I wasn't sure about this book in the beginning. I didn't feel anything special between the main characters and didn't know if they would ever work. Fast forward a few chapters and the two have to rely upon each other in an emotional rescue. They stay bound together since then and worked at becoming more.
At the end I was definitely routing for them and their family members to succeed in Alaska.

I received a copy of this book for a honest review..

Although I've enjoyed Annabeth Albert's books in the past, this didn't work for me on a couple of levels. However, I'll round the 2.5 stars up to 3 simply because of Reuben, whom I loved!

What I loved:
~Reuben -- what a fantastic character! I liked everything about him, and I appreciated that he wasn't perfect but he approached life like an adult and thought through ideas and possibilities. He got defensive regarding criticism, but then he thought about it and tried to figure out what was real or not and how to change (or even if he needed to change). Other than his weak-ish parenting skills, he was truly a great person.

What I didn't like so much:
~ The set-up -- so I get that Albert needed to get Reuben and Toby stuck together, but she should have done better research (imo). Toby's injuries were serious enough that he needed to stay in a rehab facility *or* have someone take care of him -- yet when Reuben takes him in, he leaves him alone all day long while he's out doing stuff with Amelia. That, along with Toby cooking (um, no -- wheelchairs are low enough that you can't even see the back of a kitchen counter, let alone be able to reach up and cook something -- and that's not even taking into account that he wouldn't be able to hold the pan while he stirred...or any number of other impossibilities) and getting out of bed himself, wheeling himself around with ease (with only his non-dominant hand?), going to the bathroom alone (getting onto the toilet) -- argh! It drove me insane, and it pulled me completely out of the story.
~ Amelia -- I get tired of reading books where teenage characters are rude and disrespectful and the adults around them simply accept it because 'that's how teenagers are.' *sigh* No, teens do not have to be like that, and as a parent, Reuben should have stepped in (at least once or twice) and actually talked to Amelia about her rotten attitude. That's part of being a good parent, and it bugs me when I see characters in a book being considered 'good' parents simply because they love their kids -- but they never actually do any parenting. It would have been more realistic to me if Reuben had realized through the course of the book that he needed to confront Amelia about her behavior and help her to find the self-control within to change it. Or even if he simply realized that he *wasn't* doing a great job of being a parent in that way.

What I almost hated:
~ Toby -- yeah, this was kind of a huge problem: Toby simply wasn't likable to me. I found him self-centered, overly proud, arrogant, distant, shallow, immature...ugh. I didn't think he deserved someone like Reuben, and (along with that) I felt like Reuben deserved so much better. I won't get into details, as I don't want to spoil it. After all, everyone has their own perspective, and some might find Toby's journey just what they wanted!

So yes, this wasn't my cup of tea. I've read other Annabeth Albert books and really liked them, but I felt like she completely missed the mark here.

Another good read from Annabeth Albert. Her characters are very real and I always feel warmed by their connections. That said, while Reuben and Toby were great together, and I loved the beginning of the book, I felt it dragged in places. Which may have been me having a problem with Toby's main issue. Toby's ingrained resistance to accepting help, though he both needed it and had no problem helping others, really bothered me. I didn't like how his father had programmed him to feel that "real" men did for others and never asked anything for themselves. I did like how, after the issues caused arguments, he and Reuben talked about their problems like adults fairly quickly and really worked at straightening things out.

Arctic Wild is the second book in the Frozen Hearts series but can be read as a standalone. If you read the first book, however, you'll appreciate the cameo appearances by Griff and River, the MCs from book 1.

I loved certain aspects of the story:

- Age gap (Reuben is some two decades older than Toby)

- Hurt/comfort/healing trope

- Strong supportive characters, especially Reuben's daughter, Amelia, who's a very believable moody, awkward, but somehow eager to please 14-year-old; trust me, I'm an expert on this)

- No unnecessary drama (conflict, yes, but Toby's doubts felt real)

- Slow burn (and some hot lovin' once the guy get around to it)

- HEA (great epilogue set a few months after the last chapter)

Like in the first book, the pacing felt slightly off. The climax of the story, or at least what felt like the climax, occurred much earlier than I anticipated. I honestly wasn't sure where the book was going to go from there.

