Sapphire Sunset is a pleasant "beach read". The setting is beautiful. There is a story as the core, an improvement on the previous C. Travis Rice book I read in this series. The story was largely engaging and the characters more than hot bodies, as can be found in many M4M books. There were multiple weaknesses compared to Christoper Rice's other books he wrote using his standard name. The writing was not as carefully crafted with less depth to the story. This lead to the narrative get verbose at times. He would have been better to have either made the book shorter and added more depth and breadth to the story. There were also too many slips into things that just did not make sense or bordered on the illogical, making the read at times clumsy. For a casual read with a reasonable amount of M4M action, this book met that mark.

3.5/5 stars

Sapphire Sunset is a contemporary MM romance between a security officer and the heir of the resort he works at. Logan Murdoch has left the Marines for a cushy private security job in the luxury South Californian resort Sapphire Cove. On his first day, sparks fly between him and the handsome young heir Connor Harcourt. After an illicit almost hook-up, circumstances separate them for the next 5 years until a blackmailing scandal rocks the resort forcing Connor to return and take up the mantle early. Can they save Sapphire Cove and make a go at this second chance they have been given?

I think I was expecting more from the book given the fantastic reviews it’s gotten. I liked the romance but everything outside that (the resort component) felt kind of contrived and drawn out. The family drama felt unrealistic and how the events turned out didn’t feel natural at all. I did like the drama of it, but there wasn’t much tension nor suspense. It was campy, fun, and melodramatic, and it can work but just not so much for me.

The romance is insta-lust/love (imagine them both still being hung up on an interrupted hook-up with a guy they just met 5 years later) which I didn’t mind but traction may vary depending on the reader. They reconnected really fast with some steamy scenes and deep discussions. I liked both Logan and Connor as two very different kinds of gay men. Logan is tall, handsome and rugged, so he is the “right” type of gay in that he is straight-passing. Connor meanwhile is the obvious effeminate “pocket gay” so he has to wield his privilege and wealth in the face of homophobia. There was a surprising amount of depth in their dynamic as they navigate their disparity in their homosexuality and backgrounds.

Sapphire Sunset is a decent steamy MM romance.

A soap opera style romance. So much happens in this book and I was surprised by all of it. Laugh out loud funny in parts, sad in others, sexy as hell. Set at a California resort it’s beautiful and filled with beautiful people.

Logan is a retired Marine, first day on his new job in security for the hotel when he meets Connor. It’s immediate attraction for both of them. Flirty and cute. Logan HAS TO KEEP HIS JOB, so even though they have a very hot kiss, he breaks things off because Connor’s family owns the resort. Then…. 5 years later…. the story really begins.

Logan and Connor go through a lot, there’s lots of external conflict and their own relationship drama. This is a great setup of characters and setting for the series. I look forward to more!

The story was good, showing realistically what gay romance is like. Looking forward to reading more from this author who happens to be Anne Rice's son. lol

Sapphire Sunset was an absolute stunner! I can't believe how late i am to this party, because Anne Rice was pretty much the only author i compulsively read all through HS and Christopher clearly has inherited THE GIFT! And yes ofc I'd started collecting their cowritten Mummy stuff, and after SS's sexy narrative prowess i'm very much looking forward to filling my brain with the duo's atmospheric pnr vibes if the writing's anything like this was!

Everything about Sapphire Sunset was arresting! The characterization was chef's kiss, the banter was playful and full of flavour, the plot went so soooo hard, the couple dynamics were delicious, and every inch of this gorgeous hotel was evocative and dreamy. There were so many levels to this lush and provocative sink-your-teeth-into-it read and I just could not get enough of everything THIS was!

I can already tell that the Sapphire Cove series is one of those rare gems that'll keep on giving, because the loving was so bright and beautiful, and the narrative style and tone was perfection! Captivating, delightful, and everything i could have wanted in a romance, Sapphire Sunset stood head and shoulders above the rest of the genre and i cannot wait to devour the rest of this series because this was brilliant fun!

Oh man this book was like... man, it is a marathon not a sprint. It's also one of the better m/m romances I've read in a bit, including a bunch of details that aren't really present in the m/m written by women, for obvious reasons.

This book happens in two parts, the chapters that open the story and include the first time Logan and Connor meet. Then there's five years later when they meet again. At first, I thought that most of what happened in the first couple of chapters could probably have been condensed into a prologue but, as I went on, it became obvious that the character traits and baggage shown in those first chapters would continue to be relevant throughout.

Logan is in desperate straights when we first see him, but that's not unusual. We go on to find he's been looking after himself and his father since he was around ten years old. Through that time, his father didn't disown him when he found him jerking off to porn involving men, and is basically just so grateful that his dad didn't get rid of him at that point that he's continued looking after his dad's wellbeing ever since.

The latest situation? His dad needs medical care after an event that happened before the story starts, and Logan's employment at Sapphire Cove is what's gonna give him the medical cover he needs. He can't afford to lose this job, even if it's clearly apparent from the start that at least two of the current staff members are less than ideal about the fact he's gay.

You know who's fine with it? The grandson of the current owner, who is just about the twinkiest twink who ever walked through two doors. If one thinks this might just be flavour to separate one of the main characters of this story from the other, you're wrong. What follows is some truly interesting analysis of the difference between gay guys who can pass as straight, and those who... can't.

Once Logan feels he has to choose his job or Connor, he chooses the one that'll mean his father is okay. And then spends five years pining. And, after eavesdropping on a conversation not meant for him, Connor leaves California for New York, fuming and believing Logan's lied to him. He doesn't come back again until it's time for him to take over Sapphire Cove.

With the exception of basically the third quarter of this book, it was phenomenal with no notes, so I'm just gonna talk about that third quarter for a second. I understand, I think, why issues were brought up only to be immediately defused almost without comment in this section. The first half and the last quarter really do have their share of plot and interpersonal drama. There was only so much more heat and chemistry that could be described between Connor and Logan after their first explosive meeting.

But the way this author handled the dialogue and actions of these two protagonists in this section of the story made them seem just a little too perfect to be believable. Like, it's not common that people just say exactly the right thing that many times, and under sometimes serious duress, without at least being depicted as pausing to consider their words first.

Other than that though? Really loved this and will definitely be reading more of his books.

This was a very fun, soapy read! I had been meaning to read this book for a while so when I saw it on NetGalley as a re-release under the author's new name, it seemed like a great time to try it.

This story is capital-D dramatique. It's insta-everything: insta connection, insta lust, insta love. It felt like being on a rollercoaster of drama. And I could.not.put.it.down.

The writing in this book is . . . not always great. There is a lot of head hopping, some interesting word choices and while I very much appreciate the progressive/liberal politics being conveyed, it was pretty headhanded at times. Subtle this book is not.

But the sense of place was solid and the cast of characters was endearing. I enjoyed it and will keep reading the series when I am in the right place for it.

I recommend this book for fans of Tal Bauer (minus the purple prose) who want to read about idealistic people who fight hard for their happy ever after. Be prepared to suspend your disbelief and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

This is an introspective romance about being on different sides of a class divide, but with both protagonists being essentially good-intentioned. It's a story about people who are essentially different loving one another anyway--both in the romance and between Logan and his father.

I absolutely loved this book. I can't wait until I can go back and read everything by Christopher Rice writing as C. Travis Rice. Five out of five stars.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for sending me this ARC!

I enjoyed this book immensely until we reached the five-year fast-forward stage. The angst, yearning, drama, humour, and tension were *chef's kiss*. It had me kicking my feet and giggling because I loved it. Then we reached the five-year-later chapter, and I was so put off by Logan, if I'm honest. He felt so distant and, honestly, a bit of a stranger, but I was not deterred, as intellectually, I knew it was intentional by the author. Anyways, after a few chapters, I began to warm up to Logan again, and all was well. I was surprised at how plot-driven this was, as I have sadly grown accustomed to romances lacking plot, and I loved it. The whole plot surrounding the hotel was intriguing, detailed, and quite intense, which added to the romance because of the high(ish) stakes. This book dealt with some heavy topics related to Logan and Connor's backstories, which was great. Also, I loved the characters and the development Connor and Logan had throughout the story.

This book's rating was down because Connor's mother talked about how Connor and Logan's relationship was built on mostly lust. While Connor and Logan worked to build up the deep emotional side of their connection, I still felt as if much had changed to shift their relationship from lust to love. Additionally, Connor had no previous experience running a business. While it was said his event planning experience helped him with taking over GM of the hotel, realistically, Connor should have struggled more, which would have been nice to see, especially how Connor overcomes the obstacles. Finally, Connor and Logan shared one kiss and did not know each other at all as they had just met, so for them to still be so intensely into each other after 5 years of no contact and other partners didn't make sense. Because of that, it sometimes took me out of the story when it was mentioned in the book.

C. Travis Rice is starting out with a new genre, and I am excited to see where this all goes. I thought this book was decent and the dialogue was believable.

Sapphire Sunset
Logan Murdoch starts a job as a security guard at Sapphire Cove Hotel complex having left the marines to take care of his father. On his first night he meets Connor Harcourt grandson of the original owner of the hotel and due to take a management post under his absolutely foul Uncle.
Their attraction is immediate and passionate but Logan having heavy responsibilities and knowing it would not be a good idea to start a relationship stops it in its tracks.Due to a terrible misunderstanding Connor leaves, vowing never to go back and have anything to do with the hotel
Fast forward five years and due to a big scandal Connor is called back to fully take over the business. Logan is still working there and their feelings re ignite.
This book is full of emotion and passion with some heart breaking dialogue. The relationship between these two is just wonderful, there are moments of high drama, misunderstandings and danger but also humour.
I loved this story, really well written and one I was sorry to finish.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

This was a great read about a second chance romance for a pair of headstrong men; featuring a hotel in crisis, California wildfires and a whole lot of making out *and more* by the ocean!

Connor Harcourt is the heir to the Harcourt legacy - the Sapphire Cove Hotel. He thinks his life is looking up when he meets sexy ex-marine and new hotel security guard Logan Murdoch, with whom he shares an unforgettable kiss… but a terrible misunderstanding rips the pair of them apart and any future Connor had been dreaming of is destroyed.

Five years later, the pair reunite when the hotel is in terrible jeopardy… but can they get past the fight and bad feelings on which they parted? And will the scandal force them even further apart?

I loved the dynamics of the pair in this - there’s a lot of discourse around the how people perceive the ‘right/wrong kind of gay’ which I think was really fascinating, especially coming from an own voices author. Connor is constantly being belittled and bullied from family and strangers because he’s a twink and very ‘obviously gay’ whereas Logan can pass for straight and therefore has had a very different experience in life. Seeing the pair discuss this and how it’s affected their lives and relationships, both in and out of the bedroom, was something I don’t often see and I really appreciated that. They also come from wildly different financial backgrounds which causes a strain on their relationship at times, but also leads to some deep and well-thought-out conversations.

The reason this loses a star from me is simply because I felt it dragged in places - I found myself skipping over parts about life in the hotel just to get to more of the action and more of the relationship building. This book was almost 400 pages and I feel like we could have had a snappier, more impactful read with only 300, however that’s just my personal opinion!

Read Sapphire sunset for:
✨ Second chance MM romance
✨ Own voices author with keen discourse about the perceiving of ‘right/wrong type of gay’
✨ Family drama and corruption
✨ Class difference
✨ Ex-marine security guard x party planner & hotel GM
✨ Hotel in jeopardy
✨ Found family

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Box Press for a copy of this book. It’s available now!