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karentje's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful love story, very moving, and with amazing main characters. Garrick was a charismatic secondary character in the first Hotshots book where he got hurt very badly in an accident while smoke jumping, and by the time we meet him again in High Heat he’s still undergoing intensive PT to recover from that. He has shown great courage and determination as he tackled his recovery, defying the odds to regain the use of his legs to a certain extent, but he still needs a wheelchair and crutches. Garrick needs to face that his life will never go back to how it was before the accident, so an important part of the story focuses on how he deals with that loss and how he carves out a new life for himself, finds a new purpose. I think the author did a great job showing the challenges Garrick faces as he adjusts to life with a disability, not shying away from the day-to-day reality that comes with that. I loved that he got to fall for a sweet, younger guy. Rain is a wonderfully caring, playful character with a positive outlook on life, and he’s just perfect for Garrick. Garrick is a bit bothered by the age gap between them, but I love that Rain isn’t deterred in the least, either by the age gap or Garrick’s wheelchair and all that entails. What also struck me, in the best way, is how much Garrick pampers Rain and how they both take care of each other, putting in genuine effort to make each other happy and comfortable, which is an intrinsic part of a loving relationship.
allingoodtime's review against another edition
5.0
My introduction to this author was the first book in this series, Burn Zone. I was an instant fan. I couldn’t wait to read more and find out if the book that blew me a way was a fluke, or if I had found a new must-read author. It wasn’t a fluke. I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Annabeth Albert so far. This story is just as amazing as the first.
Garrick wasn’t someone I necessarily loved in the first book, until his motives became clearer. Then I couldn’t help but stand behind him. He’s a good friend, that’s for sure. But he got seriously injured in the first book and he’s not smoke jumping currently. Nope, this man who is so used to going all in and leading the charge is in physical therapy and, more often than not, needs his wheelchair to get around. That’s a lot to get used to. I love his can-do attitude and couldn’t help but hope his optimism would pay off.
Rain is such a cutie. It’s hilarious when they first meet because I felt as though Rain wanted to be super sassy but just wasn’t sure how the stoic firefighter would take him. Not that he wanted to hide who he was, he just didn’t want to offend. These two quickly realize they are on the same page and…let the banter begin. Man, their flirting and innuendos is next level. Even when Garrick is trying NOT to got there, it just cannot be helped. They feed off each other and, eventually, can no longer deny their connection. This story is about more than sexuality and relationships and love. It’s about being true to yourself and letting others be themselves with no judgment. Rain is not one to hide who he is, and Garrick in not one to want him to ever “tone down” his true self. It’s a beautiful thing.
As much as I instantly loved Rain, I wasn’t sure if he’d have much depth at first. But boy does he. As a middle child, I totally understood Rain on so many levels. Although I’m more of an introvert, that didn’t stop me from doing dumb things for attention when I was younger. The problem is, Rain’s family still sees him as that small kid. They never quite take him seriously. He’s loved and respected, but it doesn’t seem anyone takes the time to get to know adult Rain. Until Garrick, that is.
I cannot tell you how amazing the sexual chemistry is with these two. Garrick has some possible issues with arousal with his injuries, but ultimately, they don’t let that hold them back. It’s actually a part of this story that really cements the relationship between Rain and Garrick. Their experimentation and exploration of what did and did not work was not only steaming hot, but gave their relationship a while other depth.
Rain has always been one to do for others in all aspects of his life. Be it for a neighbor, family, or stranger. If someone needs help, Rain is there. He doesn’t know how to receive very well, though. Garrick helps him learn that giving and receiving are equally important…in and out of the bedroom. In some ways Garrick is the same since he’s never been one to ask for help. Rain helps him to realize it’s okay to need help once in a while and that there are people who not only will help, but WANT to help.
I could not get enough of these two. When they had conflict, my heart ached for them both. When they overcame obstacles throughout this book, I celebrated with them. This author has a forever fan in me.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time
Garrick wasn’t someone I necessarily loved in the first book, until his motives became clearer. Then I couldn’t help but stand behind him. He’s a good friend, that’s for sure. But he got seriously injured in the first book and he’s not smoke jumping currently. Nope, this man who is so used to going all in and leading the charge is in physical therapy and, more often than not, needs his wheelchair to get around. That’s a lot to get used to. I love his can-do attitude and couldn’t help but hope his optimism would pay off.
Rain is such a cutie. It’s hilarious when they first meet because I felt as though Rain wanted to be super sassy but just wasn’t sure how the stoic firefighter would take him. Not that he wanted to hide who he was, he just didn’t want to offend. These two quickly realize they are on the same page and…let the banter begin. Man, their flirting and innuendos is next level. Even when Garrick is trying NOT to got there, it just cannot be helped. They feed off each other and, eventually, can no longer deny their connection. This story is about more than sexuality and relationships and love. It’s about being true to yourself and letting others be themselves with no judgment. Rain is not one to hide who he is, and Garrick in not one to want him to ever “tone down” his true self. It’s a beautiful thing.
As much as I instantly loved Rain, I wasn’t sure if he’d have much depth at first. But boy does he. As a middle child, I totally understood Rain on so many levels. Although I’m more of an introvert, that didn’t stop me from doing dumb things for attention when I was younger. The problem is, Rain’s family still sees him as that small kid. They never quite take him seriously. He’s loved and respected, but it doesn’t seem anyone takes the time to get to know adult Rain. Until Garrick, that is.
I cannot tell you how amazing the sexual chemistry is with these two. Garrick has some possible issues with arousal with his injuries, but ultimately, they don’t let that hold them back. It’s actually a part of this story that really cements the relationship between Rain and Garrick. Their experimentation and exploration of what did and did not work was not only steaming hot, but gave their relationship a while other depth.
Rain has always been one to do for others in all aspects of his life. Be it for a neighbor, family, or stranger. If someone needs help, Rain is there. He doesn’t know how to receive very well, though. Garrick helps him learn that giving and receiving are equally important…in and out of the bedroom. In some ways Garrick is the same since he’s never been one to ask for help. Rain helps him to realize it’s okay to need help once in a while and that there are people who not only will help, but WANT to help.
I could not get enough of these two. When they had conflict, my heart ached for them both. When they overcame obstacles throughout this book, I celebrated with them. This author has a forever fan in me.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
You can find more of my reviews at All In Good Time
cabc's review against another edition
5.0
Rain and Garrick are couple goals!
I was really looking forward to reading Garrick's story after his accident in the first, and I was so not disappointed. This book was fantastic! Everything about the relationship and dynamics between Rain and Garrick was perfect, even when real life intruded and things got messy. Their relationship is built on a solid foundation of friendship and mutual respect, and the desire to make the other happy. It's a beauitful, fun, steamy love story. I loved both men and their big hearts, but I adored Rain. His love and zest for life was infectious! and his self respect and confidence a breath of fresh air. Kudos to the author for writing what felt like a well-researched story with an attention to the many details.
I was really looking forward to reading Garrick's story after his accident in the first, and I was so not disappointed. This book was fantastic! Everything about the relationship and dynamics between Rain and Garrick was perfect, even when real life intruded and things got messy. Their relationship is built on a solid foundation of friendship and mutual respect, and the desire to make the other happy. It's a beauitful, fun, steamy love story. I loved both men and their big hearts, but I adored Rain. His love and zest for life was infectious! and his self respect and confidence a breath of fresh air. Kudos to the author for writing what felt like a well-researched story with an attention to the many details.
littlesyd85's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
beckymmoe's review against another edition
5.0
I am LOVING this series!
Garrick Nelson was injured on the job at a pivotal moment in the first book ([b:Burn Zone|49897760|Burn Zone (Hotshots, #1)|Annabeth Albert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581518263l/49897760._SY75_.jpg|73520583]), but if you haven't read that one yet, you should have no problem jumping in (see what I did there? ;)) here. High Heat takes place months later, when the most intense of Garrick's rehab is behind him--though he still isn't close to where he wants to be, back on his smoke jumping crew. He's determined to make it back, though--and no one can tell him he won't. For now he's stuck in limbo, doing his physical therapy and isolating himself from much of his former life, seeing his dad weekly and his neighbors occasionally.
Enter Cookie, a stray dog, who decides to adopt Garrick and Rain Fisher, the grandson of Garrick's closest neighbor, who makes it his personal mission to make sure Cookie has found her forever home. Soon the two men are spending more and more time together--on-to-the-next-adventure Rain asks for Garrick's help with a training regimen in exchange for help with Cookie--and their attraction to each other becomes harder and harder to ignore.
I adored Garrick and Rain together--they were fabulous! Rain's upbringing and personality made him more sensitive to the needs of others than most people, and he was the perfect guy to be there for Garrick in many ways as he came to terms with his disability and the possibility that it might be a permanent thing. Rain himself is just so unabashedly, well, 100% himself, and he did a great job of drawing Garrick back out into the world of the living. And got him started knitting, of all things. (OMG! I loved that part...) Truly, I couldn't put this one down--I read it in a single day, and I regret nothing!
There's a teaser chapter for the next series book ([b:Feel the Fire|53053951|Feel the Fire (Hotshots #3)|Annabeth Albert|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|79607233]) at the end of this one, because Ms Albert clearly wants to make sure that we are counting the days until its release...
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Garrick Nelson was injured on the job at a pivotal moment in the first book ([b:Burn Zone|49897760|Burn Zone (Hotshots, #1)|Annabeth Albert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581518263l/49897760._SY75_.jpg|73520583]), but if you haven't read that one yet, you should have no problem jumping in (see what I did there? ;)) here. High Heat takes place months later, when the most intense of Garrick's rehab is behind him--though he still isn't close to where he wants to be, back on his smoke jumping crew. He's determined to make it back, though--and no one can tell him he won't. For now he's stuck in limbo, doing his physical therapy and isolating himself from much of his former life, seeing his dad weekly and his neighbors occasionally.
Enter Cookie, a stray dog, who decides to adopt Garrick and Rain Fisher, the grandson of Garrick's closest neighbor, who makes it his personal mission to make sure Cookie has found her forever home. Soon the two men are spending more and more time together--on-to-the-next-adventure Rain asks for Garrick's help with a training regimen in exchange for help with Cookie--and their attraction to each other becomes harder and harder to ignore.
I adored Garrick and Rain together--they were fabulous! Rain's upbringing and personality made him more sensitive to the needs of others than most people, and he was the perfect guy to be there for Garrick in many ways as he came to terms with his disability and the possibility that it might be a permanent thing. Rain himself is just so unabashedly, well, 100% himself, and he did a great job of drawing Garrick back out into the world of the living. And got him started knitting, of all things. (OMG! I loved that part...) Truly, I couldn't put this one down--I read it in a single day, and I regret nothing!
There's a teaser chapter for the next series book ([b:Feel the Fire|53053951|Feel the Fire (Hotshots #3)|Annabeth Albert|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|79607233]) at the end of this one, because Ms Albert clearly wants to make sure that we are counting the days until its release...
Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
pavi_fictionalworm's review against another edition
3.0
Actual Rating 3.75 Stars
Disclaimer: An eARC was provided via Publisher and Netgalleyin echange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
An age gap m/m romance that will scorch your kindle/e-reader once you start reading it! This is the second book in the Hotshot Series – though I didn’t find any issue connecting to the story and the characters; though some secondary characters were mentioned throughout the book!
Garrick suffered through one of the worst injuries as part of his firefighting duties – he is however determined to get back on his feet, figuratively and literally, even though its an uphill climb. He identifies as pansexual; and though with his sexual activities restricted (mostly cause of his injuries), he wasn’t expecting to be confronted by the grandson of his neighbour, a young femme man, Rain who is the only one he has found himself to be sexually attracted to in a long time, even though he was a player before his accident.
Rain, on the other is a confident young man, very comfortable with his sexual identity and is definitely attracted to the older man living next door to his grandmother – Garrick. A man he meets when he rescues a pup and needs his grandmother’s help!
Garrick and Rain are instantly attracted to each other and are absolutely okay keeping their “relationship” low – key and at whatever physical level they both are comfortable with. The age gap between them is more of a social constrict than a restriction they put on themselves.
Can I just say that I am all here for the absolute confidence and reverence the author has treated the representation of pansexuality as well as the easy acceptance that Garrick the femme side of Rain – the fact that it was easily considered to be a part of who Rain is as a human being; than efforts being made to dampen his very colourful personality!
It is a personal issue that I had, was with the overemphasis on the sexual aspect of their relationship beyond what was actually required for their relationship – yes, I get it that theirs was a purely physical relationship; more for fun rather than long term need. Yet still I still believed that their’s sexual relationship took more page time than was required.
Absolutely scorching, slow burn romance that neither Garrick nor Rain realise that they are building towards – a shared home, including a cute and adorable pup both of them fall in love with, without even realising it! Would definitely recommend this one to the readers of this genre!
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whisperingchapters's review against another edition
4.0
From the first moment I met Rain, I knew I was in for a treat!
"There's not much I wouldn't do for you. We're totally hide-the-bodies friends."
Garrick was a smoke jumper until an injury left him in a wheelchair. His focus is getting through intense physical therapy so he can get back out in the field. He should not be focusing on his new pet and the eccentric neighbor.
Garrick's story tugged at my heart-strings. Even though the story doesn't really touch on this, I felt he was just not okay with anything in his life. Reading about him always had a somber tone to the story, which is why I'm so glad Rain came in his life!
Rain's a breath of a fresh air. I can honestly say I haven't met a character like Rain. I loved just how much he embraced his fashion sense, down to the silver shorts and his lacey underwear. I loved his femme said, his silliness, his outlook on life. He brought so much cheer and lightness to the story, just what Garrick needed.
I loved how much these two characters balanced each other out. They're literal perfection for each other. Their conversations would take a somber or profound one minute, and mild, light the next minute. Their friendship was adorable. I really believed their connection was real.
Overall, High Heat is a colorful, cheery, yet profound story that serves great as a summer read or for cuddling in the sheets on a rainy, cool day.
--
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"There's not much I wouldn't do for you. We're totally hide-the-bodies friends."
Garrick was a smoke jumper until an injury left him in a wheelchair. His focus is getting through intense physical therapy so he can get back out in the field. He should not be focusing on his new pet and the eccentric neighbor.
Garrick's story tugged at my heart-strings. Even though the story doesn't really touch on this, I felt he was just not okay with anything in his life. Reading about him always had a somber tone to the story, which is why I'm so glad Rain came in his life!
Rain's a breath of a fresh air. I can honestly say I haven't met a character like Rain. I loved just how much he embraced his fashion sense, down to the silver shorts and his lacey underwear. I loved his femme said, his silliness, his outlook on life. He brought so much cheer and lightness to the story, just what Garrick needed.
I loved how much these two characters balanced each other out. They're literal perfection for each other. Their conversations would take a somber or profound one minute, and mild, light the next minute. Their friendship was adorable. I really believed their connection was real.
Overall, High Heat is a colorful, cheery, yet profound story that serves great as a summer read or for cuddling in the sheets on a rainy, cool day.
--
Follow Me
Blog ❃ Instagram ❃ Twitter ❃ Bloglovin ❃ Goodreads ❃ Pinterest
verloren918's review
medium-paced
3.0
(Note that the description on here is for the first book, Burn Zone, and not this one.)
I actually really appreciated being able to follow up with Garrick and his struggles after the events of book 1, as well as the slower pace and relative lack of direct involvement with fire stuff. Garrick is driven almost to the point of hurting himself, which can be frustrating, especially when his MO in life at this point seems to be "if there's a problem, ignore it and move on." And Rain is so, so patient with him. That man is practically a fucking saint. They deserve each other, and I mean that in a positive way.
As much as I sometimes have really big issues with Albert's books, she has no issues with representation from what I can tell. She has no problem incorporating people of color, people of varying sexual orientations, people with disabilities, etc. It's one of the reasons I keep reading her stuff. It's refreshing.
It's been a couple of weeks since I finished this, though, and I've already forgotten most of it, so that pretty much tells you how much it stuck with me.
I actually really appreciated being able to follow up with Garrick and his struggles after the events of book 1, as well as the slower pace and relative lack of direct involvement with fire stuff. Garrick is driven almost to the point of hurting himself, which can be frustrating, especially when his MO in life at this point seems to be "if there's a problem, ignore it and move on." And Rain is so, so patient with him. That man is practically a fucking saint. They deserve each other, and I mean that in a positive way.
As much as I sometimes have really big issues with Albert's books, she has no issues with representation from what I can tell. She has no problem incorporating people of color, people of varying sexual orientations, people with disabilities, etc. It's one of the reasons I keep reading her stuff. It's refreshing.
It's been a couple of weeks since I finished this, though, and I've already forgotten most of it, so that pretty much tells you how much it stuck with me.