Set in Maine, one of my favorite states because of – need I say it – lobster, ‘The Unlikely Prospect’ is a sweet, heartwarming story about two men who would have never expected to be a couple, yet fall for each other almost the moment they meet. Harper, a lobsterman with writing talent, takes a long time to come out of the shell he’s been using to protect himself from being seen as different, and Sean, a first-grade teacher from LA, needs to figure out how to trust again despite the fact he has sworn never to have expectations again. These guys captured me with their combined charm from the very beginning. Then there is the wonderful setting, the charming local details of the small fishing village Harper lives in, and the fantastic supporting characters. With an authentic flavor of Maine added to the lovely story details, this quickly became one of my favorites in the ‘States of Love’ series.

Harper is all about his work as a lobsterman – well, almost. There is his love of writing stories, but that secret is better guarded than the PIN code to Fort Knox. It’s important for Harper to fit in, to be an upstanding member of the small community he has lived in all his life, and to succeed with his and his brothers’ lobster fishing business. He is gay, but not willing to admit it because it would make him stand out. But then two things happen: he notices the new first-grade teacher, Sean, who has moved to Maine from LA and then Sean asks him to participate in a calendar the proceeds of which will fund a playground for the elementary school. Posing like a model would be bad enough for someone as shy as Harper, but then it turns out the men will all be nude…

Sean, whom I unfortunately only got to see through Harper’s telling of the story, is unsure what his future holds. He’s had a bad breakup – hence the cross-country move – and doesn’t find it easy to trust again. But Harper, in all his forty-year-old innocence, is too attractive to resist. He is also scrupulously honest, and that is not something Sean is used to or takes for granted. The pinup calendar is a good “excuse” for them to have a few meetings and to start talking, but both men are clearly interested in more.

Harper’s somewhat hesitant, shy fumblings charmed me as much as Sean’s patience and determination. Watching both of them get closer and figure out their relationship was a treat! But there is more to the story as well, and all of the subplots and secondary characters who got involved made this novel come alive in the best way.

If you like stories about men who meet a little later in life, if you think that “shy” and “determined” make a good combination, and if you’re looking for a read that is as sweet and adorable as it is heartwarming, then you will probably like this novel as much as I do. Makes me wish for a sequel, just to see what Harper and Sean get up to next!


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )