Sapphire Sunset

Sapphire Cove #1

by C. Travis Rice, Christopher Rice

For the first time New York Times bestselling author Christopher Rice writes as C. Travis Rice. Under his new pen name, Rice offers tales of passion, intrigue, and steamy romance between men. The first novel, SAPPHIRE SUNSET, transports you to a beautiful luxury resort on the sparkling Southern California coast where strong-willed heroes release the shame that blocks their heart's desires.

Logan Murdoch is a fighter, a survivor, and a provider. When he leaves a distinguished career in the Marine Corps to work security at a luxury beachfront resort, he’s got one objective: pay his father’s mounting medical bills. That means Connor Harcourt, the irresistibly handsome scion of the wealthy family that owns Sapphire Cove, is strictly off limits, despite his sassy swagger and beautiful blue eyes. Logan’s life is all about sacrifices; Connor is privilege personified. But temptation is a beast that demands to be fed, and a furtive kiss ignites instant passion, forcing Logan to slam the brakes. Hard.

Haunted by their frustrated attraction, the two men find themselves hurled back together when a headline-making scandal threatens to ruin the resort they both love. This time, there’s no easy escape from the magnetic pull of their white hot desire. Will saving Sapphire Cove help forge the union they crave, or will it drive them apart once more?

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Gay

489 pages, ebook

First published March 1, 2022

About the author

C. Travis Rice is the pseudonym New York Times bestselling novelist Christopher Rice devotes to steamy tales of romance between men. Christopher has published multiple bestselling books in multiple genres and been the recipient of a Lambda Literary Award. With his mother, Anne Rice, he is an executive producer on the AMC Studios adaptations of her novels The Vampire Chronicles and The Lives of the Mayfair Witches. Together with his best friend and producing partner, New York Times bestselling novelist, Eric Shaw Quinn, he runs the production company Dinner Partners. Among other projects, they produce the podcast and video network, TDPS, which you can find at TheDinnerPartyShow.com.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 9/4. Perfection.

One of the best gay books I've ever read. Five stars aren't enough.

This is a complete story, from start to finish. The plot works hand in hand with the romance; neither detracts from the other. The author's storytelling/word-building is absolutely immersive. All characters, main and peripheral, are fleshed-out and realistic. This realism is why the story resonates so deeply. This is an honest, accurate gay relationship--which is beyond refreshing.

Logan and Connor are a beautiful couple who suit each other perfectly. It's also great that both characters are unabashedly out gay men. Their intimacy is top notch.

The ending is a total tear-jerker--in the best way possible.

I pre-ordered the next book as soon as I finished this. It's that good.

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING 4.5 STARS

Sapphire Sunset is book one in the Sapphire Cove series by Christopher Rice, writing as C. Travis Rice. This is my very first book by him. This is a MM, second chance romance with a little bit of everything, romance, steamy sexy times, some suspense and a sweet epilogue that lets you walk away with a happy heart.



Logan Murdoch spent ten years in the military as a marine. But after a work accident, his father needs him at home. Luckily, Logan was able to score a job with great benefits that would get his dad the medical help he needs, working as a security guard for a fancy beachside resort. Logan is a big, burly, tattooed man who is also gay, and it’s not something he keeps hidden. It’s on his first night at work when he sees him! Blonde hair, big blue eyes, checks off every box on Logan’s perfect man chart. Except one thing. He’s the grandson of the owner of the hotel. The nephew of Logan’s boss.



Connor Harcourt is only twenty three when we first meet him, fresh out of college and ready to step into a full time position at his family’s resort as events planner. It’s at his own graduation party that he sees him. It’s my favorite kind of first meeting, when the eyes meet across the room and everything else fades away. At the end of the evening, these two are able to slip away and share a moment, a kiss that will change them forever. A kiss dreams are made of. But then, once again, both of their lives are changed and that brief glimpse into something that might have been special is wiped away.

Fate isn’t through with these two, though. Neither of them ever thought they’d see the other again but events neither could have ever imagined once again brought them face to face. They have no choice but to work together which forces them to face what drove them apart the first time.



Does this story have a villain? Yes it does! And Logan will do whatever he has to do to keep Connor safe. Logan has such a deep sense of commitment to everyone and everything he cares about. It endeared him to me from the start. To his father. To Connor. To Sapphire Cove because he cared about it so much. To the guests and to the staff. It’s just who Logan was, a hero to so many. But who will save Logan? I loved that Connor saw that maybe Logan needed him just as much as he needed Logan. That together, these two were such a force of good. Were all of their decisions good ones? Maybe not. But they both gave everything they had to what they believed in, and to each other.



Christopher’s descriptions are vivid and I could practically hear the ocean waves hitting up against the rocks on the beach. I could picture the blue of the water. This is his first book writing as C. Travis. The next book in this series will be about Connor’s best friend, Naser Kazemi and is called Sapphire Spring. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for him.

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

24 hours and 5 minutes
Baby Blues and Lethal Weapon
My Prince and My Hero
Connor and Logan

I’ve struggled to write this review because I loved them and their story so much.

The ocean gurgled under their feet and into the cave around them, and along with Connor's devoted passion, all those elements combine to make him feel like he and Connor, in this moment, at least, really were the only two people in the world, something he'd never felt during sex in his entire life even though he'd heard plenty of songs about it.

The depth of character, the exquisite writing, the humor, the genuine human interactions, and the accurate representation of a beautiful gay relationship was written so well.

[Megan [At The Cottage]]

MM Romance
Audiobook: 1 Star ⭐️
Actual Book: No Rating

DNF @ 65%

I’ve been trying to read this since the beginning of April and it’s just not meant to be. Here’s why.

The audiobook to this was on sale for $2 and I bought it without listening to a sample. Tsk tsk me 🤦🏻‍♀️ I didn’t realize when I bought the audiobook that it was narrated by the actual author and that’s quite the choice…obviously not one I agree with considering how ungodly boring his narrating was. This is his own book FFS and you’d think there’d be a little excitement or passion while reading it but no it just dragged. I didn’t mind the story at first but I absolutely HATED the voice he did for Connor, one of the main characters. The author made him nasally like he was sucking in helium and it just bugged the hell out of me so after listening to 30%? Maybe? I downloaded it on KU to read it, hoping that I could get back into it because the reviews for this book are outstanding but unfortunately I could still hear Connor’s annoying voiceover in my head and had to set this down for a little while.

Now a few weeks have passed and I’ve tried to read it again but I’m now struggling for other reasons. This is a plot line I should absolutely love because it’s a second chance, “right person wrong time” 5 years apart but they are reunited in the present with a common goal type book. I love books that span years and in their time apart they grow but still can’t get over each other and then they find each other again. That shit is my fucking favorite but this is just not working for me at all because for this plot to be believable I need to feel the connection between them before they’re separated. It was hard for me to develop strong feelings towards them as a couple when 5 years ago they share a kiss and it’s a “magic moment” life changing kind of kiss for both of them but due to a misunderstanding of sorts they part ways for 5 years. They don’t talk at all during this time and only spent a day together prior to being apart so it was hard for me to understand why they were so hung up on each other. Logan had sexual partners in that time but never kissed anyone and it sounded like Connor tried to move on but couldn’t and ended up naming his dildo “Logan” instead. I just could not connect with their backstory or the drama happening at the hotel and their present day relationship made me constantly roll my eyes due to the OTT cheesiness.

So unfortunately this is a huge case of “it’s me not the book”. I think? If I had just read this would I have connected to it more? Or was I always destined to not connect to this book and DNF it? I have no idea but I’m done trying to read it. I’m not going give it an actual rating but I am going to emphasize how much I HATED the audiobook and if there was a separate area I could rate it, I’d give it 1 star. All these weeks later I can still hear Connor’s voice and not even listening to other audiobooks or music can dislodge his annoying voice from my memory 😭😭 So if you are thinking this book may be for you, do yourself a favor and READ it. 💗

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally read romance, but when I do it needs to be MM romance! Christopher Rice's Sapphire Sunset is steamy and fun, but ultimately the perfect romance novel for those who want to read honest depictions in gay relationships. Literally, this book is White Lotus with a MM romance spin. I read this book in two sittings and I am so happy that Christopher Rice is creating a series in this genre. I will be first in line for each of them.

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This book was such a delight to read. Mainly because it wasn't like the same old same old MM romance books that have been all over the place.

What I loved:
1. Both characters!
Logan was just an amazing alpha male of a marine specimen who was all grr and mine and you're mine.

Connor: The twinky bossy bottom who was more that meets the eye.

2. The side characters:
Naser: The twinky BFF who provides moral support and the cold hard truth
Chip: Logan's dad who was inappropriately funny!

3. The Romance: Swoony and sweet and so much fun. Also both characters are both out which I loved. Fate brought them together time and time again and they fought to be together.

4. The Banter: Just perfect: Not too much, not too little.

5. The Steam: Steamy! Brava Mr. Christopher. I applaud you.

6. The Setting: Sapphire Cove, the hotel they work at: Logan as security and Connor as it's Prince was vividly described. from the rooms to the offices to the beaches and the caves.

7. The HEA: *Cue sigh*

I can't wait for book 2!!

[~Nicole~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a little gem hidden in between thousands of romance books here on Gr and I was lucky enough to give it a try because it’s good..like really good. It’s like watching a romance movie on Tv. It’s smartly written, it’s romantic ..honestly I couldn’t put it down. I loved Logan, I loved his dad and I adored Connor- all the characters were great..even the villains! I have high hopes for the second one in the series , fingers crossed, because it’s not easy to redeem a bully.

[Nelly S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.35 stars

So I think I must be a Grinch, but I didn’t like this as much as I expected to given the rave reviews from most of my GR friends. The romance between Logan’s and Connor’s was all right yet it didn’t stir me. There were a few too many cliches for me—Logan as a former Marine and a current security guard being Connor’s “hero”, and Connor as a hotel heir being his “prince”. What I liked most were other aspects of the book such as secondary characters like Logan’s ornery father, Chip; his funny best friend, Donnie; and Connor’s bestie, Naser. Also I really appreciated the insight I gained into the shaming and discrimination that goes on within the gay community. Butch guys vs femme. Tops vs bottoms. So although I enjoyed this, it won’t count as a memorable read.

[Donna]

Dnf. After what feels like alot of DNF’ing lately and feeling like every book I pick up is bad, I’m beginning to think maybe it’s me and not the books. Or maybe all the books are bad. 🧐

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I'm so glad I read Dan's review as I hadn't seen this book recommended and I hadn't read any of Christopher Rice's books before. This book had pretty much everything I like in a contemporary romance. The two MCs are both very likable in this opposites attract, second chance story. One brief but almost magical moment between Connor, the owner's grandson and Logan, the new man on the security team, crumbles just as quickly. Connor leaves Sapphire Cove for NYC while Logan remains working security at Connor's family resort to support his ailing father. Years later Connor unwillingly returns to a pressure cooker as the family's legacy is put to the test with Connor thrust into an unwanted position that also brings him back to Logan.

The romance here is well-balanced with family drama and a bit of suspense. I really liked how the relationship progressed and that the misunderstanding years ago didn't get drawn out when the men got back together. The secondary characters are wonderful and I could picture the setting. I did feel some repetition here and there and I kept forgetting that Logan was only a couple of years older than Connor and not a decade or more, but for the most part, I devoured this book and jumped right into the next.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm, a generous 3 stars? Very average plot-line. Semi likable characters. A sequel is already being marketed and I’m really not sure if I’ll bother. I love Christopher Rice’s books but think I’ll stick with those and maybe skip his non de plume’s work.

[Marthea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread 26-29.05.25
Gdzieś mi umknęło, że wyszedł 4 tom serii pod koniec ubiegłego roku.
Zatem postanowiłam powtórzyć sobie wszystkie trzy wcześniejsze 😁
Ciągle absurdalnie słodka insta (na początku jakaś doba rozdzielona 5 latami) połączona z mydlaną operą i sporą ilością tekstu.
Niezmiennie uwielbiam 😁

* * * * * * *

4+
Niespodzianka. W dodatku niezwykle miła niespodzianka 😁

Szczerze mówiąc, nigdzie ta seria w polecajkach mi się nie pojawiała. Nawet nie wiedziałam, że istnieje. Dopiero gdzieś z tydzień temu trzecia część rzuciła mi się w oczy przy czymś i stwierdziłam, że czemu nie. No i wychodzi na to, że nie żałuję 😁

Czy dostałam insta? Bez dwóch zdań. Insta, która została przerwana przez jednego z bohaterów po 24 gdz. i która została podjęta dopiero po 5 latach. Ale, szczerze, zupełnie mi to nie przeszkadzało - nie miałam przede wszystkim wrażenia, że to insta. A o to chyba przy tym chodzi.

Czy bohaterowie byli stereotypowi? Również bez dwóch zdań. Logan - wysoki, duży, bardzo męski, honorowy, dobry i lojalny do bólu, były Marine, o którym nikt by nie powiedział na pierwszy, drugi czy piąty rzut oka, że jest gejem. Connor - metr pięć w kapeluszu, drobniutki, z wysokim głosem, zdecydowanie po kobiecej stronie, raczej pyskaty i wygadany. Zdecydowanie w typie Logana.

In the words of his best friend, Donnie, Logan liked guys he could fit into his back pocket but would kick their way out in five minutes because they were so full of energy and sass.

Czy książka była długa? Tak, nie ma się co czarować 😉

A jednak... nie mogłam się oderwać. Łyknęłam, pomimo długości, w dwa dni - choć jeden z nich to poniedziałek, czyli dzień dla mnie pracujący. Christopher Rice zdecydowanie potrafi pisać. Nie przeszkadzało mi w tej książce praktycznie nic - wręcz przeciwnie. Drugoplanowe postacie świetne - Donnie, przyjaciel Logana z branży porno; Naser - przyjaciel Connora, równie kieszonkowego rozmiaru, co on; i przede wszystkim Chip - ojciec Logana, który momentami wręcz kradnie show. Jego rozmowy z synem są bezcenne 😁 Nie będę narzekać, jak część osób w komentarzach, że nudna, że za długa, że stereotypowa, że mydlana opera, itd. - każdy w końcu ma swoje zdanie i swoją opinię. Moja jest taka, że nie spodziewałam się tekstu, który mnie tak wciągnie, który mi się naprawdę spodoba, który będzie jednak tak inny od większości serii dziejących się w małych miasteczkach czy kurortach, w którym humor nie jest rzadkością i po którym lecę natychmiast do części następnej 😁

[Chandra Claypool (WhereTheReaderGrows) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm mad. I'm so freaking angry. I canNOT believe it took me this long to read this book. I'm familiar with this author's writing as I've read quite a few of his past works, including ones he wrote with his mother (RIP, Queen!). However, romance is not usually in my repertoire of reading essentials. I'm usually rolling my eyes at the *oh-so-perfect* dialogue and way too steamy scenes with all the weird adjectives and adverbs. And then there's SAPPHIRE SUNSET and I was not prepared.

What a fun side of this author to see! Rice has a brilliant way of bringing his stories straight into a movie scene inside my head and Sapphire Sunset was very vivid to me. All the characters felt very real... well except for maybe on villainous snake but we won't talk about him. Ahem. I was engaged from the very beginning and couldn't help but fall in love with Logan and Connor. And bring me a fan because the sex scenes are deliciously steamy!

While I did root for Logan and Connor the entire time, sometimes it was *gag me with my own insecurities* too perfect... but also my black heart may have soared a bit because *SWOON*. Not only is this a story about their romance but it's also a lesson in microaggressions, homophobia, loyalty, assumptions and family. I'm SO happy I have book 2 to dive into VERY soon! This author never ceases to amaze me.

[Natasha is a Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I don’t want to be with someone I’m not afraid to lose.”

C. Travis Rice, Christopher Rice’s new writing alter ego, transports the reader to a luxury beachfront resort nestled in the rolling coastal plains of Southern California, where two men find true love amidst scandal and heightened family drama. Filled with rich imagery, all the sizzle we could ever hope for, and just enough angst to make our romantic hearts skip a beat or two, this novel rises up around you like a tide, slowly and seductively, but it is Rice’s beautiful prose, refined yet fiercely witty, that pulls us under its spell.

Continue reading this review...



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[Fearne Hill]

The first book I've not DNf'd for a while so something must have been right. And on the whole, it was, I quite enjoyed it.
The good: some of the dialogue was hilarious. All of the dialogue was sharp. The story tripped along, despite being a long book it didn't feel like one. I liked the setting and the 'saving a hotel' storyline. Connor was an interesting, well-developed character.
The less good: instalove is not my jam. One kiss then five years later? I nearly didn't get beyond the opening chapters. And five years later even more instalove? They barely knew each other. Logan is very two-dimensional.
Having said that, I will probably read the next, if only for the amusing dialogue.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read Christopher (C. Travis) Rice, it was blown away by the imagery in his writing. He made me feel a part of the story, like I was a silent character participating in the story. I felt the exact same way reading Sapphire Sunset, only this time I felt like I was the hotel in which the majority of this story takes place, Sapphire Cove. I could see the pride and joy on the faces of the Harcourt family as their hotel grew and became known for its superior customer service, I could imagine the decades of guests that stayed there many who returned year after year, I could sense the joy of the many people who celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, and weddings, and I could feel the hurt, anger, and shame when one of their own disgraced it. Two men were brought together one night, purely on accident or perhaps fate, but the timing was not right and it took years before the hotel needed them to reunite to save it. Sapphire Sunset was a perfect mix of action and romance, a gay romance that felt genuine and honest, and once I started it I could not put it down.

Logan Murdoch left the Marines in order to provide support and care for his father after an accident left him in need of surgery, therapy, and financial help. A protector and provider, Logan loved the Marines, he was good at his job, and he was happy to start a security job at the famed Sunset Cove. The minute he walked through the doors, the place gives him a sense of peace and belonging he didn’t understand, but he knew that he would work hard at the job in order to take care of his dad who was there for him always. What Logan didn’t expect on his first night on the job was to be attracted and thrown for a loop by Connor Harcourt, the owner’s only grandson.

There are two things that gave Connor Harcourt great pleasure; Sapphire Cove, the hotel owned by his family and planning parties that make people happy. So it was his honor to throw a party for his fellow graduates of UC Irvine at his family’s hotel and by all accounts it was turning out to be an amazing night until three drunks crashed it. Connor had no problem with getting involved but what he didn’t expect was for a security guard to not only handle it but throw him a wink on the way out.

I don’t want to give anything away on the way the relationship between Logan and Connor played out, but I will say that it took years for it to happen. Logan had reasons, ones he felt were good, for keeping his distance even when it killed him and he thought of Connor a lot. Connor made a name for himself in NYC as an event planner, but that all changed when his uncle who was the GM of Sapphire Cove along with all of the security department save Logan were taken into custody by the FBI putting Sapphire Cove at risk in more ways than one.

I loved watching Logan and Connor move past their past and work together to save Sapphire Cove, but what I loved more was seeing them grow. I felt like most people underestimated Connor; small in stature and with more feminine qualities, people brushed him off as insipid and unimportant. However, despite being thrown into taking over Sapphire Cove at a moment’s notice, it became clear this was something he was born to do and he wasn’t going down without a fight. I loved his confidence in public and the fact that he let Logan see how scared he was in private. I appreciated that despite being wealthy, he was kind, caring, and was more worried about the employees of the hotel than anything else. There were so many moments I wanted to wrap him in my arms and tell him it was going to be okay and it’s not that his mother wasn’t lovely, I just felt like she maybe didn’t understand how important the hotel was to him. Logan went into protection mode as soon as it became clear Connor might be a target and I loved him for it, but I also hated that at times he even underestimated Connor even when he didn’t mean to. Both men had such a sense of duty, honor, and caring but while Connor could accept help, Logan fought it and it almost cost him everything including Connor.

Their relationship was a bit of a roller coaster from the first chapter until almost the end, but within that time it was easy to see that Connor and Logan belonged together. The intimate scenes were passionate and sexy as hell, but at times also playful and emotional. Quite simply, their chemistry was something that was never a question and I’m just going to say that Connor’s mom implying that although they were having sex, they weren’t intimate, I disagree with that. From their first kiss there was intimacy or they wouldn’t have longed for one another for so long.

Sapphire Sunset by C. Travis Rice is one of those books that stuck with me. Days after finishing it, I was still replaying scenes in my head and that is a testament to this author’s vivid storytelling. This book was captivating from start to finish, the characters memorable, and their love story one for the ages.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

This is my first time having the pleasure of reading a book written by Christopher Rice but Oh My it will not be my last. His writing was wonderful from start to finish, I cared about the story and the characters within it.

Marine Logan Murdoch steps up for his father when his father hits a rough patch. That support is in the form of a new job at a luxury beach resort in order to pay for his father's medical bills. He doesn't expect to have an instant connection with, Connor, a relative of the resort owner. It doesn't matter how strong the connection and how much he wishes he could hold onto Connor and not let go, he needs to put his priorities first, and that means doing nothing to risk his new job. Their paths don't cross for the next 5 years but when scandal hits Sapphire Cove, Connor returns, bringing back feelings that never left either of them.

"Time melted away, maybe because it was the first time they had so much of it. So much of it to spend in hot and hungry kisses. They couldn't make up for five lost years in one night, but they could sure as hell have fun trying."

I don't know where to start with what I enjoyed about Sapphire Sunset, because I enjoyed Everything. Seriously zero complaints. Story wise we get emotion, scandal, and believable conflict drama between the two leads. I read a lot of romance, and this one had substance. Yes it was about the connection between Connor and Logan but also about helping out the community and the resort itself came alive with staff that was more like a family. I cared about all of them, especially supporting characters like Logan's best friend Donnie and Connor's best friend Naser.

"I think you're a little obsessed with my eyes, Lethal Weapon."
"The way you blush is a close second."

Logan and Connor may be opposite in appearance and their wealth status but they are both caring, kind and honest people. Logan, a Marine through and through, doesn't hesitate to jump in when needed to diffuse a situation or save a life. His feelings for Logan overwhelm him but when he gets a second chance with him, he doesn't hold them back. Connor might seem like a privileged rich kid, especially when he goes more than a bit over board for a simple coffee date, but he was just swept up in the intense feelings he had. Connor steps in when his family's business and the staff it employee's needs him and does everything he can to help those in need. Together, their chemistry flies off the pages. From the first moment they locked eyes, I was excited for them to get together. While they were passionate and intense with their feelings, they also made each other laugh and took time to find peace among the chaos going on around them at the hotel. There are no shortage of intimate scenes between them when they reunite after 5 years, and each one is passionate and high on the steam factor.

"He looked into Connor's eyes with a hunger that made Connor's breath catch inside a tiny space right below his throat."

Sapphire Sunset by C. Travis Rice is a strong MM romance filled with scandal, heroics, passion, steam, instant connections, Reese peanut butter cups, line dancing, seaside kisses, and an epilogue that is swoony perfection. I will without a doubt be adding a physical copy of this beauty to my bookshelves on its release, and am already dying for the next book!

[C.S. Shoemaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure what to expect - a swoony romance? Erotica? Well, Sapphire Sunset is far more than genre romance with spicy sex. It is bold, honest, and probably most importantly- accurate. I’ve read more than one gay romance. But few, if any, have managed ALL the nuances of a male/male relationship with such frankness. Normally, the respective male characters are written either entirely devoid of their own characteristics or worse as basically a heterosexual couple with male names. Not here. Rice holds nothing back and his two protagonists are clearly defined individuals. Even the challenges they face and their responses to those challenges are a study in character development. The prejudices they tackled are not just an expected rehash- they are topical and relatable. Put simply, Rice nailed it.

[KDRBCK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sapphire Sunset by C.T. Rice is the first book in the Sapphire Cove Series. This is a mm romance.
Logan is an ex-military, now working security for the rich and famous man. He's a good guy, a provider, a survivor, a never gives up man.
Connor is an heir to wealth and both men are from different worlds. But the heart wants what the heart wants. They fall for each other, fast and hard. Attraction is yes, you get the picture.
This fast paced, action and drama packed read that gives all the feels. Excellent written, intriguing with plots and twists, unexpected turns that had me on the edge of my seat from start til the last page.

[Shelba · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 20%.

I’ve listened to 3h20 minutes of this book. And with over 13 hours left, I can’t do it. I don’t care about these characters. I don’t care about the plot. Is this scandal going to be 13 hours long? Why is this book so long? If you love soap opera though, this might be the book for you.

As for the narration, while Rice does a surprisingly good job at different voices, he narrated it in a maybe overly dramatic way for my taste. He also didn’t pause at all when the POV would switch, so I was sometimes confused at the sudden head jump.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazon / Amazon Worldwide / Apple Books / Nook / Kobo / Google Play

When former Marine, Logan, is called home to step in for his father, he doesn't expect to meet his future soulmate, especially considering the two are taken away from each other for years. Now in the present, Connor, the relative of Logan's employer, and fellow coworker, too, are face to face again. Will this be a second chance for them? Or will Logan's sense of duty and Connor's insecurities spell the end of what could have been something quite beautiful?



Connor may be the smaller in stature of this adorable couple, but when it comes down to it, he knows he has to step up for his man, to be his hero for once, instead of letting Logan be the always savior. Now the question is, will Logan allow Connor to be his rescuer?



Though I have never read anything by this author before reading Sapphire Sunset, I am now a bona fide huge fan, and will be downloading everything to come in this series. I fell in love with not just Logan and Connor and their entire cast and community in Sapphire Cove, but I also fell for Rice's writing. The pacing, the details about their surroundings, the fully fleshed and complicated but interesting characters - all the hallmarks of a superb writer. I cannot wait for more love to come from C. Travis Rice now!



ARC provided by Social Butterfly PR for an honest review.

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[Bethany (Bee_TheBibliophile) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sapphire Sunset is the first book in a new series about the characters we meet at the Sapphire Cove resort. It’s a MM, second chance, workplace romance that’s full of suspense and a good amount of steam.

Logan Murdoch starts his career on the security staff at Sapphire Cove after leaving the military to pay his father’s medical bills and get their lives back on track. But he never expects to meet a man who will rock his entire world his first night on the job. After spending five years apart with no contact, Connor Harcourt is back at Sapphire Cove and Logan is questioning everything. Logan is strong, dependable, dedicated to his job and determined to protect Connor at all costs, even if it means putting himself in the line of fire.

Connor was a new college grad the first time he met Logan, ready to start his professional career at Sapphire Cove, his family’s resort that he was set to take over from his uncle when the time came. But he leaves for New York after the night he meets Logan with a broken heart for more reasons than one. He’s outspoken, bold and an incredible event planner who feels a strong connection to Sapphire Cove and everything it represents. Connor makes his way back to Sapphire Cove in the midst of tragedy and comes face-to-face again with Logan years later and still feels the intense chemistry he felt five years ago.

I really enjoyed these two together - it felt like fate played a hand in bringing them back to the place they first met and forcing them together to combat a shared enemy and keep Sapphire Cove running. Once they talked through the past, they clicked in such a unique way and were both determined to be each other’s protector in any way possible. They wanted to save each other and, in doing so, both helped and created some new problems to overcome along the way. The suspense kept me on my toes and I liked that they addressed so many of the obstacles that came up together (with a few exceptions, of course).

The Sapphire Cove resort and all of its employees felt so real, I already can’t wait to go back! Really looking forward to Connor’s best friend Naser’s story to head back to the resort and spend some more time with Logan and Connor along the way!

[Randi (randi_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sapphire Sunset is the first book in the Sapphire Cove series. It's a sweet and sexy romance between two openly gay men, Logan and C0nnor, that are complete opposites.

Logan Murdoch is a former Marine who is now living with his dad and about to start a security job at Sapphire Cove. He really needs this job to help support and pay for his dad's hospital bills. On his first night on the job, Logan meets and instantly falls for Connor Harcourt, the grandson/son of the owners of the resort. After one sizzling kiss, Logan knows he can't move forward with his feelings since he can't jeopardize his job. Connor leaves town and doesn't return for five years when there are some suspicious things going down at the resort.

Logan is a pure cinnamon roll hero and such a softie with Connor. They are perfectly suited for each other. I am so glad that they were thrown back together, working at the resort during the scandal. This is a steamy romance but had a great plot outside of that. I very much enjoyed this romance and look forward to Naser's story.

Thank you to Get Red PR Books, the author and Blue Box Press for my gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jill (chill_jilland_read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when Get Red PR introduces me to amazing authors I have been missing out on.

In this case, Sapphire Sunset stole the show. There’s something to be said about a romance that has incredible plot beyond the meet cute and stolen kisses. This novel offers up all that a romance needs: situations, swoons, and steam. I instantly loved Logan, who is my kind of hero…a softie at the core. Sapphire Sunset sets up the series well with incredible writing and storytelling and characters to back it all up.

[BeckieLouLou · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, audiobook. Good narration. Low angst, mild drama, m/m, HEA.

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this but unfortunately it was just nor for me. It was a little zany and a lot over the top and it just, I don’t know, sort of didn’t evoke any emotions from me.

I’m bummed.

I’m not sure if I’ll try the next one or not.

[Katrine Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhat predictable but also very sweet and filled with the good guys we all advocate for.

[lauraღ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I don’t want to be with someone I’m not afraid to lose.”

3.5 stars. Okay, this was cute as hell. One of those books you can just turn your brain off and enjoy thoroughly. Except 'turn your brain off' isn't right, because I got really absorbed in these characters and their romance; I liked them so much!! This took a bunch of conflicts and plots that I'm usually pretty lacklustre about and made it fun and entertaining and kinda heart-warming? Logan is a new security guard at a luxury resort; Connor is the owner's grandson. They meet and have an amazing 24 hours together, but both their personal lives and outside influences push them apart. Five years later, they meet again at the resort. So it's a second chance romance in that way, except that their first 'romance' was very short lived. And that has to be my biggest nit-pick about the book; the time period was just so short? In the present timeline, things moved super fast. Something would happen, and I'd think like at least a week had passed since then, but nope. More like a day. It felt rushed; I wish this had taken place over a couple months, maybe.

But the author was still able to sell it, though? They were intense and enamoured with each other in such a lovely way, and there were swoony heroics and some bodyguarding (which I LOVED). I loved the conversations about gay masculinity and expression, how people have their ideas about what's "acceptably" gay, how Connor bucks all of that. They had some really great banter, and even though I'm pretty sure I raised my eyebrows at a couple things, this just made me smile so much? And it was really hot.

Listened to the audiobook as read by the author, which I usually don't like when it's done outside of non-fiction. Most authors aren't professional narrators after all. But this was really good. The voices for women weren't amazing, but otherwise, hats off. And the nice thing about an author reading their own book is the pacing/cadence is always right. This was just such a nice, fun read. I've read Christopher Rice's litfic in the past, and this is a lot different, but really good. I'll definitely continue the series some time.

[Evelyn220 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ I like to branch out and read new authors and I love giving male romance authors a shot.
The writing and plot were good and the side characters were super funny.
It just felt a little too insta-lust without any real romantic connection. The MC’s seemed to want each other simply because they were each other’s stereotypical perfect body type. Perfect twink meets perfect muscled protector. I just wish there had been a bit more emotional connection.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one and thought it had the perfect balance between tender and sweet romance but it still definitely brought the heat and spice too. Logan and Conner’s relationship was so so cute and I thought they complimented each other so well, I was rooting for them for sure. I really enjoyed the plot too, there was enough drama and intrigue going on to keep things interesting and I was invested the whole time. I’ll definitely continue reading the series