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The Cheaters Series: What Happens At Sea: Book 5 A Sapphic Romance Why Chose Reverse Harem Dark Romance Mystery Suspense
Nadia and Nisha plan an anniversary cruise, hoping two weeks at sea will reignite the spark that's been missing from their lesbian relationship. What she doesn't expect is for their vacation romance to awaken desires neither of them knew existed.
As forbidden attractions bloom and long-suppressed passions surface, passengers find themselves exploring new sides of their relationships. The intimate confines of a luxury cruise ship become a playground of desire, where the usual rules don't apply and anything seems possible in this steamy sapphic romance.
But when fantasy collides with reality, the consequences can be deadly. In a place where escape is impossible and secrets are harder to keep, everyone must decide how far they're willing to go for love, lust, and the chance to become who they really are.
A spicy contemporary, interracial, LGBTQ+ romance of sexual awakening and dangerous desires, where the biggest discoveries happen when you least expect them.
Tropes
Sapphic RomanceLGBTQ+ RomanceLove Triangle/QuadrangleCheating/InfidelityMurder MysteryMultiple POVForced ProximityEnemies to Lovers (some dynamics)Forbidden RomanceSecond Chance Romance30+ RomanceWhy ChooseReverse Harem
As forbidden attractions bloom and long-suppressed passions surface, passengers find themselves exploring new sides of their relationships. The intimate confines of a luxury cruise ship become a playground of desire, where the usual rules don't apply and anything seems possible in this steamy sapphic romance.
But when fantasy collides with reality, the consequences can be deadly. In a place where escape is impossible and secrets are harder to keep, everyone must decide how far they're willing to go for love, lust, and the chance to become who they really are.
A spicy contemporary, interracial, LGBTQ+ romance of sexual awakening and dangerous desires, where the biggest discoveries happen when you least expect them.
Tropes
Sapphic RomanceLGBTQ+ RomanceLove Triangle/QuadrangleCheating/InfidelityMurder MysteryMultiple POVForced ProximityEnemies to Lovers (some dynamics)Forbidden RomanceSecond Chance Romance30+ RomanceWhy ChooseReverse Harem
209 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 3, 2025
8 people are currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
D.O. Robinson
9 books7 followersD. O. Robinson is a multi-genre author writing stories that linger - from heartfelt middle grade adventures and magical mysteries to swoony queer romance and journaling-centered nonfiction.
Her debut middle grade novel, Mystery of the Lithostone, invites readers into a world of secret maps, friendship, and discovery. Her LGBTQ+ fantasy romance series, Elemental Hearts, blends magical politics with heart-tugging love stories. As a certified Journal Therapy Coach, she also writes guided journals and mindfulness resources to help others write their way to clarity and confidence.
When she's not writing or coaching, you’ll find her journaling in a cozy nook, rearranging her bookshelves, or whispering “just a few more minutes.”
Come for the books, stay for the reflections.
Her debut middle grade novel, Mystery of the Lithostone, invites readers into a world of secret maps, friendship, and discovery. Her LGBTQ+ fantasy romance series, Elemental Hearts, blends magical politics with heart-tugging love stories. As a certified Journal Therapy Coach, she also writes guided journals and mindfulness resources to help others write their way to clarity and confidence.
When she's not writing or coaching, you’ll find her journaling in a cozy nook, rearranging her bookshelves, or whispering “just a few more minutes.”
Come for the books, stay for the reflections.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 23, 2025
Good lord 🥵 Once I started reading this book, I could not stop… and that’s what she said 😉
This story takes you on a wild ride filled with sizzling chemistry, tangled relationships, and more secrets than a Real Housewives reunion. It’s a sapphic romance wrapped in a juicy murder mystery, and every time I thought I had things figured out—nope. Another twist, another reveal, and suddenly everyone looked suspicious.
I loved that the characters are mature and deeply flawed in the best way possible. They’re messy, passionate, and so vividly written that you can’t help but root for (and sometimes yell at) them. The forced proximity on a luxury cruise adds the perfect mix of tension, temptation, and chaos—because apparently, what happens at sea definitely doesn’t stay there.
By the end, I was left both shocked and satisfied (in more ways than one 😏). If you’re into queer romance, scandal, spice, and a side of suspense, you need this one on your TBR.
This story takes you on a wild ride filled with sizzling chemistry, tangled relationships, and more secrets than a Real Housewives reunion. It’s a sapphic romance wrapped in a juicy murder mystery, and every time I thought I had things figured out—nope. Another twist, another reveal, and suddenly everyone looked suspicious.
I loved that the characters are mature and deeply flawed in the best way possible. They’re messy, passionate, and so vividly written that you can’t help but root for (and sometimes yell at) them. The forced proximity on a luxury cruise adds the perfect mix of tension, temptation, and chaos—because apparently, what happens at sea definitely doesn’t stay there.
By the end, I was left both shocked and satisfied (in more ways than one 😏). If you’re into queer romance, scandal, spice, and a side of suspense, you need this one on your TBR.
November 20, 2025
nobody’s perfect
Let me start by saying this story is full of intrigue. I jumped right into it without fully reading the author’s note at the beginning, but take it from me, you definitely want to read that first. When the author says no one is innocent, believe her. I went into this story rooting for certain characters, but as it unfolds, you quickly realize just how tangled this web really is.
I love a cozy mystery or a good whodunit, and this book has that element, though it doesn’t fully kick in until later. The first half builds slowly with layers of tension and secrets, but that air of mystery carries through the entire story. It’s one of those books where you think you know what’s going on until you realize you don’t.
We meet Nadia and Nisha, a couple trying to rekindle the spark on an anniversary cruise, and from there chaos, deception, and secrets start to take over. What I liked most is how suspenseful it all felt. This story isn’t just about relationships or betrayal, but the layers behind it: denial, manipulation, and that messy mix of wanting to have your cake and eat it too. Nadia is loyal and determined to make things work, while Nisha is fighting against what she really wants.
As Nadia begins to suspect that Nisha might be cheating, she steps into full amateur sleuth mode, gathering evidence and connecting dots like she’s on a mission. I found myself laughing at times like, Girl, you don’t even have to do all this, you already know! It always feels like she’s plotting something, and I just wanted her to stand firm in what she already knew.
Every time I thought I had things figured out, a new layer or twist was revealed and suddenly everyone was connected in some way. That’s one thing I loved about this book: every single character matters. No one is just background noise, each person plays a role in unraveling this dramatic and dangerous web. It honestly started feeling like Clue on a cruise ship.
This is also a high-steam story with lots and lots of entanglements, some of which are surprisingly unexpected. My only critique is that I wish there had been a little more explanation around one of the connections that turns out to be a hot, twisted surprise. When it’s first introduced, it feels a bit abrupt and left me wondering what motivated it in that moment. The reasoning for their second encounter is very obviously clear, but not as much for their first one, which felt a little sudden. A bit more context there would’ve made it even stronger.
Still, this story is suspenseful, sexy, messy, and full of unexpected turns. I also appreciated that it doesn’t fall into the trap of making anyone purely good or bad. Everyone’s actions are complex, and no one’s hands are clean, which made it so much more realistic and engaging to read.
Even though it doesn’t end on a huge cliffhanger, it definitely leaves you wanting more. I’d love a follow-up or epilogue showing what happens next because that ending cracked the door wide open for all kinds of possibilities.
Overall, this was a wild, emotional, and entertaining ride that reminds you that in love and betrayal, things are rarely black and white. Just remember what goes around comes around
Let me start by saying this story is full of intrigue. I jumped right into it without fully reading the author’s note at the beginning, but take it from me, you definitely want to read that first. When the author says no one is innocent, believe her. I went into this story rooting for certain characters, but as it unfolds, you quickly realize just how tangled this web really is.
I love a cozy mystery or a good whodunit, and this book has that element, though it doesn’t fully kick in until later. The first half builds slowly with layers of tension and secrets, but that air of mystery carries through the entire story. It’s one of those books where you think you know what’s going on until you realize you don’t.
We meet Nadia and Nisha, a couple trying to rekindle the spark on an anniversary cruise, and from there chaos, deception, and secrets start to take over. What I liked most is how suspenseful it all felt. This story isn’t just about relationships or betrayal, but the layers behind it: denial, manipulation, and that messy mix of wanting to have your cake and eat it too. Nadia is loyal and determined to make things work, while Nisha is fighting against what she really wants.
As Nadia begins to suspect that Nisha might be cheating, she steps into full amateur sleuth mode, gathering evidence and connecting dots like she’s on a mission. I found myself laughing at times like, Girl, you don’t even have to do all this, you already know! It always feels like she’s plotting something, and I just wanted her to stand firm in what she already knew.
Every time I thought I had things figured out, a new layer or twist was revealed and suddenly everyone was connected in some way. That’s one thing I loved about this book: every single character matters. No one is just background noise, each person plays a role in unraveling this dramatic and dangerous web. It honestly started feeling like Clue on a cruise ship.
This is also a high-steam story with lots and lots of entanglements, some of which are surprisingly unexpected. My only critique is that I wish there had been a little more explanation around one of the connections that turns out to be a hot, twisted surprise. When it’s first introduced, it feels a bit abrupt and left me wondering what motivated it in that moment. The reasoning for their second encounter is very obviously clear, but not as much for their first one, which felt a little sudden. A bit more context there would’ve made it even stronger.
Still, this story is suspenseful, sexy, messy, and full of unexpected turns. I also appreciated that it doesn’t fall into the trap of making anyone purely good or bad. Everyone’s actions are complex, and no one’s hands are clean, which made it so much more realistic and engaging to read.
Even though it doesn’t end on a huge cliffhanger, it definitely leaves you wanting more. I’d love a follow-up or epilogue showing what happens next because that ending cracked the door wide open for all kinds of possibilities.
Overall, this was a wild, emotional, and entertaining ride that reminds you that in love and betrayal, things are rarely black and white. Just remember what goes around comes around
November 2, 2025
🚨🚨🚨 ARC REVIEW 🚨🚨🚨
In this story, we follow several couples—Nisha and Nadia, Deja and Jalen, Diya and Cole, and Jorge and Lula Hart—as they embark on a two-week cruise to Hawaii. I rated this book 3 stars because while it had great potential, it didn’t quite deliver the emotional or dramatic punch I was hoping for.
It starts off with Nisha and Nadia boarding the cruise, and we’re immediately hit with some trust issues when Nisha receives a text that Nadia finds suspicious. As the story unfolds, the pair connect with Deja, Jalen, and Jorge. Then comes Diya and Cole, who—plot twist—just happen to be on the same cruise with Diya’s “co-worker” Nisha. Cue the hushed conversations, secret meetings, and mysterious text messages.
And then there’s Lula Hart, who pops in a few times but doesn’t seem to serve much purpose in the storyline. Honestly, neither did Jorge, now that I think about it.
The main plot finally kicks in around the 65% mark, morphing into a whodunit-style twist. Unfortunately, the “who” was pretty obvious from early on, which took away some of the suspense. When I finished the book, I felt kind of “ehhh”—no real emotion, just ready to move on. There was a bit of spice sprinkled in, but nothing worth writing home to Mom about.
All in all, D.O. Robinson clearly knows how to build a strong foundation for a story, and the writing was clean with very few grammatical errors. Because of that, I’d definitely be open to giving another one of their books a try.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
In this story, we follow several couples—Nisha and Nadia, Deja and Jalen, Diya and Cole, and Jorge and Lula Hart—as they embark on a two-week cruise to Hawaii. I rated this book 3 stars because while it had great potential, it didn’t quite deliver the emotional or dramatic punch I was hoping for.
It starts off with Nisha and Nadia boarding the cruise, and we’re immediately hit with some trust issues when Nisha receives a text that Nadia finds suspicious. As the story unfolds, the pair connect with Deja, Jalen, and Jorge. Then comes Diya and Cole, who—plot twist—just happen to be on the same cruise with Diya’s “co-worker” Nisha. Cue the hushed conversations, secret meetings, and mysterious text messages.
And then there’s Lula Hart, who pops in a few times but doesn’t seem to serve much purpose in the storyline. Honestly, neither did Jorge, now that I think about it.
The main plot finally kicks in around the 65% mark, morphing into a whodunit-style twist. Unfortunately, the “who” was pretty obvious from early on, which took away some of the suspense. When I finished the book, I felt kind of “ehhh”—no real emotion, just ready to move on. There was a bit of spice sprinkled in, but nothing worth writing home to Mom about.
All in all, D.O. Robinson clearly knows how to build a strong foundation for a story, and the writing was clean with very few grammatical errors. Because of that, I’d definitely be open to giving another one of their books a try.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 4, 2025
I don’t typically read books like this because steamy sapphic romances aren’t my usual go-to, but something about What Happens at Sea completely pulled me in. From the very beginning, I was hooked by the intensity between the characters, the emotional tension, and the way D.O. Robinson brings every scene to life.
Nadia and Nisha’s anniversary cruise was supposed to rekindle their spark, but what unfolds is so much more than that. It’s a deep dive into love, identity, desire, and what happens when fantasy collides with reality. The setting, a luxurious cruise ship, becomes its own character, filled with temptation, secrets, and the kind of emotional heat that makes it impossible to stop reading.
What truly impressed me was how layered this story is. It’s not just about romance; it’s about rediscovering yourself, confronting truth, and exploring how far people will go for love and honesty. The writing is vivid, the pacing is perfect, and the chemistry between the characters is undeniable.
By the end, I was fully invested, heart pounding, emotionally tangled, and already thinking about a reread. It’s rare for a book outside my usual genre to grab me this completely, but What Happens at Sea did exactly that.
If you love stories that are sensual, smart, and full of emotional depth, this one’s an absolute must-read.
Nadia and Nisha’s anniversary cruise was supposed to rekindle their spark, but what unfolds is so much more than that. It’s a deep dive into love, identity, desire, and what happens when fantasy collides with reality. The setting, a luxurious cruise ship, becomes its own character, filled with temptation, secrets, and the kind of emotional heat that makes it impossible to stop reading.
