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Seaport #1
The Lobster Trap
From the New York Times bestselling author of Forever My The Motion Picture, Heidi McLaughlin takes you to the classic New England Coast for a summertime beach romance that leaves you yearning for love, a boat . . . a cup of clam chowdah!
After graduating from Yale, Caroline Taylor embarks on a summer long vacation in the small beach town of Seaport before she starts her corporate career at Goldman Sachs.
Dune Carter, boat captain at Blue Lobster Adventures, and notorious heartbreaker is all fun and games until he meets the one tourist who turns his head in more ways than one.
Despite her initial resistance to his charms, Caroline finds herself drawn to Dune, and his idyllic life on the island. From the endless sunny days, warm nights, sunset boat cruises, and cobblestone roads—Caroline begins to fall in love with Seaport and the boat captain.
However, turmoil strikes their dreamy island relationship, and Dune must attempt to conquer life off the water in the ways he has always conquered the ocean and show Caroline why he’s worth staying in Seaport.
After graduating from Yale, Caroline Taylor embarks on a summer long vacation in the small beach town of Seaport before she starts her corporate career at Goldman Sachs.
Dune Carter, boat captain at Blue Lobster Adventures, and notorious heartbreaker is all fun and games until he meets the one tourist who turns his head in more ways than one.
Despite her initial resistance to his charms, Caroline finds herself drawn to Dune, and his idyllic life on the island. From the endless sunny days, warm nights, sunset boat cruises, and cobblestone roads—Caroline begins to fall in love with Seaport and the boat captain.
However, turmoil strikes their dreamy island relationship, and Dune must attempt to conquer life off the water in the ways he has always conquered the ocean and show Caroline why he’s worth staying in Seaport.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2023
About the author
Heidi McLaughlin
112 books7,220 followersHeidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.
To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018.
To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
June 18, 2023
needs editing
I enjoyed the premise of this book, but there were so many errors and inconsistencies, it made it hard to get through. Maine is no where near Martha’s Vineyard! Beaches in mid coast Maine are not sandy. Trains don’t go to islands…just hard to read. Love this author, and loved the plot, but found it hard to get past all the errors.
I enjoyed the premise of this book, but there were so many errors and inconsistencies, it made it hard to get through. Maine is no where near Martha’s Vineyard! Beaches in mid coast Maine are not sandy. Trains don’t go to islands…just hard to read. Love this author, and loved the plot, but found it hard to get past all the errors.
June 16, 2024
This is such a fun heartwarming summer read. Fun setting in small beach town of Seaport. A dreamy boat captain. The sunsets and summer love are all what make this such a fun summer beach read. The audiobook was dual narrated by Stephen Borne and Samantha Summers. These two were fantastic for the characters. I thought the voices and emotions really were conveyed perfectly.
May 30, 2023
Tropes
Small town
Vacation romance
Boss/employee
Opposites attract
The life and characters in Seaport immediately drew me in. Caroline is only there for the summer before her boring stuffy job, (one in which she doesn’t even want.) Dune the sexy sea captain, has it made in his town. There’s always an influx of visitors so there’s no short supply of ladies. When Dune catches sight of Caroline he immediately knows she’s a rich tourist, but he can’t help wonder if she’s something more too.
Dune and his family own Blue Lobster Adventures, many of the other establishments in this beach side tourist destination town. Dune may be known as a player, but he’s true to his town, his friends, and his family. Caroline has a difficult family life mostly because of her father and his expectation of what her life should be.
When two people would couldn’t be more different are drawn to each other it makes for the PERFECT summer romance, but what happens when the summer ends and their love doesn’t fade? When a certain someone rocks the boat and causes drama, will they survive it? This book will leave you feeling giddy, rooting for them like they’re your own besties, and immediately want to book a summer getaway for yourself!
In addition to Caroline and Dune there’s a number of side characters who keep you laughing (mostly dunes best buds), and Dunes mom! It’s the perfect summer read, so kick off your shoes plant your toes in the sand and enjoy.
Small town
Vacation romance
Boss/employee
Opposites attract
The life and characters in Seaport immediately drew me in. Caroline is only there for the summer before her boring stuffy job, (one in which she doesn’t even want.) Dune the sexy sea captain, has it made in his town. There’s always an influx of visitors so there’s no short supply of ladies. When Dune catches sight of Caroline he immediately knows she’s a rich tourist, but he can’t help wonder if she’s something more too.
Dune and his family own Blue Lobster Adventures, many of the other establishments in this beach side tourist destination town. Dune may be known as a player, but he’s true to his town, his friends, and his family. Caroline has a difficult family life mostly because of her father and his expectation of what her life should be.
When two people would couldn’t be more different are drawn to each other it makes for the PERFECT summer romance, but what happens when the summer ends and their love doesn’t fade? When a certain someone rocks the boat and causes drama, will they survive it? This book will leave you feeling giddy, rooting for them like they’re your own besties, and immediately want to book a summer getaway for yourself!
In addition to Caroline and Dune there’s a number of side characters who keep you laughing (mostly dunes best buds), and Dunes mom! It’s the perfect summer read, so kick off your shoes plant your toes in the sand and enjoy.
June 5, 2023
Dune co-owns Blue Lobster Adventures with his parents and is happy in his small coastal town. He has never wanted a serious relationship and basically dates the tourists coming to Seaport. He meets Caroline on one of his whale watching trips. Caroline comes to Seaport to decide what she wants in life even though her father has her life mapped for her. She just graduated Yale and takes the summer off before starting her 9-5 corporate job in September. Dune and Caroline’s relationship from the start you could tell was going to be great. Dune wanted to do anything if it meant making Caroline happy. These two characters are the true definition of opposites attract. They come from two different worlds but somehow they work perfectly together. The side characters are great and I am excited to see more of Seaport when the series continues. It was also the perfect book to start summer with!
