Review: Deck the Hulls by Kat Cassidy (Silver Shoals #1)


Note: A review copy was provided by the author via Gay Romance Reviews.

My introduction to Kat Cassidy's writing came by way of her debut series, Hot Wire, and I was obsessed with those books! Which is why it's rather weird that it's taken me this long to read something new of hers. Deck the Hulls is the first in Cassidy's Silver Shoals series, and it's set in the eponymous Massachusetts town. We've got Adam Sgouros, who is in witness protection after leaving behind his life with the Greek mob in sunny Los Angeles, California. Now bearing the name Alexander Simmons, Adam is still adjusting to life in the tiny town that feels nothing like home. When he finds himself in a bit of trouble, he recalls the advice of someone from his past. Which is how he's on a boat with a body in a bag that needs to be disposed. Things get more complicated when Elijah Jensen wakes up and realizes his boat's been hijacked. Now, the twosome are stranded on the water with a snowstorm! Will Adam/Alex and Eli make their way back to town without any trouble or could secrets torpedo any chance for them?

This was holiday novella that had a unique blend of small-town feels, forced proximity, and grumpy/sunshine. It's a quick read, so having the main characters, Adam/Alex and Eli, feel the initial stirrings of attraction with notable chemistry made more sense to me rather than them vowing eternal love and such. Both have interesting back stories--Adam/Alex being a cisgender male in WITSEC and still finding his footing in the new life that he's now stuck with, and Eli being a transgender male trying to make a go of a charter tour business minus his business partner who now happens to be his ex. While this book is short in terms of number of pages, it didn't necessarily feel rushed. Maybe that's just me, but I liked the story's pacing and the MCs' development. The epilogue gives offers Adam/Alex and Eli their happily-ever-after but not before a sprinkling of suspense. Overall, Deck the Hulls is a four-starred read.

Date Read: 10 November 2025

Learn more about Kat Cassidy.

Purchase Deck the Hulls on Amazon.

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