Rocking the Boat

The Cruise #2

by Romeo Alexander

High school rivals, trapped at sea, with nowhere to hide... Three months can change everything! My vacation is ruined! My nemesis, the one person I’ve ever truly hated is here, and even worse, his whole gang is with him. It might have been funny, but being stuck on a cruise ship for three months with Matthew Dale is no laughing matter! I could hide...maybe jump ship? But no, he’s here, and I have to deal with him. Of course, with my luck, dealing with him doesn’t go the way I planned. What was once fiery hatred is now a different kind of heat. What? No, that can’t be right. Damn it, is he being nice to me? A tropical cruise with my best friends? Great idea! At least that’s what I thought. A vacation in the sun, meeting new people, and nothing to spoil the fun. It was a good plan until I ran into Ash. The guy was a jerk back in high school, and it looked like time hadn’t changed him in the slightest. I should have walked away, ignored him. But...I didn’t. Something changed. It’s different now. And WTF, I can’t believe I’m actually starting to like the guy. I’m an idiot but it looks like I’m his idiot.Dare these two enemies rock the boat and reawaken more than just their old hatred? Can Matthew and Ash avoid the inevitable tsunami of disaster and become...more?

Genres: M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, LGBT

190 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2021

About the author

Romeo Alexander lives in Michigan, USA, with his dog and two cats. As a certified night owl, coffee and a wicked sense of humor keep him going most days, as does playing with flavors in the kitchen.

As a proud gay man, Romeo doesn't just write characters—he breathes life into them, infusing them with real-world trials, tribulations, and triumphant love stories. He doesn't just believe in love; he champions it, weaving narratives that prove love's healing power time and again.

Ready for some heart-melting, tear-jerking, and smile-inducing stories that stay with you long after you've turned the last page? Dive into Romeo Alexander's world where love always finds a way. Sign up for his newsletter to be the first to know about his latest literary adventures and grab some freebies along the way! https://romeoalexander.com/newsletter

Reviews

[Temberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come along in the second book that takes you on a three month cruise. These Five friends are booked on this fun filled trip that we are all wishing we could be on right now!
When Matthew and Ash spot each other it makes for a very interesting time and neither are very happy! They are in each others face trying to resolve past issues. They have a very rocky start and it only gets better as the two guys try to figure out what they really want.
Don't tell anybody but I did find a load of humor with some very touching moments that you will not want to miss.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[ItsFa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers, right from the begging we get a taste of the hard teenage years for Ash and how Matthew would always be his rival, but we also get hints of something more that happened between them. Their chemistry is on fire from the first encounter at the gym and the sparks keep flying around, it’s really well written and you can feel the passion building between our two MC. The development of their relationship is immaculate too, and the spicy scenes are really hot.

What did I love about the book? The chemistry between Ash an Matthew, how is something really believable, you can see why they fall for each other and how they become better together, the bisexuality of Matthew not being something new, as a bisexual myself I love this kind of representation and of course the big, dark, moody men with deep feelings and soft hearts behind their armors.

What did I miss? For me it’s not a 5 stars completely in love with it book because I missed some background story, what happened to Ash in the military, a little more about Matthew´s background, how they decide to go from yeah I want to be with you to the prologue, just more pages as I feel we could have read more about them.

[Bailie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book! You wouldn’t think enemies to lovers would be as hot as this was but when a physical fight turns into to sex for some reason it just makes things that much better. I also love that this story didn’t entirely follow the same timeline as the first book and that we got the insight from the hotel room in the first chapter. And I like that even the stuff that kind of overlaps, isn’t exactly the same and that these books do a pretty good job at not giving too much away about future books, but still allows you to get to know the characters that are to come! I love the slow way that ash and Matthew get to know each other. And I love how Matthew tries his absolute hardest not to push ash into things before he’s ready. The way that Matthew understands ash and is patient with him is just so sweet and I love the way that after things have started with them they learn to work things out without their fists. I love that we get a glimpse into Luke’s relationship too in the epilogue and while I would have loved more of ash and Matthew’s relationship in the epilogue, it was also everything that I wanted it to be! I cannot wait to read the next story and see what happens with the other characters!

[Bo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough Lust

This is nothing like the first book with two characters that may take you a while to like.

There are some rough moments from beginning to end between Matthew, one of the five old-money rich friends on the cruise, and Ash (on the cover). a classmate of theirs in high school whose family was more blue collar rich. Ash was basically the friends', and especially Matthew's, enemy, which we don't figure out why until more than a third of the book is complete.

Meanwhile Matthew and Ash play the enemies-to-lovers game almost haphazardly, and while there are several searing sexual moments--especially the first one--the basic problem in the series (three-month cruise in the Caribbean, really???) leaves a lot of holes along the way.

In the end it sort of works out with the help of friends and family, and we are left wondering how the next two books in the series are going to work themselves out.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and hot!

This story had the best of an enemies to lovers, the banter, the angst, some very hot hate s3x, the sweetness under the roughness.

Ash is seriously grumpy and mad at pretty much the whole world but especially Matthew, and Matthew while initially fighting him, later tries to pull the best out of him, and challenge the unhealthy behaviors.

So far the romance in this series is not based on hooking up but on spending great quality time together, since the cruise is almost a sort of forced proximity situation with a lot of opportunities to find things in common, talk and build a real connection.

Something I really love about this series is that being about 5 best friends, in every book we also have great insights about each of their point of views regarding the other friends and their stories, and at the same time connect with how they behave as friends and side characters in the other books. I love that.

[Magali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great romance, great characters
4.5
It's a good enemy-to-lover romance, from forgiveness to accepting that the hatred between Ash and Matthew was more complex than they'd perceived as teenagers.
The story is very well written, hot, but very romantic between two hotheads who learn from each other, but who stay themselves.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Rocken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way better than the first one. I do like the enemies to lovers trope and especially the grumpy character (even though the one here was a tad too grumpy).
There was quite a bit of filler at the beggining that I skipped, but mostly it was good.

[Jessica Gorgen · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

This was a good book. An abrasive man always looking for the worst in people so he fights back first, paired with a stubborn hot headed but also puppy-like man. Things were definitely explosive between them.

[Jimbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemies to lovers trope with this book in the series of the The Cruise.
Matthew and Ash.

Their love affair begins with a fist fight and runs to massively not being able to keep their angry hands off each other.

[Mami Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemies to lovers done well. Full RTC

[Linda Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first few chapters were just unnecessary waffle with too many characters involved. I gave up at 50%. This just wasn’t for me.

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something special about this book
Matthew is on a cruise with his four best friends. As they wait to board he goes out to have a look around the town of Port Dale. When he thinks he see somebody from his past and when he hears that laugh he knows it’s him. It’s Ash. They went to the same school and it was like they couldn’t be in the same room together. It always ended in arguments and sometimes it would lead to fights but thankfully friends were around to always stop it.
Ash was going on a cruise with his brother three months with Luke. But he was hoping to relax and have some fun. But what he wasn’t expecting to do Was find Matthew on the cruise. Matthew was his worst nightmare at school. He was one of those rich boys who Ash could not stand. It seemed that everywhere Ash turned he was there. One evening they find themselves in the gym trying to out beat each other on the tracks. And of course it ends up in them arguing but as they make their way into the locker room to get changed something changes. There is a heat between them that cannot be denied, the list in their eyes, the passion was burning and one thing leads to another. But what could it be? Are they perfect for each other Or is it just gonna to lead to more arguments??
I’ve got to say this is one of my favourite books by Romeo Alexander. I say that very often I get totally lost in his books. But there was something so uniquely special about Matt and Ash. Ash has so much baggage but when they gets to finally spend quality time together you can see him visibly relaxing. Matthew was just perfect for him, but Ash is also just what Matthew was looking for. They are explosive! the chemistry Is like a volcano waiting to erupt!! I am so excited to read more in this series as we learn more about these men whose personality are so different. An outstanding read I wish I could give this more stars in five

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another above average holiday romance

After loving My Suite or His Cabin?, I couldn't wait to see which one of Jaxon's friends also on the long cruise with him was up next. Jaxon and Tyler's romance was so beautifully written that I thought Romeo Alexander might have trouble capturing my heart with the next pair but as with my snap judgment of Jaxon, I was totally wrong.
Just about the only thing his four friends remember riling up the easy-going Matthew is the enmity between him and Ash at school. Seeing Ash for the first time since those school days, knowing they will be aboard the same ship for three months, Matthew decides not to antagonise Ash but try to mend fences, despite Ash spitting venom at him on sight.
Ash is a perpetually scowling, uptight ex-Marine with a chip on his shoulder, especially when it comes to Matthew, but even he cannot ignore the sizzle between them. (Large glass of ice water and a fan required for locker room scene, just saying).
Despite their chemistry their path to happiness is not a smooth one because Ash is so skittish. Matthew, however, is able to read Ash and knows instinctively when to sit back and let Ash come to him and when Ash needs a little push, which is just as well because otherwise they would have quickly crashed and burned.
I loved the tender moments between them when Ash actually let his guard down enough for Matthew to get close to him. Seeing Ash gradually get used to Matthew showing him affection in public, and the banter between them developing from Matthew teasing and Ash snarking back into the genuine affection in their verbal exchanges was heart-warming and now, they're my idiots too.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The addition starts with the book cover….yeah…yeah…yeah don’t judge a book by its cover they say ….well we all do it and this one here it is the scratch to your itch or better yet the filling to your oreos! Within the first chapters you get the panoramic view of whom you’re dealing with! This is book is part of The Cruise series why just read one when you can start at the beginning and keep reading through the series it won’t be a waste of time. Ash well what can we say has it out for a perceived bully, retired Marine and has a rather large chip on his shoulder. Ash on vacation loving his cabin, wanting to get started on enjoying his cruise until he runs into his arch nemesis so how is he going to get through the next three months. Matthew on the same cruise with his friends for a little fun, time in the sun and upset to have run into the jerk he tried to befriend from school. The two of them saw each other as jerks but the question is why, and I am sure three months will be enough time to figure it out (or will …hoping they don’t kill each other) So from the beginning the hate is there, anyone can see it in their glares at each other and the hate rolling off them in waves. But they do say it is a thin line between love and hate how right they are in this situation throw in the intense chemistry and that little thing called magnetic pull bring them back into each other space but will they take the chance to get past all the hate (it has got to be tiring walking around with it), will they give each a chance at friendship (a real chance), will Ash let his guard down, and can they find happiness?

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ash and Matthew's Story . . .

Bitter enemies from high school days, who would have thought Ash and Matthew would end up on the same 3-month vacation cruise! Those two are oil and water, always antagonizing each other. But it has been 9 years since high school and it seems the anger still has not burned out. Or is it perhaps something else and not anger at all?

Arguing in the locker room, there is an awareness that something is different this time. Is it worth trying to find peace between them? Can they tentatively try? Who will make the first move? And how far are they willing to take these efforts at looking for something more between them? When they can bring it down to teasing and banter, they are well on their way to a new start.

This author has definitely become one of my favorites. You don’t get a simple surface-level story because there are real issues and important things to think about deeper down, and the author will lead you there to find out what you need to see. His stories grab the reader’s heart and fill it with emotion. I have never picked up one of his books that I have not been moved by the content, usually in a positive direction. And I genuinely like the characters by the time we hear their stories and get to know them. Grab your copy and enjoy another terrific read!

[Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great second installment in this series and you got to see more of what Matthew was up to during the 3 month cruise. We were initially introduced to Matthew while reading Jaxon's story, but we didn't know what was distracting him while aboard the cruise. This tells his story and what a great story it is. An enemy from his past, Ash, shows up aboard the same cruise ship. It's been 9 years since they were in school together but the anger is still in full force for them both. But an altercation in the locker room following an intense workout from them both leads to them realizing that maybe it's not anger they are feeling towards each other but passion. The rest of their story as they move from enemies to lovers is well worth reading and of course, we have a HEA ending.

Can't wait to get to read the next installment. I'm hoping that there are at least two more books in this series and we need to get Bryce's story and I feel like there is a good twist on the Zane and Dalton story as well.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is steamy and very entertaining. When Ash and Matt see each other on the ship, they can't believe it. They were bitter enemies in high school, constantly at each other's throats. Ash had a bad attitude, and Matt just couldn't let the things he said slide. Now they were stuck on the same ship for 3 long months. After that first meeting, they ignored each other, until the night they both ended up in the gym. After managing to have a conversation where they didn't rip into one another, they each decided that they could be in the same room together and get along. After having another blow up one night, passion took over. It confused them both and angered them, because they still hated each other. Deciding to test where things would go, they spent most of their time together, getting to know each other. Ash is belligerent, impulsive, stubborn and grumpy. Matt is hyperactive, determined and sweet. The tension between them is off the charts, and makes for some funny scenes. I really enjoyed reading this.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

[Marion · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in The Cruise series. You can read it as a stand alone but I think you will enjoy it more if you read the previous book first. This is the story of Matthew and Ash. The two were school enemies and a soon as they meet on the ship; they immediately regress back to that time. Ash is an ex marine on the cruise with his brother. He resented all the "rich kids" that he went to private school with. He has a chip on his shoulder and is quick to escalate to fight when provoked. Matthew is one of those rich kids who didn't understand why Ash disliked him so much in school. Whenever they are together, they manage to antagonize each other into arguments. Realizing that he doesn't understand Ash at all, Matthew attempts a cease fire with Ash. He wants to get to know the man under the anger. I like how they brought out the best in each other. It sometimes felt like Matthew was doing all the heavy lifting in their relationship. This book is well written and easy to read. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a solid take on the enemies-to-lovers (who are still kind of enemies) romance, with a fair amount of steam. Both Matthew and Ash can be difficult to like: Matthew because he’s smug, manipulative, and kind of selfish, Ash because he’s closed off, defensive, and great at holding grudges. Matthew uses his words more, so he does a lot of the talking (or, insulting) and often uses his eloquence to get out of his share of the blame (see the final “they almost don’t make it” fight, where he somehow has Ash apologizing when honestly he’s the one most at fault). Individually I really didn’t like either of them all that much, but together, their physical and emotional chemistry was such that they really just worked, and were compelling to read about. Somehow, when they aren’t bringing out the worst in each other, they bring out the best, and while I don’t want to be friends with either of them, I enjoyed their romance and am happy they got their HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judging people by first impressions can lead you down crooked paths! Matthew was on a 2 month cruise with his best friends. Ash, was on the 2 month cruise with his older brother Luke. When they were younger in school, Matthew and Ash did not get along in an extremely aggresive way for high schoolers. They spent the school years, hating each other, so imagine their surprise when they spotted each other on the 2 month cruise. Matthews has spent his time after graduation earning several degrees, Ash joined the marines. When they inevitably came face to face for a conversation, sparks flew! Did they dig to the root of their dislike? Will they talk now? Is there forgiveness? What do Matt's besties say about seeing Ash around the ship? Does Luke have to pull them apart? Good story. This is not as indepth as Mr Alexander's previous stories. There were several tense moments. Then a few kind moments. Nice story. Look forward to reading stories of the best friends. Nicely done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Claire Louisa]

4.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌠 I really loved the romance between Matthew and Ash. At the start when things are explosive between them, you can feel the venom that rolls off them, especially Ash, who had a massive chip on his shoulder about the way he perceived how others saw him, which in turn made him turn on them. I wondered if they would get past that anger and animosity, but boy did they manage to, and in the most combustible locker room scene.

I really enjoyed book one, My Suite or His Cabin, Jaxon's romance, but the chemistry and genuine affection that grew between Matthew and Ash, made this a favourite. I loved the way Matthew was willing to learn how Ash worked and was able to calm him down, you could feel how much he cared.

I'm really looking forward to reading the other books in the series and seeing how the rest of the friends fare in their romantic lives, they are all being so secretive.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[L H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew and Ash had a not great relationship with one another that dates back several years ago to school. It is funny how those strong emotions from when we are young can linger and infect they way we see each other even when we have not seen each other in years. Ash is on the same cruise that Matthew and his crew are taking for the next three months. At first, neither was happy to see the other but over time they realize that the strong emotion they are feeling is not dislike but it is intense. And as often is the case that thin line proves crossable as ire turns to desire and they start a thing. They have disliked each other a long time so nothing is automatic. And Ash is an emotional mine field that Matthew is willing to cross to get them to a hard fought HEA. I can't wait to read the next book to see who next from this group will find his guy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! The second book of Romeo’s new series is just as good as the first. It’s full of sass, anger, making mistakes and making up. Matthew and Ash knew each other in school and they were enemies. Now they meet again on the cruise ship and it doesn’t start well. But soon Matthew is asking for a truce and Ash reluctantly agrees. Soon the two are spending more time together and getting closer in the process. Things turn steamy for the two and numbers are exchanged so that things don’t have to end just because the cruise does. And then disaster strikes. It will send Ash running away and leave them both heartbroken. An intervention by a meddling brother will bring the two back together and allow them to find their happily ever after.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[K-Me · Rating 4 out of 5]

You never know who you might run into on a long Cruise!!! For Matt and Ash.. well it ends up being each other.. Enemies from High School! Their Chemistry is instant.. instantly tense and ready to explode that is! You just know this is going to lead to some steamy times! I liked that Ash was a more reserved less experienced guy too! Told in both POV so you get to know both guys and all their thoughts!!! Lots of fun banter and shenanigans with Matt's friends as well! Cannot wait for their stories!!! I always love Romeo's different couple's series! Oh and shout for Fort Dale reference too!!! I received an ARC of this book and recommend for those who like a really good enemies to lovers romance!

[Nina Diab · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was steamy! Oh goodness! Enemies to lovers isn't a theme I read often, but oh this one was glorious! Matthew and Ash were practically ready to kill each other at times, but that made it oh so satisfying to see them come together as that hatred began to turn into something else. I enjoyed the first book, "My Suite or His Cabin," but this one tops that. We'll have to see if any of the other couples manage to knock this one off the pedestal I've put them on. That locker room altercation was scorching! Loved this book! (This is a fantastic author btw- I've loved every book I read.) I definitely recommend it! 5 stars.

[Syd Springer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful enemies to loves book. Matt and Ash were awesome together. Matt and Ash hated each other in high school and have never resolved their issues. However, now that they are on the same cruise and those old feelings are coming out and new ones are forming too. I loved the connection, tension, steam, love, banter, and the chemistry between these two. These two have some ups and downs but Matt and Ash get a really sweet HEA. I can't wait to see what happens with the rest of the guys on the cruise! I would recommend this book and Mr. Romeo as a must read author.

I received a free e-book copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in this series and it was real good. It has been so far the most intense enemies to lovers I have read. All that hate turning into love was fascinating to see come about. Ash took surly to a whole entire level. Only someone like Matt could deal with him and his mood swings. I really was cheering them on...it was hard at the beginning tho because I couldn't imagine how they would EVER get along with all the bad feeling between them but somehow they were able to turn that intensity to something worth falling in love for. I really can't wait to see the other friends get their forever afters too.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[T Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when a story starts out and you know all the friends will have their day, too. The anticipation is glorious. Matthew and Ash have quite the history, as do Ash and Matthew’s friends, which makes this that much meatier. When they “passionately “ put aside their differences Matthew and Ash have a lovely love story. This series has the earmarks of something exciting. This author doesn’t disappoint and once again, this book is lots of fun.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. Ash always had a chip on his shoulder. Ash and Matthew had known each other in school and when they met again on the cruise, they finally put the past to the rest. Ash and Matthew share a lot of interests and finally allow themselves to fall for each other. However they were keeping it from Ash's brother and Matthew's friends. When it comes out, Ash leaves rather than fight. With Luke's help, Matthew convinces Ash to give them the chance and it works.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to get the opportunity to read this one after reading the first in the story line. Ash and Matthew were enemies in high school. They haven't seen each other since then and they still antagonize each other but they have serious chemistry! There are stuck with each other for the next three months. One night they end up together and holy moly! This was fantastic! It was really well written, highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.