Review: Arctic Wild By Annabeth Albert
SYNOPSIS:
When a plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness, the best place to land is in the arms of a younger man…
Hotshot attorney Reuben Graham has finally agreed to take a vacation, when his plane suddenly plunges into the Alaskan wilderness.
Just his luck.
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.
REVIEW:
I have a lot of mixed feelings upon finishing this book, and they all centered around family. The relationship between Reuben and Toby was a delight, I have really been enjoying these age-gap romances lately. Yet, Toby’s family was absolutely horrendous and I am still bitter about their behavior. In addition, Reuben’s daughter wasn’t that great either.
So let’s start with the good, I really loved the chemistry between Reuben and Toby. The pacing was also fantastic, they were undeniably attracted to each other but they didn’t just jump into bed. They truly got to know each other and build a solid foundation before things got heated. I love that there were various external factors, such as the age-gap and the fact that Reuben had a child, but these were all things that Toby and Reuben communicated about and were transparent/up front with. Their honesty was so endearing and their tender moments had my heart soaring.
But…and it’s a big one, Toby’s family was like a dark cloud over literally every chapter. Any progress Toby and Reuben would make in their tentative relationship was immediately crushed by Toby’s judgmental father and sister. For example, throughout the whole story, Toby’s sister referenced Reuben as his “sugar daddy” even at the end of the book and this had me seeing red. It just showed her completely lack of respect for Toby, Reuben, and their relationship. In addition, his dad was a horrid man who was just a shadow of anger and unwanted opinions. Needless to say I loathed these characters.
Reuben’s daughter, whom did improve over the course of the story, was also a brat. I understand teenage angst, but her behavior was truly appalling. She was so very entitled and spoiled, while also starved for parental attention. But again, I think the worst thing was, she was just as negative as Toby’s family. These characters just dramatically overshadowed all the hopeful feelings that Toby and Reuben’s budding relationship instilled. In the end, it left me feeling lukewarm towards the entire book.
LINKS:
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
