Sea of Love

Publisher's Summary

Lacy Snow wasn't looking for love when she met strikingly handsome and seductive Dane Braden. But how could she ignore the six-foot-three, darkly handsome god who tagged and researched sharks for a living - and made every nerve in her body tangle into an overly sensitive knot? Even her fear of sharks could not suppress their intense attraction.

As founder of the Brave Foundation, Dane Braden travels from port to port, educating and advocating on behalf of the mammals he adores - and spends his nights finding solace in the arms of strangers. The last thing Dane was looking for when he met Lacy Snow was a relationship, and the last thing he expected was to fall in love.

Fifteen months - and hundreds of flirty emails, steamy phone calls, and sensual video chats - later, they reunite and take passion to a whole new level. But as Lacy's phobia meets Dane's past love life, their steamy romance is upended, and when tragedy strikes, Dane and Lacy are forced to face their deepest fears head-on as they try to navigate their own sea of love.

©2014 Melissa Foster (P)2015 Melissa Foster

Critic Reviews

"...love, loss, lies, grief, finding happiness in the face of adversity, romance, humor, bravery, hot hot hot sex scenes, marriages, births, and totally awesome characters." (Supportive Business Moms, UK)

"Contemporary romance at its hottest. Each Braden sibling left me craving the next. Sensual, sexy, and satisfying, the Braden series is a captivating blend of the dance between lust, love, and life." (Best-selling author Keri Nola)

Braden men are solidly good guys –

AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall: 4 Narration 4 Story: 4

Lacy and Dane first met 15 months ago at her sister’s wedding: but distance and careers kept them apart. They’ve managed to keep in touch via telephone, Skype and email: but each loves the job they have, and neither is particularly ready for a full-on relationship. Lacy is working in her dream job: marketing and promotion, and she’s completely comfortable doing just that. Sure, she’s attracted to Dane, and she does dream of him, not to mention being totally turned on, but his job (and his commitment to it) scare her to death. Dane makes his living tagging sharks and educating people about them. He’s obsessed with sharks and probably has more than a mild streak of adrenaline junkie. He doesn’t know of Lacy’s bone-deep fear of sharks, or her concerns about a relationship with a man who not only won’t put her first as he works all the time, but works around such danger.

These two are cute together – and Lacy’s certainly got plenty to decide on: is it worth her effort to get attached to a man who works with the thing that scares her most – especially when he’s ALWAYS working? And what about that – is he running away from potential commitments, finding it easier to hide out with the man eaters? Oh Dane does appear to truly enjoy Lacy, and he cares for her – but he’s got a streak of spoilt and isn’t willing to discuss compromise. But neither can forget the electric connection, the steam that rises between them in every interaction – and what steam it is. With plenty of moments from other characters, including plenty of sisterly advice, the two do manage to both open up and be honest, and just maybe Lacy can overcome some of her fear, just as Dane is willing to open up to the possibility of being hurt by love.

Narration for this story is provided by B.J. Harrison, and while his performance was adept and acceptable, my ears and heart yearn for some dual narrative performances for this series, adding that palpable touch of feminine energy that Lacy so required and deserved. His performance of Dane and the other males in the cast felt natural, but there was a clear element missing with the women: it wasn’t for a lack of tone / pitch /delivery changes but a sense of energy that was less male, more feminine and softer, more an iron fist in velvet glove feel than I got here.

Each of these stories works alone, and while previous characters appear and influence the story, the listener is provided with enough information to understand the relationship in the moment, and becomes a treat for listeners familiar with their stories as they are allowed a moment to continue their own stories. The Braden men are solidly good guys – even when they misstep, and are sure to be favorites of many.

I received an AudioBook copy of the title from the producer for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Rough Seas for Dane & Lacy

Sea of Love: Love in Bloom, Book 7 by Melissa Foster Narrated by B.J. Harrison

Sea of Love brings us the love story of shark researcher and founder of the Brave Foundation, Dane Braden and Lacy Snow, Danica and Kaylie’s younger half-sister.

Dane travels all over the world educating and protecting sharks. Happy in his life and not looking for a relationship or love, he meets and is immediately smitten with Lacy Snow when they meet at Danica’s and Kaylie;s destination wedding.

Lacy too feels the pull of attraction and heat between them and so begins a fifteen month “relationship” of sort. Dane and Lacy learn about each other through texts, emails, FaceTime and phone calls. Playful, often naughty, flirty and sensual, but never syncing their schedules to meet again until they both attend Max and Treat’s wedding.

Both wondering why they didn’t make the time before now, they embark on a passionate journey all their own, until the past and Lacy’s real fear of sharks and what caused it threaten their new found romance.

The ups and downs forces them to face their differences, their pasts and whether or not they can have a real future together as they navigate their own sea of love.


BJ Harrison has become a favorite narrator for me. His voice is hypnotic and brings life to Melissa’s characters, differentiating between them seamlessly.

Another 5 star listen!

I am ready to set sail!

Another amazing book by Melissa Foster. This is the story of Dane Braden, founder of the Brave Foundation, a shark Conservatory, and Lacey Snow, one of the Snow Sisters from the original books that started the whole wonderful world of Love at Bloom.

Dane and Lacey have spent the last 15 months and burning up the phone lines, Skype and email since Lacey's sisters double wedding. Another wedding had brought Dane and Lacey back together so they could start down their path to forever love. But the road to forever love is never smooth, and they must face their own trials and tribulations along the way.

This book is a prime example of how Melissa Foster's mind has a phenomenal way of weaving together a world that is so lifelike and real that you feel like you could meet these people on the street.

Listening to Melissa's words brings a different and exciting feel to the story. My only suggestion is to be careful where you read "listen" because some of the scenes are a little steamy. Enjoy.

Friends with Benefits

Melissa will make all of the Braden's special to you, as they are to me. B. J. Harrison's narration is nothing short of marvelous!
Lacy Snow met Dane Braden at her self-sisters wedding in Nassau some fifteen months ago. Dane was traveling the world over in and out of the water trying to save sharks. There had been an attraction between them and they had been in contact with each other ever since. When Dane's brother Treat and Max got married, they met again. Lacy was an account executive for World Geographic and she worked long hours. Lacy was afraid of sharks because she had been traumatized by on when she was young. She had a scar on her leg to prove it. Can love overcome this fear? Exciting story!

Sinful and Dangerous...

Dane Braden has a love of sharks, and has a need to show how much we have to learn about them. Lacy Snow has a fear of sharks due to past experience but Dane and Lacy have a romantic friendship and 15 months of flirting and passion sitting right under the surface, ready to boil over. I love this story and the back and forth about fear, from both sides, because it is not just her fear that holds them back. Really recommend this to everyone who likes some good romance!

Dane and Lacy struggle to survive - excellent book

This series just gets better and better! Sea of Love is the story of Dane Braden and Lacy Snow who met at a wedding. They have not seen each other for 15 months but over time have developed a phone, text, and Skype relationship. When they finally see each other they become intimately involved. But Lacy has a secret that will challenge their relationship and their future. BJ Harrison’s voice is melodious and riveting. I love how he reads patriarch Hal Braden. He also read with emotion that touched me during scenes regarding Dane’s friendship with coworker Rob. This was an excellent audiobook.

Sharks or love--which one to be more afraid of?

I loved coming back to this book a couple years after initially reading it and listening to the audiobook version. Lacy and Dane, who were introduced during of Melissa's "Snow Sisters" series, come back together after months of keeping in touch and steamy conversations. This book was great to experience as an audiobook because you could really feel the emotion conveyed between the characters.Between the physical distance that has separated them and the two separate "worlds" they come from, as a reader you really aren't sure if these two are going to overcome fears and reservations to come together. They really do have to build on everything they built in their long distance relationship and explore their fears.

Steamy

If you could sum up Sea of Love in three words, what would they be?

This book just jumps right into the chemistry of Dane and Lacy. They have a history for Danica and Kaylie's wedding. They are so steamy you can feel it though the pages. Lacy has a huge fear to over come that the fear just happens to be Dane's whole life. I enjoyed reading this book a few years ago, but listening to it I've picked up on so much more detail. BJ does such a great job.

Which scene was your favorite?

I love when Dane surprises Lacy at work to fight for her

Loved listening

Yet another great story by Melissa Foster and of course a great tie in from the Sister books and Braden's. I highly recommend the whole series and as any of the others in their series this one is great. 15 months of flirting culminates when Lacy and Dane see each other for Lacy's other sisters wedding. Another hot and steamy Romance narrated by a fabulous narrator. Can't wait for the next one!

Very moving story.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

The Braden saga continues with Dane Branden taking the plunge. Dane and Lacy have only actually seen each other once in the past 15 months. Their attraction was immediate and strong but their careers drove them in different directions and kept them apart, physically, for over a year.

Theirs is a story of learning to overcome fears. They’re both young and idealistic, determined to follow the path they have set for their lives. They’d met at Lacy’s sister’s wedding 15 months earlier and were wildly attracted to each other but did not have the time or opportunity to explore their feelings. They have been communicating with SKYPE and phone calls all this time and now Dane’s brother, Treat, is getting married and they have both arranged to take the time to get to know each other and see where it all goes.

Dane’s love of the ocean, and sharks, is his life and his livelihood. He has always used this as an excuse to never commit to anyone. He spends 98% of his life on the water, even living on his boat. No ties. He has avoided commitment ever since the loss of his mother as a young boy. Watching the pain his father has endured every minute since his mother passed has made him think that loving someone that much is not for him.

His career also poses a huge problem for Lacy, who was attacked by a shark at a young age and bears the scars, inside and out. She is afraid Dane will not want anything more to do with her if he finds out she is deathly afraid of sharks. Not to mention that she is just starting to make a name for herself in her chosen field of marketing and she doesn’t want to give up all the ground she has gained in the industry to travel the world’s oceans, even if it is with the sexiest man she has ever known.

The journey these two must make to conquer their fears is the crux of this story and I found it very moving. It makes you stop and think about your own fears, what would you do to get over them, to move forward with your life, and to have the happiness that is right in front of you, but just out of reach?

Not all sharks are bad.

What did you like most about Sea of Love?
This was a coming of the Snow sisters with the Braden Family. It was good to catch up with Danica and Kaylie.

Who was your favorite character and why?
So many to choose from, Dane because he loves his job and so wants to share that with Lacy. Kaylie for her sense of humour, Danica for her love of her sister and Lacy for overcoming her fears to be with Dane.

Which character – as performed by B.J. Harrison – was your favourite?
He did a good job with all the characters. When he is in female mode you forget he is male. I have re read the book and have just finished listening to it again, still as good a the first time.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
When Lacy has her light bulb moment that accidents can happen everyday.

Any additional comments?
Love listening to BJ Harrison