Arctic Sun: Frozen Hearts Book 1, Annabeth Albert

 

With incredibly difficult pasts individually it's no wonder that together they had trouble.  River and Griff had chemistry, that's for sure, and when they finally acted on it there was all kinds of steam and promise.  It didn't stay promising, however, when insecurities and frustrations were tested by pressure and weakness.

I struggled with this story, but was also very moved.  The topics were so difficult to tackle and I appreciated the way Annabeth wrote about them.  Eating disorders and sobriety are tricky because the responses, triggers, and causes vary from person to person and can even vary throughout the day for some.  What I appreciated most was that the necessary recovery and plans for dealing with it in the future were up to each individual and they didn't end up in a codependent mess trying to save one another from bad decisions.  It took a very hurtful day together to see that things couldn't continue as they were.  Only after they got themselves, mostly River, back on track with healthy habits and support did they make their way back to one another.

This story was tough to get through as it wasn't what I expected, it was better, but it had to hurt for it to be truly appreciated.  Griff and River worked it out after hard work, painful adjustments, and a whole lot of honesty.  A rocky beginning, a devastating middle, and a triumphant ending marked this story and I am so on board for it and the rest of the series.

*$4.99 on Amazon

He’s built a quiet life for himself in Alaska. But it doesn’t stand a chance against the unrelenting pull of a man who’s everything he shouldn’t want.

Ex-military mountain man Griffin Barrett likes his solitude. It keeps him from falling back into old habits. Bad habits. He’s fought too hard for his sobriety to lose control now. However, his gig as a wildlife guide presents a new kind of temptation in superhot supermodel River Vale. Nothing the Alaskan wilderness has to offer has ever called to Griffin so badly. And that can only lead to trouble…

River has his own methods for coping. Chasing adventure means always moving forward. Nobody’s ever made him want to stand still—until Griffin. The rugged bush pilot is the very best kind of distraction, but the emotions he stirs up in River feel anything but casual, and he’s in no position to stay put.

With temptation lurking in close quarters, keeping even a shred of distance is a challenge neither’s willing to meet. And the closer Griffin gets to River, the easier it is to ignore every last reason he should run.