Fans of the Navy SEAL hero will find Going Overboard enjoyable, although I recommend it only with certain reservations. The hero was quite yummy, but the heroine was quite another matter – I didn’t care for her much. All in all, however, this is an interesting read with one heck of a hero who just about makes up for the the book’s flaws.

Ford McKay has a body that won’t quit, which is why professional photographer Carly Sullivan approaches him on the cruise ship in the first place. She’s shooting an ad for the cruise line and she needs needs a stand in model. Ford is perfect. Their first meeting is not auspicious, however – he turns her down flat.

He isn’t going to get out of modeling that easily, however. Carly and her adopted sister Daphne are his new assignment, though he didn’t know it when Carly approached him. Daphne’s wealthy father, the governor-general of the fictitious island of Santa Marina, has been receiving death threats regarding his family. Fearing for Daphne and Carly’s safety, he pulled some government strings to have the best protection for his daughters – a Navy SEAL. Ford is not happy about becoming a bodyguard, especially because he’s been ordered not to reveal his identity. That means he has to work as a model for Carly.

Carly is a workaholic, but an exceptional artist with a camera. She also has a stubborn streak a mile long. Her deceased mother spent most of Carly’s life chasing the perfect pictures and never left any time or emotional availability for her daughter. When Carly’s parents died, Daphne’s father, Nigel Brandon, adopted her into his family. Carly fears she can never measure up to her mother and pushes herself much too hard. The support and love she receives from Nigel and Daphne are all she has in her life.

Both Ford and Carly are dedicated to their jobs and are not interested in pursuing a relationship. A series of violent attempts against Carly and Daphne during the photo shoot throw Carly and Ford together, allowing their relationship to develop.

The subplot is action oriented, and has suspense overtones. I found this the weakest part of the book, but it does allow Ford to show off his skills. Of more interest to me was how Carly and McKay could develop a relationship when both considered work the most important thing in their lives.

The secondary characters of Izzy, McKay’s partner, and Daphne were fun, and almost more enjoyable than the sometimes-annoying Carly. Carly’s behavior toward the end bordered on TSTL, which did not improve her character much. Did I mention she was stubborn?

In spite of its faults, though, this wasn’t a difficult read by any means, and Ford McKay was definitely the highlight of the book for me. Those looking for another Navy SEAL to spend some quality time with could do worse.