Review: SEAL Camp

SEAL Camp by Suzanne Brockmann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Four and a half stars. I deducted half a star because it was too damn short!

Ashley DeWitt is a lawyer who specialises in helping women and children in need, often to get away from abusive partners. However, no matter how fierce in the courtroom she's a pussy when it comes to confrontation, preferring to avoid rather than challenge. For example, her slimy ex-fiancee Brad comes to her apartment and she hides behind a dumpster rather than tell him to get lost. That incident was the final straw, so she enrols herself in SEAL World, a week long course run by SEALs really for SEAL wannabees but hey, it might help her with her assertiveness, right?

First problem? Her controlling father has 'gifted' her little brother Clark and his college roommate Kenneth places on the same course, ostensibly as a birthday gift for Clark but really so that Clark can give him updates on Ashley. Second problem? Women don't really go on these courses (SEAL wannabees) and the SEALs had no idea that A. DeWitt was a female. Third problem? Two sexist pigs called Todd and Bull who are out to humiliate and belittle her at every turn. Fourth problem? One extremely sexy SEAL called Lieutenant Jim 'Spaceman' Slade who calls her the sexy au-pair when he first sees her.

Jim Slade is in a bad place. With two bum knees he knows his days in the Teams are numbered - he just hasn't figured out what could possibly take their place. One of the younger SEALs asks if he could sub in at short notice as an instructor at SEAL World and he agrees. Little does he realise that his most eager trainee will also be the one he can't keep his hands off.

It's been FIVE years since I least read one of Suzanne's Tall, Dark and Dangerous series (what can I say, I came to them late) and yet this one was just as sexy, just as emotional and just as fun as I remember them. Jim Slade is a typical SEAL, Teams through and through, with little thought about anything but the navy. The knowledge that his knees will force him to retire has hit him like a truck and he is wallowing in self-pity. Then he meets this gorgeous pixie, she's beautiful, smart, funny, everything a man could want in a woman. But what could she ever see in him right? Watch these two spark and spar and help each other out and fall in love with Jim Slade.

At a time when I have DNFd so many contemporary romances this was a breath of fresh air - all I needed was a SEAL with a sense of humour, who knew?

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