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heabooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
BURN ZONE starts off the new HOTSHOTS series by Annabeth Albert and I am here for sexy firefighters! Like all of Albert's books this is heavily character driven and Linc and Jacob have a lot of angst in their relationship, mostly coming from the stoic loner Linc. If you're a fan of grumpy heroes then you'll love Linc while also wanting to smack him on the head and yell at him to get his shit together. Linc is an incredibly loyal person, to the point that he's keeping the promise he made to his best friend, Wyatt, years before that he wouldn't get involved with Wyatt's younger brother, Jacob.
Linc and Wyatt's friendship is very complicated because they were the best of friends until Linc came out to Wyatt and realized that his friend was not so cool with that. Years later they're still friends but it's fraught with problems since Wyatt is still homophobic. Even after Wyatt is killed on the job, Linc still holds to his promise and uses this as a convenient excuse to stay away from Jacob. While I really didn't like Wyatt I admire Albert for showing how friendships can evolve and become toxic and how people will try to hold on to the good parts of a relationship even when it goes bad. I also liked how she showed that Linc's early friendship with Wyatt and Jacob's experience as Wyatt's brother were completely different and that someone can be different things for different people. However I do wish Linc let go of his commitment to a toxic and hurtful person much sooner because it's a bit ridiculous how much he holds into his promise to a homophobic friend.
Once Linc finally gives in and starts hooking up with Jacob, Linc realizes his feelings were deeper than he expected but that doesn't stop him from bottling everything up and running as far as he can from his feelings. In contrast, Jacob is open and loving and not afraid of heartbreak. He's had a crush on Linc for years and he knows that they can be great together if Linc just stops hiding and lets himself be happy. Jacob was an absolute delight to read and I loved him so much. He brings a lot of humor and happiness to the story to balance the angst. Their relationship is definitely a roller coaster but their chemistry is off the charts and even though Linc won't admit it at first, it's obvious to the reader just how much he loves Jacob.
After a bit of a slow start, this became a great introduction to a new series and I can't wait to read more. After the way things ended in BURN ZONE I'm thinking Garrick's story will be really interesting.
**ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**
Content Warning: References to homophobia from a deceased side character
Linc and Wyatt's friendship is very complicated because they were the best of friends until Linc came out to Wyatt and realized that his friend was not so cool with that. Years later they're still friends but it's fraught with problems since Wyatt is still homophobic. Even after Wyatt is killed on the job, Linc still holds to his promise and uses this as a convenient excuse to stay away from Jacob. While I really didn't like Wyatt I admire Albert for showing how friendships can evolve and become toxic and how people will try to hold on to the good parts of a relationship even when it goes bad. I also liked how she showed that Linc's early friendship with Wyatt and Jacob's experience as Wyatt's brother were completely different and that someone can be different things for different people. However I do wish Linc let go of his commitment to a toxic and hurtful person much sooner because it's a bit ridiculous how much he holds into his promise to a homophobic friend.
Once Linc finally gives in and starts hooking up with Jacob, Linc realizes his feelings were deeper than he expected but that doesn't stop him from bottling everything up and running as far as he can from his feelings. In contrast, Jacob is open and loving and not afraid of heartbreak. He's had a crush on Linc for years and he knows that they can be great together if Linc just stops hiding and lets himself be happy. Jacob was an absolute delight to read and I loved him so much. He brings a lot of humor and happiness to the story to balance the angst. Their relationship is definitely a roller coaster but their chemistry is off the charts and even though Linc won't admit it at first, it's obvious to the reader just how much he loves Jacob.
After a bit of a slow start, this became a great introduction to a new series and I can't wait to read more. After the way things ended in BURN ZONE I'm thinking Garrick's story will be really interesting.
**ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**
Content Warning: References to homophobia from a deceased side character
juliekroberts's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
3.0
ceruleanpages's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.25
alwaysbooking's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 burnt out friends stars!!!
This book had a lot of promise to be something really big and it kind of fell a little bit flat for me, was it still a good romance, yes it was but just a little flat. There was so much homophobia in this book that was never addressed properly. What’s really bad is the majority of it came from Jacob/Wyatt’s family. I don’t know if that’s a spoiler but there it is out in the open. Maybe that’s what put it off from the beginning the fact that not only Wyatt was laying down the law that Linc couldn’t date Jacob but that he thought he would corrupt him about being gay. I just don’t know how you can be best friends with someone and them not accept you for who you are. The warning off of a sibling thing yah I get that, the not accepting you for who you are I don’t get.
About Linc, he was a super complex guy he obviously had a crap childhood which you hear a lot more about later in the book way later. I loved that he loved his dogs like kids, that instantly made me want to live with him. He’s a very down to earth guy, obviously a stay at home person even though he’s never home. He’s always trying to do more for others than himself, and you can see how that is actually hurting him in the long run. His comradery with everyone in the fire company is really nice, I liked how they all joked around with each other and looked out for one another.
Jacob wasn’t as complex as Linc he of course had some baggage but his main goal in life was just to live it and do everything to the fullest. While he was younger than Linc he didn’t seem to let that stop him in pursuing him pretty much at any age. I understand why Jacob wants to be a smoke jumper for himself and no one else. He is very stubborn when he wants something, and I loved his determination. He is an amazingly sweet character to everyone he is around, there is one part in the book when another rookie is being hit on by an older firefighter and he acts like he’s monopolizing her time so the guy can’t, that is the guy everyone needs around.
There is a ton of angst in this book about their hidden relationship and how they both want more but are unsure how to move forward, I just wish some things as I said before were more addressed. Some of the plot was a little drawn out but I can forgive that. Could I see some of the HEA moments coming of course but I didn’t even care I just wanted them to be happy.
This author has a great following on Goodreads and I will try some of her previous series since it seems to be recommended. I would like to thank Netgalley Annabeth Albert, and Carina Press for a copy in lieu of my honest review.
This book had a lot of promise to be something really big and it kind of fell a little bit flat for me, was it still a good romance, yes it was but just a little flat. There was so much homophobia in this book that was never addressed properly. What’s really bad is the majority of it came from Jacob/Wyatt’s family. I don’t know if that’s a spoiler but there it is out in the open. Maybe that’s what put it off from the beginning the fact that not only Wyatt was laying down the law that Linc couldn’t date Jacob but that he thought he would corrupt him about being gay. I just don’t know how you can be best friends with someone and them not accept you for who you are. The warning off of a sibling thing yah I get that, the not accepting you for who you are I don’t get.
About Linc, he was a super complex guy he obviously had a crap childhood which you hear a lot more about later in the book way later. I loved that he loved his dogs like kids, that instantly made me want to live with him. He’s a very down to earth guy, obviously a stay at home person even though he’s never home. He’s always trying to do more for others than himself, and you can see how that is actually hurting him in the long run. His comradery with everyone in the fire company is really nice, I liked how they all joked around with each other and looked out for one another.
Jacob wasn’t as complex as Linc he of course had some baggage but his main goal in life was just to live it and do everything to the fullest. While he was younger than Linc he didn’t seem to let that stop him in pursuing him pretty much at any age. I understand why Jacob wants to be a smoke jumper for himself and no one else. He is very stubborn when he wants something, and I loved his determination. He is an amazingly sweet character to everyone he is around, there is one part in the book when another rookie is being hit on by an older firefighter and he acts like he’s monopolizing her time so the guy can’t, that is the guy everyone needs around.
There is a ton of angst in this book about their hidden relationship and how they both want more but are unsure how to move forward, I just wish some things as I said before were more addressed. Some of the plot was a little drawn out but I can forgive that. Could I see some of the HEA moments coming of course but I didn’t even care I just wanted them to be happy.
This author has a great following on Goodreads and I will try some of her previous series since it seems to be recommended. I would like to thank Netgalley Annabeth Albert, and Carina Press for a copy in lieu of my honest review.
lifeand100books's review against another edition
4.0
If super grumpy heroes are your thing, look no further than Linc from this book! Linc is a toughened guy, resulting from a really dark, bleak past. He just lives to get by with his two dogs until Jacob, his best friend's younger brother, forces him to reevaluate his life and face their mutual attraction.
This is a slow burner, with a grumpy hero that seems to melt before your eyes.
This is a slow burner, with a grumpy hero that seems to melt before your eyes.
nicki_theoverflowingbookcase's review against another edition
4.0
Linc Reid has always tried to stay in the closet and not make waves. When his best friend Wyatt tells him to stay away form his out and proud brother Jacob, Linc makes a promise. Left with survivor's guilt when Wyatt is killed in the line of duty, Linc promises to watch over Jacob as he trains to be a fire jumper. What happens when the two have more sparks than the fires they are trained to put out? Will Linc finally admit to his feelings for Jacob and come out in the relationship? In true Annabeth Albert style this series is going to be hot!! With wonderful primary characters and loads of others that the reader is dying to learn more about this is going to be another series her fans will not be able to put down. I cannot wait for more.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
For once I've started a series at the first book! An intruging start to a new series with a lovely couple. Liked the chemistry they had and I'm eager to read the next book. Not sure if it's about a different couple or it follows the same, either way I'm excited for it!
kaitlin_durante's review against another edition
3.0
This was not my favorite book by her.
I really didn't love either character which made getting through the book harder.
Also I can officially say that fire jumping will never be a go-to subject matter for a book.
I really didn't love either character which made getting through the book harder.
Also I can officially say that fire jumping will never be a go-to subject matter for a book.