. Like Logan. Who he definitely, definitely does not like.

I have adored basically every Zarah book I have read, and this one is no different. I loved Milo, who is running from his past in Miami but isn't quite sure how to really move forward either. And Logan, despite the awful first impression we get of him, is an absolute sweetheart.

This book was like a perfect warm hug, and is a great way to spend some time this winter!

CW: sexual content, previous toxic relationship

[Lisa Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun read from Zarah Detand and this one features scuba diving! As a certified diver I loved reading about their dives, the pleasure and peace they got from being part of the underwater world, the beautiful views, and the humorous frustrations of being an instructor. Milo and Logan will capture your heart and I absolutely loved the set up that begins their acquaintance. With fully fleshed out characters, well-written dialog, and a gorgeous setting this book checks all the boxes for me!

I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and am so happy I did! I have enjoyed all this author’s books and this one is no exception. The MCs are multidimensional and it was so easy to connect with them and their relationship. It felt natural and real. I love that there were other characters we got to know in the book and the MCs weren’t in a bubble. Worth the read for sure!

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This may look like a light and fluffy tropical read, but it was full of outstanding depth. Milo had spent a lot of time building himself back up after an abusive relationship and had a lot of understandable trust issues. The story was mostly in his POV, which made a lot of sense as Logan was hiding some information about himself. The other characters were really enjoyable and the scenery spectacular. The slow growth of their relationship was truly beautiful.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Hmmm, not my favorite of Detand, unfortunately. I don't know... I felt that the story was off and I didn't get Milo's issues. I mean, yes, it was an abusive relationship when he was 17 years old, and maybe that made him one big fat mess when it came to relationship... but I felt that the "way back into love" with Logan wasn't that convincing. FOR ME anyway. Although I approved of the relationship.

BUT I loved the friendship between Milo and Nia - and when Milo and Logan connected (at some scenes) - it was really good!

PS: Didn't really get that one POV from Kyle's though... would he be main character in another book?

[Harlee Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this book. I loved the characters, the setting and their relationship. It had the perfect balance of romance, spice and angst.

[Mike Wesson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Zarah has done it again another masterpiece of writing that has you drawn in and wanting more love is love

[Aura N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zarah Detand's books are reliably sweet and steamy all at the same time, and this one is no exception! Mil0 and Logan and their (not quite) strangers-to-FWB-to-lovers relationship--while tropy (sorry, Zarah!)--is fun and really adorable. The side characters shine and I'd love to see more of them in other books, except for Richard, who deserves a terrible fate. You won't want to miss this one!

[b00ks_in_nature · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. I loved the island setting and all the diving scenes. The secondary characters are so well done. And Logan and Milo? Absolutely precious. Such a great read.

[MiaReadsMMBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there anything better than a tropical MM romance bringing hot island vibes and even hotter MCs???

I was very lucky to receive an #ARC of Hot Saltwater Kisses, which brings everything you want from a summer romance.

Whether you're sweltering under the Southern Hemisphere summer or chilling out avoiding the Northern Hemisphere winter, Milo and Logan will leave you feeling all the love and wanting a resort romance of your own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and the dynamics between Milo and Logan. It's no secret I really love Zarah Detand's storytelling and this is yet another lovely #MMromance from this author.

4.5 stars rolled up to 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Brad Secrest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zarah brings romance to the Caribbean Islands and Miami Florida. I absolutely love reading Zarah's writing. Her characters are well-rounded and developed. Her main characters are fun and interesting people. Her supporting cast are grounded when they need to be and hilarious when they can be. This story is about Milo the dive instructor with a flare for photography and Logan the resort guest with some juicy secrets. Milo's been hurt by his only Long Term Relationship... Michael who was a manipulative douche-bag. Logan has a few secrets... you'll find out what they are. He's incredibly hot. Milo is too, but most of the story is from his perspective and he's a pretty self-deprecating guy. Anyway, they've got their demons to wrestle, and then they get to wrestle each other's little demons. If you love a good romantic story with some good spice, you'll like this one.

[Lea Gesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story of Milo and Logan. Milo who has had a traumatic relationship and no longer trusts anyone. Full of insecurities and finally crawling out of that deep hole. Meet Logan. Someone he had already met in the distant past, that is one of the nice things about this book. You can almost say predestined. Logan is on the island at the resort where Milo teaches diving. Logan is obviously rich, but there's more to it. Milo eventually finds out and Logan's one lie puts their entire future and relationship in jeopardy. The question is will they make it, is a second chance possible? The scene on the beach, beautiful. I actually read this book in one evening and couldn't put it down. Beautiful characters and a recognizable theme. Highly recommended.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

aside from the title this was pretty good v readable 3.5 stars

[Gregg J. Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mm read from Zarah. I loved the way she teased out the backstory of Milo, the main character, and used it to slowly build his relationship with handsome rich guy Logan.

The supporting cast was fun, especially Kyle😂, and the tropical setting would make this the perfect summer beach read.

This is another great one in the Detand library with great characters, emotion and just enough sex to make it fun.

Highly recommended read!!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet, engaging romantic tale taking place at an exclusive resort on a Caribbean island between Milo, a dive instructor and Logan, a resort guest. Plenty of beautiful descriptions of the island and resort, along with information on diving for those who have never been, help draw the reader into the story of these two young men. Neither is looking for any connection, or at least no more than a vacation fling, instead finding feelings for the person that sees and hears them, sharing dreams and desires, and an irresistible physical attraction in this idyllic setting. It is easy to get involved with these two as they have leisurely diving days and lazy steamy nights in what is expected to be an ending date romance, suddenly realizing the desire for more is there. But all is not smooth sailing, what with the concerns about the differences between employee and guest and the economic gap with getting together, trust issues and hurts from past relationships, and information not shared, that threatens to tear the perfect vacation bubble apart. Luckily, good friends, helpful advice and support go a long way toward fostering the communication needed to find a way forward.
Well written realistic and relatable characters and situations, and vivid world building, make for an entertaining read, one which calls up images of hot summer days and romantic nights for an escape into another time and place, especially appreciated on cold January days. Hoping there may be a story for Kyle in the future, with maybe a revisit with Milo and Logan.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy, this book has me craving a vacation trip to an oceanfront resort somewhere! I love a good, steamy, M/M romance, and when there’s some good emotional growth for the characters as well, I’m all in. And Zarah Detand delivered for sure!

Milo is a dive instructor at a fancy resort on the island of Dominica. Dealing with wealthy guests isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but he gets to work with his friend Nia, spend time on the water, and take underwater photographs, so it’s a pretty sweet deal.

The one rule he tries to be mindful of is no fraternization with the guests. While there certainly has been temptation in the past, it’s not until Logan arrives at the dive shop that Milo’s willpower wavers. Logan is wealthy, incredibly handsome, a bit cocky, and he’s staying at the resort for a month while working on his master’s thesis in hospitality management.

The chemistry between the two of them is intense from their very first meeting, but Milo is nervous about getting caught with a guest. It’s not long, however, before they can’t keep their hands off of each other, and not long after that when they both realize their feelings run deeper than just a quick vacation fling.

Milo’s last relationship—and really his first serious one—scarred him emotionally and turned his life upside down. He really wants to let down his guard for Logan, and those feelings are reciprocated—but Logan isn’t quite who he says he is.

This is the second book by Detand I’ve read in the last few weeks. I’m so glad to have found her—she knows how to create real characters you care about, with enough steam to keep you blushing.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a slow start for me, but once the romance kicked in, I couldn’t put it down.

Truth, I wasn’t feeling Milo and Logan from the start, they seemed very run of the mill characters for me, (sorry) one running away to start over and the other a “jerk” guest at a five star resort, staying for a month (roll eyes at the money). However the Zarah Detand has such a unique way of writing the scene and bringing the picture alive. I felt like I was there with them on the boat diving, and staying at the beach, and I don’t even like water sports or so much sand. And that’s what pulled me into the book.

I also loved Milo and Logan’s banter, sometimes their tangents didn’t make sense to me, but I think that’s the thing with their chemistry is that I didn’t need to get their banter, it works for them and I’m just here for the ride. I also loved how compatible they were in bed, their dynamic was pretty hot.

As they began to reveal more to each other, I slowly just like they did fall in love with Milo and Logan. I loved the burst of energy that the roommate gave when he bursted onto the scene like he did.

I enjoyed this light, hardly any angst summer read in winter.

*This is an ARC review, only because I can not wait until Jan 10 for my pre-order to download.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it! The writing itself was fantastic and a joy to read. I really liked the island resort setting and the underwater diving motif as well as one of the MCs being an underwater photographer - this all just felt really fresh to me. Milo, the aforementioned photographer, is a dive instructor and guide at an island resort. One of the (rich) guests, Logan, approaches the dive team with interest in scheduling a dive (rudely, I may add), and this is their meet-cute. Sparks of all sorts fly right from the beginning! Logan has a relatively lengthy stay planned at the resort and over the course of this stay, the MCs get to know each other well and become close. Their romance develops slowly, but with some light steamy moments and at a natural pace. The character development is strong and they feel believable. Milo has some baggage thanks to a horrible ex and Logan has some weighty family expectations, but in time and with some pretty good communication, they get their HEA. The friend group is wonderful and I hope we see some of these characters again in future books. Loved the epilogue - so sweet.

I received a complimentary copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.