Scan barcode
triplebriiii's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
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? No
3.25
This is cute!!! I love both Rain and Garrick and think that both characters were really well crafted. Garrick's struggle overcoming is injuries and then accepting his new limitations was so hard to get through, but so important too. I love that Rain was able to help him through it all, he really was a godsend.
enemies2lover's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
3.0
jessmsamuels's review against another edition
3.0
You have to appreciate the variety Annabeth Albert integrates into her books. Just when you think she has covered every type of relationship, she finds more avenues to explore.
Garrick, in recovery from a bad hotshot accident + Rain, young, flirty and fun (and showing off his pride in his own unique way) have all of the reasons to be together, and yet so many things they let get in the way. Totally believable and satisfying when they finally realize how much they need each other.
Garrick, in recovery from a bad hotshot accident + Rain, young, flirty and fun (and showing off his pride in his own unique way) have all of the reasons to be together, and yet so many things they let get in the way. Totally believable and satisfying when they finally realize how much they need each other.
ccgwalt's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars for story
4.5 stars for narration by Iggy Toma
I really enjoyed this installment in Annabeth Albert's Hotshots series. In this book Garrick, who was seriously injured at the end of Burn Zone, is home trying to recover. He's still using a wheelchair or crutches to get around and is in intensive physical therapy, but plans on making it back to smoke jumping. An injured stray dog has him going to his next door neighbor's for help, and there he meets Rain, the neighbor's grandson spending the summer. They bond over helping the dog, and Garrick offers to help Rain get in shape to possibly join a hotshot crew in exchange for walking the dog regularly.
Most of the story is about Garrick and Rain getting to know each other, and the reader getting to know how Garrick is handling his slow recovery and the awkward interactions with well meaning friends. It's a sweet, emotional story and I was completely pulled into it. Most of the conflict was the Garrick being worried about holding Rain back, and him not being comfortable at least at first with the age gap. (Garrick is mid 30's and Rain is 23.) Albert handled the conflicts well and believably.
Iggy Toma does a great job with the narration. There were just a few times where I had to go back and listen to a few lines to get straight who was talking, but usually the voices for Garrick and Rain were clearly differentiated. Toma's timing and delivery were good and he got the emotional scenes just right. I look forward to Toma's narration of future Hotshots books. (less)
4.5 stars for narration by Iggy Toma
I really enjoyed this installment in Annabeth Albert's Hotshots series. In this book Garrick, who was seriously injured at the end of Burn Zone, is home trying to recover. He's still using a wheelchair or crutches to get around and is in intensive physical therapy, but plans on making it back to smoke jumping. An injured stray dog has him going to his next door neighbor's for help, and there he meets Rain, the neighbor's grandson spending the summer. They bond over helping the dog, and Garrick offers to help Rain get in shape to possibly join a hotshot crew in exchange for walking the dog regularly.
Most of the story is about Garrick and Rain getting to know each other, and the reader getting to know how Garrick is handling his slow recovery and the awkward interactions with well meaning friends. It's a sweet, emotional story and I was completely pulled into it. Most of the conflict was the Garrick being worried about holding Rain back, and him not being comfortable at least at first with the age gap. (Garrick is mid 30's and Rain is 23.) Albert handled the conflicts well and believably.
Iggy Toma does a great job with the narration. There were just a few times where I had to go back and listen to a few lines to get straight who was talking, but usually the voices for Garrick and Rain were clearly differentiated. Toma's timing and delivery were good and he got the emotional scenes just right. I look forward to Toma's narration of future Hotshots books. (less)
xanthe87's review against another edition
4.0
**4.5**
I really enjoyed the second book of the Hotshots series. A lost dog brings Rain into Garrick's life, his neighbour's grandson visiting for the summer, and so begins a friendship that they are both in need of. Garrick is still doing intensive PT to attempt to fully recover from a spinal injury and Rain is someone constantly on move, looking for adventure. They work really well together, Rain more than happy to help out with anything that Garrick needs and he's so light and full if energy that Garrick can't help but be drawn into that. It feels like their relationship develops quite naturally, both open about their attraction what they enjoy. I think, importantly, they have fun and give Garrick something else to think about other than his recovery and aims for returning to smoke jumping.
With Garrick's injuries, to me, Annabeth wrote his physicality and emotions very well. With something so suddenly life changing, it's got to be hard accepting and adapting to everything that has happened regardless of the support from friends and family of which he has quite a lot but Rain is the one to really makes an impact. To start with, Rain's plans are to get summer work with the forestry service or similar and then move on but Garrick and Cookie (the lost dog) soon become a very important part of his life. It's interesting reading his upbringing as well and how that has impacted his outlook on life.
Definitely another must read for me and a great addition to the series. I enjoyed the characters and how their relationship played out. A lot of hurt/comfort and joking about their age difference. There's not a lot of character stories with disabilities and this one, I thought, is very well written and Garrick goes through recovery and acceptance. Look forward to the next in the series.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
I really enjoyed the second book of the Hotshots series. A lost dog brings Rain into Garrick's life, his neighbour's grandson visiting for the summer, and so begins a friendship that they are both in need of. Garrick is still doing intensive PT to attempt to fully recover from a spinal injury and Rain is someone constantly on move, looking for adventure. They work really well together, Rain more than happy to help out with anything that Garrick needs and he's so light and full if energy that Garrick can't help but be drawn into that. It feels like their relationship develops quite naturally, both open about their attraction what they enjoy. I think, importantly, they have fun and give Garrick something else to think about other than his recovery and aims for returning to smoke jumping.
With Garrick's injuries, to me, Annabeth wrote his physicality and emotions very well. With something so suddenly life changing, it's got to be hard accepting and adapting to everything that has happened regardless of the support from friends and family of which he has quite a lot but Rain is the one to really makes an impact. To start with, Rain's plans are to get summer work with the forestry service or similar and then move on but Garrick and Cookie (the lost dog) soon become a very important part of his life. It's interesting reading his upbringing as well and how that has impacted his outlook on life.
Definitely another must read for me and a great addition to the series. I enjoyed the characters and how their relationship played out. A lot of hurt/comfort and joking about their age difference. There's not a lot of character stories with disabilities and this one, I thought, is very well written and Garrick goes through recovery and acceptance. Look forward to the next in the series.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
tag_gregory's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed reading a m/m romance with a handicapped MC. I love characters who are out of the ordinary. Very spicy love scenes, too. Great read.
mads0527's review against another edition
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
3.0
sm_almon's review against another edition
4.0
I am so enjoying this series - no exception here, I devoured this one quickly!
wumbachumba's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
4.0
Love a romance with a disabled protag whose journey is about coming to terms with their disability rather than "overcoming" or fixing it.
tnance92's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5