The middle dragged a little, although I appreciated the way Reuben and Toby's relationship developed from client/guide to friends to lovers.

Both MCs stood out as unique individuals, and the dual POV gave us a glimpse of what makes them tick. I actually understood Toby's hesitance to accept help because I am the exact same way.

Overall, Arctic Wild was a win.

This was a super sweet romance for me. There were a couple of things at the beginning that gave me pause, but by the time I hit the 50% mark I was all in.

48 year old corporate lawyer Reuben is forced into a trip to Alaska by himself. While there, a life and death situation causes him to re-evaluate his life and perspective.

Toby is a 31 year old tour pilot taking care of his disabled father and two younger sisters. Losing his life or even his ability to support his family is not an option. When Reuben offers help, he has to swallow his pride and accept.

The chemistry between these two is a very slow build. When Reuben's 14 year old daughter comes into the picture it starts to feel more and more like a small family. However, Toby's pride gets in the way. And Reuben has to decide what he wants in life for himself.

I read this as a stand alone and didn't have any problems with not reading the first book. The previous characters only make a brief appearance.

I liked this one a lot.

3.5 stars

Arctic Wild is a sweet m/m contemporary romance between older workaholic lawyer Reuben and his younger local tour guide Toby on a trip through Alaskan national parks. After a plane crash halts their trip and badly injures Toby, Reuben spends the summer caring for him along with Reuben's teenage daughter Amelia.

I love books where characters make big life changes and Arctic Wild has Reuben realising there's life outside work and that his relationships and wellbeing are more important. I really liked his developing relationship with daughter as well as his romance with Toby where he showed a caring and doting side that was adorable (and hot!)

While this story had a lot of good elements I felt that it slowed down way too much in the middle, and that some of the more dramatic parts like the plane crash lacked tension, however fans of hurt/comfort, forced proximity, and May/December romances would find a lot to like here.

I also enjoyed the vicarious holiday element of this novel, you really got a feel for the Alaskan landscape at the start of the book and now I'd love to do my own trip there!

As a tourist guide and a pilot, Toby has taken many travelers throughout Alaska, but it is not until he takes Reuben, a man traveling alone that things don't go as smoothly as they should. Although he fights his attraction to Reuben an unfortunate landing has them both relying on each other. But will the high powered attorney go back to NJ and forget about the friendship he made? Or will the two reconnect and hopefully have a future? With a storyline that I could not put down and characters you cannot help but fall in love with once again Annabeth Albert does not disappoint. Love this series and cannot wait for more.

This was a book that where it said ‘plane crash’ + ‘m/m developing romance’ = unexpected good times, I was all for ‘yes please’. But the two main male characters, while charming and adorable, were rescued far too quickly and most of the rest of the book was all just smutty smutness.

And while that’s not a bad thing, it wasn’t what I was in the mood for, or hoping for based on the plot that I read on the blurb. I was hoping for two men trapped in the wild for more than just a couple of chapters, and that is most definitely NOT what I received.

Ah well.

Still, it wasn’t a bad read, and I liked all the characters. Every character felt realistic, and the storyline was interesting if rather smutty, I wish it had been more about survival in the wild with just one strange man at your side.

3.5/5 stars for a overall decent job, but nothing super fancy or memorable (at least for me).

Another fantastic addition to this series! The chemistry between Rueben and Tobias is both sweet yet steamy. After a plane crash ( which the author deftly describes and sucks us into the story), we see the individual characteristics of each that will define their relationship and ultimate conflict. Rueben starts to change his outlook on life after his near death experience. He's a caretaker by nature and wants to take care of Tobias while reconnecting with his daughter. Tobias is independent and has a lot on his plate. The relationship develops slowly as Tobias is severly injured in the crash. The pacing is perfect and let's you care about them as a couple before they take it to the next level. It's smart, funny with lots of heart. I love that in this series Albert has allowed her characters to both grow as a couple and to grow individually. Both learn lessons about themselves that lead them to each other. Can't wait for the next book.

Although "Arctic Wild" is the second in a series, it easily can be read as a stand-alone ... although if you've read Arctic Sun, you'll get a brief, very sweet update on Griff and River here.

Reuben is a corporate lawyer who lives to seal the deal and spends far too much time on his cell, even when he's on an Alaskan vacation being flown into amazing locations via seaplane. When he and his pilot Toby crash into the Alaskan wilderness, Reuben reevaluates his life, deciding to take a break from this career and spend the summer in Alaska with his teenage daughter Amelia. And since Toby has broken bones due to the crash, Reuben invites him to share his vacation home so he can assist Toby with his rehabilitation.

"They were in this weird gray area - sort of friends, sort of roommates, no longer client and paid tour guide [...] if they were going to be friends or roommates, they might as well be the kind that had a little fun together."

Reuben and Toby's relationship gradually evolves into something neither man expects, and while Reuben realizes the crash as the huge cosmic wake-up call it is, Toby really struggles with its aftermath. Toby relishes Reuben's dominance in the bedroom but struggles with not being able to financially support his father and two sisters. And despite the obvious rightness in their relationship, it takes Toby a long time (a long, long time, which really drags down the pace of this story) to reconcile this.

He was glad that his dad had taught him to be his own person, taught him to take pride in hard work and his ability to provide, but he didn't want to spend the rest of his life shackled to an ideal when he could have had a real partnership instead.

The premise of this story and the way the plot unfolds really grabbed my interest, and I like Reuben and Toby's slowly unfolding relationship as well as how Amelia changes from an annoying teenager to a slightly less-annoying teenager (c'mon, she's 14), but the pace was just too leisurely and unfocused at times. The epilogue gives us a glimpse a few months ahead, but I hope to see how Reuben and Toby are faring in the next book in the series Arctic Heat 4 stars.

I think this may be my favourite Annabeth Albert novel yet.

Her books have always been hit or miss for me - more so than other authors, but this book absolutely made up for that. While I had some major difficulty getting into the first book of this series, I loved this one right away, with Reuben, successful lawyer and silver bear (too big to be a silver fox) going reluctantly on a trip with the company we already know from the first book, with Toby rather than Griffin as his guide. I actually don't want to go too much into details here, because I really enjoyed the story play out without knowing quite where it would go.

This was a case where everything either pushed my buttons or was believable to me. (Maybe it shouldn't be 'either/or' but 'and', but you get my point.) The different relationships between the characters (all of them, not just Toby and Reuben) felt real, as did the changing dynamics. And the conflict didn't feel forced once, but was always convincing, and I think because of that I ended up so invested in the story.

I think one of my favourite things was that both characters absolutely acted their age. Yes, the more I think about it, the happier that makes me. That kind of maturity is why I prefer reading stories about adults rather than young adults, and both Toby's and Reuben's issues were as believable as the rest of the book.

For once, I don't have anything to complain about (I will never be a big fan of the end-of-the-book proposal, but even that worked for me here). I enjoyed this from start to finish, and I'm so happy I decided to stick with this series. I hope it will continue like this and cannot wait for the next book!

Reuben is begrudgingly going on a vacation alone when his two friends have to bail. Overworked, too driven and unable to connect emotionally with his teenage daughter he is cajoled into this Alaskan adventure. The plus side for Reuben after he realizes he truly needed this respite from the rat race is his pilot and tour guide Toby is not only attractive but has an infectious personality that makes Reuben yearn for more than the work waiting for him in his law office.
The crash scene was heart stopping and very realistic. The aftermath with Reuben helping the very injured Toby was a great building ground for the two men to realize there were deeper feelings between them. Yes there was a bit of an age difference between the seasoned lawyer and the headstrong younger pilot but the men just seemed to mesh. Cody had to take on heavy responsibilities when his mother passed away and even though he appears happy go lucky he worries alot with having to take care of a father with a disability and keeping his younger sisters on track with their schooling. This financial strain wears him down and he is very serious for his age. This made his being drawn to Reuben understandable.
We get introduced to Reuben's daughter Amelia and I loved watching her blossom in her new environment.
I treasured the vivid description of Alaska. Ms. Albert never disappoints. A fantastic read that sweeps you away.

The descriptive bit: It’s Reuben Graham’s birthday and he’s being dragged out to the wilderness for a retreat. When his friends bail at the last-minute, he decides to head on the trip by himself. His guide is local, Toby Kooly. Reuben notices quickly that Toby is attractive, fun, interesting … and way too young for him.

On a flight at the beginning of the trip, a dangerous storm blows in and the plane crashes. Toby manages to get Reuben out of the wreck before going back for some emergency equipment ends up with him being seriously injured.

The two men are rescued quickly, but Reuben finds out that things are complicated in Toby’s family. His injuries mean that he can no longer take care of his ailing father or his younger sisters. It becomes clear quickly that Toby can’t even go back to his home because he can’t afford extra care nor can he get up the stairs.

Reuben is rethinking his life after the near-death experience. He’s considering a buyout at his legal firm, missing time with his rapidly maturing daughter (Amelia) and wondering what his life is about. Already feeling a connection with Toby, Reuben offers to rent a place that Toby can share with him and his daughter.

Toby is feeling overwhelmed by everything and finally agrees. But moving in with Reuben becomes a bit more complicated than he had imagined because he’s beginning to develop feelings for Reuben.

My thoughts bit: This was a great story and a fun read. The trip into the wilderness and the crash happen quite early on in the book, and it’s fast-paced throughout.

There isn’t anything too unpredictable in this book, the tropes work well and the story is a good one. Reuben is a lot older than Toby and the two of them struggle a bit with finding common ground. Toby is free-spirited and prefers casual encounters, Reuben is a workaholic how prefers long-term relationships. Of course, the two of them will find their way to romance because Carina Press always has a HEA!

Reuben is adoring and sweet while taking care of Toby during his recovery. I really enjoyed the way his character unfolded. As he discovered that he’d been far too caught up in his work life, he found his path to being a better father. His growth was subtle but moving.

Amelia was a delight to read! At the beginning of the story, she was a miserable teenager who was disconnected and unpleasant. As her father and Toby’s relationship blossomed, so did Amelia. She thrived in the company of Toby and Reuben as their relationship grew. I really loved that Albert took the time to develop Amelia’s character to the point where I found myself really caring about what happened to her.

Loved the idea of this story; however what started off as a gripping and intriguing sort of went into a tailspin with a quick but bumpy recovery at the end.

Toby and Reuben felt real and honest; their struggles weren't over dramatised, but you could feel them like they came right off the page. However, they were a little two dimensional compared to other characters that I love written by this author. I think not exploring a bit deeper into Reuben and his past was a missed opportunity, I would've loved to hear more about why his brain ticks the way it does; he has complexity but it was just ignored. Toby was also robbed of some exploration, we know he is the way he is but apart from some brief teases we're not given a complete picture of who he is.

My favourite character in this book is Amelia. I loved her evolution through this book. From bratty teenager to still a bratty teenager (we were all brats at her age, don't try to deny it) who has managed to find herself and build a solid relationship with Reuben and Toby. A character who can gain emotional responses, like Amelia did to me, is an indication of a well-written character.

The story itself is sweet. It's the perfect 'snuggle under a blanket with your favourite hot drink' kind of read. And, I devoured the first 30% of this book, unfortunately it just lost it's steam in the middle for awhile. It was able to recover but not to the same level as the beginning.

I went into this series, 1 not realizing this was second in a series and 2, having already been familiar with Annabeth's #Gaymers series & Out Of Uniform series. So, I was really looking forward to what she had in store with this new series.

As much as I enjoyed this book, it felt a little lacking for me personally, compared to the previous books I've read of hers. I enjoyed the characters and the situation they find themselves in ( crashing, being rescued, and Toby 's recovery with Reuben and his daughter Amelia.)

That being said, I guess the story for me kind of felt a little too smooth sailing. It dealt with healing both physically and emotionally and both Toby and Rueben figuring out what the want and what the deserve for themselves.

The arguments were solved rather quickly and maybe I was expecting more excitement than what was in the story.

The story is a calming read though and I've already requested book 1 from my local library to see how the series started. Maybe I just didn't connect so well with Rueben and Toby much? But I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series to find out!

This book was fun and very sweet at places. The hurt/comfort trope worked quite well, but when the conflict happened, I have to say I didn’t like it (seems to be happening to me a lot lately). Thankfully, everything resolved quickly and the ending was very adorable.

