What do you think?
Rate this book
Off-Limits Doc on Deck
The latest story by Harlequin Medical Romance author Luana DaRosa, a forbidden love, forced proximity romance set on a cruise!
Sailing into forbidden waters...
Catalina Reyes is ready to live life her way. Registering as a doctor aboard a Mediterranean cruise seems like the perfect way to spend a no-holds-barred summer. Until Cat discovers her cabinmate is her best friend’s infuriatingly straitlaced brother, Dr. Theo Morgan! As they explore glittering ports from the French Riviera to the Greek Islands, Theo’s no-nonsense approach clashes with Cat’s carefree spirit. And their friction sparks an off-limits attraction they can’t resist. They both know it can’t last—yet neither is ready to abandon ship…
From Harlequin Life and love in the world of modern medicine.
Sailing into forbidden waters...
Catalina Reyes is ready to live life her way. Registering as a doctor aboard a Mediterranean cruise seems like the perfect way to spend a no-holds-barred summer. Until Cat discovers her cabinmate is her best friend’s infuriatingly straitlaced brother, Dr. Theo Morgan! As they explore glittering ports from the French Riviera to the Greek Islands, Theo’s no-nonsense approach clashes with Cat’s carefree spirit. And their friction sparks an off-limits attraction they can’t resist. They both know it can’t last—yet neither is ready to abandon ship…
From Harlequin Life and love in the world of modern medicine.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 6, 2026
With this book, Luana DaRosa is at the top of her game. Well-written, appealing setting, a compelling story, a broken hero with a heart of gold & a heroine who grows emotionally & helps the man she loves to heal.
Catalina & Theo come from very different backgrounds but both have been profoundly affected by their relationships with their parents, which gives them common ground. Cat is from the Dominican Republic, one of the middle children of eight & has battled for the recognition & approval of her parents. Theo is the older child, & only son, of a NYC medical dynasty, groomed for most of his life to play a managerial role at his parents' prestigious hospital. He was thrust into a leadership position almost as soon as he qualified as a doctor & has cracked under the pressure. Parental expectations is a recurring theme in Luana DaRosa's books.
I wouldn't call 26 year old Cat a 'carefree spirit', as she's described in the blurb. She's hard-working & ambitious but has finally decided to live life on her own terms, rather than trying to win her parents' notice. Initially I thought her childishly rude to Theo. He's her BFF Amelie's brother, a few years older, & they have a history of sniping at each other.
My heart broke for Theo. He's floundering & directionless after walking out of his job, blaming himself for letting down his parents. However, they're more interested in their legacy than the mental wellbeing of their son. The scene where Theo breaks down in front of Cat had me in tears.
There's no epilogue &, as in real life, everything isn't neatly tied up at the end, which may disappoint some readers. Will Amelie get her own book? It would be interesting to see the manipulator manipulated.
Catalina & Theo come from very different backgrounds but both have been profoundly affected by their relationships with their parents, which gives them common ground. Cat is from the Dominican Republic, one of the middle children of eight & has battled for the recognition & approval of her parents. Theo is the older child, & only son, of a NYC medical dynasty, groomed for most of his life to play a managerial role at his parents' prestigious hospital. He was thrust into a leadership position almost as soon as he qualified as a doctor & has cracked under the pressure. Parental expectations is a recurring theme in Luana DaRosa's books.
I wouldn't call 26 year old Cat a 'carefree spirit', as she's described in the blurb. She's hard-working & ambitious but has finally decided to live life on her own terms, rather than trying to win her parents' notice. Initially I thought her childishly rude to Theo. He's her BFF Amelie's brother, a few years older, & they have a history of sniping at each other.
My heart broke for Theo. He's floundering & directionless after walking out of his job, blaming himself for letting down his parents. However, they're more interested in their legacy than the mental wellbeing of their son. The scene where Theo breaks down in front of Cat had me in tears.
There's no epilogue &, as in real life, everything isn't neatly tied up at the end, which may disappoint some readers. Will Amelie get her own book? It would be interesting to see the manipulator manipulated.
April 11, 2026
2.25 Stars
Off Limits Doc On Deck by Luana DeRosa, which is a Harlequin Medical Romance. The story follows Theo and Catalina over the course of a three-week cruise where they develop a connection.
Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. I felt that it didn't include enough medical elements to satisfy the genre.
Off Limits Doc On Deck by Luana DeRosa, which is a Harlequin Medical Romance. The story follows Theo and Catalina over the course of a three-week cruise where they develop a connection.
Unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. I felt that it didn't include enough medical elements to satisfy the genre.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews