The Captain's Man

Captain #1

by Scarlet Blackwell

The captain always goes down with his ship…

Josh is left heartbroken and lacking self-esteem when his partner leaves him for another man. He has to take a two-week Mediterranean cruise on his own and it’s a good job his crazy neighbors, Erik and Freddie, are there to take him in hand and make him realize his true potential.

There’s another man who recognizes Josh’s obvious worth, too—the guy in charge of the ship, Captain Kane Kessler. A six-feet-two Adonis with a body just made for sin.

But Josh doesn’t want a fling and flings are what Kane specializes in when he’s working. Nevertheless, the two instantly collide—a meeting of like minds and desperate bodies. While Josh tries to come to terms with the fact that he will be another notch on the captain’s bedpost at the end of the holiday, Kane begins to realize two weeks might not be enough to get everything he needs from Josh…

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of auto-fellatio and voyeurism/exhibitionism.

Publisher's Note: This book was previously released under the same title. It has been re-edited for re-release.

General Release Date: 24th November 2015

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, BDSM, Erotica, Gay, LGBT

124 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 16, 2011

Reviews

[Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ · Rating 2 out of 5]

All aboard the Magic Peen Cruise of the Greek Isles!



I'm surprised the magic peen didn't generate enough power for a trip around the world, but the two weeks sailing around the Greek Isles proved more than enough time for Josh to fall in lub with Captain Cocksure and his magic peen. Actually, they both have amazeballs rebound capabilities. I'm thinking things would begin to get sore and even chafe but who cares about such middling tasks when you're in LUB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, right? Right. I'm still at a loss as to how they went from 'fuck you' to 'fuck me' in a blink but mine is not to question why.

So, what we have here is a one handed read with a peculiar m/f vibe. You know the drill. Alpha-hole alpha treats the damsel like shit 95% of the time, she then drama llama's on him like nobody's business, playing games and trying to make him jelly when she's not crying in her ouzo over how he could treat her like this!!! When they're not locked in the beast with two backs they're saying horrible things to each other or worse which is where my suspend disbelief band snapped.

It's no secret I enjoy kink. I'm not wholly opposed to alpha-holes either. I mean, I'm not dating one, but to each their own. Where I start to get fussy is when that line is blurred, when important things get assumed. Within BDSM there is (or should be) a structure, boundaries, so when/if someone gets slapped you assume they want to be. When/if someone gets pushed down, has their hair pulled, is generally roughed up and maybe even humiliated I assume they've negotiated these things beforehand with a safeword if things go too far. In the absence of that construct it's just abuse. If it goes further and one party fucks the other while they're struggling and saying 'no', that's rape. And I can't support that message even if it's crouched in but they're so hot for each other or their passion is so raw.



I read these back to back and most of these concerns are addressed in the sequel, but still. I cannot abide such behavior being explained away because the characters thrive on a steady diet of drama and spin around on a constant loop of fucking and fighting. That dog just ain't gonna hunt.

The fucking was P-L-E-N-T-I-F-U-L too. And some of it was pretty hot. These two have the stamina of teens but their rebound time would put them to shame! There is also a completely lovable, hypersexual, mouthy, hella gay secondary character named Freddie who is the shining star of this show. I need a Freddie. Hell, everyone needs a Freddie!

Recommend for those who do not possess the pesky ethics I do. Still 2 Hearts because of Freddie.

*pets Freddie*



A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Don Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good romantic story. Josh Addison won two tickets for a romantic 13 day Mediterranean cruise. The downside was that his partner left him for another man. Josh went on the cruise alone and feeling miserable until he met the campy couple Erik and Freddie who were in the suite next door. Captain Kane Kessler took an instant interest in Josh and soon began a shipboard romance. Josh was damaged and hurting and the thought of being another of the captain's flings started the two pushing away then coming together. Both Kane and Josh were very good characters and the sex scenes were hot and spontaneous. Erik and Freddie added some upbeat fun which made for a well knit story. Ms Blackwell's descriptions on the various Greek Islands added local color and interest. She took what was a plain cruise and deftly turned into a fine romantic story with an entertaining ending.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lackluster MC (sometimes a bit TSTL), a woefully under-exploited setting (the gorgeous Greek Isles), a couple of cardboard-cutout secondary characters, and an absolute dearth of plot. Hence, every one of those stars up there is for Captain Kane I-Wear-My-Uniform-Like-a-Motherflipping-Pimp Kessler. It's like Blackwell looked into my head and used what she saw to exploit my uniform fetish. *Fans self*

[Simsala · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars.

