High Heat (Hotshots, #2) by Annabeth Albert

Jun 15, 2020 Carol [Goodreads Addict] rated it really liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, m-m

High Heat is book two in the Hotshots series by Annabeth Albert. I fell in love with the first book in this series, Burn Zone, and Linc and Jacob. So, I’ve been waiting not so patiently for this next book. Either of these can be read as stand alones.

black pit bull lab mix dog pink collar - Google Search

black pit bull lab mix dog pink collar - Google Search

If you read the first book, you already know that Garrick Nelson had a serious accident while smoke jumping. He broke both legs and had a serious spinal injury. Garrick’s legs have mended for the most part but he’s still in extensive physical therapy ...more

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Jul 24, 2020 * A Reader Obsessed * rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020, lgbt, age-gap, bmbr, disability-disorders-illness, lawmen-investigators-firemen, bi-ofy-gfy, hurt-comfort, men-with-pets, the-great-outdoors

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 Burn Zone, 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 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 Burn Zone, 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

...more

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Jul 04, 2020 ~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: friends-to-lovers, m-m, age-gap, comfort-healing

Hotshots is another great series from the talented Annabeth Albert that I highly recommend for all men in uniform groupies. Actually, scratch that. Anyone who likes alpha males badass enough to fight fires should enjoy this series.

High Heat features an age gap and hurt/comfort overtones. Garrick and Rain are an unlikely couple, what with Garrick being a former smoke jumper recovering from a terrible accident that happened in book one and Rain being a hippy vegan.

But Garrick is pan and open abo ...more

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Jun 24, 2020 Cadiva rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book beautifully examines the reality of life with a disability. Annabeth gives the reader a flawed but still deserving of love injured smokejumper Garrick, and Rain, a free-spirited man who finds that his adventures might just end up rooting him in one place.

I will add the disclaimer that I beta read this book for the author for disability rep, as I am severely disabled with physical mobility issues and swap between crutches, wheeled walker and wheelchair, although mine were not caused by This book beautifully examines the reality of life with a disability. Annabeth gives the reader a flawed but still deserving of love injured smokejumper Garrick, and Rain, a free-spirited man who finds that his adventures might just end up rooting him in one place.

I will add the disclaimer that I beta read this book for the author for disability rep, as I am severely disabled with physical mobility issues and swap between crutches, wheeled walker and wheelchair, although mine were not caused by a spinal accident like Garrick.

I will also say that I made miniscule changes to the narrative as Annabeth had already got the disability issues and the frustrations which go with living with a chronic and permanent physical mobility problem almost perfect.

The vast majority of comments were along the lines of oh God, yes, this is just how I feel, are you inside my head, or yep, been there, felt that too so I would congratulate and thank Annabeth for putting in the effort (as she always does with her research) to get it right.

As for the book itself. I loved both men so much. Garrick wants to get back to smoke jumping even though he really knows, deep down, that his chances are almost nil, and all Rain really wants, free-spirited though he is, is somewhere he can feel wanted and loved with all the complications that go with a relationship.

Their instant attraction to each other is complicated by Garrick's disabilities and there's no glossing over it, which I very much appreciated. I also loved Rain's wee bit of exhibitionist kink and his love of pretty underwear.

The family and friends who surround the two men are also lovingly crafted, Garrick's dad in particular was someone I absolutely adored because of his unwavering support, and Rain's gran and her mile wide streak of independence.

As for Cookie, the beautiful dog who starts the whole thing off, she's a total sweetheart and I always love books which include the importance of animals for companionship and affection.

#ARC kindly received from the publishers Carina Press via NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review ...more

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Sep 09, 2020 Fabi rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, mm-romance-gay-lit, published-2020, kindle

Low in action, high in character development. The second installment in the Hotshots series features dual POV in an age-gap, hurt-comfort romance

Garrick was seriously injured in the previous book. This is his recovery story with a wonderful young man who knows exactly how to help without getting in the way.

