Heat, Flying High and Birthday Girl | Mini Romance Reviews

Today I thought I would share some mini-reviews of recent romance books that I have read. Two are 2020 releases while the last one is new to me author that I picked up for the first time. Let’s get into it.

High Heat (Hotshots #2) by Annabeth Albert

Pages: 336
Publish date: July 27, 2020
Publisher: Carina Press
ISBN: 9781488057069
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Smoke jumping is Garrick Nelson’s life. Nothing, not severe injuries nor the brutal physical therapy that follows, is going to stop him from getting back with his crew. But when a lost dog shows up on his front porch, he can’t turn her away, and he can’t take care of her on his own. Thankfully, help comes in the form of his new sexy, dog-loving neighbour. As they work together, trying to re-home their little princess, Garrick can’t resist his growing attraction for the other man, even though he knows this guy isn’t the staying type.

Rain Fisher doesn’t take anything too seriously. He dances through life, one adventure at a time, never settling in one place for too long. When his hot, conveniently buff, neighbour shows up on his doorstep, dog in tow, Rain’s determined to not just save the adorable puppy, but her reluctant owner as well. He never expects their flirtation might tempt him into stay put once and for all…

High Heat:

I received an earc of High Heat by Annabeth Albert from Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about a book.

I was looking forward to High Heat. I enjoyed book one in the series as well as Annabeth Albert’s previous book. But this one just wasn’t for me. From the start, I wasn’t clicking with the characters or the story. Which I found strange. I enjoyed Garrick in the first book and I was so looking forward to getting to know him more. But as soon as I was in his perspective, it fell flat to me.

Both Garrick and Rain were both interesting characters, but that is what they felt like; characters. I love when an author can make me see their characters as real people, but I didn’t feel that here. They were entertaining and I liked getting to know them. But they were just on the page.

Garrick is this tough guy that wants to get to the job he was going before the accident. But he can’t and it takes him a long time to realise that. I enjoyed seeing this. You all know me I love seeing different types of disabilities in books, and I really liked the way that Annabeth Albert explored it here. Garrett wasn’t only dealing with the physical pain of his injury, but also the mental. I think that Albert had a great balance of this.

Rain was such a character – he did make me laugh several times. But then there were times where I felt that his personality took over the story in High Heat instead of helping it. If that makes any sense at all.

Overall, I was disappointed with High Heat by Annabeth Albert. I was really looking forward to Garrett’s story, but I was disappointed with the outcome. The romance was something that I liked, but I felt the characters were a little flat. I enjoyed the representation of disability and the many aspects that come with it. But the plot didn’t grab me. I might continue with the series – I will just have to wait and see.

Classified (The Elite #3) by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank

Pages: 226
Publish date: 21 June 2020
Publisher: –
ISBN: 9798653162893
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

MATEO MORGAN
CALL SIGN: SOLO

GRANT HUGHES
CALL SIGN: PANTHER

In the heat of the hot California sun, tempers flare and desires ignite as Solo and Panther try to resist their attraction while fighting to be number one.
With passion this intense, the question remains:
Who’s gonna come out on top?

Classified:

I read the first two books in The Elite Series earlier this year and enjoyed them a lot. And with the second book finishing on a cliff hanger, I knew I needed to read book three as soon as it came out. I enjoyed it and felt like it was the perfect ending to this series.

The romance in Classified really brings the heat and I love it, Morgan and Grant and just so adorable together and I loved that the reader gets to see a different side of them in this book. The first two books in this series are about them understanding their feelings for one another and letting things go. But Classified explores their relationship more.

I did feel that the cliffhanger from book two was a little letdown. I didn’t feel that there was enough tension at that moment. It’s later in the novel that the tension is brought to the forefront. But I would have liked to see more of it from the getgo.

Both Morgan and Grant are great characters and I really enjoyed seeing them explore their relationship more. But they also had their moments. Miscommunication and insecurities are one of the main force of turmoil in this novel. And while I normally don’t like this, it did work well her.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Classified by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank. It was a great conclusion to the series and brought together some great moments. I loved Morgan and Grant together, and the ending had me smiling so much. This is a great little series that is great for someone that loves military romances but wants something a little different.

Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas

Pages: 416
Publish date: April 15, 2018
Publisher: Penelope Douglas LLC
ISBN: 9781976333088
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

JORDAN

He took me in when I had nowhere else to go. He doesn’t use me, hurt me, or forget about me. And he listens to me, protects me, and sees me. I can feel his eyes on me over the breakfast table, and my heart pumps so hard when I hear him pull in the driveway after work.

I have to stop this. It can’t happen.

My sister once told me there are no good men, and if you find one, he’s probably unavailable. Only Pike Lawson isn’t the unavailable one.
I am.

PIKE

I took her in because I thought I was helping. As the days go by, though, it’s becoming anything but easy. I have to stop my mind from drifting to her and stop holding my breath every time I bump into her in the house. I can’t touch her, and I shouldn’t want to.

But we’re not free to give into this. She’s nineteen, and I’m thirty-eight.

And her boyfriend’s father.

Unfortunately, they both just moved into my house.

Birthday Girl:

Penelope Douglas has been on my to-read list for a few years now. But I didn’t know where to start. After hearing pretty great things about Birthday Girl, I thought it was a perfect choice. And I’m really glad that I decided with this one. While it wasn’t my favourite book I’ve ever read, I did enjoy reading it.

Both protagonist were such a pleasure to read and I loved getting to know both of them throughout Birthday Girl. At times I felt that their characters felt a little flat. But it wasn’t the whole book. Jordan was interesting and I liked getting to know her. I loved her growth as well.

Pike was a really interesting character. I didn’t particularly love him, but I didn’t hate him, just indifferent. I liked knowing about him and knowing his feelings. But I didn’t care too much. At times I felt that he was just annoying.

I enjoy reading age-gap romances and there is one here for sure. The romance had a great built-up I enjoyed seeing that a lot. It’s a slow burn one for sure, so that is not your thing, then this isn’t for you. But I did enjoy seeing the relationship build between Jordan and Pike. It went from nothing to something quite sweet. In saying this, I did feel that the book ended before the reader gets to see Jordan and Pike together. It’s a big book and I felt like as soon as anything happened – the book ended.

Talking about age-gap romance. I like how it was handle here. A big deal wasn’t made, but it was also not overlooked. It was a great balance and that was perfect.

Overall I enjoyed reading Birthday Girl by Penelope Douglas. It was a great romance novel that I would recommend to others, especially those looking for age-gap romances. Jordan and Pike were great together, even though I wished I saw more of them together. I will need to pick up something from Penelope Douglas again for sure.