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cover2covertx's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m a huge hopeless romantic who loves alllll the cheese. However, this book was just a little too gushy for me. Also, I got lost a few times trying to figure out if we were jumping days, weeks, or just later that same day? It was hard to keep track which was odd to me for a rom com. I really enjoyed Ice Breaker but I feel like it had a little more tension between the characters, this was a little too insta lovey for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
ellelockley's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I do not know why I did this to myself again. I mean no hate to the author but these books are just not for me. Aurora and Russ were so annoying probably more so than Nate and Stassie and thats saying something. Aurora really stressed me out when she constantly made everything about her like when Russ went to see his dad in the hospital and she got upset that he did not tell her and made it seem like he was the douchebag. I feel Russ could have been a good character if his only personality trait was being infatuated with Aurora, like please, I need characters to have more depth. The author tried to cover some really serious topics, but I don't think they were properly addressed and frankly made me uncomfortable. The same thing happened in icebreaker. The majority of the sex scenes were pointless and not used to advance the plot. I am really tired of characters always playing the victim, because it makes them less loveable and less human. The only people I would recommend this books to is people who have not been through a wattpad phase.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Sexual content, Car accident, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
ebony1ouise's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Toxic relationship and Gaslighting
laurenu8's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Gaslighting
httponyo's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Wildfire is a book about Aurora and Russ , Russ who was previously mentioned in the infamous ice rink scandal in IceBreaker , navigating their crapton of emotional trauma that started from their families neglect in different ways. The book switches between both of their POVs as we watch them break down and navigate their pain together.
Now I'll start with what I didn't like and go from there. Spoilers will be tagged !
As with the first book there was alot of sex. Like , A LOT lol. Now personally I don't have a problem reading through spices scenes and don't have the same problem as some people who think it's too much. What I don't like is the location of these scenes. I understand they have sex in staff majority places but children dont always follow the rules. The door to their cabins would be unlocked for obvious comedic effect of someone walking in but realistically those times could've been kids , that includes some other chosen locations. I just don't like how often they seemed to have sex in easy to catch places with kids at the camp , maybe the layout was misunderstood to me but idk. 🤷🏽♀️
As always , we've got ✨️parental issues✨️ , which my traumatized ass has no problem with but I didnt like how Aurora's relationship with her mother started magically fixing itself just because she showed up at the camp & gave Aurora revelation about her dad. Aurora's mom was emotionally mentally and drainging her , there definitely shouldve been a confrontation but the story made it seem like it was all the dads neglect fault?? i aint like that , both if them had equal parts in her childhood traumas. . And i dont knkw its its just me but sometimes i was confused on who was talking? That might've just been because i was tired though lol.
I like how the communication of their trauma smoothly ties into their relationship. At the end of the day these are hurt people who are trying to heal , 3 months over YEARS won't solve it but it did a pretty good job.
"Guys , if we lose because you're all short and Aurora is a pig stealer , I'm going to be so pissed"
The communication in this book is heavenly to me. Problems get talked through and everyone holds their actions accountable, which reminds me that this is just a book lol.
"I'm watching you go in so you don't have to watch me leave." Was what fully sold me on Russ , his growth from the first book is astounding and I'm glad he learned to accept the love & family around him as Aurora did.
It's been months since I read IceBreaker so I wasn't sure if I'd connect but WHEW! The characters are loveable and hilarious as always , Xander and JJ really snuck into my heart and I hope Xander stays for the next book(?). Both old and new characters will make you laugh and make you want another story to see how their lives play out. I am kinda sad at the ending but it did make me happy still.wish the time skip hadn't been that wide but maybe its setting up for the next book? I hope there's a third book , I'd love to read about Henry or JJ.
"I will spiral later , alone , like a regular person. Or if I'm feeling reall adventurous , I'll bottle it up and bury it deep down , letting it erupt at a much later , more inconvenient time"
Now I'll start with what I didn't like and go from there. Spoilers will be tagged !
As with the first book there was alot of sex. Like , A LOT lol. Now personally I don't have a problem reading through spices scenes and don't have the same problem as some people who think it's too much. What I don't like is the location of these scenes. I understand they have sex in staff majority places but children dont always follow the rules. The door to their cabins would be unlocked for obvious comedic effect of someone walking in but realistically those times could've been kids , that includes some other chosen locations. I just don't like how often they seemed to have sex in easy to catch places with kids at the camp , maybe the layout was misunderstood to me but idk. 🤷🏽♀️
As always , we've got ✨️parental issues✨️ , which my traumatized ass has no problem with but
I like how the communication of their trauma smoothly ties into their relationship. At the end of the day these are hurt people who are trying to heal , 3 months over YEARS won't solve it but it did a pretty good job.
"Guys , if we lose because you're all short and Aurora is a pig stealer , I'm going to be so pissed"
The communication in this book is heavenly to me. Problems get talked through and everyone holds their actions accountable, which reminds me that this is just a book lol.
"I'm watching you go in so you don't have to watch me leave." Was what fully sold me on Russ , his growth from the first book is astounding and I'm glad he learned to accept the love & family around him as Aurora did.
It's been months since I read IceBreaker so I wasn't sure if I'd connect but WHEW! The characters are loveable and hilarious as always , Xander and JJ really snuck into my heart and I hope Xander stays for the next book(?). Both old and new characters will make you laugh and make you want another story to see how their lives play out. I am kinda sad at the ending but it did make me happy still.
"I will spiral later , alone , like a regular person. Or if I'm feeling reall adventurous , I'll bottle it up and bury it deep down , letting it erupt at a much later , more inconvenient time"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Car accident and Injury/Injury detail
rebekkamafia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
Minor: Car accident and Alcohol
kelly_e's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Title: Wildfire
Author: Hannah Grace
Series: Maple Hills #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: October 3, 2023
I received a complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Dissimilar • Sizzling • Juvenile
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Maple Hills students Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a party celebrating the end of the academic year, where a drinking game results in them having a passionate one-night stand. Never one to overstay her welcome (or expect much from a man), Aurora slips away before Russ even has the chance to ask for her full name.
Imagine their surprise when they bump into each other on the first day of the summer camp where they are both counselors, hoping to escape their complicated home lives by spending the summer working. Russ hopes if he gets far enough away from Maple Hills, he can avoid dealing with the repercussions of his father’s gambling addiction, while Aurora is tired of craving attention from everyone around her, and wants to go back to the last place she truly felt at home.
Russ knows breaking the camp’s strict “no staff fraternizing” rule will have him heading back to Maple Hills before the summer is over, but unfortunately for him, Aurora has never been very good at caring about the rules. Will the two learn to peacefully coexist? Or did their one night together start a fire they can’t put out?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I absolutely (somewhat surprisingly) adored Icebreaker earlier in the year, so I was eagerly anticipating Wildfire, book two of the Maple Hills series. Unfortunately, so many of the elements I loved about book one were missing from this second installment, which left me rather disappointed.
I will start off by saying the romance between Russ and Aurora was wholesome. There's definitely a bit of a miscommunication vibe going early on, but it never overrode the development of their relationship. Both main characters have family issues that are at the heart of the story, yet there is a great emphasis on working through things together and developing an open line of communication.
There is a different sense of found family with the staff of the summer camp that I liked. However, I really missed all of the characters I'd come to love from book one. Additionally, I missed Maple Hills and the hockey backdrop. In my opinion, its because so many of the things I loved from book one were missing that I really struggled to form a deep connection with Russ and Aurora's story. Even the spice level felt completely different.
Wildfire was a bit of a letdown after being so excited to pick it up. One of the complaints about Icebreaker was the length, and that's exactly how I felt about this one. The summer camp setting felt completely different and honestly, made it seem like a standalone. I will still continue with the series (book 3 is Henry's story!!), but I am really hoping for a return to the college setting and sports romance trope.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the ONS trope
• readers who like the summer camp romance
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You don't turn your back on people because they're not perfect."
"It's incredible how shame fills the cracks other people create."
"It's no secret that I love books. I love stories about people I don't know, and place I haven't been to. I've lived a thousand lives between a thousand pages, but no story, no life, no page has ever made me as happy as you do, Russ Callaghan."
Author: Hannah Grace
Series: Maple Hills #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: October 3, 2023
I received a complimentary eARC from Simon & Schuster Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Dissimilar • Sizzling • Juvenile
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Maple Hills students Russ Callaghan and Aurora Roberts cross paths at a party celebrating the end of the academic year, where a drinking game results in them having a passionate one-night stand. Never one to overstay her welcome (or expect much from a man), Aurora slips away before Russ even has the chance to ask for her full name.
Imagine their surprise when they bump into each other on the first day of the summer camp where they are both counselors, hoping to escape their complicated home lives by spending the summer working. Russ hopes if he gets far enough away from Maple Hills, he can avoid dealing with the repercussions of his father’s gambling addiction, while Aurora is tired of craving attention from everyone around her, and wants to go back to the last place she truly felt at home.
Russ knows breaking the camp’s strict “no staff fraternizing” rule will have him heading back to Maple Hills before the summer is over, but unfortunately for him, Aurora has never been very good at caring about the rules. Will the two learn to peacefully coexist? Or did their one night together start a fire they can’t put out?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I absolutely (somewhat surprisingly) adored Icebreaker earlier in the year, so I was eagerly anticipating Wildfire, book two of the Maple Hills series. Unfortunately, so many of the elements I loved about book one were missing from this second installment, which left me rather disappointed.
I will start off by saying the romance between Russ and Aurora was wholesome. There's definitely a bit of a miscommunication vibe going early on, but it never overrode the development of their relationship. Both main characters have family issues that are at the heart of the story, yet there is a great emphasis on working through things together and developing an open line of communication.
There is a different sense of found family with the staff of the summer camp that I liked. However, I really missed all of the characters I'd come to love from book one. Additionally, I missed Maple Hills and the hockey backdrop. In my opinion, its because so many of the things I loved from book one were missing that I really struggled to form a deep connection with Russ and Aurora's story. Even the spice level felt completely different.
Wildfire was a bit of a letdown after being so excited to pick it up. One of the complaints about Icebreaker was the length, and that's exactly how I felt about this one. The summer camp setting felt completely different and honestly, made it seem like a standalone. I will still continue with the series (book 3 is Henry's story!!), but I am really hoping for a return to the college setting and sports romance trope.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of the ONS trope
• readers who like the summer camp romance
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You don't turn your back on people because they're not perfect."
"It's incredible how shame fills the cracks other people create."
"It's no secret that I love books. I love stories about people I don't know, and place I haven't been to. I've lived a thousand lives between a thousand pages, but no story, no life, no page has ever made me as happy as you do, Russ Callaghan."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit, Medical content, Car accident, and Gaslighting
michaelahoyman's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Incredible. 10/10. I think this might be one of my favorite books that I’ve ever read. I love it with all of my heart. The characters, where it takes place, the story line, all chef’s kiss. It all makes my heart burst. I honestly procrastinated on finishing the book because I’m emotionally attached to it and was dreading the book ending. I loved every second. Such lovable characters and incredible story. So cute and adorable. I highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
wildflowerleahg's review against another edition
4.25
👏🏼 talented 👏🏼 brilliant 👏🏼 incredible 👏🏼 amazing 👏🏼 show stopping 👏🏼 spectacular 👏🏼 never the same 👏🏼
As someone that didn’t understand the hype that icebreaker got on the Tik Tok, I was a bit hesitant to pick up book too. Then I found out this would be a summer romance while they were camp counselors, I had to check this out (thank you to the skip the line copy on Libby).
This book was a great mixture of spice and coming of age. Honestly the parts where Rory and Russ go through and process their family trauma was almost cathartic. Maybe because this was traditionally published, balance of spice and story were much more under control.
Also the set up to my baby Henry’s story in the next book was just fantastic. Fun and insightful read for the end of summer. Well Done!
As someone that didn’t understand the hype that icebreaker got on the Tik Tok, I was a bit hesitant to pick up book too. Then I found out this would be a summer romance while they were camp counselors, I had to check this out (thank you to the skip the line copy on Libby).
This book was a great mixture of spice and coming of age. Honestly the parts where Rory and Russ go through and process their family trauma was almost cathartic. Maybe because this was traditionally published, balance of spice and story were much more under control.
Also the set up to my baby Henry’s story in the next book was just fantastic. Fun and insightful read for the end of summer. Well Done!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Abandonment
Minor: Gaslighting and Alcohol
tannerlauren's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Sexual content, and Gaslighting
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