Rain is a lovely young man still looking for his calling in life. He quickly develops a crush on his handsome neighbor. With the help of a rescued dog, they forge a friendship that becomes ...more

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Jul 07, 2020 Steven rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-or-publisher, read-in-2020, naughty, mm

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoyed this second book in the Hot Shots series by Annabeth Albert. What's not to love about sexy firefighters into dudes???

I liked the progression from helping hand to friends to flirting to more. I liked the age difference being there but only being a minor deal. I liked the originality of the characters - representing actual people and personalities.

The drama at the end b ...more

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Jul 26, 2020 Adam rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: hurt-comfort, kinks-and-stuff, mild-angst-or-tension, disability-illness-injury-etc, age-gap, read-for-review, wrote-a-review, mm-emergency-services-military-pis

Tag team review with R!

Rain and Garrick have little in common. Except for two things - the injured dog they suddenly become responsible for, and an undeniable mutual attraction.

Starting off as strangers, they quickly bond over taking care of Cookie, the playful stray that showed up on Garrick’s doorstep and decided to stay.

And after some initial hesitation, both men are more than happy to explore what’s between them.

I liked how easy Garrick and Rain were with the physical part. Yes, Garrick does ...more

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Aug 21, 2020 Ele rated it liked it

I think I have to accept I don't mesh with this author anymore. ...more

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Jul 27, 2020 True Loveislovereview rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020, lgbtq, age-gap

An injured homeless dog brought them together and now Rain is crushing on Garrick, who’s also injured and walks with crutches. Maybe they can have some fun, just for the time being of course. Rain will not stay long enough to start something even though that’s exactly what he’s looking for.

Rain lives next door with his gran. He’s looking for a job with the wild firefighters.
He wants Garrick, who’s a smokejumper, to train him, in exchange he’ll help with the dog.
Rain a sparkling rainbow unicorn a ...more

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Aug 05, 2020 ~Mindy Lynn~ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: damaged-and-broken, fire-fighters, 2020-challenge, kindle-own, arcs

3.5 Stars!

This was a sweet read about two guys not really knowing where their place in the world was and who ended up finding it with each other.

Ever sine Garrick had his accident he has been working hard with his physical therapist to get back into smoke jumping shape. He's determined to make it back to his crew even if his doctors are not as confident in that being possible. He's pretty much kept to himself during his recovery and not seeing much of anyone but his dad. That all changes when a 3.5 Stars!

This was a sweet read about two guys not really knowing where their place in the world was and who ended up finding it with each other.

Ever sine Garrick had his accident he has been working hard with his physical therapist to get back into smoke jumping shape. He's determined to make it back to his crew even if his doctors are not as confident in that being possible. He's pretty much kept to himself during his recovery and not seeing much of anyone but his dad. That all changes when an injured pup makes her way onto his porch. In his condition he's not in the best of shape to help her on his own and seeks out his neighbors help. Instead of his elderly neighbor he gets her very attractive younger grandson, Rain.
Rain is young and a free spirit who seems to move easily onto the next place and adventure. Right now he has his heart set on being a part of the Hotshot crew. Rain failed his physical endurance test so he offers his help with the pup in return gets Garrick to help him train for the nest physical test.
Garrick and Rain are attracted to each other even if Garrick has some concern about their age difference. But Rain has an understanding for the struggles that Garrick finds himself in when it comes to his disabilities, especially the bedroom ones. Rain doesn't make him feel like there is something wrong with him. He encourages Garrick in all the right ways a partner should in and out of the bedroom. Garrick does the same for Rain. He praises Rain's hard work and dedication to achieving his dreams. Accepts his love for his favorite pony character and his lace underwear. They really are a great match for each other as you can see as the book goes on.

A bit of misunderstanding is the standard in most books and it was no different in this story. I was only relieved it wasn't over the top and that it didn't last long.

This was a good addition to this series. I look forward to the next one.

Happy reading dolls!

I was given an ARC by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Dec 27, 2020 Gustaf rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary, drama-for-the-sake-of-drama, may-december, m-m, audio, middle-of-the-road, romance, small-town, firefighters

I enjoyed this book in the beginning, then it got long and boring and nothing really happened. While I deeply disliked one of the MC's in the first book I didn't in this one, but I didn't really care either.

Garrick is the smoke jumper who got hurt at the end of the first book, he's still not healed but determined to get there one way or another. Rain is moving over and over again, trying to find his next big adventure. He's also much younger than Garrick. Can two men so different find common gr ...more

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Jul 04, 2020 Emily Seelye rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, arc

This is in my top 5 Annabeth reads. Not since At Attention have I enjoyed one of her couples so much. These guys were perfect for each other.

The only criticism is that I wish they wouldn’t have had such low expectations going into the relationship. Obviously, things work out, but they could have saved each other some heartache, if they’d had a conversation sooner.

* I had an ARC

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Jun 16, 2020 Caz rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, aar, m-m, queer-romance, romance-other-time-period

I've given this a B at AAR.

High Heat, book two in Annabeth Albert’s Hotshots series, picks up the story of Garrick Nelson, one of the crew of Smoke Jumpers based near the fictional town of Painter’s Ridge in central Oregon. Garrick was badly injured during a jump at the end of book one, Burn Zone, breaking both his legs and incurring a spinal injury, but by the time High Heat opens some six months later, he’s out of hospital and back at home. He’s still undergoing intense physical therapy a ...more

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Oct 04, 2020 Alisa rated it really liked it

Shelves: age-gap, zz-2020, netgalley, disabilities, m-m-read, firemen

I liked this very much. This was a quite kind of slow book but not it a bad way. These two guys become friends and fall in love all while communicating like adults and not being drama llamas. I also really loved the way the author handled the way they learned to modify their day to day living and their sex lives based on Garrett's injuries. It was a unique situation and I really appreciate that this author regularly writes books with all kinds of characters and all kinds of lifestyles. I don't t ...more

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Aug 12, 2020 .Lili. rated it it was amazing

Shelves: age-gap, opposites-attract, best-of-the-best-20, m-m

High Heat by Annabeth Albert is an excellent addition to the Hot Shots series.

-Hurt/Comfort/Healing
-Age gap
-Opposites attract
-Furbaby
-AWESOME main characters
-Dual POVs
-Feels
-HOT chemistry

Garrick and Rain are up there as one of my characters from Annabeth Albert. Their acceptance, understanding, and respect for each other were felt on every page.

I also need to mention how much I love the way Annabeth Albert handled Garrick's recovery. It was everything.

Highly recommend it.

4.5 Stars ...more

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Jul 29, 2020 Rachel Emily rated it really liked it

Shelves: may-december-age-gap-m-m, romance-m-m, disability-m-m, contemporary-m-m, netgalley-arc-reviewed, manties-xdress-drag-m-m

This is the second book in the Hotshots series, and although it does stand well on its own, I think you'd enjoy it more if you read the first book. Garrick is introduced there and we learn of his horrible accident that sets up his journey to recovery in this book.

Garrick is slowly recovering from his leg and spine damage, when a stray dog, Cookie, and a much younger man, Rain, come into his life. I don't remember an exact age, but I would say that Garrick is in his late thirties, whereas Rain i ...more

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Aug 22, 2020 Ami rated it really liked it

Shelves: mm-romance-or-erotica, mm-contemporary

3.75 stars rounded up

I disliked the first book, Burn Zone . I had hard time to remember secondary characters from that book so I didn't really remember about Garrick. But boy, add one sassy caring younger neighbor and a cute dog named Cookie, and this book was wonderful read for me!

I loved that Garrick was secure enough in his pansexuality -- and although there was age gap, he didn't completely shy away from introducing the younger Rain to his friends or family. I LOVED his relationship with his ...more

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Jul 31, 2020 Papie rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars
I liked it better than the previous book, because I didn’t have an intense dislike for a character like I did with Linc, but it was a little boring to be honest.

