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a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Sequel Stars - BR with Adam!
This was a very nice age gap story, full of hurt comfort and generously brimming with slow burn UST and sexual healing.
It’s recommended to read this in series order since last we saw Garrick in [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], he had suffered some serious injuries which were far worse than feared. Never mind two broken legs but add a spinal injury as well, and Garrick has been struggling (but mostly winning) at beating the odds, determined to regain full mobile function so he can get back to fighting fires as a smokejumper. When he spies a skittish stray dog, he knows he can’t fully care for it and enlists the help of his neighbor’s grandson.
Rain is visiting for the summer, and he wants to work the front lines of a fire crew. Being an animal lover, Rain sees a golden opportunity and asks, in exchange for assisting with the sweet orphaned dog, for Garrick to train and get him in shape to become a firefighter. As these two develop a routine and then a friendship, the strong attraction between them can’t be denied.
So what’s an older pansexual, known to be quite the player prior to his accident, gonna do with a free spirited young man who’s always ready to move onto the next adventure? You guessed right. Of course, as feelings inevitably develop, will either be able to trust in their own wants and needs as well as have faith the other will commit for the long haul? Will personal life expectations stymie current happiness, impeding the chance to be fulfilled now despite not yet achieving well intentioned goals??
Thankfully, there was minimal protracted angst unlike the first book. Garrick has pretty great optimism and drive in the face of so many obstacles, and Rain, despite his youthfulness, has tremendous empathy, and grace...
Overall, I enjoyed this. I can’t quite exactly pin down why this wasn’t a 4 star read for me. Assuredly, Albert always writes well - there's no doubt about that as she delivers alternating pov’s, with an overabundance of smex that is protracted, varied, and explicit (ie. manties, toys, exhibitionism, topping from the bottom) for those who need to know. Again, the wild fire scenarios were consistently well researched and lent a good amount of suspense. So, regardless of how I rated this, if you love the above mentioned tropes and have a soft spot for uniformed men in dangerous situations, then this should reliably satisfy! Enjoy!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review
This was a very nice age gap story, full of hurt comfort and generously brimming with slow burn UST and sexual healing.
It’s recommended to read this in series order since last we saw Garrick in [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], he had suffered some serious injuries which were far worse than feared. Never mind two broken legs but add a spinal injury as well, and Garrick has been struggling (but mostly winning) at beating the odds, determined to regain full mobile function so he can get back to fighting fires as a smokejumper. When he spies a skittish stray dog, he knows he can’t fully care for it and enlists the help of his neighbor’s grandson.
Rain is visiting for the summer, and he wants to work the front lines of a fire crew. Being an animal lover, Rain sees a golden opportunity and asks, in exchange for assisting with the sweet orphaned dog, for Garrick to train and get him in shape to become a firefighter. As these two develop a routine and then a friendship, the strong attraction between them can’t be denied.
So what’s an older pansexual, known to be quite the player prior to his accident, gonna do with a free spirited young man who’s always ready to move onto the next adventure? You guessed right. Of course, as feelings inevitably develop, will either be able to trust in their own wants and needs as well as have faith the other will commit for the long haul? Will personal life expectations stymie current happiness, impeding the chance to be fulfilled now despite not yet achieving well intentioned goals??
Thankfully, there was minimal protracted angst unlike the first book. Garrick has pretty great optimism and drive in the face of so many obstacles, and Rain, despite his youthfulness, has tremendous empathy, and grace...
Overall, I enjoyed this. I can’t quite exactly pin down why this wasn’t a 4 star read for me. Assuredly, Albert always writes well - there's no doubt about that as she delivers alternating pov’s, with an overabundance of smex that is protracted, varied, and explicit (ie. manties, toys, exhibitionism, topping from the bottom) for those who need to know. Again, the wild fire scenarios were consistently well researched and lent a good amount of suspense. So, regardless of how I rated this, if you love the above mentioned tropes and have a soft spot for uniformed men in dangerous situations, then this should reliably satisfy! Enjoy!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review
becksgoesbookish's review against another edition
4.0
All the things that annoyed me with book 1 were completely nonexistent in this one
ceruleanpages's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A lovely book with sex positive disability representation, what’s there not to love? This series is already getting better
heabooknerd's review against another edition
5.0
HIGH HEAT was so good and I loved every second of it. When Garrick meets Rain he's hesitant to give into his attraction because Rain is his neighbor's grandson and about 10 years younger. But these two quickly move past the age gap and right into a very flirty and light friendship that changes to something more after a very sexy hot tub scene. Holy cow!
I loved Rain and how confident he was in his own skin; he owns everything about himself, the good and the bad, and even though he's younger he's used to taking care of himself. Garrick was also a great character and I enjoyed his journey of dealing with his injuries and coming to terms with his new life.
I also liked the way Albert explored Garrick's struggles with sexual function after his injuries and how she normalizes healthy communication and exploration for a couple. Rain's understanding and support goes a long way to making Garrick comfortable with sex again, even when things don't work out the way he was expecting them to.
Garrick and Rain were everything in this book and I loved their relationship and how easily they fall into caring for and helping each other. Both guys are affectionate and confident and enjoy a good time.
**ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: mobility issues and erectile disfunction following a spinal injury
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
"What I want is you. Us. A chance at a future. That’s why I mean it when I say that I’d follow you. If you need to go, I’m not going to be the thing stopping you, but I would like to be the person at your side for the ride."
I loved Rain and how confident he was in his own skin; he owns everything about himself, the good and the bad, and even though he's younger he's used to taking care of himself. Garrick was also a great character and I enjoyed his journey of dealing with his injuries and coming to terms with his new life.
I also liked the way Albert explored Garrick's struggles with sexual function after his injuries and how she normalizes healthy communication and exploration for a couple. Rain's understanding and support goes a long way to making Garrick comfortable with sex again, even when things don't work out the way he was expecting them to.
Garrick and Rain were everything in this book and I loved their relationship and how easily they fall into caring for and helping each other. Both guys are affectionate and confident and enjoy a good time.
**ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: mobility issues and erectile disfunction following a spinal injury
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:
"What I want is you. Us. A chance at a future. That’s why I mean it when I say that I’d follow you. If you need to go, I’m not going to be the thing stopping you, but I would like to be the person at your side for the ride."
rhe323's review against another edition
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
lifeand100books's review against another edition
4.0
This was so great. Besides being a great love story, this was a wonderful personal growth story. Most especially for Garrick. He needs to come to terms with his new physical limitations, career changes, emotional changes, etc. I truly enjoyed this story for being so heavy on the individual character development as well as the relationship development.
nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
When a stray injured dog shows up on Garrick's front walk, it takes the help of the neighbor's grandson Rain to help get the dog the help it needs. What Cookie also does is bring two unlikely men together. Garrick is the injured fire jumper, Rain is the adventure seeking younger guy, but when the chemistry ignites between them the pair become a perfect match and proves that opposites do attract. Faced with challenges that Annabeth Albert wrote in a respectful and honest manner, these two become exactly what the other needs. Another great read in the Hotshots Series.