I liked the characters of Reuben and Toby. They had a nice dynamic right from the get go and their easy chemistry while they were living together was very cute. I also adored Reuben’s daughter Amelia. Her transformation from a cranky teenager to someone who just finds her path was delightful to read about. I wasn’t that much of a fan of Toby’s family despite their closeness and his utter adoration for them, they just felt too nosy. However, it does seem to improve towards the end which wasn’t bad.

Overall, it was a good read. It doesn’t have that much of an atmospheric feel like the previous book and Alaska is still very much a good part of the story. It’s an okay book for a one time read and felt very easy to finish in a single sitting. However, it doesn’t live up to some of Annabeth Albert’s older, more amazing books.

This book surprised me. Not only was it a great book with a fabulous romance, but is about surviving and changing your life before it is too late. I think this is my favorite book by this author to date!

I’m new to Annabeth Albert’s Frozen Hearts series, so ‘Arctic Wild’ was sort of a pleasant surprise to me—something that didn’t involve her usual military stories and instead, dealt with the Alaskan wilderness was something I couldn’t resist trying out.

But then, there’s nothing too unpredictable about the story. You could see the train collision coming however; big-city silver fox, high-powered lawyer and Alaskan guy who has no love lost for the city, whose relationship started out as unwilling participant and tour guide until an unexpected plane crash forces them together in unexpected ways. Reuben Graham and Toby Kooly couldn’t be more different and they both know it.

Essentially, this was less of a survival-in-the-wilderness type of read than it was a slow-paced, grinding out the differences type of story as both Reuben and Toby drew closer (the latter has colder feet and more commitment issues than the former who longed for a connection) to each other. And as a result, I was more restless than usual at certain parts of the book, despite it being as close to a realistic m/m romance—there’s real life mirrored in there—as it could probably get the way I imagined it

I can’t exactly put my finger on what would have made it a more convincing romance for me—the sexy times are certainly not lacking—but perhaps the depth of Toby’s own feelings and commitment after Albert had so painstakingly painted him as a casual-sex person who slept around because he didn’t want any more burdens added to his life was what ironically made me doubt the feasibility of this pairing even by the HFN at the end.

So in all, a somewhat engaging but middling read—just wish I could have been more excited about this whole story.

Such an enjoyable story! Annabeth does such a good job creating her characters - they feel so real to me. Reuben and Toby's struggles are authentic and the secondary characters are equally as interesting. Great tension between Reuben and Toby as they try to find their way forward. I will definitely read again and cannot wait for book 3 in this series!

3.5* Book 2 in the series focuses more on relationship*s*, rather than the beautiful-sounding scenery of Alaska.

Book 2 in this series technically could be read as a standalone, as the leads from book 1 only make an appearance in the form of a kiss, and, because the tale is focused mainly on the leads and their relationships, not the company Toby works for, or the trip he's taking Reuben on. It is a tale about making changes, wising up to oneself, accepting help and trusting others. It wasn't the tale I was expecting, but it was a decent read. And in this, you don't get as many descriptions of the many stunning sights in Alaska, unlike in book 1, so it doesn't quite feel like a tourist guide!

Friendly, flirty Toby and remote, uptight Reuben end up spending more time together than they'd anticipated, following the crash of their plane. Coming so close to death bonds them and they end up together in a house that Reuben's rented, as he decides to take stock of his life, chill away from the relentless demands of his job and his life, which includes his rather sharp ex-wife, and *with* his 14yo daughter who decides that she doesn't want to go to summer camp and would rather be with him.