Garrick got injured at the end of book 1, and a year later, he is still not fully walking but is convinced he will go back to 100% and smoke jumping. He hates asking for help, and is pretty much in denial about his future. He meets his neighbour’s 23yo grandson, and they immediately click and the attraction is undeniable. It st ...more

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Jul 23, 2020 Nadine Bookaholic rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: z-2020-books-i-read-for-a-challenge, not-available-for-loaning, uniform-fire, genre-romance-erotic-erotica, content-disability, z-goodreads-year-in-review-2020, body-scars-disfigurement, genre-romance-lgbtqia, lgbtqia-bi-sexual, trope-age-gap-romance

Annabeth Albert delivers a HIGH HEAT, Hurt/Comfort, May/December, Romance that is sure to have readers rooting for Garrick and Rain right from the start.

I was looking forward to Garrick's story after Annabeth Albert told me a little about it in our Author Interview for BURN ZONE, once I heard there was a matchmaking dog involved I was all over it! I mean seriously I know I am going to have a great read because of whose writing the book but once you throw in a dog that somehow gets two guys toget ...more

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Nov 03, 2020 Skirmish rated it it was ok

Shelves: lgbtq

Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2020/11/03/...
Rating: 2 Stars – it’s a struggle to finish the damn book ...more

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Jul 22, 2020 Evie Drae rated it really liked it

Shelves: may-december-romance, age-gap-romance, lgbt, contemporary-romance, gay-romance, lgbtq, romance, 2020-netgalley-challenge, 2020-ng-group-challenge, m-m-romance

I received a copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m always down for a good “sexy person in uniform” book, so when I was offered a spot on the blog tour for Annabeth Albert’s High Heat, I smashed that “Yes, please!” button with a quickness. Ms. Albert is a new-to-me author, but after completing this story, she definitely will not be a one-and-done. I picked this book up without having read book one in the Hotshots series, so I can attest to it being I received a copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m always down for a good “sexy person in uniform” book, so when I was offered a spot on the blog tour for Annabeth Albert’s High Heat, I smashed that “Yes, please!” button with a quickness. Ms. Albert is a new-to-me author, but after completing this story, she definitely will not be a one-and-done. I picked this book up without having read book one in the Hotshots series, so I can attest to it being a satisfactory standalone. However, after discovering book one gave some background into the harrowing accident one this book’s MC’s Garrick suffers that leads into his current status in book two, I wish I would’ve read it first. Just for some context.

I aim to avoid spoilery content in my reviews, so I’m going to attempt to handle this one no different, but if anything slips in, I’ll warn you ahead of time. The story starts off with Garrick in a wheelchair—but with the ability to use special forearm cuff crutches for short distances—and undergoing intensive physical therapy. His goal is to get back to the job he loves as a smoke jumper, and he is incredibly and admirably dedicated. His love interest Rain is a free-spirited sweetheart with a penchant for being the center of attention and showing off his femme side with some seriously sexy/adorable attire.

This was one of those reads that I couldn’t stop thinking about when I wasn’t reading it. I whole-heartedly admit (unless my boss reads this review, then I’ll swear up, down, and to the left that someone hacked my blog and I’d never do such a thing) I totally sneak-read this at work because I couldn’t focus otherwise. I would do a task, then reward myself with a couple pages of Garrick and Rain. Their relationship was something else. Rain has a genuine pure heart and loves to help others for the sake of helping others. So, with Garrick learning to live with his disability, Rain becomes an integral part of his adaptations. When he’s needed, he is always there, but he also supports Garrick in finding ways to do things himself. It’s a heavy topic—much heavier than I thought I was walking into with this read—but I believe it was done very, very well.

As a nurse who worked on a stepdown unit focusing on spinal cord injuries, I can attest that Ms. Albert did her research, and for that I am grateful. Garrick’s injury—to my limited but still more in depth than the lay person knowledge—is portrayed with accuracy and care. Right down to concerns in the bedroom. (I’ll stop there… spoilers!) This is something I appreciate more than I can say, because I went into this assuming Garrick would be injured for the first few chapters then start making miraculous progress and by the end, he’d be one-hundred percent back to normal. As if his HEA depends on his return to fully-abled status, which is a painful stereotype that hurts the disabled community. Kudos to Ms. Albert for handling this story with realism and respect.

Right up until about 75% percent in to this read, it was a solid 5-stars. I debated whether to let the final quarter affect my rating because I loved the first 3/4 so very, very much. However, I went from devouring the pages like a reader starved to checking—frequently—to see how much was left. This saddens me, because had the book ended around, oh, 80%? It would’ve been an easy contender for my coveted Best Read in 2020 spot. My biggest issue with the end—which, in all actuality, was filled with some wonderful character-building and relationship-building moments that would’ve held some serious impact earlier in the story—is that it felt like it had about 4 different endings. 🙈

If nothing else, this book has taught me why my editors always tell me to come back from your black moment, make things right with your characters, and then cut and run. I’m always tempted to add just one more sweet, couple-y moment to the end to show how happy they are together, but get my wrists slapped when I do. And this absolutely delightful book helped me understand why. Once the tension is over, readers start to disengage. Yes, we want to see the characters find their HEA, but we don’t want to live said HEA for another 20% of the book’s total read time. It becomes tedious and no longer holds our interest.

That being said, I would still recommend this book whole-heartedly. It was a well-written, well-crafted, and well-thought-out romance with solid disability rep and delightful characters. ...more

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Jul 27, 2020 Santy rated it liked it

Shelves: laugh-out-loud, sweet, arc, part-of-series, d-talk, good-series, low-angst, lgbtq-m-m, okay-steam, read-2020

While this is Book #2 of the series, I think it can comfortably be read as a standalone so do not worry if you want to pick this up as it is.

If you did read the previous book however, you'll recall how Garrick(one of the MCs in this book) had a horrific accident that left him so broken, it is a wonder he made it out with his life. This book detailed not only how he got back his health, but also how he adjusted to a new way of life. He was gruff(but inherently kind) and he had to learn new things While this is Book #2 of the series, I think it can comfortably be read as a standalone so do not worry if you want to pick this up as it is.

If you did read the previous book however, you'll recall how Garrick(one of the MCs in this book) had a horrific accident that left him so broken, it is a wonder he made it out with his life. This book detailed not only how he got back his health, but also how he adjusted to a new way of life. He was gruff(but inherently kind) and he had to learn new things about himself during his recovery process that endeared him to me. Also, how he treated Rain was just great. There is really nothing like someone who accepts you for who you are unconditionally.

Rain (I love the name by the way) was your quintessential free spirited person who loved to move from one exciting adventure to the other. He was kind, bubbly, and a steadfast figure for Garrick as he struggled with himself and all the adjustments that he had to make in his life. He was understanding and compassionate in all his actions and it made me love him as a person even when I was afraid he might "Ghost" on Garrick.

The relationship between these two men was pretty solid considering the age gap. Rain, for all his flight-risk tendencies had a level head and faced each issue that arose with admirable maturity, preferring to talk about it rather than overreact and flounce off like others might be inclined to. Garrick was also the same and this made reading about them a breath of fresh air amidst all these "non-communicating" couples in some romances you read about.

The only issue I had with this great book was that we didn't get as much fire-fighting action as we did in the previous book. Whereas in that book, it was a balance between fire fighting and the relationship being built, in this the fire fighting got very little page time and left me wanting more.Hopefully, we get more of that balance in the next book.

Nonetheless, as you can infer from all I've written above, I really enjoyed this book and will be impatiently waiting for the next instalment (Ryland's book I think). Bring it on Annabeth Albert!

