Anti-fraternization books are always delicious. Nic and Kyle have an incredibly hot night together before shipping out without realizing that the other will actually be on the ship with them. Since there are all sorts of regulations in place that won't allow them to be together, they have to put a lid on things. I felt like Kyle was always a little more into her than she was into him. I would have liked to see a little more depth (submarine humor?) into their relationship. Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.

Sweet and steamy romance about Nic aka Lily and Kyle. Nic is dealing with being a woman in the Navy and being on a submarine for months with someone, Kyle, she had a one-night stand type scenario with. I love forced proximity type of romances and military ones as well, so I enjoyed both of those aspects. I'm not a fan of the whole boys club mentality of the guys on this sub; Nic has to deal with some difficult things. I liked Nic's determination; she's a strong female character. I liked Kyle's light-hearted personality and his supportive nature. Both are easy to like characters. There's a cute connection between Nic and Kyle, but I didn't quite feel the deep connection I like for romances; still a good couple together. Overall, I enjoyed the story and how it played out.

3.5 stars

Love Runs Deep was a very heartfelt and emotional read.
I enjoyed the storyline and the characters were both likable and very relatable.
Overall, a great start to the Changing Tides series.

*Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.*

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Military Romance
Triggers: Voyeurism

Kyle is a really great guy. He takes care of his family, loves them unconditionally, despite them not being all that appreciative. When he takes in his younger brother, his life gets even more complicated. However, what he doesn't expect is to see Nic, the one-night stand that he hasn't been able to forget.

Nic is just getting her career underway. Because of her lineage, she knows that she might have a harder road ahead of her. Being a woman in the Navy, one of the first to go down with the sub crew, she knows that there will be hurdles. However, she wants this career and has worked very hard to get where she is. The last think she expects is to see Kyle, her hot, one-night stand after her celebratory night with her girlfriends.

Kyle is supposed to show Nic around the sub. He is her equal, in terms of rank, but since he has been on the sub longer, it's Nic's duty to learn the ship and her duties. When one of the lower ranking men on the ship take advantage of Nic, the entire ship is put under a microscope. That includes the relationship that Nic and Kyle have started – Nic's family is Navy royalty, so there are a lot of obstacles.

I like how Nic was able to come out of hiding – she wasn't going to be run off from what she had worked so hard to achieve. However, because there always needs to be some kind of drama or misunderstanding, this is where the story tugs at the heart strings. Kyle is kind of your typical guy who is afraid of commitment, but that's just the impression that Chianese wanted to give off. In reality, he loves Nic and wants her in his life, but doesn't really know how to achieve this. Both have to overcome their own insecurities and doubts to come together.

Overall, I really liked this story and despite the overprotective family members and friends, Nic and Kyle work their relationship out. I can't wait to see who is going to be the focus of the next book.

Love military romances and I love mistaken identity romances so this was just the perfect storm. The characters were interesting and did some unexpected things. Nic's relationship with her dad and brothers made the military aspect that much more interesting. I look forward to more in this series.

Love Runs Deep by Gail Chianese......This was a good start to a new series. Both characters are in the military, Nik is beautiful and a strong woman and Kyle is a hot womanizer. You will have to read it to find out if these two can make. I enjoyed seeing this story unfold for these two. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book from publisher via NetGalley.

My sick sense of humor enjoys books where a one night stand comes back to complicate the lives of those involved, I know I’m sorry…truly, I am, but I just can’t help it. Author Gail Chainese does this troupe way proud in Love Runs Deep. Two navel officers enjoy a wild night way away from their base only to discover they will be serving on the same submarine. While Love Runs Deep is most definitely a romance; this book tackles the subject of coed assignments in tight spaces, sexual harassment, facing your fears, and not being too proud to admit your mistakes in order to get what you want out of life. I loved this book not only for the messages it sends, but because despite what seemed like insurmountable odds two people managed to work through it all and find love.

Coming from a family of Navy officers, Lieutenant Nic Riley wasn’t going to let anyone talk her out of Navy service or being on a submarine, not even her Admiral father or her two high ranking brothers. Nic is even challenging herself to beat her father’s competency rating despite her claustrophobia. She is driven, proud, confident, and plans to make her family prouder than ever.

Lieutenant Kyle Hutchinson’s world was turned upside down after one night with Nic and not having any way to contact her is driving him crazy and he’s hoping a long mission will help him forget until she turns out to be a new officer on his ship and when he is assigned to be her onboard sponsor he knows it’s going to be a very long six months.

This was such a fantastic story and most of all I appreciated that both Nic and Kyle were smart about their careers and kept things strictly platonic while on board and actually spent time getting to know one another as friends. While they both dreamed of a time they could be more, they didn’t give in to temptation and remained professional to the core. When an incident threatens Nic’s reputation, Kyle steps in to protect her and help her through it. I love that despite that her father holds his career in his hands; Kyle doesn’t let that intimidate him which earns him respect and more.

I love the intricate plot, the well developed characters, the interesting family dynamics, and the fact that both characters made mistakes but showed strength and courage and personal growth throughout. I’ve read many books by this author, but Love Runs Deep is her finest work to date.

Love Runs Deep the 1st book in the Changing Tides series was a pretty good read for me. There were things about it that I really liked and things that I just didn't care for. I liked that both Nic and Kyle's characters were well develop. I felt I really got to know them. Both were likable and relatable. I loved the navy sub theme. I liked Nic's family and Kyle's brother. I felt like Nic and Kyle had good chemistry and plenty of lust for each other. The thing is I never felt that Nic and Kyle's relationship went deep. I felt like both were just kinda along for the ride. It felt more like a fling than a love connection. I didn't feel no deep love from either although I did feel Kyle was more invested in the relationship than Nic. Also it really bothered me that Nic doubted Kyle the way she did. I also would have liked them to spend more time together. We readers get a lot of one on one time with each Nic and Kyle and I would have liked more romance. Overall an entertaining and enjoyable read.

Love Runs Deep has an intriguing submarine military setting that pulled me in, to request the book from NetGalley. And the story starts with a fun, light, carefree way with a hot as can be one night stand between two strangers. And continues so for about a fifth of the book, until it takes a drastically different and unexpected turn, almost like the characters took over and decided to tell a different kind of tale than was planned.
And that tale is all about women in a military, the problems that might occur, the sexual harassment they face, the consequences of it to everyone involved. Was it interesting? Yes, it was. I just think it overshadowed everything else in the story: the romance, the military family bonding, the support of your peers, the family drama, support, and dynamics, power struggles etc. Mostly I missed the developing of the romance, as now Nic and Kyle have a connection and physical attraction, but it's more like they are friends with a past of something more, the romantic relationship has no time or opportunity to develop. I liked both of the main characters, Nic and Kyle. They are charismatic, loyal, family oriented, sympathetic people. I liked them together, and I wish there would have been more of that in the story.
The 'danger' of reading an eARC is you never know how final of a product you have in your hands. This one obviously was a rather raw one, it still needed heavy editing, had timeline issues, and way too much of details of the submarine and navy life that didn't need to be there. But I am certain and hopeful all these issues are polished to the final copy.
What I expected to be a fun and light military romance story turned out to be a sort of a statement of women in the military in general and in submarines specifically. The technical steps of handling sexual harassment cases in navy came familiar, and the psychological effect of the violation to the victim and to the whole crew was well detailed. An interesting and curious start for a new series, a good story that left me wishing for more. The secondary characters are multiple to choose from to see what direction this series will go for.
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

I'm loving this pattern of courageous women heroines and hope it continues in the future. Nic is more than a pretty face. She's smart, determined and willing to fight for what she believes in. Even if it means she has to break her own heart to succeed in a male dominated world. Love Runs Deep not only breaks a few rules but it examines discrimination and stepping up and doing what's right in the face of adversity. Kyle and Nic lead with their hearts and have no qualms about speaking their minds. Inspiring story of redemption and fairness.

3.5 stars.