It's a tale about the simpler things in life, about what matters, about making changes and yes, taking some risks in order to see change, and it affected both guys and the people around them. Toby's younger sister grew up amidst the financial strain she saw her brother struggling to cope with, and with his pride being a factor on top. She pulled up her big girl panties and made a decision about her life that was right for her, and stood her ground even when Toby was being a bit of a prat. Reuben's difficult teen, too, made changes to her life, announcing that she didn't want to go to her mother's alma mater and she seemed to transform into a regular BRITISH teen - by the latter, I mean that she seemed to transform from slightly spoilt, rich little New Yorker with tons of expectations and attitude, to someone who lives a simpler, more believable, everyday life, much like us Brits. She seemed to enjoy spending her time with her father who'd been absent for a lot of her life, and she seemed to like the simpler things in life once she got away from her tech gadgets. Reuben changed for the better by realising that maybe now was the time to make changes to his life, to simplify and do things he enjoyed, whilst he had the health and ability to do so, rather than stay in his demanding job and life and in his expensive apartment that he wasn't attached to, so that his later years would be comfortable. Toby's seemingly very traditional and at times, I'm sorry to say, bigoted father (Toby's sister also had some aspects of this trait, which didn't endear her to me) eventually learned to accept that times had changed, that he was vulnerable but not the burden he saw himself as to his family, and accepted help from his extended and supportive family, in line with their traditions and heritage. But, he sadly didn't change his bigotry; this wasn't a Bollywood movie, which was refreshing, though made me a little sad. And finally Toby let go of the... guilt, is the closest word I can think of, that he'd had since his mother died and he ended up assuming all responsibilities for his family, and stopped feeling like a failure, and realised that it is okay to ask for and accept help sometimes, especially when it's offered by people who care, without any strings. But, it took him a while to pull his head out of his bottom and man up, and I'm not sure I liked him that much.

That's what I appreciated about the tale - that people took stock and made changes. But, I can't say that I felt that the leads were suited or really had anything that felt like a couple who truly wanted to be with each other above all else. Yes, they liked each other and fancied each other, but there wasn't that spark, I didn't think. It felt like a couple of bisexual men finding each other and making do, sorry. Both had had more relationships with women and both seemed to view being with a guy a lot different to being with a woman, and I'm not talking about the obvious physical and emotional differences. They didn't present bisexuality as something important to them; they kind of came across along the lines of 'whatever' when it came to being with other people. And, Reuben was too good to Toby, who had many issues that I hadn't anticipated and who came about as a little trope-y, if I'm honest. It did feel a bit like he was using Reuben, but I did appreciate that he tried to pay his way, and though I didn't like his prickliness and his stubbornness, I understood him. But, for me, it felt like even when they became a committed couple, in Toby's mindset, he and Reuben were still a 'this is yours'/'this is mine'/'here's my share' couple, rather than thinking as a couple, as a 'we', and that what they did/bought/brought to the relationship was for the both of them. That saddened me a bit, and tbh, I felt that their relationship wasn't cemented in something strong enough for me to believe in them, especially with the fish thing at the end. I think I'd have rejected the offer of said thing, and I'm pretty sure that Reuben wasn't all that delighted, either. And, sorry, the happy families didn't quite work for me.

I was really sad to see how bigoted and vocal Toby's father and one of his sisters were about Reuben. They called him a nickname that wasn't a sign of affection, but that had hidden meaning. They were pretty rude verbally in his vicinity and they criticised Toby for liking someone who wasn't like them, someone so much older and richer; that's inverted snobbery on top of being bigoted and it has no place in my book, pardon the pun. I think I did get it a bit; I think they were concerned for Toby, but they didn't express that in any way other than being bigoted. And Reuben took it, tried to be the bigger man and didn't berate Toby over it at all, though as it happened time and time again, it was clear that he was hurt and slighted. And, at the end of the tale, I wondered if Toby's family would have entirely had a change of heart, or if Reuben would forever be the outsider. I think I might have understood things from Toby's traditional father and his attitude, but I didn't expect it or like it from someone who was barely out of her teens, someone who should have been educated enough to bite her tongue, even if she couldn't change how she felt. I kind of wish that Toby had defended Reuben more vocally, more staunchly, and had stood up properly to his father and sister and challenged them. He didn't, and I think that that's partly why I couldn't feel a connection between him and Reuben; in my book, you absolutely stand up for and defend the person you care about, especially when he's been nothing but good and generous and selfless towards you.

This was a readable tale, but it's not one that I'll revisit because for me, it felt as if the tale was written around an Alaskan theme, in line with the series, and not with leads who felt like they were organic, like they were meant to be together, as if they were fated to meet.

ARC courtesy of Carina Press and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.