***eARC Provided by Publisher via Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest, Unbiased Review*** ...more

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Aug 01, 2020 Pavitra (For The Love of Fictional Worlds) rated it liked it

Shelves: romantic-drama, lgbt, romance, contemporary-romance, mm-romance, contemporary, pansexual-representation

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

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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Jun 21, 2020 Kim rated it really liked it

Shelves: 4-stars

Garrick Nelson suffered major injuries in a smoke jumping accident and he has been working hard for a year to get back on his feet. He is self-isolating, broody, and determined. He is still hindered by crutches or a wheelchair, but has single-minded focus on getting back to work as a hotshot and smoke jumper. That is until a dog in need finds himself on his porch. When Garrick goes to the neighbor for help, her twenty-something grandson is willing to help with anything Garrick and the dog need. Garrick Nelson suffered major injuries in a smoke jumping accident and he has been working hard for a year to get back on his feet. He is self-isolating, broody, and determined. He is still hindered by crutches or a wheelchair, but has single-minded focus on getting back to work as a hotshot and smoke jumper. That is until a dog in need finds himself on his porch. When Garrick goes to the neighbor for help, her twenty-something grandson is willing to help with anything Garrick and the dog need.

Rain is just supposed to be staying with his grandmother for a few months until he figures out where he is going to complete school. He is confident, glam, adventurous, and thrives on attention. And he loves men in and out of uniform and is not shy about it. His current plan is to train and get on a hotshot crew. But he is known for being a free spirit and moving on to the next exciting thing when he gets bored.

These two become friends who flirt and gradually more. Rain has a deep need to help others, but also likes being seen and appreciated for just who he is. Garrick is older and knows he has limitations. He is honest about his pansexuality and is not turned off by Rain's sparkly personality. I loved seeing how Rain supports Garrick even with sensitive situations. I found their intimate scenes to be unique and powerful due to the trust and vulnerability required. I liked that Garrick's injuries were not magically healed and that they had to deal with certain real situations. I thought it was handled in a very honest and respectful way.

But these guys do have challenges. They are both afraid to trust, of loss, and worry about the other sacrificing. Their communication sometimes gets clouded with emotions and fears. One man seems to be losing his dreams while one might be getting an opportunity to chase his. Rain never intended to stay, but is troubled at the thought of leaving. Garrick does not want to try to clip Rain's wings no matter how it might hurt. Can they find a way past their fears to merge their futures or are they destined to just be a temporary fling?

I enjoyed this sweet and emotional, age-gap, opposites-attract love story. But it is also about Garrick finding his purpose after his injury and Rain finding his as well. I liked that Garrick's recovery was not sugarcoated and that he had real issues and struggles. I liked how Rain took things in stride and was such a positive and accepting person. I loved how they just balanced and fit so well, and gave each other hope. But they could be stubborn with self-sacrificing behavior and some miscommunication. It is not an easy situation, but they will have to figure out if they are worth the risk.

We get glimpses of Linc and Jacob from the first book. Their families also add some dynamics to the story. I really appreciated Garrick's relationship with his dad and Rain's with his grandma. There are some situations regarding fires and the team as well. I am looking forward to the mysterious Ryland's book next.

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Aug 08, 2020 Amber’s reading rated it liked it

Shelves: contemporary-romance, lgbt, mm

High Heat is the 2nd book in the Hotshots series, but can be read as a stand-alone. This was a nice age-gap MM romance about an injured firefighter about a year into his recovery and a cute younger guy visiting his grandmother for the summer. A cute stray dog brings the two men together, which was a nice and heartwarming touch.

This MM romance is very approachable for new MM readers. I’d say the steam and angst are very mild, but nice. We get to meet characters from the past novel, and most like ...more

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Jun 30, 2020 Didi rated it really liked it

Shelves: series, m-m, contemporary, arc-netgalley-edelweiss, romance, lqbtqia

3.75 Stars

”I’ve had plenty of reasons to jump before, but never such a good one to come back to earth for. You’re something else.”
HIGH HEAT followed Garrick Nelson’s life after the severe injuries he suffered in “Burn Zone” the first book in Albert’s “Hotshots” series. It’s almost a year after the accident and - defying doctors’ prognosis - he could walk again; but it’s still far from his pre-injuries fitness. His friendship with Rain Fisher started when Rain helped him with a lost d 3.75 Stars

”I’ve had plenty of reasons to jump before, but never such a good one to come back to earth for. You’re something else.”
HIGH HEAT followed Garrick Nelson’s life after the severe injuries he suffered in “Burn Zone” the first book in Albert’s “Hotshots” series. It’s almost a year after the accident and - defying doctors’ prognosis - he could walk again; but it’s still far from his pre-injuries fitness. His friendship with Rain Fisher started when Rain helped him with a lost dog situation and progressing from there.

Garrick intrigued me from his earlier appearance on “Burn Zone” and I’ve been really keen to find out how he fared after the horrible accident. He was as upbeat as I thought of him at first, even during his low moment - which I like in an MC, making the atmosphere of the book not all gloom and doom considering the issue. Rain was a sassy character who farther enlivened the story with his incessant and shameless flirting.

I just loved these two together. Garrick wasn’t exactly out in the previous book, but for him to acknowledge (his pansexuality) to Rain and openly showing affection spoke volume. The chemistry and dynamic between them were obvious; a blend of fun and consuming. Add Cookie the rottie to the mix and the trio became such a cute picture together.

More than the lovey dovey, lusty sequence, this book also told the journey of two opposite characters coming to terms with what they perceived as their dream. Between Rain and his hippie family and Garrick’s more traditional upbringing, I loved the relationship between Garrick and his father - not something common in book world nor in real life - even envy them for it. Which also adding plus point to the overall story.

And I guess I learned to like Linc more in this book. I wasn’t too taken with his (and Jacob’s) book but this second entry is a one eighty of what I felt then. Yes, I wish Garrick would stop burying his head in the sand sooner, yet at the same time applaud both men that they took time to consider. Oh, and this book also introduced a character who would star in their own book after this. I really can’t wait for this next installment to come!

Copy of this book is kindly given by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Oct 01, 2020 Caz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5 stars

I reviewed the ebook version HERE, so I won't rehash that. The audio has the added bonus of Iggy Toma's narration - he's always easy to listen to, does a good job with the characterisations and with the emotional content of the story. Recommended ...more

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Jul 28, 2020 Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews rated it it was amazing

Shelves: guiltypleasures-leigh

I loved the world of smoke jumpers that I discovered in Burn Zone, so could not wait for the next installment. Annabeth Albert did not disappoint in this story about Garrick Nelson, a smoke jumper injured during a mission gone wrong.

Although we met Garrick in Burn Zone, we didn’t get to know him, and didn’t realize just how much of a good, sweet guy he would turn out to be. Continuing with physical therapy a year after an accident left him with a spinal injury, Garrick was portrayed as extremely I loved the world of smoke jumpers that I discovered in Burn Zone, so could not wait for the next installment. Annabeth Albert did not disappoint in this story about Garrick Nelson, a smoke jumper injured during a mission gone wrong.

Although we met Garrick in Burn Zone, we didn’t get to know him, and didn’t realize just how much of a good, sweet guy he would turn out to be. Continuing with physical therapy a year after an accident left him with a spinal injury, Garrick was portrayed as extremely real. He experienced disappointment without being perpetually bitter. He went on with his life the best he could, adjusting to a new reality while continuing to work towards the same goals of the past. He tried to have a positive outlook the majority of the time, but did hit patches of discouragement and disappointment. He was not one extreme or the other, but a realistic portrayal of someone trying to make the best of the hand he was dealt. But when his neighbor’s adult grandson, Rain, comes to visit and they bond over the shared rescue of a scared pup, Garrick finds himself reevaluating those things he truly wants.

Rain was an adorable contradiction, from the top of his curly bunned head, past his muscled brony-clad chest, right down to his silk and lace undergarments. He was the young, free spirit who was actually wise beyond his years. Everyone thought that they knew Rain’s desires and goals better than he did himself, but it wasn’t until he met Garrick that he truly realized maybe he was just coasting through life because it was meant to bring him to this place and time.

Exploring pansexuality, along with the challenges someone with a spinal disability faces while having an intimate relationship, Annabeth Albert did her research and provided an honest portrayal of the nature of Garrick and Rain’s relationship that was informative without ever being clinical. The level of honesty and openness between Garrick and Rain during these discussions added to their intimacy, and I loved everything about their blossoming friendship and ultimately love for one another.

High Heat can certainly be read as a stand alone novel, but I enjoyed getting to see Linc and Jacob again so there was the added benefit of revisiting old friends and seeing how their story continued to play out. I became immersed in this story and at times was surprised to find myself sitting on my couch and not in woods of the pacific northwest. It was a learning experience for me, as well as a sweet romance and scorching treat. I can’t wait for the next book in this series and to hopefully see how Rain and Garrick are doing in the future.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review. ...more

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Aug 09, 2020 Victoria (Eve's Alexandria) rated it liked it

Shelves: lgbt, kindle, review-copy, netgalley, series, romance

3.5*

This is my first Annabeth Albert book, and it won’t be my last. High Heat didn’t blow me away but it’s a near-perfect example of the kind of romance book that I need from time to time. It’s lovely, thoughtful and generous of heart, in a way that makes me feel safe even during moments of high drama. In these times, more than ever, I appreciate a writer who can cocoon me like that.

Garrick is 12 months into recovery for a serious spinal injury after a work accident. He was a smoke-jumper, one 3.5*

This is my first Annabeth Albert book, and it won’t be my last. High Heat didn’t blow me away but it’s a near-perfect example of the kind of romance book that I need from time to time. It’s lovely, thoughtful and generous of heart, in a way that makes me feel safe even during moments of high drama. In these times, more than ever, I appreciate a writer who can cocoon me like that.

Garrick is 12 months into recovery for a serious spinal injury after a work accident. He was a smoke-jumper, one of a crew of elite skydiving firefighters in central Oregon, but a fall from a tree has left him grounded, mastering crutches and a wheelchair. He’s absolutely determined to get back in the air, and has been single-mindedly positive about rejoining his team. But now those closest to him - his dad, his physical therapist and his friends - are having doubts that it will ever happen. He might be as recovered as he will ever be. Shouldn’t he be making plans for the rest of his life?

Enter Cookie, a mutt of unknown origins, who shows up on his doorstep bleeding and hungry. Not knowing what to do with a skittish young dog Garrick seeks help from his neighbour, and runs into her 23 year old grandson on her porch. Rain has recently graduated college and is looking for his next adventure, which he hopes will be on a hotshot fire crew over the summer. In the meantime he’s staying with his grandma and at a loose end, so he agrees to help Garrick with Cookie. In return Garrick offers to train him for his fire service physical.

A sweet and sensitive romance develops between this May/December pairing, who help one another navigate periods of huge personal change and challenge in their lives. What I liked most was the way High Heat avoids the obvious conflict points of the set-up. Garrick and Rain don’t get really hung up on their age difference, on the fact that they’re men who love men in a highly masculine field or on the ways that Garrick’s injuries have an impact on his sex life. These things are tackled really well - especially Garrick’s need for medication and devices to help him orgasm - but they don’t generate the central conflict of the book. That grows more subtly through the story, based on both men’s back stories rather than immediate circumstances. There are no quick fixes, easy answers or miracle cures to either of their problems.

I could have wishes the book moved more swiftly in parts, but at the same time I appreciated the time and space it gave for real character development. And the ending was deliciously happy, in a way that could have been saccharine but wasn’t. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a Christmas holiday epilogue.

This is the second book in Albert’s Hotshot series but I felt it stood well alone - while the couple from book 1 appear there are no major spoilers or outstanding plot points. I’ll definitely go back and read that book, and will pick up the next one too. ...more

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Jul 01, 2020 Rafa Brewster rated it really liked it

This was a really satisfying read, something that I say a lot when it comes to books by this author. Without taking away from the romance, her books tend to be meticulously researched to set as authentic a scene as possible, and Garrick's story was no exception.

You could probably read this book as a standalone, but if you'd like the story behind Garrick's injury, and some high octane (also high-angst) romance, then you should read book 1 Burn Zone first. I was pleased that High Heat wasn't as a ...more

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