Love Runs Deep – Gail Chianese

(Reviewed by Ishita RC)

Lieutenant Nic Riley is the only girl in a long-time Navy family, and she’s determined to prove herself as seaworthy as her brothers. When she aces training for submarine duty, it calls for a celebration that ends with one incredibly hot guy for a night. At least that’s what she assumes as she boards the sub and finds herself face to face with her hunky fling.

Lieutenant Kyle Hutchinson’s ran from the oppressive responsibilities of his small town and has been running from all relationships until the explosive night he spends with Nic. Dating onboard is firmly off limits, but Kyle can’t get her off his mind much less out of his vicinity—until a junior seaman’s devastating stunt puts Nic’s career in danger. Kyle won’t let her take the heat alone, even when it means risking his own reputation, but fighting for a future together will be a whole new battle.

Can two ambitious sailors follow orders long enough to see if love is on the horizon when they’re finally above water?

Usually military romances that I follow end up with some kind of lurking danger and aloha heroes. This was a surprisingly sweet down tide, no pun intended. While the plot is simple and sweet and follows the typical fanfare of mills and boon with its share of happy ending, it’s the sweet romance and the characters that brighten it up all for me.

“Make me a promise and I’ll do the same. Next time life gets stressful, and we both know it will with our lifestyles, we’ll talk. No shutting each other out. No making decisions without consulting the other. No listening to my brothers. We each have faith in the other and in ourselves”

The plot is an intriguing mix of female empowerment in the toughest branches of work and has been woven with the vulnerabilities of sexual harassment that is often hidden. But what clinches it for me is the beautiful dialogue that I have quoted. Relationships do get tested; it’s how you fare through it that marks the strength of your bond with your partner. For bringing out such a simple viewpoint in such a beautiful way, with two equally strong and beautiful characters shows a level of clarity that should be appreciated. Everything else about this book ticked off for me and I can call myself a happy reader at the end of the day.

Love Runs Deep is a beautiful book to remember.