I`m giving The Captain`s Man two ratings.
2,5 stars for "kind of nice,but where was the plot?".
4,5 stars for rough,downright dirty and hot-as-hell sex scenes!

[Damon Suede · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounding up to 4...

A strange mashup between wacky farce and intense sexual obsession... I enjoyed both "sides of the book but they didn't always cohere for me.

VERY likeable main characters, smoldering sex, and sharp comedy elevate this novella from a standard "vacation romance" but the clash of tone makes for some odd transitions and completely irrational behavior by characters in order to move the plot forward. Especially successful was the way Blackwell used erotic scenes to epose vulnerability and possibility within both heroes. To put it another way: this short novella had some problems, but I'm definitely buying the sequel that seems to put the focus where I wanted it to be. :)

I've posted a longer review at jessewave...

http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/201...

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

I find this quite a difficult book to review. I liked the premise, and the outcome, but there were, for me, bits which really seemed cruel. Actually a couple of times I felt that really sad for both the main characters because they were on such a yoyo ride. The captain is definitely hot, but vacillates from being standoffish to overtly affectionate. It is a short holiday romance on a cruise ferry, and it could be more ... in both ways - read it and you'll see what I mean.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly? I think I like Josh's neighbors on the cruise ship: Erik and Freddie more, most especially Freddie because he just has NO SHAME!! Josh is just a bit too bland for my liking. I know that his man left him prior to the cruise, but I still don't get how he gets his low self-confidence. Kane is another of those characters that is not easy to love, plus I don't get him even until the end. Maybe because Josh is the narrator of this story, so Kane is never been fully explored.

I do like the idea of cruise adventure though. Seems fun! I wish I have money to do it myself

[Alina]

I liked Josh and Kane and I liked their story, but Freddie and Erik had ruined the book for me. They pissed the living hell out of me to the point several times I've almost stopped reading. Their behavior was really disgusting and stupid, imo.
I still enjoyed the book, but ended up skipping a lot of pages :/

[Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions]

TBNT cause even if i liked this one second book would ruin it for me

[M's ☆~HEA~☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to throw the MC overboard for being so rude to Captain K! His insecurity and jealousy was insane🙄 These two MCs seemed highly incompatible for the longest time. But I persevered because ultimately I was waiting for this scene and it did not disappoint:

Kane ran his tongue delicately around the head of his own cock, delving into the leaking slit. Josh touched himself as Kane took his cock in his mouth, groaning at the pleasure he was giving himself.Josh pushed the dildo into Kane’s ass. Kane jolted, gasping around his cock, saliva dribbling down it. “Come on,” Josh whispered, gaze alternating between watching Kane’s mouth on his own cock and watching his ass greedily swallowing the dildo. “That’s it. Let me see you come, Kane.”Kane pulled his mouth away from himself. His chest heaved and he panted for breath, moaning with every slide of the dildo into him. Josh leant forward. He licked Kane’s cock, his tongue tangling with Kane’s as his lover did the same.

It's hot, sue me. Anyway, if Josh wasn't such a jerk I would have enjoyed this more. It does have a pretty sweet HEA or HFN at least💜

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not my jam when I read it a few years ago because of push pull and miscommunication, and then I liked it, very much. It read real, the on the seas romance and the captain was an interesting character with his up front honesty. I loved the ending and ran to the sequel.
I don’t have to reread to give it a lot of stars.

[Elaine White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book – The Captain's Man ( #1)
Author – Scarlet Blackwell
Star rating - ★★★☆☆
No. of Pages - 99

Movie Potential - ★★★☆☆
Ease of reading – easy to read and understand
Would I read it again - Possibly


*There may be spoilers ahead.*


To start with, I want to say that I really enjoyed this. I wanted to give it a solid 4.5 stars, but there were a few instances that really spoiled the story for me and that's why it's so low and why I've marked the spoiler before I get started. I don't usually like to give spoilers, but this one is necessary.

~

PLOT

The idea of a passenger falling for the cruise ship Captain really appeals to me. The way it's written and the way Josh deals with everything that happens is great and realistic. He reacts as most normal people would, which is nice to see.

The 'romance' of the story is more like lust-at-first-sight, rather than anything truly romantic. The 'relationship' is mostly about sex, but there are a few moments when you can really see chemistry between them. Because of that, there are a lot of sex scenes and this is where my main problem lies – I don't mind rough sex or kink, both of which are included in small doses, but I have a hard time dealing with the kind of consent that isn't thought about. The characters never take the time to ask if anything is acceptable; there are no boundaries. When one says no (Josh tries to throw Kane out in their first encounter, but he won't go; and Josh rims Kane when he isn't sure and doesn't officially consent) the other one tends to push him into it regardless. That's bordering the consent line far too closely for my liking. Kane has even pushed and shoved Josh in anger, in an over-reaction to situations.

Then, the full star removed, comes from the following issue – the engine room. This is nothing less than rape. That's NOT romantic. Saying it's one of Josh's fantasies doesn't negate the fact that Kane doesn't know that and Josh clearly said no, more than once. Kane went ahead with it anyway and, in my book, that is rape. I don't care if he changed his mind afterwards or if he was playing coy. No means no and neither of these characters really respect that. Kane even scolds Josh for asking to have sex without a condom, when they run out. They're total strangers and I'm on Kane's side with this, but it doesn't change the fact that Josh almost went ahead without one anyway.

The relationship between Kane and Josh is as much love and hate, as my relationship with this book is. There is a lot of temper tantrums, misunderstandings and overreactions on both parts. There's chemistry, but no romance and no build up. These are all the reasons that I love and hate the story.

~

CHARACTERS

I really liked Josh, who was a bit depressed and negative, because of the circumstances. He'd been with a guy for 5 years, who he thought was coming on the cruise ship with him, until his partner took off with a new man. Now he's on the cruise alone and you can really feel how rotten he feels about this sudden twist his life has taken.

Erik and Freddie, his neighbours, who he meets on the cruise, are amazing. They're fabulous and scandalous in the most brilliant way. They are the light to Josh's darkness. I really love their dynamic and how they offer Josh a little sunshine, as they take him on as their pet project.

Despite the book being called “The Captain's Man”, the actual Captain, Kane, is actually barely in the story. He's one of the main characters, but his POV's are few and far between and kind of pointless. I really don't see why his POV's are included, because they don't tell us anything we don't already see from Josh's POV.

Kane is also one of my least favourite characters. About 50% of the time I hated him and the rest of the time I really loved him. He could be tender and romantic, but he was also arrogant, rude and violent more often than I'd have liked. Josh put up with it sometimes and encouraged it at others.

~

OVERALL

I read this in one sitting, because I really enjoyed the story and the characters. However, I can't give it the 4.5 stars that it deserves. I removed 1 star because of the dub-con and the rape scene. I took another half star off for the lack of romance. There was chemistry, sure, but it's a raging, need-to-get-you-into-bed chemistry; nothing to justify the three little words Josh utters after only a fortnight.

The story ends with a HFN, but I don't see a bright, shiny future ahead.

For me, I'd have much preferred this story to end with John giving into to the allure of Erik and Freddie, to end with a poly-MMM HEA, rather than to let Kane get his way. He's such an arrogant, egoist character that I really, really hope he will improve in the next book.

~

FAVOURITE QUOTE

“There was Josh’s problem. Being grateful to a man like Kane for throwing crumbs from his table. He didn’t want to feel grateful. He wanted to feel like an equal, a man desired for who he was, not as someone to pass the time. His lack of self-esteem had ruined last night. Never again would he tangle with someone as stunning as Kane. He needed to stick to what he knew.”

~

[Macky · Rating 4 out of 5]

In all honesty, this is probably the first book by Scarlet Blackwell that I didn't absolutely love, I liked it and will definitely read it again, but after finishing it I realised that at times I'd felt a bit irritated with the two main protags. The concept was great and for most of the book I found myself enjoying the ' antics ' on board ship, I did find myself smiling at some of the situations and the ST between the two of them was brilliant , as it always is in a Scarlet Blackwell story. So what irritated me?

Josh, who has just been dumped by his boyfriend of 5 years, was - rightly so - depressed, lacking self esteem and forced into taking the cruise on his own so I could understand him being a bit morose but at times he did come over as a tad whiny and he did tend to lose his temper over silly little things, causing silly arguments . Also considering he had just been given the boot by a guy who he thought loved him but cheated on him I was surprised to see him ' fall ' for a man who constantly tells him he's just in it for the sex and he does become slightly clingy around Kane.
Kane, well what can I say about him? He is every womans and gay mans dream - of the damp kind ! A player of the highest order. Gorgeous and he knows it. Looking for a conquest but not love. No problem there as it made for explosive attraction between the two but again he would cause arguments that seemed pointless, making him appear more of a SOB than he should be. A few of the love scenes, and there are plenty, were a little over the top and I usually love the way she handles the sex in her stories as she has a way of making even the most explicit scenes seem sensual and arousing but it missed the mark a bit in this one. This isn't a conventional love story as its more like a version of a holiday romance but it does have a HEA of sorts that leads into a follow up book so perhaps that's why she has them acting the way they do but I still thought some of the conflicts were a bit exasperating.

The two secondary characters - Freddy and Erik - were a hoot and supplied a lot of humour to the book. Two outrageous gays who befriend Josh and help him in his quest to bag Kane. The scene by the pool when they all see Captain Kane in a pair of speedos is hilarious and quite naughty!

Other books I have by Scarlet rank way high in my fave list and rate in the 5* bracket. This one I dropped to 3.75* because of the few issues but overall I did like it so it will stay on my Kindle with all her others. Worth a read.

[Lena Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had to describe ‘The Captain's Man' by Scarlet Blackwell in one word, it would be outrageous. The plot, the characters, almost everything about the story was outrageous. However, that essentially describes life on a cruise ship, doesn't it? The story was pure escapism—erotic, over-the-top, and surreal. There were lots of sexual innuendoes flying around throughout the story, things like: “You don’t eat meat? That’s a shame.”

There are some very funny situations, especially involving Josh's neighbors, Erik and Freddie, who had the morals of alley cats. Their antics definitely spiced up the story. Although their methods were questionable, their concern for Josh was sincere and it's what made these two crazy guys endearing. They were good friends who truly wanted Josh to be happy, whether he wanted to be or not.

I felt sorry for Josh who was attempting to recover from a broken heart which had wiped out his self confidence. I wanted to like him, but didn't always understand what he was thinking and feeling. I did appreciate the fact that he didn't just jump into the captain's bed without a second thought, that he didn't want to be just another notch on his bedpost. That being said, I also thought many of his reactions were out of proportion to the captain's behavior. I was relieved that they finally came to a meeting of minds, and bodies, which made for many amazingly erotic love scenes.

I didn't get to know the captain enough to understand or sympathize with him. I wanted to like him. He was handsome and suave, but seemed conceited and shallow. However, since Josh really seemed to love him, I wanted it to work out. Josh deserved to be happy especially after all he'd been though, but I was never able to trust Kane not to hurt Josh. Although it ended with the promise of happily ever after, I still wasn't convinced of Kane's sincerity.

If you are looking for a serious, cerebral book, 'The Captain's Man' won't do, but if you are looking for escapism and a sexy, entertaining tale to curl up with for the pure pleasure of it, then it just might fit the bill.

NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...

A Whipped Cream "BEST BOOK"

It’s a sin how much I enjoyed this story. I laughed so hard and then I felt so sad. It’s funny, sexy, sweet, naughty and poignant all at once. At only ninety-nine pages, it’s a lot more than I was expecting. I was anticipating just a frivolous vacation cruise romp with lots of hot sex. And it is that but it’s so much more, too. It’s a real romance with plenty of real emotional risk for both heroes.

Joshua Addison is a very authentic character, vulnerable and funny. I fell in love with him and got right into identifying with him. I was crying “Oh no, you didn’t!” each time that he did something stupid out of self-protection or pride, and feeling happy for him when things worked out anyway.

Captain Kane Kessler is commanding and sexy with just the right touch of the forbidden, or maybe I should say the forbidding. Joshua has been deeply hurt in the recent past and he’s not quite ready for the intensity that Kane shines on him. I enjoyed experiencing all the angst, anxiety and adoration of this once-in-a-lifetime affair with Joshua. In addition, the world of the cruise and the exotic locales they visit is brought to life. I could just smell the salt tang and coconut oils and hear the gulls.

Ms. Blackwell doesn’t shy away from showing their conflict, be it emotional, mental or physical. There are a few scenes of physical aggression between the two. It made it more real for me and it wasn’t overdone. It made it seem like two men in actual fact fighting their own attraction for each other in a relationship with high stakes. Their emotional conflict plays out in the sexual scenes in a beautifully interwoven way, nothing gratuitous here. And the sex is raw and hot, and tender and vulnerable all at once, certainly not for the faint of heart. This book is a full-bodied erotic romance.

The Captain’s Man is a for real love story about two for real men. I can see myself adding it to my guilty pleasures list and reading it more than once. Now I can’t wait to read the next book.

[Sarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.

Winning a two week cruise to the Mediterranean should have made Josh happy but when his partner of five years leaves him for another man, he would rather be staying home instead. Dealing with his flamboyant, exhibitionist neighbors just makes Josh feel worse but that changes when he meets the undeniably sexy captain, Kane Kessler. Kane doesn’t do relationships; in the ten years he’s been working as a Captain aboard his cruise ship, he’s done nothing but casual hookups and one night stands. When he lays eyes on Josh, the sparks fly but Kane refuses to admit there could be anything more than lust between them. Is there any way that Josh can convince Kane he’s worth more than a one night stand?

I started off really liking this book; Josh is grumpy and heartbroken and really wants to be anywhere other than where he currently is. His neighbors on the ship, Eric and Freddie, really aren’t helping his mood with their blatant disregard for societal norms and determination to have their pleasure in the open regardless of who may be watching. When Josh meets Kane the sparks really fly, especially when Josh realizes just who Kane is. While the sexual attraction is palpable, and I liked the characters themselves, the interactions between the two main characters left something to be desired. The entire relationship is extremely fractious for a good majority of the book and there were some instances between the two that left a bad taste in my mouth. I can understand Josh’s lack of self esteem and Kane’s determination to keep things casual but for a while, somewhere near the middle section of the book, I found myself liking the book much less than I did at the beginning. The characters and story did redeem themselves in my eyes by the end and while I was satisfied where the author left things, I find myself feeling strangely unsatisfied at the same time. There is a second book in the series that will hopefully give Josh and Kane their happy ending but I’m not sure, based on my reaction to this story, that I want to give it a try.

[Sadonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Josh has a horrible case of low self-esteem after having been dumped for another man by his boyfriend of 5 years. Josh has won a cruise though and he's determined to make a go of it by himself. Then he meet the ship's captain - in a fairly unorthodox way. They begin an affair that is a bit perilous due to the captain's position and Josh's insecurity and jealousy. Kane tells him that he has been single for 10 years and that he can't maintain a relationship when he's at sea 8 months of the year. Josh can't help falling for him. The sex is hot and the wacky neighbors, Erik and Freddie keep encouraging Josh to go for it. There are some starts and stops, misunderstandings, miscommunications, and silly fights. But neither Kane nor Josh can seem to keep away from each other. In the end, Josh returns home to Alaska. But what happens next? I'll have to read the sequel!

[Gwengwel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a pwp with a guy that had the self-esteem of a rock (i.e none) and fall in 'Luve' and react like a preteen girl with a Captain of a ship (Note: I'd never knew a cruise ship that didn't had food available at every hours, even the smallest one) that in this case has the personality of the previous mentioned rock. Is best quality? He's hot.

No scenario. No evolution. No explication about their behavior. No conversation. No relation's development. No HEA, not even an HFN. Only sex. But the sex's hot.

[Wendy❤Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a tough book to rate for me. There were some aspects that I enjoyed, but mostly I didn’t. I’d have to say that Kane and Josh were one of the most dysfunctional “couples” I’ve read about in quite some time. I never, not once, really felt a connection between them. And, boy oh boy, there were some really awkward scenes. I think I actually enjoyed the neighbors, Freddie and Erik, more than the main characters. I’ll have to let this one settle a bit before I decide if I’m ready for the next installment.

[Rachael Orman · Rating 5 out of 5]

FiveStars
Whew... While this story was very well written and I loved the play between all of the characters... I have to say this was HOT.

The hilarity of the neighbors and their forwardness was a really nice balance to go with the seriousness and sexiness that came from Josh and Kade as they figure out what they are doing and whether or not it will continue for the cruise's length or not.

Such a good little story. I think the only complaint I would have is that it ended!

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads.

[Kari Gregg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at some point and forgot to add & rate. LOL. Sexy premise & flawed characters that make me want to smack them (ooh baby!)...The sequel, The Captain's Beloved is IMO the better of the two, but this one's a great foundation for the sequel to build on.

[Didi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story where I like the supporting characters (Josh's neighbours on the ship) more than the MCs themselves.
I feel that Josh was pretty insecure and often emotionally imbalance he could tip over just from a gentle nudge from the Perfect Captain. (Yes, I'm being sarcastic here.)
Thank God for Freddie and Erik!

[Melanie~~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

For August Category Challenge!

The sex was varied and hot! I liked the characters but felt rather jostled around by their quick shifts in mood and perceptions. I liked the ending but really felt like it was very much a HFN rather than an HEA

[Sue Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book, very sexy and often OTT erotic. Not for the faint of heart but an excellent read, full of humor, pathos and of course sex :)

[Lasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Review from DDR coming.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun. Hot, definitely a rocky road to happiness. And the friends cracked me up. Looking forward to the sequel.