June 18, 2024
I enjoyed the story.
I did not care for the narrators… 😮😕
Caroline has just graduated from Yale and has taken the summer off for one final vacation before a lifetime of grueling work. She headed to Maine and rented a cabin for the summer.
On day one she meets handsome Captain Dune. He sees her as a ‘rich girl’ initially, because of the way she dresses.
She sees him as hot and handsome. BUT, he’s known as the town flirt…
As they keep running into each other in town, he offers her a job on his boat, never expecting that she’ll accept.
But she does!
And so the story begins!
Sweet and heartfelt. Sexy. (And somewhat descriptive too!) But it’s only a summer fling, right?
I enjoyed the premise, but I had a hard time enjoying the narrators…
Again, this is my opinion only!
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
#TheLobsterTrap by #HeidiMcLaughlin and #KassidyMaye.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #TantorAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which releases today, 6/18/24.
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends!! 📚⭐️
I did not care for the narrators… 😮😕
Caroline has just graduated from Yale and has taken the summer off for one final vacation before a lifetime of grueling work. She headed to Maine and rented a cabin for the summer.
On day one she meets handsome Captain Dune. He sees her as a ‘rich girl’ initially, because of the way she dresses.
She sees him as hot and handsome. BUT, he’s known as the town flirt…
As they keep running into each other in town, he offers her a job on his boat, never expecting that she’ll accept.
But she does!
And so the story begins!
Sweet and heartfelt. Sexy. (And somewhat descriptive too!) But it’s only a summer fling, right?
I enjoyed the premise, but I had a hard time enjoying the narrators…
Again, this is my opinion only!
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
#TheLobsterTrap by #HeidiMcLaughlin and #KassidyMaye.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #TantorAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which releases today, 6/18/24.
Feel free to like, follow and friend me on: Goodreads,
IG @ #BookReviews_with_emsr or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine.
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends!! 📚⭐️
June 17, 2024
3.5/5 ⭐️ Rounded up to 4!
Dune was everything you could want in an MMC. The owner of a boat tour company, he has a reputation for seasonal romances. His world is flipped on its head, however when Caroline Taylor, a recent college grad and soon to be Goldman employee, comes to town. I really enjoyed Caroline as a character. She’s believable having not had the best college experience so is looking to find out more about herself before beginning the career her father always expected of her. Instead she finds Dune, and he offers her job in his boat. She accepts first out of pride, but soon fines that the day she spends on the water or some of the happiest she’s experienced in years. Of course we all know that she’s supposed to leave at the end of the summer setting up the book for either a heartbreaking good bye or a fairy tale ending.
This is my first Heidi McLaughlin book, and I was really happy with it. Thank you NetGalley & Tantor Audio for the audiobook ARC! Listening to the audio version of this book, I liked that they used a different narrator for Caroline and Dune. It really helped differentiate the point of view and added more depth to the reading.
• SPOILERS UPCOMING •
My main issue with this book is the conflict - not that it happened but what it was actually about. I was confused as to why Caroline would trust a complete stranger over the man that she had been dating for weeks without even giving him the chance to explain. For me, I would guess that it had more to do with the relationship with her father; however, I don’t feel like we learn enough about him for me to understand why she’s so quick to believe the worst about Dune. Maybe if the father character had been shown as untrustworthy as well as financially controlling then her actions would make more sense to me.
Dune was everything you could want in an MMC. The owner of a boat tour company, he has a reputation for seasonal romances. His world is flipped on its head, however when Caroline Taylor, a recent college grad and soon to be Goldman employee, comes to town. I really enjoyed Caroline as a character. She’s believable having not had the best college experience so is looking to find out more about herself before beginning the career her father always expected of her. Instead she finds Dune, and he offers her job in his boat. She accepts first out of pride, but soon fines that the day she spends on the water or some of the happiest she’s experienced in years. Of course we all know that she’s supposed to leave at the end of the summer setting up the book for either a heartbreaking good bye or a fairy tale ending.
This is my first Heidi McLaughlin book, and I was really happy with it. Thank you NetGalley & Tantor Audio for the audiobook ARC! Listening to the audio version of this book, I liked that they used a different narrator for Caroline and Dune. It really helped differentiate the point of view and added more depth to the reading.
• SPOILERS UPCOMING •
My main issue with this book is the conflict - not that it happened but what it was actually about. I was confused as to why Caroline would trust a complete stranger over the man that she had been dating for weeks without even giving him the chance to explain. For me, I would guess that it had more to do with the relationship with her father; however, I don’t feel like we learn enough about him for me to understand why she’s so quick to believe the worst about Dune. Maybe if the father character had been shown as untrustworthy as well as financially controlling then her actions would make more sense to me.
June 18, 2024
First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
The Lobster Trap was a small town romance set in New England. Caroline is spending a summer in Seaport after she graduated college and falls for the local captain, Dune.
I really really really wanted to love this book. I love a small town romance and I love a New England based book! This book fell so flat. Between the stilted writing, cringey nicknames (If I had a dollar for every time I head “captain blue balls”), and instalove, this book was just not for me. The dialogue felt juvenile and both of the main characters were kind of bland. The ending really irritated me and cemented my low rating.