What truly impressed me was how layered this story is. It’s not just about romance; it’s about rediscovering yourself, confronting truth, and exploring how far people will go for love and honesty. The writing is vivid, the pacing is perfect, and the chemistry between the characters is undeniable.
By the end, I was fully invested, heart pounding, emotionally tangled, and already thinking about a reread. It’s rare for a book outside my usual genre to grab me this completely, but What Happens at Sea did exactly that.
If you love stories that are sensual, smart, and full of emotional depth, this one’s an absolute must-read.
October 26, 2025
This novel was a crazy and compulsive read throughout! It contained all the things I adore like a lot of chemistry, mixed relationships and secrets that I did not get the slightest idea until the conclusion. When I was almost sure that I had the mystery figured out I would go through another twist and everything would be different. It was the ideal combination of suspense and romance that had me turning pages like mad.
I loved the reality and flawlessness of the characters. They are grown up, emotional and somewhat disorderly in the most desirable sense of the word- the kind of people that you find yourself rooting especially when they make bad decisions. The sapphic romance was intense and full of tension and this was only enhanced by the fact that all was set in a luxury cruise. The risk, passion, and suspense were present, and this narrative provided all I ever wanted to see and more!
arc reader
I loved the reality and flawlessness of the characters. They are grown up, emotional and somewhat disorderly in the most desirable sense of the word- the kind of people that you find yourself rooting especially when they make bad decisions. The sapphic romance was intense and full of tension and this was only enhanced by the fact that all was set in a luxury cruise. The risk, passion, and suspense were present, and this narrative provided all I ever wanted to see and more!
arc reader
November 5, 2025
As a new sapphic reader, this book was interesting in all the best ways. I’ve taken plenty of cruises, but none have been as spicy as this one—baby, that warning does not lie! The characters unfold as you read and nothing is as it seems, I love Lula Hart. Probably because that's my grandma's name or because she's spicy like her. She's just a bit of comedic relief with a dash of wisdom needed. I did figure out who the killer was around 58% in, but I also HAD to keep reading to see how it would all unfold, and D.O. Robinson did not disappoint.
The attention to detail and the shifting timelines from different points of view are every reader’s dream. However, I did feel that the character development during the investigation and the ending felt a bit rushed, leaving readers confused, a little mad, and definitely wanting more.
The attention to detail and the shifting timelines from different points of view are every reader’s dream. However, I did feel that the character development during the investigation and the ending felt a bit rushed, leaving readers confused, a little mad, and definitely wanting more.
November 3, 2025
This book was so good. Messy, emotional, and just the right amount of spicy. D. O. Robinson really nailed that “real people with real flaws” energy. Nadia and Nisha felt like women I actually know, trying to hold it together while everything around them falls apart. And Diya? Whew. She walked in and turned that ship upside down.
I loved how the story didn’t shy away from the ugly parts of love, the jealousy, the temptation, the choices that don’t make sense but still feel right in the moment. It’s not about perfect people. It’s about being human.
If you like your romance layered, complicated, and a little chaotic, What Happens at Sea is for you.
I loved how the story didn’t shy away from the ugly parts of love, the jealousy, the temptation, the choices that don’t make sense but still feel right in the moment. It’s not about perfect people. It’s about being human.
If you like your romance layered, complicated, and a little chaotic, What Happens at Sea is for you.
October 27, 2025
Whew this one is messsssyyyy. Diya is the epitome of diabolical. Everytime I thought I had it figured out, something new was revealed and made me second guess everything. That ending threw me because I did not see that coming. This is a sapphic romance with a little murder mystery and I ate it up 😍 Now I need a part two to find out what happens back on land.
November 2, 2025
***ARC Review***
What Happens at Sea is the 5th book in the Cheaters Series by D.O. Robinson. ‼️‼️ In this book you will find lying, cheating, messy entanglements, and high heat. ‼️‼️🌶️🌶️🌶️ This is Nadia and Nisha’s story. ⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars.
What Happens at Sea is the 5th book in the Cheaters Series by D.O. Robinson. ‼️‼️ In this book you will find lying, cheating, messy entanglements, and high heat. ‼️‼️🌶️🌶️🌶️ This is Nadia and Nisha’s story. ⭐️⭐️ out of 5 stars.
November 7, 2025
Oh my God!
This book was not what I expected. I couldn't put it down. It had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put it down until I was finished. Very erotic and mysterious.
This book was not what I expected. I couldn't put it down. It had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't put it down until I was finished. Very erotic and mysterious.
November 7, 2025
The plot was twisting you hear me!! I wasn't expecting that but.....I'm not mad it happened 🤷🏾♀️🤷🏾♀️
November 4, 2025
This book took me for a ride. It started off a little slow but built up quickly. It was a steamy and messy good story that I didn’t even see what was coming next. I just want to know what happened after the cruise in their relationships.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews