Review: Arctic Wild by Annabeth Albert

ARCTIC WILD 
Annabeth Albert
Publication date: Jun 3, 2019
Genres: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ
Format: eARC
Source: Carina Press and NetGalley



GOODREADS  *  AMAZON

S Y N O P S I S

Hotshot attorney Reuben Graham has finally agreed to take a vacation, when his plane suddenly plunges into the Alaskan wilderness. But his frustrations have only begun as he finds himself stranded with the injured, and superhot, pilot, a man who’s endearingly sociable—and much too young for Reuben to be wanting him this badly.

As the sole provider for his sisters and ailing father, Tobias Kooly is devastated to learn his injuries will prevent him from working or even making it back home. So when Reuben insists on giving him a place to recover, not even Toby’s pride can make him refuse. He’s never been tempted by a silver fox before, but something about Reuben is impossible to resist.

Recuperating in Reuben’s care is the last thing Toby expected, yet the closer they become, the more incredibly right it feels, prompting workaholic Reuben to question the life he’s been living. But when the pressure Toby’s under starts closing in, both men will have to decide if there’s room in their hearts for a love they never saw coming.

M Y   T H O U G H T S

An Alaskan trip meant to be shared with friends was suddenly a solo endeavor for New York attorney Reuben. He was laser-focused on his career, unable to connect with his teenage daughter, and completely out of his element in the Alaskan wilderness. When his plane went down and he helped rescue his pilot/tour guide Toby, Reuben had a new lease on life and was ready to make some major changes.

Toby carried a staggering mantle of responsibility on his shoulders. With his father unable to work, Toby was supporting his family, including putting his sisters through college. Despite that, he managed to be upbeat, funny and charming. But when his injuries from the crash sidelined him, his ability to provide for his father and sisters was in jeopardy. He begrudgingly accepted Reuben’s offer to help in his recuperation, but his pride took a hit.

Reuben and Toby might have experienced some instant attraction and chemistry but there was no insta-love here. They each had their own issues to overcome – Reuben’s innate need to be a “fixer”, Toby’s inability to accept help – as well as an age gap that seemed less of a problem for them as it was for Toby’s family. I enjoyed watching their friendship develop and the relationship that followed, even though in the first half of the book it felt like I was being told how they felt instead of seeing it and feeling it for myself. There were times I wanted to shake Toby’s father for his stubborn belief that accepting help made a man weak, a belief he instilled in Toby, which made for a lot of stress and conflict. And speaking of conflict, Reuben’s daughter Amelia added plenty with her surly nature and nasty attitude (translation: she was a Grade A brat). Seeing the changes in her as she spent the summer in Alaska with Reuben, and watching their relationship strengthen, was a real bonus.

I enjoyed the pacing of both the story and the relationship. While I would have liked more showing than telling when it came to Reuben and Toby’s feelings for one another, Arctic Wild was still a solid contemporary romance with a satisfying HEA.

3.5/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.