1.5⭐️ and that still feels generous
The Lobster Trap was a small town romance set in New England. Caroline is spending a summer in Seaport after she graduated college and falls for the local captain, Dune.
I really really really wanted to love this book. I love a small town romance and I love a New England based book! This book fell so flat. Between the stilted writing, cringey nicknames (If I had a dollar for every time I head “captain blue balls”), and instalove, this book was just not for me. The dialogue felt juvenile and both of the main characters were kind of bland. The ending really irritated me and cemented my low rating.
1.5⭐️ and that still feels generous
July 4, 2023
I have previously read a couple of books by Heidi and enjoyed the simple storytelling and genuine connection I felt with the characters in those previous books, so I was anticipating her new release with co-author and daughter Kassidy Maye.
But, I have to wonder if somehow an incorrect draft was uploaded to Amazon because the e-book is riddled with distracting grammatical and typographical errors. These are the types of errors that a competent editor should have caught. I didn't start noting the errors in the early pages because I thought they might be a fluke, but as I continued to read, I realized there were several issues. Poor writing and editing take the reader out of the story; they're massive distractions.
Overall, this was incredibly disappointing.
But, I have to wonder if somehow an incorrect draft was uploaded to Amazon because the e-book is riddled with distracting grammatical and typographical errors. These are the types of errors that a competent editor should have caught. I didn't start noting the errors in the early pages because I thought they might be a fluke, but as I continued to read, I realized there were several issues. Poor writing and editing take the reader out of the story; they're massive distractions.
Overall, this was incredibly disappointing.
June 19, 2024
The Lobster Trap is a angsty, steamy summer romance, and a great option for a beach read.
Caroline and Dune’s relationship was cute, and escalated fast. I didn’t completely connect with the characters, and found Caroline’s reaction in the conflict a bit confusing. However I enjoyed the beachside location, and the idea of Caroline escaping her buttoned down life for the freedom of a beachside town.
The audiobook is dual narration, and the narrators really inhabited their characters. I found it was a fun, easy and engaging listen.
Thank you Tantor Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
Caroline and Dune’s relationship was cute, and escalated fast. I didn’t completely connect with the characters, and found Caroline’s reaction in the conflict a bit confusing. However I enjoyed the beachside location, and the idea of Caroline escaping her buttoned down life for the freedom of a beachside town.
The audiobook is dual narration, and the narrators really inhabited their characters. I found it was a fun, easy and engaging listen.
Thank you Tantor Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
June 16, 2024
Caroline heads to Seaport for a summer long vacation after graduating from Yale. Living under her father expectations to return home to work in the family business, she wants to at least enjoy the summer.
She meets Dune, the local businessman and heartthrob.
This was a great summer romance read!
Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
She meets Dune, the local businessman and heartthrob.
This was a great summer romance read!
Many thanks to Net Galley and Tantor Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2024
Dune & Caroline
June 21, 2023
Young love:
This was a light summer read with quite a lot of fluff. It is in need of further editing and some of the names were a bit too cutesy and I felt as if the author was trying too hard to make this a small coastal town romance. I also found it a bit immature and simple but that may be largely due to the age of the characters.
Caroline and Dune were a cute couple and I was glad that things worked out for them but I wasn't overly invested in their journey.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a light summer read with quite a lot of fluff. It is in need of further editing and some of the names were a bit too cutesy and I felt as if the author was trying too hard to make this a small coastal town romance. I also found it a bit immature and simple but that may be largely due to the age of the characters.
Caroline and Dune were a cute couple and I was glad that things worked out for them but I wasn't overly invested in their journey.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 18, 2024
Okay, this one was actually really really sad to me. The FMC is so sweet and really just trying to figure out her life and what she wants to do and they are all in on this big secret that will humiliate her. I love how they kept digging to find the truth about the town and worked to do what was best for them even if it wasn’t what was right for the show they were filming. There were plenty of funny moments with this clumsy FMC and the grumpy MMC, making for a sweet romance with a definitely feel good ending.
June 20, 2023
The Lobster Trap is the first book in the Seaport series by Heidi McLaughlin and her daughter Kassidy Maye and it follows the story of Dune Carter and Caroline Taylor.
Firstly I have to say, I don’t mind the name Dune but I am going to struggle with his brother's names in future books, they’re just not for me, but asides from that I actually really enjoyed this book.
I actually liked that Caroline wanted to fit into the beach town, I don’t like standing out as a tourist when I’m away either. All the characters are really loveable, and the setting comes across as idyllic, it would be hard not to love this story.
There were a couple of things in this book that I just didn’t get which is why my rating is a 4, the biggest one for me was his nickname, I went through most of the book believing she understood that his nickname was for and when the miscommunication came in - nah. But that’s me, I dislike the miscommunication trope.
Overall though, it was such a fun summer read, I finished this book in a day it was so easy to read. I can’t wait to read more in this series when the books come out.
Firstly I have to say, I don’t mind the name Dune but I am going to struggle with his brother's names in future books, they’re just not for me, but asides from that I actually really enjoyed this book.
I actually liked that Caroline wanted to fit into the beach town, I don’t like standing out as a tourist when I’m away either. All the characters are really loveable, and the setting comes across as idyllic, it would be hard not to love this story.
There were a couple of things in this book that I just didn’t get which is why my rating is a 4, the biggest one for me was his nickname, I went through most of the book believing she understood that his nickname was for and when the miscommunication came in - nah. But that’s me, I dislike the miscommunication trope.
Overall though, it was such a fun summer read, I finished this book in a day it was so easy to read. I can’t wait to read more in this series when the books come out.
