Amelia Duer runs charter boats off the eastern shore of Virginia. She loves watching the shore birdlife, but just now her thoughts are troubled. Her nephew has been ill, which at five years old seems too much to bear, and since her fiancé died she has no-one to share her troubles with. A COAST GUARD COURTSHIP is about to begin however as Braeden Scott walks into her life.

Braeden has been to a few postings in the Service, but this Chesapeake Bay town is amazingly full of redheads. He knows it'll take the local fishermen time to accept a new officer, especially if he has to hand out notices of safety violations. So staying with a local family seems like a good way to integrate himself in the community. Amelia isn't so sure. She's the tough sister, always was, no time for prettying herself up; Braeden is bound to focus on the two girly girls in her family. Her dad Seth is forever chasing men away from them. Either Braeden will wise up and leave them alone, or he'll be run out of Kiptohanock; either way suits her fine.

I was interested in the vividly portrayed life of the town. Too many locals have died at sea over the years, and even young Max, Amelia's nephew, has lost his family. This is a love-hate relationship with the ocean. Amelia respects the Coast Guard but distrusts the men who may be posted elsewhere and have no roots in the town traditions. The first tradition Braeden has to participate in is blessing all the town's ships. When people's lives are at stake every time they leave port, it's understandable that they turn to prayer. As the fishing grounds have been overfished, crews find it harder to make a living; hence they diversify into nature tourism.

I found it impossible to believe that Amelia would jump into water to rescue someone while wearing Wellington boots. She'd know that they fill with water, and would take the couple of seconds to slip them off before jumping. She wouldn't need to think about it.

The chat is constantly about crab pots, sea glass, bait buckets and water safety. Braeden responds to emergencies with the steadiness of a seasoned campaigner, and he looks fantastic in uniform. No wonder Amelia starts to see him differently. As fit and capable as she is, no wonder Braeden looks twice when he realises she cleans up well. Even if she is a troublesome redhead. With artistic talent and a temper to match. I enjoyed the lively antics and forceful personalities brought to life by Lisa Carter. This will be a great read for anyone interested in the setting or an unusual love story. COAST GUARD COURTSHIP does what it says on the pack. As it's an inspirational romance, even those who prefer gentler romances can dive in at the deep end.