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jazzlioness's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Homophobia
Moderate: Cancer and Injury/Injury detail
galleytrot's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
READ: Jan 2023
FORMAT: Audio
FORMAT: Audio
BRIEF SUMMARY:
In this contemporary romance, we follow cancer-survivor Owen, and ranger Quill. Owen is volunteering to overwinter at an Alaskan State Park to assist rangers and other paid employees, checking off another item on his bucket list in the process. When Quill’s original intended caregiver has a family emergency, Owen is chosen to fill in the role, pairing the two together for several long months.
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 1.5 / 5⭐
I don’t know what happened while I was going through this story. Maybe my mood wasn’t quite right, maybe it was genuinely a struggle. I truly could not enjoy it. I lost count of how many times I wanted to put it down for good, but I’m trying to have zero DNFs this year, or at least as few as possible. There was one point I had to put the book down and just leave my house and walk for an hour. No other book has ever made me leave my house before. Remarkable.
I was bored. The slow burn felt like slogging through three feet of snow in the middle of a storm. I did not like Owen’s character at all. I felt absolutely no chemistry between him and Quill. I think I related to Quill’s character so strongly that his attraction to Owen baffled me. The book’s synopsis says, “They're all wrong for each other,” and I cannot agree more – these two are so completely incompatible that there was even one point in the book where Quill asks Owen, “We’re breaking up?” and I said aloud, “Yes, do that, you two really do need to break up.”
TECHNICAL / PRODUCTION: 2.5 / 5⭐
I’ve read a number of Albert’s works over the past six months, and I’ve had a hot-and-cold reception to them. I find most of her work to be average, okay, acceptable, and suitable when I’m not looking for something serious and thought provoking. This book is, hands down, my least favourite of the lot.
I’ve read through the other two installments of the Frozen Hearts series as well, and I remember barely enjoying either of them. I chose not to read book three right away, instead putting it off until I needed something to read. That time came, and I wish I had just forgotten this story and spent my time on something better.
Iggy Toma does a perfectly good performance for the audiobook. I don’t blame him for any of my poor feelings. There was one technical issue I flagged, but I’m not sure if it was an editing issue where a second take was not cut out, or if it was a writing issue and the wording was just clunky.
FINAL THOUGHTS - OVERALL: 2 / 5⭐
I would typically detail who might enjoy this book here, but I don’t even know who I could recommend it to. I suppose if you’ve enjoyed the other two books in this series, then you probably won’t have a problem with this one, either.
This book has representation for gay and lesbian sexualities. One of the main characters is Vietnamese-American with some Chinese ancestry.
The following elaborates on my content warnings. These may be interpreted as spoilers, but I do not go into deep detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Homophobia, and Cancer
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