July 27, 2024
⭐️ 4.5/5. An ‘Elle Woods decides to summer in a small seaside town and then falls for the playboy boat captain’ romance novel. This is a feel good, self-discovery novel that’s perfect for summer. There’s witty banter, dual POV/narrators in the audiobook, spicy time on a boat, and a great epilogue. Also, the detailed descriptions in this book made me feel like I could really visualize everything!
My only complaint is that at one point the two main characters have unprotected sex. I think books portraying this without discussing any consequences can give people bad advice and lead to uninformed choices. Aside from that though, I really enjoyed this book!
My only complaint is that at one point the two main characters have unprotected sex. I think books portraying this without discussing any consequences can give people bad advice and lead to uninformed choices. Aside from that though, I really enjoyed this book!
June 18, 2024
"...she not only saw stars, but became one. And when she began crashing back to earth, he caught and held her."
Expectations have been set for Caroline her whole life. Desire to find herself outside of these expectations sends her to the small town of Seaport. Little does she know that she will also find love there....
Tropes:
Insta-love
reformed rake
small town
boss/employee
Steam: quite a few explicit scenes.
Content warnings: (scroll all the way to bottom, as it is an epilogue spoiler)
What I liked:
I liked several of the side characters quite a bit! Dune's mom was a colorful character and I wish we'd seen more of her. I also did like Speed and Wilson.
What I disliked:
I really wanted to love this book. I liked the premise, and the cover is aesthetically pleasing. I had a hard time getting into the book or the characters.
I feel like many details are included that are wholly unnecessary. I do not need to know for how long a character looks at their clothes before getting dressed, or how many turns they take while driving, or whether they rinse their dishes before setting them in the sink, but these types of remedial details were often included. I feel like I was being told a story instead of being shown, but much of what I was being told wasn't actually relevant.
Insta-love is a hard sell for me, and I might have avoided the book had I known it had this trope. The insta-love is strong with this one. I felt that the time that should have been spent on them getting to know each other, building tension and developing their relationship, was spent with them already and inexplicably making doe eyes at each other. When they finally started getting together, I felt like I hadn't been given much to root for because it seemed like they still barely knew each other.
Narrators:
I liked both narrators for this dual POV narration. Both had good inflection and pacing, even where I found the prose to be somewhat dragging. My only complaint is that they both used the same voice or close to it for all characters of the same gender, and sometimes it made it difficult to follow dialogue. Overall I liked them and would listen to more from them.
Content warning (epilogue spoiler): surprise pregnancy.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
Expectations have been set for Caroline her whole life. Desire to find herself outside of these expectations sends her to the small town of Seaport. Little does she know that she will also find love there....
Tropes:
Insta-love
reformed rake
small town
boss/employee
Steam: quite a few explicit scenes.
Content warnings: (scroll all the way to bottom, as it is an epilogue spoiler)
What I liked:
I liked several of the side characters quite a bit! Dune's mom was a colorful character and I wish we'd seen more of her. I also did like Speed and Wilson.
What I disliked:
I really wanted to love this book. I liked the premise, and the cover is aesthetically pleasing. I had a hard time getting into the book or the characters.
I feel like many details are included that are wholly unnecessary. I do not need to know for how long a character looks at their clothes before getting dressed, or how many turns they take while driving, or whether they rinse their dishes before setting them in the sink, but these types of remedial details were often included. I feel like I was being told a story instead of being shown, but much of what I was being told wasn't actually relevant.
Insta-love is a hard sell for me, and I might have avoided the book had I known it had this trope. The insta-love is strong with this one. I felt that the time that should have been spent on them getting to know each other, building tension and developing their relationship, was spent with them already and inexplicably making doe eyes at each other. When they finally started getting together, I felt like I hadn't been given much to root for because it seemed like they still barely knew each other.
Narrators:
I liked both narrators for this dual POV narration. Both had good inflection and pacing, even where I found the prose to be somewhat dragging. My only complaint is that they both used the same voice or close to it for all characters of the same gender, and sometimes it made it difficult to follow dialogue. Overall I liked them and would listen to more from them.
Content warning (epilogue spoiler): surprise pregnancy.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
February 26, 2024
cute, fun and easy read!
The Lobster Trap
Author - Heidi McLaughlin and Kassidy Maye
Pages - 288
⭐️ 3.5
🌶️ 2
Dual POV
Small Town
Vacation Romance
After graduating from Yale, Caroline Taylor embarks on a summer long vacation in the small beach town of Seaport before she starts her corporate career at Goldman Sachs.
Dune Carter, boat captain at Blue Lobster Adventures, and notorious heartbreaker is all fun and games until he meets the one tourist who turns his head in more ways than one.
Despite her initial resistance to his charms, Caroline finds herself drawn to Dune, and his idyllic life on the island. From the endless sunny days, warm nights, sunset boat cruises, and cobblestone roads—Caroline begins to fall in love with Seaport and the boat captain.
However, turmoil strikes their dreamy island relationship, and Dune must attempt to conquer life off the water in the ways he has always conquered the ocean and show Caroline why he’s worth staying in Seaport.
D - First and foremost this book was adorable! Caroline is a little lost in life; not knowing what it is that she wants exactly but knows it’s not what her father wants her to do. This summer vacation is a last effort to find herself and do a little soul searching.
Dune (I can’t with that name 😍) is the perfect example of “if a man wanted to, he would”. He goes from summer flings to falling hard for Caroline. He finds himself doing things he doesn’t really like but she loves like dancing, going to the theater and even going to the tourist trap of a bar the Sea Shanty. As a couple they complement one another well. There’s equal parts give and take and overall it’s a pretty healthy relationship.
This was a fun, cute and easy read. There are funny moments and a couple of moments of drama. It’s everything I look for in a hallmark romance!
The Lobster Trap
Author - Heidi McLaughlin and Kassidy Maye
Pages - 288
⭐️ 3.5
🌶️ 2
Dual POV
Small Town
Vacation Romance
After graduating from Yale, Caroline Taylor embarks on a summer long vacation in the small beach town of Seaport before she starts her corporate career at Goldman Sachs.
Dune Carter, boat captain at Blue Lobster Adventures, and notorious heartbreaker is all fun and games until he meets the one tourist who turns his head in more ways than one.
Despite her initial resistance to his charms, Caroline finds herself drawn to Dune, and his idyllic life on the island. From the endless sunny days, warm nights, sunset boat cruises, and cobblestone roads—Caroline begins to fall in love with Seaport and the boat captain.
However, turmoil strikes their dreamy island relationship, and Dune must attempt to conquer life off the water in the ways he has always conquered the ocean and show Caroline why he’s worth staying in Seaport.
D - First and foremost this book was adorable! Caroline is a little lost in life; not knowing what it is that she wants exactly but knows it’s not what her father wants her to do. This summer vacation is a last effort to find herself and do a little soul searching.
Dune (I can’t with that name 😍) is the perfect example of “if a man wanted to, he would”. He goes from summer flings to falling hard for Caroline. He finds himself doing things he doesn’t really like but she loves like dancing, going to the theater and even going to the tourist trap of a bar the Sea Shanty. As a couple they complement one another well. There’s equal parts give and take and overall it’s a pretty healthy relationship.
This was a fun, cute and easy read. There are funny moments and a couple of moments of drama. It’s everything I look for in a hallmark romance!
June 21, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for this audio ARC of The Lobster Trap by Heidi McLaughlin.
If you like slow burns, then this is the audiobook for you. I didn’t really enjoy this book based on some of the content. I’m not a big fan of overly sexualized and books especially when they’re audio. I’m also very picky about my narrators and their voices when they switch between characters and I would have to say that these narrators were not my favorite.
After graduation, Caroline decides to take the summer off in Seaport. She has a job lined up at a huge corporate firm that she’s not even sure she wants. Coming from money and status and the fact that her father got her the job she feels obligated. Her parents are also not thrilled that she had chosen to summer in Seaport rather than the Hamptons or another local. When Carolyn gets to Seaport, she instantly falls in love with the town, but little does she know she’s about to fall in love with the most famous tour captain Dune.
Dune Carter is well-known around Seaport not only because of his family and their ties to the area but also his playboy status, especially with summer tourists. The moment Caroline steps Dune’s charter boat to go whale watching there’s something about her he can’t forget despite her namebrand clothes and the high price tag that she exudes. Dune wants to know more. Dune makes it his mission to get to know Caroline, despite all his previous reservations and in the end, this may cost him his playboy status. He offers Carolina job in hopes that he’ll get to know more about this woman who caught his eye.
Will these three months change Dune from a playboy to an actual romantic? Will Caroline give up her preplanned life for basic living? How will reputations and rumors factor into a successful connection?
Audio Pub Date: June 18, 2024
🌟🌟
August 6, 2024
This sweet romance beach read is set in New England, which so many of these Summer reads are. I got to spend my first Summer vacation in New England this year, so I was able to visualize this book a little better, and understand why our MFC loves Seaport so much. Caroline graduates from Yale and decides she will spend her Summer vacation in Seaport, on her own, to figure out her life before being forced into a career she does not want. On her second day of being on the island she meets Dune, the handsome boat captain and owner of Blue Lobster Adventures. These two start in a whimsical Summer romance that turns into so much more. I love a sweet and steamy romance novel where there is not this insta love and each person knows what they are getting into. Dune and Caroline go into their fling with eyes wide open and attempt to keep their hearts closed and enjoy their 3 months together. I like how sweet Dune is and how open Caroline is. This book is overall just a very romance-heavy book, with some spice of course. My biggest con was when Bryant came in, I didn't like that storyline because it felt that it undermined the honesty that Dune had prior, and really shouldn't have been a surprise to Caroline, as Dune had already revealed he was a bit of a playboy before meeting her. Maybe they just needed to throw a wrench into the story so everything wasn't so easy. I also really like how the town was portrayed, it is its character and everyone seems to be really close. My favorite part of the audio is the fact that there were two narrators. I will always and forever give extra kudos to a book that gives each POV their voice and each of the narrators did a fantastic job of giving these two characters some more life. Overall, this is a sweet Summer beach read and is the beginning of a series set in the idyllic Summertown of Seaport.
June 25, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Attempting to take a break from her buttoned up life, Caroline heads to Seaport for the Summer after graduating from Yale. There she meets a boat captain and her new boss, Dune, who also happens to be the local playboy. Together they give boat tours to the local tourists while trying to deny their growing feelings for each other. As the summer is nearing the end, can Caroline go back to her normal life and will Dune ever see their relationship as more than just a summer fling?
Samantha Summers is a great narrator! I enjoyed listening to her. I wasn’t a fan of Stephen Borne as a narrator myself, but he definitely sounded like an outdoorsy surfer guy. His voice grew on me throughout the book, but it still took me out of it a little bit.
Caroline just believed everything bad in Dune from some random guy she never met before? Her immaturity drove me crazy that she just disappeared and didn’t talk to him, even when he was counting on her for work. I don’t mind miscommunication tropes, but I just don’t really buy completely believing someone you’ve never met before about the man you’re in love with and not giving him a chance to explain anything. It almost made me want Dune to just move on since he deserved better!
I didn’t feel fully invested in Caroline and Dune’s love story, but I did like it. Besides the main conflict that never should have happened, I loved the ending. It was sweet and cute with a little bit of sexy thrown in. This is a perfect beach read!
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for an audio ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
Attempting to take a break from her buttoned up life, Caroline heads to Seaport for the Summer after graduating from Yale. There she meets a boat captain and her new boss, Dune, who also happens to be the local playboy. Together they give boat tours to the local tourists while trying to deny their growing feelings for each other. As the summer is nearing the end, can Caroline go back to her normal life and will Dune ever see their relationship as more than just a summer fling?
Samantha Summers is a great narrator! I enjoyed listening to her. I wasn’t a fan of Stephen Borne as a narrator myself, but he definitely sounded like an outdoorsy surfer guy. His voice grew on me throughout the book, but it still took me out of it a little bit.
Caroline just believed everything bad in Dune from some random guy she never met before? Her immaturity drove me crazy that she just disappeared and didn’t talk to him, even when he was counting on her for work. I don’t mind miscommunication tropes, but I just don’t really buy completely believing someone you’ve never met before about the man you’re in love with and not giving him a chance to explain anything. It almost made me want Dune to just move on since he deserved better!
I didn’t feel fully invested in Caroline and Dune’s love story, but I did like it. Besides the main conflict that never should have happened, I loved the ending. It was sweet and cute with a little bit of sexy thrown in. This is a perfect beach read!
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for an audio ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
June 19, 2024
3.5/5 - Perfect for a beach read. A sun-drenched, New England summer romance. Watching Dune fall so hard and fast for Caroline was adorable. He was the best part of the book!! Exactly what you want in a romance MMC. Overall the plot was quite predictable, but that’s expected in a romcom. Thanks to NetGalley, Heidi McLaughlin and Tantor Audio for an ARC of this audiobook!
What I liked:
1) well narrated
2) cute, steamy romance scenes!
3) easy to follow, great for sitting on the beach or by the pool
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
What I didn’t like:
1) The main “conflict” - there isn’t enough back story from Caroline’s past to justify her insecurities and immediate belief of what Bryant tells her, even though when he first sits down she calls him out for maligning Dune and clearly having bad intentions. It felt very hot/cold and a bit immature for her to react the way she did, without at least talking to Dune about it first. We know she’s had to live up to the high expectations set by her father, but that doesn’t seem to be involved with the conflict at all. It was a weak premise to create drama.
2) The dialogue could be stilted and over the top depending on the situation. It didn’t read very naturally in the audiobook. Could have been the narration but I think it was more the way it was written!
3) The epilogue - I knew exactly where the story was going when they reunited on the boat, and it’s one of my least favorite tropes. More of a personal preference than anything else.
What I liked:
1) well narrated
2) cute, steamy romance scenes!
3) easy to follow, great for sitting on the beach or by the pool
**SPOILERS AHEAD**
What I didn’t like:
1) The main “conflict” - there isn’t enough back story from Caroline’s past to justify her insecurities and immediate belief of what Bryant tells her, even though when he first sits down she calls him out for maligning Dune and clearly having bad intentions. It felt very hot/cold and a bit immature for her to react the way she did, without at least talking to Dune about it first. We know she’s had to live up to the high expectations set by her father, but that doesn’t seem to be involved with the conflict at all. It was a weak premise to create drama.
2) The dialogue could be stilted and over the top depending on the situation. It didn’t read very naturally in the audiobook. Could have been the narration but I think it was more the way it was written!
3) The epilogue - I knew exactly where the story was going when they reunited on the boat, and it’s one of my least favorite tropes. More of a personal preference than anything else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2024
This rom-com sold me with its initial premise- an Ivy League graduate taking a few months’ retreat in a small beach town before joining corporate America. A boat tour operator and an unexpected island relationship… but unfortunately did not deliver what I look for in even the lightest rom-com reads. The main characters were 95% of the book’s focus but somehow lacked the kind of depth that helps you feel invested in their stories. There were many threads for potential breadth and depth (examples: his family being close knit and owning half the island’s amenities was mentioned but never developed; her conflictual relationship with her father again mentioned but not developed), but they grew annoying as they were dangled out there in a line or two and then forgotten for the rest of the book. Dialogue was shallow and predictable, nicknames overused and ridiculous, and emotions moved way too fast for how little true depth of connection was portrayed between the main characters. I had to speed the audiobook up to 3.0x speed to get through the final 1/3 and could not believe where the relationship landed by the end given we were covering like three months time. Side note: the intimate scenes were much too open door for my taste, but might appeal to readers looking for that.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for this audiobook access in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and RBmedia for this audiobook access in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2024
The Lobster Trap is the perfect summer romance! The tropes, setting and overall themes in this book make you crave a seaside vacation.
Dune Dune Dune…what a man!
This love story is between Caroline a fresh Yale graduate and Dune the small town flirt and playboy! Caroline decides to spend her summer at Seaport after graduation before beginning real life. There she finds herself gravitating towards the Sea Captain and towns biggest flirt. After spending time together they find themselves falling for each other but of course with small towns come small town rumors/gossip that end up harming Caroline and Dune.
I liked the characters, especially Dune’s mom she was hilarious. The smut was SMUTTY, I lived for it! However, I am not a sucker for insta love romances, and this was definitely instalovey. Also Caroline believing a random over Dune really peeved me off but it’s understandable especially when it came to the story. Other than that it was such a fun light hearted read, and am so happy that Caroline and Dune found their happy ever after with a baby on the way!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves small town summer romances, opposites attract, and accidental pregnancy tropes! Also anyone who has read anything by Devney Perry would enjoy this book as well.
#netgalley
Dune Dune Dune…what a man!
This love story is between Caroline a fresh Yale graduate and Dune the small town flirt and playboy! Caroline decides to spend her summer at Seaport after graduation before beginning real life. There she finds herself gravitating towards the Sea Captain and towns biggest flirt. After spending time together they find themselves falling for each other but of course with small towns come small town rumors/gossip that end up harming Caroline and Dune.
I liked the characters, especially Dune’s mom she was hilarious. The smut was SMUTTY, I lived for it! However, I am not a sucker for insta love romances, and this was definitely instalovey. Also Caroline believing a random over Dune really peeved me off but it’s understandable especially when it came to the story. Other than that it was such a fun light hearted read, and am so happy that Caroline and Dune found their happy ever after with a baby on the way!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves small town summer romances, opposites attract, and accidental pregnancy tropes! Also anyone who has read anything by Devney Perry would enjoy this book as well.
#netgalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2024
This little romance book started off a bit too cutesy with the female character's inner dialogue and then the name of the male character and his 3 brothers just made me give a tiny side eye. But once I got past those things, it was a fun summer romance. The kind all tourists hope for - catchy the eye of the hot local and having them fall in love with you and want to be a part of their glamourous lives on some island somewhere.
There were a couple of iffy moments when there was an extreme jumping to conclusion leading to harsh and nonsense decisions. Even if that was annoying, it didn't ruin the book for me.
I did notice that this is the first of a Seaport Series. The next installment is about someone who is only mentioned briefly, but I think that the setting will make for a really great series because all of the characters seemed likable.
I listened to this via audiobook and I wasn't too crazy about the narrators. The POV switched between each of the male and female characters, and there was a narrator for each. I did not like the male narrator, especially when he did female voices.
I received an advanced copy of the audiobook from Tantor Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
There were a couple of iffy moments when there was an extreme jumping to conclusion leading to harsh and nonsense decisions. Even if that was annoying, it didn't ruin the book for me.
I did notice that this is the first of a Seaport Series. The next installment is about someone who is only mentioned briefly, but I think that the setting will make for a really great series because all of the characters seemed likable.
I listened to this via audiobook and I wasn't too crazy about the narrators. The POV switched between each of the male and female characters, and there was a narrator for each. I did not like the male narrator, especially when he did female voices.
I received an advanced copy of the audiobook from Tantor Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2024
Caroline comes to Seaport for the summer to get some rest and relaxation before she starts her new job in NYC that her father pretty much demanded she get. She comes off as very high maintenance and wealthy but Dune is intrigued. He and his family own several businesses in Seaport and he spends his day as Captain on one of their boats doing tours for tourists. He is proud of how they have expanded and prides himself on providing a good customer experience. He decides to offer Caroline a job so she won't get bored and leave before the summer is over. She accepts since she wants him to realize she is more than a spoiled rich girl. He goes out of his comfort zone a lot to try and give her some experiences she is looking for. Caroline does appreciate what he is doing, but she does have some issues with people trying to control her. Dune does all he can to show her he only wants the best for her. Their story was a quick, easy read. I liked how it ended up for them.
June 16, 2024
I received a copy of this book in audio format courtesy of NetGalley.
2.5 stars
The story started off promising, where a girl is venturing on her own to explore a dream destination and push back on a job she doesn’t want (but is being handed with a silver spoon via rich/known parents). While the sense of adventure made me interested in this book, I can’t say I was intrigued by “Captain Blue Balls.” Instead of her going forth with her touristy must-dos, she gets employed and she does things through his own planning. I wish she had given real independent time (tho it was offered to her) to have more character development. It’s a romance but a woman still has her own wants and life to live. The ending felt rushed and offset, and it seemed more clingy than a fated romance.
Spice is there, and I was not expecting the last chapter of spice, given the circumstances at the end of the story (no spoilers here).
There is a second story but I don’t feel keen to read it.
2.5 stars
The story started off promising, where a girl is venturing on her own to explore a dream destination and push back on a job she doesn’t want (but is being handed with a silver spoon via rich/known parents). While the sense of adventure made me interested in this book, I can’t say I was intrigued by “Captain Blue Balls.” Instead of her going forth with her touristy must-dos, she gets employed and she does things through his own planning. I wish she had given real independent time (tho it was offered to her) to have more character development. It’s a romance but a woman still has her own wants and life to live. The ending felt rushed and offset, and it seemed more clingy than a fated romance.
Spice is there, and I was not expecting the last chapter of spice, given the circumstances at the end of the story (no spoilers here).
There is a second story but I don’t feel keen to read it.
June 18, 2024
The typical “girl goes on vacation to a small beach town and catches the attention of local guy” which don’t get me wrong — normally I LOVE. But unfortunately this was a DNF for me at around 60%. I was looking forward to this summery book, but I just couldn’t find myself connecting to the characters Caroline or Dune. I’ve realized I much prefer 1st person POV, especially in a romance. I did appreciate the chapters switching between character focus but I do wish again they had been in 1st person as it provides more insight on emotions and thought process of the characters. Many areas felt lacking in depth and super choppy. I also just wasn’t fond of the nicknames or dialogue between the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review
Read
June 22, 2024This was a really sweet listen. A sweet opposites attract, small town story that is a great summer listen read. It is heartwarming, light and well narrated. Dune is a well liked good guy, has a close family, is a very big fish in that small town and only does short term relationships (if you can call them that) with visiting tourists. Caroline just graduated from Yale and is taking her own version of a last hurrah before she starts a job she has less than zero desire to do and is doing only to please her father and is confused about what she wants the rest of her life to be. The last thing she is looking for is a relationship with a man her exact opposite who is five hours away. The best laid plans! Enjoyable with the happily ever after ending I was hoping for.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 1, 2024
The Lobster Trap by Heidi McLaughlin and Kassidy Maye
🔖 Series: The Seaport Series
🎧 Format: Audiobook
📕 Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance
📖 Read: June 2024
✨ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
“You're beautiful. I hope you know that. And if no man has ever told you as such, shame on them.”
‧₊˚✧ Tropes ✧˚₊‧
ꕥ Small Town
ꕥ Vacation Romance
ꕥ Boss Employee
ꕥ Opposites Attract
This book drew me in with its adorable cover!! After reading the description I was super excited when I was approved for this audiobook. This is my first Heidi McLaughlin and Kassidy Maye novel.
There were a lot of things I enjoyed about the book. It was super cute and easy to get through. I really enjoyed the narration by Stephen Borne and Samantha Summers. I am always a huge fan of small towns and the atmosphere was perfect for the summer. Dune was such an incredible human. He was so patient with Caroline and he never gave up on his love for her. I also really loved the supporting characters, especially Wilson and Speed. They were the perfect support system for Dune. I would definitely love if this series included stories for each of them.
Unfortunately, there were a couple of things I did not like. I was not a fan of Caroline. In the beginning she seemed very naive and out of touch. The conflict that ultimately lead to the third act break up was completely unnecessary and 100% because of Caroline’s foolishness. She was a very frustrating character for me. I also found that the book ended abruptly. I did predict what would happened at the end, but I felt we needed a bit more wrap up.
With that said, I would still recommend this book. Just because I wasn’t a fan of Caroline doesn’t mean others won’t be. I know this is a series and I’m sure we Weill definitely get to see more of Caroline and Dune. I think the writing was fantastic and the audiobook really made the story come alive. I am looking forward to continuing this series.
Thank you NetGalley, RBmedia, Tantor Audio and Heidi McLaughlin and Kassidy Maye for the audiobook. This is my voluntary, honest review.
Check out my Bookstagram for aesthetics:
https://www.instagram.com/booked.and....
🔖 Series: The Seaport Series
🎧 Format: Audiobook
📕 Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Romance
📖 Read: June 2024
✨ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
“You're beautiful. I hope you know that. And if no man has ever told you as such, shame on them.”
‧₊˚✧ Tropes ✧˚₊‧
ꕥ Small Town
ꕥ Vacation Romance
ꕥ Boss Employee
ꕥ Opposites Attract
This book drew me in with its adorable cover!! After reading the description I was super excited when I was approved for this audiobook. This is my first Heidi McLaughlin and Kassidy Maye novel.
There were a lot of things I enjoyed about the book. It was super cute and easy to get through. I really enjoyed the narration by Stephen Borne and Samantha Summers. I am always a huge fan of small towns and the atmosphere was perfect for the summer. Dune was such an incredible human. He was so patient with Caroline and he never gave up on his love for her. I also really loved the supporting characters, especially Wilson and Speed. They were the perfect support system for Dune. I would definitely love if this series included stories for each of them.
Unfortunately, there were a couple of things I did not like. I was not a fan of Caroline. In the beginning she seemed very naive and out of touch. The conflict that ultimately lead to the third act break up was completely unnecessary and 100% because of Caroline’s foolishness. She was a very frustrating character for me. I also found that the book ended abruptly. I did predict what would happened at the end, but I felt we needed a bit more wrap up.
With that said, I would still recommend this book. Just because I wasn’t a fan of Caroline doesn’t mean others won’t be. I know this is a series and I’m sure we Weill definitely get to see more of Caroline and Dune. I think the writing was fantastic and the audiobook really made the story come alive. I am looking forward to continuing this series.
Thank you NetGalley, RBmedia, Tantor Audio and Heidi McLaughlin and Kassidy Maye for the audiobook. This is my voluntary, honest review.
Check out my Bookstagram for aesthetics:
https://www.instagram.com/booked.and....
July 2, 2024
I received the audiobook arc from NetGalley.
Reviewing the audiobook specifically: I had the speed going on 1.75x and it still felt slow. I probably could have bumped up to 2x. I liked the narrators; they did a good job performing the book and gave the characters more personality.
The four star rating is because this is a cute, fast paced book, but also not my absolute favorite. The tropes are: small town and vacation romance, Ivy League vs blue collar, miscommunication, slow burn. There is some spice. Dune is the perfect man and Caroline is more simple than you’d think at first glance. The resolution between the two was mended abruptly and the ending wasn’t satisfactory. Overall, I’d say this is a good book for a palette cleanse between heavy books.
Reviewing the audiobook specifically: I had the speed going on 1.75x and it still felt slow. I probably could have bumped up to 2x. I liked the narrators; they did a good job performing the book and gave the characters more personality.
The four star rating is because this is a cute, fast paced book, but also not my absolute favorite. The tropes are: small town and vacation romance, Ivy League vs blue collar, miscommunication, slow burn. There is some spice. Dune is the perfect man and Caroline is more simple than you’d think at first glance. The resolution between the two was mended abruptly and the ending wasn’t satisfactory. Overall, I’d say this is a good book for a palette cleanse between heavy books.
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