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