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my_bookish_romance's review
5.0
I started my year with this book and it was a great decision! I really loved being in Josiah’s head and the ADHD rep there, it felt very much real.
bookish_notes's review against another edition
4.0
This book is fantastic. I am reading these books all out of order, but I loved reading about Ryan in Off Base, and I really wanted to see how him and Josiah got together. I also feel like this book deals with some very important issues without it ever sounding preach. The author manages to incorporate the characters' mental illness and disability into the story and makes it real.
Ryan is a navy SEAL, and is a very confident guy who doesn't like asking for help. He lost his legs while he was in active duty and is now going through lots of physical therapy in order to try to navigate his life from a new perspective. Annabeth Albert captures Ryan's obstacles and frustrations with his disability so well that it just breaks my heart. Ryan is used to being a dominant force and now that he's in a wheelchair, he hates that people are always acting like he can't do things for himself.
Josiah is a 23-year-old project lead for a gaming company and super smart, but lacks confidence in himself. He speaks faster than his brain can catch on. He doesn't have much of a filter, but does know how to apologize profusely when he realizes he's said the wrong thing. Ryan and Josiah have a chance meeting sitting next to each other on a plane and Josiah drops a super cringy reaction to finding out about Ryan's disability. BUT after the initial surprise, he's actually really loving and understanding. I loved that above all else, Josiah never treats Ryan as lesser for his disability, but simply loves how hot Ryan is.
At first, I was worried this was going to be a kink book about amputees (I don't have a problem with it, but reading about it just wouldn't have been my thing). But it wasn't. So, what does this book have? AGE GAP ROMANCE. Josiah is out of college, but still young. Ryan is in his early thirties, but they really do work well together. There is a lot of steamy sexytimes between Ryan and Josiah. The sex scenes do put Ryan's disability into focus, and I love that Albert doesn't shy away from addressing it.
Also, this is a long distance, slow burn romance. Ryan is doing his physical therapy out of D.C., and Josiah lives in California. My one ??? moment about this book is that Ryan and Josiah have a lot of exchanges through email because of the distance keeping them physically apart. Email. I mean, I understand that they initially met and exchanged emails because they were practically strangers and Josiah had wanted to give Ryan some free codes for the game he was working on... but STILL. After they got more than a little friendly, instead of switching to text messaging, almost all their communication was still done through email. All the conversations were cute to read, but it does make the book seem kind of dated even though this book was only published in 2016.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved Ryan, I loved Josiah. Their struggles really made me tear up at times. There were appearances from couples from the two previous books in this series, Status Update and Beta Test. I'm really not one for gaming, or books that involve it, but I might be tempted to read those two books now because I want to know more about them. These books are all standalone, but everyone's such a great secondary character for each other in other books, I feel like I have to read all the books. Connection Error is really well done in addressing Ryan's disability, and is also pretty good at showing Josiah's struggles with ADHD. I would highly recommend this book and can't wait to read more books by Annabeth Albert!
Ryan is a navy SEAL, and is a very confident guy who doesn't like asking for help. He lost his legs while he was in active duty and is now going through lots of physical therapy in order to try to navigate his life from a new perspective. Annabeth Albert captures Ryan's obstacles and frustrations with his disability so well that it just breaks my heart. Ryan is used to being a dominant force and now that he's in a wheelchair, he hates that people are always acting like he can't do things for himself.
Josiah is a 23-year-old project lead for a gaming company and super smart, but lacks confidence in himself. He speaks faster than his brain can catch on. He doesn't have much of a filter, but does know how to apologize profusely when he realizes he's said the wrong thing. Ryan and Josiah have a chance meeting sitting next to each other on a plane and Josiah drops a super cringy reaction to finding out about Ryan's disability. BUT after the initial surprise, he's actually really loving and understanding. I loved that above all else, Josiah never treats Ryan as lesser for his disability, but simply loves how hot Ryan is.
He supposed a less pervy guy would notice more details about Ryan's injuries - the network of jagged scars on his thights, the noneistent lower legs - but that guy wasn't Josiah. No, what he noticed most was that Ryan was hung like a porn king. And that, way more than his leg injuries, made it hard to look away.
At first, I was worried this was going to be a kink book about amputees (I don't have a problem with it, but reading about it just wouldn't have been my thing). But it wasn't. So, what does this book have? AGE GAP ROMANCE. Josiah is out of college, but still young. Ryan is in his early thirties, but they really do work well together. There is a lot of steamy sexytimes between Ryan and Josiah. The sex scenes do put Ryan's disability into focus, and I love that Albert doesn't shy away from addressing it.
...here was Josiah, making everything old new again, reinventing everything Ryan thought he had figured out.
And it scared the shit out of him - more than his injuries, more than any mission, this guy scared Rayn so much he had to break away, pretend to catch his breath, put a hand over his face, like that could hold all his feelings in.
Also, this is a long distance, slow burn romance. Ryan is doing his physical therapy out of D.C., and Josiah lives in California. My one ??? moment about this book is that Ryan and Josiah have a lot of exchanges through email because of the distance keeping them physically apart. Email. I mean, I understand that they initially met and exchanged emails because they were practically strangers and Josiah had wanted to give Ryan some free codes for the game he was working on... but STILL. After they got more than a little friendly, instead of switching to text messaging, almost all their communication was still done through email. All the conversations were cute to read, but it does make the book seem kind of dated even though this book was only published in 2016.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved Ryan, I loved Josiah. Their struggles really made me tear up at times. There were appearances from couples from the two previous books in this series, Status Update and Beta Test. I'm really not one for gaming, or books that involve it, but I might be tempted to read those two books now because I want to know more about them. These books are all standalone, but everyone's such a great secondary character for each other in other books, I feel like I have to read all the books. Connection Error is really well done in addressing Ryan's disability, and is also pretty good at showing Josiah's struggles with ADHD. I would highly recommend this book and can't wait to read more books by Annabeth Albert!
liza5326's review against another edition
4.0
This is definitely my favorite book of the series so far. I loved Josiah and his lack of a filter, twitchiness, and ADHD. I loved Ryan and his strength, his determination.
This story just flowed perfectly. From beginning to end, I was entranced, loving every second. Josiah never saw or treated Ryan and less than a man, always treating him with respect. Ryan fought his attraction every step of the way, but there was no fighting it, and when it happened, it was explosive! The control scenes where hot as hell.
This story just flowed perfectly. From beginning to end, I was entranced, loving every second. Josiah never saw or treated Ryan and less than a man, always treating him with respect. Ryan fought his attraction every step of the way, but there was no fighting it, and when it happened, it was explosive! The control scenes where hot as hell.
robazizo's review against another edition
4.0
A bit different in tone than the other two but just as enjoyable. Josiah and Ryan are polar opposites who are very good together. I loved how they both grew during the story and I loved how Josiah stood up for himself when it was necessary for him to come into his own and for Ryan to get some perspective. Bonus points for two loving and caring moms.
roryta86reads's review against another edition
2.0
Josiah was really sweet and kind
Ryan was annoying as fuck. All his insecurities made me kinda mean and stand-offish at times.
This was an okay story. The audiobook narrator was really bad! I think it’s the same guy from the other books I’m the series. Don’t like him! I think he made this reading experience worse
Ryan was annoying as fuck. All his insecurities made me kinda mean and stand-offish at times.
This was an okay story. The audiobook narrator was really bad! I think it’s the same guy from the other books I’m the series. Don’t like him! I think he made this reading experience worse
faustin2nd's review against another edition
5.0
Great read. I loved the story, it pulled me in. These two characters were interesting separately and together. It's also the first book I've read with an amputee hero and I believe the author handled him beautifully.
I'm sad this series is over tbh. Kinda hoping they sneak in a fourth book with Pike :)
I'm sad this series is over tbh. Kinda hoping they sneak in a fourth book with Pike :)
smolsaknussemm's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
intheblackout's review against another edition
5.0
Definitely my favourite in the series. I know I haven't read book 4 yet, but I don't know how it could top Connection Error.
After meeting on a flight that gets grounded due to a storm, navy SEAL Ryan Orson and programmer Josiah Simmons bond over their mutual love of video games. The next flights not being available until the following day, they decide to share a hotel room.
There a mutual attraction, but the physical distance is too much to make it realistic. As after the two part the following day, they keep in touch as friends via email. This is one of my favourite tropes. Their emails to one another are so cute!
Both are dealing with a lot. Ryan's recovery from losing his legs on a mission, was fully realised and given the respect it deserves and not used as just a plot device. Josiah's ADHD and how his new leadership postion is effecting him.
Josiah and Ryan really got me in the feels.
After meeting on a flight that gets grounded due to a storm, navy SEAL Ryan Orson and programmer Josiah Simmons bond over their mutual love of video games. The next flights not being available until the following day, they decide to share a hotel room.
There a mutual attraction, but the physical distance is too much to make it realistic. As after the two part the following day, they keep in touch as friends via email. This is one of my favourite tropes. Their emails to one another are so cute!
Both are dealing with a lot. Ryan's recovery from losing his legs on a mission, was fully realised and given the respect it deserves and not used as just a plot device. Josiah's ADHD and how his new leadership postion is effecting him.
Josiah and Ryan really got me in the feels.