I was mildly intrigued by the idea of a forbidden navy romance, but this book veered off in a few unexpected directions. A six month tour on a sub might have been interesting, if a little repetitive with the complications of conducting a relationship in so small a space with such a lack of privacy. But that’s not what we get from this book. What happened instead definitely made for compelling reading and certainly tested the strength of all characters involved, even if it did rather overshadow the romance at times.

I liked Nic. She’s strong and competent and focused on her goal, without being arrogant or pretentious. The way she handles being the first woman on the sub is great, and her strength throughout everything that follows is amazing. I wouldn’t have faulted her for running and hiding more than she does, but the way she fights through showed her real strength. Shame she wasn’t always so strong when it came to Kyle, but I guess you can’t have everything.

I loved Kyle. He’s hard working, smart and cares for those who matter to him. He doesn’t always handle everything as well as he might, but his unwavering support for those he loves is wonderful. A bit more communication between him and Nic at times might have been nice, but some alpha male foolishness could be expected.

Actually, when it came to the relationship between Nic and Kyle I wasn’t convinced by the chemistry in their first, second or even third meeting. It comes out of nowhere and I didn’t really feel any connection between them leading up to their one night stand. As the book progressed and they formed more of a friendship, their connection became much stronger and I loved the way Kyle supports Nic without ever needing to be asked. He does seem to be the one who makes all the sacrifices, though, and it might have been nice if things had been a little more balanced between them.

However, with everything else going on, it’s easy to see why the romantic balance was sometimes off. I was a little saddened that the story headed in this direction, but considering the world we live in, it didn’t feel at all unlikely. I appreciated how Nic’s reactions were portrayed and how much of battle she faced to come to terms with everything. When compared to her deep emotional struggles, though, the romance felt rather rushed, especially at the end.

On the whole, though, I enjoyed this. It wasn’t the forbidden romance I expected, but it made for compelling reading and had some great side characters – all the brothers especially. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more from this series.

nic riley and kyle hutchinson hook up at a bar one night before either of them has to report for duty in love runs deep. nic tries to leave it at one night, but it's just her luck that she ends up assigned to the same submarine as kyle, and he ends up as her sponsor on the ship. they have six months of duty to get through, and fraternizing is a definite no-no.

and yet the connection between them is impossible to ignore. kyle does his best to keep things platonic while watching out for nic on the ship, but when he catches a junior officer with an inappropriate recording of nic in the shower this get a little intense. the fallout from the incident is the kind of stuff that makes or breaks relationships. and how nic and kyle deal with the problems created by the subsequent military inquiry and trial is the bulk of the story.

kyle is unequivocally in nic's corner, but they come from two different worlds. nic is military royalty and kyle was lucky to leave behind his rough beginnings by joining up. and yet, those differences don't actually cause the biggest problems between them. their problem is that all too common they stop actually communicating. so when nic has a moment of doubt, kyle is devastated. at the same time her family has convinced him that staying away is the best thing for her at the moment.

until they start listening to other people, nic and kyle's relationship progresses nicely, so eventually they do figure out how to tune others out. it takes a while, but they also cut each other pretty deeply when they doubt one another. but love runs deeper still, and nic and kyle come through it all in the end.

This was an ok read for me. I enjoyed the overall storyline, it's very different and unique. The characters were interesting but I expected more from Nic. Considering the obstacles she has had to fight and get through in her family and career, I expected her reaction to the events in the story to be fury and toughness. This kind of put a damper on the story for me.

Review:

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

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

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

My opinion: A beautiful book to remember by.

My ratinn: 4 out of 5

To me, this book was just okay. Okay characters, okay story, just okay. Nothing truly exciting for me.

Lt. Nic Riley comes from a long line of family in the Navy. She is about to go on a sub for six months and has a one night fling with a hunky guy who turns out to be on the same sub. Lt. Kyle Hutchinson is a womanizer until he meets Nic. Six months of running into each other will prove to be a tough life. Romance and relationships are forbidden on board! I enjoyed this book and recommend it to lovers of contemporary romance, especially military romance. I enjoy reading anything about the military and this book was excellent!

Loves Runs Deep by Gail Chianese will be available February 21, 2017 by Kensington Publishing Corp. An egalley of this book was made available by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.