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Triton Core #1

Ocean Wolves

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Trapped 8,000 feet under the ocean.
Her best chance of escape?
The man she swore she would never see again.


Dr. Becca Johnson has devoted herself to her work after personal tragedy taught her she’s better off alone. She finds solace in the isolation of oceanic research but as her six-month work rotation draws to a close, events rapidly escalate into life-threatening chaos. Struggling to hold her team together, she is forced to accept the help of the Ocean Wolves.

Ethan Carter joined the Ocean Wolves after his troubled history ended his career in the elite Special Boat Services. Now, he’s a hired gun with the Wolves, paid to protect the interests of the world’s biggest oceanic multi-national, Triton Core. When his team is tasked to escort crucial research to the surface, he discovers events spiraling out of control and the woman from his past he’s tried desperately to forget—the woman who reignites emotions buried deep in his heart.

Fighting increasing danger that threatens the lives of everyone in the deep-sea habitat, Ethan vows to protect Becca at all costs.

But as their options dwindle, leaving them trapped 8000 feet below the surface, will it be enough to keep her alive?

Hold your breath for deep-sea action, adventure, and romance!

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 23, 2019

532 people are currently reading
543 people want to read

About the author

Theresa Beachman

26 books44 followers
If you're the kind of reader who loves high-stakes romance grounded in real-world research—with damaged military heroes, complex plots, and women who won't be rescued—hello. You're my people.

I write intense, tightly plotted protector romance with covert ops, real-world threats, and hard-won love. My heroes have protection in their bones and loyalty in their hearts. My heroines are smart, self-reliant, and ready to fight—for others, for justice, for love.

Still mad Ripley never got with Hicks? Me too. So I fix that—with heat and redemption.

Find bonus epilogues and more at theresabeachman dot com.

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5 stars
242 (39%)
4 stars
194 (31%)
3 stars
130 (21%)
2 stars
38 (6%)
1 star
14 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Celestine.
952 reviews132 followers
February 20, 2019
Theresa Beachman is a fan of Bud and Lindsey from James Cameron's The Abyss, which is A-Okay, because so am I. Second chance love interests Ethan and Becca channel that famous couple, even adopting threads from the famous scene were Bud is diving into the deep sea trench and the water is crushing him and Lindsey talks him through it. And then there is that hypothermia scene that has an echo in Ocean Wolves, too. If you are going to borrow, then borrow from the best. The 1990 film had one Oscar win and three other nominations.

Ocean Wolves takes place on the ocean floor in a science lab in 2035. This book has definite sci-fi overtones even though it is only 16 years on the future. There is also a strong action-suspense theme and even a horror vibe. Bad things happen in scary dark places under the sea. Big budget (and low budget) sci-fi movies teach us this. People die, but what exactly is killing them?

Ethan and Becca are the heart and soul of the story. They have a history, and even years of separation haven't dulled their regard for one another. The reasons are sad, but they instantly know they can trust one another. The rest of the Ocean Wolves mercenary team seems a bit on the periphery, but perhaps they are being held in reserve for future stories in an Ocean Wolves series.

This book, and Beachman's Earth Resistance series, are perfect for fans of horror-sci-fi-suspense with a strong romantic element. Beyond the special effects, James Cameron had some of the best romantic couples around (Bud & Lindsey, Sarah Connor & Kyle, Jake Sully & Neytiri). Beachman's love interests are even better. They are more personal and personable. I enjoy her stories and have become a fan, even though she has only written four books.

5 stars because I loved The Abyss and Ocean Wolves is well inspired by that classic.

Book source: Kindle Unlimited
Profile Image for Kristy McCaffrey.
Author 71 books519 followers
October 28, 2022
I had a lot of fun reading this fast-paced, romantic thriller. Becca and Ethan are both tortured souls who are given a second-chance with each other. At the bottom of the ocean the pressure is on when things quickly go south with one of Becca's colleagues. The tinge of added horror had me on the edge of my seat. A great read!
Profile Image for Karilyn.
347 reviews15 followers
February 18, 2019
Fast paced

A fast paced - quick read. It flowed well, the characters were incredible, there was drama, death, and so amny other packed in here. I loved it!!
85 reviews
February 8, 2019
First timer and loved this

I really enjoyed this story .... so different from my usual reads and will see what else Theresa Beacham has written to enjoy more.
Thank you
Profile Image for Meg.
19 reviews1 follower
July 31, 2023
I am struggling to figure out if this is a 3 or 4 star book. This book was action packed, dark, and unexpected. I knew there was going to be some action, but I never expected it to be this jammed packed.

This is not just another romance with a couple nail biting scenes, the near death experiences (and actual death) just kept coming. When I finished chapter 40 and 41, I felt quite disconnected to the two main characters. All this horrible stuff happened, and now I’m reading a detailed sex scene? Don’t get me wrong, I hate ‘fade to black,’ but sometimes it just works better for the story. Especially when there has been only one other scene (hands).

I think I would have preferred two chapters of just calmness and reassurance that the characters are okay. More of a focus on them acknowledging the experience and the steps they are taking to overcome the trauma (idk maybe a more wholesome ending, and not full on sex??). It just seemed like we (the characters and I lol) had just smashed through 200ish pages of intensity, with a focus on emotional connections and sheer will to survive, that a long sex scene felt intrusive and out of place. Maybe I’m overthinking this, and I guess this speaks to the authors ability to make the reader care about the characters in a very short time frame. But, I just felt exhausted at the end, and really needed just one scene as evidence of the characters survival (psychologically), as acknowledging past traumas was such a big part of this book.

I think if I went into this knowing it was going to be heavy, I would have enjoyed it more. I wasn’t expecting so much character death (and yes I do read a lot of dark dark romance, but I swear this is a whole other genre). I understand this is my fault, and I should have read the warnings better, I just went ‘abs on the cover, it’s ultimately going to be another romance with some conflict’. That’s no excuse on my end, and completely my own doing, so absolutely no blame is directed towards the author.

I am hopefully going to continue with this series, but I might need to read a really fluffy and cosy book first haha
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jennifer Kae.
112 reviews4 followers
April 25, 2021
Cray-Cray

This book reads like the beginning of an apocalypse series. The planet’s population slowly succumbing to this ancient bacteria. Not sure if that’s the actual direction the author is going, but it would be an interesting read. The blurb for the second book makes me think that may be the route, but the third book doesn’t. So I don’t know.

Honestly? I didn’t care much for the romance aspect of it. I didn’t really feel the chemistry between Becca and Ethan. Or the connection between any of the rest of the characters. It seemed pretty impersonal- like everyone was a new acquaintance or strangers, not people who’ve worked together for a significant time in an isolated place. I was in the Navy stationed on a ship. The interpersonal relations I experienced and saw there were absent in this story. The men were each from military backgrounds. And when you rely on each other to have your back and save your life day in and day out, you develop strong bonds. Personal bonds lacking in this crew. Seemed like they were superficial to the author over the progression of the plot. But I did enjoy the concept of the plot as it played out. My assumption is that this is a self-published work and would really benefit from an editor to help form a cohesive and robust story with believable interpersonal relations (now I sound like an HR person- which I’m not) so we, as readers, can connect with them and buy into their survival. I honestly didn’t care whether any of them lived or died.

Well, not anyone but Aimee. That AI B needed to die! Is it just me or did anyone else fill her voice in with Alexa’s voice?
Profile Image for Pontiki.
2,521 reviews9 followers
November 23, 2024
In 2035, Becca and her team are deep in the ocean for a six month exploration, digging for samples for magnetic energy. They’re working on a station run by AI named Aimee, and work for a company called Triton.

Ethan and his team are sent by Triton to pick up the samples, not the scientists, and he assumes it will be simple to do so.

Redd, the head scientist, has been acting more bizarrely, and when Ethan arrives, he attacks his own team and theirs. Every time they subdue him he escapes, his strength unnatural.

They begin to piece together that the samples can be weaponized and that Triton, and more dangerously, Aimee, are against them.

Redd and 3 other people are killed as everyone tries to survive, Aimee against them at every turn. Someone in Triton is sabotaging her, and they have to override her repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Ethan and Becca, once married, are having their own troubles, remembering their pain after an accident makes her lose her pregnancy.

They share their feelings honestly after so long, and as they see how precious life is, reconcile. Everyone escapes narrowly, and Aimee is destroyed, as is their compound. But, the adventure will continue.

This was an action packed book, with the neutral, evil Aimee and the powerful Triton behind her. A great read.
Profile Image for GingerOrange.
1,424 reviews17 followers
March 30, 2025
Romance:2.5
Steaminess:2
Action/suspense:3
Overall:2

It was okay. It read like a cheesy sci-fi novel at times though.

I got excited when I saw a scientist as a main heroine. I’m also a fan of the ex-partner/ rekindling romance trope. But the romance side of things was bleh. The author did not dig deeper into their past relationship. That’s the foundation of their love story but it was barely touched. The rekindling of the relationship felt so abrupt and disconnected because there wasn’t any believability to it.

Steaminess? We get it in the last 2 chapters of the book. That’s way too late in the story. The action/science stuff wasn’t actually too bad. The setting is an underwater research lab and it’s clear the author did her research on it. It’s well written and well explained. However, I did get irritated at times with the constant problems. The characters were just so unlucky. And I don’t read romance novels for the action plot, no matter how good it is.

Overall, I think it missed the mark as a romance. The characters and their relationship were not well established.
Profile Image for Safety Lady.
493 reviews6 followers
October 10, 2024
A mixture of so many sci-if movies but it works

When I was reading this I had snippets of movies all overlapping and clamoring to figure out how this book would end. Would some alien life come out of the shadows and make it to the surface, would the AI take over the ship, would the weird sea life eat people? Would the underwater lab explode? Was there a trader? Then add a budding romance and you have multiple endings that made my head swim. Over all it was a lot and nothing seemed to go right after the first few chapters but there is a HEA and a teaser for the next book in the series. I am not 100 percent sure I liked this book or I was just trying to figure out what sci-fi movie ending would win out. I am on to book two because it seems there is another layer of crazy but this time on land? Happy reading, All.
Profile Image for Cait M.
1,369 reviews10 followers
October 7, 2024
Sci-fi action with a side of second-chance romance.

Becca is the medical officer stationed on a deep underwater research station. Her team unwittingly uncovers a dangerous organism while hunting for valuable mineral deposits and is targeted by the unscrupulous owners of the company to secure their research for a potential biological weapon.

Ethan is Becca's ex-husband. In the decade since he last saw her, he's joined the Navy and is now working as a mercenary. His team is called in to secure the station but when he discovers Becca they reunite.

This was more an action-adventure story with a bit of danger-banging. It felt like I was watching a B-grade flick, told with Ice Station vibes.

This book contains descriptive love scenes.
117 reviews1 follower
October 2, 2023
I am currently reading and may change my review as it goes, but this is so much better than the cheesy cover art would suggest.
Its a grippy sci-fi with well balanced tension and fantastic visuals. Enough hints to futuristic weaponry/AI/etc that the scenarios are not only believable, but enjoyable, but also not so futuristic to be silly.
**********
Ok so I have finished and spoilers ....


There is no smut until the very last chapter. I was so annoyed, but at the same time, glad she didn't just shove it in there, because honestly the rest of the book is so tense and fast paced that any times she was talking about the characters looking at each other in a certain way I was like, nuh-uh, no way, there is no way in that moment that something like that would even be remotely on their minds.
Great tense read, average to good characters, great plot, almost zero smut. Also, while I love the characters and their back story, there is no tension between them because there wasn't time to build any. She tries to write it in there, but it just doesn't work for me.
Solid 3.5, it would be a 4 if it was written and marketed to not be a romance, but instead to just be a thriller.
5,932 reviews29 followers
May 19, 2019
Wow this book was amazing the emotional feelings you get when Dr Becca Johnson is six months rotational work comes to an end, that is when bad things start to happen that was when ocean wolves come to help that is when she runs into someone from the past. There is a lot of action, turns and twist, romance and even a death just to and to the mix of Sci-fi.
Thank you for allowing me to review this book it was great.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4,885 reviews18 followers
May 26, 2019
When a plan does not come together. After a personal tragedy, Dr Becca finds solace in the deep blue sea. Her 6 month rotation is near the end and she's about to return to the surface when, everything falls apart. She and her team face life threatening challenges in need of special protection. Enter the Ocean Wolves tasked to escort the team and precious research to the surface. Nothing goes as planned and everyone must step up their game. Totally dramatic and intriguing! Good story. Nicely done. I received an ARC from Booksprout for a review.
51 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2023
A fast-paced, futuristic thriller set on the ocean floor. Dr. Becca Johnson has five days left of her six month stint on the ocean floor. Ethan Carter is part of the mercenary team sent to retrieve the scientific data compiled by Dr. Johnson's team. Complication...they were once married.

There was quite a bit of bickering between members of the teams that I would not have expected to find by people working closely together in situations of life and death. Overall, I greatly enjoyed the book and look forward to the others in the series.
Profile Image for Janet.
1,984 reviews3 followers
May 25, 2019
What do you do when you are stuck under the ocean with a crazy AI on the lose and a Doc. gone off the rails? Call the mercs, of course. (LOL) Some people are not very good at being at the head of an origination. Of course with all going on it is very exciting and with an ex in the mix it is a very good book. It is the kind of story that you would pay money to see on the big screen. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
Profile Image for Sharon.
4,152 reviews31 followers
June 2, 2019
Ethan gets a second chance to win over and keep Becca’s heart. The plot is great and the descriptive writing that the author used helped to build this world in my head. There is a lot of adventure, drama, suspense, intrigue and romance in this story. I loved the characters and how they interacted, definitely recommend this book, it’s great to have an underwater story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Marsha.
544 reviews3 followers
June 2, 2021
A very nice story with a love rekindled.

I liked this story even if the title is a little misleading. This is not a paranormal book with wolf shifters. It is a book about a team of a type of mercenary crew, one of which has a former live among the crew of scientists deep under the ocean. With everything going south fast it is his job to get his love and everyone else above ocean safely.
Profile Image for Sara.
2,359 reviews14 followers
April 25, 2022
An intense read that literally is an adrenaline rush as the suspense keeps ratcheting higher. This is set in 2035, not so distant in the future to make you wonderful. Suspenseful, sci-fi, thriller and a second chance romance.

Nothing like a few near death experiences to reset your priorities and to admit love still exists.

This book was provided by the author via Booksprout with no expectations and that in no way influenced my review.
Profile Image for Karen Black.
Author 7 books
September 30, 2024
I love it when romance books are more than that. This one the suspense takes center stage to the romance, but both are well developed. Lots of Action! I have no idea if some of that stuff could have actually happened, or would have happened how it was described, but the author did a terrific job of pulling me into it - a deep, deep sea exploration a few years in the future and bad guys - including the AI computer. Aimee took on a life of her own. Great imagination.
Profile Image for Teresa.
1,390 reviews3 followers
October 15, 2024
Great book about oceanography

Ocean Wolves by far is a great book where the technical aspects of oceanography is explained do you can understand it. Plus throw in a second chance at love for the two main characters, a deadly bacteria and a snarky AI computer who takes over the station. But wait there's more ...a greedy company that wants said bacteria for nefarious reasons and it makes Ocean Wolves a awesome book to read.
Profile Image for Sherry Westendorf.
4,593 reviews22 followers
May 24, 2019
A short fun read. It is more than my usual read. It takes place in the ocean. It is full of action, emotion, adventure, drama and suspense. It is very well written and keeps your attention. It is about a woman who does work in the ocean and a group of protectors. I recommend it. I received a review copy by booksprout and voluntarily review it.
1,788 reviews15 followers
September 12, 2020
Ms Beachman is a first time author for me.

This is a fast-paced read. The story flowed well, the characters were incredible.

There was plenty of action, suspense, fear, chemistry, science, drama, death.

The book has all the makings of a classic Sci-Fi thriller/horror movie

I loved it!!

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
862 reviews4 followers
April 23, 2021
Broken

An action packed adventure full of suspense, secrets, surprises, danger and betrayal! A dangerous deadly battle is underway, uniting two broken wounded people, ten years separated cannot erase their pain or their love! If they can survive this deadly disaster they will never part again!
344 reviews3 followers
June 11, 2023
Great Read!

This was a great story mixing some different genres and it worked well. The writing was superb! The characters were pretty well drawn, but it would have been longer to flesh them all out. The premise was claustrophobic, which lead to some true scares. I highly recommend it!
Profile Image for KateZ.
210 reviews3 followers
November 3, 2024
I liked this book but I didn't love it.

I wanted a romance with a bit more story than the last book of almost pure sex. This certainly had it.
The story was a bit convoluted and my eyes glazed over sometimes with the technical side of underwater exploration.

But overall it was a tense read with a bit of romance thrown in.
4,627 reviews
May 25, 2019
Sci-Fi romance set in a science lab on the ocean floor in 2035. Ethan and Becca's story is a second chance romance after he left her behind. There's action, drama and romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
6,136 reviews17 followers
May 27, 2019
I think this writer took a tip or two from James Cameron on this science fiction story. It's a really good deep see adventure with danger, mystery and suspense. It's well written and very captivating. It's also a second chance for Ethan and Becca. Very enjoyable and well written story.
Profile Image for BookLover1990.
1,341 reviews
Read
June 1, 2019
This book packs a punch! It has so much going on yet is unbelievably cohesive. I loved this book from start to finish.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,147 reviews5 followers
April 26, 2021
ADVENTURE and ACTION

Ethan and Becca are quite the couple. Married, Divorced, and suddenly in the same space? WOW, just WOW! An exciting adventure at the depths of the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean. Read this first standalone novel of The Ocean Wolves!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews

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