I enjoyed their unconventional relationship and love story. It made me smile, and the characters were easy to root for. ( )

Thoroughly enjoyed Hotshots Book 1, and then I forgot to go back to the series, so here I am.

It's an interesting thing, reading a gay firefighter romance - if you tell people this, they don't know what to do with it! But these are fun, well written, and well narrated books. Life is short so be yourself and read what you want! I'm following Rain's attitude in this novel, where he wears his favourite clothes - like t-shirts with ponies on them with silver shorts. I love these sort of characters!

Rain and Garrick are marvellous contrasts, but as Garrick feels, this is what makes one feel alive. ( )

Less Smoke, More Fire. In this second book in a new series, we follow one of the people who was featured in the first book as he continues his recovery from events there. And the book really is more about recovery and coming to terms with limits rather than the more overt firefighting of the first book. Here we get a much more personal drama rather than being so intensely focused on the overall world of Hotshots and Smoke Jumpers as the first book was. And there is a *lot* more sex. Which fans of the genre will likely appreciate. But much less actual firefighting, though one scene in particular *strongly* evokes the real-life drama of the Yarnell Fire and the book Granite Mountain/ My Lost Brothers by Brendan McDonough or the movie Only The Brave that was based on that book. Ultimately a strong book in its own right, it manages to hold its own in this world and in this particular culture while being free to be its own entity... which is actually a large theme in the book itself. Very much recommended. ( )

Garrick doesn't allow his disability keep him from developing a relationship with his neighbor. Together they explore the possibility of Garret getting the help he needs for his injuries as well as helping him accept the realization that he will never be a smoke jumper again but he can have a life with Rain...the man that he loves. ( )

High Heat by Annabeth Albert
Hot Shots #2

A man with a goal
A dog that needs a home
A young man with a dream

Three who need something
Will they find it in one another OR
Will they let a good thing go?

This story grabbed my attention and kept it from beginning to end.

What I liked:
* Garrick: strong, focused, positive with goals of returning to his job despite serious injuries and the impact they have had on his life.
* Rain: younger, looking for adventure, seeking his place in the world. He is charming, quirky, warmhearted, and delightful.
* Cookie: canine sweetie pie that deserved her forever home
* The relationship between Garrick and Rain and the romance as it developed
* The open way spinal cord issues were discussed
* Rain’s openhearted strong and mature support of Garrick as he worked through several issues
* Garrick’s support of and respect for Rain
* The supporting cast of characters
* The fire portions of the story
* The way the writing drew me in
* That it was believable – as a nurse in charge of a skilled nursing facility for mentally alert neurologically impaired of all ages…I saw people dealing with issues like those that Garrick faced.
* All of it really except…

What I did not like:
* That Garrick suffered the injury he did…it is always sad and life changing
* Having to say goodbye to the characters and wondering who will have their story told next.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Carina Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )